tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50995759049367703782012-02-02T10:27:41.248-08:00A city on a hill, a light in the blogosphere.Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.comBlogger1531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-53609627038191064302012-01-28T22:40:00.000-08:002012-01-29T23:04:48.131-08:00

Sonshine turned 12 a week ago today, and I am pleased to announce that he is not yet taller than me. We know it's coming, we've been expecting it for months, but the big moment has not arrived! Kylen measured in at a mere 5' 5 1/4", 3/4" short of 5' 6''. HA! We settled on a black light theme this year, which proved a bit of a challenge. Apparently black light parties often involve dancing and/

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-52876241265296977142012-01-25T21:33:00.000-08:002012-01-25T21:33:30.569-08:00

I've been wanting to do a post, but life won't let me!  I have TWO typed up, but I need to do something before I can put them up.  And between birthday party, the art class I'm teaching at Kylen's co-op, and now being sick (appears to be a mild flu), I haven't been able to!  Hopefully I'll feel all better soon and return to my normal schedule.  ~Blessings!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-12566283988694733682012-01-16T17:13:00.000-08:002012-01-17T09:49:10.062-08:00

A little over three years ago, Karla and her husband kindly invited us to their home Bible study. They were about to begin a curriculum from Summit Ministries called Understanding the Times. We were a little hesitant at first, because the title sounded a lot like prophecy dogma, something we weren't interested in. When we discovered it was actually about worldviews, we gave it a try. And we've

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-34544049040044029782012-01-09T20:52:00.000-08:002012-01-10T16:15:05.696-08:00

It's my favorite candy, but they must be original. Only original will do. My grandma won't eat them. She says the yellow center reminds her of a real yolk. There may be a back story in there about a baby chick lost during childhood, but I can't recall for sure. Some men bring their wives flowers. Mine did that for a few years, but he switched to Cadbury Eggs. Probably because he was the one

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-46898640266972178222012-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:32:08.862-08:00

We thank you, Dear Heavenly Father, for a good year rich in blessings. Be with us through 2012, help us to glorify you in all things, and please be with our friends and loved ones in their trials. Draw them closer to you. We praise you, Lord! We praise you!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-92089521171564045412011-07-10T19:07:00.000-07:002011-07-10T19:08:26.146-07:00

That is the question. Hmmm...

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-88327731470677417392009-05-27T23:50:00.000-07:002009-05-27T23:52:39.027-07:00

I will be taking a break from this blog for now. Just really busy with life! I'll let everyone know if and when I return!Blessings,Farrah

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-85630199563805826762009-05-18T18:07:00.000-07:002009-05-18T23:21:29.242-07:00

Today was the end of the trimester at co-op. While it is nice to have a long break ahead, Greg and I will miss teaching.One of the highlights this last trimester was a photography class I took as a student during one of my free hours. It was fun getting to know our camera better and learning tips for different kinds of shots. But it has increased my desire to pursue photography as a serious hobby

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-91397942666454188602009-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:002009-05-14T20:45:02.571-07:00

Money Fun was the fourth class. (No need to cover Class #3, as it was DEGO Day, a term coined by one my students meaning Domino + LEGO. A theme combining two past favorites and fairly self explanatory.) This one required an absorbent amount of prep time, as there was a tremendous quantity of information to wade through and my money knowledge was very sadly lacking. I had great difficulty

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-80904457057834891822009-05-13T10:19:00.000-07:002009-05-13T11:11:41.605-07:00

My second co-op class was Game Day. Unfortunately we had to stay home due to flu, but I sent a list of games for my assistant. I will only share those that the kids enjoyed most.Four CornersThis was their favorite. I remembered it being one of my favorites from grade school and was happy to find it on the internet, as the rules were a bit fuzzy. I am thrilled they liked it so much. I only wish I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-34434425625650589532009-05-12T09:26:00.000-07:002009-05-11T22:22:09.978-07:00

The last two times I taught Just for Fun at co-op, I did regular posts on my themes in case they might be helpful in providing fun ideas for other homeschooling parents.There have now been seven classes! Time to catch up!Our first day was titled Fun with Communications. After discussing the definition of this somewhat intimidating word, we brainstormed methods of communication, meanings of common

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-12478948546797394932009-05-11T19:50:00.000-07:002009-05-11T21:07:43.170-07:00

We began Mother's Day with food, and there is hardly a better way to start than that! AND, this was food I didn't prepare! Though Hubby cooks a yummy breakfast, and Kylen is an aspiring chef, this meal didn't come from them. I was treated to a marvelous ballroom brunch buffet! So many things to choose from, I didn't know where to start! Tables and tables with breakfast dishes, salads, carved

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-71067233649735385982009-04-24T13:24:00.000-07:002009-04-24T13:57:01.091-07:00

I have been wanting to do a post on a product called ClearPlay for some time, but my sweet husband beat me to it! Here is the link to his review.This a DVD player that filters offensive material out of movies and has already survived a lawsuit. Thankfully, the courts decided parents have the right to mute and fast-forward through objectionable material, which is all the player really does. Since

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-60539451758688437052009-03-31T11:31:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:21:26.904-07:00

Many have heard about Immaculee Ilibagiza’s incredible story of survival during the 1994 Rwandan Holocaust. She spent 91 days hiding with 7 other women in a tiny, closet-sized bathroom while her friends and family were being savagely hunted down. She gives some explanation of what led to the genocide, but it is not meant to be an in-depth history. The book is more about her life, forgiveness, and

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-51436995255323334872009-03-21T17:53:00.000-07:002009-03-23T02:51:03.637-07:00

Our theme day didn't go quite according to plan, but it was still fun!The night before, after Kylen was settled snugly in his bed and Greg had bid him goodnight, I told him the legend of how leprechauns visit homes the night before St. Patrick's Day. Of course, he knew it was just a story.Well, apparently we have done a fantastic job teaching the difference between truth and fairy tales, because

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-92040043314460053792009-03-15T19:46:00.000-07:002009-03-15T21:22:33.413-07:00

There was a time when I intended to have one homeschooling theme day each month in place of the usual routine and curricula. Subjects and fun activities are built around a theme, often related to a holiday. Since we haven’t had one of these in a long, long, LOOOOOOOOOONG time, I am going all out for our St. Patrick’s Theme Day. We will be covering a variety of things, but in the future I might

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-56971423927943157702009-03-02T17:27:00.000-08:002009-03-02T21:48:25.360-08:00

We took a short business trip to California so Greg could decide whether to accept a job offer there. After much deliberation, discussion, and prayer (including exploring the area and housing options), we decided it made most sense to stay put! Praise the Lord for His guidance! We appreciate everyone who prayed for us!Since we skipped our vacation last year, we felt it would be a good opportunity

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-79200767916833050402009-02-14T13:11:00.000-08:002009-02-14T13:12:52.869-08:00

I will not be able to get much computer time the next two weeks. Stuff related to Hubby's job came up, and we are going to be extremely busy and having to make some big decisions. In a couple weeks I should be able to check back. Appreciate prayers! Love you guys!!Oh, and . . . Happy Valentine's Day!!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-39239357360829680352009-02-08T11:17:00.001-08:002009-02-08T11:47:01.791-08:00

Congratulations, KATRINA!!!!!!!The Random Number Generator picked 2, and that is YOU!!! Let's hear it for my bloggy giveaway winner! Everyone clap! Clap, clap, clap!! *applauding*

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-2506578453886802502009-02-06T19:49:00.000-08:002009-02-06T20:58:53.370-08:00

What do you get when you combine "cheese" with "crackers?" Chackers! Greg has invented a new snack, and I have to admit it's pretty tasty!Spotted Turkey Chackers4 saltine crackers; unsalted if sensitive to salt1 slice of cheese; cheddar is good, but Colby Jack melts bettergarlic pepper seasoning1 thin slice of turkey or ham lunchmeatArrange the four crackers on a small plate side by side to form

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-42867927836865264252009-02-01T06:09:00.000-08:002009-01-31T21:54:31.033-08:00

Exactly one year ago today I entered this expansive and diverse world with my first entry, and . . . WHAT A RIDE!!! It's been rewarding, time-consuming, fun, frustrating, and totally worth it (or so I like to think). I have met AMAZING PEOPLE who blew me away with their knowledge and talent. I have gleaned tons of useful information and found fellowship with Christians I will never meet this side

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-60603581533205566922009-01-29T19:46:00.000-08:002009-01-29T21:28:14.248-08:00

Kylen's ninth birthday party was a blast! Pun intended! This year he decided on a Star Wars theme. Greg had already been working on a program to simulate words moving through space like at the beginning of the movies. He spent about a week on the invitations, which were DVDs. By far the most involved invitations we've ever done, but people loved them! We even printed DVD face and case covers. The

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-75944072359502890292009-01-20T02:55:00.000-08:002009-01-20T13:38:55.855-08:00

I frequently get my news from liberal CNN (from whence came this picture), not because I like their views, but because I like the layout of their site. After becoming accustomed to the hate speech consistently spewed forth there, especially in the comments of political articles . . . In fact, the final picture they showed in their photo piece titled "The Bush Presidency" was a shot of him dodging

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-91496642071584892542009-01-17T12:25:00.000-08:002009-01-17T12:46:13.769-08:00

When I don’t blog for a couple of weeks, you know we’ve been busy! Here’s a little update on our lives since December 30th:Our Favorite Christmas GiftsKylen graduated from college, became a computer programmer (just like his dad!), married, had three kids (including one set of twins), and bought a small cape house, all within the first week of the new year! He experienced debt, career changes,

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-4705838590992858192008-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:002008-12-30T21:04:52.588-08:00

For our fifth anniversary we had a fancy dinner at a fancy hotel, stayed one night in their fancy room, and enjoyed a fancy breakfast the next morning in bed. We had grand plans of doing something extra special for our tenth anniversary, maybe a short trip somewhere exotic. Our busy Christmas trumped that, but we're so happy it doesn't really matter where we are. Praise the Lord for the perfect

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-46966048393708751672008-12-27T11:17:00.000-08:002008-12-27T20:57:52.733-08:00

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We had a very nice, VERY white Christmas! A colossal snowstorm turned our city into a winter wonderland on the 17th, and it has continued snowing off and on ever since!Drifts on our front porch that first morning. Notice the smattering on our window to the right.Shovels are made for throwing snow at people, right?After the plow came through two days later, I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-27894161515639781362008-12-18T15:14:00.000-08:002008-12-18T19:33:31.370-08:00

This seems like a good time for a Thursday Thirteen!13 Things We Do During the Christmas Holiday1. Decorate inside and out2. Shop for and wrap presents3. Prepare an advent calendar for our son4. Watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music5. Make and send cards6. Purchase gifts for several charities *7. Make our annual candy8. Give goodies and sing We Wish You a Merry Christmas to the

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-75103538126701826232008-12-18T14:34:00.000-08:002008-12-19T13:47:00.011-08:00

Each year we participate in several Christmas charities. I thought it might be an interesting post to highlight some of our favorites. If you are like I was and desire to give but are not sure where to begin, I suggest starting out small. Take that first step; perhaps pick out a gift for a child from the giving tree at a store. As finances allow, add something else. God will bless you for sharing

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-70729038250770756442008-12-13T14:44:00.000-08:002008-12-13T15:37:08.501-08:00

Whoa! I haven't posted for a week! This is our busiest month, so next month should be better for blogging. :-)Today's recipe caught my eye as I was looking for something easy, festive, and different at myrecipes.com. What could be more "Christmasy" than cranberries? Turns out my husband likes these so much, he ate most of the first batch, bought the ingredients for a second batch, made it himself

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-29906668082541790942008-12-06T00:14:00.000-08:002008-12-06T10:31:56.228-08:00

As promised, here is the delicious, easy, perfect-for-cold-winter-months soup from our fall party! Take a guess where the recipe came from. Hint: Look at the ingredients!I couldn't find frozen onions and peppers together, so I subbed half a bag of frozen onions and half a bag of frozen peppers. This is the first recipe I've used frozen chopped onions and peppers. We always buy them fresh. But I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-28881890870593321792008-12-05T14:33:00.000-08:002008-12-05T15:12:22.637-08:00

Among the publications I read to broaden my knowledge of spiritual things is literature from Focus on the Family. A few years ago the organization's president, James Dobson, stepped down in order to give his attention more fully to other ministries. Jim Daly was chosen as his successor.A few days ago I turned the page of one of their magazines to see a picture of Jim’s family, and my eyes began

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-37240641856004299242008-11-28T12:13:00.000-08:002008-11-28T12:24:18.008-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a nice, relaxing day, since we are always blessed in going to my parent’s house and they only ask us to bring a couple of things. Greg’s parents joined us and two of my sibling’s families.We took a couple of pictures while waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. Notice my weak smile and my mom’s head is cut off. Lol! Oh well! My jaw was

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-82097725663067205722008-11-22T08:18:00.000-08:002008-12-05T12:13:39.425-08:00

We had this appetizer at our fall party (Yes, I actually took the photo myself for once! Not exactly magazine worthy, but you get the idea!), and it was a hit! No Vidalia or Walla Walla available? No problem! Ours turned out great using a run o' the mill sweet onion.Onion Dip2 cups Real Mayonnaise1 pkg. (8 oz.) Italian Cheese Crumbles or Shredded Italian 5 Cheese Blend1 large Vidalia or Walla

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-4687793252813245222008-11-20T19:50:00.000-08:002008-11-20T20:04:05.286-08:00

My last “Just for Fun” co-op class was Monday. Since we won’t see everyone again until after the holidays, I decided to have a little Christmas party! Kids entered to see green tablecloths with colorful candy canes on the tables and bows on the chair backs. They earned points toward a prize by winning games, of which there were three.For the first, I asked them to get in pairs and read each group

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-78796677413757941132008-11-15T17:23:00.000-08:002008-11-15T18:39:52.255-08:00

Matt. 22[28] Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.[30] For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.At some point, I began to wonder how heaven could be missing the attachments we

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-88116623641089652932008-11-11T13:46:00.001-08:002008-11-11T13:51:04.841-08:00

THANK YOU, Veterans!!The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Friberg

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-85181948594860062082008-11-10T19:54:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:59:13.984-08:00

Can you raise one eyebrow? Make a three leaf clover with your tongue? Flip it upside down?Such were the challenging questions my students winked, grimaced, and fish-lipped their way through. Yes, these are the lasting life lessons I desire to impart upon my young troupe. I handed out mirrors (from the dollar store) at the beginning of class, and we went through a long list of “can you’s” . . .

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-10592379615927013042008-11-08T12:29:00.001-08:002008-11-08T12:45:28.047-08:00

I just visited a blogger who calls himself a "true believer" bashing Christians for being upset about the efforts to eliminate the phrase, "Merry Christmas" from the public square. Apparently he forgot the percentage of Christians living in this country and the name of the holiday. After that very discouraging visit, I am hoping saying the following will prove therapeutic:MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-87110000666657911592008-11-04T23:07:00.000-08:002008-11-04T23:34:05.194-08:00

Is the world going to end? Nope.Am I terribly upset about Obama winning? Not really, because it wasn't much of a surprise. I've been seeing it coming for weeks or months all over the net and blogosphere. I actually do read quite a bit of political stuff even though I don't post on it much. I've seen alarming numbers of Christians praising Obama. I've seen lots of others determined to vote

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-80990444224548120182008-11-04T09:53:00.001-08:002008-11-04T09:55:59.790-08:00

Please pray. And then vote. And then pray some more.

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-58710164548602586962008-11-03T19:15:00.000-08:002008-11-03T19:39:15.844-08:00

How I loved playing with them as a child, happily idling away the hours in a world of tiles. Over the weekend I researched domino history, artwork, terminology and events. A short summary of this information (mostly found here) was given at the beginning of class. I also passed around pictures, including an example of this guy’s work. His site includes free detailed instructions for a few designs

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-27959583980714523212008-11-01T13:36:00.000-07:002008-11-01T15:38:59.207-07:00

Most years on Halloween we dress up (one our most anticipated traditions!) and head to the elementary school for games and candy. A couple of my siblings usually join us, and we are home just long enough to hand out some candy. This year, Kylen wanted to stay home the entire evening and answer the door in costume! So I decided to have a little party. I wasn’t sure how it would all work out, so I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-76416853817845595192008-11-01T09:19:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.428-08:00

There are many variations on these cakes, but I have to say that the following combination is EXTREMELY addictive for me. "Is that a good thing?" you ask. Well . . . We won't talk about that right now. :-)Anyway, it's called Chocolate Chip Gooey. I also made Pumpkin Gooey for our little fall party yesterday, and it was good, too! My husband favors yellow cake mix with butterscotch chips. Click

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-74019174454633085132008-10-27T19:41:00.001-07:002008-10-27T20:13:26.296-07:00

How do you repair a broken pumpkin?Buy a pumpkin patch!What did baby corn say to mommy corn?Where's popcorn?How do you keep a turkey in suspense?I’ll let you know next week!That’s a little taste of today’s crafty theme, “Fall Fun!” Students got an ear full of these jokes while decorating foam doorknob hangers, large leaves, and orange lunch bags (to carry everything) with an assortment of foam

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-90756831668225116192008-10-25T12:30:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.430-08:00

WARNING: Drinking this beverage may cause nausea, diabetic coma, or death by chocolate.I’m not even kidding. The name is TOTALLY accurate. I made this one time and am not sure I ever will again. BUT, if you love chocolate or very rich desserts, you have got to try this just once. Seriously, it could be drunk from shot glasses (we don’t drink alcohol, but those would be the perfect size), it’s

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-71891537497976872912008-10-22T00:06:00.000-07:002008-10-23T01:16:31.666-07:00

My sweet husband took off work early yesterday so we could capture a few fall shots before sundown. Normally Kylen doesn't much care for driving around, but this time he commented repeatedly that he was enjoying himself.We feel very blessed to live in a fairly young, beautiful city where most folks do a fantastic job of keeping it looking nice. Our city council has developed laws to assist in

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-72768304676019578322008-10-20T11:51:00.000-07:002008-10-27T20:13:26.297-07:00

Today’s Theme: Amazing Tricks!Prep Work: A good part of Saturday was spent practicing on Hubby and Sonshine. “What do you think of this one?” "Mom, do I HAVE to watch another trick right now?!" Basically drove them crazy with my constant interruptions. Lol!Opening Act: I entered the classroom carrying a bowl of hot water and gave a demonstration on Nitinol. While searching for optical illusions

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-81865694980361210842008-10-19T20:08:00.000-07:002008-12-05T15:09:54.236-08:00

This year we are using Sonlight’s history curriculum, and I have enjoyed the emphasis they place on reading. We just finished Gladys Aylward, The Adventure of a Lifetime by Janet and Geoff Benge. It is part of a series called “Christian Heroes.” I highly recommend this book for several reasons.First of all, it was very interesting. Not having read many books about missionaries, I thought it was

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-58142789822765981352008-10-13T21:09:00.001-07:002008-10-27T20:13:26.297-07:00

Dear Parents of Just for Fun Students,Next week’s class theme is SHOW AND TELL! Your child is welcome to bring something (or several things!) to show us if he likes. It can be a favorite toy, a pet rhinoceros, a craft project…anything interesting!Looking forward to next class!!~Mrs. BThat was the note I e-mailed and left in family folders last week in the hopes of boosting participation. Even so,

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-56079504059361938432008-10-10T23:57:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.432-08:00

Welcome to my favorite apple pie filling! I honestly have never liked restaurant or store-bought apple pie, because to me they can’t compete with this recipe. But before you get too excited, keep in mind that it all comes down to what you grew up with. For example, my husband doesn’t see anything special about this version. To him, apple pie is apple pie!A little tip: skip the crust and ladle

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-25143555526818640132008-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:002008-10-27T20:13:26.298-07:00

Class went GREAT today! Or . . . at least that’s what I hear! You see, I was absent most of the time.Students entered the classroom to find a magnifying glass at each seat and a mysterious message on the board reading: “Where is Mrs. B?” (My son told me afterward that seeing the message gave him the chills. Lol! Although, thankfully, he suspected I was hiding.) It quickly became apparent that

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-52364496327995435592008-10-05T09:50:00.000-07:002008-10-05T14:58:48.958-07:00

God ". . . calleth those things which be not as though they were." Romans 4:17bWhen we bought our house seven years ago, we signed papers from the homeowner's association agreeing to a number of requirements, one of which was to plant trees every so many feet in our backyard. I have spent numerous hours poring over garden books and researching the internet to come up with a list of plants that I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-37816371610754875472008-10-04T05:57:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.434-08:00

Here's a nice, easy, yummy, one-pot dish for a nice, chilly, yummy, fall evening. Add some sort of bread, and you're set!Southwestern Chicken and Rice1 tbsp vegetable oil1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut into 1-inch chunks1 large onion, chopped1 can (15-1/4 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed1-1/2 cups thick 'n chunky salsa1 cup frozen whole kernel corn, thawed1/2 cup chicken broth1-1

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-62253442216752982912008-09-29T20:50:00.000-07:002008-10-27T20:13:26.299-07:00

We had a great first day of co-op! Kylen is taking PE, my class, and Jonathan Parks Adventures in which the kids listen to an episode while doing related activities. As a wonderful bonus, my sister-in-law joined, so now Kylen gets to see some of his cousins every Monday. Woo-hoo! (Hey, I enjoy seeing 'em, too! I have always felt blessed to really like my sister-in-law and brother-in-law.)Today's

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-49871089179764223412008-09-27T12:59:00.000-07:002008-12-05T15:09:54.238-08:00

In a past post I mentioned that I was looking forward to reading Brisingr, the latest installment in a fantasy series called the Inheritance Cycle. I had thought the first two books were fairly clean other than a few objectionable words and some graphic violence. I also had high expectations of this author, because he was homeschooled. In his first two books the characters’ heathen, fictional

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-47913671253113147552008-09-27T01:18:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.436-08:00

'Tis the season for sneaking zucchini onto porches! Mom's preferred method was baking, and unfortunately that one never appealed to me. In fact, I was quite repulsed by the mushy texture. I enjoy it stir fried, in bread, and my favorite: fritters or pancakes, as some call them.Serve as an appetizer or side dish. You can substitute yellow squash or use a mixture of both. Dip them in ranch dressing

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-51415076658952070612008-09-19T12:04:00.000-07:002008-09-20T00:57:56.983-07:00

Summer begins to wane, so I have reinstated our cool weather tradition of making all of us a cup of hot tea in the evenings. I was excited to try something new from the stockpile accumulated over the last several months. Tonight it was Lipton Herbal "Ginger Twist": not bad but a little too overpowering for my taste.A few months back, I bought flavored coffee creamer to drink straight. Oh yes, I

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-36815905290443894632008-09-18T20:57:00.001-07:002008-09-18T21:08:40.558-07:00

Kylen's new cousin was born last Friday, September 12th! We got to see him at the hospital before my sister, Wakena, and her husband headed home with their newly expanded family.Does he look like snakes and snails and puppy dog tails to you? Naaaaaaaa. His big brother Elijah has no idea how much life is about to change!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-26847315691858371362008-09-16T22:47:00.000-07:002008-09-16T23:33:59.459-07:00

This is the first year we went to the fair on two different days. Thursday we did rides and visited buildings; Sunday we saw the demolition derby. Double the fun!FAIR FOOD!!Greg shamelessly ordered his favorite cube of fatty fries not once, not twice, but four times! Of course, he needed help eating them! (We thought so, anyway!)Farrah’s Choice was the deep fried Twinkie, which she only bought

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-90723626269795777782008-09-11T10:19:00.000-07:002008-09-11T10:47:09.128-07:00

In my previous post someone asked about Fudgees. I was thinking of just adding a link to some site talking about them. However, a quick search on yahoo proved futile. Not a single Fudgee mention to be had. I went to Oreo's site and looked at all their products. Shockingly, no mention of Fudgees! Then I noticed yahoo had included "oreo fudge" in their search and gave the option of only looking for

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-75253916303610382472008-09-11T08:25:00.000-07:002008-09-11T10:58:33.827-07:00

I haven't participated in a meme for ages! How about two in one? Thursday Thirteen and Thankful Thursday:Life. Another week of borrowed time. Every second, every day a gift from God.Love. Hubby cooked dinner the past few nights, and Sonshine has been saying how thankful he is to have me for a mom. I am so blessed!Liberty. In the greatest nation on Earth, where I have the privilege to vote. I have

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-39767265975630842092008-09-03T09:34:00.000-07:002008-09-03T10:37:57.165-07:00

. . . the rainbow! Life is SOOOOO good!!It's been some time since I've done a post about what we've been up to! So I thought I'd give a little summary. :-)My father is home and doing well. Praise God! Thank you to all who prayed! My sister is supposed to have her labor induced today, so Kylen might have a new cousin by this time tomorrow! AND . . . We are over our colds and feeling great!The Lord

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-6220423569629351012008-08-28T18:04:00.000-07:002008-08-28T18:29:41.650-07:00

Dad was doing great yesterday and was supposed to go home tomorrow, but they gave him a heart medicine today that made his blood pressure drop dangerously low. So now . . . I'm not sure. We also had some negative excitement when my sister, who is two weeks from her due date, went in for a checkup. They thought the baby's heartbeat had something wrong and were considering doing an emergency

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-63195491780215575122008-08-24T22:06:00.000-07:002008-08-24T22:09:17.201-07:00

Dad is in the ICU and will need to stay there until his heart stabilizes. Today, when he tried to eat, his heart began acting up. Once he can eat without trouble, they can move him out of the ICU and probably let him go home soon after.

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-1778719917275932992008-08-23T18:18:00.000-07:002008-08-23T18:40:24.962-07:00

Please say a prayer for my father and our family. Yesterday when we arrived at my parents house to celebrate my nephew's first birthday, we found out my dad had something wrong with his heart. Mom suspected a heart attack. He does not like going to doctors for any reason, so he stayed in bed all day. Today his heart started beating fast, and he thought he might be dying. Mom took him to the

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-10656405253001080182008-08-21T18:12:00.000-07:002008-08-21T18:17:07.291-07:00

Potatoes, potatoes!O’ how I do love them!The most perfect foodIn all of creation!So versatile, they:Grate, dice, chop or slice!With butter and saltMore tasty than rice!Naught else can compare!Bake, boil, fry, or grill.I’ve tried many ways;All make a fine meal!So eat them tonight!And eat them tomorrow!Just one little biteWill ease all your sorrow!We grew potatoes, my favorite food, for the first

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-92000630206097229632008-08-13T19:42:00.000-07:002008-08-13T20:31:12.027-07:00

Yes, I am doing two political posts in a row. DON'T PANIC! This is no indication of my future blogging habits! I had planned to make one loooong post, but loooong posts are a turn-off to readers. (Despite my best of intentions, that last post still ended up being VERY loooong. Sorry!)This one is about my current voting experience.We received our ballots for Washington’s Primary Election over a

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-76947972844336895932008-08-12T22:52:00.000-07:002008-08-12T23:03:51.548-07:00

I know few women bloggers who talk about politics AT ALL. Not even a mention of their favorite presidential candidate. I have to wonder: Is this subject taboo among homemakers? Government is one of the most powerful forces in our lives, and I don’t see my peer group showing interest.Suddenly I have this vision of a mom sitting happily at her computer, steaming cup of coffee nearby. She is

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-51334887178029558332008-08-06T13:20:00.000-07:002008-08-12T12:49:58.526-07:00

A 3.3 mile hike up and down a mountain with a rise of 660 feet from the parking lot.A dream come true.That was what happened last Saturday. Eight months ago I couldn’t walk across a room on my own. One year ago, we were vacationing at the coast. Sweet Hubby and Sonshine disappeared down a gorgeous trail as I waited in the car, sore and sad. I so wanted to be with them and wondered if I would ever

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-86775376981989982012008-07-23T12:18:00.000-07:002008-07-29T12:28:00.869-07:00

Pam tagged me for this hubby questionnaire! You might hop over and take a peek at her answers, which I'd call first rate classic literature. :-)1. WHO IS YOUR MAN ? Greg (Hubby)2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER? This December will mark our tenth!3. HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? About 1 year4. HOW OLD IS YOUR MAN? 335. WHO EATS MORE? He’s always eaten more.6. WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST? I can’t remember!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-78348188892258742008-07-18T15:36:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:53.069-08:00

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-67800937777146917022008-07-07T21:58:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:53.156-08:00

We conceived a brilliant idea for reducing waste: a scratch paper bin. I took great care to remember our bin each and every time we had any reusable paper, and things were going great. We were saving the planet, maybe even bringing about world peace, and life was good . . . That is, until it threatened to overtake the closet. Our black, wire containers were nowhere to be seen as they were buried

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-84419219144777720642008-07-04T07:23:00.000-07:002008-07-03T19:53:42.134-07:00

This is a time of year when I praise the Lord for blessing our country. I love our nation's early history, because it is so rich with divine intervention. It makes me sad to think of where we are heading today. Here is a song I always listen to around the 4th. It's outdated but still very powerful. We need God in America!!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-45744790330310452052008-07-01T01:23:00.001-07:002008-11-13T01:18:53.344-08:00

What do the solar system, balloons, and global warming have in common? Not sure? Well, let me tell ya!This week we are finishing science. It felt like too much to do reading, note-booking and projects each day so we decided to save all the experiments/projects for the end. Today is the beginning of our experiment week! Incidentally, I really enjoyed learning about our universe along with Kylen.

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-25281587842384067422008-06-25T21:16:00.000-07:002008-06-26T10:56:31.846-07:00

Karla was just too kind to tag me for "Two!"TwoTwo names I go by:Farrah, the CricketMrs. BTwo things I'm wearing right now:Blue t-shirtGrey stretchy pants (we're talking comfort, here)Two of my favorite things today:Getting an e-mail from a friend about how her daughter named her pet cricket after mePicking strawberries with my boys from our gardenTwo things I want at the moment:My collarbone to

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-11317278927251757422008-06-17T11:18:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:54.341-08:00

I enjoyed my two week break! It gave me a large amount of free time, and made me realize I need to reduce the frequency of my posts. For now, I am going to aim for about three times a week.Our Father’s Day weekend was nice and relaxing. Some of the highlights included seeing Kung Fu Panda again at the Imax (see a review here), going to Kylen’s last baseball game, and the annual raft excursion the

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-37308883214858899622008-05-30T12:03:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:54.531-08:00

I love blogging, but it's time to face reality! The nicer weather and my improved health have made for a buzzzzzz-ier me! We have lots of outside work and many inside projects. With the warmer weather, I have decided to do an outdoor family outing each weekend. We don't get nearly enough sun or exercise, and this is one way to improve that.Spring cleaning comes to mind . . . We are also at a

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-89731028151689952812008-05-28T14:15:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:55.608-08:00

Hubby requested one of our infamous game nights for his birthday this year. We had my siblings' families over on Friday, and some stayed over night. We played games most of our waking hours . . . and ate of course!I handed out those neat animal balloons. They’re so funny! When inflated, it looks like a very fat critter with teeny tiny arms and legs sticking out! Here is a lion and elephant.Ryan,

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-80697364370109957642008-05-22T07:00:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:18:58.644-08:00

About a month ago I snapped some shots of spring around our yard . . . And never got around to posting them! My favorite was of a leaf left over from last fall. We found several of these during our clean up. Portions between the veins had decomposed leaving behind these intricate and delicate details . . . natures lace. Isn't it spectacular? In the midst of death and decay, there is beauty and

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-6903931662546406622008-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:00.373-08:00

Everyone had a wonderful time at my final "Just for Fun" class until the end when we ran out of time and a few students needed to leave early. The prep work was very intensive. I spent a good part of the weekend creating cards with original art, wrapping gifts, washing tiny dishes, and preparing a miniature spread for the meal. I really wanted this last class to be the best of the bunch!

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-3327083189965689972008-05-19T20:16:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:03.815-08:00

On Saturday I met my mom, grandma, sister and sister-in-law at a local tea shop to celebrate a belated Mother's Day. It was lovely!I sent out less formal invitations than usual, as I was short on time. Each envelope contained a small note card with the date and time, a business card, and a flyer from the shop with information about their teas.In honor of the holiday, my gift to each mother was a

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-513635096312323662008-05-14T23:47:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:05.186-08:00

My class went well this week! The theme was "Fun with the Five Senses," and fun it was!Taste: I began by having the kids taste and guess some of the Bertie Bott’s flavors. I started right off with vomit. KIDDING! What kind of teacher do you think I am?? Actually, I disposed of the really nasty ones ahead of time and sorted the rest. I had them guess grass, pickle, and sausage. I let them

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-79951766045974233182008-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:002008-05-15T00:43:45.162-07:00

Woo-hoo! This is my 100th post! I’ve seen several bloggers type up 100 random things about themselves for their 100th post, and I just received an e-mail from my cousin with 60 questions to answer. So I decided to combine the two, answer her questions and add more to make 100. Here goes . . .What time did you get up this morning? 11 amDiamonds or pearls? DiamondsWhat was the last film you saw at

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-76706602204462027952008-05-12T23:31:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:07.491-08:00

Friday evening we celebrated my niece’s fourth birthday at an amusement center called Triple Play. They have bowling, arcade games, rock climbing and a small indoor water park with slides, wave pool and kid’s play structure.I really had fun picking out her birthday gift this year. Since there would be swimming, I decided to get her something for the water. I was thrilled to find a waterproof

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-74117640938405326122008-05-11T10:25:00.000-07:002008-05-10T22:36:35.884-07:00

I have all sorts of things I would love to blog about, if only I had more time! Hopefully things will slow down a bit in the next few weeks. In the meantime, my posts will probably be a bit scattered and random. At any rate . . .

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-86971744247915073632008-05-05T22:51:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:08.225-08:00

We had a nice but busy weekend! Friday afternoon was spent running errands. We experienced a truly momentous occasion! After seven years in this house, we bought plants for possibly the first time (not counting the veggie garden). As you might suspect, a gardener I am not. Yet, all these years I have anticipated the time when we would begin planting things. Our house deal included a landscaped

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-44049051604108214062008-05-05T22:33:00.001-07:002008-11-13T01:19:08.367-08:00

Kylen and I have been reviewing portions of his astronomy book that he learned earlier in the year. The parts about light got me to thinking about how marvelously God, in His infinite wisdom, has built into nature material from which to draw spiritual lessons.My thoughts ran thus: Light in its purest and most complete form includes every color of the rainbow. Such light is called “white” light.

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-54951905022283687462008-05-03T10:54:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.439-08:00

This is a delicious Mexican side dish. The original recipe suggested serving it alongside chicken enchiladas. I'm not big on those, so I add meat by stirring in a pound of cooked ground beef before baking.Mexican Casserole4 cups cooked white rice2 Cans cream of celery soup1 (4 ounces) can chopped green chilies, drained and pureed in blender1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese1 cup shredded

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-30602409617875233312008-05-01T11:00:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:09.587-08:00

The only thing I really collect is children's picture books. Where else can you find so much talent, creativity, and quality artwork in such a small and affordable package? I buy books because I like their illustrations and/or stories not because they are hot on collector’s lists. Most of them I have purchased new from Barnes and Noble. These are in no particular order. I just pulled some top

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-393441688278204582008-04-29T10:25:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:09.809-08:00

We were in town 11 hours. 11 hours!Our day began with co-op. The kids enjoyed class with the theme, "Backwards Day." It was one boy's birthday, so we sang "You to Birthday Happy." We learned how to say their names backwards, discussed palindromes, played "Backwards Charades," watched a mini movie, and I read the book "Little Pea." They also guessed how many pieces were in a LEGO set, and the

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-15812273827949026612008-04-28T08:22:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:10.134-08:00

For the most part, I stay away from online forums, because I could easily spend all day on one. My husband stumbled across a Christianity forum on Amazon over a month ago, and he manages to be better than me about it, although he admits that sometimes he spends too much time there!They get a full spectrum of people: every religion and denomination, atheist, too. The attitudes are just as diverse.

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-82987979436378444532008-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.441-08:00

I know what you’re thinking. That doesn’t look anything like orange roughy. Maybe yellow roughy, whatever that is, but certainly not orange rouphy. Be patient, my friend. Read down; an explanation will present itself forthright.I got this recipe from Grandma, who got it from the grocery store. It was good when she made it, and it was good when we made it!Easy Orange Roughy2 lb orange roughy

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-71137693133133295372008-04-22T23:22:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:11.674-08:00

Yesterday's theme for my co-op class was Silly Putty! I bought 4 different kinds and had each child draw an egg randomly from a bag. I explained each type -- color changing, space sludge, glow-in-the-dark, and metallic.While they played, I covered some history and properties of Silly Putty, went over all the fun things you can do with it, and we played a game called "Impressions." The game

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-51141383460701297212008-04-22T23:03:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:12.917-08:00

Painting has been WAY more work than we ever imagined! First, we moved a bunch of Kylen's stuff into the living room where it remains to this day. Other stuff we moved to the center of the room. Then, Greg taped borders which always needed to be done first with each coat.Our first layer was this grey primer. We kind of liked how the primer looked and actually thought about leaving the room that

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-11458876309078847662008-04-22T19:29:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:13.056-08:00

Can I brag on my son for a moment? Greg and I can count on one hand the number of times we remember hitting a baseball EVER. We were forced to play that sport at school over and over, and it was sheer torture for us. We struck out nearly every time.Greg started practicing baseball with Kylen last summer. They didn’t do it often. Just some hitting and catching sessions here and there. We decided

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-61236870317851718592008-04-21T23:28:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:13.141-08:00

I have noticed lately that a very common problem for Christian homeschooling moms is the “Martha Stewart Syndrome.” We know that perfection in every area of our lives is entirely impossible and unrealistic. For one thing, we don’t have enough time to be everything and do everything. Yet we still try and end up feeling depressed and overwhelmed when we “fail” – when the house isn’t clean enough,

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-70806466670939236482008-04-21T10:40:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:14.152-08:00

Some individuals have shown a keen interest in learning more about my cardboard shakers and how I clean them. After much thought and extensive planning, I have decided to create a special post complete with pictures on this fine art. Here are my amazing shakers, which can be purchased as a pair at the grocery store already filled and ready to go! You certainly don’t have that kind of benefit when

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-38404850340403945692008-04-19T22:05:00.000-07:002008-12-05T12:13:39.444-08:00

Over here in Antarctica Washington, we’re still enjoying comfort foods and crock pot meals. They go well with the snow, which is forecast for this weekend. Here is one of my top five favorites when I'm hungry for slow cooking fare. I like to serve it over rice with frozen peas on the side.Spicy and Tender Crock Pot Pork Chops5-6 thick or 10-16 thin center-cut pork loin chops, about 2 lbs3-6 tbsp

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-43480146183477290112008-04-16T22:42:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:16.024-08:00

You can’t really appreciate this list unless you’ve survived several years with a compact car. We loved our wonderful, reliable, little Geo, but it wasn’t designed for hauling large items!13 Things We Carried In Our Compact Geo Prizmkid’s basketball hoop (in the backseat for 1800 miles), full-size basketball hoop (pictured above)full-size deskfull-size entertainment centertwo 6-foot

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5099575904936770378.post-78951863858947661712008-04-15T11:25:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:19:16.414-08:00

We had a lovely, busy weekend! Greg finally finished painting Kylen’s room, and we had the nicest weather since last fall – t-shirt weather! I got to visit a tea shop, we did some weeding and raking, and cleaned the front windows.Monday we went to co-op as usual. This week my class theme was LEGOs! I dumped the contents of a large container all along the table. The kids enjoyed building stuff

Farrahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274760327802884251noreply@blogger.com2