Busy Week

Sorry no post recently and looks like a couple of busy weeks lay ahead so I may not have many things posted. I have neat school stuff Allison & Jack and I have done, tons of pictures, and some neat crafts to post, but just have not had time.

This week we have all been sick. Kids & myself have the crud. Yuck!! Thursday we are leaving for 2 family reunions out of state, and will not be back until Sunday night. Then next week we have to finish up several things for school so because Jonathan and I will be leaving for our cruise on Sunday 10/5 not to return home until the following Saturday. I have no idea what we will be packing and all that will have to be accomplished next week as well!!

Also please keep Lindsey in your prayers she take the SAT on Saturday 10/4!!! She is working hard on studying, but she is terribly nervous!!

That's whats going on here...just busy busy for the next couple of weeks then VACATION!!!

Have a great week!!!

Which Princess Am I?

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

At least Jack will be happy ... he loves Mulan :O)

Have a great weekend y'all!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

My mother is having her birthday today. I wanted to wish her a very special birthday since we will not be home until the end of September.

I wanted to share a little about my mother:



She has determination like no one I know. She works at her own pace. She has about a hundred different projects going at one time, and another hundred working in her mind. Works from sun up to sundown if called upon. Is always the first to respond and drop everything when needed. My mother rarely shows her emotions, but loves me unconditionally (trust me I have tried that love a few times and it is always there)!


I love you Mom!!


Have a great birthday!!


We miss you and are looking forward to seeing you at the end of September!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Fall Decorating

This is out front in our landscaping.

My favorite wreath on my front door!!

A Little fall color for the dining room table.

My sofa table also got some fall color.

Finally our mantle.

OK Fall I am ready!!! Send us the cooler weather and let the leaves begin to change!!!

Happy WW!!!

Menu Planning Monday

I hope everyone is starting this week out with a smile in your heart!!

Monday: Chicken Noodle Casserole .. did not get to this one last week!!

Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (eggs, biscuits, sausage, & gravy)

Wednesday: Hot Dogs & French Fries

Thursday: Paprika Chicken

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Chicken Pot Pie

Sunday: Eat Out After Church!!!

Our Breakfast this week will consist of baked oatmeal, pancakes, cereal, muffins, & poptarts :O), and our lunches will consist of grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, mac-n-cheese, & ravioli. I always try for kid friendly!!! Have a great week everyone!!!

Woohoo! I got my first Blog Award!!

Thank you to a dear blogger friend Neabear!! She has awarded me this award!! I have just recently met her through blog land and we have been enjoying each others sites!! Please take the time to go visit her at Neabear and B-Daddy Laufer sometime this weekend!!!

Now I must pass this award on to 3 other people in blog land. I read so many wonderful blogs out there that it makes it hard to choose just three, but I think my top ones that I read the most are:

JOANN @ Ten kids and a Dog she has an awesome family and I really enjoy reading about what they have done and seeing all the excellent pictures of their adventures. She also finds some of the most interesting learning fun experiments to do. So I gladly pass this along to you!!

Mary @ Raising 4 godly men also has a wonderful blog. She shares her adventures in her home in Canada, with her husband and wonderful boys. I enjoy her Tightwad Tuesday meme and have learned alot from what she shares. I am passing this award along to you also because I truly love your blog!!

and my final choice is:

Jennifer @ Homekeeping Heart She has the sweetest family and a new little one on the way in October. I really enjoy the ways she shares about what they are doing and she is very open in sharing her daily trials and triumphs. I send this to her with prayers that she will have an easy delivery!!!

Now award recipients you must follow the rules below and enjoy your new award and the fact that each of you are an inspiration to me and many others out there I am sure...

* Display your award.


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


* Nominate at least 3 other blogs.


* Put links to those blogs on yours


* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.


* Enjoy your award!

Happy Friday!!

Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate cake

All I can say is yummy...at least it looks yummy and the batter & icing tasted yummy :O)

The recipe and the picutres of my taste testers to come later....Honey this is what's for dessert!!!

Hubby Says NO

My DH said NO. He does not care for the new blog layout. So I am back at work to change it again!! Please be patient I may not finish tonight so things my look a little out of place or weird for a bit!

Here we go again!!

Have a great night!!!!

Holiday Grand Plan Wk 2

I know I am late posting this, but with working on my ofc re-do w/ Organized Junkie is hosting this month, and trying to get ready for the church consignment sale, I am way behind this week!!

Cleaning Chores for the week:
Living Room

• dust base boards
• knock down spider webs
• spot scrub carpet
• vacuum furniture & cushions
• dust blinds - replace broken blind
• vacuum carpet
• dust all pictures and things on the wall

I accomplished my cleaning last week ... let's see how I do this week!!!

Gifts to work on:

same as last time... I did not finish anything last week

• finish cross stitch that I am working on as a gift
• start the ornaments to give
• spray paint gift basket

List & Planning:

• Christmas card list needs to be compiled
• print labels for envelopes
• finish planning menu for Thanksgiving & Christmas (almost set with Thanksgiving)
• fix for family one goody that might be given as a gift
• finish list of items to be cooked as gifts
• finish up Christmas list for family
• compile list of gifts already purchased

It's already Wednesday.... better get busy!!! If you would like to know where to go to get on board with your own Holiday Grand Plan click HERE!!!!

Another Change

I am looking for just the right template for my blog today to welcome in fall!!! SO if things look crazy ... forgive me... I am working on it!!!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

A learning moment...

I love moments like this.

What's that I hear? Christmas Music

That's right this morning our home is full of music as Allison practices for the Christmas play at church. All morning long she has been singing the songs they were given list night at church when they practiced for the play that is not until December 14 th. We will definatly know the songs parts will be assigned later. I hope she is this excited come November & December when she needs to know the music :>).



Have a great week!! Fa la la la la

Menu Planning Monday

Happy Monday to all!

Monday: Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - PBJ's

Dinner - Chicken Noodle Casserole

Tuesday: Breakfast - Toast w/ homemade apple jelly :O)

Lunch - Hot Dogs

Dinner - Biscuits, Sausage, & Eggs

Wednesday: Breakfast - Muffins

Lunch - Mac-N-Cheese & Fruit

Dinner - Hamburgers

Thursday: Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - PBJ's

Dinner - BBQ Chicken

Friday: Breakfast - Muffins

Lunch - Homemade Lunchables

Dinner - BBQ Chicken Pizza

Saturday: Breakfast - Biscuits

Lunch - Taco's

Dinner - Pot Luck

Sunday: Breakfast - Pancakes

Lunch - Out to Eat

Dinner - Baked Chicken & Rice Casserole

Have a blessed week!!

Holiday Grand Plan Wk 1 UPDATE

This week I have worked on my Holiday Grand Plan (click the link to see what was on my HGP for the week), and I just wanted to update what got done and what still needs to be done before I post Monday about week # 2. Go HERE for Organized Christmas and more about Holiday Grand Plan and the schedule!!!

Cleaning Chores:
All Done!!!!

Gifts to work on:
Spray paint basket - not done
Finish Cross stitch gift I am working on - not done but ALOT farther along
Start x stitch ornaments that I want to give - not started, but I did pick them out and get enough material

List and Planning for the week:
Nothing done in this area at all :O(

Probably not the best start, but I still feel good with having started on what needs to get done!!
I did get all my fall decorating done and will post pictures later this week!!!!
Have a great week all!!!

Weekend Plans

Well we made it through another week. Jonathan has worked so many extra hours at his second job that he is ready for a calm weekend...hopefully!! Looks like Allison will be going with my in-laws to TN for a family reunion. Lindsey has to work, but is spending the night off after work Friday to return sometime Saturday before work. SO that leaves us home with the little man.

I have to finish up my Holiday Grand Plan for the week before I get into the next weeks schedule. Also I need to gather all the items for the consignment sale at the church this next week. The children's Christmas play practice begins Sunday night so Allison will have to go straight to church Sunday night when she gets back. Whew...doesn't sound relaxing does it?

I hope everyone has a blessed and safe weekend!!!

Seed Dissecting

I wanted to share one of the cool things we got to do this week in Botany. We dissected a seed. Then we located the parts of a seed. Later we drew and colored our own, I think Allison really enjoyed it. We soaked out bean seed in hot water for 1 hour 15 min. The books advises 30 min but that was not long enough for ours. Then we split the see apart with tweezers and looked at it with our magnifying glass. Enjoy our pictures...sorry the seed parts are hard to see because our seed was white on the inside:

Book Giveaway!!!!

Brandi over @ Mountain Morning is giving away this great book. I have looked at this one before and would love to add it to my library. I think it would be used often in my home. I find myself wanting to make more common things from scratch at home and this would be key in helping me :>) So y'all hope on over and register yourselves for this great giveaway and check out Brandi's neat blog!! Have a great night!!!

Homeschool Memoirs #3

This week I am joining the weekly Homeschool Memoirs to share a peek into our homeschool program.

We do not really follow a schedule and that works for us. I do not have a set time for things. I usually try to do subjects that have lots of reading (Botany, & History) involved right after breakfast so that Jack will be satisfied playing with play-doh, stamps, etc., while Allison and I work on the heavy subjects which usually take around an hour or so with some seat work. Then she typically does her independent reading right after this time. Jack takes a nap after lunch which I try daily to eat at noon. Then Allison and I have quiet time to work on Math & Language, and then she begins her seat work from the subjects covered plus spelling. She is usually done between 1:30 & 2:00 for the day. I don't guide her reading at night she is allowed to read whatever she likes but she must read 30 minutes a night before bed. We just kind of flow throughout our day, but we typically cover everything. There are those days that I believe everyone has that we don't accomplish everything or we drag on, but we try :O)

I hope everyone enjoys the peek into our so called routine :O) Have a great Wednesday!!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

I just had to congratulate my excellent cake decorator who just completed her Wilson 2 cake decorating class. This was their final project. The cake looks great and tasted better :O)

Good Job Lindsey!!!!

I love you!!

Mom

Shape Sorting

Big sister Allison is helping Jack learn to sort the blocks by color!! What A teacher you are!!!


She tried to tech him to sort by color and shape, but we are not there yet :O). Keep Practicing Jack!!!

You Tube - I love it.

I have never really cared for you tube, and have only watched a handful of videos that I enjoyed. But look what I learned to do by watching you tube:

The only crochet stitch I have been able to figure out from my how to books is the chain stictch. Watching someone one else do it on You Tube I learned how to make a granny square using a couple of different stitches. (I guess they are called stitches in crochet). Anyway I have made 4 of these so far and they are all turning out the same :O). I might have a new craft for Christmas we will see!!

Picture of my two MEN!!!

I love you two!!!

Holiday Grand Plan Week # 1

Okay this year I am working the plan at Organized Christmas to make the holiday less stressful, so that I can focus on the true reason for the season instead of what I still have to do. This is my plan for the week.

Cleaning Chores for the week:

• Front Porch Zone - knock down spider webs
• Sweep off porch
• Wash Front Door <
• Trim bushes back, & pull weeds in front beds
• Change light bulb on porch.
• Windex windows <

Gifts to work on:

• Spray paint basket I purchased at goodwill.
• Finish cross stitch gift I am working on.
• Start the cross stitch ornaments that I want to give.

List & Planning for the week:

• Plan the menu's for the week of Thanksgiving & Christmas.
• Plan what needs to be cooked for In Law Christmas get together.
• Make Shopping list for each week.
• Finalize list of items to be baked for others as gifts & gather recipes.
• Make a gift list for all family and start marking the names off!!!

I hope everyone else is underway to making this holiday season a wonderful one!!!

Merry Christmas!!!