Friday, September 16, 2011

Scissors practice

Why are all practice pages lines - be them straight, zig-zag or wavy, most everything I found to help JJ with cutting was LINES.

I was thankful to find this site which had shapes. Not only does it have SHAPES, but it also allowed you to print out large, medium or small shapes! So I can give him different sizes different days and he thinks they are all new and different. At least for now. :D

Sunday, July 31, 2011

ugh ugh ugh

So I have decided that I might try to keep up this blog again. I miss being able to search for the great sites that I find to recall them back again. I just hated how much time blogging took away from my family. But I am realizing how blogging helped my family. It helped me organize my ideas and thoughts. It encouraged me to follow through with things I shared on here about what I wanted to do. And it was a great collection to look back on of how my family was growing and changing.

So we will try it. I felt pressured before to post every day, and I am not going to do that this time. This time, I am going to post as I feel the need. That could be several times a day, or it could be once a month.

And again, as always, prayerfully what I share will be of use to someone.

Blessings, Paula

Friday, January 21, 2011

WOWZERS!

Part of me REALLY REALLY wants to keep up with a blog. I love being able to find things that were important to me, or that I really want to do with the kids, but not at this time.

The other part of me just doesn't have the time. Now that the kids are older, I just spend most of my time with them going from one homeschool activity to another (be it just everyday school we do here, or outside the house activities).

I do search my blog often when I want to find something. I am thankful at those times that I did take the time not only to put it on here but to share it with others.

And I love reading blogs. But the rabbit hole I fall through each time takes so much of my time away from my family.

I have been learning a lot lately about A Thomas Jefferson Education style of teaching. I love the idea of using classics and books to teach. A lot like Charlotte Mason, but not just learning on living books. CLASSICS.

I had never thought about CLASSICS before. But knowing that there is a reason they are still around after all these years and that reason is one of the best examples of life and speech and writing to me and my kids has been eye opening. We have found a local store that sells a lot of classics ($4 hardbacks and $2 for paperbacks). Collecting and reading these classics to the kids has been wonderful.

On top of that, we have been buying Lamplighter books. These are expensive, but so worth it. (I must mention here that I always wait for sales on these books and get them 50-75% off, and even then, they are more expensive than I would pay but so totally worth it). These books have been great in encouraging my children in moral and Christian behavior. Knowing that just because you are a Christian, life will not always be easy and smell like roses. But when the trials do come (and sometimes that means death), that God is always there and with Him we can do all things.

I am pretty sure that I have no followers anymore. Most every one has given up hope of me ever posting on my blog again. And for the most part, they are right. I still share on my FB page (if you do want to be FB friends, leave a comment which will NOT be posted and share your FB name - please be advised that if you do not leave a REAL name, but something like "Homeschooling8", I will need more data to know who you are because I am NOT giving out my real name to just anyone, as I am sure most of you know, understand and respect) quite a few links. Like the following one about Mommy School - a TJEd term. This is a GREAT example and I love it! I prolly could only do this once or twice a month with the amount of detail they go into. :D But WOW!! :D What a great thing they got going there! :D

Anyways, with that, I say that the future posts on here will be few and far between. Only when I come across a gem (like the Mommy School above) that I want to be able to remember and access that I will be posting on this blog.

I thank any of those of you who have followed me. You have made me feel loved and special. And to those of you who are new, prayerfully you will find lots of great links and info here that will bless you as you be a mommy to your littles.

Monday, October 11, 2010

bits & pieces: october 11, 2010

Playful Pumpkins
These are too cute!!! Use your left over fabric to sew up some cute little pumpkins to decorate for autumn/fall.

Dress Shirt To Apron Tutorial
While these are mostly for little kids, check out the link and BEAUTIFUL apron at the END of the post for a most cute one for Mommy! :D

Games!
A list of great games for you and hubby!

Hell's Best Kept Secret
I had never thought about evangelizing this way before. I did not read the article, but just watched the movie. It is about half way down.

Monday, October 4, 2010

bits & pieces: october 4, 2010

Apron from Tablecloth Tutorial
This is the MOST ADORABLE thing I have seen. And now a use for those round tablecloths with all these square tables we have in our house! :D

Obsessively Stitching
Isn't that a cute name for a blog?? Check out all the free tutorials on this site! :D

Progress
Check out how she organized her sewing room! SO CUTE! And so practical! I need to do this! Maybe THEN I would start sewing more! :D I really need to sew more!

Old Days Old Ways
Oh I just LOVE the name of this blog!

Tent Week
Different tents you can make for SO CHEAP! I think my favs are the ones made from twin sheets! SO GLAD I saved some of those now! I was going to use them for making night dresses out of for the girls, but these look so much more FUN!! :D

bits & pieces: october 4, 2010

Apron from Tablecloth Tutorial
This is the MOST ADORABLE thing I have seen. And now a use for those round tablecloths with all these square tables we have in our house! :D

Obsessively Stitching
Isn't that a cute name for a blog?? Check out all the free tutorials on this site! :D

Progress
Check out how she organized her sewing room! SO CUTE! And so practical! I need to do this! Maybe THEN I would start sewing more! :D I really need to sew more!

Old Days Old Ways
Oh I just LOVE the name of this blog!

Tent Week
Different tents you can make for SO CHEAP! I think my favs are the ones made from twin sheets! SO GLAD I saved some of those now! I was going to use them for making night dresses out of for the girls, but these look so much more FUN!! :D

Monday, September 13, 2010

bits & pieces: september 13, 2010

Dill PIckles
I have always wanted to try my hand at these and the picture on this post made me choose THIS recipe first! :D

Caramel Sauce
I don't think this would harden enough on an apple (although who knows) BUT why not make this into a fondue?!?! Dip into the caramel and then dip into a topping of choice (chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc.). Of course the toppings would defeat the fact that the recipe is actually a HEALTHY version of Caramel Sauce! :D

Creamsicles
Oh this looks so good!!! :D :D :D What a fun breakfast! :D

Anti-Flammartory Seasonings
Seasonings to use when cooking to help reduce inflammation! :D

Poultry Dry Brine
We have never done a dry brine before (we always do it the Alton Brown way!) but this looks like a good alternative if you don't have days ahead to brine. I know Thanksgiving is a ways off, but I am sticking this in my REMEMBER ME folder! :D

Monday, August 23, 2010

bits & pieces: august 23, 2010

20 Things to do This Summer
GREAT list of fun activities. One which we just picked up - geocaching!! :D

Be Out There
I learned about this site via Simple Modern Mom and had to share it. Some GREAT ideas!

A Challenge That Will Make You...
LAUGH! And I did when I read this. Why? Because I was JUST talking to a Created book study group I am a part of about the importance of laughing with your spouse. :D My favorite times are in bed with my husband after the lights are out and the kids are sleeping and we are both delirious from lack of sleep and EVERY THING seems so funny. We laugh and laugh literally for hours. It is GREAT! Like super glue that bonds us together. :D

Gardens at Dusk Tank Tutorial
This is so beautiful and elegant!