Keeping It Simple

how I do it all. I don't. I really don't. I sit here wondering- do some people? I mean really. Can you get "caught up" on history and still get to reading (if you have kids who need individual help)? Can you care for all the animals (not kids- actual animals), feed all the kids, get laundry done, remember all the doctor and dentist appts. of the day and make it on time, get your kids to soccer/football practice, ... ? I feel like we are on a good roll. We have decent routine down.  BUT...  There is always more. I spend very little time with friends (some may not even consider themselves my friend anymore!). We are blessed with time with our grandchildren, but I would love to have a "grand-baby date" just 'cause. Grandma usually comes over for dinner several times a week. Only we haven't been home! Really no point to this post. Just wondering if maybe there is a secret others know that I don't!  On that note, we'...

Today we grabbed the opportunity to catch up on some notebooking. With our busy schedule, it often gets shoved to the bottom of our "to do" list.  If you can see their faces, you can tell that my boys were being a little silly- attentive, yet silly.  As I called a lunch break, the boys were throwing their various projects at me to check.   I sort of absentmindedly looked down to check this one by Mark- and snorted my green tea! :) It just tickled my funny bone.  If you can't tell, that is two stick figure colonists pouring the "biggest cup of tea in history" (school house rock) into the harbor and the King of England on the other side with smoke coming out of his ears.  Here's to smiles while doing school work!! :) 

I'm just one of those people who need a quiet place to hide out. Considering that at one time we had as many as 10 kids (my 7 plus boyfriends/fiances) coming through the house on any given day, I find that slightly humorous! I can go for a walk, take a drive (panda express is my "get away spot" of choice), or hide in my room. To make hiding in my room a more pleasant option, I have been working on getting rid of the "storage room" motif in favor of a more cleared away and relaxing environment. I won't win any design awards, but I am close to done! (just some closet organizing still going on) This rocking chair has rocked many a fussy baby. It also helps makes a nice reading corner. This photo quilt, a little faded now, was surprise from a friend. She was able to get pictures with the help of my girls and order it for me. I just love it! My reading pile- I also have "The Help" on my ereader. I am probably the last one i...

and blogging from a brand new beautiful computer. Eee gads!! I am not sure I'll ever get used to it, but it has only been a few hours. It really hasn't been that long since my computer crashed, but I really realized just how much I count on it while it was gone. Just using a new keyboard is got me all discombobulated, so this is going to be a "wrap-up" mostly in pictures (assuming that I can find them ;)). Mark with his brother-in-law/sponsor and Paul with his sister/sponsor at a special blessing mass for their upcoming confirmation.  Erin (top right) is sponsor to her cousin, Julia.  Lent is here. We kicked it off with 8 a.m. mass followed by a peaceful walk and prayer vigil.   Then St. Valentine's Day celebrated with our Spanish co op.  The first Friday of Lent, we had a mass for our homeschool group followed by the stations of the cross.  My nephew served for the first time with some assistance from c...

My computer crashed... Again. This time I think it is for good. But I wanted to share this, so I ordered the blogger app and here I am. I don't think I'll use it often, but it will do for this. :) My boys loved "John Treegate's Musket", an action packed story that leads up to the beginning of the revolutionary war. When we finished the final chapter this morning and I asked my boys if they thought we should read the next book in the series about the war; they unanimously and enthusiastically agreed that we should. Once I saw that the next two titles in the Treegate series were $4.95 each on my kindle app, I *enthusiastically* ordered both of them. John Treegate's Musket is also $4.95 on kindle. I have no idea how to do links via the iPad, but if you go to amazon and search "Treegate series", they should show up. I purchased "Peter Treegate's War" and "Sea Captain from Salem". I know prices can change quickly on ki...

Resources that have influenced how we study history: When I began homeschooling 20 some years ago, I was introduced to Konos . I will tell you that I found it overwhelming, but I am so thankful to have had that put in front of me- it jolted me out of the "school at home" mentality very quickly. After our first year of homeschooling, I used it as a resource to add books, movies, and activities in to our studies. "Back in the day", I did not have a computer with the many resources now available at my finger tips- and believe me, Konos has as many worthy resources listed as a google search will turn up!! Beginning the second year of homeschooling with a newborn in my arms, I was looking for something that was a bit more couch friendly- as in do school while sitting on the couch. I found the perfect fit! Literature based studies from Beautiful Feet Books . I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed these study guides. We used the California History Study Guide ...

First up... Healthy Chicken Nuggets! Sadly, I have no pictures. But, trust me, they are beautiful. This is one of those rare recipes that actually cooks up and looks exactly as the recipe claims. For the recipe and a great picture of these fantastic nuggets, visit Homegrown Learners Healthy Chicken Nuggets post . I was a bit suspicious when "pickle juice" was listed as an ingredient... but no worries! They don't taste a thing like pickles. And leftover nuggets make a great lunch the next day. I have looked forward to trying these sausage bites from Plain Chicken blog , and the super bowl seemed like the perfect occasion. With three simple ingredients, I was totally up for this. You just combine sausage and cheese to make sausage balls, and then place each one in a little biscuit cup (using a mini-muffin tin). I was not able to purchase Grands Jr. biscuits called out in the original recipe, but managed to get by with using the regular ones. I just cut each biscuit in fo...