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Thursday, July 28, 2016

Throwback Thursday Blog-Style #110: July 21, 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 July 28th, 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.

Last year I focused solely on review posts for the posts I wanted to share. It was fun remembering some of the review products I had forgotten about. This year I will be focusing on recipes I have shared in the past.

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. And if you haven't been blogging for a full year, feel free to share any earlier post.)

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:

Here is this week's randomly selected
Featured Throwback Thursday:

Heather from Running With Spears shared



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:

Tots and Me
Happy Throwback Thursday!


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Wordless Wednesday: July 27, 2016 (w/linky): Summer Reading Program Fun

We've been having a blast at the two different summer reading programs we have been attending this month.





























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


Tots and Me


Littles Learning Link Up: July 26, 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?

All the children are now home from camp and I have been busy lesson planning for our Summer School session, which started yesterday. I have to say, if feels to good to get back into a routine, though the children aren't that thrilled to be having school. The current plan is for Summer School to last 4 weeks and then we will take 2 weeks off before starting our 2016-2017 school session.

We are reviewing one state a day, plus learning one new state. The reason for the review of the states is mainly because I have a new review product called Fifty States Under God For Young Learners by Joy Dean that is giving Hannah the opportunity to do her own state book. I figured the review would be good for the older girls as well. We are also making our way through the history of America, learning about important events, people, and inventions as we finish up My Father's World Adventures. As it stands now, we will have to finish during the first month of our new school year, which means we won't be starting Exploring Countries and Cultures (ECC) until October. Fortunately, we can be flexible in homeschooling, so I have realized this is not the end of the world.

Next week we will start MFW Kindergarten's B:Butterfly unit, even though that unit is not scheduled until later. I just received another review product, a cute book/DVD set called The Story of Chester which is about monarch butterflies. This review is for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine website (as is the 50 States book mentioned above). I have done several reviews that have been slated to post there. Speaking of reviews, let's take a look at the other reviews I have coming up, because there are some products that have been keeping us at least a little bit busy this summer.

Let's take a look at that review schedule:

I posted the review for Heirloom Audio Production's newest release Beric the Briton last week.

Our Summer Session is full of review products, in addition to MFW Adventures, we will be using CTC Math, Talking Fingers: Talking Shapes, Foreign Languages for Kids By Kids, Jolly Literacy's Phonics and Grammar, and Jolly Literacy's Can Do Cubes, Homeschool Scholastics: WAY Comes Home Kit, Apologia Astronomy, Getting Started With French from Armfield Academic Press, and Christian Homeschool Hub's Download Club. These reviews will be posting in August and September. We are also taking turns solving the Statue of Liberty FlipStir puzzle from Enlivenze LCC.

Yep, still keeping quite busy.

A few somethings I would like to share with you:

It is officially summer, so I would like to invite you to check out a few of my summery round ups.

If you are looking for fun ideas to keep your kids busy this summer, you might want to peruse my Summer of Fun Round Up.


Of course, summer is a time to think about the beach, so I also have a round up for ideas for having fun at the beach, or having beach fun at home. It's the Beach Fun Round Up.


Last week I posted my newest round up: Camping Fun, for anyone looking for kid-friendly ideas for camping. It also includes some fun ways to pretend to go camping at home. 


And finally, don't miss last month's Guest Post: Early Elementary Lighthouse Unit Study.


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.

Don't miss my review and giveaway for this lovely children's book:




Now onto:
Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 15 wonderful posts linked up! 
There were no clicks last week, so I will be choosing two randomly selected posts to share with you.

Please 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 1st Randomly Selected Post is:


Imaginative Homeschool shared Curriculum for FREE.

This week's 2nd Randomly Selected Post is:


Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared Fantastic FREE Books You Can Download Right Now.

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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Monday, July 25, 2016

Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up- July 26, 2016


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

All Things Bright and Beautiful (Children's Book) US only Ends 7/27


$25 Amazon Gift Card US only Ends 7/26



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


Friday, July 22, 2016

Dramatic Audio Adventure with Beric the Briton from Heirloom Audio Productions {A TOS Review}


We had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing the newest release from Heirloom Audio Productions. We have enjoyed every audio drama we have received from this company and were so excited to be chosen for the review of Beric the Briton


We received the 2-CD set of Beric The Briton along with the downloadable bonus features that are included in the Family Four-Pack. 


Here is a list of all the bonuses we were given access to:
  • The MP3 Set of Beric the Briton
  • Beric the Briton E-Book
  • The Official MP3 Soundtrack
  • Printable Cast Poster
  • Study Guide and Discussion Starter
  • Inspirational Verse Poster
  • Live the Adventure Letter
  • Behind the Scenes Video
I have to tell you, we were not disappointed with this newest release in the slightest. In fact, this has become my husband's favorite story from Heirloom Audio Productions. In case you are unaware of the previously released CD's, these stories are all dramatizations of the books written by the masterful storyteller G.A. Henty. We have had the pleasure of reviewing all of these stories so far: Under Drake's Flag, In Freedom's Cause, With Lee in Virginia, and The Dragon and the Raven

Each of these stories is from a different period in history. When I first received Beric the Briton, I admit, I wasn't exactly sure which time period it was supposed to fit into, especially because I don't have much knowledge of the time of the Roman empire or the history of England. I knew this story had to do with a man named Beric who was a chief from one of the clans in Britannia where the Romans were invading; however, it took listening to the CD to realize what the actual time period was. This story actually takes place during Biblical times. At first I thought it was supposed to take place a century or so after. However, we find out that one of the characters is the centurion who had transported Paul (or Paulus as he is called by the Romans) to Rome. 

However, I am getting ahead of myself a bit. Let me share more about the story and the characters.

Beric is the son of Parta, the chieftainess of their tribe in Brittania. Early on in the story, Beric comes of age and is made a chief alongside his mother. At this point in history, Rome is occupying their land. Beric had spent several years as a captive in the city of Camalodunum and had a good relationship with a couple of Romans, Caius and his daughter Amelia. However, he was now back with his tribe and there was talk of revolt. The people were not happy with the Roman occupation, with the taxes they were made to pay. However, it wasn't until the King had died and Queen Boadicea suffered the indignation of being beaten by the Romans that fighting actually broke out.  

At this time both the Romans and the tribes from Britannia are pagan. The Romans still worship the Roman gods and the tribe members are considered by the Romans to be barbarians who believed in spirits and gods who could be all around them and easily manipulated by what the Druid priest wanted. For instance, the Druid priest says that it is the gods who want them to attack the Romans; however there are those who can tell it is the will of man and not the gods.

Due to the fact that Beric had lived among the Romans, and knows their ways, he tries to convince his people that they need to fight differently in order to win against the Romans. They need to learn discipline and not just rely on their bravery, which had caused their previous defeat. He wants to teach them what he has learned from his time among the Romans. Unfortunately, only men from Beric's clan were trained in this way, which leads to the eventual defeat and capture of Beric, his friend Boduoc, and his men. They are then taken to Rome where they are to become gladiators.

It appears that this story shows how Christianity made its way to Britannia. While on the way to Rome, the ship carrying Beric and his fellow captives was struck by a storm and shipwrecked. The son of their captor is almost lost, but Beric convinces his men to help the boy. Their captor questions why Beric would help instead of trying to escape. Beric states that he has given his oath that he would not try to escape. Beric is found to be trustworthy and noble. His actions also speak to another, Julius, the centurion who had transported Paulus. He wondered if Beric had heard of Christus (Jesus Christ) because of the way he helped his enemy. Of course, he hadn't, but later he hears the stories of Christus and his teachings and followers. He learns that their are those who teach that their is one true, almighty God. He and Boduoc become friends with the Christians while training to become gladiators, and through a dramatic chain of events, end up becoming a Christian and eventually sharing Christ with his people in Britannia.

Now, let's take a look at some of the other resources that are available.


Like all the other CD's from Heirloom Audio Productions, Beric the Briton has a bonus Study Guide and Discussion Starter. In this amazing resource, you will find background information about G.A. Henty, Emperor Nero and Queen Boadicea.

Each track on the CDs are a section of the story. In the upper corner of the page you will see where on the CD this part of the story takes place. There is a Listening Well section, with literal questions that the children can answer just from listening to the events in the story. There is also a Thinking Further section that is a bit more difficult and involved. Finally, each page has a Defining Words section.



Something new this time around are these "Expand Your Experience" boxes where you will find further information, notes, and even recipes. You will find these spread throughout the guide, not on every page.

In the back of the Study Guide you will find a list of books that share more information on the Britons and Romans in the 1st Century. There is also a page of historical background for Beric the Briton. Then there are 3 Bible Studies.
  • Bible Study I: The Importance of Studying History
  • Bible Study II: Thou Shalt Not Kill
  • Bible Study III: One Way
Finally, there is a section on The Significance of the Colosseum in Christianity


One of my favorite bonus resources besides the Study Guide is the Behind the Scenes video. I enjoyed watching the actors talking about the story and getting some inside details. 

While my husband has stated that Beric the Briton is his favorite story from Heirloom Audio Productions, I have a hard time choosing my favorite. It is however right up there with a couple of my other favorites. I appreciated that there weren't a ton of battle scenes in this story as there have been in some of the other G.A. Henty stories. And my husband and I both got a kick out of the running gag involving Boduoc. The fact that this story takes place during the time of Nero who was emperor during the time of the apostles had a way of making the truths from the Bible even more real. To know what was going on in another part of the world (Britannia) during this time was quite intriguing.

Once again, I can highly recommend a product from Heirloom Audio Productions. The quality of the story is again top-notch with amazing voice actors. The sound effects really help to draw you into the story. 

You can find Heirloom Audio Productions on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.
There is also a Facebook page specifically for Beric the Briton and one for The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty.

Don't forget to check out what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about Beric the Briton. Just click on the banner below.

Beric The Briton Heirloom Audio Productions  Review
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