I feel a little unqualified writing a post about homeschooling because I am NOT a fantastic homeschooling mom!!  I read blogs where homeschooling moms are incredibly creative and their children wake up bright and early and they just love being educated at home soooo much that they start on their school work without any prompting!   I think that is amazing but I cannot say that is what goes on in our home! ...

It seems like  just a month ago I wrote that my baby turned 4 and now she is turning 5!  Wow!  I decided to throw the girls a birthday party together this year.  We ordered them their first American Girl dolls – Bitty Babies – 7 weeks ago and we just got them!   The party was supposed to be last Saturday but we postponed it, waiting on our box.   My husband says I love my kids birthdays more...

I think some of my greatest lessons learned has been through my children.  I have learned an abundance through them.  I have learned much about myself.  They keep me in check!  One morning I was eavesdropping on Sophie in her room, having a “discussion” with one of her baby dolls.  She was speaking what I would consider harshly to her doll and so I knocked on the door and asked her what she...

Eleven years ago today Bob asked me to marry him!! Well, tis the season for yummy food and gatherings and decorations.  Thought I would share some pictures from our service last night.  We had a Christmas buffet and it turned out really nice.  We were missing a couple of families but had a wonderful time.  It snowed all afternoon yesterday and it was as if we were driving in a snow globe. These were some...

I am so thankful that we snapped family pictures a week ago and not this week.  The temperature turned frigid this week – BRRRR!!    We didn’t have anyone to take our pictures for us and so we set the camera up on the tripod and set the timer on the camera.  We got a few good shots out of about 100.     The kids get so silly when we are taking pictures of them. My sweet girls and me. Daddy’s...

Do any of you have traditions that go along with the first snowfall that accumulates?  Our tradition is a day off of school.  The kids go out and play and play and play.   Then, it is time for hot chocolate while all of their outdoor gear dries out.   Bob takes them out again in the evening for a snowball fight/building snowmen.  I think we had 4 snowmen built in one day.   While they are all outside...

Wow,  it has been three months since I have blogged.   I have had people email me and ask me if we have fallen off the face of the earth.   The answer is: NO.  I wish I were an incredibly transparent person who, without reserve,  can share and pour out victories and trials and express burdens in a way that doesn’t seem whiny.   I have a really bad emotional habit of withdrawing.  That is what...

It has been awhile since I have last posted on my blog.   On Facebook today some ladies commented on how they have missed me via Internet.  I have realized that I have been MIA this past month.  There are a couple of reasons for this. #1  I have started homeschooling.  It has taken me a little bit figuring out the schedule that works best for us.   For years I have been a morning bird.  I love getting...

On Saturday morning we decided to go to the open vegetable/fruit market.  I really love the fresh veggies and they are a lot cheaper in the market place but I really DO NOT like the crowds and being bumped into.   I am so glad that we went there and stocked up on fresh produce, though.  I have declared this week as a Vegetarian Week.  I have found 10+ new recipes that are veggie based.  They are all not...

Can I really have an 8 year old???  A tradition I have for the kids birthdays is making a homemade cake the night before their birthday and it is a surprise.  I love hearing their little feet on the stairs and their squeals as they see what kind of birthday cake/theme I have chosen for them.  So, you can imagine my disappointment when I baked Samuel’s birthday cake and the cake was a huge flop.  It...