I am such a disorganized person.  I would like to become a better housekeeper and have a schedule that I can stick to.. I tried FlyLady, and it worked for a while, but then fell apart.

I need a system that will work for me, and that can be customized somewhat to suit our family.  Preferably not something computer based, because it's so easy to decide to check your emails quick... and then check a website... find a recipe... and before you know it time has gotten away from you .  The setup part of the system can be computer based, but not the daily maintenance part.

I'd love to be able to make our home a peaceful refuge.. and also not be embarrassed to invite people in.  Now please understand, as a homeschooling mama to 5 children, I don't expect my house to look "perfect", but would like it to at least be presentable most of the time.  Any suggestions?

On Saturday we went to Golden Gate Canyon State Park to do some fishing.  We were supposed to meet a friend there, but he got lost on the way in, so we missed out on his companionship.

We started off at Kriley lake, but didn't have too much luck, so decided to break for lunch at one of the many picnic spots in the park.  During lunch we were entertained by a pair of birds (don't ask me what they are, I know not!) who were very busy in a nest they had made in a hole in a tree right next to our table.  Busy, busy, busy!

GGCSP is absolutely beautiful.  Whenever we get "back to nature" I'm always awed by God's beautiful creation.

After lunch we headed to Dude's Hole, which is a bit of a walk in (about 10 minutes) but SO worth it!  It was a lot emptier than Kriley and so picturesque.  K caught the first fish of the day, but it was just a teeny little one, so we released him.  After that C caught another small one, so he got to go back too... then K caught ANOTHER fish, about 11 inches, and definitely a keeper .  Turns out that was the *only* catch of the day, we all had some nibbles, but the fishies were too smart for us .

All in all a wonderful day, always great when we have together time.

Just got back from my interview - everything went smoothly and I passed with flying colors!  Now I just have to wait for info on my Oath Ceremony.. once I've attended that I'll be a citizen

More later!

Just to say...

My squash plants DO NOT have that powdery mold problem, it was something that splashed up on the plants and turned white.  I am SO glad! 

Tomorrow is my interview date.  I *know* I'm getting myself unnecessarily worked up about it... but I can't seem to stop!  LOL.  I have, however, managed to memorize all 13 original states!  I found that putting them in alphabetical order helped tremendously.

Yesterday the children all got new sandals.  They are *so* appreciative of these little things, it really warms my heart.  I'll never forget when C (who is now almost 13!) was about 3 or 4 years old, she got new Church shoes.  The children had something they were doing up on stage with the Pastor, and while the Pastor was talking, wouldn't little Miss C go up to him and inform him that she had brand new shoes.  LOL.  I was mortified, but looking back it was really sweet.  And our Pastor stopped in mid-talk to congratulate her and admire her new shoes.

That's all from me for now, I have some copies of documents to go make.

We didn't have a terribly exciting weekend, but it was a busy one!

DH and the children took to the garden on Saturday morning to pull weeds, while Little D and I got brunch together... which was actually quite fun!  We made my "Best Ever Muffins" and had butter and/or strawberry jam to go along with them.  We decided to do an outdoor brunch and covered the picnic table with a pretty cloth and made a pot of tea.  Pretty good munchies!

DH and the 4 eldest did a great job weeding the left side of the house, it was quite overgrown with bushes/tree wannabees and weeds.  Now you can actually see that we have a path there!   Amazing what a bit of rain will produce.

I think some of my squash plants (and I have three:  Gem, Zucchini and Yellow) have that white mold that is so prevalent on squash plants .  Last year we had it too, but only at the very end of the season.. this is right at the start, when the plants are only *just* starting to flower.  If anybody has any suggestions on what I could do to save them, please let me know.

Anyway, after completing the weeding, it was pool time for the children!  They swam the afternoon away, while DH and I weeded a little more and did some more yard work, with plenty of rest and water.

Sunday was Church and then pretty much just a relaxation day.  DH and I also watched Blood Diamond after the children were in bed.  A *very* good movie, very intense!  Leonardo DiCaprio did a really excellent job mimicking the South African accent and mannerisms.. not perfect.. but very, very close.  Then again, since he was supposed to have been born in Zimbabwe, his accent would have been tainted by that.  I wish there wasn't all the bad language to contend with, but I understand why it's there.

Well, better get busy here!

I'll be going for my citizenship interview/test next week.  Some people have expressed an interest in what we'll be tested on, so for those interested, here are the 96 questions that I have to study:

Questions only.

The questions are not multiple choice, you have to give verbal answers to your Interviewing Officer. 

There is a new test that is still in its Beta stage.  It has 145 questions, some of them the same as the "old" test.  I'm still deciding which test to take.

Sooo.. if you're an American Citizen, how many would you truthfully be able to answer correctly?

Once you've looked at the questions only, look at the booklet we're given, which gives the questions, answers, and a short civics lesson for each question.

Well.. that's what it was

We got our schoolwork done quickly enough, and felt we had accomplished quite a bit by the time we were done.  B and K are currently learning about George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, and we made little mini books on both that will go into their lapbooks for this Chapter. 

Our Bible study was a review of yesterday's lesson.  D-L finished up her research and mini-project on Molly Brown and C finished her mini project on President James Garfield.  Glad those two are done so they can move on to the next people to study.  Little D kept himself and everyone else amused of course, but that's what 3 year olds are best at!   :D

After lunch we went out front and we had mail!  I received the homemade soap I'd ordered from a lovely homesteading lady - Neem Castile soap for C - hopefully it will help with the problem spots on her face.  We also received our free 2.1 mega pixel digital camera that we got from Qwest when we downgraded our internet/phone package.  This will be the children's camera.  B really enjoyed using it today!

Then out to the backyard for a bit to check on the bunnies, they are all doing fine.  C and D-L are going through a "Ladybug phase" and are very busy collecting ladybugs.  They had one in a jar yesterday that laid eggs in the jar, so yesterday afternoon they built a box out of scrap wood to keep the bugs in.  They also found a bunch of ladybug larvae that are apparently now "pupating."  So today they searched the backyard for more ladybugs, and found more eggs too... should be interesting when they all start hatching!  K joined in on the search.

Little D got out his watering can, and watered "his" tomato, and anything else that took his fancy.

Everything is very pretty this year, if you can see past the weeds growing up everywhere .  I just *had* to share this pic I took of a flower on our Bachelor's Buttons bush, it came out beautifully!

So yes.. an unremarkable day, but counting it all joy anyway

Now time to sign off here so I can go get dinner started before DH gets home.

We homeschool year 'round, with breaks inbetween when needed.  It makes it a little easier to get everything to fit in, but at the same time it's harder during the summer when so many children are outside playing.  We just make sure to take plenty of "outside" time.

We have planted a wonderful vegetable garden this year, and all the children are really involved and excited at the prospect of eating homegrown food.  We had a garden last year too, but very, very small.  So far our new gardening area is about four times the size of last year's.

Well, back to school for now.. we are busy studying famous leaders... tied in with leaders in the Bible, namely Moses and Aaron.  The children are having fun with the research, but it is dragging out a little and I'm looking forward to our next Chapter, which will have more "hands on" work.

Odd name for a blog?  Maybe, maybe not.  Homeschooling, and having five children, I often get asked:

"How on earth do you do it?"  In fact one lady stopped us at a store and was almost screaming that at me:  "Oh my gosh, HOW DO YOU DO IT!?"  She repeated that in a loud voice about three times, until she had *me* kind of scared.. never mind my children!

I never really know what kind of answer the asker expects... but my standard answer is always:  "I just take it one day at a time."  Then I smile gently and leave it at that.

That phrase always reminds me of the song I love so much:  "One day at a time, sweet Jesus."  The chorus goes like this:

One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.

Admittedly, some days are better than other days.  There are days that are so wonderful and I marvel at the joy my children bring and at everything we get accomplished and learn together.  Life is wonderful and everything flows so smoothly... and then there are days where I just want to sit down and cry.. and cry.. and cry.  On days like those I wonder if I am making a mistake by homeschooling.. full of self-doubt.  It always helps on those days, to remember to turn my eyes upon Jesus and stop trying to do it on my own.

Anyway, I have read numerous blogs on HSB, but never took the plunge and signed up myself.. but here I am, so HI!  

My hubby wanted to know *why* I would want a blog in the first place.  Well... I've decided this will be a great way to keep our family and friends updated on what's going on in our lives.  Saves me from having to write 50 different emails .