less than 4 days..

until i have surgery to remove all (yes, all) of my teeth and get dentures. it sucks, but my teeth have been getting worse since having my kids, and its affecting my health and my smile. needless to say, i'm so excited to get a new smile and be able to feel confident and take loads of pictures with my boys, instead of being the one that's behind the camera all the time. i know the FireBird isn't going to know what to think when he sees mommy with new pretty white teeth. i will be posting before and after pictures after the swelling in my gums go down.

*meaghan*

Phone problems

Well...well...well...well... That's all I can say y'all! My youngest son...My sweet, precious, lovable, baby boy...has done it AGAIN! He has ruined another cell phone. In his very short four years on this Earth he has managed to ruin two. very. expensive. cell. phones. What do I get stuck with...my hubby's old busted phone. Thankfully we both had the same kind of phone...and maybe...just maybe...he might be able to fix it by switching the screens. I sure hope so! I was able to get my pics off of the phone even after I had no screen :) The first phone he broke wasn't entirely his fault. The buttons were messed up and he ended up locking the screen. This phone...well....it wasn't completely his fault either. He was trying to bring it to me and it fell into the pool. This phone has no access to the insides unless you dig out the screwdriver and try to pry it apart. There was just no saving it. None. At. All. 

I started to look for a new phone online...and let me just say this much...there is no way....that I will EVER pay more for a phone than I would for a car payment. It's crazy ridiculous! I can't even begin to imagine what phones will cost years from now. You can't even get a cheap Go-Phone anymore...at least not that I've seen! Hopefully the screen swap will work. It seems to be the only decent solution. I really don't want to buy another phone. 

BTW...I am so frustrated over phones, the fact that my computer mouse isn't working right...when it rains it pours??...and the fact that my house looked like a tornado ran through it that I refuse to even check this post to make sure that it makes sense. I love you all...all four or five of you. I am sure you can forgive me for it :) right??

 Anywho...time to get kiddos to bed :) Have a great night y'all!!

*hugs n love*

Grace  

2014-2015 Curriculum Choices

I got myself a printer for Mother's Day. It's the Epson Workforce Pro WP-4530. I couldn't be more happy about this. For one...the printer was on sale...Half off!! Two...I needed a new printer! I have already printed about 350 pages!!

I have decided on our curriculum and really needed to get started planning. Before too much longer we will be starting back up. I have to have plenty of time to plan! I am seriously on cloud 9 though!! All those decisions that I had been worrying about just seemed to disappear. Price had been a bit of an issue. I have a really hard time paying for something that we may or may not like. Call it the cheap-o in me. I dunno. I just couldn't bring myself to doing that.

So....before we invest every little penny we have on elementary schooling, I figured out a wonderful way to make it happen for us...on the cheap!  My state doesn't have many requirements...not compared to some!

 This is what the Texas Home School Coalition says: To home school legally in Texas, you must follow three state law requirements:

• The instruction must be bona fide (i.e., not a sham).
• The curriculum must be in visual form (e.g., books, workbooks, video monitor).
• The curriculum must include the five basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.

Well...I got that down! 

1. It's definitely not a sham

2. It is in visual form

3. I have the five basic subjects PLUS Bible, Science and History/Geography :)

Reading will be done together. They will simply have different assignments to go along with the reading. Little two can draw pictures and the bigger two can write essays and reviews aka book reports :)

Spelling will consist of words from k12 Reader. We will find our definitions on Monday. Tuesdays will be for making sentences. Wednesday will be a fun activity with our words. Thursday will be test day.

Grammar will be done daily with two lessons on Monday, two lessons on Tuesday, one lesson and a review on Wednesday, and a quiz on Thursday. I found Grammar lessons here: Daily Grammar

Mathematics-Making Math Meaningful. I still need to order the books...then I will know how to plan there.

Good Citizenship- a combination of discussions and A salute to our flag TM and A salute to our flag SM

Bible Studies from Easy Peasy

Science from Easy Peasy

History and Geography came from Confessions of a Homeschooler. I ordered the Expedition Earth and Road Trip USA for $30 :) This is the part of our curriculum that has us ALL really excited!! The whole curriculum is very well planned out. I started to build my own, but the price was right and Erica did such a lovely job on it!! I can promise you that if you decide to purchase either one, you will not be disappointed! She has them as a combo pack for $30...I think it's the best 30 bucks that I've spent in a long time!! 
Here's the plan:
We are going to begin with Road Trip USA. We will not be doing two states a week. Instead, we will be doing just one and spending more time on it with some extra activities and reading materials :) Of course this means we will be doing History and Geography all year...but it's worth it :) Next year we will do Expedition Earth. 
Here is a link to the Confessions of a Homeschooler Store :) {Can you tell by all the smiley faces how excited we are??} :) 

It has taken me two hours to make this post...my kiddos are being a handful today. Hopefully after lunch and a good nap we will be able to turn the afternoon around!! Hope you all are having a beautiful weekend!! 

*hugs* 

Grace

4 months already gone

its been 4 months since i gave birth to my little Mockingbird, and i cant believe it!! my Firebird turned 2 in january and ever since bringing the baby home, he looks so much bigger than before i gave birth to his brother; how is that even possible? Firebird got his first haircut (yes, at 2 years old, i didnt want to cut his beautiful curls off we decided it'd be better for the hot texas summers), and he looks more like a toddler now than before. his hair still curls and its adorable. Mockingbird can roll over to his side and somehow manages to curl up into a ball and roll in circles to move around his playmat, yet cant roll to his tummy yet. also, tummy-time is a nightmare with this child! if hes flat on the floor, forget it, hes done and you better roll him back over before he screams! put a bobby pillow under him, and hes fine for about an hour. my neighbor gave us her sons old bimbo seat since Mockingbird LOVES to sit up and see everything that's going on, from his big brother playing to the disney junior cartoons that are playing constantly on the tv (doc mcstuffians, anyone?) to me getting up and chasing the big brother around. 

Firebird also has a pretty bad hearing loss (runs in my side of the family, usually it hits just the women but Firebird is the first male in 5 generations to get it) and has hearing aids to help him hear, plus we have a speech therapist that comes 4 times a month to work with him. hes been getting better about talking and asking for things he wants. he can say all 5 of his favorite fruits,  3 of his favorite drinks ( milk, juice and water) and when he wants to watch Mighty Morphing Power Rangers (think 90s) he'll say "its time!" (we're still working on 'morphing') when its time for bed, he automatically gets his cup and will call for his stuffed wolf by howling and signing 'wolf'. cutest thing you would ever see! he may not be able to hear most of the world around him, but hes definitely a pretty smart kid.

this is all for now, im going to try to get in a better habit of posting. let us know what you enjoy about our blog so far or even tell us what you'd like to see!!

*meaghan*

Math Curriculum

Choosing curriculum for your kiddos is NOT an easy process! I mean, Geez! There are loads of options out there. I have been hunting for a budget friendly curriculum. It also has to be easy to use for the kiddos and us. I started searching for math first. I found something that I think will work for our family. It's affordable, explains why, and seems user friendly. Making Math Meaningful. I don't personally know anyone who has used it. BUT we are willing to be the test subjects for this math course. This way we can report back to our friends who are curious about it. There are sample pages on the website...added plus since some of the choices I found did not have them. It goes to grade 8 with Algebra and Geometry being taught early on. I tried to find a 1-12 program that I thought we would like, but didn't find one...yet. I think I will be ordering it by the end of next week. Once it comes in the mail I will get started on lesson plans for next year. Have you chosen a math curriculum yet? IF so please share it with us :) We would LOVE to hear from you!!

*hugs*
Grace

The absent blogger

I have been away for a little bit. Between kiddos, home responsibilities, and disabilities it has all just taken everything I have to get it all done and together. I have been a busy little bee though working around the house to kick start spring cleaning since February. I'm not done. I don't know if it will ever be completely done. Every time I get a room completely cleaned and organized someone goes back in there and destroys it again. Except my laundry room. Which I am proud to say is 95% clean. By the end of the day it will be at 100%...even if it kills me. I have to finish do the laundry (it's never-ending, right?), wipe down appliances, and sweep/mop. Then it will be done :)  I plan to do that this evening. Next will be the kiddos bathroom and then my bathroom. I'm starting with the little rooms because I feel much more accomplished when I can see a room go from a disaster zone to clean in no time at all. I am hoping by May to have the majority of the house in some sort of order. I'm also working a little each day in one of the bigger rooms until I have very little to do in there. I did not realize the amount of junk we have accumulated over the years until we moved here. I have donated around 60 13-gallon trash bags worth of clothing, bedding, and toys. Probably another 6-10 medium sized moving boxes that had shoes, cleaning supplies, toiletries, and home decor. And yet...I'm not done. I will not be finished until everything has a proper place in this house. 

We have a project this weekend to complete. We are going to sand our homemade chalk board and hang it. It has been just sitting there. Looking lonely and being unused. I am beyond ready to get it taken care of so we can write on it...without having to write over the little bumps. 

The big boys and I are taking a working lunch to get caught up on their school work and my research for the next school year. This summer we will be doing some history/geography and science unit studies. I am also trying to get those items together. 

I ordered books from Barnes and Noble last week. They will be here today!!  We have been working on the Easy Peasy All In One Homeschool curriculum. We find it difficult to completely follow the curriculum on the computer. Sooo I have ordered the reading books, since reading takes the majority of our time.

On another note...tomorrow is my oldest sons 10th birthday!!! Happy birthday Bubba!! We love you so much!! 

That's all the time I have for my random thoughts. Work time for this gal!! 

 

*hugs*

Grace

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Number 1 Hits Puberty :(

Ok, So, I'm not a boy.
Clearly I know nothing about being a boy.
My husband says he will handle boy issues.
Number 1 doesn't like to talk to me about being a boy.
I'm generally OK with that.
This new round of boy craziness is starting to freak me out a bit.
He's 9.
He has his first pimple.
I'm scared to ask what else is going on.
I catch myself staring at his face.
Number 1 asks..
Why are you staring at me mom?
I say it's because it's a mama thing.
Maybe it is.
Maybe I am trying to preserve this image of him for a while.
Or maybe I am trying to search his face to see if he is growing facial hair.
I doubt he is...
Yet.
But it wont be long.

Here's what I want to know though.
It stinks!

Why didn't anybody tell me puberty can start around 9?
I didn't know this was normal until today.

Dear pediatrician...you suck!
Thanks!
You left me high and dry with no information!
I had to find out from the internet!

It's no wonder my kid is acting Crazy..with a capital C!
It's no wonder I feel out of my mind crazy!
When did he go from being tiny and precious to being big and obnoxious?
Don't get me wrong...
I love the dude like crazy.
But, sometimes he drives me up a wall.
He throws the biggest tantrums for whatever reason.
Sometimes no reason at all.
I know this only because when I ask he simply says I don't know.
Wanna talk about throwing me for a loop??
I don't know.
Ya know...as a parent, I wish I could get by with I don't know and it be a good enough answer.
Mom, where do babies come from? I don't know.
Mom, why can't we have ice cream for supper? I don't know.
Mom, (insert nine millionth question of the day)? I don't know.
If only being a mommy was as easy as I don't know.
For those of you who have already gone through this...Congrats!!
For those of you still waiting for this day to come...Good luck!
As for me, Number 1 equals round 1 of this sort of torture.
I still have three more to go.
Thankfully, or maybe not so much, Number 4 is a girl.
BTW...Number 1...IF you ever read this...Just remember that I love you.

Easy Peasy Philly Cheese Steak

So my husband works in a place where he can't always sit down to a meal. Sad, but true. I have had to come up with super easy supper ideas that I can cook in no time at all, that will reheat easy and still be delicious, and be portable. They also have to appeal to my pickiest eater. That person is NOT my two year old, four year old, seven year old, or even nine year old. Oh no! That person, who has earned the pickiest eater of the year award, is my sweet, dear husband. The man is dreamy, caring, kind, and makes me feel like a princess. BUT he can also be the most annoying thing ever! He hates tomato sauce of any kind. Any side of beef is gross. He can't stand pork. He doesn't enjoy soy. He will eat some chicken. What is there left to feed him? Well, I have taken some of the things he can't stand lately and have turned them into wonderful meals that he enjoys. Last week I planned out a few meals. I will admit that I have only gotten to a couple of them because Super Bowl Sunday we had nachos, and I made enough to feed the whole US Army. Ok, so maybe not the whole Army but close to it. Some nights I am super thankful for leftovers! Last night he grilled hot dogs for the kids. He ate nachos. And I had a honey bun. Can you see me hiding my head in shame as I type that? It was the most delicious honey bun I've had all week. The only one I had all week because the store has been out of the Tastykake honey buns. I don't care for any of the others. Anywho, So Friday night I made Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches. I love the one's from Chili's and from Subway, but I didn't feel like sending him to get food after he got off work. I must say that I'm quite over the ones from those two places and will be enjoying my own from now on. They were so simple that I don't know why I was afraid to make them before. So here we go!!

The mushrooms are baby bellas. Any fresh button mushroom will work. Notice I said fresh, not canned.

I got mine pre-sliced, because that's just how I roll. If there are only a couple of you then I would suggest cutting the veggies down. I'm feeding 6, and one takes leftovers to work. Since he does that I usually make my recipes to feed 8.

I used eye of round steak that was cut thin. I'm sure most steak would be fine...you don't want to know what I paid for it, but the steak I used was already thin so making the thin slices was easier for me. Plus I had to do two packages of meat. Put the meat in the freezer for about an hour or two before you start cutting it. It will make it easier to slice.

Chop the top of your bell pepper off. 

To help the seeds come out I always pop the open end into my hand.

See my pretty Rachel Ray Garbage Bowl? 

I absolutely LOVE it! 

Once you get the top and bottom cut, cut them in half.

Clean up the inside.

And start slicing. This is how I prefer to do strips of bell peppers.

I'm no pro, but it works for me.

Once they are done you should have super thin strips of bell pepper.

Now, on to the onions.

Take the top off, then clean it up. My husband

loves to drive me crazy by leaving the onion skin on. To me that is

just gross!

Place it back on the cut side and cut it in half.

Then lay it on its side and start slicing away....watch

your fingers though. Hubby says to chew gum when I cut

the onions. I can tell you that juicy fruit bubble

gum does not do the trick!

Plenty of beautiful slices. I don't bother separating them yet. 

They will get mixed up in the skillet.

Usually I use olive or grape seed oil, but I had some leftover butter in the fridge from 

some cookies I had made before Christmas. I figured I better use it before I have to toss it.

I used about 1/4 cup. Use your best judgement here.

Toss in about a handful of mushrooms once the butter has melted. 

I worked on some meat while it was melting.

 If you don't like mushrooms then just eliminate this step entirely. 

Toss in the onions and bell peppers.

Saute them until the mushrooms get a bit soft. 

Trim any fat and excess nonsense off the meat. 

Slice the steak as thin as you can get it. 

I just love that color!

Then put the meat into the same skillet you used to saute the veggies. 

Add a little bit of salt and pepper.

I used sea salt, but that's just what we are used to. 

Plus, I will confess, I like playing with the grinder.

It makes me feel professional...don't tell anyone...promise??

Brown the meat.

I used White American sliced cheese. 

But, that's because that is what I usually eat on mine. 

If you prefer pepperjack or any other kind of cheese feel free to use it.

 BUT the slices made it easier to heat, and let's face it, I don't feel like cubing up some cheese after a long day.

I added a bit of milk to make the cheese sauce creamy. 

I snuck a few pieces of meat out while insisting that I had to make sure it was right.

 It was, but I wasn't about to tell the kids that.

Ta-Da! 

All done.

 I simply buttered and toasted some sub rolls in the oven.

Of course that isn't what my finished product looked like. 

I prefer extra veggies, like some baby spinach and fresh slices of tomato on it.

Along with some creamy chipotle dressing. 

I know. 

It's not a true Philly with everything that I put on it.

 But that is how I like it.

Recipe Below is for a family of 4

Ingredients

1-2 lbs steak, thinly sliced

1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup fresh button mushrooms, sliced

6-8 slices of american cheese slices, or soft cheese of choice

3 Tablespoons milk

1/4 cup butter + butter for rolls

1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Sub Rolls

Instructions

 Add butter to warm skillet. Once melted add veggies and saute until soft, about 5-10 minutes.

Remove veggies with tongs and place in a bowl. Put meat in skillet and add salt and pepper.  Brown meat, about 5-10 minutes. While meat is cooking, butter rolls and set aside. Drain the excess juice, then put meat back into skillet and add cheese and milk. Heat until cheese is melted and mixed in good with the meat. Place rolls into oven on broil setting to toast them. Remember to keep the meat mixture warm. More milk may be added to keep the cheese creamy. Assemble and enjoy!

Printer Friendly Recipe 

January 31, 2014

Friday is the day in our home where we typically run errands. Breakfast is over which means it's time to start chores and get ready to go. When we come home we usually finish up chores and then start supper. Tonight I'm making Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and a creamy chocolate pudding pie for dessert. The kiddos are super excited. I've never attempted to make the subs before. But the pie. Oh the pie, they LOVE!! It's usually gone in no time. That is what makes this mama happy. Well..I better get ready to get errands taken care of. I'll need to get over here and get recipes and pics posted soon. Tonight I will be pulling them from my camera. Anyways, I better quit typing and get them ready to go or we won't be making anything special tonight. Let us know how you spend your Fridays :)