It's been forever since I had a Tightwad Tuesday idea, but I've enjoyed reading all of yours. This tip was on the side of a free box of Tide powder a friend gave to me. Her new fancy washer couldn't use the old powder anymore, so I benefited! But that's not the tip, asking your friends for their cast offs, although it might be a good one, now that I think of it.
The box had an excellent tip to simplify and cut costs. What you do is to fill up your washer with water and soap, add clothes, then turn off the washer, allowing the clothes to soak in the soap for half an hour. I set a timer. When the timer goes off, you restart the washer. I have noticed that my whites are brighter and smell cleaner. And I don't have to use bleach or an Oxy product, saving money.
I am not sure it if works in the fancy upright washers, since I still have my old clunker water waster. (Don't I sound so thankful!) I did talk to a guy at our church who repairs washing machines and he said the new ones are not built to last, are too expensive to repair and he's afraid that the landfills are going to be filled with them, making them not so great after all. But I still want one. I think. But it doesn't matter because my old faithful is still working (repaired by said guy at church over 2 years ago.)
Happy Tightwad Tuesday! Click on above link to read more great tips.
Outside my Window...is a gray sky and clouds. I see no birds, just a gentle breeze moving the tree limbs.
I am thinking... I will be diligent this week!
I am thankful for... how the Lord takes care of my family.
From the kitchen... banana bread is on my mind. We have 6 over ripe bananas to use up.
I am wearing... my pajamas! (How embarrassing!)
I am reading... Acts, Psalms and Proverbs, and about to finish "The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands"
I am hoping... everyone stays well for vacation.
I am hearing... a fan, the washer, crickets, but no kids stirring yet.
Around the house... I must mop the floor this week. Does anyone else dread this chore?
One of my favorite things... is to spend a cozy evening reading aloud from a good book as a family.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... make a list/purchase things we need for vacation next week, be diligent with our studies, begin babysitting a toddler on Fridays this school year.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... A surprise bouquet from my Mr. on Saturday. He rode his bike past the farmers market and stopped to get these flowers and some sweet corn.
Who doesn't like a contest? And Rosina, my sweet friend, is having one! Pop on over to her blog for the details. You won't be sorry. Rosina's blog is one of my very favorites. There is always so much learning going on at her house.
OK, my last post was not exactly fair. I apologize. I did not say that I was feeling overwhelmed. I was just pondering the question asked to me by a fellow blogger. I appreciated all your love! It's a hard question to answer. We all have our own ideas. And I am still pondering...
This was a great week, our first week back to formal lessons. Truly, the kids just stepped back into our school routine as if we'd never taken a break. I am thankful for this. And it is the first time ever in our homeschool.
I am feeling almost normal. I did take a short nap today after lessons, going to 3 stores and putting everything away. But for the most part I feel well. (Another praise.) I so hope no one else gets my flu bug. Again I appreciated all the well wishes.
And finally, today was the end of our weekly visit with grandma. I actually cried when she left. She is one of the most generous people I have ever met. (Her mother was another very generous person.) I so appreciate all she did to make our Thursdays/Fridays pleasant. She is not an overly warm and affectionate person, but this time I hugged her and told her how much she means to us. People need to do that more often.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. My family is going to the Indianapolis Children's Museum tomorrow. We'll worship with Mama Karen on Sunday and then have flock group on Sunday evening, welcoming 2 new families to our group.
Aug. 12, 2008~ Not So Wordless Wednesday: My Knight in Shining Armor ~
This past weekend, when I was so sick, my dear husband picked up the slack and let me get the rest my body was demanding. He even took the kids to Conner Prairie Sunday after I almost passed out at church, but that's another story. He and the kids formed a group to compete as pioneer survivors. They came in second place out of all the groups. And the things they did tied into what we've been studying this week as well. How cool is that? Here are some photos they took...
Nature Myth Quiz
Build a fire and start it using flint.
Wait, this is their fire...
Here is dh's hurt finger...
Tomohawk toss....
Aug. 11, 2008~ First Day Photos: The Show Must Go On ~
Thank you all for your kind comments yesterday. I prayed and decided that as long as my babies were excited about their first day of school, that I'd find a way to make it through, sick or not. I have to say this was the best first day of school for us ever. We are off and running! Except for reading aloud and our ice cream party with Daddy this evening, day one is in the books. I am feeling better than yesterday, just not 100% yet. I thank the Lord for the strength to lead school today.
Official First Day Photo:
Singing the national anthem:
My teacher's surprise:
The First Grade class picture:
Third grade math:
Fifth grade reading group:
Aug. 10, 2008~ Mommies Aren't Supposed to Get Sick ~
Remember that funny TV commercial a couple years ago? The one where the mommy is reading The Mommy's Handbook and it says that mommies are not supposed to get sick? I so wish it was true, especially for homeschool moms, the weekend before the first week of school.
So here I am, sick. My family is off enjoying the most perfect day of the summer and I am home trying to rest, hoping I will feel better in time for tomorrow's first day of lessons.
I am not writing this for sympathy. I know this is a part of life. I just wasn't expecting a flu-like illness in August. I've heard from friends that others are sick, too, with this mysterious fever, achy, tired illness.
I am not certain we will start school tomorrow. I'll need to be able to sit up for more than a few moments without feeling weak and dizzy! Perhaps the principal will grant me a late start to our year?
So enough of this, how are you? Are you ready for this new school year?
With our formal lessons starting this Monday, I thought it would be nice to write down all of my plans that have been swirling around in my head and there is no better place to do that than here.
I won't write in times, because we usually are a "what comes next" kind of family. In general, I get the kids get up around 8, eat, dress, do chores and then we start our lessons.
For BIBLE (together), we are going to start out by reading the book of John. We will also memorize Psalm 103. Each day we will begin our lesson time with prayer and a hymn, usually the same one until it is memorized.
Next we will do our Sonlight Core work, together. (It is exciting to be back with Sonlight.) We are using Core 4, part two of American history. We will also do a 2 week each study of South America and Canada this year.
After we read our core books, we'll have lunch, clean up and then split into 2 groups for Language Arts and Math. Ryan, my oldest, will be group one. He is going to continue in Abeka, Vocabulary Cartoons, Sonlight readers with comprehension questions, and Hand Writing Without Tears. He will continue to do Math-U-See on his own.
The two little ones will work with me. Grace will do Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Abeka, Hand Writing Without Tears and Math-U-See. Trevor will do Explode the Code, Hand Writing Without Tears, Abeka and Math-U-See. For readers, we will use library books. They will also see our former co-op's reading teacher for evaluation at the beginning of this year. She will give us books to read as well.
On Fridays, we will do nature studies, art and music. For nature studies, we will continue using the Handbook of Nature Study and Outdoor Hour Challenges. For art, we'll continue How Great Thou Art. For music, we will be a little less formal and will just listen to great composers and perhaps find books at the library about them.
In the evenings, we will listen to Daddy read to us from our Songlight read alouds . The kids will go to church on Wednesdays for a study on Proverbs using a curriculum by John Piper's church. They will also continue weekly Karate lessons. Grace will have OT every week at the public school. She will have PT once a month.
So there you have it, my basic plan. I am sure it will need a lot of tweaking. And for the first couple of weeks, my blogging time will be affected, but once we get into a good routine, I'll be around as usual.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Hello and welcome to my blog. If you would like to participate in this meme, too, please go see Peggy at The Simple Woman's blog.
For Today...
Outside my Window...are the baby Robbins with speckled breasts hopping around the yard looking for juicy worms.
I am thinking...I have a whole day at home! There are many things I would like to get done today. Will I?
I am thankful for...a lovely weekend with my family, a good church home, time to reconnect with my dear husband.
From the kitchen... lots of fresh fruits and vegetables this week. I hope to make banana bread, too.
I am wearing...tan shorts, orange polo and no shoes
I am reading... Acts
I am hearing...the roar of fans, the dryer, circada going crazy!
Around the house... catching up laundry, weeding, get chores assigned to the kids.
One of my favorite things...is my new bike. I am planning to ride it more this week.
I am hoping... to get things ready for our formal lessons to resume.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... friends coming over to splash in the pool, last soccer class, babysitting, visit with in-laws, a big family gathering
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... It's almost time to get back to lessons!
Hello friends! I look forward to each and every Show & Tell with Mary. I trust you are all having a wonderful week.
Today I am going to show you a few things that have a common theme. Can you figure it out?
Here is my "new" sewing machine. She's a 1979 Montgomery Ward sweetie. She used to belong to my beloved's grandmother. I hear she was quite the talented seamtress. Thanks to a very helpful reader, I bought a bobbin winder and am able to use the machine without any troubles, as you might remember in a previous post I discovered that the bobbin winder does not work on the sewing machine. Now I just need some lessons. I can sew straight lines!
Here is our swimming pool we got a couple weeks ago. I am still under the learning curve when it comes to getting the chemicals right. I should have listened to my girlfriend who said to take a water sample to the pool store and they'll tell me what to do. No, I went to Walmart, trying to save a buck and now I have the wrong stuff. Live and learn. The kids love it anyway!
And lastly, here is a photo from our trip to Conner Prairie this week. This one is of the kids and their paternal grandma.
OK, so have you figured out what all these things have in common? It's not really a fair question, so let me fill you in. The sewing machine and pool were gifts from Jeff's mother. She is truly a generous soul. She is a blessing to our family in many ways. So today's Show & Tell is really about her and in her honor.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I know I plan to. The kids are going away with their Nana and Granddaddy tonight. They will be gone until Saturday afternoon! Woo hoo! They may even get to meet Lynn! (I am jealous.)
Good day to you and thanks for stopping by. Yesterday we made the long trip up north to see my husband's father and his family. We had a great time as usual. They have a wonderful pool that the kids really enjoy. It's a special day to go spend the day with them.
No one was safe near this little guy.
Grandma made Grace another cake. Yes, that is a total of 3 cakes this week!
And here's a happy bunch hanging in the hot tub. They were pretending to be boiled lobsters.
I missed not being able to join in all the fun last week. VBS did me in for a few days. But now I am rested and ready to go. Here are some photos from Grace's family party last evening. My little girl is now nine years old.
I call this one "Anticipation." Poor thing had to wait four extra days this year for her presents, as her birthday was on Monday and family could not be here until Thursday.
I call this one, "Just What I Wanted!"
Her generous grandparents chipped in and got her Kit, a dream come true.
And here are Grace, Kit and the cake. Notice Kit has changed her clothes.
This is Grace pretending to be her cake while showing us her new birthday dress.
Grace and her grandmothers.
The Anniversary Duo, 28 years strong!
Grace and her Uncle Greg.
Thank you for visiting me today. Have a wonderful weekend.
28 years ago today, my mom married a really special guy. I was just a girl and pretty scared to have a step-father and sad that my own parent's marriage had ended. Even back then, the Lord was working in my life to care for me, though I did not know it. He brought many good things from the ashes of my heart. I have two fathers to love and to be loved by. So, today, I want to wish my mom and dad a very happy 27th anniversary! I love you, both. See you tonight!
Life this summer is moving along at the speed of light these days. Today marked the 9th anniversary of the birth of my little girl. Everyone always says that they can't believe where time has gone and it is so true! We had a little friends gathering for her today and it was a sweet time. This is the first time I personally made her birthday cake. It was fun.
Big brother had a big accident riding his bike Saturday. I've included some before and after shots. I think the dentist did a good job.
The rest of this week is busy as usual. I may have to change the name of this blog to Never at Home! There's soccer, a play date, Bunko night, and on Thursday we will celebrate Grace's birthday with our family. She'll have her last cake from our bakery as it is closing in September, but you can read about that at Mama Karen's if you want to know more about that.
It feels so good to be on this side of VBS. Truly, the kids and ladies I worked with were great and the week could not have gone more smoothly. We had over 1000 kids attend each day. Our class of 5th graders was the largest with over 60! I thank the Lord that they were the best mannered children I have ever been with! And everything was so organized that no one had time to get into mischief.
This weekend I will be preparing for my sweet girl's 9th birthday on Monday. I need to make her a giant cookie. She decided on a M&M cookie. I am not sure what decoration theme she wants. That is typical. I won't know until the moment arrives! We've already changed from cupcakes to an ice cream cake, to the giant cookie.
I hope you have a fantastic weekend enjoying your family. I'll be around...hopefully.
Hello and welcome to "Busy At Home". My name is Jenn. I am honored to be the wife of 13 years to my best friend Jeff. I also have the privilege to be the stay-at-home mom of 3 wonderful home educated children ages 10, 9, 6 here in beautiful Central Indiana. This blog is where you'll find recorded the happenings of a very busy family striving to be a light in our world for Jesus.
A surprise bouquet from my Mr. on Saturday. He rode his bike past the farmers market and stopped to get these flowers and some sweet corn. 
It's almost time to get back to lessons! 
