I am a homeschooling mom to two great homegrown teens, one chosen toddler and two toddlers here as long as God let's them stay. I have been homeschooling my teens for 10 years and my oldest will graduate May 2008:) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 7 Apr 2008 21:13:00 -0500 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 21:13:00 -0500 Today is my 18th anniversary.  18 years ago at the ripe old age of 18, I married my high school sweetheart.  We were so young and in love.  I am married to my best friend. We were very busy today and did not have a lot of time to celebrate however we know we love each other and will be together forever.  I am so glad God led us together at such a young age. It was great learning to be adults together and we are enjoying raising our kids together. As I look forward to the next 18 years I only imagine the great joy for our whole family. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/512366/ Mon, 7 Apr 2008 21:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/512366/ We had a really good day today:)  I took the three little ones to community play group in the morning. We came home had some lunch and then broke out the homemade play dough and all the new play dough toys from Easter.  Joe got caught up on some school and played outside with the kids in the late afternoon. Kate worked and then taught some private swimming lessons. Over all a good day. After a big snow storm kept us cooped up yesterday it was nice to get out today.  Praying spring comes to our area soon.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/505469/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/505469/ I read this great blog from mommyknows. She has a super store that sells great stuff. This week she is having a contest check it out:) MommyKnows and www.thebabymarketplace.com (a great place to shop for baby and toddler clothes) are hosting the Ugly Fish Organics Strum Something Tee Giveaway.Go on over and comment and be entered to Win one of two Ugly Fish Organics Strum Something Tees. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/504842/ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/504842/ Some how every spring break I suddenly realize how far behind we are on my plans for the year.  My dd has a few things to do to graduate and my son somehow has fallen a month behind. We are going to have to work very hard to get done by memorial day.  I hate doing any regular school in the summer. There is so much to learn and explore. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/504841/ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/504841/ My family had a great Easter. All 5 kids were home and we were able to attend church and eat brunch together. After having our traditional Easter bible hunt.  In the past few years one of my kids have always been off on spring break with their grandparents.  It was nice to be home and go to church together. We came home watched TV played with the toddlers and had a good dinner. Now we are going to put the little ones to bed and end the day with a good board game with my teens.  I hope you all had a great Easter also. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503549/ Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:05:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503549/ Have you heard about Kyle David Miller?  He was killed at the age of three while riding in a booster seat.  His family has started a foundation to help kids get the car seats they need.  If you use the link to do your searches they get money.  It does not cost you a cent just two extra seconds to switch search engines. Please consider helping them out by clicking through the link and searching for what you need. It would help us immensely if you would please spread the word about the foundation and encourage your friends and family to donate to the foundation - every little bit helps and helps us to be able to assist our applicants in a quicker time frame. We have registered with the search engine Goodsearch. Goodsearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo! so you get great results. Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Kyle David Miller Foundation as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to spread the word! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503546/ Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:00:01 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503546/ Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!  This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian. This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program.  Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking.  Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included!  For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.    To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/  and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it.  And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it.  And good luck!  The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg.   And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win.   Yay for free stuff! We're lagging in our Spanish studies because we don't have adequate curriculum. I could really use this, and I'm sure some of you ladies could too! Good luck to everyone. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503140/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:42:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/503140/  My husband is the greatest father I could have ever have hoped for. He woke up this morning played with the little ones and then made breakfast for everyone.  He is nurturing, compassionate, patient and playful. The things he teaches the kids are amazing . The children love to spend time with him.  He makes my kids know how great their heavenly Father is.  To remember the sacrifice God made by sending His son down to suffer humbles me.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/502384/ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/502384/ To be made the evening before Easter You will need to buy the following 1 cup whole pecans 1 tsp. Vinegar 3 egg whites Pinch salt 1 cup sugar Ziplock baggie Preheat oven to 300 Put pecans in  baggie and let children beat them to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested.He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tearsshed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.                                                        Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9 Try it and let me know how your's turned out and what your children thought http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/500787/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:33:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/500787/ We are having a slow weekend. Everyone is trying to get over a cold. Therefor we are staying home.  Our oldest is at work but the rest of us are taking it easy. I have a hard time being motivated to go to church. I LOVE my church. We have a growing, God fearing, bible teaching church. The only thing is it is full of mostly older people. My kids are the only three in nursery. So we sit in church until offering and then I take them down and play with them in the nursery.  I miss sitting in church and socializing afterwards. I feel like by time I clean up the nursery and get three kids ready to go out in to  the weather everyone is leaving and done socializing. My dh does help. I pray as the weather gets warmer I am more motivated to not make an excuse and go to church.  I do listen to the sermons on my WII every week but it is not the same.  Ok I guess I am whiny today because everyone is under the weather. One more month and spring will be here. Right?? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/495435/ Sun, 9 Mar 2008 13:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto5blessings/495435/