bits~n~pieces

Oh my goodness, when will I find the time to blog?

I know I shouldn't say that, as I'm *sure* I will always find the time to blog - but right now, as we are just starting off with our new hs'ing schedule, I feel completely overwhelmed! Ok, not really overwhelmed, just super-busy (which is fine, it's *okay* to be busy).

So in a quick nutshell, here's some of what's up around here:

**Detroit Zoo on Saturday! We got rained on a few time, but other than that we had a nice time. It wasn't too hot, there were lots of animals out in plain site. The cons: we rented a stroller - NOT made for babies. Luckily, I had our baby carrier in the van, so we took turns carrying Elijah all day. We will soon be investing in a nice double stroller (again - our latest one is about kaput!!).

**We are still working on trees & bushes in Interlock. We are also working on Money, per Daddy's request. Isaac got some birthday money, so we are implementing our expectations for the kid's own money: #1. Tithe (give back to God) #2. Save (we're making our own Piggy Banks) #3. Spend Wisely (be smart, don't waste). Sometimes dh and I need to be reminded of these simple three lessons as well....

**I love notebooking!! I have printed out a bunch of notebooking pages and we are working our way through them one page, one topic, at a time. The kids are still leary but I look forward to seeing their pages improve in creativity, neatness and content.

**My schedule is actually working - ok, well, it's working when I get up on on time. When I don't, it's rushed and I feel tired and over-worked. So the OBVIOUS solution would be............drum roll please............GET UP WHEN THE ALARM GOES OFF!!
Wow, I'm brilliant.

**I'm implementing a "Focus Time" for Bible and memorization. This will be right after breakfast, while we are still all at the table. A great way to start our day together! I'm still working on what to actually include during this Focus Time- but for now we are starting with learning the books of the Bible. Learning the Books of the Bible with Song I actually have most of the Old Testament memorized - amazing!

**I need to re-do the kid's chore chart. It is fine, the chores are appropriate and fine - but the chart itself needs redone. It needs to be "pre-reading" friendly - for my pre-readers! So off I go to find some clip art of toilets, sinks, dishes, tables, laundry, toys, dollies, you-name-it!!

My mother is coming in tomorrow on the train - my kids are psyched! Ok, *I'm* psyched!! I'm sure we have a fun week ahead of us - I need to go stock up on coffee and flavored creamers......plus she is then taking Tali back on the train with her, for Tali's first "Mema & Papa Visit". Fun times!

I really want to do a week of "Look at my Day" - to talk about schedule, hs'ing, modest dress, chores, home, etc.....but I need to settle into my own schedule a bit more first. Then we'll see...

Luv to all~
God Bless
*Michigan Momma*

My baby is SIX

Ok, just *when* did *that* happen??

We had a fairly calm day. We stayed at home, mostly indoors due to the weather. We watched whatever movies Isaac wanted to watch (The Fantastic Four - twice), I still only allowed him two 30 min. sessions of computer time, we did school (we're sprouting beans & peas - question: Will "split peas" actually sprout anything?), we continued on with Chapter 3 of The Magician's Nephew, we took lots of baths ~ LONG baths, ate Mac-n-Cheese w/ cut up hotdogs mixed in (yum) oh, and POP (bad momma)

and actually found a cake recipe that I could make. With my *very* limited cake-making pantry items.

That was fun. I found a Buttermilk Cake with Carmel Icing - it was a bunt cake (or is it bundt?). Isaac was very excited when he saw the picture next to the recipe - "I get a cake with a HOLE in it?? Cool!". Yes, son, very cool.

We celebrated with some party favors I have leftover from......I don't know when. What was I *thinking*?? Yikes, three young kids with noise makers. In a duplex. A small duplex.

Duh.

We are officially celebrating Isaac's birthday with our first trip to the Detroit Zoo on Friday ~ cool. How excited am I? I honestly believe I enjoy Zoo trips more than any of the kids. Isaac will be focusing on elephants over the next few days, as those are his favorite zoo animals. He will be taking pictures on his own of the elephants (I might snap a few, just in case) and hopefully we will come up with our very first Elephant Notebook Page(s). Yeah!!

Ok, it's about to storm - our very first one since we have lived in this apartment.

Let's see how this goes.

*Michigan Momma*

Homemaking - a vital role??

Not according to The Rev. Benjamin Cole, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. I must admit that in reading the following article, the first words out of mouth, after reading the quote from his blog, was, "Idiot".

Courses in Homemaking

If students are ASKING for such a course, such a major, than obviously there is a need. Many, dare I say *most*, young ladies are not learning these types of skills growing up in their own homes. When they do get married and start having kids, the stress can get REALLY tough, seeing as they were never taught how to run a household, how to raise children, how to be a godly wife. Hello??!! Try stepping into any other job with zero training or experience!! Ya, talk about stress!

Apparently though, the "good Reverend" (and others, I know), don't believe that being a wife and mother falls into the "vital ministry" catergory for women anymore - why waste their time with *that* junk, right?! They need to "get out there" and "do something productive for the Kingdom", right??!!

Idiot.
*Michigan Momma*

p.s. Not exactly the polite, kind, pastor's-wife kind of post, eh? Oh well, sometimes I just get annoyed. I know, I know....I should be praying for this idio....I mean, this lost gentleman. I know, I know.

*edited to add: not "lost" as in his salvation - I wouldn't dare to judge that. I guess I just meant "confused gentleman". Just so we're clear here~MM

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays

Hello all~

Here is my contribution to this week's Kitchen Tip Tuesday. It is so simple and such a little thing, I almost didn't post it - but here goes:

When you have a recipe, one you have either printed off of Tammy's wonderful recipe site or your own recipe card, use your favorite magnet to hold it to your stove top hood. This keeps your recipe in sight, OUT of the food and mess, and you won't lose it under plates and pans and such on your counter. It is such a simple thing - but it has really helped me over the last few weeks. I saw our youth pastor's wife doing this a few times and I had to give it a try - and now I'm hooked!! No more messy recipe cards for me!

There ya go - now go to Tammy's site, post your own Kitchen Tip and then cruise around for a while - she has some great recipes and even better advice!

*Michigan Momma*

What a blessing!

I was nervous tonight, heading to my brand new hs'ing support group meeting. Who would be there? How would they run things? Would I feel odd? Would I feel judged or accepted into this new group of ladies? Was this where God wanted me to be?


Hooray!! The meeting went great! When the leader for that evening began talking through her "10 things new hs'ers will learn this year" - I just totally felt I could relate! And I only just "officially" began today! After just the first item, I thought, "please Lord, don't let me cry in front of these ladies on my very first visit...."


I thought I was going to cry not due to saddness - but relief. Just to honestly hear other ladies, other wives, other moms, discuss some of their not-so-pretty thoughts....amazing! Also, their convictions about hs'ing, about what they desire for their children, about character and how important that is during the hs day. I heard from moms of high school age kids that encouraged and blessed me in this new journey. I also met other beginning moms that shared my insecurities and excitment for the year to come.


There were all kinds of moms/families there. Yes, all of them were Christians. Yes, most of them had "larger" families (larger being TOTALLY relative - I'd say more than four). Yet they were in all different stages of hs'ing. Some had started from Kindergarten, some had pulled kids from school later on, some still had one or two IN "building" school, some were just beginning, one told us she felt like giving up. With curriculum, some were of classical bent, some textbook, some were un-schoolers, while three of us were Unit Studies type gals. Etc.etc.etc.


Anyways, just wonderful!! Yes, it was only one meeting. I realize that I may not always feel this way about this particular group - but so far, this one meeting, I feel blessed. I met another momma, using the same curriculum as our family ( The Weaver ) which is certainly not as common as Abeka or Sonlight or somesuch....so that was great! Just another mom to bounce ideas and thoughts off of, nice!


So now I have a once a month meeting, plus a once a month Mom's Night Out to add to my calendar - and I'm okay with that. I *need* that. It felt GREAT talking to these ladies and I'm really glad I went. Even though I was nervous....


So if you don't attend a hs support group - give it a try. I can not guarantee such a positive experience, but if it's even close.....it's worth the effort to give it a shot!



Hip-hip-horray!!
Praise the Lord~
*Michigan Momma*


p.s. also continuing to praise Him that I live in MI. Such a wonderful state for hs'ing. I will be joining HSLDA as soon as we have $50. Totally worth it. These people protect us and fight for our rights, rights as parents. SOOOOO worth $50 a year.








LEGEND


States requiring no notice: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact.

States with low regulation: State requires parental notification only.

States with moderate regulation: State requires parents to send notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress

State with high regulation: State requires parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by state officials).

p.p.s. HOLLY??!! I met someone from your old church tonight at this meeting - how cool! Well, she actually said she didn't know you that well. She had just starting attended in the fall, then went through one sick kid after another all winter long, then realized that y'all were leaving. But still cool. I pray you are doing great "down south". We had some great MI weather today, girl......

glimpses of our life

Just a few pics from the recent days. First, when you have three older siblings, just a bit older, life can be overwhelming. Such as when your momma asks them to please get you a few soft toys. Everything seems fine at first....them whammo! Toys galore!!










I found a cute little recipe for Peanut Butter Blossoms - no, not those pb cookies with chocolate kisses pushed in the middle. No, these were supposed to resemble flower blossoms. Well, after delicately shaping them, baking them and cooling them, I pulled them out of the muffin tins to the delighted cry of my eldest son, "Momma, you made us CROWNS!".




Why yes, son, they *do* look like crowns! And so they shall be called in this house henceforth.




And the weather here has been GLORIOUS! Seriously, I absolutely adore days like these, overcast, raining on and off, cooler temperatures (we're talking mid-60's here folks). Ahhh....and what could be better on these most-fall-like days than stew? (well, or soup?) So today, amongst the first-day-of-school details and an unexpected trip to the grocery store, I chopped up some veggies, thawed out some beef for stewing, and threw together a stew. While the original idea for the recipe comes from Jewel over at Eyes of Wonder, it is not identical to her given recipe (what honest-to-goodness, homemade stew is ever the same as another?). It *has* been simmering on my stove all day long, which is new to me. I am used to using my beloved crock pot for such recipes - but I thought I would give it a shot. Ahhhh...the smells are wonderful!







I think I may take her advice and add in some flour/milk to thicken it up a bit - just 'cause my family is big on thick stews & soups.


And in just a few short weeks, our family will be able to enjoy homemade bread with these kinds of autumn recipes - thanks to my wonderful mother, who has purchased me my very own 2-pound loaf breadmaker. Whoo-hoo! Thanks Mom!! To get an idea of all the deals this self-professed "Frugalista" has obtained, head on over to her neck of the woods: Everyday Meanderings (yes, that is my gorgeous son on her front page)



Ok, enough for now. Yes, today was our very first official hs'ing day. As such, it was quite relaxed and laid-back. We simply did some Pre-K/K workbook pages (which I know my son enjoys) focusing on "Opposites" and "Go-Togethers" and "Differences", plus some writing of letters. We talked a very little about trees and shrubs. This evening, while getting everything together for dinner, I hope to go over the animal puppets we have previously made for learning our letter sounds ( 1-2-3 Read! ). If that is going to happen, I'd better get a move on it! My very first hs support group meeting is tonight too!! How exciting!


Lots of love to all ~ talk to ya soon!
*Michigan Momma*

Polishing Up

Getting things in order for our start of school this year. Actually, we will be schooling year round ~ just working as we can, and breaking when necessary ~ but since Isaac will be six next week, we will be "officially" starting! I do need to check MI law, but last I remember, it was VERY easy to hs in MI. If you need to check out the requirements/law in your state, check out this link:

HSLDA ~ Home School Laws

There are two options in MI ~ here is the option we are claiming: (taken from the HSLDA site)

Michigan Legal Home Schooling Options:
Option: 1
Legal Option:
Establish and operate a home education program

Attendance:
None

Subjects:
Reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar

Qualifications:
None

Notice:
None

Recordkeeping:
None

Testing:
None


Whew...I'm so glad we moved to MI!! There are some states that have horrible requirements. I mean, praise Jesus we are able to hs in America at all, but some states....ugh...

I stayed up FOREVER last night putting together my spreadsheets of our Basic Daily Schedule and our Daily Chores. There is no *WAY* I could do this schedule every single day, day in ~ day out! VERY regimented. But as a guide, it's great.

We are just doing Pre-K/K, so that only has me scheduling ONE hour in the a.m. and ONE hour in the p.m. There are times that we will try to hit each day, and the rest will fluctuate. Set times include:

Wake-up for Momma
Family Breakfast
Home Education
Lunch
Quiet Time (Phonics)
Family Dinner
BedTimes

If I can try to hit these at the same times each day, we'll be doing good. After that, I will see how to fit my cleaning and chores in amongst those times.

Ok, time to clean-up the spreadsheets, print & post, and start preparing my home (and my children...ok, and myself) for this next adventure!!

~waiting for this hot & humid summer to go away~
*Michigan Momma*

"Thriving" pictures

I am working on something here - I needed a place to post some pics. Take a look, if you'd like, they're just pics of the house, mainly the kitchen. I'll fill you in later......*MM*

Cutting back

In regardst to food, in regards to t.v., in regards to blogging, in regards to computer surfing in general, etc. I just need to cut back!

Right now I am in the process of organizing my homeschool "stuff" for this year. I know, it's only Pre-K/K but it is my first "official" year - plus I have the toddler and baby to juggle.

I am also coming up with a good schedule for our new home, and our new homeschooling year. So my Home Management binder is getting a re-vamp this week, and I hope to start next week.

In my initial schedule for our days, there is just hardly any time for stuff like blogging. Oh, I'm sure I'll get here often enough (I enjoy it too much!) ~ but I need to make sure all the rest of my duties are getting accomplished first and foremost.

So there ya go, I've cut back on my "optional/fun" blog reading - just keeping those I feel I've grown to know and love, plus family.

Oh, and did I mention Talitha is showing all the classic signs of being ready to begin potty-training? She's just so little, physically ~ plus I just didn't want to face it. Ugh....I'm going to have to mentally prepare myself for this....pt'ing is my *least* favorite momma-duty, I do believe.

Ok, home pictures will be here soon. Right now, we are making dinner to take to daddy - one bonus of living so close to the church!! Yeah!

I'll have better stuff to blog about soon....I think...
*Michigan Momma*

Can you smell that??

Ahhhhhh........

~Fall~

~Autumn~

~Harvest Time~

Whatever you want to call it ~ I'm just glad summer is almost over with. Yes, I now we've got plenty of hot, humid days left (and that's okay).....but I'm beginning to realize that fall is on it's way. I'm *so* happy! Those cooler days are my absolute favorite, followed closely by HUGE snowstorm days......

Now, where in the world will I be able to put up a Christmas tree in this home??????

*Michigan Momma*

Missing Ticker??

No, I haven't given up my weight loss.....I just plain ol' fell off the bandwagon during this move. We ate *a lot* of fast food and pizza. I have the contents of my freezer on my dining room table right now trying to organize and get back into healthy cooking and baking again.

Give me some time and I'll be back with the ticker again! It will happen!!

Thanks for understanding ~ living life as it ebbs and flows...
*Michigan Momma*

Coming Soon...

Hello dear readers,

Coming soon: pics of my new, small duplex home!! I have even amazed myself in this organization process! I know that sounds conceited but honestly, I really am amazed at home our family of six fits into this home. I know not all of it would be considered "normal" - but I'm okay with that. Who wants to be normal nowadays anyway??

Example: dh takes the youth pastor (remember, he lives just across the street with his family) on a home tour. While taking a look around, the YP says, "this is *s0* not American living". At first I wasn't sure how to take his comment ~ but see, he has lived in Europe and has seen many different living arrangements. Americans definately have the most "space" ~ un-needed space, in his opinion. He was quite excited for us to experience this, to live so close to church, to be so close to his family, etc.

Here are a few "snap-shots" of my home, before things were all put together for larger shots. Now that all the pictures are hung and things look all put together, I'll take some better pics. But for now, here ya go:

I no longer have a dishwasher. Washing dishing is my LEAST favorite domestic chore. I know God is stretching me here for a reason, He *has* to be...

One of my favorites ~ a green candle in my bathroom. We live in the lower part of the duplex home, therefore we have these shelves all around our walls, the part where our home is underground. They can be kind of annoying, because all the outlets are ABOVE this shelf, but they are useful to hold things too.

Our great find! We found a "kitchen butler" originally at $330 ~ but because we bought the disply (quite banged up), it was only $100 (plus a bit of paint and the cool knobs). It is VERY useful and functional in my small kitchen for extra storage and counter space.


See my fairly cluttered counters? Ugh. But I'm working on it. I was cooking dinner here, but I wanted to show my newest thing: using old glass jars to hold kitchen foods (i.e. pastas, beans, etc.). That way, I can store them in visable places and they still look nice.

Here is the kid's closet ~ it may look cluttered but it is four small children's things (clothes, shoes, toys, blankies, educational books and dress-up clothes) in one fairly small closet. It has locks at the top of both closet doors to ensure the children don't get in there and rip apart my system!!

Ok, I'll share more later. I've got stuff to blog about, but little time to actually get to it. I'll figure out a schedule for this home soon and then I'll feel better about spending time on here. Blessings to all~

*Michigan Momma*

Hi-LAR-ious!!

Ok, is that even how you spell that word?? Oh well....

The point is: FUNNY!

Go here, read this short post on breastfeeding.

Momma of 4 Blessings

If you do not burst out laughing while reading about her giving a blanket to an offended person...well....WAKE UP! 'Cause that was *funny*!

still chuckling out loud~
*Michigan Momma*