Blessings From Home

A Lovely and Helpful Article on Washing Dishes

On my wonderings around the web, I stumbled upon a site called Shepard's Hill and found a wealth of information on just about every topic on homemaking and homesteading you could imagine. And one in particular that I wanted to share, being that my recent topic was about washing dishes was this one.

Finding Simplicity in doing dishes

Okay, I have a confession to make. I HATE washing the dishes! It is the least favorite of all my chores, and I really don't mind my other duties that much, but for some reason I have never been able to find peace or happiness in washing the dishes. I've tried, oh, how I've tried.

It all goes back to childhood, I guess. The dishes were my job as soon as I could reach the sink. We never had a dishwasher until I was about to move out of the home. My mom would inspect the dishes each time I did them, and if she found one speck left unclean, I had to wash all of them all over again. This made me learn to wash the dishes very well, but at the same time despise the job.

So as soon as I moved out and got married, well, at first we ate off disposable everything, and if any dishes were dirtied, they sat in the sink sometimes for days. (I know, I'm so ashamed) After we bought our first house, a gift from my husband was a dishwasher, and I've had one almost ever since. After we filed bankruptcy and had to move into a rental, I even talked my husband into buying me a portable dishwasher, which is what I still have.

Now here's the problem, my kitchen is kind of small and shaped awkward so that there is not room for the dishwasher, so I'm not able to use it, but I found out that Maytag sold a conversion kit to make the portable into a regular dishwasher, and I even already have a hole cut for it . I ordered the conversion kit over 3 months ago, and they have decided that they don't want to make this part any more, and I am getting my money back and now have a dishwasher being used as a clutter catch all sitting in my living room. The last few months I have wavered between using disposables and having a sink full of dishes all the time.

So I am learning to find simplicity in washing dishes, maybe even some peace and happiness. I sat there today with my hands in the hot and soapy water and the breeze blowing in from the window above my sink, and the sudden quietness, (my children were locked playing in their rooms quietly, for once) and I felt such peace as I washed those dishes, so much so, that I actually looked forward to washing them after lunch and dinner. (Crazy, huh?!) I suddenly realized that washing the dishes gave me a sort of mental break. I didn't really have to think about what I was doing. What a blessing this has been.

sara

Friday at Home

Hello all,

     I pray your week has been blessed in all things. We have been busy working away on homeschooling and homekeeping. We've had some training issues here at home with the kids and have been working on that also, mostly discontentment and sibling rivalry.

I'm so thrilled that we have finally worked out a homeschool routine that is working for us. We have managed to do school and be done by lunchtime or shortly after all week. Partly because I'm giving each child a time limit on how long I let them do their work before moving on. That way if I have a dawdler, it won't hold us all back, and they will have to finish their work on their own time, which seems to be a big motivator to get it done.

I've been feeling extra tired this week, needing to go to bed early or on some days take an afternoon nap, but amazingly, I've still been able to keep up with the house even while feeling so tired, and that in itself is one of my biggest blessings this week. It always seems when I'm not at my best, that my home suffers immensely, and takes so much more time to get back in order.

I still need to finish working in the family room today, but we've been maintaining what's done. My bedroom has become such a sanctuary for me, especially on these days where rest is so precious to me. And it takes me less than 5 minutes to straighten it before heading out of their in the morning.

Today and tomorrow holds much more cleaning and work around the house. I'm hoping to finish up the family room, and clean the bathroom today, and tomorrow I would really like to work on the laundry room and outside. But I've learned to just work where I feel led to, and not stress about it. I know tomorrow is a big football game hubby is wanting to watch, so I'm not sure what we'll be able to get done.

Well, I better get back to the school table for now. I pray your day is blessed and fullfilling!

sara 

Wednesday at Home

Good morning all,

     Well, I'm up early, I've had my daily quiet time with the Lord, reading in Luke 1 about the pending birth of our Lord and the birth of John.  I've had a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of milk, a glass of orange juice to take my vitamins and a tylenol to help with the aches of the last trimester, and I just finished my cup of coffee. I'd say I'm starting off on the right foot, for once.

The mornings of the last few weeks have not been starting so well. I've been having trouble getting up and going in the morning, sometimes not getting out of bed until 8am or later, which means I lose any quiet time I might be blessed to have because the kids are already up, and I am forced into getting started on the rest of the day. I've been praying that the Lord would help me in this area, and that if I do need extra sleep to help me get to bed earlier or allow time for a short nap during the day, and so at 6am, my eyes popped open, and I was wide awake.

So here I am with a full day ahead of me, and lots to do. The last couple of days have been "nesting" days. I've had bursts of energy and have been accomplishing quite a bit, mostly working in the family room, which is the largest room in our house and the hub of our home, where we watch movies, play games, eat our daily meals, homeschool, etc. I did some decluttering, deep cleaning, and organizing, and even some decorating. I got all the homeschool stuff straightened and organized and everthing is so much nicer in here now. I'm going to finish up in here today and I'll get a picture to post later so you can see the fruits of my labor. lol.

I'm not sure where today will lead me. I've not been following my basic weekly plans, but I still have been getting some much needed things done and I'd rather get all the rooms done and then start on a basic weekly cleaning plan. I will probably work in the kitchen today and get some deep cleaning and organizing done there, along with some baking. And if I have the time, I may work in the master bed and bath as well. Those are three other rooms that would bless me so much more if they were clean and organized. We also have school to do, which I will begin on in about 30 minutes, and  I need to clean out the fridge and make my weekly menu and shopping list. And I will wash at least one load of denim.

I need to bake some banana bread and some granola. I was going to do that yesterday, but time got away from me. For dinner, I think we'll be having some pinto beans and cornbread. It's a nice cool day and a pot of beans sounds so good. Well, I'm off to get started on my day. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara 

Pregnancy Worries

I'm really blessed when it comes to being pregnant. I don't have morning sickness, I hardly get nauseus, and I can't gain weight. In fact, I'm the only person I know who can lose so much weight during pregnancy.

Through all four pregnancies, I've lost significant amounts of weight, and with the previous three, have walked out of the hospital weighing in up to 30 pounds less than before I got pregnant.

This baby has been no different. Now with just over 8 weeks to go, I am down more than 25lbs from my starting weight. Now, before you get too worried, my starting weight was too high. I was overweight, and no, not the, I'm not fitting in my size 6's any more, overweight. I was in a size 16-18, and an X-LG in most other things.

I eat, not a lot, but I eat. For some reason I eat much healthier when pregnant. They say your body craves what it needs, such as iron, vitamin C, etc. And that's pretty much how I eat. If I need iron, I crave things like peanut butter or spinach salad. If I need Vitamin C, I crave fruit.

The doctors or midwife has never seemed overly concerned with my weight loss, until I get to the end when the baby is gaining a significant amount of weight on a regular basis. For instance, in the last week, I've lost 5lbs, and the baby should be gaining about a 1/2 pound a week. My appetite has not changed, but I continue to lose. This pregnancy, I have already lost more than all the previous ones, so I'm going tomorrow to buy some high calorie snacks and maybe some instant breakfast drinks. I'm so blessed with all the possible problems that can arise from pregnancy, that this is all that I have to deal with, but it's still a concern. My babies have all been fairly small, ranging from 6lbs 5oz to 6lbs 14oz at term, but if I continue to lose this little one may be my smallest one yet. So if you could, please pray that all is healthy with this little one and that my weight stabilizes so that he can grow healthy, I would be so grateful.

Thanks so much,

Blessings, sara 

Monday at Home

This weekend was such a blessing! As I mentioned Friday, I was going on a lady's retreat with some women from my church and it was so fun and I learned so many things. I felt so refreshed when I came home.

The theme for the retreat was Fruit of the Spirit, based on the scripture from Galatians 5:22-23.

     "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

We learned how to incorporate not one, but all of these characteristics into our daily lives, and the number one thing to be able to have all of them is to love God, and all else should fall into place. There was so much more that I would love to share, but it will have to wait for another time.

So on to today's business...same as usual. According to my little ticker on the sidebar, I have only 9 weeks left until this little bundle of joy is to be born. Now if you don't think that's not a kick in the rear, you are wrong. I have so, so many things to do, not only for baby, but for the holidays, for the other kids, and just things to be done in general. I'm a little scared I won't be able to do it all, but I'm going to work at it as hard as I can.

I'll just take it a day at a time. For today here is my list....

~Keep up with daily routines.

~Follow basic weekly plan, which for today is...

     -weekly home blessing-vacuuming, mopping, dusting, etc.

     -zone work-this week, I am working in the kitchen

     -laundry-towels and sheets

~Work on wool soaker for baby

~Schooling with children-which I'm keeping very basic for today

~Do some general cleaning and pick up throughout the house

If I have time, which I won't, I would like to do a bit of sewing, but that will probably have to wait until tomorrow which is when I like to do my sewing and some baking for the week. For dinner we're having homemade hamburger helper with green beans or salad. Well, that's all for today. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara

End of the week

The stress this week has brung has been a bit overwhelming. It has been a realization of how unstable everything really is right now. Praise God for the fact my husband still has a job, but for how long? He said he's still not sure how everything will turn out.

In the meantime, we are watching our budget, cutting back where we can and stocking up with whatever extra we have left. Yesterday was errand day and the kids and I got out, went to the library, to the local park, and to the grocery store. It was a fun day. At the store, I managed to get several extras and still stay well within our budget of 100 dollars for the week.

At the library I picked up several books on gardening, composting, and getting organized. I'm hoping that in addition to preparing the yard for spring planting, we can also learn as much as we can about what we're going to grow.

We started Wednesday working on the backyard. We started with the hill out in the middle of the backyard. Apparently the previous owners had an above ground pool, and when they dug up the ground to level the pool area, they just left it in a big pile, so we're working on leveling it out.

For today, we are busy cleaning up from the week, and getting ready to leave. I'm going on a lady's retreat with the women from my church today, and my children are spending the night with my folks. I'm so excited! Not to get away from the kids, but to have the oppurtunity to learn and fellowship with other women without interruption, and a chance to renew my spirit a bit. I will be coming home tomorrow late afternoon. Well, there is lots to do, and little time to do it in. I want to make the house nice for my husband so he can relax while he's home alone tonight and tomorrow. Have a blessed day!

sara 

Layoffs have begun

Just as I hit the enter key on my last post, the phone rang. It was my husband but it wasn't time for him to be off work yet. He said that without warning they layed off 15 employees today. Praise God that my husband wasn't one of them...yet.

This is a small local company of less than 200 employees, so it is very scary. We could definately use some prayer in this area. I don't know if there are any more layoffs in the near future. And we apparently won't have any warning when they do decide to layoff.

Blessings, sara

Job and Money Stress and preperations

Today has been a pondering day for me. My husband, who does his best to save me any undue stress (God bless him), felt the need to share with me his concerns over his job and the concerns over what may come in the next many months or years. As far as I knew, all was fine, with his job anyways. I had my own concerns about the economy from several readings on the web and watching of the news, and had been trying to gather my thoughts on how best to prepare for that, but my husbands job, as I should have known is not secure, and work has been slowly dwindling for his company over the last several months.

They've begun talking lay-offs, nothing official yet, but it's something to be aware of, and to prepare for. I am not prepared for anything, to say the least. I think at best we'd make it a week on what we have on hand here.

So I've been making lists, (I am a listmaker, ya know). Lists of things we need to cut back on, lists of things we need to stock up on, not just food, but medicines, fabrics, necessities, things for schooling the kids, etc. We have a lot of unneccesary expenditures like eating out, cable tv, and a few other things that will be going away. Internet will stick around for as long as we can afford it, because of it's multiple resources for homeschooling, recipes and frugal living.

I've made a well layed out plan of our backyard, and how we are going to transform it into our own little homestead in the city. It will take us many years to get completely to that goal, but it is definately possible. I'm starting in the most frugal area possible, and that is growing some of our food. It's too late to start anything now, at least planting, but I'm beginning by starting my compost, gathering lumber to build square foot boxes, buying heirloom seeds, and clearing out the area where we will be putting the boxes.

My dad has some extra lumber to share that I'm going to use to make a clotheline that I saw on one of my many visits here. I was originally going to go and buy an umbrella clotheline, but it was going to cost 70 dollars plus the cost of cement, and by making one like the one in the post, all I should need is cement, and maybe some lattice eventually, but I'm going to post on freecycle first to see what I can find.

I'm doing my best to look around here first before I go out and spend money on things. My parents, who are the packrat king and queen, always have extra things they're willing to share, and if I just looked around, ya never know what I'd find in my own home.

I'm trying to not let myself panic about anything, because I know that never does any good. But I have definately had my eyes opened more than ever about how much I need to prepare for what may come, whether it  be economic failure, or job loss, temporary or not, or just for the joy of being able to be a bit more self sufficient, it must be done.

The main thing I need to do is accomplish these goals and preperations as inexpensively as I can or we'll end up being in worse shape than if we had not done anything at all.

The easiest place for me to start saving money in after eliminating other unnecessary expenses is the grocery bill. We've been slowly making changes to the way we eat. Making our own bread and baked goods, eating ground turkey over ground beef, eating beans at least 2 times a week, among other things, but to say we have been doing these things religously is an understatement. We do it as necessary, but it has come to the point that it must be done on a daily basis. So that is where I will concentrate my efforts first. And when there is extra money, it will be used for stocking up on foods and other things. So now I'm off to make my weekly menu and shopping list, and will know more on what I can stock up on this week when hubby arrives home with his check. Be on the lookout for posts on some major changes coming to this household, and our journey there.

Blessings, sara

Not as planned, but still good

In my daily post, I spoke about trying to stick to my daily routines, and basic weekly plan, and how much I really needed to do that especially as the time for our newest blesssing is to arrive draws nearer. And as true as that is, today did not go as planned. School took longer than it usually does, housework didn't follow along any faster, and by day's end, I felt like I got nothing done, except for a load of laundry, and a few dishes, and ofcourse schoolwork.

Right after dinner, though I was blessed with a sudden burst of energy, and boy did I use it. My girls room has not had any work done to it since we moved in. The most I've done in there is gather some dirty laundry, wash bedding, and tuck my girls into bed, while I tripped over every single toy and doll on my way out the door. I couldn't really blame them for not putting their toys up, because they had no idea where they went. To say that my girls' room looked like a tornado went through it would be kind. It was awful, we literally had a path through the room, and even it had to be cleared at least once a day.

So I cleaned up from dinner, got the kids situated playing in another room, and I set to work. Sorting, purging, and organizing toys, gathering trash, and things that didn't even belong in there, and putting it all away. We just set up two new (to them) day beds over the weekend, so now we had lots of extra space under their beds to store things. They also have a nice sized closet with high shelves where I can put some of their toys that I don't want them just getting down whenever they please. I worked for a steady 2 hours in their room, from 7 to 9, and I'm thankful to say, I'm almost finished.

Tomorrow I would like to finish up in there even though it's not really part of my daily routine. I still have another hour or two worth of work in there. After gathering all their toys up from all over the house, I'd like to go through all the toys one more time and get rid of a lot more. Their baby dolls for instance is insane. Then there's the stuffed animals that need to find a home. And I would like to finally get there pictures hung and their room decorated a little bit.

At another time, I have the big task of making the "great seasonal clothing swap". lol. That will take me a bit of time, although I do have their clothes sorted in tubs by size already, but the act of getting them all switched out will take me the better part of a Saturday. I'll try and post a picture or two of the finished product if I can get to it.

Part of me would like to do this everyday, pick a room, work on it for a couple of days or until I feel like I'm done, and then move onto another room in the house, until everything has been gone through, but the problem is that I don't know when I'll honestly have the energy to do that much. I can see myself getting the girl's room finished tomorrow, but only because I did the bulk of the work today, but to hope for another burst of energy like that again is not always promising in these last weeks of pregnancy. I guess I'll just take these oppurtunities as they arise and use them for all they've got.

But for now, it' nearing 10pm, and that's my bedtime. My children are all snoozing away, and I envy them so. I'm off to join them in joyful slumber. Have a blessed evening!

sara 

Monday at Home

The week ahead looks to be somewhat busy, but not too much maybe. I'll be having to get out more than I care to this week, but that's one good thing about living in town I guess. Today we have school work to do, quite a bit of work around the house, and I have to get out and go pick up Madelynn's new reading glasses.

Tomorrow I have to go to a WIC appointment. I know there is a lot of controversy around using government assistance, but I feel like it's okay as long as you are not abusing the system. To be quite honest, on what my husband makes, we could be on food stamps, but I don't think we need it, but WIC helps us buy things like milk, eggs, and cheese, and helps us out so much.

Wednesday I have a dental appointment to have the other side of my mouth deep cleaned. I don't look forward to that, but know it will be worth it.

Then we'll be out Thursday for our usual errands, although I may see if we can't go ahead and get those done Thursday after my cleaning.

The big thing this week is Friday afternoon. I'm leaving to go on a one night ladies retreat with some women from my church. It's only about 40 minutes from home, but I will be gone overnight, so there are preperations to be made for myself and especially my kids. My mom, dad, and sister will be keeping my kids that night, so that my hubby won't have to take care of them on his own, plus they enjoy keeping the kids overnight every once in a while.

This week, I'm really trying to stay on track with routines, zone work, and my basic weekly plans, no longer out of just a want, but out of need. As the time grows closer for this little one to make his appearance I get tired much quicker, and those braxton hicks contractions become more and more frequent. And I've learned when I stay up with my routines, my days go smoother, and I don't have to work quite as hard to catch up later. For instance, my laundry routine helps me by making it where I only have to do 1-3 loads a day instead of catching up with several loads at the end of the week.

So for today, here's what I need to do...

-Morning routine

-Homeschool

-Daily Chores-

    -Weekly Home Blessing-dust, wipe windows, sweep/mop, take trash out, change sheets, cull/toss papers, and vacuum

    -Zone work-Today and tomorrow, I am in zone 5, the family room. I will spend 15 minutes doing some extra things in here.

    -Laundry-Towels and sheets-I have one load of each to do.

-Afternoon routine

-Go pick up Madelynn's glasses

-Before Bed Routine-(Nicholas' bath night)

During breaks or downtime, I am working on one of the wool soakers for the baby. I am hoping to get it finished either today or tomorrow. Well, it's time to get going. I pray your day is a blessed one!

sara 

Train them Up

It seems that I posted on this not too long ago, but it seems my children have decided to run amuck...again. I lost my temper...again. And now we are both learning some lessons from it...again.

I have been taken for granted over the last few months by my own children, and it's my own fault. I promise them that if they do not behave that certain consequences shall arise, and when it happens again, what do I do, I let it go.

I decided it was time for some drastic measures. I am in the process of boxing up all their toys and packing them away or giving them away. All they are left with is their clothes, their beds, and one stuffed animal to sleep with. I will continue with this punishment until they begin to show some respect and a helpful additude around this house. Then they will recieve one toy back, and will only get one toy back until they learn to care for what they are given. I'm also going to sit down tonight and make them each their own chore chart. In addition to that, I'm going to sit down and write up a rules and discipline sheet, and their daily schedule that we are all going to start following. The Lord has finally shown me that enough is enough, and this momma has had enough.

Sara

Dentists, ugh

I had to go to the dentist today. I have to say one of my least favorite things to do, but really who enjoys the dentist. They did a deep cleaning on half my mouth which means that I am still numb, and well, still drooling out the right side of my mouth.

I have a tooth that is giving me fits that I am going to have something done about next week, and they are also sending some of my x-rays off to an oral surgeon, because they found some kind of mass in my jaw that worried them. I had my wisdom teeth out years ago, so it's not that. So if you feel led, please pray about that. My afternoon is free today, Praise God! My children have gone with my parents and will not be home until later in the afternoon. So what am I going to do with no children, sleep, party(yeah right), no, I'm going to clean, and declutter some toys while they're not here. shh, don't tell. lol. So I'm off for now to enjoy some peace, if for only a moment. 

Blessings, sara 

Bread Baking at My House In Pictures With Recipe

I actually managed to make bread today, among other things and even managed to take pictures while I made it. I used a recipe that Deanna at Handsnhearts posted for 1 hour yeast bread recipe. So here it goes.

Homeschooling schedules

Since starting homeschool with my son last year, I felt tied to starting school first thing in the morning. But I've recently realized the beauty of homeschooling and the fact that I can start school any time I want to. I could do it after dinner if I wanted to, or the middle of the day.

So with this pregnancy wearing on me, and the restless nights keeping me from being the usual "up and at'em" person I remember once being, I'm rearranging our schedule so that we can start right after lunch.

Before I did school right after breakfast, and it was nice to be able to get it all done, but I usually wasn't all there for it until about halfway through. Then I devoted the afternoons to cleaning. Now I get done what I can in the morning and finish the rest of the work after schoolwork is done. Today we started at 1pm, and were amazingly done by 4pm. I know that is a really good day, but at least now, I know it can be done. I don't know if this schedule will stick, but it seems to be working for now.

I'm also thankful to say that I finally managed to arrange our school time schedule so that we can do all our schoolwork together with me not feeling like a rag doll by day's end.

Today was an accomplished day, one that I really feel good about. I didn't get it all done, but 85% isn't bad, especially with those third trimester pains settling in my hips as they usually do. I'm off to bed. Have a blessed day.

Sara

Sewing Day, a couple pictures

I finally unburied my sewing machine for the first time in over 4 months! It's been packed away and I hadn't had a chance to unpack it over the last two months. So I pulled out a few things I've been intending to finish for a long time and so far I finished a few quick things, and one bigger project of finishing the bloomers to go with my daughter's dress that I made last year! Here's the dress...

Thankfully, the dress still fits her very well, and the bloomers that I cut out at the same time fit as well. Oh, and something else I did today was finally load my pictures onto our new computer! So for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of the bloomers I completed today.

What's funny now is that she's been wearing that dress for a year now, and it has faded with washing, and the yet to be washed bloomers are still bright. Hopefully nobody will notice.

I'm so thrilled to finally be sewing again, and posting pictures too. I've also been doing a lot of crocheting and knitting that I'll be posting soon. Such as the wool diaper covers for our newest blessing. Well, back to the sewing table to see what else I can do. I have a long list of things needing to be made, especially for the baby. Have a blessed day!

sara

Homeschool Ponderings

We are now in our second year of homeschooling, and I have to admit as much as I love having my kids home with me, it hasn't been the easiest year. Not because of the kids, but because of everything else.

Our first year, I had only one student, my oldest son, Nicholas, while my middle daughter finished out her Kindergarten year in public school. And then there was my then 2 year old daughter who I was learning how to deal with during school time. We also moved a couple times. Oh, and I managed to get pregnant, and went through the agony of dealing with the first trimester exhaustion. Then there has been the issue of curriculum. I started off with using free resources from the internet, such as Old Fashioned Education,  which was okay for a while, but soon thought it wasn't structured enough for me or my son, and I was spending several hours a week just preparing. Then we moved onto Christian Light Education, which I loved....for the most part. 

While I still love Christian Light Education, things have changed in our second year of homeschooling. Things like we've added another student to our roster, my middle daughter, Madelynn, and also my 3 year old, Emily, who now wants and should be involved with our schooling fun. I now have less than 12 short weeks before the newest blessing in our family arrives which means there is some preparations needing to be made on his part. We're done moving and are settling well into our own new home, and loving the fact that it really is ours and not a yucky rental that we may have to move out of in a year or less.

So now we're back to curriculum. Christian Light is wonderful in the fact that they are so structured and very detailed in there lesson plans which has been so helpful in teaching, but the problem I'm running into is teaching children at multiple ages and stages, but at the same time so close in age that each one is just a few stair steps behind the other.  By days end, I feel like I've ran a marathon, and most days get nothing to little else done. I've considered taking the time to catch each child up to the other so that we can work on about the same level, but I think that would only frustrate each child and to me isn't worth it.

So here's what I'm considering....I really, really love CLE's math, reading, and language arts programs. I don't want to change those. So that covers the 3R's. But then there is, for us anyways, Bible, Science, Social Studies, and the other extras, like Music and Art. I also really love the Charlotte Mason style of teaching. Here comes the hard part for me, I'm wanting to leave something that gives me direction in every single thing to something that I have to do a little more prep work, but would be able to combine all the kids together, somewhat. That in itself is a big step for me. I'm very much a "type A" perfectionist, and like to keep things all the same, like using all the same curriculum. I just feel like I don't know how to be one of those parents who can gather their curriculum from every corner and throw it together, and actually make it all make sense.

Change is hard for me, especially when I'm not sure how it will work out. I have it all worked out in my head, but when it comes time to put it into practice, I never know what will happen. I know right now, with all of our extras that I mentioned above, that 1) Each child is learning something different and are at different levels, and I'm having to keep up with each one, answer questions, and work one on one with each child, which takes up a lot of time and 2)The kids are pretty bored with what they're learning in those areas. I would love to get more creative in these areas, but am always a little nervous about it. That's why I think that stepping back to Old Fashioned Education, at least in the extra subjects will help us with both problems.

So here's what I think our curriculum will look like for the remainder of this year:

Nicholas-8 years old

~CLE mathematics-beginning 2nd grade math

~CLE language arts-beginning 2nd grade LA

~CLE reading- beginning 2nd grade reading

Madelynn-6 years old

~CLE mathematics-just beginning 1st grade math

~CLE language arts-hasn't started language arts yet, but will soon

~CLE reading-just began the CLE learn to read program

Emily-3 1/2 years old

~Preperatory Curriculum from Brightly Beaming Resources

I will probably only spend about 30 minutes a day with Emily. The rest of her time will be observing, playing, and listening in.

All together

~Devotions-Keys for Kids

~Bible-Calvary Chapel Children's Bible Curriculum

~Science, History, Biography, Geography/Social Studies-We will use the book lists at OFE here for the kindergarten level along with any added worksheets, fun books, and hands on learning that we can find.

~Music-I have a music lesson book that we really love that teaches them notes and basic music. I'm also working with them on learning the guitar and piano. We also will be learning and singing a new hymn every week.

~Art-Fun hands on stuff...cutting, coloring, gluing, painting, etc. I will probably use a lot of what they give in the ArtPac from CLE, not to mention all the activity books and websites there are.

I'm also planning at least 2 out of town field trips to a couple of museums.

Some other fun websites that we will use a lot are:

Enchanted Learning-It has great printables and is worth the 20 dollar/year membership!

Free Hymns and Bible Study Charts

Starfall-Great resource for reading

Nick Jr-Lots of fun learning games

PBS Kids-Another fun learning games site

Playhouse disney-Yet another fun learning games site

With the game sites, I'm picky about what I let the kids play, but they do have some fun learning games that the kids enjoy.

Something else I'm working on putting together are several tubs of downtime activities, like legos, playdough, lacing cards, etc and also some folder games for those times when one child needs extra help in a certain subject. This is a big problem for us. Right now, if I get caught up with say Nicholas in math, I lose Madelynn and Emily off to play in their room or causing trouble at the table, and we have an awful time of getting back on track. This way if there is a downtime for any of them, they can go to the shelf, pull out a tub or a game folder, and sit quietly until I can get back to them.

As far as scheduling goes for us, I never know exactly how it will all come together. I know that they will each do their 3R's daily, 4-5 days a week. Science, social studies, etc will be intermingled throughout the week. We may do a little every day, or just a few times a week. Devotions and Bible Study will be daily. Art and Music will probably be done once a week each.

And as far as the daily schedule goes, you know I have my hopes, but there never really is a set schedule to it, usually just one written up as a sort of guideline for us. Right now, it looks something like this:

~8:30am-School begins, we start with our daily devotion, Bible study, and prayer

~9:00-I start Math with Nicholas, moving on to math with Madelynn. Emily will have a number color sheet to do. These will work progressively, meaning that I start at Nicholas, teaching him what he needs to know, drilling flashcards, and administering his speed drills, and then leave him to finish his independant section while I do the same with Madelynn, and then with Emily. This is where those prepared tubs and activities will come in handy.

~10:00-Language Arts-Same process as with math, although Madelynn and Emily will not be doing LA just yet, I will probably start reading with Madelynn, since it takes a bit more time with her. I will also have some other worksheets for them to do or they can do tubs, or this time can be for there 30 minutes of daily internet time. Madelynn specifically will be using Starfall.com a lot.

10:30-Reading-Same process as before. Staggering work with each child.

11:00-Extras for the day-Science, social studies, etc.

12pm-Break for lunch, then outside or play time

1pm-Finish up any schoolwork that's left and begin work on chores for the day.

As I said, that is not set in stone. It's just a goal. I'd love to be completely done every day by noon, but I realize that some days that will happen, and some days it won't. It's just something we will work towards. Also I should mention that as the kids move ahead in CLE in math, LA, and reading, their work becomes more and more independant. So we will eventually be able to get to where I am only having to introduce the lessons, and then check them later.

I can honestly say, as much as I know how much extra prep work I may have to do, I'm really, really excited about this change, also a little nervous, but more excited than anything. I think I've just been scared to step out on my own at all and get creative, and we've all been kind of bored with it all, to the point of dreading school most days. I'm not throwing out the other CLE books yet, but I think we will all enjoy this a lot more.

I didn't intend to be so long winded about homeschooling, but more than anything I needed to get all those thoughts I had running around my head down on paper, so to speak, so that I wouldn't lose it up in this already overfilled brain of mine. So if you're still with me, I hope that maybe you can understand some of what I'm talking about and that maybe some of my mumbling on about it might have helped someone a bit.

I'm going to spending the remainder of the week getting everything ready and printed out, and we will also make a trip to the library. We will start fresh and new, Lord willing, on Monday.

Blessings, sara

Wednesday at Home

The fall weather is really rolling in! What a blessing it has been to me. I am not a big fan of the summer heat, especially while pregnant. I have been actually having to put on a sweater in the morning. We haven't had to have the air on in over a week and don't anticipate turning it on for the rest of the year. That's a big praise, especially as high as our electric bill was getting.

The other blessing of fall is that we are spending a lot more time outside. I love being outside, but during summer, the heat keeps us in, and in the evenings the mosquitos keep us in.

The last couple of weeks have been busy, but not with anything exciting really. I've been doing a lot of cleaning and decluttering. Also working on our homeschool schedule and tweaking it a bit to make it fit us better. I went to the doctor this week for my glucose test, and a checkup and as usual everything is normal, praise God. I go back in 4 weeks and I'll be 32 weeks.

I've been crocheting and knitting away lately, another favorite fall time activity. So far I've made a hello kitty doll for my sister's birthday this week, 1 wool soaker for the baby, and a dress for a naked baby doll I brought home for one of the girls. Still on the hook or needle right now is another wool soaker, a small knitted baby blanket, and a knitted scarf. I'm not starting any more crochet/knitting projects until these things are done.

I've been working my way through all the boxes and decluttering as I go. I do a little in every room every day. I can't wait until I unbury my sewing table and machine. Some other things I'm working on is making my Christmas lists, gifts to make, things to buy, goodies to make. I'm starting now, so that by the time our little one makes his arrival, I will be all done with most of the Christmas preperations.

Well, I've mumbled on enough for today, it's time to get to work. We'll just be hanging around the house doing our usual for Wednesday. Homeschool, desk work:preparing bills, making menus and shopping lists, etc. Then we'll go to church this evening, I think. For dinner we're having spaghetti, garlic toast, and some salad. I pray your day is a blessed one!

Baby Preperations to be made

I thought I'd post a list of things that need to be done for the newest little blessing before he arrives in just 12 short weeks.

~Make at least a dozen diaper covers

~Make 2-3 wool covers

~Make about a half a dozen doublers

~Make bumper pad and crib quilt for baby bed

~Gather all baby clothes, bedding, etc and wash and put away until needed

~Make a wet bag for cloth diapers on the go

~Make 1-2 nursing night gowns

~Set up pack and play in my bedroom

~Keep an eye out for a baby swing at yard sales

There may be a few other things that I may add to the list, but these are the main things I'd like to finish.

Blessings, sara 

Friday at Home

I haven't been around to post much, I guess just not a lot to say, except the everyday normal stuff going on. I've been a little discouraged in some areas of my life with my children and my home and just in myself. I just can't seem to get my act together.

I write it all out on paper, a routine for homeschooling, for housework, for just about everything, not so much as for strict rules, but just a general guideline, and for some reason, every fiber of me revolts from it. If I did it, even halfway, I know life would take on an easier flow and I wouldn't feel such discouragement, but there is just something in me that craves that routine while the other part of me fights it. Does that make sense?

And all the while I'm feeling discouragement from my daily life, that overwhelming "nesting" feeling comes over me, and I realize, there is so much to be done!!! I have only 3 short months until this little one makes his arrival, and I have nothing done. nothing! I guess I just needed to come on here and whine for a minute and then make amends to do better. I'm doing my best to hand it over to the Lord, but sometimes that's not as easy as you would think.

So, the reality is, I'm not getting a thing done sitting on my duff whining about it, and it's time to get some things done. I have children to school, a home to declutter, clean, and organize, and a baby to prepare for.

Yesterday, I managed to make 2 batches of homemade laundry soap, one for the baby, and one for the rest of us. I used ivory soap in the one for the baby, and fels naptha for the regular. So I have laundry to do, which I've actually been managing to halfway stay on top of. And ofcourse the rest of what is needed. I'm going to start in the kitchen, and work my way around the house doing what I can today and tomorrow, with a firm plan to start anew on Monday.

I pray you all have a blessed day!

Sara

P.S. I'm not one to post on political topics at all, but I read last night that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein. Does that scare anybody else but me?