I hope you’ll join me for the next several weekends as we follow the scriptures that reveal to us just who the real Jesus is. This will be a “pinterest“-friendly series as you can Pin the posters I create to share Jesus with your friends online. Some of these verses are my favorites and bring much comfort to me. They are the foundation of my faith.

Its that time of year again.

Honestly, I dread it every. year. because I do our taxes; and I feel like I have a million pieces to put together with all the odd jobs we do. Years ago I switched from doing our Federal by paper to using a free online service.

File Federal Return for Free with H&R Block

H&R Block is offering such a service. You can do your Federal taxes online for free. I haven’t used H&R Block’s service yet myself but I can’t imagine it being too different from the provider I’ve used in the past.

Just like the service I use which allows me to file our Federal taxes for free, H&R Block does charge to do State taxes online.

File Federal for free through Turbo Tax.

Information given to me:  “With TurboTax you’ll get your biggest tax refund guaranteed, with 100% accurate calculations and free help and step by step guidance so you are confident your taxes are done right. • TurboTax Federal Free Edition • #1 Rated, Best-Selling tax software brand year after year • FREE preparation, FREE printing, FREE efiling for your simple tax return (when referring to TurboTax Federal Free Edition) • Easily get your biggest tax refund possible, guaranteed* • Free Audit Support Center and live online help • Guides you like a GPS through your simple tax return(when referring to TurboTax Federal Free Edition).”

So, how do you file? The old-fashioned way with paper or use a digital/online service?  Share in the comments why you use the method you do.

Dear GFC Readers… yes all of you below,

Have you heard yet? Word in the blogosphere is that GFC / Google Friend Connect is shutting down for us on WordPress come March. I gather that means, based on what I’m reading, that those of you on Blogger won’t be able to receive RSS updates from those of us on WordPress. Right? Just checking.

If so, that would mean those of you following my blog exclusively via GFC will by default not be following my blog once the shut down happens.

Could I ask you to go ahead and subscribe now… [I mean, you know, since we're talking about it and I don't want you to forget later] for my Feedburner RSS or email options. I don’t want to lose you.

I’m also on Facebook and Twitter, just in case you want to follow there too so we can chat sometime.

I hope you’ll keep following my blog.

Love,

Me

Another place we haven’t visited yet is The Merry-Go-Round Museum in Sandusky. I received a Family of 4 Pass to giveaway to one of you! The pass literally says its limited to 2 Adults/ 2 Children. The pass is not good until March 1st and is good through September 1st, 2012. The maximum value appears to be $20 as Adults are $6 each, Senior Citizens are $5, Children 4-14 are $4 and under 4 are FREE.

You can read all about the museum here at MerryGoRoundMuseum.org.

If you’d like a chance to win this pass just leave me one comment below telling me why you’d like to go!

Giveaway begins today and ends February 15th at 11:59pm EST.

*No compensation was provided. Pass was provided to giveaway. See my Giveaway Policy here.

The Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is located in Sandusky, Ohio. I only recently learned about it after receiving tickets through the Castaway Bay “blogger event” I attended. I am giving these tickets away to one of you! Each ticket is worth $33 and provides admissions for one person to each of the following activities:

• Ghostly Manor Haunted House

• XD 4D Theater

• Skateworld Roller Skating

• Wizard’s Journey Black Light Mini Golf

1 winner will get 4 tickets.  I confess, I’m not into “evil-looking-scary/haunted-house” stuff.  While visiting their website I watched their Haunted House video and its exactly what I don’t do and wouldn’t put my kids through. There are the other activities there though, but I haven’t done any of them so I can’t tell you about them.

Want  to win 4 tickets to the Ghostly Manor Thrill Center (Value $132) ?

• Just leave me a comment here at this post telling me who you think you’d take with you should you win!

EXTRA! You can get one extra entry for signing up for my blog updates (MUST CONFIRM all the the way through when Feedburner emails you). Just leave me a separate comment here after you’ve done so telling me you’ve done it!  Not Google Friend Connect.

• Subscribe  here to get my new posts delivered to you by email or RSS (NOT Google Friend Connect).

Giveaway begins today and ends February 12th at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be picked by random. See Giveaway Policy for more info.

*No compensation was provided for this post. Giveaway tickets were provided by an outside source via our Castaway Bay blogger event.

Winter is the perfect time to be lounging inside a warm cozy waterpark, splashing in the water.

We had the privilege of attending Castaway Bay’s Blogger Event about a week or so ago and they gave me 4 day passes to the waterpark to giveaway to one of you! There is no overnight stay or room included in this,  just day passes for 4.

The Thunder::Tech PR girls do a great job of taking care of us at these blogger events. This year they had all of us blogger’s and our families get together for pizza and crafts for the kids. We sat at a table with BecksDavis and her husband and got to hear about living overseas and listen to his great accent. They live in Michigan now.

I’ve put together a little video below so you can tour a bit of Castaway Bay with us. There are captions to read throughout and a short dance segment by my 7 yr. old and myself. Enjoy the video before you enter to win.

[Click through to the blog to see video.]

 [Click here if you can't see video on blog.]

Before you enter to win, let me tell you that you can easily rent a locker to put your clothes and shoes in while you play at the park. There are two sizes, we actually used the larger one because we had to check out by a certain time but weren’t done using the waterpark. The largest locker (we used) cost $7 plus a $5 refundable deposit. We paid with a credit card but got the $5 deposit back in cash that day.

You don’t have to bring towels! They have plenty for you to use.

Enter to win 4 Castaway Bay Day Passes value $116!

• All you have to do is leave a comment here at this post telling me why you want to win and you are entered!

Want an extra chance?

• Subscribe to receive my updated posts by email or RSS (not Google Friend Connect). You can subscribe at this link and THEN leave a separate comment here at this blog post telling me you have done this. But remember to confirm your subscription all the way through when you get that email from Feedburner. Failure to actually be subscribed will void your extra chance at winning. ;(

Giveaway begins tonight January 31 and ends February 11 at 11:59pm EST.        Winner will be randomly picked.

 *My family received a free nights stay w/ waterpark passes as part of the blogger event. All opinions are mine.

by Gina Williams

It’s possible that children’s TV/movie entertainment is essential to mothers’ sanity; even if little Timmy’s attention span only lasts 5 minutes when Sponge Bob is on, it’s 5 minutes of solace. However, cable and satellite prices are entirely too high. According to a CNN article, the average subscriber paid more than $75 per month for cable alone in 2010; the same article also reported that the average cable bill increases by 5 percent each year. Average satellite bills are about the same and what all of this means is that the average American is paying over or about $1,000 to watch beyond free TV annually.

Recent innovations, however, allow you to save money and simultaneously provide your kids with the shows they want to watch. Here are the alternatives to the traditional TV models that you may have heard of, and may want to consider switching to:

Hulu Plus (7.99/month, around $100/year)

Hulu Plus is the paid-for version of Hulu. It is internet based and can be viewed on:

• TVs via media streaming devices (i.e. Apple TV, etc.), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and soon Wii.
• TVs that allow app downloads.
• Computers.
• Tablets.
• Smart phones.
• IPod.
• Kindle Fire.
• Nintendo DS.

Basically, Hulu Plus can keep your kids entertained at home or on the run. It offers a variety of movies, but is most known for its stock of TV series. It even hosts HD movies and TV shows if available.

Cons: Downloads sometimes lag. Movie selection could be improved. Not commercial free.

Netflix (7.99/month, around $100/year)

Like Hulu Plus, Netflix is internet based and can be viewed on similar devices and TVs to Hulu Plus. While Netflix offers access to several TV series, it is most known for its movie selection. This brings out the major difference between Hulu Plus and Netflix; Hulu Plus translates to TV series and Netflix to movies.

Cons: TV series selection could be improved.

The Bottom Line – Choose One or Supplement

Internet TV and movie alternatives are the way to go financially. You could easily become a member of both Hulu Plus and Netflix to supplement both services’ shortcomings and still save about $800/year. Additionally, purchasing something like Apple TV, which is a $99 digital media receiver, is another great way to supplement your Netflix account, Hulu Plus account, or both. Apple TV is a small box that users hook up to their TV and internet; it also allows them to watch movies, TV episodes, and videos that they’ve purchased through their iTunes accounts. A really great feature of Apple TV is that it accommodates Netflix. This means that users can watch Netflix entertainment through their Apple TV; those tv shows and movies not featured on Netflix can then be purchased from iTunes and viewed conveniently through their Apple TV.

The Pros of Internet TV Options: Substantially less expensive. Through Hulu Plus and Netflix, users can access TV shows and movies anywhere there is an internet connection. Users have access to more TV series and movies than are offered by cable and satellite. Netflix and Apple TV do not feature commercials.

Gina Williams is a guest post and article writer bringing to us why internet TV options are a better financial choice than cable or satellite.  She also writes for those involved in motorcycle accidents.

One thing I’ve found is that methods change very easily here at our house. What’s working today, may not work in a few weeks. With that said, these charts have been working for us as long as I guide the boys through their tasks. For now, this system is a keeper at our house .

Sticker Charts for Reading Goals & Assignments

Brendan is in 2nd Grade, Jack is in Kindergarten. Jack isn’t reading yet- just learning sight words and doing other “reading” prep activities. In the chart above I would let Brendan add one sticker to his chart for each book (at his reading level)  he read or after he read several “below his level” books.  Sometimes he also got to add a sticker for his bible reading that day too.

Jack does ClicknKids.com lessons and other reading prep assignments and he gets a sticker for each of those as a rule.

When their charts were filled to certain point they received a reward.

Then I took a different approach for Brendan’s reading goals.

After Brendan’s first chart was filled I changed the goals for his second chart. I want him to focus more on reading chapter books.

I’ve picked out a couple books and listed each on a separate line followed by a number for each chapter he had to read. He puts a sticker on that chapter number when the assignment is completed.

Having these charts will also serve as a record of  his reading and I’ll punch holes in it or put it in a page protector sleeve and stick it in his 2nd Grade notebook I’m building for his end of year assessment (which also becomes a keepsake of his 2nd grade year ).

 Our Morning Task Sticker Chart

Simply put, when the boys finish all 5 tasks (Jack just listens as Brendan reads the bible)  they get a sticker for that day.  Having these charts really helps me, sometimes more than it might help them I suppose. Now if I can just get the boys to do these things with my prodding .

I need to be looking ahead to find more chapter books at Brendan’s level. If you have any suggestions, he’s in 2nd grade, I’d love to read them. And I’d be interested in reading about your methods to getting your kids on any type of routine.

Leave a comment!

*Sharing this post at Women Living Well ,  Crystal & Company’s , Homeschooling on the Cheap & Raising Mighty Arrows link up parties.

This Saturday, January 28th, is McKinley Day in honor of  the late President William McKinley. President McKinley was the 25th President of the United States of America.

Time: 9-4pm

Specials:  Open Hearth Cooking Demo with Samples, Re-enactments & more! Planetarium shows also. See all details here.

Admission:  $5

*Ask about their Family Memberships. I think they are around $50 for one year and includes the science museum reciprocal program where you will get FREE or discounted admission into many other Science Museums in the USA and beyond. But ask first to be sure my info is up-to-date

A peek into Discover World & McKinley Museum

Our family has enjoyed numerous visits to the McKinley Monument & Discover World /McKinley Museum (all on the grounds).

As you’ll see in the video below, the kids enjoy sliding on their bums down the “rails” of the monument steps. At the top of the monument, inside the dome lie the bodies of both President McKinley and his wife Ida and their two daughters who sadly died at very very young ages are interred in the wall.

There is a science level where everyone can interact with different activities, real-life living animals and critters to check out, fossil-archeological discoveries & education about our part of Ohio. See my note about that Mastodon in the picture? There’s also info about the Nobles Pond area. And another level that has been constructed to look like an old fashioned street with businesses, fire station with pole to slide down and other educational set ups.

Jobs & Volunteer Opportunities at McKinley

The McKinley Museum has one or more part-time job openings available and is looking for volunteers. Contact Lynette at the Museum with your interest. Click here for job information.

*They also might still be looking for a zoology student or someone with that kind of experience to work with the live animals in-house.

Here’s a few ideas for using charts.

{On the side, thats my Missions Map from Voice of the Martyrs. I added some of our church’s missionaries to it as well. We haven’t really been using it in school yet, but I am planning to have the kids start writing/ drawing pictures to our missionaries soon.}

Our Daily Goal chart is simply cardstock that I’ve broken down into five days highlighting our “Subject of the Day”. The chart is slid into a sheet protector and I use a dry-erase marker to write down my goals for learning that day. That way I can erase it and write new goals later.

For “Part 2″ I’ll show you my Reading/ Reading Activity charts for the boys.

Why don’t you Subscribe here to get my blog post updates sent right into your email so you don’t miss anything?

*If you’d like to know where I got my FREE printable “Skip Counting” charts- they came from Jolanthe’s site: Homeschool Creations. She has other free printables there too.  You can search for the “Skip Counting”charts by visiting the blog part of her website here.