Our homeschool adventure starts now . . .

Since our kiddo was born, I knew that there was a part of me that was going to wish to homeschool her.  The decision was a hard one, thought out over the years in which I have gone back and forth trying to decide if it was the right thing for our family. For the past couple of years we have "unofficially" been homeschooling her. In other words, because of her age and laws we did not have to report to any school district in our decision to homeschool. This year, we must. So with my LOI (Letter of Intent) completed we are officially starting on our homeschool journey.

I know that we are going to have an adventure. There are times when things are going to get tough, but we are in it for the long haul. Our little girl has a thirst for learning new things, she is always on the go. She loves art, she loves music, she is really starting to love reading. 

Yes, there have been a lot of naysayers who have voiced their opinion in this and truthfully, I haven't had much support from family at all on it. People think that I am going to "ruin" her. Shelter her from life, shelter her from people that she won't learn unless she is in a classroom setting. They think that the only place that you can learn is sitting in a building with 30 or so of kids your age, with a teacher in front for 8 hours a day. That isn't learning, life is learning. Getting to experience life is learning. Being out in the world.

They think she won't be social, at all. This is one of their biggest arguments. That she won't have friends. My gosh, she is friends with everyone she meets. She loves playing with kids at the playground. She has no problem talking to adults (when we are around obviously), she isn't sheltered. 

I have quite a few reasons on why I wanted to go this route. I can't pinpoint it to just one that sent me over the edge to make us take this leap. Do I think I can teach her more or that she will learn more from me? Maybe. School shootings? Yeah, that could have had a part in it, but that can happen anywhere in this crazy world. Believe it or not, religion has played no part in this decision. Don't get me wrong, I believe in the man upstairs and talk to him on a regular basis, but I believe that HE hears me just as loud and clear from my own home as HE would in a church setting. I know a lot of homeschoolers homeschool for religious reasons, but not this family. 

So, we are off on our adventure. And, it is going to be adventure. Is she ready for it? Heck, am I ready for it? Only time will tell.

Onto the next chapter . . . .

Our Thanks!

Extending our thanks for all of you that have stuck with us!

When I started this blog years ago, I never dreamed that I would still be doing it now. I love it! I love sharing things with you, I love hosting giveaways for our readers and I love interacting with everyone.

We hope to continue to climb in reader base so that we can offer more giveaways with bigger prizes, more deals, more freebies and just plain more fun with you all!!!

So from our home to yours . . . . . . . .

THANK YOU!!!!

What I have been up to lately?

Hmmm. 

I noticed that lately my posts have all centered around giveaways and reviews.  When I started this blog, I wanted that to be part of it, but I mainly wanted to just chat.  Talk about things that are happening, things of interest, ideas, tips, suggestions, savings, coupons, freebies, etc.

But, I have leaned towards giveaways quite frequently. Don't get me wrong, I love to giveaway items to you all.  I have some great sponsors that I have worked with quite a few times and I really love to make people smile. Some folks are so happy when they respond with their information after they win a giveaway. Doesn't matter if it is for a DVD, a gift code, or a toy. Making you all smile, makes me smile. 

So, as I sit here drinking a cup of coffee on this chilly fall day, I thought that I would share a thing or two on what has been happening. Hope that is okay? 

The weather has changed and for the most part all the leaves (which were so brightly colored not that long ago) are now off the trees. Not to far from here they are getting hit with a pretty good fall snow storm. Last count they had 4" and it was still coming down. We are suppose to get some tomorrow night ourselves. Typical weather for our area. We have had snow in October for the past few years and have had snow right up through Mother's Day. I don't mind the snow. Love the first snowfalls, it is so pretty. It is the bitter cold that I can do without.

What else? Well, in all my years of being a pet owner (both indoors and outdoor pets) I have never had one of our pets get a tick. Just a few short days ago, the puppy had a big one on his ear. Looked like it had been feeding for a while. The ticks in the area are really bad (but the cold should take care of that) and in our area they say over 1/2 of the ticks carry Lyme Disease, amongst other things. Because the puppy sleeps with us, I went through and washed all the bedding on the beds in hot water and hung everything out. 

But, you guessed it, a day later, I had a tick that had gotten on me and was feeding in my back. Lucky me. No, I did not remove the tick the correct way because my only goal as to seeing it was to get it off my back as soon as possible. With thoughts of Lyme Disease and other things now going through my head, my doctor (who was busy and couldn't get me in) advised that I go to an Urgent Care place right away as you don't want to mess with a tick bite and the head was still where it shouldn't have been. After getting there, the doctor was not able to remove all the head, not sure why, don't want to know why, but assured me that the medication that they put me on will push it out and stop any infection or Lyme Disease.

Which leads me to the meds . . .this isn't your typical antibiotic, this one is nasty. Its actually made me sick to stop me from getting sick and I still have a week or so left that I have to take yet. But as long as it does its job, I will tolerate the yucky feeling that I have.

So, that has been what my last few days have been like.

How are all of you?

DELIVERY MAN ~ Trailer Preview ~ SNEAK PREVIEW!

By now you have seen some short previews on TV about the new movie DELIVERY MAN that is coming out in November of this year.

In the film, Vince Vaughn plays an affable underachiever looking for his purpose in life, when he finds out he’s fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them want to meet their biological father.

DELIVERY MAN opens in theatres everywhere on November 22nd.

Those little sneak previews just give you a peek into the new movie.  What I (and 532 other bloggers) have for you is the early release of the trailer.  Yes.  You can check out this trailer months before the movie is going to be released.

This looks like it is going to be such a fun movie and a wacky yet heartwarming way to look at family.  

Can you imagine finding out that you have 533 biological children? What would you think? What would you do if half of them, or so, wanted to meet you?

Anyhow, we all hope that you enjoy the trailers and it makes you look forward to the movie coming out in November.

Here are also some unreleased photos from the movie!!!

And, now what you are waiting for.  The Official Trailer, seen no where else on the internet, except for the participating blogs.

Enjoy!

I would like to thank: Marshall Weinbaum from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, for allowing Lollipops n' Ladybugs to participate in this promotion!

Disclaimer: I received absolutely no comensation for this post.  All words, except quoted text are my own and not influenced by any outside source.

SUPERBOOK Airing soon on ABC and CBS

Hey people!

Just a heads up for you all!!

The summer series of SUPERBOOK will be airing soon in selected CBS markets and on ABC Family!

If you want to know what SUPERBOOK is all about, please feel free to check them out on facebook.  

This looks like some family shows that shouldn't be missed.

The schedule for airings are as follows:

CBS Airings:

            June 15^th – Giant Adventure: David and Goliath

            June 22^nd – Jonah

            June 29^th – Roar! Daniel and the Lions’ Den

ABC Family Airings – 9:30 a.m. EDT:

            July 1^st – In the Beginning: Adam and Eve

            July 2^nd – Let My People Go: Moses

            July 3^rd – The First Christmas

            July 4^th – He Is Risen: the Resurrection of Jesus

            July 5^th – Revelation

Do you plan on watching with your family?

That nasty flu bug, the gift that keeps on giving . . .

Have you had the flu in your household yet this year? 

Or, the other stomach/respiratory bug that is going around with it?

Good chance if you haven't yet, you probably will.  According to the reports we aren't even in full swing with the viruses this year yet.

The day after Christmas I woke up feeling "wonky". Not a really sore throat, but just noticeable when you swallow, etc.  By the following day, yeah, it got ugly.   Felt like I was back in my partying days when I woke up hugging the toilet or a bucket, only this sickness wasn't alcohol induced.  I did my best for days and days to stay away from the little one as much as possible.  Washed my hands frequently.  Hubby made the meals for him and her so I wouldn't be messing with their food and such. 

But . . . .

Yep, she got it.  Just as mine went from bad to getting into my chest and lungs (and ending up with a ER visit), she started to feel sick.  Running a fever, etc. Then all the fun stuff hit.  At least after the initial episode, she was able to hit the bucket.

So, my friends, this stuff isn't even in full swing yet and it seems just like everyone I know is having it run through their household. 

Be careful out there, wash your hands frequently and if you aren't feeling well and can afford to stay home, please do.  You need to get your rest to get better.  Above all, for the love of Pete, if you are coughing and hacking, please cover your mouth, cough into your arm/shoulder.

Please check on your elderly relatives/neighbors if you know that they haven't been feeling well.  Make sure they are getting some nutrition and drinking plenty of fluids.

Please, please, please.  This hasn't been a fun ride. I'm going into 2 weeks with it.

The Halloween Costume Switch-a-roo

It is that time of year! Time for the little one to pick out the Halloween costume that she wants to wear.  She has been carrying around a costume magazine with her for weeks.  Yes, carrying it around.  Where ever we go.

She has gone back and forth between a zombie, a skeleton, a glow in the dark skeleton, a cowgirl, a space alien and the list goes on and on.  

She has had cute costumes from the beginning.  Her first Halloween she was a loaf of Wonder Bread (she was 6-months old), then she was a lion and last year she was a witch. 

So, while we were out and about she saw a fairy/Tinkerbell costume and she just had to have it.  We told her that this was it, this was her choice and if we bought it, that is what she is going to be. 

She was happy.  We were happy because it was VERY REASONABLE price-wise.  We bought it.  

There is hangs waiting for Halloween night.  All cute, adorable and I know that she is going to be absolutely adorable in it.

So, what happens after we have had the costume for a few days?

She brings me the Halloween costume magazine and asks if she can be a zombie for Halloween.  

Yep! It begins.

Is it wrong for me to think that I can make her into a Tinkerbell zombie?

Winter Weather

This winter has been weird.  Yes, I said it, weird. 

It get cold.

It snows.

It warms up a bit.

It rains.

Then sleet.  Then freezing rain.  Then snow. 

Then rain again.

Today it is suppose to be snowing right now (as I type this).

It isn't.

Its is cloudy.  It has been freezing rain/sleeting/raining. 

At least the little one has been able to play in the snow a few times this year.  I wonder what this summer is going to bring with this whacked out winter we have had.  Is it going to be cooler and rainy? Or, is it going to be so hot that you won't want to leave an air conditioned building?

Wordless Wednesday

Sure, give her the spatula after you are done mixing the brownie mix.

Wordless Wednesday

This picture was taken at our local zoo/park.  I don't know what it is about the expression on the face or what, but it just makes me smile every time I look at it.

Enjoy.

Wednesday Photos From Weekend Road Trip

I am SO READY for my close-up!!

This Moo-moo is so cool it's . . . . . . (well you know the line).

Just a few of many thousand

Hooah



Homeschooling

It is funny, really.  Ever since I have mentioned homeschooling my little one (which unofficially has been going on since Day 1) people look at me like I have two heads.  Really, they do.

The first thing I always hear is: "Why would you do that to her? If  you homeschool her she will be anti-social, a loner with no friends."

Homeschooling in my area doesn't seem prevalent, but trust me, I will find a support group and homeschooling friends.  My daughter won't be a loner.  She will experience life.  What is a better teaching tool then heading out into the real world and learning.  She will get much more experience then sitting in a classroom with 30 out students and reading out of a text.  Learning will be a fun experience. We will learn new things together, and I look forward to being able to experience things with her.

There is also 4-H, swimming, gymnastics, field trips, group play dates, group functions/picnics and many other projects that homeschooling kids participate in.

I also hear "are you qualified, you aren't a teacher."  Well in my state you have to be competent to homeschool.  The state also will receive reports on where she is.  At this point, she is already ahead of kids that are a couple of years older then she is.  She can count to 25, knows her ABC's, colors, shapes, and can even count to ten in Spanish.  But as for being qualified, yes, I am qualified.  If it went on education, yes, I have college degrees, and I also have a degree in Early Education, and I am willing to teach my child and show her love and patience in her learning process.  For this, I believe I am well qualified.

Husband is almost on board.  He wants to wait and see how the Pre-K goes I believe, but family members aren't so much.  They are questioning me on it and believe that I'm going to ruin her for life.  They have managed to put doubts in my head on occasion, and doubt my ability to do this, but after reading:

The First Year Of Homeschooling Your Child by Linda Dobson

I am more then certain that I want to do this.

I will be there when she gets that experiment, when her science project does what it is suppose to do.  When she gets a new math concept or learns new words.  Her joy will be my joy.

Also, I have found many online support groups for homeschooling.  Do you know that there are hundreds of blogs out there where families talk about their homeschooling? There are facebook pages.  Forums.  Groups.  Plus, I have a good friend that lives a few hours from here that has been my sounding board. She and her husband have been homeschooling for a few years now and she has been wonderful in answering my questions and putting up with my "what ifs?"  Thank you for that Kari. 

So, yes world! I'm going to homeschool my child. 

Spring Cleaning (still??)

Are you still spring cleaning?

I have to admit that I never really started like I wanted to, now here it is May and I still have a list of things that I want to get done that is as long as my arm.  Okay, it is not quite that long, but you get the idea. 

I've been procrastinating, badly!

I wanted to paint the living room.  Not done.

I wanted to do something with these floors.  Not done.

And the list goes on and on.

But the one "job" that I really hate having to do after winter is over?

Picking up rocks off the lawn from the snow blower/plow.  Maybe its my bad back and bending down, standing up, bending down, I just really don't like to do it.

This year was different though. 

Why?

Because I have a toddler who absolutely loves picking up rocks.

So, bright and early we were out there this morning filling up our buckets with rocks.  It was a game to her.  Up and down the sides of the driveway we walked and I think we got the big ones and lots of the small ones out of there.

Time will only tell.  Or, when the first lawn mowing happens.  After the lawn dries out from days of rain that we have had.  But that might be a while yet as they are calling for more rain this week.

What is your least favorite spring cleaning job?

Have a wonderful Sunday, my friends.

Tuesday random thought

Who needs an alarm clock when you have a 3 year old that gets up in the morning before you and keeps yelling:

Mommy, Daddy, its snowing.  Mommy, Daddy, its snowing.  Look Mommy snow.

Do the Holidays come earlier and earlier every year?

I know that it is not possible for this to happen.

But . . .

Every year, it appears that it does.  I was in numerous stores that had their Christmas decorations out before Halloween even made an appearance.  They had their Halloween decorations out in August.  I also know that the day after Christmas we will start to see Valentines day cards and candy.

Every day I cruise eBay and as soon as I sign on I see the countdown to how many days left until Christmas.  It is a reminder, a taunt, like a 3 year old child sticking his/her tongue out and saying "na na na na na na" you only have this many more days till Christmas.  Holiday music now plays in most every store, which I would guess to get you into the holiday spirit.  I wonder if studies have been done that would show that people buy more gifts or unnecessary gadgets when they are bombarded with holiday music?

Don't get me wrong. It is my favorite time of the year.  I have many good memories of waking up on Christmas morning and seeing the tree lit up and the gifts that Santa brought under it.  I remember sitting there cross-legged on the floor with my brothers, just staring at the packages trying to guess what was in them  because we weren't allowed to touch anything until Mom had her first cup of coffee.

Almost 6 years ago we lost Mom right about Christmas time and I never thought that I would look forward to the holiday again. But then you have your own family and though my little one is a little to young to understand the traditions that we have started will add more good memories to help ease the bad ones that have crept in.  I know Mom would want us to create more memories and to add to the family traditions that we had growing up.

I know one that will be carried on ~ "put that present down until Mama has had her first cup of coffee."

By the way my friends: you have 47 days until Christmas.

Older New Moms ~ Has this happened to you?!?

I don't necessarily mean "new" new Moms (as you might have a toddler now), but Moms that became Moms in their mid to late 30's or even 40's.  You take your little one out to run errands, head to the park, zoo, or where ever your adventures might take you, you are having a wonderful day, the little one is happy and then it happens.

What, you say?!?

Someone comes up to you and tells you how adorable your grandchild is.  You agree and thank them, but what else do you say?

1.  I will straight up tell them that I am the Mom, not the Grandma. This has happened to me at least twice now. One time a person actually thought that a friend that was holding her was her Mom and I was the Grandma (another words, my friends mother, and oh by the way, my friend is older then I am). Of course this leads to other topics, such as: don't you think you are to old to be having children? How do you keep up with her?

2.  You could ignore the comment and just smile and thank them.

3,  You could just walk away, saying nothing.

If you fit this criteria and this situation happened to you, what would you do?  I don't want to be rude, but after awhile this assumption by strangers can get on your last good nerve.  I try not to let it bother me anymore.  I know she is mine, and that is all that matters.

Then, I have had this happen as well.  As most know, if you have read my profile, I didn't meet my hubby until the beginning of 2007, yes, in my 30's.  Apparently I had been waiting for him all along, and didn't date or see anyone for years before.  It was just work, work, work, work.  So, even while I was pregnant for her, and after she was born I would get comments such as: "I never pictured you as a Mom." (this is a direct quote from someone I know).  How would that make you feel??

The fun questions and assumptions made by people when you become a Mom at an advanced maternal age.  Oh and I have never heard anyone ask my hubby those same questions.  So, it must just be a Mom thing.

The Time Has Come

We are sure that this is going to be an adventure.

I've heard how bad the situation is that we have gotten ourselves into.

We really have no excuse for the delay.

But the time has come.

Yes.

We are in the process of moving our little one into her own bedroom.

I'm not sure why I have dragged my feet at this for so long.  I know I'm not ready for her to be in her own bedroom yet, but I also know that hubby and I need some more privacy and it is time to reclaim our bedroom. 

Even with her in our bedroom I still check on her during the night and I know that I'll be checking on her more frequently now.

I wonder what it will be like for her the first time she wakes up during the night and realizes that she is in a room by herself? Will she be scared? Then I wonder what it will be like for me to wake up in the middle of the night and realize it is just hubby and myself in there.  Well, probably a pet or two as well.  Will I be scared? I'm sure I will be and at that point will get up and walk across the cold living room floor to check on her. 

Yes, the time has come.

What are your favorite FALL activities with your kids?

My little one is still a bit young to come up with lots of things to do, but I'm looking forward to starting family traditions with fall activities.

I remember every year our folks packing us in the vehicle and heading to the orchard for apple picking. I swear we did more apple eating then we did picking, but it was lots of fun. Climbing trees. Drinking warm apple cider with those apple cider donuts. Brings back lots of memories.

A Hold Your Breath Mom Moment

I have had a few since we were blessed with Em. Most of them consisted of flips off of the bed onto blankets or a pile of clothes.

This one really made me catch my breath and take off on a dead run towards her.

Saturday we were sitting outside (hubby, myself, a friend of mine, Em, and my niece).

Em is running all over the place and my niece is chasing her down and bringing her back. She was actually tiring out my 8 year old niece.

Em ran towards the dog run with my niece in hot pursuit. The dog came out of her doghouse. Em is not afraid of my big old german shepherd so she just kept running. My niece on the other hand quickly veered off to the left to avoid her.

The dog kept coming.

My little girl kept running.

The dog kept coming.

I'm out of my seat and heading that way.

My little girl kept running.

You can only imagine what happened next.

The dog run caught her feet and she did a complete cartwheel, almost landing back on her feet, but sat down on her butt.

At this point I am running towards her. The dog is licking her. She is scared and crying, but unhurt.

My niece goes to her and picks her up and hands her off to me.

She get a complete check over and is fine. No cuts, bruises, nada. Just a bit scared.

Once we know she is alright hubby is like "dang, if we would have had the camera."

I'm just thankful she wasn't hurt at all.

She sits on my lap for about 2 minutes.

She jumps off.

And, you guessed it.

Takes off running towards the dog with my niece in hot pursuit.

The Sound Of Silence

You are sitting in your living room (kitchen, bedroom, etc) and all of a sudden you realize that there is complete silence in your home, and you have a toddler or toddlers, what do you do??

What do you think??

Are they curled up reading a book or looking at pictures?

Are they sound asleep??

Are they watching a Barney DVD??

Or are they creating a ruckus, that you can't hear?

It happened to me twice today and I wish I would have gotten a picture.

The first time was this morning. I was sitting at my desk and all of a sudden I realized my little red headed angel was to quiet.

So, I go to investigate like anyone would do.

I call out to her, no answer.

I call out again as I'm getting closer to the room that I know she is in, and I hear a giggle.

I say to myself: "self, what is that smell?!? It smells like peanut butter. Lots and lots of peanut butter."

She comes running out of the bedroom, covered in Jif Peanut Butter. From head to toe. I investigate the room. Our bedroom. Yep, peanut butter on the pillows, bed, wall, if it was within slathering distance it got peanut butterized (my word for that mess).

Like I said, I should have got a picture. But couldn't think quick enough about that. I just wanted to get her cleaned up.

The second time today, was just a bit ago.

This time, my little red headed angel is sound asleep in the middle of the bed.