Well, I am sorry that I have been gone sooooo long!  Our busy season has started.  We have been to Indianapolis, Harrisburg, PA, and Winsten/Salem, NC in the last month.   We have met lots of nice people at the home school conferences that we've gone to for my husband's job.  

In the midst of all this traveling, book 3 of Draw and Write Through History (The Vikings and the Middle Ages) finally got printed!  Yeah!  It is done!   I haven't had time to update my website yet (drawandwrite.com)  It should be available to order it off the website by the second week of June.  Otherwise, if you wan't to order it sooner, just email me.   They are selling for $11.00 plus $2.50 shipping, or all 3 books for $30.00 plus $3.50 shipping.    Sorry, I don't have a picture to post yet.  Maybe I can figure it out later this week.  

Also, amidst all our travel....my 13 month old decided to start walking while she was at her Nana's house!  Now she is really trouble!

Today, we are at a friend's house in NC.  We went to see the Billy Graham Library.   My husband worked for Billy Graham for 10 years, so it was neat to see.  Tomorrow we are going to travel again.  Maybe somewhere near the ocean.  The children are begging for a beach trip.  Well, they really want to go to a amusement park....but with our size family that would cost wayyyyy too much.  So the beach sounds better! 

Oh yeah....If you happen to be in Winston Salem, NC    check out the Brookstown Inn.  It is really neat.  It was a cotton mill in the 1840s.  Now someone turned it into a hotel.  Very cool if you like historical places.  The rooms are great and they even serve milk and cookies and wine and cheese for free in the evenings! 

Sorry for rambling on soo many topics!  If I only had time to post more often!

Carylee

Just thought I should mention how the spelling bee went.  My daughter got out in the first round :( . She must have been really nervous.  The word was "cadenza" and she left the "e" out, spelling it "cadnza".   She knew the word.  Oh, well.  I must say that she had an awesome attitude about it.  Others left when they got out.  She wanted to stay and cheer the others on.  And when someone asked, she was very quick to say that she would be back next year!  

My ds age 15 has his debute in the play Peter Pan this Friday night.  He is one of the pirates.  He gave me his sinister pirate smile the other day.....it was creepy!  He really looked like a pirate!  It will be fun to see.  Even his 5 year old brother is asking every day if we get to go see it yet!   It is a little overwhelming, though.   He will miss the entire week of school.  He has practice all day, every day this week.  Ugh.

Carylee

I'm doing a little "I did it" dance!  Okay....okay....God did it....but I am still excited!    Book 3, The Vikings, The Middle Ages, and the Renaissance (in my Draw and Write through History series) is on its way to the editor tomorrow morning!  Whew.  Now I can spend the week getting ready for our busy conference schedule with my husbands work.  And maybe I can get my website updated!   Please feel free to check in at drawandwrite.com .  The new book should be available for purchase by the end of April.  Maybe sooner if all goes well!  

Carylee

I hate to say it, but it really hasn't been a good day.  I just keep thinking....after 11 years of homeschooling....this should be easy, right?  I just don't know how other large families get it all (or even half) done!  I am suppose to homeschool 4 children, keep 2 preschoolers busy, care for a very active baby/toddler, balance the checkbook and pay the bills, make all the meals, and try to get my next book done!  All I got done today was math with 2 children, one load of laundry (oh, yeah....forgot that on the previous list!), a quick trip to the grocery store....and meals.  My book deadline is here.....it really has to be done by early next month.  I just don't know how I'm going to accomplish it!  My middle 4 seem to fight half of the day.  I guess I just haven't trained them good enough.  The oldest is busy all day with school.  The 13yr old dd gets done early....but always seems to have her own agenda....friends to visit, mission trip letters to send, etc.  I can sometimes get her to help for awhile with the baby or the preschoolers.  But then I am still trying to juggle which ever one she doesn't take!  The 10yrold ds....is always arguing/whining.  He struggles with school.  He can't handle the little ones for more than a couple of minutes.  The 6 yearold ds is a brainiac....and is always begging me for more school....when I really need to spend time with his older brother.  Then there's the 5yr old ds.  He STILL wets his pants, dumped glitter into the fishtank yesterday , dumped fishfood in today(one fish died)....and generally begs for someone to take him outside, watch a movie or eat candy all day. The 4 year old whines....but is easier to keep busy.  The almost one year old.....well are YOU tired yet? 

Sorry, for complaining.  I LOVE my children.  I wouldn't trade them for a smaller family any day.  BUT....today as I looked around my EXTREMELY messy house and though that it deserved to be condemed, I really thought to myself....I NEED HELP AROUND HERE!  I just don't know where to get it.  All my friends are just as busy with their own lives....they don't have time for a cleaning party, nor do they want a household of children to come visit for a day.  Someone kindly mentioned that I should put the little ones in daycare/preschool.  I would actually consider part-time daycare....but I cannot afford it right now.   So.....now you know why I don't have time to write very often :).

Oh, yeah....when my husband came home from work (he was home 4 minutes before he left for youth group....and he won't be back until midnight)....and I tried to tell him nicely how I felt....he sweetly said...."I don't know how you get done what you do, honey."  Sweet....but not the answer I needed. 

Now I have the quiet time to work on my book....but I am too tired :(.

Oh, yeah for all who are wondering....the book I am almost done with is Book 3 in  my Draw and Write Through History Series.  It will be about the Vikings and the Middle Ages.   You can watch for it on my website : drawandwrite.com

My computer has been "in the shop" getting fixed for a whole week!  I have been going through withdrawl!  Not to mention, hyperventilating a bit....since my next book is due to be done.  It is so nice to be back.  I can't wait to get going on my book. 

I'll write more soon.  Time for bed, I'm afraid.

A great friend of mine gave me this recipe.  It is for a VERY CHEAP and VERY EASY homemade ice cream.   All you need is:

1 can of Sweetened Condensed milk

1 tsp. of vanilla

A Tupperware fix and mix bowl or Thats a bowl ( or any other very large bowl) FULL of .........that's right.....

SNOW!!!!

Okay, I'll admit that when my friend first told me this I thought she might be a little crazy....I mean, we have a lot of dogs, and cats, and squirrels....and who knows what else outside!  But.....we have been getting a TON of snow lately....so I gave it a try.   Of course I made sure to take only the top, fresh layer of snow.  I also made sure it wasn't yellow!  Anyways....you add the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla on top of the snow.  Then you mix it with more of a chopping motion than a stirring motion.  WOW!  It was ready in about 2 minutes and it was the best vanilla ice cream that I had ever had!  It made enough for the 8 of us to all have some.  Okay....we would have liked a little more....but we all had enough really.  It only cost $1.29....or whatever the sweetened condensed milk cost (I buy mine at Aldis).  So there you go.  Cheap ice cream....if you don't mind only eating it in the winter!

Ugh.  I've been dealing with the stomach flu for 3 days now.  I am praying that no one else gets it.  This kind of thing usually goes through our family of 9 like crazy. 

If this snow doesn't stop coming here (Wisconsin) soon.....I think the headlines will be about the mass migration of Wisconsinites moving to Florida!

More car issues.  I was cozy and asleep at 5am 2 days ago when my husband kneeled beside the bed and wispered that he had just wrecked the good car.  He was out doing our son's paper route (until this wonderful snow is gone) and got stuck in a snow bank.  A plow pulled him out and broke the back axel....or so they thought at the time.  The other car that someone gave us a few months ago....has been sitting in our driveway as the brakes gave out the 2nd day we drove it!  Now my dh is driving our gas-hog 15 passenger van to work.  Not good for the budget.   Praise the Lord for the tax return....even though it was suppose to by a dishwasher (oh yeah... that broke 2 weeks ago, too!), and curriculum....and clothes!At least the cars are getting fixed and should be back by Friday!  Yeah!

The good news.....I dropped my ds off at play practice last Friday and went shopping at the local thrift store.  As I walked in the door....it hit me.   I had no one with me.   My dd had offered to babysit and I took her up on it.  It was a shock to my system.  I took a pile (no kidding here) 2 ft high into the dressing room!  No one was there to say, "mom....let's go!", or "can't I have this toy?", or "He's bugging me", or "Wahhhhhhh!".  It was heaven.  Don't get me wrong....I love my children dearly.   But.....I think I need to do that once a month or something!   I got awesome deals.  Books my dd wanted for $.25......clothes for our travel season.  It was great.  I think I spent $50.  It was sooooo worth it. 

One last thing.....I just read a VERY interesting book.....The Giver by Lois Lowry.  I know this is a controversial book.  But I also Knew that it is on a lot of highschool reading lists including SL.  So.... I decided to read it first.  I would definitely NOT have a younger child read it.  But I will have my highschool ds read it and discuss it.  It would spark some good discussions on Euthenasia (spelling?) and such.  It was a little on the freaky side.....a society where sameness is valued.  No color, no real feelings or emotions.  Very interesting and well written.  BUT I did not like the end as it leaves you wondering if the main character and a baby survive or not.  Also warning: there is a scene where a baby is "released" which is a nice way for saying killed.     I would definitely say read it first before you let your dc read it. It is not for everyone.

Okay.....I should be in bed.....maybe this is why I get sick a lot???  Lack of sleep......:)

Does it mean you are doing something right when there is oposition?  Is it Satan trying to stop us?  Or is God trying to pass on wisdom?  My 13yr old dd is a very determined young lady.  I think I have mentioned that before.  She wants so bad to go on a mission trip.  Well....she wanted to go to China....but since that isn't possible she signed up for a trip to ....South Africa!  I was hesitant at first.  She IS only 13.  But my dh was all for it.  We prayed.  I still feel she is young.  But we have been assured that she will be well supervised.  She will be going with Teen Mania.  The cost is great.....almost $4,000!  I told her that if God wanted her to go, the money would be there.  She is working so hard.  She already sent out 30 letters....not including people from our church! She is taking babysitting jobs, and pet sitting jobs, and even got a donation for helping someone move (which she would have done for free!).  A week after she decided to go....she got her Brio magazine.  Guess what??? It was about South Africa! 

BUT....my parents do not approve.  My mom has always been on the cautious side....so that didn't surprise me.  But my dad (a pastor)....well that hurt a little.  We didn't expect financial support....just moral support.  They think we are crazy for letting her go when she is so young. 

My dh's mom says the same thing. 

Are we crazy?   My ds age 15 use to be at least slightly interested in missions....now he just doesn't care.  He says he really doesn't want to go to another country.  He'd rather be at home where it is safe....and he can play with friends and video games.   Isn't it better to let my dd go while she is excited??  She doesn't always have the best attitude....I am hoping that this trip might open her heart and eyes more to God's ways.  Isn't it better that she goes on a mission trip now while she has time?  I sure can't go as an adult with 7dc!  Isn't it better that she has a heart for going on a mission trip instead of chasing boys (like a lot of her friends!).....or worrying about the next trip to the mall (one girl her age in her 4-H club said that it was her New Years resolution to buy a new pair of shoes everytime she went shopping!)....or sitting around playing video games? I mean.....we pick curriculum that is mission orientated to help turn their hearts to the nations....and then we say....oh, sorry, you are too young to go? 

At this point we are planning on her going.  Unless God shows us otherwise.  She has already raised enough money in the last 2 weeks to make her $300 deposit.  Only 3, 700 to go!

Today was the day!  My dd age 13 competed against 41 public school children in the district spelling bee.  She placed 7th!  The top eight get to go on to state!  So there was quite the excitement in our house tonight.  The next bee is on March 15th.  Only one child will go on from there to Washington D.C.   The winner tonight was a little girl in 6th grade.  She reminded me of oneof the kids in Aquilla and the Bee.  My daughter thought she heard that she had 3 coaches!  She was very good.   Are you suppose to get a coach!?   We really can't afford it.  My daughter is gifted in this area....but I don't know that she has much of a chance against this little girl.  Oh well.  It really was a lot of fun.  And at least we made a name for homeschoolers in our community!  If I can ever get pictures to show up on my blog, I will put her picture on here.  For now....I think she wants a break from spelling! :)

Congratulations Jenn4Him!  You are the winner of book 1: Creation Through Jonah, in the Draw and Write Through History series!  

I want to thank everyone who entered.  Keep an eye on my blog and my website for other fun contests.  Also book 3 will be coming out this spring!

Carylee

This one is for those who HAVE my book/books.....or get them in the next month.  I am half-way through writing book three....The Vikings and the Middle Ages.  It is scheduled to come out in April.  I would REALLY like to include some drawings done by children.....SO.....

Have your children draw a drawing out of one of my books and send it too me.  You can go to drawandwrite.com to get our contact address.   The deadline for drawings is March 11th (my birthday!).

I will pick some of the drawings to include in my next book (space allowing)!  If I choose your child's drawing I will list their name and age (if you okay it)...and You will be sent a free copy of the book!

If for some reason there is not enough space in the book for the drawings....I will pick my two favorite drawings and send them a free book (when it comes out in April).

So.....    1) Have your children draw a picture from my books

               2) Send it in

               3) include your child's name and age and a way to contact you if you win!

Have fun!  And just a side note.....we love it when children send us drawings from our books....anytime!

I stayed up WAYYYYYYY to late last night, but I made some decisions about our homeschool curriculum.  Just a reminder.....I have 7 dc ages 9months, 3,5,6,10,13,and 15.  I have the hardest time sticking with any curriculum.  We travel to many homeschool conferences with my husband's job....and I see to many options.  Anyways,I have finally decided to give My Father's World a try.  I ordered their K and ECC (Exploring Countries and Cultures).  I might do their highschool stuff too for my two oldest.  I don't need the stuff until fall....but I wanted to order it before the tax return money disappeared!  I am so excited.  I can't wait to use it!  This year we used ACE paces.  Now before you groan.....they really were a blessing this year.  With a new baby and all.....I just really needed a year where the dc didn't need much help from me.  And it worked for most of them.  In fact, the older two would rather keep doing the PACES.  BUT I don't think that they are learning much on the higher thinking/reasoning end of things.  So....I am hoping to work on that next year!  

My brilliant little 6 year old finished his 2nd grade math PACES last week and has been begging for more math.  I ordered Singapore math for him last night.  We will give it a try!

Well....off to bed.  I have been sick for 33 days now!  This cough and sinus junk just won't go away.  I think it is lack of sleep!

Check back soon.  Tomorrow I will announce the winner of my book!

Yesterday was the monthly homeschool meeting.  It takes us an hour to get to the group.  We don't get to go very often as it costs too much time and money to load up our crew into the 15 passenger van and drive the hour at 8miles to the gallon! 

Well this time we had to go....we had clean-up duty.  A friend of mine took 2 of my children with her, and my husband drove the blue whale (the van) to work so that we could drive a less gass guzzling car the distance!  Anyways, we got there and discovered that they were doing something different.  It was so neat!  There are a couple families in our homeschool group going through a very rough time.  So our leader decided that we would make them baskets of food.  We got in groups of two and started cooking in the church kitchen.  When we were done, we had 3 wonderful looking baskets to deliver.  It was really fun.  And we still managed to get our talking in!

Just leave a comment here and you will be entered in a give away for Book 1: Draw and Write Through History: Creation Through Jonah.  You can check it out on my website: Drawandwrite.com .  The drawing will be held on February 3, 2008.  This is only open to people in the United States.  Thanks and have fun!

Carylee

By the way....I can't get images to show....the above box is suppose to be a link to the info on this giveaway contest.  Anyone with info on how to get my links and pictures to show up would be greatly appreciated!

Wow.  I don't have much time, but I knew I had to write this.  I was over on a friend's blog the other day and she had a post about the grass always being greener somewhere else....but what if you then find out its astroturf!  It really made me think.  We have not been content with our house.  Even my three year old has caught the bug....she said "we need a new house" the other day.  Then today I was talking to another wonderful pastor/homeschooling family who is expecting their seventh baby.  I told him that we were praying for a bigger house.  He said, "remember, your house is twice the size of ours!  Don't forget to be content with what God gives you."   Ouch.  THEN, for some odd reason I get the Alpha Omega email devotional (I don't use their curriculum).  Today's topic was being content!  Ugh.  I guess God thought that I have been really dense lately.  He had to hit me over the head 3 times, not once! 

So....instead of praying for a bigger house I am now asking God to make me content.  I am also asking God to give me the creativity to make our house more organized and run smoother.

Sorry ladies, just because I am an author of homeschooling books....doesn't mean that I have everything together.  God's still working on me too!

I suppose the title makes you think that I am going to talk about how we use recipes in math at our house.....but it isn't. 

I am struggling with math decisions at our house.  My oldest ds is in 10th grade.  We have used Abeka, Mathusee and now ACE.  We like Abeka, but I don't feel that I can teach the highschool levels, nor do I have the money to rent their dvds (tried that one year...ouch!).  Mathusee is great....but again, not independent enough for highschool and I don't have time to figure it all out.  So on to ACE.  It is working for oldest DS.  He is doing their geometry PACES with the dvds.  Great.  BUT next years Algebra 2 with DVDS will cost us over $250.  Yes we can keep the dvds....so at least I can pass them on....but still.  So we are leaning towards Saxon with DIVE.  We watched the sample cd and he thought it looked good. 

Dd age 13....loves her ACE....probably won't change unless I decide to switch all to Saxon with DIVE.

Ds 10 is struggling.  Gets great grades but is only one fourth of the way through his 5th grade PACES.  And he says he really isn't understanding it.  Did great last year in MathUsee.....maybe we need to go back.  He also thought the DIVE cd was understandable. Hmmmm....just not sure what to do.  The PACES are easier for us to take with when we travel in the spring.  Ugh.  Do we start a new program now?  We start traveling in 2 months.  Or do we keep plugging along?  It is mostly fractions/decimals that he struggles with.  But it is also that he thinks he needs me to answer everything!  I really think I should put him back into mathusee...but then we will switch again come Algebra! 

Any advice welcome.....

Ds 6 is almost done with 2nd grade.  He wants to keep going....but mom isn't sure that I have the $ to order more books!

Now...on to recipes.......I promised someone to post our favorite easy recipes.  Here is what we did for dinner tonight:

Noodles with a white sauce. (serves 8-10) So you can half butter for a smaller amount.

1 stick butter (melt in large saucepan or dutch oven)

Press cloves of garlic (or add minced garlic)....as many as you want . We LOVE garlic....I also add some whole cloves.

Saute garlic in butter. 

Add 1/2 cup of flour to butter.  Stir to get out lumps.

Keep heat on medium so as not to burn.  Slowly add milk.  Stir as you add it.  It will thicken as it cooks.  Keep stirring so it doesn't burn!  I have never measured how much milk.  We just keep adding.  Stopping once and awhile to let it thicken.

I usually add garlic salt too.....or at least salt.  Like I said, we LOVE garlic.

You can add chunks of cooked chicken breast if you like.

Serve over noodles....any kind!

Great with salad and garlic bread.  Or broccoli!

Well we went to see the house again this evening.  It is really nice.  We tried to decide who would fit in what bedroom....argued a little over what room would be the official living room (Can you believe it is that big?  There are two living room possibilities on the main floor and a huge family room upstairs. )   Then we came home, ate supper and went to our "moonlighting" job.  We clean a store for a Mennonite friend once a week.  While cleaning my husband commented how much he loved the garage (3 car)....and then said, " but that payment really scares me".  He just doesn't say much....so I knew that meant a lot.  In the end we both admited we didn't have a peace....even though we like the house a lot!  So....at this point we are going to wait.  See how much we can put away over the spring, maybe summer.  And then we will know what we are dealing with financially.  Who knows, maybe God will save the house for us....or maybe He will find us a better one in the country!

Sometimes it seems to hard to make decisions.  At least when you really want to do what is best and wise.  We went on our "date" if you could call it that .  My husband coughed the whole time....we both actually have bronchitus...his is close to pneumonia.  But he still wanted to go out.  We just don't know if we should wait out the spring/summer to see how much money comes in (that is our busy season) and TRUST GOD to keep the house for sale....or bring a better one.  OR if we should make an offer and TRUST GOD to bring the extra income in that we need for the bigger house.  Either way we are trusting.  It is "easier " or safer to stay where we are.  But it seems so hard to really set money aside to save ahead.  It seems like the extra bills of the house could bring more stress to our family....and yet it might be that God is waiting for us to take this step of faith to bless our family.  It isn't everyday that you can find a house comfortably big enough to house 9 people, homeschool, and feel like you could have company over anytime.   The more I think about it...I think He just might be waiting for us to make this move......hmmm.   If you are reading this please pray for us.  We don't want to be foolish.  We don't want to add to the defaulting housing loan problem that our economy is seeing right now. 

My husband actually wants to contact the owner of the house.  He is a doctor....already moved out of state.  The house is empty.  He is asking a reasonable price for the house.   The house has been forsale for about 6 months.  BUT....he wants to tell him our situation.  How it is the perfect house for us....but how our income would be really stretching it to meet the payments.  He is hoping the guy will have compassion and lower the price.  It would be a miracle. 

But.....I think it is time for a miracle!

This is probably going to sound silly....but I am excited.  I have had a website since October 2007 for the Draw and Write Through History books that I have written.  Well, every time I have ever tried to google the books, my website never even came up.  Other vendors who carry my books, even a few really nice blogs with reviews that were wonderful....but not my website.   Well tonight I did it again.....and there it was!  I think my website came up as number 5 on the list!  It was exciting.  I still feel so new at this whole thing.   If anyone wants to check out my website, it is drawandwrite.com.  BUT I will warn you that I am a time challenged mom.  It doesn't get updated hardly ever!   I am too busy trying to find time to get book number 3 done before spring. 

Also, a side note.  Our whole family has a horrible cough.  I have had mine for 12 days.  My little 5yr old....the one who has had asthma in the past has the cough so bad at night he throws up.  We have tried both medicine and things like garlic, onions, vics, proping him up.  nothing works.  prayers are appreciated.j

Another.....we are going on a date tomorrow night to discuss our housing/finances.  We quallified for a loan and are considering a larger house.  I seems silly with our finances as tight as they are already.  But, books sales are looking good.....and we are trying to decide if God is leading us to make this move.  I will update when we have a decision. 

I will also try to post  a few of our favorite recipees this weekend.

Well, even though we are really tight financially, we are taking a step of faith.  We sent in our loan app. to see what we qualify for.  We looked at a house in town here, last week that is at least twice as big as ours.  The payments are twice as big too, though!  So...it seems foolish, humanly speaking....but we feel led to procede.  At least at this point.  My books have been selling well.  So maybe God will work a bigger house out for us soon.   I can't imagine keeping my house organized and clean enough to "show" it, though!  Not on top of homeschooling and working on book 3. 

I have really been trying to give things to God.  Especially in the areas of schooling and finances.  I like to have control in these areas, so it is hard.  Especially when things don't look good.  Like.....that "new" car's brakes just went out!  

I have been trying to figure out next years homeschool curriculum....only because our busy season is on its way and I like to have it figured out before than.   We are considering Father's World for K for my soon to be 4 and 5 (who will be almost 6 by then).  They don't reccomend starting early....but these two insist on doing things together.  Also, the 4 year old can color better than the older one, and in essence is at the same level.   I am also considering Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures for my 3rd and 6th grader next year.   We just did Sonlight's version of this last year with my 7th grader.  We love Sonlight's books....but their manual just isn't organized enough for me.  I like everything that I am suppose to do on one or two pages for the week.  I didn't like constantly flipping through the huge Instructor's guide.    Also, that particular Sonlight wouldn't really allow me to combine these two boys....and I feel that they need a year of working together on something.  They fight so much.  Probably because my 6 year old is so smart...and knows it ( he is almost done with 2nd grade, and just tested into 3rd grade spelling), And my 10 year old struggles.  

We will be making math decisions too.  We are using ACE PACES right now.  Everyone likes them except the 10 yr old....who doesn't like any school except for projects and science experiments!  BUt, my 10th graders math and science are costing between $260- 300 each year with the dvds.  He needs the dvds, at least for math because I need it to be as independant as possible.  We tried mathusee....not independant enough (but an excellent math program).  Well I did see a sale on Saxon with the DIVE that would put Algebra 2 at only $$96.   That is considerably less than what we will spend next year on ACE with the dvds.....so I have to pray.  I have been hearing + and - about Saxon.  I just don't know if he can do it independantly. ( without ANY or hardly any of my help).  It isn't that I don't want to help, or even that I can't understand it....I just don't have time to review enough to help.  

Plus...we are planning on him using college plus to help him get his computer science or computer programing degree early.  If you haven't heard of this program, it is really cool.  They can help your highschool student get their BA at the same time as they graduate from highschool.  It is legit.  It was started by a homeschooler and is supported by Vision Forum.j

Well....on to dinner.  Parmesian Chicken, onion potatoes, and home frozen (but now cooked :) corn.