If you haven’t checked out the site, please do.  I would love for it to be a resource for homeschooling families and for people thinking about homeschooling.  Future videos will include homeschool conferences, field trips, and homeschool resources such as curriculum reviews, and places that offer classes for homeschoolers.  We will even be videotaping moms actually teaching lessons, and making Lapbooks!!

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com

 On another note, I have some very cute items up for auction on E-bay at very reasonable prices!  Check out this week’s items at http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbohemiankidz

 Items listed include Gymboree outfits, Vera Bradley diaper bags, The Children’s Place clothing, ceramic snails (for those snail collectors), quilted purses, and other various purses and clothing.  Thanks for looking!!

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Hello everyone! 

I am getting ready to head down to our local Barnes and Noble bookstore to buy a copy of - the Economides family's new book,  "America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money". They are homeschoolers here in Arizona.

This family is incredible!  Check them out for yourself:

http://www.americascheapestfamily.com

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Yippee!  We are finally getting our first family's video on the website!  Watch the Macluskie family, part 1 tonight on http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com

The rest of the interview will be shown in parts 2, 3 and 4...check back soon!!

We have two more families scheduled to be interviewed/videotaped next week!

By the end of the following week, we should have 4 families' interviews up and running!

Tell me what you think!

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We posted two new episodes plus a poem at HomeschoolVideoBlog.com

Show #2: Our School Room

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com/2006/11/23/welcome-to-the-moran-homeschool/

Show #3: Thanksgiving Feast & Presentations

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com/2006/11/23/thanksgiving-feast-and-presentations/

A Sappy Poem I wrote:

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com/2006/11/24/a-sappy-poem-by-laura/

Or just visit the main site to see every entry..

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com/

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Today is my 3^rd child’s birthday.  Christopher is 13 years old!  Now, I have 3 teenagers!  Oh, and one 8 year old!

Chris is pretty well known in our circle of friends and family.  He is my “purpose child”.  The stories we have about Chris could fill a book….and the book is in the works!

You see, Chris has ADHD.  He is a perfect gift from the Lord!  He has helped me discover my purpose-not only as a mom, but as a mother of a special needs child.  He has taught me patience, though I will always strive to improve in that department.  He has taught me to love kids--all kids-no matter how they look, how they act or how needy they are.

He has taught me that God does not make mistakes!  He has taught me that all kids deserve to receive positive encouragement and praise.  That all kids need a good self esteem.  And that not all kids can be completely in control of their minds or responses at all times.  He has shown me the true meaning of love.  Chris loves people.  He cries when he sees elderly folks that are all alone.  He will always help someone in need.  He loves the under-dog.

Chris loves Jesus.  He wants to tell everyone about him.  He sometimes just assumes that everyone is a Christian and that they attend church.

Chris is a giver.  He once gave a homeless lady a $20 bill that he had just received for his birthday.

Christopher’s idol is Mark Lowry.  He can really relate to being known as the “church brat!”  He was the pre-schooler who always escaped from the Sunday school class and had child care workers baffled and scared for their jobs! 

The past 13 years have been filled with laughter and tears.  The stories are numerous.  I sometimes lose my temper with Chris.  But he is always the first to forgive.  His family is his support-though it has taken years to see this through. 

I am so thankful for my son, Chris.  He can always make me smile after an intense moment.  I have a cute little sign hanging on the wall:

“My son makes me crazy, then loves me to death!”  That’s Chris.

Thank you, Lord for the gift of Christopher!  Thank you, Chris for being my son.

This is Chris and his best friend--his sister Sara!

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This is our new family project!  I am really, really excited about it!!!!!

Please check out:

http://www.homeschoolvideoblog.com

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Have you heard about this cool project?  How would you like to exchange postcards with homeschool families across the USA and world?  We just started this...It's really cool!  Check it out!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/postcardkids/?yguid=230857619

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A little while back my husband who is very talented in the writing department (he has written a book on technology careers, published by Cisco Press...and has others in the works...) wrote a poem/prose that has become very popular! Enjoy!

Check it out here:

http://www.ifmomwerepresident.com/

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This is my Sara, my angel, holding one of Tiffany's puppies at 3 weeks.  The puppies are 6 weeks old now and sooo cute!

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We are continuing school at full speed ahead this month, knowing that we will slow down somewhere in the spring.  November is one of my favorite months of the year!  The Pilgrims are amazing!  I never get tired of reading about their bravery and struggles.

My only downfall is that I can't read and share with my kids every book I own on Thanksgiving, the pilgrims, the lost colony, Jamestown...etc.!  I wish Mel Gibson would make a movie on the colonists, and the pilgrims!  Does anyone know of a movie that kids would enjoy showing life in Plymouth?

Here is a great Thanksgiving Unit Study and it's free!

http://www.schoolexpress.com/newsletterv8g6.php

We are hosting a Thanksgiving Feast on the 23rd for all our close homeschooling friends.

The kids will be presenting something they wrote, drew, made, etc. to all their friends.

We are looking forward to it! 

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Being my favorite time of the year, I dream of the changing colors, the cool crisp air, sweater weather and piles and piles of leaves in the yard!

However, having lived only in Southern California, and now Central Arizona, I have never really experienced any of that.  Oh sure, we have some trees that have leaves that change color, and the mornings are getting cooler, the nights too…but I know it just can’t be compared to a fall in Virginia, Connecticut, or Massachusetts!

Although, we are enjoying this Arizona weather!  We are out and about in the Arizona sunshine—80-85 degree weather is fine with me.

In fact, we only need to travel north about an hour and a half to be in Flagstaff and there is an amazing Aspen grove on top of a mountain that we love to camp at.  It gets freezing there at night!  We’re talking 50’s and 60’s!  We may head up Sedona way the day after Thanksgiving and stay the weekend in that beautiful place-Lockett Meadow.  I will post pictures if we do!

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I have been so busy lately and I am so grateful for all my homeschooling friends in Arizona!

Truly, without them I would be lost!

My kids have made so many friends this year so far, and our activities are treasured!  The friendships are awesome!  The moms are like sisters to me--we encourage each other, and are there to help each other.  We can't wait to see our friends each week!

"And, friends are friends forever, when the Lord's the Lord of them...

And a friend will not say never, and the welcome will not end..."

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On Friday's we start our day with quizzes-spelling, geography, etc.  Then we head into our family room and do our presentations!  The kids can present any writing piece they have worked on.  They practice public speaking, reading out loud and pride of their work!  The audience, me and the older kids are required to give a compliment to the speaker/reader.  Then we get to ask questions.  The kids LOVE presentations and eagerly work on their writing during the week! 

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We started homeschooling this year with a celebration!  Along with my kids, I am homeschooling a little girl I tutor.  First we baked a cake, started our studies and my hubby even taught a math concept!  Then the kids did math outside!  This week, we are doing an apple unit study, then visiting an apple orchard on the 20^th.  More pictures to come!

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A new school year!  Yippee!  I love the routine and structure that a new school year brings! 

On Tuesday my 7 yr old daughter and a friend of hers (who I used to tutor and now homeschool) began their adventure into 3^rd grade with high hopes and excitement!   We baked a cake in the morning and did “math” along the way!  We learned greetings in Spanish, the 7 continents , common vs. proper nouns, and what to do if our friends make fun of another one of our friends- (Sticky Situations -365 Devotions For Kids and Families).  We did math, penmanship, and brainstorming for a story. 

We have a full day scheduled each day and I am trying to do too much already.  It is so fun though, I could get lost in teaching and go on for hours!  Unfortunately, they can’t—bummer!  I have to give them breaks and “recess”.  I am trying to do it all in 5 hours per day with time for lunch and those needed breaks. 

We have had to say no to a few things already…homeschool P.E.is not happening for us this year, but it is really in exchange for a homeschool gymnastics class, and we may not do Awana this year—but we do Bible lessons each day! My daughter is in a book club and a play…so I know she won’t “miss out.”

I have to say no to the other things and even though I know it is the right thing, it is so tempting to want to do it all!  That is the challenge for myself this year.

Happily homeschooling.....

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 I was searching for a Bible curriculum for my 7 yr old daughter that could include animals with Bible truths.  Wow!  I found one!  The first 4 lessons are FREE and include all areas of study.  You can buy all 26 lessons for only $12.95!

Check out the website!

http://www.daniellesplace.com/homeschool/index.cfm

Thanks Danielle!

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No More Oatmeal Kisses
by Erma Bombeck

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you.''

OK. One of these days you'll explode and shout to the kids, "Why don't you grow up and act your age?"
......and they will.

OR:

"You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do. And don't slam the door!"
......and they don't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way.''
.......and it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company.''
.....and you'll eat it alone.

You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do your hear?''
.....and you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.

No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.

No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.

No more clothespins under the sofa.

No more playpens to arrange a room around.

No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent

No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.

No more iron-on-patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it.

No babysitter for New Year's Eve.

Washing only once a week.

Seeing a steak that isn't ground.

Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.

No PTA meetings.

No carpools.

No blaring radios.

No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.

Having your own roll of Scotch tape.

No more dandelion bouquets.

Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.

No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.

No more tooth fairy.

No giggles in the dark.

No knees to heal, no responsibility.

Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?'' and the silence echoing,
"I did."

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I just became an independent consultant with Usborne Books!  I'm so excited!  I have never wanted to sell Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Creative Memories...etc., etc....However, as so many homeschool moms out there, I LOVE BOOKS and why not sell what you love, what will last a lifetime, what will educate your kids and what you completely believe in...EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION!!!

I am learning so much about this company and their incredible products.  There is a whole homeschooling section of books that come with lesson plans..."Ten Terrific Weeks" is what it is called, and like the name, there are lesson plans for 10 weeks.

Usborne has books for infants all the way to adults!  You can sell to schools, libraries and have book fairs...the list goes on. 

Please check my new website and follow the link to Usborne Books for more info...

Also, register for my monthly drawing for $50 in books!!!

It's really cool!

http://www.LauraMoran.com

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Ahhhh, summer!

Summer has been a whirlwind of activities for my kids!  And thank God, because I know they would be so bored without it!

From church camps to family camping, to Friday ice skating and kid’s club to a girl’s book club, volunteering, joining a Christian band, being a staff leader at church, taming baby horses, rescuing and rehabilitating a pigeon, selling puppies, rescuing and rehabilitating a pit bull mix dog, vacationing in California, Mexico home-building mission trips, late night poker games, weekly pool parties, BBQ’s, scrapbooking, starting the Accountable Kid’s program….well, I could go on, and we’re not even half way through!

I love seeing my kids happy and busy!  It wasn’t always this way, well, not for the last couple of years.  After moving to a new state and struggling to fit in with the school scene and then finding the “right” church after three trial runs at other churches, and then homeschooling again…well, I think they finally now fit in!  A little too well I think sometimes!  My two teenagers are very popular!  They have no free time it seems.  That is good for them.  Things tend to settle down in August anyway.  I’m just thankful that they all have Christian friends!

Oh, by the way, summer is a perfect time to start a new program…The Accountable Kid’s Program is just what my 7 year old and 12 year old needed!  No more waking up at 6:30 to a kid laying omn the couch, watching TV already or sleeping in till 11:00!  We are up, and finishing off our morning chores, earning activities and planning our days. It has been a great help to motivate and encourage my kids, all while teaching them the value of responsibility!  I highly recommend it to all families and especially for kids that have ADHD!!  Christopher thrives on routine and set schedules!  Hooray! 

Check out the website--

http://www.accountablekids.com

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I'm so glad I'm homeschooling!  A friend sent me this link...please watch it and be happy that your child won't be a kangaroo!!!!!!!

http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/

CLICK ON THE PURPLE LINK!

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