Ideas, Insights and Information in the life of a homeschooling mother of many. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:22:00 -0600 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:22:00 -0600 Okay, I've gone and done it now. I've switched over to Blogger. And for everyone's reading pleasure, I've even transferred over most of my posts. Because I need to have everything in one place. Because I'm a little obsessive like that. The new address is www.lifeoncourtneylane.blogspot.com So, come on over and join me. Please. Is that begging? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/635587/ Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:22:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/635587/ We finally finished our massive cleanout project. I got rid of clothes that I had hoped to fit into one day, but faced the sad reality that I just need to move on, also broken high chairs, not-played-with toys, not-looked-at-books, broken things, etc. etc. We were rapidly running out of room in our little house, 1750 sq. feet for almost ten of us, but I have known families with more kids who live in smaller spaces. How? How do they do it? We are busting at the seams. We also have no garage and no attic. I really have to be particular with what I keep. It is amazing how much room I freed up and how much easier it is to keep it clean though. We had a really fun afternoon spent with our friends. Thanks Wendy for filling us full of fudge. I just love it when friends feed me chocolate! There were ten children altogether in the house playing nicely while the three of us adults were able to cozy up on the couch and just chat. For three hours. Yes, it CAN happen! Thomas stayed home with David (because David is still home because we are STiLL WAITING  on the j-o-b) because he has a mysterious fever.  He's so incredibly pitiful. Thomas, not David. Okay, so David and I are running out of time to either get a converter box or get cable. We have not had cable in ten years. But, I don't know if I want cable. And even furthermore, I don't know if I don't want cable. What to do? Oh, why does life have to have so many choices? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/633646/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/633646/    I've been following the things that McMama is not doing, and I thought of a few things that I didn't do today either. I most certainly didn't eat 3 chocolate covered doughnuts today and call it "therapy" because that would totally be pigging out. I wasn't completely relieved  when Thomas's Jolly Green Giant diapers finally stopped today after he ate green food coloring on Thursday. I didn't even get a headache this morning while we did schoolwork, because the kids always listen and do exactly what they are told. Without whining. Or arguing. I am totally not addicted to People's Court and Judge Judy. I did not spend two hours sitting on my bed this afternoon watching them. And, I did not think that Thomas saying "No way Jose" was the funniest thing when I told him to bring me something, because I would never let him get away with sassing me. And I didn't think it was equally as funny when he said, "Disgusting, Mom" while he tried to wipe his own butt during above mentioned diaper change. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/632585/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/632585/ My, my how time has flown. Is it really less than two weeks from Christmas already? We are supposed to be doing school work today, but we aren't. Instead we are going to do some major clutter/house reorganizing. David will be helping me since he is at home. (Yes, still waiting on the J-O-B.) Wednesday we had a pet for the morning. A pit bull wandered into our yard and got its leash stuck on our garbage can wheel. So I went out (no, I'm not a dog-a-phobe) and unhooked him. He really was a friendly dog, but definately a puppy. Did NOT know the meaning of "sit".  So, I hooked him to our front porch in hopes that someone would come looking and see him there. But, no one did. The kids had already named him- Stucky or something like that- because he kept getting stuck with his chain around the porch post. Not the smartest dog.......      Anyway, I went ahead and called animal control who planned to send someone out. We couldn't keep him long, I mean he was a pit bull and they are so unpredicatable. And, no my children only watched the dog through the front door. They didn't get to pet him. Animal control called me back after about 15 minutes and told me the owner had called and lived two streets over and would be there to get him shortly. So, that was the end of our brief adventure as pet owners. Well, we were really just pet sitters. Tomorrow, Lowe's is having a "Make your own project" day, and they are cute wooden gingerbread houses, So, we are going to head over there in the morning, then take in our Scholastic warehouse sale afterwards. I really didn't plan to go, but Brittany is begging to look for more Royal Diaries to add to her collection. They've had them in the past for $1 apiece. On Sunday, we'll head over to the annual Blythewood Christmas parade in the afternoon. We've gone every year for about the past 6 years or so. The kids love it when they throw out candy. So, then next week we will be homeschooling to the max, to make up for this week's distractions. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/631279/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/631279/ How does needing 10 things at the grocery store turn into needing 25 things once I get there? Why do my children spill chocolate milk on the floor and go get a baby bassinett sheet and my placemat from Zimbabwe to clean it up with? How does a lunch of sandwiches and chips turn into three sinkfuls of dirty dishes? It's sort of reminds me of that old commercial with the owl, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? The world may never know...." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/630157/ Tue, 9 Dec 2008 17:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/630157/ I know that today is supposed to be Monday musings, but I cannot think of one single thing in enough detail that I mused over this past week. I have that pregnancy brain fog thing, where I just can't think or focus. I also have that pregnancy exhaustion thing, and that pregnancy chocolate craving thing...... Anyway, today is David's 36 birthday. Oh dear- he's in his "late" thirties now, where I am safely still in my "early" thirties. :)  We had chocolate cake for dinner because I forgot to put the chicken in the crock pot. Remember the brain fog I mentioned earlier? This morning I had a doctor's appointment.  I have been given a clean bill of health. I do not have breast cancer, gestational diabetes, thyroid problems, or anemia. Yah! These were all areas of concern through the month of November on top of the job loss. Maybe this is what caused the brain fog........ We are still waiting for David to get "officially" hired for this job. Am I the only one who hates being patient? I don't mind waitng in traffic or in the checkout line, because I know what is going to happen next. I will get to my destination, or I will get to put my groceries on the conveyer belt, pay and go home. But, in this scenario, we are sort of waiting for the unknown. We know what his job will be, we just don't know when he will start working, or how much he will get paid. However, God is in control and He knows these things. That's what I keep reminding myself. Will that line work with the creditors? "Yes, Hello Creditor.  God is in control and you will get paid in His timing."  I may try that next time. Oh wait. I can think of one small anecdote. Tyler has devised this detailed plan of how he is going to fill my Christmas stocking with Reese's peanut butter cups, devise a small time bomb that will explode on Christmas morning right before I planned on looking in it so that Reese's can rain down from the heavens. Gosh, do the kids think I have some chocolate fixation? Rightly so. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/629659/ Mon, 8 Dec 2008 18:10:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/629659/ David's interview was postponed til Monday because of a  gas leak at the school where they planned on meeting. So.......I guess we'll have to be patient til then. My glucose test is that morning also. Yeah, not looking forward to driving across town at 5:30am. I did get some good news about another health issue. All is fine and no problems! I'm so relieved about that! We will be continuing our Thanksgiving tradition of getting together with some very good friends of ours. We've gotten together with them for the past 5 for 6 years. And, I'm sure the kids will have the Christmas tree half put up before I even get out of bed in the morning. They waste no time. :) Happy Thanksgiving! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/625055/ Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/625055/ I had meant to post this yesterday, but I just didn't have time. I had the baby ultrasound yesterday and all is fine with the little one. I am 27 weeks with a due date on Tristan's birthday, February 23. Now, we all know it will be March before I actually have the baby. LOL   Unfortunately, I did not pass the glucose test, which means I have to drag myself at 5:30 am over to the hospital next Monday for the three hour test.   There is also one more health issue that I should have the results by the same Monday. David has an interview this morning. We are praying, praying that this is what God wants for us. Things are pointing in this direction. Hopefully we will know more by this afternoon. Our computers have not been getting a good internet connection lately. It takes forever to download something, worse than dial up. We thought maybe it is the router, so we unplugged mine from the router and just plugged David's straight into the internet connection. Anyway, that leaves my computer without internet. The kids always are asking to play on my computer and when I said it wasn't working, Tristan said, "Did your computer run out of gas?"   :) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/623980/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:39:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/623980/ Thank you all so much for all the hugs, thoughts and prayers!! I believe I finally have gotten to the point where I am ready to move on and see what is next. We had a nice family day today-we went downtown to the Veteran's Day parade. I had wanted to go for years, but David was never available and I didn't want to try to tackle downtown with a bunch of little kids. All went well and we had a good time. Except Tristan who though there would be candy. I told him that there will definately be candy in a few weeks at the Christmas parade. It was so nice to see all the people out in support of our military. I'm definately proud of my veteran! Good job, honey!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/617833/ Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/617833/ Everyone's current hobbies: David: facebook, looking for a new job Courtney: playing Webkinz arcade games- I admit it. Brittany: facebook, email, writing a book Tyler: reading, playing computer games Timothy: playing Heroscape Bethany: sucking her thumb, playing outside Brooke: playing outside, aggrivating Tristan Tristan: talking potty mouth, aggrivating Brooke Thomas: watching Veggie Tales, taking off his pants and diaper and running around "nudey bottom" http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/617325/ Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:21:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/courtney/617325/