Start of a New Day!

Well, today is not starting out well. The kids are fighting and just driving me crazy!! If I'd had something to add to my coffee, I'm not sure I wouldn't have this morning! But we are now going to have to start school soon, and I am not looking forward to that since they don't seem to want to listen at ALL!

So, this morning Aiden drew a picture of Maverick and Starr getting married. He drew Maverick with a torso (as compared to just a stick figure). Maverick was wearing a red shirt and a green polka dot tie. Starr's hands were up by her shoulders like she was giving herself a hug. I asked "Why is Starr giving herself a hug?" Aiden answered "She isn't. Those are her dress muffins." I struggled not to laugh and asked the question "What are dress muffins?" His response (in a tone that questioned my sanity) "Those round things that are up by her shoulders. Ya know, dress muffins." Then Maverick told Aiden that he didn't like the picture cause he isn't that fat. Nice. I had to go in the other room and laugh. I really think Aiden's "dress muffins" are boobs (which is really what I thought they looked like but didn't want to straight out ask him that) but he apparently thinks they are part of a woman's clothing rather than a body part. The picture is proudly displayed in my kitchen where "dress muffins" can go down in history as a new fashion statement. HAHA!!

Well, gotta get school started which should be fun since listening is not a strong point for any boy today. :( If it gets too bad, I will have "dress muffins" to cheer me up all day...just thinking the word cracks me up!

Nothing much...

Nothing much is going on. But still trying to make this a habit.

Aiden did get to go coon hunting with my dad last night. He ended up spending the night so I don't know how it went. They don't use a dog so dad wasn't sure how it would work with only he and Aiden. Aiden had to hold the light on the coon while dad shot. It is hard to tell. We have so many coons around here that they shouldn't have been hard to find.

We all stayed home and watched Biggest Loser. We have friends over every Tuesday night and havea little party. We are trying to eat healthy while we watch. Last night we had "Stone Soup." I started a veggie soup base and everyone brought something to dump in. It ended up being REALLY good. Next week, we are having black bean, salsa burgers and a big salad. Yum!

I'm getting ready for a trip to Beachy's, the Amish grocery, on Saturday with mom. We are meeting my sister up there. We haven't gone in a while so I have cleaned out some cabinets to make a good (and long) list. I love love love going up there. Today I have decided to clean out the tupperware cabinet since things fall out when you open the door.

Oh, I am also listing some jewelry on etsy today. It is so much fun to make.

Gotta jet.

The Start of New Week!

Well, Monday has rolled around again and I can't say I'm thrilled. Shane was able to work from home on Friday because of the weather and that was nice. Now we are all back to the real world.

I am not doing so well with my exercising. I want to but I just don't want to get out of bed. I slept in again this morning so now I have to figure out how to get it done during the day. It would be so much better if I would just get up but yuck! Anyway, I'll get to it sometime today, I hope.

Shane has been reading Sea Chest in the Attic by Warren Hussey Bouton to the boys at night. They finished it last night. The boys loved the mystery of it! Shane did different voices and made it really good. We are going to start another one in the same set tonight I think. It is part of a set called "A Spooky Tale From Nantucket." We have 3 of them and I don't know if there are more. They were a great Christmas gift though. Thanks Uncle George!!

Yesterday afternoon we got to play in the snow. Doug and Lana had a big party on the pond. The big kids played ice hockey, some folks ice fished and I put on my ice skates after at least 5 years. I thought it had been 10 but Shane and I went skating at the ice rink in Champaign once so it hasn't been quite that long. Despite the snow on the pond, it was great to skate. I only fell once when I hit a pile of snow that someone had pushed altogether to clear off a spot for fishing. This morning my calves and abs are sore. It was quite a workout I guess. When we got home it was just after 5 and with it getting dark so quickly, I was ready for bed by 6:30...it was a long quite evening.

Well, it is time to get breakfast (what I we are going to have?) and get ready to start school. This week we are starting a 2 week unit on telling time. Also including days of the week and months of the year for Maverick (Aiden could really use the practice as well).

Yep, back to real life! Why does it sneak up on me every week?!?!? :)

New Adventure!!

I just listed my first item for sale on etsy.com. My best friend Cherish, my mom and I have decided to open up an etsy shop. Esty.com is a website selling only homemade or vintage items. I listed a diaper clutch today. Cherish has several crocheted items listed and mom will be listing aprons soon. I will also be listing jewelry in the next day or so. This is kinda fun and exciting!!

Come visit us at www.etsy.com/shop/NannyandCo. Of course, shop at our place but check out the other things that people are making. It is a great way to support stay at home mom's or people trying to do something different. Lots of originals and fun things on there.

Friday Post

Well, yesterday was a long day and I didn't get to write. We got several inches of snow and I lost my internet connection for a while...but I'm back!

Today to finish up our "all about me Unit," we looked at some self portraits online and are working on doing our own. They are all armed with a mirror and colored pencils. Aiden looked at himself in the mirror and said "Well, I can't do a picture of me looking like this. I've got bed head." So he started after he spent some time primping. It took several attempts but he is happy with his work at this point.

Maverick went straight to work using the "trace around my own head technique" It was funny to watch but he did a good job.

Griffin did a good job naming his colors as he picked them up to "draw" his "self portrait." We are going to practice writing our names, address, and phone number next. And put together our lapbook from the week.

Shane is working from home today because of the weather. His boss told him yesterday to work from home because of the chance of drifting snow. He is currently "hiding out" in our bedroom so he can get somethign accomplished. If he gets his stuff done early we will have some extra family time. YEAH!!

I have recently decided, due to certain events in my life, that I need to be done with facebook. I will not log off entirely because I am connected with some distant family and international friends through it. But I will not be on each day. It has become an unhealthy part of my life and I am doing my best to simplify. I also "unfriended" several people with the intention of simplifying further so that when I do check there is less to deal with. I sincerely hope that no one was hurt by doing this but it needed done.

OK, well, that's all folks.

Day Two!

What is it about the New Year that makes us want to make changes...small-big and all at once. I try to do so much it is destined to fail really. Well, anyway...so far so good. I worked out on the Wii Fit Plus again this morning and did my Bible devotion. All before the kids got up. Now 2 of the three are up and watching some PBS before we really start the day.

Another day in the "All About Me" unit. The boys did a great job with it yesterday. We are working on address and phone number. Yesterday we counted teeth and measured height and weight. We also counted fingers, toes, eyes, nose, and hair. We learned about estimation with our hairs and that God really does know exactly how many there are.

Last night was the Biggest Loser premiere. Some friends came over and we all watched it together and weighed in on the Wii (so we all know each others weights-YIKES! that is power!) I made little tracking cards and we are going to get together and watch and weigh in every Tuesday. So much fun!

Cherish crocheted me the cutest beret style hat and gave it to me last night. I absolutely love it! It is cute and warm and it shouldnt' give me "hat head" If you wanna see it and order one for yourself you can check it out at www.etsy.com/shop/NannyandCo. Also listed are some other styles of crocheted hats and some custom bean bags. I will be listing a diaper clutch/changing pad in the next day or so and beaded jewelry as soon as I get materials and get started. I'm starting with little girls bracelets for Valentine's Day!!! Mom (the Nanny in the group) is going to be sewing some really cute aprons as soon as she can get to it.

Well, gotta start the day!

I'm a slacker!

Well, only in blogging. Over Christmas, thought, someone mentioned that they had been keeping up with us until I stopped blogging so I thought I'd ring in the new year with an effort. That's all.

I need to go start school in a few minutes but I thought I would try to start today and do a little note now and then. Maybe no big posts but little notes.

Just before Christmas, I decided that our curriculum wasn't working well for us and I decided to stop using it. I really still like it and wish that it worked but it wasn't so over Christmas break I started working out a new plan. I am writing (with free help from the internet) unit studies for each week. In a few minutes we are starting our "All About Me" unit. This is from homeschoolshare.com and a Dr. Suess book that I had as a kid (and is still on my overloaded bookshelves).

We had a great Christmas with our family despite some unexpected sadness. It was wonderful to see everyone and to catch up. We were able to visit with family that we haven't seen in 9 years except for funerals. Shane's brothers had never met our boys and we all got together for Christmas. It was wonderful.

Well, it is time for school to start so I'll be back tomorrow. (I hope)