The fun things, the stressful things, the things we pray about, and the things we learn...that keep us hopping from day to day. We are an eclectic homeschooling family with four fabulous kids, tossing in a little here and a little there. Whatever interests us at the moment. We love,love, love FIAR and creating our own curricula. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:22:00 -0500 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:22:00 -0500 So sorry about the previous entry. I am not longer posting on HSB, only because I seem to be able to navigate blogger better (just one of those 'what you know' things.  The thing is, I also changed my blogger address.  So now it is: http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com THAT'S where you need to find me and where you need to change my address to if I happen to be in your blogrolls! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/316222/ Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/316222/ You can always find me at: http://mikeandsheri4.blogspot.com   I am in the process of deciding whether or not to keep this blog up.  I have had the blogger blog for much longer and find myself torn between the two.  I have gone through this in the past, and am facing the decision again. I "THINK" if I just make a clean break all will be well...IF I can just do it.  sigh. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/278448/ Thu, 1 Feb 2007 09:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/278448/ Thanks to the ice storms all of the local public schools have been cancelled this entire week, and on the news last night they said they "Don't know when school will begin again"...oh my!! Along with the public schools we also took this week off, sort of.  We did throw in a few  quick lessons on snow and ice and sleet and atmosphere, but really, wouldn't any parent do that?  I might go more indepth and get  at least two days in this week.  That would make me feel better anyway.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/271318/ Thu, 18 Jan 2007 15:29:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/271318/ If you want to see a fun video of ice blocking go to my other blog and check it out.  It's about half of our family outside sledding on ice blocks http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/270685/ Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/270685/ My little blogger friend school scroll box had done something rather wacky so I removed it until I have time to correct it!  Sorry about that! In other news.  Kids have been playing in the ice.  We inadvertantly learned about weather...there is a key difference between freezing rain and sleet and it was pretty interesting (We'll have to thank the weather man for the great lesson he provided on the news last night).  To make a long story short though you want SLEET not freezing rain.  (Freezing rain attaches itself to power lines and causes all sorts of problems...sleet makes the roads dangerous, but so does the freezing rain, but it doesn't stick to powerlines) D-12 fell in the ice today.  Okay, not so much fell as threw himself down the hill so he could go sliding.   Although I did warn him of the chance that he would severely injure himself because he's 12 and as you know, all twelve year olds are invincible, he chose to nod, wave  back and answer "yeah".  Too bad he didn't think before he threw himself on the ice and slid into the cemented in corner post of the dog run.  YEOUCH!!!  He's fairly black and blue and clueless.  He wobbled out to the ice after a few minutes of moaning and groaning and did it again.  This time his body screamed enough and he started throwing up and is dizzy.  Although he claims that he didn't hit his head I have to wonder if he has a mild concussion. He was miserable and M-9 felt awful for him so she came in and made him hot cocoa. As she sat it on the table in the nook it just slid right across the table and hit the floor, shattering the coffee cup and throwing cocoa everywhere.  That's cleaned up now (Although M is feeling awful for breaking Daddy's coffee mug, despite the fact that I have assured her repeatedly that all dad will care about is that she didn't cut herself). E-4 keeps running down the hall and coming back to me laughing with nothing on but a mitten (On his hand! Get your mind out of the gutter).  He doesn't seem to understand that it's 20 degrees out.  Either that or he doesn't care...or he enjoys the outraged yell from G-6 everytime he accidentally glances up to see Little man running around in his scivvies.  I totally don't feel like cooking dinner tonight.  If I had my 'druthers we'd get pizza...of course i would also need money and a road not caked in ice.  I suppose that means I must cook. DARN DARN DARN! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/268588/ Sat, 13 Jan 2007 12:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/268588/ I am trying to get around to visiting some blogs today, but I don't know if I'll manage it.  I just haven't been able to MAKE myself take the time. I have a whopper of a sinus infection, which isn't so horrid except when I blink or try to focus on sound with my right ear...then it's bad. LOL (Which is why I thought today would be a good day to come by and visit all of my neighbors I've been neglecting) So, if I make it by don't worry about cleaning the house, I'll just sit down and chat, and I'll even bring my own coffee or tea.   OH! Speaking of coffee.  What do you think of this? I LOVE these robes.  I don't even know which one I like the best, because I like them all.  I have actually had that website saved for over a year and I go in and look at the robes, think about how much I like them, look at the price, sigh and close the site.  At least if I ever DO buy one (or get one as a gift...hint hint honey) it won't be a spur of the moment decision.  I have definately thought about it! Anyway, my robe is an old white thick terrycloth robe that my parents bought me for my 18th birthday.  Yes, that does in fact make the robe 18 years old!  And yep, it's showing it!  There is a big hole on the right shoulder (just a little lower than the shoulder) on the front, there is another hole toward the bottom, the robe just wore through after years of use.  But it's warm and functional.  So here's my thought.  Why not buy some appliques from here.  There are some cute coffee ones or one particular frog I like...and place them haphazardly on the robe (and over the holes).  Maybe it will help me feel like the old robe, ready for the rag bag, is new again? Whatcha think? "Holy cow Sheri...you are positively brilliant!! Can I be your friend?" or "Okay...closing this blog, this chick is crazy!" Have a blessed day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/268472/ Sat, 13 Jan 2007 08:24:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/268472/ Oy....I forgot about this weeks assignment until today.  Sigh.  It's been a long and hard stressful week.  I have asked for and received a lot of prayers.  If you happen to think of it I can certainly use more.  Some issues have come up, things that have had more than 30 years to grow and it hit a boiling point (I am not the one boiling).  I spent many many days shaking and dry heaving from the painful <s>words</s> lies  that were thrown at me, and thank GOD, he sent me a great friend and a superb big brother who are listening and counseling and helping me through it (And of course lots of hugs and back rubs from hubby).   This weeks assignment: Blogger Friend School - Assignment #13 CAPTURE Your Uniqueness Write about or list several ways that make you or your family unique and/or different.  Ponder a while as though you were an outsider looking into your family home and envision 'how' they might see you uniquely made through Christ.  Does something set you apart that immediately shows that you are a child of God?  Share! I am not sure that I am all that unique.  I am just an average ordinary homeschooling mom.  I think we are a pretty loving family, but in truth, I am not at the level I want to be at.  How does someone see me? What do they see that sets me apart? This is the only thing I can come up with (This last week is weighing heavily on my heart and I am having a hard time finding the good about me...after being told I wasn't good repeatedly): A few years back we lived in our quaint little home in a small subdivision.  Our next door neighbors were an older retired couple.  Interestingly enough our house was on a small rise above the rest of the neighborhood (Not in a big way, very minor, but there was a good 4 foot drop to the neighbors house).  When the sun shone into the neighborhood in the afternoon my entire house would light up.  I kept the windows open and the light would bounce off of every surface and cause a glow.  It was beautiful and amazing.  From the outside the sun also caught on every nook and cranny.  Our house literally lit up every single day.  The leaves on the trees would reflect the light from the sky.  One day I walked out front and our neighbor called me over with tears in his eyes.  He said "I always see so much of God in you and your family.  And today I was thinking about it when I saw the light from heaven just light up your house.  You are a beacon.  Your home is full of light and joy.  I just want you to know that."...as he said it he pointed back and I breathed in a deep breath, because before me was my house, the light was bouncing off the windows and shining back at me, blinding me.  I shielded my eyes and was amazed that the entire street to the South, all lower than my house, was in shadows, and in the midst of the darkness stood my home, lit up for everyone to see.  I would love to be that beacon.  Or at least let God use me that way.  I know I have a lot of growing to do, but it was always such a tangible thing for me to grasp while we lived in that house. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/267959/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 08:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/267959/ I am not a resolution type of person, in fact, I am pretty sure I have never made and actual bonified resolution. But hey, there's a first time for everything. 1. Continue losing weight.  Thus far I have lost nearly 30 pounds, I need to lose about 3-5 more to be "normal weight" according to the BMI charts and about 7 after that to be at my goal weight.  2.  Limit my computer time.  I time the kids, and decided to start timing myself as well.  I tend to spend far too much time on here with the pretense of "looking for schooling ideas".  If I must be on the computer I will be on it in the morning while they are sleeping and in the evening after DH goes to sleep. 3. Not let my moms words hurt me.  She doesn't mean it, and doesn't remember what she says by the next day.  I need to let them roll off my back.  I will spend time praying over that, as I know God can help me.  4. Get caught up on my housework.  Since the pipe breaking and vacation I am terribly behind, and living in limbo while everything is torn apart waiting for the workers to repair the walls, carpet and so on. 5. Begin each day with God.  THAT should have been first! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/263689/ Thu, 4 Jan 2007 08:27:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/263689/ Big huge thanks to Training Hearts for the school assignments.  There were probably assignments while I was gone, but you know how that goes!  This weeks assignment is: The assignment  for this week is make a List of "HITS" and a List of "MISSES"! Extra Credit (from Training Hearts Mom):  Take your favorite Homeschool item and write Raving Review!  Be sure to share from the heart and be honest.  In your review include the 5 W's and the H...Who, What, Where, Why and How!  Okay Hits and Misses: Hits: Five in a Row Beyond Five in a Row Saxon Math 54 and 76 Sequential Spelling Paragraph a Week Program Misses: (I feel the need to explain that this is not a reflection on the programs, but on our family dynamics and what worked for us and didn't work for us) Konos Volume 1 and Compass (I'll be selling it soon if anyone is interested!) Singapore Math (Great for lower grades, not so great for the more advanced stuff, at least not for our family) Raving Review: BEYOND FIVE IN A ROW!  I fell madly in love with Five in a Row when I first began homeschooling, after begging my charter to allow me to use it at that time I finally went out and bought it and added it to our school days.  My children loved Five in a Row from the beginning, which is why I am slamming my head into the wall wondering WHY I didn't continue and use Beyond once they were older.  I came back to it this year, and it is a fabulous curriculum, it meets every need "I" want met while homeschooling my children.  FIAR is written by the Lambert's, who are wonderful Christians and who have set up a  support board for those of us using FIAR, Beyond was written by their daughter Becky, who is now a mama planning on homeschooling (or perhaps already homeschooling) her children.  It uses a Unit Study Approach and you use it at your own speed (unlike Five in a Row, in which you read a book every day for FIVE days, thus the name).  Beyond is meant to be used through ages 12, but I will be using it to supplement my oldest sons education as we move on into Junior High.  If you are interested in more information (I know this is a short and sweet review) please stop by five in a row, and read through the sample pages and FAQ's! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/263346/ Wed, 3 Jan 2007 16:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/263346/ Phew.  After a 10 day whirlwind trip to California we are HOME!  Actually we got home late late Sunday night (just in time to ring in the new year) and spent yesterday unpacking and sleeping.  I am not nearly as tired today as I was yesterday, that's a good thing! To keep you up to date here are two photos we had taken while in Cali.  We had huge family photos made for my MIL, meaning our family of 6, Mike's sisters family of 4 and Mike's parents.  I won't include that photo, just the ones of our immediate 6, because I don't want to post photos of others without permission. Mike and I above.  We have not had a photo made since our Wedding day! I should upload that one, or our engagement photo (as it's nearly the same pose) so you can see how OLD we have gotten in 15 years! And there is our beautiful family!! Aren't they all precious!  (Mike included!) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/262501/ Tue, 2 Jan 2007 09:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SheriLynn/262501/