Home Keeping...

              Because to say chores just sounds like work! I think one of the main differences between homeschool and public schooling moms, is that we don't have several hours in a row to get a whole bunch of work, errands or what ever done. This is by far my most often asked question when I mention that I homeschool the kids. People want to know how I get anything done around the house. The truth is I just have to squeeze it in. Some days things are more tidy than others but from what I understand, that's actually normal for anyone. I do have a couple of resources that I call upon to keep things "clean-ish" and I try to leave it at that. After all, I don't want to make things more complicated then they have to be. Also, don't be afraid to enlist the short people for help. Benji thinks there is nothing more fun then running the swiffer around the house.

Picture by Susan Landor Keegin 

Time Warp Wife - Darlene is a wonderful christian gal, who shares her ideas and inspirations on how to build family bonds,  AND she also shares how to organize your home and home keeping so that it is part of the day or part of the week rather than making it a huge ordeal. She has printable cleaning calendars and shopping list/meal planners too. What's not to love?  Oh and she even has a recipe for a winning window cleaner that can be made with stuff you probably already have under the sink.


Martha Stewart Online - Martha is the quintessential homekeeper in my opinion. With her checklists, you can be spick and span before you know it. She has daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual checklists. And if that wasn't enough she has tips on how to organize just about every room in the house. Most of her ideas are reasonable afforded but some of her organizing ideas can have bit of a price tag. What I know is, she might use high end materials, but you can duplicate them for your own home with lower end materials or just some good ole imagination. I love her ideas, I just don't have her budget so I like to hit up the discount stores instead of the department store. Can my family tell the difference? Nope!

I like to keep my checklists in clear page protectors in a binder, so I can use an expo marker to mark them off as I go and then wipe them off at the end of the cycle. What do you do to keep your home tidy?

10 Things I've learned....

From Homeschooling!

I am in my third year of homeschooling and I feel like as my children have learned things, so have I. One thing I know about my self is that if I don't write something down, it goes away. So I am writing(...err typing) this list so I can remember some of those wonderful things that have been brought to my life.

• I can too be organized! I really can, just ask my husband. I am generally speaking not a person that organization comes natural to, but homeschooling has helped me become organized. It also made me realize why teachers like to pick one grade and park there a while! With all the planners and such I have learned to neaten up...now I just need to do it around the rest of my home!
• It's not to late to learn something new- I think a lot of people get hung up in the idea that you have to be a master of all subjects in order to teach or that you are too old to learn new things. It's simply not true. I can't even begin to mention the countless facts I have learned opening the book and reading alongside the kids. Did you know Paul Bunion was 6'3" and that George Washington never actually cut down that ole' cherry tree? These are just a few things I have picked up along the way.
• Learning is all around us- I used to think Charlotte Mason was a bit "laissez-faire" as compared to other teaching models but what I have learned is that before there was school, people were out discovering things for them selves. Before there were books of plants and animals, people would go out and see them and capture them with their own pen or pencil and draw, label and write of these discoveries and observations. Totally educational and doesn't cost anyone anything but time well spent. 

• Parents are teachers, and are the first teacher in each child's life- I always have to hold back a small chuckle when I hear others say they could never imagine teaching their child. I say that because they were already their child's first teacher before this subject even becomes relevant. Teaching how to eat, walk, talk and dress are very important skills first taught at home with pride. Don't think you're cut out for teaching health...well bite your tongue, because chances are you have taught your child how to brush their teeth, wash their hands and other health related lessons.

• Never say never- I really should needle point this on a pillow because anytime I say it, I find my self having to eat my words. I said I would never homeschool, so there you go. 
• There really is beauty all around when there's love at home- As the person who compiles the lessons for school, I didn't think it would be right to leave out loving one another. I'll never forget the night I laid Benji down for bed and he leaned over to me and said "Mama, Jakey is my best friend". I have to say, if that isn't beauty I don't know what is.
• All kids are gifts and all kids are special- There are two labels in the public school that make me want to climb the walls and spit nails. One is "gifted" and the other is "special ed". The reason why this is so troubling to me is the labeling that goes with the child reflects in their self esteem. In the short time my oldest was in public school, he was being pushed toward special ed, and the other kids were quick to let him know what they thought of it and not in a happy way. I really appreciate the philosophy of Dr Suzuki who says “If he or she really goes about it in earnest, anyone can cultivate ability in ten years, I believe. Even in one year, shortcomings can be changed into good points if only we set our aims high enough. Continuing for ten years, we can become outstanding indeed...There is no limit to our shortcomings. Until we die, we should spare no time or effort in changing our weaknesses to merits. To do so can be pleasant and interesting. We can become like the horse that starts last and yet outruns the field, reaching the wire first; it is the same fun.” ― Shinichi Suzuki, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education 
• Teaching and homeschooling = Crafting - My sister said I was blessed with a crafting gene. The ability wield fabric paint and cut/paste and use a hot glue gun was something I have always had since I was very young. If you take a gander at most teacher and homeschool sites, there is a fair amount of crafting going on, and I LOVE it. Some project have required more skill and inspiration than others, but that is how I find joy in all the hours I spend cutting, assembling, and laminating.

• Learning doesn't have to equal eight hours glued to a chair and desk- When I first starting schooling, my kids must have thought I was insane. I would pull out the work and we would park our bodies in chairs till it was done and I would go on and on till sun set on the afternoon. After much pain and tribulation I realized I was making way more work than needed to be done. After all, even the kids at public schools got a chance to escape to a reading nook or do some out door learning. Since then I realized that our learning can be different and that can be a good thing. We do some sit down work, but we also can do math facts while jumping on the trampoline in the backyard. After a few hours at a time, kids just need to be kids and play.
• A little faith and inspiration can really make a difference, even on crazy Mondays! -  Each year......excuse me, ....each day, I find my self needing to tweak something to make it work for our situation. With that in mind I always have a back up plan. I love those books that are on the market called For Dummies  that teach different things. What I like is how in the back of each chapter they have a section called "the least you need to know". While I feel this is served up to kids in public schools daily, I can use this for situations like when someone is sick, has a doctor appointment, we get rained out of a  science field day and so on. This is also a technique I use when we are doing a unit study and there is a low level of interest from the group. We learn the concepts and then vote on a new unit. 

Any how, I feel like homeschooling has been just as much for me as it has been for the kids. I learn new stuff and get the privilege to see my kids take their first educational steps. Something I wouldn't miss for the world.

It's been a few days.....

and I asked my self, "where does the time go?" It's been a crazy hectic couple of days for us. We came into possession of a western painted turtle and he passed away. He had a crack in his shell and it fell off and it was just too much for him and he died. The boys were ok, knowing that "sheldon" was very hurt. We are now trying to move on from this sad moment. Thankfully the boys still want a pet even with knowledge that it can potentially die.

 In other news Jacob and I went to our city hall for a rally.

We wanted to show our support for getting a space shuttle to our local city. It is a great way to inspire learning, discovery, and ingenuity and would love to have it. It was time well spent that day. Jacob got to meet all the Houston sports mascots and then we went across the street to a farmers market. The market was really cool. There was a girl who raised goats with her little sister, a man who had eggs in what seemed every color and bread of every type and more. Oh and the weather couldn't have been nicer. If you want to know more about getting a shuttle to NASA you can go to http://www.bringtheshuttlehome.com/

Oh and with out further ado, I have chosen the colors for the playroom/classroom. I had a great time looking at a lot of options and I finally chose a robin's egg blue.


I think it will bounce off of the red and white storage bins we have nicely and create a warm and still inviting room. I will also use it in the boys bedroom and get some red sheets and make their quilts my self.
               Apparently I like to be adventurous!

Let's Paint!

I am actually going to branch out from the white walls of the classroom and paint. But I am not sure which color to pick.

The possible colors are:

• Bright sunshine yellow

• grassy green

• splashy blue

I really like all three choices, so if it were your room which one of these colors would you pick?

Home Economics: Bread(white)

You don't have to be a pimple faced teen in junior high(or high school) to learn skills that will help you in at home. We made this awesome bread that took just a few ingredients and and a few steps and was delicious. I got my recipe from the February 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living. Thank you Martha, this bread is so easy and yummy and my kids get wonderful knowledge and experience from helping me make it.

The recipe:

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (two 1/4-ounce envelopes)
• 2 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees)
• 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons honey
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for bowl, pans, and brushing
• 7 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface and dusting
• 4 teaspoons coarse salt

Step 1

Sprinkle yeast over 1/2 cup water. Add 2 teaspoons honey. Whisk until yeast dissolves. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 2

Transfer to the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle or dough-hook attachment. Add butter and remaining 1 3/4 cups water and 3 tablespoons honey. Whisk flour with salt; add 3 cups to yeast. Mix on low speed until smooth.

Step 3

Add remaining 4 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing until dough comes away from sides of bowl and forms a ragged, slightly sticky ball. Butter a large bowl

Step 4

Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Shape into a ball.

Step 6

Transfer to prepared bowl; cover with plastic wrap.

Step 7

Let dough stand in a warm place until it doubles in volume (it should not spring back when pressed), about 1 hour.

Step 8

Butter two 4 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch loaf pans. Punch down dough.

Step 9

Divide in half.

Step 10

Shape 1 dough half into an 8 1/2-inch-long rectangle (about 1/2 inch thick). Fold long sides of dough in to middle, overlapping slightly. Press seam to seal. Transfer dough, seam side down, to pan. Repeat with remaining dough.

* I run a knife down the middle of mine and drizzle honey on the slit 

Step 11

Brush each loaf with butter, or dust with flour for a rustic look.

Step 12

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Drape loaves with plastic. Let stand until dough rises about 1 inch above tops of pans, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake, rotating pans after 20 minutes, until tops are golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer to wire racks. Let cool slightly; turn out loaves. Let cool completely before slicing.

Things to do with the bread:

• make toast
• make french toast
• cut thin and use to make sandwiches
• use to make bread pudding
• eat warm with butter and honey
• share a loaf with others

The New School Room

the space is set up a bit different, but so far different has been a good thing.

Here is the reading nook just outside the room




















here is the inside of the closet, off to the right is just a wooden toy box



















The new listening center



















Our dry erase board that I finally have room for



















the corner opposite the door















more views of how we are working on getting things better organized















The view by the door with the cabinet with all my manipulatives and curriculum in it



















So that's it for the room.... it still needs some work, but it always does!

So we finally became civilians again! Oh and we moved...

So my wonderful husband finally retired from the US Navy. I couldn't be more proud of him. Since he is now a civilian, that also means we can't live in base housing any longer......Long story short, we moved to be closer to my family and in an area where we can be fiscally responsible people. IT's been wonderful to be a military family, but I do feel like the adventure has really just begun. 


So we moved to a new home and have been feeling all the fun and stress that comes with it. So with out further ado,  here is the new school room.....Thank you IKEA!

decorative art for the holiday

I can't wait for the big move to be over with because I think I want to attempt this craft....anyone else a taker and going to craft with me?

I can't believe it's time already!

I want to get a head start on some fun crafts for my kids and family....need ideas? have ideas to share? Join the sharing time!

cute idea I saw on a blog......

ok,  I know...I know...so almost everything I like and do is a "knock off" or alteration of someone other person's work. It's just my job to be the word of mouth. I came upon this lovely little sign above a door way and I really liked. It is like a preview of coming attractions in my crafty world. Now I just need to work on my penmanship with a paintbrush and I will be all set!
I found it here: I am momma hear me roar