Week Off

Well, the boys have the week off again. They need to be doing their lessons, but they aren't done. Whenever I decide I'm gonna give the boys the week off so they can unwind and I can chill a little it never seems to work out like that. I always seem to find 50 extra things I could be doing then I get soooo busy I don't even get the lessons I planned to be workin on. Then of course the boys need another week off so I can work on lessons. So here we are in week 2, I still haven't started the lessons and it looks like I will either be working my butt off the last part of the week and maybe into the weekend or they will get a 3rd week off. Sigh.

Stiff neck...again

Well, I haven't slept well the last few nights. Been fighting a stiff neck and woke up this morning barely able to turn my head to the left. I just got adjusted for the same thing, but worse, on the right. Don't wanna have to go back to the chiropractor. We recently switched the box springs under the bed. We have a King so theres 2 box springs. When we rearranged we switches the box springs. I wonder if that did it. I will probably switch them back today and hopefully that will help. I'll probably spray a little lavender on the bed as well. I need a good nights rest. I was a total bitch yesturday and a little bit of one today.

Money lesson

We are having a yard sale this weekend and the boys (13 &9) are selling waters and such to earn some scout money. They are both in scouts. Youngest is in Cubs, he's a Webelos, and oldest is in Boy Scouts, he just earned his Tenderfoot rank. Well, scouts isn't cheap. They earn money each week for scouts as part of their allowance for chores and such. We had them decide what they wanted to sell. And work out a budget and how much to sell each item for. They had to take thier scout money to the store and purchase thier items. It was hard for them cause they didn't have much to work with. My youngest only had $12. He had to make some hard decisions. He was almost in tears over it. But it was a hard lesson they both needed to learn. Hubby and I spent a while in the store just talking him through it all. And it wasn't easy. But we finally came up with something we could all agree upon and the boys were happy with what they purchased.
My youngest wll be selling pepsi, water, pickles and pickle sickles. My oldest will sell water, Sierra Mist, hugs juices & ice pops. Neither one is over charging for any of the items. If they can sell half of thier items they will break even.
But this will be a big lesson for them. They had to spend their own money on this and if it sells they will earn some more scout money, if not they will have to dal with that as well.
We also discussed how hard it is get what you want or sometimes need when you don't really have the money for it. So when mommy says no, which happens more than I'd like, if they want something theres a reason. We have a budget we have to follow so we can have what we need.
I think this experience will make an impact on them. Even a little one.

weight loss progress

I have lost 1.8 pounds this week. Grand total weight loss is 20.3 pounds and 17 inches(I only measured 3 places) If I can lose 1.3 by next Friday I will hit my goal for the month which 282.

My goal for next month is to weight 278 (or less)
And my birthday, which is August 19th, 275(or less)

These numbers are still really high and I know this but I am not embarressed to share them. As long as I am losing the weight its an accomplishment.

I am extremely proud to say I now weight 283.3 pounds! I started out at 304.2 pounds. I have already passed my 5% (15lbs) weight loss goal and am shooting for my 10% (30lbs) weight loss goal. I am hoping to pass my 10% goal by the end of August(sooner is better though).

There are a lot of changes going on. I jiggle more, I am thinner in several places and my clothes don't fit. LOL. But I am also more energetic, I exercise 2-3 times a week minimum and I am feeling better about myself.

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Litha No-Bake Fairy Cakes

Heres the recipe for the Fairy cakes. The kids LOVED them!

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a saucepan conbine sugar, butter, milk and cocoa. Cook over medium heat. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in oats,nuts and vanilla. Stir really, really good. Drop dough in rounded teaspoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool before serving to fairies.
Makes about 48 fairy cakes. Plenty for the fairies and you.

Litha Family celebration

For Litha this year we took the kids out for Braums ice cream and spent family time together. Then we cam home and the kids and I made sun catchers. We used wax paper(2 pieces) & crayola shavings(in the middle of the wax paper).

Then took an iron to it and of course the shavings melt into an awesome work of art. Then they cut it out in the shape of a sun.

And hole punched it in one of the sun beams, ran a string through the hole and attached some beads.

And the finished product...

A unique work of art and a happy kid

He even hung it out side.

Heres my oldest working on his

And his finished product...

I also copied a Litha pictureoff line for them to color and hang in their rooms. Eric was soooo proud of his.

We also did a family ritual and talked about what makes our family special. It was really nice. I totally forgot the camera during the ritual otherwise there would pics of that too. Darn it. Maybe next time.
But we finished it with some Litha No-Bake Fairy Cakes and apple juice. We of course fed the fairies first then had ours.

Then it was off to bed for good dreams.

A Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life last week...
I had a pretty crappy week. I had a migraine for 2 days with nausea followed by a pinched nerve in my neck for 3 days. I was unable to exercise cause I could barely move. I managed to cook dinner every night and check the kids lessons, with help from a lot of excedrin.

In my life this week...
So far I am starting the week off well. I was able to get in a really good workout today. I cooked an awesome dinner. Hubby will have a half day tomorrow. We plan on running some errands and taking the kids to Braums for thier last ice cream they earned from the Braums book buddy program this year.

In our homeschool last week...
I gave the kids the week off school so I could work on, re vamp and make their lessons better. They're happy. They love learning but like to relax as well.

My favorite this week...
Hopfully will be tomorrow. Having a good family fun day.

Homeschool questions or thoughts I have...
I am working on revamping the kids History, Geography and English. I think I might be giving them too much to do. I'd like to find a way for them to get all the info they need but not so much material.

Eric's creation

Eric had to make a freestanding creation out of misc. items,for scouts, last week. Of course with his love of dogs he made a dog out of a egg carton, a box, balloons, pom poms, and popsicle sticks. He was so proud of what he made all on his own.

France Week

The boys are learning about France this week. They are learning how to count to 10 in French, about their government, the people and even the sites. They built their own "version" model of the Effiel Tower out of Legos.

Homeschool Mother's Journal

In our homeschool this week:

The boys are learning about France this week. They are counting to 10 in French and building the Effiel Tower.

In our Family this week:

We have started a new way of handling workboxes, lessons & chores. Since the boys are getting older w decided to change up some of the routines. The workboxes are now in the boys rooms instead of the family room. They are working at their desks (still a work in progress).

With chores I have a chore chart printed on their doors with personal chores they need to do daily, brush teeth, shower, deoderant, water the gecko, cat care, stuff like that. And they have 1 thing in their room to do each day. Today is straighten dresser drawers.

Then theres a chore chart in the kitchen and bathroom listing their daily chores. If they don't do them they get a drop. A drop means no allowance. They don't like that.

They are also at the age where I shouldn't have to hoover over them to do their chores either. I will remind them occassionally but other than that they need to learn time management.

For Lunch Today:

For lunch today the boys had homemade pizza bagel- whole wheat bagel, tomato sauce, turkey pepperoni & grated cheese, apple sauce- sugar free of course, and some left over homemade cookie cake.

The kids LOVE this lunch. Its like the bagel bites, but bigger & a lot healthier. Not processed.