My project! Not for me though...for my best friend! 2 1/2 years worth stitching! I know I am slow...I would never be able to use my stitching for a business. And that is fine by me. I would rather make something and see the recipient's reaction to their gift.  This was a long time ago!!!  I am on bottle bones now!  Exacted to finish!!

 I am trying to find a bird picture to do next. My husband has a lot of Audubon birds on our bedroom wall. He loves squirrels and birds too. How about 1/2 bird 1/2 girl?  Hmmm...

Here would be my wish list for 2012:

1. Dog Bone Wisdom
2. Months of the Year Sampler in my 365 Tiny Cross Stitch Designs book!
3. Garden Sampler - http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=DW2709

Valentine's Day 2012

I waited for this day. 


I planned schoolwork for this day.


We did Valentine Bingo.


I researched recipes for Valentine morning.


I posted recipes on facebook about what I was going to make for the kids this morning.


I had a seizure last night.  2 actually.


I couldn't drive to get what I needed to make the morning special.


I was emotionally drained last night and felt that I have let my kids down.


I couldn't have been more wrong.


I didn't tell them my plans therefore I didn't let them down.  I only let myself down.


As I sit and wait on kids to finish waking up and school completed, I am back in planning mode.


I can drive today.  We can get Jacob's haircut.  We can have lunch together.  We can plan dinner together.






I like the saying:  "we plan and God laughs"


God is our ultimate lesson plan. He knew what was going to happen.  Maybe it was His way to slow me down.


Happy Valentine's Day 2012!

Sunday night

.  

It is Sunday night.  We had a wonderful day with family and a mild winter day.  I think the van was cleaned out today when we got home.  I say "think" because I watched them do it, but I didn't check on them.  I guess I will see tomorrow.  The rest of the afternoon I have spent helping my sister with some scrapbooking and I have worked on my current cross stitch project.  The kids will only do 3 days of school this week and I haven't let them know just yet.  I am sure they will be thrilled!  Lesson plans are not finished.  Printer is acting up and not working.  Hoping it is just a displaced cord but I don't feel like working on it tonight.  Tonight I feel like eating a baked potato, cross stitching while watching the Grammy awards.



Sad to hear about Whitney Houston's untimely death.  I am sure the format will be changed during the awards tonight as she was in LA to attend the gala.  She made some great music and came into people's homes with such an extraordinary voice.  I am sure she will be forever in our hearts with music and song.  But I am sure she is grateful to have coming weeks where her problems won't be published in the National Enquirer.  Rest In Peace Whitney.  The music industry has lost some great musicians
Many have watched and posted this video of her singing the National Anthem at  Superbowl XXV.

OCD can work but somedays aren't ideal...

I am not sure what has come over me lately.  Cleaning, bleaching, cleaning, cooking, meal planing, caring for an eyelash crested gecko, 3 children that are Type 1 diabetic and 1 that claims to be just "aweosme" as he reaches his first teen birthday this week!
To most people that know me I know what you are thinking.  Either 1. Glad she found time before I had to pay for a babysitter to come and help her out or 2.  Anyone want to pitch in to buy a gift cards to "merry maids".  HAHA!  As long as I can remember I have been the type to "do" when I "can".  Usually this occurs in the late afternoon through the evening hours.  Endorphins kick in and then you look at the clock and say..."Its 4AM" Then the eyelashes start to slow down while you are yelling at them for just 15 more minutes!

Tonight, the night before the trash truck comes to wake us up in our neighboorhood, was the night to clean out our refrigerator.  I went grocery shopping to day so I would think (as the normal thinking mind I tend to use) it would be better to hold off on filling the refrigerator up  until there were clean shelves again and get the 20 milk caps that are stuck with an unidentifiable substance in the very back.  So Jacob and Emily took this task on.  Then Elizabeth found some cleaning fairy dust and began to clean out the inside door and shelves.  She was ecstatic to find out they came off!!  Whoa!!  Took a few hours to complete this task.  Most of the time was used trying to figure out how the bottom full shelf reassembled with the glass and drawer tracks placed in the correct area!  The kids did a great job!  I know that I will never be featured on CMT Cribs or MTV cribs so I thought I would take a picture of inside of the "clean" fridge.  The doors look jammed packed! I did shop today but after seeing a clean fridge I may have to get more food!  Nah...I meal planned this week and we will have leftovers in no time!  Of course seeing this reminded me that I had some snap bean stuff (never bought it before) you eat raw.  I rinsed them and lighly salted them...good stuff!

I am doing this while watching the other computer monitor stream live from a chicken coop.  So I am watching these chicks find their way around to sharing on who gets to squat where.  Cute...kids will love it in the morning.

After taking inventory at Walmart tonight for 3 hours we made our way over to the new Pet Palace store that has opened its doors.  We have always enjoyed their pet store.  But today they were unpacking new fish so you saw bubble bags floating everyone.  It is a little dark in the store.  But that didn't keep Elizabeth from finding a roaming cat.  The cat wanted nothing to do with Elizabeth but she didn't care and pestered the cat anyhow.  There was a live snake just sitting in a box that was open.  Upon further inspection by at least 10 feet away the snake was having a late lunch.  I yell out to someone that a snake is out in the open and one of the workers said, "Its ok, he won't eat while in his cage".  I know I wouldn't enjoy eating in a cage either but I would sleep much better if I knew a snake was getting some shut eye with a screen, lock and glass between us

Oh a chicken woke up.

After cleaning the refridgerator and running the dishwasher I see there are a sink full of dishes still.  We need a better dishwasher too.  One that we can run and clean dishes while trying to clean a kid in the shower.  One that will do its main job...CLEAN.  A lot of times my glasses come out cloudy.  Amazing how when you handwash the glasses that they can be used for drinks!  Getting all of the dishes led to the counters which were in such a sad mess.  Tomorrow, I have the thought of 1 child reorganizing our utensil pots to where they become a functional part of our cooking sessions.  Counters, cabinets,Stove, Dishwasher, Fridge and hands are all bleached.  Now on to the floor!  I found out that you really shoud sweep before mopping the floor.  It get annoying when you start sliding corn chips across the kitchen floor.  I guess I am a  little opposite.  I mopped, it dried and I swept.  LOL!  It worked for me.
I must remember that another child need to reorganize the trash cabinet....sometimes they miss. :(
Another should be on cookware and storageware organization.  If you open a cabinet and everything falls out on the floor....it is no long organized.  Hoping for a change soon!

The next project that was tackled was my once known as Craft Table.  That was an over rated tag when it was in the planning phases.  Its like having a kitchen counter cluttered with appliances.  ( I did it, I moved them).  Now this desk has a lot of appliances. A desktop computer, printer, laptop, laminator, tv, cable box and scentsy warmer.  We have homeschooling books sticking out of our ears down to between our toes.  Now it feels functional. Now that we have kindles what do we do with all the books we have?

Sorry chick...was I crunching too loud for you?  eww...you poo'd!!! while I am eating too!

Bleaching the floor is a great incentive to put nice smelly lotions on!

For the past 2 days the goal was to get to the sewing area and downsize and work some of the things in  to the desk area.  The sewing machine will be placed on the left side of the desk.  Materials...I haven't decided yet what to do with the scraps.  I have a few projects I would like to see through.  And my poor cross stitchign buddy has waited two nights on me and I am still not ready!  I keep getting sidetracked to something else!  Tomorrow maybe???

The chicks are still going strong but I am not anymore.  I ready to bolus and go to bed...My productive days are few and probably numbered.  I think a driveway sale may be in order for a couple of months from now. That gives me enough time to back out of it...lol!
Good night...have a great Wednesday!!

New Giveaway!!

Grab my newly designed button and leave a comment on this post that you grabbed it and posted it on your blog!!  I will choose 1 person through Random.org  Prize will be a very scrapbooked, special recipe card of the cherry cupcake featured on my blog button!!  You will love it as much as I have and the kids too! + A Super Secret Bonus Delivery!!!

To get extra entries....

1. leave me a comment on our facebook page (not sponsored by facebook):  http://www.facebook.com/OneHomeschoolMom

2. join our blog email

3. join our Google +

Comment with your entries and I will pick a winner on Friday, February 10th!!

Please meet Pearl Rango

Our friend Mishelle brought over an eyelash crested gecko on Friday.  It is the cutest lizard I have ever saw before.  And I really don't like lizards....but this one is special, because its ours.  We have no idea if it is a boy or a girl and that's ok.  At first they named the gecko "Geico"...not very original.  Then the boyscae up with Pearl...I loved it!  Then they added Rango to its name.  So the gecko's full name will be Pearl Rango Jones.
We fed him today for he first time.  I looked on google to find out if it was ok to feed it grated carrots.  It was...we grated some baby carrots and a little applesauce mixed in.  It was so cute eating little bites with his tongue!!!  It has bit Jacob twice now and he said it hurt for about a minute but not too bad.  Now when Jesse handles Pearl he puts a sock on :-)

Did you know that you can do this too?

Homeschool children are not exempted from this activity!  I remember watching in the public school award programs children receiving these awards!

The President’s Challenge is open to all kids—whether they attend a public school, a private academy, or are homeschooled by their parents or a homeschool co-op.  Homeschooled kids are eligible to join all of our challenges. There’s sure to be one that fits everyone’s needs. (taken from the website).

Great way to supplement your already thriving or lacking PE program.  We are looking to get a group going to participate in this program.  It is never too early to learn proper stretching techniques and take the goals to the max in order for our children to feel good all around.  The morale should be high as no child will go without an award!  Have a child with a disability...please consider including your child!  Read about the program's disability page.

There are 5 activities the children participate in and are timed.  Their times should improve after practice.  All times are recorded and submitted.  The awards are paid for by the parents but cost very little.  From what I have read the awards range from 65cents to a few dollars.  You can make it as pricey as you like I am sure.  But getting the basics surely won't break the bank!  I think it would be possible to have a local business sponsor our efforts as well.  We could plan a special dinner for award presentations.

Check with your boy/girl scouts and AHG to see if awards may be earned for completing this program too!

Typical February week...

The older kids are reading the book "Red Badge of Courage".  You can download it free here on Amazon.com.  We are studying the Civil War for the Spring and its a great book to start with.

I know I am procrastinating on a project of reorganization today but I promise this will only take a minute....or ten!  I am a distraction waiting to happen and then I wonder where my son gets it from? Hmmm!


I have learned through the week that my children do not know how to write.  A simple essay is too hard for them.  I say, make sure you type your cover sheet and they looked at me with a bewildered look.  I know I was writing simple essays in elementary school...I know I was!  I do have a good vocabulary to add to the amount of pages I could write as well!  Facebook and blogging doesn't count.  It would be unfair for me to talk about this subject while you are looking at my excessive usage of ellipsis...it happens! I like them and I am not changing.  But in the real world (I am already there so I don't have to impress), the kids need to know how to write!  Was I thinking too high when I expected them to do an essay each week on a variety of topics...I mean, I have the schedule written out until May 4th!  We can't change this now!  I am thinking we need to take 2 weeks on our first topic.  For whatever reason they thought that typing 3 pages for the body of the essay was the same as handwriting three pages.  Should I let them think that and then go ahead and show them Microsoft Word?  And watch their expression crush to their stomachs as they see that will probably get them "maybe" 1 page.  I did show them how to make a thesis statement.  Jacob was up and down the stairs about 7 times before he got it right.  A thesis statement is not a sentence that regurgitates facts I could have looked up in the encyclopedia.  I drop them off at the library to get references and do some reading and they had no idea where an encyclopedia was located!  They sat on their phones looking stuff up on the internet.  And NO!!! Wikipedia is not counted as a reference.  I remember a college professor once told us that in order for the website to be with credible information it better not have any ads on it!  The essay is 5 pages long.  This includes a cover sheet, a thesis statement with at least 3 major points in the body of the essay, a conclusion and then a reference sheet.  Lots of learning ahead...

Jesse and Elizabeth have been reading a lot lately.  We are doing baby steps leading up to book reports.  I found a great reference on pinterest this afternoon and had to take a closer look.  I was only going to use this with Jesse but I think Elizabeth can handle the information with some help.  Sandwich Reading Comp
Print it and a few copies...its free!

I am hoping this sheet will work better than our standard form.  I bet I could trace these on colored construction paper to make it really look like a burger.  I have also seen the same types of forms but with ice cream cones and different scoop layers.  Get creative! It's worth it to see your child's lightbulb turn on!
We have printed and laminated several sheets for Valentine's day bingo.  The kids love it and even the older kids will play if candy is involved as prizes.  You can buy some hershey kisses for rewards and some pink/red M&Ms for bingo covers.  Play regular bingo and then play card blackout.


These are very colorful and we have enjoyed it numerous times.  We enjoy Bingo...all kinds.  We did some math bingo one day this week with Jesse.  Adding the rows, columns and 4 corners.  You can do greater than, less than exercises too.  We have chapter questions that go along with the reading.  Vocabulary words and a study guide too.  I wonder if there is an audio book too? Hmmm...that would be good for the younger two kids.  I will have to check that out.  I think this sums up the type of week we have experienced.  Hoping to get lesson plans started tonight and tomorrow.  Superbowl is tomorrow and that means a day of family, cooking and football.

Rosetta Stone Giveaway - French 1

As it so happens, Jacob said he wanted to learn French for his high school credits.  We just went over his 4 year high school plan later this week.  I told him that would be a  good choice as that was the language I learned in high school as well...at least there will be some familiarity.  Fluent....um, no!  I can read it and figure things out though! That does count, right?  Same goes for Spanish.  The Rosetta Stone would be a great addition to our homeschool for many years.  That is if all 4 kids decide that is what they want to learn!

Check out Katie's giveaway here:  http://www.katieslanguagecafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/rosetta-stone-giveaway.html

And you can also give her a shout out at her homeschool blog:  http://brightonparkblog.blogspot.com/

How did your day go?

Ours was semi-productive I suppose.  Despite a dragging morning, a lost science book and a couple of hours at the dr. office...we did get Jacob's hair cut today!   My cable box keeps switching on and off.  Hopefully this will correct itself overnight and its a good thing I am tired and don't care to watch tv anyhow.  Somehow over the holidays we have lost our science book.  I have the TE but I need the science book for Emily's assignments!
While waiting on blood sugars to be announced I did a quick research on some new pumps that are coming out in 2012.  http://www.diabetesnet.com/technology/insulin-pumps  I found the t:slim and the jewel pumps to be of interest to me.  I think I am looking forward to a good change besides the same 3-5 buttons that I have been pushing since 1999.  I am ready for new technology to keep my interest and the new flair with colors!  And I thought my inset were great!


                             

A year from now...

A year from now...
     I promise to still be here
A year from now...
     Some of the same challenges will still be here
A year from now...
     I hope that better organization will still be here
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Its not January 1st or the night before when everyone is cramming to figure out what resolutions to make at the stroke of midnight.  I found those words to be a far stretch of what was actually reachable.  I would like to start slow and keep mindful of everything I do.  Pinterest has been a huge inspiration this year...sometimes I wonder how we lived without such blatant creativeness.

Looking for a little Valentine's Day activity?  How about teaching this Bible verse to your children.  I believe it was the first one I EVER learned as a child!

I need to hop on the blog wagon again...

But it has been so incredibly busy!  Maybe next week! Ok?

Here is a great giveaway though for me to not share.  A kindle! Everyone wants one...including me!

Check out Freely Educate for your chance to win one too !   http://FreelyEducate.com

Chapter 1 Its your kid not a Gerbil

I found this book in the airport in Nashville and found it very thought provoking.  

1.  "The pressure to grow up fast, to achieve early is very great in middle-class America.  There is no room today for the "late bloomer."  Children have to achieve success early or they are regarded as losers."  This originally came from the book "The hurried Child" by David Elkind.  I know I will be putting this book on my wishlist.  This sounds interesting to me as my daughter started developing as early as the 2nd grade.  I just wasn't sure why.  She started shaving her legs by the 3rd grade.  I asked our pediatrician about this and he said that the pediatricians are finding that children are developing about 6 months before their mother's did.  Well, this would be a problem with me.  I was in the the 5th-7th grade.  This is quite the difference from 6 months.  Kids today are anxious about the society and how they are looked upon as parents.  Are parents looking for the blue ribbon to say you are The Best Parents?  I know of a lot adults that group up poor without tennis lessons and went on to be productive citizens contributing to society.  For goodness sakes they are holding a spot for their 2 month old in the most prestigious preschools in their area.  A school the child won't attend for another 3-4 years!  It was called Nursery University.  Check it out, I watched it on Netflix.

2. "Check out the magazine articles on squeezing the most out of every second, including how to lose weight faster, find the most healthy fast food, and make friends faster.  They're all aimed at our "instant" world." another quote from the first chapter of "Its Your Kid, Not a Gerbil".  

I remember when Oprah came out with her magazine.  I bought it with enthrusiasm just as other women around did.  I was very unimpressed with the media.  The magazine was filled to brim with ads.  Little content with a big price.  Yes, we live in an instant world.  I call it the "microwave age"  we want things done and appear now...not later.  So what are they doing?  Putting the parents on the gerbil wheel while the kids are at school?  Best Yoga place, best food for us to buy....really?  I am sure our grandparents when they were young only went to 1 store for all of their needs.  Everything else was made at home.

3. "At ToysRUs online, you can even buy PDAs for kids to schedule homework between soccer practice and Cub Scouts."  Really, people?  I mean we did participate in scouts when the kids were younger but I don't remember it taking up that much of our time.  About an hour a week I think?  

Just a closer walk with thee...

This has been my song for today.  I can't help what song gets in my head.  But this song brought me closer to more than just God.

You see...as I grew up with my grandparents I did things with them and we were very much scheduled.  Grandma had her hair done the same time each week.  They were in Walmart by a certain time and Food World.  They packed all of this in before 11am as they were normally sitting outside the Quincy's restaurant just before they opened.

Skip a few years and now they are living in Texas.  The schedule is very different and I haven't caught on to it just yet.  Today is Tuesday and I thought today they ate at the Cotton Patch but I found out that today they are eating at the Golden Corral.  But we

 did make a stop at Walmart just before eating.  I walked side by side next to my grandmother who is probably 2 feet shorter than I am.  She is pushing the grocery cart and I don't have a hard time keeping with her.  But as I was walking with her this song popped in my head.  Grandma told me they have a rule with each other (with grandpa) that they have to leave walmart by 10:40am in order to stop and get gas before heading to lunch.  On time they were. We get to Golden Corral and I thought being the good granddaughter that I try to be that I would help grandma get her meal choosings for her plate.  Oh no.  They know my grandparents so well that she has a waitress who takes her by the arm and guides her through the buffet to see what she would like to eat.  Then she brings her back to the table and leaves toget the normal stuff like butter and such for her.  It seems that my grandparents walk close to a lot of people who have a willing heart to help them out.  They still walk close to Jesus and I have always known that of them.   But we also need other to walk close to us as we enter our new days and on the journey that we make the choices to be a part of.

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

Just a closer walk with Thee,Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,Daily walking close to Thee,Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;Jesus, keep me from all wrong;I’ll be satisfied as longAs I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toil and snares,If I falter, Lord, who cares?Who with me my burden shares?None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,Time for me will be no more;Guide me gently, safely o’er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

I let the big one go..

So this week I am spending some quiet time in Texas without any children.  Judge took the week off so I could fly to Texas and spend some precious time with my grandparents, aunt & uncle...cousins too!  Its been a stress free week so far.  No outside stress just the constant battle I have within my self and my diabetes.

Last night my uncle and I went out to the fishing pier to catch "the big one".  He is a man of little words so when he talks you really do want to listen.  He instructed me on how to cast and lures and stuff like that.  Now I have been fishing all my life but this was not something I wanted to boast about to him.  I let him teach me.  My own comments were usually "Mmmm Hmmm".  He knows this pond and knows how the fish like to eat and which lures work at the certain time of day.  This is his fishing hole.  Not mine.

But I caught the "big one" that will last in conversation for awhile for me.  But in reality I caught 3 sunfish and 2 large mouth bass.  They were around 2-3 pounds.  He even had me grab ahold of the large mouth to put it back in the water...eww I said, It will bite me!!! But I did it!

Which brings me to think.  God wants us to catch a big one too.  It doesn't matter how big or small it is.  But to you it is the Big one!  God wants us to wait patiently for his direction.  Whether you acknowledge him with a "MmmmHmmm" because you are trying to just stay quiet or with a "Yes, Lord".

This week I will be blogging on the book of "Its Your Kid, not a gerbil by Dr. Kevin Leman while I am on vacation.