Mifi Day 1

What is a MIFI? A mobile wifi.. that uses a cell signal.... more detail on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi Why? I have longed to cut off our cable bill... it's been our internet connection. We are recently out of contract and the bill spiked.... I was loathe to recommit... we do not watch cable unless ther is a tornado close or other big event... Cost? Monthly the MIFI runs $40 for unlimited usage... We bought our Virgin Mobile MIFI at Radio Shack for about $150... we can purchase either 10 days or 30 days at a time.... there is no commitment... they use the Sprint network. Use? We are using the MIFI for our pc internet and our mobile devices... itouches... up to 5 devices can connect to it. Speed? Down 977kb Up 184kb... it is both slower than our cable and cheaper... I can deal with it! Challenges? We have taken a month to get the mifi in working order... we have had some set up issues and customer service said it was programmed wrong after 3 calls and 11 days down.... So now we are up and running... Testing? We've used it home and on the go.... it works where Sprint phones work... we even got some signal camping this weekend!! Day 1: As of today this is our first day totally on the MIFI.... sometimes I find the pc switching signals betweed the MIFI & the prior network... that's a hubbie issue to resolve.... We've had to locate the MIFI at our pc desk for optimum signal. All and all I'm thrilled to turn off the cable!!! Just turning that off saves money!! Grace! ss

Letterboxing n Carving

Finally Lovebug is carving her first Letterboxing stamp!! She has a beautiful rose from Valentines!!! Here's the in process and the final stamp.

Ladybug carved her horse months ago. Both girls outlined the figure then we carved away the extra.

I've found the best way to transfer an image. Design on the pc. Print with laser onto tracing paper**** tracing paper gets stuck before the heat bond!!! Open printer an carefully remove print. Toner sticks on the pink carving stuff. Image is clear and backwards perfect for a great stamp. girls carve on lines!! Done in 30 min!!

I'm eager to carve more!!! I'm also ready to letterbox!!! TALE8

G nite. Grace. Ss

Two Faced

Our snowman looks to the street... And he looks toward us. He is so two faced!! :)

The snow was all powder!! Yet it was packable. Hubbie plowed snow from the drive for the makings. He wanted a taller snowman but with the girls wandering to play, Mr Snow needed to be done.

He is our first Mr Snow. After Januarys snow we admired all snowmen. Now we have joined the club. I hope he sticks around for a few days. The big melt has started with the sun shining so bright.

This is our 2nd snow. I'm thrilled. We made lots of cocoa. Girls appreciate the snow bibs. Now we just need snow gloves for those little pink cold hands.

Grace. Ss

Power Girls

Bam! Pow!!! Girls you make me smile!! I love it!! May this be a power boost to your day!

Grace. Ss

Happy B Lov

You so make me smile n laugh. Happy Birthday love.

We have had such fun Letterboxing. These pics are of one such outing!! Want to catch some boxes for your B????

Let's make a memory. Something fun and unforgettable.

Taking bikes to Tyler us forever imprinted with my B. I think we should repeat it this summer!??!

Hope your B is all wonderful. It is surely full. Work. Ballet. Basketball. Add in all fun squeezed in all day.

Love you always KjS.
Grace. Ss

Longhorns

This is Texas. We cross town and seeing these in a front yard is a highlight. Just so you know they were not friendly. That close one came ever so close n shook his head. Those horns are long n scary up close.

Grace. Ss

From the pod again. Blogspace is working tho crashing at times. The pics r a bit squacked. All in all, I am blogging. Success.

My Princess Birthday 12.4

Happy 11th Birthday Love. You have wanted your ears pierced forever. You were so brave!! Especially for that 2nd ear. Your pick of gold totally fits you, Princess.

Your smile is beauty in my day. You are growing inside and out. May God guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

When we brought you home weighing 5#. I enjoyed you babying that 5# bag of rice!!!

May 11 be a truly sweet year!!

Grace. Ss

Painfully testing blog apps.

Food Challenge

Yea!! The girls placed in their first ever Food Challenge!!! The Rainbows were 4th of 11 teams. Their dish was named Mount Pleasant. They had to tell about nutrition, servings, food pyramid, cost, food prep, safety, substitutions.





This is a test... Blogging on the pod!?!?!!!
Grace ss

Blog blog blog

Hmmm maybe I've forgotten what a blog is... or even how to blog.... or simply too much has happened and there is no way in the world I can catch up...

To blog or not to blog...

Humf! I'm looking for a challenge... Maybe to write weekly?! monthly?? Maybe I'll just find a few pics of life!!! Hmmm....

Sunday are a day of rest... says God above!! A nap then is blessed... done.

Today is a cloudy nearly rainy afternoon... the girls went out to build on a fairy house.

I made lovely gfree cupcakes with chocolate icing.. they have been gobbled up... aka enjoyed...

Worship!! That's what Sundays are about!! Grace... only by His grace! ss

Expaaaaanding Tears.... Bravery... My Hero!

Today is Day 3 with the expander.....

Day 1 Ladybug got her expander in and with it came the "slerp". I made a special dinner knowing it would be hard to eat. Potato soup n cheesecake w/ cherries. Miserable. She tried to get down the broth... made a total mess with the cheesecake. I think she finally gave up eating.

Talking was a new thing too... Big sis led her through talking and she did great until saying her own name... rather that a "L" a "W" came out... followed by a clear "Uh-oh". She also thought she'd lost her whistle!! :( On further inspection she has a smaller whistle!!!

Even sleeping was hard. Alas she could not sleep with the expander so neither of us slept well...

Day 2

We had 3 breakfasts. First a bowl of cereal she could not eat... next an egg... not good.... finally we made blue berry muffins. YEA!!! Slerp! Something she could eat!!!!! Yea! Yea! Slerp! Yea!!! Even dinner was declared good... her favorite meatballs!!! Yea!!! Sleep.

But this Day 2 brought big tears. In the evening with teeth brushed, it was time to turn the expander... we're to turn it once a day for 14 days... She laid on down and we turned the expander. Tears. Tears. Big quiet tears. Not wailing and fussing. Big hurting tears. Oh that hurt me. Finally with a Wii distraction she slept!! Sweet sleep... slerp.

Day 3 Today is a park day. Breakfast she did fair on. Slerp. Then she surprised me. She wanted to turn the expander before the park. We headed straight for the Tylenol. Then she mentally started to get ready. As she laid down she was afraid. We prayed.

She opened her mouth for the turn with big tears already down her sweet face. I could not do it!!! NO WAY. I sent her to dry her tears and get ready for the park.

With a clear face, she came to me ready for the twist. We turned the expander and were off to the park. I AM SO IMPRESSED. It was hard and she was afraid... and she faced it and she won!!!

She's my hero!!!

I know in time it will be easier.... The girls are already talking about collecting n hording candy she cannot eat!! I'm not contributing to this!!

6 months... less 3 days to go!!

Grace! ss

The God of All Comfort

Ow!! With a tooth darkening we headed into see the dentists today... Hubbie thought root canal... yuck... I thought of the teeth barely hanging on... We've had just 20 days since we had check ups!!! I expected a look and wait to loose these baby teeth...

These molars were in tight... and one was split in two... that's what was hurting!!!

Inside 30 minutes Lovebug had a simple extraction of two tight molars... top, one on each side...
Ladybug watched and she had 2 extractions just weeks age. She knew and understood how her sister felt.

She came out quite saddened... and with just a few tears. This was not what we expected!!

Tomorrow we head to the ortho... and Ladybug gets her expander...
Now big sis is telling her "It is not as bad as the teeth coming out!" She knew!!

Tonight we looked up God's comfort...

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

I've seen this today... L to M for the extraction... and M to L for the expander!!!

God is our comfort!!

I also had to call out bravery... Lovebug was brave today... and that does not mean she was not scared. She did great!!!!

Grace!! ss

AO4 SAT Tested

This spring we SAT tested my AO4 10yo daughter thru our homeschool group. She's been in AO for 4 years since AO1.

We us a CM scope... and follow Amblesideonline... so I wondered about testing & not following a traditional scope!!
My goal was for her experience testing... I wondered how she would test... this was her first ever test.

We are very pleased with the results....
I was concerned with her testing... and just not working thru the harder things... but score wise she's excelled...

Overall she's averaged grade 5.46 and finishing 4th grade....

Her highest was listening @ 9.7, a narration boost I think!!
Her challenge is math at 3.8, I know she's running a year behind....
Language was another low... at 3.9 and we hit grammar later... so that's my guess there....
Pulling out Math & Language... she hit 6.34.

Math... I'm evaluating how to handle this.. changes to make... approach... or just hold fast... my inkling is to work thru the summer... but my wise husband says we all need the break... I have a Pet Shop Math by SCM that I think she'll enjoy... decimals will be new.... just pondering...
FYI she's in MEP3 after trying Singapore & MUS.... This is her challenge spot.... I've know she's a year behind...

All in all I'm THRILLED with our AO journey!! I love homeschooling!! And on the hard days I yet enjoy the journey!!! I'm shopping for AO6 & 7 and carry the full to 11 list!!! Lord willing we'll hold this course!!!

Grace! ss

Thrilled to have RAIN in East TX!!!! Girls at VBS.... My B!!

4Some Let's Grill

We've cooked again!! Thanks friends!!! My freezer has been cleaned out and stuffed full!!! This round is our NO OVEN time of year!!! We greatly favor crock & grilling to a hot kitchen with the oven on!!!

I've made a new discovery w/ a meal I've called for only fall!!! Cranberry Chicken can be wonderfully grilled... boil the sauce and yummm. It is excellent!!! (Kara... you now can make it an all year meal!!) Recipe from our December cook...

We needed a sub this round to cook... and this can be a deep water spot!!! Cooking gets intense!! She did excellent!

The cost of our cooking group... We went home w/ 25 meals... the cost was 9.27 for a meal that serves 8... for our fam we'll get 2 meals out of most of these... I bought the meat for our cook... over $500.. and that 3 cases of chicken from Sams... Once that is bought there is no stopping our cook!!!

Saturday from 7 til noon... and then we'd had a lovely lunch out together!!!

Enjoy!!! byGrace!! ss


4Some 2010 04 2008 04 AKKM

2008 04 My Directions (I guess I cheated... and just about cooked all my meals from 2008!! That make it easy on me & the grocery list just needed tweeking!!)

Grill Chicken Fajitas

8 chicken breasts
1 c veg oil
1 T Steak seasoning
1 T Lemon Pepper
1 T Greek Seasoning

Grill 10 minutes each side.
Cooks more even if you’ll flatten the chicken!!

Chicken Skillet Cordon Bleu x5

2# tenders
½ c Italian bread crumbs
1 t pepper
½ t salt
8 (1#) chicken tenders

1 T butter
1 T olive oil
8 Canadian bacon slices in thin strips
4 Swiss cheese slices

Combine crumbs & seasonings, shake to coat chicken.
Melt oil & butter in pan, cook chicken 3-4 minutes each side.
Arrange Canadian bacon & cheese over cooked chicken. Cover 2 minutes to melt.

2006 04 Zesty Orange BBQ Chicken - Bag

8-10 pieces Bone in Chicken Mix of Thigh/Legs & Breasts
6oz Frozen Orange Juice – Thaw
1/4 c Teriyaki Sauce
1 T Minced Onion
1/2 t Garlic Powder
1/4 t Pepper

Grill 20 minutes each side & Baste for last 15 minutes

Crockpot Pulled Pork - Bag

• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• ½ bag chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco or similar hot pepper sauce
• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder roast, boneless, trimmed, tied
• few dashes liquid smoke, if desired
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 8 hamburger buns heated

Sunshine Chicken

8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
.5c Mustard
.5 c Pineapple Juice
2 T Brown Sugar

Grill 10 minutes turning frequently & adding sauce


Onion Burgers 2008 04

2.5# Ground Beef
1.5 Onion Soup Mix
½ c Water

Combine into 8 Pattie & Grill

Jamberry

Three berry

Four berry

Hayberry

Strawberry

Finger and pawberry

My berry, your berry

Strawberry ponies

Strawberry lambs

Dancing in meadows

Of strawberry jam

After picking, Ladybug just had to read Jamberry by Bruce Degen. It will now be filed in my cookbooks after this occasion... awaiting blueberries.

We've been in the View since.... 1993~~ And I've just discovered a true jewel in our back yard!! With a short drive we joined friends picking strawberries at McPeaks.

Oh my!! They are the BEST strawberries I have ever had!!! Unbelievable!!

In a mere hour on a lovely spring morning we each picked a basket. The picking was so very easy!! I had more berries than I had planned. The berries were ripe and I truly go the pick of the crop!!! I'm ready to go back this Wednesday! Join us!

I've canned strawberry jam & strawberry syrup! Yum!! I've even made seedless jam & syrup because I so love my Hubbie!! I'm ready to do it all over again!!! And I also want to have a strawberry salad, strawberry short cake, and I have a new all strawberry cookbook!!

Oh! How do make seedless strawberries?! Cut off the outside layer of the strawberry! Beware, this is high labor. Then I blended these beautiful peels to a liquid and strained out the seed for a true strawberry concentrate. I added that back into the jam & syrup!

Jamberry!!! Strawberry!! by Grace! ss

Booksale... Bibliophile...

What I like best of AO is finding great used books!!! I like book sales!!! Join me at this one!!

Here's the event on FB

MARK YOUR CALENDARS & INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!!!

(you do not have to be a CHEC member to attend!!!)

CHEC ANNUAL USED BOOK & CURRICULUM SALE
(If you need curriculum for next year at bargain prices, DON'T MISS THIS SALE!!!Buy or sell used curriculum of all types, including Bob Jones, Saxon, Apologia,A Beka, Sonlight, and much more--something from every subject for all ages!!!)
&
CRAFT & BUSINESS FAIR
WHEN: Monday, April 19th, 2010
6:00 pm -- 9:00 pm
WHERE: FBC

Admission: Buyers -- NO ADMISSION FEE

Sellers -- No charge for CHEC members; $5.00 for NON-CHEC members
Sellers can sign-up on the CHEC website @ www.longviewchec.com under the calendar. Members may sign-up Non-Chec members.

**SELLERS SHOP EARLY @ 5:00 PM!!

***PLEASE NOTE***

***There will be a "free resource" table set aside for new homeschoolers or those of your friends who are considering homeschooling!!

***Door Prizes will be given out throughout the evening (you do not need to be present to win, but please leave good contact info. so we can call or email after the sale).

***PLEASE BRING EXACT CHANGE. I recommend that you bring lots of small bills. The sellers will mark their items in 50 cent increments. We will have a "banker" available, but change will be very limited. Checks will not be accepted.

***While browsing, please take care in keeping items on their designated tables. This will be a tremendous help to our volunteers and shoppers.

If you have any questions regarding buying/selling @ the Book Sale, please contact Vicki Neibert @ mvneibert at cablelynx dot com.

If you have any questions regarding the Craft/Business Fair, please contact Darlene Rappazzo @ djrapp at etex dot net.

SEE YOU @ THE SALE!!

Mrs. Lee's 2010

It is that time of year!!! Mrs. Lee's is the best place to drive through the daffodils and take a million pictures!! We took a break from our exams to catch the daffodils in bloom!!

I wondered if we'd catch them this year!! I'm so glad we did!!! A gal even stopped to help me get a shot of all of us!! How kind!! She was a God send!!
Stop and smell the flowers... it is far to easy to rush by... keep the schedule and only take a glance. We don't get here by accident!! Often you have to seek what is best... Oh, that is like God's word.

I will not accidentally find time to be in the Bible. It must be a priority and trump all else... I do want to find God's best...




This is a favorite shot!! Ladybug with a ladybug. The littlest ladybug I've ever seen!!!

Here's last year... 2009...

That's a wrap!! by Grace!! ss

Poetry

Lovebug memorized two poems this term... Her favorite... and my favorite...

She learned it so well... even her sister could recite it!! Bonus!

Poetry Exam! By Grace! ss

10 Commandments

We've had lots of discussions lately... hard discussions... I have found God's grace and protection standing on His 10 commandments!!


In the 10, God gives us boundaries... inside those boundaries are blessings. When we break them, consequences can cover a lifetime.

Teaching my girls the 10 commandments has become more and more important. They explain boundaries God puts in place for our blessing.

You Must Use Hand Motions!!

1. There is 1 God


2. Scissors.. Cut out the idols


3. Trace a W... Our Words are important, Do not take Gods name in vain


4. Mom, Dad & girls get in car an go to church... Sabbath


5. Salute.. Honor Mom & Dad


6. Bang.. Do Not Kill


7. Married Couple separate from the world... for life.. No Adultery


8. 2 fingers cut off... Punishment for stealing in some Arab countries


9. 9 Standing up... 1 lying down... Do Not Lie


10. Gimme Gimme... Do Not Covet

Find them verse by verse in Exodus 20.

I pray my girls seek God's blessings!! Remember the 10... Live it!! By Grace!! ss

Read me a book!

One of my favorite parts of teaching my girls is to lead them alooooong a b c letters til they can finnnnallllly and joyfully read!! It is work. It's not easy. There's a lot of time in the trenches... Even so.... I love it!!! I'm blessed with one bookworm already...


"Ladybug... Read me a book!!!" This is her first time to read this book!!!

Hedge Loves to Read

It is Exam week!! This is her reading exam!! Grade that!! :)

Only by Grace!! ss

Homeschooling in TX

Here's a list of Texas homeschool groups... it is just a smattering....
http://www.homeschool-life.com/groups.cfm

ABC Homeschool
Web Site Corpus Christi, TX

Andrews Christian Home School Association
Web Site Andrews, TX

Bay Area Catholic Homeschoolers
Web Site League City, TX

Bay Area Classical Homeschoolers (BACH)
Web Site Houston, TX

Bayshore Christian Home Schoolers
Web Site Houston, TX

Champion Forest Christian Homeschoolers
Web Site Tomball, TX

CHEFS & Encouragement
Web Site Greenville, TX

CHESS at RGV
Web Site Mission, TX

Christian Home Education Association of Central Texas (CHEACT)
Web Site Austin, TX

Christian Home Educators Co-op (CHEC)
Web Site Longview, TX

Christian Home Educators of Round Rock
Web Site Round Rock, TX

Church of Christ in Champions LTC
Web Site Houston, TX

CLCSC - Clear Lake Christian School Cooperative
Web Site Friendswood, TX

Dallas Christian Home Educators
Web Site Cedar Hill, TX

Ellis County Christian Homeschool Organization (ECCHO)
Web Site Waxahachie, TX

Enrichment Classes, Inc.
Web Site Lewisville, TX

Faith At Home
Web Site Austin, TX

FAITH Homeschool Association
Web Site Seabrook, TX

Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST)
Web Site San Antonio, TX

Garden Oaks Home School Support Group (GOHSSG)
Web Site Houston, TX

Georgetown Christian Home Educators
Web Site Georgetown, TX

Gulf Coast Christian Home Scholars
Web Site League City, TX

Hardin County Home School Association
Web Site Silsbee, TX

HEART - Home Education and Responsible Teaching
Web Site Kingwood, TX

Hill Country Home School Association
Web Site Kerrville, TX

Homegrown Kids - A homeschool group among Church of Christ members
Web Site Robstown, TX

Homeschool Association of Palestine
Web Site Palestine, TX

Homeschoolers Around Midland
Web Site Midland, TX

Homeschoolers East
Web Site Garland, TX

Homewood Christian Association
Web Site The Woodlands, TX

Integrity Home Educators
Web Site Hart, TX

Integrity Home Educators Teen Action Group
Web Site Hart, TX

J.O.Y. Christian Academy
Web Site Decatur, TX

Midlothian Homeschool Co-op
Web Site Midlothian, TX

NorthWest L.I.G.H.T. Home School Support Group
Web Site Spring, TX

Panhandle Christian Home Educators Association
Web Site Amarillo, TX

PATH - Parents Are Teaching Hearts
Web Site Canton, TX

REACH (Realizing Educational Achievements through Christ at Home)
Web Site Universal City, TX

REACH Co-op
Web Site Webster, TX

SAIL
Web Site McKinney, TX

SHARE Homeschool Co-op
Web Site Conroe, TX

SHINE - Supporting Homeschoolers in the Northeast
Web Site Selma, TX

TACHE - Tyler Area Christian Home Educators
Web Site Tyler, TX

Tarrant Home Education Association
Web Site Fort Worth, TX

TEACH - Texarkana Educators Association of Christian Homeschoolers
Web Site Texarkana, TX

Texarkana Organization for Resolute Christian Homeschoolers
Web Site Texarkana, TX

THOTAHS - The Heart of Texas Association of Home Schools
Web Site Waco, TX

Trinity Christian Athletics
Web Site Round Rock, TX

WATCH Co-op
Web Site Round Rock, TX

WATCH Enrichment Classes
Web Site Round Rock, TX

WATCH History Class
Web Site Round Rock, TX

West Houston Home Educators
Web Site Houston, TX