Transue-iness

Classical Conversations

2012-01-13T08:10:00.001-05:00

This fall I took a huge leap of faith and enrolled our two oldest children in a homeschool group that goes by the name of Classical Conversations. It was a leap of faith, because when you are starting to learn about the Classical model of education, and all that it entails, it can seem pretty scary. I felt totally unqualified to lead my family in this model of education. I gave it a shot anyways. I signed us up and paid the tuition and fees, and thanked the Lord that at least I wasn't going to be a tutor for one of the classes. Then the director called and told me that she needed another tutor. I questioned her choice, and after she assured me that she had no one else to call upon, I accepted.

I have learned so much through this journey. I have amazed myself at what I have learned, and what my children are able to learn and retain. I am really using this year as a trial year. It is our first year venturing into Classical Education, and this has been a challenging year for other reasons, so I am working on keeping this year fun, retaining what we can, and planning on going at it with a clearer perception of what Classical education is and what it means to our family as we move into next year.

If you would like to see the blog of someone who has a much better grasp at this whole thing check out this website. I am so impressed with her materials and I refer to this blog for ideas on how to review the material we learn at CC. http://halfahundredacrewood.blogspot.com/p/classical-conversations.html

Our Doggie

2012-01-12T07:59:00.001-05:00

I don't know how often our dog has made it into the blog, but this is a picture that needs sharing. This is our dog. This is our beagle dog. This is our old beagle dog. This is our old, chubby, beagle dog. His name is Lou. When we were newly weds we adopted Lou from one of my coworkers who was moving to Florida. John wanted to name him "Lee" or "Jeb" but we finally settled on Lou. Later I came to find out that there is a beagle dog in the movie "All Dogs Go To Heaven" that is named Lou, but it is short for Loser. Nice.

As Lou grew he transformed from a wild and crazy puppy into the couch potato you see below. He has had a knee surgery and we know he suffers from arthritis. It does not stop him from hanging around the table or following toddlers with pop tarts to try to get some extra nourishment.

And when he sleeps like this, he snores. But we love him!

What We Have Been Up to Since OCT

2012-01-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

Well, when life gets busy my blog suffers, but that is okay. I am not a professional blogger. I do have some catching up to do, and what better time to do it than right now. I will start blogging about some of the stuff that has been going on in Transue-land.

Up for Bid

2011-10-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

One almost 8 year old boy. Special skills include cabinet organizing and dishwasher loading . . .

Also up for bid, three rowdy kitchen cabinet washers . . .

Not Me Monday Say Yes to the Dress Version

2011-10-24T08:30:00.003-04:00

I ~~do not~~ watch the TLC show Say Yes to the Dress. I ~~do not~~ watch it a lot. I ~~do not~~ check the Cable On Demand if I miss a new episode. Well, Laura ~~never~~ watches with me and she has ~~never~~ dressed up her little sister. She has ~~definitely not~~ ~~also~~dressed up her little buzz-cut hairdoo brother (sorry, no photos of that).

Fortunately Megan is a willful participant:

Here Laura is layering two dresses onto Megan, who is standing on a stepstool. Laura has also added a decorative sash, and is arranging the dress to allow for the proper flow of the skirts.

I would never allow my girls to participate in such a vain activity, nope, not me.

Megan's Goose Egg

2011-10-23T15:02:00.000-04:00

Megan fell down the (13) stairs onto the (hardwood) floor, and got a big 'ole goose egg bump on her head. We took her to the ER and THEN took a picture of her. Amazingly, it looks a lot better here than it did at first.

I brought along one of her new dolls, and it was a good thing because the doctor would first examine the baby, and then examine Megan, it worked out well. The baby got a bandaid, and so did Megan.

Afterwards Megan took good care of her baby, let her lay down, and put both siderails up on the gurney . . .very important for patient safety!

She was diagnosed with a concussion, but promptly discharged with precautions. We have been learning about Anatomy in homeschool-land, and discovering the amazing way that God made us. I think it is awesome that the part of the head the kids hit the most (the front) is also the strongest part of the skull (good thing). Praise God she was all right after such a fall!

Laura's Sewing Lessons

2011-10-21T15:37:00.000-04:00

Laura has been taking sewing lessons, and here is link to the blog her teacher keeps. It has photos of her hard at work . . .or posing with her projects, whatever you want to call it.

http://icansewkids.blogspot.com/p/2011-scrapbook.html

Jamie Eason's 12 week Training . . .WO 2

2011-10-03T19:00:00.001-04:00

So on Saturday I did the first day of my 12 weeks of training with Jamie Eason, a workout published on Bodybuilding.com. That day left me so sore in the arms that today . . .two days later . . .I was on the floor with the kids during homeschool and I wasn't all too sure that I would be able to get up off the floor. But I did, and then I got myself to the gym to kill my lower body.

Here is what I did . . . (as always, a little different from what Jamie tells me to do, but in a good (more challenging) way.

Warm Up . . .hauling the fire hose at our gym up and down the stairs a few times

Pile Dumbell Squats with 30lb dumbell 3 sets of 12
Cleans using silver bar plus 10lb each side 3 sets of 10
Barbell Side Split Squats (same bar as above) 3 sets of 10
Leg Press (with a set of calves 10 in 3 different positions) 50 lbs each side 3 sets 12
(that is such a whimpy weight for me, but that is what was on the machine, and as I mentioned my upper body is so sore I didn't want to add more weight . . . shame on me)
Leg Extension 60 lbs 3 sets of 10-12
Seated Leg Curl 55 lbs 3 sets 10
Seated Calf Raise 45 lb plate 3 sets of 12 (I can up this too, this was my first time doing this and I was unsure of which weight to use)

For cardio I ran/walked alternate laps on the track for 15 minutes. I started feeling heel pain so I stopped. This is my first major cardio since feeling like I am healing from the plantar faciitis.

45 minutes, avg heart rate 157, cals burned 434
And am 3 for 3 on days drinking 1 gallon of water

Not Me Monday: Giving the Dog Water

2011-10-03T11:05:00.000-04:00

I still have plenty of moments in our files of pictures to share for Not Me Monday! It is a fun time to show what I would never, ever do (or let me kids do) being the stellar super mom that I am.

One of our favorite things in our Georgia house was the water dispenser on the fridge. It was nice that the kiddos could get a fresh glass of filtered water whenever they needed it.

Even James at the age of 2 could easily reach the dispenser

And if he wasn't particularly thirsty, he could usually find someone who was. Lucky dog.

Mini Books for Homeschooling

2011-10-02T20:46:00.001-04:00

I found a fantastic link that I would like to share . . .it is for Minibooks. I like mini books because they give you a hands on visual for your homeschool projects, but they don't require as much time and dedication as lapbooks do. I guess if you make enough minibooks, you could lapbook them, but I am just going to stick with some mini books for a while. I found a pin on pinterest for a grammar minibook. I have noticed that the kids could use a little reinforcement in the grammar area, so this is a perfect opportunity! I will post results when we complete our first minibook!

12 Weeks With Jamie Eason

2011-10-01T12:38:00.001-04:00

I found this picture on Pinterest, I don't know where it came from, but I love it!

It's October 1st. I am starting my 12 Weeks With Jamie Eason program today. That should carry me up until Christmas. (Christmas is like 12 weeks away everyone!!!)

Here is a link to her program on bodybuilding.com.

I right now pledge that I will not be perfect with this program, I will mess up, I will add exercises and take away exercises, but I will do my best.

Today's workout:

(adapted from her day one program)

warm up 3 sets of 12 wide pushups
Dumbell Bench Press 25 lb 3 sets of 12
Overhead Dumbell Tricep Extension 15 lb 3 sets of 12
Tricep Cable push down 25 lb 3 sets of 12
Standing alternate hammer curl 20 lb 3 sets of 12
Narrow push ups 3 sets of 12 (1st half plan, sencond half on knees)
Sets of abdominal exercises
sledge hammer (16lb?) 3 sets of 10 on each side

Then just about 10 mins on the treadmill with an incline

And my arms are tired, even as I type this now!

VistaPrint Freebies

2011-09-28T08:45:00.000-04:00

There are some great gift options that are free (just pay reasonable shipping). There are actually 6 choices in all, click on the link below to go to the blog that I found out about it on.

http://raisingolives.com/2011/09/free-photo-calendar/

And some of you may see some of these presents under your Christmas Tree.

Happy 9th Birthday Laura

2011-09-27T08:01:00.000-04:00

Laura got to pick her birthday breakfast . . .Pop Tarts on the couch!

Not Me Monday

2011-09-26T09:51:00.001-04:00

Not Me Monday has returned (Woo Hoo) and since I have a backlog of photos from my non-blogging months, I have plenty of stories to tell.

I would never stick my little girl on one of her first amusement park rides, and then think it is cute when she is clinging to her big sister, and then snap a picture of it to post on my blog. Nope, not me. (Taken at Knoebles, PA)

Grandma Transue and the Grandkids

2011-09-21T12:08:00.001-04:00

Grandma Transue loves to get pictures taken with her precious grandchildren. Aren't they so cute? Such angelic creatures.

Unfortunately, the more common grandchildren pictures rarely get published. . . but they do display their personalities rather well.

Beacuse My Kids Love These Videos

2011-09-19T12:11:00.000-04:00

Dad's Life Video

Mommy Rhapsody

Anita Renfroe: William Tell Mom

This Is More For Me Than Any Of You

2011-09-17T15:25:00.000-04:00

Not to be rude, but I want to organize some of the fun sites that I have stumbled across (or stole from friends) that will help me get the toddlers into school mode. I am thinking we'll start with some letters, and here are two great websites for that goal:

Letter of the Week

Totally Tots

And for Scripture Memory work with the alphabet:

Impress Your Kids

Now . . . to search for some number and color resources . . .

Thank You Megan!

2011-09-17T15:24:00.001-04:00

Megan loves Sharpie Markers. When I woke her up from her nap she looked like this. I have nothing else to say except, "Thank you, Megan, for striking a modest pose while in the bathtub. This enables me to share this with my friends and family now, and with you years from now."

2011-09-17T15:23:00.000-04:00

Technical Difficulties . . . having trouble making things post. . . help!

While the Toddlers are Napping

2011-09-14T15:57:00.003-04:00

The toddlers are napping and I have been printing off ideas for some Bible lessons. I found this lapbook template for a 10 Commandments lapbook. We have not done any lapbooks this far in our homeschooling, but they look like fun, so I thought I'd start with something easy. Here is the link if you are interested

If you have fun with that, be sure to click the link below with the 10 plagues story sticks!

I'm (Coming) Back

2011-09-04T22:20:00.002-04:00

Hi All,

I have been gone for a while, but I am coming back. I have a few exciting things to share, so stay tuned.

Christmas Card by Shutterfly

2010-12-14T21:52:00.001-05:00

Christmas Card 2010

According to Shutterfly, if you imbed a picture project from Shutterfly in your blog and then email a link to the post they will email you a code for 25 dollars off your order. I am pretty sure this special is still going on. Anyways, here is this year's Christmas card. The photos were taken by my friend Tracy Carr when we were in Augusta, GA visiting our friends. Photographing my crew is no easy task! She did a great job!

Getting Along With Friends

2010-11-03T19:32:00.003-04:00

So, the Character Clan came to visit us in October. It was a truly fun visit, marred only by some GI problems. The kids all got along well, Megan and Ceili Rain picked up where they left off by sharing food . . .

Laura has acquired an American Girl Doll since the last time we hung out with our friends. That is her, in the middle. Her name is Annabelle, and she is the result of many months of allowance saving and some generous birthday money gifts. The other two came in the big Crimson Van and I am happy to report the dolls behaved themselves and had a lot of fun playing together.

Dairy Farm

2010-10-30T07:26:00.000-04:00

While in Wisconsin we got to visit a REAL LIVE DAIRY FARM. Okay, we were thrilled, excited, and amazed. The kids of the family we visited thought we were nuts to take time out of our visit to go visit their barn. It was awesome seeing the cows get milked, their feed being unloaded from the silo, and to get to hear about the mild going to make good 'ol Wisconsin Cheese!

What could be more fun for a 2 year old boy of the suburbs to get to play on a really, really, really big "TAC-TOR"? He wasn't the only one who had fun . . .Laura and Jack ran off with kids their age to go find the horses in the pasture, and Megan stood around looking cute.

Blogging By Association

2010-10-29T09:48:00.001-04:00

Later on we had some friends come visit. Not just any friends, some very special friends who carted their 6 little ducklings in their big Crimson Tide van and drove to our house. Here is Abbie's blog post of our trip to the park while they were here. No sense blogging something that someone already has . . .right?

And they took Laura to the Creation Museum since Jack was not feeling up to travelling, and they have a blog post about that too. We were super bummed to miss the trip with them, but we plan on attending sometime soon

Now THAT's A Garden!!!!

2010-10-28T07:26:00.001-04:00

While visiting the extended fam in Wisconsin, we got a tour of their garden. I say "tour", because you need a tour. It's not like my garden that you can just kinda point at and say, "Look, there's my garden" and people can nod casually in it's general direction, and move on, their lives unaffected.

Here Lauren, Jack, and Laura were helping Aunt Heidi pick pole beans, they were yummy to eat later.

That's Kevin, haulin' the beans . . .He's a big strong boy, a tad bit older than James, he is too OLD to be called adorable, but he sure is a super sweet kid! We enjoyed talking with him, and James had some fun playing with him!

This is my niece Lauren. She is absolutely adorable. Aside from being as cute as a button, she is sweet and says lots of fun words, like my Mom and Dad's favorite "Bratwurst". While we were visiting, Megan was still in her wild hair phase, but since I have cut her some bangs and her hair heads south instead of north, she and Lauren look a lot more like cousins.

My brother picking beans with his daughter. Sure, I should have flipped the picture, but I thought you might be impressed by his ability to stand horizontally. It is just one of his many talents!

Four Wheelin', Pickup Truck Drivin' and Rollin' with the Bovines

2010-10-26T09:57:00.000-04:00

Over Labor Day weekend (2010, I'm not THAT far behind in blogging) we went to visit my brother John Pat (John for those who met him in the early 1990's and beyond), his wife Heidi, and their two (soon to be three) children Kevin and Lauren. They live in northern Wisconsin, a mere 15 hour drive from our current homestead in KY.

One of our fun adventures was a trip to Heidi's parents' farm. Heidi's dad is a very industrious farmer. We toured the cow pastures and saw the ponds he made for trapping muskrats. He even has a Christmas tree farm that he started years ago. We loaded up in the truck, John (my John, known as Jay to most people who met him prior to the mid 1990's) rode the four wheeler through the pastures.

Here are Laura and Kevin on the four wheeler . . .Jack really enjoyed the adventure more than he appears in this picture.

What?? OCT What??

2010-10-26T09:16:00.002-04:00

I am looking at the calendar, it is OCT 26th?? What?? Where did OCT go, and it certainly has not been a month and a half since we took this picture . . . Well that just means there is a lot of blogging to catch up on, lots of adventures to relate and lots of pictures to post. Stay tuned!

Dear God, Thanks for the Free Unit Study

2010-08-20T11:30:00.002-04:00

Dear God,

I know that I should be thankful in all things, so in the spirit of that command I would like to issue my most sincere thanks for the hands on Science experiments you have been providing with us all week. Although I had full intentions in continuing with our Apologia Astronomy lesson on Venus . . .you saw it fit to give us a hands on - real life - immersion science lesson in the stomach virus.

This prayer is not for the weak of stomach, so if you find yourself in that category you may want to start praying silently to yourself for a while.

We learned many wonderful things. We learned about viruses, that they are mean, that the doctors really can't do much for you when you have one, and how they can come and go. We learned the word "Contagious" and "Susceptible" as we have watched them start with one person and then move on to someone else. We learned the full scope of the GI tract, that when a virus is in your tummy it has two ways it can get out (Three if you count the nose).

We learned that sometimes these viruses make a person so weak they can hardly stand. These people sack out on the couch for days at a time. Other times the viruses have a potency that gives 2yo boys a high fever and a slightly grumpy disposition. Sometimes when 1 yo girls get the virus they seem like they may have recovered completely and then suddenly demonstrate that they haven't after consuming a large sippy cup of milk. (At the lunch table, when mommy just sat down with her bowl of soup, immediately after asking, "Hey, How are you feeling Megan?")

I realize now that this incident was actually a pop quiz. It gave me the opportunity to witness the speed at which my oldest two children can evacuate the kitchen. They even did it with their eyes mostly closed and their fingers pinching their noses. I now have the utmost confidence in their emergency exit skills.

We observed the soothing effect of ginger ale on a stomach, the clean smell of bleach being used about the house, and the true capacity of our washing machine. I would like to say a special word of thanks for the washing machine.

I believe, however, that we have met all the requirements of this Unit Study on The Stomach Virus. We would like to submit our coursework for your grading, and then continue on with our study of Venus.

Thank you Lord,
Me

Getting Ready for Auntie Beth

2010-08-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

As we were getting ready for Auntie Beth to visit (last month) the kids realized that they could all fit in the downstairs shower . . .

and speaking of which, there are other places that James and Megan like to hide

We went to Louisville

2010-08-14T23:13:00.008-04:00

While Auntie Beth was visiting we went to Louisville . . .can you guess where we went by the pictures?

There was a carousel . . .

And inflatable jumpie things . . .

And a playground (wher eother moms were getting nervous with the 2yo's playground skills) . . .

Have you guessed yet? Well here ya go with a better clue, around the playground was a baseball diamond

Yep, it was a baseball game! ( A far cry from our AAA Rochester Red Wings at the now retired Silver Stadium) There were also fancy concession stands, shaved ice carts, and we had a great time watching the Louisville Bats. The stadium is incredibly close to the famous Louisville Bat Factory, which we will tour at some point. We did actually watch about 1 inning of the game before taking advantage of all of the diversionary activities. It was also military appreciation night, so that is why the inflatables were there. Thanks for a great night Bats!

A Really Cool Thing Happened On The Way Back From GA

2010-08-14T22:48:00.004-04:00

A really cool thing happened on the way back from GA, and fortunately I had my camera ready:

I have a video of it actually changing, but I am having trouble posting videos . . .which is a shame because I have some really cute ones of the kids. I hope we get another 100,000 miles out of our van! In case you don't know (or have forgotten) we bought our van the day before Jack was born. It is now 6 and 1/2 years old. It has travelled from in and through a bunch of states (20 of them, multiple times) and it has always proven reliable. We have a few more trips planned for the next few months. . . more on those trips when they happen.

I Disagree With Your T-Shirt

2010-07-28T12:03:00.002-04:00

I was standing in line at Kroger. I had my four little ones with me. I was stopping by for a few groceries, and did not expect the long lines that I encountered there.

I was ecstatic earlier when I had found a shopping cart that was perfect for grocery-getting with my kids. The front has a car for James, and the seat in front is there for Megan. The older kids were sadly out of luck as they had to walk (and sneak a ride on the sides when the aisles weren't too crowded) As I sat there in line keeping Megan happy by letting her play with my Debit Card and Military ID, I noticed that James was at a perfect height to reach for the King Sized Reece's Peanut Butter Cups that the grocery stores so thoughtfully position in the checkout area. I bend over to remove the tempting treat from his hand and I hear a gentleman say, "I disagree with your T Shirt."

The T Shirt is a staple in my wardrobe. It has the picture of some Mommy sized sandals next to some child sized shoes and it reads, "Motherhood, the toughest job you'll ever love"

I fought all natural urges to kindly offer that the gentleman take charge of my four children, usher them through the checkout, load them up in the minivan in our oppressive summer heat, drive them home and feed them some lunch before he make such a statement.

Instead I said, "I bet you would prefer the fatherhood version" (My husband has that version)

"Yes" the man replied. He told me that he is still being father to his 42 year old son. I gave him a compassionate smile and said, "That is a lot of years of parenting" I do not know the reason why he is still parenting his adult son. I could think of a lot of reasons. He could be physically or mentally handicapped, he could have suffered from a life lived in the grips of alcohol or drug abuse, he could be staying with dad as he goes through a painful divorce, he could be a soldier who has not transitioned back to life after serving his country very easily.

"Fatherhood is a very important job" I added those words as a casual afterthought. It wasn't until a moment after the words left my mouth that I realized the truth of that statement. What an important role our fathers play in our lives, I see my husband. He encourages, challenges, and loves our children. He prioritizes time to help them grow in spirit and wisdom. What a blessing. I have a dad who worked hard and provided for a large family, who cared about our spiritual upbringing, and who is eager to love on his grandchildren. And I have a God. A God that does not stand distant upon a mighty throne, but craves relationships with His children. He encourages us, His sinful, ungrateful, self-absorbed children to call Him "Father"

So as I managed the rest of the way through the checkout line, loaded my kids in the minivan in the oppressive heat, drove them home and fed them lunch, I thought about this man, prayed for him to have strength in whatever struggles he is dealing with, and said a prayer of thanksgiving to my Father for all the fathers we have.

Standing in Line

2010-07-24T06:46:00.002-04:00

Look, it's a bunch of homeschool kids, and guess what . . .they are being socialized, and they even know how to stand in a line . . .

*post created in the spirit of good humor*

Baby Watch Trip

2010-07-23T06:44:00.008-04:00

My friend Abbie is due . . .past due . . .with her #6 Baby Bryant. Today she is going to be induced. The Transue clan took a trip down to GA to be there when he was born. Unfortunately he did not come a bit early, he didn't come on time, and he didn't come slightly late. But we sure did try. We arrived Monday afternoon. We left early Thursday morning. In the meantime we:

1. Managed 9 kids (or tried to)
2. Went to Monkey Joes (woo hoo for our miltary discount!!)
3. Tie Dyed Tshirts (fun, thank goodness for soft scrub with bleach)
4. Visited the YMCA pool (on a hot GA July afternoon)
5. Watched Jelly Telly
6. Took what we hoped would be a labor producing trip to JoAnns and Target
7. Ate Chineese Buffet
8. Fed children, bathed children, enjoyed children

Alas, she remained pregnant and I think we wore her and her family out. She said it helped pass the time, I am sure it did!

Sleeping arrangements

Group Pic the day we left (more on this to follow)

note tie dyed tshirts worn by some . . .

How super dads unwind after a busy day of work and kids

P.S. You can click on Abbie's link and follow her labor today . . .if you are interested. She is live blogging today (valid only on 7/23/2010)

If I Could, I Would

2010-07-15T09:19:00.003-04:00

If I could blog like this, I would . . . for all the moms out there, especially moms of little ones, take Missy's Maternal SAT today. Warning, laughter may ensue, please take all necessary precautions.

I have been following Missy at It's Almost Naptime on my blogroll for a while. Her blog never disappoints. I admire her heart for the Lord and her honest approach to finding joy amidst the challenges of motherhood.

July 4th

2010-07-14T08:49:00.000-04:00

Our Fourth of July was full of . . . .

Little Girls with lots of ponytails

Little boys looking cute

Brothers and sisters hanging out on a train ride

Little girls playing in the driveway

And lots of love!

Go Fish Guys

2010-07-13T08:46:00.000-04:00

Here are my Go Fish Guys . . .by the Ohio River in Louisville, KY

James inherited Jack's T-shirt, and Jack inherited Laura's. Wow, what a difference a year makes!

Uppercase Living

2010-07-12T08:39:00.000-04:00

This is a project that has taken some time. It didn't take long to actually complete, it just took a long time for me to get started. It is a sign hanging in my laundry room. I got the saying from Uppercase Living, it is vinyl lettering that I mounted on a board that someone cut for me at Home Depot, and I painted it a neutral color. Most of the vinyl expressions are meant to be applied directly to a wall, but since we tend to move quite often, I thought it would be wiser to mount it on something that would move with me. Look out for more coming soon! I got names for the kids' doors and some nice sayings for our kitchen and our family photo display.

How Can You Tell?

2010-07-11T08:24:00.001-04:00

How can you tell that the little kids tried to open the cereal on their own?

Ususally they have also taken scissors to the bag, but I guess they gave up and put this one back into the cupboard, unconsumed.

Save, Save, Save

2010-07-10T08:06:00.002-04:00

Jack and Laura have some pretty awesome piggy banks. This one happens to be Laura's.

Here is the message she has posted on the side of her pig. It says, "Save up for Molly doll, Don't let anythign stand in your way, you and her will have fun!" (An American Girl Doll)

She has been diligently saving, and although her goals keep changing, (She is thinking perhaps she should get a bitty baby because they are less expensive, and because they don't have hair . . .Laura's dolls don't have good luck with their hair) she is doing a great job staying on task!

James' School Work

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

This is what James was working on last Friday while we did our schoolwork. Yes, I realize I have been blogging a lot of James recently, but I promise to showcase the other kids more!

Remember, This Is My First Garden

2010-07-08T10:58:00.005-04:00

BEFORE

AFTER

The toys are a neccesity for good garden growth.

Just an example of what a couple months (almost) of Kentucky sun will do for your garden.I am just happy that things are growing, that I have gotten 2 zucchini squash that I have eaten, and that more things are coming. If I could get 6 pumpkins off of that pumpkin plant I will be thrilled!

Teenie Tiny Tomatoes

A Really Tiny Watermelon

But this watermelon has a sister growing in GA . . . she has a lot to live up to!

Eagles Spirit

2010-07-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

My husband is a Washington Redskins fan. Since his parents are Philadelphia Eagles fans, we have had a few Eagles items in our house from time to time. This shirt is actually a handmedown from Laura to Jack, and now to James. James bumped it up a notch though, don't ya think?

Fortunately it washes off pretty well . . .

Laura Loves Her Dolls

2010-07-02T09:37:00.000-04:00

Laura loves her dolls. She has quite a few, but they are all so special to her, each in their own way. The other day she asked to borrow the camera to take pictures of them.

Bye Bye, See You Soon!

2010-06-29T09:11:00.002-04:00

Last Friday night John took the two older kids to see Toy Story 3. James, Megan, and I watched them leave. I got the opportunity to record James and his famous "Bye Bye, see you soon!" This is his common parting ritual. Too cute!

Summer Haircut

2010-06-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

I shaved the spikes.

He still looks cute, and he seems to like his hair.

At least he will be cooler this summer.

Perhaps the spikes will return in the fall.

Apologia Astronomy . . .Here We Go

2010-06-26T09:01:00.002-04:00

Part of our Science Curriculum this year is Apologia's Exploring Creation Through Astronomy.
I linked the Pennywise Learning website because they (among other companies) provide the lab kit to accompany the Apologia science books. The science kit has all the knick knacks needed to complete the science projects contained in the books. For example, this project provided the balloons of various sizes, the thumbtacks, and the thread for the project. I provided the ceiling, the scissors, the construction paper and markers.

We had fun assembling it. We did include Pluto. A later chapter in the book is going to discuss why they have removed Pluto from the list of planets, but we got to choose whether or not to include it. Laura wanted to, so I made her provide me with a reason to include it. She stated, "Even if it's not a planet, it is still important!" I couldn't argue with that.

I look forward to more Science this year!

Auntie Beth, Shield Your Eyes!!

2010-06-12T07:49:00.000-04:00

Megan obviously does not know how to get on Auntie Beth's good side.

Sweet Tea

2010-06-11T11:10:00.000-04:00

Daddy loves sweet tea, and we've gotten into the habit of making it again since we moved here. Here Sweet Baby James is making some Sweet Tea for daddy.

Kids Dancing in Living Room

2010-06-10T07:19:00.002-04:00

Here are the kids performing in our living room to what I believe is Webkinz music from the computer. (It is not my favorite Webkinz song, which is Mustache Louie, in case you were wondering)

There are some cute interactions including James helping Meggie with her sippy cup. Grandma Transue is on the opposite couch either taking pictures or recording, the big light behind her is not "the light" of the promised land, just sunlight from the bay window. I didn't want to not record this fun moment due to some inconvenient lighting.

A Picture of the Future?

2010-06-09T07:14:00.000-04:00

This is a picture that Laura drew on our Homeschool Dry Erase Board. It was just too cute/funny/adorable. We had to take a picture of it. The top of the picture says, "Me in the hospital" (Having a baby) On the bottom it says, Me and my Husband and children. Note, there are 8 of them. We start off with a set of 2, then a set of one, another set of one, then two sets of two.

The artist autographed her work in the upper right hand corner in some self-taught cursive.

New Playset

2010-06-08T07:10:00.002-04:00

Here is our new swing set. We are very pleased with it and we can't wait until the big kids make it back from their summer trip with the grandparents so that they can enjoy it too. I am sure we will have this playset featured in future blog posts.

We are happy it got installed before our fence, but now I am anxious for the fence man to come so that we can all play in a contained area.

The Dance Where Laura Has a Solo

2010-06-07T08:59:00.000-04:00

Laura and her Worship Ballet Teacher Mrs. Jocelyn Richards

This is a video clip of Laura's Worhip Ballet class recital. The teacher had it a bit early so Laura could attend before she moved. The sound doesn't seem to be working, but it is a dance to Chris Tomlin's INDESCRIBABLE. It was so sweet and the girls did a great job. Laura only had the solo in this dance, but you can see the other girls and the hard work they did, and her teacher Jocelyn Richards does a bit of her dancing as well.

Laura's dear friend Zoe came to watch the recital with us.

Laura also became quite good friends with Mrs. Jocelyn's daughter Victoria.

Snack Time at Jump City

2010-06-06T08:49:00.000-04:00

Snack time at Jump City was fun since everyone kind of paired off with their buddy. Sorry Liam, we didn't bring a buddy for you. I truly apologize!

Are You Ready to Jump?

2010-06-05T08:35:00.000-04:00

The Character Clan went with us to Jump City, here are MOST of the kids before we entered . . .I have the baby girls with me, but I won't say why Abbie and Josiah are missing from this shot, but I am sure Abbie remembers. :)

Zoe and Laura had a good time.

The big boys followed the rules at the basketball game, but James figured out a "better" way to do it.
Oh, and Super Wy made it too, and he joined in with all the "little" kids for fun.

The next post will have snack time at Jump City with buddies~

Whatcha Lookin At Megan?

2010-06-04T08:31:00.000-04:00

The big kids running around on the outdoor stage.

We are going to miss this park!

Last Trip to the Columbia County Library Park

2010-06-03T08:19:00.013-04:00

The last few weeks in GA were full of some sweet moments, including one of our last trips to the park where we got some fun photos

Giving Lou Some Water

2010-06-03T08:16:00.003-04:00

Moving

2010-05-16T20:23:00.003-04:00

The big day is almost here. For the last week or so we have been living in a state of limbo. Our household goods are on a truck, somewhere. We will be leaving town on Tuesday for Kentucky. This is not an easy time, but we know that God has a plan for us in KY at this point in our lives. While it sure would be nice to stay here and grow with our friends and church family, we will instead be challenged to step out in faith in a new town.

We have been blessed by dear friends who have housed various children of ours for various lengths of time so that they do not go insane in a house that is empty. We will miss them terribly when we are gone. Friends like them show us a true example of Christ's work on earth. They willingly opened their home, shared their food, offered patience, grace, and mercy to us during this time of transition. The friendship they offered to us the entire time we have been here in GA has been an answer to prayer. I have gained much through friendship with them. It is nice to have friends that offer advice without being judgemental, that you can share your highest moments and deepest failures with. I truly cherish my friendship with Abbie and love her children and their family.

Babysitting

2010-05-03T10:27:00.000-04:00

So my friend Abbie has 5 kids, and one on the way . . .when it was time to find out whether #6 was a boy or a girl, I watched a few of her kids. (Oldest, Zoe, went to the ultrasound). That left me with 8 kids. I can usually pull off these babysitting feats with little difficulty, but sometimes I pull out the high chair for C.R. . . .

And do things like let the kids watch TV and eat their lunch on the couch (or while sitting on the windowsill if you are Jack). Afterall, I want them to think it is fun to come to our house.

James and His Favorite Christmas Present

2010-05-03T08:57:00.003-04:00

How Did You Start the New Year?

2010-05-02T12:49:00.000-04:00

We started the new year in a way that is only experienced by certain truly blessed members of the world. We were in the land of the pickle drop. The famous Dillsburg PA. (Mr. Peanut, spray painted mostly green, dropped at the stroke of midnight in Dillsburg to ring in the new year) We were planning on returning to GA early the next day so most of the family skipped the late night festivities. Laura, Jack, Daddy, and Auntie Beth got to attend the kids Pickle Drop (Mrs. Peanut, spray painted green I believe, at the fire station?) There were lots of games and fun activities for kids . . .

Riding in Style

2010-05-01T12:43:00.000-04:00

Megan has really had it good for her first year. Here she is in her sling. I made it myself with some fabric, a pattern from the internet, and some rings ordered from slingrings.com. She has used it well! Since James is the type of older brother who requires 2 hands free, she has enjoyed rides in this well past the age most babies get carried around in such a manner. She still fits into it well at 1 year of age. Now I use it more as a hip holder, but it does the job!

Sledding with the Cousins Dec 2009

2010-04-30T08:46:00.002-04:00

So soon after my last post we headed North to my hometown of Rochester, NY to spend time with family. I had dreaded memories of that trip from the previous year. We were driving our 18 hour drive. I was 6 months pregnant with Megan, James was about 8 months old. While we enjoyed time with family on that trip, we also endured a stomach virus that hit just about everyone, and James was blessed with a strong cough, an ear infection, and was teething his top four front teeth at the same time. So I figured THIS trip had to be better than that trip, and fortunately it was . . .BIG TIME!

We got enough snow to let the kids play, here are some clips of them sledding in the perfectly sized hill in front of my brother Mark's and his wife Nan's house. Laura and Jack love spending time with Will and Drew. Cousin time is always the best.

We're Still Here

2010-04-29T08:30:00.002-04:00

Yes, It has been awhile, but we are still here. I thought I'd post a cute picture of Meganas a welcome back. I will pick up on the blogging train again here as we prepare for our move to KY. I have a lot of pictures to post and a lot of news to catch up on from the last few months, but since the main point of this blog is to have something that my kids can look back on, and to share updates with family and friends, I will be posting some of the older pictures from the last few months.

Christmas Concert

2009-12-17T12:36:00.005-05:00

For the Out of towners that missed it, here are some quick clips of our Childrens' Choir Concert. Unfortunately, they are above the age of way-cute antics (Jack was never one for acting silly anyways) But Laura got involved pretty well with her hand motions. Jack's the one in the red shirt with black sleeves (His head is right above the music stand) Laura is bottom row, far right. Laura also had a line to say to introduce one of the songs, but it was not captured on video. They both did a great job!

Review: Potluck Survival Guide

2009-12-15T07:00:00.003-05:00

This is a product review for Mama Buzz reviewers. The cookbook Potluck Survival Guide by Cherie Kimmons was provided for me free of charge to review.

Another Cookbook. I know what you are thinking . . .but this is a cookbook that I am actually super excited about. I will tell you why. It has recipes that you can use. Recipes that you will use. That is if you have a family that is as picky as mine. Or if you occassionally are called upon to provide a meal/appetizer/dessert/side dish for a church/school/bake sale/family in need/potluck event. The recipes in this book will get people to tell you they "need the recipe" for that great dish you brought to the function.

Sound like you? It sure sounds like me! Usually I'll flip through a cookbook, frustrated to find only one or two meals that I could present to my family without being laughed at. This one has many recipes that my picky family will eat. Normal recipes, yet yummy!

From cover to cover this book is full of information. Instructions on boiling a chicken, reflections on Meatloaf, and handy tips and serving suggestions in the margines of the recipes make this a book that will not sit on your shelf. The book includes pages of wisdom from obviously experienced sources on how to coordinate that "big event" from decorating to calculating just how much bacon to fry up for that Men's breakfast with 25 guests.

Here my kitchen friendly 6yo Jack is helping mommy break in the cookbook:

Isn't he just adorable . . .I am training him well in the kitchen . . .he'll be a hot commodity in about 15 years.
We chose to make the Cow Pattie Cookies (a favorite from my childhood), also known as "no bake cookies."

The cookbook lays flat (even though my counter wasn't, it has gift bags on it) but the cookbook still stayed open for me.

The hardest part was keeping the toddler away from them while they cooled. A mistake by me to cool them on the kitchen table, you'd think I haven't made cookies before
with children around.

I took a little holiday creative license and sprinkled some to see if these would make a good gift giving treat . . .they do!

Here is the info on how to get a copy, get some as gifts, but make sure you order one for yourself!

Price: $18.96, regularly $24.95

Put out by: Five Star Publications

Links: http://www.fivestarpublications.com/book_detail.php?recordid= 95

http://www.fivestarpublications.com/potluck/book.html

The Homeschool Christmas Party

2009-12-11T14:51:00.019-05:00

What you need for a homeschool Christmas party:

Gather all your friends together.

Have That Family with all the kids put on a super cute skit of the events surrounding the birth of our Savior.

Try, try, and try again to get a picture of all the kids together:

Settle for individual pictures of the children in a more natural setting for them:

Megan:

James:

Jack:

Laura

Find a spot to stick the troublemaker:

Make some crafts:

The Coordinating Outfits

2009-11-29T19:40:00.004-05:00

These are the coordinating outfits I made for the kids. I know it is kinda hard to see them, but then again, it is kinda hard to get the kids all together, looking in the *almost* same direction, and not crying. So, this is also the picture for our photo Christmas cards ( see previous sentence for the reason why). I have other holiday outfits for the kids, because I have a huge place in my heart for dressing my kids alike . . .

Sweater and Hairbow

2009-11-29T15:20:00.002-05:00

I made the dress,

my mom made the sweater,

I got the headband from my friends' etsy shop

and I attached the hairbow.

Cute baby provided by God

Review: Wright On Time:Arizona

2009-11-24T07:09:00.001-05:00

This book, Wright On Time: Arizona (Book One) was provided to me free of charge for review through Mama Buzz.

Author: Lisa M. Cotrell-Bentley

Although we are commonly told not to judge a book by its cover, I was excited when I first saw this book. The cover led me to believe that this would be a great book for us all to enjoy. In no time at all we joined 7 yo Aidan Wright and his 11yo Nadia sister on their adventure in Arizona.

This story depicts the fictional Wright family, as they "Road school" in their RV. The first book, Arizona, takes them through adventures in caves, searching for minerals, dealing with bats . . .and weaves in enough education to really make it worth your while. Targeted for the 5-12 year old crowd, by 7 yo girl and 5yo boy both enjoyed the adventure. The reading was easy enough for my 7yo to do independently, but we enjoyed reading it as a family during our school day. I can't wait to see what other adventures. I have always been amazed at what a blessed nation we are, with our mountains, plains, wetlands, deserts . . .I know these books will help foster an attitude of appreciation in my children for the wonderful land our nation has been entrusted with.

In addition, the website also feature a blog by Nadia who is transcribing from her paper journal, I think my daughter will enjoy seeing what Nadia has to say about her adventures.

In conclusion, I am thrilled that I have been made aware of this series. I am eagerly awaiting the upcoming books. Being a military family that has made our own way through 3 states in the last 6 years, I think that this series will be enjoyable for us. As the books come out for the states that have been part of our lives, we will definitely be ordering them.

Currently the book Arizona is the only one available, with Utah available as a pre-order. They are easy to obtain at the Wright On Time Website Store.

It can also be obtained at Amazon.com

I know it is time . . .Stay tuned

2009-11-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

I know it is about time for an updated photo of my children wearing coordinated outfits. I don't know why I am so fond of my children dressed this way, but I'm doing it while I can. A shipment will be arriving soon, and I am going to try to set up a little studio in the house (or maybe outside based on the weather). So, stay tuned.

Review: The Ultimate Cloth

2009-11-20T09:30:00.004-05:00

**This is a Mama Buzz review for The Ultimate Cloth, It was provided for me free of charge for review**

Price: $6

Link: http://www.ultimateclothamerica.com/index.html

Media Blurb:

The Ultimate Cloth is eco-friendly solution for homes as well as a money and time saver. The Ultimate Cloth is a brand new technology – in fact, it is the only cloth to receive a new patent in the last 25 years. The Ultimate Cloth is a simple, green and effective one-step cleaning process. The Ultimate Cloth cleans any hard surface – glass, wood, granite, stainless steel and many more – with just water! No longer do you have to use harsh chemicals in your home, nor do you need spend hundreds of dollars per year buying them. The Ultimate Cloth has been lab tested to remove 96% of bacteria, without the use of chemicals. And, can cut 50% off your cleaning time. The Ultimate Cloth is truly the ultimate in green cleaning."

My Blurb:

I really like this cloth. It resembles a very rugged paper towel, and it has been used primarily in my kitchen since it arrived in my mailbox. Clicking on the link above will take you to their very informative website with many, many suggestions for usage. I tried it out on the following:

1. My stainless steel kitchen sink. I love it. I am an occasional follower of the FLYLady (and her goal of the shiny sink). Keeping this cloth handy made for a great finishing touch to a clean sink, especially by getting rid of the water spots and leaving a shine that I love. I also used it to wipe down my stainless steel bowl on my Kitchenaid mixer, again, great results.

2. I used it to scrub my stove. I was almost hesitant at first, since I did not want to damage the cloth . . . but its durability impressed me as I got some rather tough spots cleaned.

3. Windows/Mirrors. My small children like to leave fingerprints on my windows, and toothpastey water splashes on my bathroom mirrors. This worked well on those jobs, but I did have a small learning curve on the level of dampness that the cloth should be at for these jobs. Not a big deal at all for me.

4. I didn't realize it until I read it on the website, but it can be used as a flat mop refill. I have the swiffer model that takes both wet and dry refills so I ran to try it out. I like how quickly I could give my kitchen floor a cleaning without worrying about what chemicals I was leaving on my floors. I would mop, remove it, rinse/ring it out, and replace. No sick feeling in my stomach trying to calculate how much each of those refills was eating out of my grocery budget!

I love that it can be bleached, although I have not tried that yet. It can also go into the washing machine. I usually let it air dry on my kitchen towel rack (aka stove handle) and then fold it away in the towel drawer for its next use. Be careful to advise husbands, house guests, and if you are so lucky . . . your maid . . . that this is not a disposable towel.

I like to get my children involved in the household cleaning, and I feel very comfortable with handing them The Ultimate Cloth and letting them clean what they can. (usually they are armed with spray bottles and some paper towels) I believe the $6 price tag will save lots for our family in the paper towel department!

FREE OFFER FROM THE MAKERS OF THE ULTIMATE CLOTH

Want to try it out for yourself?

Become a fan on Facebook (Click on Facebook link)
or Twitter (Click on Twitter Link)

Those links will provide you with the info you need to obtain YOUR free ULTIMATE CLOTH!

Raising Successful Children . . .Or Not

2009-11-19T16:10:00.002-05:00

I receive the Proverbs 31 Ministry email devotionals daily. Today was particularly heartwarming for me. I am not sure if I am allowed to copy and paste the devotional onto my blog, but I am providing the link for you to explore. Intriguing thoughts whether you homeschool, public school, private school. Helpful for parents, grandparents, teachers, or church leaders.

I Don't Want to Raise Successful Children

A Week

2009-11-17T11:53:00.004-05:00

A week has gone by since my last post, and what a fast week it was.

My husband did a little bit of computer updating, and that has made our computers run better. I like the new operating system.

Megan is getting more teeth, even though her Auntie Beth told her no more teeth until Thanksgiving. I think she just wants to be prepared for the big dinner she'll be smelling in a little over a week. The good thing is, even though she is cutting four teeth, it really seems like no big deal to her. She is crawling, pulling up, finally eating some solid foods, and sleeping well.

James is on the brink of full blown 2yo-ness. He has all the mobility and dexterity you could wish for, but no judgement. He seems oblivious to the fact that no one else in the family seeks out joy by emptying the oatmeal box on the floor. He blissfully finds joy in playing in chocolate milk powder on the floor of the pantry. Today he opened the door to go out into the garage, only to cry when the door closed behind him. (note to self, lock garage door during the day) He is also experimenting with the art of tantrums, but we are nipping those in the bud pretty quickly.

Jack is growing and growing and growing. He is coming along in school just fine. He has such a sweet heart, I get comments from a lot of my friends that he is a sweet boy. I have to agree.

Laura is growing in her faith by leaps and bounds. She contemplates God on a level that I know I wasn't at her age. Her questions usually begin with, "Mom, this is a question about the Bible" and proceed on to . . . .

1. "I am pretty sure I know this, but was Jesus alive up in Heaven before he came down to Earth as a baby?"

2. "How did those women keep those things on their heads?"

3. "Does God know His own future?" When I responded yes, she said, "Oh, yeah, because He knows everything. He even knows what He looks like, but we can't see Him until we get to Heaven" When I reminded her that Moses had gotten a glimpse of God in all His brightness and glory she said, "Yeah, if we saw Him we'd probably just faint over dead"

We are in the middle of our church Missions Conference and Laura has been soaking in all the information that she has been learning about the different countries in the world . . .so far Colombia and India. She asked if tonight we could "play India" and sleep on the floor of our living room (Since most families in India only have that much room of their own) with nothing but a light blanket. I said I'd have to make that decision later . . .

My Easily Distracted Life

2009-11-09T09:57:00.003-05:00

So there I was, sitting on the living room floor, looking through some new Weight Watchers Cookbooks that I got a garage sale this weekend. Some of my family members are following the program, and since they will be visiting in a few weeks (woo hoo) I thought I could make meals from there and they could stay on program. (I was on the floor so I could let the babies crawl all over me while I am doing this job

So I went to eamil my SIL to tell her about that, but then there was an email from my husband about library books that need to be returned.

As I am still sitting a the computer I hear Laura and Jack say something like "We're going to take James out front to play" 15 seconds later when I process that through my brain (It sometimes operated on a delay) I jump up, run outside and reclaim the 18 month old, explaining to the kids that they cannot be responsible for their baby brother outside. And lock the door so he can't sneak out.

So I bring James back inside and find the pantry door open with 6 packets of instant oatmeal (Thankfully still unopened) on the floor, along with a Wii Remote, the broom and dustpan on the floor, and a few Leap Frog fridge letter magnets on the floor. Hmmmm, what has the baby been up to?

So after a quick lesson on how to put the magnets back on the fridge I pick up the oatmeal packets, sweep some extra magnets toward him, replace the the broom to the closet, and take the Wii Remote back to the box under the TV (Where it belongs) and then see my cookbooks on the floor.

Sigh.

Now what was I going to do? Oh, yeah, email my sister in law about the cookbooks.

Jelly Telly

2009-11-06T09:51:00.001-05:00

It's not as sticky as it sounds!

If you haven't heard about it before: click here

Adventures in Breadmaking 2

2009-11-06T09:21:00.002-05:00

So the breadmaking journey continues. I must say, I love it. I get mixed reviews from the family. Sometimes they say they love it and it is the most wonderful bread in the world. Other times they say, "Not THAT bread", but then eat it and enjoy it.

As far as the actual breadmaking, this has made all the difference:

MY KITCHENAID MIXER

I purchased the Classic model, and it does the job, but it seems like it struggles a bit in the ending stages of the mixing and kneading. I would have to recommend a mixer that is slightly more powerful, but this does the job, and also whips up a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough in a flash. Love the limited cleanup!

Well, back to bread. I am never quite sure how long to let my bread rise, but I think I pulled it off this time. I also read directions on how to shape the loaf which helped out tremendously. I actually pulled bread out of the oven that looked like a loaf of bread.

My next post about breadmaking will include a list of all the links for the products I use that are helpful. Stay tuned!

No TV

2009-11-05T12:48:00.003-05:00

We have always had a TV. I like TV. We never really felt the need to restrict time on TV, and our children have not had difficulty limiting their viewing to the shows that we had approved.

Lately though, the kids seem to be turning to TV when they are bored. And hearing the TV now for some reasons produces stress for me. (I can feel my body stressing when I hear it turn on)

Our friends' TV broke (or died, or something in the middle of that) So they have their computer, and a small TV in the parental bedroom. And they are doing fine. I know several people who survive with very little - no TV.

Laura asked me the other day, "Mom, do you think we could go without the TV?" I told her that I am sure we could. Today, we are. They watched their Jelly Telly. And I must confess we are easing the transition by watching a Netflix movie Horton Hears a Who. But we are done with our schooling, have done a few chores, and one of the two children is worn out and relaxing while he watches it.

So, hopefully, this will be a start of something better for us during the day.

Laundry Day!

2009-11-05T09:31:00.002-05:00

It's Laundry Day!

Aren't you happy too?

I have recently come across a concept that has never occurred to me . . .

Limiting my children's clothes.
To just enough sets that they need to get by.
So I am not so overwhelmed on laundry day.
So that we can fit their clothes in their dressers.
So when I say go get dressed they don't come down looking all silly.
So that on laundry day I can be as happy as Megan is here!

Reformation Day

2009-11-02T14:44:00.004-05:00

My friend Abbie, her husband, and their crew of 5 children hosted a Reformation Day Party for Halloween night. Given that Martin Luther chose the night before All Saints Day to post his 95 theses, we figured it would be fun to celebrate that. It helped out my kids, since they are generally frightened by many halloween decorations and most constumes that the older kids wear when trick or treating.

Jack was sick with a fever, so he stayed home and handed out candy with daddy (actually, they shut off the lights, and cuddled on the couch watching college football, but shhhhhhh)
The three other children had a great time.

What does one do at a Reformation Day party? Well, during a wonderful dinner of chicken and coleslay (no doubt authentic Reformation Day faire) you can watch a video of Martin Luther's life (pay attention, there may be a pop quiz later for candy)

Here are the older girls in their costumes:

Then there is the game that Abbie and Mark created called "Grab the indulgences" Which basically involves moving the living room furniture around so that you can throw a bag of candy on the floor and see who can get to it first.

Josiah jumped the gun and got his indulgences first . . .with a great slide!

Or "Pin the Theses on the Door", very similar to pin the tail on the donkey, without the donkey.

There were other fun moments of the night, which mostly involved having so many kids in one house at one time, and some adorable "baby moments"

Like James finding different ways to modify his pumpkin costume:

It was a grand time. Thanks for having us!

And here is the link to my friend's blog where you can see her kids' awesome costumes!

And another link of the activities

Two Litttle Pumpkins

2009-11-02T14:39:00.001-05:00

Hand-me-downs from a few years back . . .so glad I still had them!

A Good Book List

2009-11-01T12:09:00.003-05:00

A friend shared this list with me, and I can't help but posting it for whoever is interested. It is from the Classical Christian Educations Support Loop. The list contains books with a Judeo-Christian world view, recommended by the contributors to be of good literary value. I was happy to see many of the titles we are reading for Sonlight on the list. I also found more that I would love to share with my children. The list is broken down into levels, and next to the title and author it indicates if the book would be a good reader (for the child) or a read-aloud (for the parents to read to/with their children)

Here is the link to the Classical Christian Education Support Loop List

Adventures In Breadmaking

2009-10-30T08:45:00.003-04:00

So, I have started on the journey of making my own bread / bread products through the encouragement of a friend. I am impressed at the way freshly milled wheat products keeps certain members of the household "regular". I was impressed with what this book and this book had to say about the value of whole grains in our diet. Two very differing viewpoints, but they each reinforce what I was learning about.

Being the bargain shopper that I am I found a grain mill (used) on ebay (since these can easily run 200-300 dollars for starters) and I placed a bulk co op order from Breadbeckers (along with their cookbook).

The order came delivered to my house on Wed night (thanks to some helpful friends)and the kids and I milled our first batch of flour out on the back porch. (My mill is a little messy and spews small amounts of a fine floury-dust) It was really fun. The kids were impressed.

My first recipe with this flour was a batch of biscuits. My friend supplied the recipe. I have never eaten her freshly baked biscuits plain, but I don't know if mine turned out right or not. I suppose it would have helped if I had a biscuit cutter. But it was fun.

This is the recipe I used, supplied by Abbie over at Just A Bunch of Characters

*adapted from Bread of Life Volume 1...will feed a six member family with a few left over*

6 cups flour (I use fresh milled whole wheat but I believe any would work fine)
2 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c (or less) butter
4 tbsp mayo (I use plain yogurt)
2 c buttermilk (or you can use plain milk or make your own buttermilk..see below)

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter and mayonnaise until it looks like coarse cornmeal. Add milk. Turn out onto a lightly floured board. Knead approximately 15 times. Pat to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Cut into biscuits. Bake 12-15 minutes at 400 degrees.

To make buttermilk: 1 cup whole milk to one tablespoon lemon juice

*I use the 1/2 cup butter...this is down from the full cup of butter original to the recipe. I've found that using yogurt in place of mayo or shortening is not only healthier but it also makes the biscuits way moist and extra yummy.

I will continue to post as I learn what to do and what not to do in the bread baking world. I must say, I had a biscuit and some eggs for breakfast and I feel stuffed!

He does slow down

2009-10-29T15:00:00.000-04:00

When he gets a fever

When he eats apples (they take a long time)

And when construction guys are in our backyard

From a Small Boy's Perspective

2009-10-28T13:25:00.000-04:00

Jack is our budding amateur photographer. He loves taking pictures with the digital camera. It is fun to see what pops up on the computer when I download the shots. These have not been altered (although some should be!)

Bible Time

2009-10-27T20:51:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite times of our homeschooling day is our opening time where we do our Bible devotional. We are currently working through Leading Little Ones to God (I highly endorse this devotional, it explains things in terms that they totally get, it also reviews the concepts and then continues to build on those concepts)

We will read a Bible passage, review our AWANA verses, and usually pop in our CD of children's hymns as we progress onto our seatwork. Usually while I am reading the lesson the kids will pull out their dry erase boards and draw. Here is Jack's picture of "Jesus" that he doodled the other day. It's just too awesome, I had to share.

Get Ready to Say AWWWW!

2009-10-27T20:44:00.003-04:00

Jack loves his little Megan

Where DOES he get his energy???

2009-10-27T11:37:00.002-04:00

Mystery Solved . . . Case Closed

Pat and Nat

2009-10-27T11:33:00.005-04:00

Jack is reading his 1st "real book". It is a story you may be familiar with, it is Pat the Rat and his long time friend Nat the Cat. They are both fat and they like to sit on mats and wear hats . . .you get the drift. For you Sonlight users, it is the 1 Readers, You Can Read It Book 1.

Scooters

2009-10-26T07:07:00.002-04:00

One of the best purchases we've made in a long time:

It's Auntie Beth!

2009-10-25T15:30:00.013-04:00

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Auntie Beth came to visit this weekend. The kids always have so much fun when she is around.

We took lots of pictures, including this one of Megan:

Jack was showing off his big brother skills, Megan had a little bit of a frightened look about her . . .

James is learning some big brother skills as well. . .

Jack and Laura put on a Weatherman show for Auntie Beth . . . not sure why he was reporting the weather in a construction hat . . .

And we transformed Laura's Princess bike into a bike for Jack with a couple cans of spray paint

Review: Copper Bookmark

2009-10-22T22:08:00.010-04:00

This is a review that I a conducting for Mama Buzz. The bookmark was provided by Five Star Publications for this review.

FiveStarPublications.com gives this statement about these bookmarks:

High-end, custom-designed Five Star Copper Bookmarks are made exclusively with quality copper and Swarovski crystals and pearls, making them ideal for avid readers and gift giving. They come in three 3-1/2-inches-tall designs: a serene angel made with a divine crystal and opulent pearl; a paw print, which sports a teal or amethyst crystal; and a crystal-packing star. Retail: $11.95. www.FiveStarPublications.com.

I was excited to have the opportunity to evaluate these bookmarks. As you can see from the photo they are charming. They are just as cute in person. I was sent the star bookmark. I requested that one in particular based on the versatility I felt it would have. The star bookmark is fabulous as it is gender neutral, making it a great gift for men, women, boys or girls.

Their statement of high quality is spot on! I would be proud to give this as a gift, or to have it mark the place in a book on my nightstand. It is a smaller size bookmark, 3 1/2 inches like it states, and I found it to be a perfect fit for small thinline Bibles, but sturdy enough for larger books as well. It has a delightful southwestern style which I liked.

I feel the star and the angel bookmarks would be an excellent gift for teachers or neighbors at Christmas time. They can be ordered directly from the website and at the time of this posting they are offering a special price.

I would like to thank Five Star Publications for the opportunity to review their product!

Kinda Freaky Friends

2009-10-21T06:35:00.011-04:00

Back when we lived in VA Laura had a friend who had a couple of these tall Barbie dolls. She has wanted one for a long time, but I hadn't found them in any stores since. One night while searching on Craigslist I found a couple for sale. And now they live with us. Laura dresses them up in some of the clothes that don't fit her anymore.

Yes, one is missing a leg, we have the leg, it just falls off a lot. Fortunately Laura has a solution for that . . .

Or they can sit down.

One of them (I think it was the one with two legs) joined us for breakfast one morning.

And I think it kinda confused James . . .

Sometimes at night they sleep on her bedroom floor.

And sometimes they dress up in her old YMCA cheerleading outfit.

And since we are talking about freaky pictures, this one reminds me of that squirrel picture taken not too long ago . . .

Lazy Pumpkin Patch Blogging

2009-10-20T14:20:00.001-04:00

We were all set to go to the pumpkin patch last week. Then James got sick with a sore throat. But since my friend is so cool, and because she has a huge honkin' van, she took my kids with her.

Laura and Jack at the Pumpkin Patch

Thanks!

Meet Twinkley

2009-10-20T14:04:00.006-04:00

So we went to our church's fall festival . . .and we got a new member to our household. Who knew Jack was so skilled at throwing ping pong balls into little water filled bowls.

After over 24 hours at home, and the fish displying a reluctance to go quietly into the night, I broke down and purchased a home for him at Wal-Mart.

Jack wants to keep him in his room. Mommy said no!

A New Addition

2009-10-18T20:10:00.003-04:00

We have a new addition to our family . . .

It's not a baby, it's not a doggie, but it will have pictures soon.

If you were at the fall festival (or any festival) you may be able to guess what we have now.

Hellllloooooo

2009-10-18T12:23:00.005-04:00

Hi!

Well, yes, it has been more than a week since my last post . . .but it has been an interesting week. Things that happened this week:

1. James was stricken with strep throat. James does not react well to strep throat. So James went to the doctor and got Penicillin.

2. James is allergic to Penicillin. Or at least that is what I think caused the rash on his body. So James is not on Penicillin anymore.

3. The Wal Mart "greeter" that I am used to seeing on my Monday morning shopping trips looks a lot different on Friday night at midnight. The kind gray-haired lady with a smile on her face transforms into a 6'3" bald headed "bouncer". He stands not to greet you, but to stare at you as you approach the store.

5. I got to deliver a baby at work. Everything went really well, and that made it a fun shift for me. I don't know how many babies I have delivered without doctors there at this point, but it is probably double digits at this point.

6. Laura has such a kind heart. When we went to Target to spend her birthday money she found a horse for her dolls that she loved. Then she let her brother pick out a toy with her left over money. Isn't that sweet?

7. Laura is wearing size 3 sneakers. Size three sneakers make her look so old to me. A lot of my friends had a hard time when their kids went to Pre K, or to Kindergarten, or their first sleep over. Not me, she did not seem old to me until she came home yesterday wearing those size 3 sneakers.

Well, that is a quick run down. We had a really rainy week and I hope next week will be better weather wise.

Friday Faves TV

2009-10-09T16:57:00.006-04:00

Missy at It's Almost Naptime is interested (or pretends to be interested) in our favorite things, so she captains Friday Faves . . .

This week . . .TV SHOWS

Now I have always been a TV fan. My childhood memories contain fond ones of Saturday Morning cartoons with my siblings, huddled around what was probably a 13 inch black and white TV. We watched such classics as "Tom Swift" and "George of the Jungle". I think "Speedracer" was one of them. As I grew up, the family would enjoy the once a year specials . . .Charlie Brown as he celebrated all the holidays, Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music. We got to stay up late, and enjoy popcorn from my Dad's air corn popper. It had this neat little compartment in the side that melted butter, and it would run long enough to fill eight bowls of popcorn over and over again.

My TV watching was limited, we did not have cable, and we did not watch anything that our parents had not pre-authorized. I felt like the only pre-teen girl in the world who was forbidden to watch "Facts of Life", but looking back, I wouldn't have let me watch it either. We did however, have the green light to watch the "Cosby Show" and "Family Ties". Thursday nights were great family time as we huddled around the slightly bigger color TV to enjoy the family favorites.

But, this is not what Missy wants to know about. And you probably didn't either.

Some of my current faves are:

The Office It has a type of humor that is usually up my alley.

My husband and I are fans of reality TV . . .Mostly Amazing RaceWe rarely miss one of those. We were die hard Survivor fans, but usually now we don't get too interested in it until the end of the season.

And, I should admit our biggest personality flaw. Worse than The Office, worse than reality TV, is our love for Chuck We wondered the other night when the new fall season was going to start. I jumped up off the couch and googled it. I think we shed a few tears as we discoverd the new season would not start until March 2010. Sigh . . .

And I had to come back to add "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC Friday nights. I don't know why, but I do love this show. Perhaps its the people who think it is perfectly acceptable to blow what would be a nice down payment for a house on a dress.

And my other TLC fave, the Duggars on 18 (soon to be 19) Kids and Counting.

There are probably more, TV was a great friend of mine during the many sleepless nights of newborn-at-home time. With Laura I would hear her cry, look at the clock, and know what show I would get to watch as I fed her. Good think I am a fan of most cheesy, second rate sit coms of the 90's!