2 for 1 Book Review

I just finished reading My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I read one for Jake's blog book club and another for a woman's group book club.  Can you guess which is which? :)  They are obviously at 2 ends of the spectrum and one I would suggest everyone should read and the other I would not!

My side of the Mountain is about a boy who decides to run away to his great-great-(I think it was 2 greats) grandfathers land in the Catskills and live off of it.  He manages to make it through a winter, make some wonderful new friends (human and not), and even trained a baby hawk to hunt for him.  It is a great book and there are 2 more in the series that I can't wait to read.  He lives in a large old tree that he finds a rotten spot in and digs and burns it out to make an impressive home.  He makes clothes out of deer skin and rabbit fur and works to get a supply of food and firewood that will last through the winter.  Jake wants to go camping and live off the land for a few days...We will bring back up because the amount of research this boy did to survive would take us months to do!
And I don't love the idea of not using a tent at least.  This book really did make me think about what I truly need to survive and what I think I need.  Could I live without my Kindle? Yes, but I really don't want to.  Could I live in a hollowed out tree?  I would like to say yes if I had to, but that is probably not true.  I have some work to do before I can live off the land...or even without electricity!  Read this book-you will love it!

Have you read the Help or seen the movie?  I wanted to see the movie...but now I am not so sure.  There are some parts in the book I am afraid may be in the movie and I don't really want to see them!

I really did like the book. It is crazy to think that people believed they could catch diseases from using the same toilet that black people used.  What is even crazier is to think it was only 50 years ago!  We have come a long way since that time. 

I loved that different chapters were from the perspective of different characters.  I loved each of the characters and their flaws.  They were all so courageous and inspiring.  I don't really have to get into the plot because unless you live under a rock you have heard about this book/movie. 

This book has great lessons in it.  For that reason I would say it is a good read...But there is some language and one part that is pretty vulgar.  The language, although not something I enjoyed, is understandable (for the time period, culture, and "worldliness"...for lack of a better way to put it...) but the vulgar part (although probably a realistic representation, unfortunately, of things that happen in this crazy world...) could have been left out in my point of view...But at the same time it was important to the story...I won't go into detail but it basically is about Minny (a black lady that is "the Help" for a rich white lady named Miss Celia. Celia married "up" and is from the country so she doesn't have the walls between the races built up that all the other characters do) defending the white lady that she works for.  Then Miss Celia ends up defending Minny and saving her life.  Let me put it this way-not many people would have defended their "help" against an attack.  I am torn.  I don't want to tell you to read it because there are definitely parts that are offensive.  But it is a wonderful reminder of where we were as a country and how far we have come. Use you own judgment on this one.  I almost hate to admit I liked it...but I did.  It is our history.  Will I read it again? No. Once was enough for me so that means it doesn't make it to my list of classics (books you want to read over and over).  Have you seen the movie?  If you have let me know if you think I should see it.  I have heard it was wonderful and a must see.  I am just wondering if the one scene is in the movie-though I don't know they could have done it without giving it an R-rating.

One classic and one good read.  Not a bad week for reading!  My problem now is what to read next.  I am reading to study (Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis...I came back to this one.  I had to give my brain a rest because the guy who wrote this is way smarter than I am and The Book of Mormon)-I just need a reading for pleasure book.  I think I will be reading the next Anne Shirley book...I need a little bit of innocence and joy after reading the Help. :)

Our first official field trip: The Schiele Museum

 Our first field trip was supposed to be to the Latta Plantation for their Fall Homeschool Day.  But because I bumped my head a month earlier (that is going to be my excuse for every idiotic things I do for a while...) I put it on the calendar as being on Sep. 30th, when it was actually on Sep. 28th...I am an idiot.  But we saved the day by going to The Schiele Museum of Natural History and had an awesome day. 

Jake's best friend Corey is getting ready to move (not too far away luckily) and was home from school for a couple of weeks before the move and got to come with us.  We had a great time and yes I took a ton of pictures.  168 to be exact...I am only (yes I said only) putting up 35 of them...

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I know that is a lot but I just couldn't stop myself from picking them.  There was so much to see at the museum that I had to cover as much of it as possible.We started with the outside display that was very cool.  It had a nature trail, a Catawba Indian Village, a Wildlife Memorial Garden,  Stone Age Heritage Site, and an 18th Century Backcountry Farm.  The farm was complete with pigs (BIG pigs) and chickens. 

 If you go on the weekends or for school field trips (a school of one doesn't really qualify especially when you decide to go the day before...) they have people in costume. Blacksmiths, farmers, ladies that cook...All sorts of fun stuff! 

The Gristmill was very cool but we couldn't get an up close look at it because they were doing some repairs on it. We all agreed it would be worth going back to see the little town in full swing.

 The Indian Village was pretty interesting. Jake liked the tee-pee. :)

They even showed a burial mounds.  There was fire pit that they must have going on the weekends. There was a building (only open on the weekends-I guess since school is back in) that was a mini museum for the Indian village information that we want to go back and check out.

 As soon as you walk in the door of the museum you are greeted by a dinosaur.  The guys were pretending to run away from it in this shot.  :)

The man who founded the museum was big time into Scouting and there was a room that displayed all sorts of cool scouting badges, pictures, video of a Jamboree in DC in the 60's (maybe...I can't remember for sure), etc.  If it has to do with Scouting it was in that room!

The exhibit that is on display there now is Caves and it was very cool.  The first room had places to crawl through with helmets and head lamps, which is right up 10 and 11 year old boys alleys!

There were live bats, and other cave dwelling creatures that were really fun to see.  There were also stalactites  and stalagmites, along with information on how they are formed.  It was all set up so you felt like you were winding through a cave.  It got darker as you got deeper in to the cave.

It was a very cool museum for being in the little city of Gastonia.  The hall ways that lead you to other parts of the building were just as exciting to explore as the actual exhibits.  The boys loved looking at all the different animal skulls of different shapes and sizes.

We all agreed that one of the best parts was a room in which the different areas of North Carolina were represented.  They made it feel like you were looking out the window in to nature.  In the Sandhills display they had bubbles coming out of the stuffed beavers and river otters mouths and even had a duck dunking it's head under the water with it's tail feather on the top and the rest of it under the water.  It was amazing.

Every where you looked you would see a different animal from the region.  We were pretty impressed to say the least.  We were wondering how much money it cost just to create that room.  Our guess was... A LOT! :)

I like the one from the Mountains the best.  It made me miss our last home outside of Asheville. Corey was surprised to find out that the animals were in fact stuffed real animals.   They look like they are going to turn their head and look at you at any moment-but he didn't realized they actually used real animals.

In another room they had animals of all sizes.  From this huge moose all the way down to an Arctic weasel that is probably 4 inches long.  The little weasel seemed teeny next to the polar bear it was displayed with.

The rocks and crystals were so beautiful too.  The boys wanted to keep moving so I didn't get to read to much about...well anything, but we got to see it all!  The next trip we will take notes and do a report.  This time was just for fun.  I asked a question about something (I don't even remember what it was now.  I didn't get to read the sign) and the boys started telling me all about it.  Apparently after I gave up trying to make them read an occasional sign; they ended up reading the ones that interested them on their own.
 I knew they would but 
the way they zig-zagged from this to that I didn't think they were going to remember any of it! :)


I had to take this picture for Aaron since he loves bacon or as he calls it "meat candy" so much.  Ever heard of Cave Bacon?

Jake and Corey were checking out the snakes, when all of the sudden it started checking them out.  They jumped back like it was going to come through the glass at them!  This is as close as I got, so I can't pick on them too much about it.  Nee didn't even go in that room.

There were even alligators!  I can't even remember what this exhibit was...They are permanent residents though so I will find out next time.

We took a break for an impromptu  puppet show.  It was very little kiddo friendly too.  There was a whole bucket of puppets you could choose from.  The boys decided on an eagle and a hawk.

This is how big kid puppet shows turn out.... :)

This brown bear was huge!  It was bigger than the grizzly bear!  We read about that because we were surprised to see it was bigger.  It all depends on where you are for the size of your brown bear it turns out.  Brown bears around here are not anywhere near that big.  They had a display of  NC's sweet little brown bears too.

What museum of Natural History would be complete without a place you can dip your hands in and touch the fish?  Jake is actually reading the sign in this shot! Learning is fun!

It was very cool that had so much stuff you could actually touch.  This alligator was a favorite of ours.

One of my favorite things was the little models they had of different Native American's in different areas of North America.  They were so detailed.  We all agreed it would be an awesome place to play with action figures.  It also reminded us of the Movie Night at the Museum.  You could almost see them waking up at night and coming to life...

At different places you could pick up telephone head sets and hear a story from an Indians point of view.  That was pretty cool too.  Unfortunately we couldn't get a couple of them to work.

There was even and under the sea style room.  The boys ended up pretending to be swimming around it.  They would come out the door and pretend to get a brig breath of air.  Going on field trips when you are homeschooling is awesome-you get the whole place to yourself!

There was so much to see from so many different times.  I didn't know what to expect, but I have to say I was pretty impressed.

You name it they had it.  From Mammoths to the different layers of the earth!

You can tell we are getting at the end of the trip-they actually sat down and took a break!

After a visit to the gift shop and a show in the Planetarium  (which we thought would be the high light but turned out to be a little bit of a let down...), we made a final stop at the dinosaur for one last shot inside.  You can't really tell but I am making a face and giving them bunny years and they didn't even know it. :)

This one is out of order but I am ready to be done with this because I need to finish sewing part of a costume for our next field trip on Tuesday to the Renaissance  Festival!  So this is where it will stay.  We all commented how when we were looking at the scene of the mountains we felt cold because it was so realistic.



We decided to walk the nature trail one more time when we got back outside to see if we missed anything.  We came out on the front side of the building which is not where we meant to be-but we got to see the big b-day cake for the museum so it was worth it!

Nee got Jake a crystal making kit from the gift shop and Aaron helped him get it started the next day.  The crystals have grown a ton already and are very cool!
So, even though I botched up the dates on what was supposed to be out first field trip; the one we ended up going on was well worth!  Next time I will try to cut down on the pictures... :)

 (I am sure there were several typos but this took me way too long to do so I am going to move on with the rest of my To Do list and you will just have to ignore them!)

General Conference Meme...What exactly is that?

  Did you LOVE General Conference as much as I did?  Stephanie over at Diapers and Divinity is having a General Conference Meme and I just had to do it!  (No I don't really know what "Meme" means or stands for...Does that make me sound really ignorant?  Is this one of those things that when I find out what it means I go "duh...I did know that." ?  It may not always be a good thing to be honest...JK) Basically I am answering questions about what my personal highlights from General Conference are.  

I took tons of notes and was ready to hear what I needed to hear and guess what? I did.  It is so nice to know that Heavenly Father is mindful of my endless needs. :)

General Conference Highlights, October 2011:

1.  Who were your three favorite speakers?

President Packer, Elder Matthew O. Richardson, and Elder Carl B. Cook….AND Elder Ian Arden said so many things I needed to hear…AND to  be fair I missed one of my all time favorite speakers L. Tom Perry because  I was stretching out  the pizza dough…I am going to give him an honorary #4, because I am sure I am going to love it when I have a chance (very soon) to watch it…President Eyring was so wonderful too...This question is too hard.

2.  Which talk spoke to you the most?

It was a tie between my 3 favorites because they all addressed things I was praying to receive an answer about.  President Packer reaffirmed that we made the right decision to homeschool Jake.  Elder Richardson taught/reminded me how to homeschool the right way-with the help of the Holy Ghost.  He reminded me that “the Holy Ghost teaches individuals in a personal way. Teaches what we need to know, so we can be what we need to be.” I put the quotations so you would know I didn’t say this, Elder Richardson did-but maybe not in exactly those words…I took it out of my notes as I was writing feverishly because he was speaking directly to me. Sorry if you were feeling left out wondering why he was giving this talk.  :)  Elder Cook taught me to not be overwhelmed and to look up so I can be filled with peace and joy...while homeschooling…Are you seeing a pattern here?  I am struggling with this right now.  I can’t fail at this-it is way to important and self doubt (Satan really knows my weaknesses…) is a real bummer when you are doing something you have never done, (and is REALLY important) and wonder if you can do….

3.  What was your favorite Hymn and why did it move you?

NO QUESTION:   Praise to the Man by the Primary.  I love     hearing the Primary children sing out their sweet testimonies.  They looked and sounded like angels.

4.  Which speaker was the best dressed?  (Come on, we can have a little fun.)

 It is always President Uchtdorf.  The striped ties he wears are always perfect-trendy, yet classic.

5.  Were there any topics that you felt like were repeated often?  Any conference "themes"?

Last Conference it seemed like it was missionary work, but that could be because my parents were on a mission.  This time for me it was Being an example of Christ, using the Spirit, and  teaching/ preparing the youth/our children…Okay maybe I am just noticing all the things that I am working on or that pertain to my life…

6.  Share a few of your favorite quotes from any of the talks (paraphrasing is fine).

-The one by Elder Richardson that I already wrote in question #2.

-Young people today are being raised in enemy territory.  (President Packer-he said it twice to make sure we were listening.  Am I the only one that would love to just give him a big hug and say thanks for being so awesome?)

-Time flies on wings of lightening and we can not get it back.

(Elder Ian Arden)

-It is better to look up.

(President Monson via Elder Carl B. Cook.  Elder Cook seemed so nervous when he first walked up to the podium.  Maybe humble is a better word.  I beat he never would imagined what an impact his personal story would have on everyone)

-We cannot feel for, think for, or learn for those who we are teaching.

(Elder Matthew G. Richardson. His talk was meant for me!  I loved every thing he said!!!!)

7.  Name something(s) that made you smile or laugh during conference.

When President Monson walked up to the podium and said enthusiastically: “Hello!...” I was expecting something profound and it was just so…President Monson!   I loved his stories (always do) and the facial expressions he makes.

8.  Was there any evidence that your children paid attention?

Jake always pays attention when President Monson speaks. You can’t help but listen he is such a great story teller.  I have to admit I was so wrapped up in waiting to hear the answers to my questions/concerns I didn’t notice his reactions…I know he made comments and repeated stories, but I can’t think of what they were about.  Wow…I think we need to talk about it tomorrow so I won’t feel like such a slacker mom….

9.  What doctrine did you learn as you listened to the choir(s) sing?

This is a tough one-there are so many things!…I especially felt the Spirit when the Primary sang Praise to the Man.  I already knew Joseph Smith was a Prophet but it just reminded me of our ward Primary as they were learning that song this year.  They all loved it, begged to sing it, and sang their little hearts out when they did.  Primary children sing their testimonies-you can just feel that they know it is true.  It reminded me that we all need to be as little children.

I was also very touched as President Eyring talked about his struggle to “fulfill his duty” when he spoke at a College graduation.  His talk really reminded me how we must stand as an example of Christ always. 

10.  Did the music enhance your General Conference experience? How?

Absolutely!  I always think of music as the part that makes us realize all the spoken words we have heard are true.  You can hear it spoken and know it is true, and then when you sing it or hear  it sung you feel it’s truth again even more strongly.

11.  What are some of your post-conference goals?

I have a ton of goals.  This is the 3^rd quarter comeback after all!  I want to use my time more wisely, I want to teach by example, I want to remember it is better to look up…etc.

If you would like to (and I know you do) share what you learned and loved about Conference than head over to Diapers and Divinity and share it with others!  Think of how much we can learn from each other!!!! 

Update: I looked up Meme.  Aren't I so smart?  A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena.

Brain Declutter: Of Massive Proportions and Photo Drop

*I finally broke down and went to the doctor because I have had "a little head cold" (that settled in my chest since I have asthma) and it feels like someone has been kicking me in the back of my lungs, which makes it hard to breath.  Turns out I have "Walking Pneumonia", which I figured because I have had it before.  Now I don't feel guilty for not having any energy the past two weeks...

*I started this post the middle of last week and still haven't posted it yet so I figured I better before it is so old I change my mind....

*Do you remember this post?  I posted about how Sadie, then a little puppy, chewed up my favorite (and only) big black purse.  Well, it is months later and I still haven't been able to find a cheap replacement...If you happen to know of a place that I could find a great (for less than $30...way less) black bag (purse isn't really the right word because it was a BAG) than let me know.  Target has been letting me down all year long and they are usually my go to place for cheap cute bags...

*Two weeks ago on a Friday we did our homeschooling outside because it felt like Fall!  I LOVE THE FALL! It is my favorite season and I can't wait until it is really here to stay.  It was in the high 50's low 60's and with the wind it was even a bit chilly-or as I like to call it PERFECT!  I had to capture the moment as we played 5 State Rummy with Jake and his hood up.  I got that awesome sweatshirt at a church consignment sale for $3 and it was pretty much brand new!  I love a good deal...

*We have realized that Papa G. is a BGPP (board game party pooper). I am now on a mission to find a game that is educational and fun for  Papa G. Got any ideas?

*Notice I am putting pictures up again? (I used up all my storage space for photos on my blog and couldn't for a while...) I found some pictures hidden in a couple albums that were taking up a HUGE amount of space and fixed the problem...but not before I erased a few from way back in 2008 to make room...But at least I can put pic's on now and I am not so computer illiterate. Thanks Jaime and Cocoa for your help with my photo storage problem.
 
*Jake lost his 9th tooth some time last week...or maybe the week before that...What a difference from when you get your first tooth or lose your first tooth and you carefully document the moment to cherish it forever.  It was still momentous because it was his first moeler big tooth...Spell check didn't help so much on that one....

*I am too excited to not say anything about this so I hope Aaron doesn't mind...He went to a job far at school today (UNC-C-he graduates in Dec.!!!!!) and spoke to the CMS (Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools-we live in the Charlotte area) representative.  She told him that she couldn't put it in writing (yet) but that she can almost guarantee him a teaching position starting January!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Though it isn't our first choice on places to live, it is awesome to know that we have that option.  Aaron you rock.

*We made some muffins for Aaron to eat when he got home from working 3rd shift on his b-day morning before going to sleep. (I am sure that sentence should have a comma or be broken up into a couple but I am just going to go with it today...)  They are just a box mix because it was 6am and that is the best I can do that early, but don't you just love the wrapper thing-a-ma-bobbers?  They were on sale and I had a coupon.

*Speaking of birthdays!  Happy late 35th b-day Aaron!  He caught up to me on 9/19/11 and I am finally getting around to posting it.  Yes this is the best shot of the day since Aaron is a PTPP (picture taking party pooper) and yes we did wrap his gifts in newspaper.  Jake wouldn't even let me use the comics because he hadn't read them yet. :)

*Jake is a Webelo now that he is 10.  How cute is he?  How come he already has to be 10?

*This is the first omelet Jake made completely on his own.  It was some time in the past couple of weeks...

*Jake picked me this pretty flower to wear in my hear.  I am glad I decided to take a picture of it before I put it in my hair...You see those black spots in the middle?  Those were a bunch of ants...

*Jake and Nee making some yummy cinnamon friendship bread.

*General Conference was AMAZING!  I needed a spiritual uplift-and I got it.  I needed some questions answered-some of the talks were specifically for me (sorry if you felt left out :) ).  I needed to relax and ponder-I did.  More on this later....

*Our 1st Science experiment a few weeks ago.  I don't really remember the details but it all boils down to it is easier to float in salt water than regular water.  We already knew that but it was still fun. :) Jake with our floating eggs in salt water, in need of a hair cut around the ears.

*Sadie cruising by at top speed with her 2 big sticks. 

*Practicing spelling and vocabulary with some letters I made with construction paper, a sharpie, and packing tape.  I really wanted to make these but haven't had made the time yet. 

*This isn't as much as a brain declutter as I thought it would be....It is more of a catch up.  It is random-don't get me wrong-but my brain doesn't feel very decluttered.

*Expect to see pictures from Vermont any day now since I have space on my blog again. :)

Get ready for some spiritual uplift!

No not from my post.  From these amazing posts that are giving you ideas on how to get ready for General Conference:

*Middle-aged Mormon Man: 4th Quarter Comeback

*We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ-Unique General Conference Ideas

*Diapers and Divinity: General Conference Meme,  Preparing Children for General Conference (+packet links)

Maybe one day I will be as cool as these people and inspire you to get more out of General Conference. Until then I will just link you to their awesomeness. :)  Enjoy General Conference!

You have to read "Little Women"!

I finished reading Little Women ,by Louisa May Alcott, a couple of days ago and it is a new favorite. I am starting to realize that every classic I read becomes my new favorite book. A classic is a book that is worth reading over and over again.  They are so full of truths, morals, and goodness.  Little Women is one of those books were you can take anyone in your life and compare them to one of the main characters and you will see that person in a new light, because all the characters are so likable.  Kind of like Winnie the Pooh: everyone knows a Rabbit, Owl, Tigger, (etc.) and you can't help but love them all.  From now on if I come across a person that  is hard to get along with I am going to think of what character from Little Women that they would be and learn to see the good in them.  I won't go into the plot-I am sure most of you saw the movie (or have heard of it) when it came out years ago.  It was an awesome movie, but it doesn't compare to the book at all.

Whenever I read a classic I am also reminded just how spoiled we are in this day and age. Hard work is in some ways a thing of the past.  I also feel a longing to have lived back then (in some aspects-not all).  They talk in the book about being children when they are in their mid to late teens.  I wish we still considered young people to be children.  It seems like in our culture we give up playing so early.  Jake is 10 and often mentions he wishes he had a friend that knew how to play-not video games-imagination play.  They also spend their life working on their talents and gaining knowledge-and they had to make dinner from scratch every night!  They must have been amazing time managers....that is probably why I didn't live back then.

There are so many quotes from it that I love!  I love my Kindle for holding my quotes-as you read you just highlight and go to it later with no problem. This book is full of wonderful life lessons and mothering lessons but I narrowed it down to these 7....I know that is a lot but you will love all of them as much as I did I promise:

"It's highly virtuous to say we'll be good, but we can't do it all at once, and it takes a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together before some of us even get our feet set in the right way."  

"You have had the bitter, now comes the sweet. Do your best and grow as happy as we are in your success."

"Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty and will surely be the happier for it in the end? If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than Father, to comfort and sustain me.  My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning and may be many, but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that or your earthly ones.  The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness,and strength.  Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

"Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and sad and dreary."

"Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty."

"..but it does seem as if the more one gets the more one wants, doesn't it?"

"Don't you feel that it is pleasanter to help one another, to have daily duties which make leisure sweet when it comes, and to bear and forbear, that home may be comfortable and lovely to us all?"

Oh, I just want to go read it all over again as I type these quotes!  I want to be just like Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, and especially Marmee (their mother, Mrs. March).  It almost makes me wish I raised Jake to call me Marmee instead of Mommy!  :) Marmee and Anne (of Green Gables) are neck and neck for my all time favorite book characters...I shouldn't think to hard about that or I will start adding more names to the list...READ IT!  I know you will love.

Homeschooling is hard...That is my excuse for not blogging.

I knew it would be-don't get me wrong.  I just hoped we would have it all figured out by now...but we don't.  I know it is what we are supposed to be doing.  (I keep telling myself that when Jake is driving me crazy. :) ).  I have to admit: I heard the bus go by last week and wondered if I could chase it down and make them take him with them...But that was for one brief moment and then I was reminded that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.

I had a plan.  We were going to follow the Thomas Jefferson Leadership Education style of homeschooling...But I wimped out.  I still want to because it makes so much sense: to teach Jake the love of learning again.  Some where a long the way that gets lost in the conveyor belt that is our public education system....But it is SOOOO much harder than I thought letting that system go.  It is in grained in me that we  must go chapter by chapter in a book that teaches exactly what they are supposed to learn for the test at the end of the year...That isn't a true education.  That is teaching for a test-one of the many problems with our school systems and one of the reasons we decided to leave it.  I want Jake to study the things that interest him, so that he wants to study even more because he loves learning...I guess that part takes a while and we are not there yet...Especially since we are pretty much on the conveyor belt just at home...

We had a break through day last Monday.  We started really early and got done what we "had to do" and moved on to celebrating Aaron's birthday.  (Yep-that's right I have been so preoccupied that I didn't even post about it birthday...Happy b-day Aaron!...)  We had to run an errand and in the process we decided to surprise Aaron and clean out  his Jeep.  Because homeschooling had gone so great it was exciting to be doing this little unplanned act of service with out murmuring.  There has been a lot of murmuring going on lately in our house..."Do I have to do that right now?"..."No I haven't finished started reading my book club book yet" (even though it was a book he loved and choose himself and he has read like 5 other books instead...)..."Can't we just take the day off?".  I have to admit I have threatened, daily on occasion, to send him back to regular school the VERY NEXT DAY if he doesn't focus, stop complaining, and JUST DO IT!!!!!  Yes, I am the one murmuring right now...

I know that this is what we are supposed to be doing.That is my new mantra.   And yes I will admit: for every bad day there is an amazing day too.  We all have had head colds this past week so it was a LONG week.  We didn't get everything done we needed too...But the world didn't come to an end and there is still time to cram it all down Jake's throat another day. :)  Just kidding...I think...

The good part of the struggle is that I have had to rely more on the Holy Ghost (to remind me that I really do like my child.  I love him, but on occasion it is a little more difficult to like him...).  I have felt that peace reminding me that I can do this, because this is what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing and he doesn't give us anything in our lives that we can't handle...I keep telling myself that and when I forget to tell myself that the still small voice reminds me.  It has made me be even more excited than I usually am for General Conference, because there are specific questions I have, that I am anxiously awaiting guidance on.  I know that I will be comforted and hear exactly what I need to hear-because I always do during Conference.  It is a great reminder that the Lord is mindful of me and my family. 

Is homeschooling a walk in the park? Nope.  But maybe taking a walk in the park would help...Can we do this? Yes.  Will we kill each other in the process?  I hope not. :)

I am over here today...Being a part of this...

I am a guest poster over at Welcome to the Madness today and am lucky enough to be a part of :





  If you haven't been over to Welcome to the Madness, Chocolate on my Cranium, The Redheaded Hostess, and We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice In Christ than you are really missing out!  They have amazing prizes you can enter to win just for reading and being involved in Celebrating the family.  I have been so busy enjoying the Celebration I haven't had time to post on my own blog.  I will get back to that eventually. For now I am going to sit back and enjoy being inspired by some very amazing people in the LDS blog world. :) 

Our Families Mission Statement..A short and sweet post. :)

The first Christmas (I think) after Aaron and I got married we got an amazing gift from Aaron's sister Ranee.  She had crossed stitch a quote by Lucy Mack Smith that had kind of become the family mission statement for the Harmon family.  Aaron's father, Harold (or Papa Harmon as we call him), had shared it with his family years before and thought it was something they should follow. I love this quote, I love the family that taught it to me, and I love the women who said it.   I would put a picture of it up if I could...but since I used up all the space on my blog (apparently there is only so much space for blogger to hold pictures and I have maxed that out...my wonderful husband is trying to solve that problem for me...), I will just share the quote with you:

"We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction that we may all sit down in heaven together."  Lucy Mack Smith

I need to get it put into another frame.  The glass and frame itself broke in one our moves.  Luckily it didn't damage the cross stitch and all the hard work I know Ranee put into it.  It is such a great reminder and I think it says it all. 

What is your family mission statement? Be inspired by other people by checking out: Welcome to the Madness, Chocolate on my Cranium, The Red Headed Hostess, and We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ.  They have some AMAZING ideas to do to make a family mission statement!  I know what we are doing for Family Home Evening tonight!

If you have a family (and we all do) then you MUST check this out...

  Four amazing blogs ( Chocolate On My Cranium,   Welcome to the Madness,  We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice In Christ, and The Redheaded Hostess.) written by four inspirational, fun, busy, honest, understanding, and incredible ladies that are getting together and celebrating the most important thing to all of them: Their FAMILY.

Something we all have in common: We are all part of a family.  Our families may be large or small, "Leave it to Beaver"-ish or dysfunctional, close knit or once a month check in's to make sure everyone is still breathing...No matter where your family is in life...Is there something you could learn or share about families?

I am so excited to be able to spend the next 2 weeks learning from other people what their families mean to them.  What they have learned works and doesn't work in uniting families together.  I have a testimony of  the importance of family.  I have a testimony of The Family: A Proclamation to the World .  We live in a world that is trying to tear the family unit a part and this is your chance to be strengthened by other people that understand just how important family is. 

Spend some time in the next 2 weeks being lifted up and inspired by other peoples experiences in learning to  support, love, unite, and strengthen their families.  There is so much bad out there on the internet this is your chance to be a part of creating a little bit of light and joy. 

If you don't go anywhere else in the blog world in the next 2 weeks you must go and check out The Celebration of Family!  I know I am.

Brain Declutter...

 Jake is doing science right now with Papa G. so I thought I would take a minute to declutter my brain a little.  Papa G. is a pilot so he is the perfect person to teach Jake all the fun weather related stuff you are supposed to learn in the 5th grade.   And it gives me a few minutes to do something productive...or blog!  Blogging is productive right?

*We did a quick Science experiment yesterday with salt, water, and eggs.  It was pretty cool to see the egg float in the salt water.  Picture Jake right here doing the science project because yes I did take a picture of it...but my blog won't let me upload any more pictures.  I have really been wanting to blog, but I really don't want to have to figure out this whole "no room for any more pictures need to fix it" thing...So,  I am avoiding blogging...But my brain needs a declutter so here I am.
*We got a new car!  New to us at least-it is a 1998 Chevy Malibu.  Jake wants to name it Kirby but my brother-in-laws, brother (did you follow that?  He is the one we just picked it up from.  It was my brother-in-laws car, he gave it to his brother, who then gave it to us) calls it the Malibomber and I am kind of LOVING that name.  I spent a couple of hours cleaning it the other day and it looks like a brand new used car!  It talks to you while you drive.  The blinker dings off and on a lot. Even if you aren't turning and it is off.  I guess it should be annoying but I am just assuming it is talking to me.  How can you be annoyed by a free car!? Thank you Tina and Allen!
*I hadn't received the follow up email saying we were in fact approved to homeschool so I called them and they resent it to me.  Just to let you know, if you emailed me between June 30th and July 20th I didn't get it...Not sure what happened but I have no emails (including spam) between those dates and that just doesn't happen...The point of this ramble was really to tell you that I saw our homeschool name (you have to have a name in NC for your school), Harmon's Learning Academy, on the list of homeschools and was AMAZED at the number of schools in just the county we live in!  I will have to go back and count them when I get a chance.  I had to keep scrolling down just to get to the H's!  Now if I could just find a homeschooling group that has kiddos around Jake's age.  I was looking on line and there was a lady starting a "homeschool group" for her 18 month old...Isn't that just a play group?  Is it really called homeschooling when your child is 18 months old?
*Aaron is on his last semester of school!!!!  HORRRRRAAAAY!!!! He graduates in December and we are just a little bit excited to not be living the crazy schedule we have been living the past 18 mos.  Say a prayer that he finds a teaching position starting in Jan.!!!
*Have you ever heard of a "Common Place Book"?  (I mentioned it a long time ago.)  Thomas Jefferson's mentor had all his students write what they had learned in a "Common Place Book" so they could share the knowledge they were gaining with each other.  I really wanted Jake's blog to be called "Jake's Common Place Blog"...Get it?  He wasn't feeling it, but that's okay it's his blog...But anyway we made our own "Common Place Book" so we can all write down what we are learning.  You will never believe what we just missed!  I was on line looking up cheap or free places to take Jake on field trips and there is a plantation museum that actually had a class for homeschoolers on September 2 in which they made "Common Place Books"!!!!  We are so going to check this place out!  It also has this class that he can take for $5 called "Plantation Children's Life".  They get to see what children that lived on plantations here in the South would have done during a normal day.  FOR $5!!!  I am so excited to check it out.  I want to do it too!!!  I love homeschooling!..Even though I wanted to ring Jake's neck yesterday because he wouldn't stay on task and it was driving me CRAZY!  He just doesn't seem to get that he could be done with whatever it is he needs to do a whole lot faster if he would just do it-instead of spending 10 minutes trying to get out of it!!!!  Love that kid even when he is driving me insane. :) Is it wrong for me to threaten to send him back to public school if he is being disobedient? :)....
 *Our first field trip (or what we are calling it any way) is tomorrow and we are going to the homeschool store that is about 15 minutes away.  How cool is that?  There is a homeschooling school in the next town over! 
*I also found out while looking for cheap or free things to do in our area that there is a park that is fenced in that is a leash free park!  Sadie will love it.  After running free for a month in Vermont she is not loving having to be back on her leash AT ALL.  I don't blame her.

Well that is all I have time for. Jake and Papa just finished up and Jake is getting ready to do his "Wednesday's Wonderful Words" post over at his blog.  He is also doing an online book club that you or your kiddos can be a part of.  He is reading (we listened to all the Chronicles of Narnia on our car rides to and from Vermont and he loved them all!)  "A Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis and his book club is going to be on Friday September 30th.  I am trying to make writing bearable  fun for him.  It is like pulling teeth to get him to want to write anything...These math and science guys are really hard for me to figure out. :)

There's no place like home...

...And we are finally here!  We survived Hurricane Irene (who knew we would leave the South only to get hit by a hurricane in Vermont...), ate a years worth of creamies with jimmies (soft serve ice cream with sprinkles for any of you non-New Englanders that don't know what I am talking about), and swam A LOT.  We had an awesome trip and I will post about it after the laundry is caught up, I figure out how to make more room for pictures on my blog (this doesn't sound fun...I am thinking about starting a new blog instead of fixing the problem...Just kidding...kind of...), writing the guest post for Welcome to the Madness (that I was supposed to already have gotten to Jaime but a bump to the head prevented it...Long story-Hurricane Irene's fault. Thanks for understanding Jaime-I will get it to you today.) and when I do about a million other things on my To Do list!

Note to self:  A month is too long for a vacation...At 2 weeks we were ready to come home...Remember this next summer when I am tempted to live out of a suitcase for weeks on end...