Lighthouse Field Trip

Our local lighthouse put on a homeschool day. It portrayed the life of a child of a lighthouse keeper in the early 2o's. The kids learned about washing, gardening, sewing, and keeping the light.

Thrifty Thursday on Friday

Homemade Laundry Soap


ingredients
1 bar of laundry soap (Fels Naptha) or your favorite soap of choice (Ivory, homemade)
3/4 cup of Washing Soda
3/4 cup of Borax
*all of these items can be found at Publix on the laundry aisle

step 1- grate your bar of soap into a pot, then add six cups of water and heat until all of soap is dissolved.


step 2- when soap is completely melted add 3/4 cup of Borax and Washing Soda

step 3- stir the mixture over heat until completely dissolved, during that time, add 4 cups of hot water to your bucket or jar. when the soap is all dissolved pour mixture into the glass jar with the water.

step 4- add a gallon and a half of cold water into the bucket/jar and stir to mix well. It is in a liquid form. Cover and it will set into a gel form. Use 1/2 - 1 cup of detergent per laundry load.

You can add a essential oil scent at the same time you add the borax and washing soda.

I will let you know how it compares to commercial detergent. I am a diehard Gain fan, so the standard is high.

This made about 3 gallons of detergent for about 1.50 for the whole batch!

You have to watch this it is SOOO funny! No little eyes! It makes fun of both sides, turn off music at the bottom first!

I woke up and found I now live in a BLUE state....

So were packing!


Well maybe not, but today is going to be an all out pity party day for me. It's dreary and I feel dreary. Not because I was a die hard McCain supporter, but because I was not an Obama supporter. So, today I will grieve and then tomorrow I will be a patriotic American and support our chosen representative, and pray for his wisdom and protection.


But today, I'm packing for AL, TN or GA!

Mexican Soup Recipe

This soup is totally yummy! recipe compliments of the Queen B


Mexican Cheese Soup

1 pound Velveeta cubed
1 pound ground beef, cooked & drained
1 can corn
1 can kidney beans
1 jalapeno, seeded & diced (I left this out)
1 can rotel
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package taco seasoning

Combine in crockpot. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 3 hours.
Serve with corn chips or tortilla chips. And maybe sour cream. And maybe a little cheese...

I'm Going Crazy...Wanna Come???

I have virtually reached my mommy melt down phase. I have retreated to my bedroom to save the children from requiring DCF to pay a visit. This was our first day back to serious schooling since this school year has started. Maddy finally became conscious and rolled down the stairs about 8:30, to which then the TV got turned on. After making a no TV rule, we got through breakfast and Maddy out the the door for an orthodontist appointment. When she got back we started Sonlight Core 4 , and we were still at the table at 5:00. I finally told Maddy that any work left over was homework and I got up to cook dinner. How did I think that would absolve me of any more school work???

After working the comprehension sentences in Wordly Wise I thought I wanted to pull her hair out. A question, What did the Cherokee people like about their new language? Answer, They liked the new language. Argghhh! Yes there were 10 questions with just this much fluff in the answers. Now I am completely aggravated because she has moaned and complained this whole time, and I know she is capable of an intelligent answer. She has just rushed through so she could get done to play.

In the mean time I am cooking dinner, Liv is rollerskating in the house, a no-no, and Ethan has his big wheel riding it across my living room! Did I mention I have wood floors that cannot be refinished again?

Well by the end Maddy is crying, and asking me, "Do you like making kids cry?" Yes, I love it, my school day is not complete until there is wailing and knashing of teeth. Guess what? It may only be 6:30, but it's bedtime (yes, then the knashing of teeth happened!) Oh, and no school day would be complete without threatening to enroll her in the local public school, and the lecture on, "I could find a million other things to fill my day than fight with you about school." Like I could have a clean house, read some books, watch Oprah, sew, go shopping, talk on the phone with my friends...." BUT I choose to do 5th grade Grammar with YOU!


So how was your school day?

I Love You Mimi

We all love you, baby! Be strong tomorrow, and know that I am praying for you. Your like my first baby, and I hope you can feel my hugs from Florida. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow, and call me if you need to, or just text me in class ;)
Call me after school. Love You!

Thrifty Thursday on Sunday???

I am not sure if these deals will be here by Thursday so I thought I would share. Disney is having summer PJ's clearanced at 3.99. Both boy and girl sets mainly around sizes 2T,3T,4T . So if you need these sizes it is a super deal.

Pumpkin Carving

This was a different Halloween for us. My mom and sis are out of town and dad was home alone. He knew we were heading back early from Atlanta and wanted to cheer up the kids so he left us a pumpkin on our doorstep. So, Friday he came by to carve up these babies before trick or treating! Thanks Dad!




Yummy!

Trick or Treating

Our annual trick or treating hayride! It was a little bit bigger this year....

Mike's dream tractor! It would only take one swipe to mow our whole yard!

Candy trading on the sidewalk

Double trouble!

Good Night!

Candy Apples

Boil 3 cups sugar, 1/2 cup white corn syrup, and 1 cup water until it reaches 300 degrees

Add 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of food coloring of your choice.

Dip apples carefully and cool on wax paper

Red food dye

Individually wrap in wax paper and tie with a string or ribbon. They last about a day before becoming gooey.

Crockpotalooza

Boo Mama is requesting soupy crock pot recipes, so here is one of our favorites.

Cheesy Meatball Soup

***meatballs***
1lb ground beef
1/4 cup italian bread crumbs
1 large egg
dash of salt
dash of pepper
dash of garlic powder
dash of hot sauce if you like
(I have even used frozen meatballs before in a pinch)

***soup***
2 cups water
1 cup whole kernel frozen corn
1 cup potatoes chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/2 cup onion chopped
2 beef bullion cubes
16 oz velveeta shredded
dash of tobasco sauce


1. Combine meatball ingredients and form into meatballs

2.Place meatballs in crock pot with the rest of the ingredients except cheese. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Then add cheese, cook 15 minutes stir, and serve.

3. Eat!


Serves 6

Update

We are still in Atlanta. My aunt passed away early Friday morning. My whole family is here and we will be staying through next week. The funeral was on Sunday and we are just recuperating today. Miss you all at home, and see you when we get back

Leisa

This goes along with Marissa's post! Scary, I tell you! Please make educated decisions not sound bytes from TV ads!

Time for Some Campaignin' | Funny Jokes at JibJab