Earn free books from Scholastic

Stop over here to learn about the Scholastic Learn and Earn program. Your child can earn free books for completing reading and math activities and submitting a redemption form.

According to the official rules, there is a limit of 5 free books per household. Offer expires October 15, 2011 or when 1,250 sets have been awarded.

*** Disclaimer-- I have not tried this to see that is actually works. It looks valid. Susan T

11th Annual Park 'N the Park Car Show

If your family enjoys classic cars you might be interested in the classic car show that will be held on Saturday, April 23 from 10am-3pm at Cabezon Park in Rio Rancho (Unser and Cabezon Blvd). It's free and will have over 400 classic cars of all makes and models, arts, crafts and fun jumps. More info here. We'll be there, wind permitting!

Aerate anyone?

Brad is renting an aerater this weekend for our yard. (April 15th & 16th) (Aerating:  Puts little holes in the ground to for some air in it to help the grass grow better.) It is $90 if you rent one on your own for the day.  The last few times we have aerated it has worked out well because other families wanted their yard aerated too, and they went in on it, so it ended up being $20 a yard.  Brad is even willing to come over and do it for you, since the thing is a heavy bugger. So, let us know.  He can pick it up Friday afternoon.

 

e-mail to rogersareblessed(at)gmail(dot)com

 

or call Brad R. in the Ventana Ward directory

Pioneer Day Camp

Calling all pioneer children!

Come join us for a westward trek as we learn about the pioneers! We'll be having a grand time as we travel to Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, Chimney Rock, and the Salt Lake Valley on a four day adventure.

Here's a small sampling of some of the activities we'll be doing:

• butter churning
• stick pulling
• button yo-yos
• horseshoe throwing
• crafts
• singing
• marshmallow roasting
• story-telling
• family picnic on the last day

This will be a great opportunity to teach your children about their pioneer heritage in a fun and energetic setting.

Details are as follows:
Ages: 4-6
When: Four days, July 18-22 (NOT on Wednesday, July 20)
Time: 9:30 am to 12 pm
Food: Snacks and drinks will be provided
Cost: $40; family discount rate of $35/child
Location: Chelsey J's house

There will be a limit to how many children can attend, so please register early. There will be a $10 non-refundable deposit due when registering your child. Please contact me at chelsey DOT jorgensen AT gmail DOT com or call me on the phone number in the ward directory to register. Payment will be accepted via check or Paypal.

Your child is welcome to invite a friend to register as well. This would be an excellent missionary opportunity!

The Mother Load Sale

Here is the link to a really great consignment sale in ABQ.

Its this weekend!

www.themotherloadsaleABQ.com

Enjoy!

Book club discussion leader needed!

Hi Book club ladies,

I have a friend coming into town, she's going to be staying with me and she doesn't want to go to book club. So can someone else take over leading the Hobbit discussion for me? I'm sad to miss it. Thanks, Renee' W.

Seeds, seeds, and more seeds

A couple weeks ago I posted the link for Seeds of Change and their big seed giveaway. Well, mine arrived yesterday, and I was blessed with a bounty I'd love to share if someone needs seeds.

Specifically, I have 5 packets of tomato seeds, all different varieties, to add to the two varieties (around 15 plants each) I've already got sprouting in my kitchen. I think this is too many tomato plants even for me. I had already been planning to share my seedlings, so let me know if you like to grow tomatoes.

Then there are the flowers. I've heard of California poppies (hm, it says 'medicinal'; I never knew that.) and marigolds (pinwheel variety--heirloom it says) before, but I also have seeds for eryngium blaukappe, Jerusalem sage, red flame celosia, orange granade safflower, and calabrian soapwort. The pictures look pretty, but if someone has a favorite among these let me know.

Peppers. I know this is New Mexico, and I'm learning to enjoy a little jolt in my dinner, but I have started a packet of bell pepper seeds already and now I have a paprika and a criolla sella chile pepper packet. I'd be happy with maybe 1 or 2 plants of each.

Pumpkins. Um, last year we didn't even carve a pumpkin (the two I bought ended up on the compost pile. This packet of Jack-o-lite pumpkin seeds should go to a family that wants "8-15 lb." pumpkins.

Cumin. An interesting novelty item for me, but maybe a favorite staple for someone else?

Even if everything I've mentioned gets taken, I'll still be left with melons, squash, onions, leeks, radishes, and 4 varieties of leafy greens, so don't be shy! I'm in the directory (Ventana Ward) or you can email me at debbie at thewagers dot org. If I end up growing all this stuff you'll surely be hearing from me again!

Craft fair this Saturday at Tierra Antigua

Tierra Antigua Elementary PTA is going to be hosting their First Annual Craft Fair this Saturday, April 16th from 10am - 3pm. It will be in the cafeteria. Crafters and Home-based Businesses will be there. There will be over 31 booths. There is no charge to get in. Our Principal Jami Jacobson will even have a booth with her homemade jewelry. Should be fun!

Alterations

I am in need of someone who can do some alterations on a suit. I am not a seamstress and Aaron needs a suit altered. The only catch is that we need it by Thursday. I will pay or trade or whatever. Email me at aaronandjenparkin{at}yahoo{dot}com.

Printer Cartridges

I have brand new hp 61 black and 61 tri color printer cartridges that I bought thinking they were the right ones and opened to find out they are not- Ooops! If anyone has a printer that uses these you can have them for free. Just email me at sarahewmartin at gmail dot com. Thanks!

Please keep them in your prayers

For all you long time members of the Ventana Ward you might remember Ken and
Julie Sensanbaugher.  They had 3 little boys and lived in the same home that
Richardsons lived in.  There sweet little Gavin (7) passed away this Saturday,
April 9.  This past week he came down with flu like symptoms, but nothing too
serious at first.  He ended up going into cardiac arrest which caused severe
brain damage.  Surgery didn't help and he passed away today.  You can go to
www.caringbridge.org/visit/sensanbaugher to read their journal about the week
and to leave a message for them. 

Portable clothing rack?

This is a long shot but I'm wondering if anyone has a portable clothing rack I can borrow for a couple days next week. Something like this: Please let me know via email: anmfrost(at)hotmail(dot)com and I will come pick it up. I need it for Monday and Tuesday. Thanks! Monique F.

Avent Bottle Sterilizer

Hello Ladies,

I have an Avent Bottle Sterilizer that holds 6 Avent bottles (or similar size and shape, I would imagine) and can be used in the microwave. Early on in Lily's life I decided that what with the amount of times a day she was licked by our dog in the face, sterilizing her bottles in addition to washing them was kind of pointless. But perhaps you like to sterilize, and I commend you for that. Anyway, it's free, it's brand new in the box, please take it off my hands or it's going to the Salvation Army. Email me at tim dot sara dot rauch at gmail dot com.

Frugal Easter Basket Ideas

I found this great post on a blog I subscribe to, and I thought I'd pass it along. She has some fantastic ideas for frugal (and useful!) easter baskets. Enjoy!

http://charlottemasoneducation.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/frugal-easter-basket-ideas/

Sale on children's winter clothing

I just wanted to mention that Wal-Mart is having a sale on their children's winter clothing. I grabbed a ton of fleece and thermal pajamas for Averi for only $1 each. They had some adorable toddler shoes for $3, and several other cute things for just a few dollars (or less!). Definitely worth checking it out to see if there are any basics to stock up on.

An Alternative

I have been tossing this idea around for a while and figured I would just go for it.

I love to read. All kinds of books. If I could read all day I would. Okay, not entirely true. I would also sleep some and eat an embarrasing amount of chocolate. But I would definitely read more than I do.


There. I have said it.
My name is Stefanie Burns and I am a slow reader.

If I am going to read a book, it has to be something that interests me and that I can see myself finishing in the 10 minute increments in the restroom that are available to me. 

With that being said, I am going to start an alternative book club. I have been really nervous about how to approach this because I really don't want to offend anyone. I know there is already an established book club. One I attend. Often. (Okay, not lately. Dang work.)

Sadly, I am rarely ever able to finish the books. Again, slow reader.

This new book club will meet the second Tuesday of every month in the evening. That way you can attend both book clubs if you want. Then there is no conflict.

So the first meeting will be May 10th at 7:30pm at my house. We are going to be reading "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. It won the Newbery award in 1994. Here is a synopsis of the book (thank you wikipedia):


The Giver is a 1993 soft science fiction novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a future society which is at first presented as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. When Jonas meets the Giver, he is confused in many ways. The Giver is also able to break some rules, such as turning off the speaker and lying to people of the community. As Jonas receives the memories from the previous receiver—the "Giver"—he discovers the power of knowledge. The people in his community are happy because they don't know of a better life but the knowledge of what they are missing out on could create chaos. He faces a dilemma: Should he stay with the community, his family living a shallow life without love, color, choices and knowledge or should he run away to where he can live a full life?
If this interests you, let me know.

stef.burns at gmail.com.

Huggies Coupons

I have four $2 off Huggies diapers coupons if anyone's interested.  They expire this Saturday, so if you want them let me know ASAP so I can get them to you.

debrarivard at hotmail dot com

PRIVATE garage sale!

Ladies! I am getting rid of ALL of my maternity clothes and boy clothes (sizes Newborn-6 years) at a private garage sale at my home.

Date: Tuesday, April 12

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Place: Monique F. house (call if you need directions)

I have tons of name brand boy clothes (Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, Children's Place) in great condition that need a new home. Items will be $1-2 each.

Maternity clothes for all seasons mostly in sizes M and L. Prices will vary. I have lots of summer stuff for you gals who are pregnant right now!

I am only advertising on this blog but feel free to bring friends/family/neighbors. If you are interested but cannot make it on Tuesday, let me know and I will work something out with you!

need to borrow a ladder

(update- I'VE GOT IT NOW- THANKS!)
I need to borrow an A-frame ladder from Friday morning to Saturday morning. I don't want a HUGE one- just one to fit in my van but still stands 4 feet tall or so....
email to melissa dot lee dot spencer at gmail dot com

Chore chart/Schooling chart

Found this free chart for chores and/or for schoolwork. It's a PDF file. You have to join the site and then checkout. If you click the paypal one, you don't have to put in any info.

http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=23303&affiliate_id=378

piggyback on my order?

Below I've listed Amazon's prices for some of the books in our que. Does anyone want me to order some books for them so we can combine to get the free shipping? Let me know by Wednesday night if you're interested in getting any of these.

Zeitoun: $9.38
The Graveyard Book: $7.99
Blink: $8.63

email melissa dot lee dot spencer at gmail dot com

Book Club genre change, next lineup

At the last book club meeting it was proposed that we re-vamp the genres of books we read and their order of appearance in the que. We also selected the following books to discuss. Hopefully this will allow people to read at their own pace and grab books as they find them for good prices (can we say Amazon Super Saver shipping?)

In an effort to save space (and keep it brief for people less interested) I have posted short synopses/reviews of each book at the official blog of our book club at http://youvegottoreadthisbook.blogspot.com

FYI These books and categories were selected by the majority of people in attendance (if you don't like it I'm sorry! I'm just the messenger!)

Does anyone volunteer to lead discussions for the needed books?

Many thanks to all you awesome ladies who make Book Club so fun.
Melissa



2011 Book Lineup- April through October

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mystery

April 21st

The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien

Led by Renee W.

Hosted at Wendy R's home



Religious/Foreign Culture

May 19th

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

Led by Sara R.

Hosted in the Spencer Backyard



Prize Winning Literature

June 16th

The Graveyard book by Neil Gaiman

Need a discussion leader

Hosted in the Spencer Backyard



Self-Help

July 21st

The parenting breakthrough by Merrilee Browne Boyack

Need a discussion leader

Hosted in the Spencer Backyard



Classic

August 18th

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Need a discussion leader

Hosted in the Spencer Backyard



Bestseller

September 15th

(need a bestseller- perhaps Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand???? We need someone to preview this for content and cleanliness)

Need a discussion leader

Hosted in the Spencer Backyard



Non-Fiction/Academic/Biography

October 20th

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Need a discussion leader

Need a host home

Great price for kids table and chairs

I was at the Costco on Montano today and saw that they have marked down their little white table and chairs set to $60!  That is a GREAT price for one of these sets, and one that looks like pretty good quality too...  trust me I know since I searched all over for one last year!  They are down the sports isle (with the playset, bikes, etc.) at the end of the isle.  

*similar to the set pictured above

Summer Camp!

What do you get when you head down to the pond? If your child is 4 or 5, they can find out this summer in our camp, "Down at the Pond." In this two day camp, we will learn about what makes a pond unique through singing, science experiments, crafts and more. Camp will be $20 and includes a coloring book, craft supplies and a rip-roaring good time! Register early to save your spot. Contact Bethany at girlpowerjedi(at)hotmail(dot)com

June 23 and 24
9:00-11:00 a.m.
$20

National Geographic Magazine Deal

Here's a really good deal I found:

Amazon has the National Geographic magazine for just $10! It's regularly $15 for a 1 year subscription, but if you order it by April 30th an extra $5.00 will automatically be deducted at checkout. The offer is limited, so act fast!

 {Geez, that just sounded like a really cheesy info-commercial!}