Scenes in and around Lancaster City, Lancaster PA

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Over 40 Blog Hop

Java at Never  Growing Old is hosting this great hop for us women over 40  Check it Out!!

New friend Friday

New Friend Friday is hosted by The Girl Creative so head over and join in the fun. 

Be on the lookout on this blog for a giveaway soom to celebrate my blogaversary!!

Also check out my book blog for Book giveaways  here.

The Karate Kid

My daughters and I went to see this movie yesterday at our local discount theater.  I  was alittle surprised that it was there already. 

I didn't think that I would like it because I liked the original so much.  But I did like it. 


Spoiler Alert!!!






It was very similar to the original.  They moved (instead of from New Jersey to California, from Detroit to China)  There was a bully guy from the local dojo who liked the girl in the movie.  The teacher from the dojo taught no mercy.  Dre discovers that the building super knows Kung Fu (yeah it was Kung Fu In  the movie but I guess that they wanted the name recognition instead of calling it Kung Fu Kid).   He learns the moves by repeating the same thing over and over.  The teacher (Played here by Jackie Chan) had a tragic event in his life.  Instead of training at the ocean they train on the Great Wall Of China.  It even went so far as to have the tournament play out in the same way as the original. 

The main thing I didn't like about the movie was that Dre (Jaden Smith) was only 12 in the movie and he and the girl started to have a romantic involvement.  Nothing to terribly bad just a kiss and holding hands but I thought that 12 was a little young for this.

I thought that Jaden Smith did a really good job in the main role.  You can definitely tell that he is Will and Jada Smith's son.  I saw glimpses of both of them in him.

The fight scenes are quite violent at times.  There were some pretty young kids in the audience with us and I personally thought that it was probably too violent for them (but that is for their parents to decide)

It is rated PG but I would caution parents with younger children about the violence of the fight scenes.

Jaden does a video with Justin Bieber of the main song that I think has a pretty good message.  I love the line in his rap where he says " no pun intended but I was raised by the power of Will"  Cute.  I look forward to seeing him in more movies. 



     

Homeschooling in Pa

Today I make my yearly trip to the school district to declare my intention to homeschool.  Every year in PA we have to file an affadavit with the school district declaring that we will abide by all the requirements for a homeschooling education.

Getting on Soapbox

One of the things that I have always wondered about was the part in the affadavit that we have to delcare that no one that lives in the house has be convicted of among other things homicide, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, rape.  Now I do understand the States concern about the welfare of the children and I do know that for some people having your children home all day would help conceal some of these crimes.  But my question has always been why don't parents that do send their children to public school have to sign something similar?  Most cases that I have heard of are usually about children and families that are in the school system.  Of course there are the rare cases such as the case a few years ago where a boy who wa homeschooled killed the parents of his girlfriend and and he and the girl took off (my daughter would have graduated with this boy).  But these are few and far between.   I guess they figure that the teachers will pick up on things but with so many children and behavior problems etc.  it is hard for them to catch some of these things. 

Anyway off my soapbox


 I will also have to turn in the objectives of what I hope to cover this year in school.  I usually get these from World Book Typical Course of study.  I use these as a very loose guideline because almost always we go off on tangents and don't get everything covered.  I will admit this seems to happen less in the upper grades but we like to keep our options open. 

I usually turn all of this in in June when our evaluations are due (another thing that we have to turn into the school district.  We have to be evaluated by a certified teacher every year.  But different school district do this differently, our old school district we had to turn in our portfolio (another requirement we have to have a portflio of school work done through out the year to prove that education was taking place) plus our evaluation.  Our current district only requires the evaluation.  They have taken the position that it is the certified teacher's responsibility to determine if an appropriate education is taking place. 

I have been told that PA is one of the most retrictive as far as homeschooling is concerned.  I have found that as long as you take care of these requirements in June and August and don't give anyone concern about the treatment of your children it is not that bad. 

     

Awesome Freebie!!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day is back from their vacation and has an awesome freebie if your child is interested in cartooning.  Check it out.  They look like they have alot of good stuff coming up this week.  you can sign up for their newsletter and receive a headsup of what they will be offering every week plus get an extra freebie. 

Toy Story 3

Okay so I am a little late to the party on this movie.  Hannah and I went to see it on Wednesday.  I am alittle hesitant to pay $13 dollars a person to see a movie when I can wait a few weeks and see at out budget theater for $2.  Of Course it is not in 3D. 

Well if any one knows me they know that I love Disney and anything to do with Disney including the movies so I decided that Toy Story should be seen in 3D.

It has been 11 years since Toy Story 2 came out (Hannah was four!)

If you don't know the storyline by now here it is:  Andy is going away to college and the toys are worried about what will happen to them.  The usual misunderstandings occur and they meet some other toys that haven't had good owners like Andy.  They end up at a daycare center.  And of course they have to adjust to that situation. 

I got misted eyed at several of the scenes and I was sad to know that this is the last Toy Story (funny I didn't have the same reaction to the last Shrek movie).

I would say it was worth it to see it in theaters and I will be definitely adding it to our DVD collection.

Several other interesting Movies coming out Including the next Chronicles of Narnia Which the Trailer is here



Newe Pirates of the Caribbean


Tron:

I also want to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice  but I will wait till it comes to the budget theater.

These are all Disney releases (told you I like Disney)

Ransomed Dreams by Sally John

Ransomed Dreams by Sally John

See the first chapter peak at my book blog  A Room without Books is Empty

New Blog Hop for the over 40 crowd!! and New Friend Follow

I found a new blog hop for blogger who are over 40.  I do love reading about people and their families but I really wanted to connect with some bloggers who were closer to my age.  I hope to do that this week.

Of Course I have to do New Friend Follow 



I have found so many neat blogs through this weekly blog hop.

Just click on the buttons if you want to join in on the fun.

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wordless Wednesday

Waterfalls at a Mini Gold Course.  Don't think that the water is really that blue.

Dick Van Dyke Show Season 2 dvd box set

My Husband , daughter and myself have really been enjoying this series.  We had already watched the first season  so had decided to go ahead and get the second season.  I don't know why but we didn't remember very many of these episodes.  It was like watching a whole new series.  We laughed at all antics the gang got into.  We all three snuggled up in our bed after supper and would watch one or two a night.  My 15 year old daughter loves old shows and would ask everynight to watch these. 
There was smoking and drinking which you probably wouldn't show on shows these days (except on MadMen)  Nice to be able to watch a comedy show that didn't show the characters hopping in bed together all the time or making sex jokes.  There was alot of affection but it was between husband and wife and they did sleep in separate beds Sally does date alot and even gets engaged but no talk of premarital sex at all. 

This set also contains pictures and interviews from the cast remembering certain shows or expressions

Did you know the the Actor that played Jerry Helper (Jerry Paris) went on to produce and direct Happy Days?

some of our favorite episodes
What's in a Middle Name?  Rob and Laura explain to Ritchie why his middle name is ROSEBUD
Gesundheit Darling  Rob think she's allergic to his family
It May Look Like A Walnut  Rob watches a scifi show before bed and has a nightmare.



These series are reasonably priced two at just 16.99 a season.  Great Family entertainment.

 

New Friend Friday

Welcome to All you new friends.  
 
Head over to my book Blog for a first chapter peak at In a Heartbeat by the Tuohy's (they are the family that The Blindside was about).  
 
Find out what happened in history this month by heading over to Eyewitness to History  .  A great website that is told from eyewitness reports.

My daughter is wanting to buy an expensive pair of sneakers.  I am thinking of joining my chore chart to help her earn a little extra money. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

 
 

Wordless Wednesday

My Husband Tying up our trees so that they won't bend in the snow

Twitter Hop Thursday

Welcome to Twitter Hop Thursday, hosted by Simply Stacie, The King's Court IV, Little Yaya's, and Review Retreat!

Click on the button to join in on the fun. 

Happy Birthday Hannah and Fouth of July

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July 3rd through August 15th Air Conditioners appreciation days

July 3rd through August 15th are the official days of Air-conditioner appreciation.

With the temperatures around here getting into the 100s I know that I am staying inside and enjoying my air-conditioning.  

Stay Cool Everyone!!

Unwilling Warrior by Andrea Boeshaar

Check out my review of this book on my Book Blog A Room without Books is Empty

New Friend follow

Click on the button above to join in on all the fun. 

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona Ingram

From Good Reads: Cousins Justin and Adam are ecstatic about accompanying their aunt to Egypt. Both love adventure and know the work of James Kinnaird, an archaeologist searching for the tomb of an ancient Egyptian ruler, the Scarab King. Some dismiss the tomb as legend, but Justin and Adam believe differently.

From the moment their plane lands, Justin and Adam bounce from one mysterious event to another, starting from the moment a street peddler gives Adam an ancient scarab. Dr. Khalid, head of the department of antiquities and research at the Egyptian Museum, shows excessive interest in the cousins and their relic. Then, when the boys learn that James Kinnaird is missing, they realize something sinister is afoot.
Kidnapped and taken across the desert, the boys are plunged into serious danger and chased by ruthless enemies. Dr. Khalid will stop at nothing to discover the Scarab King's tomb and claim its treasures. But he has underestimated the boys' ingenuity.
Join Justin and Adam as they evade their captors and unravel the secrets of the Scarab King. Relying on their wits, courage, and each other, the boys must solve the mystery of the sacred scarab and rescue James Kinnaird before time runs out.

My Take: What a great summer read for tween boys especially. This book has all of the elements that boys would find interesting, boys for the main character, the adventure of Egypt the mystery behind the Sacred Scarab and the action of the chase and kidnapping. Girls will enjoy this book as well.
A by- product of this books may spark an interest in Egytian culture and history and what a better way for kids to spend time than learning. Great book!!