Today we finally got the chickens butchered. It was funny to watch us. We had not done that since we were kids. Anyway, the chickens are in the freezer. My son was not too happy. He wanted to keep some chickens. We told him we would get some more in the spring. So he was fine with it then. My husband didn't work today as his truck is still broke down. But with diesel being over $4.00/gal. here, I think we may be finding another job. He has a job lined up but it will be a while and he might have to get a different (more expensive) truck. I hate the option of spending money to make money so I don't know if we will go that route. Jobs is so hard to find here. I am actually really concerned. Fuel and food is so high here. My in laws just informed me that they stopped at the local grocery store and milk was $4.19 a gallon. We go through over 4 gallon a week. I am now averaging about $110 a week for food and supplies and I am nervous about it going higher. We already limit our snack foods and meats. I know it is bad everywhere. I don't know how people with very low income are suppose to live. But the Lord will provide, he always has. On a finally note, Rep. Rahall from our state has entered legislation to have a national day for recognition of miners. GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!! Miners have risked their lives for years to provide the fuel that runs our great land. It is about time they have recognition country wide for a job well done.

Today was my mom's b-day. We went to lunch with her at Pizza Hut. The kids really enjoyed. My husband is looking for a new job. The job he has isn't going so great and he is looking for a change. In the trucking business, you never know what kind of job you have until you get right in the middle of it. I hope that things go good. He has a lot of stress on this job and he doesn't think it is worth it. Anyway, we were suppose to buthcher chickens today, but we ran out of time. I guess we will get to it tommorrow. I also was asked if I wanted to teach our children's Sunday school program. I am not sure about it though. I have a lot on my plate as it is and I am afraid it is taking on to much at one time. I wasn't really asked, it was more of the pastor's sister saying, hey, you are suppose to teach Sunday school this week. So, it bothered me a little that I wasn't actually asked, more like told. People tend to think if you are a SAHM that you have a ton of time on your hands. I guess I will just wait and see.

Hi, today is errand day. I am running a little late. So here is my menu for the week.
Tuesday-fish sticks and mac and cheese-our favorite
Wednesday-Salmon patties and fried tators
Thursday-my mom's birthday-unsure of dinner?
Friday-Italian chicken and mashed potatoes
Saturday-chicken fried rice with left over chicken from yesterday
Sunday-homemade pizza day

Breakfast vary and lunch is usually sandwich or left overs.
Well, I am off, after this cup of coffee;)

Making our first lapbook

We started our first lapbook today. We are doing one on dinosaurs. My son loves them, so I thought it would be a good place to start. We made the folder and colored some pics. We also read a book about dinos. Tommorrow, we need to run errands and will stop by the library and check out some more books on the subject. I hope this will be a new way to help record my son's progress in area other than language arts and math. We are also learning helping words from a list that a dear lady on Prairie Homemaker gave me. I really look forward to wrapping up the school year. We will be homeschooling through the summer although at a more relaxed speed. Well, duty calls. I have work that needs to be done.

Update on the school situation

Okay, I called HSLDA and the people there are great. I recommend any homeschooling family to join because they are so helpful. He informed me that I didn't have to follow public school's same curriculm. As long as I file a notice with the board and submitt my testing or assessment on time, I have done my part. My son just has to show that he is progressing well in his studies. He also said that if I have a hard time with getting a teacher to sign off on my son, to just give them a call and they will take care of it. Next year, I hope to just do the testing for him instead of the assessment. The board recommended that I not do testing this year, but I wish I had not listened to them. Oh well, you learn from a situation and move on. At least HSLDA has my back. Also, I did find the site words the school did recommend if I want to teach them to my son. One of the dear girls at Prairie Homemaker sent them to me. They are great girls and the forum is awesome. So Thanks!!!

Going to school

Tomorrow I have an appointment with a local school teacher who has agreed to look over my son's work this past year. She will be determining at the end of the school year if he passes to the next grade or not. I am soooo freaking out. I was recently told that he would need to know all of the "site words" that public k5 kids need to know. We use hooked on phonics, so we know some "site words" but he is learning to read through phonics. Well, this has sent me into panic mode. You know the panic you get sometimes when you have to explain to people that you homeschool and they look at you like it is some new crazy concept. It is as if they believe Adam and Eve attended Garden of Eden High or something. I just pray that she is nice and understanding. I looked over some of our state's CSO points last night. They are guidlines used to evaluate a student. My son is able to do all the guidlines except the site words. Phonics is just a totally different program. He is independently reading the books that are in the hooked on phonics program and he knows some "site" words, but I don't know how we will learn all of them by the end of the year. I didn't know the boe could even make me use their curriculm to meet their standards. As long as he is reading, what difference does it make how he learned too. Oh well, I'll find out tommorrow. Right now, I have to conquer Mt. Washmore Clothes.

I can see!!!!!!!!!

I went to the eye doctor yesterday. The bad news is my right eye is terrible. The good news is my left eye isn't that bad and the doctor gave me a sweet deal on glassses and contacts. I wanted the contacts, but he wanted me to have glasses so that it would be easier for me to just throw glasses on. So, I got the exam, 2 sets of contacts, glasses, and contact lens kit for a little over $200. I was amazed at the difference in everything. I have been begging my husband to let me paint the walls, but now that I can see, they don't really need it. I thought there were smudges all over the walls, turns out I'm just half blind and the walls aren't full of smudges. But, I am glad the doc got me to get the glasses because I tried forever to get the contact in my left eye and can't. I have the world's smallest eyes. After my eye started stinging and looking really bad, I decided to give it a rest for a little while. Maybe next time, huh. My husband is gone to the dentist today to get a tooth pulled that has been killing him. I hope they can pull it without any problems. He had chemo a few years back and it destroyed his teeth. We are wanting to save up money to get him some cosmetic dental care done. Well, I'm gonna go, I have a kitchen floor in dire need of a mop!!!!!!!!!!

Menu for the week

I usually go grocery shopping and run errands on Wednesday, but I have an eye exam today so I will go after the exam. Hopefully I can get some contacts today. I also have to go to the library and return some books and meet up with my mom there. I need to go to the dreaded Wal-mart. It is always so crowded there. Anyway, here is my menu for the week.

Tuesday-Chicken in the crockpot (already on) mashed garlic potatoes, corn on the cob.
Wednesday-Leftover chicken with barbeque sauce, rice and baked beans.
Thursday-Spaghetti, salad, texas toast
Friday-Spaghetti, salad, texas toast left overs ( yeah, we like spaghetti that much)
Saturday-Salmon cakes, fried potatoes
Sunday-homemade pizza

So, there it is. I needed to use up the chicken this week. I need the freezer space. Gotta go and get ready. Have a great day!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!!

Congrats, goes out to my little brother for being chosen for National Young Scholorship. Way to go!!!

Yesterday, was beautiful here. It was in the mid 60s, which is a nice change. I don't do winter weather very well. I am one of those that gets the winter blues. I need sunshine and warm weather. I need to be outside doing something. So of course, we spent all day outside yesterday. We planted 2 more apple trees, 1 peach, 2 pear, 3 grapes, and 10 thornless blackberries. I can't wait for them to grow. There is nothing like fresh fruit out of your own yard. My husband is wanting me to order 2 dwarf cherry trees and 2 drawf plums this week. With all of this planting, I am sooooo wanting to start up my garden. We love to garden, even the kids do. Okay, they usually just dig holes in the dirt, but hey it is a start. We are talking about extending it this year:) I also have great news. After a few months of better eating habits, more water, and kombucha, my husband's blood pressue has returned to normal. He was a little freaked out about it. He keep saying is that normal? Of course, he knows very well what a good blood pressure is, he was just in shock. So we are gonna monitor it closely and hopefully he can go off of the medication he takes, Praise God. Well, I am gonna get to work, this is gonna be a very busy week. Bye

Happenings on the Homestead

I didn't get to post yesterday, as we were busy. We planted some of the fruit trees that we had purchased. We also planted some grapes, again. We have never got the grapes to grow before, but maybe this year they will. If anyone knows a secret to planting grapes, let me know. We also helped my husband's friend put down some hardwood floor in their kitchen. We got home around 2:30 last night. So today we are just gonna hang out and relax. There will be plenty more to do this week.

New to me

Hi, I am so new to blogging, so be patient with me. The idea behind this blog is to help me be a better child of God, wife, and mother. I hope it will help me to identify areas that need improved and to keep a record of just how far we have come. I also hope to have other like minded women share areas of their lives that I can relate to and learn from. I hope to also be adding several new things to this blog as time permits. With that being said, I need to go check on the kids. They are playing in the kitchen sink again. And I bet I am out of dish detergent now!!!!LOL!!!!