This blog website is driving me crazy!  It takes WAY too  long to download and half the time, it doesn't download at all.

Kevin has been nice enough to set up my own blog page.    Please note that I will be posting at the new site only.

http://www.discoverysoundworks.com/wordpress/

At this point, Matthew's blog link is the same.  I will let you know if this changes.

Thanks!

      I'm starting something new today. Trying to get Matthew to write in his journal is like pulling teeth. No, wait. Pulling teeth must be much more fun! Arg!

      I realized today that Matthew's hatred (yes, it's hatred) of handwriting has become a hinderance to his journaling. He has so many ideas that he wants to write about, but the actual writing is holding him back. That's not my goal! I want him to enjoy expressing his ideas! That's the fun in journaling!

      I would rather concentrate on the handwriting during handwriting time and work on journaling another way. So.....Matthew is starting his own blog. He will tell me what to write and I will type in exactly what he says. We will do this on all school days--usually 4 days a week unless something comes up. (I bet Grandma Selle is cheering right now!)

      I'm going to give this a week or two and see how it works out. Here's the link to his blog. Hope you enjoy! I'm sure he would love getting replys.

www.homeschoolblogger.com/zoozone/

      FYI....since Matthew has his own blog now, I'll be playing around with the look of mine.  Let me know if you one particular background better than another!

We've had a really great, somewhat quiet day.  School was fine, Matthew's Spanish class was good and that's about it.  A couple of my piano lessons were canceled because one of the brothers has the flu.  That left Matthew and I with more free time than usual for a Thursday, and truthfully--it was really nice.

Tomorrow will be a fun day.  Amy and her kids (Blane and Ally Beth) are coming over to play.  Woo Hoo!  Matthew is so excited.  (So am I!)  We haven't seen them in such a long time.  We may make them stay through the weekend!

Speaking of the weekend, it looks like another messy one.  Lots of sleet and snow.  Today I went to Blockbuster and rented a couple movies.  (Thanks for the gift card Grandma Selle!) That should keep us busy for a little while.  And Blane has a boys-only Star Wars birthday party on Sunday.  Matthew is really hoping that won't be canceled because of bad weather!

Looking ahead to future blogs.... tomorrow I'm going to let  Matthew write the blog.  And next week, I'll write about how Matthew is doing in school.  Sort of a progress report......

Stay tuned.....

BSF was life changing for me this week.  I have to share with you something that our leader said in class.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

We're studying Romans chapter 8.  The words I want to share with you are about verse 29--For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

This is how our leader described the word "predestined".  Let's say you are invited to a dinner party and the host is serving roast beef.  The host has planned (predestined) the whole event and that is the food that will be served.  When you accept the invitation, you accept what the host has planned.  You don't go to the party demanding chicken!  You don't complain! In fact, quite the opposite--you're grateful!

It's the same way with God.  He gives us an invitation.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we accept His plan.  We shouldn't go to Him demanding to have our way.  He already has a plan for us (to make us like Christ).  We need to accept His plan for us and not complain.

All too often, I have not been living this way.  Like a couple weeks ago, someone called me at the last minute to teach Sunday School.  I didn't want to do it because, well, it doesn't really matter why, I just didn't want to do it.  But I agreed to it and complained a lot!  Later, I felt so guilty for complaining around Matthew and Kevin (what a lousy example I am!).  I never even thought about what God wanted me to do.

But now I see that God wanted me to teach that day.  Now, this doesn't mean I have to say "yes" to everything, but in this situation, my behavior was wrong.  Jesus never would have complained about teaching kids!  And I'd better stop that!

I hope you'll think about the dinner party story.  Maybe you'll see things differently, too.

Today Matthew and I went to the playgroup.  I really shouldn't call it a "playgroup" anymore since it's changing into a more organized homeschool group.  Still plenty of time for just "free play" but we're trying to add some new things as well.  I think it's good for the group to do things that are more difficult to do at home. 

Like....public speaking.  This month, the project was for each child to pick a state and give a litte report.  Matthew chose Florida and he gave his report today.  He did pretty well, considering how much he was dreading it! 

I'm glad the group will be doing this more often.  Matthew just needs to get used to speaking in front of people and that will only happen with practice.  (I guess he has none of his parents TV genes!)

Next month, we're going to let the kids chose animals and give a report.  Matthew is actually excited about that.  Until the day of the report......

Another homeschool mom has the cutest thing on her blog.  Her son wrote a "homeschool" version of "you know you're a redneck if."   It is so funny!  Please check it out.  It's the January 14th entry.

My favorite is the one about not getting to take off on snow days, but you do get days off when mom is stressed out.  This will make you smile!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/my4sweetums/

The cold and messy weather continues! 

Our church has started a Saturday evening service, so we went to it last night.  That way we didn't have to fight the bad weather this morning.  Of course, that meant we all slept in--even Matthew!  Amazing! 

And don't tell anyone, but I didn't even shower until after 3 o'clock!  And then I just put on clean PJs!  But I'm not a total bum, I did workout first.

Obviously, Matthew and I are just staying inside today.  Katelyn came over a little while ago and we're going to watch Ice Age.  Pretty appropriate for today, huh?  Kevin had to go into work (bummer!) but at least he'll get an extra day off in the future.

Other than that, it's really quiet and I have no scoop at all.  In fact, we have a quiet week in general. 

Yikes--the last time I said that, both Twister and Matthew got sick!  Quick--delete the quiet part!

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Since I'm trying to get back into the groove of posting here, I've decided not to torture myself with trying to catch you up on everything that's been going on.  I'll just say we had a blessed Christmas, Matthew got sick the week after and now he's better, the New Year was great and we're getting back into our routine of school.  Slowly, but surely.

Today the big scoop is messy weather. It's been raining almost non-stop and the temperature is hovering right at freezing.  Fortunately, Kevin doesn't have to work today, but he'll likely have to go in tomorrow.  Yes, he'll be there telling everyone to stay home in the ice, but yet he'll have to drive in it!  That's the bad part of being a weatherman.

Matthew was funny the other day.  I was making dinner and he ran into the schoolroom shouting "I'm so excited!  I'm so excited!"  When I asked him what he was excited about he said he didn't know!  He was just so excited! 

Don't you love a happy boy!

So every one of my blogs recently has started with "I'm sorry I haven't written lately, but....."  Is that driving you crazy yet?!  I really am sorry!  Between this site being updated (not very well) and a busy schedule.....well.....blogging has been put on the backburner most days.

But....enough of that.  Mom and dad arrived last night.  They were scheduled to get in at 9pm and didn't arrive until 1am!  Yikes!  A long day for them, but at least they arrived safely and their flight wasn't canceled.

We had a quiet day today.  Shopped a little.  Mom bought a digital camera!  Kevin is teaching her how to work it as we speak.  What a sweet husband I have!  I'm glad she got the camera!  Next on the list is a computer to be ordered when they get home!  Yea!  It's about time.

That's about it for now.  I need to run finish up dinner.  Chicken in the crockpot.  Yummy and quick, my favorite.

I'll update again this week.  Promise!

Forgive me for not writing in a while!  This site is undergoing some changes and each time I've tried to log in over the past week, I have had trouble. 

But we are here and things are great!  Matthew and I finish up school tomorrow for a long Christmas break!  We're both excited!

What's been going on here?  Just the usual, really.  And trying to get in some Christmas shopping. 

The next several days are going to be really busy for us. check out this schedule:

Friday:  a playdate with a friend from BSF and making a gingerbread house with Katelyn

Saturday:  Getting our Christmas tree (the real, "family" tree.  My "girlie" one is already up)  Katelyn comes to spend the night with us and we'll all be going to Six Flags Holiday in the Park.  Matthew is going crazy with excitement!

Sunday: Church and hopefully some cleaning and present wrapping!!!  That night we're out with the Smiths that night for a Christmas activity at a neighbor's church.

Monday: grocery store and baking and baking and baking

Tuesday: Playgroup Christmas party in the morning and Piano Christmas party at night.  Add in a haircut in between!

Wedneday: my parents arrive!

Yikes!!!!  I'm exhausted just writing all that!!  The good news is....we won't be bored!