This was a family night we had before I broke my ankle.  We have never had a sonic in this area, my husband and I had been to one years ago out of town but our kids had never seen a drive in burger place with roller skaters.  Well there was one recently built about 25 minutes away so we thought it would be fun to take the kids, I know what a life huh?  We find a burger joint exciting but the kids did have a great time watching the roller skating waitresses.  So we went to Sonic, ate in the car, and came home and watched the Bee Movie.  This is one cute movie, we all really enjoyed it! 

It was a fun family night!

There is nothing like God's Promise written over the sky.  I LOVE rainbows!  This wasn't quite a complete one but our family just oohed and aahed over it anyway.  As you can see it didn't last long, had to be quick with the camera.

Angela

You may want to copy this graphic over last weeks that doesn't say Tuesday Review, I just totally forgot to add that on there, it looks much better this way!

 Join us for Tuesday Review, sign Mr. Linky below so we can check out your review, also please link your post back here so others can join us!

I have to tell you ladies how much I love this shaver.  My sister in law made me up a birthday basket with all kinds of goodies in it and this was in there.  She loved hers and wanted me to try it.  If you are like me and hate shaving you will love this shaver.  It has soap all around the blade so it lathers while you shave so you don't need shavng cream.  Its a close shave and has never cut me, I just love it.   The pink one is for dry skin and the aqua one is for sensitive, that is the one I have.  If your looking to make your shaving experience better you have to try this!

Come on over at 5minutes for Mom and join all the mothers day contests, they have 6 prizes they are giving away, you don't want to miss it. 

Becoming a mom has been one of the greatest things that have happened to me and to be blessed three times with that reward is beyond anything I had ever hoped for.  Being a mom is hard hard work for sure but knowing I'm raising a future generation to love God and do HIS work on earth is so worth it.  Also the little moments they bring to my life, the I Love You's, Can I Help You, the hugs and kisses, the prayers for me and dad, the excitement of family nights and all the other fun rewarding things make life very rewarding.  I thank God for my children and that he allowed me to be a mother.

 Here is what you can win if you chekc over to Proverbs 31.

Join SchoolinRhome for a Mothers Day Giveaway, she has nice prizes!

This is a beautiful set to win but you have to hurry, she is picking tonight at 9pm.  You will find this contest at  http://maplelane-jan.blogspot.com/2008/04/mothers-day-giveaway.html .

Have fun joining all these contest!

These are some things I would love to be able to do with the kids while I'm down with my ankle.  There are so many things I wish I could make more time with the kids during my day and many days those just get pushed by the wayside because life is so busy.  So now that I'm stuck in one place I would love to spend some quality time with them, its harder then it seems though, a trip to the bathroom takes so long and pain meds have me sleeping too much but hopefully as time goes by I will need those less and less and things will get easier.  I thought I would list some things, if you could think of some things I would love to hear them.

Read Alouds-  I have always read lots of books to the kids but that is one thing that has been pushed aside this year.  My oldest was telling me how much he misses this so I would love to get some piles of books stacked up next to my bed for reading time for the kids. 

Webkinz-My youngest children love their webkinz but have a hard time understanding decorating their rooms and how to buy and sell things.  I would love to sit here with each child and help them with their webkinz accounts, I know they would love that.

board games- Another thing I'm always promising to get in but it never seems to happen.  I would love to play some board games with the kids, I know they would love it!

Circle Time- I have had to stop circle time but would love to start it back, its something a mom can do even with a broken ankle.  We sing the alphabet song, phonic games, books of the bible, character builders, memory verses, counting as anything else I can think of

lapbooks-I would love to do some of these with my younger ones, I just know they would love it.  I just don't know if I can get my kids and dh to hussle up the supplies.  They are doing everything they can to keep our family moving.

color pages-I really LOVE to color, that would be something fun to do with the kids.

watching some great movies for the family-I would like to write a list of movies I would like to see with the kids.

Playing cars and dolls-my son and daughter are always wanting me to do these things and I do fit them in sometimes but now I have no excuses, I need to do this more.

Even video games with my boys-I actually enjoy some of them, and they just LOVE for you to join them.

check out little lounge with my oldest

Can you think of anything else?   I want to take this time and say when its over, I didn't waste it-I spent quality time with my children!

Angela

Well, I will have to say my kids have been so sweet trying their best to take care of mommy while she is hurt.  Can we bring you pillows?  Can I get your walker?  Phone?    My oldest said today after dad helped him prepare for my day since dad had to go to work, I'm now the man of the house, let me know what you need mom.  That was so sweet!  And what a man he is becoming.   I thought I would share a few things we did to make things easier for our family, especially when dad has to leave.  'Thank God he will be off the rest of the week.  Some of this you may already know but if it can help when your down and out, bedrest, etc.  that would be great. 

We bought some pitchers you can get at Walmart that have the spout on them so the kids can just put their cups under and fill their glasses, water at all times except meals where we will allow lemonade.  Even my youngest can do these, and I didn't want my 9 yr old dealing with our glass pitchers all the time by himself, afraid if they broke he would cut himself, I can't exactly go running to him.

My husband premade some cheese sandwiches and my 9 yr old just heated them up in the microwave, voila, grilled cheese (kids loved them)

All the kids gathered up our school books and supplies and put them in a big bucket next to the couch, we are doing school that way with me on the couch, its not ideal but it works and its kind of exciting for the kids to do it different.

I have a little tray that has my phone, remote control, teachers guide, books I want to read, water, and of course my laptop.  I also keep sanitizing soap so I don't have to stand at the sink too long, I can always wash my hands quickly when needed.

My husband also leaves some snacks on the counter tops at easy reach so when the kids need one they can bring it to me and if I grant permission can help themselves.

My dh is working hard to keep us taken care of.  the house is a mess but meals are made (loved ones have even brought some over) the kids are dressed and some school is getting done.  That may be all but it gets us by and I'm so grateful to have the family I do to help make that happen.  It would be more challenging if I had a little one, my youngest is 4, I would HAVE to have outside help if that was the case but we are doing great so far.  If you have any other ideas let me know.  Tomorrow I will post about the couch activities I hope to do with the children.  You know the ones that you always say you want to do but never fit it in.  Well when something like this happens, and you have to let everything else go there is no excuse and I don't want these weeks to go by without spending some quality couch time with my family.

It is not easy when you lose your independence, it takes alot of getting used to-but I'm trusting the Lord has me exactly where he wants me and he will use this time for his Glory, it doesn't mean I don't have pity parties sometimes though, I really am battling these and trying to see the good in it!

Angela

My life for awhile, I am blessed it was a clean break and I was able to get a fracture boot instead of a cast.  Actually the pic doesn't look too bad, I wished it didn't feel bad but it HURTS!

My first meme, I'm so excited about it!  If you have a product, book, curriculum, anything that makes life better  for you please write a review and then leave a comment and sign Mr. Linky so we can all see the product you are reviewing.  I love to write reviews and love to read them so I think this will be so much fun!  Feel free to copy the picture above and add it to your sidebar or just use it for your review entry. 

The first thing I thought I would review is our spelling program.  Its called Sequential Spelling and we love it.  Most spelling programs are very expensive, this one is 13.95 and 4.00 for their workbook which you don't even have to buy if you don't want.  I can't believe how this program has taught my son to spell, it is just great-its hard to believe it cost so little.  They recommend you to start when your child is a 3rd grader but if your 2nd grader is a great reader you could probably start then.   This was a great chart to show you the differences between this program and other ones.  This chart is from their website.

What Makes AVKO’s Sequential Spelling Program Different:

Traditional Spelling Program Gives the child a list of words to study (and they forget them after the test at the end of the week). Tests the child on individual words. The tests are corrected by the teacher/parent with the looming red ink pen—after the tests are done. The rules of the English language are presented in dry, hard-to-understand ways outside of the spelling program. The overall emphasis is on a grade for one week over one set of words. The emphasis is on a theme of words (colors). The sequencing of the words may be due to introduction of words into the curriculum, instead of the relative difficulty. There may be a guilt reaction when children study but don’t do well on the test on Friday.

Sequential Spelling The child doesn’t study anything (they remember the patterns used to spell the words—even after the test). Tests the child on patterns of the English language. The child corrects his own paper as he is taking the test immediately. The rules of the English language are embedded in the program, without lengthy explanations. The emphasis is on learning the patterns of spelling for mastery of the language. The emphasis is on the meanings of the words (root words, suffixes). The sequencing of the words is based on research and the building of English words from the root word to expanded forms. Children build confidence when they can spell words that they’ve never seen before without studying.

The man who started this program made it for children who had dyslexia, it is now helping children with or without disability learn to spell.  We have loved it and it is so nice that my son doesn't have to study all of these words, he just does his list I read off to him, corrects one he misses right away and finishes when the 25 words are done for the day.  It seems hard to believe that this works but it DOES, I'm amazed how much he has learned and how few mistakes he makes as he goes on to the next days.  The words just keep building on themselves as the week goes on.  Your child will spell words like "beginning" right from the start, they will learn almost all their contractions in one year.  This is a great program, if you have any questions feel free to ask me!

Well I really did it this time.  This weekend I broke my ankle.  I just can't believe it, it took less then a second and happened on a date with my dh.  By the way we haven't been out for months and months just the two of us for fun.  My mom gave us a night out while she babysat the kids, she even went all out and gave us her house for the night, just so we could have a romantic night alone.  Well my husband and I had dinner, did a little shopping and went back to her place.  We were unloading some things we brought with us, I realized I forgot something and went back out to get it.  I stepped out on to my mom's porch and there was two welcome mats on top of each other, one pretty thick, it had slipped off the bottom one and when I stepped down my ankle twisted and I heard CRACK!  It was SO painful, it still is.  The ER doc said it was broken and I'm suppose to see a bone dr. today at 4pm.  Please pray for me, I am such a wimp with pain and pretty scared with what they are going to have to do to it.  The ER dr. says it appears to be a clean break and should only need a cast, hope so.  My husband has been so great totally taking care of me, even my kids are trying their best.  I am in so much pain, pain meds don't seem to help a whole lot but they do help me sleep.  They have put a temporary splint on it.  Thanks to my church family and  friends who have brought me a walker, a shower seat, heating pads, a meal, shower sprayer, all kinds of things.  It means so much to have so many people's love, I can't tell you how wonderful it makes you feel.  I have been pretty much out of it but I'm more aware of things today.  I will take pics and share my cast when I can. 

I'm still hosting Tuesday Reviews, I already have mine made so I will post it, don't forget to sign Mr. Linky and write a review.  I would love to see all of yours.

Angela

Today is the big day to share what we all got on the blooming swap that Monica and Carrie hosted!  This was so fun, they took the first 50 to sign up and I was blessed enough to be one of them.  Your box was supposed to be filled with things that make you think of spring! I would have taken pics of what I sent her so you all could see but I forgot. But boy did she bless me!  It felt like Christmas time, it is very rare including Christmas that mom gets a box of goodies just for her, (wow that sounds selfish, doesn't it) but it was so nice, it was like being a little girl again for a moment.  My kids got excited for me too, they all stood around while I slowly opened each item-of course the boys were making weapons out of the garden tool and my little girl was eyeing the butterfly for my garden and the angel for the door.  Lisa blessed me beyond what I could have imagined.   I took a picture of each thing; today Mr. Linky is up at Carrie's blog so everyone could see what everyone else received.  Go check out all the great boxes. 

For me it starts with the box.  Lisa painted spring flowers all over it including the word Spring, I loved it!

These towels are too pretty to use, i just love them!

tart warmer, I have always wanted one of these and it matches my apple kitchen!

Spring on wheels, this is a fun decoration!

Lots of flowers for my flower beds.

stationary, list paper and flower coupon holder

lotion and candles, yankee (my favorite)

This week wordless Wednesday is not so wordless but I had to share about my son's performance at our homeschool support group’s talent show.  He played the piano and did an OUTSTANDING job!  God has really given him a gift for music and the piano, no doubt about it.  It helps too that he has the greatest teacher who not only teaches him but loves him as well.  He is learning so many things about music and he has the gift of ear as well so hopefully God will really use him in this area, I hope that he glorifies the Lord Jesus with his gift!  Here are some pics of him performing, it was his first performance.  The night was great; we are blessed in this area to have so many gifted homeschoolers, watching everyone was such a blessing! 

He played Journey By Train!  The church where the talent show was a keyboard so thats why he is playing that instead of a piano!

 Jennifer has decided not to do the Tuesday Review anymore and has asked if anyone would like to take it over.  I told her I would love to.  I love to review products!  So starting next week I will put up the mister linky and I would love for all of you readers to join us.  You can review anything (decent of course)  I hate to throw that in there but you never know here on the web.  It can be products that you love to use (I have a great shaver that I got for my birthday that I'm loving), books you have read, curriculum choices, homeschool supplies, things your pet loves, something that makes your day go more smoothly, toys that your children love,(anything that you think others would love to hear about) I'm excited about my first meme, I think its going to be lots of fun.  Please if you can share it on your blog to get the word out, I know sometimes it takes awhile to get these things going.  Thanks so much!

Angela

Wow!  Its been a whole week since I have blogged.  I really felt I needed extra rest, I had been so tired lately so I decided not to work on the blog for a week and try to go to bed early.  I felt it really did me good but I have so many things to catch up on, anyway I thought a Monday Meandering would be a great way to start off the blogging week.  Come join Tiany to join us!

Must Do's-

some BLOG entries! 

start writing project

declutter!  I feel like its taking over again.

Zone-

My bedroom-it looks like a war zone

Train them up-

teaching the kids (mostly 9 yr old, don't know if the other two will get it but they may, its in a song from the CD sing the word from A to Z) the books of the new testament, working on how we deal with each other (siblings)  everytime we get better at that we seem to take steps backward, I'm sure none of you know what that is like!

Bible/devotion

-doing Beth Moore's study of David, also reading 1st Chronicles, almost to 2nd for the 30 day challenge.  I'm hopefully going to blog about how this is going this week.

Prayer Requests -so glad Tiany added this.  This will help me remember ones on my heart and allow you all my readers to remember them too!

Nancy-grief

Lucille and Gladys-health

Rae-special request

Nate-young boy/health

Melissa and family-on their big move to Australia

Laura and Jen-dh's out of work(stress on the family)

I'm not going to post my menu this week, its still up in the air!

Angela

My dh turns 40 today!  I just wanted to wish him a happy birthday here on my blog, and to thank him for all that he is to our family.  Without him, I would never be able to stay home and homeschool my children.  Thank you for going to work everyday and providing for us!  My husband is the greatest dad I have ever known.  He is also the sweetest man I know, of course I'm very biased but I know I am one blessed woman! I just wanted him to know how much I love him and hope he has a wondeful birthday!

Angela

I have a list that I'm getting together for next year, I love planning the next school year, I thought I would write my to buy list here.  What are all your plans next year?

Sequential Spelling-Book 2

Singapore 3A and B

My Fathers World 1st grade  (bible, science, and history)  along with music and art

The Complete Book of Math (for 1st grader)

Handwriting w/o Tears -K and advance cursive for 3rd grader

Explode the Code- 1st book

First Language Lessons, Level 3 and workbook

A great friend is loaning me ECC from My Father's World for my will be 4th grader- history, bible, and science together, along with music and art!

There is a writing program I'm interested in too but forgot the name of it, when I get it I will add it.

What's all of your plans for the fall?

Angela

Our oldest son received his orange belt in Taekwondo .  He is so proud!  He really enjoys this and we are so proud of him when we see him out there on the mat!  Here are some great pics of him sparring and going out for ORANGE! 

Here he is breaking his board, I was having trouble getting a good view!  He broke it on the first try!

Here he is with his new belt!  Can you tell he is happy?

I have started a bible study by Beth Moore on the Life of David.  She has come out with a personal study series  called Personal Reflections.  I have always wanted to do a study by her that was geared for personal use, I have loved the studies I have done from her in groups for sure!  She has a deep LOVE for the Word and it shows.  She excites you so much about the Bible in the way that she teaches and I enjoy her studies a great deal.   I just started this one and already love it!  It is a 90 day journey about David, it is a thick book and even has a CD to listen to before you start the study.  She made the book look old and the pages worn on the side, I bought mine from CBD.   

I also have been reading Beth Moore little devotional book Breaking Free Day by Day.  Everyday you just read one very short page with a scripture verse and a little story from Beth.  It is so good that I have been know to read ahead.  The pages are dated.  This is just a one minute read everyday to hear a little of God's Word, I keep it on my nightstand and read it before I even get out of bed. 

Just thought I would share a couple of resources I was really enjoying.

Angela

There were some great things at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention this year!  There were several great speakers and a gym full of vendors.  I was able to work the My Fathers World Booth for my friend who was sick and that was exciting.  I loved helping others and answering questions women and some men had about the curriuculum.  It was a great learning experience! 

There is always one or two booths or speakers that really seem to make an impact on me and this year I would have to say it was generations of virtue with Julie Hiramine.   She did a talk the first night called Setting a Paradigm for Purity.  In this talk she told about what you need to be talking about with all ages and things you need to address with boys or girls.  It was excellent!

 Sex and Purity and body image and all those fun fun topics are not easy to share with our kids.  A lot of us come from homes where we were just handed a book and told to read it and ask if we have any questions and some of us were not told ANYTHING!  Some really felt they were on their own.  Some of us may not have come from Christian Parents or real convicted ones in this area and so you don't know how to present this information to your kids.  Well this group did such a great job in addressing all of this.  I have never felt this educated in this topic and I learned so much to be able to share with my family.  I thought I would share the list of books that they recommended for different issues.  I know they have more resources and you can check out their site here.  I will mostly be talking about things that will effect me now or soon to be.   Our children are BOMBARDED with so many bad things in this generation, you can not escape it unless you are a hermit.  I want my kids to have a pure heart before their future spouse, I want them to know how obeying God in this area will do nothing but bless them but we have to be more equipped then ever before to help our children make healthy choices for their lives and even then we have to pray, pray and pray some more.

These are great stories to read to your young children with story lines about saving your heart for your future mate by making it a fairy tale story and learning to follow the scroll (God's word)  even when its really hard and being very blessed by it!

Princess and the Kiss  A wonderful story about purity and saving your first kiss!

Squire and the Scroll  Join the young squire as he learns valuable lessons about purity on his journey to retrieve the Lantern of Purest Light. Great for boys and girls, no matter their age.

This book tells about where babies come from, the front of the book for young children (only information they can handle, nothing graphic and the back of the book for older ones)  She reads this once a year.  For the ones out there that do circle time, these resources would be great, however some topics should be one on one with each child.  Prefer.  mom with daughters, dad with sons.

The Wonderful Way Babies are Made  This entertaining, colorful book is full of wonderful real-life illustrations and age-appropriate text to teach your children about God's creation. Great for families with kids of all ages.

Some special time with your daughter-I love the idea of having a regular tea party with her growing up-they have so many devotionals to do with your daughter starting with this one at 5yrs old!

Just Mom and Me Having Tea  You and your daughter will love this special, tea-themed study. Full of creative craft ideas and discussion topics, this study is sure to make the most of your mother-daughter time.

Julie talked about how boys should be taught right off the bat about how he should treat women!  The book that she loves for this one is by Rick Santoriums wife Everyday Graces.  She reads a little of this during lunch.  Covers all kinds of manners.

Everyday Graces  From good sportsmanship to thank you notes, good behavior in everyday situations and special occasions, the classic stories found in Everyday Graces make this compilation a comprehensive resource on etiquette for the whole family.

This one is a great one to read to remind our children that anything under the bathing suit is private and that no one should be touching or looking at them there, its an awful subject to have to address but we want our children to know how to react and tell us if there is a problem with anyone.  This book shows this in a real gentle non scary way.

The Swimsuit Lesson  Mark and Lisa’s summertime fun turns into a valuable lesson every child should learn!

The next one teaches 10-12 yr old boys about all the weird things that are going to go on with their bodies soon.  We are fast approaching this book.

Lintball Leo's Not-So-Stupid Questions about Your Body  A must-read for every coming-of-age boy about to be experiencing, or already in the midst of, puberty. Includes sage advice and encouragement about how to honor the Lord with your sexuality

And last the three book set that helps a girl going through her first menstrual cycle.  I have quite a while before this one but I loved the ideas Julie has for these.  The 1st book is given to the daughter when she is 10-12 before she starts so that she can prepare and not be scared when it does happen, the 2nd one is for when she does and Julie who has 5 girls says when this happens she takes her daughter out for dinner and gives a present full of fun girl things, a shaver, bath gels, candles, and this book-she also encourages her to pray about this new part of her life now and give it to God.  I thought that was great.  The 3rd book is for mom who will be parenting a young woman now!

Beautifully Made!  Written by Generations of Virtue, this is a wonderful, yet practical set of books that celebrate womanhood! The time comes in every girl's life when she transitions into womanhood. Let these resources help you explain these changes in a way that is positive and even fun!

You don't NEED any of these resources but they sure could help you get through difficult topics and do it by teaching your kids in a God honoring way.   I learned a lot and look forward to getting some of these great books to help us through our journey.  She really stressed that we don't want to wait until they are 16 if we can help it.  Telling them our expectations and what God has planned for them young (age appr things of course)  will help prepare them when all their emotions come full force.

Angela

Finally pictures of spring fun!  Now its still cold here but at least we are getting a warm day once in a while.  The kids first visit to the park this year, my oldest was sick so dad took the two youngest, here are some great pics!