Like most families we definatly hit our rush time right after Halloween!November and December were a blur for me.The boys soent a lot of time with their grandparents and their mom which made homeschooling a bit difficult.It seems like everyone thinks that just because we homeschool we can take time off whenever.

I have put my foor down though for the New YearNo extra days off.We have a busy rest of the school year.I've also been busy building my own online homeschool forum.It is having a slow start but I know it will get going.If you'd like to check it out or join the link is http://s15.invisionfree.com/Homeschool_Chat/

I have missed everyone and readin up on everyone.I promise not to be a stranger and will update more later this morning!!!

Much Love

Wendy

I was putting Holly down for a napt today and she wanted to sleep on her sister's bed.Kenna has been notorius for writing on things but today I just could not be mad with what i found

On the side of her bed she wrote:

"Dear God I'f I don't get sleepy then I know you're with me Amen"

it brought tears to my eyes the simplicity of this prayer and yet the complexity of it too.

What a great Monday!We continued our study of explorers and the kids got to make sea monsters!I finally unwrapped my Yoga Booty Ballet video and did the core yoga work out,The two boys did it with me and man did it kick my butt!!

Then we did music class we finally got the recorders out!!!The kids had a blast learning how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb and they all did very well.I was surprised.

We have just been so busy here it's wierd I thought it would slow down a bit but it hasnt yet so I guess I just have to step up the pace.I'm glad I'm starting to workout again.I need to tone up my body a bit.I feel at my best when I'm working out so why don't I do it more often?!!??

I hope everyone had a good Monday and a great weekend.We just relaxed not doing much and watching lots of football,.

Wow I havent blogged since last week!!!ummm no excuse really just been busy taking care of kiddos and school and the house!We got the suburbon fixed so I can now legally drive around 6 kids without them all being crammed into the Lumina!!

Vegas was fun I went to my friend's shower that I met through a Mother board I am on.SHe is having her second child and looks great pregnant.This is the second mother I have met from this board I've been apart of for yikes i'd say 2 and a hlaf years!!

We took off yesterday and hit the deer farm the kids have been quite antsy lately and I figured we all needed some animal interaction,especially me.Animals are great they just want to be loved.They had a new animal there...... a camel!!The kids were so excited as it kept mooing at us.Yes did you know camels have a very low moo?I didn't.I took pics and will get some on here shortly.We spent ample time in the goats part.One of my favorite animals.

We finally got to go visit the library here in our small town that just reopened.Talking to the librarian I mentioned we homeschooled she did too and asked if we were part of the homeschool group here I said yes she said she had been missing in action for awhile....so we put 2 and 2 together  and I figured out she is the lady in charge of the local 4-H who i've been trying to get ahold of(by trying i mean meaning to call but never have picked up the phone)so I am now officially to the point of living in this small town where I cant go anywhere without runnng into someone I know.I love that!!

us drying our Explorer fruit!The Pears were delicious

our knot tying adventures!!!

It;s been a great week we're uppose to have a fieldtrip tomorrow with our group to the ambulance!ALthough I may need one now conidering I fell aearlier and really hurt my foot.OUCH

ok Jerry and others always tease me about the way I speak.I'm a born and raised Nowthwestern and I never thought i had an accent until I moved to Arizona! Yes Yes I call paper towels scott towels but thats because the Scott towels factory originated in EVerett WA where my parents grew up and where I lived for 6 years.I also say pin and pen the same,bag and beg,and even windy and Wendy the same.(yes it's my name.so here are the test results.....

so maybe I should move to OHIO!!!!

MIL and FIL dropped off little Jerry last night and brought us chip and salsa!While the kiddos were chowing down we were talking.I still cant figure it out everyone in the family said what a brat Coleman was.Even my FIL's mother called last night to complain.Jerry swiftly told her about how we had no problem with him and what a good role model he had been for the kids.I was glad to hear him come to his rescue.

Anyways as MIL and FIL were leaving she touched my hair which i had recently highlighted.I laughed and said I know I'm always changing it and this is what she aid to me...

"It looks nice your hair is really looking nice(they oppose short hair and i'm growing mine out)you look very capable and grown up and good.You look very capable"

yes she said capable twice.ummm ok I know this was a total compliment and i took it like one.I also joked though that I didnt want to look grown up!!!When they first met me again I had my nose and lip pierced and I miss that!I am a frim believer in people whould be able to look howver they want.But as log a sI can still change my haircolor all the time I'm happy!

And yes my MIL thinks I'm capable........I really don't know a better compliment I could've recieved!

I've never made a fortune,

and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much,

I'm happy anyhow
and I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again. 

 So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

OK I'll admit it!!!I'm a homebody.I'd like to think of myelf who likes to go out looking for excitement and I am to a certain extent but.....I like to stay at home too and have fun learning in a nice semi calm environment.LOL today was not one of those days.....

We started off with dentist appointments for Nathaniel Kenna and Lane.Little Jerry and Coleman went to work with dad as PAPA was driving Coleman back to the airport today.I went over LIttle Jerry's workbook work with him before he left and then packed up the other 5 kids with workbooks in hand and off to the dentist!

The dentist appts went really well.all the kids were excited to go.But it was ahrd to get any school work done.I thought nice quiet waiting room for them to work in no problem.I forgot to factor in the very inquisitive 2 year old that would want to ee every minute of her siblings procedures.We did get our work done but it was HARD!!!I dont know how those that carschool do it!They have earned my utmost respect.

Then we headed into Flagstaff to cash a check and meet Jerry for lunch and grab some stuff at Target.How is it when I go into Target I can never leave without spending at leat 100 bucks.This time it was almost double!!But I needed to buy baby gifts for a friends shower I'm going to in Vegas this weekend.Plus the kid's dad's roomate's wife (did you follow that?) is having a little girl so we got a couple outfits for her too!!Just looking at all the baby stuff gives me baby fever.Then we headed home and yes we all took a nap!SO now we're just relaxing at home and i'll try to do history with the kids tonight but if not oh well.I have not had the normal number of 6 kids all week!It's either been 5 or 4 or 7!!!Tomorrow will be a normal day...ahhhh I can just relax.And yes 5atkins I will post pics tomorrow

OK today was officially the first day of Homeschool in The Wood' Time Travelers New World Explorer curriculum!(wow what a mouthful)we had a blast we had to do 2 lessons to catch up from being sick.We learned about the things needed to be an explorer and why we explored new land.

My cousin Coleman is here visiting and he is a great kid!!!I don't know why Papa is worried.I think just because he has a different living style.not really that different but you know us homechool folk ....lol.....if you dont live the homeschool lifestyle you just dont get it.

He is spending the night and will head back down to phoenix to catch a plane in the morning to go back home to Oklahoma.

Again if I didnt say how much I loved it before I LOVE our nrew curriculum!!!

well coleman was suppose to come over here today to spend 2days with us but plans changed as awlays.After bbqing over at the grandparents we came home minus the boys(they were spending thew night) Kenna woke up later saying she felt sick well guess who woke up sick this am?yup me so I just kept my kiddos with me today and we kicked back and relaxed.

Now tomorrow we'll be back up to ......7

I just got a call from Jerry and he told me that my second cousin Coleman is in Phoenix and is coming up here for a few days.Kenna got to meet him this summer when she went on the road trip with Papa Grandma and the two boys.It is Papa's brother;s son.(does that make sense?)

Unfortunalty UNcle James (coleman's dad) passed away  2 months ago due to cancer.He left behind a son and two daughters as well as a wife.I wish the  girsl were coming too but I will take what I can get!I am just happy to have other homeschoolers in our family.

Of course papa says I want you to see what he's really learning.I gently explained to him that as homeschoolers this is the great part we get to choose what we learn,and when we will learn it.and of course i'll tell papa that he is doing fine.This poor boy has been through a lot in the last year watching his father slowly fade away and then die.

I am also excited because we start our homeschooling in the woods on Monday the Time Travelors Explorers series!!!!So let's see I'll be homeschooling ummmmm 7!!!!ok deep breath ....... breathe.

well as seeing Jerry didnt get out of bed till almost 8 I decided me and the kiddos will be walking to the game day.Because it is a 45 minute drive into flagstaff to get the car and then 45 minutes back.We would get none of our school work done for the day and I dont want to play catch up tomorrow since we are wrapping up the Egypt unit.

The kids could use the exercise and so could I.It's not a bad walk at all.I wish the oldest could ride their bikes but just not comfortable yet as seeing we'll be going down the main drag of our small little one horse town!(ok they really do do carriage rides at night here very cool)

so i should have some worn out kiddos tonight!thats not a bad thing right?

It is early and so far I'm the only one up.I like this quiet time in the morning.Especially when we have busy busy days ahead of us!!!!We have to go into town today to swap out cars as the suburbans breaks are not working properly and i can only drive the little car.I dont normally need a car during the day but we have a homeschool game day today and the older boys are itching to get out and have some physical activiy with the other kids.and truth be told...I could really use some adult conversation

My in laws came over last night to help with the furnace as the gas was hooked up yesterday.I'm sorry but all i can see when we run this is dollar signs going out the window :( we have a wood stove and some electric heaters and I think that would work just as well.I'm sure Jerry will agree once he sees the first bill

LIttle Lane was sooo excited yesterday!He kept saying I cant wait till my birthday momma I just cant wait!!!OK his birthday is not till Oct 24th.But he knows the week of his bday he gets to go spend a week with my parents and swim everyday.He asked me if granmda is a good baker.I had to giggle a little and tell him yes just don't ask her to make a cheesecake(she burnt mine for one of my b-days)the end of the week we will all go down to Tucson for the weekend and have a family weekend.It will be the first time all 8 of us invade my parents house!!!I told Lane we'd make a countdown calendar today for him.Of course we'll have to make one for Holly too because her b-day is the day before.I can't belive my babies are gonna be 5 and 3!!!!

Today went pretty smoothly.Evryone was so great about doing their work.I love days like this!!!!

It may have something to do with how much more relaxed I have become.I am able to see learning in so many different ways....and different oppurtunities.I once felt like I had to be the Hitler of homeschooling watching over everyones shoulder.Now i have relaxed a little bit

Also my new curriculum for the North West Explorers has come!I've been delving into it all day and next week we start!!!I'm so excited there are so many ahnds on activities for us to do!!I hope everyone has had as great of a day as I have

Thank you to REELMOM for awarding me the smilie award to me!!!Even though i just met her it makes me feel good that I can bring joy to someone elses life.Even if it is just my Blog name!WHich I really do have a lovely bunch of coconuts.I shaved all the boys heads the other day so they're fuzzy like a coconut!I am loving my time here and learning so much from many moms.

I would like to give this reward to

JugglingPaynes because she has such a great comic and so tru to many of us

dbennett20 we seem to have an aweful lot in common!

and 5atkins she is such a strong amazing woman who constantly reminds me i'm doing the right thing!!

We were sitting around the table tonight coloring and doing word searches I had printed up and mazes and such(yes I finally have my printer all hooked up)when the phone rang.It was my MIL calling to tell me that Toys R Us had Caution Kids At PLay signs she asked if she could buy some for the front yard since we have had several near misses with the school bus.I said sure.Then she asked me what we were doing and I told her.Her response was what's wrong with tv?

My response was well this isnt school work the kids are just having fun.....but truth be told of course they were learning they were using their brains instead of killling brain cells in front of the boob tube.I had already let them watch 2 hours of it earlier in the day and then a half an hour after dinner isnt that a much?And yes this is coming from a self claimed tv junkie.I just think I would rather see the kids using their imagination and playing then staring blankly at a screen for hours on end.Now I will admit I used to be the first one to let my kids watch tv hours on end.But in the last few months something has changed.I don't know what but it has.And the kids really dont seem to mind.Instead of the kids zoning out on the third episode that night of Zack and Cody(which I love btw) me and Kenna made a cake last night.Instead of just watching the football game on tv the kids are learning how to play in their own frontyard.So what is wrong with a little tv?Nothing of course but truth be known my kids would pick coloring over tv any day.

The kids are all outside enjoying the crisp fall air.The boys are playing what else but football and the girls are riding bikes and scooters.

We started off the day with a bit or organization.I got the bookshelf put together yesterday so the plastic drawers we had been using for books have now become their own little cubbies.Each kid has their own drawer and I think they're relishing the little bit of privacy.

My new curriculum has been shipped so i foresee a weekend of working on that but am sooo excited.We're going to make some origami bats that i found in family fun magazine tongiht.the kids are excited.

The oldest two just finished their first personal narrative and I think they did quite qell they got to write about whatver they wanted.Nathaniel picked the first time riding down the big hill on his bike.And Jerry wrote about his first year playing soccer.It was such a nice switch from last year when I would sit their with Li'l Jerry in tears while he tried to finish a writing project for school!!!!

And the new curriculum got ordered last night!!!!!! I'm sooo excited I can't wait.The kids seemed pretty excited about it too! Yes our kids are back and unfortuntaly it was a weekend of excitement dealing with both of our exes........oh well that is life as a blended family.

One of the things we bought at ikea was a bookshelf.We have none so I think me and the boys will be attempting to put it together while Holly naps today this should be interesting.Jerry got the girls' beds put together and they were so excited to hop right in there!

We also made our every other month trip to sam's club after ikea and i bought some cereal.Jerry called me a meany because I wouldnt buy the sugary kind.I am really trying to implement healthy eating as much as possible.We got home though and realized we have no milk(it had gone bad ewwwww) so kiddos will be eating cereal with powdered milk hopefully they wont notice.

Usualy day for us hopefully the boys and Kenna will fall right  into routine.It has been so cold here during the night and we have started running the wood stove and the electric heaters.Fall is definalty in the air.

Well Holly just ran into my room fully dressed shouting good morning momma and I can hear the boys wrestling in their room so I guess that means time to get up.But the bed is so warm I dont want to move lol

 Yup I'm doing what I always do.....switiching curriculum!lol I am just not finding History Odyssey to be fullfilling for our family.SO the beginning of Ocrober we will be switching over to Homeschool in the Woods Time Traveler Series!They are unti studies that last about 5-10 weeks.So I figure we can get through the Early Explorers which deals with pirates and sea explorers before Christmas.It just seems more hands on and I'm very excited about that PLUS it has Science with it!!!

We dropped the kids off with the exes on Friday night and spent the night with Jerry's mom down in their Phoenix home.Well I brought my lesson plans with me because I knew Jerry would be sleeping in the next morning so I was able to get quite a few things done!!!And I was able to show my mil what we've been doing in school and showing her how far Andrew has come with his reading and wrting.I hate trying to prove myself but she seemed happy.She then asked if I wanted to go to the teacher store with her?Heck yes!!!!SO we went and I found a great book on reading fluency that contains two person skits this will be perfect for Kenna and Andrew t o get to read!And we found a reading Comprehension book for the older boys that is labeled what else but "Just for Boys"

Our main reason for spending the night in Pheonic was to go to Ikea to get beds for the girls.Yes since we blended families and Jerry's ex decided she wanted the bunkbeds we have been short 2 beds.SO the girls have been sleeping on an airmattress..Well we found some cute little beds plus curtains for our living room,plus a desk for our bedroom,plus oh lets se..........umm rugs,kitchen stuff,and even some xmas presents!I bought Holly an easel that has dry erase on one side and chalk on the other her birthday is in October.

While in Ikea I noticed my knee started hurting.ugh .....could this be what they call ummmmm aging?

SO now i'm being lazy in bed knowing there's a suburban full of stuff that needs unpacking and knowing that if Jerry does it it will just end up in one big pile in my living room.SO i guess I should hop in the shower and enjoy one more day of silence and get done what i can!!!