Awhile ago, I got an email from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. They asked people if they would be interested in being a product reviewer for TOS. I thought is something that I could do! So I emailed them back. Well, after a short process later, I was picked as one of their reviewers! Out of 500 applicants, they chose 100. So I am one of 100! We are still the new phase of the program which should last for about 9 months. I will probably review about 50 homeschool products.

TOS gets to use anything I write, and I get to keep the products!
So, keep an eye out for a few reviews, cause that's what i'm doing! That's how we are getting "paid". I believe that they are also going to put a diddy about each of us in the actual magazine, once our nine months is about up.

I've always thought it would be fun to write for a magazine.. and i'm one step closer! How cool is that?

There's a lot that's been going on in my neck of the woods lately. Sept. 22nd, Rod started courses at SVC for Computer Information Systems. If all goes as planned, he'll end up with a CIS certificate. Still waiting for unemployment to approve or not approve an unemployment extension. He's begun, and he's enjoying it.

We just got a used piano. Someone through our co-op posted on our First Class Google Group that she had a friend who wanted to get rid of her piano. I've been wishing I could get my hands on one for years. Even going to far as to look through craigslist to see if I could find one for free. But I was really reluctant to get one that way. I've thought about getting a keyboard, but I just didn't want my kids learning on one.. even though, i'm sure we'll end up with one eventually.

We were able to get ahold of the piano lady & it must have been ordained. I actually know her! Well, I did in highschool anyway. She was the mom of one of my very good friends! So we were able to talk & catch up. A few days later, we went to her house to look at it. Turns out, it was the same 'kind' that I've always wanted. It's an upright grand. Heavy as the house, though! We have another friend, Mike, who owns a party rental business (www.airplayrental.com). He has a lift truck! So him and another friend Matt went with Josiah and Rod and moved the piano. So I didn't pay anything for the piano or to move it!

A couple of gals from Friday School have loaned me a couple of kids piano books. I don't know what I did with the one that I used to have from when we lived at the church. I suppose i'll find it eventually!

Kids have officially begun school. We are also doing swimming lessons. Looks like I will be adding music lessons to that as well. I played flute for years, and we've only had the piano a few days and I'm quite surprised with how much I've picked up. The boys have been teasing me saying things like "I thought you didn't know how to play piano, Mom!" I'll take that as a compliment, thank you!

Friday School started a couple of weeks ago as well. I'm making espresso. I have definately gotten better at it. Rod's teaching three Rockin' classes: Extreme Toothpick Engineering, Pop Bottle Explorer and Let's Play Chess. All three of those is going well. It took quite a bit of prepwork to get the toothpick class together! Josiah is taking Faith's spanish class and loving it! I was hoping that would be a good choice for him. He loves his name translated into Spanish Josias with the emphasis on "si".

Personally I've been taking a couple of Digital Scrapbooking classes online through www.jessicasprague.com using my Photoshop CS3 that I got not too long ago. One of the layouts I've done is at the top of this post. That's been going well, my new layouts are really fun. I'll have to post a few more. I really have been enjoying it because it's challenging, fun and making me use the digital materials and photos that i have. Definately curbs the creative bug that I have!
I guess that's all for now....

For those of you who don't know what TOS is, it is a couple of things...
It is a place to keep up to date on what's going on in the homeschooling world.
It is a place to find curriculum and other homeschooling products.
It is a place to get connected and encouraged.
It is a magazine that Homeschooling Moms should have!

I wanted to tell you all about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Fall
Special. You can get two years of the magazine, 6 fabulous physical
gifts (no downloads!) worth over $120, plus the current issue of The
Old Schoolhouse Magazine that is full of ideas for the new school
year, so you start receiving your magazine in a flash!

It really is one of their best deals ever and you don't want to miss
out. In fact, they've got a really cute Homeschooling with Heart tote
bag (valued at $13.95) for the first 1000 to subscribe. About half of
them are gone, but you should still be able to get one if you hurry!
(They will remove the info from the subscription page when the bags
are all gone.) The total value is over $212, but you receive it all
for only $39 - 50% off of cover price! Plus subscribers get their
online monthly Teacher's Toolbox which focuses on a different topic
each month, giving you words of encouragement, hands-on teaching
ideas, book recommendations, field trip ideas, and a bonus download
item. To subscribe or get more information, click on the TOS picture!

If you want to take a sneak peek - click on this link to get a free Digital Back issue of TOS!