4 Sweet Sisters

Does anyone recall me explaining the Sumo Diet? Go here and find out more. Unknown to me, I was following this lovely large plan. Ugh, yikes, I could scream were a couple of my thoughts and emotions. After I got over the initial shock and horror. I became terrified. Yay , I over did it. I was a afraid to sit down for fear of being sedentary. Don't worry, it didn't last long. I REALLY did not want to low carb diet anymore. Especially when we eat really healthy, preservative free and organic. Calorie counting at this point in my life would take an enormous amount of thought and time (although I'm still holding on to the idea- it's falling further back in my mind) So I've prayed and swam and swam while I prayed, yelled, screamed and shed a few tears. (You can do all that under water without people noticing - I think) Finally after having my rant I knew what I was supposed to do. The hardest of all weight control solutions out there! Eat when I'm really hungry...

Before studying creation we are jumping ahead to Egypt so when we go back to Creation we will hopefully see a bigger picture. Errrr , I think. Anyway, I have majorly balked at teaching the Ancient World because (excuse coming) other than Biblical spots ( i know, I know it's all wrapped together) I really have no desire. But the children must still learn! Even if I never learned any of it, maybe that's another reason (excuse). Note to self- maybe you're feeling out of your comfort zone- ouch! Did I just write that? The good thing is my Chickadees are totally wanting this! They are gobbling it up and know more than I'll ever know about Egypt (yes I'm studying with them- but they read even further than I do). We are doing this unit study style so there are plenty of projects. Last week we made cookie maps and drew pictures of pyramids and sphinxes. This week we made crowns that stand for a United Egypt (that would Upper and Lower Egypt after a Pharaoh Narmer conquered...

This a true confession, but I think I may have already confessed it before. During the school day I can sometimes get a bit crabby or my expectation may be a bit high (or right on) and it comes out in exasperation with my chickadees. Starting ToG has added a bit more. Although I think we're getting the swing of things. Well when theses times arise I usually step away from the school table and over to the counter. I then throw myself into something relatively creative. Usually cooking, planning projects for the holidays, or dare I say deep cleaning the kitchen. Today was just that sort of day! Farm Girl was getting tense and I was WAY past tense. So before exploding or imploding I decided we needed a fresh batch of cookies. We are usually a plain Jane chocolate chip kind of family, but today I needed more. Chunks of chocolate, raisins, cranberries, white chocolate, or nuts galore! So I pulled out a bag of BOGO Dove dark chocolate and pecans. My next thought was homemade vanilla (t...

The girls are begging me to post. I've got nothing, nada , zip, zilch... We have been hitting the new school year hard and I feel that's all I know how to talk about. I could talk about my reasons for liking a mixture of text books and unit studies. If you don't homeschool you may be bored out of your gourd! On that subject (not gourds), learning is changing in our home. We (they) are digging deeper to learn and having to find a lot more on their own this year. I want as much of it to stick as possible and have a bit of fun while doing it. We are working out the kinks of Tapestry and really enjoying Spelling Power/English from the Roots/English. Okay, I'm really enjoying them. And you know the old saying, "If momma ain't happy ain't no body happy". The weather (oh how boring) is cooling off a bit (low 80's) for evening. We've been outside with the chickens and breaking down the old garden. We hope to move it for an October planting in the nex...

Do ever feel like you haven't a thing to say? Yes, your world is whirling around you at great speed but you're in slow motion? I feel like that. We have a hefty week of club meetings and just plain old school. We've got hormones and a bit of frustration flying. I'm happy to report there has been no blood shed (just kidding). I can see everything coming together in most areas. My planning this whole summer was not for nothing. The Little Chef said this morning, " Let start school. Let's rock this!" (Not sure were she picked up that lingo.) The older girls are enjoying their intro to Greek and Latin. (I think they will need more in depth next year.) And the tape recorder was a big hit. I've been told I'm so awesome more times than I can count (can't let that go to my head). The Little Chef asked how the lady on the machine knew her and her sister's name. Very funny! So other things have fallen to the wayside. Garden, I need to plant my brocco...

Well I tried up loading our daily schedule for the world to see, but it said it was corrupt and/ or unreadable. I pray we have more ease in following it! Highlights in learning this year: Little Chef - 100 easy lessons, Saxon 1st grade (half year w/ Urban Girl), Tapestry of Grace y1, science readers (on tape) and Moody science videos Farm Girl - Spelling Power, English from the Roots Up, R&S English, Saxon 3, Tapestry of Grace y1, oral reading w/ Urban Girl, La Clase Devertida w/ School Girl, Johnathan Park Aquarium and Zoo series and Moody Science videos School Girl - Spelling Power, English from the Roots Up, R&S English, Saxon 6th grade w/ Dive, Tapestry of Grace y1, Observing God's World (science), La Clase Devertida (Spanish) Urban Girl - Beyond Phonics, English from the Roots Up, Notgrass' World History- Literature, Writing and Bible, Apologia Chemistry (yikes!), Math -U- See Review all Algebra and go from there..., Health (AO), Driver's Ed, and help with...

Okay, this is a rather silly but (i feel) a frugal tip. Rain. The Lord's water faucet. His way of refreshing the world and giving it a good drink!Errrrrrrrrr a bath? I have to admit I was a bit surprised when Superman broke out the shampoo last Saturday afternoon. See, I look stunned! Everyone thought that was neat and decided to give it a try. I wonder in Laura Ingalls would yell, "Manly it's raining. Get a hunk of soap!" I prefer to think back to the pioneers and what they went through and might have thought. Superman was concerned it was a bit to backwoods, dare He say Redneck! Hey, he started it:) Here on the suburban farm we use a rain barrel. I never thought I would do something so "earth friendly", but being in 4-H has given us that opportunity. We would actually have more if we had gutters! Our barrel stores about 60 gallons of water. You can get them smaller and prettier. We went through 4-H and took a class. The total cost was $35 and hav...

Have you ever read about the Sumo Wrestler's diet and how he trains? Well in my morning reading (which doesn't happen as often as I like) I started a book by Laurette Willis entitled , Strengthening Your Body and Soul: Basic Steps to Godly Fitness. I've had this book for a couple years and tried her alternative to Yoga work out. I liked it, but wasn't quite ready for it. Anyway on the third page of chapter one she goes into the Sumo's diet. I was soooooo distraught. I'm on that diet!!!! Not totally, but pretty darn close! Go here if you want to read up on it. I did a small search and found out it's true......ugh..... I've been working my buns off in the pool to no avail! ( i've seen a lot of strengthening and a couple of inches- but not what should be happening.) For years I've been trying to figure out why I gain weight when I exercise. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm talking 5 to 10 pounds (muscle gain) and then staying ther...