Sometimes I could just EAT HIM UP!

Like tonite's cuteness...

More Tickles!


Who Loves You?

As in, Bob the Tomato. Yep.

And, of course, this:

Rock it, Callen!

Switched! by Billy Myers Review

Switched! is the fifth title in the "TJ and the Time Stumblers" series written by Bill Myers.  We had not read the previous books, but were quickly and easily brought up to speed with what we needed to know to understand the current story.  Apparently TJ Finkelstein is destined to become a great leader, and a couple of goof-ball teen travel back from the 23rd century to do a history report on her.  Only they cause way more trouble than anything else and send TJ off into all kinds of bizarre adventures.  In this particular book, a mishap with a "Thought Broadcaster Pen" causes TJ to switch bodies with the person she despises the most!  And, of course, chaos ensues.

My son was a little young for this particular type of book, which I think is probably best suited for tween girls, but he found parts to be absolutely hysterical (a giant crab with sunglasses?! everyone suddenly losing track of who's who?!).  I read it aloud to him, one chapter per night, and personally was a bit annoyed by the so-called humor and the use of adjectives as last names ("Mr. Hatemijob").  But then, I don't fit the demographic for this type of book either.  Again, I'm thinking a tween girl would find this book amusing and interesting, as there is also just the slightest hint of a love story there.

The overlying message of the story, however, is a good one: the importance of forgiveness.  It is weaved into the story on multiple levels, though not overly shoved down your throat.  I enjoyed that at the end of the story, TJ learns to be forgive and keep on forgiving even when it's difficult - that is certainly a lesson we all need to keep in mind!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Homeschool Recap, Feb 3rd (Week 19)...

In my life this week...

Ugh, we've all been sickish this week... cold, sinus... whatever.  It's yuck.  I have been so unmotivated to get out of bed, it's not even funny.  I have not been a very patient or nice mom this week, basically I've been a slug.  I'm also sad that it's been stinkin' 70-something degrees everyday when it's supposed to be WINTER!  Grr.  A little cold weather isn't too much to ask, is it?

I did get around to making phone calls like crazy trying to get my Usborne business hoppin'.  There's an awesome challenge over the next 4 months and I want to earn myself an iPad2... so I'm trying really hard to meet my goals.  Plus, I need/want the extra income that comes with the diligence.  Now, if people would just answer their phones or return messages, we'd be doing well!  Lol.  I'm trying, though.

So, the car situation is at a stand-still.  Haven't had a buyer for our current one, haven't bought a new one either.  Still just waiting and watching for what's to come.  Hoping for a buyer soon!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...
This week was such a blur, I don't even remember what all went on.  I made it out of the house last nite to go to the Mom's Support Meeting with our Homeschool Group, so that was a nice little while away from the house!  Other than that, not much excitement around here since we've been sick.

Praying for...

The car to sell. For us to make a wise decision regarding a new(ish) car for the family.  For my business to pick up.  For all of our sickness to go away for a long, long time.  Energy and motivation!

A recipe and photo to share:

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

I love using my crock pot for dinner, and I love Chef-In-Training's recipes.  Put 'em together!  Yes, please!  I have made this Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken twice, and both times it came out more creamy than expected, BUT it's soooo good!  The first time I turned it into enchiladas and this time I just put it over rice and the next day chips.  Yum!  Even the kids gobbled it up, even though it was just a bit spicy!  They LOVED it!  Super easy recipe, very few ingredients, and it cooks all day and makes your kitchen smell so delicious you can barely stand to wait till dinner time!

In our Homeschool this week...

Tot School: Gahhhhhhh!  That is all I can even say.  Lol.

Bible: Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This week we finished up the Old Testament books of the Bible.  Preston has nearly all of them memorized and only needs just a little prodding here and there to keep going.  So proud of how well he did at this task!  Talked more about Moses as he was leading the Israelites over the desert for 40 years... bitter water, manna and water from a stone.

Reading/Writing: I love when Preston takes his time and really focuses on his writing, he can write SO WELL!  He just needs to focus!  I know that's hard for a 6-yr-old boy, of course.

Math: Worked on reviewing addition and subtraction, just continuing on with some pages in his Complete Book of Math he started a while back.  I was able to assign him a page and leave him at the table while I attended Callen several times, and came back and found the page completed and almost completely correct (just a miscalculation here and there).  Yay!  We also read a couple of really fun books that had word problems in them, and Preston did such a good job of figuring them out.  They were called You Can, Toucan, Math and How High Can a Dinosaur Count?

Science:  The subject from Science with Water this week was boats.  We read a lot of story books about boats and some fact books about how they work.  Didn't do much hands on this week since I wasn't feeling well.  On Groundhog's Day we went outside and put our little Phil to work:

I think he sees his shadow!

Winter?  It's 70degrees out here!

 Music/Art: This week's hymn was continuing "The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want."  We also talked about the tuba and baritone horn and watched some youtube videos of those instruments to hear the differences.  For art, we looked at a portrait of some young boys and I let Preston watercolor a picture of his choosing.  He wanted to paint a castle and dragon.

Getting started.

Spanish: This week we started on words having to do with our community or neighborhood.

We are using My Father's World First Grade. See our curriculum here.

Blog Hoppin' with:
 

January 2012 Tweets to Remember...

Jan 1st - Will prob regret this w/all its little parts, but they love it!

Jan 4th - We're not gonna get things back to normal. It's only gonna get more abnormal, which will soon become the new normal. Right?

Jan 4th - Oh my goodness, big boy bed for Callen! http://twitpic.com/839pmo

Jan 5th - I am about to put the crib back together & give it to Preston... the crying, the whining, the fussing!!! Auugghhhhh! #MommyVent

Jan 6th - I just spent an hour outside, in my driveway, vacuuming books and fake plants. What? What do you do on Friday afternoons?

Jan 8th - Gahhhh, I hate being so needy, dependent on people and having to ask for so many inconvenient favors. =(

Jan 12th - Just heard P explaining,"That's cool! ....OH! Cool means 2 different things, Callen. Cold and AWESOME! Get it, baby?" #BrotherlyLove

Jan 13th - Cleared my RSS feed of 3000+ unread blog posts (since before Christmas) and I am probably not seeing your tweets either. #NotKeepingUp

Jan 15th - "Sometimes that peace comes from knowing that you are NOT in control!" Pastor Reggie

Jan 17th - I have a puking Preston. =( Poor kid, bad fever 2 nights in a row last week, now this? No idea whats up.

Jan 18th - One kid hurling, the other falling out of bed. After a nite like that, glad the roofers next door waited til 8. =/

Jan 19th - My Winter/Let It Snow window clings are melting off of the front door. #NotCoolTexas (literally). Hmph.

Jan 19th - Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, #coffee, coffee. That is all. Carry on.

Jan 20th - Not to be a broken record, but sometimes life does revolve around #coffee. Ok?

Jan 20th - In the middle of a Ghoti Hook dance party, I realized we never finished school today. Picnic, nap, dancing...check. School... nope.

Jan 21st - Sipping pumpkin spice #coffee, letting the boy stay up late so we can all watch Bolt together. Had a great nite with new & old friends!

Jan 26th - The sound of hysterical laughing coming out of a toddler, caused by his big brother? Best.Thing.Ever. :::melt:::

Jan 27th - I know my scale is broken, but it was still nice to stand on it and be at my goal weight after only 3 weeks of WW. Ha!

Jan 29th - Our family just grew by 5! My nieces & nephews have moved in.  http://twitpic.com/8dc0gz

Jan 31st - Both of our alarms are set correctly, his clock & my phone, yet neither went off! How does that happen? =(

Jan 31st - Just caught my not-yet-2-year-old attempting to make #coffee with my Senseo machine! Oh dear, he's starting awfully early!