tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69379850597870215162011-11-27T18:46:29.116-05:00Postings on a variety of topics, including but not limited to budgeting, homeschooling, being bored, step-parenting, parenting in general, public school, substitute teaching, my husband, housecleaning, probably not recipes since I rarely cook, favorite tv shows - including cooking shows, which only make me hungry but rarely inspire me to cook, and anything else that my children, daily life, or web surfing inspire me to write about.Janenoreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-876432805861697682010-12-20T10:29:00.003-05:002010-12-20T11:02:09.912-05:00

In this post, I warn you now, I will detail, for my own sake, the many things on my mind today. My post may wander, twist, and wind in unforeseen and illogical directions. This is your warning ... no one is forcing you to read this!First off, I have to go to the dentist today. #1 - I hate leaving the house on Mondays, and #2 - I hate going to the dentist. I have to drop the kids off at a friend's

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-6559312638088605132010-10-18T18:03:00.003-04:002010-10-18T18:16:00.457-04:00

So, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to give Classical Conversations a try. Good choice for us! It is a good fit. It's pricey ... like paying private school tuition, but I was looking for what was best for MY kids and this seems to be it for this year. (Next year is to be seen.)So, my dad passed away on July 8th. 'Scuse the language, but that sucked. But, it solidified the relationship

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-50036146681531191832010-04-25T06:45:00.003-04:002010-04-25T06:49:15.233-04:00

We've been using Math-U-See so far this year. I've purchased 3 levels, all too easy for my kids. Unfortunately, this program is geared more toward children whose strength is NOT math. I think Math-U-See is a great program and I have recommended it to others. But it is not for us. My children excel in math. So, this week I purchased Saxon. I can't wait to start!

Janenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-88704149844003597592010-03-14T14:31:00.003-04:002010-03-14T14:39:08.589-04:00

Well, out of that November post, I only have one update I care to share: regarding my dad's liver resection. It didn't happen. :( They started the surgery only to find that the tumor had grown in a different direction and had attached itself to his colon. It's now 4 months later. The last measurement of the tumor showed it to be about 11 cm (huge). He's now in pain, which he wasn't before. He

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-33685030171968577482009-11-04T08:09:00.004-05:002009-11-04T08:45:40.373-05:00

I hate to wish a single day away. What joys and blessings might I miss along the way?But I do so wish November was just over and I already knew the results of all that is to come this month.Here's the lineup:Nov. 9 - My only sister is having a hysterectomy. She is 48.Nov. 10 - My husband is traveling to Mexico for work. We live in Ohio.Nov. 13 - He hopefully comes home this night. This is also

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-39830977941103571502009-10-25T09:33:00.003-04:002009-10-25T09:36:35.954-04:00

Today, my dad is 73-years-old. Quite an accomplishment, just making it that far, given his history.We will be celebrating at Mom and Dad's this afternoon.Then, on November 17th, he will undergo a liver resection, removing the left lobe of his liver, which includes a large tumor.I read a little bit about liver resection this morning. It sounds very positive. I believe he will come through fine,

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-89337463165466496612009-10-19T19:00:00.003-04:002009-10-19T20:13:31.570-04:00

... and how I hate them! {{Beware! Long story, not made short!}}Before anyone can understand how a day can get so off track, you first must know the dynamics I'm working with here:In total, we have 5 children. I have two from my first marriage who are 18 and 16. They are responsible, well-rounded individuals who have taken ownership of their educations, despite being brick-and-mortar kids all

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-18457144519724990912009-10-13T13:59:00.002-04:002009-10-13T14:07:45.021-04:00

We're first-year homeschoolers. We're still figuring out our style and philosophy. I'm currently checking out lapbooking and unit studies. I feel like I've done nothing since mid-August but research homeschooling methods, ideas, philosophies, styles, blogs, websites, and I've probably checked out 200 books from the library!My mind is spinning, and I'm doing more research than the kids are

Janenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-27952010743037894402009-09-29T10:22:00.002-04:002009-09-29T10:40:41.880-04:00

Dad came through his surgery ok, but later that evening he had an oxygen crisis. Apparently he had a reaction to some medication they gave him. On top of that, they did a chest x-ray and found pneumonia.When we went to the hospital, we didn't know:#1 - if they were going to remove his gall bladder;#2 - if he'd be staying the night.#1 - No, they didn't. The doctor said that each time he touched a

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-82492114101418412772009-09-28T06:05:00.003-04:002009-09-28T06:13:22.691-04:00

Dad is having surgery today. They are supposed to be doing another surgery on his liver. This will be #3. Last time they froze the smaller tumor with cryoembolization. Today, I don't know what it's called, but they will "microwave" the same tumor because the cryo didn't get all of it last time.If he's well enough, the doctor also might remove his gall bladder.I'm not feeling very confident this

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-13695350369129607332009-09-09T00:01:00.001-04:002009-09-09T00:01:00.504-04:00

Being new to homeschooling, it's taking some getting used to. My kids play together really well, but have a habit of *gasp* of making a mess as well. We get all that fun literal schooling out of the way early in the day, and then they have hours to think creatively until Dad comes home.We school at the table in the morning, mostly clear that "out of the way" for lunch, then move mostly to the

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-24057246859404810782009-09-02T00:01:00.007-04:002009-09-02T12:01:15.230-04:00

Never Run Out Again! We have a 6-year-old bedwetter. He's a heavy sleeper, and we've been sleep-deprived for so long thanks to his older sister, we still haven't tried the idea of waking him up in the night to see if he can get all the way through -- dry.  Call me lazy, call me stupid, just don't call me in the middle of the night. Sue me, I'm tired.Some nights he DOES make it through, and wakes

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-83430803357349792492009-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:002009-09-01T20:13:06.815-04:00

Multiplication Ideas My 8-year-old, Annie, started learning multiplication last year in 2nd grade at public school. Now I must admit, I seem to be raising math geniuses. I'm not bragging (much). I did not grow up with the same math skills that my children have, but of the 4 I've given birth to, it just seems to come naturally to them. Of course, maybe it could have something to do with the fact

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-49035426693453555632009-08-31T10:36:00.006-04:002009-08-31T11:13:04.023-04:00

Thanks to Kris' blog at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers I have found links to so many useful homeschooling sites and the answers to so many questions. Since we are new to "official" homeschooling (I've supplemented my children's brick-and-mortar educations all their lives), I have spent a considerable amount of time lately doing research into different homeschooling styles, and trying out

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-59704271518453594812009-08-20T09:37:00.002-04:002009-08-20T10:01:20.603-04:00

School in August? Are you kidding me??It's hot, it's humid, and we're feeling significantly lazy. (Am I wrong, or aren't these called the "dog days of summer"?)Besides, I supplemented their brick-and-mortar education last year (last year? as in 2008-2009 school year ... which, incidentally, is really still this year, right?) with so many extra educational activities, they must've had at least a

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-22365221768389213202009-08-16T22:08:00.002-04:002009-08-16T22:22:07.148-04:00

I've read blog posts about how homeschoolers and unschoolers feel it's utterly ridiculous to think that a child could "fall behind" in school if school is closed for an extended amount of time due to weather, or if one particular child has to miss school for a period of time.And at first, I agreed. That's true (I thought!) ... how can a child "fall behind" when each new day presents another

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-18178906520419198402009-07-27T13:20:00.002-04:002009-07-27T14:32:33.921-04:00

My daughter is 8 years old. She is the 4th out of 5 children. The older 3 are quite a bit older. As a matter of fact, her oldest sister is 10 years older than her. Annie is somewhat less mature than her peers due to the fact that she is one of the "babies" of the family, and she doesn't watch shows like Hannah Montana, etc, and because she has had enough anxiety in her 8 years to keep her

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-66801981422509289912009-07-09T17:06:00.003-04:002009-07-09T17:18:30.764-04:00

Ugh. When we decided this past Spring that we would start homeschooling this Fall, I didn't anticipate the arranging and rearranging of furniture that I would be doing all Summer.Garage sale desk in ... moved here, moved there, moved out.Couch sideways across the living room to split the room into two parts: the living room part and the classroom part. Nope, couch hides all the mischief the kids

Janenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-7276012915229965442009-06-23T09:18:00.005-04:002009-06-23T10:27:56.128-04:00

My 8-year-old and I are having a hard week. And it's only Tuesday.My two-youngest, Raggedy Anne and Andy, are my second set of kids. I was married once before, and have two children from that marriage. Caity just turned 18 on Saturday, and we're doing a dance of independence ... her enjoying her newfound independence, and me learning to get along independently, without her childcare support

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-58638408479840429392009-06-16T17:29:00.005-04:002009-06-16T17:35:30.177-04:00

Wow, wasted a lot of time finding this, when I should've been getting ready for Vacation Bible School, but it was worth it finding this ONLINE Homeschooling Expo! I really can't afford to travel for something this extensive, so I am thrilled to find something I can attend ONLINE!!! And it's sooo cost-effective, I can't pass it up!http://tinyurl.com/nvvgy4Yea for wasted time!!!! ;)

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-91022682259364651562009-06-16T15:01:00.006-04:002009-06-16T15:22:56.694-04:00

I need to set up a new budget. We've budgeted for a while now, and I'm pretty good at it. However, we got to a point where I didn't have time to work on it, we were paying all the bills and extra on our last credit card without me needing to log it all in, we had extra income for 5 months which meant we wouldn't get into any trouble if we kept living our normal lives, so I had stopped

Janenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937985059787021516.post-39266027332748960572009-06-16T13:31:00.000-04:002009-06-16T13:48:55.955-04:00

I think I should put it out there right away that I am not really Betty. My name is Jane. How boring is that? I guess if I'm going to write a boring blog, I could actually go with my boring name of Jane, but that ruins the alliteration effect for my catchy blog title.Yeah, the blog title. That was hard. Considering the number of themes I will probably write about, I had a hard time coming up

Janenoreply@blogger.com0