Wow-I'm late into the school year!

Hello again!
I just realized how long it has taken me to write on here. I have been swamped with school, I guess 4 kids doing 4 different things will do that to a girl.
The daughter is almost finished with her 9th grade coursework and the niece is ending 8th grade. The other niece is doing well, but it's my son that I am most proud of. He struggled a bit last year in Math and Reading. I tried everything I could to think of a way to get him to "get it."

It finally took me making him draw tally marks to do the addition/subtraction problems. He still does it for every problem and that's ok. I will work patiently with him at this point as long as he is starting to grasp it.
Reading came along nicely. Frankly, We read from Dick and Jane and was able to finish the entire book. I even used some apps downloaded on his IPOD to help him. He's a wiz on that thing and his laptop!

On a personal note:
I realize I took this magical oath when I decided to stay home instead of work, but when did this mean I had to do everything? I can't even get the husband to carry the trash can to the road. Heck, he can't even heat up a can of soup anymore. I think it's time "Big Mama" got a job on the weekend and force my family to learn to fend for themselves a little. Either that or I go on strike (again) :)

Might I recommend:

www.education.com  -there is a membership for full benefits of the website, but you can get so many (10, I think) a month. They have some really good worksheets.

Also, if you need some Mom time- check out the Blue Fire Saga by Scott Prussing. It's a wonderful read and as soon as you start reading Breathless you'll be hooked and won't be able to put it down!
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U6WM7E
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathless-scott-prussing/1103450265
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/87871
( might have to copy and paste links if they don't work, sorry!)

-Until next time, Jules

So it's begun!

We started school this past week. It wasn't exactly how we typically do things, pretty laid back, if you were looking in from the outside, you would question if anything had been learned that day. I assure you, there was learning. Shark week, was on all day. The kids are fascinated with them. I love when they come tell me all the interesting facts they learned. The excitement in their eyes is priceless.

I spent a lot of time planning. I will be including Kyle in school this year. He's excited and eager. I pray it goes smooth. Im sure Emilee will also be learning as she doesn't understand why she can't do school. She thinks she's old enough and insists she can write. She's the sweetest.

So far schooling the three kids and myself is a little chaotic, then add Lexie who is into EVERYTHING makes are day just a little insane. But, I love it. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

New School year fast upon us

Wow!

Can you believe the new year has crept up so quickly? This summer vacation has flew by... I think it was a pretty crappy one if you ask me. So much rain made it hard to do anything.

Well, this year should be interesting. Brieana will be in 6th grade, Dylan in 3rd and Kyle in Pre-k/ Kindergarten. He is ready for it and is very excited. I will start off with Pre-K and ease into Kindergarten as I feel he will excel quickly.

Bought the kids their journal books. It will be interesting to see how different this year will be. I even found one for Kyle.

Not only are my littles in school, I am also in school full time. So I am sure, I will have many stories to tell.

What are some of your preparation plans? What will your first day of school be like??


Amie

End of another school year! :)

Last Friday marked another end of the school year for us. I am so proud of the kids-they worked hard all year long.

So I had the bright idea of making a "Summer Bucket List."  I asked all the kids to write down some things they want to do this summer (within reason) and I was surprised to find out that 2 of the 4 want a tree house/fort. Looks like I have some planning to do.

All of them listed going to play with new friends..hmmm..guess home school kids do socialize after all. They have followed the rules so far, I haven't gotten any weird requests like Disney or bungee jumping. Although my daughter did ask to go to some outdoor music festival that has several bands. Oh how I miss the days of Disney stars/shows. Now it is bands like Falling In Reverse and people who growl instead of sing. :/

So here is a toast (raises glass of tea) to the start of summer-Hot day, warm nights and the sounds of frogs and crickets!

I hope everyone enjoys a little safe fun this summer.

School help tip..   www.saylor.org  <---free online courses for the older kids. Its a life saver..


Mom "Escape" tip:  Scott Prussing, a wonderful author, made the first book of his series-Breathless- free on Amazon and Barnes and Noble..check it out and take some down time to yourself..escape into a book for awhile.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U6WM7E
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathless-scott-prussing/1103450265

-Until We Meet Again....-Jules

The Blue Fire Saga- book review

I had to post about one of my favorite authors, Mr. Scott Prussing.

I am an official Twi-nerd with no shame to admitting it. It was a fellow Twilight fan who introduced me to Breathless-the first book in the series. It was so interesting I had to read it in one sitting and ordered the next books as they were available.

Who doesn't like the world of the supernatural? This book is complete with humans, vampires, volkanes, wizards, (takes a deep breath) love, action, mystery--everything you could ask for in one series including a one-fanged vampire.

So you may ask yourself-eh-what makes this different from other books on the market these days?
I can tell you the major difference-Mr. Scott! He has a great interaction with his fans! There are not a whole lot of authors that you can ask a question about the books and actually get an answer-but he does. :)

He also has other books outside of the Blue Fire Saga-all are worthy of reading.  I am including some links below to give more information.
I would encourage all who read this to read his works-start with Breathless and you'll be hooked too!

Thanks for tuning in....
-Jules

***Twi-nerds will be familiar with fanfiction, here is a link to one that Mr. Scott wrote****
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8911745/1/

***Below are the links to check out his books****
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U6WM7E
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004U6WM7E
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breathless-scott-prussing/1103450265

**Newest Links-Letting Go***
 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BLSZLY0
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BLSZLY0
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/letting-go-st-prussing/1046131282


And you can always check out  www.scottprussing.com  to check out his other books as well.

Volunteering

This is a small blog, but I wanted to throw the idea out there.
I have been thinking about getting involved with some volunteering. I have always wanted to work with children who have disabilities. I did some work with them when I was in high school. It was one of the best experiences in my life. I think it would be great for my kids to also get involved seeing how they are home schooled. So, I am on a mission to find out how to get involved with the Special Olympics or something of that nature. It doesn't even have to be that but something that involves children..

Innocent until proven guilty

This is just a thought I have been pondering. A news article states that "Suspected" (and I say that frigging lightly) Dzhokhar Tsarnaev  will have an all star defense team. Why do people volunteer to defend someone that is clearly guilty? Yeah, yeah I know, Innocent until proven guilty. But why waste time, money and energy when the proof is already there. We know he's guilty. The evidence is shown. Why draw it out? I can understand going to court if it wasn't caught on surveillance, and there was a doubt about it. But, there is not a shadow of a doubt he and his brother did it.

Okay, okay maybe, he wasn't the key man, maybe he was the follower but he was still there.  He still hid from police. I could never be a lawyer. I could never defend someone I knew was blatantly guilty. If for some reason, they were found not guilty, like OJ, I don't think I would be able to sleep at night knowing that I helped a murderer walk away.

The judicial system can be a good thing. But, I have seen where good people got accused of things and found guilty when they didn't do it. Makes me wonder how it all works. Is money a factor?

Why throw people who do drugs in jail?? It's their life, it's their body. If they want to destroy it then let them. Leave room in jail for the true offenders.

End Rant

Amie

I'm B-a-c-k!!!

I've been gone for a week-finally got to go back to my home state of Michigan :)

A lot happened while I was gone. We started one morning off with tracking a close friend while he was running the Boston marathon. Left the house for a little bit-only to turn on the t.v. when we got back to find out about the bombing. My heart stopped for awhile as I was waiting to find out if he was ok. His whole family had flew out there to watch him. Luckily he had crossed the finish line 4 minutes before the blast. It makes you stop and think about how precious life really is..they are now safely back home. A member of their family ran to help triage as soon as the blast went off-my heartfelt Thank You goes out to him and all the other people and professionals who immediately took action.

I also got to visit one of the best home school stores while in the area. I loaded up on test books and got a really cool kid's Chemistry book. It was made in a way to make Chemistry cool and interesting. I want all the kids to benefit from the books-so we are going to use plastic sheets and dry erase markers so we can use them more than once.

We got to see snow, froze to death, and spent quality time with friends who we hadn't seen in 4 years. The trip home was way too long-my little family couldn't wait to get out of the car.

Vacations are always great-but by the time it is over you feel as though you need another week just to recover.

I guess tomorrow it is back to the grind!!! I have been gone so I don't have my usual lesson plans done so we will be winging it tomorrow! :)

Have a great school week,
-Jules

Crazy punishments.

I was reading the STFU, Parents blog. It's pretty funny. There was this one post on parents posting pictures of their children crying. The debate was when it was appropriate or not. Some of the posts I can totally relate to, but there were some that when I saw it, I couldn't help but shake my head and ask why the hell would they do that??

For instance, a parent posted a picture of her toddler, a little girl probably no older than 3. Apparently her child had cut her bangs, if you have daughter, chances are you're going to go through this traumatizing experience in it's self. I am not sure if it was more horrifying for me or Brieana. I cried and cried but I refused to cut her hair because I thought it would have made it worse. So, I improvised. I put her hair up in any way I could get it to work. So, this parents solution to her daughters scissor happy moment??  Shaving her daughters head completely bald. She thought it was funny, so much so she posted the poor girls  tear-filled picture on her blog. It broke my heart. I may not be the best mother, but I wouldn't/couldn't ever do that to any of my children. I do however like STFU's remarks. It made me feel a little better.

Another genius took a picture of their baby, probably around 6-8 months old, sitting in the refrigerator. He is hysterically crying because the parent thought it would be a great Idea to close the drawer with their leg still in the drawer. This was a freaking punishment. WTF goes through these parents head? How is that a good idea? Even better, why is it a good idea to post it on the internet with a stupid caption? To me, that just screams child abuse. What happens if they play with fire, you gonna burn their hand to the brink of serious injuries?? Ugh!

I will never debate a persons right to spank, because that's a personal preference. I don't see harm in it as long as it's not over used. But, I have learned it doesn't really do anything. Nothing good comes from it, so I have stopped. But, believe me if It's serious, I will pop-their-butt if need be.

I just think, there should be a test before one becomes a parent.

Here is the link to the blog I was referring too. http://www.stfuparentsblog.com/

The dreaded question....

Once people realize that we are homeschoolers the dreaded question arises, "How do you do it?" It's inevitable and will arise at some point during most conversations. Honestly, I just do. It's a decision that my husband and I made the year our oldest son turned four. The decision was made and the prepping and planning went from there. Do I have all the answers just because I homeschool? Psh...let me let you in on a little secret. NONE OF US DO! It's a learning process for us all, rather we are veterans or new to homeschooling. Or don't homeschool at all. Learning is a continuous journey, one that I love being a part of with my children. I love seeing the lightbulbs go off when they learn how to do something new, or just learn a new fact. It's something that I enjoy and I am so thankful that I'm able to stay at home with my children. Homeschooling simply works for us, that's really "how I do it". Do I think it's a perfect fit for all? No I don't, but it is for us and that has become my most used response. It simply works!

How do you deal with the dreaded question of "How do you do it?"

Prescription bottle idea's

Now that Lee and I both take meds on a regular basis, we are accumilating a ton of empty prescription bottles. So, I am on a mission to find as many idea's as I can: Just thought I'd share my findings. Keep checking back, I'll update if I find more.


Here is a pintrest board:
http://pinterest.com/boxorox13/pill-bottle-crafts/

Found these idea's at: http://randomcreative.hubpages.com

Simple Reuse and Recycle Options

• Store spare change. The bottle will fit right in the car, a purse, or a desk/nightstand drawer.
• Store small office supplies.This can include paper clips, rubber bands, and more.
• Store small craft and/or sewing supplies, such as beads, small buttons, and thread bobbins.
• Create a glitter shaker by punching holes in the top.
• Store small tools and repair supplies, such as nails and screws.
• Create a sewing kit. Fill the bottle with a small spool of thread, a button, a needle, and a safety pin.
• Create a cat toy by filling the bottle with small beans or bells.
• Store any number of other small items, such as headphones.
• Soak/store reeds for musical instruments.
• Reuse with other medications, such as vitamins or Ibuprofen to keep at work or in your purse.
• Donate. Some veterinary offices and local humane societies will take washed bottles with the labels removed to use for their animal prescriptions.
• Recycle. Check with your local recycling center to see if they have a special method for collecting pill bottles. If they do, make a box at home for your bottles so they don't clutter up cabinets or counter space in between recycling trips.

• Consider decorating and/or labeling your pill bottles.

  
  

Evil...

There is so much evil in the world. So much sadness. Why would anyone want to hurt complete strangers? Words and actions can be just as hurtful as gunfire and bombs. I just don't understand the reasoning.

My Uncle,  posted this as his status in light of the bombing in Boston:

"Realizing most of us can't actually be in Boston to help with this tragedy I would like to make a suggestion. Hug your family a little harder, tell them you love them, hold a door for someone, say "thank you" for a kind gesture, tell a friend or co worker you appreciate them, let someone get in line before you, check on a neighbor, wave someone on at the stop sign, etc. Its the little acts of kindness that count. Its what separates "us" from "them". Positivity will win the day. Honor the loss with acts of kindness." 

I couldn't agree with him more. This is exactly how I raise my children. I do not let them disrespect each other and do not let any of them boss each other around. My kids smile at strangers, smiling can't hurt. Hold doors open for all.  Help our neighbors with their dog who keeps escaping while they are at work. We don't want to see the poor thing get hurt. 

If I am at the store and someone drops something, I help them pick it up. If I am in line with a cart full of groceries, and there are people behind me with only a few, I will let them go before me.  I stop at cross walks, and will give my seat up to someone who may need it more. This is how my parents taught me to be, and this is how I want my children to be. It doesn't take much to care about others.  Sometimes, that simple act of kindness is the most important moment in their life.  

I think other countries lack the lessons on humility. I think they need to have kindness in their hearts. I am sorry that you don't like how our country is run. Heck, there are a lot of us who couldn't agree more, but most of us understand that this truly is the best country to live in. I could name off many countries I have no desire to visit let alone live in. Just because I feel this way doesn't give me the right or the want to blow it up or attack it.

My kids ask why people do this, and the best answer I can give them is some people just do bad things to good people. I don't know to explain it. I hate that I have to explain it. Things like this make me never want to leave home but, by giving into my fear, I am letting the enemy win. So, instead I proudly show off how proud I am to live in a country that gives me freedom. I truly wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 

Look at all the states and organization coming together and showing support to all of those who were affected by the bombing. It brings tears to my eyes. I am proud to be an American. I think, if we stop worrying about guns and policies and all that mumbo jumbo, and concentrate on bringing back what it's like to be a decent, caring human being and the correct way to treat each other, there would be much less violence and evil in the world. 

Bring back the importance of manners and etiquette. Teach our younger generation how to respect one another. 
That's the key factor of getting out all the evil...

Arguing about Home School vs. Brick and Mortar school (Regular school)

I hate how both groups are throwing up facts attacking each others choices. It shouldn't be like that. We should respect each others choices and know that the best decision has been made for the child(ren).  Spend more time with the kids and helping one another out.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to doing either. You, have to out weigh the pros and cons and come to the right conclusion. And when you do, you should not be in fear that you will get scrutinized for your decision. There are always going to be "bad apples" in every situation.

Parents not paying attention to the needs of their child, not following up with the teacher regarding the issues presented. Parents using school as a day care and not taking their child's education seriously allowing them to fail. And of course in home school parent's not actually schooling. I am not talking about un schooling, because I have seen marvelous results with that. That's different, even then if that's the route a parent takes, they too should not be scrutinized. Though un-schooling is not the path I choose to take, I do not degrade it. I am talking about the parents who home school and involve no teaching or learning and using un-schooling as a scape goat. They, are setting their children up for failure. When the time is spent on a learning experience, who should judge for how it's done? You'd be amazed as what can be learned even when you don't realize it. Just last night, at dinner, Dylan was telling us all about snakes. He watched a show on Nat Geo and was so enticed he learned something. Believe me, we do our share of "book work" and learning is definitely done. You can turn anything into a learning tool. It's all what you make of it.

All I am saying is, stop wasting your time throwing stones at someone for their educational choices and concentrate on the true point; educating your child and giving them the very best.


Amie

Bumps Along The Way.

Learning at home definitely has it's ups and downs. We have tried several different curricula and were even a part of a virtual academy for almost two years. We are now back on track with traditional homeschooling. It has been a bumpy road. But after seeing the look on my oldest child's face each morning (while with the virtual school) I knew it was time to do something different. The virtual school just wasn't fitting our family's needs anymore. Yes, it was WONDERFUL while we were with them. Set curriculum. Teacher support. Deadlines to meet. Et cetera. I loved the structure of it, my child did not. I knew he needed something different. Where he was excelling in math (and still is), he was falling behind with reading. A struggling reader as most would say. This was VERY hard for me to deal with. I've always loved to read and still find time to sneak a book in here or there when I have time to myself. Dealing with his lack of love for reading was frustrating and saddening to me. Another hurdle we had to cross. But first I had to deal with my feelings. It was so hard watching him struggle to sound out words, but so exciting to see when he would read one correct. I pushed and pushed; because of course since I loved to read he had to, too. After all he is my child! Wrong. Yes, he is my child. But he is his own person and some do not love reading. Reading was stressful to him, hard. During our time with the virtual school he was pushed by not only me, but the teacher as well and was falling even further behind. Having to read books he didn't want to read, had no interest in. And was becoming withdrawn at the mention of anything to do with reading, or writing. So I took a leap and withdrew him from the virtual school. Mid-year, which was scary! I knew in my heart something had to change, he needed to be more relaxed. (With the virtual school there was SO much that needed to be done each day, so much work; which I now refer to as busy work, or unnecessary). He wasn't able to move at  his own pace (like we were told at the beginning), he was bored with math (he's advanced in math) and struggling with the reading portion of it. Science and history were no problem and still aren't.  Since leaving the virtual school (three months ago) he is a COMPLETELY different child. He has developed a love for reading. He even picked up a book the other day and read for pleasure! We are reading the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder for fun, together, out-loud. He has come such a long way and it's very exciting to see him this way for me. He is also writing short stories or just a paragraph each day in a notebook and also doing creative writing pages for me. So not only is he doing work, he's also making the choice to write a story a day in his own personal notebook. What an accomplishment! So this goes back to my statement at the beginning, learning at home definitely has it's ups and downs. But once you find your groove everything else falls into place! I learned to relax and not push so hard when it came to reading; to allow him to come to me with a book. We read more and more together (we had time to finally). And lookie here if he isn't enjoying reading just as much as I do now! I realized that no matter what, if he wasn't ready to do something, he wasn't going to do it and I needed to back off and allow him to WANT to do it. But once he was ready to fly, he flew!


This is definitely what homeschooling is about; creating a love for learning!♥


-Tiffany.

Egg bounce. Take two.

I have entirely TOO much going on this time of year. Ball, ball, and more ball. We've had games twice this week already and have a game tomorrow and a double header on Saturday. Being so busy I completely forgot to write about whether or not the egg bounced. Well, it did indeed bounce! Rather neat little trick to do with kids. The egg felt rubbery and squishy at the same time (I may have actually let is soak a little longer than necessary). But my second grader was wowed by the fact that the egg bounced. He didn't think it would. He played with that joker for over 20 minutes before I finally had him go outside with it, where needless to say it didn't bounce for long! Especially considering he threw it up against a tree. Oh well. Time to move on to the next fun experiment, of course right after I find something else for us to do. And the search begins!


Here is my original post about the egg bouncing; bouncing an egg.

Questions people shouldn't ask ...

I have been thinking about this a lot and figured I'd just throw this out there. There are some brave people in the world and by brave I mean ignorant and by ignorant I mean people who don't have filters from their brain to mouth. There are different levels of " brave" people and most I can tolerate. I typically don't respond with my first answer, which of course means I, do have control of my filter.  Here are some of the questions that I have been asked.. And I am sure many others have at least heard a few of them



Q: Is this your first child <--- not a bad question normally, it's the second question as a response.

"No, this is my (insert child number mine happens to be 5) 5th" They look at you like you're a ghost and then, ask another yet even more stupid question or two.

Q Wow! 5, how do you do it? Are they all yours? Are they all from the same father?

A: I do it just like any other mother since the beginning of time, Yes they are ALL mine and YES they are from the same father. Why does it matter, who cares or what's it to you??

Q: Are you going to get your tubes tied??  This seems to be a general question that I got since pregnancy three..

A: No, I am not. Since when did you get permission to control my ability to procreate?


Non pregnancy question but, this one hurts...

Q: Are you pregnant?
A: No
Q: Are you having twins?
A: I just freaking told you I wasn't pregnant, how can I be having twins?


Yes, I am a large girl but it's not because I eat.. It's actually because I don't eat. I have PCOS but because of society, I have it in my brain that food is bad, and everything I eat is bad for me, so I barely eat. But fools don't see that. ANYWAY my point is, stop asking stupid questions, especially if you don't know the person.  I am sure there are a lot more and I may add more over time. I just wanted to get this blog out.

Amie

Bouncing an egg; is it possible?

I'm always looking for fun science experiments to do with my oldest. We have done several things over the past couple of years, but haven't tried to bounce an egg yet! So, I decided it was time to try that trusted old trick. Of course we did the whole suck an egg into a bottle thing first, which he thought was absolutely awesome and wanted to do it several more times. After a little over three long days, it's finally time. After hearing "Mom, is the egg ready?" several times a day or better yet "Is it ready to bounce, yet?" over and over. Yes, it is FINALLY the day! We are going to see if the egg will bounce today. Hopefully it works and isn't a disappointment. According to all of my research and from previous experiences it should, but this is my first time trying it with my own kids. We've studied a little bit about how or more of why the egg should bounce. Being that the shell is made up calcium carbonate and the vinegar being acid and how it causes the eggshell to react. But we shall see; wish us luck and I will blog about how it goes!

Here is the link that we used for this project, Bouncy Eggs.

-Tiffany

More natural approaches to feeling better

Anyone who knows me realizes that I hate going to the doctor and refuse to take medicine. I'm not sure how I'd react if someone said "Take this pill or die" -I'd probably still search out another way of handling things.
I'm no radical. I have taken my kids from the time they were born to get regular check-ups and they've had all their immunizations. However, if they sneeze I don't run them to the doctor.

I have treatments for plantar warts, sunburns, ringworm, sore throat, allergies etc. The two latest home remedies I have stumbled upon are the best yet.

No one has to believe the way I do-call me crazy. Also no one has to believe these things work, totally up to you, but when your child is sick,especially after-hours, why not think about it.

Coughing:
Cut up an onion and place it in a jar. Cover the onion with PURE HONEY and put the lid on. Wait a couple of hours and the mixture will produce a liquid in the jar. Give whoever is sick a teaspoon of the liquid from the jar.
**My nieces were sick for a couple of days with the cough and passed it to my son. I gave them a teaspoon each-only  took 2 doses.***
Mixture will last for a couple of days sitting on the counter top as the honey has its own bacteria fighting properties.



Ear ache:
Cut a couple of rings of onion and either place in a little water in the microwave or stove top just until the onion is soft. Check it to make sure it won't burn you then place just inside the large ring of the ear (not the circular part where the q-tip goes,but the circular area that leads up to it.) Almost immediately there maybe a pop in the ear. While it is in you will feel it working.
***I have an ear ache tonight. I haven't figured out if its from my ear or if it is from my wisdom tooth trying to push through, but I have felt relief already tonight.****


Hope this helps someone
-Jules

It's not him, It's me..

I've posted before that my son has been delayed by a Speech problem so we are trying to catch up to a lot of things in school.
The other day I was helping him with his work when one of the other kids had a question on her Math. I asked him to hold on for a minute while I answered her question.
I turn my head to help her for about a minute....when I turn back-he had made marks on his page. I say marks because at the time I figured he just starting writing things down.
The lesson was on alphabetical order and he did it correctly!

What I am realizing is-I'm not sure how much he is actually behind. He tends to want me right there with him because as he does the work he wants me to actually say "That's right, good job!" Like he needs that confirmation right away.  The other thing I'm seeing is he knows a ton of things that you don't know-that he knows, you know? lol!  It is like the alpha order lesson, when I get distracted he just pulls it out of a hat and does it correctly.

So I'm left wondering-Is it me not him? Maybe I'm enabling him to not try harder because I am still in the mind frame that he needs so much help?  On Monday, I suppose I will try just giving him the directions then walk away so I'm not there for him to depend on..I shall try it!


-Jules

Possible law involving grades/food stamps

One of my fellow bloggers sent me an article and  I realize that I have mixed feelings. They were talking about failing grades and requiring parents to attend two meetings or lowering food stamp amounts. They think this ensures parent involvement in the child's schooling.

First of all, yes-I'm sure there are parents out there who send their child to school, then check out on "responsibility" because it is up to the schools to teach them. Sure, waste more money on these required classes-still not going to make these parents step up and be involved in their child's success. They will go, fill the space in the meeting so they don't lose their food stamp amounts.

Secondly-I grew up on the directions of "Eat a good breakfast" before any standardized test. Um, ok-let's take away money that a family needs to feed their family. I wonder how a kid is going to do going to school hungry?

Ok, so now that we have addressed  the parents-that according to the state simply do not care and that is why their child is failing. Now what about the people who ARE being paid for teaching the kids.

For all the states in America..
I wonder what the number is for the kids who have learning disabilities that fall through the cracks? Maybe they are labeled "trouble makers." Or the ones who actually get into Special Ed but are called stupid and lazy by the teachers? Yeah-that builds a student's self worth.

As I remember when I was in school-I got irritated because instead of sending the kids out that were
disrupting the class, they were allowed to stay in the room and irritate everything and everyone. That makes for a productive learning environment.

How about we take away some of the salaries of the teachers and principals-or better yet the Superintendents of Schools and see if they can work better to make sure our children get the environment at school needed to succeed.

-Jules

Freedom-- I love it

I love the sense of freedom home schooling has to offer. It makes me realize that those of us who went to traditional  schools, truly spent a lot of wasted time there.Now hold your horses, because I am not talking about time wasted on traditional classes like ELA/ Reading/ Math/ History/ SS/ and Science. Those are essential. I am talking about when you break it down into a million different sub categories  Unless you're planning on being a teacher or specialize, or excel in that particular subject, lets face it, you're going to forget it eventually. Use it or loose it certainly does apply.  I am still refreshing my mind on simple grammar rules, history and of course math. Those things are so easy to forget.

 As an EMT, I didn't use any form of history and Math was simple stuff, of course it can get harder but nothing like Trig or, Algebra (who the heck is x and why am I dividing by it??) I still to this day, learn something new every day.   Study hall? I loaded down my schedule just to avoid it. I HATED study. So boring and a complete waste of time. I am still refreshing my mind on simple grammar rules. Those things are so easy to forget.

  I am not saying that the whole time spent in a hard desk was wasted, because I did actually learn a lot. But, if I was given the opportunity to be home schooled, I so would have done it.

 I wasn't like a typical kid, I actually liked/enjoyed school even if I struggled at times, thanks to a sever case of test anxiety. Middle school were my least favorite years (6-9). I, as many of my peers referred to middle school as "the jail" So many rules. I wasn't a bad kid but come on, a detention for dropping my pencil? Seriously? Go waste your time on the kids who needed it more and concentrate on the true definition of education.

. But, I loved HS and I had many great teachers.But, I  have my favorite. Mr. B is the best. His teaching was so much more than what we were reading. It was life, interpretation, honesty openness and the ability not to fear the unexpected or use our minds. His Motto, "Always expect, the unexpected" I have live by that to this day. And I am glad, that I can teach it to my kids. Go with the flow, adapt and overcome. I wish they offered the awards that they offer today because he deserved so many and then some.


 His way of teaching has helped me with Homeschooling and it  truly gives me that ability to be more free and not worry about my child's well being, social status and/or popularity but spend more time on actual learning.

 It also gives us the chance to be prepared for the unexpected, sickness and fun visits. unexpected learning adventures and learning through fun. You can turn just about anything into an academic lesson.

I am not one of those moms who is happy to send my kids off to school, I actually missed my kids. They bring something special to my life each and every day.

Off to eat...

Wishful Thinking!

I know this is supposed to be a blog about our kids, homeschooling, and our husbands. Although this does pertain to kids. But I just have to take a minute to ask, does any mother remember what it's like to pee alone?  I have completely forgotten what it's like to be able to pee in peace! I know, I know, wishful thinking right. That doesn't happen again until sometime WAY after they have moved out. But a mom can dream. At this rate, I can't even remember the last time I left the house without my hair in a ponytail, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt on. With who knows what on it, I mean, is that the banana that the baby had last week, because I can't remember washing this then? Or could that be snot? Who knows, I just go with the flow. Who has the time to do full blown make-up? Actual clothes other than comfy ones? Not I, not unless I take major time preparing for it. And I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not missing that 45 minutes of sleep just to appear like a Stepford Wife, which I know I'm not! These days appearance is everything, but who has the time for it? Maybe one day, I'll be more like a Stepford Wife, keeping up with fashion trends and able to pull off that razorback tee that's so cute, while chasing after a toddler in 4-inch heels. But for now, I'll take those twice worn before washing sweatpants, that raggedy t-shirt that's so comfy you can't throw it away, and my tennis shoes from highschool because I'd much rather be running around outside with my kids, not a care in the world if my clothes get nasty. After all this rain the past few days, only one thing can ensue; MUD FIGHT!

Life is like an.... Opera song...

I was searching the internet for inspiration on what to blog about, I haven't blogged in days and I have been buried up to my elbows in puke and have most certainly been sleep deprived this week.  I probably have about a million things to write about because with 5 kids, there is NEVER and I mean Never a dull moment in this household.

Anyway---Surfing the "Interwebs" is like taking a mini staycation for me. If I try real hard, I can block out the "I want a drinkkkkk" "Momma" "Help mes" and drift away. Too bad I can't be as good at it as my husband. He's a freaking expert. He's so good, he can't hear himself!

I saw this on http://www.today.com/moms, I like to go there when I either want to see how good or how screwed up I am raising my child. Try it, you'll be impressed or horrified :)  Well, I saw this and thought, wonder what this is?? Click and you will literally laugh your ass off as I did. I think I say just about all of it around a million times a day give or take. I am sure, I can add more to it! Like,: Remember to sing along to the above song!
Stop kicking your sister, Stop stealing your sisters doll/pony. Noo, noo, noo, nooo...no! Stop, please go, I have to pee, I need some privacy---Yes, I am totally singing this in my head. Get that from her, she will get hurt, Please stop screammming! Don't you fight, it's time for bed, Oh why are you screaming???  Who cares whose it is, just make her stop, please give it back to herrrr.  Okay, Emmie, don't freak on me, you can have your Minnie!

I seriously could go on and on. But you know, no matter how much I have to say that stuff, it does keep my life entertaining. Never a dull moment.

Amie

Bullying! Just Say NO!

If you are on Facebook, Pinterest, or any other social media site I'm sure you've seen the post about a New York teacher that taught her students a lesson about bullying by using a simple sheet of paper. For those of you that have not, here is the story:


"A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stomp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now even though they said they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bullies another child, they may say they’re sorry but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home."

See, as home-schoolers most would think that bullying isn't something we have to deal with. But it is, it's something that, in my opinion, EVERY parent should discuss with their child or children. It's something that at some point your child will encounter. Bullying or being bullied doesn't just happen at school, it can happen on the internet, at the playground, during extracurricular activities, it can happen anywhere. Any child is susceptible to it, no matter their background. Rather they are private schooled, home schooled, public schooled, college. It DOES NOT matter. So as parents we have to take a stand, teach your kids about bullying/being bullied, teach them what to do in the situation, or if they see someone else being bullied what they should/shouldn't do! It only takes one. Stand up!

We do the above exercise in our home, several times a year, it does seem to hit home. I believe that doing it this way does help younger children understand and really sets a light bulb off in older children. It takes 10 minutes or less of your time to talk about it. We have also watched the movie Bully, which was heartbreaking to see the pain and torment of these children, but well worth the watch. One thing I think most parents can agree on is that bullying needs to stop! But it starts with us as parents, to be aware, to take the time to teach our kids a lesson about it, to stop with the "It's just kids being kids." mantra; IT'S NOT! Some kids these days are darnright mean, the petty fights we all had as children are different this day and time, plus the internet bullying that goes on. So take a stand, make yourself aware of just how bad the bullying in our country is, make your children aware, because it needs to stop. No child anywhere deserves to be bullied for anything! 


                   SAY NO TO BULLYING!


Here is a great website to use, Lessons On Bullying, and there are several more available out there.

Fun in homeschool in the first few days of April

Today we did a lesson on the history of April Fool's Day. We learned it used to be the New Years Day until the calender was re-done. It goes back to the 16th century in France.

Tomorrow is Peanut Butter and Jelly Day-so we have stuff for sandwiches but they must make the sandwich with only one hand :) We also have some coloring pages to go along with it.

It is also Autism Day so we have a Science lesson on Autism so we can learn a little about it. Amazing we found some coloring pages for that too!

Every once in awhile you have to take a little breather and come up with different ways to make learning something fun!

So as we head into tomorrow- Happy PB/Jelly Day!!!

(not my photo)

-Jules

Kids are......?

My living room floor, before 10:00 AM. (This is actually a good day, usually it's worse.)

There is just no nice way of putting it, kids are messy! They absolutely love to make messes, simple as that. Messes that take mommy quite some time to clean up. Yes they do help clean, but there is always the abundance of stuff that they forget to clean up; not to mention the food my youngest seems to hide in every nook and cranny of his highchair. (I think he saves it for later, who knows though.) I have met some mothers that cannot stand a mess and are constantly running behind their kids cleaning up, I am NOT, I repeat NOT that mother. My entire house will look like a disaster zone before I clean up in the evening. I think messes are important! While making those messes they are playing, rolling cars, stacking blocks, looking at picture books, doing puzzles, and most of all they are LEARNING! See, a mess is a good thing, if looked at in the right way! I always encourage my kids to make messes, it seems, especially when we are outside. Here lets get the sprinkler and do this, or that. Let's make mud pies, red clay castles (in the south we have very little sand, just red clay everywhere), roll in the leaves (pray for no dog poop while you do), or whatever else we can get into. For instance, yesterday after hunting eggs and enjoying the goodies the Easter bunny left we took a walk. While we were on that walk we veered off the field road and into the woods just to see what we could see. It ended up being an hour of adventure. The boys found some pretty rocks, got stuck with thorns, saw several different kinds of animal tracks, a turtle shell, and the oldest found an old ax. I stumbled upon an arrowhead in nearly perfect condition, the tip is missing, but it's still a gorgeous piece. We all had a blast and the most enjoyment for me was seeing the love of learning shining from my kids, the smiles on their faces just from being outside. We arrived back at the house a little sweaty and a little dirty, but that hour of adventure had SO much learning involved! Anyway, I reckon my whole point is, don't mind the messes, your kids are just making memories. Encourage them to make a mess, then teach them to responsibly clean up after themselves. Be in no hurry, take your time, see the world through your children's eyes! Remember they are only children once, you may be complaining about the messes now, but one day you will miss them! ♥

Living off the grid-

I am watching Wife Swap I love this show. It makes me appreciate my family so much more.
This episode one of the wives lived a party lifes style and  another who downsized from their 8 bedroom home to a smaller farm house to live off the grid.It made me think, could I do that? Could I go without electricity and running water, live off a farm? Brieana thought that was the coolest thing ever.

They had a nice house, but  they didn't use electricity or running water. They washed their clothes & dishes by hand. Dishes were washed in big basins that was filled with water from outside (I think there was a well) and I assume they brought the water into the bathroom(s). They used candles throughout the house, the most light coming from the kitchen. The food source mainly came from their farm. The mother from Las Vagas, was shocked and apprehensive. When it came time for them to slaughter a chicken, I was surprised that she made an effort to attempt it. She missed and then said she wouldn't be able to continue. I think I agree, I am not against it because I am not a vegetarian, I'd even go hunting for the experience if the opportunity came. But don't think I could actually kill an animal willingly. I even swerve to miss squirrels and even possums ( I get made fun of that)

I would love, to live on a farm. I always have loved the idea of farm life. But, I would definitely have to have running water and electricity. Call me spoiled I guess. I could probably go a little while with out it, but those are luxuries that I simply can not live without. I love having my computer. It's what keeps me sane. Plus it's a very important tool for me to use to home school.  I know there are other ways, but why wouldn't I want something more convenient?

So, no I couldn't go off the grid entirely, but definitely food wise. If I ever get the opportunity, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Amie

Things that Jules finds hilarious..

A couple of years ago about 5 months after I had my daughter my mom wanted me to walk with her in a Relay for Life event. I thought it would be nice to not only honor my grandmother who we lost to Breast Cancer, but to get a little exercise for my post-baby body.
After a couple of hours of walking this guy about my age approached us and started talking. He was talking to my mom and being the good mother she is, she said, "This is my daughter." Dude seriously looked at me and said, "Oh, yeah-Hi, anyway" and swiftly kept smiling and talking to my mother! :/ Really....
Yeah-totally hilarious, right?


So fast-forward 13 years, my daughter is a teenager and my son is 6. The hilarious thing I have figured out is when we were first married 15 years ago I can remember my husband asking men who they were looking at-Yes, it made me feel nice. I got a few stares. Now-we go out to the stores..I'm not the one getting stares and people talking to me. Wait for it........it is my husband who get these situations. I know-you are thinking- What is so hilarious about that??

He has MEN approach him all the time. Not women...I'm not talking bad about these men and my husband just graciously says "Hi, excuse me I'm looking for my wife" How great is that...people see me with 2 kids in tow and not even a second look..

We were in a major grocery store one night and my husband and I split up in two different directions. While I was gone, he got approached by a lady who asked if he was Saved. He politely answered her and see said she wanted to pray with him. He again politely responded to her. When he caught up with me, I was told I could never leave him alone again because he was either getting picked up in the store or approached by religious people. The good wife that I am, left him again 2 more times while in that store-and he got caught by the same lady both times, hahaha!

He has also been yelled at by an older cashier for not paying for his "date's" items...Yeah-he was standing in line with our daughter....
He was irritated and she was grossed out, "Like I'd date an old guy" was the response from her. :)

These are my hilarious reflections for today..Have a great Easter!

-Jules

Me through the eyes of a 10 & 8 & 4 year old (revised)

Here is the updated answers from Brieana (10½) Dylan (8)  I even wanted to see what Kyle (4) wanted to say It was fun seeing  how diffeent and similar the answers were. If you want to see their old answers, look back a few blogs.. 

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Brieana: Don't chew with your mouth open, and I love you to the moon and the stars
Dylan: You love me. Take the dogs out and do my chores.

2. What makes mom happy?

Brieana-When I give you a hug and do all my chores with out you asking me too.

Dylan- Hugs and kisses & us

Kyle: I love you and Kyle John, knock it off! no

3. What makes mom sad?

Brieana- When you have to put your foot down or if one of us is hurt or sick.
Dylan-When Kyle pees on the seat. When you're not with us

Kyle Crying and when I pee on the floor. put toilet paper in the sink and toilet

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Brieana- When you say something funny, tickle us.

Dylan-When you say bad words ( he gave me that answer again)
When you tickle me.

Kyle; us laughing

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Brieana-You were like me, a tomb boy who loved kids 

Dylan you were like me
Kyle: watching tv. 

6. How old is your mom?

Brieana 33

Dylan  35
Kyle: 5

 7. How tall is your mom?

Brieana 5foot 7

Dylan Big
Kyle Big

 8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Brieana- Being with us and doing things with us. 

Dylan Play xbox play games with us.
Kyle: Make supper

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Brieana: She doesn't really leave...

Dylan- you go to the store.but you never leave
Kyle: go to the Dr

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Brieana -Singing, and cooking

Dylan-being the best mom ever and your cooking
Kyle: Awesome

 11. What is your mom really good at?

Brieana-Cooking, singing and being with us

Dylan- Loving us (same answer)
Kyle: making supper (he likes to eat) 

 12. What is your mom not very good at?

Brieana-Sleeping

Dylan playing call of duty
Kyle: dancing

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Brieana- Home school us, house cleaner, diaper changer, hugger

Dylan-Home school us
Kyle: teach Brieana Dylan and me

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Brieana-Sushi, chicken 

Dylan Asahi (Japanese food)
Kyle: bacon

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Brieana-You don't rip your hair out when we drive you nuts. You're a good mom. If you were;t a good mom, you wouldn't be here with us and you'd be out every night.

Dylan- Clean the house or do well with lessons.
Kyle: make supper, love you

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Brieana  Marge Simpson

Dylan: Minnie Mouse
Kyle: Momma

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Brieana- EVERYTHING but my favorite thing we do is watch movies together & cuddle time and have family game night.

Dylan-We play xbox together we do school, play games, watch tv together. Love together

Kyle: Have family time, we play games, we eat at the table together

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Brieana- We are both girls. We like the same stuff, singing, bad at dancing, We cry a lot. We care a lot people. We both Love God and are very close to God.
Dylan- We love each other so much (same answer)
Kyle: read stories

19. How are you and your mom different?

Brieana: We both have the same characteristics, your hair is wavy and mine is straight. You're married  & I am not. 
I bight my nails, you don't. 
Dylan You like purple I like blue. We are not the same age. You're a girl I'm a boy

Kyle your a girl and Im a boy.. you have long hair I have short

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Brieana-You tell us ALL the time and give us hugs and kisses a million times a day.

Dylan- You give us a hug and a kiss, you tell me a thousand times a day. 

Kyle: give me hugs and kisses and tell me you love me

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Brieana Home 

Dylan  in your room.
Kyle: to the dr.

My view on 2 of the World's biggest problems

I grew up in a loving household. When we moved to a new town in my 4th grade year I was supposed to change schools the following year..this was the start to a whole new world outside of the bubble I realized I lived in.
At my new school we were not the norm. I had honestly never heard of parents being divorced, but my parents were a very few that were still married. This was a complete shock to me! (Sheltered..maybe)

My friends and I all had part-time jobs that we worked after school and through the summer. I bought my first car, paid my insurance, gas, school clothes, I even helped with the extras I needed for cheerleading,band, and prom.

When I graduated I was working full-time when I was introduced to what would be my future husband. He had always worked and paid for the things he needed too. We both saved money and paid our portion of the cost for our wedding. We bought our house, had children and have provided for them.

Problem 1: Where did we go wrong in not teaching our children the value of the dollar and hard work. I was shocked when we moved to the new state that we live in and found that people won't/don't like to hire teens. How are they ever going to learn to appreciate anything if they are not earning those items? I can not imagine not helping my parents as a teenager when there was so much extra that I needed.

I admit-I met one of those rare men when I met my husband. I'm not the sappy type and neither is he, but he is the most gentle, caring man I have ever met. He opens car doors, holds other doors open, takes his hat off while eating, etc. We did however come from totally different backgrounds. His-not good at all. He is a survivor of abuse and made a choice to never be that kind of person. Dealing with his family led me to be scarred for life as I had to see my precious 13 month old nephew with bruises from the small of his back to the back of his upper thighs. He also had marks on both cheeks like someone grabbed his face..totally devastated..
So as a newly married couple we had to go through a lengthy and stressful process by the Dept. of Children/Family Services researching our pasts. I received many calls asking me questions about his family that I had no clue to the answers, and many that resulted in, "We can't find any criminal history on your husband, he's never been in trouble?" Ummm, No! Sorry that is hard to believe due to his family history.
We endured months of having this little boy and his brother who was 3 months at the time. Not that they were bad, but my sister in law tried to start trouble when she found out we had them in foster care. She'd miss the supervised visits-even when the case workers were driving to pick her up. We assume the case workers had finally had enough because they gave the kids back to her. The day we had to give them back she showed up at the office with no car seats for her babies and no clothes (which we provided for her there in the office.) 2 weeks later we went for a visit to see the boys and they were living in a house with dog feces on the floor and exposed electrical wires. When we reported it, the case workers told us our expectations of clean may not be everyone else's. Really? Sad to say-my sister in law had more kids..today her kids are age: 15,14,11,7, and a newborn..have things gotten better? I had to cut ties from her because she would not be a better mom and it was too much for me and no matter how many times we reported her no one did anything. I can tell you the answer is No..the 11 yr old has been caught stealing other kids snacks in school. She has told the school she steals because she is hungry..but no one has done anything.
**I still go to bed many nights haunted by the bruises I saw that night on my nephew**

Problem #2: When in the world did we, as human beings, quit valuing our children? You all have read/seen the stories. Children murdered because parents don't want to be bothered. So many abducted and killed. Or just the plain cases of innocent children being abused. Where does this World think we are going to end up if we are treating our next generation this way?  Is there a future without any nurturing? I'm not saying that children should behave the way that I see almost every time I go to the store, kids need discipline or they can turn out to be not so good adults. My children have manners and behave appropriately. When they don't, they are punished. That is called raising your child. You do not have to abuse them in the process.

Do I have a solution to both problems..No, I suppose I don't have a wand to magically wave. As it gets late here-my final thought of the night is-if we don't teach our children responsibility, show them love but yet correct them when they are wrong we will never provide them with a bright future. Failure is almost a certainty...

-Jules

Stubbornness.

I was sitting here, wracking my brain as to what I wanted to post about. It's taken me damn near all day! By this time, I am usually on my third post of the day. Anyway, I couldn't think of anything until I saw this cute little E-card.  It made me laugh and instantly I knew, after the last few days I have had, this was the perfect inspiration. 

I wouldn't say it fit my life to the exact proverbial T, but pretty close, at least. For the most part, my kids are awesome. They do what they are told. Hey, it may be the millionth time I asked them, but they do do it, and typically its without much complaint. The reason why I thought this was perfect is because each one of my children are strong and determined.and very stubborn. It's funny, they are so much alike, yet very unique. 

Brieana, is stubborn because she HAS to have the last word.  It annoy's the crap out of me. If it;s not something she is being reprimanded for, I will laugh and shake my head. But, if she's getting lectured, it annoy's the piss out  me. Funny part is, she know's it.  Is that not a woman's trait or what? I swear, she get's it from her dad. 

Dylan, his stubbornness shines through when you try to explain how to do things yet, he keeps doing it his own way. But then again, he's a mini man so that can be expected.

Ahh, my Mr. Kyle. Out of all 5 of my kids, he has to be the most stubborn child. He has been since his days in the womb. If something is not exactly what or how he wants it, be prepared for an ultimate meltdown. He's gotten better. He used to have 4-5 fits a day, then we slowly dwindled down to where we are currently, One to two fits a week. But, it;s okay. He's mine. Perfectionist can mean genius.  Hey, one can hope. How else are you going to over look the bowls of cereal being on the floor. One day, it will be because he doesn't have enough milk, the next day it might be too little. Some days he hates the blue bowl, and others he gets furious if he doesn't have the bowl he hated yesterday. After those fits are over with, he is the most loving little boy you'll ever meet; next to his brother that is. My boys... Wouldn't change or trade either one of them if you asked me. 

Emilee, AKA Emmie-Emmie-pooh, Emzies.  She is so loveable and cuddly, determined to be the center of attention. She will charm you with her twinkling blue eyes and million dollar smile and if that doesn't work, be prepared to get showered with hugs. She doesn't just fight for my affection or her fathers, she wants to be everyone's favorite. She exhibited this traigt from the moment they placed her in my arms. From that moment on, she has always been our family love-bug. She is also stubborn when she hears the word no. She will whine so much, that  giving her what she wants just to make her laugh again, is the only solution.

Oh, my Emzies. 

Lexie Sue.... She has been stubborn from the get-go. We had many challenges getting her into the world, from day one, the odd's were stacked against her. Look at her now, if you didn't know it, you'd never know that she was born 8 weeks early. As soon as we brought her home from the hospital, she took off. She didn't want to sleep. Why would she? She did all her sleeping in the hospital when I couldn't be there. She was saving it all for me.  When she started walking, that's when her true stubbornness came out. Climbing on anything and everything. Determined to keep up with her siblings. And believe me, she will have them running in circles. Climbing out of her highchair and out of it at 12 months even while strapped in. She wasn't even walking yet. She started climbing out of her crib last month. All it took was once. She hasn't been in a crib since. Can't keep her in it. We tried putting her in a play pen last week, yeah that took all of two seconds to scale over that. She came out (using the long route to the living room I might add) looked at us, and started laughing.. Little Sh!t!!! Her latest scheme? She has learned to open all doors, even when locked (if she's on the inside) you can't keep her in, anywhere. Oh!! She also has been attempting to plug things in especially, my bedroom fan. If I didn't catch her in the knick of time, she would have done just that. 

So, there are man different levels of stubbornness. When my children out teenagers I will either be in trouble or able to out smart them because,  after all they came from me. 

Homeschool Helper

Just popping in for a few minutes because I remembered a tool for homeschoolers if they need help.

We used the site this morning for Science. It is Khan Academy. They do an excellent job of explaining the different topics. We watched 4 or 5 videos on Newton's Law. Then we watched it for 3 different Math subjects.
Hippo Campus is the same idea,but I think they may have more on the lower Elementary level.

You can find Science, Math, History, and a couple of other subjects. I also just noticed that Khan added some games to the site. It has over 3,000 videos!!

 www.khanacademy.org
 www.hippocampus.org


-Jules

Does this happen to you???

I know it certainly does in my house!! 

*Image found on the internet. I do not claim it as my own*

Uncle Si for President

**Not my photo, taken from internet***


Is there anyone else out there who feels me on this one?

Si Robertson is the most awesome man out there. He knows everything and could probably put this nation back on track.

We've watched him blow up his truck so that he could lay it to rest properly. He saved all the women by sewing aprons when they couldn't-and they were beautiful.

The man ALWAYS has his tea under his arm.  He'd be great in time of conflict as we've witnessed that he can shake his left hand and...snatch your underwear with his right.

Maybe he could bring World Peace because he has mad skills with jokes, like tonight-What animal has more lives than a cat, if a cat has 9 lives?  A frog-cause he croaks every night (ba-da bum bum)

I bet he even has the skill to help with the budget!
If you haven't watched Duck Dynasty..You don't know what you're missing..and that's a fact, Jack!

-Jules

Me, according to my kids when they were 6 & 8

this is a cute idea. Copy this note, ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond. I did this with them when Brieana was 8 and Dylan 6- I will do an updated version tomorrow. I'm curious to see how the answers will differ. 

1. What is something mom always says to you?

Brieana and Dylan I love you

2. What makes mom happy?

Brieana-When we do good things-

Dylan- Me

3. What makes mom sad?

Brieana- When she has to yell at me

Dylan-When I pee on the seat

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Brieana- Tickle me

Dylan-When you say bad words 

5. What was your mom like as a child?

Brieana-Talkative

Dylan

6. How old is your mom?

Brieana 31

Dylan 65

 7. How tall is your mom?

Brieana I dont know

Dylan 30 lbsl

 8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Brieana-Spend time with us

Dylan play with us

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Brieana-Cry cause I'm not here and take care of Kyle and Emilee

Dylan-Go to the store and buy underwear and clothes and food. And clean the house

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Brieana -Because she is the best mom in the world 

Dylan-For us

 11. What is your mom really good at?

Brieana-Cooking, cleaning, spending time with the kids

Dylan- Loving us

 12. What is your mom not very good at?

Brieana-Going to bed early

Dylan Nothing

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Brieana-EMT-Stay home and taking care of us, and student

Dylan-Love us

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Brieana-Sushi

Dylan Veggtiables

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Brieana-you always remember to pick us up from school

Dylan- Because you take care of me

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Brieana Super mom

Dylan-Monster Truck Driver

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Brieana-We do crafts

Dylan-We play xbox together

18. How are you and your mom the same?

Brieana-We both have the same characterisics

Dylan- We love each other so much

19. How are you and your mom different?

Brieana we have different favorite colors

Dylan your a girl I am a boy

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Brieana-You tell us ALL the time

Dylan- You're in my heart

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Brieana The beach

Dylan Walmart-