Snow is on its Way!

Our first real snow storm of the season is on its way and it's gonna be a doozy!! They are calling for at least a foot of the white stuff and blizzard conditions. We are lucky...there are places that are going to be getting 2 feet of snow from this storm.

So what does the snow mean for us.....Family Time!!! Chris usually works on Sundays but he had put in to take it off so we could go to church as a family. We won't make it to church in this kind of weather but at least Chris won't have to drive to work in it either (yes, no matter the weather he still has to be at work for 5 am!).

So my plans----
Games---I picked up Yahtzee for $5 last night at Wal-mart. Can't wait to play that along with Uno and Mancala. All family friendly games that even Alex (who is 7) can play easily.

Food---Hot chocolate, popcorn, brownies, these are a few of my favorite things : )

Movies---We rented all 3 Santa Clause movies from the library so we will be watching them while eating the brownies, popcorn and drinking the hot chocolate : )

Reading---I just got in Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn.

Cuddling---I've got to keep my Nicholas toasty warm!!!

What about you.....any plans for the weekend?

Still Here!!

Can you believe we are approaching the middle on December already! The last 2 weeks have pretty much been a blur.

Highlights:
Thanksgiving was laid back and relaxed....just the way I like it. My mother, sister in law and 2 nephews came over. They all actually slept over from Wednesday night to Friday afternoon. CJ played in the Thanksgiving football game at the high school (they lost).

CJ was in the church musical this year. They did A Baby Changes Everything. He played Joseph. What a great job. CJ along with the girl who played Mary spoke volumes without ever saying a world. It was the first time I really looked at Joseph as Jesus' earthly father. I was one proud Mama : )

We *finally* got our Christmas tree up.

Chris and I went Christmas shopping on Thursday. Over the years we have cut our list WAY down. Now we buy for: Our kids, my Mom and Dad, my Dad's girlfriend, our 2 nephews, and our great-nephew. My 2 nieces are adults now and I am not sure what I am going to about them this year. My sister said not to worry about them, but how can I not. I am thinking of getting them Christmas ornaments since this was an eventful year for both---one got married and the other had a baby.

I guess my younger children are on a break from school---atleast from the regular subjects. We made snowflakes the other day out of paper. That counts right? CJ has been very diligent and has been doing school on his own. I am not sure when he is taking a break.

I am hoping to get back to blogging on a regular basis.

The Homemakers Haven--Week 2

Have you ever heard of the saying "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."?

I know in my home I tend to set the tone for the whole house. I hate to admit it but that isn't always a good thing. Just last week on Monday, Zachary said to me with all sincerity, "Mom, this has been a really good day! You haven't been stressed out or anything!!" OUCH!!!

I have to admit:
I don't smile as often as I should.
I can sound annoyed when the kids are asking me a question or asking me for help in school.
I say no alot just because I don't want to be inconvenient.
I yell way to often.

How's that for honest. Embarrassing but honest. You are going to laugh, but do you know when this hit me.....A few weeks ago I was watching the Amazing Race and there was a christian couple on it who are dating. That week, the girl did NOT want to do the last challenge, going down a huge water slide though a shark tank (you were glassed off from the sharks). Her too biggest fears-water and heights-both in one challenge. By not doing this challenge she was dropping out of the race and a chance at $1 million dollars.

Her boyfriend was trying to physically push her down the slide. As we watched this unfold on TV my hubby said "Isnt' this suppose to be the christian couple? He isn't acting very christian right now."

That stayed with me. How would I look if someone filmed me 24/7 with my kids. Would they see a mother who loves staying home with her 6 children, homeschooling? Or would they see someone who actions tell another story?

Last week I really made an effort. I noticed a difference. So this week, to make my Home a Haven I will:
*Smile more.
*Say yes more.
*Hold my tongue and count to 10 when I feel I am going to respond out of frustration or anger.
*Praise my children more for the effort they put in.

Head over to A High and Noble Calling for more Homemakers Haven.

Online Coupons

I LOVE to order online-----but I HATE paying shipping. Three times since September I have used this webiste:

Popular coupons powered by RetailMeNot.com

Retailmenot saved me $40 in shipping charges---$19.95 on American Girl, $9.95 for Hanes and another $10 from CBD. That is money in my pocket!!!!

Super easy to use---go onto the website, put in the store or website you are shopping at and *ta-da* codes will appear. Could it be any easier : )

Happy Shopping!!!!

Random Family Pictures

Random Family Pictures

Nicholas

Emily and Nicholas

My Dad with Nicholas

Sisters

CJ giving Jessie Birthday hugs

Works for Me Wednesday---November 18

Each meal at our house consists of 5-7 people eating at once (sometimes more). To cut down on the confusion of who gets what and how much I have come up with this system:

We make everyone's plate in the kitchen. This lets us see how much food is on each plate---making it easier for us to keep kids size portions vs. adult size in check (I have one child who would just eat and eat and eat if you let him) and lets us see that they have eaten (if you don't eat your meal, you don't get snacks).

**ADDED BONUS** Less dishes to wash!!!! I just cut out having to wash serving dishes : )

Well here is the REAL tip----when I make everyone's plate I line them up in order from oldest to youngest (left to right). I also do this when pouring everyone's drink too. This helps me keep track of who's plate is who's. Also, because I have been using this system for so long, when the kids come get their food, they know to count over X amount of spots for their plate depending on where they fall. Example---lunch time: On this day Chris is at work and CJ and I are not eating the same thing as the kids. I make PB&J sandwiches. Alex comes into get get his plate. He will count over 3 plates----Zachary, Jessica, Alex and Emily. Because the kids know the system so well, they can usually tell when I plate is missing---like if Jessica already came and got her plate Alex would see an empty space and then 2 more plates. He would assume Jessie came and took hers.

This system Works For Me!!!!

Head on over to We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday.

The Homemakers Haven---Week 1

I found a new blog I LOVE! Can you guess? A High and Noble Calling. I love Stephanie's writing, her insight, her little-bit-of-everything. She is doing a weekly meme called The Homemakers Haven. When I read about it last week, I was instantly drawn in by her first 2 sentences.

Over the last 2 weeks I have had a work going on in my heart. First off---I have to get rid of the picture I have of others in my head (the "perfect homeschool families"---you know the ones) and stop comparing myself to them. My family is not going to be exactly like yours----I wouldn't want to be!!! Don't get me wrong, I definitely do glean from others.

I do know that I have to get myself and my home back in order. That is why I am so glad for this new weekly series. It will help keep me accountable. Also, my personality is a "check off the box" kind of person so to have things written down that I can then cross off is GREAT!!!! Stephanie has given 5 areas to work in.

So here is what I want to work on this week to make my home more of a haven:

1.Beginning Day in God's Word

I sure do notice a difference when I start the day off with God and give it over to Him compared to when I leave it up to myself. This week I am working on getting up with Nicholas' 6 am feeding and staying up. I usually go into the nursery, close the door and feed sitting in the rocking chair listening to K-Love (christian radio network). Now here is where the change comes in. I usually falling asleep holding him after this feeding and waking up when the kids come in one-by-one. Not anymore!!

Goal: Listen to music as usual but after Nicholas is done eating get right into God's word. I am using my Mom's devotional Bible right now. It has a short devotion to read along with scripture verses. After that, spend some time in prayer.

2.Complete Your Morning Routine

It is not uncommon of me to stay in my pajamas ALL day. Over the last 2 months, if I was staying home for the day I would stay in pj's, take a shower (at some point) and put on another pair. About 2 weeks ago I got an email devotion from Alpha Omega Publications. It talked about how if you were at a job how would you look---nice clothes, hair done. Compared to how we (or should I say I) look as a homeschool mama---pjs, hair in a messy bun, slippers. OUCH!! What kind of example am I to my children?

Goal: Before I come downstairs (and I get caught up in whatever is going on) I am to take a shower, get dressed in REAL clothes including shoes, make my bed and dress Emily. I also need to do my light for Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter depression). It makes a world of difference.

3.Have a Plan

Honestly, need to think and work on this one.

4.What's for Dinner

I posted my menu yesterday. I am pretty good about making a menu. It's the taking something out to defrost I am terrible at!!!

Goal: Take whatever meat needs to be defrosted out in the morning.

5.Compete a Project!
Oh boy, do I have projects I need to complete.

Goal: School books are all over!!! Because of taking time off during the pregnancy from being sick we did school though the summer. Before Nicholas was born , I was having the kids work on the books from last year that they didn't finish. Because of this, I have 2 different years worth of books in one area. AAHH!!!!! I have already switched a couple of things and I still have crates sitting in my dinning room with books that were "suppose" to be put away (like 3 months ago). I am determined to get my school area clean and organized.
2. Catch up on laundry.
3. Organize Nicholas' closet. Chris took everything out so we could reorganize it. However, before we can put his stuff back in it I need to do the school books so I can put them at the back of his closet (it is a long closet to the side).

Okay, I think that should do it. Don't want to make my goal so huge this first week that I don't meet them.

Oh, one last goal for the week---Smile More!!!