Prayer Pail Project

 The kids are working hard at creating our family and prayer prayer pails.  See, pinterest has its quality moments that are useful besides just sitting and pinnning stuff.  We are putting it to good use.  The purpose for me to have them do this is to get them excited to pray for people and to learn to pray too.  So far they have been adding tons of people to the popsicle sticks.  I fully intend to let that person know on facebook (if they are on there) that they are being prayed for today.

Not much going on today except that I will be giving the kids some paper to write down who they would like to add to the prayer pail.  If anyone else would like to make the same thing I would love to see your pictures too!
I posted a picture last night of what it will look like.  I will post later on what ours looks like.

Find yourself first...

If you figure out yourself first then everything will fall into place.  I have found this out in more than one instance.  God opens doors for you but if you aren't aware and in tune with God you will miss it.  In the past 7 years   our family has evolved.  Some good, some not so good but that isn't part of the point.

I had a stroke 5 years ago and felt at my lowest.  I got back in the swing of things about 3 monthhs later.  Now, I only have 1 just 1 class left to finish my bachelor's degree.  Right now it doesn't seem to be the priority. My health is my priority and then my children. If I'm not well then the kids suffer.

Homeschooling allows us the flexibility to be able to say, "Today we are not going to have any schoolwork" maybe it is something I planned and didn't share or maybe something I didi on a whim.  I know each of my children and how they each tick.  Homeschooling is a right to me and most days I take it as a privelege for my family.  I know the government could overtun things pretty easy as our gov't officials aren't very stable right now, this is my opinion of course.  I am grateful each day that I get to wake up and have kids around me.

Here is my priority list:

1. God - all the time  Now to make this the kids' priority too
2. My husband - without the love and strength I gain will be put to good use in the household
3. My children - keeping them safe and educating them in the best way we know how to do.

Really I only have those priorities b/c worrying about money, weather or bills kind of fall under God and My husband...you see there is a communication connection there.  I admit, I would much rather communicate with God as we strive to keep peace in our household.  We are going places as a family.  It may not be a travel thing but really we are traveling by the seat of our pants!

Pray and ask God to help you be the host of your school day.  Even if you have to take all of your young children to the grocery tomorrow.  That time will be over soon.

Pray and ask for help from others.  Ask if you are in need of something.  People don't read your minds and know when to ask you.  You would be surprised at the amount of people God will bring your way.

Pray for your family and friends!  Prayer works and it would be a great way to show the kids how faith works with that mustard seed.  I found a pinterest item to share that we are totally going to put together tomorrow. Wonder if I should make a praise bucket too then we can transer our sticks to the  other pail.  I pray that my children will grow up to have compassion for each other and then show compassion to others no matter who they are.

Source: growingupourstyle.blogspot.com via Regge on Pinterest

Let's talk about Pinning...

It seems that if you are pinning and repinning you have joined the new hype on Pinterest.  I explain pinterest to people as being the facebook of this time.  It is nice  b/c it doesn't invade your privacy that I have been able to tell.  Its pictures for pete's sake!!  But not just pictures...its ideas at their bests.  Ideas that have been passed along to share in other people's households.  I thought I would share a few that I have pinned too.

Source: notmartha.org via Regge on Pinterest

And who doesn't like bacon and cheese?  I am sure this uses the inside of the muffin tin to mold..I even found something to make with the opposite side of the muffin tin.  There you have it for today...things you can make with a few things and a muffin tin!!

Labor Day

I certainly did not labor today.  What did you do for labor today?  Did you cook, grill, clean, do lesson plans or just took a break?  I took a break and was able to sleep in and wake up to the sounds of the trees blowing in the light wind.  Kids were outside playing all day until just a few minutes ago.  We had friends and family here grilling and I just sat back and had a wonderful dinner.  My daughter is spoiling me right now with a foot massage...does it get any better?  To the kids it does.  I let them know that this week we will not do school on the pretty "play-outside-kind-of-days".  I know we have rain coming in later this week but for now we will take the high 70s temps that have been promised to us!  I look forward to the changing of the leaves...its season is almost here.  The colors are exquisite.    See the beautiful colors I am blessed to see outside of my window when I wake up?  These were taken last fall.  Happy Fall Ya'll!!

Sunday's blurb...

Blurb...it is a word, right?  Well, it's my word for right now.  As I sit in my chair and listen to kids get settled in and quiet for the night I thought I would share some information I have acquired that I thought would interest others.


1.  I have an Android phone and Budget Savvy Diva found a really cool app that I am learning!!  Anything that can make my life a little easier is worth a try in opinion.   It is called Our of Milk and you can scan items on your pantry shelf and it will find the picture of, say...velveeta cheese!  Cool, huh?  So click on her blog to check this out!!


2.  Somehow when I looked at my twitter this morning I saw that a link was redirected to me.  Not really knowing what that I meant...the day just moved along with no extra thought of it.  Then I looked at the twitter mention again and caught on....HEY!!! They must have liked what I posted so much to add it to their Homeschool Daily website!  The information that I did pass along was accurately accredited to the original author...still pretty neat anyhow.    The information is all about the discounts homeschool families can get at bookstores, office supply stores and such...Go check out the Frugal Girls as they have a LOT of great finds!!

Another week finished...

Our week is wrapping up nicely!  Kids know that today is Friday and that all the schoolwork has to be finished by today.  Jesse and Elizabeth have seemed to be working well together today.  Jesse said that he would help guide her today.  That takes a lot off me but they also know that they can come to me if needed.  I like that the kids are pretty independent with their schoolwork.

This weekend I am going to show Jacob and Emily how to lesson plan so they can make their lessons whichever way they want to.  I think they both like just doing one subject a day and prefer this over doing a little each day of all subjects.  Jacob seems a little distracted today as I can hear him walking back and forth from the girl's room.

I am so excited for fall to get here!  My favorite time of the year.  Can't wait to take the kids outside for class time.  Looking forward to the leaves changing and taking pictures of the kids!!

Great Ways to Fund Your Child's Education...sometimes even FREE!

Here are two links from the Christian Home School Hub (you can find their button on the side!)
Part 1
http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/pt/Homeschooling-Doesnt-Have-to-Cost-a-Fortune--Part-1/blog.htm

Part 2
http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/pt/Homeschooling-Doesnt-Have-to-Cost-a-Fortune--Part-2/blog.htm

Ants, Ants and more Ants!

We read our story about Ants today from Edhelper.com.  Answered about 4 questions about the ants.

Used this as printout as a visual of the life cycle.

Then watced a few youtube videos about ants

This one included a bee and butterfly too..

.

After we were finished she decided to lay down for a rest

So I think we are done for the day!!

Sitting back and listening...

I sat back in my chair and just carefully listened to the chatter of the kids upstairs.  They were getting Tuesday's work done but in a creative way.  Emily had her cell phone out and found some sounds that were the same as fire drills at school and earthquake and tornado...lol  So they were doing emergency drills today in the girl's room.

A short time later I kept hearing more of her cell phone noises...now they had a school bell going off and then I would hear the stomping (not pitter patter) of their feet as they ran to a spot and sat down where they had a timer.  Now they are working on their schoolwork..."school" style.

Kind of reminded me as a child on my perspective of what real "school" would be like and the imaginative play that friends and I would take part in.

stick bugs and variables, oh my!

Elizabeth is working diligently on her copywork and just finised reading about stickbugs.  Now she is answering her questions about stickbugs...I didn't learn anything about stickbugs...darn! Can't see her?  She is hiding behind her lap desk while she writes her sentences.
Jesse is working on some make up math work that I found out he didn't finish last week...so he gets to start off his week finishing up last week's lesson plans in a few subjects.  He is still working through his Magic Tree House Book "The Sunset of the Sabertooth"  Sounds like fun to me!  He has a weekly journal that he keeps track of his reading times and summarizes what he read for the day.  Thank you edhelper.com!
Also found some science work through edhelper to work into his book.

Jacob has found a quiet spot at his desk where he switched around his lesson plans.  I think next week he can make his own lesson plans.  He decided to only do science today.  But he is doing his science assignments for the whole week in one day.  However he wants to do it is fine with me.  He likes the block scheduling better I suppose.

Emily has also changed what she wanted to work on today too.  She likes to do research and two of her research papers are on a possible career and a college she might like to attend.  She has already finished her math for today.  Emily is smart and really could do anything she wants to do in life.  She is so enthusiastic and loves the flexibility and choices that homeschooling has allowed her to do.  Now if she could just keep a cleaner desk.... LOL!


As for the mama...I am enjoying some coffee and listening to the quiet of the house...and sometimes a question is here from one of the kids.  After everyone is finished we are going to pull out one of our travel maps and work on map coordinates!

Looking ahead

Not sure about how the week will go but all of the children have their workboxes completed for the week with a planning sheet.   I was able to complete all 4 of there planners in 3 hours this week instead of 16 hours last week...eek!  I printed a lot of subject packets from edhelper.com so that made it a bit easier too.  This should make for an easier week on them too.  I will have to get the whiteboard out for Jacob and Emily...we seriously need to go over proportions and cross multiplication.  They aren't grasping the concept as well as I thought.  My plan with Elizabeth is to be able to get down to her level and put some sentences together this week using her word cards.  Here is a long list of links that can help others too!  Lots of information and printables.

Things to do on a Saturday...

I have 4 workboxes from the week to grade and make plans for the following week.  I am hoping by me starting this on Saturday that means that I am getting better organized?  Please say it is so!

I have made a burp cloth and matching changing pad for a friend's baby already and now I want to make a small bag or pouch for her to put it all in to.  I also bought the travel wipe container to do the cute covering for.  I have all the materials to get that done.  I wonder if I should try and make a pouch for the stuff I made for her to go into her own diaper bag or make one of those cute bags with a few pockets  instead?
Here is a great tutorial on making the rag totes.  Here is a picture of the rag totes

I just sat down with my cup of coffee and just relaxing as the kids are playing and making lunch for themselves.  I believe there are a total of 7 kids in my house right now.  Judge just left for a local jobsite so he shouldn't be too long today.

I would also like to get the autumn centerpiece finished today, washed and dried. I am really excited about seeing this and how it will work.

A different kind of day today

Had bfast at ChikFilA then ran some errands while my 4 went with friend's 3 kids to her house while we did the errands.

I could live at Hobby Lobby...but I don't. Kind of reminds me of that movie about the walmart lady who gave birth in walmart.  Off track, anyhoo.. I could work at Hobby Lobby but it wouldn't help anything and I would be always buying stuff.

Had to make a couple of stops at Hobby Lobby and Wal-mart.

I didn't get much sleep last night so my day was really off from the beginning.  The kids and I get home around 1.  I let them know that they were to complete their Friday work and Jacob was going to take over helping Elizabeth finish her day's work since he finished his week yesterday.  All she had left to do was Geography and Math anyhow.   If you haven't checked out CurrClick yet....I get a lot of my school work from there.

 I HAD to lay down.  I was bummed to have to cancel going to Bunco tonight but knew if I went being overtired I would get sick.  I was able to sleep until 5 this afternoon and I feel much better and think I will probably start stitching on my autumn rag quilt this evening.  The squares are all sandwiched and ready to be sewn together.






Coffee is sounding really good right now too.
Check out other great homeschool blogs too! Virtuous Foundations Homeschool

Free Planner Printables

Found a lot of planners for free...if anyone is looking for some pretty ones I think these meet my expectations
http://go.tipjunkie.com/pr/6502/www.designfinch.com/2011/07/31/sunday-planning/

I thought I would add to this post of free planners:
http://creativemamma.com/free-printable-doodle-2012-write-in-calendar/

Free Book Sticker Labels:
http://creativemamma.com/free-printable-on-craftzine-com-blog/

Free Gift Tags:
http://creativemamma.com/free-kawaii-printable-on-craftzine-com/
Many already know about Donna Young's site but here is the link for the planners:
http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/
Some plain ones and some you can use as refills to your planner binders:
http://www.printableplanners.net/
Household notebook planners and they have a printable for fabric inventory...going to snatch that myself!!
http://organizedhome.com/printable
Meal Planners
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/grocerysavings/tp/Free-Meal-Planners.htm
Planners and organizers...most free a few costs
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/gettingorganized/allplanners.php

Enjoy!