Just one more thing...

Sorry ya'all! I don't have time to blog or email! I miss all you'alls! We are working REALLY hard to get the house done for a showing by next weekend. We've had a couple dozen phone calls and we KNOW that God has provided a buyer and we just haveta finish! Down to polishing doorknobs and the like and then I'll take the pictures.

The children are on their way to mastering multiplication and division and their penmanship is improving every day! Our school schedule is lighter, keeping to the essentials since we'll be doing summer school. I am excited to be moved and started on all the schooling-it's gonna be so much fun!! :)

We had the snow when everyone else did and now it's finally melting. The heat wave (25 degrees) is making for more pleasant days with actual sunshine!

For me: I've not been doing any handwork, not even day dreaming-I don't mind. Starting to see that we won't be here much longer and we'll be seeing family!

I just started an exercise program: marching. I started marching (lifting knees to at least horizontal) for 5 mins. and now I'm marching for 20 mins. with my 5 lb weights. It's really tough without a distraction. I workout while the babies are falling asleep during naptime. I think it would be a great time to listen to an audio book. I dropped 7 lbs over the weekend and look forward to doing better this week! I also started to take a tablespoon of coconut oil a couple times per day. We already eat very healthy & I was getting discouraged. I can't "diet" or eat less since I'm feeding the baby, so I kept a food log for a day when I ate the regular and I'm close to not eating enough. I also started having cottage cheese and either crackers or carrots after I workout. I was thinking back to when I lost 40lbs in 2 months after #2 was born. This is what I did. I'm already seeing a difference, the 7 lbs and 1.5" helps me keep motivated!

Everyone is healthy and doing well learning and playing kindly! We are all excited to finish here and go see the grammas and grampas!! Probably won't post until after we move...at least by then I'll have pics to show and maybe even of our next place!

So, "Hi", "Happy Birthday", "Happy Anniversary", "Congratulations" and have a peaceful and productive next few months!!

Merry Christmas!

Hello from all of us here! I know, don't yell at me, it's been 6 months since I've written, but believe me-I write to you everyday...you just can't read my thoughts, yet!

We had a beautiful baby boy on the 26th of August weighing 8 lbs and only 4 hours of labor with a full hour of sleep/rest the middle!!

We started school with 5 in attendance in September and we're off for the holidays. The older two are in 3rd grade, the next two in 1st and the last in Kindergarten, with a daycare for the two babies. Still just me...I don't have any lavish au pairs!! But one can daydream! :)

We are going to watch Polar Express tonight. It's all about kid's being kidnapped for Christmas, but I'm sure it's safe for children!! LOL

Hubby and I (with the help of the children) have been working to finish the house. I am taking pictures when the batteries work. I think the camera eats the battery 'juice' while it's off and then laughs at me after I take one picture and get the "low battery" sign and it auto shuts off!

I've been painting doors and patching missed holes and other miscellany jobs. Hubby has been finishing framing windows and doors and the baseboard (which I'll need to paint) and then we'll lay the padding and carpet, finish the electrical for the stove downstairs and do cleanup. We're very close to being done. We'll have the odd jobs of putting in the doorknobs and packing tools and look for other things like polishing hindges that might have drywall mud, etc. You're really gonna love the pics. Ok...you've convinced me. I'll include this pic of the door before I painted it. It still needs another coat and the trim. This is how close we are to finishing!! I'll be so glad to post the finish pictures-maybe even figure out how to post a video!! Here are a couple of things we saw in the drywall mudding. I just added the pencil lines to define it.

So, that's what's been going on here. Very, very busy!! Hope to make this more regular again! I'd love to hear from all of you-even a simple hello so I know that you are all there!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Blessed New Year!!

Hugs to all you alls!!

Sunshine On My Shoulder Makes Me Happy!

This is of the rain falling over the ridge. Taken before we cleared the blueberry patch, the lot just south of the shed (or to the right in this pic).

We have just been enjoying the outdoors!! Though it's rained off and on, the weather is almost warm-at least the children are in shorts. No garden this year and so one day we cleared out the blueberry patch. It was overgrown with just grass which might have saved several bushes. We put the plants in pots and set them against the shed and hubby mowed the patch. He and the children worked at filling in the holes in the garden-formerly "Jumpy Squirrel's HideAway" and general digging area. After mowing the yard a couple of times, it also looks better. Made more room for the dandelions to grow, go to seed, then leave stems of brown sticking up all over. #6 likes to go and pick these stems and all the other children pick the long flowers and make bouquets or just tear apart the flowers to put the petals in their "pizza" as cheese<--that would be #4!


Hubby and I also cleaned up the back room the other day. I was picking up and sweeping and so I almost cleared the whole downstairs! I organized everything that needed it and threw out the rest...it really made it look better and we could easily see how little we have left to do! Since hubby had to tear out lathe and plaster, old ceilings and such, it was a big mess. Now there won't be anymore tearing out & the new construction can resume!


Before the clean up, hubby and I laid tile in the laundry room. It extends from the kitchen & it looks so nice now! After working out so much, I had the wherewithal to help put in the flooring. This is my work here in the picture and the towel was for my knees until hubby got the knee pads for me. We needed to make the floor level with the rest and so we laid down plywood and screwed it in and then mud, then the tile board and screwed it down (appropriate screws for each thing), then the mud and the tiles. Hubby put the tiles and I helped with the spacers, then after a couple days of drying, moved the machines back in to do laundry, then back out to finish grouting. We did the tiling while the children were awake and quickly found how much more efficient we are when they are asleep!


In the space of time I've not blogged, the fruit trees have leafed, flowered & fruited!

This is a Santa Rosa Plum

This is one of the apple trees

This is the pear treeI skipped putting the picture of the cherry tree & will try to get pictures of when its fruit is red!


Wanted to show you my counter space. This is when I made Veggies, White Sauce, Marinara, with noodles after finishing the dishes. The dishwasher has been downstairs since January and I do the dishes by hand. I am the more efficient, water saving, better quality dishwasher! This model also cooks :) I enjoy washing by hand, this is the reason I told hubby he could leave the dishwasher downstairs after he offered to bring it up.


To the left


and to the right
That's all I can remember right now. Need to go share the fresh bread and then head outside again! Ciao for now.

Occupy

Here's just another update on what we've been doing.

I'll start with the boring stuff

Workouts and Exercise:

Well, hubby asked if I wanted to work out with him lifting weights...what can I say, "YES!". It's a completely different mentality than working out to lose weight. In fact, I'll be gaining weight , but I will definitely be leaning!! Hubby's done this workout before and had amazing results! We work out twice per week-yes, only twice-all the major muscle groups. You workout to "failure", this in turn makes your body produce the growth hormone hGH, which makes it easier to put on muscle. I've already improved in lifting 50-100% more! We are not changing what we eat (nothing to change there!!) and I'm already seeing benefits in lifting everyday things as well as more energy! I'll let you know how it goes!!

House/Packing:

Yesterday I packed ALL of our storage items, having switched seasonal clothes & put away all non-essential items. (I have one closet I couldn't reach to do and I actually packed up almost all of my knitting things-gasp!) Hubby is taking them to a storage unit (we don't have a garage) until we move to make more room for a better house showing. Our house is now on the market to generate interest as hubby finishes the last of the work. We will have private showings. If we apply ourselves, we should have everything done and ready in as little as two weeks with the max. of 4 weeks. Hubby has been working on the back room, put in a closet last night and finished reinforcing the floors under the tiled upstairs kitchen. He has the ceilings and walls to dry wall, then mud. He likes to have several running projects, while he waits on things like the mudding to dry he is able to work on one or two more.

I am so very excited as this ball rolling downhill is increasing in speed!

It was fun to consolidate all the boxes and I had 3 more buckets (rubbermaid type containers) and 6 boxes that were suddenly empty!

I've been called "The Queen of Organizing and Alphabetizing", so naturally, as I excel in one area, my mind is quick to plan the next step in another area (but all comes from God as He gives wisdom and out of His mouth comes understanding!). I've possibly figured out a weekly menu for our family:

Sunday: Meatloaf & Mshd Spuds

(beef meal-since we are finishing the last of our cow)

Monday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Meatloaf and Salad

(leftover day)

Tuesday: Veggies & Noodles with White Sauce &/or Marinara

~BREAD~

Wednesday: Lentils and Rice

(this will be once per week)

Thursday:B'fast-Oat Cereal

Lunch-Leftovers

Dinner-Eggs & Toast (b'fast everyday)

Friday:Creamy Chicken Noodle Veggie Soup

(soup or stew day)

~BREAD~

Saturday:Leftovers (also made pumpkin bread)

This has already eased my cooking schedule-though I spent yesterday going full steam for 17 hrs. I got up at 6 this morning (after only 4 hrs of sleep) and finished putting away the bread and straightening the kitchen AND I was able to read the Word-very refreshing-while I watched the pinks and reds in the sky. Yup, it's cloudy & it's supposed to be raining right now, but the high is supposed to be 73 degrees!! A wonderful day, now, if only we could dodge the raindrops and go outside!! I was getting a bit upset because it was raining/going to rain, but then the Lord showed me that He was cleaning the air for us! Yesterday, the neighbors decided to burn (at least this time it wasn't trash) and the wind blew most of the smoke right into our house. So, today, the Lord blesses us with rain to clean the air & we are able to open our windows again...umm, right after I find the screens.

Schooling:

#1 & #2 will be finishing the Math 2 by the end of the 'school year'. (It only took them 3 months to finish the second book) I need to get Math 3 (or maybe reassess to see if they could skip a grade with a bit of added effort on my part). I need to think of what Math to do for #3. I'll look into the Math 1 and see how it is. I need to get a workbook for writing for him & start that as well. I'll probably couple #3 & #4 in a grade, since she is right there with him. Then #5 always does everything with #4 and will want to join her....hmmmm, incorporating 3 beginning students is a new challenge for me. That would increase my classroom size-I'd have 5 children at the table. I had the younger ones for less time and different types of lessons-more verbal-than the older two. By the way...we year-round school. Learning doesn't stop, neither have we.

Knitting: (more boring stuff)

I finished my vest 2 weeks ago. I really like it...just the right warm without getting in the way while I work! I finished almost one sock, but I won't be wearing wool socks until next January-ish. My shawl I also packed, it will be quick to finish-when I have the umption! I am already thinking of things to sew. I would love to make the girls matching sundresses for Sundays and 1 or 2 matching dresses for everyday. We'll see, the little girls already have a number of summer dresses, so maybe I'll just be sewing for #1-unless G'ma T is willing to get out a few of the "heirloom" dresses. I remember a sleeveless lavendar dress and maybe one or two more. I haveta remember when we stop by on our WAY TO ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I'm calm. I'll go, since this is getting a bit lengthy.

"And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them,

Occupy till I come."

Luke 19:13

Menu Plans

I haven't listed my menu in a long time. Though I keep it from having certain days posted, I have the flexibility to change the meal depending what's in the cupboard. So far for this week I have these meals, not counting leftovers. I am also waiting to see what dh brings home from the store. He does an awesome j0b & it's always exciting to see if he brings home "extra" ingredients! He goes to the grocery store (saves time with just him-he makes the decision & there is never an ill spent cent) about every week and a half to two weeks. This makes it possible to save money on gas, since the store is far, and he's able to go to the hardware store all in one trip.

~Chili

~Noodle soup (watching Kung Fu Panda will make you need noodles!)

~Lentils & Wild Rice

~Grilled Cheese & Tuna

~Broccoli Soup

Meals always are for 2 times if not more except for things like grilled cheese, that usually accompanies leftovers or is a semi-snack.

I must say that Lentils & Rice is something that the Lord showed me to make. I use the Lundberg rice which is a mix of brown/wild rices. I throw the rice, lentils, water, salt and butter in the pan, bring to boil, cook at simmer for 50 mins & let it rest for about 10. I just revisited this site and found out that lentils and rice is a depression era food, as in this recipe. I am amazed that God gives wisdom to anyone at anytime - makes cookbooks pretty useless here!! Speaking of The Best Chef giving me His recipes, I also made a delicious Creamy Broccoli Soup today. Once again, 3 1lb bags of frozen broccoli, cover with water & bring to boil and cook til soft. Blend with a stick blender (don't splash it into your face-it kinda hurts) add one stick of butter, 1 TBSP of salt, a dash of pepper, at least 1 cup of milk and then the super secret sauce...oh, yeah, here you go: 1.5 cups of white sauce, or alfredo, or secret sauce:

1 stick butter melted into pan, add 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 tsp of salt with a dash of white pepper. Cook til bubbly then add 3 cups of milk. Bring to a boil, without burning the bottom of the pan. In another pan (or the same pan before you start the sauce) saute 6 cloves (1/3 to 1/2 head) of garlic, 1/4 cup diced onions, salt and pepper in butter. Cook until clear to golden. Blend with stick blender add to white sauce.

This is not for this meal, but you can pour it over veggies/noodles with this wonderful sauce:

1 can tomato sauce (I use the walmart brand-least amount of ookies)

6 garlic cloves

1/4 cup diced onions

1/4 tsp dried basil

1 tsp salt

pepper to taste (or just a dash)

1/2 can (small) refried beans ~* surprise! (or 1 part beans to 3 parts sauce)

This is great as a dip as well & it gives you added protein.

I just finished a pumpkin pie bread muffin cake thing. It is already 2/3rds gone. Having these yummy, nutritious and warm meals when it's still very chilly out is a wonderful way to get pleasant smiles and mmmmmmmms all around!

What else. Since I've lost another 1-2 inches this week (log is put away right now), but weight is not quite falling off, I've been restructuring my workout. Also, it's been so chilly or rainy or just pbbblt outside, walking has become almost non-existant (except for 3 days ago when it was so pleasant & sunny & I was able to take my 30 laps!!) I need to find my weights - I have 5 & 10 lbs free weights, hubby has a bench but it is down in the construction zone. I found youtube instructional videos (the pictures are inappropriate & I don't want to send people there) that explain how to workout more efficiently. A incredibly qualified (schools et al) trainer that explains things a bit like Teresa Tapp, but shows the benefits of using weights-or strength training. You know, the whole principle of gaining muscle which will in turn burn fat or use more energy therefore you lose weight. Another don't-need-to-look-at-the-scale-to-be-in-shape people!!

Psst...I can do 10 regular push-ups now followed by 10 more "girlie" push-ups!! Wooohooo!!

Anyway, what I've gathered is that I need to use my weights, workout only one of the Push/Pull/Legs workouts rather than something like: arms/chest one day then back the next...if you are paying attention to what you workout, then it is unnecessary to overwork the same muscles. Also that I need to raise my metabolism by doing small sets throughout the day, for when your body is at rest it is burning fat. While you sit, eat, sleep, and all, you are losing weight-not when you are working out-most of the time!

So, I'm gonna be improving my weight training and warm up to stretch and I will finally drop this extra flabbie! I've had a hard time getting my workout in this past week. Babies up late, overworking during the day so that I crash at night-basically never taking a rest time. All these things as well as the cold and cloudy weather took its toll on me. Since I don't have my regular trainer (dh) I have to be my own. I quit (in process) the "Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans". I never needed a crutch before, and have been sorely disappointed in this group. Maybe it should better be named the "Sisterhood of the Shrinking"; a complete thought (gerund modifying/describing subject) that doesn't suggest the opposite of what I think their purpose is . Oh well, not everyone will live up to my high expectations! Speaking of high expectations: I found these old links to Teresa Tapp describing her workouts.

Part 1 & Part 2. It's nice to review & remember why I did these workouts in the first place. Here's the Hoedown. (This does not nullify the fact that I will use weights/strength train)

Okie dokie, having a lighter school schedule. Only one lesson per day rather than two. Spending a little more time with setting up a tiny bit of chores, but really it should be called responsibilities.

#1 is putting away dishes (she's started washing bowls/plates when they are needed), switching the laundry.

#2 is making beds (mainly the little girls & mine-since everyone likes to sit on it)

#3 is cleaning the playroom

#4 gets the laundry out of the dryer with

#5 helping #4

They all help with picking up in general and the boys (#2 & #3) are pleased to trade off setting the table for meals. I am continually amazed at how they teach each other and care for each other. #3 has proven he can read...same as big brother, at the age of 4. Taking out the computer has also been a huge sucess! They are better behaved, kinder to each other (dearly so), quick to come when called, willing to acheive whatever task is set before them! Well worth all the effort-though I coulda saved myself alot of my own trouble by being consistent a long time ago! It's not the scheduling, routine or specific curriculum or ways, but doing the same thing with the same set of rules-always. It's really something you learn on your own, for you are your own family.

Alright. That's the news from Lake Woebegone...ummm, I mean here, where the woman is strong, the man is good looking and all the children are above average!! Goodnight folks.

Going UP!

**this is not my house, my stove or mine at all. I thought it was pleasantly minimalistic!**
We've moved back upstairs! It's much better and what I'm used to!! Have caught up on most everything and have helped hubby more with the switch-er-roo of rooms. He finished painting and putting in the carpet in all but the old dining room. He'll leave that so that we can eat there again & not dirty the new carpet! He just fixed the OLD Frigidaire electri-clean 50's or 60's stove. I like it because of it's flat burners not the coils of electric yuck that always seemed to burn things! I look forward to using the oven...that I've been without for the past month! Hubby is also okay-ing getting rid of stuff. I happen to have the most of those rubbermaid/sterlite tubs filled with sewing and knitting things. We consider it equal to "potential energy", things I can make for the family, like unto the idiom: A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. I'm not sure what we're gonna get rid of since we are extremely practical! Hubby was saying things that we haven't used in 5 years-I can think of kitchen things and I'm sure there's plenty more we could do without and still live comfortably!

What else? Handling the everyday in the construction zone. Since the tile is just about done in the kitchen, I won't have to walk on boards to pass or lean over large newly set areas. I look forward to walking through any path without extension cords. I am so pleased with the progress that it is so easy to put up with these inconveniences. I enjoy house hunting with hubby and knowing what we can do to fix a house and put up with instead of buying perfectly new and paying with "an arm and leg"! We like looking at the different layouts of the houses and figuring what would be more suitable for our family-tons of fun for us!!

Cooking: this has been a bit difficult without a stove. In fact I need to go make a vegetable soup and we already had refried beans with cheese and chips for lunch. Everyone really enjoys these stovetop meals, I'm just ready for a few meals that I can throw in the oven!

Schooling: going well, we've stopped almost all t.v. and video games. We have our obedient smart children back! Also taking Cod Liver Oil (Carlson's Lemon flavor!) is helping alot too. I found my McGuffey Reader and will see where the older 2 are-they are probably ready for the next book. #1 is doing handwriting beautifully and #2 has neatened his penmanship. #3 is reading simple books and doesn't "like the long words so (he) just skips them"-funny! I guess I need to read to him and see where he really is. #1 & #2 read to the children and #3 is constantly asking for another book to be read! #4 is working with #5 on speaking correctly, "no, we say banana, not babana"...she is always anticipating and helping everyone! #5 is speaking clearly and is so cute when she asks for a bottle for #6 and herself. I just love their little baby voices speaking in coherent sentences!! #6 is walking so very well, almost to the running stage. He has a few sounds that sound like several words: Ha for yes, mama, dada, ba-ohl for bottle and many more. I enjoy his face lighting up when we actually guess what he's saying!

Well, children are off to bed, hubby is finishing the tile in the kitchen, I just finished cleaning up dinner (cheesy cream of vegetable noodle soup) and changing the laundry. I was thinking that once the kitchen is done, I might actually put a picture. I'll find something with the "before" and then you'll see how great it looks now!! I forgot to mention that we moved alot of the storage things into the children's old room. We have more things downstairs to move up, then I'll be able to finalize what we will keep and ready everything for the move! **Did I mention that I love to organize and consolidate??!!**

Okie, I'm tired and I haven't knitted in 2 days!! Need to finish my shawl, I might post a picture since it looks so different from the usual! :)

All-you-alls have a blessed week and keep putting God first!

Yes, Going like the Energizer Bunny!

Well, last night was our first night in our brand new bedroom upstairs. Hubby moved us out of our room and he painted it last night (or rather, early this morning) and he'll be carpeting it then moving on to the children's room after they are moved into our old room. Then he'll start tiling the kitchen and bathroom. He is going NONSTOP!!

We went to the grocery store the day before yesterday--ahhh, what a pleasant break from the construction zone!! We were out running errands and the like for 4 hours and were ready to be home again. I am cooking lots more now that the kitchen is a bit more organized and I don't haveta run upstairs or send someone (my "fast like a bunny" little ones) to get ingredients or pans. I'm also JUST starting to drink enough water again! Amazing how you can get "sick" so quickly by not having enough water!! I was "suffering" from many things including a couple of pinched nerves, headaches, tummy aches, lethargy, brain fog....all this caused by not drinking water. So you know, I would drink juice mixed with water (1/2 'n' 1/2) or a few glasses of milk and maybe a cup of tea. NO WATER. Now that I'm just drinking (in addition to other liquids) at least 1/2 gallon of water I'm doing much better!! I had stopped working out so I didn't need quite as much water. Like I said, things are much better and I look forward to getting more done as well as always helping hubby with the house.

I guess I got upset with all you alls. Yes, most of you don't leave comments, but I was going by the 50-100 hits I get on my blog per day and thought some of you needed to really say something. Well, come to find out, the hits are a total from all my blogs. I'm guessing that the majority of hits are for the knitting patterns. I don't apologize for getting upset, 'cause I'm still waiting for some family and friends to comment. I'll give 'em the excuse that maybe their computers are broken, yeah, that's it. They really do care and would comment! Ok, I'll go with that!! (chuckle)

I am surprised that I'm still able to (and still desire to) knit! I'm halfway through a scarf, but I ran out of yarn, so now I'm working on thick wool socks for me. It's been cold and won't be warming to a warm temp for several months still. We all are enjoying being downstairs where the sunlight (when it does come through the clouds) shines in and warms the room. The children like racing to a sunny spot whether to do their schoolwork or to just sit and be warm. They remind me of our old cats! Speaking of schoolwork, since we started again (after all the traveling and moving) they are doing well and understanding it quickly and working quickly while doing it even neater and more precise!!

I'm thinking of doing a video of the house when it's done. I think it would work better and you'd be able to see more than just a series of pictures. I haveta figure out how to put a video in, but that's still down the road...something to look forward to! It's looking great!

Ok...what else. I need to feed the children (and me-go figure) the homemade vegetable noodle soup. Maybe we'll have tuna and cheese and crackers, too! I need to make bread, but I haveta wait. That's ok, we got chips and crackers at the store, so no lack of carbs!

Here's what we had for breakfast: (serving 7)

Scrambled eggs, Refried bean and cheese burritos, oats with raisins and molasses and gingermonhoney cereal. Finally heard, "I'm soooo full!" So, gotta run and do this again and think of dinners.

Have a good, be good and good!

Ciao.

Whatcha been up to? (forget the dangling prepositions and read it as the common greeting that it is)

Well, got the computers moved and online downstairs. Hubby cleaned up the construction zone and we moved downstairs. Still moving the kitchen and misc. that is in the way. Won't be moving the bedrooms, at least not yet. It is so wonderful to see the sun and feel so much better and organize and get rid of the last of the stuff we don't use!!

Hubby started on the room upstairs and hopefully by tonight will finish framing in the room and closet. Then it's just drywall, painting, carpeting, and the final touches, oh, and the tiling. The other night I helped with stuff in the basement: too cold, too tired, but I helped! Things are really starting to pull together and looking closer to being done!

Ok, just wanted to update, not that you'd really notice. So are you gonna leave a comment already? I'm waiting. Oh, well...I enjoy having one-sided conversations, I always can give my opinions and know I am right...of course, I'm right! See, I can be my own "yes man"! :)

Ok, all you alls. I'll just get back to my busy schedule-which none of you can match!! I can think of ONLY one other homeschool mom that probably does, if not as much, more than I do! If you think you come close: LEAVE A COMMENT! Otherwise, quit your fussing like a little baby and learn from the pros!!

Toodles *worms.


*Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare

"It Came To Pass, Not To Stay"

Welcome back to a pseudo-scheduled blogging! We went back to visit family for another two weeks and go to sis-in-law's wedding! We stayed longer for to visit my dear, dear friend-well worth the wait!! I will barely mention much except to say that it was a wonderful, beautiful wedding and I was so glad to see all my family there!!!

We are doing MUCH better, Praise the Lord! Hubby was the only one who didn't get sick & played Mr. Mom for a couple of days. It was really difficult for my physical body to so sick and STILL help with the children being sick! I think I temporarily lost my sense of smell (Praise God!) for I could barely smell the shampoo! God showed himself in the fact that in my weakness He was made strong-I felt such peace through the roughest time knowing that God is bigger than whatever I go through even if it were to last a lifetime! It all started Wednesday night, no, it was the 2 older children at G'ma's the night before we left, so Monday night. I had them sick for that night and the beginning of the trip home (7.5 hrs) and they slept most of the way. Then the 4 youngest children and I "talked to Ralph on the big white phone" started Wednesday at bedtime and through the night. I don't think I slept and these past 2 mornings I've felt so good and ended up overdoing it. My body is still weak and tired, but everything else seems mostly normal!!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:1-5

What else? I guess I'm going to be busy with coming home still! I still have the luggage to put away, the laundry to catch up, the dishes to complete as well as getting on with the list of things to move!! So, once I'm good enough to handle the everyday and the children (who, Praise the Lord, are also better!) then hubby will be going down to work on the house. No more trips to interrupt the process, though it may be the summer before we actually go. Right now, I'm not upset. I'm too sick of traveling and not being home-I'm truly looking forward to preparing conscientiously to get rid of most of everything and organize/consolidate what we do move.

Ok, I think I am just starting to blab. I thought I had more to tell, maybe I'm just not 100% just yet. If you have questions-PLEASE ask, it makes it easier to write something when just the regular is going on!

Hope you have a wonderful, blessing of a day & don't forget that GOD is ALWAYS in control!!

Ciao for now.

P.S. I'll put up pics of the house as it is COMPLETED. In progress are too "busy" and you can't see much. K, later.

Coming Home

We're back from spending Thanksgiving with family! A wonderful 2.5 weeks! My 8th niece was born and we were able to see my brother's family 4 days later!! Yet another SUPER-MOM!!
I sorta climbed my oldest brother's tree with climbing holds. It was a little difficult with a straight skirt and in the dusk/dark. We were going to go climbing, but it didn't work out; maybe next time!

We're taking the weekend off and look forward to starting our tough work until it's time to go to my sis-in-law's wedding mid-January. Hubby will be working on the house and I will be going through stuff to get down to our minimum so we can move. Yes, we are selling the house and moving. This is only going to be a 6 week visit here to the Siberian-winterland and then back to visit family/wedding and on to ARIZONA!! We are soooooo very excited. So, I won't be online as much (not that I have been these past few months anyway).

While we were visiting, Hubby repaired my parent's shower. It looks like a brand new shower!
The work he did made all the work he needs to do here seem alot easier!
After we get on our schedule again I will post pics. I'm still in my PJ's and have taken all day to type this. He also tore out the carpeting in his folk's place & I guess he'll have a big list of things to do when we go back!

I decided I'm going to remake my dress from my brother's wedding for January. I'm going to take the sleeves off, make the waist fitted & put a zipper down the back to accommodate the fitting. Then I may make a shrug or shawl (probably a shawl for a wedding) to put over my shoulders since it will be January around the timberline location! I may have to do all this by hand, since my machine's cord is still outta commission, but then again, I may finally just get a new cord.

Tomorrow, I plan on folding my dozen loads of laundry & at the same time getting rid of clothes we don't wear and won't need. We are doing a lighter school, since we did a little bit of math and some reading while on vacation, that will make all my other doings easier. We will be eating lots of sweet potatoes as well...I have only one main recipe, but I will be looking up more. Maybe a soup or in combination with other vegetable soups/stews.

The children are getting used to being home and our regular rules again! Baby #6 is crawling so well and pulling up on everything, but I am truly blessed with my house (I don't know how my mom did it with a split level and 5 children!!) the only stairs have a door and everything else is open, so I can easily see everywhere while I'm doing my chores!

Well, I'm off to start something for dinner (sweet potatoes) and finish organizing so I can knit a little tonight. I started a winter headscarf while we drove home and might be able to finish it in the next couple of days. I won't be knitting much else except finishing a pair of socks, this headscarf and a short pair of wool socks for me...my feet are REALLY cold-maybe just 'cause I haven't started working, but anyway, am excited to get to work and get all these things done & try to enjoy the last bit of time we have here!!

Again, will try to put up pics for all that we are doing, so check back!! Have a productive and blessed week & don't forget to enjoy time with family and friends!!

Ciao.

Whaddaya Think?

This is our pear tree. The Lord has blessed us with these beautiful yummy pears for the second year! All this we picked today; it's supposed to frost tomorrow night! We have 2 medium buckets, an estimated 20 lbs of pears. They are huge!! Thank you Lord!

I've been knitting and designing during my "spare" time. I have just a few projects to finish & I have 3 sweaters waiting for finalization. I also discovered Annie Maloney's books. Right now I'm interested in the cable book. I haven't found these cables anywhere and they're not like all I've seen. Anyway....

Just made a cream of broccoli soup to go with the bread yesterday. When it's cooler, I enjoy baking more. It's easier to bake. It's cool and it just "feels" like cinnamon roll and coffee weather, or chili and corn bread, or even a batch of crepes as pancakes with honey or other sweet dressings.

The children are learning well. The two oldest finish Bible and Spelling this morning before b'fast, then we did a lesson in Science and they were all but jumping up and down when I finally let them get out their math. They love it, look forward to it and just eat it up!! I could just give them the workbook and let them do the lesson mostly on their own, but I need to really get with it, cover the few things I've just touched and get them rolling into the 2nd book and then let them work on their own!

I need to start requiring that #1 write in handwriting. (cursive). She prints beautifully and I think she's ready to take her creative abilities and begin illustrating.

#2 is reading everything...I need to dig out my old books and give him something more than the baby (dick and jane) that we have out! One can get sick of reading too many books about animals as well!

#3 is working with dh on his reading. Mr. Brainy( #3) will spell and read just fine if he can play a computer game! So we use it and everyone wins!!

#4 is teaching #5 her abc's, colors and shapes. Yup, that's the 3 yr old teaching the almost 2 yr old!

#6 is doing great. He's eating well, sleeping much better and is his happy self once again! He's pushing up like he's ready to crawl, but still does the roll and turn over to get to a different place. He's also talking more. He was downstairs with dh this morning and he was just saying "mamamamamamma" until dh brought him up and then he was full of satisfied giggles when he was put in my arms!! SO adorably cute and sweet!

That's all here. Full schedule and the same 'o same 'o everyday so I won't bore ya until I have something more to tell ya. Ok.

Sorry for the Rants. Please enjoy the Rave!

I apologize for not keeping to the regular and everyday. I wanted to share more, but I’m becoming one of those boring blogs-in my honest opinion. So, I’ll get back to letting everyone know what’s up here.

We are having wonderful progress in school. I’ve put the oldest two together, keeping in mind that the younger will be challenged, but not requiring as much as the older. We are just flying through Math and I have to come up with other projects to keep them in Science and History so the book may last the year. If they are able to comprehend all this (which I know they are) we’ll be finishing these books and moving to the next level.

Here’s my curriculum for this year:

Saxon Math 2 (1 teacher’s book & workbooks for each)

Rod & Staff Pattern’s of Nature 2nd grade science (teacher’s and student book each)

Rod & Staff Our Father’s World 2nd grade history (teacher’s and student book each)

Rod & Staff English Grammar (in depth, will use through senior year of studies)

KJV Bible reading & comprehension & spelling 4th grade level (each own Bible)

Watercolors for art (Crayons, Coloring Books, Blank Spiral Notebooks for free draw)

Sign Language Made Simple by Edgar D. Lawrence (A complete manual for learning sign language in sentence form)

A set of 50 single words on 25 cards

Spanish (need to start) See It & Say It in Spanish

Right now, the children are watching (for the 2nd time) Berenstein Bears in French.

I’ve been busy keeping school going and I’ve noticed that they could start reading the lesson plan to do the next subject and prepare. I use a composition book and list the date and what we covered in each subject. It was much easier than a column book or anything else.

The next two younger (#3 and #4) are great at their alphabet and hubby is teaching them to read. We found that the more time you spend with your children in an enjoyable setting, the more they learn, the more they can surprise you with what they already know! As mothers who homeschool, this is our duty, job, obligation each and every day. We have no excuse but that our children should learn and learn well!

I’ve been finishing my knitting projects. I’ve put everything on RAVELRY . It’s easier to organize since it’s set up that way. I will post at my handwork site all that I’ve placed on ravelry so you can see.

Hubby and I are working out lots and lots. He has started biking again, riding as far (and further) as we did when we biked after #2 was born. We also walk about 2 to 3 miles 5 times out of the week as long as it’s not raining too much-or should I say storming! I’m doing my exercises that I did before and after #1 was born all the way until after #2 was born. Something happened (maybe I complained, or decided to let myself become overwhelmed with my God-given duties) and I didn’t lose weight as well after #3 though I sorta-mostly worked out. After #5 was born, I rarely worked out and then stopped until after #6 was born. BIGGEST MISTAKE.

Well, I repented of my hardheartedness and unthankfulness and the Lord has blessed me!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Proverb 17:22

Though it is slow going, I’ve lost 5 lbs in the last month and I’ve gone down from a size 14 to a size 10. I still have a good 20 to 25 lbs to lose which will further my inch loss. I am glad that I measure myself and weigh myself and keep track, otherwise I would be tempted to skip days when I didn’t feel like working out!! After #2 was born I lost about 40 lbs in 2 months— I didn’t lose but 10 at the birth, so really 30 lbs, but that’s 1/2 lb every day! I was able to do 10 REGULAR push ups before I had to stretch to do 5 more. Now, I can only do 10 without even going all the way down, then I do 10 “girl” push ups (with knees bent) all the way down. These little advances encourage me to keep going!

With all this, I found yet another encouraging verse:

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” I Timothy 4:8

We are eating regular meals, since I’m not expecting, I don’t need to eat every 2 hours around the clock-duh! I’ve increase my water intake from about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon up to 1 to 1 1/2 gallons per day. Trusting God to show us what we need to every day helps with everything all day!!

Well, it’s outside time/walk time and I need to finish thawing the meat for hamburgers. I plan on making an arm roast for Thursday possibly and loads of peas with mashed or fried potatoes.

This is a cantaloupe from our garden. It was "normal" size and very yummy!! We look forward to planting more next year!

ok, sorry that's all the pics you get. I have many to download and organize, but you can always visit my handwork blog. I just posted many there, if you're interested in knitting!!

Later!

I Finally Did It!!

I wrote & published my very first free pattern!! It's for socks & I'm making a pair right now, just to be absolutely sure it's correct. Also, my husband is very pleased when I knit him socks and I have to make up for the first 3 pair that were either too big or just not quite right.

I've been trying to knit more or should I say, applying my time!

I made Pumpkin Bread (thing/stuff) for b'fast this morning. (I'll get around to fixing that error for the recipe.)

Not much else, it's considerably cooler (just around 80F with next to no humidity!) and I'm thinking of putting on socks!

Okie dokie everyone...Still working on articles for my sites as well as those patterns. Need to go for outside time right after we eat. Have a blessingsfull day!

Ciao.

Benefits of Approval

I dunno why I put that title, but I wanted to let you know that I have the moderators approval of the comments on. I was tired of checking almost all posts to see if someone left a comment. Feel free to put *private* on your post if you do not want me to post it. That's all, just some updating.

I'm going now, really I am. :)

Have a good 2nd day of the 4th of July weekend!

Ciao

**APPLAUSE!!**

Yes, thank you, thank you. No, please, no autographs. Thank you.

Thank you for that warm welcome. It's great to be back! I've missed each and every one of you! I hope that what I bring today and each day will be an encouragement and blessing!

I will start by saying that we've been busy. The first month after #6 was born was a time of healing...I found out that I could eat a raw potatoe & was better so much faster. Raw potatoes have a ton (ok, more than a cup of spinach & then some) vitamin K, which helps blood to clot, promotes healing & all the other good things I can't think of right now.

Now #6 is 3 months old and doing great. I've been T-Tapping (only the 15 min. workout) EVERYDAY!! If I don't, I have a very bad mood day, lack of energy/fatigue, nausea, etc. I can handle everyday doing all I do and more with less sleep even!! Praise the Lord!!

We've taken a break from homeschooling (#1 & #2 have lessons & #3 & #4 pretend school...I mean preschool, LOL) while dh works on the house, we get rid of junk & stuff and try to get outside everyday several times to get our vitamin D. It's hot and humid here...no flooding (except for the lake in the farmer's field), rain is making our garden look gorgeous. We have raspberries and we've already eaten all the cherries and there are pears and apples and #3 experienced the aspects of running through honeybee clover barefoot-TWICE! :)

What else. I've been knitting soooo much. I have patterns written & I need to figure how I will post them or if I'll try the A.d.o.b.e A.c.r.o.b.a.t.

I'm kinda mentally overloaded by being able to blog, so I'll leave the rest (if there's more) for another time. Need to wake #3, 4 & 5 from naps, think of dinner & do something else...it'll come to me!

I hope to hear from you soon, too!

Many blessings to you all, Mrs. C.