I look at them today. All three standing tall.
I see so much of me while they drive me up a wall.
We have our good days and we have our bad.
They make me mad and sometimes sad.
But most of the time they make me smile.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sweet Kisses...
Every morning I wake up. I put a load of clothes on to wash just before I go to bed and usually get up in the middle of the night and put them in the dryer so they are fresh out of the dryer for my son and my husband. Want them looking and smelling fresh for work and school after all. I get everyones stuff together and make my rounds. Wake up my oldest first, because he takes the longest to get up and get dressed. Wake my husband and he usually wakes our middle son and gets him ready. I leave the baby for last and get him up and going after I have gotten myself dressed and ready to start my day.
We then pile into the car and take daddy to work. My oldest gets out of the back seat after we drop daddy off and on his way around the car he stops to give me a hug and a kiss since he won't be able to do so before he gets out of the car at school. My husband then stops and gives me a hug and a kiss before he goes into the shop. We drop my oldest off at school and head back home. As I am getting my other two out of the car they both come up to me and give me a hug and sweet little kisses.
By the time bedtime comes back around I have already received numerous sweet little hugs and kisses from my younger two, my husband and yes even my 8 year old son. What makes these hugs and kisses so sweet is the fact that I don't have to ask for them. They are given freely.
When I am sad I am given a hug and a kiss.
When a tear runs down my face from happiness or stress I am given a hug and a kiss.
When I give a gift I receive a hug and a kiss.
When I fix dinner and hand out plates I am given a hug and a kiss.
When I am just simply sitting here blogging I am given a hug and a kiss.
There is no end to the Sweetness I receive from my men and I count every single one as a blessing. These are the things that keep me going every day.
We then pile into the car and take daddy to work. My oldest gets out of the back seat after we drop daddy off and on his way around the car he stops to give me a hug and a kiss since he won't be able to do so before he gets out of the car at school. My husband then stops and gives me a hug and a kiss before he goes into the shop. We drop my oldest off at school and head back home. As I am getting my other two out of the car they both come up to me and give me a hug and sweet little kisses.
By the time bedtime comes back around I have already received numerous sweet little hugs and kisses from my younger two, my husband and yes even my 8 year old son. What makes these hugs and kisses so sweet is the fact that I don't have to ask for them. They are given freely.
When I am sad I am given a hug and a kiss.
When a tear runs down my face from happiness or stress I am given a hug and a kiss.
When I give a gift I receive a hug and a kiss.
When I fix dinner and hand out plates I am given a hug and a kiss.
When I am just simply sitting here blogging I am given a hug and a kiss.
There is no end to the Sweetness I receive from my men and I count every single one as a blessing. These are the things that keep me going every day.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Merry Freakin' Christmas...
This holiday has not turned out the way I wish it would have. I have been trying to be in the Christmas spirit. Have been trying to remember the reason for the season. I have had my ups and my downs this year during the holidays, but who doesn't. Money is always a factor of stress in our home. Money has gone to being one of the last things on my mind as of yesterday afternoon. Right now I could careless if we went broke, because all I can think about is the words the doctor spoke. "We are doing surgery on January 28th. We might be looking at removing his entire left kidney."
Surgery alone on your child is scary enough, but to hear they might have to remove one of your child's organs. This is extremely scary and honestly I have held back my tears as long as I could. I can't hold them back any longer. Nightmares have started of what could happen. Worry and fear is starting to set in. It is so hard to be a parent and be strong for your child. I would love to know those with the secret to how they stay so cool under pressure.
How am I supposed to sit and be happy this Christmas knowing in a little over a month my baby boy is going to be cut open and possibly come home in lack of one organ? How am I suppose to enjoy the little joys of life with my kids this holiday? I want to smile and be happy with them. I want to do fun Christmas related things, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking about "surgery" and "removing kidney". Then I choke back and try as hard as I can to hold back my tears. Everything happens for a reason. However I am still trying to figure out the reason for all of this happening. I guess just another one of life's test.
Surgery alone on your child is scary enough, but to hear they might have to remove one of your child's organs. This is extremely scary and honestly I have held back my tears as long as I could. I can't hold them back any longer. Nightmares have started of what could happen. Worry and fear is starting to set in. It is so hard to be a parent and be strong for your child. I would love to know those with the secret to how they stay so cool under pressure.
How am I supposed to sit and be happy this Christmas knowing in a little over a month my baby boy is going to be cut open and possibly come home in lack of one organ? How am I suppose to enjoy the little joys of life with my kids this holiday? I want to smile and be happy with them. I want to do fun Christmas related things, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking about "surgery" and "removing kidney". Then I choke back and try as hard as I can to hold back my tears. Everything happens for a reason. However I am still trying to figure out the reason for all of this happening. I guess just another one of life's test.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
These pictures say it all...
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Is It Naptime Yet?
I have had one long week! Emotional roller coaster as well too. With the stuff in our area going on it has brought up bad memories of bad people resulting in some sleepless nights and some nights of nightmares and horrible sleep. For those who know me they know I end up with a short fuse and very cranky when I am extremely tired and have a list of things I need to be doing, but I am too tired to drag myself to do them. Maybe today will be the day I get to get a small nap in even though it is one of those days that I have a list of things to do.
On another note. We think our oldest son may have ADD. We noticed since he was younger that he had concentration issues. We wanted to wait and see to make sure it wasn't just his age. He would slip off into la la land very easily and could be looking at you when your talking, but not even tell you what you just said to him. He gets this blank stare in his eyes basically. Well he started public school last year and he done very well in school except like his DOLs, but he still made honor roll every report card. His teacher last year also was a lot more fun than his teacher this year. He told me his teacher this year is kind of boring and it's hard to pay attention to her. This is causing my child to get distracted during the test that he is having to do. He has brought home two Fs now 2 weeks in a row. My husband talked to him and told him he needs to stop doing anything and try to pay attention best he can when he is in class. When he stops fidgeting and is still and looks at you attentively he can tell you word for word what you just said.
Some people have thought I am jumping the gun on this to say ADD, but I know the signs and have dealt personally with ADHD. I have had ADHD with diagnoses since I was a baby. My mother said I had problems sleeping when I was a baby. I still do to this day have issues with insomnia sometimes or with sleeping soundly and restfully. My husband thinks just because I am passed out and snoring that I am not having problems sleeping. I keep trying to explain to him no it's not that I am not sleeping it is that I am not resting. How do you explain to someone that because your brain is going 90 to nothing you aren't getting a peaceful sleep no matter if you are passed out all night long? I get so frustrated and confused trying to explain anything to him. He takes things the wrong way or he reads into stuff I say. He takes what he wants out of what is said and tosses the pain part to the side more or less. What's bad like last night he had just got done talking to our son about distractions and what he can do to try and pay attention better yet I tell him I didn't hear something, because I had a distraction (my 3 year old son) causing me to not pay attention. It's not hard for me to space. I can do it from 0 - 60 in 1.1 seconds. One minute I could be looking at you listening next my mind is off on a cruise.
On another note. We might still get to be a busy family together. They are still trying to establish a Cub Scout pack for the area my son goes to school. The lady who had originally said she can volunteer as the pack leader is now possibly backing out. My husband talked to me last night and I told him what I talked to BSA about and he said he will volunteer to be pack leader if I help him with it. I had originally said if no one else will do it I will do that and be den leader to the 2nd and 3rd graders until someone can do pack leader. Yes I am the type of person who will volunteer for anything and everything and stretch myself if it is something that helps kids out. I love kids and love working around them. I use to babysit everyones kids since I was 15. I of course had other jobs growing up, but that was one I loved. I worked for a family the lady was an older grandma aged lady who was blind. Her and her husband had a 5 year old they had adopted from fostering. I sat with them during the day while her husband was at work. I was home schooled at the time so it gave me something good to do with my time and I learned a lot. I would volunteer for the things that the moms would go to the school to help with so she wasn't left out on having someone there with her for these things.
One of my fondest memories was going to her school with her and helping the kids make sock puppets. I had a huge box of different craft things like strings of beads, googly eyes and so forth and these children let their imaginations go. It was awesome to be a part of that. I took my lunch with me in my old lunch box from when I was in grade school and sat with them and had lunch. I was probably 16 years old at this time. I road the bus to school and back home with her every day that week. It was a lot of fun. I even went out and had recess with all of the kids. lol I volunteered to work the school carnival. I sold tickets. The ladies had to make me take a break and go have fun. I got bored instead got something to eat and went and sat on the playground and watched everyone doing the games and stuff. I wanted to do something productive. That is who I am. I use to volunteer for my church's youth ministries. I worked on their newsletter. I participated in all of the youth group's activities. I worked on their website and took the pictures of everything for the website. I stopped doing all of this and stopped going to this church because in my time of need no one was there for me except for our preacher.
My great grandmother was in the hospital dying and me and my mom were there with her taking care of her. This whole time only one person asked where I was after it was already announced in church that our family needed prayers and why. When someone asked about me however I was referred to as that girl. Out of the 3 months I had been greatly active in that church working with this person's wife with things for the youth ministries I got called that girl "whatshername". When I did come back to church one time (and the last time) I had brought my now husband with me. At the time we were just friends, because we had just met. We had talked for a few weeks online and then met face to face the day before. He had told me he wanted to go with me to church when I decided I was ready to go back after all of the stuff that had been going on the weeks prior. I came into church and everyone was being nosy. They wanted to know who my husband was. Did he have family in the area. Where was he from and where did he live now. I even got asked is this your boyfriend, are you guys dating and so are we to expect him coming with you more often or all the time to church. My preacher was the only person who did not try to pry into my personal life. I introduced my husband to him and he shook his hand and told him he was pleased to meet him and have him in our church. I have not been back since.
I am actually looking forward to Cub Scouts and greatly hope they do get the pack established. I can wait for it to happen. It would be cool if my husband does end up volunteering to be the pack leader, because then we all will be doing it as a family. Family time is good time. We need to do more as a family after the year we have had last year. We were getting closer as a family and my hubby was doing more with the kids, but then Summer set in and stress set in with a few life problems. Now we are almost back to square one. It is time to put the brakes on that train wreck waiting to happen. We think more family time will help us all out more. It will give us that time to relax more and have fun. With the busy lives we live now with the baby's medical stuff, my oldest son's schooling, my middle son's home schooling and my husband work we get to going in all kinds of directions. We have one vehicle so in the mornings we have to get up early to leave here and have enough time to drop my husband off at work and me get my oldest to school on time. Two days out of the week I take my youngest for speech. I take advantage of that 30 minutes and me and my middle son do some practice on writing letters and/or numbers. Yesterday he practiced writing his A's and X's. He even wrote his name for me and 1 - 5. It gives him something to do instead of just sitting in an empty room that looks like a jail cell it's so plain.
Today however I just have to work on my kitchen and do usual household stuff, before I wander my way to my son's school to pick him up this evening. I think I might try to sneak in a nap somewhere in between. :)
On another note. We think our oldest son may have ADD. We noticed since he was younger that he had concentration issues. We wanted to wait and see to make sure it wasn't just his age. He would slip off into la la land very easily and could be looking at you when your talking, but not even tell you what you just said to him. He gets this blank stare in his eyes basically. Well he started public school last year and he done very well in school except like his DOLs, but he still made honor roll every report card. His teacher last year also was a lot more fun than his teacher this year. He told me his teacher this year is kind of boring and it's hard to pay attention to her. This is causing my child to get distracted during the test that he is having to do. He has brought home two Fs now 2 weeks in a row. My husband talked to him and told him he needs to stop doing anything and try to pay attention best he can when he is in class. When he stops fidgeting and is still and looks at you attentively he can tell you word for word what you just said.
Some people have thought I am jumping the gun on this to say ADD, but I know the signs and have dealt personally with ADHD. I have had ADHD with diagnoses since I was a baby. My mother said I had problems sleeping when I was a baby. I still do to this day have issues with insomnia sometimes or with sleeping soundly and restfully. My husband thinks just because I am passed out and snoring that I am not having problems sleeping. I keep trying to explain to him no it's not that I am not sleeping it is that I am not resting. How do you explain to someone that because your brain is going 90 to nothing you aren't getting a peaceful sleep no matter if you are passed out all night long? I get so frustrated and confused trying to explain anything to him. He takes things the wrong way or he reads into stuff I say. He takes what he wants out of what is said and tosses the pain part to the side more or less. What's bad like last night he had just got done talking to our son about distractions and what he can do to try and pay attention better yet I tell him I didn't hear something, because I had a distraction (my 3 year old son) causing me to not pay attention. It's not hard for me to space. I can do it from 0 - 60 in 1.1 seconds. One minute I could be looking at you listening next my mind is off on a cruise.
On another note. We might still get to be a busy family together. They are still trying to establish a Cub Scout pack for the area my son goes to school. The lady who had originally said she can volunteer as the pack leader is now possibly backing out. My husband talked to me last night and I told him what I talked to BSA about and he said he will volunteer to be pack leader if I help him with it. I had originally said if no one else will do it I will do that and be den leader to the 2nd and 3rd graders until someone can do pack leader. Yes I am the type of person who will volunteer for anything and everything and stretch myself if it is something that helps kids out. I love kids and love working around them. I use to babysit everyones kids since I was 15. I of course had other jobs growing up, but that was one I loved. I worked for a family the lady was an older grandma aged lady who was blind. Her and her husband had a 5 year old they had adopted from fostering. I sat with them during the day while her husband was at work. I was home schooled at the time so it gave me something good to do with my time and I learned a lot. I would volunteer for the things that the moms would go to the school to help with so she wasn't left out on having someone there with her for these things.
One of my fondest memories was going to her school with her and helping the kids make sock puppets. I had a huge box of different craft things like strings of beads, googly eyes and so forth and these children let their imaginations go. It was awesome to be a part of that. I took my lunch with me in my old lunch box from when I was in grade school and sat with them and had lunch. I was probably 16 years old at this time. I road the bus to school and back home with her every day that week. It was a lot of fun. I even went out and had recess with all of the kids. lol I volunteered to work the school carnival. I sold tickets. The ladies had to make me take a break and go have fun. I got bored instead got something to eat and went and sat on the playground and watched everyone doing the games and stuff. I wanted to do something productive. That is who I am. I use to volunteer for my church's youth ministries. I worked on their newsletter. I participated in all of the youth group's activities. I worked on their website and took the pictures of everything for the website. I stopped doing all of this and stopped going to this church because in my time of need no one was there for me except for our preacher.
My great grandmother was in the hospital dying and me and my mom were there with her taking care of her. This whole time only one person asked where I was after it was already announced in church that our family needed prayers and why. When someone asked about me however I was referred to as that girl. Out of the 3 months I had been greatly active in that church working with this person's wife with things for the youth ministries I got called that girl "whatshername". When I did come back to church one time (and the last time) I had brought my now husband with me. At the time we were just friends, because we had just met. We had talked for a few weeks online and then met face to face the day before. He had told me he wanted to go with me to church when I decided I was ready to go back after all of the stuff that had been going on the weeks prior. I came into church and everyone was being nosy. They wanted to know who my husband was. Did he have family in the area. Where was he from and where did he live now. I even got asked is this your boyfriend, are you guys dating and so are we to expect him coming with you more often or all the time to church. My preacher was the only person who did not try to pry into my personal life. I introduced my husband to him and he shook his hand and told him he was pleased to meet him and have him in our church. I have not been back since.
I am actually looking forward to Cub Scouts and greatly hope they do get the pack established. I can wait for it to happen. It would be cool if my husband does end up volunteering to be the pack leader, because then we all will be doing it as a family. Family time is good time. We need to do more as a family after the year we have had last year. We were getting closer as a family and my hubby was doing more with the kids, but then Summer set in and stress set in with a few life problems. Now we are almost back to square one. It is time to put the brakes on that train wreck waiting to happen. We think more family time will help us all out more. It will give us that time to relax more and have fun. With the busy lives we live now with the baby's medical stuff, my oldest son's schooling, my middle son's home schooling and my husband work we get to going in all kinds of directions. We have one vehicle so in the mornings we have to get up early to leave here and have enough time to drop my husband off at work and me get my oldest to school on time. Two days out of the week I take my youngest for speech. I take advantage of that 30 minutes and me and my middle son do some practice on writing letters and/or numbers. Yesterday he practiced writing his A's and X's. He even wrote his name for me and 1 - 5. It gives him something to do instead of just sitting in an empty room that looks like a jail cell it's so plain.
Today however I just have to work on my kitchen and do usual household stuff, before I wander my way to my son's school to pick him up this evening. I think I might try to sneak in a nap somewhere in between. :)
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday has tripped on top of me!
It is Friday! YAY! Sad however this Friday for a high school in the neighboring parish. I just seen online via my Facebook that the school was placed on lockdown. One person stated that a child murdered his parents and possibly others. The newspaper states a student committed violence on his family and then threatened a student which a threat of the nature causes the school to go on lockdown and the authorities to be called and come in. Yet people wonder why a lot of families are starting to turn to home schooling. This is a small area. Big school due to the out of city limits children being sent here (and soon to be more kids going due to them being in that parish and a small town school being closed down). What is wrong with everything these days? The worst that would happen at school back in the day was a fist fight. Yea meet me out under the tree I am going to break your nose for looking at my girl type of thing. Now it has come to people dying and these kids having access to the weapons to cause it!
On a plus side. It's pay day! YAY! My husband is going to invest in a new prepaid phone. He has the Motorola iClutch I believe it is. It totally sucks and I am glad they had no more when he went in to buy our phones. They only had a blackberry as a matter of fact so that's how I ended up with my blackberry (through boost mobile... Awesome phone, but service coverage could be a bit better.)He is going to get him a LG Rumor Touch and is totally excited, because he can now do Facebook on his phone. That and he will be able to do IM through yahoo and aol if he wants from his phone. He will also be able to surf the web via the Opera Mini browser. If it turns out to be a good phone I might have to trade in my Blackberry for one just so we are on the same prepaid service. But then again I may not. My Blackberry has really grown on me. :)
On a plus side. It's pay day! YAY! My husband is going to invest in a new prepaid phone. He has the Motorola iClutch I believe it is. It totally sucks and I am glad they had no more when he went in to buy our phones. They only had a blackberry as a matter of fact so that's how I ended up with my blackberry (through boost mobile... Awesome phone, but service coverage could be a bit better.)He is going to get him a LG Rumor Touch and is totally excited, because he can now do Facebook on his phone. That and he will be able to do IM through yahoo and aol if he wants from his phone. He will also be able to surf the web via the Opera Mini browser. If it turns out to be a good phone I might have to trade in my Blackberry for one just so we are on the same prepaid service. But then again I may not. My Blackberry has really grown on me. :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Internet is full of babies here lately!
I have seen friends from FB to Twitter post up about their new arrivals being born recently to seeing post about "Yay, I'm Pregnant"... This is always amazing! It is everywhere also it seems. Even my friends from the July 2007 BabyFit group have already had another and some are pregnant now or again for the second time since. I got my tubes tied after having my baby boy. One kids cost a lot! My baby was born with a cleft lip and palate and it would not be fair to a baby to have their attention stolen due to more attention, because of medical appointments, surgeries and such. However my choice to get my tubes tied has not changed my mind to wanting to have a little girl! It seems like here lately since my baby boy turned 3 my middle son's 5 birthday just around the corner (Tuesday to be exact) and my oldest going to be 8 in a month and one week from today I have that baby aching going on. My babies are growing up and I seriously need something to fill that void.
I feel like screaming "I want a baby!", but part of me is screaming "Noooooooo!!"... One section of my brain says take up scrapbooking or something. Read a book. But whatever you do DO NOT have a baby! As I write this my 3 year old and soon to be 5 year old are fighting. Whining and crying is of course going on. Yelling at each other also. All because both are tired and need a nap yet for some strange reason are refusing to take one! Yet I still think I need a 4th child! Only if it's a girl though. No more testosterone needs to grace our doorstep. I also think I may be starting the early phases of the change kind of early. I have and show all signs of it. Could this be why I am craving a baby so badly? Is my body saying it wants and it needs, because that maternal clock is ticking down?
I have even been wanting to get into doing some hobbies. Stuff I have not done in years or at all. More motherly things. I want to learn to sew really good, because I would love to make my kids' Halloween Costumes one year! Or even if they need a costume for school or something. I love to bake as well and would love to bake and donate goodies for Bake Sales or the school Carnival. Which I think I just might do so this year! :) I am not Martha Stewart. Don't claim to be either. I would love to one day be more of the "Susie Homemaker" type although I doubt I ever truly will be one. I do enjoy doing things with my family (aside from the screaming and fights that is... After naptime I am all for it!) and I love to bake. I just don't enjoy the cleaning the house from top to bottom part. I clean what needs to be clean. I am not a big spring cleaning person. I do however when I am motivated clean my frig out and go through my cabinets more than just once a year. My frig gets cleaned out at least once a month. My cabinets twice a year depending on how much accumulates in them. Maybe I can quench my mommy thirst for a new baby by throwing in more mommy acts for hobbies. Who knows.
Now to all of my friends who were blessed in the recent days, weeks and months Congrats to all of you. To those of you who lost your little angles before or after birth just remember they are angels now looking down on you and will be reunited with you one day. For all of you who have found out that you are expecting a bundle of joy congratulations and treasure every second of your pregnancy because those are the days later on down the road you will wish you could do over and do them differently or sat back and enjoyed them more. You will sit and wonder if there was something more you could have done or wished for one more day of relaxation and feeling those little kicks when they start. Some pregnancies are not the best I know this from experience with all 3 of mine, but all of them are special. Also remember... They grow up way too fast!!
I feel like screaming "I want a baby!", but part of me is screaming "Noooooooo!!"... One section of my brain says take up scrapbooking or something. Read a book. But whatever you do DO NOT have a baby! As I write this my 3 year old and soon to be 5 year old are fighting. Whining and crying is of course going on. Yelling at each other also. All because both are tired and need a nap yet for some strange reason are refusing to take one! Yet I still think I need a 4th child! Only if it's a girl though. No more testosterone needs to grace our doorstep. I also think I may be starting the early phases of the change kind of early. I have and show all signs of it. Could this be why I am craving a baby so badly? Is my body saying it wants and it needs, because that maternal clock is ticking down?
I have even been wanting to get into doing some hobbies. Stuff I have not done in years or at all. More motherly things. I want to learn to sew really good, because I would love to make my kids' Halloween Costumes one year! Or even if they need a costume for school or something. I love to bake as well and would love to bake and donate goodies for Bake Sales or the school Carnival. Which I think I just might do so this year! :) I am not Martha Stewart. Don't claim to be either. I would love to one day be more of the "Susie Homemaker" type although I doubt I ever truly will be one. I do enjoy doing things with my family (aside from the screaming and fights that is... After naptime I am all for it!) and I love to bake. I just don't enjoy the cleaning the house from top to bottom part. I clean what needs to be clean. I am not a big spring cleaning person. I do however when I am motivated clean my frig out and go through my cabinets more than just once a year. My frig gets cleaned out at least once a month. My cabinets twice a year depending on how much accumulates in them. Maybe I can quench my mommy thirst for a new baby by throwing in more mommy acts for hobbies. Who knows.
Now to all of my friends who were blessed in the recent days, weeks and months Congrats to all of you. To those of you who lost your little angles before or after birth just remember they are angels now looking down on you and will be reunited with you one day. For all of you who have found out that you are expecting a bundle of joy congratulations and treasure every second of your pregnancy because those are the days later on down the road you will wish you could do over and do them differently or sat back and enjoyed them more. You will sit and wonder if there was something more you could have done or wished for one more day of relaxation and feeling those little kicks when they start. Some pregnancies are not the best I know this from experience with all 3 of mine, but all of them are special. Also remember... They grow up way too fast!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I am a Home Schooling Mommy!
Yes I home school my 4 (soon to be 5) year old. I have an older child who also goes to public school which prior to public school he was home schooled as well. School year technically does not start for Kindergarten here until the 27th of this month. This Friday. We started our home schooling yesterday. I decided to share my excitement with all of my friends on Facebook yesterday just like I did about my oldest son's first day back to school Friday last week. Did I get as warm of a response when I did this? No! I was informed how I am not a certified teacher so I can not home school my child. Then was informed that home school children do not get the socialization that other children get and how I would be doing my child wrong no matter how smart he is.
I said I then posted another post up not even directed to this one person who bashed me for home schooling. It simply stated that if someone does not like my post just simply not read it. That I was home schooled before and if you are calling home schooled children socially retarded then you are calling me socially retarded. This same person proceeded to attack me on that post telling me I am socially retarded if that's what I got from what SHE was saying. As if this world revolves around just her words. Hello!!! There are more people than just you with a negative comment towards me about my child being home schooled and about myself being home schooled. The world doesn't revolve around you. Even though we all know you probably wish it would.
I also was called a fool and told I am a liar, because I said no by my states law I DO NOT have to be certified to home school my child. I don't even have to be registered with the DOE until his 7th birthday. She had removed me from her friends before I could remove her so I sent her an email and informed her I have already talked to my state DOE and our parish school board office. I informed her I know what my states home schooling laws are better than she does considering she is in Mass which is north east. I am in the south! Her state doesn't even require certification! It even states in their home schooling laws that the state can not require certification. In some states only qualification a parent may have to have is a high school diploma or a GED. If you are a teacher you have to have a certification.
Well I blocked her after the email letting her know I know what I am talking about I am not just jumping head first into it not knowing what I am doing or supposed to do. I get on my Facebook this morning and click to check replies. I go to two replies on my post that this woman had gone off on me on to see her sister (who is on my friends) has now commented bashing me for home schooling. I was informed I am no teacher and have no right to home school my child. Last I checked I have rights as a parent and an American. I have rights to do what I want when it comes to my children as long as it is not hurting or harming them. My children are taken care of and are extremely smart. My 4 yr old knows how to use a computer! He knows how to get to his games (all educational) and he can operate them just fine on his own. My children are fed, clothed, clean, have a nice home they live in, provided with their needs when it comes to school and other wise. They have toys and everything a child should have to be able to let their imagination grow. My son yesterday sat down with me for 25 mins and done his Language Arts, Math and Health. Then he did games teaching him more about colors, shapes and stuff like that. Yet I have no business home schooling my own son? I guess these people think no one who home schools has the business to do so, because it is not a public school setting.
The way I see it is like this. School is learning time not social time. A child can be social outside of learning. That is why we have stuff like Boy Scouts, 4-H, Sports and such. If your too lazy as the parent to get your child out to social things then I am sorry that is your fault not mine. My children do VBS (this summer we didn't get to due to me being off my leg from a torn tendon in my knee) and my oldest is looking forward to trying out for Soccer this fall (if he still wants to do so). My youngest plays with other kids his age and older than him. We go to the library and there are always other children there for story time and other activities they do at our local library. Just because a child learns at home does not mean that they don't get to be social. It doesn't mean that the parents shouldn't be teaching them if they are not certified teachers. People need to educate before they start screaming Liar and Fool at people. This really shows your true IQ and maturity level.
I said I then posted another post up not even directed to this one person who bashed me for home schooling. It simply stated that if someone does not like my post just simply not read it. That I was home schooled before and if you are calling home schooled children socially retarded then you are calling me socially retarded. This same person proceeded to attack me on that post telling me I am socially retarded if that's what I got from what SHE was saying. As if this world revolves around just her words. Hello!!! There are more people than just you with a negative comment towards me about my child being home schooled and about myself being home schooled. The world doesn't revolve around you. Even though we all know you probably wish it would.
I also was called a fool and told I am a liar, because I said no by my states law I DO NOT have to be certified to home school my child. I don't even have to be registered with the DOE until his 7th birthday. She had removed me from her friends before I could remove her so I sent her an email and informed her I have already talked to my state DOE and our parish school board office. I informed her I know what my states home schooling laws are better than she does considering she is in Mass which is north east. I am in the south! Her state doesn't even require certification! It even states in their home schooling laws that the state can not require certification. In some states only qualification a parent may have to have is a high school diploma or a GED. If you are a teacher you have to have a certification.
Well I blocked her after the email letting her know I know what I am talking about I am not just jumping head first into it not knowing what I am doing or supposed to do. I get on my Facebook this morning and click to check replies. I go to two replies on my post that this woman had gone off on me on to see her sister (who is on my friends) has now commented bashing me for home schooling. I was informed I am no teacher and have no right to home school my child. Last I checked I have rights as a parent and an American. I have rights to do what I want when it comes to my children as long as it is not hurting or harming them. My children are taken care of and are extremely smart. My 4 yr old knows how to use a computer! He knows how to get to his games (all educational) and he can operate them just fine on his own. My children are fed, clothed, clean, have a nice home they live in, provided with their needs when it comes to school and other wise. They have toys and everything a child should have to be able to let their imagination grow. My son yesterday sat down with me for 25 mins and done his Language Arts, Math and Health. Then he did games teaching him more about colors, shapes and stuff like that. Yet I have no business home schooling my own son? I guess these people think no one who home schools has the business to do so, because it is not a public school setting.
The way I see it is like this. School is learning time not social time. A child can be social outside of learning. That is why we have stuff like Boy Scouts, 4-H, Sports and such. If your too lazy as the parent to get your child out to social things then I am sorry that is your fault not mine. My children do VBS (this summer we didn't get to due to me being off my leg from a torn tendon in my knee) and my oldest is looking forward to trying out for Soccer this fall (if he still wants to do so). My youngest plays with other kids his age and older than him. We go to the library and there are always other children there for story time and other activities they do at our local library. Just because a child learns at home does not mean that they don't get to be social. It doesn't mean that the parents shouldn't be teaching them if they are not certified teachers. People need to educate before they start screaming Liar and Fool at people. This really shows your true IQ and maturity level.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
RIP Kathy
My Mother in law passed away yesterday morning around 7 am. I wish I had more time to have gotten to know her more than we had, but I am thankful for the chance to have met her. I am thankful for the fact my husband did get to meet his mom and see her the two times he did, before she passed away. I am thankful that my children got to meet their grandmother. It is hard to think that when we go back to Texas to visit Grandpa Don and Uncle Lenny that Grandma Kathy won't be there in her recliner laughing and smiling while she watches the kids play and run around being loud. There are memories of her in every inch of that house not only for us, but for her husband and oldest son.
From the stories we have heard about her she was a hard working lady who worked for her children. Due to some crazy stuff she had to leave my husband and his brother behind, but worked hard to bring them to where she was. Due to a lot of things that never happened. I found her via the internet (I found her sister in law who gave me her phone number) and we had the chance to meet her this summer. We only were able to go down twice due to my knee injury I had suffered this summer and my baby boy's hospital stay. A week or less after my son came out of the hospital my mother in law was admitted in. She was a strong and amazing lady. Very soft spoken. She left behind her husband, Her oldest son (he has Aspergers (sp?), blind in one eye and deaf so he lived home with them), My brother in law, My husband and 5 beautiful grandsons ( 2 from my brother in law and 3 from me and my husband). She also left behind 2 Daughter in laws. Myself and my brother in laws wife. Her brother and parents were waiting for her in heaven though and I am sure they welcomed her with open arms.
My oldest son took it really hard about her death, but we explained to him that she had been in the hospital for a while we just didn't tell him, because he was worried about his baby brother enough already. We explained to him that her cancer had been causing her a lot of pain so now she is in no more pain and is in a better place. We told him she went to heaven to be with Jesus. He decided since she is in a better place he is happy for her, but did tell me he still misses her. I told him that it is ok and completely normal to miss someone, because it shows that you cared about them and they touched your life. I am actually thinking about getting a plant or something of some sort for my children to either have indoors or plant outside in memory of their Grandma Kathy since there isn't going to be a service held for her upon her request.
Kathy you are a wonderful person to meet and know and I am blessed that you touched our lives. I regret we didn't get to have more time with you, but that is my selfishness because I know now that you are no longer in pain. I know you wanted to hang on to your new life longer and watch your grandchildren grow up, but we know you are watching us from heaven with your hand on our hearts. We love you and will miss you always until we join you in heaven.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
School Starts in 9 Days!
This is a big thing in my house. Especially this year. I have one who is going to be going into Kindergarten. His first time in public school. I was a home schooling mom before last year. My oldest was home schooled since he was 3 years old. Last year he went into first grade in the public school system. He did really well and had no adjusting problems. I feel it also helped that the school is a small country school and at the most the class had 17 students in it. His teacher was a very good teacher who also was the teacher who took the resource kids. She knew how to manage her time and help the children who needed it most and was still able to help those who would need once in awhile.
My oldest is entering into the second grade this year. My middle child is going into Kindergarten. My baby is staying home this year with me, but will attend speech once a week for the fall quarter and depending on how things go with the Kidney Specialist he will hopefully be starting speech 3 times a week when winter quarter comes around. School supplies are bought. Only have one thing from my middle child's list to get which I have to go to the town 30 - 45 minutes away to get, due to there not being a store anywhere around here that carries one pack of brown construction paper. Still have to get lunch boxes too, because this year my children will not be eating food at school. The school does not give them good choices. They don't even make sure they eat their food and not just their dessert. I am on the search for fun lunch ideas for them to take that is not only yummy but good for them. I want to make sure it is stuff they will eat. Nothing worse than a child who decides not to eat their lunch while at school when they come home from school! My oldest did so most days at school. He was supposed to been eating breakfast and lunch at school. Found out he wasn't going to breakfast when he got to school and he was only eating the junk food they were given for his lunch. By the time he got off the bus he was starved and was eating whatever junk he could get his hands on at my mom's house (where he rode the bus to).
This school year I am going to make changes! I plan on getting fast and easy grab and go breakfast items. We have a crazy morning in our household. We get up at 6:30 am. I usually feel like I am running late. This year we will be getting up at 6 am. All 3 children will have a bedtime of 8:30 pm so they are getting an hour and a half over 8 hours of sleep. I will lay out the baby's clothes for the next day the night before after everyone has their baths and showers. I will have the other two pick out their clothes for school. I am going to actually try and enforce a schedule. All the way from morning wake up to bedtime. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will have to have dinner at 5 pm before daddy gets off work and gets home due to the fact that daddy gets off work at 6 pm and sometimes we don't get home till 6:30 - 7 pm from picking him up from work. I am hoping with one child at home things will be easier around here. I am hoping to be able to get caught up on housework. I am hoping to get to sit and enjoy some hobbies a little more. I am hoping to become the mother and housewife I always wanted to be. I want to have a hot dinner on the table on time every night. I want to have a wonderful after school snack prepped and ready for my children by the time they get home from school. I hope to have my house clean and inviting. Laundry clean and put away. My laundry is in closet demon! I have lots of hopes I might just have to make a list of. Go over and figure out how I can and will achieve them.
My oldest is entering into the second grade this year. My middle child is going into Kindergarten. My baby is staying home this year with me, but will attend speech once a week for the fall quarter and depending on how things go with the Kidney Specialist he will hopefully be starting speech 3 times a week when winter quarter comes around. School supplies are bought. Only have one thing from my middle child's list to get which I have to go to the town 30 - 45 minutes away to get, due to there not being a store anywhere around here that carries one pack of brown construction paper. Still have to get lunch boxes too, because this year my children will not be eating food at school. The school does not give them good choices. They don't even make sure they eat their food and not just their dessert. I am on the search for fun lunch ideas for them to take that is not only yummy but good for them. I want to make sure it is stuff they will eat. Nothing worse than a child who decides not to eat their lunch while at school when they come home from school! My oldest did so most days at school. He was supposed to been eating breakfast and lunch at school. Found out he wasn't going to breakfast when he got to school and he was only eating the junk food they were given for his lunch. By the time he got off the bus he was starved and was eating whatever junk he could get his hands on at my mom's house (where he rode the bus to).
This school year I am going to make changes! I plan on getting fast and easy grab and go breakfast items. We have a crazy morning in our household. We get up at 6:30 am. I usually feel like I am running late. This year we will be getting up at 6 am. All 3 children will have a bedtime of 8:30 pm so they are getting an hour and a half over 8 hours of sleep. I will lay out the baby's clothes for the next day the night before after everyone has their baths and showers. I will have the other two pick out their clothes for school. I am going to actually try and enforce a schedule. All the way from morning wake up to bedtime. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will have to have dinner at 5 pm before daddy gets off work and gets home due to the fact that daddy gets off work at 6 pm and sometimes we don't get home till 6:30 - 7 pm from picking him up from work. I am hoping with one child at home things will be easier around here. I am hoping to be able to get caught up on housework. I am hoping to get to sit and enjoy some hobbies a little more. I am hoping to become the mother and housewife I always wanted to be. I want to have a hot dinner on the table on time every night. I want to have a wonderful after school snack prepped and ready for my children by the time they get home from school. I hope to have my house clean and inviting. Laundry clean and put away. My laundry is in closet demon! I have lots of hopes I might just have to make a list of. Go over and figure out how I can and will achieve them.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Errands, Errands and Oh Yea Errands...
Well it is a very hot Friday. Made a somewhat wasted trip to the WIC office today. This was highly annoying since it is a 15 minute or so drive for me. My kids were good for me at least. That was a plus. Did some more Friday running after getting back to town. Now I am sitting at home wondering when Fall is going to get here. I am so ready for these hot temps to go away! We have a very busy week ahead of us next week. My baby boy goes for his appointment with the Kidney Specialist Monday. Then Tuesday for a Speech Evaluation. Wednesday we will be going back to the WIC office. All I can say is thank god the gas prices have gone down some! We are going to make the most of Monday at least since we are driving a hour away from home. Going to take the kids to eat somewhere and try to relax and enjoy the day before we go in for his appointment. Our family absolutely love the Bossier City Boardwalk! Bass Pro Shop is also right there on the Boardwalk. Sometimes I wish I had access to a million dollars when I go to the Boardwalk. Awesome place with awesome shopping and great restaurants!
Now I would like to ask all of you what kind of errands do you despise having to do? Does the summer heat make it more miserable for you to have to get out and run errands? Comments! I love them!! :)
Now I would like to ask all of you what kind of errands do you despise having to do? Does the summer heat make it more miserable for you to have to get out and run errands? Comments! I love them!! :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Home Sweet Home
We came home from the hospital on Saturday late afternoon. We now have a new specialist added to our list. My baby boy will now be going to see a kidney doctor. Have had a very busy day today. Have a busy week next week with a doctor appointment with the kidney specialist and speech evaluation. Doctor appointment with the regular family doctor this week. Still trying to get everything ready for school for my older two. All school supplies are bought except for one pack of brown construction paper and one pack of white construction paper.
I am thinking I will go through clothes from last year and see what still fits who. See what will get passed down and is worth keeping. See who needs what bought for them for their school year wardrobe. I know new shoes, socks and underwear is on that list. Something that is always on that list each season or more. It will be odd only having my youngest home. He will start Pre-K next year. Makes me want to cry. I think I am going to cry first day of school when my middle son starts Kindergarten. I won't know how to act without him home all day with me. Will have to come up with some hobbies for sure, because the youngest one just goes on doing his thing on his own. So independent for such a little man.
I am hoping to get to sit down and start working on my first cookbook. It will be called Momma Talks Food. Thinking of making the first one a collection of Fall oriented recipes. Aim for it to be done and posted up on here to purchase by Fall 2010! Maybe once life slows down around here some for me I will be able to do a few more projects. Well it is late and about bed time around here so I will close for the night.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
I am thinking I will go through clothes from last year and see what still fits who. See what will get passed down and is worth keeping. See who needs what bought for them for their school year wardrobe. I know new shoes, socks and underwear is on that list. Something that is always on that list each season or more. It will be odd only having my youngest home. He will start Pre-K next year. Makes me want to cry. I think I am going to cry first day of school when my middle son starts Kindergarten. I won't know how to act without him home all day with me. Will have to come up with some hobbies for sure, because the youngest one just goes on doing his thing on his own. So independent for such a little man.
I am hoping to get to sit down and start working on my first cookbook. It will be called Momma Talks Food. Thinking of making the first one a collection of Fall oriented recipes. Aim for it to be done and posted up on here to purchase by Fall 2010! Maybe once life slows down around here some for me I will be able to do a few more projects. Well it is late and about bed time around here so I will close for the night.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Important Food Recalls!
It happened again. Last night Kraft's Facebook fan page broke out. People really like to gang up on one person when they say they don't get Mrs Brown and think she is crazy now. On a different note there are some cases of recalls that people should be more concerned with. Mold be gone now on to some real concerns.
There has been a Marie Callendar Recall. It is possibly linked to a Sallmonella Outbreak in 14 states. They are recalling all meals that are titled Marie Callender's Cheesy Chicken and Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce no matter the production date. If you have any of these in your home then contact the company.
1-800-595-7010
Source:
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=145443&catid=3
Also there has been a recall on Campbell's Spaghetti 0's. The Paris, TX plant had a malfunction with one of the cookers, causing the meetballs to not get enough heat applied to them. Recalled are certain lots of three varieties of the pasta product often consumed by children: SpaghettiOs with Meatballs, SpaghettiOs A to Z with Meatballs, and SpaghettiOs Fun Shapes with Meatballs (Cars). The recalled products have "EST 4K," as well as a use-by date between June 2010 and December 2011 printed on the bottom of the can. The products were manufactured between December 2008 and June 2010 and distributed to retail establishments nationwide. If you have any of these in your home then contact the company.
1-800-257-8443 Monday - Friday 9AM to 7PM EST
Source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isKA8oswqL8R72hBuYvQKXavpF4QD9GDE0GO0
(This link about the Spaghetti O's was also just passed on to me by a friend so I am going to add it on here for all of you as well.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/06/18/2010-06-18_campbell_soup_company_recalls_35000_cases_of_spaghettios_due_to_underprocessing.html
There have also been two other interesting bits of news to hit the internet. One is about our children's fruit juices containing lead. On the list I also observed cans of fruit as well.
http://www.inhabitots.com/2010/06/11/85-of-kids-drinks-snacks-could-contain-high-levels-of-lead/
Other popular children's juice drinks have high levels of arsenic in them.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/03/study-finds-concerning-levels-of-arsenic-in-apple-juice/
Also as just posted in the comments GE Front Loader Washers have been recalled. They are being recalled due to fire and shock hazzard.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10259.html
Is it really getting to the point that if we want our children to be healthy that we are going to have to grow it and make it ourselves? I guess it's time to turn Amish (with the exception of keeping the electronic luxuries). So while some of you are out battleing mold the rest of us are going to go worry about real recalls and problems that are a real danger to our children.
There has been a Marie Callendar Recall. It is possibly linked to a Sallmonella Outbreak in 14 states. They are recalling all meals that are titled Marie Callender's Cheesy Chicken and Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce no matter the production date. If you have any of these in your home then contact the company.
1-800-595-7010
Source:
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=145443&catid=3
Also there has been a recall on Campbell's Spaghetti 0's. The Paris, TX plant had a malfunction with one of the cookers, causing the meetballs to not get enough heat applied to them. Recalled are certain lots of three varieties of the pasta product often consumed by children: SpaghettiOs with Meatballs, SpaghettiOs A to Z with Meatballs, and SpaghettiOs Fun Shapes with Meatballs (Cars). The recalled products have "EST 4K," as well as a use-by date between June 2010 and December 2011 printed on the bottom of the can. The products were manufactured between December 2008 and June 2010 and distributed to retail establishments nationwide. If you have any of these in your home then contact the company.
1-800-257-8443 Monday - Friday 9AM to 7PM EST
Source:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isKA8oswqL8R72hBuYvQKXavpF4QD9GDE0GO0
(This link about the Spaghetti O's was also just passed on to me by a friend so I am going to add it on here for all of you as well.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/06/18/2010-06-18_campbell_soup_company_recalls_35000_cases_of_spaghettios_due_to_underprocessing.html
There have also been two other interesting bits of news to hit the internet. One is about our children's fruit juices containing lead. On the list I also observed cans of fruit as well.
http://www.inhabitots.com/2010/06/11/85-of-kids-drinks-snacks-could-contain-high-levels-of-lead/
Other popular children's juice drinks have high levels of arsenic in them.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/03/study-finds-concerning-levels-of-arsenic-in-apple-juice/
Also as just posted in the comments GE Front Loader Washers have been recalled. They are being recalled due to fire and shock hazzard.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10259.html
Is it really getting to the point that if we want our children to be healthy that we are going to have to grow it and make it ourselves? I guess it's time to turn Amish (with the exception of keeping the electronic luxuries). So while some of you are out battleing mold the rest of us are going to go worry about real recalls and problems that are a real danger to our children.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Frugal Living way of Life
With times becoming more tough on families more and more people are starting to live the Frugal way. I am going to start including more post and tips that I come across on this subject. My family as well has been hit by the economic issues. My husband had to down size on his job after we moved. Oddly enough though he is still making the same a week and is getting paid less an hour. Go figure that one. Guess that is just proof that his old boss was ripping him off.
My tip of the day is going to be this. Go to a dollar store and buy you a binder along with some loose leaf paper to go into your binder. I got mine from the Dollar Tree. $2 plus tax. Sit down and make you a budget. I have mine written out as such. Our bills consist of Home Insurance (every 3 months), Lights, Lot Rent, House Note and Auto Insurance. I write out the Month and jot down "Lights -" and leave it blank to be filled in when I recieve the bill. When the bill comes in I write out what the amount of the bill is and it's due date. I then look at my calendar see what date is free for the amount to come out on or at least set out so much each pay check to pay that bill so we don't cut ourselves short on other things we need for our home. For thing's I know the set amount a month on such as lot rent and house note I write in the amount and do the same as I do for a bill and mark when it will be paid. Always stick to this plan you make otherwise you end up behind on things.
We have had a bad habit of splurging on things such as movies, toys and games before paying bills and such then going out to eat and bills still going unpaid. Can't do that no more. I write out my budget for the first 3 months coming up. I then make another list of needs like if one of the vehicles need something done to it and prioritize the needs. Get as you can. These things also are more important to get (even if it is one thing at a time) than a movie and such. Maybe if you have kids like we do and you want to reward them for a good grade or such you can make of list of wants such as maybe going to see a movie, or out to dinner, a new toy or movie. After the bills that have to be paid that week are taken care of and you do your shopping for the week of house hold needs, food and such is taken care of sit down figure up an amount that will be ok to spend on one of the wants. Sit down as a family and talk it over of which of the wants on your list you can spare to spend on and let everyone pick which they would prefer to do. When you do it mark it off your list. This will also keep you from going out to eat a lot in one month. Maybe go to a resturant to eat once a month. We try to go to a different resturant when we do go out to eat so we aren't constantly going to the same place every time we go out. Like for us we may have written down for the month or even if we have a school event that next week I write it down for that weeks want, but I may write down Applebees and then have another like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (theater). List help out A LOT.
Another list will be what household items you use. This will be like an inventory list. Write down the things you use most often. Not like what brands but what items such as Laundry Soap, Spray Cleaner, Air Freshner, ect... This way if you can catch these items on sale you can buy the brand thats on sale instead of the usual everytime. When your sales papers come in don't toss them out. Save them back for when you go through and look at what you are low on and need to buy so you know what items are on sale in your local stores. Same with food. Make out a list of items you usually buy and how many like for example: "Cereal 3 boxes". If you let each of your kids pick out their own let them pick out one from the sales paper if it is cheaper than the usual they usually get or take them to the store and say you can choice from these flavors here and let them pick. That's what we do with our small ones. If my 4 yr old picks something like Fruit Loops and an off brand is less money and more product then we get it in place of the name brand.
People may turn their noses up at list, but believe me they help out a lot. I have even made jars with labels on them. We don't do the whole bank account deal. I have my jar for our house note money to go in and a jar to save back gas money for the week in. You can make up jars put them in a hiding place that only you and your spouse know about and save back money for lots of things. Remember this if you are scared someone will steal it. Banks get robbed too. If you are an avid google user like I am you can google "Frugal" and "Frugal Living" and find lots of articles to read on this that are always filled with great tips. Another thing too before I go. Clip Coupons and learn how to make them and sales work for you! There are articles online as well for this. I will look up some links on some of that to post up next time I post. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!
My tip of the day is going to be this. Go to a dollar store and buy you a binder along with some loose leaf paper to go into your binder. I got mine from the Dollar Tree. $2 plus tax. Sit down and make you a budget. I have mine written out as such. Our bills consist of Home Insurance (every 3 months), Lights, Lot Rent, House Note and Auto Insurance. I write out the Month and jot down "Lights -" and leave it blank to be filled in when I recieve the bill. When the bill comes in I write out what the amount of the bill is and it's due date. I then look at my calendar see what date is free for the amount to come out on or at least set out so much each pay check to pay that bill so we don't cut ourselves short on other things we need for our home. For thing's I know the set amount a month on such as lot rent and house note I write in the amount and do the same as I do for a bill and mark when it will be paid. Always stick to this plan you make otherwise you end up behind on things.
We have had a bad habit of splurging on things such as movies, toys and games before paying bills and such then going out to eat and bills still going unpaid. Can't do that no more. I write out my budget for the first 3 months coming up. I then make another list of needs like if one of the vehicles need something done to it and prioritize the needs. Get as you can. These things also are more important to get (even if it is one thing at a time) than a movie and such. Maybe if you have kids like we do and you want to reward them for a good grade or such you can make of list of wants such as maybe going to see a movie, or out to dinner, a new toy or movie. After the bills that have to be paid that week are taken care of and you do your shopping for the week of house hold needs, food and such is taken care of sit down figure up an amount that will be ok to spend on one of the wants. Sit down as a family and talk it over of which of the wants on your list you can spare to spend on and let everyone pick which they would prefer to do. When you do it mark it off your list. This will also keep you from going out to eat a lot in one month. Maybe go to a resturant to eat once a month. We try to go to a different resturant when we do go out to eat so we aren't constantly going to the same place every time we go out. Like for us we may have written down for the month or even if we have a school event that next week I write it down for that weeks want, but I may write down Applebees and then have another like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (theater). List help out A LOT.
Another list will be what household items you use. This will be like an inventory list. Write down the things you use most often. Not like what brands but what items such as Laundry Soap, Spray Cleaner, Air Freshner, ect... This way if you can catch these items on sale you can buy the brand thats on sale instead of the usual everytime. When your sales papers come in don't toss them out. Save them back for when you go through and look at what you are low on and need to buy so you know what items are on sale in your local stores. Same with food. Make out a list of items you usually buy and how many like for example: "Cereal 3 boxes". If you let each of your kids pick out their own let them pick out one from the sales paper if it is cheaper than the usual they usually get or take them to the store and say you can choice from these flavors here and let them pick. That's what we do with our small ones. If my 4 yr old picks something like Fruit Loops and an off brand is less money and more product then we get it in place of the name brand.
People may turn their noses up at list, but believe me they help out a lot. I have even made jars with labels on them. We don't do the whole bank account deal. I have my jar for our house note money to go in and a jar to save back gas money for the week in. You can make up jars put them in a hiding place that only you and your spouse know about and save back money for lots of things. Remember this if you are scared someone will steal it. Banks get robbed too. If you are an avid google user like I am you can google "Frugal" and "Frugal Living" and find lots of articles to read on this that are always filled with great tips. Another thing too before I go. Clip Coupons and learn how to make them and sales work for you! There are articles online as well for this. I will look up some links on some of that to post up next time I post. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Yummy Homemade Granola!
I love when I get in magazines. Especially when I get in the ones with yummy recipes. I have blogged before about how I like the website Familyfun.com. It is from Disney. Well they have a magazine called Disney FamilyFun. Well I checked my mailbox today and there was an issue of this magazine in my mailbox. I brought it home and when I had a chance to breath I sat down and skimmed through it. I came across a recipe to make your own Granola! Many families I know try to do what they can to one be healthy but two to save money. It's hard this day and time to do so with our economy getting the way it is. I think this would be a great one to try though and I believe I will be trying this one this coming month. So here you guys go since I believe in sharing. Hope you all enjoy it!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup chopped walnuts or slivered almonds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup water
1 (6-ounce) package dried sweetened cranberries or other dried fruits such as cherries, raisins, pineapple, or papaya
1. Heat the oven to 300ยบ. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
2. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey, and water. Toss the mixture until the ingredients are well combined, then spread it evenly on a cookie sheet.
3. Bake the granola for 40 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes to keep the mixture from sticking. Let it cool completely, then stir in the cranberries or dried fruit. Makes about 7 cups.
Variations:
Hawaiian Sunrise Granola
Add 1/2 cup sweetened Coconut, 1/2 cup each of dried mango, dried pineapple and toasted macadamia nuts, chopped to the 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 6 tblspoons unsalted butter melted, 1/2 tsp salt, 4 cups rolled oats,and 1/3 cup wheat germ.
Berry Blast Granola
1 cup Dried Berries of your choice
Vanilla Almond Granola
Add a tblspn of Vanilla Extract to the butter/honey mixture and add sliced almonds to the granola.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup chopped walnuts or slivered almonds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup water
1 (6-ounce) package dried sweetened cranberries or other dried fruits such as cherries, raisins, pineapple, or papaya
1. Heat the oven to 300ยบ. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
2. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey, and water. Toss the mixture until the ingredients are well combined, then spread it evenly on a cookie sheet.
3. Bake the granola for 40 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every 10 minutes to keep the mixture from sticking. Let it cool completely, then stir in the cranberries or dried fruit. Makes about 7 cups.
Variations:
Hawaiian Sunrise Granola
Add 1/2 cup sweetened Coconut, 1/2 cup each of dried mango, dried pineapple and toasted macadamia nuts, chopped to the 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 6 tblspoons unsalted butter melted, 1/2 tsp salt, 4 cups rolled oats,and 1/3 cup wheat germ.
Berry Blast Granola
1 cup Dried Berries of your choice
Vanilla Almond Granola
Add a tblspn of Vanilla Extract to the butter/honey mixture and add sliced almonds to the granola.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
No Sleep for the Weary...
No job is harder than that of a mother. Our jobs don't end at a certain time of the day. They don't even end when we close our eyes to go to sleep at night. There is the nights we end up sleeping in the floor of our young ones bedroom just to make them feel comfortable and safe waking up every move they make through out the night. Nights like that just to get up early in the morning to get your oldest together and to school.
I have learned an organized home is a well run home. It makes it faster and easier to find what you are looking for when it is where it belongs. Also makes it easier and faster to pick up your home. That way when you do have to do your more major cleaning it won't be a lot piled on you and will take less time. If your cleaniing time is not long that means you have more time to spend with your family and then later time for yourself.
I have learned an organized home is a well run home. It makes it faster and easier to find what you are looking for when it is where it belongs. Also makes it easier and faster to pick up your home. That way when you do have to do your more major cleaning it won't be a lot piled on you and will take less time. If your cleaniing time is not long that means you have more time to spend with your family and then later time for yourself.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Holiday Recipes
With Thanksgiving just 5 days away I thought I would share some great Holiday recipes with everyone.
Appetizers:
Stuffed Mushrooms
1 pkg (6 ozs) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
24 large mushrooms (about 1 1/2 lbs)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine
1/4 cup each finely chopped red and green pepper
3 tblspns margarine, melted
Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package, omitting margarine. Remove stems from mushrooms; chop stems. Melt 1/4 cup margarine in large skillet on medium heat. Add mushroom caps; cook and stir until lightly browned. Arrange in shallow baking pan. Cook and shirt chopped mushroom stems and peppers in skillet until tender; stir into prepared stuffing. Spoon into mushroom caps; drizzle with 3 tablespoons melted margarine. Place under preheated broiler, 3 to 4 inches from heat, 5 minutes or until heated through
Makes 12 appetizer servings
Baked Vegetables & Seafood Wontons
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Vegetable Soup Mix
1 container (15 ozs) ricotta cheese
1/2 lbs imitation crabmeat, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
40 refrigerated or thawed frozen wonton wrappers
1 tblspn olive or vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 F. In medium bowl, combine vegetable soup mix, ricotta cheese, crabmeat, garlic power and pepper. Place 1 tablespoon ricotta mixture on center of each wonton. Brush edges with water; fold corners into centers. Press to seal. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet; brush with oil. Bake 25 minutes or until crisp and golden brown, turning once.
Makes 40 wontons
Note:Cover filled wontons with damp cloth until ready to bake, then brush with oil.
Variation: Use 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked shrimp in place of crabmeat.
I will add more recipes at a later time and/or date. Hope you guys enjoy!
1 pkg (6 ozs) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
24 large mushrooms (about 1 1/2 lbs)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine
1/4 cup each finely chopped red and green pepper
3 tblspns margarine, melted
Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package, omitting margarine. Remove stems from mushrooms; chop stems. Melt 1/4 cup margarine in large skillet on medium heat. Add mushroom caps; cook and stir until lightly browned. Arrange in shallow baking pan. Cook and shirt chopped mushroom stems and peppers in skillet until tender; stir into prepared stuffing. Spoon into mushroom caps; drizzle with 3 tablespoons melted margarine. Place under preheated broiler, 3 to 4 inches from heat, 5 minutes or until heated through
Makes 12 appetizer servings
Baked Vegetables & Seafood Wontons
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Vegetable Soup Mix
1 container (15 ozs) ricotta cheese
1/2 lbs imitation crabmeat, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
40 refrigerated or thawed frozen wonton wrappers
1 tblspn olive or vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 F. In medium bowl, combine vegetable soup mix, ricotta cheese, crabmeat, garlic power and pepper. Place 1 tablespoon ricotta mixture on center of each wonton. Brush edges with water; fold corners into centers. Press to seal. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet; brush with oil. Bake 25 minutes or until crisp and golden brown, turning once.
Makes 40 wontons
Note:Cover filled wontons with damp cloth until ready to bake, then brush with oil.
Variation: Use 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked shrimp in place of crabmeat.
I will add more recipes at a later time and/or date. Hope you guys enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)