A lot of Life is going on

There are tons of new things happening around Luv'N Lambert Life.  We are extremely busy in the new year with life, laughter and love.  Doctors appointments have filled our weeks.  Expectancy fills our days.

We happily announce and patiently await the arrival of our newest little Luv due September 6, 2012.  Baby Lambert will be a joy to our days and lives.  Every one is excited to have a new little one to love and share with in the house again.

Morning sickness has been kicking my Momma butt.  I'm currently on medication to keep life manageable after suffering some serious effects this pregnancy.  The meds help and I'm extremely thankful.  I'm enjoying every moment of feeling this little bean grow in my tummy.  I'm still undecided if this will be our last baby but I'm leaning on the side of "yes".  I feel more than 4 c-sections would be pushing the health risks a little too much but I am still praying over my decision in this.

My Emma has been in physical therapy for the past few weeks to correct her toe-walking issues.  She has an MRI on Monday to recheck for tethering of her spinal cord, after her last test was not performed correctly.  I am praying for positive results still.

My Laycie is also in therapy.  She will have her first OT and PT evals next Tuesday to help with her motor developement.  She is already in speech therapy to help her pronounce her words and sounds correctly.  It's a bit too early to say if it is helping or not.  I suppose time will tell there.

My Bubba is just hanging out while all these girls do their stuff.  He's enjoying some new games he got for Christmas.  He's been watching a lot of fun and educational stuff on Netflix lately which always helps with school. 

Soon taxes will come back and be spent on the "extra's" we will use throughout the year: new camera for Momma, new printer for school, and hopefully new tvs for the kids. These are the hopes we have at least.  I'd also like to get passes to a few things like the State Parks and Zoo this year for the kids but we will see.  Always so much to do with so little time and money.

Well duty calls... until next time...

TOS Review: KinderBach

For this review, I was asked to view KinderBach at Home.  KinderBach is an at-home piano education curriculum for children.  It is available online, on iPad, or by CD and it is for children ages 3-7. 

KinderBach provides six levels of 60 weeks in piano instruction for young children.  The videos are very entertaining.  Each lesson provides activities for your child to complete, leading up to a little over a years work of music for your child.

KinderBach also provides a similar music instruction program for schools available through their website.  You may purchase a one-day pass of KinderBach for $5.95, a month long pass for $19.99, or a year long subscription for $95.88.  KinderBach is also available per DVD/CD package starting at $40.45.  For limited time, KinderBach is offering a 40% off coupon available on their website.

My children did enjoy this program but not nearly as much as I was hoping.  For the musically inclined family this program would be absolutely perfect.  Such a fun and easy way to learn piano at home for the young and the old too!

KinderBach can be bought online through their website.  To read more reviews of this program, please visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew blog!

*Disclaimer - The online version of this program was provided to the TOS Crew by KinderBach in exchange for an honest review of the product.

TOS Review: Maestro Classic Swan Lake

Maestro Classic's The Story of Swan Lake is a beautiful cd tribute to one of the greatest classical tales written.  This wonderful cd quickly became a favorite in my house.  My 8 year old budding artist absolutely loved it and so did her fanciful 3 year old sister. 

Not only is the classical ballet available on this cd but much more.  My children particularly enjoyed the bonus sing-a-long, as well as the Speed Metal Swan piece provided.  They loved dancing and playing along with the music.

Maestro Classic has many available classic ballets and more for your listening pleasure.  The CD's are available from Amazon.com and iTunes for immediate download.  The Story of Swan Lake is $16.98 for CD and $9.98 for MP3 Download.  This product is recommend for ages 5+ and families. 

***JANUARY SPECIAL: Order a Swan Lake CD or MP3 download, and Maestro Classics will automatically send you an additional free MP3 Swan Lake orchestral version!***
Read more reviews of The Story of Swan Lake at the TOS Homeschool Crew!

TOS Review: REAL Homeschool Spanish

REAL Homeschool Spanish is written by Dr. Karyn Williamson-Coria, a loving mother of three wonderful boys. The idea for this program began when she was unable to find time to teach her young boys foriegn language at home. Using a foriegn language curriculum left her feeling overwhelmed with preparation and educating her children. So she created REAL Homeschool Spanish.

REAL Homeschool Spanish teaches the parent along with the child. The program was built to provide education through conversation, instead of repeative skills. It was created to be simple in approach and method so as not to overwhelm families while learning a new language, resulting in better memorization and education in the language.

REAL Homeschool Spanish is created specifically for Homeschool families to use. The program was created for ages 5-13 in grades K-8th but would be great for anyone interested in learning foriegn language. Downloads for the program begin at $49.95 and the complete program in print form costs $99.95. You can purchase this curriculum directly from the website.

For more reviews of REAL Homeschool Spanish, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

*Disclaimer - this item was provided to me free for review by TOS Homeschool Magazine Review Crew and REAL Homeschool Spanish.

Organized Hearts, Organized Homes

There's a new group on Facebook called Organized Hearts, Organized Homes.  This wonderful group of ladies is working hard to organize their lives from the inside out.  This journey began with a spark of an idea brought on by a study from Dandelion Seeds (http://www.dandelionseeds.com/) which I will post the link to in just a few minutes and an overwhelmed Mom in need of change. 

Organized Hearts, Organized Homes is about more than organizing the house.  It's about changing ourselves to be better than ever before.  It's about supporting women and men who are organizationally challenged in life and in home.  It's about building a strong friendship with others who understand the lives we have been secretly living. 

All members are welcome to join our group on Facebook.  Anyone who may need support in journeying through an unorganized life can join and participate.  Feel free to journal, blog, share with others about your journey. 

The link for the study Create In Me A Clean Heart: A Devotional for the Disorganized from Dandelion Seeds can be found HERE!

Feel free to use this button code with your blog post, though blogging is not a requirement, nor is a link back (though it is always appreciated).

<a href="http://www.luvnlambertlife.com/2011/12/organized-hearts-organized-homes.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6585436121_36df6d4c80_m.jpg" alt="Organized Hearts, Organized Homes" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Please copy and paste the link to your blog as you choose to share.

We look forward to walking through this journey with you for the 2012 year of Organization!  Please join us on Facebook at Organized Hearts, Organized Homes!  Simply request to join!!

December Update from Us!

Our life is pretty busy right now with the Christmas Holidays, a looming 11th Birthday and lots and lots of doctors appointments.  Christmas will be past this weekend and the lovely summer-like weather outside leaves us feeling more like Christmas in July than December.  There definitely will not be a White Christmas for those of us in Georgetown, SC this year!

Next Wednesday, my handsome son is turning 11!  It's been a fight just to keep his day free of doctors appointments for his sister but Momma has been insistant that they leave my boy's big day free and clear for him alone.  It's so easy to get lost in the shuffle when two of your sisters have health issues.  I have always tried to make sure that his day is special, especially when Christmas also steals so much from it too.  So this year we will be having his party on his big day complete with a sleepover with all our good friends.  And we can't wait!!

As for the doctors visits, my sweet Emmalee is keeping us busy, not with seizures this time but instead with her toe walking.  Her doctor is sending us for a quick MRI of her spine to be sure it isn't tethered causing her to toe walk.  Then back to her office on Thursday for a full physical and hopefully the results of the MRI which I pray are negative.  After the first of the year, depending on the results of the MRI, we will have more appointments with more doctors to repair whatever is going on with my beautiful girl.  It promises to be a busy New Year for us in 2012.

So we will definitely be busy this coming year with school and doctors and simply loving life together.  Bring it on, 2012... we impatiently await your arrival with cheer!!

Another Day

There are days when I just don’t know how to do this: how to be a Mom, a wife, a teacher. I want to throw my hands up and say I quit, I give up, I’m done and I do for the moment but never completely.
I wonder if God feels this way sometimes too. I wonder if He wishes He had never created this upside world that spins through His galaxy. How He manages to handle those of us who just can’t seem to get it right in life.

I want to get my life together. I want to stay on track. I want to be grown up and the mother and wife I’m supposed to be but how do I make that happen? There never seems to be enough time in the day to make life fall into place.

And I wonder, what is it that I wait on? Our lives are to be lived each day, yet I simply don’t feel like I’m living it. I feel like I’m wandering through trying to locate a lost path that blew away in a rainstorm long ago. Depression overtakes the mind and seemingly controls the soul but I know that God can overcome this as He does all things, in His time so long as I hold onto a mustard seed of faith and personally, I have immense faith in God and His works.

So another day into this life I journey, trying hard to find my way. There is so much that I need to do but so little time. I suppose the most important things get done, like growing strong babies with loving hearts and inquisitive minds and as long as I get that much done, my life will be complete and fulfilled. I’ll find my way, I’ll find my path with God’s help and guidance showing me the way. I’m already there, I just have to wake up and see it and as always tomorrow is a brand new day. <3

TOS Review: I See Cards Fractazmic

Fractazmic is a fun fraction card game full of fraction action from I See Cards.  This game allows your child to learn fractions at their own personal level in a fun way.  Children of all ages will enjoy playing Fractazmic, specially those in grade levels 1-8. 

Made from sturdy material, the 60 colorful cards are clearly numbered and each is labeled with the fraction and a corresponding graphic.  The deck is sorted into three distinct sets of cards: The Twelfths Suit (Blue), The Tenths Suit (Green) and The Sixteenths Suit (Red). Fractazmic teaches children to quickly convert and add fractions, reinforces using fractions in real life, and also reinforces the relationship of fractions and measurements.

The aim of this game is to combine the fractions in a suit to create a hand of 1 whole.  The player who creates the most "hands" wins the game.  Fractazmic can be played by an individual child alone for practice but is designed to be played by 2-4 people in game format. 

This fun, educational card game is priced at $6.95 US and is available through I See Cards online.  For more reviews on Fractazmic and other I See Cards products please visit the TOS Review Crew Blog.

*Disclaimer - This product was provided to me free in exchange for my honest opinion in a review from I See Cards and The Old School House Homeschool Review Crew.