Things are really moving fast.  There doesn't seem to be a day where the calendar has a free space. 

We have less than two weeks of school.  I am so tempted to just finish it up right now.  But no, we will perservere to the end.  I am not required to count days of school until Cameron enters the third grade but I am "practicing" now.  PA requires 180 days.  We already have 177 days on the calendar! We are coming down the home stretch.

I've already started getting organized for next year.  I will soon have the school shelves reorganized and ready to go. 

This was our first year using Ambleside Online.  I didn't do everything that is suggested for a CM'er (Charlotte Mason) to do but we added a few things and we will add a few more things next year.  I'm very pleased with the way things have gone this year using AO.  I wasn't sure about it at first, mostly because Cameron is slow at learning to read.  But, as many people tell me, boys usually take a little longer and for some, it doesn't click until around 8 years old.  CM is a lot of reading.  But he loves the stories, most of them, and his narration skills have improved vastly over the year.  We went from not doing narration at all to being able to recall details from a retold Shakespeare story several days later.

I am learning too.  I've started my own nature journal which I am LOVING.  I've always wished I could draw and I am pleasantly surprised with my results.  It really makes you pay attention to small dettails.  I'm noticing things in God's wonderful creation that I never really paid attention to before.

This week was also my library's annual book sale.  They seemed to have twice as many books this year as they did last.  I got a few great finds.  I found some classics that we will need for school that were in great shape.  I found a two volume set about composers and their music.  That will be very helpful in the coming years as we study composers.  I got a few books on nature, one of them being a wildflower identification guide.  It is for a specific area, but as I leafed through, most of those wildflowers are in this area as well.  I did pick up a few duds, but they were 10 cents, so I do not feel any great loss and will just give them back for another sale.

Cameron is improving in soccer as is his coach.  Last night we had a practice that was much better than the week before.  Cameron is still not understanding all the in's and out's of the game and doesn't pay attention as much as he should but I'm sure that will improve as we go along.

Well, my early morning quiet has come to an end.  The day must start.  There is much to be done. 

I cannot believe how fast this past year of school has just flown by.  We have just under four weeks left.  I'm thinking of coming up with a summer schedule of nature study, math facts (aka flash cards) and reading to help keep those sharp. 

Right now we are enjoying the mild weather.  It is sunny but not hot which in my mind is PERFECT weather.  I will try not to complain when the weather is hotter, at least not complain too much.  Cameron is exploring the great outdoors and comes in each evening dirty, a little sweaty, full of stories of things that he saw, and absolutly happy.  It's so good to get all our school work done before lunch, at least most days.

Cameron started soccer this past Saturday.  He was beyond thrilled when he got to be the goalie, not just once but TWICE.  Can you believe it?  And he only let one shot get past him.  He is learning new skills at practice this year too.  We weren't able to make it to any of the practices last year so this is going to be a great help.

Cameron has also been taking piano from a young woman at our church.  I actually tried to teach him myself but for some reason, I just couldn't do it.  It doesn't make sense.  I teach him for school, I teach him about life, I teach him about the Bible, I've taught him at church and Sunday School at times but I just could NOT teach him piano.  He really likes his teacher.  She does a great job with him.  Now if we can just remember to practice.

I am also participating in the 30 day Bible reading challenge over at Ponderings from my Heart.  I've been a little hit or miss with my Bible reading lately so this was a good reminder.  I am working my way, very slowly through Romans.  I'm in chapter 10 right now.  I'm reading all the notes in my study Bible, looking at some of the cross references (there are A LOT) and taking notes of my own.

At church, I am busy this month with teaching the 2's and 3's during church time.  It has only been a few years since Cameron was this age but it seems vastly different with these children.  I don't know if it was because when Cameron was 2 and 3 I was living with a 2/3 yo and was constantly in 2/3 yo mode. 

I had a so-so first week but now I think, and pray, that I'm back on track.  This week we study how God made the very first man and woman, Adam and Eve, and that God made each of us.  Then we made our own man out playdough.  I made some Chocolate playdough so that we would all have plenty to play with.  The problem...it smells DIVINE!  It looks scrumptious!  It tastes HORRID!!!  (Yes, I actually couldn't resist the look and smell.)  But the children really enjoyed it and it took a long time to lose interest.  Next time though, it won't be chocolate!  I don't remember where I got this recipe, but here it is.

Chocolate Playdough

• Mix 1 1/4 cups of flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/2 Tablespoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 cup boiling water
• Stir quickly, mix well.
• Cook over low heat until dough forms a ball.
• When cool , mix with your hands.
• Store in airtight container.

It will smell good enough to eat but without sugar in it kids (Or adults, like me) will not want to taste it a second time.

Today is my husband's birthday and Cameron and I were able to pull off our surprise. 

I thought all was lost when DH called this morning to talk to us because it was his birthday.  I wasn't near the phone at all when it rang and that is one phone call Cameron is allowed to pick up.  They talked for a few minutes before I realized that they were on the phone. 

But Cameron didn't let on.  So we had a normal phone conversation and wished him a happy birthday and made plans for a day to call next week.

Yeah!  We made it!

The look on DH's face when he walked through the visiting room door was PRICELESS.  He was so surprised.  The grin on Cameron's face matched his father's...a mile wide!  They haven't seen each other since May.

The visit was only about 2 hours but it was packed full of talking.  And most of it was boy/man talk.  Mama was just along for the ride.  Or maybe to provide the ride.  LOL  But that warmed me heart just to be able to provide this opportunity for the men in my life.

Even with all the talking that those two did, Cameron thought of a few more things he wanted to say or ask him not even a few minutes down the road.  Yeah!  Our next letter is already in the workings.

As many of you know, my husband is in prison.  I have been urging my husband to write letters to Cameron.  Well, he recently started doing just that much to the delight of Cameron and myself.

This has also sparked Cameron writing letters back to his father.  What a wonderful way to work on writing, penmanship, and most importantly, keeping a connection with his father.  We are going to try and make it a weekly event.

For his last letter, which I should have taken a picture of but didn't,  I sat him down with some of his lined school paper and told him to write at least 2 sentences to his Dad and then maybe draw some pictures.

He wrote: "I miss you. I love you." Then drew pictures of two cars at a stop light. It was a very good drawing.  (Wish I had taken that picture)

He even labeled the cars with "car" Then he asked me if Dad ever saw Star Wars and if he liked it. Cameron is obsessed with Star Wars right now. So I helped him write two more sentences.

"Have you seen Star Wars? I love it!" His required two sentences turned into four by his choice. 

Another good thing, Cameron is finally approved to go see his Dad.  My husband moved to a different prison in December.  One that is much closer.  We worked right away at getting the paper work done on our end.  Cameron and I are going to make a trip soon as a surprise.  For my husband's birthday.  Now if we can just get by without him asking what we are doing that day our surprise should be a success.

Is anyone else not sure?  Is anyone else overwhelmed with issues and who stands where and for what?  A friend of mine posted this and I took the quiz.

Who should you vote for?

Mike Huckabee   129

Mitt Romney (although he pulled out recently) 117

John McCain 93

Ron Paul 54

Hilary Clinton  -27

Barack Obama -65

Mike Gravel  -90

But I am really not sure how accurate these results are.  Much to my shame, I had NO clue what some of the questions where asking and so I left them neutral.  So is Huckabee as neutral as my answers or do I really line up with him the most.  And I see who I don't want to vote for, but I already knew that.  LOL

So, now, I need to educate myself on what I don't know so that I'm not blind voting.  At least Pennsylvania Primaries are not until May.

I've seen posts about "What Works For Me" and thought I would post about something that works very well in our house. 

I LOVE my Pampered Chef timer.  We use it ALL the time.  And rarely for cooking. 

I started using it in the bathroom a few weeks ago for Cameron's baths.  I was tired of yelling up the stairs that it was time to get out.  And sometimes I wouldn't be paying attention to the time and he would be in there longer than I expected. 

Now we set the timer and I can change it for how much time he has to spend in the bath.  I also use them when he takes a shower.  It has been VERY effective.

Cameron knows how to change the timer and sets it for two minutes when he's brushing his teeth.  I've been using it too.

I used it this summer when I was taking walks.  I would set it for 15 minutes and walk as far as I could, then turn it to the count up to see how long it took me to walk home.

I use it to time Cameron's piano practice and to time how long my offertories are.  (They need to be at least  two minutes)

And, every once in a while, I will actually use it in the kitchen, but that seems to be a rare occasion.  Mostly because both the stove and microwave have built-in timers.

Today marks the one year anniversary of my grandmother's death.  It is hard to believe that it has been a year already.  Eventhough she was greatly missed this Christmas, I had very fond memories of our last Christmas with her.

I orginally posted this 2 days after her death and I still find it a fitting tribute to her life.

What a wonderful Christmas we had with my grandmother, Grammie.  I was able to get her picture with her three great-grandsons:  Jesse age 9, Bryan age 4, and Cameron age 5. 

This was her last Christmas.  A house fire early on New Year's Day took her life.  But I am not here right now to dwell on her death, but rather her life.

She was born December 14, 1933.  There was already a big brother, Tom, in the family.  Since she was given her mother's name of Hazel Rebecca, she went by her middle name and everyone called her Becky.

Her Senior picture in 1950

While still a senior, she married my grandfather in March of 1951, right before he went off to Korea.  She was only 17.  Only 3 days after her 18th birthday she gave birth to my dad.

She was a busy mother of three as well as an army wife.  Here they are in Italy.  The baby Uncle Doug, Aunt Bessie and Dad.

She was involved in Girl Scouts since the 1950's.  And she loved to bowl. 

When I came on the scene I was almost 2 years old when my mother married her son.  He later adopted me but I was her granddaughter before they even got married.  Some people say I even take after dad and her side of the family.  It's neat how God works those things out.

I was the first of three granddaughters and the first to call her Grammie.  The name was used by many.  The Girl Scouts called her Grammie.  They called her Grammie at the bowling alley she worked at for over 18 years.  Almost everyone knew her as Grammie.

Grammie and Grandpa Sarge in the early 80's

She had just celebrated her 73rd birthday and was still very active.  73 sounds so old but 73 didn't fit Grammie.  She still had not slowed down very much.  She was still bowling and working to help her stay active.  We are going to miss her dearly.

Please pray for my Uncle Doug.  He lived with Grammie and is in the hospital burn unit now being treated for second degree burns and smoke inhalation.  And there are many pieces and details to take care of with a house fire and death.

Update: Uncle Doug is doing well.  I think he is doing exceptionally well.  He is living on his own for the first time in 50 years.  He bought a modular and it sits where the old house was.  All of his burns have healed and he has no lasting physical effects from the fire.  It is amazing the difference a year makes.

Is it wrong to HATE one of God's creatures?  Well, if so, I loathe, abhor, and detest squirrels.  I am not kidding.  I know that they look all cute and fluffy.  But they are noisy, destructive,  noisy, annoying and, oh yeah, NOISY.

My bedroom is on the third floor of our house.  It was unfinished when we moved in but Dad redid it with paneling.  It looks very nice.  He even made closets where the roof gets too low.   It is kind of hard to explain.  No one uses the closets now.  They are storage.

But the squirrels...

The squirrels have found a way into these closets.  They must have a hole somewhere that we've never been able to find.  Even when the house was resided a few years ago I thought that we had seen the last of the squirrels in the closets.  Nope, they are still in there.

I would vow that these little monstrous beast never sleep.  If they do it is worse than a new born baby!  I got more sleep after Cameron was born.  They got me up at 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, 5:00.  They were in the closets yapping at each other.  Imagine the sound that fighting cats make.  Yep, that's the sound.  I get up and shake the door and yell and scream for them to get out.  But it only last for so long.  Last night was bad. Usually they only bother once or twice a night.  And that makes me angry enough.

Once I actually went in the scary closets.  They have ruined so many things.  They will chew through anything: insulation (I hope they die of fiberglass poisoning), wood, boxes, film, old pictures, plastic, if it is in their path they will chew through it.

I have tried many times to set traps for the stupid beasts to gently release them into a different place.  No chance.  They have their own store of nuts and other food that they aren't tempted by what's in the trap.

I'm to the point that I think maybe rat poisoning would not be too cruel of a death for these most foul creatures. 

I found a great help yesterday.  I don't know about you but when I'm doing a search for something on the Internet it can sometimes be daunting.  I'm pretty good at using a search engine but then when I get a site that looks like exactly what I'm looking for (in the description before you get there) I can get overwhelmed if what I'm looking for isn't RIGHT THERE at the top.

Did you know that you can use "control F" to find what you are looking for?  It will look for any word you type in your search box and take you right to it.  No more endless scrolling and perusing, hoping that I catch the key words I'm looking for.  I can't believe that this tool has been there all along for me and I never knew!

I have the reputation of being kind of a grinch around Christmas time.  Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of celebrating the birth of Jesus, of God becoming flesh.  BUT this time of the year quickly gets so busy with parties and gift exchanges, play practice and visiting relatives.  In other words, life is CRAZY.  Add to that the commercialization of the whole thing and I am about on the verge of canceling the whole thing.  Like I have that authority.  LOL

But, something I do enjoy about this time of the year are the lights.  It really does perk up the dreariness of the weather.  While I don't put up any lights myself I do like driving a street just to see other people's lights. 

Now for someone that doesn't decorate herself, I sure can be picky about other people's efforts. LOL  I prefer all white lights to the haphazard mix of lights or even the multicolored lights.  I just like the clean simplicity of white lights.  I was very firm in this opinion...until lately.

There is a house on the road to my church that has multicolored lights.  But the house is done up SO nice and it looks JUST like a gingerbread house!  I thought they did a really nice job.  So much so that it made me rethink the multicolored opinion. 

And another house I saw, just last night, also caught my eye.  They had pillars on their porch that they wraped with red and white lights.  They looked just like peppermint sticks!

So, what are your favorite lights?

We got hit with quite a snow storm today.  In fact, it kept us home all day.  It was really strange being home on Sunday.  We normally leave home between 8:30 and 9 in the morning and don't get home until 9 or 10 that night.

We spent a very nice day together.  We worked on our lapbook that we WILL finish, even if it is about Thanksgiving and that was almost a month ago. 

Cameron went out to enjoy some of the snow in between flurries. And Mama braved the cold outside to capture a few shots.

My little man, hard at work clearing the steps for me.  The shovel is bigger than he is.

We even made brownies for after dinner.  But we tried something brand new.  Instead of eggs or butter or oil, we pureed a can of organic black beans.  That's right.  We had to cook the brownies a little bit longer but they turned out really moist!  And you would never guess there were black beans in there.  So, they were healthier for you too!  I wonder if that will work for other things.

God is good!

The leak in the sink was an easy fix and Dad was able to repair it as soon as he got home.  The dryer just needed a few days to dry out.  It has been used several times now and no mishaps!

Just wanted to let everyone know.

We were having such a wonderful and productive morning.  We were cruising through our school work.  We had already done our personal devotions and family devotions, got dressed, folded a basket of laundry,  had four baskets ready to go and the dishwasher was running.  All before 10:30 in the morning which is quite an accomplishment for us.  We were on such a roll.

Unitl...(that's never good)

Found that there is a leak under the sink.  It leaked all through the under sink area (a scary place that is now a smelly, wet, scary place) and out on to my kitchen floor.  (Didn't I just mop?)  :Sigh:

Put a call into Dad's office to let him know.  He wasn't there so I left a message.  I guess I won't be able to use the sink today. That will be fine.  We have plenty of other things to do and at least I got a load of clean dishes.

We went down to the basement to put in the first of many loads of laundry on the list of things to do.  What we found?  Not pretty.

The water that leaked from the sink also leaked down into the basement and onto the dryer.  The yucky, stinky, brown water.  Bleck. 

After the dryer was cleaned off we ran our first load of laundry and went on our merry little way. 

Putting our second load in 45 minutes later  we heard a funny sound and thought something smelled funny, but only faintly. 

That water also dripped into an outlet and was now causing it to smoke and make noises...UGH

Called Dad, again!  This time tried his cell phone and prayed that he picked up because he never seems to pick up.  He picked up, praise the Lord.  He walked me through turning that particular breaker off. I'm to periodically check the outlet today, even though there is no power going to it.

So, can't use my sink. Can't do more dishes. Can't do laundry.

And we were doing SO well.

This is Pastor Appreciation month.  Let your Pastor know that you are praying for him and that you appreciate all that he does.

I really appreciate my Pastor and his family.  They have been here for 5 years.  

I appreciate my Pastor and wife for the way they are raising their two boys. I am glad that I can look to them as an example. 

I appreciate my Pastor for all the hard work he does each week in caring for the congregation.

I appreciate my Pastor and his family for the good testimony they have in the community.

I appreciate my Pastor's wife and all that she does especially for the ladies.

I appreciate my Pastor's vision for discipleship.  To not only lead lost souls to Christ but to continue to instruct them and help them deepen their relationship with Christ.

I appreciate that he preaches for the Word; that it is a final authority in his life.

I am thankful for my Pastor and his family.

Cameron and I worked on changing his clothes over today.  We took everything out from his drawers and tried on questionable clothes and got rid of over half a garbage bag full of clothes that are too small.  We also got out his longer sleeve shirts and reorganized ourselves.

We are so thankful for the great hand-me-downs that Cameron gets.  I have 2 large bins that we keep sizes that are currently too big and we have never been in want of a size.  We are so blessed. 

Now that I have caught myself up on my Week in Reviews, I feel that I can actually get to blogging again.  I have a growing list of things to blog about.  Now if I can just remember where I packed my camera...