This week my 3rd grader is taking the ITBS for the first time.  Actually, it's the first big test he's ever taken.  He came home yesterday and said it was fun.  I don't see how being in a room with a bunch of kids that you can't talk to as being fun, but whatever.  We'll see what he says today.  He hasn't done the Math section yet.  We'll see how fun that is! 

No, really, I do remember looking forward to those testing days in Public School.  I think it was just a change in pace.  It broke up the monotony. (I know I messed up that spelling) But I doubt I put it in the fun catergory.

I had high hopes of  photo-journaling something really special over the next couple of weeks.

My daughter has a toy kitchen on the back porch.  A few weeks ago, I wanted to clean it and bring it in when I noticed that there was a nest being built in the "refridgerator".  Sure enough, it was a Wren.  And sure enough, she laid an egg a day this week, except for last night.  My son went to check the nest (she's never there during the day) and the fridge door was open and feathers were scattered.  The eggs are still there.  I can only fear the worst.  No egg was laid last night and she's not sitting (or is it setting?)

I just have to say "THAT STINKING CAT CATCHES EVERYTHING BUT MOLES AND MICE!"  We need to change his name from Mitten to Sylvester. 

Sylvester formally known as Mitten >^ Me.  We were so looking forward to watching the birds hatch and grow. 

It's getting to be the time of year that I try not to use my oven.  This is a quick and easy oven-free dinner.  Great for church and soccer practice nights!

SPEEDY SOUTHWEST SALAD

(Quick Cooking Magazine Recipe)

1 - 10oz. Ready to Serve bag of Salad Greens

1 - 10oz. can of Corn

1 - 15oz. can of Black Beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 c. Ranch Dressing

1/2 c. Picante Sauce (I just use whatever salsa we have)

1 c. broken Tortilla Chips (Doritos are also good)

1/2 c. Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 c. Diced Tomatoes (If I use chunky salsa, I leave this out)

Top salad with corn and beans. 

In a small bowl, combine dressing and picante sauce. 

Pour over salad. 

Sprinkle with chips and cheese. 

Serve immediately.

Sometimes I serve chips and salsa with this and sometimes cornbread.  It just depends.  It's pretty filling alone b/c of the beans and corn.

For my 9 year old - 4th Grade

Bible - Continue reading books of the New Testament, work in his devotion book, AWANA verses.

History - Bob Jones 4th year Heritage Studies

English - Bob Jones 4th year English/Writing

Reading - Various Sonlight Readers/Read Alouds for time period we're studying in Heritage Studies.  Use the Sonlight Readers Guide for Comprehension and other skills.

Spelling - Bob Jones 4th year Spelling

Handwriting - Handwriting without Tears - Cursive Success

Math - Bob Jones 3rd year Math.  4th year if we can get to it.  Math-U-See as supplement if needed.

Science - Bob Jones 4th year Science

For my 5 year old - Kindergarten

Bible - devotion book/AWANA

Bob Jones Beginnings K5 (includes all subjects but math)

Bob Jones K5 Math

~ That's the plan anyway!  We're doing things a bit different this year.  I've always been somewhat eclectic in homeschooling style.  But with the family growing and with my oldest, well, getting older  I feel like the textbook approach will be better for us.  I still plan on doing hands-on and less structured learning where I can.  I can't wait to purchase. ;-)

I may start school in June with the 5 year old so she can have alot of one on one for a while.  Then the 9 year old in the beginning of August.  Baby #4 will be here in September so we will take a couple of weeks off then.  What are your plans for next year?

Our sermon Sunday night was in Psalm 1.  It really spoke to me.  It talks about the recipe of a blessed (joyful) man.  One part talks about his delight (makes a most high priority) is in the law of the Lord (the bible) and he meditates (like a cow chewing it's curd, almost constantly) day and night.  What spoke to me is that it's a choice to grow in Christ, an action.  Joy is not magically instilled in us at salvation.  Eternity is, but not the kind of joy that keeps us praising God thru the struggles in our lives.  That takes a real prayer life and really digging into our bible.  Reading, thinking and praying about that throughout the day.  That's how we grow in the Lord.  If you're like me, you've heard it a thousand times but we somehow still expect ourselves to reach that intimacy by osmosis or something.  I'm finally learning that the ball is in my court, so to speak.  He loves me no matter what but if I want to experience His joy on a daily basis, I have to make (yep, another verb) Him a priority. Period.

This week is our Spring Break.  I have started the Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge over at Dandelion Seeds blog.  I'm not exactly sticking to her schedule but I've gotten alot done already. 

Yesterday, we were to clean out our cars.  Well, I had already done that last week but my bedroom had become a catch-all.  It was a wreck.  I don't know how my hubby put up with it!  I got it all cleaned and straightened.  Today, the challenge was for the front yard.  We mowed the lawn yesterday so everything is picked up but I do want to sweep down cobwebs and get grass of the porch.  May be I'll rearrange things a bit.  Since that won't take long, I cleaned out the homeschool closet.  This is a fairly large closet right when you come in my house (you enter into the dining/kitchen area) it's to the right.  It has bi-fold doors that you could barely shut.  We keep our school things, educational toys, puzzles, scrapbook stuff, vacuums and coats are all in there.  If everything doesn't get put back in it's place, it can be a disaster.  It's all straight now.  I want to go thru all of my scrapbook things.  I have way too much.  I also need to get some of our school stuff up on ebay.  We've decided to use Bob Jones next year and it's expensive but I have some curriculum that I can sell.

The devotion this week for the challenge was very good.  The verse is

"Let all things be done decently and in order."  1 Corinthians 14:40

That doesn't describe any of area of my life right now but I'm getting back on track. 

It's not too late to join the challenge, if you're up to it!

Six weeks ago today, while at the mall I casually asked my 5 year old daughter if she wanted to get her ears pierced.  To my surprise, I could see that she was mulling the idea over in her head. 

My husband and I had made the decision that it would be her parentally uninfluenced decision as to when and if she pierced her ears.  Anytime I would ask if she wanted to she always answered with a quick, firm "No."  Once she did think to ask if it hurt and I said "Yes, a little."

Well, this particular day she finally said yes.  We talked about the pain, the importance of keeping them clean and always putting them up away from siblings.  We even talked about the Bible.  I told her that I don't think it's a sin, but I think one hole in each ear is the only piercing a girl should have.  (If anyone reads this, I don't mean to offend anyone here.  It's just my preference.)  Her answer remains yes and she's even excited.  However, we're told that it will be about 45 minutes before they can do it.  I figured that would be just enough time to change her mind.

No way.  She hopped right into the chair.  They did them at the same time.  She said "Ow!" and that was it!  I thought they looked great and she loved them.  We got a coupon to come back in 6 weeks for a free set of three earrings of her choice.  She began counting down the days.  She took such good care of them.  We had no problems.

But I started to notice that on the right ear, you could see the earring back when you were looking at her.  The earring went in at an angle. 

Today we went back.  She was so excited to pick out and change her earrings.  I asked about the angle and they said that they could repierce.  She cried.  This is the only tears that have been shed over the ear piercing.  I don't think it's because they have to be repierced.  It's because she couldn't wear new earrings in both ears and that she'll have to wait a long time until she can.  I felt horrible for her.  One of those times your child's heart is breaking and you can't do anything about it.

So now she's only wearing one earring.  The other has to heal and then be repierced.  Then we wait another six weeks.  Another countdown.

I felt the need for a cleaner, Springier look for my blog.  However, now my friends list is not visible.  I wish I could design my own template.  That's not on my priority list right now.

Speaking of priorities, I feeling the cleaner, Springier, less cluttered need in my house right now.  This family is growing and we have too much stuff!  Too many clothes, too many papers and files and (am I allowed to say this on HSB?) too much homeschool stuff!!  I'll be getting this all taken care of in the near future.  Only 6 months before the baby gets here.  The older I get the more and more I can't stand being in a messy or cluttered house.  It's a never ending job, keeping it straight and no matter how hard I try I never feel like it's all done.

It's been a rule for my blog to not post negative things and this is, but I know many of you can relate.  Now, I'm off to purge some laundry.  Less clothes=Less laundry.  Lookie there, that's a math and a life lesson.  Off to recruit the kiddos!

**edited to say that I changed my template since this entry.  The other didn't feel like "home" and I somehow felt disloyal not having my "friends" listed :-)

Ode to Cheez-Its

Cheez-Its, Cheez-Its - my faithful friend.

You help the nausea come to an end.

My husband - he must love me alot,

he brought you home for $4 a box!

Cheez-Its, Cheez-Its - my faithful friend

Our memories together,

will be packed forever

on my growing rear end!

Our TV blew up or something this morning.  At first I was excited until I remembered that we use that TV for our Math U See.  We ended up going to the van to watch the DVD and the kids enjoyed the change!  Now, fix this thing, replace it or take it as a blessing and chunk it?  Yeah, my husband would never go with that last option!  I'll just hope it's a cheap fix!

We're thinking of switching to Bob Jones for the next school year.  I'm looking for others who use it andcan tell me a little about it.  We're thinking of using the BJSat as well.  So if you use/have used Bob Jones leave me a comment!

Do you and your kids enjoy it?

Is there "hands on" learning suggestions in the teachers manual?

Is the BJSat worth the $$?

What's your favorite thing about BJ?

How long does it take you to get thru a day with BJ?

Do you need all the teachers manuals?

Any advice and opinions will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

I had my first OB appointment on Thursday.  The couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler so they ordered an ultrasound.  Praise the Lord that we saw a heartbeat and a very active baby in there!  Very adorable.  It seems a little more real to me now.  Hopeefully we'll have another ultrasound in May and we can find out just what this little one is going to be.  My daughter wants a sister so bad.  I'm kinda hoping for a boy so my 1 year old will have a brother close to his age.  It really doesn't matter though.  Well, I'm off the make a Lemon Pie for Sunday Supper!  Then off to church!

It was funny to me anyway.

While we were eating (done but talking) I started singing a song that I learned in my youth group years ago.  It went like this:

Jesus is the rock and He rolls my blues away

Bop shoo bop shoo bop - woo!

It repeats that over and over with a catchy little tune.  There's sign language and during the "bop shoo bop" part you alternate you hands hitting your foot while you kick it up behind you.

My kids really thought it was funny.  My gorgeous 5 year old daughter looked so sincere when she said "It's really amazing that you can do that with a baby in your tummy!"    I'm only 10 weeks, but boy was she impressed!

Yesterday was High Attendance Sunday at our church.  It's where we try to get all of our members to go to Sunday School and of course to invite any unchurched people we know.  Our goal was 550 in Sunday School and we had 794!!!!  It was so awesome to see everyone there.  My class alone had 69!  Most importantly, God really showed up and we had an awesome service.

Another praise was that at the local middle school at the First Priority Club there we 28 salvations on Friday!  That's just awesome. 

We had beautiful weather this weekend.  My 5 year old got the training wheels off of her bike.  She's trying really hard.  We are going to have another week of beautiful weather here in Georgia!

I have been so tired today.  I have been tired just about everyday with this pregnancy but I do drag myself out of bed - try to nap (never works.  I'm NOT a napper) but by 8:00 pm, if I dare sit down, I'm out. 

Today was a little different though.  I laid down most of the morning.  I did school with the kids as I laid there.  Pathetic.  I made myself get the mail and realized how nice it was out so the kids and I played out there.  We melted chocolate and burned holes in leaves with a magnifying glass.  Great fun!  That was part of a Science project about the sun a few weeks ago but the weather wasn't good enough until today.  It was neat and the kids enjoyed it.  Aaron enjoyed putting leaves on our heads as we sat there.

Later, Fed Ex came and dropped off a Mardi Gras King Cake.  My husband's work sent it.  I had never heard of the King Cake Tradition but the kids can't wait to find the baby!  You can read about it at this website http://www.southsidebakery.com

Well, that's all for now.  It's 6 til 8:00 and my pillow is calling me.  Please remember to pray for Emily.  Her surgery was today.

I'm a little behind on checking my blog but these sweet girls still need our prayers.  Please pray for Candace and Emily.  To read more about them, visit Dandelion Seeds blog .  She has a prayer chain going on her blog if you would like to sign up for a specific time to pray.

I was just informed last week, after 10 years of marriage that my husband prefers Spaghetti Pie over plain old Spaghetti!  Who'da thunk it??  If you don't know what Spaghetti Pie is I'll post what I do here.  It's sounds gross but it's pretty good.  However, I still prefer plain old Spaghetti :-)

I use leftover spaghetti (with sauce and all)- needs to be a pretty good bit.  not as much as you need to feed the whole family but a good bit.

Mix with 2 cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup

Pour in a big casserole dish and top with cheese. I use cheddar, cause it's better     

Bake on 350 til warm and cheese has melted.

Here in Georgia we've been enjoying a winter full of days that have been averaging in the mid to high 60's.  Ahh, but yesterday we had ice on my porch.  It was in the upper 30's and cold.  And rainy.  We're talking bone chilling, all day long rain.  I'm not complaining, mind you.  Any excuse to put our fireplace to good use makes me happy.  My husband has talked about taking our fireplace out but I can't bare the thought.  It's the only thing I liked about this house when we bought it.  It sits in the corner of our now, kitchen/dining area (used to be the living room)  It's rock, floor to ceiling with a big log for a mantle.  Perfectly rustic, perfectly me.  Anyway, back to winter.  Today it's in the 50's but my bones are still cold from yesterday.  Sunday, it's supposed to be freezing again.  My kids are praying for snow...real snow, not the icy stuff we get here but the stuff we can build a snowman with.

Here in the south, the tiniest bit of snow, sleet or ice shuts down cities, schools, ect.  I'll never forget Thanksgiving in Delaware at my Grandmothers several years ago.  We spent a couple of weeks there.  One day we woke up to a winter wonderland like this southern girl had never see.  Even my dachshound would disappear in the fallen snow.  My cousin had to GO TO SCHOOL?  What?  If Georgia had gotten a quarter of what they had, we'd have been shut down for a week atleast!  I felt so sorry for him but I quickly got over it when I went out to play.

I think it was in 1993 that the south had a "blizzard".  I don't remember how much snow we had but we lost power for days.  I remember playing games galore.  Sleeping next to the fireplace for days (thank the Lord we had one!)  My mom and I would walk to the gas station a couple miles away for a paper or whatever and so many people would be out walking and playing.  We even had a major 4 lane highway nearby that was shut down so people we taking advantage and sledding on it.  Using garbage bags, trash can lids and beach boogie boards of course, because no one down here owns a real sled!  What fun memories!  Sometimes having all of our conviences taken away can be a blessing.

I hope that my kids can have atleast one memory of real snow like that while they are still living at home.  I will be mindful not to complain about the food that's spoiling, the hardwood floors being uncomfortable to sleep on.  Being tired of playing games, eating out of boxes and cans and in desparate need of taking a shower.  (we're on a well, so no power = no water)  I'll resist the temptation to tell them not to trample through my white, picturesque front yard.  Though, I will ask them to let me take a picture first.  One day when they are grown they will have those worries or may live in a place where life goes on in those conditions.  Yes, if that day comes while my kids are still young I will be anxious to make some great memories with them.

Can you believe January has come and gone?  We celebrated my oldest son's 9th birthday on the 7th.  We have had several family birthdays this month.  The 2nd, 7th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 23rd, 26th, and the 27th. We also had my cousin's baby shower on the 21st. Busy month!

Just a few more months until a summer break!  I'm ready for it this year.

My biggest goal for this year was to lose weight.  Well, last Friday I found out that's one goal I won't be meeting this year.  Notice anything on my blog?

Last night, my friend, AmySue and I met for dinner and then we went grocery shopping together.  It was nice to get a break from the kids.  And the Fiesta Lime Chicken was yummy!!!

I've gotten started on my job.  It's more time consuming (maybe the right word is mind consuming)  I knew that it would take several hours a week but I didn't think I'd go to bed thinking about it, staying awake thinking about it.  I'm sure I'll get over it.  Atleast I've had some nice relaxing baths lately, thanks to horsefeathers!  My mind and body may be going 100mpminute but my skin smells so nice and is soft.

School is going good.  Avery has been sailing through her math lesson (she started Math U See this month but we just started place value.  We'll spend the rest of the week atleast on that.

We have all been enjoying our Science.  We alternate Science and History.  I can't tell you how much we LOVE The Mystery of History and Exploring Creation through Astronomy (Jeannie Fulbright).  I can do it with both kids.  They're both written so well.  We're learning a lot together.

I'm getting a late start today.  I didn't want to.  Typing here sure isn't helping.  Time to make the donuts...uh, I mean oatmeal.  But donuts would sure be nice!  Krispy Kreme, HOT glaze...yuuumm....