Mishelle Levi When you read this, even if we don't speak often, post a comment with a memory of you and I. It can be anything you want. When you're finished, post this paragraph on your own status and you'll be surprised what people remember about you!

Wow! You got a great memory. I was just telling my husband about henry, when I saw a small version of that dog that my mom found in her basement. Church camp would be one of my great memories but I guess I went more years than you. But what about the time we were sitting up in the tree outside my parent's mobile home...or did we do that many times. I remember riding my bike to Casey's, did you every do that with me. That was a few years ago...Of course I was just reading about a friend's grandfather who just died at the age of 106..He was still working before he died. In 2004, he was published as the oldest worker. ..Google Waldo McBurney..

We had two unfortunate accidents last month.  J swallowed a chicken bone and G broke his wrist.  They both are doing fine but we had two days of emergency rooms and doctor's appointments.  I have been slowly getting the bills and so far it is all covered!  I am so happy. 

We are back to light school and it is going very well.  Of course this is only the second day, but I am really enjoying the new tracker system I am using.  It is very freeing.  I don't have to keep rescheduling when we don't get something done.  Hopefully I can find the funds to keep it up, because only have one month trial for free.

Well, I should get some housework done.  Take care my dear friends.
Mish

Just spent a couple hours working on lesson plans using simplycharlottemason.com cm organizer.  It is great!  All you charlotte mason fans should check it out. 
Now I really better go get some housework done.  Maybe I can focus, now that I am feeling better.  :)
Mishinia

Husband and my two oldest are at scout camp this week.  Trying to keep sanity here and get some cleaning done.  I am feeling tired today but I have much work to do.  Hope to start school again in a week or two after kids get back.  We really need to get back on a better schedule. 
Feeling kind of blue.  So I guess I will blog again when I feel better.
Mishinia

My older children are out today so I am home with my youngest.  We took a walk to the park and she was complaining about it being to far.  So I played the I see something red game with her.  We spotted a lot of different color flowers and some different colored vehicles too.  Then at the park we looked at the different sizes and shapes of the stones.  Well, it was kind of a nature study fit for a 4 year old.  It is a start any way. ...
Now I need to go get some work done  before the boys come home from skating...
My older daughter has been at bible day camp this week with two of her friends.  She is riding a train right now and there is a potluck and a little program tonight.  So off to work while my youngest watches Thomas...

I think it has been 7 weeks now.  :)  Some neighbors have joined us.  We feel so much better after a good walk.

Two boys and hubby going to camp next week.  I'm hoping to get a lot of cleaning done while they are gone.

I have been working on lesson plans for next year.  very excited about our new charlotte mason school :)

T has been at day camp at a church this week.  Tomorrow she will ride on a train!  She is having ablast!

I need to get back to work.  I've been on the computer too long.  Come visit me on facebook if you want to see me more often.  :)

For almost two weeks now my husband and I have been going for walks together.  Usually at 6am.  It has been wonderful.  We have had great discussions and are getting exercise too.  :)

Life is slowing down.  At least we don't have something going on every week night.  Soccer is done.  Scouts is only once a week.  Awanas is done.

Our homeschool group planned the next school year activities last night.  Lots of fun things ahead.  Uncluding another play.  Lots of things to look forward too.  :)

God is good.  Keeping me sane.  School is going really well most days.  We should be done in a few weeks.  For a month anyway.

Mish

The weather is beautiful today.  It is supposed to be even better tomorrow.  :) 

Hubby is out of town on church business.  It is always hard to have him gone.  So much I have to do alone, and the kids really miss him.  My oldest came to me this morning and said I wish papa was here.  I did remind him that he would be work, right now, but I know it is hard for him especially.

I just had a blow up with my oldest son.  My husband has told me I am too hard on him.  I did apologize and it is all better now.  It is so hard raising children.  And he isn't even a teenager yet.  I need to remember to pray everyday for help with my children.  I am better at my personal devotion time then ever before, but I don't always remember to pray for my kids.

I will stop now and pray for them, then I'd better get back to work.  I am supposed to get the house clean by time hubby gets home and I'm not sure I am going to make it with all the other kids activities we have in the next three days.  :(

Mish

It snowed yesterday and it is still on the ground.  My encouragement is that it will melt quickly because the ground is warm underneath.  The kids have had a blast in the snow.  Building walls and pushing around their boy scout sled that j and my hubby built for scouts next winter.

I went to a wonderful conference on Saturday.  It was a Catherine Levison conference about Charlotte Mason Schooling.  Some good friends and I went to Omaha Friday night and spent the night and a new friend's home.  She was very hospitable.  Then all day Saturday, we relaxed and listened to Catherine encourage us on how to improve our homeschool.  One of these days I will type up my notes and post them here.  I am very excited about CM.  It is very similiar to sonlight except we read more books much more slowly and do narations.  I also hope to add nature walks when the weather warms up again.  I plan on using amblesideonline next year and see how it works with my children.

Take care my dear friends.  Hope all your school years are ending or continuing well.

Mish

Sunday is the first anniversary of my dear daddy's death.  Please pray for me and most of all for my mom.

More later.

Mish

Winter is so up and down for me.  Most days I'm blue, but there are happy days too.  Last saturday, our oldest had a music contest.  He got a I+ on his solo and trio.  His trio was chosen has best of center, so he will be playing it in the next concert.  We are so proud of him.  He is progressing very well on the trumpet.

School is going pretty well.  We are doing some charlotte mason techniques for science and history.  LA and Math is going My well for my oldest two.  My third is still struggling with reading but he is make great progress.  He is doing great in Math.  My fourth, well I don't get school done with her very often, she plays with the youngest most of the time.  But when I do get to her, she does very well.  Maybe I will be able to teach her to read this summer.  We'll see.

My hubby has been working crazy hours since Oct. when he lost a key employee.  There is light at the end of this long tunnel though.  They should finally have the position filled by the end of march.  That's a long story for another day.

Blessings my friends.

mish

 It has been 3 months since I have blogged.  Wow.  I can't even begin to tell all that has happened.  But really nothing bad except my husband working too many hours.  :(  Life has just been extremely busy.

I have watched the dvd from a charlotte mason all day seminar and I am hooked.  I am slowing adding cm to our school.. starting with short lessons and narations.  We had already been doing copywork off and on.  One thing I am very excited about it habits.  I have done a very bad job of teaching my children good habits.  We are starting with attention, which one of charlotte's top three.

I am having a Norwex party on Saturday.  If anyone is interested in cleaning without chemicals check out the links below and then email me.  I love the window cloth especially.  Perfect windows, computer screens, mirrors, etc... without window cleaner.  Yeah!!

Well, I will hopefully blog more in this quarter of this new year.  I am feeling much better - some depression over the holidays when thinking about last year at this time... but the Lord is Good and we had a wonderful time together with family.

God bless you all!

Mish in the tundra of Iowa (high of 0 today)

Illuminations is going well with my first two children.  Most days at least three of my kids get school work done.  Having trouble adding my 4th but I have started a computer program with her and am trying to read some girly books to her so she feels extra special.  My youngest also listens to these when she is around, which is most of the time.  :)

Plays are going pretty well, I just feel like there is so much to do.  During the last play I had responsibilities but didn't have kids in it so I didn't have to help my kids memorized lines as well as do my other roles.  But it is turning out to be a good experience for all, so I think we will survive.

My house is falling apart as usual.  But I have at least one day each week that I make head way, so hopefully that will get better soon.

Mishelle

I started a new curriculum today and it went very well.  It is a beta test.  You can find out more about it on www.BrightIdeasPress.com .  I did most of it with my oldest but I think I'm going to add in my second tomorrow.  I'm very excited about it.  I'll tell you all more about it as we go.  I need to let the newness wear off and see if we still like it.  :)

Mish

I really need to go to bed but I had to share my son's wonderful news.  Our eldest got a part in a real play.  We mostly had him audition for the experience, but he got a part.  I can't believe it.  I'll tell you all more about it when I am more awake.

Good night all!

Mish

I don't know where to begin...hmm...

Well, my mom's farm sale went very well.  The camping trips have also gone well, except for a small bout of shingles I had, which away almost as quickly as it came. 

We are now back to school, the basics anyway.  We may not add much history and science for awhile, but we are doing the basics most days. 

It is play time again.  We are doing two plays this year, one junior high school play and one elementary musical.  We are hoping to make the younger play simplier then in the past, so it doesn't take too much time away from what is really important.  I have been stressing and praying a lot about it.  Today I think I realized what I need to do to make it work and tomorrow we will see if it does.  We have a meeting tomorrow and tryouts for the older kids.

Well, that is all I have for now.

Mish

 (Picture removed, because it was too big.)

This is what we came home to on Sunday after church.  We missed the storm by 15 minutes. 

As we were driving we could see a beautiful dark blue stormy sky in front of us. 

About 5 miles from town we felt a little wind, but we missed the pouring rain

and big winds that brought this site in our backyard.

  Next week I might post more pictures if I remember. 

 We have spent the week cleaning up the mess and taking down the tree.  :( 

Now I'm off to get ready for a camping trip in Michigan.

Blessings,

Mish

We had a wonderful camping trip this weekend.  We slept in a tent Friday night which our boys set up all by themselves.  Quite a fit since our tent is a huge 4 room tent.  We ate outside and the kids did some fishing.  All the fish they caught were too small, but they had fun. 

Now I'm busy getting ready for our Michigan trip in two weeks.  Also trying to catchup with laundry and keep everything else caught up around here.  Busy..Busy.  But it is good busy.

Mish

This weekend is our first.  Then august we have three.  We are very excited.  I'll blog about them after each.  My scouts and their parents :)  like sleeping outside.  :)

Mish

Despite the fact that I was minus a husband child last week went well.  It was family night at boy scout camp on Thursday night.  Friday we went to a parade and then a picnic with friends.  The kids had lots of fun and came home with a pink motor car to play with. 

I do have a lot of friends with health issues right now.  I know the Lord is in control, but it is hard to see so many friends suffering.  Especially the two I know with cancer.

The paper route went well today.  It was nice have my oldest ds back to help.  Especially since it is his route.

Hope you all are well.

Mish