Hello

Hello Everyone,  I know I have been gone a LONG, LONG time and I am sorry.  We have just had a lot going on.  We have had our fair share of illnesses and been busy with school. Seems we get really busy this same time of year every year with doing things. 

I have been spending a lot of time with my camera :).  A friend of mine in Feb. took me and the boys to take pictures of this one park that had flooded and then iced over.  I got some really great pics :). 

The boys with their friend 

bridge near the park

I have many more cool pics of this park but maybe I will show those another time :)

Also in Feb. the boys had Science Club within the MOMS Club®

Then of course we have been doing school work as you can see it’s not the most fun thing for the boys LOL.

Then in March I played more with my camera….

Can you tell they are getting sick of me taking pics?

Also in March we went to the Natural History Museum.  The boys had a lot of fun looking at everything!

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Then this past weekend (March 21) we had a birthday party for both boys.  Since Jarod’s birthday falls so close after Christmas (Jan. 3) we decided to have a combined party for both boys.  Poor Jarod has never had a birthday party because where his birthday falls and we just don’t have the money at that time.  But he and Chord had a lot of fun this year with it!  They had it at our local bowling alley! My Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law bought the cake but decorated it themselves (aren’t they awesome?!)

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Then today was Chord’s official birthday!  Can you believe he is nine years old now?!  I still can’t figure out where the time went.  Anyway we took the boys to the Zoo today.  It was a bit chilly but so worth it because there was hardly anyone there :).  So we didn’t have to rush through it like in the summer months.  We also got to hear an elephant trumpet a little and one of the Lions roared at us LOL.  Well I wouldn’t say roar exactly it was more like it was calling or something.  It scared Jarod though LOL.  But it was the coolest thing to hear.  Usually they are sleeping on the other side of the Rock so we can’t see them but this time one of them made an appearance.  I only wish I took a video of it instead of just pictures.  Anyway here are some zoo pictures!

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In other news, Harlow has decided to not continue with the schooling.  He was having a rough time with it and it wasn’t making him happy and his negative attitude about it was rubbing off our family as well.  So he is now not going to school but still getting unemployment and actively looking for a job.  Even if he has to start from the bottom he is willing to do it.

Please pray that he can get into a Rest Area which would be a State Job.  His friends brother works there and he told Harlow there will be an opening there soon.  So pray that there is an opening and that he does get the job. Even if he starts off at a low wage it’s a state job so it will have good benefits and in the long run he will make better money down the road.  So please keep thinking of us :). 

I am sorry I have been gone so long.  I also wanted to thank all of you who have commented or emailed me wondering how I have been.  I really appreciate it :).  At least I know I was missed a little LOL.  I hope everyone is doing well!!!

Our Weekend Alone

The weekend went well :).  We didn't go out or anything because 1) we didn't have much money LOL and 2) because it was pretty cold out and slick roads.  Even with that though we had a good time just spending time with each other.  I didn't miss the boys as much as I thought I would LOL.  I think it's because they are getting older and I know they can handle being without me for a bit.  That and people I (and hubby) trusted had the boys.  Still missed them a little though LOL.  I am a mom after all!

When we went to leave them at their cousins (we left just after 7 p.m. the party started at 6 p.m.) I told Chord we were leaving.  He got this big grin on his face and says..."Your leave?!"  He was excited LOL.  Don't think they missed us too much LOL.

So after leaving we came home and just watched some TV together and spent time talking (not about the kids hehe) and cuddling!  It was really nice.

Sunday, we had a gift card for Applebee's so we went and had lunch there.  It was good but neither of us could finish our food LOL.  After that we headed to my mom's and hung out there for a bit and then we left there around 2:00 p.m. to go to Harlow's sister's house where the boys and their cousins went to make Christmas cookies and other Christmas crafts.  So we stayed there and visited.

It was so cute when we walked in the door. The first think I see  is Chord having a white circle on his forehead with a red M in the middle of it plus a crooked mustache  painted on his face LOL.  Then I see Jarod done up like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer with little antlers painted on his forehead as well!  I have some of the other things they made on our Christmas tree.  They had such a great time and so did hubby and I :) . 

We left hubby's sister's house at about 5:30 p.m. and got home just after 6.  It was a wonderful weekend had by all!  I hope your weekend went well too!

New Exercise for Me.

Today wasn't too busy. We just went to the Laundromat to do laundry. Harlow went with us this time. He even helped the boy's do their school work while I did the laundry.

My body is so sore LOL. Harlow got me this DVD series that's on Fit TV usually. It's called Shimmy. It's belly dancing. Now this isn't something I would do in front of others except hubby and family of course LOL but it's a real work out and it's fun too. I probably look like a clumsy oaf doing it LOL but it's fun all the same. I tell you it's working out muscles I didn't know existed LOL. This is an exercise I think I will stick to better because it's fun for me even though it truly is a workout. I like the moves to it too. You use a lot of your leg and core area muscles. All of which are my trouble areas. Then again I need to lose a lot of weight so it all is a trouble area LOL.

I really want to keep this up. I want to be healthier too. I need to eat healthier I know but this is to start with. I have now been doing this belly dancing for three weeks. There have been some day's I didn't do it because of time or because I was just too sore LOL. But I look forward to doing it. I don't dread it like most exercise. I am not looking to be super skinny. I just want to be healthy and be able to do more things. Are you trying anything new?

The Boy's and Their Christmas Skit.

I used my regular digital camera to take this little clip. I also just used what was on the memory of the camera because I didn't have a stick. That's why I only got a clip. I have a couple other clips from it but I thought this one was better out of the three I had. It's the first real time I have actually used it too so you really can't see the boy's faces but they are the first ones on there saying their lines and then they go and stand on the stand.

The boy's did great! I was really surprised on how well they did. The looked like it was natural for them to be up there. I know if it were me I would have been nervous. I had told the boy's way before though what would happen and not to worry about all the people. Plus they have been practicing their lines for a while. They had a couple small other lines but in this clip it's just one of their lines. Like I said it's the best clip out of both of them LOL. It's a bit jumpy. I guess I should have practiced a little more before doing it but you get the drift LOL. I had taken some pics too but with where we were sitting it was hard to get any good close up pics. So I will just show this little video for now. It was a full house!

My Rambblings

We had a good weekend. Saturday was my mom's birthday so we went to her house to be with her. It was a nice time of just being together as a family. We are blessed that our families combined (hubby's and mine) get along really well. So we don't have the rift between in laws like some families do. All though hubby's mom and dad have passed away I did get to know my MIL really well before she passed away.
My MIL was a strong willed woman and always said what she meant and never minced words LOL and I loved her for it. She was like another mom to me. Which is saying a lot since my mom is a great mom herself. I miss my MIL. She passed away in Nov. 14, 2002 of breast cancer that spread to her brain. She had her faults of course but all in all she was a good woman.
Anyway I got off track again LOL. I swear I do that all the time. It's like I have a million things going on in my head and they all get jumbled together and I just ramble LOL. So if I don't make any since you know why LOL. Just ignore me.
Sunday the boy's and I didn't do much because hubby had to go to his friends house again to help with something so he had the car. We only have one car so when one has it the other one can't really do much LOL.
Monday was a MOMS Club meeting and the boy's and I went. It was nice. We had a guest visitor and she was a Child Consultant. She basically deals with children who are having a hard time adjusting to day care, school, day care homes, child centers and registered relative care providers. Anyway a lot of what she was saying about children and some of their behaviors is what I have done with the boy's. Such as acknowledging good behaviors instead of only focusing on the bad ones. I have notice when I see the boy's doing something "good" and I compliment them on it. Like one time sitting through a long sermon at church and being very hungry. They at first whined and then they just sat still and I told them wow look how good you guy's are. They behaved through the whole thing after that. Not that I don't discipline when they act bad but I try to acknowledge when they are good as well. I have to say doing that has always done well for us because the boy's don't act out as much as they did when they were younger. There were other things that she said that we do at home too. So it made me feel good that I am doing well by the boy's. Not that "experts" always have the right answer but this one believed how I believed and I have see how it works with my boy's. I may not be a perfect parent but hubby and I must be doing something right because it shows through the boy's.
Today I just had to go to the Laundromat to do laundry like every Tuesday LOL. I got compliments again about the boy's by two different people. They both said they were so well behaved. I had them do some school work there but let them play around too. One of the ladies that gave me the compliment was an elderly woman. She was saying you don't see that much these day's. I am so proud of my boy's LOL. Can you tell? Ok I am done bragging LOL. My children aren't perfect (neither are hubby and I for that matter LOL) but they are good kids.
Tomorrow is a Halloween party with the MOMS Club that I am in. So I will taking the boy's there. I will get there early though to help out with getting it all together. The boy's get to dress up in their costumes so they will love that. Then it's off to Trick or Treating. So if I don't blog tomorrow you know why LOL. Hubby is taking the day off work to go with us too. Will be an eventful night to say the lest LOL.

Homeschool Moment today

It was a a good day. It was a bit dreary outside but it was a good day none the less. This morning while doing school work with the boy's when I heard this noise. At first I had no idea what it was but as I listened I realized it was birds chirping. I open the door and there were 100's if not 1000's (LOL) of birds all over our yard! So I had the boy's put on their shoes and we went outside to watch them. They are getting ready to migrate south. It was very cool seeing all the birds hanging out in our yard resting and getting some food to go LOL. That's one nice thing about living in the country. If we have lived in the city there was no way we would have seen this. It was nice too because if the boy's had been in regular school, they never would have seen it.
Also today we went to the Library and got a few more books. Then we went to the park right next to the library and was surprised to find most of the playground equipment wasn't wet even though it was sprinkling earlier. So the boy's got to play for a while. At the park they also have a walking path so after a while we just walked around it. It was nice to just look at all the different things and walk with the boy's. We looked at some interesting trees and just nature in general. The boy's and I loved it. So we didn't do a lot of "school work" but we did learn something about nature and each other. One of the many reason's I am so glad we homeschool.

This and That. That and This

Sunday we didn't get to church. Because H. didn't get home from helping his friend till four a.m. He even woke me up when he got home LOL. That's ok though because we went outside for a minute and looked at the stars. It was really pretty. That's one thing that is nice about living a bit out in the country because you can really see the stars. They were so bright! So I guess getting me up at that time of night (morning) turned out ok LOL. We were pretty much lazy for the rest of the day LOL.
Today was a pretty normal day. Woke up at seven a.m. I woke the boy's, they had breakfast and brushed their teeth and got dressed. Then I let them play till eight a.m. and we started school. C. and I are having fun learning about George Washington. We are making a project out of it. He is really learning a lot from it and I am too LOL. That's one thing I really love about homeschooling too is that I can learn right along with them. Keeps my mind sharp LOL. We all finished just before 11 a.m. and they went and played together while I got tomorrow's lesson planned and printed and the house cleaned up some and then it was dinner time. Not too many dull moments in this house LOL.
Tomorrow is Tuesday so it's laundry day. Which means it's time to go to the Laundromat. I got all the clothes ready and the boy's school stuff packed to go tomorrow. I do school a little with them while we are there. Keeps them busy and keeps our schedule a bit on target. But if something happens our schedule can be changed and not a big deal. Another great thing about homeschooling LOL.
Instead of going "Trick or Treating" on Halloween, we are going to go to the Zoo this weekend and do it there. They do it every year and we have a membership there so it's only a small fee to do it other wise. Plus we did it a couple years ago and the boy's loved it. So I know they will love it this year too! We have had their costumes for a month now LOL. They have been counting down the day's. C. is going to be a Clone Trooper and J. is going to be Darth Vader. LOL can't tell they love "Star Wars" can you? LOL. My brother got them into that. I have to really be sure to thank him for that(Insert rolling eyes) LOL.

SAHM and Homeschool Mom?

Sorry I haven't blogged in a few day's. Either I haven't been feeling too tired or too busy to get a post up. Wednesday I was just cleaning house and chatted online with my hubby, who was at work so I was a bit busy with that and then went to bed. Was just too tired LOL. Thursday was Create and Play I had to go to with the boy's(MOMS Club thing). I and another mom friend of mine is in charge of that. Other than that I just seemed to have a lot going on and didn't really get a chance to get on here. Yesterday, Friday, my mom came and picked us up after hubby went to work (we only have one car) and took us to her house where my brother and his family showed up soon after. It was a nice time all around.
Today Hubby, is going to a friends house to help him with a project he has to do for his schooling so he will be there most of the day. My mom will be here later today (about 7p.m.) and take us to my aunt's house where she is having a bonfire (if not too windy LOL).
I have to clean house a bit (not too terrible anyway) and get everything around for when we leave with my mom later. But I thought I would blog a bit before I get busy again. I have already went grocery shopping today LOL. Always on the go!
I have often wonder why they call it "Stay at Home Mom" or "Homeschool"? LOL I mean I am both a SAHM and homeschooling mom but when am I ever really home? I think we are more on the go then we are at home. Home is where we go to sleep and eat LOL and once in a while relax LOL. Other than that we aren't home all that much. We just always have some where to go or do. I have to do laundry at the Laundromat since we don't have hook-ups so I do that every Tuesday. I usually take the boy's with me so I can do schooling with them there. Almost (not always) every Friday we go to the Library for books I need to get out for the boy's and their learning and for their and my enjoyment. Every Saturday (for the most part) is the day I go grocery shopping. Sunday is church and we start all over again. This isn't including making play dates for the boy's or the once a month "Create and Play" I do with the MOMS Club. It also doesn't include the other things I do with the boy's in the MOMS Club. So when are we really home again? LOL. Maybe instead of calling it SAHM we should be called Mom on the go? LOL. I am not sure what we should be called but Stay At Home Moms and Homeschool Moms doesn't seem to fit either LOL. Any ideas? LOL.

Busy yet Again.

Saturday we went to Hubby's 2ND cousin's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. They even had a video with pics of both families. See Hub's 2ND cousin is 57 years old. His first wife died in a crash many years ago. So this has been a long time coming. I thing he will have a wonderful marriage.
Anyway the boy's had a great time too. Especially when the music started LOL. They both went to the dance floor and got down LOL. C (my oldest) even met a little girl there. The little girl kept following him around. So I went to C and told him he should ask her to dance with him. So he did and he and the little girl danced LOL. Not slow dance of course, he is only seven years old LOL. They talked and danced most of the time we were there. It was just too cute. Once I put the pics in my laptop I will post the pics. Later I went to talk with C and he told me he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend LOL. But, later he said he was too nervous and it was time for us to go home LOL. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen LOL.
J. danced most of the night on his own or with his brother. He just loves to dance and talk to people LOL. I am surprised he didn't dance with anyone LOL. At my brother's wedding, a year ago, he danced with almost every girl there, especially with the teenage girls LOL.
Sunday we went to church and just spent time as a family. It was nice to just relax and be together as a family. I don't get on the computer much during the weekend because I try to just be with my family. Next weekend I might be on a little more because hubby is going to his friend's house to help him out with a film he is making for his school. (His friend is going to school to make films).
Today, was a really busy day. First I got up and got dressed and it was off to go to the dentist for my appointment cleaning. No, cavity's for me LOL. That's good because with C's fillings last month my mom actually paid our deductible and other things that weren't covered. We've just had a lot going on with fixing our car and insurance being due soon. So it's good I didn't have to get any fillings! Anyway after the dentist I had a mom from the MOMS Club come over so we can go over our crafts that we are going to do with all the kids in the club on Thursday (Create and Play). It's something her and I do together for the club kids to do crafts and sing song's and read some books. It's really fun for all the kids. I also enjoy reading and playing with the kids LOL.