Okay, me being the ever-productive homeschool mom that I am decided to buy a few educational games at Target the other night.  I've always thought dominos would be so cool to have and would help my kids learn math in a fun way.  One problem.  I never owned dominos as a kid.  In fact, I never played dominos either.  And at the ripe ole age of 41 I still have never played the game.  But, how hard can it be, eh?

HARD!

We bought the cute little Mexican Train set of dominos because of the, well, cute little mexican trains.  My boys all like trains.  Good idea, right?

WRONG!

I can't figure out the game.  My husband can't figure out the game and we'll both settle for learning how to play just plain ole dominos at this point.  Scratch the cute little trains and the nice tin box.  Somebody HELP!!!

We've gotten the school room almost ready.  It looks so good so I hope to post photos soon.  I've still got some things I want on the walls first.  My two oldest sons were going to participate in a cottage school (1 or 2 days per week classes for homeschoolers) at a local church but I got a phone call today saying the 1 day class was cancelled and that's the one we were planning on attending. 

So now we've got to make a decision about spending twice as much money for 2 days and driving a lot more OR just doing all their work at home.  I'm leaning toward's home because two days a week makes life feel too hectic for me.  I'm still praying about it.

WARNING:  Just this morning I opened up my email to find about 40 or so Anonymous blog comments.  I've got my blog settings so that I get an email everytime someone comments.  At first I thought it was a mistake and that maybe someone's child had gotten on their computer but after looking further I realized someone had posted pornographic website links in each & every comment.  I had to hand delete all of them so someone doesn't accidently.  I don't know if someone hacked into HSB or actually put these comments on my blog specifically.  Please be aware of this in the event it happens to you.  Don't people have anything better to do?? 

Several of you have asked how I'm recovering from surgery.  Everything is going great.  I'm starting to feel back to my old self except for some horrible headaches.  If you feel led please pray for God's healing.  They are driving me nuts. 

My two oldest boys are playing football and love it.  I'm posting some pictures of my daughter and youngest son at practice the other night.  Who says girls can't play football??

Well off to bed.  Enjoy the photos.
IN HIM
julie

My oldest son is in the tye dye USA shirt and my middle son is in the one behind my oldest son also in a tye dye shirt.

Yesterday I went with a friend to pick out our curriculum for this coming year.  I'm so excited.
We're using My Father's World and Singapore Math.  We're already having fun with some of the manipulatives I purchased.  Yippee!!!
What are you using?
julie

Here are the photos of Peanut with her kittens.  She's such a good mommy.  Off to “la-la land” and surgery tomorrow.  Pray for me if you read my blog in the AM or sometime tonight.

Here she is after one kitten has been born…….

Here she is with all four.  Look how much smaller her tummy is then in the photo above.

Here's a close up of one nursing…..

And here is a better picture of one of the kittens on top of her brother or sister.  They all look so much alike!!!

We have four brand new baby kittens this morning.  Mommy labored early this morning and has four babies that look exactly like her.  We are so blessed to have all four of them healthy and nursing.  Mom is resting comfortably while the kittens nurse.  I'll post pictures later.  We got to watch all of them being born!  What a great homeschool experience!!!

Some time ago a friend of mine thought she may be allergic to her kitten Peanut so I agree to take it for a while until another friend (who'd agreed to take her) came to get her.

Well, she didn't work out at the other friend's house because the cat she already owned was quite a bit older and a kitten was too rambunctious and frustrated the dickens out of her older cat so I brought Peanut back to my house and took another cat someone had given me to her house.  This cat was quite a bit older and got along with her cat much better than the kitten.  (Yes, just call me the cat lady….people must see that stamped on my forehead for they are often trying to give me cats.)  Oh, and did I mention my hubbie has a very humble dislike for cats??

So now I have this kitty that we have come to call the “Foster Kitty” who's real name is Peanut.  Well, Foster Kitty (Peanut) is now pregnant.  Guess I waited too long for that vet trip, huh?

So I tell you all this to say we are getting ready for some pretty cool homeschool REAL LIFE experiences at my house.  I've never seen a cat give birth so I hope I'm around when she does.  I have no idea how far along she is but I do know their gestation period is about 60 days.  She's got a nice wobble to her now. 

God has provided for us in yet another way by causing this cat to take an unmistakable liking to our babysitter, Ruth.  She takes to Ruth like she's taken to no one else and thinks Ruth hung the moon.  So Ruth has agreed to take Peanut and her nursing kittens back to nursing school with her in August.  Yea Ruth!!!!  and YEA GOD!!!

We both are going to try to find homes for the kittens so if any of you HSBers out there want a sweet adorable well loved kitten I AM YOUR WOMAN!

I can't wait to post pictures of the birth.  Oh, how I hope God allows me to be a part of it (from purely an observation standpoint)!

IN HIM
The Cat lady…..julie

We took our baby Robin to the Wildlife Rescue people today.  It was so much fun having him but I'm glad to have the responsibility of feeding him taken away.  The Rescue people will teach him to feed himself so that he will survive on his own.  I think each time I see a Robin now I'll think of him.

Here are some pictures from today.  Each of the boys took turns holding him before we left to meet Amy from Wildlife Rescue.  Then the little guy wouldn't stay in his box while we were driving to meet her so I've got a picture of him on the dashboard.  I know, Nancy, you're thinking I carry my camera EVERYWHERE, but really I don't.

Oh, did I tell you we found out he really is a “HE”?  Male robins have white on their breasts and white rings around their eyes. 

God Speed little guy!

Julie

Amy from wildlife rescue.
  

Our little robin has now learned to perch and I'm trying to teach him to eat off of the ground.  He's progressed from eating like a baby (with his neck cranked back) to taking food from my hand when it's about half way down to the ground.  He still doesn't act like he knows what to do with a squirming worm that's lying on the ground.  We'll keep trying.  He's also begun to exercise by flapping his wings. 
Here's some pictures of him from last night when he was perched on the side of his bowl/nest.

Since I once again deleted another blog I’m now resigned to writing in word and copying to HSB.  UGH!!

Since Janne came over to personally tell me about her contest I'm giving it a whirl.  Here goes……..

So, onto my favorite homeschool tools:

May I first say that I’ve only been at this for two years so the resources I have will probably be very different from you veterans out there. 

Category: Techie stuff

1. My first is my computer….a Dell Inspiron 6000
2. Second is my printer…..HP Photosmart 7960
3. Third is my Kodak Digital Easyshare DX6490 and my Canon Digital Rebel (it’s the king daddy of cameras!!)
4. Last but not least is my sweet hubbies job that allows for the above purchases.
   

Category:  Internet stuff

1. HSB – you guys have been so encouraging, so loving, and so inspiring.  I think all of us have felt some of the same feelings at one time of another.  Feelings of inadequacy as a mom, feelings of joy, triumph!  Thanks for being there for me!
2. Montessori Homeschooling
3. EEK (Environmental Education for Kids) or Critter Corner also Nature Notes.
4. The Parent Center (this has helped in learning styles and other cool stuff)
5. Timberdoodle.com
6. Trigger Memory Systems (Times Tales)
7. Learning Page.com
8. Enchanted Learning.com (this has been wonderful for both my 1^st grader and K5er)
9. Edhelper.com
   

Category:  craft stuff

1. My paper cutter (a necessity)
2. Craft scissors with lots of assorted edges
3. Elmer’s Glue and Craft Glue
4. Duct Tape (it’s amazing)
   

Category:  Other stuff

1. Kumon Workbooks (I found these at Books A Million and have used them for K5 and 1^st grade)  I love their tracing book that gets kids ready for writing.  It helped my 4 year old so much.  He’s writing letters now with ease.  The Kumon tracing book (link to photo on Amazon.com) is very colorful and has wonderful mazes to practice prehandwriting skills.
2. Sing Spell Read and Write
3. Lots of lined paper from CVS or The Dollar Store
4. a big roll of brown craft paper I found at Staples for only $3 or so.  At the teacher store it’s outrageous.
5. Xyron Clear Laminate Roll (on clearance at Walmart and works like a charm!)
6. Hole punch
7. Sewing stuff.  Fun fabrics.  Colored thread.  One of those ring thingies that holds the material (I think they are for crossstitching)
8. Devotions for the Children’s Hour by Kenneth Taylor isbn#00080002425143 
   

Category:  Really Cool Other Stuff

1. Nature. 
2. The Zoo
3. The Park
4. My kids
   
5. Church
6. God (my very favorite) and His Word!!!