I'm Late for this Week; But Stay Tuned

I don't share a lot about our homeschooling journey, at least not the day-to-day stuff, so I thought this would be a neat blog-hop to join. I have only joined a blog-hop once before, and I had fun, so I thought I'd do it again. My goal for this blog has evolved a bit, and I'd love to share more than just crafts, more than just homeschooling, more than just Mommyhood... My life is an eccentric blend of all of this, so I'm hoping my blog will follow suit :) Anyways, here goes :)

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

In my life this week... I have been dealing with a few challenges in my life this week. Pretty personal because I am dealing with the consequences of others' actions, but I can definitely say, with complete confidence, that walking through this "stuff" I have heard the Lord speak more clearly to me through His Word, His people, and through music than I have in way too long. I have constantly been reminded that He Is who He says He Is, regardless of circumstance. Regardless of the messes we find ourselves wrapped in. He is awesome, as always, regardless of life.

In our homeschool this week... Abbey has been LOVING her new Explode the Code workbooks. They have really helped me & have spoken to her weaker vowel recognition (not that it was horrible, but I am hopeful that these workbooks will just reinforce & help her gain confidence with the vowel sounds). I am so frustrated with Math, though. The original plan this year was to do Math-U-See, but it is pretty expensive. SO, we did little math workbooks & whatever for a fill-in, and I was just so disappointed & felt lacking & not prepared. So, I went ahead and bought McRuffy stuff. It's OK, but the "complete" kit didn't come complete with manipulatives, and they are pretty important for the curriculum... ARGH!! So, we are slowly waiting on the pieces of manipulatives that I've ordered through the mail. On the up side, though, she is really excited about getting to "play with her new blocks" & such :)

Places we're going and people we're seeing... We've been to church (sometimes it feels like we live there), Waffle House (during Eli's class on Tuesday), and Perkins (during Eli's class today), and their first trip to Cheesecake Factory...and their last for a VERY VERY LONG TIME. It was unbelievably expensive for all of us to eat there... WOWZA!! Definitely a bit of a sticker shock!! LOL

My favorite thing this week was... probably the loosey-goosey Tuesday & Thursday mornings while Eli was in class. We usually go to the Library & get a lot done there, but it was nice to break from our normal schedule this week & take it easy. I think we both needed that. Also, I have LOVED watching Eli color this week!! He went from scribbling to trying to stay in the lines in a week!! AMAZING!! :) And, he can count to 10 by himself!! Again, Amazing because he went from saying Mommy & Daddy to saying just about everything, including numbers!! In order!! :) It's been awesome to see that!!

What's working/not working for us... The TV is NOT working for us. Most of our struggles is OVER the TV. I know that I have been mostly to blame over this, and especially when I'm sick, or the kids are sick, we turn to the TV for help, but it has gotten pretty out of control. Dual issues: Too much TV & not following the rules. They have been taught from infancy (LOL) to NOT TURN ON THE TV without asking. Yet, Abbey, especially, has just been ignoring this rule, I think to see how far she can get without us noticing. And, really, if she's sneaky & I'm in here getting stuff off the computer, she can get away with it for a time without us noticing. But I'm afraid a complete un-plug is about to happen. Lord, give me strength... :)

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have... I am REALLY missing the support & resources from our PEACH meetings. I know I need this, and I have really gotten a lot out of the meetings. The field trips have been exceptional, too, for me & Abbey (& Eli). It is so easy to get discouraged & weary without support from others walking this path, too.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

{{{{{{{{{{{**sigh**}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Mama's ready for summer...

Is it Weird that I'm Stalking Cookware?

So, I just wanted to share a couple of things that I've been obsessing over lately, and I'm just being totally honest... I need to stop!! HAHA!! :)

For those of you who started reading my blog back in the dot matrix days (LOL) know by now I may have developed an obsession for teal/aqua (whatever you call it... I LOVE it). So, it probably stands to reason that every time I go to Wal Mart my breath is taken away every time I see these:

{Paula Deen Signature Porcelain 12pc Cookware in Robin's Egg Blue}

EVERY TIME I got to Wal Mart, not matter the mission, I track my route through the store so that I may go by them & drool... For Christmas, my sister got me the 9x13 version of this. She totally has fed into my obsession... Everything I bake in it is just SO MUCH PRETTIER!! :)

Oh, and it doesn't end there... I am wanting ALL of her cookware & bakeware in this color... It's ridiculous, I know, to worry & want so much... But I do...

Then, there is my other obsession...

{Cricut Machine in Teal}

HOW PERFECT IS THAT?!?!?! I know, I know, I'm obsessed. But, again, every time I make a trip to Wal Mart, I "conveniently" walk by this... And drool. It's not pretty, people.

So, this, my friends, is sharing that I have an issue. Please pray for me. ;)

Talk to ya'll later :)

If We're Gonna Be Craft Buddies...

If we're going to be craft buddies, let me get a few things out of the way.

1. I do not measure. Anything. Eyeball it, baby, eyeball it. And, if it's absolutely necessary, measure with an inanimate object, not a ruler.

(necklaces, decorations & favor boxes I made as party favors for my daughter's 6th Birthday party)

2. Sewing machines make me break out into a cold sweat. I have visions of 7th grade Home Ec. when we had to make gym bags. My breakthrough combination of red vinyl-ly fabric (calling it fabric is a stretch!! haha) and purple woven straps... Let's just say I was ahead of my time. I am looking into taking some *ahem* refresher sewing lessons... We're getting a Super Jo-Anne's (yes, Virginia, they do exist!), and I am thinking of facing my fear... *seriously breaking into a cold sweat*

3. I {heart} hot glue guns. Really, if I need to go into more details without you finishing my sentences, I don't think we can be friends!! LOL :) (totally just kidding...sorta)

4. I also {heart} patterned paper. I am currently banned from buying any more right now. Every time I look at that big pad of My Mind's Eye paper stack I start to drool. It's not pretty. Hobby Lobby will from time to time put it 50% off... which leads into #5...

5. I {heart} Hobby Lobby, mostly because I live less than 5 minutes from mine. And their coupons... I love you, 40% off any one regularly priced item.

(I know, awful picture, but it's a rusty star I painted & distressed for my son's room)

6. I am corny. Embrace the dorkiness.

7. I am a sloppy crafter. I currently just got done with a project, and I think I got more sand on me than on my project. I just piqued your curiosity, didn't I?

8. I am an insecure crafter. I am constantly worried that what I make looks like something I've made... Ya know, not exactly pulled together. And, I know this is a reality because I have failed. And failed. And failed. But, I like learning through doing. Sometimes there's just a learning curve.

9. I love to stalk read other crafty/mommy/homeschool blogs, and will often direct you to those who inspire me. Sharing the blog community love. Because bloggers rock.

10. I may or may not start an etsy store. I'm nervous about putting my stuff out there, because $money$ talks. (see #8).

(Fall wreath I made this year)

I am so looking forward to being a part of the crafting blogger community!! I can't wait to share my first "real" project. Be looking for it soon!! :)

Merry Christmas!

{Note: All projects shown were from this past year!!}

I {Heart} Fall

I love this time of year!! The weather getting cooler, the hoodies come out, and the anticipation of Christmas starts like a little whisper in the wind...

I know, a little mushy from me, but this time of year brings it out of me!! LOL :)

I have to share my latest creation. That's the whole reason I set aside time to post!! HA!! :) I am so proud of myself!! It's the first wreath I've made that doesn't scream "First Timer" or "Hobby Crafter"!! LOL It's simple, not too overdone, and it has one of my favorite trends...MONOGRAMS!! :) LOVE IT!! :) I can hardly believe I made it!! :) LOL

OK, here are pics :)

Since I haven't shared a whole lot from this past summer, let me give you a peek at what it looked like!! :)

Happy Fall, Ya'll!! :)

I'm So Random...

OK, I give up... You can read here to hear all about the last day of the cruise. Missy did a great job of recapping, and frankly, I've got a lot more things to blog about!! HA!! :)

Where to start? How about homeschooling? We've already started, more to get a feel for what kind of schedule will work best for us than anything. We're finishing up the reading book we started last year, and Abbey's just doing great!! I've got to say, it's a perk I never even thought of, but knowing that I taught her how to read is incredible!!

I've also found some great new homeschooling blogs, and I'm planning on doing a "links I've found" post soon to share all the exciting & creative ideas mommy bloggers are coming up with!! It's so much fun!! :)

This coming weekend is Labor Day, and of course, for us that means taking our annual trip to Somerset, KY. We went down about a week and a half ago for a funeral. A patriarch of our family, Great-Uncle Verrel, passed away from cancer. It was an honor to sing at his funeral along with my favorite voices to hear on the planet, my family. I hope that we offered comfort & peace to everyone grieving. His passing so close to reunion will make it VERY different "on the hill" this year. So many of my childhood memories exist because of his hospitality.

It was a good quick trip down & back, though. I really love hangin' with my family. I love the talking & the laughter & the sharing. They are such a blessing to me!!

We girl "cuzfrenz" went out the following night @ Cheesecake Factory... Oh, CF, how I love thee... Anyways, it was more of the same, giggling, talking, sharing, I just love my cuzfrenz. Yes, it is now a word.

I will be sharing links next time!! There are so many cool things happening in blogger-world...and I'm afraid that I'm passing on my addiction to others!! LOL Last weekend I was talking to my cuz Andrea & she was saying, "Thanks. I'm addicted to blogs, now, because of you." LOL I asked if she had her own blog, & she said, "No, I think it would stress me out!" LOL Just wait... She'll show up in my sidebar soon enough!! HA!! :)