Amy is drinking...

her very first cup of coffee - on purpose. It's.....ok. Of course, there's enough creamer and sugar to cover up most of the coffee taste. Actually, as I drink it, I wish for a Caramel Frappe' from McDonalds....because that's what it tastes like - except for the icy part! Mmmm.....

That is all.

Have a fun Sunday.

Oh - we ended up getting an actual "dusting" of snow....the kids are beside themselves! Of course, its 11 degrees outside, so they'll have to wait until it warms up before they get to play!

How Quickly They Forget...

You would think that my kids have never seen snow...they are so excited. And the funny thing is: I wouldn't even consider this a dusting:

Lizzie just brought in her first snowball:

NOW THIS is snow!!! This was in New Hampshire. And this is pretty much the amount of snow we got EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.IT SNOWED. I think I might miss it a little....

So, why are my kids so excited? I have no idea - but you know what? I LOVE to see their eyes light up - no matter the reason!!!!

Library...

Who knew that I would actually enjoy shelving books....WOW. Today was my first official day volunteering at the library...spent just over 2 hours there....the time actually flew by! I had hoped (and am still hoping) to get into the kids' classrooms. I actually was dreading the library...thought I'd not enjoy it. I was pleasantly surprised at the good time I had. I shelved some books, collated some papers, folded some construction paper and started counting and recording box tops....am going in on Monday to finish that project! FUN!

Maybe it's just that I would rather do that than clean up and organize my basement....sigh.....

Very cool cloud

We saw on the way home from school today!! It's kind of hard to see with the house and tree in the way...but its a rectangular cloud that looks like two different kinds of clouds stacked on each other. It was pretty cool to see!

My 100 Things....5 years later.

OK, I wrote this over 5 years ago - it's actually on this blog - about the 3rd or 4th post that I wrote. I was going to read my blog from the beginning (b/c, as usual, I have no interest in going to bed just yet), but got stuck on this post.

I could probably add quite a few more things, but will do that another post...

I was born Amy Elizabeth
I was born in Claremore, OK
I lived in Conroe, TX until I was 8.
Then I lived in Claremore, OK until I was 19.
I married when I was 19.
I lived in KS for 5 years
I’ve lived in MI for 3.5 years. I lived in MI for a total of 5 years. Since then, I've lived in New Hampshire for 2 years, Massachusetts for 1 year and am working on my 6th month in Missouri.
I was married in 1996.
I looked like a little Indian baby when I was born – very black hair, very dark skinned.
I am very fair skinned and STILL **naturally** blonde! , Ahem, not so "naturally" blonde anymore... : ( Actually, not blonde at all at the moment.
I was home-schooled for three years.
When I went into public school (6th grade), I didn’t know my times tables.
I sang in my school talent show – and won.

I sang at my high school graduation

I stunk at basketball.
I played clarinet in band until 9th grade.
I was a “goody two shoes” in jr. high and high school.
I’m still a “goody two shoes”.
Therefore, I’m a pretty boring person!

I studied sign language for 7 years.
I’ve forgotten a lot of it!
I was the president of my church youth group for several years.
I won most spirited camper at youth camp.
I was asked to sign in front of the mayor of Claremore.
I met my husband at church conference.
After initial attraction, I couldn’t stand my (now) husband for two years.
After meeting again (those two years later), we were inseparable.
We got engaged 4 months after we started dating.
I almost hyperventilated on my wedding day.
My first real date was with my husband.
I’ve worked in a day care.
I’ve worked as a receptionist.
I’ve worked as a marketing assistant.
I only went to one year of college.
I am a SAHM.
I have three children.
My husband is my best friend.
I’m totally in love with my children.
I praise my kids all the time.
I believe in spanking. I should probably spank more!
I’ve learned that my kids aren’t going to be perfect like I planned!
I’ve also learned that that is OK!
Other than having my children, I’ve never been in the hospital.
I wear glasses.
I can’t see a darn thing without my glasses.
I have terrible teeth.
I drive a minivan - still drive a minivan, tho', it has gotten nice over the years!
I have a bad back
I have TMJ. (jaw problems) Happy to report, thanks to the activator method at the chiropractor - I no longer have issues with my jaw!
I didn’t have even a taste of alcohol until after I was married.
I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was 21.
I still very rarely wear earrings.
I love Mexican food.
I hate meringue.
I’m not a good housekeeper (just ask my husband!) - yeah, this hasn't changed much!
I don’t enjoy cooking.
I’m not a pet person.
I have bottle-fed calves.
I hate needles and am 7 years overdue for a tetanus booster. Finally got that tetanus nearly 3 years ago, I barely felt it.
I love action flicks.
I LOVED chick flicks until I got married. Now, they’re just ok.
I’m a good listener.
I LOVE the Phantom of the Opera (production and recent movie).
I think I could act a little if ever given the opportunity.
The car I learned to drive was a Ford LTD – big yellow boat.
Was an accessory to a forest fire when I was around 7.
I watch soaps. Not anymore!!
I can swim, only to save my life…I’m no fish!
I’m living proof that *nearly A*’s can sag. LOL
I’m my daughter’s favorite “daddy”.
I love to read.
I love to buy books off Ebay.
I love pecan pie.
I am starting to look just like my mother.
I never knew my paternal grandfather.
I shared a room with my three brothers for most of my childhood.
Except for one time when I was about 4-5 and until I married, I always lived in trailer homes.
After almost 9 years of marriage, I still don’t own my own home. Owned our first home in Owosso, MI for a WHOLE YEAR....home-ownership is way over-rated. LOL Won't buy again until Jeremy isn't traveling as much!
After almost 9 years of marriage, I’ve NEVER ONCE been mad enough at my husband to even consider leaving him. STILL TRUE - except it's now been over 14 years!
Divorce will NEVER be an option for me.
I refuse to let my kids CIO (cry it out). We're way past this....
I always rock my babies to sleep. Yep, we're past this too! LOL
I believe in co-sleeping and would love to just have a family bed. (I’d def. get more sleep that way!) Ok, seriously, we have what could be considered a family bed now, but HOLY COW - at ages 5, 7 and 9 - and two kids that were apparently leaches in another life, my views on co-sleeping have changed! Well, I'd still co-sleep with an infant or toddler, but SO glad we're past that...well, sorta past that....we're working on it!
My favorite TV show is Law & Order SVU My fave TV show? Hmm... that seems to change all the time. I am currently catching up on shows that were in prime time anywhere from 2-5 years ago! Some still are in prime time, but I like to watch from the beginning. Am very much enjoying Psych - nice, light-hearted laugh!!!
Never had a speeding ticket. Still "technically" not had a "speeding" ticket, but have had my first ticket - about a year ago...ran a red light. Seriously NEVER saw the light. Almost caused an accident. Did it right in front of a cop. Yep, proud moment for me - NOT!
My dream family vacation would a Disney cruise. Hmm...toss up between Disney Cruise and Hawaii...we're working on Hawaii.
I used to want to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'd wouldn't mind being Sidney Bristow. LOL!
I love clouds.
I would love to learn to line dance. (shh) and ballroom dance!, but I get too dizzy for this to every happen! One twirl does me in!
I love anything to do with lighthouses. I still like lighthouses, but not nearly as much as I used to..
I have tons of Inspirational Romance books. I've matured and now refer to them as Christian Fiction - haha...and have increased my library quite a bit!
I knocked my toe nail off while riding a bike when I was 7.
I can’t smell – unless very very strong odor – and then can’t tell if it’s a good or bad smell.
I hate for my toes to be pulled.
I crack my knuckles all the time.
I hate spending money. I just hate money in general...causes lots of problems. I think everything should just be free...BAHAHAHAHA
I want to lose weight, but am totally unmotivated. Sadly, this is still true. And sadly, the amount I want to lose has only increased. Sigh...
I just want my kids to be happy.
When my kids are sick, I give them anything they want.

The Homeschool Debate

The debate isn't whether or not we will homeschool again - that is a definite - but WHEN we will homeschool again.

And I'm happy to report that, as of today, we might very well be homeschooling again next year! There are many things that will have to fall into place for that to happen, but IF these things DO fall into place, we'll know that the Lord is leading us back into homeschooling. We will be, however, taking a very different approach to homeschooling. As of today, we'll be trying out the Switched on Schoolhouse program for Hunter and Lizzie - and Alpha Omega LIFEPACs for Tanner (Tanner will start SOS in 3rd grade). I've been reading a lot of reviews - and am finding some VERY differing opinions. Some hate SOS, some LOVE it. I don't know what category we'll fall into, but I know that we have to try something DIFFERENT, or it won't work! I have discovered that while I actually enjoy making lesson plans, I am not good at teaching the lessons. The two things that I am sad to give up is our science (Apologia) and history (Story of the World), but we won't be giving them up completely. We'll use both to supplement what we are learning with SOS and LIFEPACs.

We would appreciate your prayers for guidance. I truly feel that my kids would be better, in the long run, home with me. Public school hasn't been a BAD experience so far, but they are bring home attitudes, words, topics of conversations that I wish were left at school.

**Explanation of previous post: Nothing's Right, Nothing's Wrong While I am a firm believer in respecting other beliefs, I think there's a difference in teaching our kids to respect differences and teaching our kids everything is OK. I believe that is where society is taking our kids. That is frightening to me. I hope that I've said that correctly.

Nothing's Right, Nothing's Wrong

Sigh....I really wish I hadn't heard that statement.

I don't know the person that said that well enough to know if they really believe that - or if that's what she has to say because of the position she is in. And the context that it was said in - well, she was basically saying verbally what my actions are saying. UGH!!!

Sigh.

We may be homeschooling again sooner than I thought.

PS - I'm sure I'll explain this one sooner or later - but for now, I've got some thinking to do.