Yes!! I'm frustrated... I have spent the last hour or so trying to get my Christmas cards ordered... My internet server (FRONTIER) whom I do not have a good relationship with (it is slower than a sloth) is slow and then the Sam's Club site(who I order my cards through) is giving me trouble...So, dear family and friends, the Christmas cards will be late this year, "IF" (crossing my fingers) they ever get ordered...
Thursday, October 2, 2008 - It just came out...*L*
Today DD and I were working on vowels and ladder blends...Later in the afternoon, I decided to quiz her out of the blue... She got all the vowels right and then I thought I would be smart and see if she remembered the other letters... She yelled, "Consonants it just came out of my brain like worms"...I just rolled with laughter...She was so serious...
One more thing on my HS list to be thankful for... The opportunity to hear all the funny stuff little ones say...
We've gotten quite a bit accomplished this week, but I still have that feeling that hangs over me sometimes that we aren't doing enough, or the kids aren't getting what they need...
I'm not sure why I do this... I am sure it is some sorta deep feeling of insecurity (if Dr. Phil could look inside my noggin)...
But DD reviewed the letters B,T, S, C and then worked on simple addition with #1,2,3... DS continued with Saxon math, his nature readers, and Spectrum workbooks... We worked on Vikings, almost finished the Panda unit, and then talked about Stonehenge and what some of it's possible uses could have been...
I am trying to do as much history and science as possible in a unit study format.. But sometimes, I feel like it is over DD's head or to simple for DS... I guess it just a case of homeschooler insecurity... *L*
Thursday, September 25, 2008 - The Old Schoolhouse Magazine...
We had a representative come to our co-op today... TOS is having a great FALL sign-up special!!
It's a great deal!! The Old Schoolhouse magazine is running a fall special!!
Right now, during the Fall Special you can subscribe for only $39! You’ll receive 2 years of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (8 large quarterly issues) AND our current issue plus you’ll also get 6 fabulous bonus gifts totaling $120 and the first 1,000 new subscribers will receive a cute brown and pink "Homeschooling with Heart" tote bag!
I signed up today...and you can too... just click here.
I'm an RN in a NICU... I work 4 days a month, but I still have to do "mandatories" as if I were a full time employee... One of those classes is CPR.. I am required every 2 years to take CPR... I really don't mind the "written" part (which is now done on computer) but I really hate the actual physical part of the test... I just feel so awkward when it comes to using those manequins... But this morning I went... took the test and completed the skills part with flying colors...
So if anyone is interested, you can learn all about CPR in 3 simple steps here.
Thursday, September 11, 2008 - We will never forget...
Today on 9/11, I pray for the families of those who were lost on that day... I pray for the families of those who fight to protect this country and for the families who have loved ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that my children are safe... And I thank those and our fighting men and women today for their unselfish service and loyalty to our country...
Saturday, August 16, 2008 - My Saturday Bargains...
Today DD and I went shopping together... I was really looking forward to it as we never get to go just the 2 of us... We had a great time and were able to hit all of our favorite thrift stores... We had lunch at the "Pizza Palace" which was on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on FoodNetwork... We walked the all from one-end to the other, window shopping and then on to our favorite haunts...
I found some great buys to use in our HS... Spending a total of less than a whopping $8.00...
Here's what I came home with:
The Great Classics for Children hardback editions of "Tom Sawyer" and "A Little Princess" in NEW condition...
3 "Childhood of Famous Americans" series paperbacks (Davy Crockett, Robert E. Lee, Helen Keller) also in NEW condition...
3 of the "Cornerstone of Freedom" series: "The Story of the Presidential Elections" (perfect timing to find this), "The Story of the Supreme Court", and "The Story of the Gettysburg Address" ...
My own copy of "MR. POPPER's PENGUINS".... (which DS is thrilled about, one of his favorites!!)
An out-of-print book on Pocohontas that I found on Amazon for $32 (YEAH!!!)
A Golden Treasury of Knowledge book covering everything from Ancient Persia to molecules and space...
An Home Adventure library edition of America's Story...
It is an excellent resource for a free, factual, American History curriculum...I received my CD a couple of weeks ago and just got around to looking at it this weekend... I really like it... It is for middle / high school level, so it will be a while before I get to use it... *S*
This is what is said about the American Heritage Foundation from their website...
"AHEF is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens.
AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission by writing, producing, and distributing FREE K-12 lesson plans to teachers, students, and families in all 50 states and through additional initiatives, programs, and partnerships."
Now on to what we managed to do today... I did well with drinking more water... I took my vitamin, but I had a burger at Wendy's today, YUMMY but definitely not calorie free..*L* And have you heard about the salmonella outbreak in the tomatoes? Well, there was big sign up at Wendy's about no tomatoes being served... I think this will really help some of the area farmers here as they are smaller scale farmers and this will be a boost to the tomato crops in this area.. Last year things were sluggish due to drought... ( I live in the "tomato" capital of Tennessee, we even have a "Tomato Festival" every year..)
DD had ballet again today... then we went to a friend's house and went swimming... what a wonderful way to spend a hot day... *G*
We did manage to get in some school... We played Monopoly Jr. and then read some stuff on "FIREFLIES" to prepare for our campling trip tomorrow... you can check out some of the info we found here.
Well, I am off to finish packing for our trip... Have a great week...
Woke up this morning to my DS complaining of an area behind his knee...I had looked at it last night and it sorta reminded me of an infected hair follicle or a small boil... This morning, it was really inflamed, red and hot to the touch... I took him to the local doctor where I was told he thinks DS was bitten by something Saturday and that it has become really infected.. So now he is on antibiotics and I am cleaning it twice a day with Hibiclens solution...
Then we were off to a ballet workshop for DD... She had so much fun... I sort of hate that she will miss the last 2 days of it this week due to our camping trip, but I think we will have just as much fun playing in the creek, watching the fireflies, and making smores...YUMMY!!!
I also started my new routine today... I am trying to make an effort to be more healthy... My goal is just to exercise in some way every day and be more conscious of the food I am eating and to DRINK MORE WATER!!!
So far, I did pretty well... I did drink a couple of glasses of lemonade, but it is water based...*L* but i also played in the pool for several hours today doing some water exercises... So, I think I am off to an ok start...
Tonight was our commencement for VBS... It was great... The kids really had a good time this week at VBS and we had 2 of the older kids come to know the Lord...HALLELUJAH!!!
So all the classes did a little performance or rectied things they had learned this week... Our class, the 4-5 yr. olds sang a song and did a little dance to go with it....
After the commencement, we all gathered in the fellowship hall for desserts.... The kids had a wonderful time and are so prooud of the things they learned and made this week... and the sugary snacks also ranked high up on the list...*L*
And I guess one of the things that I loved most was the motto, which I am going to use this summer for some of our Bible studies... And one of the older boys who attends church with us, proved this motto this week to me... I had bagged up some of DH's clothes that he could no longer wear (yes, he has gained some weight, *G*) and I had given them to this young man since they were still in good shape...My DH had left $41 dollars in one of the pockets, (which lasted through the washer and dryer)...This young man brought me the money and siad he had found it in the pocket, we never even knew it was there... His honesty stuck with me and really helped reinforce this weeks motto for me...
KNOW THE TRUTH, SPEAK THE TRUTH, LIVE THE TRUTH.....
Last night, DH and I, had a date... It was unusual to be out without the kidlets... Having a date is so different now... You talk about the kids even when they are not there...*LOL*
We met some friends for dinner and then we went to a concert... We saw one of the "Legends of Rock" ROBERT PLANT himself with Allison Krauss.... It was so wonderful.... Her voice is hauntingly beautiful... and her harmonies blended incredibly with his...
It was great... They did some Zepplin, some bluegrass, some blues, some gospel, an T. Bone Burnett who I really was unfamiliar with was with them and he is just an awesome blues man....
But the true highlight (other than being with alone with DH) was ROBERT PLANT!!! DH was like a kid waiting to see one of his teenage idols... It made me so happy to see him enjoy himself so much!!
Last night after work, my friend and I went to the movies and saw the documentary "Expelled" with Ben Stein... It was a great movie (after getting over having to pay $8.75 a person to get in)... It was an intelligent discussion on "Intelligent Design" versus "Darwinism"... and how scientists are blackballed if they even broach the subject of "Creationism" or "Intelligent Design".... to the level of PhD'ers actually losing their grants, jobs, and tenure over it... I also learned that Hitler's plans originated out of Darwins lesson books and Planned Parenthood also got its start using the playbook of selective evolution by Darwin...
It was very interesting to hear self-proclaimed Atheists try and explain their thoughts on the matter of how "WE" got here... even the most prominent one had a theory that some "beings" that had "evolved" to a higher level of intelligence had actually planted the seeds on earth... I mean that to me even gives even more credence to the "Intelligent Design" theory he so completely denies... I mean "Intelligent" beings create life on Earth.... I can only think of one and that being my "GOD"....
Anyway, it was definitely a great movie and really thought provoking... I not only learned alot, but I became even more embedded in my "Creationist" thoughts...
I've recently began reading this book and I love it... It is very reassuring in how important the role of a parent is in a little girls life and how every aspect affects her and her growth into young womanhood and the decisions she makes... It is a book full of wisdom in how to encourage her crativity and her dreams... How to instill self confidence and self worth... and how as a mother, you can be her window to her future... I highly recommend it... I am really learning alot...
My wonerful DH brought home ribeyes and grilled them and then proceded to fix the rest of dinner... YEAH!! and even had a cake and candles for dessert... YUMMY!!!
My wonderful kidlets got me flowers and each made me a card...
It was truly a wonderful day!! and I am sticking to being not a day over 29...
I haven't had time to get caught up lately with blogging...I have been doing some "spring" organizing...At least that's what I call it..(I am "springing" some junk here and some there)...*LOL*
Anyway, I will have lots of pics and some new posts coming soon to update my blog...
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - Late Night Date with Amazon...
Ok... Being up late at night is not good for my pocket...
I was talking with a friend at co-op the other day about some old TV shows that we watched while growing up in the 70's...The rain has kept me up and since I couldn't sleep, I went to Amazon to see what I could dig up...
Well, here goes my purchases for the night...(UGH!!) The only good thing about this is I get to share these "lost TV treasures" with my kidlets...
Land of the Lost...(remember this great show where the family falls over the falls into prehistoric land with Chaka and the Slestaks... )
Space 1999 ( a British production about the moon breaking away from the Earth's orbit and making unintentional explorers into heroes...I loved this one.. even had the lunch box)
and Wonder Woman (the first season, "by the power of Isis")..
I also put on my list for future purchase:
Isis,
The Bionic Woman,
Six Million Dollar Man,
The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island, Charlie's Angels (the early episodes of these three),
and the Amazing Spider Man...*L*
now, join me for a chorus of:
Marshal, Will and Holly
on a routine expedition,
met the greatest earthquake
ever known...
High on a rapid,
it struck their tiny raft (Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!)
and plunged them down a thousand feet below...
To the Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand of the Lost Lost Lost...
This morning was our Upward Basketball games... Both DD and DS play...
I can't say enough about how wonderful Upward is...It is all encouraging, uplifting, fair, and fun...
Every child gets to play (no matter of ability) and every child has the opportunity to learn more about Jesus in a relaxed setting...
then to finish off our day we went to a new restaurant called Dan McGrew's Alaskan Wildlife Refuge. I know...with a name like that, is the food good? well, the answer is yes.. I had the Blackened Pork Medallions with LaBoucherie sauce...It was mighty tasty...
then we were off to the movies... the dollar theatre was playing "Enchanted"and DD couldn't wait to see it... It was excellent...For those who love fairy tales with bit of comedy and rolled in, this is the perfect movies for you...and it was perfect for the young ones to see...
Well, this is our Saturday in a nut shell... I hope everyone has had a great weekend also!!
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If you're interested in working in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, this is the position for you! For more information on this exciting opportunity to earn fulfilling, one-of-a-kind rewards, please apply in person today.
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful"... I mean literally... We've have had freezing rain this morning and continued low temperatures...The Hwy. Patrol is implementing their inclement weather protocol already....
The kids and I are happy to just be able to stay at home this morning, sitting on the couch in the playroom covered up with a comforter and reading... Drinking hot cocoa and with the only decision to make is about moving upstairs to sit by the fireplace... *S*
I count my wonderful blessings on a morning like this, knowing that we are able to keep our 2 most prized possessions at home where they belong and not have to worry about getting out...
Just thought I would share the deals I found today...
This morning I got an e-mail with a deal enclosed... It was for Darling Shoes... I bought 16 pair.. Some for my kidlets, some for nephews for gifts, and others to save for baby showers... and spent less than $20... shipping almost cost as much as the shoes... I love deals like these...
Then the kidlets and I went and had lunch with DH today. We ate at Zaxby's and spent a whopping $8 for the 4 of us... We had coupons for a "FREE MEAL DEAL" for both DH and I which you can get here. The kidlets like to eat there because they get "WIKKI STIX". These are wonderful if you have never used them before... The kidlets make all kinds of neat things with them... DD uses them when we work on letters and DS makes whatever is in his mind at the time...
After lunch, we went by CVS so I could get the kidlets some soap... I got 2 bars of Johnson's Easy Grip Bath BUDDIES bar soap for free... I printed off 2 coupons for a $1 off of 1 here. and at CVS, they are $0.99 a bar... And while we were at CVS, I thought I would see if they had anything left from Christmas...
I lucked out again... I found a "Talking Dora" doll which had been $19.99 for $4.79... I'll be saving this for DD's birthday in Feburary... and then I found some paint by number kits for $0.99 each and a couple of melamine Christmas plates for the kids to eat on during the holidays for $0.25 each...
Today has definitely been a frugal paradise for me... a great way to start out my New Year!!!
Today is our anniversary.. We have been married 9 years today... I can honestly say that I feel I have found the one man that was made for me... We have a lot of differences, (the Good Lord knows), but we are able to work them out and from our union, we have the 2 most precious gifts from God... I look forward to spending the rest of my life with my wonderful husband, who learned how to mop while I was pregnant to make things easier for me, who puts up with all my pet-peeves, and who works hard everyday so that I can be at home with out children and have the blessing to watch them grow up...
God has given me a wonderful gift in my husband and I truly thank him everyday for the blessing of the wonderful man I call not only my husband but my best friend...
Sunday, December 9, 2007 - The Living Christmas Tree
Last night we went to a performance of the "The Living Christmas Tree" at Thompson Boling Arena... It was incredible... I think there wasn't a dry eye in the whole arena at certain points of the performance... I know DD and DS both enjoyed it and actually sat quietly and paid close attention to the different scenes through the life of Jesus...
It covered the hustle and bistle of the holiday season and how we should not forget the purpose of the holiday which happens to so many today... The focus of the story of course was the birth of Jesus, moments in his life, the "Last Supper" and then events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ... Also included was his many miracles like healing the blind to see and raising Lazurus...
It was wonderful and the music / singing was exceptional... I would hope that anyone in the East Tennessee area would take advantage of the "free" opportunity to see this production next year...
Hi!! I'm Lisa... Homeschooling mom to 2 wonderful kidlets and this is a journal to share our family life and learning adventures with you...We use an eclectic mix of "child directed" Charlotte Mason studies... So sit down, set a spell and enjoy our homeschool journey...Have a great day and thanks for sharing it with us!!!
I've recently began reading this book and I love it... It is very reassuring in how important the role of a parent is in a little girls life and how every aspect affects her and her growth into young womanhood and the decisions she makes... It is a book full of wisdom in how to encourage her crativity and her dreams... How to instill self confidence and self worth... and how as a mother, you can be her window to her future... I highly recommend it... I am really learning alot... 
