I'm a Christian homeschooling Mommy to 2 precious little ones. We are very eclectic pulling from here and there- anything that works! Can't wait to make some friendships and share this homeschooling journey with others. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 17 May 2008 12:45:00 -0500 Sat, 17 May 2008 12:45:00 -0500 I've decided to move on. The new blog will be more than about my homeschooling, but mainly homeschooling because that's the season my life is in right now. Please keep in touch. New site is not totally set up, but I'm taking my time. Hope to see you soon! Pages Of Me http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/533759/ Sat, 17 May 2008 12:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/533759/ Since I don't usually win anything, what a great surprise to hear I had won the Mother's Day Giveaway at Tip Junkie.  This beautiful little charm and necklace came from Charming Gifts.  While looking around Charming Gifts, I saw so many beautiful things I wanted for myself and for gifts, but one item in particular had me oohing and ahhing.  You can find it here:  Destiny Necklace. These charms make such meaningful and personalized gifts.  Colette, the owner is super sweet.  If you visit and buy from her, please tell her I said hi, and thanks again! I LOVE my Mom charm.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/527646/ Mon, 5 May 2008 19:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/527646/ Well...we had Spring Break last week, and it was a great one.  We left the "classroom" and picked some sea shells, surfed some waves (the kids and my husband, not me.)  Now, we are back on track. I don't have much to write at the moment, but of course, I couldn't leave without a picture or two.  We went to a Mad Science show tonight.  It was F.U.N for me, and the kids too.  :)  How excited did this Mad Scientist look?  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/520651/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/520651/ I found this recipe on a blog a couple years ago and this recipe has since become a favorite here.  It is so easy, yet it tastes so fancy.  I remember seeing pictures of the cookies on the original blog, they looked much nicer than mine, but it's all in the taste, no? Emma helped me as her brother was too busy playing.  E loves to bake and taste, she definitely prefers the latter. Before I start with the recipe, here is a picture of Emma with her favorite fruit.  Chinese plums.  These grow wildly in my Dad's yard,  he picks them and we eat them up!  **oh and yes, E has a boo boo by her nose, she fell on a toy today.** Okay...cookies. Split-Second Cookies  (We call them jam cookies) From The Taste of Home Cookbook 3/4 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup raspberry jam  (I use strawberry jam-it has to be jam, can't be jelly) 1) In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt;  gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. 2) Divide dough into four equal portions; shape each into a 12-in. x ¾-in. log. Place 4 in. apart on tow greased baking sheets. Make a ½-in. depression down center of logs fill with jam. 3) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes; cut diagonally into ¾-in. slices. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: about 5 dozen Enjoy. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/511258/ Sat, 5 Apr 2008 18:21:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/511258/ I love the idea of Sketch Tuesday.  If you want to learn more or view more sketches click HERE. This weeks assignment was to sketch something that's alive. Noah's:  and Emma's: Daddy thought Emma drew 2 ducks in a canoe.  Goes to show you, each person interprets art differently- HAHAHA ...it's two birds in a nest.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/507983/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:11:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/507983/ I know it's been a little while since I've written.  We've been very busy.   My husband was away on a business trip, which is not a usual thing, and we just had my Brother in Law visiting us from NY.  In between there was Easter, and yet another small cold for Noah and I.  Or maybe it was allergies since it only lasted a couple days for each one of us.  Anyhow, we are all well. Last night, Noah and I went to see The Step Crew.  We recognized a couple of the violinists/fiddlers from another show we attended recently.  We enjoyed the show, great lighting, Celtic music, and fun dancing.  It's neat for Noah to see that violins are used in much more than Classical music.  Heck, his teacher toured with the Rolling Stones.  :) On the homeschooling front, I was shocked today when I realized we only have about 6 weeks worth of work to complete.  I believe we can do it less than that.  This year just flew.  I'm already making a list of 3rd grade curriculum.  We will likely stay with what we've been using, just go up a grade.  :)  You know the saying,  "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Ain't- what a horrendous word.  Which reminds me, did you ever hear the song "I'm just a girl who CAIN'T say no", from the musical Oklahoma?  We had a girl in high school sing it once, and I used to cringe when she would say cain't and ain't.  Sorry- that's just took me back 12 years.  I'm off to bed now, but before I go, I want to post just a couple pictures from this past week.  Can you believe that of all people, I, forgot to take pictures of the children on Easter?!...Can you tell I had a stressful week? Here are the kids on Easter at Grandma's house waiting to go out to eat.  and N, who seems to be daydreaming.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/506799/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/506799/ Here is a quick and hearty breakfast/snack/lunch and sometimes if you are rushed, why not dinner? First you collect your ingredients and tools.  A griddle or skillet, a cup, touch of butter, eggs, and a spatula. Here are our first ingredients....displayed by our children with bed head.  :) Then you use the cup to make a circle inside the bread. We then put the bread onto the griddle with a tiny dab of butter.  I used Smart Balance Spread with all those Omega goodies. Gets warmed up and in goes one egg...do yourself a favor and buy Organic or just really good eggs.  Eggs are such nutritious  little things. Turn it over a time or two, depending on whether you like the yolk runny or not.  I do, I like to dip the missing circle in it.  :) We poured a little bit of maple syrup on it...but you can also add honey.  And the results are in: This is our first of many posts about cooking with children.  :) Hope we gave someone a good idea on a new breakfast.  Serve with a big cup of Orange Juice- YUMMY. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/501942/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/501942/ For more Wordless Wednesdays, Click Here, Here, or Here. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/496946/ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/496946/ And it's not bad at all.  :)  I'm in very good company. We went out for lunch today and I am stuuuuuuuuffed.  I had blackened Mahi Mahi.  (yummy).  We got back and in my email was a sweepstake application from Fossil.  I love my Fossil watch but I'd love to have one with a green or orange face so I filled out the sweepstake.  Well...today I was in a brand new age bracket!  Look closely- you can see I'm now in the 31-40 age group, no longer in the 21-30 age group.  I am thankful for being 31, it means God was gracious enough to give me yet another year.  So... Happy Birthday to me, and cheers to all the 30 somethings out there. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/494392/ Fri, 7 Mar 2008 13:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/494392/ For the past 4 weeks at least one member of the family has been sick with one thing or another.  Wow, do we ever need a break.  My husband and I went to bed early on Saturday night and didn't get out until this morning (Monday) with some kinda stomach virus. I'm going to take a short little blog break.  Hope everyone stays well. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/491879/ Mon, 3 Mar 2008 20:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Diane/491879/