Understanding Elections, an easy way to teach it.

In our house, we watch the news.  Sometimes it is overwhelming and we (even the adults) don’t understand how the United States government is run.
Some of the questions my eldest had while watching the Primary coverage are:

• Why doesn’t the democrats have a primary?
• Do the states that have early primaries really matter?
• What is the main difference between the parties?
• What does this have to do with us?

So glad he voiced his concerns – the teacher in me went happy and did a little dance.  Thrilled with the opportunity to learn together and so I started researching.

Cue the dramatic music:

I found an ELECTIONS Lapbook. 

Photo:  Homeschool Share Elections

Okay, this is so exciting – if you have not a clue about lapbooks they are my lifesaver.  I will put away ALL other curricula for a day of lapbooking.  My kids learn what is important and relevant to them. 

Lapbooking is like a scrapbook of one subject.  There are tons of resources and no right or wrong way to do them. 

We work as a team and learn together.

• My youngest two – will do all the coloring.
• My eldest does the research and the writing parts.
• My decorator will put it in a file and organize it according to color fashion.
• The teacher sits back and watches the most amazing thing happen – her little children work as a team with smiles.  Yippee!  Hooray!  Whohoo!
• Not to mention – sweet memories!  (And something to show Dad at the end of the day!)

Are you staying up to date with the elections?  
I have a feeling we will be after this lapbook.   


Plus we are having a mini-field trip to Austin (our state capital) and get an upfront look at how are state is run.  I love teaching and being able to make things become alive!


Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Toys that bring Tears

My eldest was not the easiest baby to comfort. 
He was just – how do I say this…spoiled. 
Now let me just clarify –
I, his mother, am admitting that I spoiled him – and spoiled him rotten. 
(At least the first couple of years of his life.)

He cried – I picked him up.
It was more like he whimpered – I picked him up.
He whined – I picked him up.
He pretended to whine – I picked him up.
He needed a nap – We both took one.
He acted hungry – he ate.
He was wanting a book – he got read to.
He wanted to take a walk – we went for a walk.

Did I mention – I was a first time Mom?
I had never been around children.
I had NO one to show me what I was supposed to be doing.
Then his world came crashing down – I got pregnant with his little brother.

I couldn’t do "his everything".
He had to learn to make himself content.

He had to learn to play by himself.
He had to learn to cry a little longer.
He learned to ask for a snack.
He went to bed at bedtime.
He learned to read faster than my other kids.

And guess what?

We both survived. 

Last time we were at my Mom’s house – we found Elisha, the toy alligator.
Elisha had been a part of those first couple of years. 
We couldn’t leave the house without him.

Before Elisha there had been a smaller version – Elijah.
Not sure where Elijah went to or if it even survived.

To this day, those days were so precious for him and me.

We both learned so much.
Babies are selfish creatures.
Adults are selfish creatures.
You never know how much -  until you have a child of your own.

My son is now a teenager.
Yesterday, he was explaining to me about the Kings in Queen Esther’s time or at least trying to - I had little interest.
He takes joy in learning about airplanes and studying anything related to history.  He now takes the dog for a walk – on his own.

 

I take joy in knowing that he loves the Lord and wants to serve Him. 
I pray that all my children will continue to seek Him in all their ways.

Some toys will always mean more than others to me.

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Make-Up Prayer for Husbands by Wives (Re-Post)

This past week has been hard. I've been sick. Not just a little sick, but didn't want to get out of bed for anything, sick. My wonderful husband, took up all the slack, with NO complaining.

Today is his first real day back to work. I'm so grateful for him.

He has changed numerous diapers, made me potato soup, made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the rest of the gang, finished all the laundry, kept a clean kitchen, homeschooled, mowed grass, gave baths, took the dog to the vet, went grocery shopping, took me to the Dr., made more soup, still worked his "real" job from home, and just was a happy trouper.

All this time, I was so sick I knew he was there, but did not realize the magnitude that he was doing. I really appreciate and love him!

This past summer, I had a dear friend go "home" to be with Jesus. At her funeral, her husband, shared a prayer that she prayed as she put on her makeup every morning.

This is my version:

• As I apply the foundation, I pray that my husband remembers his foundation and to stand on the Word of God as he is in the world.W

• When I apply shadow to my eyes, I pray that he would see as God sees. Not evil but good.

• When I glide the lipstick across my lips, that he would speak the Word of God and be a blessing, not a curse. He would tell people of a Hope and Peace, not of this world.

• When I put on earrings or perfume behind my ears, that He and I would not only be hearers of the Word but doers as well.

I pray that this helps to remind someone to pray for their husband. They truly need our prayers!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!


(Just a note:  This has been a re-post from 2008.)

©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com

Changes for ilovemy5kids

I’ve been writing on this blog since August of 2008.

It has been and will continue to be a journey.

Blogging is not always easy.  It takes time.  

I have learned how to write html.  If a dot or quote is missing, then you could make your entire blog look out of joint.  It can be very tricky – like making a dessert without sugar.

 

I use the free server from Google called Blogspot. It has changed so much over the last 4 years.  Blogspot is NOW more advanced than ever!  In the past, I had to learn the hard way (playing with HTML) to make ilovemy5kids blog look like it does now.  Now they have a template that does it for me.  (Isn’t that the way life works?)

It wasn’t a simple task.  It took months of research and reading HTML from other sites to get just where I wanted it.  

All that jargon to say – I finally bought my domain. 

In other words – the name of my blog.  

This is something most “beginner bloggers” do at the beginning.

I’m slow in making decisions such as this.

Very slow.

Eventually, I plan to move my blog to another host.  And yet design a more user friendly blog. But, that takes money and time.  Two things that I plan on having in the future.  The very far far far future. 

(If you would like to contribute please click on the BlogHer ads or buy your Amazon groceries through my link on the sidebar.  I know Shameless Plug.)

Since I opened up a new can of worms and now will be learning a new ball game, I thought I should officially announce that the new name is:

www.ilovemy5kids.com

Yep, so change your bookmarks to the new site name – www.ilovemy5kids.com not www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com.

Even if you do not change it – it is supposed to re-direct you to the new page.  But, it has been having some hiccups so I thought I would just share it with you!

I also will start writing time to time for The Happy Housewife in the DIY section.  And of course, I’m still contributing at The Homeschool Post – like this past week – How the Olympics Changed Me.

The Lord is so faithful during these times.  I’m so unworthy.  He gave me a wonderful understanding husband who encourages me in everything I put my hand to.  He gave me five blessings that just bless my heart daily.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my meanderings.  

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Hot Chocolate that is GOOD for you!

So, we have been on a serious diet.  The South Beach Diet to be exact.
Both the hubs and I have lost weight.  We are getting weak though.

We I wanted chocolate.

So I made this…low fat, low calorie, no sugar, dark hot chocolate.
Yeah, I know…low fat and good – they don’t match up.
But, this was soooo yum!



Hot Chocolate
Adapted from Hershey’s Hot Chocolate

• 1 packet of Truvia
• 2 1/2 teaspoons HERSHEY'S DARK CHOCOLATE Cocoa
• Dash salt
• 1 cup Almond milk

I mixed all the ingredients and put in the microwave for about a minute.
Stir really good.
Then ENJOY the goodness without guilt.

I sipped with a smile.

Free to Pin on Pinterest!
Pin It



Yum!
Blessings to you!  You are loved!

This Works for Me!

A Pig Farm Field Trip

Back in the fall – we visited a friend’s Pig Farm.

Oh my.  Think Charlotte’s Web.  Think Wilbur.  Think Stinky.

I wish I could say they smelled like roses.  Or bacon.  But, it wasn't either.

 

Actually, my friend’s farm smelled a lot better than I thought it would.  It was cool weather and I’m sure that helped.

I’m  thankful we read Charlotte’s Web last year. 
I think my kids have a greater appreciation for the farm life.

This PIG was HUGE!These pictures do not do the PIG justice.  We are talking HUMONGOUS!  And too friendly!  She wanted to be close up and petted.  Or to eat me.  Not sure which one. 

She wouldn’t leave the front of the pig stall -
so John Deere PawPaw finally led her around through the walls.

  

 

She was definitely a people’s pig.This picture shows how big she is compared to his arm!  When he left – she came back to me.  I think we bonded in some weird way.Except – I’m not admitting that I bonded with a pig. 
Or turkey.  Or anything that could be considered road-kill. 
I will not say “FREE WILBUR!”  I will not.
I probably will.

Overall, we had a great experience.  

We learned about pigs and that our family are not meant to be pig farmers.
We’d have no more sausage, ham or even bacon. 
Yep, pig farmers we will never be.  Live ON you piglets! 

We love impromptu field trips to friend’s farms or roadside attractions!  

Do you know of a neat FIELD TRIP that would be worthy of a visit?

Due to some life changes - we are going to be making more of these kind of traveling tales!  Whohoo!

Go see our new life changes, if you missed reading about them!  We are excited!

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

Goals for 2012–PREPARATION

Preparation is our word for 2012

1.  We are hopefully going to put our house up for sale this coming summer.  Surprise!  We want to move to North Texas – that would be Dallas area for you non-Texans!

2.  We still have to finish remodeling.  (Not to much left but still a lot before we can officially say “For Sale.”)  Please pray for us! 

3.  The main reason:  We want to be nearer to family.  My nearest family is about 8 hours away.  My husband’s family - takes us three days to get there and 2 weeks vacation to really enjoy them. 

So we are making a compromise and meeting in the middle.  Close enough to take off fewer days and still get to visit or maybe meet in the middle for a camping trip.  (Except that I don’t camp.)  Sounds fun though, sort of.  LOL!

4.  Other benefits will be 4 seasons (we only have 2 now – hot and warm).  We can’t wait to experience some cold weather.  And people that say “Howdy.”  AND the field trips!  We love to visit the World’s Largest EVERYTHING!  Can’t wait to visit all new things without taking weeks of vacation! 

5.  We are also preparing for our grandchildren.  (I know this one causes most to laugh since we still have a kindergartener and our oldest is 13.) We want to be in the middle of the United States so any of them can come and visit regardless where our children move.  (If it is to another country, we will be close to an international airport.)

6.  We are also preparing our flabby bodies to become slim and lean.  Ugh.  Not my favorite subject.  But, it is time to get back in the groove and some of our old pants.  This is the first time - ever – that I’ve ever gone on a diet.  I’m a little nervous.  I don’t like to fail.  Hopefully, because my hubby and I are doing this together we will meet our goals – the healthy way.


7.  And the final preparation – Selling things! 
I want to clean out closets.  We have 9 closets in our home.  They need to be emptied.   I don’t want to to travel with these things.  But, I also don’t want them to throw things away.  Hopefully, we will find someone to take them on.  (Including our beloved chickens.)

Also, our house.  We need to sell our home.  We need a job to open up (hopefully, with a HUGE moving package and a raise).  My husband’s job does has an office in the area where we are moving, we just need it to open up another position. 

We are not worried.  We know God has PLANS for us.  We know that our time here is about up.  We also know that God always takes care of the tiniest details just not in our timing. 

Yep, this is where we are headed in the year of 2012! 

So excited!
Please be in prayer for us! 
Blessings to you!  You are loved!