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December 8, 2009

Someone asked me to take them through a typical homeschooling day. Well, I don't think there IS such a thing as a typical homeschooling day in my house, but I'll take you through our lessons yesterday:

9:00 a.m. - breakfast (choice of cereal or 4 different kinds of Pop Tarts)
Free time after finishing breakfast
10:00 a.m. - Silent reading time (the girls can choose whatever book they like, and they have a log to write in the author's name, book title, start time, stop time, starting page, and ending page)
10:30 a.m. - Creative Writing (they have creative writing journals that they write in every day. I've slowly been trying to make the prompts more difficult. My ultimate goal is to have them be able to write an entry in French. Mwahaha!)
11:00 a.m. - Spelling/Grammar. (Yesterday I introduced 18 new vocab & spelling words, all having to do with winter. Some they rolled their eyes at [ice] and others they got upset over not spelling correctly right away [precipitation].)
11:30 a.m. - French. We've already learned numbers up to 10, the names of fruits and vegetables, colors, basic family words, and some location words (up, under, between, next to, etc). We've been working this week on words in the bathroom, and yesterday I introduced some basic Christmas-related words, plus a story about how people in France celebrate the holiday.
12:00 p.m. - lunch. Yesterday it was hot black angus roast beef sandwiches with provolone cheese, red and green apple slices (hey, gotta be festive!), and yogurt.
1:00 p.m. - Free time (the girls are encouraged to go outside and get fresh air and run around. Usually they play soccer or tag. They are also allowed to read, color, write, draw, or complete their daily chores during this time.
2:00 p.m. - History/Social Studies. Yesterday we skipped this because I didn't have anything planned out, however we did just complete a unit on Colonial America and the Revolutionary War. Next they want to look at Ancient Greece, focusing specifically on Greek Mythology. We used this extra time today to do some more French. (French is all the girls want to do most of the time.)
3:00 p.m. - Math.
4:00 p.m. - Dictation/Handwriting. We are using poetry for dictation and handwriting. So far we've used works by Christina Rossetti, William Blake, James Whitcomb Riley, Sara Teasdale, Hilda Conkling, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. We also use this time to discuss literary devices; we've already gone over personification, and yesterday we discussed simile and metaphor.
5:00 p.m. - Arts/Music/Crafts. Our art project yesterday was to use our dictation poem (The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) to create a picture of what they thought happened in the poem.
Free time until dinner at 6... then free time the rest of the day! Yay!

We also spent a little extra time yesterday (squeezed in earlier in the day, I don't remember exactly when) for the girls to work on poetry of their own. We'd already done Acrostic Poems, and today we started Haikus. The girls learned about them and then wrote their own. Pretty cool... and now you know what yesterday looked like! The schedule varies a lot, depending on how well they're paying attention and what they're feeling particularly passionate about, since they retain information better when they WANT to learn stuff. :0)

Haiku!

We are doing a unit on poetry right now, learning about all different kinds, and the literary devices used within the poetry. Today we started learning about Haikus. At first, the girls were all, "This is SO hard!" but after they completed their first Haiku, they really got the hang of it and they loved it! So I just thought I'd share their two Haikus with you. :0)

GRACIE'S HAIKUS

Snowflakes are pretty
So beautiful that they fly
Through the sky they soar.

Candy canes are sweet
Red and white, how they sparkle
So pretty and sweet.

LEXI'S HAIKUS

Butterflies are nice
Trees are very nice outside
Sunshine is outside.

Rain is making songs
Strawberries grow in the meadows
The grass is green now.

le premiere de decembre

The girls are crazy, out-of-their-minds excited! It's finally December, and in 5 days it'll be St. Nick's day. Every year on December 6th, St. Nick comes to visit and leaves ONE gift in your stocking if you've been good. Last year I think the kids got tiny books about Christmas, and the year before that they got Christmas socks. Regardless, it's a tiny thrill that helps keep them going until the actual day!

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Outside my window... frost on the grass!

I am thinking... about Christmas gifts

I am thankful for... hot water heaters!

From the kitchen... cinnamon sugar toast

I am creating... a unit study on Greek mythology

I am going... shopping on Friday... hopefully!

I am wearing... jeans & a brown tee

I am reading... online sales ads (lol)

I am hoping... that our salt dough ornaments turn out good!

I am hearing... the girls singing along with the Christmas music

Around the house ... the cat trying to "nest" in the top of my Christmas tree... grr!

One of my favorite things... paint (it can make anything look new!)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... shopping, unit planning, chillaxing on the couch with cocoa and my favorite girls to enjoy Christmas specials!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I made these last night, and we love them! The pic does not do them justice! They sparkle like diamonds on the tree!!!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - November 18, 2009

11-18-09

Outside my window... fire trucks speeding by

I am thinking... about Thanksgiving dinner

I am thankful for... spumoni ice cream!

From the kitchen... slow cooker chicken on top of noodles or mashed potatoes (I chose noodles, my husband chose mashed potatoes)

I am creating... a log sheet so the girls can record their own silent reading times

I am going... to go fold and put away laundry

I am wearing... jeans, a long sleeved coral tee, and red chucks

I am reading... the Bible

I am hoping... that it snows soon

I am hearing... sirens outside

Around the house ... the baby is finishing her ice cream, the husband is watching the telly, and the other two girls are playing their nintendo

One of my favorite things... the smell of freshly washed laundry

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... tomorrow night: NEW MOON

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Little Lamb by William Blake

We were doing poetry tonight, and thought we'd share this with y'all since it is seasonally appropriate. My oldest knew immediately what it was referring to when she heard it.

LITTLE LAMB by William Blake

Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee,
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee;
Little lamb, I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls Himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and He is mild,
He became a little child.
I a child, and thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!

Tomorrow we're doing the poem (dictation - today we did Sara Teasdale's "There Will Come Soft Rains"), and they're making lambs out of cotton balls. I just thought it was cool and thought I would share - the girls really love this poem and made me read it twice (I probably would've had to read it more if it hadn't been past bedtime!).

Wednesday, the last day of September, 2009

(Sorry I have been mia... my daughter's cat spilled Pepsi into my keyboard, frying it... so I had to wait to buy a new one!)

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK -

Outside my window... stars

I am thinking... about Criminal Minds

I am thankful for... the roof over my head, food to eat, children to love, and so much more!

From the kitchen... fish, lemon garlic veggies (broccoli/cauliflower/carrots), white shoepeg corn, and chocolate chip cookies

I am creating... nothing at the moment

I am going... to bed

I am wearing... shorts, steelers tee

I am reading... nothing at the moment

I am hoping... that this headache goes away

I am hearing... the girls whispering in their beds

Around the house ... Bratticus Kitty Catticus getting into things she ought not to

One of my favorite things... after a long, exhausting, disappointing day... the feeling you get when you finally sink into bed

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... nothing as far as I can tell

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

September 17, 2009

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - September 17, 2009

Outside my window... duck descending

I am thinking... about the new season of BONES that starts tonight! WOOOOOO!

I am thankful for... Advil and Aleve.

From the kitchen... steak, broccoli, cauliflower, & chocolate chip cookies

I am creating... a French worksheet for the girls

I am going... to bed after Bones

I am wearing... jeans and a Steelers t-shirt

I am reading... nothing right now

I am hoping... that my husband eventually comes around about the homeschooling

I am hearing... Jason watching King of the Hill in the other room

Around the house ... miscellaneous tv sounds

One of my favorite things... straws

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... no plans lol - I am pretty boring

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

September 16, 2009

Just a quick plug: If you're so inclined, please visit my homeschooling blog!

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for September 16, 2009

Outside my window... stars

I am thinking... about my stepdaughter

I am thankful for... my wonderful daughters

From the kitchen... chicken, potatoes au gratin, sugar snap peas, devil's food chocolate cake

I am creating... this post (lol)

I am going... to conner prairie in a week!

I am wearing... my comfy jammies

I am reading... nothing right now

I am hoping... that my children are getting enough out of homeschooling

I am hearing... engines outside

Around the house ... quiet... the kids are in bed

One of my favorite things... seeing clean dishes in the sink

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... church is all that I know of right now

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

September 11, 2009

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Tuesday, September 11, 2009

Outside my window... darkness (it's nearly 10 p.m.)

I am thinking... about the families still affected by 9/11

I am thankful for... my family

From the kitchen... cherry pistachio Amish friendship bread

I am creating... nothing right now - I'm about to go to bed

I am going... bed!

I am wearing... my comfy jammies

I am reading... nothing - did I mention that it was bedtime?

I am hoping... that I'll remember to do this earlier tomorrow

I am hearing... Jason watching Goodfellas in the next room

Around the house ... the smell of Pine-Sol

One of my favorite things... pizza night!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... playgroups at church tomorrow, volunteering at church tomorrow, church tomorrow, in-laws' on Sunday, and a meeting at church on Sunday night (And Sunday football! My Steelers don't play because they won last night, but still - GO STEELERS!)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

September 10, 2009

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Tuesday, September 10, 2009

Outside my window... my front yard, waiting to be mowed

I am thinking... about my stepdaughter

I am thankful for... modern conveniences!

From the kitchen... tomato soup, grilled cheese (Muenster and Mozzarella), and carrot sticks for lunch

I am creating... a Colonial fan

I am going... to sit down and rest while the girls finish their fans

I am wearing... jeans and a t-shirt

I am reading... still have Richelle Mead's VA #4 on my nightstand... have yet to get past page 2, as I am usually too tired to read when I get to bed now

I am hoping... that I stop getting headaches every morning

I am hearing... the hum of the refrigerator (dang that thing is loud!)

Around the house ... lots of scraps on my floor, since the girls are decoupaging their fans

One of my favorite things... glitter glue

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... STEELERS play tonight, so definitely watching that... and then no other plans until Saturday

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Entry for September 9, 2009

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Tuesday, September 9, 2009

Outside my window... lots of black birds in my yard

I am thinking... that I wish there were more hours in the day

I am thankful for... having enough food to feed my family well

From the kitchen... for dinner we're having garlic shrimp pasta

I am creating... handwriting folders for the girls

I am going... to go to bed early tonight

I am wearing... jeans and a burgundy t-shirt

I am reading... nothing at the moment - still have Richelle Mead's VA #4 on my nightstand

I am hoping... that my children start focusing on their handwriting and quit playing!

I am hearing... the cicadas outside

Around the house ... too many dishes in the sink, it's making me even more tired just thinking about it

One of my favorite things... bedtime (for me)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... not sure - same as yesterday, minus today's meeting

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Simple Woman's Daybook - December 5, 2009

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Saturday, December 5, 2009

Outside my window... sunshine, even though it's cold!

I am thinking... about Christmas

I am thankful for... blazing fires in fireplaces!

From the kitchen... beanee weenies!

I am creating... crafts out of toilet paper holders

I am going... to heat up some leftovers for lunch in a bit.

I am wearing... jeans, yellow tee, & my red chucks

I am reading... unit planning strategies

I am hoping... that my Dad comes to stay with us on Christmas Eve night

I am hearing... my oldest baby and my youngest baby laughing; the fire popping merrily in the other room

Around the house ... just general contentedness :0)

One of my favorite things... did I mention a roaring fire in the fireplace yet?

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... church, in-laws, relaxation

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Entry for September 8, 2009

I saw this on a fellow blogger's site and thought it was neat!

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK - Entry for Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Outside my window... the neighbors mowing their grass

I am thinking... about tomorrow's appointment at church

I am thankful for... being able to stay home with my children

From the kitchen...tacos for dinner!

I am creating... the templates for the kids to make their own Colonial fans tomorrow

I am going... to Lanesville this weekend (hopefully)

I am wearing... jeans and a white eyelet shirt

I am reading... Vampire Academy #4: Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

I am hoping... that I get to see my nephew again before he's two

I am hearing... Gracie watching Alf upstairs

Around the house ... the kitten must be on crack, running from room to room like that

One of my favorite things... construction paper (hey, it's the little things, right?)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... meeting at church, playgroup at church, homelife groups at church, volunteering at church, CHURCH

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Homeschooling - Yay!

We have had such a blast homeschooling so far! I know we're only about two weeks in, and burnout comes easily (according to other HS moms I've talked to), but right now we're going strong! I just need to find a Bible-study curriculum that fits in with where I want the kids to be. I'm using the Charlotte Mason method (no textbooks, using living books [novels & children's books] to teach. Right now we're working on a unit on Colonial America, specifically the Revolutionary War period. So far, so good... they've read the first Felicity book (American Girl), and we're reading a different one together (Emma's Journal by Marissa Moss), and we're pulling spelling and vocabulary words from that. We went to the Frazier museum two days ago, and I had a really exciting moment when Lexi ran up to an exhibit and exclaimed, "Mommy, LOOK! a REDCOAT! He's a British soldier!" :) So far they've made silhouettes, Chinese wallpaper, their own butter, and a Native American stick toss game. Today is going to be a slow day, because we're going to do some grammar worksheets - I never noticed before what difficulty they have with proper capitalization! Yikes!

If you would, please pray for my father in law. He has a very painful kidney stone, and they were going to take care of it yesterday, but he is on blood thinners so they have to wait until he's been off of his medication for a week. It must be agony to have to wait... he needs all the prayers he can get!

Taylor starts High School on Monday, so she needs some prayers, too. I think she is a touch nervous about it... sure wish she was here so we could give her reassurance, but I know she will do great! She's stronger than she thinks!

Yesterday for dinner I made baked thyme chicken with alfredo noodles and baked beans. Then for dessert I sliced up three pounds of fresh peaches and made a cobbler, complete with homemade whipped cream. It was soooo yummy!

Tonight is the Wizards of Waverly Place movie on Disney - the girls are uber excited. I promised them we'd pop some popcorn and watch it in my bedroom. Can't wait for a girls' movie night!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Bust a gut

You know, I don't really think I ever realized what that phrase meant - "bust a gut" - before I had kids. Tonight, for instance, we were sitting around the dinner table, just the three girls and I. We had bbq chicken legs for dinner. I asked my oldest to go into the kitchen and put some more sodas in the fridge for her dad (since he's at work now, they'll be cold for him when he gets home). She got up and went into the kitchen, and the baby (3 yrs old) gets down from her chair and picks up the half-eaten chicken leg from my oldest child's plate. She takes a bite, and my middle child and I start cracking up laughing. My oldest calls out from the kitchen, "What are you doing?" And the baby answers, "I'm eating your chicken!" I just love laughing until you can hardly breathe, catching your breath, and starting all over again! All laughter should be belly-shaking and breath-stealing! Don't you think? :)

Another fun thing today... I decided to homeschool the girls this year, due to many things that happened last year in their public school. We started two days ago, and are working on a unit on Colonial America. We're using the Charlotte Mason method, which so far is completely awesome. Today we did several things: we made silhouettes, just like the girl in our Colonial America book; we made & played a stick toss game that the Native Americans played; and we MADE BUTTER. How totally awesome is that? We talked about churning and how the Colonists didn't always have places nearby to buy butter in neat little tubs or sticks like we do today, so they had to make their own. We made our own butter (and buttermilk as a neat byproduct - I cook with it a lot), and the girls got a lesson in hard work. They are so proud of their butter, it's not even funny - they even called their grandparents to ask if they wanted to come taste it!

I love my kids!!!

Anyway

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

by Dr. Kent M. Keith (often falsely attributed to Mother Teresa)
The last line is not one from Dr. Keith's original Paradoxical Commandments
it seems to have been added by an anonymous source.

Oh my...

You know, I know that I tend to be overprotective of my children. And I have a mean, nasty temper. The temper thing is something I've been working on for many years (sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse), and will most likely continue to work on until the day I die. But when you combine the two - my children + my temper = bad circumstances. I love my kids, and I want them to stay kids as long as possible. Short of locking them in their rooms for the entirety of their lives, I'm not sure I can do it... but that doesn't mean I won't try. Ask anyone who really knows me, and they'll tell you that I'm the type of person who throws myself against the wall until I stick.

What does all of this have to do with anything? I'm getting there.

My daughters are all unique and possess many different individual strengths. For example, my oldest is super outgoing and social, and it takes a lot to hurt her feelings. My youngest is the comedian of the family, and is always out to get a laugh. But my middle baby? She is affectionate and shy, but is by far the most sensitive, and all it takes is a harsh look to make her cry. She is the main reason that I want to try and homeschool my children next year.

I've already said that I'm overprotective of my girls. Now you know that my middle baby is really sensitive. So when I hear someone talking to her (or my other girls) harshly, I'll be honest with you - it makes my temper rise. It burns my butter. It ticks me off. Yeah, I get REAL angry. When I hear that a boy in her class kicks her every day when they're in line, it makes me want to go to the school and teach the kid (AND the parents) a lesson. When I hear that someone calls her names because she has freckles, I want to turn them over my knee and paddle their bottom. (Ever hear the Natasha Bedingfield song "Freckles"? If not, you should give it a listen. Brilliant.) When a friend of the family makes comments to her, it makes me want to smack some sense into them.

But my daughter? She never retaliates. And I think we all know that I can learn something from her. Just like Jesus taught, she turns the other cheek. Does it hurt her feelings? Of course it does. Does she seek revenge on those who do her wrong? Never. She just doesn't see the point. And I wish to heaven that I was the same way. If someone hurts one of my babies, I am ready to go on a rampage. What I should be doing is falling to my knees and praying - not only for help with my own quick-to-anger temperament, but also for the person hurting my child. God knows that I thank Him for my daughters every single day. Nothing in this world means more to me than them, or being their mommy. I just need to open my heart a little bit more and be an example for them, instead of it being the other way around.

This blog is now being posted to Facebook too, so for those of you over on Facebook who are confused... I just discovered today that you can do that, and that is why you see old blog posts of mine showing up in the "notes" section of my profile. Sorry 'bout that. If you want to see the real blog in its entirety, go to http://4bakergirls.blogspot.com.

My youngest must be going through a growth spurt. It seems like all she's wanted to do for the last two weeks is EAT. Literally. Her day is breakfast, snack, snack, snack, lunch, snack, snack, snack, snack, snack, dinner, snack snack snack snack!!!! And she doesn't get small portions of food, either. Don't worry, she's not being overfed, and she's not getting high sugar/high fat foods, either (except for the cocoa puffs that she loves so much). I'm grateful that she now eats a pretty wide variety of foods and is relatively easy to please - now I just wish my middle child would take her lead. :(

My new best friend

This is my new best friend. It heats up to 32 oz. of liquid in less than one minute, and retails for $9.99 at Walgreens - but I got it for free. Amen.



Please ignore all the tea in the background. I told you guys I was a junkie - it's not my fault if you didn't believe me!

100 things about me.

As if y'all ever needed (or wanted, for that matter) to know this much about me... still, I haven't been a faithful blogger for a while (I tend to have waves wherein I am interested, then lose interest, then get interested again. Truth be told, I am too busy reading other peoples' blogs to keep my own up-to-date).

100. I LOVE coffee and all things coffee-flavored.
99. I am a tea junkie. Every time I go to the grocery, I buy a new box of flavored tea bags - though Earl Grey always has been, and always will be, my favorite.
98. I never wanted kids until I met my stepdaughter. Now I have 4 (including her). LOVE YOU TAYLOR!
97. When I get interested in something, I jump in with both feet.
96. I am going to attempt to homeschool my children next year.
95. I miss my mother more than words can describe.
94. I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
93. From Kindergarten to 12th grade, I wanted to be an Archaeologist. I still regret letting my mom talk me out of that.
92. I love anything to do with the Ancient Egyptian culture.
91. I love music of all kinds - from Michael Buble to Jay-Z, I have varied tastes.
90. I often feel compelled to write. Whether it's nonsense, a story, or otherwise - I love to have a pen and paper with me at all times.
89. I take an average of 40 photos per day. (NOT an exaggeration, as the DVDs full of pictures can prove)
88. Grocery shopping is my favorite kind of shopping.
87. I fear being robbed or having my home broken into.
86. I can stay in the bath tub for 2 hours or more, because I read while soaking.
85. I have serious anger issues.
84. Someday I want to go to Bluefield, WV.
83. Even though I have 4 girls, I sometimes wish I had one more, just so I could use a family name for her.
82. I have 91 framed photographs on my walls.
83. I cry at the end of Steel Magnolias every single time I watch it.
82. When I'm sick or generally not feeling well, I watch my favorite movie of all time - Breakfast at Tiffany's.
81. I hate it when people remake movies or songs.
80. I would be lost without my planner.
79. I love to plan parties.
78. I am a perpetual list-maker.
77. I love having long hair, but I hate the way hair feels on the back of my neck, so I usually keep it short.
76. I wish I had more friends.
75. I am often saddened by the fact that old friends aren't friends anymore.
74. I wish my Dad lived closer.
73. I wish I got along better with my siblings (I was not raised with them).
72. I wish my stepdaughter didn't live on another continent.
71. I would love to call my mother-in-law "Mom" but I wonder if she or her daughter would feel strange about it.
70. I love staying at home with my 3 yr old, but regret that I couldn't for my other two children.
69. I don't want my daughters to resent me the way I did my mother when I was a teenager.
68. I feel like I've done more growing up this last year than I have in a long time.
67. I want my daughters to love books and reading as much as I always have.
66. I suffer from insomnia.
65. I like SpongeBob so much that I watch it even when the kids aren't around.
64. I love shoes but hate shoe shopping because I wear such a large size.
63. I am addicted to Mario Kart on the Wii.
62. I used to smoke, but quit in 2000.
61. I am allergic to dogs.
60. I love David Boreanaz.
59. I get super upset when a movie or TV show completely ruins a book (or series of books) that I like.
58. I wish there were more Harry Potter books coming out just so the kids and I could go to the midnight release parties.
57. I once lived in Iowa for 2 months.
56. I have gone to 5 different colleges.
55. I own over 50 different bottles of nail polish.
54. If I like a specific kind of soap/lotion, I buy a lot of it in case it gets discontinued before I can get back to the store to buy more.
53. I wish my mother had taught me how to make some of her signature dishes before she passed away.
52. I love my church, but wish I had more friends there.
51. I love Audrey Hepburn movies.
50. I watch too much TV (Bones, all 3 CSIs, Criminal Minds, Crusoe, The Mentalist, Big Bang Theory, etc etc).
49. I am terrified at the possibility of my children or I contracting a disease through bug bites.
48. I have a terrible memory, and my children call me swiss cheese brain because of it.
47. I love taking family vacations.
46. I love camping and wish we did it more.
45. I am terrified of the dentist and needles of any kind.
44. I would rather give birth than spend 9 months being pregnant.
43. I have osteoarthritis in my knees, and can't climb or descend stairs very well because of it.
42. I have chronic back problems as a result from being pregnant 5 times.
41. I love purses.
40. I love pens and have a ton of them.
39. I don't like basketball because of the noise sneakers make on the court.
38. I love pro football and check NFL.com every day.
37. I like to scrapbook but rarely find the time to do it.
36. I am totally in love with my daughters, and they are the center of my world.
35. Whenever one of my kids can tell me a Bible story or verse, it makes me cry.
34. I love my mother & father in law just as though they were my own parents.
33. My sister in law is one of my best friends. So is my stepdaughter.
32. The one household chore that I loathe is doing the dishes.
31. If I had a million dollars, I would buy some land, and have 3 houses built on it - ours, my mother & father in law's, and my sister & brother in law's.
30. I hope my children learn from their parents' mistakes.
29. I love getting mail.
28. I read magazines in the check-out at the grocery, but never buy them.
27. When I get money (even as a gift), I always wind up spending it on the kids (I love to see their little faces when they get something new).
26. I wish I could go back to Florida on vacation.
25. I have come to realize that, though I would love to travel, I would never want to live anywhere else than where I am now.
24. I hate it when I take the kids to a playground and other parents don't watch their own children.
23. I can barely stand to visit the cemetery because all I can do is cry.
22. My favorite candy: Twizzlers. A close second? Peanut M & M's.
21. I don't stand up for myself to certain people, even though I know I should.
20. I hate having my picture taken.
19. I hate that the majority of my family members only get in touch with me when they want something from me.
18. I love to read & write fanfiction.
17. I love it when it rains, and love listening to it.
16. I love the snow, and sometimes wish I lived somewhere where it snows the majority of the year.
15. I could spend whole days at the zoo, or a museum, and still want to go back the next day.
14. The only good popcorn comes from a movie theater.
13. I have had the same backpack since 1995.
12. I love to drive and find peace in it (as long as it's not rush hour).
11. My favorite colors are yellow and blue.
10. I don't believe in ghosts or psychics.
9. I hate talking on the phone, except to my mother in law or stepdaughter.
8. I am constantly afraid that the people I love think poorly of me.
7. I don't always feel like I'm a very good mother.
6. I don't cry a lot, but once I start, I can't stop.
5. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone says they'll do something, and then they just don't.
4. I wish I could talk to my mother one last time.
3. I'm trying to work on a family tree to leave my children, but my family is so confusing that no one seems to be able to help me with it.
2. In the last 4 years, I have owned at least 6 different digital cameras.
1. I would love to be a professional photographer or baker.

For those not in the know -

If you haven't done so already, you MUST go visit these sites. Make sure you have a few hours to spare, though, or you might wind up neglecting your children, the housework, the yardwork, etc etc...

The Pioneer Woman | Recipes, Photography, Gardening/Decorating, Blogging, Homeschooling - you name it, she's got it! And a wickedly funny sense of humor makes everything a joy to read!

The Green Wife | I just found this site yesterday, but I am already dying to make the halter top and hair barettes that she gives instructions for!

Smitten Kitchen | Recipes. I'm really thinking about trying the one for Pickled Grapes.

Bakerella | Fabbity fab fab. She is amazing. Lots of great recipes here!

Happy Easter!

This is what happens when I have spare time and the ingredients for trouble.



No peeps were harmed in the making of these cupcakes.




Okay, a couple of them may have gotten eaten, but that's the danger they face in my home.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters

Today has not been an especially excellent day. It hasn't been bad, but it hasn't been good, either. Ever have those days? I don't feel like elaborating. Hope everyone has had an excellent week, and will have an even better weekend.

For Taylor

Another post for my stepdaughter Taylor - here's some Wicked goodness for you! <3

Stop studying strife, and learn to live the unexamined life!

So today Lexi's teacher sent home a sheet to let me know how she's doing, since she doesn't have any concerns that would need to be addressed in a parent/teacher conference. Lexi has far surpassed her goals for the end of the year already, including the fact that she reads at above a 3rd grade level! (The teacher isn't sure exactly what level she reads at, since she was taking too long testing Lexi and needed to test other students). Lexi is in 1st grade, so this is a big deal to me. :) She's just like I was when I was little - all I wanted to do was read!

This week is shaping up to be fairly boring so far, with the highlight being on Friday the 13th - I have tickets for Lexi and I to see the Louisville Ballet's production of Cinderella. She is out of her mind excited. She got a new dress, new fancy schmancy shoes, and I'm letting her borrow some of my jewelry to go with it. We're going to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory, too. I didn't get a ticket for Gracie because her ADD won't allow her to sit still long enough to watch it (she fidgeted endlessly through the Nutcracker). Lexi is fascinated by ballet, so we're all good on the attention front, at least!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! <3

Wii Fever

My kids have Wii fever. Since obtaining a Wii (and a Wii fit for me), we have gotten 4 games... and my kids are CRAZED. It's the first thing they want to do when they wake up and the last thing they want to do before they go to bed. They want to come home in the middle of the school day and play it. They are cracking me up! My 6 yr old has already FAR surpassed my highest bowling score, and is well on her way to beating my baseball pro score. My 8 yr old likes Tennis the best. I keep trying to get the kids to play Mario Kart with me, to no avail. I am greeted with cries of "Mom, you always win!" or "Mom, you need to play a different game!" AS IF, children, AS IF.

Proud Member of STEELER NATION

YES, I am a PROUD member of the Steeler Nation! I am a HUGE hardcore Pittsburgh Steelers fan - have been for many years, too. My husband and daughters are also hardcore Steelers fans. So you can imagine, after winning an exciting Superbowl last night, how frustrating it is to have to walk around today (while proudly wearing my Steelers gear) and hear people mutter under their breath "the Steelers cheated," or "Arizona's the better team," and so on and so forth. Okay, number one, if you are so proud or have such conviction in your statements, why are you mumbling? Number two, just because you say something negative about my team doesn't mean I'm going to change my mind about who I support. Number three, while I have great respect for Kurt Warner and his team, you guys who claim to be fans are acting like a bunch of crybaby jerks - do you realize what that means? Put it this way: if the Steelers had lost yesterday and I went around yelling at people in Cards gear that they cheated and/or the Steelers were robbed, what would you think of me? Still don't get it? Here it is, then, in the simplest terms: PITTSBURGH WON. Get over it.

I try to be a good sport about things, but apparently lots of people are really, really freaking sore losers. I loathe the Indianapolis Colts and BOTH Manning brothers for a myriad of reasons, but I don't go around and make veiled comments about them or their ability or inability to play. I understand that people are passionate about their teams, and passionate about football. God KNOWS I am the same way. I just don't understand why people feel the need to walk past a random stranger and say "The Cardinals are a better team." I lost my temper once and turned around and said "Yeah, that's why they're holding the Lombardy trophy right now, right? OOPS, my bad."


(Lexi's cheerleader outfit is coming tomorrow via FedEx, then I will have a pic of ALL of us)

Happy 3rd Birthday Tootie!

Monday is my baby's 3rd birthday! We're having her party Saturday, so I thought I'd make an exception to my no photo rule and share my gorgeous daughter with you.



Doesn't this sum up the excitement of a birthday party? LOL!



In the meantime, the girls have enjoyed having the week off of school (for the most part, lol), and it's given me a chance to clean up the house and spend time with them. They also got new outfits for the party...

It's been too long since I've updated, and to those who actually read this blog, I apologize! What's new with me? Not much, been reading a lot - a LOT. :) There's not a whole lot I like better than that, lol!

My Steelers are in the SuperBowl this Sunday, and I can't wait! I think we're going to go to the party that our church is holding, and I am excited!

Gracie has been cheerleading, and loving every second of it - though she swears to me that she's going to play basketball next year instead! That's okay, because Lexi says she's going to be a cheerleader next year :)

Hope everyone has a great week!

Books, books, and more books

I've started my 52 books in a year venture again already. It's taken me nearly two weeks to get back into the swing of things, but I've just finished my first book of the year (you'll notice lots of YA books on my reading lists - I read things before sending them to my stepdaughter, to make sure they're okay). I also re-read lots of books, but I don't normally include those on my list unless I've re-read them at least 3 times since the last listing. (You'll see The Mists of Avalon pop up a lot - it's one of my faves.)

Anyhoo! I hope everyone is having a great new year so far. In three weeks, my baby will be 3. I can't believe it! :(