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A new year and a new start on school! Brooke was delighted to start "real" preschool, although she was a bit disappointed that we didn't go to a different building to do it. She quickly got over that and started on actively learning what her letters look like. Emma is still a reluctant learner and wasn't as eager to start school. Macie was glad because she was bored! Here's a look at what we will be studying over the next few weeks:
Now, we'll also be starting up with co-op again and doing a new fitness program tied to the Little Rock Marathon. I'll keep you posted on that.
Let me say this, too. My e-friend, Kathy from Teaching Good Things always has neat things to do and awesome things that she gives away. Go to her site this month, http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/january-give-away/ and she what she is offering.  |
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Happy Birthday, Nancy! We hope you have a wonderful day! |
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Merry CHRISTmas everyone! (go to the bottom of this entry for the contest) I can remember as a child loving Thanksgiving and Christmas, mostly because I got to see all my family, composed of Mama, Daddy, Christi, Amber, Sheba, Suzie, (Sheba & Suzie were our dogs) NaNa & Pops, Granny and sometimes a few aunts and uncles, cousins, too. I loved to go caroling with my sisters to anyone that would listen; it was great. My sisters and I would always sit around the tree and read the real Christmas story. My family growing up was really big on Santa*, and all the other popular US childhood characters. I can atest the parts that what I loved about childhood had nothing to do with these characters. I can say in my adult life, I pretty much have the same opinion, though I choose to celebrate life without fictional characters. We try (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) to inject the great truths found in God's Word and share that with everyone we meet. We just finished a unit study on world travel where we explored what other countries do at Christmastime. We also checked to see if our church supported any missionaries in that area. It was awesome and my children wanted to keep checking out more countries. (I told them they could in their free time. How exciting is that!) Now, I will say that most of my family tends to think us a bit cruel for not indulging our children in things such as Santa. We do have to do a lot of explaining to our children about others' beliefs because it is a source of contention this time of year. I have been pulled aside by many a person about this. This what we tell our children.....no, wait, I'll tell you what we do in our other homeschoolblogger blog, spinabifida. I want to hear what you do, OK? *The contest is about Santa. Please make a comment on what your family does about Santa. All the entries will be put into a snowflake-etched canister and shook by Macie. Emma will draw out the winner. Brooke and Lexi will sit with me at the computer as I contact the winner by email, so be sure you check the post email address box. The winner will receive a digital copy of "The Myth of Socialization" by Natalie Munroe. This is a great book found in the TOS Online Store. You really need to visit the store. They always have free shipping! Also they have great sales, like new TOS subscriptions for $9.95 (a great Christmas gift) and they will be having an awesome sale on 26 December, so be sure to go that day as well! START MAKING THOSE COMMENTS....A winner will be chosen on from the first five comments made in relation to this topic.
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My Twinn: Save Up to 75% on Select Girl and Doll Outfits (ends 12.15) My Twinn: Save Up To 30% on Select Holiday Outfits (ends 12.15) We don't really do a lot of Christmas shopping, but we do like to look for deals when we do. We have nieces that shop American Girl and My Twinn, so I have links for their deals they offer. We went to Academy Sports this weekend and found knit polos for $4.88 for adults. My husband wears polos and khakis on a daily basis. This was a fabulous deal for Daddy's uniform (as the kids say.) We also found clothes for the girls (mostly PJ's and tops) on the clearance rack for $2.88-4.88.) We usually go in there for ammo, socks, shoes and other sportsy-type items. To say the least we were pleased with our trip. I'll be posting other links and deals as I find them. Be sure to check out the Old Schoolhouse Estore. They always have FREE shipping!
MiddleSister |
 Here's one of the champs! |
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Macie and Emma had a wonderful time at their co-op Christmas party yesterday. One of the things that took place was a cookie and candy contest. They entered two categories as a team, shaped cookies and candy. They made sugar cookies, shaped like trees and the bottoms were dipped in chocolate (YUM!) and that won second place in their division. But the one that took the cake was the candy reindeer they created. It won first in its division and grand champion over all. Daddy was happy for them because he suggested they try to create it. A few other awesome events that day...
It was really a neat day. I am so behind on my writing. I need to write later about the Christmases Around the World unit study we are doing, but that will have to be another day.
The Lakeside Collection link: Take the guess work out of your shopping! Shop our Best Sellers selection today! |
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You're there for them, we're here for you--The Old Schoolhouse Magazine |
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The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Time to shop and look for bargains. I have several to share and will be updating this entry with links and clicks and great info FREQUENTLY through the first week of December. Shawn and I don't spend a lot on Christmas, especially for our kids, but we have family that can't resist the urge, so we try to help them find bargains, too. One unbelievable deal is from The Old Schoolhouse. For the five days of their Black Friday Sale, shoppers can actually buy I'm here to tell you I LOVE all that I get from The Old Schoolhouse magazine! Not only do I look forward to my magazine in the mail, I also get (for free Once more, here's the scoop again... The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is having an amazing sale on
Mark your calendars for November 26 - 30th and do a little shopping Here's all the other shopping news I have to share so far...
IF you are into My Twinn, here are some FABULOUS deals.... My Twinn: $20 off Personalized My Twinn Doll! (ends 12.8) MyTwinn: Special $149 Price Extended! (ends 11.21) MyTwinn: Save 10% on Matching Girl & Doll Clothing! (ends 11.24) My Twinn: Buy one baby doll and get 25% off your purchase of a second baby! (limited time offer) Need a Thanksgiving activity, game, place cards or printables?
 Printable Thanksgiving Games From: PrintableGamesAtoZ  |
) E-Newsletters, and Teacher's Toolbox that contains tons of information as well as freebies. So, check out this baragain for yourself and pass this onto everyone you know.
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Well Emma's holiday started a little earlier as far as school work goes. She had surgery on her left leg and foot. She's doing fine. She just told me that getting a shot hurts far more than surgery. I told her she was just brave. She is at the end of her year in kindergarten. She has enjoyed it. She is such a different style of learner than Mae. Back to Emma, she has to strickly be on her backside with her leg in the air for two weeks. That makes it hard to write, work on the computer, etc. And so, Emma will be read to, as well as looking at books, alongside audio and video endulgence. She will not be doing her normal school until after Thanksgiving. Now this is exciting to Emma. Mae can't stand to not be in school. She wants to do everything (but math) all the time. How awesome is that.... Another turn on holidays, I need to mention that I'm a eBook junkie. I love them! No, you can't curl up to them by the fire, but you can save a lot of real space by having them. Space is an a real premium at my house. Anyhow, if I'm at the computer I don't get hounded as when I am reading a book or magazine in my chair. I hope to get a little laptop soon so maybe I can sit on the couch and peruse. Anyhow, I want to recommend a great eBook find, Homespun Holidays. It has great recipes, pictures, decorating ideas, and family traditions. This is a must have to bring life into your Thanksgiving, Christmas and other family gatherings. Get your copy today! Click the book photo below, OK?
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We had an awesome field trip to the newspaper. We arrived about the same time as the paper for distribution. All the departments were represented and working during our visit. A reporter for governmental issues gave us our tour. The Editor-in-Chief babysat my 3 year-old's baby doll as we toured. It was interesting because the paper is digitally processed. It's great to tour as a homeschool group, to show the community how we interact. Prior to the field trip our homeschool group had a general overview of the history of newspapers and then divided into groups and put a paper together. The kids had a ball doing this. I could see the sparks of interest lighting up the room. After the tour, we treked to McDonald's f or hot apple pies and McCafe's. A mama in our group had an awesome coupon scrapbook that she shared with us. We are going to get together soon and work on making these for the family. I thought it was neat how she combined the art of scrapbooking with saving money. There were recipes, photos, quotes, and of course, coupons. My Twinn: $20 off Personalized My Twinn Doll! (ends 12.8)  |
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We are doing a three-week study on the printing press. We have downloaded a lot of great materials and have awesome field trips in the plan, too. We went to Old Washington, a historic site in our state that holds lots of interesting items from the 1800's-1940's. One site of interest there is the Print Shop. It's the home of the only Arkansas paper running without stop through the Civil War. The interpreter for that site was wonderful and my kids thoroughly enjoyed this program. He was kid-friendly and informative. We are taking a tour of our local paper this week. We are making a newsletter. We are making things with stamps. We study highlights of use of press in wartime and peace. I hope that in this study that the kids will realize books and the press are cherished items. MiddleSister |
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I will not tell anyone how to vote, but I will certainly say, "Please, go vote and do it now!" I think about my herritage and that every generation of my family has held service in our military to either establish or maintain our freedom. The least I could do to honor my forefathers is to vote. Pray for our families. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our land.
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We are considered the meanest parents ever for not letting our children take part in the greedy, beggars tradition of Trick-or-Treating. We are really out-numbered on this one. But our stance for the multiple reasons we don't do Halloween activities prepares us for all the flack we catch about Santa Clause (sp?) at Christmas.
I guess you could say that we have substitute holidays as we celebrate Harvest Time or Fall and we do Christmastime over a period of several days. We try to keep our family's focus on giving and blessing we receive from God. We don't understand why our family and friends can't respect us on this one, but we stopped trying to fight them and just frequently explain ourselves.
My older sister and I have the same point-of-view on this one. So as far as folks asking us or our children what they'll be for Halloween we simply say,
The conversation usually is stopped after that....
We are eagerly anticipating Thanksgiving!
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Check out The Old Schoolhouse E-Store and Refer A Friend! I won first place in the Breads and Brunch division of The Cooking in the Valley Contest! So, the pepper was SSOOOOO worth it. I will publish the recipe at this blog and at my recipe wiki once the local newspaper has released it. My prize came from an office supply store that has educational materials, WOW! What a blessing. |
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I'll write this in a silly font because I'm in a silly mood. MLB uses the line, "There's only ONE October!", and I must say for one that I am glad. I somehow always fill my calendar in October. Partly because I have the cannasayno syndrome and partly because I have a lot of obligations that come due during this month,too. I got wrangled into coaching Macie's soccer team, which I know little about; I'm helping to organize a fitness club for area homeschoolers. I'm taking an awesome TOS Marketing Class, that has been oddly therapeutic for me. ( I think it's because Daddy says, "Mama needs to get her school work done!" in the most pleasant tone. Emma has a four-day Spina Bifida Clinic*, and I'm the new PAC regional representative (support for families with disabilities) for my part of Arkansas. That's not to mention plain-ol-school, co-op, field trips and play dates. Thankfully the Lord has not allowed me to birth babies in the month of October. He did however, let me have a garden outside that needs a bit of harvesting and attention. To be very honest, my fall garden has been haphazard and only under the care and direction of the Lord. I have weeds in my onions, my greens need picking and I have lots of cabbage plants that look like overgrown brussel sprouts. I must say that the herbs, and peppers look great. I have lots of jalepenos and bell peppers that are very productive. I guess that was a positive of tropical storms Gustav and Ike. My lettuce and spinach as well as a portion of my winter squash did not survive *I will post a separate blog about Spina Bifida. October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month. |
but I am still very thankful for what I do have
for a beautiful pepper. Maybe it'll help me win that $100 prize! And so, for my garden, it will have to survive with little attention from me until November.|
I am so excited, thrilled, blessed to be among those chosen for The Old Schoolhouse Marketing Class. It's wonderful to see in your life when God closes one door and opens another! I have been invovled in tax preparation on the side but it was not what was best for our family. So, I gave that over to God, knowing that He would bless me and answer my questions the way He wanted, not the way I want them answered. The long story short is that 1:50 p.m. on 8 October I got an awesome email tellng me that I was selected. Prior to that, I was making a ho-hum lunch, trying to praise God for anwsering by question about getting to take the class, but honestly, I had my hopes up. Shawn came in for lunch, and I told him that it was likely that I had not been selected. I told him how excited I was (he already knew) but that I was OK and would likely do a lot of baking before church. Cooking is one of my coping mechanisms; some eat, some do harmful things, I just cook...I wish it was cleaning, but I digress. Back to my story, as I was speaking to my friend, Anita, about kids, the ding of my email sounded and I hopped up to find my news. WOW! We were having a serious tone conversation, when I start (joyfully) praising God and thanking Him for the wait time. It was so worth it. If I got that excited about class, I can't wait to see my reaction to heaven! Shawn and the girls are so excited. My friends are excited. I can't wait to tell you what happens next. |
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I love shopping at The Old Schoolhouse Store!
What a neat program! An opportunity for homeschool families like mine.
GDXDSNF9292531 |
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Cross's (Hot) Pepper Relish, AKA, Chow Chow Sauce. This recipe is my Pops's and he submitted it in the Back of the Bus Razorbackers Favorite Recipes in the mid 1980's. I love to hear my Pops talking about growing up in southern Arkansas, sweeping the yard and all that. Now, here's his recipe: 2 gal green tomatoes 2 qt vinegar (I say 5% acidity) 1/2 gal bell peppers 1/2 c salt (I use sea salt) 1 qt hot peppers 2 tsp celery seed 6 large onions (3#) 3 tsp mustard seed 1 small head cabbage add sugar up if desired ( up to 2 c) Grind tomatoes, cabbage, and onions in food processor, add salt and let stand for at least 2 hours. Drain off juice. Remove seeds and grind peppers, add seasoning, mix all ingredients well. Bring to a rolling boil. Cook 40 minutes on medium heat. Put in sterilized jars and seal while hot. Tasty with garden vegetables and dried beans. (My notes: boiling canner; hot pack method for this recipe; process pint jars for 10 minutes, quart jars for 20 minutes; store opened in refrigerator for up to 3 months.) Here's one if you don't have a canner, but want to try your hand at pickles. It's from my friend Jane's Aunt Fanny. This recipe can be found in the Nevada Co. Ext. Homemakers Council Coobook 2002, Prescott, AR. Fanny's Oven Pickles cucumbers, 2 c water, 1 c vinegar, 1 c sugar. Slice cucumbers lenghtwise and pack in jars. Heat water, vinegar and sugar to boiling. Pour over cucumbers; seal. Place in oven; turn oven to 350F. Close door and set timer 10 minutes. Turn off heat; do not remove from oven until cool. Now here's a few things I have discovered in my pickle making quest. I really like to use lots of garlic, brown sugar and mustard seed. I also like the flavor of cider vinegar. I have canned tomatoes, veggie relish, cukes and peppers. I am now considering my hand at pickled eggs. I like string beans better from the freezer if I can't have them fresh but Shawn prefers them canned. My kids would much rather have home canned foods than store bought canned goods. I have a lot of other recipes, and will post if there is a request. |
Ok, here are some of the canning recipes that we have used (and liked.) I love cookbooks and so I researched all the books in my house for canning recipes. A good portion of these recipes I discovered that some folks really cooked the food too long before canning it. I made that decission based on taste and the timing charts I found from Ball Canning Co and Better Homes & Garden Cookbook. All that to say here's what I have and I hope you enjoy this:|
First of all I would like to say that I'm totally hooked on canning. My non-stay-at-home friends do not get it, but I do and so does my family. We love the togetherness. We love seeing yet another result from our garden we've been blessed with. We love hearing the cans seal. We love prying the jar open or passing a few down through the neighborhood. Yeah, it's hot inside and out though I've threatened to take the canning project to my outdoor psuedokitchen. I use my mother-in-law's water boiling canner. This is our first summer to can as the Wooldridge clan because this is the first year that we've had a real garden since we've been in Camden. I have canned for years with my Granny (Grandma-when my youngest cousin started calling her Grandmother after we'd called her Granny for years, anyways, I digress.) and my daddy and my mother-in-law a few times, too. I remember when my oldest was a baby and I had a garden when we lived in Cave City in the country. Now we live on the smack-opposite side of the state and we have a garden in town. I collect rainwater to irrigate with when possible because I for one can tell a difference in the well water we were blessed with in northern Arkansas and the city water we are blessed to have in southern Arkansas. Would you like to know what we've been canning. We've made lots and lots of pickles. We started off using recipes from here and there. Now we venture off on our own. Macie loves to make pickles though she wouldn't dream of eating them. When we did our unit study on plants in the spring, I don't think the girls could have ever imagined the yield we have received. It is a visible example of not just reaping what you sow, but reaping much more than you originally sow. Biblical principles at work here. We have also canned string beans and made jams and relishes. Our tomatoes are late but we hope to do sauces very soon. Oh, did I mention we have pumpkins? The pumpkins were born out of decorating the outside for fall and then they froze in late December. By mid-March they made it to the compost pile. Long story short was that the pile didn't get turned for two weeks and we had about 50 or so plants emerge. We kept 10 and gave the rest away one way or another. We had no idea that all the plants would make it. So now we are trying to be creative with pumpkin as well. The sunflowers are blooming, too. That has nothing to do with canning either, but I had to mention it. Hopefully in the next day or so, I will post some of our canning recipes. I had a lady at church give me a remedy to canning without a canner. You fill and seal your sterile jars, place them on a cookie sheet in a 350F oven. Don't preheat. Process the jars for the recommended amount of time and then turn the oven off. After the oven completely cools, remove the jars. I thought this sounded amazing, but hot. It's probably not any hotter than the way I do it. |