Today's deals!!

Just thought I would share the deals I found today...

This morning I got an e-mail with a deal enclosed... It was for Darling Shoes... I bought 16 pair.. Some for my kidlets, some for nephews for gifts, and others to save for baby showers... and spent less than $20... shipping almost cost as much as the shoes... I love deals like these...

Then the kidlets and I went and had lunch with DH today. We ate at Zaxby's and spent a whopping $8 for the 4 of us... We had coupons for a "FREE MEAL DEAL"  for both DH and I which you can get here. The kidlets like to eat there because they get "WIKKI STIX".  These are wonderful if you have never used them before... The kidlets make all kinds of neat things with them... DD uses them when we work on letters and DS makes whatever is in his mind at the time...

After lunch, we went by CVS so I could get the kidlets some soap... I got 2 bars of Johnson's Easy Grip Bath BUDDIES bar soap for free... I printed off 2 coupons for a $1 off of 1 here. and at CVS, they are $0.99 a bar... And while we were at CVS, I thought I would see if they had anything left from Christmas...

I lucked out again... I found a "Talking Dora" doll which had been $19.99 for $4.79... I'll be saving this for DD's birthday in Feburary... and then I found some paint by number kits for $0.99 each and a couple of melamine Christmas plates for the kids to eat on during the holidays for $0.25 each...

Today has definitely been a frugal paradise for me... a great way to start out my New Year!!!

 

12 questions...family insight

I was reading some blogs this morning and I came across these questions on one and thought I would ask them of my own kidlets... These are the answers I got from them...*LOL* 

• Why did God make mothers?
  1. So there would be more life on earth (7yo)

             2. so the children would have parents (4yo)

• How did God make mothers?
  1. with his powers (7yo)

              2. he made you as a baby and then you growed up and was a mommy to us (4yo)

• What ingredients are mothers made of?
  1. dust in the air, love, cartilage (7yo) (my abstract thinker)

              2. vitamins, blood, bones (4yo)

• Why did God give you your mother & not some other mom?
  1. because that is the one he wanted me to have (7yo)

              2. 'cause you wanted us (4yo)

• What kind of little girl was your mom?
  1. fun and nice (7yo)

             2. a good girl and you didn't pick up your toys (4yo)

• What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
  1. needed to know what he was like (7yo)

              2. need to know if he has a job (4yo)

• Why did your mom marry your dad?
  1. because they loved each other (7yo)

              2. because you were in love (4yo)

• Who's the boss at your house?
  1. our mom and sometimes our dad (7yo)

              2. you at home when daddy's not home (4yo)

• What's the difference between moms & dads?

             1. Momma cleans and Daddy works (7yo)

             2. Daddy makes a mess and mommy cleans it up (4yo)

• What does your mom do in her spare time?

             1. Spend time with us (7yo)

            2. do work on her new 'puter (4yo)

• What would it take to make your mom perfect?
  1. Nothing. I would like her just how she would be (7yo)

              2. Having us (me and Tommy) (4yo)

 

• If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
  1. for mommy to stop biting her nails (7yo)

             2. change your haircolor (Gee... I'm not sure what color she would want..*L*) (4yo)

So, I see my resolutions for the New Year should include, to stop biting my nails an color my hair... I am sure I can get that done...*L*

Fun at the Movies...

                                         

Today since it was raining out and nasty,  we decided to go to the movies... (which we don't do often because a movie around here is $8.25 for an adult ticket)... anyway, the BEE Movie was playing at one of the West End theaters for $2 a person... So we loaded up and went... It was great... It was funny and educational also... and Scholastic has a unit to go with it...

You can check it out here. Anyway, it will give the kidlets something to do this weekend while I am at work and let DH have the opportunity to "help" them with school...

So if you have the opportunity, check out the BEE Movie...It is "G" rated and extremely funny...

p.s. One more little gripe, what about the price of popcorn and a drink at the movies?... *L*

December crafts...

This month we have made some fun crafts.. here is the list of what we have gotten done so far...

1. Made beaded pipe cleaner ornaments.

2. Made finger-painted snowman ornaments.   

                                

3. Candy cane reindeer.

4. The Grinch toilet paper roll puppets from here.

5. Our Gingerbread house.  

6. Applesauce - cinnamon ornaments. Smelled totally yummy!!!  DS had to take his shirt off to keep from getting it all over him..*L*  

Karate testing...

This are some pictures from the kidlets recent Karate test... DS was testing for a "green stripe" belt and DD was testing for an "orange stripe" belt...

It was so much fun getting to watch them... Their group is called the "Little Dragons" ... 

Wordless Wednesday...

        

Christmas Morning!!!

What can I say??? We have had another wonderful Christmas... So many blessings to be thankful for this year...

Last night after we got home from our Christmas Eve party, we started our traditional Christmas routine..the kids opened their one gift (which is always new jammies) and then we had hot chocolate and got out the cookies and milk for Santa and the carrots and apples for the reindeer...then DH sat down with the kids in his lap and read "The Night before Christmas" to them... They were so excited, I was afraid they wouldn't sleep...

Then this morning, they woke up fairly early, around 8am... and woke me up... (pout, I was sleeping really well too)...

We opened gifts and had so much fun just seeing what everyone had gotten for each other.. and this year DS made little gadgets for all of us from DH's workshop... he had spent lots of afternoons out there piddling and playing and came up with some cute little "nuts and bolt" animals for each of us... I made my mother, DH, and MIL a scrapbook mug from Starbucks (thanks to Melissa C. for the idea) which was a real hit!!! 

DD got some new ballet clothes which she wore on and off throughout the day and DS built Lego masterpieces all afternoon...

A wonderful holiday spent with family in the warmth of our home.. on Christmas day...where there was lots of eating and lots of wrapping paper flying in all directions...

 

Christmas Eve Party...

On Christmas Eve, we always spend it with family... This year our get-together was at my sister's in-laws...This year we had a special guest - SANTA!!!   Here are some pictures to share of the fun we had...  

 

Princess gets her ears pierced...

Yes, I let her do it... My DD has been wanting to get her ears pierced... and finally DH and I decided to go ahead and do it... afterall, I got mine pierced when I was about the same age and have loved it ever since...

So here is a photo diary of the experience... After the initial shock and pain, she was really very happy and showed them to everyone we met at the mall afterwards...   

 

Our Christmas Trees...

 

Frustration in child rearing...

Yes!!! The good Lord knows... It has been one of those days...

First, I let the kidlets sleep in... I figured they were probably exhausted and needed the rest, because we have been on the go lately with the holidays and things to see and do while celebrating the Christmas season...

Then we had a HS friend and her kids over for a playdate... My kids were terrors!!!

I mean totally terrible!!! My son who is 7yo and normally easy-going and fairly well behaved was mean, smart mouthed, and just a bad boy... My 4yo who is a typical little girl whined much more than usual and cried for what seemed like most of the day...

I was embarrassed by their behavior and felt terrible for our guest whose children were behaving ... I just was at my wits end ...

So, after they had left... I put my kids in the school room and made them write sentences about their behavior and then we discussed the behavior and the consequences... I also discussed with this being so close to Christmas, how bad behavior can wreck havoc on future presents and priviledges through the holidays...

I think I am going to check out the book "Creative Correction" by Lisa Whelchel from the library... I tried to read it a while back but never got finished with it, as something always seemed to come up...

If anyone has any ideas for how to deal with days like this, please share them!!!

Thanks for Listening!!

 

9 years together...

Today is our anniversary.. We have been married 9 years today... I can honestly say that I feel I have found the one man that was made for me... We have a lot of differences, (the Good Lord knows), but we are able to work them out and from our union, we have the 2 most precious gifts from God... I look forward to spending the rest of my life with my wonderful husband, who learned how to mop while I was pregnant to make things easier for me, who puts up with all my pet-peeves, and who works hard everyday so that I can be at home with out children and have the blessing to watch them grow up...

God has given me a wonderful gift in my husband and I truly thank him everyday for the blessing of the wonderful man I call not only my husband but my best friend...

 

Ornament exchange...

Last night I went to an ornament exchange at a friends house... I had such a great time... We had "delicious" sweets and the best rum cake ever!!!

The ornament I got was a snowman made from a lightbulb.. It was the cutest!!!  The kids loved it when we got home, so we are gonna try and make them a couple for their bedroom trees this weekend...

Check out how to make them here  and here.

Merry Christmas!!!

What's cookin' at our house this week...

 

Monday

• Loaded fries with chili and cheese


• Iced tea


• Sugar cookies

Tuesday

• Sphagetti  (easy meal as we're going to the Nativity Pageant)


• Cheesy Garlic Bread


• Salad

Wednesday

• Tomato Soup (church night)


• Grilled Cheese sandwiches

Thursday

• Crispy Oven Fried Chicken


• Mashed Potatoes


• Biscuits


• Cream-style corn


• Iced Tea

Friday

• DH is off today and we have plans to spend it out and about enjoying the holiday season... 

Christmas Party with the Boy Scouts

DS had his Boy Scout Christmas Party this week... He was so excited..

They had pizza, desserts, drinks and of course candy... All the good stuff loaded with sugar to keep him up for hours afterwards talking about all the fun... He was so excited to get a pinewood racer from his troop leader... He had read about them in his "Boys Life" magazine and was pestering DH to take him to a hobby shop to get a kit... so he was thrilled...

They all took a present to exchange and then they played a Christmas game where they could trade if they wanted to... Well, I was pleased that he did trade, because the first gift he got was a "WWE" action figure... Of course, he didn't even know who it was since we don't watch that on TV... but DH and myself were relieved that he decided to trade that when another little boy wanted it..

So, he ended up coming home with a bag of sweets, his pinewood racer, and a air-gun that shoots foam darts.. (BEWARE DD, I'm afraid you will be a target..*L*)

 

School for us this week...

We are taking it easier this month because of the holidays and I want the kids to have the opportunity to enjoy the season and really appreciate what it is really a celebration of...

We are going to be finishing up "The Quiltmakers Gift"... we started it last week and the kids have really enjoyed reading it...

We are doing some "Gingerbread" math... I have a website that will generate math worksheets with the Gingerbread theme... We are playing a really cool game where we roll dice and based on what we roll, we draw parts of a Gingerbread Man... The kids are loving it... It's actually math that my 4yo and 7yo can do together... I just use 2 die instead of 1 for 7yoDS and let him add them...

We are working on the continents for my 4yo... and just reviewing them with my 7yo..

We are reviewing "stars" for science... And discussing the North Star... and the Northern Lights.. We  are reading a great book called "Children of the North Lights"" (I was amazed when I looked this book to buy becuase my kids love it, over $300 US)... and Norway, Sweden, and Scandanavia...

We are learning some Christmas related vocabulary words and doing our regular spelling list this week...

DD is doing some cut / paste activities with plants and animals...

and then we are gonna play the rest of the week by ear.. (like baking cookies, having a playdate, and just snuggling and reading books together)

Happy Learning!!

What's cookin' this week at our house...

Monday: Left-over BBQ pork (from the freezer) sandwiches, oven fries, (tonight's the Boy Scout Christmas Party)

Tuesday: Beef Stew in the slow cooker,  homemade yeast rolls, iced tea

Wednesday: Beef Stew (strained and served over rice) , Texas Toast, iced tea (choir practice)

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner... Homemade waffles, eggs, bacon, and mint chocolate-chip ice cream for dessert... (the kids favorite meal now)

Friday: out for dinner

New Contest: The 12 Blogs of Christmas!!

This is a fun contest that I found on a blog by "TnMom with 3 kids" ...

The prize is a $50 gift certificate to the Homeschool EStore

The contest runs from Dec.10th - Dec.21st... and the winner will be announced on Dec. 23rd...

Here are the "getting to know you better" questions with my answers...

1. How many children do you have / homeschool? 2


2. How long have you been homeschooling? 3 yrs.


3. Have they always been homeschooled, or did they ever go to public/private school? only home


4. Do you plan on homeschooling until graduation? I would love to, but we take it one year at a time


5. Do you belong to a co-op? yes... CHEF co-op


6. Do you school all year long, or use some other schedule? we school all year and that way we can take off as neccessary


7. Do you use textbooks only, or do you like to supplement with other materials? both, we are sorta ecclectic in our methods


8. Are field trips included in your school plans, or are they just family time? definitely!!! That's the best part about homeschooling... not missing a great opportunity to travel or see something new!!


9. Do you and your kids do crafty stuff together for school time? Oh yes!! The kids favorite thing to do!!


10. Would you consider everyday household life stuff ‘home ec’? I consider those life skills!!


11. Do you have any advice for new homeschoolers? Just be patient, pray, and enjoy the time together!!!


12. Do you have advice for homeschoolers with little ones under foot? Again the same... Enjoy them, they grow up fast and have fun playing!!! Take time to play!!

Now, head on over to the Homeschoolestore and check out New Learning Publishing, they’re 20% off until Dec 31!

GOOD LUCK and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

 

The Living Christmas Tree

Last night we went to a performance of the "The Living Christmas Tree" at  Thompson Boling Arena... It was incredible... I think there wasn't a dry eye in the whole arena at certain points of the performance... I know DD and DS both enjoyed it and actually sat quietly and paid close attention to the different scenes through the life of Jesus...

It covered the hustle and bistle of the holiday season and how we should not forget the purpose of the holiday which happens  to so many today... The focus of the story of course was the birth of Jesus, moments in his life, the "Last Supper" and then events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ... Also included was his many miracles like healing the blind to see and raising Lazurus...

It was wonderful and the music / singing was exceptional... I would hope that anyone in the East Tennessee area would take advantage of the "free" opportunity to see this production next year...

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Party

 

Tonight was DH's Christmas Party at work...Good Food, Good Fellowship, and PRESENTS!!!

Santa made a surprise trip all the way from the North Pole and brought all the kids some toys..

We had a wonderful time!!

Merry Christmas!!

A.M.S.E. class (ROBOMANIA)

Today we went to the A.M.S.E. for a homeschool class on robotics...

It was really informative... It was taught on the K-3 level and the kids got alot out of it...

They learned the qualities a machine must have to be considered robotic, and the uses / reasons for them in todays world...

Then they got to the best part and that was "PLAYING" with them... They got use a robotic "hand/arm", several remote control vehicles, a robotic spider, and the best one was the Robosapien... DS absolutely loved that one..

 

Your name in Grinch!!

This morning as I was checking my mail, I was emailed a site where you can get your name in "Grinch" ...I thought it would be fun to do so here it goes...

"WOEFULMONSTER RASCALFOOT"

if you would like to try it yourself for a laugh, check it out here ...

Have a great day and Merry Christmas!!!

Contest from Harmony Art Mom...

Harmony Art Mom is running a "comment contest" on her blog this month... You can check it out here...

She has wonderful ideas on art / music studies...The kidlets and I have used lots of her ideas...

So check it out and Happy Learning!!!

 

Personality test...

I saw this quiz on another blog and decided to take it to "find" out my personality... I was really hoping for "organized"...*LOL*  (those of you who know me personally, know that organized is far from the truth)..*LOL*

and if you would like to take it yourself, you can here...

Happy Learning!!

Chocolate Chunk waffles...

Well, it is safe to say that home-made waffles have become the kids favorite breakfast.. Definitely worth the $15 investment for the waffle iron...

This morning I had a request for "chocolate chip" waffles (as DS described them, "like the Waffle House has")... now that could be tough to live up to...

Well, first of all, I had no chocolate chips, but 2 mini-Hershey bars left over from Halloween took care of that...

Here is the recipe I used... (it's actually my pancake recipe, just altered a little)

• 2 eggs


• 2/3 cup milk


• 1/4 cup melted butter


• 1tsp. vanilla ( I eyeball it)


• 1 1/3 c. flour


• dash salt (another eyeball measurement)


• 2 tsp. baking powder


• 1 tsp. sugar

I beat the eggs then add the milk, butter and vanilla into them... then I add the dry ingredients and mix well... then I add then crushed Hershey bars... (using a hammer on the candy bars awas certainly a stress reliever)... *L*

then cook in waffle iron and serve warm with syrup... YUMMY!!! 

and then EAT them!!!

 

November Zoo Homeschool Classes

This month we have been studing Astronomy in our homeschool class at the zoo...

All month we have been looking at the universe and its various parts... The kidlets have learned the names of the planets and their position and relationship to the sun...(even my 4yo DD can recite the planets in order from the sun)... They have learned all about the different types of stars and each ones relative life span and make-up... they know what is in the rings surrounding several planets and why certain planets appear certain colors... They talked about the different types of galaxies and what "lives" in each, black holes and why Pluto is no longer a planet... They even discussed the Space Shuttle...

and to end a great month in Astronomy, we are having a "Star Gazing" at the zoo on Thursday evening..

Boy Scout Experiment

DS is in the Boy Scouts and at last nights meeting of the wolves, they did this experiment... They were learning about "chemical reactions"... it's a pretty good one and I thought I would share it with you...

Items Needed:

• balloon


• empty, dry, 2 liter bottle


• baking soda


• vinegar


• tissue 

How-To's:

Fill the 2-liter bottle about 1/3 with vinegar. Place several tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon. Stretch the mouth of the balloon to cover the mouth of the bottle. Pull the balloon up so that all the baking sodainside falls into the bottle and watch the balloon get full of air... (you can even place a rubber band around the neck of the balloon / bottle to hold it in place)... Balloon will inflate from exhaust created from baking soda and vinegar...

DS couldn't wait to come home and do it again for me and DD...

Our completed Thanksgiving Lapbook...

Here are some pics of our Thanksgiving Lapbook... We also completed the Spice Maps and some worksheets but there was just too much stuff to put in to one little book... I think next time we will use several folders...*L* And we ran out of room to put a pocket for our Pilgrim paperdolls...So we fixed a folder for all the extra stuff... It was a great month and the kids really enjoyed it... They also decided they were glad they were not Pilgrims after we read about the lives of Pilgrim children...  

 

And here are the books we used for this months study....

Our Thanksgiving Unit

Here are some of the crafts and things we have done for our study of Thanksgiving...

DD's Turkey made with feathers and a pine cone beak... DS's Wampanoag village complete with a wetu... and the kidlets playing with their Pilgrim paperdolls... and the "walnut"  Mayflowers we made...(they actually floated)... 

 

I am so excited!!!

I am so excited... I can't contain it...

I am now the proud owner of a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer!!!  A dear friend of mine had been able to get 2 of them during the Black Friday sale at Kohl's... So I now have one of mine own... I can't wait to start using it... The mixer I had been using was a stand mixer that had belonged to my grandmother who had used it for 50 years... it was still in good shape, but I really wanted to save it for sentimental reasons... So now, I have one of my very own...

i am so excited...I have been up this morning looking at new recipes to use it in...

 

My first attempt at making waffles...

During our Black Friday shopping, I got a waffle maker...

I decided to make the kidlets home-made waffles this morning for breakfast... It didn't do too bad...

I did make a slight mess when I put a little too much batter in it though and it came out the sides while cooking... *L*

But all in all, they were pretty tasty...

What's cookin' at our house this week...

Monday: Popcorn chicken (from freezer), french fries, spinach salad, iced tea 

Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce (home-made), yeast rolls, iced tea 

Wednesday: Meatloaf (Emeril's recipe), mashed potatoes, veggie from freezer, and I am gonna make a new cake for dessert... (Paula Dean's "Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake)... YUMMY!!!!

Thursday: Beef stew in clow cooker (co-op day), corn muffins, iced tea

Friday: Inside - Out Bacon Cheese Burgers on kaiser rolls and oven home fries

155,000 Clicks Give-Away Celebration

 Homeschooling Momma of 4 has lots of great things going on at her blog.. So stop by and check it out...

155,000 Clicks Giveaway Celebration!

*This post will remain at the top until the end of the contest. In honor of her blog receiving over 155,000 page views,   Homeschoolingmommaof4 has decided to give away a $20 giftcard and a $10 giftcard to CurrClick (formerly known as Homeschool EStore).

 

Good Luck and Have a Great Weekend!!

A great unit on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

I was just fooling around on the internet tonight and found this  "How the Grinch Stols Christmas" unit...I think my kids and I will give it a try this month... and check out her blog here.. She has some great posts on lessons and plans and misc. units... (like the senses, teeth, food pyramid, and misc. holidays)...

Have a great evening!!

Black Friday....

Today was Black Friday... and yes, my DH and I did our part to help our the economy...*L*

We did find some great buys for Christmas, (I got a $15 waffle maker, WOO-HOO)but more than anything it is an annual time for us to go and just have fun watching the madness of the holiday season... My MIL comes and stays with us for Thanksgiving, so we don't even have to wake the kids as she is there to watch them...

We get to go out, have morning coffee together, do a little shopping, a lot of people watching, and then grab breakfast (this morning we ate at Cracker Barrel, YUMMY!)...

And we enjoy it and look forward to it every year...

Did you find some good buys this year? Let me know what was on your list for today?

My Random Thoughts...

Something I wanted to share...

I recently had a Usborne Book party at my house and one of the book marks that my representative gave me had this written on it...

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

By: Diane Loomans

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!

 

What's cookin' this week at our house...

 

This week is Thanksgiving week, so we are taking it light... *L*

• 
  
  Monday : Scrambled Eggs with polish sausage and mushrooms
  
  


• 
  
  Tuesday : Taco Soup with Flour Tortilla chips, Lemonade
  
  


• 
  
  Wednesday : Sandwiches before church
  
  


• 
  
  Thursday : TURKEY DAY!!
  
  


• 
  
  Friday : Left-over from Turkey Day and snacks with hot chocolate...(YUMMY) 
  
  

Turkey Day Menu : Smoked Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Beans. Stuffing, Yeast Rolls, Iced Tea, Pumpkin Roll and Apple Pie... YUMMY!!!

Our first time playing the CVS game...

I have been reading about for some time the great savings to be had by shopping at CVS and using the "extra bucks" system...But I had never taken the time to actually try it myself..

So today, I sent by my husband (on his way in from work)  with the list, the coupons and the CVS card..

Here is how we did....

I only bought items that we as a family would use...(and yes, I love my soda)...

So here goes the breakdown...

2 Hersheys Chocolates 2/$5 ($3 extra bucks)

2 Colgate toothpaste $1.99 each ($1 off 2 coupon)

2 Ocean Spray Cranberry sauce $!.29 ea. (B1G1F)

Palmolive Dishwashing liquid $1.49  ($1 extra bicks)

2 Dimetapp Cough  $4.99 each ($1.50 coupon x 2 and $5 in extra bucks)

plus we had a $2 off a $10 purchase coupon from CVS

then we used the extra bucks we just made and bought 4 - 12pk of Cokes (4 / $12) and also had another $2 0ff $10 CVS coupon...

 

We bought in $35.03 items before taxes and paid $9.45 out of pocket... and have $3 extra bucks for our next purchases... Not too bad for our first attempt...

If you would like to check out more on this, check out CVS 101 : www.moneysavingmom.com/2007/09/cvs-101.html