If i were to make lame excuses for not posting number one on the list would be not liking to log into this site because it's kind of slow on my computer.  That would be number one only because it's someone else's fault. 


I don't feel like going into all of the reasons why we haven't updated so I'll just jump straight to my post.

Reasons Why I Suck at Homeschooling:

1.  We use workbooks and worksheets.  From the blogs I read I see that the cool homeschoolers are doing things way differently.  Notebooking, journaling, unschooling-whatever. 

2.  I put off record keeping as long as possible.  Last night I played games on the computer for hours instead of updating Homeschool Tracker.  The worlds easiest (and free-est) program to update.  it wasn't that I had anything else to do-I just didn't do it.

3.  The library?  They are after me like the mafia.  I owe them...I owe them money and I can't afford to pay them and I really need to be able to have my children walk into a library without fear of waking up with a horse's head in their beds the next day. 

4.  My children don't read anymore than they did when they went to public school.  Other homeschooled children probably think they are illiterate. 

5.  I don't belong to support groups, co-ops, web boards or anything.  I have a friend that I email occasionally for questions.  We can call her my support group.

Now for the good news...

Reasons why I don't suck at it:

1.  We are really enjoying the process.

2.  We are improving each and every day as we figure out what we are doing. 

3.  The kids actually enjoy the workbooks! 

4.  My mom has a library card.

5.  This is truly what we believe is best for our children and no one can suck at doing what is best for their children! 

all-in-all...I love it.  For the past five years 180 out of 365 days of my year have been spent with me being stressed about one thing or the other that involved school.  Making it on time, other people being mean to my children, the inane rules that school boards come up with,  my daughter's growing ulcer (or fear of her getting an ulcer) because of grades and utter silliness....fighting with children to get them to get up and get dressed, being late for work, lunches, lunch money, clean clothes.   All of those stress factors are gone. My children are developing, they are growing and learning, and we are becoming a closer family because of it! 

I love it. 

Lots. 

D
 
 

For all of our loyal readers (both of you) I apologize for kind of letting this site dwindle.  The three of us have had a very hectic month (or months) and lots of life has been getting in the way of the internet. 

today i started a new venture:

to house random writings and such.  Not really a blog...but an archive of sorts.  I write when the whim hits me so there's no telling how often I wil

 
Testing.... 02/05/2009
 
It dawned on me this morning how I can create those nice links that say something instead of me having to just cut and paste the web address. So I thought I'd try it out. Check out this awesome winter craft. I know it's late for Christmas but it's definitely in my mind for next year. And how cold would these be all lit up for a photo shoot?

I think it worked!  Bwa-ha-ha-ha.  I had pretty much given up on links. 

 
 

I mentioned during that meme I did recently that I didn't have a single favorite in a plethora of categories...I've been thinking about it and now I'm going to slowly start to list my ten favorite in each of those categories.  Starting with books.

D's Favorite Books In No Particular Order:

To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee

The Harry Potter Series-JK Rowling

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy-Douglas Adams

Alas, Babylon-Pat Frank

Nine Stories-JD Salinger

The Secret Garden-Frances Hodgson Burnett

Heidi-Johanna Spyri

She’s Come Undone-Wally Lamb

Summer Sisters-Judy Blume

Understanding Exposure-Bryan Peterson



  



 

 
 

There was more to my last post..the one about whining...but for some reason it didn't save.  And I found myself not caring to fix it.  Because I was looking at inspiration sites on the internet.

I"ve found myself crafting a little lately.  Yep.  For real.  But even better than that, I've been taking photographs again.  I've decided to go ahead with the "Big Purchase" and stop putting myself down.  I can't wait! 

I found myself in need of scrapbook paper recently.  Not that I scrapbook (I just can't seem to get into that)...but I needed some.  I felt overwhelmed!  I never realized how intense that area of the craft store was.  I knew it was big...it loomed each time I passed it...but I never ventured into it.  I felt lost.  I found myself talking to myself.  I wanted to run and cry somewhere.  But after a while I found what I was looking for and followed my bread crumbs back out into the rest of the store.  But you know what the kicker is?  That stuff...the papers and stickers and things...it was all so fantastic!  I need to find a lot more crafts that use paper!  (and from the looks of it I might need to rob a bank)

 
 

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Random (D) 01/08/2009
 

Today is a very windy day.  It would be a very warm day but the wind seems to be winning the battle.  I know that the sun is up there saying "Hey!  I had 80 degrees scheduled!" and the wind is just laughing and acting as if he didn't even hear.  The wind is not chilly enough to make it cold or uncomfortable...but it is strong enough to get under your jacket and attempt to peck at your skin. 

I just sat outside for my one hour lunch break to read and listen to music.  I could have sat inside in the cafeteria at one of the booths...they are plush and comfortable...but not only are the tables too high for my five foot 2 inch frame (I feel as if I'm a child sitting there with my nose barely reaching above the table edge)...but I am an outside sort of person.  This does not mean that I prefer outdoor sports (or sports in general) or own things like hiking boots or a canteen...it just means that if I have a choice I will choose outside.   

I think that's the one thing that  I love about my state.  Cabin Fever seems to be a huge malady of mine... There are rarely days when I would prefer to be indoors.  Rainy days here generally mean that it will rain somewhere around 5pm.  The rest of the day is just lovely.  Hurricane days can be a bit hindering, I definitely wouldn't find myself stretched out on a lawn chair in my backyard...but I would find myself on a nice screened in porch watching the trees sway and the rain come down sideways.  As many cons as I have about living here (way too many mosquitoes, brutally hot winters, the stupid accents) I don't think I could trade the luxury of reading outside 365 days a year for anything. 

 



 
 

We just created a brand new book review site.  check us out:  http://wearebooked.weebly.com/index.html


Also, since we are still all about food I'm going to be adding my grandma's Jello Cake recipe to the site today.  It's my favorite cake IN THE WORLD!!!!  I hope you enjoy.


 
 

This is where most people would list what they expect of the new year, what they resolve to do, what the last year meant to them...yadda yadda yadda....But I won't. 

It's also that time of year to take down the Christmas decorations, right?  But unless one of my cohorts decides to decorate the site for D's January Birthday A Thon I think we will just leave it up.  It's so pretty.

I don't think I have a purpose for this post...

I finished "How To Be Lost"-the first book on M's list below.  It was Incredibly Awesome.  A real quick read, too.  Definite recommendation (a double one, I guess)

 
 

I feel like my photographic skills have slipped through my fingers the past few months.  I don't know how much longer I can get away with blaming it on my camera.  I'm about to make a HUGE camera purchase and I'm seriously beginning to doubt myself.  I mean...I've had this camera for a while...and I have taken some stellar shots...but lately?  I've spent so much time in post processing on the handful of shots that I kind of like. 

I've read things that say stuff about finding your "style" and even after a few years I don't think I have a style.  I've been really enjoying high contrast in editing lately but I almost feel like I'm faking a "style" by doing that.  And of course I'm a huge fan of portraits...but that might be because I'm also a huge fan of my 50mm. 

So...should I go ahead with the huge purchase?  M & E and some other random readers are all familiar enough with my ability...but M & E are very biased (you know, being my BFFs and all) ...Am I having these doubts because I'm a very cheap person and the price of this camera makes me hyperventilate? 

See?  I whined.  I promised you I would.

2 days until Christmas!