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Showing posts from January, 2014

Random Five on Friday {January 31st Edition}

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Last week I skipped the Random Five on Friday in favor of Day of my Home School Essentials 5 Day Blog Hop.  1.  According to Goodreads I am 23% completed for my goal to read 40 books in 2014.  I am 6 books ahead of schedule. I took advantage of having to drive Boobear 3 to 4 days a week during January to listen to several of the Chronicles of Narnia books. They were actually the Radio Theater Production but they are listed on Goodreads so I counted those three.  I think getting a bit ahead in January will help me out when I slow down because the book I just started is about the length of 3 or 4 books! 2. I have been reading more regularly in January and I love it.  This week I finished two more books. I started three more this week.  One non-fiction, one mystery, one historical fiction (the really long one from point 1). 3. BooBear got a very special letter this week from her university.  She made the Dean’s List! I know this isn’t really a validation of home schooling but it sure d

Deluxe Potato Skins {Recipe}

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These yummy little half potatoes are a cross between twice baked potatoes and traditional potato skins.  They make a great appetizer and awesome served with Buffalo Style Chicken Wings .  I’m not a football fan, but if I were and I was hosting a Super Bowl game watching event I’d be serving some of these Deluxe Potato Skins along with those wings and other finger foods.  This is one of my family’s favorites when we plan a finger food or “junk food” night supper. They’re becoming a tradition with our movie/episode marathon weekends. I liked using smaller potatoes for these since they have a potato filling.  When I make more traditional potato skins that are just topped with cheese, bacon bits, and chives, I like the potatoes to be bigger. First we (yes I had my my girls helping!) scrubbed, pierced and baked the potatoes. I like to make sure that these are very tender.  It’s no fun trying to mash up the filling when it isn’t soft enough.  Let the potatoes sit until they are cool enou

P is for Planner: My favorite homeschool planner {Favorites Series}

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I’m combining my Favorite Anything Series post with my Alphabet Blogging post this week.  P is for Planner: My favorite homeschool planner. It is possible you already know what my favorite planner is for home school but just in case in case you don’t know or you’ve forgotten: Homeschool Tracker Plus . It really is much more than a lesson planner as I can track time spent (or sessions), assign grades, keep a reading log, keep a resource log, journal, create report cards, and generate a transcript.  I’m still using the Plus version which I purchased in 2005. It doesn’t look the same now as it did then as the amazing husband and wife team of TgHomesoft did many upgrades and updates over the year (for  free!!!  I paid ONE price and every upgrade and update to the program was free!!).  They do still offer HST Basic (not my cup of tea) and they now offer subscription based program HST Online . I have not bothered to even look at HST Online because I am still so in love with HST Plus. T

A Sense of Humor ~ Day 5 Home School Essentials

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I find it essential to laugh and have fun.  I need to find the joy in life.  Home schooling is hard work.  It’s demanding. A sense of humor helps to relieve the stress and tension.  Being able to find things to laugh about helps to create fond memories.  When my girls are all grown and have left home I want them to remember the laughter and the jokes and the funny things we did.  I don’t want them to remember the tears and the struggles and the wars. I don’t mean that we need to always entertain our children or to always make school fun.  I mean having a good sense of humor that enables you to find the funny and laugh in those situations where you might be tempted to cry.  Situations like the eggs falling on the floor and breaking before you use them in the science experiment or perhaps the time when the doorbell rings and it’s the one day in months that you’ve got dirty laundry in piles in the hallway and those piles are visible from the front door.  It is funny when you think of

A Library Card ~ Day 4 Home School Essentials

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I know a lot of home educating families.  Some are my e-maginary friends who live in my computer while others live and breath in the “real world”.  All of them have library cards. Or maybe I should say none of them has admitted to not owning a library card. We have library cards for all 6 of us and those cards are one of my Home School Essentials. Both my husband and I love to read. We also both love history.  Once we discovered a literature based approach to history we were set.  I fell in love with Sonlight and shared the catalog and a friend’s TM (they were Teacher’s Manuals back then.  They are Instructor’s Guides now) and he was hooked. We wanted to build an heirloom library for our children.  We determined that we would purchase full Basic programs (now called Cores) for as long as we could. So what does a book based curriculum that we decided to purchase have to do with a library card? And why would the library card be essential if you already owned the books? Because Sonlig

The Schoolhouse Review Crew ~ Day 3 Essentials

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Yes, you read the title right.  I think being a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew is essential for my home school.   I know it isn’t for everybody and there’s only space for so many home school blogging families.  For me though it has become so essential that I am not sure if I *could* home school without the crew. I don’t know that I would be able to provide as rich and varied learning environment for my daughters. I think my oldest daughter’s transcript would have holes in certain subjects. I joined the crew when in June 2010. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was getting into and I wasn’t sure I could pull off writing reviews.  I did know that I no longer had a budget for home school curricula or supplies or extras like I used to and this seemed like a great way to try out products that I wouldn’t otherwise get to use. In addition to finding a Latin program, sewing programs (yes more than 1), a history program (or two) a math program (or several), I’ve found friends.  There are some

A Computer (or 3 ) with Internet ~ Day 2 Home School Essentials

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Here we are on Day 3 of 5 Days of Home School Essentials.  In my home having multiple computers, all with internet access, is a necessity. This wasn’t true when I started home schooling. A computer was a wonderful tool and greatly enhanced my ability to educate my young children at home but only one was needed (for me) and we only had dial up.  It was not essential to our daily school work. As time passed we found more and more use for the computer and we invested in a laptop for mom. We then had the desktop that the 4 students could take turns with and a laptop for mom. Internet was upgraded to DSL.  Home schooling using the computer was heading into the essential territory and no longer just a great luxury tool. We started with things like typing instruction and then moved to having the girls use Microsoft Word to type of up papers and reports. We also started using the internet more to do research.  I used it for things like the library.  I could use the online library catalog to

A Support System ~ Day 1 Home School Essentials

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Some days the support system may simply be a good cup of tea and a chocolate truffle to help you get through the afternoon but in general I find it is essential for my home school to have multiple support systems . We started investigating home schooling in August of 1996.  Our oldest was a mere 14 months old.  She was, at the time, our only child.  But from that moment on I have had someone from the “real world” who home schooled. OK I wasn’t thinking much about home schooling and I may or may not have known real home schoolers from August 1997 until January 1998 when we were dealing with newborn twins, major open heart surgery, long hospital stay, and living someplace other than our home.  I’d be surprised if home schooling even entered my mind during those months! Those months required their own set of support systems but that’s a topic for another time. The internet with forums, email groups, and now social media has provided an enormous chunk of my support over the years. I hav

My Favorite Mystery Series: Meg Langslow {Favorite Anything Series}

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I don’t remember exactly when I started reading Donna Andrews novels. I do know that it was after we moved here so sometime after spring of 2001.  I do remember that it was my husband who first found the books.  We didn’t start with the Meg Langslow Mysteries though.  We started with Ms. Andrews’ other series: Turing Hopper . With titles like You’ve Got Murder and Delete All Suspects we were hooked. While we waited for book 4 to published we started in on the Meg Langslow series.  These mystery novels are not my favorite just because I enjoyed them but rather because of how we discovered them and the memories created of my husband and I enjoying them together. When the girls were younger we spent many evenings doing family read alouds. These were mostly the read aloud selections for whatever level of Sonlight we were using at the time.  Once the children were in bed my husband and I would maybe watch something on DVD from Netflix (nowadays it is more streaming than DVD) or we woul

O is for Organizational Wannabe ~ Yes that’s me

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I know that some people think I am organized.   I think I’m fairly organized with a few things but I long for being more organized or rather to be organized in more areas. I’m currently reading yet another book about organizing your home: Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider. She even has a website with some free downloadable forms . I started reading the book, because I needed some inspiration and motivation. I do really know what needs to be done and how to do it but . . . well sometimes I get stuck and I need to have my hand held.  The book didn’t really tell me anything I didn’t already know, but she did get my creative juices flowing.  I’m evaluating and pondering and finding some solutions.  Some seem so obvious and simple now but they’ve plagued me for ages. {Think of the catch all drawer where all those kitchen gadgets like apple corer thing.  How on earth do you keep that thing organized???!!! Read on and I’ll share what I’ve been doing!} Ms. Oxenreider is in a different

Random 5 on Friday {January 17th Edition}

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I love these Random 5 posts.  I think of them almost like a week’s worth of Facebook statuses.   1.  I was too sick last week to really have the energy to do a Random 5 post.    2.  My 16 year old has been doing more and more cooking.  She’s getting really good at it too!  Last week, because we were coming down with a cold/flu virus, she made a variation of Virus Killing Soup for us.   3.  I’m in a  decluttering, organizing and hey-let’s-finally-get-some-good-habits-and routines-going-and-break-this-cycle mood. I’ve got several blog post attempts started to help me work this journey but I keep stopping. I want to do something like O is for Organization but really I think the problem is more with habits and routines so I started a Breaking the Vicious Cycle post but I think it’s really more of a combination.  *sigh*   It’s easier to blog about it then to actually do it.   4.  I finished 3 books this week! And started 2 more.  I finished Some Like Hawk by Donna Andrews, The Sil

My Favorite Day of the Week: Sunday {52 Week Series}

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Yes Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Well, I should say type that I strive to make Sunday the day I look forward to most every week.   Even when I have a long put-it-off-until-Sunday-because-Saturday-was-too-busy to do list, I still love Sundays. We attend services (called Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Christian Church), every Sunday (except not today.  We’re home sick today but that’s a different post topic!).  I feel a little lost and empty when I miss a Sunday. Sunday mornings can seem rushed and stressful as we’re racing around getting ready to go and double checking the ministry schedule to see if any family members are on the list but there is something “other worldly” about entering the chapel.  You do leave the cares of this world behind and the Kingdom of God beckons you to enter into worship.  The beauty of the icons and candles combine with the scent of the incense and the sounds of the choir bringing Heaven and earth together transcending time.  It’s beautiful.  I

N is for Novels {or What I plan to read in 2014}

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I set some lofty reading goals for 2013 that I didn’t quite attain.  I ended up adjusting my reading challenge on Goodreads and managed to read 22 books.  I decided I want to be more intentional with reading so I’ve set my 2014 Reading Challenge to 40 books.  Knowing me, it will be mostly novels.  My list of novels includes: Meg Langslow Mysteries by Donna Andrews ~ I started reading these several years ago and read all of them up through 2008.  I discovered Ms. Andrews has continued to write more.  Currently I am reading Some Like It Hawk and I just picked up Duck the Halls . Several historical novels by Sharon Kay Penman ~ She did a trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor. I’ve got book 1 on hold through interlibrary loan and book 2 is coming through paperback swap.  I’ll read book 3 from the library eventually. The Hobbit The Hunger Games Trilogy Re-reading the Harry Potter Series As I look over all the books that I want to read, I’m starting think that I may need to carve out m

Buffalo Style Chicken Wings {Recipe}

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One our of family holiday traditions is the “Junk Food Feast” which grew out of my childhood.  On New Years Eve we would eat things like veggies and ranch dip and potato chips with French Onion Dip. Maybe mom served a real dinner earlier in the evening but I don’t remember. As we started our own family, Honeybear and I added things and we moved it to Christmas Eve and it was the dinner.  (Now it is served either on New Year’s Eve or anytime after December 25 but before January 6.) Buffalo Style Chicken Wings made their first appearance for Christmas 1995.  We were in Alabama and a fellow military spouse, Sally, taught me how to make them. These are the best Chicken Wings I have ever had.  You can make them as spicy or mild as you like and they still have lots and lots of flavor.   I would not classify this as healthy, and since I only make them once or twice a year I don’t worry about it.  (I would find a way to make these Trim Healthy Mama friendly if I wanted to serve them more fr

A Brand New Series for a Brand New Year: Favorites!

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My friend Da’Lynn, a fellow Crew team member and blogger, has tossed around an idea of a 52 week series.  52 weeks?  That’s a post a week?  What on earth could I write about and have enough material for 52 blog posts!  I stewed.  I pondered. I showered.  (Hey I do some of my best planning and thinking in the shower!) Inspired by discussions with my family about favorites (e.g. favorite Doctor, favorite episode) I realized I could come up with 52 different favorites. I could broaden the topic to include *anything* from books, to shampoos, songs, musicians, toilet paper, food (or favorite way to cook eggs, favorite breakfast meat, favorite pasta shape).  I think the list could be endless and I’ll have plenty of material for a 52 week series. Want to join me?  I’ve decided that I’d like bring my friends with me on this journey of discovery (who knows what favorites I’ll find along the way!) so I’m making this series my first ever hosted by me link up!  You don’t have to participate eve

Random 5 on Friday {First Edition of 2014!}

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It’s the first Friday of a brand new year! 1.  The girls went to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.   We were planning for the whole family to see the movie together however, the spider scenes will be too much for Supergirl.  Think Honeybear and I will go to see The Hobbit and then maybe the whole family will go see Frozen some other time. 2. Day 2 of J-Term (itty bitty short but intense term between Fall and Spring term.) and I am exhausted.  You’d think I was taking the class.  All I’m doing is driving Honeybear to work, coming home, driving BooBear to campus, coming home, Going to pick up Honeybear and then picking up BooBear.  Oh wait.  That’s why I’m exhausted. 3. I thought that since I will be driving 4 days a week every week during January that it would be a great way to get an extra book “read.”  I downloaded an audio book from the library and put it on CD.  It worked great yesterday.  Today, however the cd player in the van has decided not to work.  I’m already 5 cha

M is for [NOT] Murdering your Children

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One of the goals I have for my blog is to keep it real. So I’m going to be real here. There are days.  You know the ones I mean.  Days where you’re positive that a jury of your peers, your real peers, the stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom peers, would find homicide of your offspring justifiable. A favorite quote of mine is “The days are long but the years are short.”   I loved that phrase.  Those days when I had only little ones and they all needed me.  Four of them, one of me and no helpers.  The day seemed to drag on and on and on forever. How soon until Daddy gets home?  What??!! It’s only been minutes?  But the baby’s found the cat litter and the preschooler found the scissors and one twin got lost somewhere between the kitchen and the dining room while pushing her screaming twin in the baby seat.  I can laugh now.  I assure you I wasn’t laughing then.  I was thinking murderous thoughts as I collapsed on the kitchen floor and sobbed.  Dinner not made.  Laundry not folded. The baby