This is mostly my thoughts on everything from homeschooling to family life to what's going on in the world in general. I may even post questions occasionally. I welcome comments, suggestions, and especially prayers as we all travel on this road of life. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 6 Jul 2009 10:27:00 -0500 Mon, 6 Jul 2009 10:27:00 -0500 I had an off-the-wall thought this morning.  It probably isn't an original idea, but still this is my take on it.  I was thinking about the story of The Three Little Pigs this morning while I was in the shower.  Don't ask me why this occurred to me in the shower because I will never know--perhaps because that is the only place of relative silence in my otherwise busy house.  Anyway, it occurred to me, what if the Big Bad Wolf wasn't really bad?  What if he was simply suffering from a cold or hay fever and desperate for help?  I mean, think about it.  When you sneeze, it sounds like you are huffing and puffing right before the actual sneeze.  And, if your sneezes are like mine, you could definitely blow a straw house down with it!!  I don't remember the Big Bad Wolf ever actually saying he was going to eat the pigs.  Maybe he just needed medicine for his cold and was looking to his neighbors for help.  He was so desperate that he was willing to do anything to get it even go down the chimney of a house!  So, that was my deep thought for the day.  What if the Big Bad Wolf wasn't really bad? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/705503/ Mon, 6 Jul 2009 10:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/705503/ Have you ever noticed that the more tired you are the more energy your children have?  It seems that on the days when all I want to do is "veg out" and read or rest my children want to run and play and turn the living room into a gymnasium or playground.  For some reason today I am extremely tired and sleepy.  I got enough sleep.  I even got to sleep in a little (until almost 7:30).  Maybe I got too much sleep.  Maybe that's the problem.  Or maybe I am still catching up on sleep from the weekend which was quite busy.  Whatever it is, I hope I have more energy this afternoon when the children will most definitely get their second wind!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/699610/ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:09:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/699610/  I am sitting in my rocking recliner watching the joy on the faces of my children and their father as they all play with a huge canister of Play-doh.  What is it about Play-doh that brings such joy to children of all ages?  Some might say it's the texture and tactile experience; others might say it is the smell; still others might say it is the ability to create and re-create things as many times as you want.  I think for my kids it is the knowledge that Daddy likes to play right alongside them and has just as much fun with the stuff as they do! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/688056/ Mon, 11 May 2009 18:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/688056/ It's been a rough few weeks.  Things have not been going smoothly at our house.  I haven't yet "wrapped my brain" around everything that is happening.  I am in a fog, and it has been hard to keep up with our school related work.  I decided to just relax and just let the learning happen without being a slave to our curriculum.  And, surprisingly, it has.  The kids are surprising me at every turn.  They have started directing their own studies a little more, and they are more "caught up"  than I would have imagined.  There are some things that have fallen by the wayside, but since we work year round, I am not worried about those things.  I am continually amazed by my own children!  And I am extremely proud of them!  I just hope I tell them enough. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/669295/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/669295/ I was feeling a little down today for no particular reason.  Then, one of my best friends from college, whom I rarely get to talk to, messaged me on Facebook with one of my favorite verses: Psalm 108:1.  It helped me to stop and breath again... In another note, I had a fright when a bird flew into my house!  I am terrified of birds! (That stems from a goose flogging incident when I was younger.)  My husband and kids got a good laugh at my expense because I completely lost it and went running through the house trying to get away from the bird--and it was just a finch (at least that's what we think it was--didn't really take the time to get the guide out to see)!  the bird inside--Shannon took this while I was hiding!My 13-year-old holding the bird on the porch.  I took this one through the window--it was when she came in that the bird decided to fly in too! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/653123/ Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:02:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/653123/ My husband discovered something yesterday that we think has great potential to become an annual event.  It's called Biblebee.  It is a contest that tests both Bible memorization and Bible knowledge skills.  This is the first year for this contest, and we thought it would be something that other homeschoolers might be interested in trying. The contest is for students aged 7-18 with three different age categories.  There is a minimal entrance fee for contestants--I think it was $20 per person with a discount for families with multiple children interested in competing.  Also, after competing at the local level the top 100 contestants nationwide go to a national competition with the potential to win monetary prizes if they finish in the top 3 in the nation!  The website with information on the contest is here: Biblebee .  I would be interested to know what others think about this contest. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/650906/ Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/650906/ Do you ever have just one of THOSE days?  You know the days where it seems as though every thing you touch turns to dust in your hands.  The days where Murphy's Law becomes your personal bain of existence.  Where your emotions are out of sync and your physical body is just too tired for you to move.  Today is just one of THOSE days for me.  I don't know if it's the winter blahs or what.  I know I ache from head to toe--nothing unusual about that especially when there's a massive cold front coming through.  I know I seem to be "wearing my feelings on my sleeve" today.  I didn't feel this way yesterday--except for the achiness.  Yesterday was a pretty decent day.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today. I shouldn't be complaining.  There are people who are suffering much more than I am.  I know in my head that things could be much, much worse.  I just wish I wasn't having one of THOSE days today. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/645875/ Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/645875/ Is it really the end of 2008?  It seems like I was just getting used to writing that year on my checks, and here we are at a New Year again.  It seems that this year flew by me while I wasn't looking.  I am looking forward to 2009, don't get me wrong, but where did 2008 go?  I think that the older you get, the faster time seems to move.  It seems that there are so many things that are left undone.  Time to start looking forward instead of backward.  What will 2009 hold?  I certainly don't know, but I can't wait to find out! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/638324/ Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/638324/ First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!  I hope everyone is having a very blessed holiday.  I know I certainly am.  It is a tradition for my husband, children, and I to exchange gifts with each other on Christmas Eve.  I thought I had really done great when I got a video game for my hubby that he was really wanting and absolutely loves!  Then, I got the surprise of a lifetime when I opened my gift from him.  He got me this great laptop that I am now using to blog! Boy was I surprised!  We have been having computer troubles for approximately a month or so, and I haven't been able to blog.  Now I can with no problem!  Thanks, Honey! Have a very blessed holiday.  I will blog again sometime after the festivities are over! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/636430/ Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/636430/ Well, tomorrow is the big day for my mother-in-law's surgery.  It was originally scheduled for 1:00 p.m., but the doctor called her today and asked if she would come to the hospital early.  She is now scheduled for a 7:30 a.m. surgery.  Originally, Shan and I were going to arrive at the hospital around 10:00 a.m., and have plenty of time to see his mom before she went to the O.R.  Now, we will be arriving around 6:00 or 6:30 a.m., and we hope we will make it in time to see her before she goes to the O.R. At least we only have to go about an hour away!  Thank goodness my dad was willing and able to come to our house that early in the morning to sit with the girls. We have done our best to prepare our girls for the fact that MawMaw is having surgery(without letting them know how serious her condition is), and that she will have restrictions when she comes home from the hospital.  I know they are extremely concerned for her and don't really understand what is going on.  I just hope they don't misbehave tomorrow while they are with my dad.  Well, I guess I had better leave the computer for the night and get things ready for tomorrow morning.  It is the plan to make things as easy for my dad as we can, so I had better get busy or I'll never get any sleep tonight!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/621145/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hsmomkiki/621145/