My big yet hard for me news

It has came to a point in my life that I have reached the end of my homeschooling days. I never thought this would happen. I wanted so much to school my children all the way through high school. Things just have not panned out the way I wanted this year. I won't go on and on about what has happened, but I believe this step is the best for me and my family.... at least for now. If the boys want schooled at home later in time then we may do that, but right now they will begin public school on Monday the 8 th. It is hard to actually do this. I have had some rude comments such as "It is about time you quit playing school" Now that one wounded deep. I was NOT playing school. We did school everyday just like "real" school kids. My kids earned their grades just like the next kid. But oh well! I do feel like a failure, hopefully in time those feelings will go away. The boys are excited yet scared. It kinda hurt to see the excitement.... I mean I really worked hard with them and did things for them. I took them to K-mart on Friday and let them pick out their backpacks and trappers along with other goodies (school supplies and such). I did buy them some new shoes (which they had some nice ones, just not new) and a pair of new pants and a shirt for their first day. They both have very nice clothes already cause I bought new clothes a few months ago. But the boys' said Mom, "Can you get us one "cool" outfit?" I am a sucker!!! I want the boys to look nice cause I know when I was a kid I was made fun of. I don't want that for them. Anyway that is my big news!!! I plan on making some homemade chocolate chip cookies and have them ready for them for when they get home from school. I will take some pics of them to share. Melanie is going to take me cause she knows I am going to be a mess.... crying all the way back home. I feel like I am sending my boys' to the lions den! Ugh! They will be riding #2301 bus, which Melanie thanks that is my dad's old friend Larry Harper's bus. I sure hope it is. At least I would know the driver!

So I guess the boys' will go to school for 2 weeks then be off for Christmas break then start back again. I got all their grades together along with all the rest of the paper work I needed. Melanie said 2nd 9 weeks ends at the end of January. I went a head and added up what grades I have right now so their teacher would have a Midterm report for them. Go Mom!!!

I also took the baby back tot he doc on Friday for another checkup on this rash. He gave him some medication so we shall see if that helps. I will say he slept all night!!! Yay!!!!

Busy

I have been so busy around here! It seems like I have not had the time for anything. Well take that back I have been spending my time doing LAUNDRY! I did 5 loads yesterday and 2 loads today so far. And ya know what, I still can not see the bottom of my hamper yet!

Last week I was sick with a chest cold and the baby broke out from something unknown! Anyway he is real crabby. Now Zack has it on his face. We know his is from laying on a hay bale....so we are thinking that is what the baby's problem is cause he and I sat down in hay waiting on the guys one day!

The past few days school has been going really well. The boys are doing great! Now as soon as I brag on them... they'll make a liar out of me! LOL

We got our first snow fall last night of 2 inches but it has now melted off. I think snow is beautiful but my body disagrees. I hurt so bad in the winter! Old Arthur kills me!

Cleaning 101

Yesterday we took it easy since Logan hurt his foot... well they took it easy mom worked! My house needed some drastic attention. I did manage to get the living room, kitchen, study, and the boys' room cleaned. I still need to do the carpets (steam vac) and mop. The boys' room took me over an hour to do which is totally insane. I cleaned it last month like that too. This time it was worse! What gives? I got a garbage bag of junk out of there. They are pack rats!!! My boys are old enough to clean their room themselves. Do any of you other mother's have trouble with this? Here are some before and after shots of their room.

Today I have to run to the bank, stop at the Dollar General, then stop at the Library to return some books, and I need to check out some on our next state of study California. I am also thinking about studying one country a month and allowing the boys to make a dinner for that country. Have them make a display of it as well. Do this instead of a dinner on each state that Logan usually does. I want Zack to be included as well. And lastly come home to finish up on my cleaning 101. My bedroom, bathroom, and the school room need cleaned. I will probably steam vac the carpets on Saturday. I do need to get some school done today, so some of my cleaning 101 will have to go to Saturday. I did read to the boys, but not Harriet Beecher Stowe. We read a book on different breeds of horses, a book on box turtles, and a fun book. So they learned there. They played Scrabble yesterday and tried to spell as many words as they could. So all in all even though I was unable to do school, they still had a learning day. Today Logan is making his Hawaiian meal. That should be FUN!

I added some links to the side under Favorite Places, so far what I have added are additional blogs to this main blog. I have one for recipes and another for lesson plans. I will add my lessons sometime soon for next week. Anyway just wanted to let my readers know.

Chickens and School

We started raising chickens this summer and they started laying a month ago. Well today Logan brings one of Dolly's eggs and says mommy I want a chick. I am thinking it is almost winter and a chick would not be a good idea, but being the teacher that I am ... I gave in. So I have a bowl with some cedar chips in it and our red light heating this lonely egg. I have no idea if the egg will hatch or not, we will know in 21 days. We never incubated eggs before... well my dad did when I was kid, but as far as me doing it myself I never have.

Here is a picture from our barnyard in your backyard had in it.

Logan had me make a copy of this for him so he can make a chart to follow. He is a smart cookie. He loves animals and says he would like to be a vet someday. So now I have a science project in the making! ****After the bowl picture we had to change to a tote. The egg was getting too much heat in the bowl. Now the temperature is just right. (Any eggs dream)****

We did school on the porch again. The boys really like that and well so does mom! It is so peaceful. The baby got tired and I put him to bed and he is still there. I think he has been asleep for 45 minutes. If he does not take a nap he is a bear!!! I guess he gets it from his mom! I am not a morning person, but I am made to be! I would love to be napping right now, but here I sit typing and trying to stay awake. I am listening to Zack and Logan in the livingroom playing a game on their DS. I need to put a tape in that I checked out from the library about a boy from Kenya, Africa who finds an orphaned baby elephant. Tomorrow we have a class at the library to go to. It is "Books Alive". I will have to remember my camera so I can take a picture of the actors in costume. Booker T. Washington is one character. That is a good thing about home schooling cause I can incorporate whatever I wish into their learning experience. The only thing I get tired of, is when we go out, I have people ask did school let out early? My boys look at me and then at the person and say "I don't know, I am homeschooled." Before they were to shy to say anything, but they have became bolder!! I am glad they say this without a blink of an eye. It is nothing to be ashamed of, it is the way we have chosen. Statistics show homeschoolers do far better in testing than public. I am sure it is due to the one on one schooling they receive.
There are too many students per teacher. That is not fair for the children. And President Bush had the campaign of no student left behind. Hmmm... not sure if that has truely helped. I know of some children from our church that the teachers should of held back, but instead let them go on to the next grade. Is this what they mean about no student left behind? If so it sure is not helping a child to learn by promoting when they do not even know what they are doing. Okay I will step down off my soap box now. I know I am no better than the next person, and I am not trying to down public schools, I am just saying that if the teachers had less students they could focus on each child a little better.

Well I suppose I should get busy with my house cleaning. I think this is a daily post for me! I still have laundry to fold and well ya know the drill.

Happy Fall Ya'll

Well today is the first day of Fall or Autumn as some call it! Soon the trees will be turning their shades of splendor. The Lord is the greates artist ever. Brian is wanting to take a trip to the mountains soon. We love to see the trees in full color there. One year we went to Cass and to Canaan Valley. We took the ski lift up and oh the view was just gorgeous! I would love to do it again, but we will have to wait when Isaiah is a bit bigger. I think he is too wiggly for a lift ride! Yikes!

Today has been busy for me. I decided to do school outside. So we sat on the back porch. It was so nice, not to hot and not to cold! That is what I like about Fall! I have also been busy with laundry. I think I have did 4 loads and still have another. I am done for the day though. I still have the rest of the house to clean and it is a MESS! I tell ya I can clean it and within minutes it needs done all over again! Back to school outside... the boys enjoyed and Logan got all of his done fairly quick. Zack still has a few things to do. He is taking a break right now, then he will have to finish up.

I am trying to be more frugal with everything around here. I am trying to stretch my groceries to where we can save $$$. It is hard, but I have seen others do it and I know I can as well. I have been saving money with diapers by using cloth during the day. I made my own laudry soap and fabric softner. That is going great. And I made my own room freshner and all purpose cleaner which both work wonderful. I need to sit down and see how much $$$ I have saved. "A penny saved is a penny earned."

This is what I am making for dinner tonight. It is super easy and quick!!! A dream come true for a homeschooling mama!!!

Easy Layered Taco Bake

Prep Time:15 min
Total Time:35 min
Makes:6 servings, 1 cup each
What You Need
1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1.25 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Mild Salsa
Make It
HEAT oven to 400ºF. Prepare Dinner as directed on package. Cook meat with taco seasoning.
LAYER seasoned meat, Dinner and salsa in 8-inch sq. baking dish.
BAKE 20 min.
TACO BELL® and HOME ORIGINALS® are trademarks owned and licensed by Taco Bell Corp.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Serving Suggestion
Serve with smart sides such as your favorite steamed vegetable and a crisp, mixed green salad.

I get the Kraft magazine in the mail and it is full of great quick recipes. Anyway this is a wonderful site so check it out!