You can always find me at: http://mikeandsheri4.blogspot.com

I am in the process of deciding whether or not to keep this blog up.  I have had the blogger blog for much longer and find myself torn between the two.  I have gone through this in the past, and am facing the decision again. I "THINK" if I just make a clean break all will be well...IF I can just do it.  sigh.

Posted in homeschool

Thanks to the ice storms all of the local public schools have been cancelled this entire week, and on the news last night they said they "Don't know when school will begin again"...oh my!!

Along with the public schools we also took this week off, sort of.  We did throw in a few  quick lessons on snow and ice and sleet and atmosphere, but really, wouldn't any parent do that?  I might go more indepth and get  at least two days in this week.  That would make me feel better anyway.

Posted in Kidisms

My little blogger friend school scroll box had done something rather wacky so I removed it until I have time to correct it!  Sorry about that!

In other news.  Kids have been playing in the ice.  We inadvertantly learned about weather...there is a key difference between freezing rain and sleet and it was pretty interesting (We'll have to thank the weather man for the great lesson he provided on the news last night).  To make a long story short though you want SLEET not freezing rain.  (Freezing rain attaches itself to power lines and causes all sorts of problems...sleet makes the roads dangerous, but so does the freezing rain, but it doesn't stick to powerlines)

D-12 fell in the ice today.  Okay, not so much fell as threw himself down the hill so he could go sliding.   Although I did warn him of the chance that he would severely injure himself because he's 12 and as you know, all twelve year olds are invincible, he chose to nod, wave  back and answer "yeah".  Too bad he didn't think before he threw himself on the ice and slid into the cemented in corner post of the dog run.  YEOUCH!!!  He's fairly black and blue and clueless.  He wobbled out to the ice after a few minutes of moaning and groaning and did it again.  This time his body screamed enough and he started throwing up and is dizzy.  Although he claims that he didn't hit his head I have to wonder if he has a mild concussion.

He was miserable and M-9 felt awful for him so she came in and made him hot cocoa. As she sat it on the table in the nook it just slid right across the table and hit the floor, shattering the coffee cup and throwing cocoa everywhere.  That's cleaned up now (Although M is feeling awful for breaking Daddy's coffee mug, despite the fact that I have assured her repeatedly that all dad will care about is that she didn't cut herself).

E-4 keeps running down the hall and coming back to me laughing with nothing on but a mitten (On his hand! Get your mind out of the gutter).  He doesn't seem to understand that it's 20 degrees out.  Either that or he doesn't care...or he enjoys the outraged yell from G-6 everytime he accidentally glances up to see Little man running around in his scivvies. 

I totally don't feel like cooking dinner tonight.  If I had my 'druthers we'd get pizza...of course i would also need money and a road not caked in ice.  I suppose that means I must cook. DARN DARN DARN!

I am trying to get around to visiting some blogs today, but I don't know if I'll manage it.  I just haven't been able to MAKE myself take the time.

I have a whopper of a sinus infection, which isn't so horrid except when I blink or try to focus on sound with my right ear...then it's bad. LOL

(Which is why I thought today would be a good day to come by and visit all of my neighbors I've been neglecting)

So, if I make it by don't worry about cleaning the house, I'll just sit down and chat, and I'll even bring my own coffee or tea.

OH! Speaking of coffee.  What do you think of this?

I LOVE these robes.  I don't even know which one I like the best, because I like them all.  I have actually had that website saved for over a year and I go in and look at the robes, think about how much I like them, look at the price, sigh and close the site.  At least if I ever DO buy one (or get one as a gift...hint hint honey) it won't be a spur of the moment decision.  I have definately thought about it!

Anyway, my robe is an old white thick terrycloth robe that my parents bought me for my 18th birthday.  Yes, that does in fact make the robe 18 years old!  And yep, it's showing it!  There is a big hole on the right shoulder (just a little lower than the shoulder) on the front, there is another hole toward the bottom, the robe just wore through after years of use.  But it's warm and functional. 

So here's my thought.  Why not buy some appliques from here.  There are some cute coffee ones or one particular frog I like...and place them haphazardly on the robe (and over the holes).  Maybe it will help me feel like the old robe, ready for the rag bag, is new again?

Whatcha think? "Holy cow Sheri...you are positively brilliant!! Can I be your friend?" or "Okay...closing this blog, this chick is crazy!"

Have a blessed day!

Posted in Blogger Friend School

Oy....I forgot about this weeks assignment until today.  Sigh.  It's been a long and hard stressful week.  I have asked for and received a lot of prayers.  If you happen to think of it I can certainly use more.  Some issues have come up, things that have had more than 30 years to grow and it hit a boiling point (I am not the one boiling).  I spent many many days shaking and dry heaving from the painful words lies  that were thrown at me, and thank GOD, he sent me a great friend and a superb big brother who are listening and counseling and helping me through it (And of course lots of hugs and back rubs from hubby).

This weeks assignment:

Posted in accountability

I am not a resolution type of person, in fact, I am pretty sure I have never made and actual bonified resolution.

But hey, there's a first time for everything.

1. Continue losing weight.  Thus far I have lost nearly 30 pounds, I need to lose about 3-5 more to be "normal weight" according to the BMI charts and about 7 after that to be at my goal weight. 

2.  Limit my computer time.  I time the kids, and decided to start timing myself as well.  I tend to spend far too much time on here with the pretense of "looking for schooling ideas".  If I must be on the computer I will be on it in the morning while they are sleeping and in the evening after DH goes to sleep.

3. Not let my moms words hurt me.  She doesn't mean it, and doesn't remember what she says by the next day.  I need to let them roll off my back.  I will spend time praying over that, as I know God can help me. 

4. Get caught up on my housework.  Since the pipe breaking and vacation I am terribly behind, and living in limbo while everything is torn apart waiting for the workers to repair the walls, carpet and so on.

5. Begin each day with God.  THAT should have been first!

Posted in Blogger Friend School

Big huge thanks to Training Hearts for the school assignments.  There were probably assignments while I was gone, but you know how that goes! 

This weeks assignment is:

The assignment  for this week is make a List of "HITS" and a List of "MISSES"!

Posted in Happiness

Phew.  After a 10 day whirlwind trip to California we are HOME!  Actually we got home late late Sunday night (just in time to ring in the new year) and spent yesterday unpacking and sleeping.  I am not nearly as tired today as I was yesterday, that's a good thing!

To keep you up to date here are two photos we had taken while in Cali.  We had huge family photos made for my MIL, meaning our family of 6, Mike's sisters family of 4 and Mike's parents.  I won't include that photo, just the ones of our immediate 6, because I don't want to post photos of others without permission.

Mike and I above.  We have not had a photo made since our Wedding day! I should upload that one, or our engagement photo (as it's nearly the same pose) so you can see how OLD we have gotten in 15 years!

And there is our beautiful family!! Aren't they all precious!  (Mike included!)

Okay, so...the carpet pad is ripped out.

Sections of drywall need replaced.

The living room will have to be repainted.

The baseboards will have to be redone.

And that's just the house.

It has caused me so much stress that I not only got cold sores today, but spent half the day in the bathroom throwing up thanks to a migraine.  They rarely (Read: 3 times a year) hit that stage on me.   I rotated hot bath and cold cloths, trying to nap and taking excedrin, but little was helping.  Now it's clearing up, thank goodness, I don't know that I could have handled another day like that.

I don't think of myself as a weak person.  But when stress gets me down, it really gets me down.

Posted in Blogger Friend School

This assignment came from Karen - Thank you for your help!   

Christmas will soon be here and it seems no matter how we plan, it is always a busy time in our lives.  This week’s assignment will be hopefully simple yet inspirational.  Share your favorite Christmas verse, quote or poem.

Well...we must start with the most important thing: Blogger Friend School.  I am to share a favorite Christmas verse, quote or poem.  The most oft repeated quote in our home lately is "WE'RE GOING HOME!!" usually said with a tear in our eye, a catch in our throat and "hip hip hooray" on our lips!  We are so excited to be heading home.  We haven't seen our beloved Northern California Mountains for two years.  Haven't smelled the pine forests, have seen friends and family.  Although we have been blessed with frequent visits from our parents, my dad hasn't been back in about 1 1/2 years and I can't wait to hug him!!  I have never seen my precious niece who was born shortly after we left, but my SIL has assured me that she plans to stay glued to my side for our entire visit so she can get her "Sheri-fix", meaning my little toddling niece Kiara MIGHT like me before we leave.

Fun stuff:

1.)  This is the MOST fun I've had in ages!! Are you ready?  I have officially lost 27 pounds!  I am wearing a size 6 jeans and am sorely tempted to leave the tags hanging off of them simply so the whole world will know!!!

2.) You may or may not know about the horror that befell our family this week.  OKay, so it wasn't that bad, but it's oh so much more dramatic this way, don't ya think?  A pipe burst in one of our walls and flooded about 1/3 of our living room and part of our bedroom and followed the baseboards down into the hall.  I literally closed my eyes and prayed over the plumber pages (after the first plumber we called told us we'd have to wait a week) and the next guy we called came out and fixed our pipe all within an hour!  Add to that: Disaster Relief zipped on our within TWO hours and had our wet pad cut out, carpet pulled back,  baseboards pulled off, dehumidifiers and fans whirring...and my head spinning.  It will be a while before my house is back to normal, but it's what's in our hearts that make it a home, and has NOTHING to do with the fact that we had to take down the Christmas tree two weeks before Christmas!

I am very concious of the fact that this could have been a lot worse.  We could have not discovered the busted pipe and when our neighbor came to feed our dogs while we are gone, he WOULD have turned on that faucet and flooded our home.  Can you imagine what a mess THAT would have been to come back to!

So, even if I come home from California to half my living room in the dining room, my bed taken apart, and all of us residing in different rooms that normal, I know I will be okay! As long as the noisy whirring dehumidifiers can be turned off soon!!!

Posted in Kidisms

I think I may sing to myself...

Happy birthday to me...happy birthday to me...

See, the bonus here is that you can't hear how seriously bad I am! LOL

My kiddos, who like to sleep in until 8, woke up at around 5:30  (So they could beat their early bird mama up!!) and made me breakfast in bed!  Eggs and toast.  What a great birthday morning!

Hope you have an equally lovely day!

I refuse to say the M word in case my brain says "Oh....M...I'll make that happen, it's so much more fun than a simple headache".

I have a headache.  It's been throbbing for a good 24 hours now.  Last night we headed off to AWANA and as I sat there filling out paperwork and adding up points I kept rubbing at my temples hoping it would stop.  It didn't.

By the time we got home from AWANA the kids were on strict "NO TALKING" time and I was throwing up.  It took an hour to get the nausea to settle down to take some meds.  Which didn't help.  I managed to fall asleep only to we woken up by E. who had gotten up to go potty in the middle of the night and gotten his underwear wet.  Then by Mike's alarm.  And finally by G. who was scared and came to our bed.

This morning I woke up from a series of unusual dreams, and gently opened my eyes, testing out my head.  I felt a little groggy but not horrible.  YAY!! I started to feel celebratory, until I started to brush my teeth and my gag reflex kicked in...head pounding and fighting the sweeps of nausea I leaned on the counter trying not to cry, because that would only make it worse.

Now it's 7 am.  I have managed to take some meds and drink a cup of coffee.  I just pray that the kids have a good day today, I can't deal with any fighting or arguing.  My head just might explode.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Posted in homeschool

Sometimes as a homeschooling parent so many things get put on the wayside.  Even simple things like taking time to play board games become somehow less important in light of the Algebra that must be taught or the phonics that are screaming out to us.  Unfortunately, that's now what homeschooling is supposed to be about, and equally unfortunately I think we are all guilty of it from time to time.

I have to admit, earlier this year when our Homeschooling family lost precious Missey Grey and so many of us were taking the time to flock to her homepage and remember her, I took that moment and said "MY KIDS COME FIRST".  I read how she spent her final Christmas season making wonderful memories with her children and I wanted that.  But, life took over and although I tried, I know I sadly failed.  Now that winter is on us again I found my self thinking of Missey's legacy to her children and how I would spend December focused on my children and on God, only how could I do that?

That's where Christy stepped in.  Check out her lovely post and see if you don't agree with her 100%. 

Last Christmas was the final Christmas for both Missey and dear Lorrie to spend with their families.  Their last time to make special memories.  And neither of them knew it at the time.  Because no one knows what the last they say might be.  I just pray that the final memory my children have of me is full of warmth and love and sincerity...and with God's help, this Christmas season will be one that books are written about.  At least those most precious books, the ones in the hearts of my children.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Check out what God did to the trees last night!  My imagination is never as good as God's grandeur!  What a beautiful world he's given us to live in!

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Big brother and little brother out for a walk  (I LOVE the way E has a tight grip on big brother's hand)

M girl, hanging out in the snow

And G, up to his kneecaps (Those are  ice chunks, he pulled off the cars, in his hands)

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Mike's car was buried this morning in a snow drift!  He took off to work in my van, but got to the overpass and got stuck, a snowplow pushed him out and he came home.  He called his work, explained his predicament and they came to get him because they are SWAMPED!

Here are a few photos:

This is looking across the street to the neighbors house. 

And out the back door.  See Ruby at the base of the tree.  She likes to hang out there when it snows

This is out the back door.  There is typically an 8-9 inch step there.

And another view of the backyard.  Pretty isn't it.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Posted in Blogger Friend School

This weeks assignment is baking cookies!!! I will be back to complete it later, because right now I am baking cornbread and it's calling to me!! Have a blessed day!

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

Posted in Kidisms

Three weeks of nonstop meltdowns culminated in a morning of rocking and crying and boxing his ears under the church pew.

My nerves are shot.

My head hurts.

And I just want to cry.

Next time I'm going to ask him to scooch over and make room for me under there.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.