My kids really love to take speed drills.  It seems to make math much more fun for them.  They are always asking me if I have speed drills ready for them.  They like it when I make up the drills, but they would rather have someone else time them.  It seems that it doesn't matter if I'm timing them for ten minutes or simply one minute, my mind seems to think it can move on to something else.  The next thing I hear is, "Mom, is time up yet?"  "Oops, it was up five minutes ago." ;D

~Candy~

My kids love to have schedules.  They are always asking to see if I have taken the time to make up their daily and weekly schedules.  They are able to manage their time when they know what is expected of them during the day.  My favorite part is that they are always setting the alarm to get up earlier and earlier in the mornings.  They want to be able to finish up their school work and move on with the day.  One of their favorite things to do when they are finished is to walk across the road to help their grandfather.  They enjoy cutting and staking his wood.  They like shoveling his driveway in the winter and raking the leaves in the fall.  Their favorite thing is helping him while he works on building an apartment.  They have even helped him mix and pour cement. 

We encourage our children to learn where ever they are.  My father really loves having them learn from him.  The kids have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that all teach them different things in life. 

They have helped to teach them to drive, to do construction, to mow lawns properly, mechanics, mixing and pouring cement, drawing, writing letter, and the list goes on and on.

Don't be afraid to let your extended family help to teach your children.

Everyone will enjoy it!

Next time the artist in the family comes to visit, get out the paper and colored pencils.  Ask him to show the kids a trick or two.

Let me know how it turns out.

~Candy~

Jaimie and baby Gabriel came over to spend the day today.

It was wonderful.  Boy, do I enjoy being a grandma!

Jaimie was such a huge help to me.  She helped the kids with their lessons.  That freed me up to work on weekly school schedules.

Thanks, Jaimie!

All and all, it was a pretty good first day back.

~Candy~

Back to school tomorrow.  It is going to seem good to have life get some routine back into it.  There are so many things that I want to get accomplished this year.  I have slow but steadily making my 2009 goals list.  I'm going to have each of the kids make their own goals list for the year. 

One of my goals is to finish my newest book, "The Word of God on the Words of Your Mouth".  I'm close to finishing it.  It is so interesting to do the research for these books.  A friend of my just asked me if I just look up the topics in the concordance.  No, I don't.  I go through the entire Bible each time myself.  It is awesome how you can read the Word over and over and always find something new.

I also want to write, "The Word of God on Prayer," "The Word of God on Who I Am,"  and  "The Word of God on Covenant".

What do you think? Is there a topic that you would like to see in this "Word of God" series?

~Candy~

Christmas vacation is always a very quick vacation.

It's not that we don't take the time off.  It's just that being so busy makes the time fly by.

I am always determined to be prepared when we go back, but it doesn't always work that way.

This year seems to be no exception.  Not only with Christmas, Olivia's New Year's Day birthday, Daddy being gone, then Daddy coming home, we have moved two times within a month!

Wow! 

Well, I'm not totally unprepared, as it might appear.  I'm just not as prepared as I would have hoped.

I guess after reading this you know how I will be spending my day tomorrow!

~Candy~

Happy New Year and happy fourteenth birthday to Olivia!

That's right, our New Year's baby has turned fourteen!

How does that happen sooo quickly?!?

We have had a wonderful start to the new year.

We have moved into a new home.  Best of all, I have my entire family together to start off this year.

Jud is home for another two weeks, then he is headed back to Alaska.

I am expecting great things this year!

How has this year started off for you?

~Candy~

Life has been hectic to say the least! We are still working on getting settled into our new home.  It feels so good to have a home again.  It feels homey (is that a word?) too, since it belonged to my mother-in-love.  The funny thing is, I have had a very hard time coming here every since mom passed on, but it just feels natural now.

I feel like after two months of everything being thrown up in the air, I can finally take a breath.

What will spring time bring?

I'm just not sure.

Will we end up buying this house?

Will we still be heading for Alaska?

I don't know.

Thank God that He knows.

I have put my trust and care in Him.

Happy New Year everyone!

~Candy~

This was such a wonderful Christmas!

My husband came home one week before Christmas Eve.

Not only that, my eldest son, Jud, came home ON Christmas Eve!

He is home for three weeks.  That means he will also be home for his

birthday in January.  Yea!!!!

My husband and I had the pleasure of having ALL of our children, plus our two grandbabies accompany us to the nursing home to hand out stuffed animals on Christmas Eve.  (This is a fourteen year family tradition) It was just awesome.  We had such a wonderful time.  There was even a young man there with a guitar.  He seemed very timid.  He was trying to get the residents to tell him what they would like to hear, but they weren't exactly cooperating.  LOL

My husband asked him if he would like us to sing along with him.  He seemed relieved. 

We sang and had a lovely time.

We had been without a vehicle for awhile.  My husband came home with a van for me on Christmas Eve.  Not only that , my father gave us another van.  (It takes a few vehicles to get this crew around!)

God is so good.

Many of you know that we moved into my father's house last month.  Well, we moved into a new house today.  It happens to be my late mother-in-love's house.  I love it!!!

We are still thinking about Alaska, but it is great to have a home in New York again.

On top of all of that, our new home is right across the road from my father.  So, we are able to still be a blessing to him.

God is so good!

~Candy~

I got a lot of shopping done yesterday.   Yea!!

I even got a bunch of wrapping done today.   Yeah!!

That's the good news.

The bad news???
I still have a little bit of shopping, and a lot of wrapping to do.

Let's not forget that tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve happens to be the busiest day of the year.

Hmmm, I had better get off the computer and get back to wrapping!

~Candy~

I had the perfect plan for today.

1. Drop off the kids at Matt and Heather's.

2. Have kids make their gingerbread houses.

3. Go shopping with my husband.

This would not only give me and my husband a little bit of time without the kids, but I would also finish up my shopping! Plus, the kids would get their gingerbread houses done.

Well, the perfect plan did not become a reality today.

We woke up late this morning.  There wasn't any hot water.  That means no morning shower.  We got the kids over at Matt and Heather's really late.  There was a HUGE snow storm.  (Something like ten new inches of snow!!)  We made it to town in time to stop for lunch. (After all, we missed breakfast.)  We stopped to the grocery store, but couldn't get the car trunk to open.  Well, we decided to go back to Matt's and try again tomorrow.

Good news!  The kids made their gingerbread houses while we were gone.  That's one thing accomplished!

I kept getting more and more frustrated, but you should have seen my husband.  He just smiled all day.  He said that none of that stuff mattered; at least we are together.

Hmmm, now that I think about it, it was a wonderful day.

~Candy~

I am usually very prepared for Christmas.

I shop all year long in order to find the best deals.

I have to confess, I am NOT prepared this year.

I don't have my shopping completed.  I haven't even started wrapping.  The kids keep asking when we are going to make our sugar cookies and gingerbread houses.

Oh, well, I know it will all get done.

I am heading out tomorrow to pick up some gifts.

I need to check over the kids gift list to make sure that they have completed their shopping.

I really love Christmas.  We usually do something to celebrate the holiday everyday from December 4th right up to Christmas.

This has certainly been an unusual time, but I know that it is going to be wonderful.  We are back together as a family, and it can't get any better than that!

We have always been family oriented.

Family revolves around everything that we do.

We have always told our children not to even think of asking to go away from home the night before or the day/night of a birthday.  That goes for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter too! 

Our adult children still think this way.  Yea!!

With that in mind, you can imagine how excited we are to have Daddy home.

To have our family back together means so much.

I pray for all of those families that simply can't be together.

Thank you, Lord, for such a special Christmas gift.

~Candy

http://candyfoote.com/

I updated the photos of my kids.

Check it out at http://candyfoote.com/

Don't forget to scroll down in order to see my

adorable grandchildren!

~Candy~

We are spending a night or two over at my son Matt's house.

His wife, Heather, absolutely loves Christmas.

Their place is decorated inside and out.

I love it!

We plan on making popcorn and cranberry strings

and popcorn balls tomorrow.

The kids are excited at the thought of doing something Christmascy (hmm, is that a word).

We do the popcorn thing every year.

Since my dad isn't interested in decorations, Heather volunteered her place.  (Thanks, Heather!)

It seems nice to see Christmas lights and to have a tree!

It makes me want to make hot cocoa and pop in A Charlie Brown Christmas!

The Parables of Jesus Christ
    
Logic seems to have become extremely popular among
homeschoolers.  Why not teach logic through the Word of
God?
“The Parables of Jesus Christ” is an excellent little resource.
It is simply filled with the Word.
I have compiled the parables that Jesus taught with.
What better to set your mind on than the Word of God?
This book would also be great as a copy work book.
But, you don’t have to be a homeschooler to benefit from
this resource. Find out how Jesus taught.

              The Parables of Jesus Christ

          Regularly priced at $14.99
         Buy it today for only $10.00

Visit me at http://candyfoote.com/

After church last night, we went over to my son's house to spend the night.

I figured that my dad could use a little break! 

The funny thing is, he has been having a blast.

My dad has really enjoyed having the kids around.

He was actually upset when I told him that we would be spending the night at Matt's.

Matt's wife, Heather really has the Christmas spirit.  The entire place is lit up with festive lights - inside and out!  It's beautiful.

On top of that, we got to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas.  Yeah!

You can't get any better than that.

We snacked on a variety of crackers and drank hot cocoa.

I called my husband and son in Alaska to tell them goodnight and to say our goodnight prayer.  (Well, my good night prayer - their supper time prayer I guess.  There is four hours difference.)

It was a nice night. 

How was your Sunday?

Oh yeah, I am extending our Thanksgiving sale.

When you buy one of our books, just email me with your choice of a second book free!

Don't you just love FREE?!?

Have a great Monday!

When you buy one book, email me and I will send you your choice of a second book for FREE! Don't you just love FREE?!? Candy

http://candyfoote.com/

There have been a lot of changes in our family lately!

As most of you know, we are making plans to leave New York and live in Alaska.

Our oldest son, Jud, moved ahead of us at the end of August.

My husband left for Alaska a month ago!

The ten kids that we still have at home and I have been at home preparing for our big move.

We are just waiting for the word that Daddy has everything set up and ready for us in Alaska.

Well, things have not gone as well as I had hoped!

We have lived off-grid for the past two and a half years.  Although I have really enjoyed living off-grid, I have found that it is A LOT easier to live off-grid when you have a husband at home with you!

The solar panels don't work as well this time of year as they do in the summer months.  To supplement, we use a generator.  The thing is, when the generator isn't working right, we usually have no worries. Daddy to the rescue normally.  Well, he just can't travel 4,200 miles home in order to fix a cranky generator!

The generator just hasn't wanted to cooperate with us!  The adds up to the batteries not being fully charged - meaning no lights!

On top of that, we had a minor fire behind our wood stove.  Although it was extremely minor, it really frightened us!

At this point we are staying with my father.  What a brave man!

He seems to be enjoying it - so far!

Please keep us in your prayers.  Pray that we are a blessing to my dad, and not a burden.  Pray for God to open things up for us in Alaska quickly.  Pray for God to bring us back together as the family soon.  We are hoping to be there for Christmas!

Thanks!  I hope you enjoyed this little update.

Candy

http://candyfoote.com/

Let's have a happy Thanksgiving week sale!!!!  When you buy one book, email me and I will send you your choice of a second book for FREE!

Don't you just love FREE?!?

http://candyfoote.com/

I am still digging through this place trying to prepare for our move to Alaska.

The funny thing is, I am not a pack-rat!

I am constantly decluttering.  Some would say that I declutter a little too much.

Wow!  Stuff really adds up.

The thing is, what is really worth taking over 4,000 miles!?!

I can't thing of too many things that really need to make this trip.

One thing for sure, I have found out which school books are my absolute favorite.

That helps a lot; not only with packing, but with teaching as well.

Keep me in prayer as I try to find my way out of all of this stuff in New York!

~Candy~

Congratulations, Kristarella!  

In case you didn't hear, Kristarella!  

won one of my books over at ByHisGraceInColorado

Thanks for hosting a contest, Nancy!

Candy

I must say, family read alouds are my favorite part of our homeschool day.

I absolutely love family read alouds!

It is not always easy with crying babies and bouncy three year olds, but with persistence and a little patience, they will learn to sit for this quiet time.

We are focusing on missionary books this year.  These books really get the family excited!

We read about Hudson Taylor last month. 

Wow!  If you have never read about his life, you should.  It is totally awesome.

We are reading two books right now:

"Like a Mighty Wind" by Mel Tari

and

"There's Always Enough" by Rolland and Heidi Baker.

I am hoping to cover David Livingston, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, D.L. Moody, William Carey, among others.

Are you reading about any awesome people of God?

What kinds of books are you using for your family read alouds?

If your not having family read alouds, give it a try.

One of the best part homeschooling is being able to make wonderful memories.

I am excited that our family read alouds have moved over into the next generation.

Even though my two little grandbabies are just babies, they sit in on some of our read alouds.  What a blessing.

Go ahead, give it a try.

Family read alouds are the best.

Candy

After three days of trying to get things organized to move,

I realized that I have only been working with books!!!

That's the bad news.  The good news is that books are really the only thing that is the problem.

I don't have a lot of stuff.  I just can't stand to have stuff.

I hate knick-knacks and things that are considered simply decorations.

That comes in helpful now that I am trying to pack things up.

My, "I've gotta have that book," problem isn't helping out too much though!

I have most of them sorted into simply garbage, give away, pack it up, can't do without it yet, and sell piles.

Wow, what a project.

So, if you are looking for some cheap used books be sure and check out http://www.candyfoote.com/

I am adding new books slow, but sure.

Keep checking back.

I have listed them as low as I can without paying to give them away.

I really don't want to take over four thousand miles!

After I get these books under control, I will either tackle clothing or the pantry.

Neither one looks to promising.

I have never had a problem dejunking.  Actually, I get rid of stuff on a daily basis.  My kids would say that I dejunk way too much.

Well, I sure am glad that I have been dejunking all along.  Other wise, I would never make it to Alaska.  I would be buried some where in a house of stuff. 

Candy

Since we had so much fun,

we thought we would do it again!

This time ByHisGraceInColorado

is hosting a give away for me!

That's right!

Head on over to her blog and enter for

a chance to win one of my four books.

You get to choose from,

"The Word of God on Healing"

"The Word of God on Prosperity"

"The Word of God on Being a Woman, a Wife, and a Mother"

or

"The Parables of Jesus Christ"

I hope you win!!

Candy

babymakers

Congratulations to babymakers!

You are the blessed winner of  ByHisGraceInColorado's

new book!

Yeah!!!

I know that you are going to love it!

Hey, if you didn't win, I know where you can get one.

 ByHisGraceInColorado has them for sale over at her site.

Come on, let's support our homeschool mommas.

Head on over and get yours today!

Hey, don't waste anytime!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter

your name in order to win one of these

wonderful new books.

Come on!

You do not want to miss out on this one!

Candy

Everyone who knows  ByHisGraceInColorado loves her!

Well, she has just written a new book.

I know that you will want one of these awesome books.

She has given me permission to have a little contest over here.

You guessed it - the prize is her new book, "Encouragement for the Unschooling Family".

Hey, I have read this, so I can tell you that you really want to get one of these.

Interesed?  Of course you are!

Just leave me a comment.

We will have a drawing to choose the blessed winner on Wednesday, October 22nd.

Gabriel is coming home!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the prayers!!

Candy

My daughter, Jaimie is at the hospital with her little baby.

He will be four weeks old tomorrow.

Well, when she went to change his diaper yesterday, she noticed a bump that resembled a boil on his bottom

It burst open and drained quite a bit of poison.

She rushed over to the hospital, and they kept him over night.

They are keeping him tonight also.

They aren't sure what is going on, but they want to get rid of the infection that is in it.

They even put him on IVs!

The poor little guy.

Not to mention, poor momma.

Please keep Jaimie and Gabriel in your prayers.

I'm sure Jaimie will be updating everyone when they make it home.

Be sure to check out her blog at http://www.homesteadblogger.com/JaimieBesaw/

Boy, do I ever need some help.

We are moving to Alaska.  That's the good news.

My New York home is overrun with books.  That's the problem.

I have decided to list them on my website http://candyfoote.com/ 

That could take me a while!!!

Well, I have managed to put a few of them on it.

It seems to take quite a bit of time.

I have included shipping and handling in the listed prices.  Not one item is more than $5.00.

Please, please, please check it out!

If you don't see something you are interested in, then check back another day.

It will take me quite awhile to list all of these books.

I really can't take all of these books to Alaska with me.

Thanks,

Candy

Wondering what this family looks like?

Head over to http://candyfoote.com/ 

and tell me what you think.

Candy

After checking over my goals list

I decided that I had better add

hug and kiss up my two grandchildren.

That way I can say that I accomplished something

on my goals list today!

http://candyfoote.com/

We are on a six weeks on one week off schedule this year.

I really love this schedule.

Out of our 16 years of homeschooling, this will be our 2nd time using it.

We couldn't use it a lot of times simply because we needed to use our vacation time as maternity leave for the teacher.

Well, anyway, we don't seem to need maternity leave this year, so we opted for this schedule.

We just completed our first six weeks yesterday.

Vacation has begun.  Or, so called vacation!

My goals for this "vacation" are to get all of the laundry caught up, plus prepare for the next six weeks of school. I also need to make sure that the house is put back into order before the chaos, I mean school begins again. 

I am excited about this school year. 

My kids tell me that I say that every year.

http://candyfoote.com/

For all of you who have been wondering, yes, the picture in my previous post is my beautiful daughter, Jaimie!

http://candyfoote.com/

Check it out at http://candyfoote.com/

http://candyfoote.com/

Gabriel James has arrived!

My daughter, Jaimie gave birth to Gabriel James on September 15th.

He weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces. He was 22 and 1/2 inches long.

When he hit four days old, he had gained 15 ounces!

What a cutie!

Now I have a 3 month old granddaughter, Makaylia and our new little grandson, Gabriel.

I love this grandma stuff!!

http://candyfoote.com/

Let's make a list!

We have been spending the last few weeks making all kinds of lists.

The possibilities are endless!

List making is great for penmanship, spelling, phonics, and writing. It works great for teaching little ones to recognize the letters of the alphabet.

They are a very practical school project.

The kids actually get to use their lists. 

My kids love handing Daddy the shopping list for the week that happens to be written in their own handwriting.

They don't even realize that it is school work!

Here's a list of some list ideas:

1. Write out the weekly grocery list.

2. Write out the weekly shopping list - other than groceries.

3. Make  a favorite foods grocery list.

4. Make a personal shopping list.

5. Write a Christmas list. (This is always who and what we want to buy for others - not ourselves!)

6. Write a blessing people idea list.

7. Make a school supplies list.

8. Make a list of library books wanted.

9. Write a list of places you want to visit.

10. Write a list of things you want to do. (This is an excellent one to do at the beginning of a new year.)

11. Write a list of people that God would have you bless.

12. Keep a list of books read and listened to.

We learned about Benjamin Franklin's list making.

We even read about Toad's list of things to do in our Frog and Toad book.

Have fun writing out your lists!

Let me know some of your ideas.

http://candyfoote.com/

Hey, does anyone know how to make an ebook cover, and add it to an ebook?

http://candyfoote.com/

I am still trying to "bring daddy home"!

I would love to be able to make an income off from this computer!

I have been writing books and putting them up on my website http://candyfoote.com/

I have sold one here and there, but not anything near what it would take to support this family!

I am excited about this book series, but I'm not sure where to go from here. 

The Old Schoolhouse online store offered to sell my ebooks, but I was unable to figure out how to make a proper ebook cover.

Anybody have any ideas or help???

I know that the Lord is leading and guiding us.  I am probably just being impatient, but I truly am anxious to get my husband home!

If you haven't checked out my website http://candyfoote.com/ yet, then go check it out!

Leave me a comment with your pointers and ideas!

Thanks!!!

http://candyfoote.com/

TEACH used my article!

Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.teachmagazine.net/index.php?page=blog

It's entitled, "Quiet Times in Large Families "

http://candyfoote.com/

How many of you moms actually get vacation when the kids go on summer vacation!?!

I know that I don't!

I have been busy doing major cleaning around the house, working on writing my newest book, "The Word of God on Prayer", and preparing for the upcoming school year.

Although I have really enjoyed doing all of these things, I would not consider it a vacation!

http://candyfoote.com/

I really love Mondays.

We call them Major Mondays around here.

I smile whenever I hear that name!

Not everyone in the house smiles as much as I do at the mention of Major Monday.

You see, Major Monday is a major clean-up day.

Yes, we do a lot of cleaning everyday.  With this many people we couldn't go without cleaning!

But, we spend a lot of time cleaning on Mondays.

We try to do major work; hence the name Major Monday.

Today everyone worked upstairs after cleaning up the yard, porch, living room and washing the dishes!

We overhauled the bedrooms!

Dressers were moved.  Toys were sorted through.

We changed the furniture around.  Clothes were sorted through. 

It turned out awesome!

I love Major Mondays!!!

http://candyfoote.com/

I have had a couple of people ask me for more information on how to buy my books.

Check out my website http://candyfoote.com/

or simply leave me a comment or send me an email.

Thanks!

http://candyfoote.com/

With the price of gas today, I thought that I would share are "vacation" idea.

Every year we go camping at my sister-in-laws house.  Now, she only lives about ten minutes away from our house.  We see each other quite often, but we always have a great time. 

The kids jump on the trampoline, swim in the pool, and just run around.

We stay up late making s'mores and talking.

We sleep out in our tents.

We cook on the bbq grills.

Want to have a great vacation without spending a lot of money (especially on gas)?

Why not camp out at grandma's house or a favorite aunt's?

We have been doing this for years!

We use to stay at my mother-in-law's house too, but sadly she went home to be with Jesus a few years ago. (Sadly for us - not her!!)

Hey, let me know how your vacation turns out!

http://candyfoote.com/

I am sooo excited about my newest book entitled,

"The Parables of Jesus Christ".

Just as the title implies, it is filled with only the Word of God!

I am excited about using it in my own homeschool this year.

I love having my kids do copywork using God's word.

I have been wanting them to memorize the parables.

What better way then having the parables all available in one book!

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that learning Jesus' parables would be a great logic lesson also!

I can't wait to get started on them!

Hmm, am I suppose to be so excited about using my own book?!?

http://candyfoote.com/

This is our third week of summer vacation.  The kids can't take it any more!  Everyone of them have grabbed their books and worked in them!  Even my almost sixteen year old son was spotted with his vocabulary book.

We seem to have this "dilemma" every summer.  LOL

I'm very excited to say that I have finished writing,

"The Word of God on Healing" again.

Yes, again.

I lost this book when my old computer crashed.  Ughh!

Well, I finally got it redone.  Yeah!

Now I have

"The Word of God on Healing"

"The Word of God on Being a Woman, a Wife, and a Mother"

"The Word of God on Prosperity"

and

"The Parables of Jesus"

all available in either e-book or regular bound book form.

Each book comes in the King James Version.

They are $14.99 a piece.

Interested?

Visit my websight at http://candyfoote.com/

or

just simply leave me a message or email!

Don't you love to teach your kids when they don't realize they are being taught!?!

I do!

Using "A Place for Zero" and "Times Tales" are two great books that do just that!

Your kids will be too busy enjoying these books to realize how much they are learning.

Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think.

I was able to go with my daughter to one of her obgyn check-ups today.

You know what that means????

I got to listen to my little grandson's heartbeat!!!