Littles Learning Link Up: March 29, 2016

 Each month you will find:

• A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
• A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
• Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme.  Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up. 

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

What have we been up to?

We are still getting caught up with our schoolwork. This week is another review week for the older girls to get all their papers finished that we have skipped so far. We are also working on our Insect unit for My Father's World Kindergarten.

As for our latest review products:

Harold has been using Logic of English's Foundations A. This review will be posting later this week. Here is a little sneak peak:

The children have continued working with Talking Fingers: Read, Write, and Type. Let's just say, I have a hard time pulling them away from the computer.  I can't wait to write this review mid-April. Another review that will be posting mid-April is for A+ Interactive Math. We have reviewed their programs in the past. They recently came out with Math Mini Courses, and the older girls are each working on one. Additionally, we are enjoying learning about Mozart with Zeezok Publishing. This review won't be posting until May.

As you might be able tell, our review products are taking up a lot of our schooling time. Which could explain how we have fallen behind in our core curriculum. Fortunately, the children are learning lots of great subjects, and we are so thankful for these great review products.

Something I would like to share with you:

Now that Easter has come and gone, perhaps you are looking for ideas for using your baskets, grass, and plastic eggs. Here is a fun idea I came up with 4 years ago: Easter Basket Phonics Hunt.

I am lining up my guest posts for the new year. If you would be interested writing a guest post for Littles Learning Link Up one of these months, please leave a comment or contact me via my contact info on my About Me page. I will need to have your email address so I can contact you. I am looking for posts that have to do with young children: crafts, activities, foods/snacks, tips, or other ideas. I am open to suggestions.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 10 wonderful posts linked up! 

I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on post.  

Don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's Randomly Selected Post is: 

Crystal from Castle View Academy shared Super Easy Art Travel Kit For Kids.

Here is the top clicked-on post:

Shecki from Greatly Blessed shared Our St. Patrick's Day Week.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- March 29, 2016

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Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Featured Giveaways

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 US only Ends 4/5

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me, Emily @ Emily Reviews, Shelly @ The Attic Girl, and Rena @ An Ordinary Housewife.

An InLinkz Link-up

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #92: March 24, 2016

Welcome back to... 

I know, I know, Throwback Thursday seems to be all about sharing pictures from the past, great memories that mean something to you, that you would like to share with others. At least that is how it appears to me. Throwback Thursday wasn't something I was participating in, and then I came up with an idea.

I thought it would be great fun and a help to my blog to share old content, but not just any old content. Each week I will share an old blog post from a previous year, any year, BUT it has to be from the current week (for example, something I've posted around March 24th, from any previous year)  I will go in, edit the post if needed, add a pinnable image if I don't already have one, and share it on Facebook.

I have reviewed some great products in the past (and continue to do so). I thought it would be a neat idea to choose review posts this year and highlight some of these great products again.

Would you like to join in? You do not need to edit your past post in any way, you don't need to create a pinnable image, though it couldn't hurt, in fact it will help your blog traffic to add quality pinnable images to your posts.

Just go into your archives, choose a favorite post from this current week from any previous year, and link it up below. (If you don't have anything from this current week, it is still okay to link up with a post from a previous year around this time.)

I will be pinning posts to my appropriate Pinterest boards and will be randomly selecting a Featured Throwback Thursday post to share next week. Just a note, I will be sharing a picture from your post if you are selected as the featured post, but I will link back to your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. By linking up you are giving me permission to use your picture in the post. 

Here is my Throwback Thursday post:

Originally posted March 10, 2014
Science Experiments with Amazing Science {A TOS Review}

Here is this week's randomly selected

Featured Throwback Thursday:

Gypsy Road shared:

Using Dyed Easter Eggs After Easter

To participate, link up below. It would be great if you could visit several of the other posts that have linked up. Stop by, comment, and pin images so we can help each other.

If you would like to help spread the news:

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Happy Throwback Thursday!

An InLinkz Link-up

Inspiring Movie: The Ultimate Gift DVD {A TOS Review}

What would your ultimate gift be? In the movie we recently had the chance to watch, called The Ultimate Gift, the main character had the chance to see what his "ultimate gift" was. We were able to review this DVD thanks to The Schoolhouse Review Crew and FishFlix.com. FishFlix.com is a family-owned, online Christian movie store where you can find a wide array of Christian movies, documentaries, Sunday School materials, cartoons, and so much more. Movies to help your faith grow, and to ensure you are filling your children with wholesome entertainment.

Let me start out by saying that The Ultimate Gift is an inspirational, emotional movie based on the book by the same name written by Jim Stovall. It is quite rare that I am moved to tears during a television show or movie. This movie is one that really tugged at my heart-strings. The movie revolves around the changing life of Jason Stevens. His grandfather has just passed away and he finds out he is named in the will. The thing is, Jason's inheritance is only hinted at and has to be worked for. Along the way he discovers what his grandfather hopes he will discover, how to have a meaningful life. 

Jason comes from a wealthy family and has not had to work a day in his life. Instead he lives off his trust fund, partying and squandering money. When we first see him, he is late to his grandfather's funeral, swaggering in with cigarette in hand after noisily driving up the cemetery road in his flashy sports car. Again and again we see his arrogance as he starts on his journey toward the "ultimate gift" his grandfather's recorded instructions send him toward. 

As the story moves forward he has to complete certain tasks to the approval of Red Steven's friend and lawyer, Mr. Hamilton. If he fails at any of the tasks, his inheritance, an as yet unknown amount, is forfeited. We discover that each task is in and of itself a gift from Red to Jason. There are 12 gifts he wants his grandson to receive:

• The Gift of Work
• The Gift of Money
• The Gift of Friends
• The Gift of Learning
• The Gift of Problems
• The Gift of Family
• The Gift of Laughter
• The Gift of Dreams
• The Gift of Giving
• The Gift of Gratitude
• The Gift of a Day
• The Gift of Love

At the beginning of his journey, all Jason cares about is getting the tasks over and done with so he can get his money. However, during the second task he befriends a young girl named Emily along with her mother, Alexia. As they enter his life, his attitude slowly begins to change. At first, it was still all about completing the tasks, which Alexia understands and resents. However, he starts caring for others more than himself. He starts giving of himself and becomes emotionally intertwined with their little family. 

I don't want to spoil any of the surprises for you by sharing too many details. Needless to say, in this 117 minute movie there is a lot of story being told and some interesting twists you probably won't see coming. There was suspense, drama, humor, and the wrenching of our hearts.

Even though the movie is rated PG, I did watch it myself prior to allowing the children to watch it. I was glad I did because I did find a scene that I wanted to shelter the children from. While Jason is in Ecuador on one of his tasks there is a run in with drug lords which is a bit violent and suspenseful. I just fast forwarded through it and the children didn't really feel like they missed anything. There is also a bit of language that some may find offensive, along with a couple of scenes involving alcohol and immodestly dressed women. Personally, we don't have a problem with our children watching it as we are able to discuss it with them as we watch. However, I am not sure our church would be comfortable showing it to the congregation as they have with other movies. And while I would consider this movie to be family entertainment and there are a few mentions of God, Jesus and heaven, there isn't any specific Christian theology going on here. Don't get me wrong, we watch plenty of movies that do not have Christian themes. I just wanted to clarify that this is not what I would consider a "Christian" movie, which some may prefer and others may opt to avoid.

Here are the children sitting down to enjoy the movie:

My husband and I did peruse the Special Features menu after the children were in bed. They don't care for that behind-the-scenes type stuff that the hubby and I enjoy. Here is what you will find:

• Narration for the Visually Impaired
• Behind the Scenes of The Ultimate Gift
• Leave a Legacy
• Live the Ultimate Gift
• Something Changed Music Video
• Legacy Music Video
• The Ultimate Gift Theatrical Trailer
• The Redemption of Sarah Cain: Sneak Peek
• Trailers for Christy: The Complete Series, Love's Abiding Joy, One Night with the King

We really enjoyed the Behind the Scenes section. And I was intrigued by The Ultimate Gift Experience Kit that can be purchased and used with one's own family. 

You can find FishFlix.com on their social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fishflix
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FishFlix 
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ChristianDVD 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fishflix/

For this review, my fellow Crew Mates and I had quite a few different movies to choose from. Here is a list of the movies you will find reviews for by clicking the banner below: War Room, Woodlawn, Gospel of John, My Son My Savior, Theo, Superbook: A Giant Adventure, Captive, Owlegories: The Ant, The Fruit, The Butterfly, and Agenda 2. 

Wordless Wednesday: March 23, 2016 (w/linky) - Creative, Crafty Children

Seems I had some creative children today.

While they were watching an episode of Wild Kratts today, Amelia created her own Sonoran Desert.

Later they all gathered in the dining room to work on individual crafts that they came up with themselves.

Hannah made a Jesus on the Cross.

Amelia made an Easter Egg to hang from the doorway.

Tabitha has been teaching herself to sew. Today she started making some gifts for her siblings.

Harold made...something...

Looking forward to seeing your Wordless (or not so wordless) Wednesday posts this week.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday Photo Round Up- March 20, 2016 (a couple of days late)

It's time to share my photos from this week.

Let's start with Scavenger Hunt Sunday, shall we.

Stairs, How You Feel Today, Flower, Green, Hair

Stairs

We went to Albany last week and I snapped a couple of pictures of STAIRS. Wasn't sure which I liked best.

How You Feel Today

I feel surprised and happy. Surprised because I didn't know the hubby was planning on getting the children new outfits for Resurrection Sunday. Happy because they are so happy.

Flower

Finally found a FLOWER or two this past Sunday when we went to the nursing home with Venture Club to help lead the church service.

Green

Found some GREEN moss on my walk at co-op last week.

Hair

I love the way her HAIR was being blown in the wind.

Photo A Day Round Up

I am participating in a few different photo-a-day challenges again this year. The photos are being shared daily on Instagram, but I thought it would be nice to include a collage of them here on my blog as well. Here are my collages showing the pictures from March 13-19

The first ones are the Photo A Day Challenge from Fat Mum Slim.

The second set are from The Bethadilly Challenge.

The third challenge is the Schoolhouse Review Crew's Instagram challenge.