November 25, 2009

Brainy Baby & Handsfree Mommy



There are times when you just have to put the baby down. No, no. I'm serious. If I held him all day (as all of us would love to do)... the laundry, the schoolwork, the cooking, and all of life as we know it would grind to a halt.

I know you are shaking your head in unbelief. "Who would put a baby that cute down in a walker? Are you kidding me? And in front of a television set?"

Sad, isn't it?

Life must go on - even with a cute baby in the house.

Being a mama that doesn't like television that much, I have to rely on videos we purchase, rent or get as gifts. We chose to prevent TV from rotting our brains a long time ago after noticing that almost all TV was trash anyway. I don't like having control over the agenda (and there's a lot of agenda-pushing these days - even on children's programming). Oh, I'll watch TV now and then. I have been known to sit through a Law and Order marathon when visiting the in-laws over holidays - to be sure... just so you know I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty.

We're a 'prime-time'-challenged family. Don't ask me who is an American Idol because I will only stare at you and blink. I have never watched a full episode of Glee, or Lost, or Desperate Housewives. I can also finally admit that I've only seen one series of 24, too. I haven't even seen a day's worth of PBS programming since my ten year old was about 2. The brief year that we did pay for cable, we were sickened by the advertisements (too many companies catering to non-kid-and-family-friendly bents) and astonished by the amazing amount of unwatchable gobbledygook available to fritter our brains away on.

Our past experience with TV and Cable Programming is why I have some standards for my videos. I didn't say HIGH standards because I'm sure there's a stricter and more godly mom out there. Certainly there are more classy and polished homeschool families as well... some that might scoff at us for allowing our kids to see Lord of the Rings or collect Sponge Bob DVDs. I met a Christian homeschooling mom once that didn't allow her kids to watch Veggie Tales, either. Even the adults like them in our house - sorry, but we don't find being silly offensive even in a serious world. We aren't above enjoying some twaddle now and then, but it has to be clean twaddle.

Lately we pretty much watch any videos we have that will keep baby's attention long enough to afford us thirty or forty-five minutes of free time. Free time offers us the ability to use BOTH hands while eating a sandwich for lunch, enough time to get a subject completed for school, or enough time to rotate the laundry, cook dinner and/or do the dishes. He's almost too big for the swing and already too big for the bouncy seat, so the TV is our friend.

Brainy Baby is the latest edition to our kid-friendly DVDs (product was sent to us to review). We have one or two Baby Einstein shows, a slew of old PBS VHS tapes, and almost all of the Disney movies. There's quite a selection, but not many of the flicks we have will hold baby's attention for longer than five or ten minutes. I wondered if the Brainy Baby would be any different. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised that they were.



I even conducted a little scientific research of my own by observing what the differences in the movies that he likes the best are verses the ones he won't watch. It seems that Kohen (as an 8 month old baby) is interested most by other babies (especially faces), real animals, and talking or singing (things that Brainy Baby all contain plenty of). He's not so interested in animation, 2D objects (such as alphabets and shapes), or comics. He zones out watching adult movies with talking scenes as if he's really interested in them, but will fidget and balk at Sponge Bob. What he loves the best about his Brainy Baby shows are the baby faces and the talking and moving children and people. He'll literally sit through the whole show until they do the alphabet part. He adores the Laugh & Learn (for ages 1-3). We have the ABC's show, too, and look forward to growing in to it.



I love it that he's learning something besides how to flip a crabby patty (no offense, Sponge Bob lovers). And as much as I love Sesame Street, there's only so much of the "Honky Ducky Dinger Jamboree" that I can handle. We were thrilled to add these baby-friendly DVDs to our collection so Kohen can learn while being entertained. Selfishly, we're also glad that he likes them because it affords us hands-free moments in our daily routine that keep our house from complete chaos.

And that's a GOOD thing.

November 23, 2009

Week of Thanksgiving


Here at the Bee house we have a lot going on as we prepare for Thanksgiving. We have three days of school this week, a long list of chores to get done, and some work on the Homeschool Blog Awards - helping to get you the winner list as quickly as possible.

In honor of my favorite holiday (yes, I love Thanksgiving), I wanted to focus this week on GRATITUDE. My dear online buddy, Ann always has such a wonderful Gratitude Project going on over at her blog - year round. I thought I would jump in and participate for a change (posts about it will be forthcoming)... even though I really don't know what I'm doing. Which is sadly the case in most instances.

Last night I finished my Faith Project, too. I've had it on the back burner since I got my blog redesigned this summer. I hope you'll click over and take a look at it. I love the way it turned out.

Please join me in counting your blessings this week as we move towards Thanksgiving. I'd love to hear your ideas about what you do with your children to instill gratitude in them during this holiday season. We're always looking for new ideas to shake things up and inspire our creative side.

P.S. I shared a link to my Thanksgiving Recipes up there if you click on Thanksgiving. You're welcome!

November 20, 2009

Photographic Homeschool Mama's Software Wishes



Besides being a wife, mama, and homeschooler - I'm a photo nut. This should come as no surprise to those of you who have ever been here before.

Photo nuts heart Adobe. That's just a given fact. See? You aren't learning anything new yet. But you will... just wait...

The photo up above was altered in Lightroom by my friend Dawn. It looks like a pro photo, right? Well, at least I thought so. I may be a bit biased.

I emailed the picture to Dawn to see what she would do with it in Lightroom because I love playing with pictures. And I love seeing what other people create when they play with pictures. Just look at the difference...

Here's the SOOC (straight out of the camera):



Amazing, hu?

Software is expensive, though! Who can afford all the stuff that pro photographers use?! I wanted to give them a try though. So I did. After using trail versions of Photoshop and Lightroom, I'm now hooked. The only hurdle is the price.


Students and teachers save up to 80% on software!

That's why it is great that you can buy discounted software (and lots of other things) at Academic Superstore. I love them so much that I signed up to be an affiliate. I'm so thrilled to find a company with such great prices - and they are even local (Austin based)... aren't I lucky?

You only have to submit proof that you are homeschooling (such as a receipt for your homeschool curriculum you purchased) to get the awesome student/teacher discount they offer - up to 85% off on certain items in their store!

On my wish list are these items:

Photoshop CS4 ($298.95)
Lightroom ($98.95)
Windows 7 ($119.95)
Office Professional 2007 ($179.95)

You just can't beat those prices. Even if it takes me a long time to get them purchased (likely), at least they are doable one-at-a-time at 50-85% off. If you are pining away and planning to buy some upgraded software this Christmas (especially if you are a homeschool parent), be sure to check out Academic Superstore! Even better, click over and buy your stuff from here! You'll help me save up towards my Christmas wishes.




Quick Links:
Another Post where I used Pioneer Woman's Photoshop Actions
Admit it, You Came for the Pictures (and another)

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Graphics, photos and text (unless stated otherwise) are the intellectual property and copyright of Heather - aka - Sprittibee (© 2005-2009). Link with small excerpts if you wish. Please contact me for written permission to repost or print entire posts. All graphics and photographs require written permission for any type of use unless permission is granted in the post they are contained in.


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