Less than two hours to go

Yes, my birthday is almost over, but that is ok, because it really was a great day and it has been a great birthday.

This morning I met a friend at Starbucks and we had two hours to ourselves, uninterrupted by one or more of 6 girls. It was a fun way to start the day.

Then I met my family at church. We came home, had lunch and dragged hubby to Home Depot. I bought some paint to redo my secretary. I have it half finished and I can't wait until it is all put back together. It's going to look great. I will definitely post photos when it is done.

Off to dinner at PF Changs. Oy, it was so yummy! Then I had a lovely piece of chocolate cake when I got home. Finally hubby and I went to see a chick flick. It was a perfect day.

Oh, and my photo shoot with my new friend Heidi was an experience that went beyond my expectations. Not only is she a great photographer, she is a great person, so warm and friendly. I know the pictures will be fun, and artistic, and just what I imagined. And on top of it all, it was a blast to see her place in real life. I've seen photos of the inside of her house but to see how it all fits together was fun. And her boys! Oh, how I wish I had me some boys like that. Cute does not cover it. Scrumptious almost does. She's put one photo on her blog, and I am just chomping at the bit to see the others, but yes she does have a life, and more important things to do, so I will be patient. Here is another that she sent me though---and you'll see more soon.

Susan

Birthday again...it comes once a year.

This Sunday is my birthday. For my present I have picked out a photo shoot with Heidi at Mt. Hope Chronicles. I will go see her tomorrow evening. I am just thrilled. She takes such beautiful photos and does wonders with photoshop. I'm counting on the wonders with photoshop part.

In a round about way she will be a part of my last two birthdays. Last year I went to Poet's Garden with my girlfriend. She and her sisters and mom had a little cottage shop with glorious home and garden decor. It has since closed it's doors, sadly. It was a such a beautiful place. This year I will revisit the location for the photo shoot. I'm very excited. I have my outfit all picked out.

For my actual birthday I have tossed different ideas around and have had a hard time coming up with an activity to settle upon. I was hoping to get out of town, but I can't decide where to go. And there is the issue of the kids. I want to be with them but I don't really want to hear "buy this for me", "can we go now", "you promised us an ice cream". So, I've decided to stay home, drag hubby to Home Depot, buy some paint, drag him home, make him take out some tools, fix up my secretary that I bought from Craigslist, and I will sand it down and paint it robin's egg blue. I already have the glass knobs for it and the decorative wood piece that will go on the drop down door. I'm tired of the ugly dark brown and since I can't move into my house anytime soon, I want to make this pretty.

Then it's to PF Chang's for dinner. I can't wait.
Susan

And the winners are...

The first winner is Holliehobbie. Congratulations!

The second winner is Katrina The Medical Student's Better Half. Congratulations!To claim your 16x20 Poster Print send me your email. Uprinting.com will contact you to give you info on how to claim your prize. Thanks for entering this giveaway. I hope there will be more to come.
Susan

I promised a contest...Uprinting Giveaway!

I have the opportunity to promote another giveaway similar to the one Chickadee had a few weeks ago.

I have often spoken of my inability to take great photos. Hey, I can hardly take a good photo. My daughter Belle on the other hand has proved to have the eye. You know, the one many good photographers have...to ability to see the world just a little differently, creatively, artistically. I would certainly not blow up any of my photos. In fact, it is rare that I even print them in a 4x6. Belle's photos however are blow up worthy. My new favorite is the one (posted below also) of Bobo's bare feet in the dirt. It speaks to me. This one I could have in a 16x20 poster print.

What would you blow up into a 16x20 poster print? What types of photos speak to you? Would they be of your kids, family, pets, nature? Get thinking because TWO of you are going to win a 16x20 poster print from Uprinting.com. This contest begins now and will run until Sunday. I will randomly select TWO winners on Monday and post them.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment telling me how you would use a 16x20 poster print.
2. Write a post on your blog linking the giveaway post and linking back to www.uprinting.com
( this will give you a second entry and a better chance at winning)
3. Link back to this post.
4. Make sure to leave another comment on my blog with your post url.
5. In your post include the Uprinting logo.
6. Shipping of prizes is free only in the US and Canada. All other locations get free product, but must pay shipping.

Good luck, and get searching for that perfect photo~

Susan

Classic

I saw a really cute idea online...can't remember where...of photos of your kids feet. Just their feet, and a series of them blown up, framed on the wall. Belle took this photo of Bobo and it is a classic. You see, I cannot keep shoes on her. She loves to go outside barefoot. I think I am going to have to hire Belle to do all the photography in the family from now on.
Susan

Contest

Ok, I said I would post a contest next, but this contest wasn't what I was going to post. So you'll get two contests in a row! How's that for cool.

Have you ever thought about teaching Latin? If not, you might now, with this great give away below.

**************

Rosetta Stone is the fastest way to learn a language and has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while — and you can WIN the *all new* version 3 Rosetta Stone Homeschool LATIN program… FOR FREE! This is the first year you can get Latin in the brand new Version III update.

This is a $259 program (and believe me it’s worth every penny!)
This is a computer based curriculum and Rosetta Stone will also include a headset with microphone, and a supplementary “Audio Companion” CD so you can practice lessons in the car, on the go, or where-ever! Students participate in life-like conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone incorporates listening, reading, grammar, vocabulary and writing along with speaking and pronunciation lessons. For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program to allow parents to easily enroll up to ten students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, grade completed work (the program grades the work automatically as the students progress- I love that!), and you can view and print reports for transcripts. Homeschooling a lot of kids at your house? This program is designed to enroll and track up to ten students (five users on two computers) and will work for nearly all ages — from beginning readers up to college students.

To win this most excellent Latin program copy these paragraphs and post them in (or as) your next blog post, and/OR link to the contest from your facebook page and/OR email the information to your homeschool support group – Then go to the original page http://Jeneralities.com and leave a comment saying that you’ve posted about, or have linked to, the contest. Please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post. And good luck!

***********************

So check out Jen's blog and enter this great contest.
Susan

A list of things

*Mother's Day was lovely.

*Hubby and I stained the fence this weekend and managed to get some yard work in.

*We have an open house on Saturday.

*We had a showing yesterday.

*My third (actually first) daughter went to the eye doctor and it turns out that she needs glasses too.

*If you child is having a hard time learning or struggles at all to learn to read or spell I highly recommend seeing an eye doctor...one who specializes in working with children and vision therapy. There is NO comparison. I know this because we saw an eye doctor last year, and twice for the oldest who complained of her eyes hurting her. His comment was that her eyes are fine...I have no idea why they hurt. Well, they were not fine, she has severe allergies (only in her eyes) and an infection due to the allergies. It probably started last year as she complained a lot about them hurting then...likely cleared up some...then came back with this allergy season.

*Scroll down for some books for sale.

*I'm really hoping we sell this house and I can move in July.

*I finished my first year in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). We studied the life of Moses and it was amazing. I really enjoyed the study, learned a ton and look forward to next years study.

*At the end of the month I'm going to see Heidi at Mt. Hope Chronicles and she is going to do a photo shoot of me. Yep--just me. It'll be my birthday present to myself. I'm really excited because she takes fabulous photos. Lucky for me she is only an hour away!

*Sorry for the boring post and format. I promise a contest next!

Susan

Photo Art

I took these top two photos but my daughter took the rest. I am pretty sure she is already a better photographer than I am. She has the eye, but I am not surprised. Art seems to flow in her veins and pours out of her hands.

Belle

Like Mother: Doing her BSF study.

Like Daughter: Doing her BSF study.


What do you do with the bottom of a pair of jeans? Turn them into a skirt for your AG doll.

Homeschool Book Sale

Welcome to my book sale. I hope you will find something you would like to have. I will describe each product and it's condition. Please click on the buy now button below each item to purchase it. It will take you directly to Paypal. Make sure to enter your mailing address when buying the item. To make things easier I will include the shipping price into the price I set. There will be no extra shipping when you get to paypal. Make sure to go to the Heart of the Matter to look at other sales going on this week. Also, it's not too late to put your books up for sale also. Directions are here.

Edit: It seems that none of my paypal buttons work. So sorry for the confusion. Leave a comment about what book you want and I will give you directions on how to pay me through paypal. I will mark books as sold when they sell. Thank you!

Item 1

These are Abeka Phonics cards. They are 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. They are in good condition, not perfect. Very usable. It is a full set. Perfect for the beginning reader.
$3.50

Item 2---SOLD

This is a book and chore system for one child. The book describes the philosophy of the author and the system they created. The bag comes with all you need to set up a chore system for one child. If you have more than one child then you would need to purchase extra materials for that. You can read more about Accountable Kids here.

$10.00

Item 3

A great science book. Average condition. Very usable. Lots of plant growing experiments and some recipes.
$3.00

Item 4

Easter thematic unit study for the preschool-1st grade child. Excellent condition. Coloring pages, activities, crafts, lessons for Easter and Spring.
$4.00

Item 5

Like new! Great condition. Learn your way through the Old Testament with this great activity book. I wish I realized I had this book this year as we studied the life of Moses. I forgot! New price is $14.95. But it from me for $7.00

Item 6

Use this great book from Greenleaf Press to study the Old Testament. Excellent like new condition. $11.95 new. Buy it from me for $6.00.

Item 7-SOLD

Another great activity book perfect for kids whole like to cut and tape/glue. Excellent condition, slight shelf wear. $12.95 new.
Buy it from me for $4.00

Item 8

Singapore Primary Math 3A Teachers Guide. Excellent condition, no writing, slight shelf wear.
$3.00

Item 9

Singapore Primary Math Level 3A Home Instructor's Guide. Excellent like new condition.
$6.00

Item 10

My American Journey: From Settlement to City with Benjamin Franklin
This book is beautiful. The illustration are fabulous. It is in excellent condition. Reads like a story with chapter. At the end of the book it has a section called Service: character Building with Benjamin Franklin. There are study questions for each chapter and what the bible says about that character. Beyond that there is a section on activities. This really is a great book for ages 8-14. Perfect if you are studying the Colonial times.
$5.00

Item 11

Brand New...excellent condition. Retails for $29.95
Sale price: $24.00

Thanks for looking. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Susan

Glasses

I'm so glad that wearing glasses doesn't carry the stigma it used to. I don't have to worry about the girls getting teased. Besides, how could anyone make fun of these two cuties?

Death

Last night Belle brought Bobo in to our room. She was sobbing. When I asked what was wrong she said she was scared because she kept thinking of dying. She didn't want to die. She wanted to stay here. She likes it here.

I know exactly how she felt. When I was a young girl I remember having the same thoughts/fears. I remember visualizing what the world would be like if I ceased to exist. Where would I go? What would happen to me? I didn't know about a soul back then, but somehow my little brain knew that ceasing to exist was not right. How can one exist and then not. It was very scary. Unfortunately I didn't have anyone to work out these fears/ideas with. I didn't share them with my mom. Besides, what could she have told me? When one does not believe in God, how can they answer questions like the ones I was having?

Fortunately for my daughter I was able to sit with her and comfort her with the love of Jesus. I told her about heaven. How it was such a wonderful place full of love and hope. No sadness, tears, or sin will reside in heaven. I explained how she should never fear of going there. We would all be there together someday and it will be wonderful. But I also explained why death exists. She didn't understand why people had to die. It didn't seem fair. She's right. It's not fair. But thankfully Jesus has given us an out. We can escape death.

I hope I have given her the right words. I know I was able to comfort her. I prayed for her. And when she asked if she could sleep with us, I said YES.

Susan

What are you doing this weekend?

We were supposed to put a sealer on the fence but it has been raining off and on since last night. We bought all the sealer though, so we are ready as soon as it dries up for a day or two.

Hubby and I ran some errands while the girls stayed home. They decided to play Little House today. Have I told you how much I love when they play Little House? I casually mentioned on the way out the door, if they felt so inclined to do chores while playing Little House, the dishwasher needed to be emptied, and the dishes loaded.

When we returned the dishwasher was emptied and the dishes were loaded, the floor was swept and mopped. My favorite!

Kids are playing quietly, hubby is reading, I just changed the toner cartridge in my laser printer. I've been out for a bit and it has been driving me crazy not having a printer. I use it all the time for school. Did you know those things cost over $70.00. Gee wiz, that is ridiculous.

In a couple of hours we go to my inlaws for my bil's birthday dinner. I don't have to cook. Love that! Thanks bil for having a birthday.

Hubby is making his way towards a horizontal position. I feel a nap coming on. I will be hemming a pair of his pants. Oooops, the kids are getting louder. Better sign off now.

Hope you have a good rest of the weekend.

Susan