Homeschooling Info

Homeschooling is a hot topic amongst me and my friends lately. Several of us have kids starting kindergarten this or next fall. Today we discussed reasons and philosophies to choose homeschool over public school...we were surrounded by running preschoolers so it was a fairly brief conversation...but so good to listen to different thoughts and opinions.

Here are a few links to resources I have found helpful (there are a plethora of websites available on homeschooling so this is just the tip of the iceburg...keeping it simple helps avoid becoming overwhelmed):

Heart of Dakota Publishing - I use their Little Hands to Heaven for preschool

Sonlight Curriculum - this is what we are going to start using for Kindergarten

A Beka Book Curriculum - plus this for math and writing

Lisa Whelchel on Homeschooling I have really loved her laid-back style of writing and common sense approach to choosing homeschooling!

Families for Home Education - details on the Homeschooling laws in Missouri

Midwest Parent Educators - this is the HUGE group based in Lenexa that sponsors one of the largest curriculum fairs in KC. Looks like it is April 25 & 26 for 2008. I believe membership is required to attend.

Discovery Homeschool Academy - one day a week enrichment program at First Baptist Raytown

Raymore Home Educators - local support group

All in all, I think the best thing to do is educate yourself about homeschooling...and then if it looks like it might fit for your family---jump in! There's no way to know w/o trying. And remember, if you've been home with your kids to this point, you've taught them all they know so far...so I bet you can keep it going longer!

Baked Oatmeal Supreme

Here's the snack recipe from today's playgroup! I got it off the web sometime ago...today I made it with the almonds and dried blueberries for the options. I was actually surprised about how quickly most of the kiddos gobbled this down!

Baked Oatmeal Supreme

2 c. oats
1/4-1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4-1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking powder
1/2 c. slivered almonds or walnuts
1/2 c. raisins or other dried fruit
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs

Use a fork to mix all ingredients together thoroughly in a mixing bowl. Bake 40-45 min @ 350 in a greased 8x8 dish or pan. Cool and cut into squares. Keeps well in the fridge for a healthy snack.

Enjoy!

And she lives on...

I received a big box of unused note cards, stationary and greeting cards from my Grandma Ruthie's estate. The last couple days I've been sorting through them and have found mingled with in the many, many envelopes (ack!) trademark Ruthie notecards with little diddies wrote on them, various articles, old Christmas letters from family and friends and a few letters from me, my sisters and cousins.

I thought sharing a few of the contents of one little ziplock baggie might be entertaining for ya...as well as give you a glimpse of what you could always expect along with your next love-gift from Ruth (wrapped in a plastic grocery bag, of course):

Rules for Living Each Day (handwritten on a note card)...(BTW I received a card with these rules so many times that they always come to mind almost every time I mop/shower/get gas etc...):

1. Scrub only when the sun is shining
2. Don't fish when the wind is in the North
3. Don't let your gas tank go below 1/2 full
4. Make your bed and put on clean underwear before you leave home
5. Always dry the nape of your neck first after showering
6. Always eat applesauce when eating fat or fried foods
7. On a heavy, rainy day: play a game, stay in bed or sew
8. Always place toilet paper roll with wipe-side next to the wall--Military Rule!

Next up was a wallet-sized picture of the infamous picture of Jesus standing at the door and knocking...Job 23:10 on the back.






A couple math puzzlers: Take your age--multiply by 2; add 5; multiply by 50. Subtract 365; add loose change in your pocket, under a dollar; add 115 and the first two figures are the answer to your age and the last 2 the change in your pocket!

Would you want $312,000.00 or 1 penny each day for 30 days & double it each day--figure it out!

A copy of a newspaper article about the history of the Star Spangled Banner.

Three letters from different grandchildren...Paige, Pud and Leslie.

Finally, my favorite, typed and ready to hand out:

Christmas Greetings

I'm sending this note to remind you
That taxes have taken away
The things I find most essential
My workshop, my reindeer, my sleigh.

Now I'm making my rounds on a donkey
He's old, crippled and slow.
So, if you don't see me at Christmas
I'm out on my ASS in the snow...
**** ***** *****

What else is there to say? That's all folks!

Funny Bunnies

Just a FYI that my kiddos have updated their blog with some fun pix and stuff from Kai's birthday...click here or on the Silly Rabbits link on the right!

Great Tunes...

I have a kiddo-free afternoon and am enjoying one of my top-best-favorite-awesome cd's while I putter around (okay, I'm cleaning, believe it or not):

The Best of Peter, Paul & Mary: 10 Years Together

My sis, Jodi, and I used to dance and sing and do whatever else little girls like to do to this album. Only then it was from an actual record in our mom's collection. Now my kids like to jam while I'm cooking to the same tunes...I think Puff the Magic Dragon is their current fav.

Long live folk music!

Pretty In Pink2

Last weekend was fun! After I stayed up til 2 a.m. finishing my preparations, my friend Molly joined me at my booth out at the Love In Bloom bridal fair at Powell Gardens. We spent the day enjoying each other's company, meeting lots of brides-to-be and their friends, and chatting with other cake gals. Here we are posing...that's Molly on the left and me on the right.


To add a little excitement, visitors voted for their favorite display cake from all the different cake vendors. It was my first bridal fair and I took home 2nd place! Whoo-hoo! I received a beautiful centerpiece flower arrangement with purple and pink primroses and all kinds of other pretties along with a cash prize.

My cake was titled "Rosa Silhouette" and was a three tier square cake that I stair stacked to give a flat surface on the back. Then I piped a silhouette of a bride and groom along this "canvas" turning what usually would be the back into the front of the cake. I added lots of pink pearly bobbles around as borders and on wires for the topper. It was much fun to create and my favorite part is that the design is my very own brain-child! So many of my other cakes are inspired directly from another design--unique creations always take the cake in my book!


I wish I had taken pictures of the other cake booths, but I became quickly distracted after the fair got going and never got my camera out again! Now I'm just hoping for a wedding contract or two...what a beautiful place to have a wedding.

Pretty in Pink

Nothing to do this Saturday? Come out and see me at the Powell Gardens "Pretty In Pink" Wedding Fair--you can taste some yummy cake! The gardens are 20 miles East of Lee's Summit on Highway 50. Click here for more info!