Please join me as I share about our home, homeschooling, scrapbooking and other passions, loving God and God loving us! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:47:00 -0500 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:47:00 -0500 Not everyone is using Workboxes! Check out the above link for other ways to organise your home school day.  It doesn't matter how you do it, it's just important that you do have a plan to get their home schooling done.... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671617/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:47:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671617/ I'm so enjoying this workbox system idea I shared earlier.  The Workbox System (It's planning about 10 to 12 things and putting them into boxes or in our case, ziplock bags and just doing the children do them each day.)   It's been 3 or 4 days and the girls have done so much more *to show* than before - even in these past 3 or 4 days.    I'm getting so much more of the fun extras done - I'm amazed AND I'm not dragging or pushing the girls...  I'm totally thrilled. I know when I read the Workbox system - I almost immediately knew  it would work for us.  It's a funny thing - why would putting the items in a box, or a bag or an envelope, make a difference?   The key is, I'm planning more each day.  Not a ton - I have the basics done, but when I fill their bags, I know tomorrow - we are doing  a card class, or logic, or sketching, and I'm prepared enough to get it done.   I guess it doesn't matter why it is working - just the fact that it is working, is pleasing me.    I do think it is important to find something that works for us and Home Schooling our children, though....  We need to have success as Home School moms. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671615/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671615/ Well, at least on the Five in A Row website.  Smile Prettiest Workbox System Smile - check this out for another sample of how to make it work in your home. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671613/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671613/ Or, at least, that is what Color Me Orange says on her blog.  Check out her link for a great variation on the Workboxing System. Workboxing - The Best System Ever!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671612/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671612/ Here is a link to the original thread on the Five in a Row site: Workbox System thread on FIAR Here is the first post (there ended up being over 300 - so much interest and many ideas shared): I am excited to share something with y'all as it has truly revolutionized our school day! I've been interested in this system for awhile, but just never got around to implementing it. I needed the book - and to hear more about it (I invited Sue to do a workshop for our local FIAR group) - and then was ready to run with it! A friend of mine, Sue Patrick, designed this brilliant system for organizing her children's schoolwork. It helps you to organize the work for each child into 12 shoeboxes. The child knows what is expected of them each day and can work more independently. No more wondering when their day is done or what is coming next - they can see it. For me, it has helped me to be much more organized. (I don't think of myself as disorganized either.) It has also helped me to really think through our day and plan ahead. The results are that we are doing MUCH more in our day - and much more of the fun stuff that usually gets left out - music, art, games, etc. We are getting through our work faster too. I'm just really thrilled with this system!!! I've been sharing it with friends and a lot of us are finding this it be a great system with a lot of benefits for children young and old. Please go to her website to read more about it. If you decide to give it a try - I highly recommend purchasing the book!!! It really has a lot of great information in it. I've posted a couple of pics on my blog if you want to see our system. Hope this is helpful to somebody It's just a way of organising our Hsing for our children, so the basics AND the extras get done.  There is a lot of interest on the website and many are saying it is making a different for them and their children.  I know since we started it last week, I think we are doing 30 to 40% more a day than we did before AND we are getting the fun extras done, too.  smile  Why don't you check it out? Workbox System http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671611/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/671611/ Ok - this blog made me smile.  She says SNOW is One of the Reasons We Home School.  Smile  We got 6 inches of snow yesterday.  I never thought of that being a reason we home school, but I do like being able to stay home in a snowstorm.   I love how home schoolers do well in different areas of life - today, this blogger blogged about a Home Schooler on American Idol.    Home Schoolers get blamed for the school system losing funding dollars....         Last Saturday, I got to watch a play where I think half the kids participating were home schoolers.  It even had a few home school jokes in it - which got my attention, as it was not a home school audience, but the play was written by a home schooling dad.  smile         Anyway, we were invited to a friends house to celebrate her child's accomplishment in the play and during the conversation we had, a dear home school friend came up in conversation somehow (her children did so well in the play!).  Anyway, my public school friend said the schools here are really missing her family of x children....  She said each child is worth $11,000 in funding to the schools.  Wow.  I just smiled to myself and thought what a great home schooling mom she is....            AND it was an interesting conversation surrounded by public schoolers.  They were surprisingly supportive of home schooling because they know our family.  I wonder sometimes because I sure am not perfect, but we do our best for our children.....  That's the most any of us can do.   A Typical Day in the Life of a Home Schooler I always enjoy reading these type of blogs.  Smile  None of us are typical families and none of us are typical home schoolers.  We are each unique and do things in the way that is best for our families.  I love that!   Square Root Day - loved this idea.  We have had a very fun home schooling week already and it is only Wednesday today.  There are so many ways to enjoy learning and to make learning fun.  Even making a *square root cake* is a memory and a learning hook for math.  SMILE   Saving Money at the Grocery Store This is an ongoing discussion on an elist I am on and a topic that comes up on many boards and forums.  It is getting tougher to save money, but I believe God gave us a creative mind and that He will help us save money when we need to.  *Don't forget to pray and ask Him to bless your efforts and to bring sales across your path!  I also pray for wisdom when I go shopping. I need His help to not buy just what looks good, but to buy what we need.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/665064/ Fri, 6 Mar 2009 10:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/665064/ Saw the link on this HS Blogger website - it is so cool.  Check it out.  Lots to make and do. Dollar Store Crafts http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659596/ Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659596/ My dear husband and 2nd oldest daughter are away on a mission trip to Mexico for 10 days.  Jewel had her 10th birthday last Friday.   Auntie J and daughter came down to help me.  I just appreciate family so much - they are such a support to me / to us over the year. Anyway, they took Redhead and Jewel back home with them for a visit.  I stayed home because I needed a break badly - it's been a busy year, already.  WOW - what a lovely break.  I don't know the last time I had a day alone with no responsibilities, much less 4 days.  It has been quite lovely. I've watched movies I wanted to watch, ate what I wanted (special treats for me, you know?), did some cleaning and organising.  I actually spent a good portion of three days tidying, organising, decluttering our Home School room.  I can't believe how much time it took - and I n ever would have fit that in to my regular life! I even got to do some Home School planning for the next four months.  It was wonderful.  I would highly recommend a break now and then.  I would never do it for a long time - I love my kids and husband, but it was a surprise to see how much I needed to relax and just do nothing....  I don't do that very often at all..... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659593/ Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659593/ This was a topic on an elist recently.  It got my attention.  I guess that is because through the years I have seen Home Schoolers be so serious.  I knew one lady who brought school home - her son hated what they were doing, but she couldn't break out of the mold because of fear.      I also connect with what a mom of many said - perhaps it would be harder for a mom of many to plan fun extras, because just getting the have to's done would be enough....    AND I have never spent much time making sure everyone HAD fun.  I just plan fun extras and it is up to them to enjoy it or not.  What a burden it would be to try to please every child....    (I can remember doing some fun art extras and one child crying at the end of the table - because she always compares herself to older sisters and is never happy with her work - I figure that is a character issue and it makes me want to do more to help her learn to have fun and relax....  smile)   Oh, and it might be easier to have fun with younger students, but older students can do more and that is fun, too.   It certainly is up to each of you how you Home School your children, but I know I have found through the years, that the fun extras are the memories and the activities we scrapbook in our HS scrapbook.  The day I get focused on just worksheets and have to's - Home Schooling gets hard for me.  And when it gets hard, it takes away a lot of my joy.    Fun doesn't have to happen every day either, once or twice a month or even weekly is enough.  Just something to break the monotony and to help them learn a little about what they love.    Anyway, if this doesn't resonate with you, just delete.  smile  I appreciate Jamin because she works at having fun and learning.  I wish I had done such a unit with the American Girl books a few years ago.  What fun.  smile Jamin - Samantha - American Girl Club http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659146/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659146/ The best soup I have made lately..... would be my show and tell for this week.   Smile   We had baked potatos one night before Christmas - quick baked potatos, by the way.   Wash potatos.  Cut in half lengthwise.  Toss with a bit of oil (perhaps 1 or 2 Tbsps - less works).  Lay flat on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 20 - 25 minutes.    Anyway, I made too many and I knew I would throw them away if I didn't use them up.  My sister has a great baked potato soup recipe and I based this soup on it, but added ham.   So you make a white sauce - butter, flour and milk.  While it thickens, dice the baked potatos.  Add to the thickened  sauce.  (Oh, and to cut the calories - while making the white sauce, start with milk - then add water for about half the recipe.  Works well)   I added some chicken bouillion - not much, perhaps about 3/ 4 of a teaspoon for about 10 to 12 cups of liquid?    I then diced up about 1 cup of ham (I buy the 2kg. ham, cut it in chunks and freeze for future use) and had the girls grate some marble cheese (to sprinkle on individual bowls).   Wow - it doesn't sound like much, but it was sooooo good.   What about you?  What would be your show and tell recipe for today? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659143/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659143/ Best moment this week?  I have a tie:   I have done a lot of cleaning and decluttering this week - in the afternoons.    Yesterday, I looked around and I can see it starting to pay off.  The piles are less and I think I can make a list of what I still have to do.  That was my first best moment (I don't know about you, but sometimes finding homes for items can just about put me under....I am decluttering and have a huge pile in the front hall to take to the Goodwill in warmer days....)   Then we started HSing on Tuesday because Redhead couldn't wait any longer.  Each day, it gets better.  Yesterday was really good and it just made my day.    Best book this week?   That would be the Black History Hero Tales.  I'm reading it to the girls yesterday and I can't make it through some paragaphs without crying.  AND the first two people were repeats from books we had already read AND the girls knew their stories when quizzed.  smile.  The story I read yesterday was on obedience and obeying what God wants you to do.  Slavery disgusts me - I thought it was neat that the one movie MayFlower took with her, was Amazing Grace.  She said it was a life changer for her.  Anyone watch it?   Best meal?   That would be Beef Stoganoff, Mashed Potatos and cooked carrots.  I had enough left over to make a casserole.  Beef Stroganoff and Mashed Potatos is such a good comfort meal.  (Beef Stoganoff - crumbled hamburger and onion fried w/ 2 tins mushroom soup, 1 tin + water, and about 3 or 4 tsp. beef bouillion (to taste).  Simmer and serve over noodles or potatos).   Dear Husband asked for fried rice, so I'm going to make it for dinner on Sat.  Anyone else make it from scratch?  I just have about 10 to 12 cups of cooked rice.  I put diced onions, celery in the bottom of a big cakepan with about 1/3 to a 1/2 cup butter.  Put in oven.  Cook till onions and celery are done.  Add rice.  Cook for 3/4 hour more (or even 1 1/2 hours - just watch the heat and turn down as necessary).  Dice cooked chicken (w/ garlic) or leftover roast.  Scramble eggs (about 10+ for this amount).  Add meat about 10 minutes before serving.  Take out of oven and add hot eggs.  Serve w/ soy sauce.  Oh, and add butter as necessary.  My family loves this as a lunch meal.   Best verse?   Well, I will use an old favorite that our children each learned when they were little.  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right."  Eph. 6:1   (I am reading through the Bible this year - I have been consistant since last Sept. but am in Genesis right now.  Just read about Esau and his descendents today.  Jacob's descendents are the Israelites.  Esau's descendents are the Edomites who never got along with the Israelites.  It matters what we teach our children about spiritual things.)   Best quote?   Here are 3 quotes I found this morning - how lovely they are.  smile   To read a poem in January is as lovely as to go for a walk in June.                - Jean-Paul Sartre   The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year.  It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes…. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.                - G. K. Chesterton   In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time.                - Author unknown   Best buy?   My best buy was nothing.  I stayed home all week.  We are kinda short of groceries and I will buy them today, but other than that, I haven't spent anything.  Yay, me.  I can't say that often.    Oh, and my best buy in the States was some bras (or unmentionables, as one daughter would say - smile).  2 for 1 sale and they were half the price they would have been in Canada already.  My neices bought 8 and 12 each - I bought 4.  smile  I've never had so much support in my life.  SMILE   Best _______________?   It's just been a lovely week.  Lots of work and extras.  I got my scrapbook area cleaned up.  Multiple piles put away.  HSed.  Even got online some.  I'm trying to limit that some and that is even going well.    What about you?  How was your week? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659142/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659142/ Wow, just bought Fireproof on the weekend and watched it with my dear husband.  WOW.   I just don't think I could say enough good things about it.   It is on the New Release Wall in VHQ / Movie Gallery.  (Of course, I saw it after I bought it, but I have been waiting to buy it since  last Nov.....)  I think it is so cool that there are multi copies available to rent.....  I just heard it is in Walmart, too (as well as the Love Dare book).  Makes it easy for people to find and buy!   IF you have ever had trouble making your marriage work as a couple (and I would venture to say, everyone has been there and done that), wow, it was good to watch.   I could see bits of us in it and it sure made you realise how important it is to make a marriage work...  I pray it helps a lot of couples.  Buy it, share it, recommend it to your friends - you just don't know who is out there struggling with their marriage.....   I'm trying to figure out if I should buy another copy and lend it out... smile  I'm keeping the original.    A friend at church shared this morning that her 17 year old watched it with a friend last night and came home with RED eyes (from crying) and said it was sooooo good.  She also wants her mom to buy her  The Love Dare book (that goes along with the movie....)  Not sure what that is all about, but her mom and dad's marriage ended in divorce - it does affect the kids.   It is from a Christian viewpoint - I am just so impressed.  The major catastrophe's had us sitting on the edge of our seats, wondering what would happen....   Oh, and it was cool to see a troubled marriage from a guy's point of view -   It isn't an easy watch - I think I cried for most of the movie, but it sure showed the lack of respect outsiders have for marriage vows, the issue p_rn_graphy can be in a marriage, how hurt couples can be, and how hard it is to make it work after years of neglect.  It also showed how rewarding it is to make your marriage work, and how ONE  partner not giving up can make the difference....   Have you seen it yet? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659140/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:45:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659140/ How is everyone doing with their teens and life?   I'll start.  I'm not sure if I have shared with anyone yet, but I've been reeling a bit with Pink Princess's plans. smile   She came back from Thailand and we were talking in January - she is thinking of working to make some more money (finishing off grade 12 by June) and then going overseas again by the late summer or by Sept.  wow.   I can't really say more than that until she shares more....  But it was a surprise to me that she would go sooooo soon after graduating.  MayFlower worked another 6 months and went in Jan., so she wouldn't miss Christmas with us that year.  Princess is just ready to go.  (A friend said that is because she is so well prepared....  smile)   It is a bit sobering to see life changing before your eyes.   Next Sept., I will have only Redhead and Jewel to HS.  Changes, changes.... the only thing constant in life is change. I'd recommend making the most of every day you have with your children NO MATTER what age they are!   How is life with teenagers in your neck of the woods? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659138/ Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/659138/ Well, I got some inspiration from Hilltop Academy today.  She posted her first blog of each month for 2008 - I think I will post my favorite blog from each month instead.  I hope you enjoy the trip through my blog. January - It's Good to be in a New Year February - A Reminder for the Home School Mom Today, Thoughts on Being Real, Motivating Home Schooled Teenagers to Learn March - Home Schooling through Renovations, Home School Tip - Logbook Binder, Do What You Can, Home School Graduate Success Story April - Keep Decluttering, Ladies! May - Australia Day, Make Your Marriage Work June - June Home School Support Group Meeting July - Coffee Cake International August - Have a Home School Plan September - September Home School Support Meeting - Excellent! November - It's Been a Long Year... December - Favorite Ways to Countdown to Christmas, December Home School Support Meeting http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/648267/ Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:45:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/648267/ School vs. education. Hmmm.  This was a recent topic on a forum I am on.....  The below is what I wrote. School (to me) makes me think of desks, classes, bells, chalk boards, textbooks, workbooks, lectures, 9 to 3, standing in line, have to's, age segregated, and more. Education is so much more. Education is what I'm leaning toward and hsing our children for... Education is: Reading. Sewing. Hiking. Learning as a family. Learning w/ littles (or in spite of littles. smile) Learning happening at a couch, on the floor, in the back yard, or on a bed. Learning about something we are interested in WHEN we are interested in it. Delight directed. Learning from real books. Worksheet free. Discussions. 24/7. No line ups. Freedom. Age integrated (all ages together) AND more. Smile How would you like to learn? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/647255/ Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/647255/ Last night was pretty special.  I don't think we have had a Home School Support Group Meeting for years.  One lady asked me in early December when our meeting was this month.  I mentioned it to a few other ladies and there was some interest so I chose a meeting day - which was last night. We were a little subdued, but still had a good time.  Christmas seems to take so much out of any mom, much less a busy home schooling mom. There were only about 6 of us, so it was a smaller meeting, but you know, those are the meetings when sharing is easier and those that are there, want to be there, so they are there big time - ready to share!  smile I opened up with The 14 Days of Home School .  There were ladies that weren't singers there, but they were good sports.  I had us sing verses 10 - 14, and they really enjoyed it.  It is funny to read all the excuses not to home school, the answering phrases AND then the follow up verse where the neighbor decides to home school.  I loved the 5th verse,  "You are so strange!"  (Make sure you drag it out like _Five Golden Rings_) I really think many of our neighbors and friends don't understand us at all - some of the stories shared last night revealed that AND we are so strange to them.  Part of our discussion last night centered around home school socialization.  One of the moms shared she looked up those words online and got 250,000 hits.  Smile  A few people have written about that in the history of the internet.  And it sure is something that comes up in discussions when you decide to home school your children.  How many times have you been asked about socialization? (smile) We had quite an animated discussion about the value of socialization and how much personalities play into being comfortable in situations. I think we agreed that socialization is not necessarily about friends but about being with other people.  AND that socialization is being comfortable in many age groups, NOT just your own age group. Speaking of "we are so strange", one lady spoke of another lady's daughter (two sil's attend our meeting and have quite a background with each other).  The second lady's daughter is very shy and the first lady can remember thinking (before she home schooled), "maybe if she put her in school, it would help..."  Shortly after, the first lady started homeschooling and said she realised it wouldn't make much of a difference.  Sure, sometimes you can make children appear to not be shy - but are they secure?  They can learn to cope, but why should they have to?  I was incredibly shy when I was younger and hated new things.  I could work myself up quite well in the weeks before school started, worrying about what would happen.  I think the fall of grade 6 was the worst for me. We talked a bit about the importance of children feeling secure - whether they are in school or home schooled.  Having a relationship that children can depend on - where they can talk to us about anything, is so important.  One lady made us chuckle concerning the weird home schooled child that sometimes people comment on - she said "Have you seen their parents? They would be weird no matter where they went to school - it's not just because they homeschool."  Of course we weren't talking about anyone in particular, but sometimes that statement comes up, like the child is different because they home school.  Sometimes people are just different AND they would be different in school, too.  Mom #1 had a very real home schooling day - smile - anyone there and done that.  It definitely wasn't perfect.  She probably yelled at the kids.  She shared that when she talks about home schooling to different people, they say "Oh, you must be so patient."  Another mom made us laugh when she said our kids stand behind us shaking their heads *no*.  SMILE You know, that is an important thing to realise.  We aren't perfect or incredibly patient BUT we love our children and most days go very well.  There is the odd day where someone  wakes up grumpy (even mom does sometimes!), but we love home schooling and it is working in our homes.  AND you don't have to be patient to start home schooling your children..... Mom #2 spoke about her desire to make time to have fun with her children.  She is a mom of many and could certainly get caught up with all the have to's, but she is making time to have fun with them.  She encouraged us to enjoy our children. Mom #3 is a new home schooling mom of one.  She said before she had her son, she was pretty regimented.  Let's get this list done.  Now she tries to take time to enjoy her son and life.  She was in a hurry yesterday and had tons to do, but all her son wanted to do was sled down a hill.  She stopped and thought.  Then they grabbed the sled together and went up and down the hill 10 x.  It really didn't take that much time out of her busy day and made him so happy.  Mom #4 had a 10 day vacation in November.  When she came back, they took a week off and are now doing a half load of school, so they can do crafts.  She is loving December.  She plans their year - they worked hard before she left and will work hard in Jan., but for right now, they are loving life together. Mom #5 shared Christmas is hard for her sometimes.  There are multiple divorced in law families in her family and it is hard keeping everyone happy with the amount of time spent in each home.  She was the one that looked up home school socialization.  She talked to her daughter about it and her daughter thought mom was thinking of putting her back in school.  She was quite horrified, because she loves home schooling.  The mom was just having a discussion - they love home schooling, too. There was a short discussion about the best laundry spot treatment - Smile   Two spot removers were mentioned as working really well!  Econo Clean - found at your local Co op AND a Banana Oil Cleaner - not sure of the name, that is found in the local Paint Store - that will actually remove paint.  One mom talked about a spot remover - two solutions that mix together to be squirted on a stain (Oxy Clean, perhaps?).  It actually ate a hole in a pair of jeans when left sitting.  The mom wasn't comfortable having that strong of a solution in her laundry area or even on the kids clothes..... One mom of a young Home Schooled boy shared about her brother who always asks her son if he can read.  Her son thinks because he has to sound out words like "Elizabeth", that he can't read yet, but he is doing very well for his age.  Anyway, mom stayed out of it last time.  When her brother was driving them home, they stopped at McDonalds for lunch and her son read *birthday zone" aloud.  Her brother said "You can read!" and was so surprised.  The mom was so pleased that it all happened like that..... Another mom of many shared that her three pre teen daughters are doing the Christmas Baking for her this year.  She is almost 7 months pregnant with her ninth child and it is tough getting everything done.  I was so impressed at the willingness of her kids and they are having a ball doing the baking.  We shared some of our favorite recipes.  One mom that couldn't come, sent her soft gingerbread recipe. Carmen's Soft Gingerbread 5c flour 1 tsp salt ½ tsp cloves 3 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp b. soda 1 c shortening 1 ¼ sugar 1 egg (well beaten) ¼ c molasses ¾ c golden syrup 1/3 c water Mix 1 c flour w/ salt, spices, sugar & soda  In another bowl cream shortening – add egg and slightly warmed molasses/ syrup mixture.  Stir in water Stir in flour mixture and then remaining flour in ½ c increments until dough is stiff enough to roll out Chill dough overnight  Roll out ¼ inch thick.  Bake @ 350 for 8-10 min.  For soft cookies – check by gently pressing dough.  It should depress slightly and then return.  Do not brown edges  Another part of our discussion was about fun activities outside.  One mom has kids making a huge snowfort in their front yard.  They have used all the snow from their yard and are almost ready to ask the neighbors if they can use their snow.  smile   A snow whale was also mentioned, as well as ice luminaries (freeze ice cream pails with a yougurt cup weighed down in the middle with a rock.  Remove and put candles inside.  Put along sidewalk or deck.  We also talked about making ice wreaths with water frozen in a Angel Food cake tin - add in twigs or mountain ash berries when half frozen.  Hang from a tree.  Oh, and color water with food coloring and let the kids decorate the snow man, fort or even just the snow outside.  Recycle your dish soap bottles for this!  We also talked about the importance of having our children work alongside us.  One mom shared she was at a big celebration and all the neices and nephews were bored - watching the aunts and uncles work.  We agreed it is a much better plan to have our children work alongside us, developing relationships with us AND learning how to work hard by example.  It also is different when kids are needed to help.  They feel important and worth while AND it gives them skills they can use in the future.    You know, home school support can come from many places, btu I am thankful for our home school support group and the ladies that come when they can.  I host the meeting in our home and sometimes it is quite humbling, because I haven't had time to clean it like I wish I could have, BUT each meeting has so much encouragement and sharing in it.  I know I'm thankful I made the time each month and I hope you received a little encouragement from the notes I took.... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/633356/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/633356/ This was a variation of the Advent Basket of Joy idea that I had.  My mother in law had surgery last week and seems a little blue.  She has a recovery time of 6 to 12 weeks.  I wasn't ready to make her the idea above - plus it would be late!  But I wanted to do something and I thought the idea of opening a gift everyday might help. So again, I went through my sadly depleted Basket of Joy gift box - found a few items that would work for her, and then went shopping.  The idea is to have a gift to open the 12 days before Christmas - little or big.  I chose a bit bigger because it is my inlaws and it will be their Christmas present. I found some great things.  I wanted them to be usable, not more junk either.  I wanted some to be for her, but also some for my father in law, too or for both of them. SO, I had a couple of Christian books (a devotional and one to read - because I also want easy things for her to do, to help fill in time!), a new scarf and mini gloves, scrapbooking items, hot cider packets with a cup, some office supplies most homes run short of now and then (tape, post its, permanent markers, and so on), as well as, a word find, sudoku  and a puzzle book.  There were some bigger gifts, too, and it will close off on Christmas Day with a bag of bird seed for my father in law and a photo album for my mother in law. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631273/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631273/ Herre are some more of our favorite countdown ideas.... Last year, I saw this idea, so it isn't a real old idea in our house, but how about singing a Christmas Carol everyday til Christmas?  I actually wrote down the titles and put them in our advent calendar, along with an activity a day.  I'm hoping the girls will enjoy it.  I just printed out the carols from my Advent Basket of Joy file (another post!).  I have 26 of them typed and beautiful, even dated, so we say, "It's Dec. 3rd, so we need to sing *O Little Town of Bethleham.*', and so on.  I'm going to put them in our Hymn Binder under Christmas to make it easy to find them and to use them. A friend was telling me her countdown idea.  She has 3 different trees with numbered ornaments.  One is felt, another paper and the third is an actual little tree with numbered ornaments.  She has 3 children, so that is why she has three trees.  Each day, her children love putting their ornament on their tree.  I thought that was a pretty neat idea.  Oh, and one more thing.  I have been putting together an Advent Basket of Joy.  One of my daughters was helping me wrap presents and said, "Wow, this would be fun.  I wish someone would make it for us."  Smile So, I thought about it - I'm not doing a little gift every day, but I have bought a few things through the year and this December, that would be good to use.   I added them into our Advent Calendar, too.  Today is the 11th, and we will be doing Christmas Mad Libs.  Each of them gets a book today.  I also have a couple ornament kits, a small box of chocolates and fuzzy Christmas Stickers to color.  Nothing big, but just a little something to make them smile. By the way, if you don't have any Mad Libs books bought (I usually get ours through Scholastic - they are great for grammar practice), go here Mad Libs Online to print some out. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631266/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:02:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631266/ This has been the absolute BEST idea I have seen for many years.  I'm on a Crafters 4 Christ elist and one of the members sent this idea through, plus shared her files. I've adapted some of the ideas (updated them a bit) and added more into the basket.  It originally came as tags that you put on each present.  Let me back up and say what it is exactly! It is ideas for each of the 25 days in December til Christmas. There is a scripture reading, a service idea, a warm your heart idea, a quote, AND a suggestion of a carol to sing EACH DAY, with a small present to open.  I ended up typing everything in and making it into a booklet, so it could be reusable over the years.  So I have the ideas on one side for each day AND I went online and found 26 carols to sing - which was harder than you think!, and put them on the opposite side for each day. Smile  There are a lot of carols that we sing over and over, but it actually was hard to find 25 AND then on the last link I looked at, I found 2 and I had to include: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem It is on the last page of the booklet. I did two last year  - one for an auction and one for a friend.  The auction one was harder, because i had to make it generic, so it would fit anyone.  Much easier to make it fit one family! This year, I had been watching for small things all year long - garage sales would be great for that!  Small Christmas items, books, home schooling extras, etc.... and I started to make some Baskets in late Nov.  (smile - Hard to get things done before you need them!) I prayed about what families I should make one for - a friend, a family going through a hard time (one lady from our church has cancer and I thought it would lift her spirits), a shut in / gramma or another Home Schooling family.  All of these families had been a blessing in our lives over the year and I just wanted to bless them back in some way. I loved putting them together - what fun looking at what I had gathered and deciding what might work for each person or family.  I wrapped them, then tagged them and put them in a box for delivery. It really brought me a lot of joy putting them together and I know the different families appreciated it.  Perhaps this is something you might want to think of doing next year. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631265/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:10:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631265/ Came across this blog this morning and enjoyed reading several pages of her thoughts.  Loved her creative categories! With a Taste of Chocolate I especially liked her entry What I'd Love to Do   I found it very encouraging and a great reminder. Why not visit her blog today? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631253/ Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:55:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/homesweethomeschooler/631253/