Still Here!

So life has been quite busy! I so want to blog more regularly. I have started working part time as an administrative assistant at my husband's CPA firm. Plus I have added another part time job...couponer! Of course I do that one at home, but it really does take a few hours a week. The good news is that I have saved a TON of money this year on groceries and household items.

Then there is that homeschooling thing. Yeah, that's another part time job.

Anyway, I haven't figured out what I want this blog to be about. I used to just throw up the occasional photo or story about the kids. But I no longer have a camera and I'm not sure I want to put too much on here about my kids anymore. Truth is, I don't know what to share.

But in the interest of keeping this blog pretty, here is a picture of my favorite animal lover!

What's Up?

Sorry I never seem to blog anymore. Since my camera died last summer and I joined Facebook, my poor blog has really been neglected. I've toyed with the idea of not blogging anymore at all, but I don't want to get rid of it just yet. This past fall was crazy with moving and then of course there were the holidays. There was also the matter of me spraining my ankle one week after we moved, which also happened to be 2 weeks before Disney World (and 3.5 weeks before Christmas).

So I have had plenty to blog about but I just haven't been in the mood! I keep meaning to put more house pictures up since we have actually unpacked and done a little decorating, but there is that camera issue I mentioned...and I take really blurry pictures with phones.

Just wanted to come here and say Happy New Year, I do still exist, we're all doing great, and you are more likely to find me on Facebook that my blog these days!

More soon I hope!

Clearly, I am a bad blogger

A few faithful friends and readers have called me out for being a slacker. True, but I have some great excuses! Really!

The first is that we just put our house on the market. In doing that, I lost my main computer that I use day to day. We took it down along with the desk in my bedroom in order to show off the pretty window with plantation shutters. It's all about staging, baby. Losing that computer has resulted in WAY less computer time for me. I am mostly suffering from Facebook withdrawals.

Putting the house on the market also meant new carpet, refinishing hardwood floors, painting, etc. It's been hectic here. The blog will almost certainly always be the first thing to go when life gets full!

Also, (and I will not add details for now) we are continuing to learn about how to teach and parent a child with some special challenges. It's new territory for me and it's been hard. We have a diagnosis (or two) and we are trying to figure out the next step.

Thirdly, Jason has some big things going on at work. I'll wait for his greenlight to share those things but it's all good and exciting and making life even more hectic around here.

So those are my excuses. Do any of them hold water? Jill? Ronette? Mom?

Homeschool Blog Awards Meme - Something New

Well, this should be an easy post. This week's meme from The Homeschool Blog Awards is called something new. We are to share what new product we are using in our homeschools this year (and where to get it and why we chose it and how we are liking it so far, etc.). My challenge will be to share WHICH new thing!

*

The most obvious new thing in our school this year is Exploring Countries and Cultures from My Father's World. And in summary...we love it! I chose it out of a desire for a little more structure, a little more of a Biblical emphasis, the desire to teach Rachel and Mary Evelyn together, everything is included in the schedule, and the history is taught chronologically. I like that My Father's World combines the best of Charlotte Mason's methods with the best of what classical education offers. I have already said a lot about MFW in previous posts, so if you are interested in it for yourself you can go here.

*

I am going to also mention our new co-op. It is called Enrich and it is for users of the My Father's World curriculum. We met yesterday for the first time and my kids had a ball! I was the teacher for Betsie's class and as I type she is eating breakfast holding the crafts we made. Rachel and Mary Evelyn had a great time too. Not something you can buy, but new for us and I think a wonderful addition to our school. Plus it only meets once a month, which means we'll still be enjoying it 8 or 9 months from now! LOL!

*

I won't go into tons of details but I will also say that I am glad we made the switch to Teaching Textbooks math for Rachel and Right Start math for Mary Evelyn. Math is not the evil around here that it once was. Yay!

*

One last thing: we will start using The Learnables very soon for Spanish. We just got this in the mail last week. I haven't had a chance to even look at it, but that will be another new addition to our school. I have always wanted to add foreign language and The Learnables was much cheaper than my first choice and can be done independently on the computer. I'll let you know how it goes and if they learn anything or not!

*

Let me know of you do this meme so I can see what's new with you!

And Now...The Smile Award

(Laura, Nikki, Michele, Candace, Amanda, Deleise, and Heather P, scroll down to the I Love Your Blog Award post.)





Sheri also nominated me for this award:

This award comes with another set of rules:

1. The recipient must link back to the award's creator. (It's on the award.)

2.You must post the rules to receive the award.

3. To receive the award, you must pass it on to 5 others.

4. You must fit the characteristics of the award recipient. (below)

5. Post the characteristics of an award recipient.

6. Create a post sharing your award with others.

7. Thank the giver.

And here are the characteristics of award recipients.

1. Must display a cheerful attitude (not all the time - we're all human!)

2. Must love one another.

3. Must make mistakes (This must be what helped me get this award.)

4. Must learn from others.

5. Must be a positive contributor to the blog world.

6. Must love life.

7. Must love kids.

I am passing this one on to Heather (who I get to see on Saturday!), Leslie, Jill, Marcy, and Hollie.

Now on my To DO List: Accept and Pass on Blog Awards!

Sheri has given me TWO blog awards today. I would pass these on to my husband, but I am guessing he'd rather me not.



Here is the first award. I'll do the second one in a separate post a little later:

The rules for the I Love Your Blog award are:

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award.

2. Include the award on your blog.

3. Pass it on to 7 worthy bloggers with links to their blogs on yours.

4. Notify your recipients

I am passing the "I love your blog" award on to Laura, Deleise, Michele, Nikki, Amanda (who thinks no one reads her blog and who tagged me for another post but I haven't done it yet...HA!), Heather P, and Candace.

Tagged - How I am Feeling

My friend Heather tagged me. I am supposed to share 6 words to describe my feelings. Okay, I'll try! But like you, Heather, it might take a few more than 6 words!

1. Dirty - Our hot water heater isn't working. I'd really like a shower. Hey...you asked!

2. Excited - We start a new school year in a week. I just pulled copies of activities we will need for week #1. I also hung the big wall map. On day one the girls will have their pictures made and apply for their pretend passports. I hope they enjoy this curriculum...I think it looks great!

3. Frustrated - Goes back to the no hot water thing. And is it just me or do a lot of my posts deal with something being broken around here?

4. Loved - A long weekend with my husband was just what I needed after a pretty hard week last week.

5. Relieved - Betsie is sleeping pretty well in her big girl bed. The transition from the crib to the toddler bed was a bit of a nightmare. I was dreading the move to the real bed. But she has slept pretty well the last few nights and I am SO relieved! As much as I love the little darling, come bed time, I really want to say nighty night and not see her again until the next morning. (Now if she could just figure out part 2 of potty training.)

6. Nervous - I really want to have a good school year with my girls this year. Last year was such a challenge. If the first few weeks go well, it would be SO encouraging to me. So I am a little nervous, but at least I am sure that the girls are where they belong for another year. (Prayed pretty hard about it for this school year...wasn't so sure there for a while) So if you think of us next week, we'd be thankful for any prayers for our first week!

*update: We have hot water! Got it last night around 7pm and didn't even have to replace the hot water heater...although that happening soon is a real possibility since ours has outlived its life expectancy. But we're all squeaky clean! Yippee!

No Camera=No Blog

Seems like everything I want to blog about needs a photo. I'm realizing that without pictures, my blog is pretty bland! Sorry! Hopefully I'll have that remedied soon.

In My Dream Home,

there would be a nice big bath tub in the master bathroom. And I'd be in it right now. Alicia asked this question

"What is a feature that your dream house would have to have in order to be your dream house?"

So that is definitely my answer. I could come up with a whole list, but since it has been a long day and I wish I could just sit and soak, that's what I pick. You see, my master bathroom is very small and only has a stall shower. Every time we go to a hotel I take as many baths as I can. I took baths all the time in our other home. And even though this home is larger and I prefer it overall, I definitely miss my tub. And it wasn't a fancy tub...just a plain old tub.

So there you go. Calgon, take me away!

My First Guest Blog

Jason's a tad busy these days with tax season. (That is so understated it's not even funny.) Anyway, he's finding it a little hard to devote any time to his business blog. So that's why I am the guest blogger for him. It's not because I know anything about small business or taxes or other boring stuff like that. (kidding!) My perspective is simply from living with a guy who loves all things entrepreneur and business for close to 15 years. If you want to read it, you can visit here. But the really good post is the mushy one right under mine that Jason wrote on my birthday. Now that's some good bloggin'!

Seven Things About Me

Jill has tagged me. I have to tell you seven things about myself and then I am supposed to tag seven others. I'm just going to do the list and you can consider yourself tagged if you want. Although, I'd love to tag my sister Laura.

Well...

1. My birthday is Valentine's Day. I'll be 35 this year.

2. I always thought I'd have sons. I couldn't be more thankful for my beautiful girls though. Maybe they will have boys and I can have grandsons.

3. In real life I am kind of quiet and shy. I have actually offended people unintentionally and made them think I didn't like them because of this. Clearly it's an area that I need to be mindful of because I don't want to hurt others, even if it is my nature to sit back and let Jason do the talking. Now I'm not unfriendly, just not all that outgoing. I am definitely an introvert.

4. I taught in a public school for three years before having children. I thought homeschoolers were, well, odd...and maybe a little misguided. Then I met a few joyful homeschoolers with smart, outgoing, and normal children. I am thankful for those families.

5. I won the first grade jump rope contest at my elementary school for jumping 126 times and had my picture in the paper. Very exciting for sure. I didn't even mess up; I just quit because I got tired.

6. I was a summer missionary between 11th and 12 th grade. I worked with other high school and college age missionaries in the inner city of Houston, TX. I was away from home for 10 weeks. Jason and I fell in love by letter writing that summer. Neither of us had email or cell phones of course (it was 1990). I think we had one real phone conversation the whole summer. And my dad wrote me every day I think...he definitely wrote me the most, even if the letters were brief. I remember a first class stamp was 25 cents.

7. I have no clue what I want to be when I grow up (meaning when my kids grow up!).

New Look!

Thank you to my honey for making my custom header. I like it!

Know What I Noticed Today?

My little countdown to Christmas thingy on my side bar is wrong. Add a day to it for the right number. (Big oops by somebody!)

You Make Me Smile!

Thanks Christa, Hollie, Heather, and Amanda for this award! Wow, four times! You all make me smile too.

I think this award can be passed on to ten others, but I am going to be like Christa and pass it on to just five.

Oney at Tea at Three

Amanda at The Towne House

Fran at Happily Ever After

Denise at Looking to Liberia

Elysa at Musings From Graceland

Here is what Christ'as blog says about this award:

"This is what the person that created this award says about it- the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell,and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with.I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement.Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose ten bloggers.Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you. So, now it is my turn to pass it on. "

The Nice Matters Award

Thank you Heather for nominating me for this very "nice" award. Let me say a little about Heather. We became friends through our adoption agency's web board as we were awaiting the referrals of our girls from China. I remember emailing each other with the exciting news of all the details once we received those calls. Our first real life meeting was in the Chicago airport where we were delayed going to Beijing. We had hours and hours to get aquainted there...and then two more weeks together half way around the world. I had the very special (and intensely personal and unique) pleasure of watching Heather become a first time mom - and a very good one at that. She is a dear friend now and I am thankful that God put us on the journey around the same time so we could know each other. Oh, and her husband Ray was great to have around in China too. If we were ever unsure about any of the food, Ray would always try it first!

*

According to Heather's blog, "This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to 7 others who you feel are deserving of this award."

*

So I get to find seven other really cool blogging buddies and let them know they are having a positive influence in the blogosphere.

*

First off is Sheri. I know for a fact that she is having a positive influence in the Five in a Row blogging world because a bunch of us look at her scrapbooks each week for ideas. I totally copied her (minus a little creativity) in this area. Plus Sheri is a lot of fun. Oh yeah, and she can cut her own hair and climb up on really high ladders. Go to her blog and see for yourself!

*

Next is another Heather. She is another creative and fun Five in a Row mom. Last year we were in a Flat Stanley group together. (It would take a whole 'nother post to explain that!) Her whole family got involved and our little Flat Stanley had a great time in her part of the world. If you visit her blog, be sure to read about her $100 trash can.

*

My third pick is Amanda, who is actually a new blogger. Maybe receiving an award will encourage her to keep at it! Amanda is a really sweet lady from Australia and you'll never guess how I know her. How'd you guess? Yep, the Five in a Row boards. It's fascinating to hear about her life down under (like how she was just bidding winter good bye!) Amanda is such a kind hearted prayer warrior too...just had to nominate her!

*

Next is Jill. Jill absolutely rocks. And if you don't believe me just read the "about me" section on her blog. She is one of my heroes because her faith is so obviously lived out in her real life. (James 1:26-27) Jill definitely is an inspiration to many of us who have adopted and many others dealing with special needs. I can't say enough good things about Jill...very deserving of this award.

*

Next is Amy. She has a really neat blog and it looks like she is joining the rest of us Five in a Row scrapbookers this year. I bet hers are gonna be good too because she is a scrapbooker already! I am definitely adding Amy to my blogging buddies list so I can get some more ideas from her.

*

Christa is another great blogger. I was looking at her blog today thinking I should hire her to come clean my house. Apparantly she is getting no school work done though because I am totally convinced that if you can clean and do school, you are not human...or you should be writing a book. Okay...a closer look reveals that this is a school break week. See! You can't do both! Anyway, Christa and I share a love for the Yada Yada books as well and her blog is also a fun read.

*

Okay, last but certainly not least is Jen. I love to go to her blog before I plan a Five in a Row book. She does such great things with her children. She has a great recipe section too. Jen inspires me to look for ways to homeschool and have FUN doing it!

*

So there you go, lots of super nice bloggers out there! Thanks again Heather for awarding me!