Busy As a Bee

Merry Christmas Y'all!

2010-12-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone has had a Merry Christmas! We are happily in our beds after a full day in our PJs! We've played, eaten and laughed our hearts out this day, thankful most of all for one another, and the gift we have in Jesus Christ!

Summer Fun

2010-07-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

I post so infrequently, sorry! So here are some pics to enjoy of the kids. We've been enjoying swimming in the rivers, playing in the woods, and eating from the garden & farmers' market. <3

Lucia's First Food

2010-05-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

She's getting sooo big! Here are some pics of her first taste of avacado :)

Lucia's Baptism

2010-03-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Lucia Bella Cardinale was baptized March 14, 2010 at Providence OPC in Chilhowie, VA. Welcome to the covenant family precious daughter. We love you and pray steadfastly for your salvation in Jesus.

Three Months Old

2010-03-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Lucia is sooo sweet! She's smiling all the time and talking up a storm :) Lots of gurgles and rasberries. Mama thinks she'll be getting a tooth in the next few weeks, and she's growing like a weed. She'll grab a toy now and mouth it, and loves sitting up like a big girl. All of her siblings fawn over her and fight over who gets to hold her. Toby is especially loving and is very helpful to mom & dad. We are so blessed to have her in the family!

Our Homeschool Routine lately

2010-01-29T16:44:00.000-08:00

For those who are interested, this is our homeschool setup as of late. A loose interpretation of the Workbox Method.
Basically, the big kids have a color & tag type, and work through their boxes every school day. In their boxes they have work assignments that they can do on their own. The little kids have one box each with a few activities to keep them busy and teach them basic things like phonics, counting, handwriting, etc. There are reading times every day that we do together, and other tags for piano practice, chores, etc. I'll also include fun activities like a puzzle, outdoor activity, or online educational games to keep it from getting boring. This has been a life saver with a newborn! I know once I start working at the farmers' market again that this system will keep school going smoothly.
Here is Sophia working through a folder that has pictures of simple words and letters to spell in both lowercase & uppercase:

When they boys finish a workbox, they put the number back on this grid. It's a great visual for them and for me on how much they have left to do.
Of course, one of the beauties of homeschooling is the spontaneous learning that takes place. Yesterday we got to learn all about the Pileated Woodpecker, when a pair of them showed up in our backyard:

4th Birthday-Big Boy Jude!

2010-01-29T16:37:00.000-08:00

We had Jude's 4th birthday party today. He was so excited to have 2 of his friends over for cake and snacks. Of course, the cake had to be Thomas :) His 2 year obsession is still going strong, and he almost always has a train or two in his hands. He is such a wonderful little guy, fun-loving in every way! Definately the family comedian, dancing and singing around the house for an audience whenever possible, especially when it garners a laugh or two! He is in love with his baby sister, and can't get enough of her. This usually requires no more than 4 inches space between the two of them when she is awake! I still can't believe he's 4, it was just yesterday he was a baby! I love you so much Jude!

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

We are fully immersed in the winter season right now. Playing in the snow, sledding, and drinking hot chocolate are frequent activities! Here are pics of the kids sledding:

Of course we are enjoying Lucia, she keeps growing and is such a mellow baby! Much needed in the Cardinale household!

Lucia is 1 month old!

2010-01-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

She is wonderful, sleeping well, eating good and just such a precious blessing! Enjoying her immensly :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Although this Christmas has been bittersweet, we have enjoyed our Advent tradition, and lazy days at home with sweet visits from friends and family. My brother got a chance to come and spend some time with us, and we really loved having him & Natasha here. Of course, the day after they arrived, we had a huge snow storm that left Frank stranded and unable to get home! Being snowed in required lots of hot chocolate and board games to cure our cabin fever :) Snow forts and snowballs were built and thrown!

The kids have really enjoyed "taking care" of Lucia, and she is doing wonderfully. She is already changing....it just goes by soo fast! Having Memaw here has been a blessing, and has really helped the transition from 4 to 5. Next week we will be on our own, and begin to work out our routine with 5.

Christmas day was laid back and fun. The kids all got just 3 presents from the parents, and some others from family, and it was just the right amount. Christmas is just so fun with all the kids! We love and miss you all, and may just come to sunny FL for Christmas next year! Looking forward to 2010! Happy New Year!

Happy Newborn Days

2009-12-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

Lucia Bella-our homebirth story

2009-12-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

Well, Lucia finally decided it was time to join the family....and she wasn't wasting any time! Monday was a long, draining day for me, so I went to bed around 9:30pm. I was a little crampy the whole night, but nothing major, and slept fairly well. Then at 5am I woke up from a dream with an intense contraction. Then another came 2 minutes later....and another and another. We called the midwife at 5:15 to tell her they were coming pretty quickly, because she has an hour drive. Now keep in mind, Sophia and Jude were both about 8hr labors. All of the sudden the contractions were one on top of the other, and I knew I was in transition. I got out of the tub and to the bed, and told Frank she was coming. He tried to reassure me that she wasn't....and I quickly informed him I knew what a baby in the birth canal feels like! She was born at 5:53am, caught by her daddy before the midwife arrived! We are both recovering wonderfully, and are happy to be taken care of by daddy :) Lucia Bella Cardinale: 7lbs 11oz, 20.5". XOs!!

Bread!

2009-12-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

My Christmas purchase this year was a green apple KitchenAid Mixer....and I am in love! I just made my first loaf of bread using it and am very pleased! I've only ever made banana bread before, so this was a little daunting...but it turned out great! You can find the recipe here.

Thanksgiving Food

2009-11-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Our menu:

Pratt's Honey Ham
Sweet Rosemary Acorn Squash
Wild Rice & Sweet Corn Casserole
Flan
Chocolate Pie
Green Beans & Bacon
Mashed Potatoes
Martinelli's Sparkling Cider

For enquiring minds :) The flan was excellent, a very nice result for my first try! All of the leftovers have been eaten, and the kids loved all the dishes! A success!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

Since baby Lucia is coming any time now, we planned to pick out our Christmas tree Thanksgiving Day. It was a gorgeous day to visit the tree barn, just 2 miles from our home. Enjoy the pics, we miss everyone & hope you are all having a great holiday! There is so much to be thankful for!

Lasagna Rolls

2009-11-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to make in bulk are these Spinach Lasagna Rolls. Making 2 or 3 batches really doesn't take much longer than making one, and they are so yummy to have on a night you don't feel like making dinner! Here's my process:
Boil the noodles to al dente, strain and lay out.

While the noodles are boiling, mix Ricotta Cheese, thawed spinach, salt, pepper, 1 egg, parmesan cheese and whatever else you fancy together. I use 1 large Ricotta cheese container, and 1 package of frozen spinach, and eye the rest.

Take either a heaping spoonful, or use a scoop to put the cheese on each noodle.

Roll them up!

At this point, decide what you're keeping out for dinner, and what you would like to freeze. To freeze, place on a large tray and stick them in the freezer. About an hour later take them out and put them into a large Ziploc. This way you can make as many or as few as you'd like when it comes time to cook them. On the day you want to eat them, take the rolls out and defrost in the refrigerator that morning. That evening, arrange, throw some spaghetti sauce on the top with some mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes, until your cheese is melty and gooey and just a little crunchy on the top! Enjoy!!

Sophia Lost a Tooth!

2009-11-09T06:24:00.001-08:00

Little Bit lost her first tooth! She was so excited, after working it for a few days, when it just popped out! Here she is doing some schoolwork.

Toby's Spy Party

2009-11-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

We had a blast planning Toby's 9th birthday party. He decided on a Secret Agent/Spy theme, and boy did he get it! We started with the invitations, complete with cipher codes:
When the kids arrived there was someone waiting to usher them in...providing they had the password ;) Then they went immediately to the fingerprinting station to make their very own agent ids, receive their spy glasses and notebook with pen. (With the James Bond theme song playing in the background I must add!)
After some mingling we went outside for the obstacle course, which involved jumping jacks, a balance beam, makeshift tunnel, target practice and bomb diffusion (popping a black balloon):
Next we brought out an old suitcase with a group of spy items and let the kids look at them for 45seconds. They all had their spy notebooks issued to them at the fingerprint station. Once we took away the suitcase they had a minute to write or draw what was in the suitcase.We ended the party with a bomb....cake! The candle was a sparkler and thrilled all the boys!
When it was time for presents, Toby received a ransom letter with clues that led him to the loot. Whew! I'm tired, but it was worth it! All the boys & Toby had a great time, and we just can't believe how big he is! Happy Birthday Toby!

We're having a Girl!

2009-07-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Sophia is so excited, we are adding a girl to the Cardinale Clan! Due December 1st, we are planning a home birth. Excitement abounds!!

Summer Days

2009-07-05T06:40:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying our summer, busy as normal! Here are some pics of the kids, some from a recent trip to a friend's farm where she has 2 calves, and chickens that the kids just loved! Our temps are generally not over 90, and a couple of nights ago our low was 51! The perfect weather :)

Ballet Recital

2009-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Here is some video from Sophia's Recital:

Toby's Piano Recital

2009-06-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

Toby has been taking piano lessons, and his instructor has been customizing his lessons for play with one hand. He really enjoys it, and has taken it upon himself to practice everyday. Here is a video of his recital, playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. (Which got cut off at the end...but it still shows his skills:))

Recital Season

2009-06-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Sophia had her Lion King recital, which was adorable...and long :) She was an elephant, and thoroughly enjoyed the girly time she got every week. Ballet is definately something we'll continue to participate in.

Playing Catch Up

2009-04-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

We have been sooo super busy, I've neglected uploading pics here. I do a lot of that on Facebook...not on there? You should be ;) This is our most recent field trip to a local park, Bay's Mountain. There is a wildlife preserve there with everything from otters to wolves! The best part was the Planeterium show that Toby especially loved! He is learning about astronomy right now with: Exploring Creation through Astronomy. Much more soon!

Sophia turns 5!

2009-04-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have been incredibly lame in updating the site with family fun pics....but here are some of Sophia's birthday fun! We woke up and had chocolate chip pancakes, the birthday girl had the special plate of the day! From there we had tea in the afternoon with her best friend, Iona. The day was finished with fun time at the park, and a special dinner of her choice. My precious girl is 5!

My big 3 year old

2009-02-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

It is a little crazy that I don't have any diapers to change....

This funny boy is always happy to smile and say cheese for the camera....

Although after a while he says, "Enough mom!"

Tampa Fun '09

2009-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Tampa was tons of fun this year! The kids had lots of activities, including the NFL experience, the Florida State Fair, and lots of play dates! They had the most fun having sleepovers at their cousin Noah's house. The warm sunshine was a nice break for us, but now we're back home, eagerly awaiting the blossoms and warmth of spring! Garden plans are in full swing, and I'm working overtime on www.MamaGoesGreen.com. The kids are doing great with their schooling, and the boys are excited to start Drama classes at The Barter Theatre next week. We are extremely blessed here in VA with a simple, quiet life, although we miss all of our friends and family in FL intensely. Hope to visit again soon!

Other Christmas Festivities

2008-12-23T06:33:00.000-08:00

Making Christmas Cookies:

Making Christmas Gifts:

Here is a pic of the kids, all wearing their hats from Memaw:

We hope you are all having a great Christmas season!

Christmas Tea Tradition

2008-12-23T06:28:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite events of the Christmas season is going to Tea with Sophia. This year my mom came along:

Our Day of Rest

2008-12-14T13:09:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving Fun with the Troutmans

2008-12-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

We were so blessed to get to spend Thanksgiving with our best friends, the Troutman Family.
Lily & Sophia got along so well, and had lots of fun playing dress-up, Polly Pockets and collecting snails...you know girly stuff:) It was freezing and the trees are all dead, but that little Sage can make your heart melt when she offers you her tiny little hand while you're walking!

We had lots of fun in the park
Kids and adults alike!

We had a delicious feast, which really began in the morning with Lindsay's delicious palmiers, then she prepared a Havarti cheese appetizer and a Shrimp w/ Bacon appetizer...yum-O!

We were all a little stuffed before the Thanksgiving meal even began!

The night before Thanksgiving we got to go out, just the adults, for a fabulous evening with great conversation and good food

So Thankful for these friends! There are some friends that when they come into your life, change the course of your character for the better. These are those friends.

New Business

2008-12-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

For those we are horrible about keeping in touch with....here's our newest venture! We are doing well so far, and can't wait to see what happens with this new business. Great ideas for Christmas gifts! Check us out: MamaGoesGreen

More Snow Fun!

2008-12-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

Winter Wonderland

2008-11-21T04:39:00.000-08:00

This is a lot of snow! Last year we didn't get nearly this amount at one time! The kids are going to wake up to this white wonderland and oatmeal:)
We hope you have a wonderful day!

Guess I'm not going anywhere!

Halloween Fun

2008-11-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

This is the first year we did the costume thing, so I thought I'd share:
The kids went to the library for some candy and fun. Zane was a Ninja complete with bloody swords, Sophia was none other than a princess, Toby was Ben 10 and Jude was a pirate.

I was a loose version of Anne Boleyn:

And here are Frank & I at the end of the night....very tired as Anne Boleyn and Abe Lincoln. We had a blast, but I was soooo tired!

What's Happening? Where did the babies go?

2008-11-03T18:14:00.000-08:00

First there's this one turning 8! What's that all about?! I definately told him to stop growing....they never obey!

Then there is this one: He looks like a miniature teenager! I'm suprised the girls aren't already knocking down the door....charming, sweet, thoughtful, and wild as a hog!
Then there's this one with his sister: No diapers, talking back, telling me stories like he's a genius!

Then there is this princess: sneaky and crafty, her new obsession is http://www.noggin.com/. She plays video games on the computer. Need I remind her I use this contraption to work?!

What can I do? I can't stop them can I? I need another one.....

Date Night

2008-10-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Last night Frank & I got to go on a wonderful date to the Tavern. It is the oldest building in Abingdon, and has served as a stagecoach stop for the likes of President Andrew Jackson, and the King of France! When you walk in you see that the walls lean and the floor slopes, but it just adds to the charm! Monday night was hopping, and we were so glad we called in our reservation...or we may have been eating at McDonald's! Some of the McCain camp were sitting near us, fresh off a rally held in Abingdon earlier that afternoon. We ate delicious meals, I had the surf & turf, and Frank had the prime rib. YUM! Definately a place we will recommend to others, and a favorite now for celebration meals...this one was a late celebration for Frank's (gasp) 31st b-day. Here are some pics:

Afterwards we saw the movie Fireproof....so moving! The beginning was a little slow...(read: cheesy)...but then it picked up and the acting got quite good. It was a fresh breath of air to walk out of a movie theater encouraged and feeling thankful for your partner!
As we pulled into the driveway we stopped to admire the symphony of stars that the Lord had laid out for us. A perfect ending to a spectacular night with the love of my life!

Who says Hicks aren't into Politics!?

2008-10-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

This is a local corn maze in Bristol that we plan to go to:

Stickley Farm Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

12 weeks 'till Christmas

2008-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

I know! I can't believe it either! We have been actively trying to pare down the crazy of the holidays, and amp up the meaningful memories and traditions here at the Cardinale house. I love this post at SimpleMom.net, a great timetable to help get ready for Christmas. Some of our new traditions include:

Advent Calender and devotions together every evening
Making and bringing meals to a family once a week
One heirloom-type gift for each child, & one "this is what I want" gift each child from mom & dad
Local Christmas Tree farm, followed by hot chocolate, homemade cookies and a movie first week of December
And this year we hope to find some more opportunities to minister to others. As the children get older, hopefully this will be easier!

What kinds of traditions does your family love?

Jude says Good Morning!

2008-09-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is how the comic of the family woke me up this morning! There's nothing like this cuteness to start off your morning right!

This is Weird

2008-09-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I have just discovered StumbleUpon. If you don't know what that is, you're really missing out. It's basically a little gadget that you download onto your computer, you tell it all of your interests, and then you click the button and it "stumbles" you onto something you never knew was out there. So here are some of stumbles this week:

List of Big A*s Holes: I feel like a dummy not knowing that any of these existed....crazy what man does to get at diamonds!
The 12 year old McDonald's Hamburger. This was just put in a Tupperware, never preserved in any other way. I do believe I'll never eat at McDonald's again!

The Dollar Shirt:

Of course, these are the weird ones, there were several interesting and helpful links and blogs I found that I liked. Definately addictive, especially when you're stuck at the computer working like me!

Rhythm & Roots Festival

2008-09-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

This weekend we ventured out to the Rhythm & Roots Festival in Bristol for the first time since we moved here. On Saturday it was free for the kids & I, so we went and enjoyed music and yummy food! Bluegrass, Country, Folk & Celtic music abounded. Sweet sounds of banjos, mandolins, and sliding guitars traveled from each of the stages on State Street. We even saw someone playing a bottle! On Sunday we decided to go as a family, and as we walked up a family about to enter gave us 2 tickets that they couldn't use. Another FREE day at the festival! What a blessing! Here are some pics of the festival:

The weather was perfect, fall is in the air, and we are eagerly awaiting the leaves changing!

p.s. L-the 2nd pic is 4 u

Toby & Zane's new blog

2008-09-19T08:07:00.001-07:00

Toby & Zane wanted to start their own blog: http://www.fournarow.blogspot.com/. You will have to request permission to read it, and then I'll approve you. Have fun reading it!

Our new baby

2008-09-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not pregnant. I know a few of you out there are sighing of relief...stop it! We have this beautiful and soo sweet kitty who decided to adopt us as her new family. She is so sweet, and the kids have named her Kit. She's outside most of the time, although we do have her in some. Isn't she sweet?!

Our little Ballerina

2008-09-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Oh man is she excited about her new ballet classes! One hour every Monday for girlie pursuits without stinky boys. Let me tell you, she is thrilled! We hop next door to the library to catch up on whatever homeschooling was interrupted that week, and she flitters around like a fairy! Isn't she pretty:)

Lego Maniac

2008-09-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't this an ingenious Lego creation:

From my equally ingenious Lego Creator:

This is one handsome Lego Maniac!

This is what I love about homeschooling, I don't have to miss a beat!

On a Lighter Note...

2008-09-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

Found this poem while blog surfing. Especially funny to me, since we only have 1 bathroom!

Attention Children:
The Bathroom Door is Closed!
Author Unknown

Please do not stand here and talk, whine, or ask questions. Wait until I get out.

Yes, it is locked. I want it that way. It is not broken. I am not trapped.

I know I have left it unlocked, and even open at times since you were born, because I was afraid some horrible tragedy might occur while I was in there, but it's been 10 years and I want some PRIVACY.

Do not ask me how long I will be. I will come out when I am done.

Do not bring the phone to the bathroom door.

Do not go running back to the phone yelling: "She's in the BATHROOM!"

Do not begin to fight as soon as I go in.

Do not stick your little fingers under the door and wiggle them. This was only funny when you were two.

Do not slide pennies, Legos, or notes under the door. Even when you were
two, this got a little tiresome.

If you have followed me down the hall talking, and are still talking as you face this closed door, please turn around, walk away and wait for me in another room. I will be glad to listen to you when I am done.

Oh ... And yes, I still love you.

Mom

Passionate Plea

2008-09-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone of late is heated up in one form or another over their candidate of choice. We all have our issues that push our buttons and drive us to one side or the other. But one thing I've noticed is an issue VERY important to our future, our citizens, and our environment is being ignored. If you know me, you know I'm not going to hug a polar bear in order to save its life. I'm all for being a good steward, not an extremist. But the issue of "clean coal" is being ignored, and we are being fleeced. Here in Appalachia, the mountains are being strip mined to get at the coal that powers over 50% of the country. Imagine explosives the power of a Hiroshima bomb without the radiation, blowing up a mountain. Now imagine living in the town nearby. Millions of acres of mountains, the size of the State of Delaware have been decimated to get to the coal. Children have died, cancer has risen, and house values have gown down. This is truly an atrocity, as newsworthy and tragic as Katrina, Ike or any other natural disaster. But our news channels remain silent. I write about it, because most people have NO idea. If we did, this would have been a practice banned long ago. Read the facts here:

http://ran.org/campaigns/global_finance/resources/the_dirty_truth_about_clean_coal/
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/81731
http://www.radioopensource.org/coal-mountaintop-removal-in-appalachia/
And please watch this video:

After you get done crying, get outraged that this is happening, and tell everyone you know. Visit www.ilovemountains.org and sign the petition, and email it to your whole address book! We have to start demanding that big money stops funding coal, which can NEVER be clean, and start funding renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. Thanks for listening to my rant! I wrote more on my other blog: www.mamagoesgreen.blogspot.com

Last Garden Bounty

2008-09-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is the last bounty from the garden...our tomatoes did really well. Go figure! The thing I was worried about the most, produced the best! 3 eggplants-they look big and fat, and 2 green bell peppers. Although we got every common pest for every one of our plants, there were only a few plants that didn't give us anything. No cucumbers, or melons, and only tiny carrots. I've definately learned a thing or two though. We will be planting garlic and beans soon, and then plant a large plot next year, ready with row covers and beneficial nematodes in hand:)

Visiting Friends

2008-09-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

This was us then:

This is us now:

14 years later! My friend Michele has been in Tennessee, and we've had a fun week of visiting back and forth. She lives a glamorous life in Paris for 6 months of the year and Puerto Rico for the other half. Thankfully, her parents live a couple of hours from here, so when she visits we'll be able to get together. Her little boy Lorenzo is adorable, and had lots of fun with our bunch. We visited the Knoxville Zoo, and then headed to the Smoky Mountain National Forest and saw bears and ran some energy out.

This week Michele and Lorenzo paid us a visit, and we spent some time on the trail, riding our bikes. It was lots of fun, despite the downpour that caught us 10 minutes in! But soaking wet, we kept on riding! We even got to see a deer up close as we rode:

Maybe next time we can go to Paris for our adventures!

Once a Month Cooking

2008-08-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

The premise is easy, cook in bulk and freeze to save time, money and your sanity. So, I've done versions of this before. When I had Jude, the Troutman's gave us a gift certificate to Dinner's Done. I immediately fell in love! I brought a month's worth of DEE-licious meals home, and only spent 2 hrs working. We had root beer pulled pork, salmon, chicken, etc., NOT casseroles. I was sold! And even though it seemed pricey, I found that it was actually pretty comparable since at that time I wasn't much of a bulk shopper, and it saved us from eating out at the last minute.

Well, fast forward to rural SW VA where there is not a Dinner Done-type establishment for 60miles...(yes I checked)...and it's not in the budget! So, with school gearing up to start for us, I decided to have dinner in the freezer for a smooth transition! It was A LOT of work, but after a full day of cooking, and a full day of planning, shopping, I'm done! We just throw together a salad, or veggies from the garden/farmer's market and we've got a meal. I used these books:

Here's what's in my freezer:

Chicken Cashew stir-fry

Hawaiin Chicken (crock pot)

Basil Balsamic Pork Chops

Classic Lasagna

Shepherd's Pie

Chicken A La King

Walnut Pesto Butter/Salmon Filets

Herbed Chicken Breasts

Chicken Pot Pie

MMM! For all of these items we used as much from the farmer's market or our garden as we could. For example, we bought basil from our market for the pesto and basil pork chops. Our honey used in the hawaiin chicken and basil balsamic pork chops was local, the potatoes for the top of the shepherd's pie were local, as well as the veggies. What's for dinner tonight? Hawaiin Chicken with yummy sauce, pineapple and mandarin oranges (def. not local!) We'll serve it over rice and steamed cabbage(local). I am hoping to find someone to work with next month to do it together....anyone?

Yummy Blackberry cobbler

2008-08-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

This turned out delicious! Made with fresh blackberries from the farmer's market last week.

Our Turtle Friend

2008-08-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a little box turtle came to be our first homeschool nature study of the year! We pulled out the Comstock Handbook of Nature Study and learned all about turtles, and this turtles habitat. Pictures were drawn, habitats learned, and fun all around;)

Country Dancin'

2008-08-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago we went to a baptismal feast....basically a big country fellowship to celebrate a covenant child....and had soo much fun! Great food, and fellowship. The best part was the live Celtic music and Irish group dancing. Here's a video of Sophia and Toby trying it out....so funny!~(press pause on my music player to hear the Celtic music on the video)

Fun at the Highlands Festival

2008-08-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yummy food at the Barter Cafe

Meemaw got to come visit for a few days, yay!

DEE LISH OUS Kettle Corn, popped the old fashioned way: (can you imagine how hot this guy is?!)

Atlanta Fun

2008-08-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Atlanta, where I got to attend the Southeast Homeschool Convention with our dear friends, the Letaw family. The kids had fun at the lake and the pool with the dads while the moms went for some conference fun. Charitable debates, and lots of fun!

Goofball

2008-08-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else have a problem getting their husband to be serious for more than 2 seconds?

Daddy

2008-07-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

They sure do love him:)

Blueberries!

2008-07-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

We got the blessing of picking blueberries yesterday at a church family's home. Thanks to the Pedigo's!

P.S. I got to eat this yesterday from our garden...YUM!

Garden Views

2008-07-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

I really hope these turn into eggplants! The flea beetles got to the leaves, but not so bad, the plant has still been growing big. Crossing my fingers!

Green bell peppers, yay!
Straight neck squash!
Cute fuzzy honeydew melon
Striped Roma Heirloom Tomato

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-07-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

I always use the recipe for choc. chip cookies on the back of whatever chocolate chips were on sale. They usually turn out fairly good and yummy. Well, I decided to go online and find another recipe and try it out. I will never go back! I love a big cookie, that is chewy on the inside, and just crisp enough to hold up to some milk. This one is awesome! Big bakery style cookies, I'm thinking good enough to mail away as gifts:) Try them!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour (I only had 1 3/4 cup all purpouse, and used the other 1/4 in whole wheat)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. (I put the dough in the freezer for about 15 mins to make it firm). Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets (I used a large ice cream scoop). Cookies should be about 3 inches apart. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted (Mine were good after only 13-14 mins, set your timer for 12 and check). Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

Kingsport Fun Fest

2008-07-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

Well, for a local fun day, we decided to check out Kingsport's Family Fun Fest. People were talking about it around town, on the radio and in the newspaper, so we thought it'd be fun. Here are the medeival guys fighting for their lady:

But that's where the fun ended. I dunno if we just couldn't find the rest, or if it was just a little lame. So instead we went to Chuck E. Cheese, where there's always a Fun Fest goin' on!

Journey to the Center of The Earth

2008-07-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

We went and saw Journey to the Center of the Earth today while Daddy was working. A fun flick, the kids enjoyed it, and even Jude was saying "Uh, Oh!" There will definately be a theme park ride SOMEWHERE after this film, you can just tell!

New Curtains

2008-07-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

How I love this fabric! I had to have a lot of it, and decided the best way to enjoy it was to use it as drapes for the french doors. I'll probably use some of my leftovers for pillows on the couch. More on that later:)

Belated Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Celebrating our independence in Damascus! Great fireworks display, although the kids almost had a meltdown before it started! The loud noises and bright lights quieted them down though....go figure!

Hello! I'm a Big Boy!

2008-07-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Jude is going pee pee in the potty! I know you are all very excited to hear this news:) Soon I won't have any diapers to change for the first time in 7.5 yrs. This actually makes me a little sad:( Yes, I am weird!

Frugal Decorating!

2008-06-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am an organized person. Really. Oh....you've seen the inside of my van.....you've opened one of my drawers? Well, in my defense, you try to keep your van and drawers perfectly organized with 4 kids and a business where other people declutter into your house! Anyways, back to what I was saying....I am an organized person. It just doesn't always get done the way I'd like it to. But here is a pic of a recently finished project:

When Frank built our bookshelf, I wanted to organize my manuals, magazines and stationary in nifty magazine holders. Then I priced them. Most were around $5.99/ea and some up to $14.95! Yikes! I wanted some for homeschooling too, so I estimated 15-20 would be needed, that would be a minimum of $100 and up to $200! Organized I am, but rich I am not:) So, I did a little eBay surfing, kinda a given 'round here, and found these. The ones on now are actually a little more than I paid, but still a great deal. When they arrived, I was not so impressed with the cardboard look, so I dug through my scrap pile and started gluing! Voila! Fancy huh?! It's just a little bit of pretty that makes me a happy girl!

Things that kept us busy in Tampa- SWIMMING!

2008-06-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

We swam for our cousin Noah's Birthday party:

and for our friend Dylan's birthday party:

My Garden grew while we were gone!

2008-06-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is the view of the garden now:

My pepper blossom!

Straight Neck Squash blossom

Yummy lettuce! And lots of honeydew blossoms on the vine:

More things that kept us busy in Tampa

2008-06-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Skee Ball with the friendliest:

Video Games at Chuck E. Cheese:

Ice Cream at the Lodge with Lily, Asher, Summit and Sage:

Movies at the Lodge:

And deep philosophical conversations with Lily:

Things that kept us busy in Tampa-Papa's House

2008-06-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is the before pic of the room infamously known as the "card room". You'd imagine with such a name that guys got together and played poker together here.

Well, you'd be wrong! This is where 25 years of flea market and vending "stuff" got thrown. When you couldn't find it, more was purchased and thrown on top. Did you know that there was a couch, a chair, a dresser, a cabinet, and several bookshelves that you can't see in this picture? I honestly cannot even describe the massiveness of the mess. My sis in law Angie and I set out to tackle the project, which included sorting through the mess to salvage the sellable for ebay. This is in the process:

And this is what it finally looked like when we were done:

This is a gorgeous room, that is hard to photograph. There are two french doors that lead into the room, and lovely built ins. John is an avid trumpet player, and is utilizing this room for all of his music equipment that used to be in the living room! I bought this gorgeous couch at the thrift store in Tampa, it is made by Pottery Barn and was only $250! How I miss thrifting in the big city!
Anyways, a week of hard labor turned out the nicest room in the house. Next time we'll try to tackle the living room!

Trip to Shriner's Tampa, FL

2008-06-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

So, we've been gone for a very long time! Toby had an appointment with the Shriner's hospital down in Tampa to get fitted for a prosthesis. For any of you who don't know, Toby was born as a congenital amputee, LBE, or missing left arm below elbow. Nothing stops the kid, and he can maneuver his "little arm" precisely enough to be a master Game Boy player! But he decided he would like a prosthesis to help with bike riding balance. For now, that's all his interested in using it for, although he likes to put it on and show people. We arrived to Shriner's on June 4th, and kept ourselves busy playing Pokemon cards and making friends with the pet therapy people!
Next, Mr. Danny made a cast on Toby's little arm to begin the prosthesis mold.

He had to bend it and hold it just so while it was drying for the correct angle of the elbow bend in the prosthesis. Mr. Danny was amazing, and made us all feel like family! About 2 wks later, we got to pick up the finished product.

The prosthesis has a harness system that is secured around his other arm and on his back. It is adjusted to pinch together when he pulls the prosthesis forward. For Toby it will be a great tool, and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to go to the Shriner's Hospital. When you see your Shriner's with their fez hats asking for donations, pull out your money! They treat everyone for FREE, up until age 21! This is such a blessing for us, and I know other parents who would otherwise have a worry of money, or insurance claims, on top of the worry of getting the right treatment for your child. Hopefully we'll have pics this weekend of Toby riding his bike!

How Does your Garden Grow?

2008-05-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

We got our plants and seeds in the ground! We are awaiting the netting for the vertical frames, but are otherwise done! Now we get to learn about pests, fertilizing organically, disease and harvest! A little overwhelming, but after all that planning, once we actually planted, it seemed like it was too easy! I've got my fingers crossed!

Jonesborough Celebration of the Child

2008-05-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

We recently drove to Jonesborough, TN, the oldest town in Tennessee, and went to a little festival called the Celebration of the Child. Lots of fun activities and free candy! We went to a story telling time at the International Storytelling Center:

Every year there is a big Storytelling Festival, which is quite costly. The best storytellers from around the nation are there, telling fabulous tales. This weekend was focused on the children, and much simpler. Jonesborough is a quaint town, with lots of fun shops to browse. If you go, I suggest staying out of the all glass shop if your children happen to be with you. We had a close call!

A Day in the Life of Me...Inquiring Minds want to Know!

2008-05-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have people say to me all the time, "I don't know how you get it all done!" "What do you do all day?" "How do you do it?". Well, today I decided to write down what we did, as we did it. True life today. This is a good day on the scale of productivity, some not quite as much as this. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow too....

A Day in the Life of Me:

6:30 wake up Morning Routine
7-8 Walk (Frank wakes up with kids, breakfast and their morning routine)
8-8:30 Bible

8:30-9 Math Toby & Zane, Sophia Preschool worksheets
9-9:15 Astronomy Toby, mom checks emails, Zane free time
9:15-9:30 break time, mom on computer tasks

(Jude and Sophia playing with activities while we are doing more school)

9:30- 9:45 Zane phonics Toby independent history reading: The Columbus Story Alice Dalgliesh Narrate
9:45-10:00 Wind in the Willows Reading with mom
10-10:30 Snack & Morning Chores (Me Load of laundry, Toby load dishwasher wipe table, Zane wipe bathroom, Sophia bring toys upstairs)
10:30-11 First Language Lessons Toby & Copywork Zane too
11-11:15 Piano Practice Toby
11:15-11:30 got an eBay customer-kids played Wii Mario Kart
11:30-11:40 Phone Call with Mortgage Person
11:45-12:15 Outside play-kids Mom-schedule an eBay listing
12:15-1pm Lunch outside, play outside, clean up
1-2 Quiet Time
2-6 Leave for town to run errands (not that normal for a Wednesday, usually I get to stay home all day! This time usually spent with more quiet time, and a walk to the park or a show on TV) Paid ticket at courthouse, shipped package, went to Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal Mart, Starbucks, picked up Frank in Bristol
6-7 Home, Outside chores
7-8 Cook dinner & eat
8-8:30 bedtime ritual
And tonight I went out and bought the Wii Fit while Frank was performing said bedtime ritual. Crazy, but true. One for me, some to sell on eBay.
11:30 blog all of this
11:40 fall asleep! Usually in bed by 11....Good night!

Things that keep me from Blogging Part 2 TRAIL DAYS

2008-05-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

Trail days is soo much fun! this is our 2nd year, and I think it was more crowded than last for sure! The weather was beautiful, we started off at about 11am. By then, people were already parked up at our house, which is about 1/3 mile from the hub of the activity. All the hikers off of the AT come into town this weekend and camp out and there are lots of events going on. Thursday we were fortunate enough to attend a storytelling event with an internationally recognized Appalachian Storyteller. IT was great! The kids loved the funny tales and spooky ghost stories. On Sat morning, we enjoyed feasting in town, going to the library book sale and some face painting. We ended the revelry with the hiker's parade, throwing water balloons at all the hikers! It was really tons of fun!

Oh, and this guy.....a good friend from junior high! We haven't seen eachother for 14 years, and here he shows up in my little mountain town! We had he and is wife over for dinner, and shared stories until they were ready to head off on the trail again! They have hiked approx 250 of the 2,200 miles on the Appalachian Trail, and are planning to keep on hiking, likely through October. Good luck Millwaters!

My 6 year old!

2008-05-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Zane has had a birthday, and is now 6! No great pics of our impromptu birthday celebration, but I thought you'd enjoy these snaps of him. Our dear neighbors who have no children have this lovely tree swing and are delighted whenever we walk by, because my kids sure do love it!

Mother's Day Feast

2008-05-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

We were spoiled for Mother's Day! My mom, Frank's mom and I were served Breakfast and a Steak Dinner, prepared by my wonderful husband! Let me tell you, this dinner was good! It was a great and relaxing day, and I enjoyed sharing it with my 2 moms!

Things that keep me from Blogging Part 1

2008-05-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Trying to mix up our dirt, Square Foot Garden style, for our raised beds. Planting pics to be posted soon! On the menu are: Tomatoes, Beans, lettuce, Broccoli, Spinach, Peppers and more!

A day in Saltville

2008-05-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

We are going to be exploring our area a little more this year, and venturing out to learn more about our region's history. Our first stop was Saltville, VA. It is approximately 25 miles from Damascus, and is full of history and unique traits.

Saltville was the main source of salt during the Civil War for the Confederate Army, which made it a target for the Union forces, with 2 battles being waged here. The most fascinating thing about Saltville to me is the mascot: A wooly Mammoth.

Because of this area's salt reserves, a very diverse crowd of animals was attracted here. It created a salt marsh environment, that at spots is saltier than even the ocean! Because of this, the wooly mammoth, giant beaver, and early Native American tribes have all traveled and lived here in these mountains. Rich indeed! Many fossils have been found, as can be seen at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. We had a great day in Saltville, and will be reading some local books with the kids this week to study the history and unique nature of this area.

This giant beaver is one of the largest rodents that has ever existed....ewwww:There was even some love for our dear friends:

Mahi for dinner

2008-04-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

This was our delicious dinner last night: Macadamia Crusted Mahi. Check out the recipe, you'll love it! A very nice dinner, and mild enough for our kids. Yummy:)

Random Blog Quiz

2008-04-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

You Are a Semi-Colon

You are elegant, understated, and subtle in your communication.

You're very smart (and you know it), but you don't often showcase your brilliance.

Instead, you carefully construct your arguments, ideas, and theories â€“ until they are bulletproof.

You see your words as an expression of yourself, and you are careful not to waste them.

You friends see you as enlightened, logical, and shrewd.

(But what you're saying often goes right over their heads.)

You excel in: The Arts

You get along best with: The Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Spring is Blooming!

2008-04-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

So, since this is only my 2nd year with official "Seasons", my breath is taken away with each new bloom of Spring! I wonder if it will ever lose its majesty for me? I've been a bit obsessed with taking pictures to capture it all, enjoy!

What my husband did while I was gone

2008-04-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

Finished the deck:

Built 1 of 4 raised beds for our garden, planting starts May 10th:)
And finished my bookshelf! I love coming home to the beauty of it all:)

Me and my Bro

2008-04-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

Isn't he cute? No girlfriend....so he says! He just graduated from Fire Academy, so he had lots of free time to hang with me:)

Memaw comes from Tally to Tampa

2008-04-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

We even got a few days in Tampa with the Meems. Lots of hugs kisses, Panera and Cracker Barrel! Come up to VA soon Memaw!

Beach with the Troutmans

2008-04-14T08:16:00.001-07:00

We always forget to get a pic together, and when we do of course my hair would be all a mess! But for better or worse, she is my best friend, and we have tons of fun together! Girl's night out was a blast, Thai food to start, and a sophisticated Martini to end it! We were so blessed to stay at the Troutman beach house and swim at the Nasrallah one! Toby could've stayed in the ocean all day! Lindsay was so great to include me in her everyday life, including play dates, Bible Study and homeschool meet groups. It was a huge blessing! Can't wait to see ya'll again!

Hangin' with the Tampa Snowdens

2008-04-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

Many of our trip days were spent with our cousins Noah and Christopher, while we played, grilled, laughed and napped. The kids had so much fun, riding bikes and playing Star Wars. They even got a couple of visits from the Ice Cream Truck! Some of the best cuisine in Tampa can be eaten here! Miss ya'll!

Tampa Times

2008-04-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Whew! Now that was a fun trip! We started early on the first day and made it to the Letaw's by lunchtime. Swords and threewheelers were much more important than the peanut butter sandwiches awaiting inside! Back on the road again, we listened to some great stories on CD and headed to Tallahassee. We popped in at the Snowdens' where we had a pleasant visit. We ended the night at Memaw and Gigi's with lasagna rolls and a cozy bed. The next morning was filled with hugs and kisses, peaceful garden time and haircuts. Then we finally got on the road to Papa's house where we all fell soundly asleep! I have so many pics to share, I'll try to break up our highlights into different posts. We missed everyone in VA, especially Daddy, but we were blessed with a great drive and good attitudes! I don't think I heard a single "I gotta go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW!" at all, and nary a "Are we there yet?" Just further proof of God's love for me...seriously!

20 lbs Baby!

2008-03-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have officially lost 20lbs! Slow and steady wins the race! I had a month of no weight loss, due to all sorts of sickness and mayhem, but I'm back on track and almost halfway there:) Yippee!

Our deck is coming along!

2008-03-17T14:04:00.001-07:00

We are building a deck on the side of the house to give us direct access to the yard. We have used almost entirely salvaged wood. The posts are about 6ft when standing on the deck, and will have railing in between them. The stairs will be between the 2 posts in the very right hand corner, when looking from the door. The goal is a cozy outdoor room. Here's our progress this weekend:

Homeschool Fun

2008-03-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Today we were studying the artist Rembrandt, who practiced his technique by making faces in a mirror and drawing them. This is our version:) Here are Toby's results:

This is the book we use for our Artist Study, we love it!

What I've been doing since I've been gone...

2008-03-10T16:18:00.001-07:00

Where've you been Sara?
Well, driving to Bristol and back and polluting the environment and emptying my bank account.
Why?
Well, Frank's Honda Prelude just happened to break its timing belt, and is now good for only parts.
Yikes, what are you going to do?
Well, hopefully find a new/old car soon to save on gas and rejuvenate our bank account.

Onto happier topics, I have also been planning our trip down South. Which leads me to a question. All you who just stop by and don't ever comment, please do! Give me your top tips for being a good guest. And give them to me from your perspective as a hostess. Frank is staying here, but we will be traveling to Atlanta, Brunswick and Tampa and staying with gracious family members and friends who are like family. What should a guest do to make sure they are a blessing, not a burden? Thanks for your help!

They Are Growing!

2008-02-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

First there's Zane...building up a storm with his Legos. He just reaches in the bucket and comes down with some very inventive creations. Like this: And this:Not to mention that he is officially reading full sentences and spelling some 3 letter words. Granted, they are sentences he'll likely never encounter again until teaching his children phonics. For example: The fat bat sat on a cat. Nonetheless, a sentence! He'll be 6 in just 2 months!
Then there is this kid....the one who is the most like myself! Stubborn, strong-willed, voracious reader, outspoken...you get the idea. He is constantly telling me his math isn't hard enough. I have him solving for x,(9+x=13) and he's bored! He is full of his own ideas and opinions, and is an absolute joy to be around. Oh, did I mention that he is doing the dishes for me now:)

This little miss is soon to turn 4, and she is speaking so much clearer now that she's been in Speech Therapy for a couple of months. She is learning her vowels right now, and doing quite well. When I am busy helping the boys start school, she reminds me: "Mom, we do our letters?"

And this Baby Jude is not such a baby anymore! He is the comedian, and is always doing some funny dance, sound or face to make his brothers laugh. Then when we are out, he does the shy eyes to anyone willing to look his way. What a heartbreaker!

When I am up to my eyeballs in laundry, sick with an ear infection, and trying to answer a client's phone call, even then, it is so worth it to stop it all and get a slobbery kiss from one of these guys!

Organization Update- I'M MAKING PROGRESS!

2008-02-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we definately made a major dent in the office and shed, but still have some loose ends to tie up. You see, most of the chaos is the result of OTHER people's things being in my space! We have a few tubs left to be picked up by various clients, and we will be good to go! We gave away 2 tarp areas full of STUFF on freecycle, and shipped out some pretty big items which helped tremendously! I think we are going to get rid of the glass display case in the picture, and repaint the office. We also have some faux wood blinds to replace our broken mini blinds. Color ideas anyone? I really love this color, but it makes all my pics turn orangy. I'd love to replace the fan/lightfixture....maybe when I sell the glass case, we can use the proceeds for a new fan. Now that the shelving is out of here, I need to figure out what to do on that other wall. Another desk perhaps? Seating? Help! I'll update hopefully next week with more pics....we're supposed to be building the deck this weekend. Pray for us!

You can see the floor!

My Week of Misery

2008-02-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

I had the most AWFUL Ear Infection this week. I have no idea where it came from, considering I was not sick at all. But infected it was, and my eardrum actually ruptured. No more discharge, but I still can't hear much from the ear. I feel like I am an old woman...Speak into my good ear! Hopefully it will continue to heal, and my hearing will be restored. Let me tell ya, birthing my babies without pain meds was 10x more bearable than the horrid pain that is an ear infection!

A Whole Lotta Love!

2008-02-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

I gotta tell ya, this week has been great! Besides my horrible and VERY painful ear infection, I happened to receive 2 packages in the mail with YUMMY and EXCITING goodies! The first was a purse that my sis-in-law Liz made for me! I am in LOVE with this purse! It is the perfect shape, size and colors for me.....THANKS LIZ! I also received my fabric order from iwantfabric.com. My mind is swirling with creative ideas!

Last, but certainly not least, was my Love Swap package. Thanks Missy for hosting this, and thanks Poulsen Family for sending this! I received Lavender bath gel from Bath & Body Works, a Cooling Eye Mask, some CUTE mini note cards, a Princess crown which Sophia is ever so glad to model, CANDY...which didn't last long enough to take a pic of...., and a CD copy of Roald Dahl's audio collection. I am so pleased with this swap, especially that audio collection! I am a sucker for Fantastic Mr. Fox! Sure brightened up my miserably painful week! Thanks gals!

Clean Sweep-The attempt to Organize my Life

2008-02-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

Okay. I can do this. deep breath. type. confess. I am an organized person stuck in the Twighlight Zone of disorganization! It seems that the more I try to organize lately=the more stuff that comes out=more disorganization. This book just came out: Does this clutter make my butt look fat?

Every attempt I am trying to make my life fuller and better is being thwarted by the clutter. This book has a great message. Basically, you get stuck in the chaos and cannot lose weight, do business or have productivity in your home. We are putting a stop to that today. Clean Sweep style! We've pulled out the tarps and are getting to business with the organization. Here are my before pics....

I will post my after pics soon!

P.S. After we did the Clean Sweep I got my ear infection, so the project got put on hold in a major way. I'll have pics for you this week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little bro and my sis in law! Jan/Feb are packed with familial birthdays, and so far I've been belated for all of them :( SORRY! I am thinking of all of you!

Our Valentine's Day here was quite lovely, we finally got to see Juno, and I cried like a baby! A really authentic movie, with an AWESOME sound track! A good change of pace from most movies.

I also got the funniest card for Frank. Seriously, it had him laughing till he cried! I will warn you, if a child who can read is looking over your shoulder, don't let them read, it is "adult". But I just couldn't resist sharing!

Maybe we are super corny, and just plain dorks, but we were thoroughly tickled with this one, and I hope you all get a good laugh!

Works for Me Wednesday

2008-02-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

So I have finally given in and comitted to waking up early in the mornings to get things prepared for the day. WHAT a difference! You hear it in so many books, from so many experts, but until you do it for yourself, you cannot fully grasp how much better/smoother your day goes when you wake up early. This worked great last week:

6am Bible Study/Morning Routine(includes brush teeth, etc.)

6:45 am lay out items for homeschool

7-8am Walk 4 miles

8am Breakfast & Cleanup

8:30-11 School

11-12 to do list

12 lunch and cleanup

You get the gist...

The kids have strict orders that they must put their clothes on(laid out the night before), make their beds and have their room tidied before they are allowed downstairs for breakfast. We have early risers, so this keeps them at bay until around 8am. I feel so much more prepared for school after I have had some time to myself and walked in the morning. My heart and mind are prepared to be focused on my children and being productive with our days.

It works for me! This week Works for Me Wednesday WFMW is being hosted by Don't Try this at Home.