Books, Books, Books....

One thing about me....I LOVE to read. Here is what I am reading right now:

1) Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by: Teri Maxwell
www.Titus2.com
LOVE any and all of her books and her blog!!!

2) 101 simple & thoughtful ways to GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS AWAY by: Matthew West
We do an advent calender each year and the girls pull a card and get a treat or we do something for someone that day. I thought this might give us some really good idea's of other ways we can make Christmas about others and not focus so much on gifts and selfishness!!!

3) The Strong-Willed Child by: Dr. James Dobson
Can't say enough about Dr. Dobson. I just love this man!!

Week 8: Homeschooling & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I could spend all day writing what I am thankful for! The Lord has been so good to me and my family this year!!

"Mm" was the letter of the week. I drew a big "M" on a sheet of paper and Lily covered it in glue then covered it with miniature marshmallows. We also made paper mittens that turned out so cute! We talked about 4 in math. And with spaghetti noodles we wrote the word "four" on our table. And we talked about vegetables all week. (I hoped this talk about fruits and veggies would "push" my picky-little-eater into TRYING something. Nope.) We ended our week with a VeggieTales movie.

We read:
Madeline Books by: Ludwig Bemeimans
Vegetables by: Susan Wake

Our scripture verse was:
Faith is being sure of what we hope for an certain of what we do not see.
~ Hebrews 11:1

Week 7: Homeschooling

New letter!!! "Dd" was the letter of the week. Lily had to have a daydream and then tell me all about it. We studied fruit and what made it a fruit. In math this week we talked about what happens first, then next, and so on. She had to tell me how to brush your teeth in order from first to last. We painted with an apple cut in half. If you have time to do that, I have to say it was a lot of fun!

Here is what we read this week:
A book of fruit by: Barbara Hirsch Lember
Get Growing! by: Lois Walker
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by: Eric Carle
Anything about Johnny Appleseed
The life and Times of the apple by: Charles Micucci
Wacky Wednesday by: Dr. Seuss
The pumpkin Patch by: Elizabeth King
The Berenstain Bears and the prize pumpkin by: Stan and Jan Berenstain

Our Memory verse this week was:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
~Matthew 7:7

Week 6: Homeschooling

This was a review week. We did a scavenger hunt for a b word on the bed, a t word in the tub, and a c word in the cupboard, and an s word in the sink. We learned to spell Three and made lots of sets of three. I drew a big 3 on a piece of paper and Lily traced it with glue, then added cereal in sets of three all over it. We are also working on our phone number and address. We talked about and acted out what to do and say if you are lost. (Whew, Lord I hope that never happens!!!)

We read this week:
Little Blue and Little Yellow by: Leo Lionni
What is purple? From Hailstones to Halibut Bones by: Mary O'Neill

Our scripture this week was:
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.
~ John 12:46

Week 5: Homeschooling

Okay, I am waaaaaay behind on my posts. But I am going to try to play "catch up" and fill in several weeks worth in one hour. Here goes....

This week everything was about the letter "Ss". Lily shaped spaghetti into the "S", and used a bar of soap to make an "S" then colored over it with a crayon to reveal the letter. We learned how to spell "red" by using ketchup and "yellow" by using mustard. Then we learned how to spell "two" and talked about about things that come in two's...eyes, ears, arms, legs....ect.

Here are the books we read this week:
Color by: Ruth Heller
Of Color and Things by: Tana Hoban
Caps of Sale by: Esphyr Slobodkina
Green Eggs and Ham by: Dr. Seuss
The Little House by: Virginia Lee Burton

Our scripture this week was:
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples. ~ John 13:34-35

Week 4: Homeschooling

This has been a fun week of school. Well, I have not had a bad one, yet. We worked on the letter "Cc" this week in Reading.

On Monday we worked on a Family Tree. I had a 12x12 scrapbook page of a family tree, so we named all the people on it and are still gathering all the pictures. 2 projects in one...getting a scrapbook page done, and learning in the process.

In Math, we used coins and buttons to sort things by color, size, shape, and number of holes.

And in Science we made butter! We jumped up and down when we could see the butter starting to form. That was so much fun and SO yummy!!! If you have never done this it is so easy; Pour a pint of heavy cream into a jar and cover tightly. Let your child shake the jar. As the butter forms, pour off the milk and add a little salt.

Our scripture this week was:

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

The books we read this week were:

Me and My Family Tree by: Joan Sweeney

The Patchwork Quiolt by: Valerie Flournoy

C is for Clown by: Stan & Jan Berenstain

Rosie's Walk by: Pat Hutchins

All About Farm Animals by: Brenda Cook

Cuckoo: A Mexican Folktale by: Lois Ehlert

Clifford, The Small Red Puppy by: Norman Bridwell

Week 3: Homeschooling

This has been review week. We went over the letter "Bb" and "Tt" again. We tried to make paper dolls, which I was not good at. And we studied farm animals this week. We played with our Fisher-Price barn and animals and retold the story of The Big Red Barn by: Margaret Wise. We talked a lot about chickens and eggs. And today we went on a field trip to look at farm animals. We had the best time!! The girls LOVED the rabbits and chickens best.

The scripture we worked on this week was:

Be Strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

The Books we read this week were:

The Big Red Barn by: Margaret Wise Brown

ABC Book by Dr. Seuss

Farm Animal books

Families are Different by: Nina Pellegrini

The Keeping Quilt by: Patricia Polacco

Seasons on the Farm by: Jane Miller

Egg to Chick by: Millicent Selsam

The Berenstain Bears are a Family by: Stan & Jan Berenstain

Week 2: Homeschooling

This week we worked on the letter "T t". And the number "Zero". We talked about Autumn and animals that hybernate through the winter. We observed Squirrels and watched them gather acorns. Lily finger painted with Chocolate and Pistachio pudding. That was a lot of fun! She made a beautiful Sky Tree.

Here is our scripture for this week:
With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Here are the books we read this week:
Sky Tree by: Thomas Locker
Squirrels by: Emilie U. Lepthien
Trains by: Donald Crews

I LOVE our public library! The librarians who are helping me collect all these books are going the extra mile and pick up lots of extra books on the subjects we are reading and learning about. We have read lots of great books on Squirrels.

100 Fun Fall Things To Do

I totally LOVE this list of 100 fun fall things to do. I am using it from Work in progress kits the blog, here is the link: http://wipkits.blogspot.com/2009/09/100-fun-fall-things-to-do.html

Pick Apples

Carve a Pumpkin

Make a Halloween Costume

Throw a Fall Craft Party

Bake Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

Decorate your house for fall

Volunteer as a screamer at your local haunted house

Make a gingerbread haunted house with your kiddos

Go on a hayride

Plant mums

Brew cider

Make chili and invite neighbors over to watch football on TV

Build a tent with blankets and sheets, chairs and chip clips

Make playdoh and play with it!

Build a fire and snuggle

Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor

Roast tomatoes and garlic for an awesome homemade sauce

Make handprint canvases and display them

Finger puppets!

Make a recipe book of your tried and true favorites

Call an old friend

Plant bulbs for spring

Fertilize evergreen trees

Create Halloween Silhouettes using black vinyl and your Cricut (or Scary Window Silhouettes here)

Get an early start on handmade Christmas gifts

Create a Spooky Tree

Donate old clothing and give it to a charity

Share a ghost story with kids

Bake soft pretzels

Host an indoor picnic

Have breakfast for dinner

Make a pinecone bird feeder and hang them outside

Make a homemade heating pad on a cold night

Make a collage like this one.

Take a walk and collect leaves.

Wear a poncho

Sign up for Story time at the local library

Swap DVD's with a neighbor and hibernate for a "date night"

Read "How to Eat Fried Worms" with your kids

Learn to crochet, quilt or knit

Embellish a bedspread or quilt

Paint a roomTake a road trip

Take a family photo for Christmas cards

Do some early Christmas shopping

Scrap with your dearest gal pals

Organize a neighborhood bonfireMake & eat edible eyeballs

Attend your local high school's homecoming game or parade

Bake an apple crisp

Clean your junk drawer

Write your parents a letter by hand, expressing your love and appreciation

Try a new recipe that intimidates you

Learn to can tomatoes

Make loaded apples and share

Write or email your favorite teacher and tell them what they meant to you

Make a fall garland and hang it

Have a favorite photo enlarged on canvas

Learn to make homemade pot holders

Cream of Potato soup. Enough said.

Make white trash and send some to school for a favorite teacher

Volunteer at school for an upcoming project

Make S'more Popsicles

Bake these adorable spider cupcakesMake homemade toffee and eat it all by yourself

Print off games/puzzles online for bored kids

Buy and wear leg warmers

Make a pom pom scarf

Make these adorable cuff bracelets

Decorate the outside of your house with orange lights and hay bales for fall

Scare someone and LAUGH

Host a trunk or treat at your school as a fundraiser

Spend a whole evening looking at finished scrapbooks

Hang artwork your children created

Take tired fall decor to someone who might appreciate it

Dinner in a pumpkin--totally delish!

Collect pinecones or acorns and display them in a glass dish

Let kids play with sidewalk chalk in the garage on a rainy day

Teach your children to scrapbook and let them create!

Give yourself a spa night in your own tub

Stay in your pajamas all day long--as a family

Bake a lot of mini loaves of bread and freeze some

Learn to play backgammon

Take an online class of some sort

Make Spider Web Balloons

Organize your scrap space

Visit a local recycle center

Make cookies for local firefighters and thank them (police officers, too!)

Give sunflowers to a total stranger

Have a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino at Starbucks

Create a Countdown to Halloween Calendar or banner

Cowgirl Cookies in a jar

Make Halloween Twinkies

Create a chore chart

Research your family tree

Host a pirate party

Host a pig roast or a clam bake

Make favors for a Halloween party

Bake Grandma's Molasses Cookies

Week 1: Homeschooling

Week 1 is behind us and it was GREAT!!! We learned about the letter "B" and chewed bubble gum while we did our schoolwork, had Bagels for Breakfast, and Brownies for snack. We talked about the shape of a Circle. We made a chart labeled "Circles" and looked around for that shape as we did things around the house and in town. And on Friday the whole family went to the Bakery to pick out a special treat to end our "Blazing B Week". Daddy cooked BBQ for supper and we had a cake from the Bakery as our dessert.

Our scripture we memorized this week was:
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us. Psalm 67:1

The books we read this week were:
Discover The Seasons by: Diane Iverson
The Shapes Game by: Paul Rogers
Fall by: Ron Hirschi
The Tiny Seed by: Eric Carle
Bears on Wheels by:Stan & Jan Berenstain
Get Set....Go! Autumn by: Ruth Thomson

To be continued...

I have so much to post, since we are at the beach....but I forgot my cord from my camera to the computer. So, I will call this post: To be continued. I'll have more and pictures from our weeks here!

We are doing great...had some bad weather, well just some rain, which made us slow down and stay in some. Other than that, we are enjoying the beach and each other!

Hope all is well at home!

Ol' Cowboys don't die

Ride Cameron ride!!! We will NEVER forget the memories we made, but you will forever be missed!!!!

Cameron Steven Brock
September 29, 1988 - August 14, 2009


Tuck was a cowboy I knew years ago,Could put a stretch in a story like a forty foot row.Young an' wide-eyed, I believed every word,As he rambled through the canyons an' stampeded herds.Swore there were still Comanches in them breaks to the south:He'd seen good hands ride in there an' never rode out.

He had a horse he called Dollar that twice saved his life.He lost him to Jim Shoulders playin' poker one night.When I turned eighteen, I packed up an' left home:Tuck was pretty old back then an' by now he's long gone.

But I've heard it said that ol' cowboys don't die:They get put out to pasture way up the sky.So if God's got a Heaven for old cowboy legends,I hope the grass is greener on the other side,An' he's got good horses to ride.

Now the folks back home would tell you Tuck was just crazy an' old.But I still believe in Conquistadore gold.An' those memories look like a mirage in the distance,Starin' out from this prison of urban existence.So I saddle up an' I go back now an' then,To remember who I was an' just forget where I am.

Now the concrete an' steel, they spread out like a plague.Consumin' the rivers, the mountains and the plains.Then one of these days, it'll all be gone.But somewhere, that spirit will always live on.

'Cause I've heard it said that ol' cowboys don't die:They get put out to pasture way up the sky.So if God's got a Heaven for old cowboy legends,I hope the grass is greener on the other side,An' he's got good horses to ride.Yeah, he's got good horses to ride.A few good horses to ride.A few good horses to ride.

Lyrics by: Trent Willmon

Okay, this blog was suppose to be once a week. It has turned out to be once a month! I guess I set myself up to think I could do it on Monday's. That is my "busiest" day of the week. And the rest of the week we are on the go or playing LOTS and dancing around to Southern Gospel or Barney. It has been such a good summer. We watched some Lima beans grow in a glass jar. We would water them and put them back in the sun and talk about the changes they were making. After we got them in the window for the first time, Lily looked at me and said, "You are so cool. Maybe the coolest mom in this whole town." So, I busted out laughing (on the inside) and told her it was easy because she was the coolest kid in the whole town!

I have been learning this summer what it is really like to lean on the Lord. We are trying to find a house. We have found a couple now that (so far) have not worked out. We made an offer and they did not accept it. So, I am praying all the time and just trying to let God work it out. If I have learned anything this summer it is the lesson of letting God be in control of your life.

Okay the pictures are:

Us on the 4th of July at the Fish Hatchery in MT. Rest. Jeremy's parents were camping at the State Park so we took off on a drive. We had a really good time that day. Laci loved the fish splashing around. And Lily loved giving them food.

The girls in the sprinkler over at Jeremy's parents house.

Laci got her first hair cut. She did so good! That was her "pretty eyes" face.

Jeremy had a birthday in July. I let the girls get him a gift from the Dollar Treasure. Lily got a flashlight and Laci got him a sponge to wash his car. That was a fun trip that will leave the sweetest memories. Then all of us got him a Clemson Tigers grill grate made my one of our friends, James Jarvis. He LOVED it!!

This was his homemade birthday cake. I even made old fashion homemade icing. It was sort of hard, but I "got it". I think he will have this every year from now on. He loved it and it was worth the work.

We all went on a hike in Helen, GA after church one Sunday. Had a great time. They even built a nice deck area to sit or take pictures from. But it made us so mad to see how some people had spray painted it and carved in it. So shameful.

We have been to several of Uncle Billy's roping's. This was in a break and he took Lily and Laci on a ride. They love horses and are not afraid at all to take the reins and ride. They love their uncle Billy!!!!

Bean Cookies and more

Okay, I am on this eating healthy kick. I am into my new cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. The concept is that you "sneak" in veggies into things already like to eat. And I really need that for Lily. She will not eat anything in a raw state.



But the chickpeas in the chocolate chip cookies have been the brunt of many jokes in our house. And by the way, they were actually really yummy!! I'll add the recipe for those of you brave enough to give them a try. When I make them again, I will not add the beans. But for a light and "healthy-er" cookie, they are great.



Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Cup brown sugar

3/4 cup butter (or margarine)

2 large egg whites

2 tsp. vanilla

1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt



1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth. Beat the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.

3. Drop by the tablespoonful onto baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and just set, 11 to 13 minutes; do not overbake.



If you try this, you have to let me know!



I think as a mom you have this instict to protect your kids. I never gave nutrition much thought....until kids. What was on T.V...until kids. That the word "modest" is used almost everyday in my house.



So, call me (and my bean cookies) crazy, but if it's for the overall better health of my kids, I am willing to go the extra mile. And being at home I have the luxury of feeding them what I want them to eat. I love that I get to choose what goes in their little bodies. Don't get me wrong....we have treats too! Mostly when we have played hard outside. Bottom line, I love being a mom and learning new things everyday!

What we have been up too

Laci had her very first ice cream cone on Saturday. It was so funny watching her lick and ice cream running off her chin. She would take a bite and say, "Hummmmmm!!!" She ate every last bite. Although, I have to say I had an "Ahha!" moment while making the ice creams. I had to sit them back in the freezer to make the next one and so I grabbed some little bathroom cups to put them in. I left them in the cups so they would stand up on the tray as I brought them out to the back yard. Little did I know they would make great catches for all the runs and drips!!

My girl with the sweet tooth but want touch a raw fruit or veggie had to have chocolate chip mint. Laci and I had strawberry. (Little does she know I just ordered a cookbook that hides all the fruits and veggies into stuff she already eats!*wink*)

Lily also had her dance recital a few weeks ago. It was a great show! She did SO good!!!

And we had Laci dedicated at Church on Mother's Day. We had about 5 children dedicated that Sunday. It was so special.

And of course we have been playing at some parks. This was taken when we had our play date after school with Abby, Jeb, and Caleb. We had a picnic and rode bikes. It was a fun afternoon and made for some tired girls who took very good naps that day!!!

I can't wait to kick off this summer. My prayer is for us all to stay safe and enjoy all the sweet sticky summer foods, sun, and even the pesky bugs....but above all I pray that we all remember to start and end our day with the Lord and his word.

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Nehemiah 9:5&6

Why I want to Homeschool

I have not been met with any oposition from anyone yet...but I know once they SHOULD be in public schools I will be met with more questions from my family. I know seveal homeschooled kids, as well as some of my family. And being around them I have found that they are very very bright. And they have a different focus than kids in public school. They seem to all be of a servants heart. (Not that kids in public schools can't be raised to be the same way.) I want my girls to be in the kitchen, garden, chicken coop (yet to come), and doing chores with me and each other daily. I don't want them to be gone from our house for 7 or 8 hours a day; then sitting at the table crying over how much homework they have. So, then I get the worst part of their day!

I also have a personal reason for wanting to school them myself. I had a very hard time in school all because I had a MEAN and HATEFUL 1st grade teacher. She LOVED when I failed and would make a big deal out of my grades. I had a hard time with math in 1st grade, and my teacher made that worse. She taught me to count on my fingers so that I could keep up. I want my girl's to have a teacher who loves them and wants them to succsed in math and every other subject. I want them to have a teacher that would drive them to where-ever to learn about a subject. And I want to be there when they "get it"!

Here is some other thoughts....this was based off my daily devotion I get everyday, but most of this is the very reason I have decided this is what will be best for our family.

* I want to homeschool my girls because fixed hours aren't required to learn a subject.

* I want to homeschool because there are so many fun things to learn. Not only are there great curriculums for covering the main subject areas, but there are also countless extracurricular topics and activities to explore.

* I want to homeschool because I have the flexibility to adjust our day depending on what God brings. If my child is grasping concepts quickly and wants to know more in language arts, great; I'll keep going and forget about doing history that day. If Dad has an impromptu meeting in another city, I can take advantage of the opportunity and schedule a family field trip.

* I want to homeschool because it gives me an opportunity to really know my children. As teacher and parent, I see both their heart and mind and have the blessed privilege to develop both in the Lord.

* I want to homeschool because I don't have to wait until school's out at 3:30 p.m. to receive a hug and a kiss. I have the joy of loving and being loved by my children throughout the entire day.

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).

Lord, thank You for giving me the opportunity to teach my children. Even though tough days will come, I know Your presence will guide us through. Help me appreciate the blessing of teaching my children each day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Jill's great gifts

My best buddy, Jill, has been such a blessing in my life. We talk everyday and I don't know what I would do without our conversations each day!! She is just a beautiful person. Well, Jill not only has a gift of making friends feel special she is a creative genius!! And I am lucky enough to get some of her special gifts. Here are two of her digi shirts she designed:

Thank you for inspiring me, and for being a true friend! I love ya!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wow, it is 2009!!! And what a way to ring in the new year! We had SO many giggles yesterday. It is tradition at my house to have collard greens, black eyed peas, cornbread, and tenderloin EVERY YEAR!!! But yesterday my brother, dad and Jeremy were busy... so it turned out to be my mom, Lily, Laci, and myself. We had heart-to-heart talks, played on Facebook, and laughed so much. It was so much fun!!! Thanks mom for being so fun and easy to talk to! I love you more than you know!!!



So, for 2009 I am thinking in ways of SAVING money. I have always been pretty frugal but I am going to try to pray for ways I can save even more in 2009. And one way I have been saving money is by making my own Homemade Washing powders. They work great and last me several months. Here is the recipe:



Homemade Washing Powders:

1/3 bar soap (any soap you use to bath)

1/2 cup washing soda (we found this at Ingles)

1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (you can find this at Wal-Mart)



Grate the soap & put in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups of water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and Borax & stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.



Let soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.



You use 1/2 cup per load.



Enjoy and save!