Homeschooling Fun

Our Animal Cell

Well I am not pretending to know what I am doing but this year is going great. Last year I felt over stressed and over extended. But this year I have down sized my work load and added more fun activities. We are having a ball.

I am learning to let go of the traditional 8 hours at a desk and books idea and embracing the Home in Home school. We have a focused plan for Math, Language Arts, Spelling and Hand writting. Then we branch out and study Science, History, Music, PE, and play learning games in a fun relaxing way.

Here we are in Science, this week we learned about cells. This is us making an animal cell out of jello, and candy. The next day we ate our project.

At this time History is focused on the first Thanksgiving. Tomorrow we will make a tin can turkey with an empty can and construction paper and do a word puzzle for review.

Learning games consist of several computer games I have been given from friends. PE & Music are with done with a home school friend of mine and it gives us much needed adult interaction.

(A side note all my kids are under 5th grade, I am sure we will need more structured science and history come middle school and high school.)

Well that is all I have at this time. I just hoped to help an over stressed mom realize it is okay to relax and have fun with your kids. I have gotten numerous notes from "students" this year saying I love you and I love my teacher, and I am glad you teach me mom. What more could I ask. How many kids get to call dad when they learn to do addition for the first time and I got to see the look on his face as he read his first word. Well I digress, It is clear I am a proud mom.

My Girl

My Princess Baby has had a very busy last 7 days. First we went to Cooks for an MRI on her brain. Still waiting to hear from that doctor. I was going to put a video hear but it wouldn't load.

While Chy was getting her MRI I was out shopping I bought the pillow you see in the next picture and a brclet for each girl. After the MRI she wasn't nearly as happy.

Then this week was much more fun and relaxing. We got our wheelchair and it is about as fancy as the come. Well it has to be to be used by such a high ranking Princess.

Her personal embroidery selection
Color Razzle Berry

(Purple with Sparkles)

She read a book and was looking at everyone and all the new stuff the whole time. She was having a blast. In fact later when we tried to take her out of her new chair she had a fit and right or wrong her Daddy and I loved it.

So we are all set for a trip to Disney World. Hurray!!

When it rains it pours!!

It all started with a broken dishwasher. And we got it fixed. Then the refrigerator and we got it fixed. Then the phone and I fixed that. Then the dryer and I fixed that. Then all the kids got sick, some more than once. Then the phone and the Internet and I did all I could, called ATT and they fixed it. Still sick kids. Now there is a whatever the boys dropped in the bathroom sink, it is clogged.

WHEN WILL THE MADNESS END!!!

Okay a little dramatic, I guess. I love being a mom, wife, etc, etc, etc.

Dryer Maintenance

Okay after calling around and pricing heating elements, several saying I should also have the dryer serviced and the suggestion of a friend. I googled electric dryer maintenance and it was easy. I cleaned out my dryer. All I had to pay for was time and I also learned that my heating element is fine. I feel as though, as a woman, they said that to make $50 an hour plus the parts. I ordered the part and said I could handle the rest. Later, only to learn my heating element is fine. So just a blog to say if it breaks google it and if your dryer is less than 7 years old don't order a heating element unless you know it is cleaned out first.

Here are the steps: (the site recommended you service once a year unless you dry a lot than twice a year)

1. My dryer takes to long to dry.
2. Unplug and remove the back
3. Clean out lent hose and wall vent
4. On the left hand side (at the back) of dryer is the lent vent (mine is black)
5. Unscrew and pull open (not off) you have to hold it open
6. Use free hand and pull out lent and other stuff and Vacuum out
7. Close replace screws.
8. Vacuum out the parts of the dryer you see
9. Wipe with wet cloth (I didn't use soap to be safe)
10. Allow to dry (it really should not be that wet)
11. Replace back cover, Hose and plug in
12. Start dryer for about two minutes
13. Open the door and feel that heat like when it was new.
14. Not hot call a repair man or change the heating element yourself. (It's easy, I took mine off and put it back today)

Hope this helps someone

Top 10: Why I should give to Missions

1. Because the love of God is shed abroad
2. With out Faith it is impossible to please God
3. Because there is an eternal punishment for sin
4. Because we know there is one mediator between God and Man (the man Jesus Christ)
5. Because there is only one name by which man must be saved
6. A lost sinner must hear the call..In order to beieve they must hear...before they can hear they must have a preacher
7. Because I know I have a command from God
8. Because I know God will supply all my needs
9. Becasue I know if I don't it's Sin
10. Because I know that God will say...Well done thy Good and Faithful Servant

Missions Conference 2008 is going great here at Victory Baptist Church. I thought this would help us all. Tonight was our International Dinner and Devotion before the Faith Promise tommorrow. Bro. David Lott brought this devotion. I hope we are all doing what God wants us to do concerning Missions.

In Prayer for His Will
Alicia

Pumpkin Pumpkin

Pumpkin Prayer
Cut off the top:
Lord, open my mind and fill me
with your wisdom and guidance.
Scoop out the yuckies:
Lord, take out all my fussies and
frownies and fill me with your love.
Carve out the eyes:
Lord, open my eyes to see
all the beautiful things you have made.
Carve out the nose:
Lord, help me to be a sweet
fragrance for you.
Carve out the mouth:
Lord, help me to always speak
Your words of love and kindness.
Place in a candle:
Lord, let me be a light to others
For you have filled me with Your Light.

Well it is that time again, my favorite time. No air or heat needed here in Texas. You can sit on the porch in the early morning with a hot cappiucino, wrapped in a throw and relax. It all builds up to the Lord's Birthday. Not to mention all the baking and treats everywhere you go, and all the treats we are making at home. We started the holiday season making a mess. We cut out and painted pumpkins. Made roasted pumpkin seeds and look forward to the pumpkin pies (from the little pumpkins) in a few weeks. I hope you are all enjoying the Harvest season.

The boys digging out the yucky stuff

Benjamin yuck!!

Nathaniel and yes he really ate some!!!

Chy loves to paint.

Daddy cuts out the face:)

Christopher loves anything messy!!!

Kendrick handsome and messy!!

Mommy Crazy Devotion

Well, just a blog about being a mommy. Since our Ruthie came I have been sleeping in, waking at 7 am or even 8 am. All the while, I knew I needed to get up earlier. You know, "she riseth while it is yet night..." Proverbs 31: something

So lately I am feeling a little more energetic, on the days my hubby works nights I stay up till 2 or 3 cleaning up my home, folding clothes and all that. We all know it is better to do things early and sleep at night, Right? Also we have started a ladies Bible study at church, it was great at our first meeting. Their are ladies of all ages. I love to hear our older saints talk about how they also felt overwhelmed as young mothers. Sometimes I think I am the only one, or it is because I have a lot of children but every lady with children raised said they too felt overwhelmed with little ones and housework and church and all. They all also said what made the difference on many days was whether or not they got up with the Lord. Anyway, today is the day. I got up early and my plan of attack was time with the Lord, a little housework, get dressed for the day and wake the kids and start off right. Well I woke up at 5:45, alarm was set at 6, but I figured my body was excited to start our new plan of attack also, so I got up. I no sooner than went to the restroom and # 2 was awake. Then # 3, then # 4, then # 6 started to cry. Okay by know my plan is failing and I am completely frustrated. What went wrong. So, I awaken Allen, "Honey they are all up and I haven't even had my my with the Lord yet. " "Make them go back to bed." "Okay!!" So I sent them all back to bed. (Crying) New plan, have a shower and my time with God; In the shower, no Bible today, just prayer. So I can't hear the crying because I made them go back to bed. So Day One of my plan gone. While I type this three have gone potty, two asked if it is time to get up.

So what is the point, yes time with God is of top importance, but let us remember, we are often taken off track. I took my shower and spent time with God. Right or Wrong?? I think it made me relax, feel better, lose my frustration so my kids can have a good mom today, so Right? We need to remember that our plan will fail, we are human, and time alone with God means "Time alone with God". Even if it has to happen in the shower so you can't hear the crying kids. I mean reality is some days the morning may not be the best time for a devotion that day, and it won't hurt, never has hurt a child to cry for 20 minutes while you pray in the shower, so you can't hear them. And side note: no one was crying when I got out of the shower, they were just waiting to ask me if they could know get up. And I can do my devotion tonight after they go to bed and my hubby goes to work.

Well I know I rambled and not a lot of sense, but maybe I can help a young mom today, though my frustration and regaining of control though God.