What Hit Me?

Oh my, there is much to tell.  My poor husband woke up yesterday and how should I put this delicately, "got sick?"  He rightly decided to spend the day on the couch.  I was having, what I thought were sympathy pains, but was well enough to take the kids to their weekly "torture" class, as my youngest calls it.  He doesn't like running laps.  I remember feeling the same way, back in the day.  It's nice that our local community center offers this calss so that my kids can know some of my pain!  Remember those little scooters?  Remember dodge ball?  Torture! 

Where was I?  Oh yes, I was going on with my day even though I did not feel quite right.  After gym class, we dashed to our next destination, a fan appreciation meeting sponsored by KLOVE with my boys' favorite Christian band, Casting Crowns. 

We waited in line for an hour and a half.  The best part was that we were inside.  The temperatures were in the teens and I had visions of us outside waiting.  KLOVE at least made it more enjoyable.   Every 15 minuets they had a give away after singing a Christmas song.  We were to text a word to a number, something new to me!  We did not win anything, but it was still fun. 

In fact, all this was very new to me.  I had never, ever gone to get an autograph before.  I had never attended a concert, other than the jazz or symphony, up to the point when I met my husband.  Concerts are just not my thing.  But standing in line, I could do, especially since this band is so God centered in their ministry.  And my boys are my boys!  (Grace came along not as a fan, but a shopper. She spent her hard earned money on a CD for Ryan's Christmas gift.  Plus she got it signed.  What a sister.)

After the wait, which my boys remarked seemed short, we reached our destination and the kids became suddenly mutes.  It was so cute!  They handed their CD's to the band, got a picture taken and we were off, left a little stunned, I might say.  They acted as if they did not know what to do or where to go next.  Star struck? 

Anyway, we made it home where I fell onto the couch, not feeling too well at this point.  I slept most of the afternoon feeling achy and congested.  This morning I am feeling a lot better, just congested.  I know I said I was not going to get on the computer in the mornings, but I was too sick to post them yesterday afternoon and I just could not wait to post these sweet pictures.  Plus, our day is probably already compromised, so why not! 

Weekly Wrap Up

On the Heart and Mind:

As I write this, my heart swells with the excitement of discovering that more than a few of my most favorite blogging friends have decided to move their blogs to Blogger. With that said, as I look back over this past week, my heart and mind are at peace. The peace that comes from knowing Him.  I am also thankful for all the ways my friends touched my life and for time spent with family this week. Most recently, My mom and I spent this afternoon with our precious grandma/mother while my family went sledding.  I have to say that it was a very special time, loving on my sweet grandma. 

On the Home Front:

This week, as I wrote earlier, I put some effort into making our afternoon routine work better. I am hoping this week goes as well.  There are a few more distractions coming, so I hope I can cope.  My plan is to stay off the computer in the mornings.  So, if I don't get around to say hello in the morning, I will be by in the afternoon.  :-)

Another exciting happening was our first real snow, yesterday. Four whole inches fell!  The kids went sledding yesterday and today at two different local sledding hills. We are blessed to have such opportunities near and a daddy who likes to sled.  I don't go because I don't have any snow pants at the moment.    And our highs today were in the 20's and no sun!  These pictures of the kids were from today, taken by Daddy with his phone. The sledders had melted a lot of the snow, but there was plenty for sledding.  Just not enough for impressive snow photos!  (Sorry Shani!) 

Learning and Life:

We came to the end of our struggle with one subject, 5th grade science. I am going to go ahead and buy Grace Abeka’s science for next semester. At least I hope this ends our struggle. The curriculum we borrowed for this semester was just not working with her learning style. I use Abeka for Trevor’s 3rd grade studies and I really like how it is working for him. So, I will go ahead and order her the 5th grade package this week. Trevor can use the non-consumables when he is in 5th grade, so it is also an economical move.

My Craft Corner:

I left this header even though my craft corner doesn’t exist for me this time of the year.  Sadly, I had to pack up my sewing machine to make room for a big chest of drawers so that we could store homeschool supplies in a more handy location. The sewing machine will come back out in the summer. And as far as other crafts, I am a failure. It’s really OK.  I am a realist.  I am handier in the kitchen.

In The Kitchen:

Fudge was the star of the week! I taught Grace how to make a simple chocolate fudge. I am going to play with the recipe soon. I plan to make it as stated below, but I will stir in some peanut butter chips just before I pour the mixture into the pan. I also want to make some plain peanut butter fudge before Christmas Eve. Does anyone have a recipe that is easy?  I mean really easy. 


1-2-3 Fudge

1-12oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

3cups chocolate chips (1pkg. & 1 cup)

2 teaspoons of vanilla

½ cup chopped nuts* (optional)

Add ingredients to a sauce pan. Melt & stir continually over low heat. Pour into a buttered 8x8 pan. Cover and cool. Enjoy!


On My Night Stand:

• I attempted to read Anne of Green Gables again for fun this week. I did not get too far. I was looking for a light read before bed at the time. As the week went on, I was so tired that I did not want to read before bed. 
• I am reading through the Old Testament as well. I am only in Exodus. 

And with that, you have a look at my life last week.   If you would like to join me and others in this meme, just write up your weekly summery, using Mary's or your own catogories. Then hop over to Mary’s blog to link with the Mr. Linky.  Others would love to read your Weekly Wrap Up summaries too. This meme is a great way to be encouraged and encourage others in our journey of homeschooling.

Cooperation is a Beautiful Thing

The view from my front door one morning this week. 

This has been just a lovely week.  The simple, ordinary things have filled most of my time.  From those things I draw great contentment. 

One of my goals this week was to work a little harder at keeping the house tidy each afternoon as a team.  It is easy to fall into the habit of letting things go, especially when no one is coming over and we are busy with school!  I've mentioned before how my afternoons seem to hit a wall and my drive to be diligent becomes nonexistent.  Well, not this week.  I was not going to live that way anymore.  Each afternoon, I assigned myself and the kids a chore.  One small chore to do that would make a difference with us all cooperating.  After our chores were done, we were free until it was time to make dinner.  Honestly, the chores did not take us all that long, either. 

On Monday, we all attacked the clutter that had collected over the weekend.  I also cleaned the kitchen and attempted to begin my assault on Mt. Washmore.  Oh, that mountain of dirty clothes was horrendous!  My oldest son vacuumed the living areas. The other two worked on their rooms, which had fallen into a state of untidiness that was unexceptable.   

Tuesday, I cleaned the bathrooms and my helpers did my bidding.  Plus, Mt. Washmore took a huge hit.  I was home all day making sure the loads were washed, dried, hung or folded.  My Mr.Wonderful, put the clothes away for us.  (Thanks, Darling!) 

Wednesday, I put my efforts upstairs in the Master, sweeping, dusting, putting away.  The kids were completely distracted by the first snow.  I worked hard keeping their in-and-out mess managed .  Boots, gloves, hats, snow pants, jackets, and water littered the entry way each time one would come inside! 

Thursday, found us with nothing but laundry to attack.  How did I get full laundry bins again?  Although this was not a chore attacked with dread, it did keep me busy in between lessons. Everything was either hung or folded by the end of the afternoon.  It did not get put away.  That will happen today. 

Two observations I made this week.  One is that I am most energetic in the mornings.  I can get more done in the hours before school than after.  Perhaps I need to focus more of my time on the house in the mornings and less on the computer.  (Ouch!)  Second, we really need to have a time or two each day that we stop and tidy up.  I think right after lessons are done and then right before bed would be great.  This did not happen each day this week.  I will be working on remembering this coming week.  I know it sounds simple and very obvious, but,  most times we get in a hurry to move on before we take time to pick up.  It's a bad habit.  Bad habits can be broken. 

Cooperating is essential.  We can get more done together and I am less frustrated when we are all working  in the same area or at the same time.  Now, I just need to keep this up for a few more weeks and make it a habit.  This is where I will be tested.  Follow through is difficult.  I am worn down in the afternoons.  The kids are distracted.  It is easier to give up.  But the easy way is not working, so it is time to do something different. 

~Jenn

Worldless Wednesday: First Snow!

Could This Be Writer's Block

As the days go by since my last post with no new blog worthy thoughts occurring, my blogger's anxiety creeps up a little higher.  So, I decide to spend my blogging time reading some excellent posts, which sends my nerve to hit the "new post" button into a nosedive.  The pictures I wanted to post from the weekend are not so lovely as I hoped.  The work around the house has taken my full attention since the long five day weekend.  Still no new post magically comes to me.  So I look at my pictures one more time.  I fiddle with one, hoping I can add sepia and it will be the brilliant photo I was expecting.  No luck.  And the silence of this blog starts to get to me.  The cursor blinks over and over, waiting for my words to flow.  I am tempted to delete this rambling!  Domestic life is rolling right along however, and I will be content with that.

Making a Family Home

Browsing through the new books at the library, my eye was caught by the title, Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom.  At first glance I thought it was a decorating book.  Digging deeper, I found it to be just the opposite.  Mrs. Honeybloom offers good insights into making a home work for you and your family while maintaining order, peace, and safety with simplicity, modesty, and joy. She visits each area of a home and offers her thoughts on making the area pleasant and functional.  Now, as is usual, there are some things I needed to overlook, like some references to world views I do not hold.  All in all, it is a good book, a quick read, and if your library has it, I'd be sure to take a look.  You just might be inspired too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book: 

"I found that paying attention to my home was (and is) a way to ground myself in the center of all the information and noise of my life. Home is the place that forms the basis for a child's future. Home is the place where children are introduced to the world. Home can help children thrive and unfold and gather courage to meet their future."  (pg. 10)

"Having grown up during the depression, my grandmother, had the habit of not buying many things and fixing her things when they broke.  Her home was spotless and uncluttered.  Each item was carefully cleaned, place, considered."  (pg. 12)

I pray all my US friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your dear ones.  We will be hosting this year as the baton has been passed to my generation.  I will be honored to provide this to my family.  It's going to be a hard year without my grandparents here, a first. 
~Jenn

Are They Not Splendid?