The Homeschool Mother's Journal (Blog Hop)

I'm joining the Homeschool Chick's blog hop again, but I didn't make the deadline for last week, so this is actually from the week before! haha (March 31-April 4th is highlighted, especially) Please show me some grace! We've been very busy & very exhausted...but having fun! And, I promise I will try to do at least one other post a week that isn't HMJ related!! HA!!

In my life this week... We’ve been getting over a very crazy weekend!! We went to the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati last weekend (we went down on Thursday, left late Saturday night). We took a MUCH needed day off on Sunday, then Monday morning went back to Cincinnati for a day at Newport Aquarium with our homeschool group PEACH.

In our homeschool this week... Still focusing on the basics. Because we were gone, we didn’t “do” much school, but focused on where we were & where we want to go with homeschooling. The Convention was, of course, ideal for that!! Haha

Places we're going and people we're seeing... I’ve already mentioned the top 2 places we went to this week!! But, I’m sorry to say we didn’t really get to slow down much this week. Tuesday we took Eli to class, went to the Library; Wednesday we stuck around home most of the day then went to church (I’m teaching our Youth group on Wednesdays for a short time right now). Then, Thursday it was back to Eli’s class & the Library!! BUSY!! We were out all day yesterday… After we stopped at Target & shoe shopped (UGH!!), both of the kids fell asleep in the back seat. So, I drove around & we ended up in my parent’s town (15min away, not another long day trip! HA!) & played at the new park playground there as a special treat. Eli went to bed SO easily!! I’m looking forward to a low-key weekend THIS weekend! We’ll see if I’m successful!

My favorite thing this week was... The Homeschool Convention. And Newport. I guess just spending time as a family made both of those things MORE special. It wasn’t easy taking the kids to the Convention , but it was worth it to all be together.

What's working/not working for us... Things are going pretty well. No new changes, yet, but I have a few ideas floating around in my head that I’d like to start implementing.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have... One of the best things I’ve heard that just brings RELIEF & JOY to my soul is from a book Steve got me from the Convention by Todd Wilson. HE.IS.HILARIOUS. Just sayin… Keeping it real. Stop wearing a mask. Stop comparing what I’m doing to what others are doing. We’re not all perfect! Let go of my often too-high expectations & have fun enjoying my kids. Seriously, I don’t think I do that enough.

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

{Abbey's highlight of the whole convention! Meeting Jessa & Jana Duggar... Them, and seeing Tim Hawkins!}

{I think Steve's face is priceless! Our homeschool group had a ps-like "meet-the-reptile" session!}

{Eli's favorite! NEMO!}

{Our family's favorite! The Penguins!}

The Homeschool Mother's Journal from The Homeschool Chick

Hello!! :) I'm joining in the Homeschooling Mom's Journal again this week!! :) Come check out the other Homeschool Mama's @ The Homeschool Chick. They have it way more together than I do!! HA!! :) They're so inspirational!! :)

In my life this week... I’ve had a weird week, really… I haven’t been feeling the greatest, but am feeling a bit better, now. And, things just have to get done, regardless, sometimes, ya know? So, beyond that, it’s been pretty good! I bought the kiddos St. Patrick’s Day T-shirts at Target, they were marked down already!! LOL That’s always a good thing!!

In our homeschool this week... We’ve really just been focusing on the basics. I’ve come to realize that I might have been a bit high-strung about how Abbey gets her schoolwork finished (as in, “DO YOUR WORK OR YOU CAN’T [fill in the blank]!!!!). Not fun for me, definitely not fun for her. I realized that since she was being wiggly, there wasn’t anything to do but let her have a mini break after she got something done… I believe it’s called incentive! LOL For instance, on Tuesdays & Thursdays we do school at the Library while Eli’s in Toddler Group (Speech class). The Library has a pet hamster. No matter how far away we sit from Bob (the hamster), it’s like he’s saying, “Pssst. Abbey! Come watch me run on the wheel!” So, instead of me saying, “No, Abbey, no Bob time til after all your work is done,” I’ve revised it a bit. “Abbey, get your reading workbook done, and you can visit with Bob for a mini break!” I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me until now to do it this way… That was just a simple answer to my problem. It feels good! And, she’s been WAY more productive with the mini breaks than the “do it all then you break” way. I know, seems like a small thing, but what I learned is that the change started with MY attitude…

Places we're going and people we're seeing... We’ve been here & there & everywhere. Eli’s loving his Toddler Group!! And, Abbey & I enjoy our breakfast & Library girl-time together.

My favorite thing this week was... I’ve been reading Tedd Tripp’s “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” and I LOVE it. This is not a review, it is just my thoughts about it, but honestly, if you’re finding that you feel yourself beating your head against a wall because you see your child’s behavior change, but not their attitude? This book is great… Again, it all starts with MY attitude…

What's working/not working for us... The best resource I’ve bought lately is the Explode the Code workbooks! I love them! Abbey loves them! She will sit down & usually do more than one lesson at a time. Now, she is done with Book 1 & is almost done with Book 1 1/2 but she is flying through it! I’m thinking she’ll be more challenged by Books 3 & 4, but this has been great review of the vowel sounds!! It’s amazing to me how well she’s reading!! I love it!!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have... Has anyone been to a Homeschool Convention? We’re going to our first, the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, OH the first weekend of April. Any advice?

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

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!!}