Happy New Year!

This is Ethan's shopping list. It says:
Cake
Brownies
Plates
Hot Dogs
Milks
Pop
French Fries
Soup

hello

I just cannot seem to keep this blog updated. I don't spend a lot of time on the computer these days.
We are watching our niece this week. She has been so good, the first day she slept until 9:30!
We had carpet installed 2 days ago- in 2 bedrooms and the family room, then the old family room carpet was installed in the kids toy room in the basement. It was a nightmare taking all the furniture out of those rooms and finding places to put it all!
Ethan is doing really well with his reading. This week I sat down and started a schedule and planning our days in a way that would be easier to achieve and still make sure that we're covering every subject that we need to. Although, it was too busy this week with other things to really get to implement it.
Christmas is in less than two weeks! How did that happen???
Anyway, off to be the teacher!
He's got the cutest lips!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...there is a light dusting of snow and more falling.

I am thinking...about our busy week, what plans to make for homeschooling and how to organise them and our sweet little niece in the hospital.

I am thankful for...my husband and the time we're able to spend with him right now.

From the learning rooms...Ethan is getting better and better at reading every day.

From the kitchen...there is a mess!

I am wearing...jeans and a sweater.

I am creating...sugar cookies soon and other Christmas baking.

I am going...to friends for lunch and to have a date with Perry tonight and to the hospital tomorrow.

I am reading...James Herriot.

I am hoping...to be able to finish everything I need to in the next week.

I am hearing...the Smurfs.

Around the house...we need to tidy.

One of my favorite things...hot chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I already mentioned some, also- my Aunt's 50th birthday party on Sunday, Perry is writing a test to get into the Boilermakers Union on Monday, we may be watching our niece for the week, we are having carpet installed on Thursday, which means I need to finish painting before that (but when?) among other regular everyday things!

i'm still here...

I have not been very good at blogging lately! The last three weeks have been spent living sometimes at our house and sometimes at Perry's brother's house with his family. Perry has been working at the plant that his brother works at Monday-Friday. He only comes home on the weekends and we go to stay with him about 3 nights a week. It is a little crazy, but we all get along really well. It's the kids who do most of the fighting. They have 3 girls and with our 2 boys we have 5 children under the age of 5! They usually get along really well, but what can you expect with so many small children?
Schooling is a little harder to do with our current circumstance, but I am pretty happy with Ethan's progress. In the last week he has started to sound out words so that he can write them on his own without asking how to spell things. He's done pretty well and we haven't even gotten to that point in his reading/writing lessons. So he's jumped ahead on his own. I'm seeing how many parents chose to unschool their children. That is essentially child led learning- it is amazing what children can do when you let them. Ethan was making 'machines' on the stairs today. He made a hot lava machine and a gumball machine. He was very proud of them!
We made pancakes for lunch today, which the kids really enjoyed.
I had some pics to share but my computer won't read my card...

tomatoes and the fair

Our first tomatoes from our garden:
We went to the fair last week with my sister and my nephew. We couldn't stay very long but the kids had a blast, they love rides! I can't wait until they are big enough to go to Cedar Point! We saw a sheep shearing, a cow milking and lots of animals and their babies.

menu plan Monday (on Tuesday)

*Monday
lunch- Tuna Salad Wraps (approx $4)
supper- Delissio Pizza (approx $6)

*Tuesday
lunch- leftover pizza
supper- spaghetti, cream corn, salad (approx $4.75)

*Wednesday
supper- Hamburger Helper, garlic bread, cauliflower+mushroom soup (approx $4.75)

*Thursday
supper- homemade chili (approx $10-11)

*Friday
supper- Campbell's Chunky soup, homemade dinner rolls (approx $4)

*Saturday
supper- pancakes, bacon, homemade bread (approx $4)

*Sunday
supper- grilled cheese (approx $4.50)

Not necessarily the healthiest list of food, but I am trying to clear out some of the food in the cupboards...

making bread and other things

Perry's 10 year old cousin stayed with us on Sunday night. She is really good with the kids, so it was pretty easy having her here. Maybe easier than when she's not. Although the kids were up 5:45 because they were in the same room...
We made bread yesterday. We baked one loaf and froze three, but I ended up giving A. the one we baked, so we'll be throwing one of the other loaves in the oven today. The kids love to make bread.

Because we had company yesterday, I didn't get everything accomplished that I wanted. We didn't read our Bible story for the week, but we did teach the kids their memory verse and song and we talked abut what the story will be. Ethan did his reading lesson and they both had some time to play reading games on the computer.
Today is going to be crazy, too. We have a Not Going Back to School Day at the park at 1pm, a baby sitter to interview at 3:30, a house to clean for Bible study tonight, lessons to do and the list goes on. Hopefully, it will all get done!
Tomorrow night the kids start Wacky Wednesday at the YMCA. They are excited to go back after the summer.