Another Thursday Successfully Executed

First a whine...it was 33* this a.m. when I got in the car to go workout. It has been in the 30's most the day. This is COLD for down here....mainly because we don't have winter gear. ::snort:: I have been thinking all day how dreadfully cold it must be for friends in VT, NH, SD, NE, OH, NY, ME (Lisa - is that MAINE?). ::snort::

I was a bit late getting to the gym so only fit a 45 min workout in...but I showed up.

We got 90% of my plan done in school this a.m.

I went out to lunch with Amy. I met Amy at our local Rehab (speech therapy). We have a mutual friend and she had been reading this blog. She put the name together with the faces one day at Rehab. ::snort:: Amy was gracious to answer many of my Weight Watcher questions. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing with FOOD. More about that some other time. I had a great time Amy. BTW I did a search for points of Tortilla Soup and it said 8 - I should have had the potato! ::snort::

Jamin was able to drive he and Jared to House of Faith today. I love the ease of having another driver in the house.

We had piano lessons. I worked on projects during this time.

Jared had a basketball game tonight. They won. He made baskets. I yelled - but not REAL loud tonight...it's easier to yell loud when you aren't winning by 47 -8. I was so impressed with the tenacity of the team they played. Ummm....can you tell I like to root for the underdog? ::snort::

All but Jared are in bed. Mike will be home Saturday.

I've fallen down on my photographic duty - not one photo today.

WAIT - I did find one.....cute SACHSA Saint fans

Well.....this new routine has forced me to SET THE ALARM - something I've not done for years. I'm getting up earlier and earlier until I hit on a time that allows me an hour Tryst with Jesus, an hour to work out, time to fix and eat breakfast with the kids, shower and start school by 9:00 a.m. We don't really LIKE time schedules around here....but it's what I have to do until the routine is second nature.

All that to say that I'm TIRED and I'm going to go to bed, read a bit and fall asleep to the sounds of Red Green....not quite as great as Mike's snoring but a close second. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Valentine's Day - ALREADY?

Yes, it is way too early for this template. The Cutest Blog ladies are still having server problems and I'm ready for a bit more bling. I have learned to save the widgets before updating from here on out. ::snort::

They loaded a few templates on their blog and this one will work. I don't want incredibly busy, I like a simple middle area (so you can read it easier), I like 3-D elements, and having dealt with the blue this past week I discovered I like the darker colors to make the photos pop....but I personally like a brown/tan/damask one on their blog better - just doesn't look as nice with the photos. LOL

All that to say that I've not really joined corporate America's rush to the next holiday. ::snort::

Now off to a basketball game. While I was praying about it this a.m. the dish drainer strangely fell off the counter causing a huge clang. The kids are trying to figure out if God was upset that I was praying about something so "frivolous" or if it is a bad omen. I'll update you later. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Teamwork in Homeschooling

Who says children educated at home don't have the opportunity to work on "group projects"? ::snort::

Zander HATES coloring.....oh such pain I inflict on my child.

Stacia loves coloring. She discovered his phonics book and is coloring it for him....sometimes with bright pink - sometimes with a pencil.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Bre's Big Week....Last Week....

She chose a new hair color, *started a new job, and received official notice that she's been accepted as a Junior at Eugene Bible College.

New job - CHOCOLATE store in the MALL. She loves it. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Insanity on the Stability Ball

Before Mike left this a.m. he put more air in my stability ball. I've been debating what to do about this "Phase Thing".

(This is not me. This is not my house. This is a replica of MY stability ball.)

Phase 1 helps you establish a regular workout routine, drink water and eat breakfast. I'll write about THAT later. ::snort:: I pretty much had that down.

Phase 2 asks you to add strength training, to identify and conquer a weak food area and to keep a food log. I already keep a food log and began my own personal Lent last week. I decided to move into phase 2. Phase 3 is to make food boring and I'm simply not ready for that. Since one of the 5 elements of the brain change is being truthful, I'm going to hang out here (and I need to spend 4 weeks depriving myself of my weakness before I move on anyway) until I'm ready to make food boring. ::snort::

I've had a hard time finding TIME to add strength to my cardio - and I've proven over and over that my sluggish body NEEDS 60 min of cardio to maintain or lose any weight......but Chantel (see review below - it's not to late to enter) has workouts that take 25 minutes in Never Say Diet. I have a ball and can do this at home.....so.....

Mike blew the ball up bigger - it was really flat. I tried the work out tonight....It's harder than it looks. ::snort:: Though that may be because Stacia delights in jumping on top of my tummy while I try to do some sort of ab walk out...abs walk? Hmmm....mine roll.

I did great until I hit this exercise:

(This is not me.) This hurt my aging knees BAD. The next was a wall lunge (couldn't find a photo) and it hurt terribly too...... I know that I have to baby my knees. I do not want to re injure the thing and be out of cardio for months.....but what can I do instead of these wall squats and lunges to work those muscles without hurting my knee. Ideas?

To prove I'm NOT a wimp, I ignored the wimpy wrists and did the "push ups" - they hurt too - but not as bad. ::snort::

In other news I bought a digital scale as those little lines are simply too far away at 5:30 a.m. It is a fancy thing but I can't figure out how to make it work. ::snort:: According the scale I have now and the one at the gym I lost 2 lbs last week. My grace-filled goal is 3 lbs a month.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Nolan's Knight Book

Nolan asked me yesterday if we could just make his Knight Book without the fancy folds. ::snort::

Here he stands with his finished product!

Yes, I'm going to share a dozen or so photos...because these are a LOT of work and this represents the completion of our study on the Middle Ages. We have moved on to the Renaissance. I have noticed that Arielle is spending a lot of time hanging around this week. She says she's bored.....we can't have THAT. Bored with the Renaissance? I need to find out what is going on and possibly pull her in to some of our activities. But you want PICTURES - don't you? ::snort::

I love this game. It's a pocket with various historical events on cards. They put them in order. I would LOVE to find some history cards pre-made that I could purchase and use to "play timeline games" . Anyone know of such a thing?

....and what about Zander's Knight Book? HIS is the book that will be in the "double folded" lapbook. I didn't have rubber cement (and can't find any yet) and so I used Elmers. I put it under heavy books to dry but it was still bubbly.

Remember my wonderful husband who carves pumpkins with power tools? He's cracked me up again. He had just the thing for Zander's lapbook.

ANY PROJECT CAN BECOME A BUILDING PROJECT! ::snort::

Zander's folder is in the vise in the garage. We'll probably work on it tomorrow - wait tomorrow is THHHHHHHuuuurrrrrsssssday - probably Friday.

Nolan informs me this is the THIRD lapbook we've finished already this year. One on the election, one on Christmas Symbols (which we began in 2006 - do you see WHY he's so impressed with our current track record?) and this one on knights. I guess he forgot about my very own lapbook compiled with political cartoons of Sarah Palin. ::snort::

You can see more of our lapbooks at Our Lapbooks Page.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

In the Hands of a Child - Kit Pack - Sale Announcement

*This is the 4th or 5th small homeschool business I know that is deeply affected by the upcoming passage of CPSIA. Jeff and Kate Estes are discontinuing the sale of their Hands & Hearts History Discovery Kits. I LOVE these kits. This legislation means well but I don't believe the consequences of the bill were clearly thought out. Kate Estes has written more about the act, including steps you can take to get this ammended here.

Please note I've never used In the Hands of a Child's Kit Packs....If you have used these would you care to comment as to the difference between a project pack and a kit pack? If I buy a kit pack, why would I need the matching project pack? I AM looking for lapbooks for the rest of this year. LOL

Without further comment....below is a letter from In the Hands of a Child:

January 12, 2009

Dear Valued Customers,

Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.

While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!

Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!

This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Once they are gone, they are gone!

In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.

Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale.
Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.

DO YOU HAVE A BLOG? YOU CAN RECEIVE A FREE KIT PACK!

Help us spread the word by posting the above notice on your blog. Then place an order for at least 1 Kit Pack, email us the link to your blog where the notice is posted along with your order number and your choice of Kit Pack and we’ll add it to your order. How easy is that?*

*Please note customer is responsible for shipping costs for free Kit Pack, shipping will be combined with original order if email is received same day as order is placed notifying us of blog posting

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.