One is the loneliest number...

Our first egg

Oh Where Oh Where Is My...

Little Buff Chicken? Oh Where, Oh Where Could She Be??

Freaking OUT!

Ok, so I have a rooster that I am taking to the Eustis farm auction at 4:00. I have been praying that he would remain silent until we got rid of him.

I went and picked up Dreamer from Camp Challenge, my other rooster...

Well I wanted to put hay in Dreamer's cage so I asked Maddy to hold him, while I put in the bedding. She opened the door and let him walk out as pretty as you please.

My neighbor is walking in the cul-de-sac (our chickens are on the down low), and I have to make sure he doesn't crow, squawk, or fly over the back fence..

Maddy is not a good chicken catcher, she always let them run past her.. and now my calm quiet roo in the pen found his voice and I hear a pathetic weak CROW, that gets louder and louder...

"GRAB the chicken and then go get the other one, NOW!!! " Lots of chicken indignation noises from the hens, squawks from Roo as I try to muffle his voice... It doesn't really work well to put your hand over their beaks, I think you have to squeeze their necks to make them shut up ;)

So I grab Dreamer, she grabs Roo and we put them in seperate cages in the garage with the door down..


So the key point is they are leaving here tonight, and not coming back...We are off to the auction!

Peer Pressure

I have spent my morning commenting on all my friends blogs. I have noticed that a few of them were suffering from a "quiet" summer in blog land, and were not feeling the love. I now feel compelled as I lurk through my blogs to think up nice, funny, connecting things to say. So if I haven't commented on your blog and I know you IRL (in real life) that's blog talk, yall, please forgive me... I have a very busy life.. I get my kids up in the morning send them to music camp, pack Ethan off with his dad, and I get to spend 6 glorious hours of silence. I have surfed the internet, couponed, listened to talk radio, sat and talked on the phone through 2 cups of coffee without making sign language threats to my kids. It just has me wondering is this what back to school means to most moms?

I think we are missing something ladies....

Ok, enough chit chat, I must go pour my 2nd cup of coffee and call OBM to harass her.

Things I really love...

*Amelia Rosia

* The song "Revelry" on my playlist

* Watching my hens peck around in the garden from my kitchen window....

* Getting a good deal at the store, it's like coupon crack!

* The feel of a fresh school year beginning to start.

* Being home with my family...most days...;)

* Dr Quinn Medicine woman

* Planning my square foot garden...

* August in the mountains... not this year, but maybe next...

* The thought that I will be a auntie soon to a sweet baby boy. The idea that Lyns may be moving home soon..

* Harry Potter!! I am eagerly awaiting taking the family to see the newest Potter, we are finishing up our Potter marathon, and then off for the show...

* Did I mention I really love my chickens??

Things I really hate...

* when there is a really good coupon and I have no ink to print it, yet I try just because I am sure one more drop can be squeezed out, and the bar code is so faded that I know I will have to convince the cashier that no, I did not copy this illegally... and when I go back to print it when i have ink it says "you have already printed this the number of times allowed"


* Feeding a chicken for 2 months and anxiously awaiting the first egg, only to be told by my ten year old niece that the chicken in question will never lay any eggs because she is a he.... and having to tell my husband that invested 2 months in a rooster and will have to continue purchasing eggs while just enjoying the "look" of our million dollar chicken coop....


* Spending 40 minutes checking out at customer service because they would like to analyze every bar code and coupon I used legitimately, with three kids in tow. At that point I no longer got onto the kids when they popped their 3rd balloon, and Ethan kicked the battery display stand over...Oops ;) Maybe they will check me out faster next time, huh??


* sassy mouthed pre teen girls.....ughhhhh.....


Hope everyone is having a good day...

Roo or Hen??

Publix Grocery Trip

I went to Publix yesterday with the hopes of reaching 90% on my bill. I had ordered 20 A-1 coupons that would have given me 20.00 in overage, but they have yet to come in, so I hit 75% instead.

1-Bunny Giant Bread- 2.69 no Q
3-Bottom Round Roast 10.76 (B1 get 2 free Albertsons)
2-Muir Glenn Tomato sauce( printable Q= free)
1- Publix butter- 2.50, no Q
6- Curleys BBQ pork - 11.07 (raincheck from B1G1, and (6) 1.00 off Q's)
2- Kashi Waffles - (50% off sale, (2) 1.00 off Q's & target (2) .25 Q's = free)
2- Tombstone Pizza's- 5.00 (1.00/2 Q)
6 Klondike boxes- 4.50 (B1G1 & (6) 1.25 off Q's)
2- Kraft shredded cheese- 3.38 ( (2) 1.00 off printable Q's )
1- Romaine Hearts- 1.99- no Q
2- Cabbage- 1.38- no Q
1 head lettuce- 1.49 no Q
1-group banana- 1.54 no Q
70- kool aid packs - free (kool aid Q for 2.00 off 10 + Food lion 1.00 off 5 Q- this gives overage)
2- Apple & Eve organic juice boxes- 1.00 off Publix Q & .50 off manufacturer Q = free
1- Capri Sun- 1.14 (.75 off Q)
1- onions- 1.19 - no Q
1- Wavy Lays- 2.99
2- Ruffles- 4.00 ( 2.00 off Q)
6- Smart Balance butter blend 6.27 (B1G1 , (3) 1.00 off 2 Q's)
6- Smart Balance Milk- free (free milk when you buy 1 butter)
3- Brown Sugar Publix brand (free) (2.00 off koolaid/sugar Q + food lion) gave overage
4- White sugar Publix- free (kool aid sugar Q + food lion) gave overage
2- Reach Floss- free ( Publix Q + Manufacturer Q = overage)
1- Publix eggs- 1.09 no Q
3- Carefree Pantiliners- free (Manufacturer printable Q + Publix Q = free +
9- Johnson & johnson Red cross gauze/tape/pads - free (3/2 Q + 5.00 Publix Q = free + overage
10/50- Winn Dixie Q
Total- 229.82 before Q's
Out of Pocket - 53.53

Br eakdown of savings-
Vendor Q- 78.25
Competitor Q- 60.00
Advertised savings- 34.00
Advantage buy- ? water spot on receipt

If I had the A-1 coupons I would have had another 20.00 in overage and only spent 33.53!

Okay, and I forgot to add shopping like this is a completely different system of planning. I have been doin this for months so I have a stockpile of meat, chicken, canned, frozen, baking, and all other items stored up from previous trips. So we won't have to eat roast, kool aid and klondikes all week ;)

If you buy when it is cheapest and think ahead. Like I need baking things for Christmas. Well I can buy now and save rather than when I need it and it is not on sale. Also would you rather have mayo at 4.99 or .50? Buy these items when they clear out Summer stock.

I only bought on sale stuff and went gung ho, so for the first month it was pretty creative with the dishes I cooked, but after month one we had a pretty good supply.

Chicken is ALWAYS cheapest at albertsons 1.68-1.99 lb for boneless skinless.
ground beef t pay 1.99/lb. when you see it at Publix- STOCK up!! These prices have gotten few and far between. In a pinch Albertsons always has ground beef 80/20 for 1.79-1.99, I just like Publix meat better ;)

You can go to any 7-Eleven on Saturday (7/11) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. for a FREE Slurpee (7.11 oz) on 7-Eleven Day to celebrate the chain store’s 82nd birthday. According to reports on Facebook –the cups may have a little surprise on them!

Swim Lessons

Free Chicken

I need some free coupons...

Reminder

Don't forget the snapfish deal ends 7/31.

Also check out http://www.artscow.com/ for more free print offers

Kmart for cheap toys, last day is this Saturday...

And a milk sale -buy milk from CVS 5 gallons over time and get the 6th free with your card. On average it is 2.79 each and it will keep track of your gallons and ring up your 6th free. Much cheaper and for the TG Lee brand...

Food Freebies

Free Mocha Mondays through August 3rd. Free Mocha coffee iced or hot 7a-7p At McDonalds

Tomorrow 7/10, Chick fil A dress up like a cow and get a free Value Meal

Through 7/14 print a free Arby's Roast Burger coupon when you buy a small drink . You can substitute for a regular roast burger.

FedEx Just Brought

My free quart of Glidden Interior Premium paint in Deepest Aqua.

So what should I paint??

Hi

We are all well here, finally!!

* Attention K Mart shoppers, get there immediately for some amazing deals on toys. They are doubling coupons this week (so free deoderant, shampoo, hair care, feminine products, tea, and cheap wet wipes, cleaner, q-tips and much more)
BUT the best deal to be found is in the toy section... 50% off clearance toys and they are clearancing out a ton. It is like a treasure hunt, look high and low on each aisle to find the deal. I can tell you I have finished Liv and Ethan's Christmas and birthday for pennies. Also I stocked up my birthday stash with HSM3 DVD games, Littlest Pet Shop, Ponyville, and Shake and Go racers.
examples of prices:
Shake and Go crash race track- originally 69.99 clearance 37.99, 1/2 off that makes it 18.99
Littlest Pet Shop Town (big Playhouse)- after clearance 9.00
A leapster for 15.00
Leapster games for 11.00
Ponyville play house- 7.00
Ponyville Purse Play house- 7.00
Little pet shop- 2.00
Diego Dino Mountain Playset - orig 69.99 now 18.50
Handy Manny Fix it radio & TV - 6.50 each
HSM a variety of gifts all 2.50-5.00
Games for 5.00

And lots of 2.50 birthday or treasure box items...
If it is not in the budget now, you can lay a way it! Also take in your 5/50 printable coupon for more savings...

Did Ethan Die?

Guess who you do not want babysitting your children?



It is okay, that I am typing this, he is in bed with a sore bottom and a kiss

Did Leisa Die??

Well almost...

I think I have the swine flu.. that's my story and I am sticking to it! All the children are better, which is great except I have been laid low. And you ladies know, a sick, as in swine flu sick, mom and unsupervised hellions does not make for a quick recovery.

In fact when I stepped out of my room I immediately had a relapse upon seeing the house. And then my husband immediately started feeling bad after I heaped all my sick fury onto him...


But now, I am feeling a little bit better. I used some guilt with the older two. Your poor dieing momma is laying on her death bed and no one cares about momma. they both chime in, we love you , we care about you. If you loved me you would never have let the house become a pig sty... and on and on that went for a while... and then I made some chore lists and now everything is tidy again..

Ethan is taking swim lessons and swimming like a fish, yay!! He has become quite a little potty mouth. He will be my cusser, I know this. He already has the vocabulary of dammit, and hell. Which he likes to use in context with a little sparkle in his eyes. So, I laid down the law 2 days ago, no more cussing! Well of course he had to see if momma was for real. Sometimes I am not the most consistent (shocked aren't yall?) Anyway out I pulled a bar of my homemade soap and I ran it down his little pink tongue. At first he drooled a little and then he swallowed and said it tasted good. Little punk, so next time I need to run it over his teeth so bits stick right?? Next time came later that day and once again I tried the soap...he liked it, and willing stuck his tongue out for the punishment. Fast forward to today, he used dammit during breakfast, so out came the tongue, but I decided to use a dab of the dawn dish soap...yeah baby, he was drooling and frothing, demanding water... he can have water as soon as he gets through hearing the lecture on not having a dirty potty mouth that momma needs to clean... Well he drank his water said he would not use bad words and promptly walked into the next room and whispered dammit to his sister Livvy. First of all I thought he was smarter than that. Liv will sell him out in a heartbeat! So I hear, MOM, Ethan said "DAMMIT." At this point I want to say DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT, and roll around on the floor and kick around abit. But I don't and I go in get the offending child and pull out the Dawn and start over with my lecture as he foams and froths at the mouth... then he went to swim lessons...

I am a week down on school but I have used our down time to give the kids some other jobs that do not usually get accomplished. Cleaning rooms, and organizing type stuff..

I am home for the fourth and will probably go out to Rhonda's for fireworks..

So nothing amazing going on, no grieving since I am not dead, I should be back in peak form just in time for school to resume next Monday ;)

Oh and are any of you guys thinking about the after 2 waterpark passes? I am contemplating it...

No Taxation with CRAPPY Representation

WARNING SKIP THIS POST IF YOU DO NOT LIKE POLITICAL CONTENT & RAVINGS FROM A LUNATIC HOMESCHOOLING MOM....YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.....

Sometimes I just wonder why bother!! I mean I am a busy woman. I have three kids I run a household, educate my children, and try and keep my budget balanced. I DO not have time to babysit the weasels in Washington! It is their job to listen to US and vote the way we decide.. Yet once again I feel under represented and helpless in this downward spiral of government. I can scarcely believe how quickly we are trading in our liberties as long as big brother will take care of us..

Do you wonder once the middle class is gone, who will pay for all these debts... Yep, that's right one of those future tax payers is asking for a sippy cup as I sit here and type..

I wonder how I will answer my kids when they ask, "why did you just sit by and go along with such absurd spending??" Will I say, "Well we didn't want to have financial hardship, or suffer, so we pushed it back on the future generations.."

Ughhhh.. as you can see I am so tired of having to be vigilant and try and keep up with all the sneaky, back room policies that each party is trying to push through..

I mean for real, do we need a UN treaty to protect US children?? NO, the constitution and state laws do a fine job. Leave the International courts out of our home, thank you!
Do we need an enviornmental program that will destroy 2 jobs to every one it creates? NO, we are in the midst a a recession, please don't cripple our economy any further. Most Americans understand green, and get it already.
Do we need bail outs and government owned private industry? No, let them fail, that is what happens in America. That is why we are a land of opportunity. We all can succeed or fail, we are free to do either. Ever heard refined by the fire? Well no one became great being sheilded and protected from harm. Out of the great trials have come some of our brightest moments in America. No one strives for excellence if their is no fear of failure or hope of success.
Do we need government to provide our generosity? No, America is one of the most merciful and giving countries on the planet. We send aid all over the world in the form of the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army and millions of other privately sponsored agencies. How many of us feel like we are doing our christian and patriotic duty on April 15th??

We have indoctrinated our children, yes, you and I have been given a sorry education. One that we continue to finance yearly with our tax dollars, yet we have no say in the quality provided. American's don't know their history. Our kids do not know history, except for the drivel they watered down in the public school system. But I bet half of them can tell you who was voted off American Idol, or the latest Hannah Montanna lyrics. How about who is Speaker of the House? Who becomes president if the President and VP die? What are the three branches of government???

Okay, I am sick and tired and tired and sick and 2012 is just around the corner. Yay, we get to start this all over again. I think I am hoping for a Palin/Romney ticket?? And before I hear that she is not qualified, let me just say my chicken, Sparkles, could do a better job up there than those weasels! For goodness sakes we need someone with some common sense..Here..Here..

So I am going to :

1. Teach government and more specifically the Constitution, inside and out next year.

2. Change my voter registration to Independent. (and no I do not believe in aliens)

3. And work long and hard calling my representatives in Congress to let them know I am making it my job to get them fired in the next election, see you at the park ;)

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN NOW!!

Let them know your feelings on CAP AND TRADE, and the UN Treaty of the Child. Cap and trade is being voted on today.

If you don't call and talk to your rep.'s office they can't vote to represent you.

Educate yourself and call....now...

The Circle deadline is tomorrow...

and I called and got the information on how to transfer.

This may not seem significant to you, but I have been with Circle since Maddy was a kindergartener. There is comfort and safety and loyalty all mixed up in my feelings towards Circle.

And then there is my wallet... and Circle is VERY expensive. It is 9 times more expensive than the other umbrella school I am looking at and they offer the same services I would be obtaining from Circle...

I really like HOUSE, the Circle co-op, and want Olivia to attend again, so I think we are going to take this year off, and then enroll Liv with Circle next year so she may go to co-op and Maddy can stay with Crossroads...

Why do I not feel great about saving all this money???

Circle has done a wonderful job of earning loyalty and making you feel like a family..

I'm sorry Linda ;)

I have decided to design my own homeschool curriculum...

after 5 years of using sonlight I feel I have a gift for putting together curriculum pretty well.

So I have decided to use Dr Quinn Medicine Woman as a spine to our American History study.


You may laugh or think I have really lost it and have been at the bar all night but let me just tell you in the season and a half we have watched we have touched on topics of:

* Woman's suffrage
* The Civil War
* Slavery
* racism
* The gold rush
* mining
* Union and big labor
* Indian relations
* General Custer
* Cheyenne Indians, Dog soldiers, & their culture
* The railroad
* The Flu epidemic
* Cattle drives
* KKK
* The orphan train
* western justice
** and the list goes on and on....

These are all topics we have and are covering in our actual "curriculum". And they have put a real face on the struggles and what life may have looked like in that period. Of course with a smokin hot mountain man named Sully to guide poor Dr Quinn and kiss her when she needed it ;)

This series has opened up alot of dialogue about this time period that I am sure we would never have discussed. The KKK episode was hard to watch and made me feel such anger and injustice. I know about racism but Maddy had not ever witnessed it in a dramatic form. It is one thing to read about it, but quite another to have it layed out in one of your favorite series.

It helps that Maddy loves it and that she will finish all school work and chores diligently so she can watch it every night. I love when the kids have currency!!

Well look at convention next year for my booth, Homeschooling with the Quinn method

A Ethan Funny

Ethan has the cutest way of asking about himself right now. He refers to himself as "me". So he will say is...me sick, is me going, where was me at... I know I should correct him but it is so darn sweet....

My sweet boy has also learned how to lie. I noticed a sharpie marker drawing on my wall in my bedrooom.
Me: Ethan did you do this?
Ethan: As sweet and innocent as can be he said no, Livia did it..
Me: I called Liv in and asked her, "did you do this?"
Liv: No, she is rather insulted I would think a 6 year old would color on the wall
Me: Ethan did you do this tell me the truth...
Ethan: wide eyed and still proclaiming innocense, "No, Maddy did it"
Maddy please come in here...
Maddy: I did NOT do that, Ethan did. Of course I know he did it!!
Me: Ethan, it is wrong to tell mommy stories, did you color on mommies wall?? I am giving him my most serious mommy stare down. You know the one that can discern all wrong doing...He is starting to cave under the stare, but he gets an epiphany....He looks up with his big eyes getting wider and whispers... "the aliens did it................."
Me:biting the inside of my cheeks to contain the laughter I feel coming...Maddy and Liv are snickering.. He is still looking at me innocently trying to judge if I might be ok with the alien answer...it got pretty boring after that.. some talking, a spanking and some more talking...about how aliens shouldn't lie to their all knowing mothers...

Licking Toliets at Walmart....

will give you the plague, so that must have been what my kids have been doing....

Liv is better, Ethan is in the midst of the croup, and Maddy came home from VBS yesterday throwing up?????????????????

Ay,yi,yiiii you can find me down at the bar if anyone is looking!!!

Lots of Pictures

I am overdue for some pictures so here is Trinity's VBS and the Methodist VBS

SICK

How yucky is it to be sick in the midst of summer.

Liv has the croup. Last Sunday she started in with blood shot eyes, fever, and a sore throat. Then a few days later she had a barking cough and felt like she couldn't get enough air. Wednesday we saw Dr. C who said "croup" and started her on steroids and respiratory treatments. Yesterday she seemed much improved and the fever was gone. Last night she woke up again coughing , and a fever and she has proceeded to sleep on the couch all day today...

Ethan is trying to decide if he is sick. He had a fever and a sore throat this morning, but after some advil he has played as usual all day.

So pretty much it will go like this.. Liv will get better over the weekend and then Ethan will be sick all next week so I can miss 2 full weeks of a good night sleep and have to wash every blanket and sheet in the whole house, again....

The joys of motherhood..

My cousin Amelia is down and staying with my mom. They are playing at the beach today.

Well that pretty much sums up our week. I am still schooling Maddy and we are on track, and this weekend I think we are hunkering down and watching the next 3 Dr. Quinn discs.

Summer

Summer is here and we are as busy as ever. I love the lazy pace of summer, even as busy as we are, it still feels like "summer".

* the first week of June we attended the methodist VBS it was themed "Paul in Rome." This is one of my favorite VBS's. They have dinner for the family and then the kids go to their class. Maddy attended Mega Sports camp and learned the "Hoedown Throwdown."

* We are schooling full time in the afternoons after VBS and before swim team. Olivia started Sonlight Core 1 and Maddy has 10 weeks left of Sonlight Core 4. We are taking a break in October for 2 weeks and then 6 weeks off in November & December. We are currently reading Charlottes Web with Liv and The Great Turkey Walk & The Terrible Wave with Maddy.

* We are in week 4 of no TV. It has been one of the best things I could have done from a school standpoint. I no longer fight with the TV to keep their attention. And once the lure is gone, there is so much more time freed up. We do have netflix and Dr Quinn Medicine woman has been our family treat in the evenings. I will be so sad when season 6 comes to an end....

* Liv has the croup so I am home with her giving breathing treatments for the rest of the week.

* My garden is in it's final death gasp... the heat and rain have been too much for her. When it is finished I will dig and grade up the whole thing and put down 8-10 square foot gardening boxes.

* and what is on my bedstand... The backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan.

* I'm contemplating getting in the camper and meeting up with the Humston's...

* And in general just enjoying summer....