Tuesday Tech Tip

       I'm working on a framework for my blog.  I think as a teacher we have addictions to having routine schedules that drive our curriculum and planning our days.  That same addiction has carried over to my blog.  I have "Prospecting Saturdays". Now I have Tuesday Tech Tip.  As I am on "summer hours" I can further develop each of the days of the week with a routine blog post that you as a reader can count on as well.
     Here's the new tech equipment that our school bought this year that I'm uber excited about using not only for my kids but for myself.  The new Ipads.   I'm a fan of Apple products.  The hubster and I bit the bullet this year and crossed over from our stupid phones to a smart phone and we're amazed how much we love them! So imagine my excitement when I turned on the Ipad screen and it was the same as my Iphone minus all my apps!!

It took me awhile to figure out how to get my own itunes account loaded on so I can explore the app store for educational tools.  I'm going to add every Tuesday some of the apps I find that would be useful and worthwhile for classroom use! 

Tech Tuesday

For years my boys wanted to buy me a Kindle.  I resisted.  I love the feel of a book in my hand and the ability to go back and look up or reread some snipit I want to remember.  But as I was packing many books up for a garage sale this spring I decided that maybe I should investigate the Kindle again.  I found in my research that it is capable of doing text to speech so I could actually listent to a book while I was driving.  I looked on Amazon and found the books on Kindle to be cheaper another bonus!  The slim e-reader can easily fit in most of my purses. I finally relented and actually asked my boys for a Kindle for Mother's Day.  I love it!  We recently went on a trip and I downloaded 3 books.  This option is so much more convenient than carrying 3 books.  I was able to read all three and when my eyes got a little tired switched to text to speech and listened away. 



Another cool feature is that you can adjust the font larger for easier reading. If you are thinking about a Kindle I urge you to get one if you're an avid reader like me.  It is well worth the money



Independence Day Celebration

There is such an energy to this day which motivates people to find their own way of celebrating the Fourth of July.  That extra day off of work spells for most people P-L-A-Y.   In my family that is EXACTLY what we do lakeside style.  We began our day as a family at the 4th of July parade in town and then caravaned out to my parents house at the lake for summer holiday food and fun.  Here are just a couple of pics from the day!


This is the  beginning of the parade with authentic Revolutionary costumes.



Three generations picture from left to right my  two sisters, Lou and Linda, my niece Lauren, my mom and me.

Family fun times on the wave runners with my future nephew to be (hint, hint),  Jimmy and my other nephew Darren.
We all worked up a mighty appetite with Mr. Sunshine backing us up all the way.  We ate like kings with pasta salads, watermelon chicken and shrimp on the grill.  Yummy! Hope your Fourth was as memorable as ours!

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!  I love the red, white and blue and the USA.  Decorating the house for the holiday is a piece of cake. Here are a few pictures of our house wrapped in the waves of Patriotic colors.



The bunting was from a local store.  The flag pole we got new this year from Michaels because our other one was staineless steel and keep breaking apart from the cement wall.  I put flags in the window boxes and the front porch flower pots.



Here is a "close up of the doorstep.  Each pot holds an American flag and the duck also is waving a flag. The wreath to  the left of the door which got cut off  I made with red ribbon and some red, white and blue flowers I had.   The more I blog I themore I  realize I need to figure out how to get closer to my subjects or find a better camera!!  I'm sorry  these aren't very close, but I'm still learning.  




 I don't think you can clearly see but the driveway is lined with 5 flags on each side with a flag placed near the mailbox too. 
We will be going to a parade in town Monday which is our family ritual. It is now three generations that make the trek to the 11am Fourth of July Parade.  After the parade all of my 3 siblings and their families go to my parents house on beautiful Gull Lake and bring tasty dishes to pass and enjoy another holiday to be together as a family. We go boating, float carefree on the lake, or read under a shade tree, or simply graze on all the plentiful treats we've all brought.  It's the kind of day where our families celebrate and create lasting summertime memories.   That's our tradition, what's yours?