Hello there....well I've decided to return to my blog life, or lack there of.  We are well on our way back into the swing of things with school. I have bought so many books over the past few months, my kids are now making fun of me every time one comes in the mail. I have really enjoyed some, and some I will save for another year and one I'm not so sure about. Does anyone use The Mystery of History? I saw it at a friends house the other day and it looked really great.

Well we were at an amusement park all day long and I am so exhausted. It was for a birthday party-the kids loved it! It was a real blessing.

Have a great night.

I've been surfing around here reading everybody's site her for about an hour plus and now I am just exhausted.

My dh called from work tonight and said his car broke down on the way to work, so praise the Lord he made it there safely and thinks he even fixed it right...so Lordwilling he will make it home safely too...we all prayed before I put the kids in bed.

We had a pretty low key day....we are finished now for the 180 days so I look forward to some relaxing school days ahead rather then, hurry up and get all this done days.  Although with this beautiful weather it could be relaxing to the point of not doing at all....so I pray I will be diligent and disciplined enough to keep up what I need to.

ohhhhh.......I woke up this morning and found out there was an update on my homeschool tracker...yippeeee!! I love those people. If any of you are going to conventions soon, go visit there table. They are awesome and the product is so cool. And it's a one time fee for life!!!

Do you like hate the dentist or what? My dh and I went last week and I had this like galactic cleaning!! Ouch! She used some hi-tech cleaner that sprayed water all over my face. But it was much better then the usual scaping for 30 minutes....I hadn't been in a while so needless to say it wasn't very pleasant. Although the lady was great....and she will be doing 2 of our kids next month.

The weather here has just been outstanding....so we are enjoying time outside and of course now mowing the grass. Fun, fun, fun. We both are not to fond of yard work...so I don't do to much but a friend of ours gave us some lilacs last night and I have a tulip and rose bush to plant from easter so I hope I do it right...I'm thinking you just dig a hole and plop them in!

Well we are off for our walk...our youngest daughter just mastered bike riding(2 wheeler) last week so we found a bike for $5 at a yard sale this weekend so what a bargin, she's bugging me to get out there with her.....time to run!!

It looks like it will be raining here for the next few days, well into next week. We are in desperate need of it, yet it doesn't make taking five kids anywhere much fun. My dh switched with someone at work and had off the last two days but is now working all weekend, so I think we will tackle a few extra days of school while he isn't around and it raining-it seems to make a good combination to to getting things done-but alos for some lounging around and a good movie or two. I just saw Yours, Mine and Ours was on our VOD, so that sounds like a good afternoon plan.  Days like this, I think, give you the "OK" to be lazy and do nothing-well except for the laundry of course, that never ends around here. Maybe I'll even get ambitious and finish up my portfolio over the weekend. I'm finding I don't have a whole lot for Science this year or even History...we've just read a bunch and don't have much to "show" for it. I'll have to go back and figure something out.

I just started reading Beth Moore's Breaking Free book, I did the bible study a while ago but have never read the book, I think it's going to be great, I'm already hooked and learning so much....she amazes me...but I also stop and think, you know, I could just be so much better off and closer to the Lord if I just spent time.... time and prayer. How simple is that...His burderns are are not too heavy and He nevers gives us more then we can handle....so be encouraged, He is a God of compassion and grace. Thank you, Lord.....for you are good :-)

so what to do first? and how much time spent? and does it all count for something? I always feel like I'm in a bind whrn I want to do more Jesus stuff yet I have so many other things to accomplish. Of course spiritual needs to come first....but I could spend all day on that....how do we get done everything that needs to be done? sometimes it just seems like there aren't enough hours in a day to do it all. and how many days of what subjects....and if they are interested do you just keep going and forget the rest of your day and read history all day long? sometimes I feel like I stress myself out to get it all done or what I feel needs to be done but I need to keep in mind that Christ needs to be the center and focus...and I can never do too much of that. ....Oh Lord grant me wisdom.

We are off  to my parents for the weekend....celebrating some birthday's and Easter of course.  What a wonderful holiday.....Jesus has risen. This is my dh favorite holiday(although he has to work this year). Christmas is always such a let down....all the hype for a whole month and then.. wham! it's all over. Easter doesn't hold much leverage so whatever happens, happens. I love to worship, although I am the worst singer ever, and Easter is just another reason to celebrate and sing praises to our Lord.

We had an average week but semi-hectic. We took off today for all the preparations for the weekend and we had some friends over for lunch. 

So have a wonderful Easter everyone.....Jesus is Alive.....Hallelujah!!!

Yesterday we spent the day rearranging and cleaning, not my favoite thing to do.  I didn't use to mind but it seems the more kids I had the less I enjoyed it. I used to be faithful to the once a week deal but now it seems like more on a need to do basis.

I do however like to rearrange....we have a pretty tiny house and things start to get on my nreves after a while and I need to do something different...so yesterday it was our bedroom. It seems to be almost a full day job every time I begin...which makes for a long and tiring day, but its worth it in the end. We did manage however to get all our school work done which was encouraging....but this morning we are fearing car trouble....aghhh.....don't you hate car trouble? It's always so inconvient and you never have enough money. So I am praying that it is a minor fix and we will be on our way in no time. We are scheduled to go home to my parents over the weekend to celebrate Easter and all of our Spring birthday's so the kids are really looking forward to it, so Lordwilling we will make it.

It looks like it will be another beautiful day here....so I hope we can accomplish much in little time and let the kids loose. My dh has the day off so it will be a treat for all of us.  I, however, am hoping for a nice long, hot shower , a decaf coffee, and a little bit of quiet time to start my day off....so we'll see.  Although this almost counts as quiet time for me, no one is bothering me at the moment and it is temporarily "quiet."  Now if I could just have something deeply profound and spiritual come to my mind I'd be good to go:)  OK here it goes...."Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." Lord allow me today to live by  the Spirit of the living God within me...to allow Him to move me and direct my path for today. Not by yelling or harsh words, but by  gentleness and grace. In Jesus name.

I just can't get enough of this weather! It's beautiful:) I am so glad we are barely done....I was at a mom's group this morning and was reminded to "arise in my calling as a mother." It was a good word and time of prayer, I needed to just let go and pray and be with the Lord...he is so faithful.

We were invited to lunch and blessed by them paying for all of us to eat, even with dessert(my favorite part). And then it was off to the grocery store for a big load....snacks, snacks, and more snacks.  We go through so many little things throughout the day, it is nuts. It is so hard not to eat when your home. I need to limit them to an afternoon snack instead of snack all day the moment were not working.

Oh yeah...and last night at 3am our 7 month old decided to totally hurl all over the bed! I have no idea what was going on...she was fine all day but I am beat-ended up being up for like an hour with her....changing the bed, both of our clothes and giving her a bath. So we'll see what tonight brings, Lordwilling some peace and quiet.

Well I think I got it the way I like it.....how does it look? Just a few more tweeks and I think it'll be good. Boy, that took a while...and thanks to you who helped me out:)

It's already noon time and we haven't started school yet....mostly because of me....but it is just georgous outside, PTL! So we might just have a very laid back day....I got my new Apologia Botany book so maybe we'll delve into that for this afternoon. It looks awesome, I can't wait. I'm looking forward to this week, we have a few fun things planned. I don't think it could've got much worse then last week so I have high hopes.

Yesterday in church we were reminded to be obedient in the little things. It was an encouraging sermon and one both me and my husband needed to hear. We were reminded that it is often just in everyday life and situations that we can be more obedient and what tremendous blessing will come from that....obedience brings freedom and joy, not restriction,  into our lives and I don't know about you but that's what I want with all my heart.

Well I've been up forever trying to still change the way my site looks....I want to figure out how to upload this weekend and put on some blinkies...I'm currently obsessed with this for some reason. I am so computer literate and this is like success for me. I can't believe I'm figuaring it all out on my own...well except for the Homeschoolng News.....I couldn't get the table small enough so I just took it off. Well back to the drawing board!

Well we had an unexpected blessing tonight that I forgot all about, someone from our church brought us a yummy meal over. She said she just kind of fely like the Lord was telling her to, so she did:) It was so nice not to have to cook, and there's plenty of leftovers for tomorrow! I saw her Sunday but totally forgot...she called this afternoon to remind me, what a blessing.

We have had a very wierd sort of week....for the first 3 days my husband switched shifts with someone so he could go to some doctor/dentist appointments and then the sickness that kind of hit us all in a very strange but mild way. I had it Monday, then 2 others had it Tuesday and then yesterday it was still kind of lkingering and hit another child. Very odd, then I thought the one was good and then last night she must have been up at least 5 times. So I had a rough nights sleep and woke up to a very nasty smelling bathroom. It wasn't fun. So I kind of was in a sour mood when I got up but I guess the day panned out O.K. in the end. We took a walk and got some fresh air, that always seems to help.But I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday, although I think it's supposed to rain and thunderstorm and we were supposed to go to baseball with our co-op, so the kids will be dissappointed.

How many of you do a foreign language and when do you all start? I was so excited to bring home the calendar from our local library the other day and see they were beginning to offer a beginning Spanish class! And for FREE! Even better. I heard through the grapevine that its like a trial run and most likely will cost next time but I am so excited, and I think my kids were actually too. So its free for 6 weeks and then we'll se what happens for over the summer.

well I just remembered my mom called and I need to call her back before I get carried away here for like another hour or  two. Man, this is still addicting even after a month or so, does it just get worse?!

Does anyone have any good sites to get some free fun images for your web pages? I can't seem to find any , I keep "Googling" it but nothing.

Thanks

I've been sitting here for a very long time trying to change the look of things...I think I like it....I even logged my son on, although I think it will be slow going, but he already has that "addiction" look in his eyes. I am so tired....we didn't really do much of anything today. We were out and about this a.m. and then just kind of chilled out later. Our kids are still on and off sick, not sick....better but tired....its been a wierd week. I'm actually glad its almost over.

Well thank you to those who made me feel worthy of my PB&J sandwhiches and excessive TV watching that was allowed yesterday here in our home. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one, however don't we feel like that at times, don't we? Like the only ones....going through all these things alone.  I always find it encouraging to know and hear other women voice their same trials and frustrations. Especially when it comes to school:)  Our day was definately an improvement from yesterday. And I am feeling a lot better. Still kind of tired, but much better. Although my 2 daughters were kind of laying around all day not eating much....which kind of gave me yet another break. I don't enjoy them being sick but it definately lightens my load for the day....and some Gatorade and toast usually do the trick!

I am so glad Spring has finally arrived. Praise the Lord! Still a bit chilly but doable. I just ordered Apologia Botany and thought Spring and Summer would be a great time to start....

Do any of you use Spelling Power or Natural Speller? Any pros or cons to either? We use Bob Jones spelling and my son really likes it but I'm not sure if it is enough. I guess I shouldn't change stuff if he likes it, right? I'm temtpted but I guess it'd be better to just fill in what I think he's missing.  I was thinking of trying to get one or the other to start for my daughters in the next year or so, any suggestions? Any thoughts on LLATL either....I was thinking of starting that with my, going to be 2nd grader, next year? The RED book.

I can't believe I'm already getting stuff together for next year....it seems so early and like it never ends. But I am just so excited about all our new material. I feel as though this is  parenting 101 all over again....with the first one you just kind of use what everybody else does or what you think is good or what has been handed down to you....and now I feel like I'm just getting into the swing of things with some better material that I just never heard of or found out about. I didn't "research" a whole lot before starting(which was pretty stupid, of course)....and now still with one entering 5th grade next year I still am changing what we use, but in a good way....I just wish I would've found out earlier. Just like parenting your first child ...all the mistakes you make ....and then.... years later, after 2 or 3 more kids, you realize how hard you were on them and feel bad about it....kind of like that.

So I want to get off to a better start with the next group coming along!

Well its that time of day....dinner. Shouldn't be too bad with only 3 of us eating, and some leftover Chinese in the fridge!

Well I threw up at 6:30am this morning...agh......I feel pretty awlful with a major headach and just uneasy stomach feelings. School is so hard to do when your not feeling well. Especially when you have a child that is hard to get motivated. I wish one of mine would get up and go....and get it all over with. A friend of mine told me that sometimes her daughter gets up early like 6am, just so she can be done by 11 or noon.

And then there's meals....I just want them to eat PB&J all day long.  

And then their "extra cirricular" activities I want to consist of  TV watching so there's some peace and quiet. Am I a horrible mom or does anyone else feel like this too when THEY are not feeling well?!!!