Briars and Brambles

Sorry its been so long.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone has a great day.We keep things pretty simple here.Most years we buy the kids a stuffed animal and candy,this year we decided to buy a gift to share.So we bought them Snow Buddies and of course candy :) Dear hubby can't stand to wait so we let them have the movie last night and it was a big hit.

Homemade Bread and moving

I made yeast bread for the first time this week,and was surprised how well it went.I've always been scared to try using yeast,it sounded complicated.  I decided to just try, we love fresh bread :) Any way I looked on allrecipes and found one that sounded  simple and had good reviews.Amish White Bread and followed it ,I did listen to reviewer who used half whole wheat flour and honey for half the white sugar.It turned out great.I'll be making more very soon.                                          We will start moving into our house tonight or tomorrow.The inside is almost completely redone except for the boys bedroom.The bathroom still needs to be painted but we're just ready to be there.We've paid rent for a year now while our other home sold and we bought and moved this one.The outside still needs to be redone,the old siding had to be taken off to move it.So we'll work on it while living there. I'm just so excited to be at the point where we can live in it.

time to relax

We had a great Christmas.My sister and her family that I wasn't expecting to come made it in late Christmas Eve.We also had my brother his family, my cousin and her little boy,and my Mom.It was a full house.They all left around lunch today, although my cousin will be here in a few minutes ,she needs us to keep her little boy as the daycare is closed this week.

I'm ready for a cup of tea and a little quite time. I'll probably let the kids watch a movie tonight.we all need to relax.Company is fun, now I'm ready for everyday life.

 I hope everyone had a great holiday.

Christmas is almost here

We're keeping it simple this year.Christmas Eve will just be sandwich fixings,as I don't know for sure how early my brother and his family will be here.Our Christmas Dinner : spiral ham,baked turkey,corn, mashed potatoes,broccoli cheese and rice casserole,deviled eggs, and dinner rolls.We'll also have a few desserts : banana pudding,        chocolate cake,pecan pie and maybe a couple more pies.I'd like to do  pumpkin and/or chocolate pies,we'll see how tomorrow goes.I still have a few gifts to wrap,most are already under the tree.I'm ready to have everything done so I can sit back and hopefully not worry about anything.Maybe just sip hot chocolate.

  God Bless and Merry Christmas to all.

Brown sugar covered pancakes

I had to redo this post somehow I lost it when I went to post.we had pancakes covered with butter and brown sugar this morning.We wanted to try them this way because Almanzo and Royal eat them like this in 'The Long Winter' one of The Little House books.Ds Tyler and I really liked them dd Desiree thought they weren't sweet enough.

We had been doing The Prairie Primer, a unit study on the books.We've got away from it the last month or so,but we enjoy trying things from the books.I love These books and find myself rereading them preety often.

We wrapped several gifts and put them under the tree last night.It looks so pretty.The kids decorated it mostly with things they have made through the years,it looks like a family tree.It was hard to get in the mood for Christmas this year.I'm thankful to say It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!! :) 

A snuggle up with a book day

Today has been rainy and it's gotten colder as the day went on.I love these days though, after school and the basic house keeping  was done we were able to read.My dd Desiree is reading Little House in the Big woods,and I decided to reread The Long Winter.Both books suited today,and I love these books and am so glad she's starting to like them as well.We started Prairie Primer this year a unit study on the books.But we haven't been doing it the last few weeks,hopefully after Christmas we'll get back to it.

  For supper I made Taco soup and cornbread,it was very good.I also made Snickerdoodle cookies for the first time.They were good a simple kind of cookie.I was just glad they turned out ok, I'm not known for making cookies.But I'm going to try more success may go to my head.ha ha :)

Family you take the good with the bad

This post is a little harder to write.There was a question asked about my niece living with us and going to public school while my children homeschool.It's not by choice ,I would prefer to teach her at home.Unfortunately since we have custody of them through CPS we are not allowed to homeschool her.

My brother and sister-in-law are trying to get custody back from CPS but I honestly don't know what is going to happen.I want what is best for the kids and keep praying for God's will.My brother has had drug problems off and on most of his life,until now I didn't realize my sil had been using them too.They are still in denial at this point, blaming everthing but themselves.From what the caseworker has said I think their last few drug test has came back clean.We just keep praying for God to move in their lives.I am so greatful to have a good peaceful home for our kids,God has been good to us.

This homeschool Mom isn't doing so well with public school.

My niece Selena is living with us but has to do public school.We have homeschooled for two years now,and I am finding it hard having my kids at home and her in public.I feel like the school expects so much from her (all kids really).She had to due a report on bats,and she can only read a little.So my kids and I helped but I just get overwelmed sometimes.We finsh school by 2o'clock or earlier most days,her bus gets in around 4:30(she has a long ride)and she has homework every night except Friday.I know I'm complaing too much but the school has her 8 hrs everyday and then I feel like I have to teach her when she gets home because she can't work on her on yet(she's 7).Basically she has from 4:30 -9:00 to do homework,eat supper,play,and take baths before bed.This is with our kids homeschooling,it feels so unfair but we can't change it right now.

Otherwise she and her brother(3) is doing pretty good with us.All the kids are starting to adjust .We enjoy having them,as we hardly ever seen them before they came to live with us.

Does anyone here have children that homeschool and other kids that have to do public ? How do you handle all of it?

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

I have so much to be thankful for.Family,friends,health and home .I could count my blessings and name them one by one all day.We've had sick kids most of the week,but thankfully everyone is doing pretty good today.

The turkey is in the oven ,I fixed most of my sides last night,so I get to relax for a little while.My heart is full God has been so good to us ,I am truly blessed.

Aqua Dots Recall

Aqua dots toys are being recalled due to a drug in the toys.The drug is causing comas in children that put the little beads in their mouths.They were talking about it on the Today show this morning.I don't know anything about this toy ,as nobody we know has one.Just wanted to give a heads up.Billie

Lazy Evenings

My husband Eddie has been working on our house this morning.We are openig the kitchen up to the dining and living room.I hate to feel closed off from everyone when I'm working in the kitchen.The house we're living in now has an open layout and we really like it,so our new house will too.

We hope to run to the store and then stay in the rest of the evening.Grill steaks and the boys will watch football.I love long evenings with everyone hanging out at home.Good food and our own good company.ha ha

The House Is Here

Our house came in Friday and they started setting it up today.It was so exciting seeing it come up the road.Hopefully  they will finish it tomorrow and we can start fixing it up.

Today has been full with landry,I think we dirty everything up over the weekend.So I have clothes in the washer and dryer,and spaggetti sauce simmering on the stove.

The phone is ringing again so I guess I need to get off.   Billie

Looking out my window

It is so pretty here today.Spring and fall in TX is really the best times of the year.The weather has been beautiful,all yellow and gold leaves mixed with clear blue skies and soft green grass.We live about ten miles from town and are surrounded by woods and hay fields.They are all so pretty right now.

We are still waiting on our house to be moved,they started it Monday .The movers called Tuesday morning to say they wouldn't be back untill Friday,I am so anxious to get it here.I can't wait to see it coming up the road.It will need alot of work but we really wanted a house and felt this would be much cheaper than building.

Oh well I guess I should bake something for desert tonight.Last night I made chicken enchiladas ?sp? for the first time,they turned out good.We also had beef enchiladas,there is plenty left for tonight,leftovers yay!!!

Wanting to join the fun

This is my first blog and I'm not real sure what to say.I love reading everyone's thoughts and wanted to join in.

    We are a homeschooling family in Texas.Eddie and I have been married for 13 years and have 3 children of our own.Trevor 11,Tyler 9,and Desiree 8; our neice and nephew joined our family almost 2 weeks ago Selena 6 and Koleton 3.

  We are also in the process of having a house moved onto our land,it should happen this week and we are so excited.Our family is growing and changing by the day.We just pray for God to be at the wheel,to guide and direct us.I'll try to add more soon.Billie