I am a homeschooling mom, with ten children. Five girls and five boys. Four of my children have "special needs". I am a Christian. I love to laugh, read, play with my kids, and spend time in my yard. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:34:00 -0500 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:34:00 -0500 about two weeks ago I started using starfall.com for Ryan and Kyley.  Kyley is not too inerested in this program but Ryan just LOVES it.  He sits on my lap each day and we go over about 1/2 of the alphabet.  It is helping his speech as well as introducing the alphabet.  The other day he was wearing a t-shirt with a soccer ball on it.  He pointed to it and said, "ball" and then he said, B!"  I was so proud!  Hey, he just turned three. ; ) I just finished reading the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia.  I am taking a break and reading aloud the History of the World.  Jordan is working on Starfall.com as well and he is gaining confidence in his reading.  I think it is a great free program. Happy teaching! mom2many http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/672055/ Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:34:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/672055/ I have been on a huge spring cleaning kick the past week.  I finished one bathroom the hallway, the stairs, and today I cleaned the kitchen.  Becky and I worked for about 9 hours.  Wow, what a job.  We have the floor to do tomorrow and some paint touch up and we will be done with the kitchen.  It looks so clean and smells so fresh.  Update on our addition...It is drywalled and primered!!  We are going to paint and put in the floor at the end of the month.  I am getting really excited!!  I will take lots of pictures to share when it is done.  I can't wait until garage sale season starts so I can shop for some decor (hubby still out of work). I taught my older girls how to make homemade refried beans this week.  They are so easy and economical. Happy cleaning, mom2many   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/671873/ Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/671873/ My beautiful, beautiful, baby girl is 4 yrs. Old Today.  You bring us so much joy and love http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/670491/ Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/670491/ My baby turned 3 on March  8th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PRECIOUS, ADORABLE, WONDERFUL LITTLE MAN!!!                                 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/669606/ Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/669606/ I can't believe I have not written for almost a whole month.  We have had so much going on both good and difficult.  My husband lost his job two weeks ago.  We are in the middle of having our much needed family room added to our house.  Izaac has been having a lot of behavior problems and we started on a new behavior program for him, and us.  We live in an area of high unemployment right now and so this job loss was somewhat expected but we were hopeful it wouldn't happen.  So...we will get to see how God will provide for us, and I know He will! We have paid for our addition up to the drywall so we should be able to still get into our new family room, minus the decorating ideas I had all planned  Of course garage sale season is going to be here soon so we will see how creative I can get on a very small budget.  I have a major praise!!  Kyley made it through the entire winter season without getting croup!!  This is the first year and thank you to all that said a prayer for her.   God is so good! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/666377/ Sat, 7 Mar 2009 18:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/666377/ I am potty training Ryan and Miss Kyley.  You may think it would be easier with my ninth and tenth child but not exactly!  I am soooo much older and I don't have the energy I used to. LOL!  Some of you may remember that I was potty training Kyley a while ago. Well, she got the stomach flu twice this winter and she has regressed.  I can't blame her!  It is so hard to remember to go potty when you are sick.  So, we are back to square 2 with Kyley and starting at square 1 with Ryan.  I will let everyone know how it is going, if I survive, and any great tips I come up with for potty training a child with DS. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/656380/ Mon, 9 Feb 2009 17:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/656380/ We do have a serious case of cabin fever around here.  today we played hooky and went for a long ride in the country.  Some times being cooped up for too long makes concentration so hard for the little ones and even the older ones!! I am reading a loud "the Magicians Nephew" and Gracie, Nina, and Jordan are narrating through drawing.  We also started "The story of the world".  The kids are really enjoying this and I am as well.  I am knitting a scarf for my dear husband.  I am using a very thick wool blend yarn.  It is more difficult but I think the end result will be really nice. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/655380/ Fri, 6 Feb 2009 16:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/655380/ Yes, the stomach bug has hit our family.  It started with Gracie and Nina...onto Ryan and Kyley...onto Becky and myself...onto Dan and then Allysa...next Kevin and still holding out is Jordan. I know we all have to get sick and it will pass.  The worse part is watching the household chores get more and more behind.  Everyone is pitching in but you know how it is.  Kyley is having a particularly hard time.  Her stomach is better but she is cranky and extra tired..She also is just a little dramatic!! I am knitting and reading and yes I still am managing to get in quite a bit of "teaching". This picture has nothing to do with this post but she is just so cute I decided to use it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/649626/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:33:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/649626/ We just got back from an over night trip to a hotel/waterpark.. It is about 10 degrees outside and the inside of the waterpark was 85 degrees!!  We all had such a fun time.  there was water slides, a "river" to float down, hot tubs, and more, more, more! It was a much needed "cabin fever" break.... http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/646699/ Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:49:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/646699/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/639369/ Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:13:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ridiculous/639369/