Portrait of Fun, Family
The other day after I returned home from a homeschool meeting the kids assaulted me with stories of their evening adventure outside. I couldn't quite understand everyone. Timmy's voice rose above the others (including two friends).
"Mom, guess who's the first person in this family to ever catch a snake?"
I looked at him a little perplexed. "Who?"
"Grace!" He giggled.
So, the story goes...Grace found a "worm" in a neighbors backyard and came out with it, holding it by the tail. She was swinging it around, hitting one friend with it as the blood from the "worm's" mouth flung every where. Then my husband realizes it's a dead gardener snake. I didn't even know they had those here in the suburbs.
Guess what my initial reaction was...I wish I had a camera so I could post it on my blog.
Tonight the boys come running to me asking if they could watch a neighbor shoot a black widow spider with a bee bee gun. Of course I said, "no" being the paranoid city girl that I am. Remember the tick incident. Well, I preceded to look up Black Widow Spider on line and Chris assured me that's what was in our neighbor's back yard.
Snakes, Black widow spiders...I think it may be time to move. :)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Writer...Interrupted Blogging Debut
Portrait of Writing, Writing moms
Some of you might not know about my other blog geared toward helping writer moms manage their time and call to write. Today begins the official blogging schedule and we have a great weekly line up of fellow bloggers, moms and authors. So check it out for some fun and encouragement! And don't forget to comment.
Some of you might not know about my other blog geared toward helping writer moms manage their time and call to write. Today begins the official blogging schedule and we have a great weekly line up of fellow bloggers, moms and authors. So check it out for some fun and encouragement! And don't forget to comment.
The Beauty of Learning
Portrait of Homeschooling
I wrote this for the Carnival of Beauty, but see that I'm a little late, but I posted anyway.:)
I've always been a fan of history. I can remember my very first historical fiction story I wrote in grade school. I guess I must have been intrigued by the surrender at Yorktown and how the continental army and French forces trapped Cornwallis in the bay.
With that little bit of information I crafted a story about young girl whose brother went off to war. In the course of the story she magically travels to different battle sites looking for her brother, and then over hears Cornwallis' plan. I titled the story, "How We Won the War."
I need to pull that story back out and read it to my children. We are finishing up our studies of the Revolutionary War, and I'm still intrigued with the people and stories, and how God had his hand in our country's leaders' lives.
As a man over 6 feet tall, George Washington should have been shot, and most likely killed in the French and Indian war, yet he was spared over and over again. The closest he got to being shot was a bullet grazing his coat.
I'm fascinated by Benedict Arnold who was considered just as great a man as Washington, yet with a self-serving character which started on his demise.
And women like Deborah Sampson who dressed as a man to fight in this brutal war for liberty have me in awe.
I think I'm learning more now as I homeschool my children then I ever did in school. We can learn so much from history if we only take the time to study it. The challenge for me as a homeschooling mom is to mix the facts with the fun. I think I've already found the first step in doing that, loving what I'm learning!
I wrote this for the Carnival of Beauty, but see that I'm a little late, but I posted anyway.:)
I've always been a fan of history. I can remember my very first historical fiction story I wrote in grade school. I guess I must have been intrigued by the surrender at Yorktown and how the continental army and French forces trapped Cornwallis in the bay.
With that little bit of information I crafted a story about young girl whose brother went off to war. In the course of the story she magically travels to different battle sites looking for her brother, and then over hears Cornwallis' plan. I titled the story, "How We Won the War."
I need to pull that story back out and read it to my children. We are finishing up our studies of the Revolutionary War, and I'm still intrigued with the people and stories, and how God had his hand in our country's leaders' lives.
As a man over 6 feet tall, George Washington should have been shot, and most likely killed in the French and Indian war, yet he was spared over and over again. The closest he got to being shot was a bullet grazing his coat.
I'm fascinated by Benedict Arnold who was considered just as great a man as Washington, yet with a self-serving character which started on his demise.
And women like Deborah Sampson who dressed as a man to fight in this brutal war for liberty have me in awe.
I think I'm learning more now as I homeschool my children then I ever did in school. We can learn so much from history if we only take the time to study it. The challenge for me as a homeschooling mom is to mix the facts with the fun. I think I've already found the first step in doing that, loving what I'm learning!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Wordless Wednesday:
A Game of Puppy and Gerbil?
portrait of fun
For further explanation see my comment section!
For further explanation see my comment section!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Ciao, Pizza Cutter
WFMW
For an Italian to throw a pizza cutter away it's a big deal. (Don't tell mama) but I found it's much easier to cut pizza with a kitchen scissor. We usually cut our slices in half so everyone can get their favorite types of pizza, but it's great for cutting pizza into pieces for the little ones, and it's MUCH quicker than a pizza cutter.Scissors are also great for cutting up chicken, steak, and even salad. When my kids were younger I used to carry a pair around in my purse for easy cutting of food at restaurants, but make sure you take it out of your purse if you're traveling on an air plane. :)
For more great time saving ideas go here.
Pluto has been Voted Off the Solar System
Portrait of fun, homeschooling
Yes, it's true. Pluto is not a planet any more. and my boys are really upset. They feel sad for Pluto, being demoted like that just because it's not big and special like the other planets, and it doesn't have a tidy orbit.
Textbooks will have to be rewritten and even the School House Rock Inter Planet Janet song is out dated. But I've rewritten my own version of Pluto's little part in the song. It goes like this. [sniff]
"Pluto, little Pluto is NOT a planet any more...boo...hoo" [sniff, sniff]
So in honor of Pluto and to all the little guys in the universe and on earth, I say you're special and don't let anyone tell you different! Just because you're not as big as the other guys and you orbit differently doesn't make you less of planet in our eyes.
We will remember you, and our family has a solar system styrofoam project hanging in our school room to prove you were once considered part of the solar system and considered a full fledged planet!
Here are some more interesting site about Pluto:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/08/25/290119/Scientists_dump_Pluto_from_list_of_planets.htm
Yes, it's true. Pluto is not a planet any more. and my boys are really upset. They feel sad for Pluto, being demoted like that just because it's not big and special like the other planets, and it doesn't have a tidy orbit. Textbooks will have to be rewritten and even the School House Rock Inter Planet Janet song is out dated. But I've rewritten my own version of Pluto's little part in the song. It goes like this. [sniff]
"Pluto, little Pluto is NOT a planet any more...boo...hoo" [sniff, sniff]
So in honor of Pluto and to all the little guys in the universe and on earth, I say you're special and don't let anyone tell you different! Just because you're not as big as the other guys and you orbit differently doesn't make you less of planet in our eyes.
We will remember you, and our family has a solar system styrofoam project hanging in our school room to prove you were once considered part of the solar system and considered a full fledged planet!
Here are some more interesting site about Pluto:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/08/25/290119/Scientists_dump_Pluto_from_list_of_planets.htm
Monday, August 28, 2006
I'm Updating My Blogroll
I've made so many new blogging friends over the summer that I'd like to add you to my blogroll. So if you link to me, fit one of my categories in the sidebar and don't see your name on the list, let me know, and I'll try to fit it in some time before Christmas!:)
Homeschool Records Revolutionized
Portrait of Homeschool
As we gear up to start our third year homeschooling I've come to realize that I write the way I homeschool.
In the writing circles you're classified as either a Plotter who painstakingly plans out every scene of your novel, or a Seat Of The Pants (SOTP) writer who knows nothing more than the name of her character and the basic conflict.
Well, I'm sort of a combination. (Some one needs to come up with an acronym for that one.) I plan a little and then let my characters take over. I steer them one way through basic plot points and then see where they want to go.
It's the same with my homeschooling. I have a basic skeleton of the subjects and what I want to study for the year, but I don't always know how I'm going to get there. And it's fun and exciting, but also disorganized and confusing at times. So in an effort to get better organized in homeschooling I decided to start with better record keeping and planning.
In the past I bought those spiral notebook type daily planners that all the school teachers have. No design really fit my needs, but I used them anyway, scratching out subjects and scribbling over dates. This year I designed my own daily planner on the computer, one that would fit my needs, but then I found this.
It's a homeschool record keeping program that will work with any commando planner or flower child unschooler. In less than an hour I walked through the set up program, Iable abel to add my four students and get a feel for the program.
We used it today for the first time on our first unofficial day of school. My goal was to get on a good morning schedule and do Bible and a little math. I recordeskeletonelton plan in the teachers journal and this morning after Bible which just happened to contain a hidden math lesson, I recorded it in the kids daily school planner, marking each as completed!
I know there has to be some homeschoolers still using the archaic method of record keeping, afraid of the technology learning curve, but it wasn't that difficult and it will save me tons of time while keeping my records neat and orderly.
I think the only downside is that now I'll be on the computer more!
As we gear up to start our third year homeschooling I've come to realize that I write the way I homeschool.
In the writing circles you're classified as either a Plotter who painstakingly plans out every scene of your novel, or a Seat Of The Pants (SOTP) writer who knows nothing more than the name of her character and the basic conflict.
Well, I'm sort of a combination. (Some one needs to come up with an acronym for that one.) I plan a little and then let my characters take over. I steer them one way through basic plot points and then see where they want to go.
It's the same with my homeschooling. I have a basic skeleton of the subjects and what I want to study for the year, but I don't always know how I'm going to get there. And it's fun and exciting, but also disorganized and confusing at times. So in an effort to get better organized in homeschooling I decided to start with better record keeping and planning.
In the past I bought those spiral notebook type daily planners that all the school teachers have. No design really fit my needs, but I used them anyway, scratching out subjects and scribbling over dates. This year I designed my own daily planner on the computer, one that would fit my needs, but then I found this.
It's a homeschool record keeping program that will work with any commando planner or flower child unschooler. In less than an hour I walked through the set up program, Iable abel to add my four students and get a feel for the program.
We used it today for the first time on our first unofficial day of school. My goal was to get on a good morning schedule and do Bible and a little math. I recordeskeletonelton plan in the teachers journal and this morning after Bible which just happened to contain a hidden math lesson, I recorded it in the kids daily school planner, marking each as completed!
I know there has to be some homeschoolers still using the archaic method of record keeping, afraid of the technology learning curve, but it wasn't that difficult and it will save me tons of time while keeping my records neat and orderly.
I think the only downside is that now I'll be on the computer more!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
On Hubby and Blogging
Portrait of Family, writing
My hubby is NOT a reader. If it's not on tape, or required reading for a men's Bible study, chances are he's not going to read it. So when he came home on Friday and told me he spent an hour reading my blog I should have been ecstatic. And I'm truly appreciative of the fact that he would take time out of his busy work day to read my blog, but I guess I was expecting a "Wow! You've done some awesome writing. Great job!"
Instead I got “now I know where you’ve been spending all your time.” Now I know he thinks I'm a great writer and that my site looks awesome. He's even told me so, but at the time, that's not what I heard. He probably said some great things after that but my mind immediately blocked out his words and went into "deciphering hidden message mode" which to me said:
I’ve come to realize that that wasn’t him talking. That was MY GUILT ad libing for spending too much time this summer on the computer when I claimed to have given up writing? Over the past couple of months comments from my kids and husband have confirmed that I’m still on the computer a lot.
All this happened as I was heading out the door on my long awaited writing weekend. Doubts, insecurities and tears oozed from me. All in that one little moment I felt it happening all over again. Did I trade one idol in for another?
I wanted to believe that I had given up my idols but this new obsession seems to be growing out of control. And I know it, and I've already determined to set some boundaries. I guess I was just taking advantage of the scheduless summer. Now it's back to routines, and blogging is going to have to be scheduled in with the rest of my life.
Sure, he still doesn’t “get” my writing, but not many non writers do. But I know my defensiveness with my writing stems from my insecurities about my writing. Several people have commented over the months that maybe writing isn’t God’s plan and that maybe He has something better. Something I can’t possibly image. Maybe they’re right. Maybe they’re not.
Birds have to fly. Fish have to swim. They don’t question God’s will for their lives. And I have to write!! I am a writer. Whether or not God’s will for me is to be published will be determined. But I will keep pressing on until God changes my heart or reveals another plan.
But first and foremost I have to bring glory to God and if my writing gets in the way, then He’ll take it away. I know that from experience.
It has been brought to my attention that my original post was a bit "bashing." So in an attempt not to whine and complain about my hubby who is a wonderful, hardworking, fabulous provider and father, here's the new and slightly improved version. :)
My hubby is NOT a reader. If it's not on tape, or required reading for a men's Bible study, chances are he's not going to read it. So when he came home on Friday and told me he spent an hour reading my blog I should have been ecstatic. And I'm truly appreciative of the fact that he would take time out of his busy work day to read my blog, but I guess I was expecting a "Wow! You've done some awesome writing. Great job!"
Instead I got “now I know where you’ve been spending all your time.” Now I know he thinks I'm a great writer and that my site looks awesome. He's even told me so, but at the time, that's not what I heard. He probably said some great things after that but my mind immediately blocked out his words and went into "deciphering hidden message mode" which to me said:
"Gee, honey, now I understand why the laundry is never done, and dinner isn’t on time when I walk through the door. I’ve always wondered where you were when it’s time to put the kids to bed, now I know. Uh, didn't you give up writing?”
I’ve come to realize that that wasn’t him talking. That was MY GUILT ad libing for spending too much time this summer on the computer when I claimed to have given up writing? Over the past couple of months comments from my kids and husband have confirmed that I’m still on the computer a lot.
All this happened as I was heading out the door on my long awaited writing weekend. Doubts, insecurities and tears oozed from me. All in that one little moment I felt it happening all over again. Did I trade one idol in for another?
I wanted to believe that I had given up my idols but this new obsession seems to be growing out of control. And I know it, and I've already determined to set some boundaries. I guess I was just taking advantage of the scheduless summer. Now it's back to routines, and blogging is going to have to be scheduled in with the rest of my life.
So for the record, my hubby is a wonderful guy who encourages me to take these weekends away, and I am truly grateful he has no problem keeping the kids.
Sure, he still doesn’t “get” my writing, but not many non writers do. But I know my defensiveness with my writing stems from my insecurities about my writing. Several people have commented over the months that maybe writing isn’t God’s plan and that maybe He has something better. Something I can’t possibly image. Maybe they’re right. Maybe they’re not.
Birds have to fly. Fish have to swim. They don’t question God’s will for their lives. And I have to write!! I am a writer. Whether or not God’s will for me is to be published will be determined. But I will keep pressing on until God changes my heart or reveals another plan.
But first and foremost I have to bring glory to God and if my writing gets in the way, then He’ll take it away. I know that from experience.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
It Just Makes Me Wonder
Portrait of Faith, Writing
I woke up at 8:30 switched on the TV to see what I was missing at home not having cable. Not much obviously. I settled on a political news program about the one year anniversary of Katrina. After heating up my breakfast sandwich in the microwave, I turned on my computer anticipating a peaceful writing morning. Then I reached for the Gideon's Bible.
I read a couple of Psalms, yet my mind was distracted, nothing really sunk it. Then it hit me. I was reading a Bible in my hotel room placed by the Gideon's. I wasn't reading any other religious book. I thought of all the rooms in the hotel and all the hotels in my town and all the hotels in other towns. I thanked God for the Gideon's, grateful for their work in placing Bibles all over the world. I had purposefully left my Bible at home assuming there'd be one for me to read in the hotel. And this time there was.
But what about next time?
I pray I never see the day I won't be able to find a Gideon's Bible in a hotel room.
I woke up at 8:30 switched on the TV to see what I was missing at home not having cable. Not much obviously. I settled on a political news program about the one year anniversary of Katrina. After heating up my breakfast sandwich in the microwave, I turned on my computer anticipating a peaceful writing morning. Then I reached for the Gideon's Bible.
I read a couple of Psalms, yet my mind was distracted, nothing really sunk it. Then it hit me. I was reading a Bible in my hotel room placed by the Gideon's. I wasn't reading any other religious book. I thought of all the rooms in the hotel and all the hotels in my town and all the hotels in other towns. I thanked God for the Gideon's, grateful for their work in placing Bibles all over the world. I had purposefully left my Bible at home assuming there'd be one for me to read in the hotel. And this time there was.
But what about next time?
I pray I never see the day I won't be able to find a Gideon's Bible in a hotel room.
Thank you Lord for your Word and for those who have given to the Gideon's to make it possibly for people to have your Word. I pray their work continues, their support increases and that those who do not know you, will catch a little glimpse of you one night in their hotel room in a Gideon's Bible.
Friday, August 25, 2006
My Husband FINALLY Read My Blog
Portrait of Writing, Family
Big Mistake
Both hubby and I are not gifted in encouraging andedifyingg and instead of focusing on how wonderful my blog is and what a good writer I am ('cause I know he thinks that) he says, "Now I know where you've been spending all your time. "
That happened as I was heading out the door for my writing weekend. Talk about heaping a load of discouragement on me! I immediately went into deciphering the hidden message mode which said:
Well, whether or not that's what he actually said, it's what I heard and it mixed with my own mama guilt for spending too much time on the computer. (Hey, at least I don't watch soaps while eating bon bons or talk on the phone. Don't I get some points for that?)
But still, I've slowly been feeling this new obsession growing out of control, but I also knew there'd be an end to the endless hours on the internet. We're still in summer mode, gearing up for homeschool. So while his words might have been right on, it's the lack of support and encouragement I often feel for my writing that got to me.
Don't get me wrong, he's a wonderful guy who lets me go off on SEVERAL in town weekends a year to write or scrapbook or whatever! And he has NO PROBLEM taking care of the four kids. It's just he doesn't get it that my writing isn't just a hobby. It's a career in the making which would carry more weight if I was actually making money at it. Though I do remind him that I've made $1200 writing in the last two years (though I turn around and spend it on writer's conferences.) Doesn't that count for it being a REAL career?
Anyway, enough gripping. I'm just so excited to be here in the hotel suite (that my hubby did a business trade for so I could get away.) I've got my coffee brewed. I'm set up on the bed, though there's a perfectly good desk. My meals are stashed away in the frig and the room came with microwave popcorn and two complementary beverages which I got at the little food pantry down stairs. So I'm all set. (If only this high speed internet hook up was a little faster.)
Next thing to do it is log off, pray and then write!
Big Mistake
Both hubby and I are not gifted in encouraging andedifyingg and instead of focusing on how wonderful my blog is and what a good writer I am ('cause I know he thinks that) he says, "Now I know where you've been spending all your time. "
That happened as I was heading out the door for my writing weekend. Talk about heaping a load of discouragement on me! I immediately went into deciphering the hidden message mode which said:
"Gee, honey, now I understand why the laundry is never done, and dinner isn't on time when I walk through the door. I've always wondered where you were when it's time to put the kids to bed, now I know. Uh, didn't you give up writing?"
Well, whether or not that's what he actually said, it's what I heard and it mixed with my own mama guilt for spending too much time on the computer. (Hey, at least I don't watch soaps while eating bon bons or talk on the phone. Don't I get some points for that?)
But still, I've slowly been feeling this new obsession growing out of control, but I also knew there'd be an end to the endless hours on the internet. We're still in summer mode, gearing up for homeschool. So while his words might have been right on, it's the lack of support and encouragement I often feel for my writing that got to me.
Don't get me wrong, he's a wonderful guy who lets me go off on SEVERAL in town weekends a year to write or scrapbook or whatever! And he has NO PROBLEM taking care of the four kids. It's just he doesn't get it that my writing isn't just a hobby. It's a career in the making which would carry more weight if I was actually making money at it. Though I do remind him that I've made $1200 writing in the last two years (though I turn around and spend it on writer's conferences.) Doesn't that count for it being a REAL career?
Anyway, enough gripping. I'm just so excited to be here in the hotel suite (that my hubby did a business trade for so I could get away.) I've got my coffee brewed. I'm set up on the bed, though there's a perfectly good desk. My meals are stashed away in the frig and the room came with microwave popcorn and two complementary beverages which I got at the little food pantry down stairs. So I'm all set. (If only this high speed internet hook up was a little faster.)
Next thing to do it is log off, pray and then write!
A Tear Jerker
Portrait of Fun, Family, Writing
I can't get through this book without crying. I hadn't read it in a couple of years and tonight Gracie brought it to me to read before bed. I thought I could handle it. I thought I wasn't going to cry until...Well, maybe a quick review is in order.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is about a mother and son. Every night when the son was asleep the mother would rock the baby and sing "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Even through the terrible twos, the rebellious teen years and even when the boy was out on his own, his mother would sneak into his room, and when he was asleep she'd rock him and sing the same song.
Then one day she called him to come to her because she was old and sick. (Okay, here's where I get choked up.) She tries to sing the song, but can't finish it so her son picks her up, rocks her and sings "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always as long as I'm living my mommy you'll be." (Sheesh! Even as I write that I feel the emotion swelling in my chest.)
Then the boy/man goes home and rocks his baby daugher and sings the song!
A must read for every mom! Go out and buy it for your pregnant friends today!
I can't get through this book without crying. I hadn't read it in a couple of years and tonight Gracie brought it to me to read before bed. I thought I could handle it. I thought I wasn't going to cry until...Well, maybe a quick review is in order.Love You Forever by Robert Munsch is about a mother and son. Every night when the son was asleep the mother would rock the baby and sing "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Even through the terrible twos, the rebellious teen years and even when the boy was out on his own, his mother would sneak into his room, and when he was asleep she'd rock him and sing the same song.
Then one day she called him to come to her because she was old and sick. (Okay, here's where I get choked up.) She tries to sing the song, but can't finish it so her son picks her up, rocks her and sings "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always as long as I'm living my mommy you'll be." (Sheesh! Even as I write that I feel the emotion swelling in my chest.)
Then the boy/man goes home and rocks his baby daugher and sings the song!
A must read for every mom! Go out and buy it for your pregnant friends today!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Chick Embryo Heartbeat
Portrait of Homeschooling, Fun
I couldn't wait for Wordless Wednesday, plus I've got some words to go with this. We went to a museum a couple of weeks ago and were mesmerized by this chick embryo with a heartbeat. I don't know what the PETA people would say and I don't know what happens to this little guy (it's only a couple of days old) but it's so amazing to see the little heartbeat and makes we wonder how people can debate that life starts at birth!
I couldn't wait for Wordless Wednesday, plus I've got some words to go with this. We went to a museum a couple of weeks ago and were mesmerized by this chick embryo with a heartbeat. I don't know what the PETA people would say and I don't know what happens to this little guy (it's only a couple of days old) but it's so amazing to see the little heartbeat and makes we wonder how people can debate that life starts at birth!
Kids Say the Funniest Things...
playing Rescue Heroes "This is Wendy Waters. Do you Coffee? Do you Coffee?"
***
After looking at a picture of me pregnant with her. "Mom, I peed in your belly."
***
After I asked her to do something "Okay, Your Majesty Queen."
***
I often tell Gracie I'm glad she's part of our family. One day out of the blue she said "Mommy, are you excited I'm in the family?"
Me: "Yes, Gracie, I'm very excited you're in the family."
"Me too. I'm glad you're in the family." She gives me abig kiss.
***
Timmy (6):
looking for a toy "I can't find the two balls. Wait a minute." He smiles and karate chops on either side of his...Yes, you guessed it.
Those younger boys seem to "know" a whole lot more
than their brothers did when they were little.
***
When Timmy reminded me the family movie was starting "I hope you don't get too distracted by the computer." Five or ten minutes later he comes back up. I'm still on the computer. "Mom, you're distracted again. Come on!"
How could I resist that!
***
"Don't look at the computer or you'll be a computer nerd!"
***
Days after a lesson on Hurricanes. "Mom, it's stopped raining. Are we in the eye of the storm or is the storm over?" Such a bright boy!
Makes a homeschooler proud!
***
Joey (9):
After I was having a very hard day and my husband explained to him about mommy hormones. "Mom, I know yo've been strict lately, and I forgive you."
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I Give Up
I thought I found this great way to categorize my posts with blogger without having to cut and paste into a post which takes forever. I'd just manually tag each post with a "Portrait of Family" and then link to the blogger search with "Family" and my URL.
Seems like it should work, right? But it doesn't. I typed the "tag" right into the text box, so why isn't blogger search picking it up? Don't beleive me, go here and see for yourself. It only picks up "family" that's buried in the text.
I'm so glad I quit tagging my 100 plus posts to see if it actually worked and it doesn't. I'm trying to make my life easier and spend less time on line. Almost makes me want to jump ship, but I love my new look and don't want to think of starting over from scratch!
Ugh! Why can't things work the way you want them to!
Seems like it should work, right? But it doesn't. I typed the "tag" right into the text box, so why isn't blogger search picking it up? Don't beleive me, go here and see for yourself. It only picks up "family" that's buried in the text.
I'm so glad I quit tagging my 100 plus posts to see if it actually worked and it doesn't. I'm trying to make my life easier and spend less time on line. Almost makes me want to jump ship, but I love my new look and don't want to think of starting over from scratch!
Ugh! Why can't things work the way you want them to!
Chicken Without Arsenic...It Works for Me
WFMW
WFMW
Did you know that many chicken farms feed an arsenic corn mix to their chickens? So when you think you're eating healthy at one of those fast food resturants by getting a grilled chicken sandwich, are you getting a stomach full of arsenic instead?
I've done some research and Tyson used to use a similar chicken feed, but they've taken the arsenic out. Of course, organic chicken is best, but it's expensive and with feeding a family of six I have to weigh my options with the cost. So when I shop for chicken, Tyson's is what I reach for. I like the individual frozen chicken, especially the pre-cooked grill chicken strips. I throw them in a salad or mix with pasta, make faijitas or serve them plain to the kids.
Chicken without Arsenic...it Works for me.
Check at Shannon's blog for more great ideas!
WFMW
Did you know that many chicken farms feed an arsenic corn mix to their chickens? So when you think you're eating healthy at one of those fast food resturants by getting a grilled chicken sandwich, are you getting a stomach full of arsenic instead?
I've done some research and Tyson used to use a similar chicken feed, but they've taken the arsenic out. Of course, organic chicken is best, but it's expensive and with feeding a family of six I have to weigh my options with the cost. So when I shop for chicken, Tyson's is what I reach for. I like the individual frozen chicken, especially the pre-cooked grill chicken strips. I throw them in a salad or mix with pasta, make faijitas or serve them plain to the kids.Chicken without Arsenic...it Works for me.
Check at Shannon's blog for more great ideas!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Gracie's First Day of Preschool
Portrait of Family, Parenting
This is Gracie's third year of preschool. The first year, when she was 2 1/2 she LOVED preschool and didn't think twice about going into the class. Then half way through preschool things changed. She started being clingy and not wanting to let go of me when I dropped her off.
It was my first year homeschooling and I really needed her in preschool two days a week. It was the only day I got any real schooling done with my older boys. She seemed to adjust back into the routine after a while and her teachers were patient, warm and just plain awesome.
Last year I decided to put her in preschool one day a week. I don't know if that was the best idea because I can't remember a day without her clinging to me or struggling to get her to class. A part of me thinks it had a little to do with the teachers she had. They were both new to teaching preschool and both had preschoolers of their own. (Why in the world they wanted to teach other preschoolers is beyond me.) They weren't as warm and loving as Gracie's other teachers had been, but I really needed her in preschool. My little tornado constantly disrupted our homeschool, never sat still, and wouldn't nap. And I didn't want her watching videos all day long.
Today went a little better. I got her excited about preschool last night by saying "If you get up early we can get Krispy Kreme." Now she LOVES Krispy Kreme donuts and we only get them a couple times a year though they're a mile from my house because it send my kids into hyperactive craziness. I know, poor teacher and believe me I've been praying Gracie will not drive her teachers crazy.
She lined up with the other kids outside the room fine while I dropped off field trip money and what not, but when it was time to leave she did the clingy thing. It didn't last long and I think I threatened to eat the other half of her donut if she didn't let go of me. (I know, not the best parenting technique!) But she eventually let go and seemed okay.
So here I sit. I had big plans to clean out the school room which still looks like this while she was away, but guess what I've been doing. BLOGGING! My new venture is taking off and soon we'll have various writing mommies posting every day. So check it out and if you join you'll be put in a drawing for a free autographed book by Tricia Goyer.
It's a little after noon, the boys are engrossed in PS2. I guess there's still time to tackle that school room before lunch.
This is Gracie's third year of preschool. The first year, when she was 2 1/2 she LOVED preschool and didn't think twice about going into the class. Then half way through preschool things changed. She started being clingy and not wanting to let go of me when I dropped her off.
It was my first year homeschooling and I really needed her in preschool two days a week. It was the only day I got any real schooling done with my older boys. She seemed to adjust back into the routine after a while and her teachers were patient, warm and just plain awesome.
Last year I decided to put her in preschool one day a week. I don't know if that was the best idea because I can't remember a day without her clinging to me or struggling to get her to class. A part of me thinks it had a little to do with the teachers she had. They were both new to teaching preschool and both had preschoolers of their own. (Why in the world they wanted to teach other preschoolers is beyond me.) They weren't as warm and loving as Gracie's other teachers had been, but I really needed her in preschool. My little tornado constantly disrupted our homeschool, never sat still, and wouldn't nap. And I didn't want her watching videos all day long.
Today went a little better. I got her excited about preschool last night by saying "If you get up early we can get Krispy Kreme." Now she LOVES Krispy Kreme donuts and we only get them a couple times a year though they're a mile from my house because it send my kids into hyperactive craziness. I know, poor teacher and believe me I've been praying Gracie will not drive her teachers crazy.
She lined up with the other kids outside the room fine while I dropped off field trip money and what not, but when it was time to leave she did the clingy thing. It didn't last long and I think I threatened to eat the other half of her donut if she didn't let go of me. (I know, not the best parenting technique!) But she eventually let go and seemed okay.So here I sit. I had big plans to clean out the school room which still looks like this while she was away, but guess what I've been doing. BLOGGING! My new venture is taking off and soon we'll have various writing mommies posting every day. So check it out and if you join you'll be put in a drawing for a free autographed book by Tricia Goyer.
It's a little after noon, the boys are engrossed in PS2. I guess there's still time to tackle that school room before lunch.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Front Porch Days
Portrait of Fun
Every Day Mommy has invited me and you to "Come on, sit yourself on down." On her front porch. "Coffee's brewing and the tea is ready. How about we chat a little? Look at the kids, they're getting along just fine, playing in the yard, swinging on that old tire swing.
I thought I'd ask you a silly question today... If money and time were no object, what would your ultimate dream vacation be?"
Well, Jules (I take a sip of my tea) That's an easy one. I would take a trip and see it ALL! From Egypt to Italy, from India to the Outback, I'd hop on plane, train, automobile and boat. I love to travel and I love different cultures. So with camera in hand, I'd be a happy traveler!
How about you? Where would you go?
Every Day Mommy has invited me and you to "Come on, sit yourself on down." On her front porch. "Coffee's brewing and the tea is ready. How about we chat a little? Look at the kids, they're getting along just fine, playing in the yard, swinging on that old tire swing.I thought I'd ask you a silly question today... If money and time were no object, what would your ultimate dream vacation be?"
Well, Jules (I take a sip of my tea) That's an easy one. I would take a trip and see it ALL! From Egypt to Italy, from India to the Outback, I'd hop on plane, train, automobile and boat. I love to travel and I love different cultures. So with camera in hand, I'd be a happy traveler!
How about you? Where would you go?
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