Science Fair Results

For the third year, tonight the girls entered projects in the Homeschool Science Fair in St Joseph MO. The fair is open for all homeschool students, preschool through senior. Since we have been attending the fairs have been at the St. James Catholic Church. As before there was a roomful of exhibits showing a lot of talent. Projects ranged from ph levels, to electricity projects, honey bees, and more.

This year, Elizabeth did a project on rabbits, and came in 3rd for her age division. Emily's project was on ph levels, and Rebecca's was on DNA. They each took an honorable mention.

more about us!!

Another reader wants to know what church we attend, and do we belong to a homeschool group or any other groups and clubs.

We are active members at Clay County Christian Church in Liberty MO. We are an independent non-denominational church. We believe in Jesus resurrection from the dead, and that adult baptism by immersion is necessary for salvation.

We are members of the New Life Homeschool Fellowship in Kearney MO. It is a Christian homeschool coop, and it is wonderful!!!! http://www.nlhf.info/ We have been there for almost 3 years. Our coop has weekly classes on Fridays for fall and spring terms. Each term we have an open house and program. Each year the coop students offer a yearbook class and produce a yearbook. The coop also offers a high school graduation for seniors.

Our coop offers either 3 or 4 class periods each term. Numerous classes are offered for the kids to pick from. A few of the classes offered in the past have included, weather watchers, scrapbooking, yearbook, band, choir, sign language, french, Spanish, photography, spelling, baton, PE, cup stacking, drivers ed, sewing, knitting, American Girls, cake decorating, art, water color, ACT prep, snack shop (where they learn to order inventory, price and make change) and probably a hundred more. We had close to 400 students the last couple of semesters. Parents are the teachers and teacher aides.

We also belong to 4H, youth group and Girl Scouts. We have also been involved in choir, JBQ and Bible Bowl. Emily is also a fire cadet at our local fire department. We also volunteer several times a year at a local crisis center/clothing closet/food pantry organization. My girls are involved in horseback riding and working at various businesses for "internships". Currently 2 of them are working some for my cousins vet clinic in Grain Valley, although the cold weather has slowed that down.

During the summer months, we attend church camp at Flaming Spirit Christian Service Camp, Mission Lake Christian Camp and science camp at William Jewell College. The girls are also involved in winter retreats at camp, and in a week Emily will be attending a 4H weekend camp promoting leadership.

We also attend classes at the public library. They have classes once a week in Kearney for homeschoolers, and twice a week in Liberty.

Often we attend other special events, some which I post on here as well, such as concerts and plays. Tomorrow evening the girls are entering items in a homeschool science fair in St Joseph.

Often times people think homeschoolers are isolated. Not us!!!

Supplement your Music with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, February 13, 2010, 7:30 p.m., the Liberty Symphony Orchestra will have their Winter Concert at the Liberty Community Center.

You can receive a gift voucher for a family pack of four (4) complimentary tickets to the concert by listening to Aaron Copland's "Our Town" (featured in the concert) and drawing/painting a picture. Go to the LSO website, www.libertysymphony.org and click on "LSO Kids". Follow the link to "Listen to Music".

This is open to all students kindergarten through high school. Deadline is February 5.

Check out the website for more info. This is a great deal -- ticket are $18/adult and $5/student.

Writing workshop for those in the St Joseph area

Short Stories
Ages 15 and up
Wednesdays, February 3 through March 10
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Cost: $65.00
You will get help with a story you have already written or with one that is
a work in progress. Analyzing published and unpublished stories will help
you see the elements of fiction writing and judge what makes a story work!
Learn how to bring your story from idea to finished piece!

We are pleased to have Megan Thompson, Instructor of English at Missouri
Western State University teach this class! The talented Ms. Thompson holds a
M.F.A. from West Virginia University and a B.A. from Muskingum College.

Pre-registration required by Thursday, January 28th. Please call 271-4106
or 271-4100 for enrollment information.

Martha Greer, Director
Center for Community Arts
Missouri Western State University
Downtown University Center
515 N. 6th St.
St. Joseph, MO 64501
(816)271-4121
fax:(816)271-5847
mgreer5@missouriwestern.edu

Questions, set 2

#4 I have heard homeschooling parents say certain things "count" for learning. How do you know what counts? Is there a state list you have to follow?
This is slightly related to the previous question on my last post. Basically my feeling is if they learned something, it counts. I'll give you an example. We went into the bank right after we started homeschooling to get something out of my safety deposit box. The teller asked me if we homeschooled, since it was a school morning. I told her yes and so she (without my prompting) gave my kids a tour of the bank, showed them how the drive thru worked, the vault and explained how money is transferred from one bank to another, gave them information about loans, interest rates, cd's and some comic books about the American trade system and how it has evolved. She spent a good 45 minutes with them. When we got home, I put that down as 30 minutes of social studies and 15 minutes of math. They learned from it, so it "counted". When we visited the St Louis Arch, we gave credit for history and social studies.

When we read, I may opt to count it towards reading time, or depending on the subject of the book I may count it for history. The girls recently read some books about the underground railroad. I counted part of it for history and part of it towards reading.

When they cook, I count it as home-ec usually. But, if they are halving, doubling or tripling a recipe, I may give them some time for math. (By the way, making pizza's or pies and cutting them is a great way to learn fractions, and you get to eat it!!)

Several TV programs we count--such as things on the history channel, science channel or the program "how its made". A few times I have counted things from a cooking show if the girls copy the recipe and than later make it.

In MO, there is no "state list", other than the 1000 hours per school year, with 600 being in the 5 core subjects as mentioned in the last entry.

By the way, each family can define their own school year. Our school year is July 1 through June 30. We school 365 days a year. Some days, we may only do our reading and Bible. By schooling 365 it comes out to schooling 3 hours a day, which works for our farming lifestyle. However, we generally spend closer to 3.5 or 4 hours a day. On a cold or rainy day we may do an all day project.

I also "count" activities that they do for Girl Scouts, 4H, Bible Bowl and youth group. Some examples here would be bowling, skating, swimming (count as PE), sewing projects for 4H and Girl Scout badges (home ec). Emily is a fire cadet and much of what she has learned we count in science.

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#5. I often see homeschoolers, mostly girls, dress differently, such as more dresses, one piece swimwear, shorts to the knees. Are most of you from a certain religion or something?

Well, its called modesty. Which is something you don't see a lot of anymore. I'll climb on my soap box for this one.....(old saying if your young and confused here). I find it disgusting and actually in some cases rather immoral to see a young girl running around in shorts so short her bottom is not even completely covered, low cut shirts and swim suits that show more than what they cover. Our appearance is an advertisement of our self. Our outer appearance is reflective of what is in the inside. Girls, women barely dressed and in heavy make up--what do you think they are advertising?? What do you think others are thinking of them when they see that?? I know, "everyone" is dressing like that....we aren't "everyone". "Everyone" may live next door or in town, but she doesn't live in this house, and neither does "everyone's mother". "Everyone" isn't our leader.

The standard in our home is stomachs covered, (which is a battle when you have girls with long torsos, and clothing makers don't sew well for those..), no low cut necklines, no makeup till 14 and then it is light only, shorts, dresses and shirts must meet the finger tip rule. We don't wear tight clothing or clothing that advertises tobacco or alcohol.

Years ago I worked in and for a time directed a pregnancy crisis center. I saw it over and over and over. Females who did not keep themselves covered in a modest manner made up the majority of our clients. I am not saying that it always comes to that, I am saying it is a HUGE factor. Males are stimulated by sight. Men are always attracted to a lady, physically, before they are connected to her emotionally. In fact, they don't even want to pursue the possibility of an emotional relationship, if the physical attraction isn't there. Females on the other hand are stimulated by touch. Now, if there is a lack of clothing, well, you are setting the scene for something that should not be happening. If a girl (or boy) is still young enough they are being schooled, then she/he should not be in this situation. Don't be advertising something that isn't or should be for sale. That belongs to your future mate, why rob them of it? See http://www.surfinthespirit.com/teens/modest.html for a good article.

Sometimes I do have to laugh at some of the outfits I see. When it was 20 below zero with snow on the ground, I saw a gal with a 6 inch gap between her tank top and her jeans, with no socks and spiked heels on in the grocery store. She was in the checkout line in front of me. You guessed it, she was whining it was cold. She was after attention, and yes she was getting it, however most likely not they type she wanted, as most people were laughing behind her back. She said something to a girl she was with who promptly told her to put on more clothes!

This also goes for guys. I still haven't figured out the thing about wearing your pants 8 inches below your underwear. Why would you want anyone to look at your underwear. Hello, its called UNDERwear because it is to be worn UNDER your clothes...

Would you wear that outfit to go have dinner with Jesus?? If not, then you better not wear it. First Timothy 2:9, states, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel." First Corinthians 7:31, "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."

As for the religion part of the question, many of us, but not all, do homeschool for religious reasons. So, that may be why you are associating the modest dress with homeschooling. In some areas church's sponsor homeschool groups and the church also has a dress code for when their facility is being used.

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6 Are homeschoolers allowed to watch TV?

Yes, at least in our house, but with limits. First, we limit the amount of time Some days it is never even turned on, such as days when my husband is at work, or sleeping if he is working nights. Other days, it is on probably more than it should be. Second, we also limit WHAT we watch. We don't watch just anything. The girls for the most part are limited to G movies, although there are some they have watched, such as "The Diary of Anne Frank" that are not G.

Some families don't have TV, and others only have TV just for videos--just as any other family. TV is not governed anywhere by a "homeschool rule".

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7 What materials are required to have on hand to homeschool

Well, "required" would probably be patience, a place to learn undisturbed by TV, books, library card, dictionary, paper and pencils. It's more like what do you need for what you are teaching and what aged child. I can give you a list of what we have in our classroom for 2 in the 6th grade and one in the 8th grade.

First, understand I did not run out and buy it all at once. I sort of started "collecting" items when we decided to homeschool, which was a year before we actually started. Also, many things I already had or obtained from garage sales, ebay, free cycle, craigslist, friends and family. In fact, I paid for very very little of it.

We have over 1500 books on various subjects from preschool through college level, including text books, fiction, non fiction, and over all sorts of subjects. Many came from library sales at a nickle each. We have 3 double library style bookcases full, in additio to one more in the classroom, plus bookcases in each girls bedroom.

We have microscopes for each child, a globe, maps, posters galore--many obtained free for the asking off of various websites, computer, printer & scanner, pens, pencils, art supplies including paints, beads, jewerly making items, glues, construction paper, clay, paper, crayons, colored pencils and markers.

We have clocks, CD player, TV & dvd, vhs player, rulers, calculators, notecards, dissecting kits, beakers, bunson burner, test tubes, prepared slides (which I got dirt cheap off of ebay--like $5 for 100 slides), videos (again many free found online), flags, play money and real money from other countries, compass, tape--for some reason we use lots and lots of tape.

We have tons of posters I obtained free. Some are medical posters obtained just by asking a drug rep I ran into in a doctors office parking lot. Some came from the extension office (they show the various types of meats and the cuts and horse and cow breeds, and one on genes), free posters on trees and such from the conservation office.

Many of our 3 ring notebooks we got free from (drum roll please....) dumpster diving. Many businesses through them out--ask around and you can probably obtain a source. We also have many file folders that came for free from an insurance company that went "paperless"

Copy paper I buy by the case from office depot when they are on sale and have the rebate--about once every 2 months they run this special. Since I sub teach I also have a star teacher card and get a % back as well.

Ink cartridges I refill at Walgreen when they have their $5 refill specials, and when they are old and tired I take them to Office Depot for a $3 credit.

We have various flip charts, and 5 large file cabinets full of lesson plans I have collected. I confess, when I sub, if I see something good as far as a worksheet or plan, I do copy it.

We have info on all 50 states, which I got for free by signing up for the travel package for that state. Usually a map is included, with information as to the industry, land, ag, recreation and more. Enough to do a unit study for the state.

We have a collection of old phone books--they are great to teach alphabetizing and also to use when painting to protect the table.

We have a weather station outside. We are weather spotters, so for reporting rainfalls on line, we were given free a rain gauge and thermometer as well as weather posters and books. I spent $19 on ebay buying a windsock for it. Off of freecycle we received a free weather station for indoors--it contains a weather radio and electronic barometer.

We also keep our sewing machines in our classroom, as we sew and the classroom table is a great sewing surface.

Once I announced we were going to homeschool, I had people give me and offer me all sorts of stuff. Most we were able to use, what we couldn't we passed on to others. This is how we got our globe and one set of encyclopedias.

Some items were given as gifts--such as Emily's sewing machine--that was her birthday present one year. (She was tired of sharing mine).

Also, if you go to trade shows, and don't mind advertising, you can stock up on items such as pens, pencils, rulers, notepads, calenders and more.


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#8 What do I need to do to start homeschooling? I have been watching blogs, websites and such and am leaning that direction.


Then you are already off to a good start for getting ideas.

First, check your state laws.

Then, what aged child are you teaching? You can get your books or you can go bookless and use the library for your resources. Determine what you are teaching then what you need.

For example, if you are teaching telling time, you need a clock. If you are teaching counting, you probably have a younger child and need items to count that they won't choke on. If you are teaching counting money, then either use real money or get pretend at the $1 store.

If you are teaching colors, gather items of various colors, the ABC's--make some flash cards and cut out pictures of items starting with that letter.

Go to a teacher supply store (without money!!!) and just wander and get ideas and make a list. Then, after you think it over and check out ebay, purchase what you think you will actually use. Check for used first. Call libraries and schools to see when they offer their used book or surplus sales. Also check your state (including state colleges) surplus sales for items such as microscopes or computers.

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9 Is homeschooling more expensive than public schooling? What are your costs??

No, at least not for us--it is much, much cheaper.

I would probably spend $1000 per year on school supplies, tennis shoes, school clothes or school uniforms, books, backpacks and such for 3 girls to attend public school. Even more in the private setting (which is what we came out)

This year, since I bought Emilys alpha omega lifepacs, I spent around $250. That is $250 total for all 3 girls. Part of what I bought came new from ebay, and the rest I bought new at the Christian bookstore. This is the most I have spent since we began homeschooling. I will probably spend more before the school year is out, but not a whole lot.

Some families pay for online learning and others buy computer programs. Those routes are more expensive.

Basically you can homeschool and spend whatever your budget is--there is no set amount.

To track their grades, I use the free version of homeschool tracker, found online. I downloaded it and was done with it.

This answers the first 9 quetions. The next time I blog I will answer the ones that were added on during comments.

The farm is on the mend, & some questions answered

It has been busy around here lately, as usual. Friday, the girls and I left and headed to Horton KS to Mission Lake Christian Camp for a weekend retreat for grades 6-8. (Emily is in 8th, and the twins are in 6th). I was a dorm mom, assistant family leader and camp nurse. Our theme was the "Who's", "Who's your Daddy", "Who's your Leader"..... It was a good weekend, good group of kids, good food, and good fun. It was cold, but not too cold. We went into town on Saturday for a couple games of bowling (you don't even want to know my score!), and despite some chill had a short campfire on Saturday night.

As the girls and I were preparing to leave for camp, the clothes dryer quit (it was already on the list to be replaced, just wanted it to last till the weather would be more comfortable to use the clothesline outside), the dishwasher started leaking again, the furnace on the main level of the house went out, we had a stillborn calf, and my suburban quit.

But, we arrived back from camp to find the suburban has now been diagnosed, a brand new calf was born (the last one we will have, I think), and parts for the furnace were ordered. My husband received a couple of gift cards from work that will be applied to a new dryer, along with some gift cards I earned doing surveys and such from MyPoints.com . I plan to get a high efficiency dishwasher and dryer to replace the current ones with. Last spring I got a high efficiency front loader Bosch, and cut our rural water bill down to less than a third of what it had been. So, if I can bring down the water bill further and lower the electric bill that will be a plus.

This Friday, the girls will be entering projects in St. Joseph at the Homeschoolers Science Fair. This will be our third year to attend. Each year I am amazed at the various projects that are entered and the knowledge of the kids.

Now, I will start to answer some of the questions I have been sent. It will take several days to get through the list, but keep sending them in!

#1. How do you and your girls do your chores and what are they?
Each girl is responsible for keeping a clean room (often an issue!!) and their bed made, and their bathroom clean. They rotate the other chores a week at a time.
Those chores are:

feeding rabbits, chickens & ducks, cats & dogs, throwing corn to the pigs
watering pigs year round, and cows & horses when the ponds are frozen over
daily counting of the stock
**gathering eggs
**sweeping the kitchen after every meal
**baking & cooking (one of their favorites--they can lick the bowl and pick their own menu)
**mending
**dusting, vacuuming
**their own laundry
taking out trash & picking up the trash in the yard
helping in the garden during the spring, summer and fall
bring up firewood from the barn

**These count towards their home-ec time

There are also other things they help with. Such as changing a tire or working on an engine. JD handles things of that nature and is very good about explaining the how's and why's. We count that as votech-life skills time.

Being on a farm, all 3 girls have learned to drive, however Emily is the most accomplished driver--better than many adults. She can drive all the vehicles and the big tractor. The girls drive some when counting cows (cows tend to hide in the back 40 when it is counting time) and when bringing up firewood from the barn.

So, our chores are probably a little different than "city" kids. I do feel it is important for kids to learn responsibility. I also feel they need to learn to cook, sew and keep house while they are young and still living at home. I went to college with some who couldn't even boil water without calling home to ask their mom how. Once I had a roommate who threw away a shirt because a button came off, and she had no idea how to sew it back on--said the shirt was ruined. I vowed then my kids wouldn't be like that!!

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#2 How do homeschool families afford to homeschool?
Most homeschooling families either have a work at home parent who does the schooling (works best with older kids, not preschoolers or younger elementary ones) or one parent works part time away from home, or have a stay at home parent.

In order to do this, we make some sacrifices, depending on the families income. Most homeschooling families have the same saving ways, and exchange money saving ideas with one another: One thing we gave up was big vacations. We now do more day trips instead.

We buy more things at thrift and consignment stores, especially kids clothing which is quickly outgrown. We shop in bulk (some families split bulk purchases to take advantage of the bulk pricing--such as flour, wheat, sugar, oatmeal in 50 or 100 lb quantities). In our area we have an Aldi grocery store, where I shop heavily. I spend around $200 to $250 every 2 months there and usually get 3 grocery carts full. Items I buy there are usually by the case, such as mushrooms, fruits and veggies. Our store also has good produce.

We garden, can and freeze our own food. We grow our own pork and beef, and have 2 ponds stocked with fish. We have an orchard with fruit trees, grapes and blue berries. Our orchard is still in the growing stage--it takes 2-4 years for trees and vines to produce. We are in our fifth year of growing, and add a couple vines and trees each year. We have been known to pick wild berries and walnuts.

We have chickens and ducks for our eggs. Some families have goats for milk and cheese. We don't have goats--yet--I am wanting a couple however to help me with the mowing and cleaning out of the fence rows.

I also use coupons, and take advantage of the specials that CVS and Walgreen have. Often combining coupons and their sales, rebates, I get for free our shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, Kleenex, lotions and rechargeable batteries. (At CVS, Walgreen, Dollar Tree, Dollar General you can use both the store coupon and the manufacturers coupon on the same item, for double the savings. Many people don't realize that). I also use frequent shopping cards.

We save by washing our own cars, changing our oil during he early bird $12 specials (can't change it ourselves and buy a filter for that price). We mow our own lawns, cut our own firewood and do as much of our own maintenance as we can. Most homeschooling families also sew, as does ours.

We cook and bake from scratch and don't eat out. For day trips, we take our own sack lunches and drinks.

Many homeschool families do not have TV, cable or dish. That alone is a savings of at least $50 a month. We take advantage of all the free videos and programs from the public library.

We keep the thermostat set lower during the winter, and use the clothes line during the summer.

Homeschooling families also network with other families to trade books and skills. We have a few families we barter or work with for butchering, cutting wood and mechanical work. When possible we try to do business with a homeschooling family or church family.

We shop around for insurance rates and are not name brand loyal. We are not afraid of generics.

Also, in many homes you may find that the mom may do some part time child care, or sub teach one day a week (as is my case).

All these things may seem like just pennies saved, but when you add them up, it amounts to a fairly large savings.

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#3. How do you decide what materials to use? Does the state pick them out?No, the state does not pick them out--at least not in Missouri.

I have picked out our materials based on what we already have, what my dad has given me (he is a retired teacher, preacher and a book collector. One of his favorite activities is going to library and school book sales!!)and advice from other homeschooling families.

Right now we are using Alpha Omega's lifepac for Emily for math, history/geography/social studies, language and science.

All the girls are doing daily Bible readings for Bible following the schedule on the website http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/31/bjan01.htm. It takes you through the entire Bible in a years time. Depending on what we are reading in the Bible, I may opt to count it as history for a day.

I create their assignments for home-ec, spelling (which is an issue for one of my girls--used to be a problem area for two of them, but now we are down to just one!!) and reading. All my girls love to read, and I require one hour of reading a day. We also do reading comprehension several times a day. A great free website for reading comprehension is http://bookadventure.com/ Here, kids can take a test over the books they have read and earn points they can trade in for prizes. This is open for both public/private schoolers or home schoolers.

Next year, the twins will be switched to lifepac from Alpha Omega as well. But for now, their texts include Saxon for math, Alpha Omega lifepac for history, Abekka for language, health and science. The twins is different because their books I was able to purchase from a Christian School that was closing. We just started the history lifepac.

Some families use online programs instead of books. Some families are more hands on, some use computer programs. We use a little of everything. When you homeschool, you have the freedom to adapt to the students learning process. Some students learn by watching, or hearing, and others by reading. In a traditional classroom with close to 30 students, a teaching usually doesn't have the freedom or time to be able to change learning styles for each student.

The state of Missouri does mandate that we have 1000 hours of schooling per year, with 600 being in core classes (math, reading, social studies, language and science). 400 hours of those 600 hours must be in your regular homeschool location--not at/or on field trips or at a friends house. However, that "regular homeschool location" does not have to be at your home. Some parents may homeschool at their place of business, or the grandparents may be the teacher at their home. http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Missouri.pdf
**Please note, each state has different laws regarding homeschooling and education.

Snows melting and homeschooling in the new year

Yesterday it was in the 50's as it is again today. The plus is that the snow is melting!! The downside is it is creating a huge muddy mess. Rebecca was sad that the snow was melting, and she made a small snowman which now lives in one of our deep freezers. She wanted something to remember the snow by.

With the onset of the new year, we have added a more structured daily Bible reading into our homeschool schedule. We plan to read the Bible through in a year. We are on day 14, currently in Genesis, reading chapters 41 and 42. On the average it is about 2 chapters a day, some longer, some shorter. The girls actually enjoy it. If you have ever read through the old testament, it is basically reading old history, including interesting battles (some on the gory side), genealogy and stories. Our readings prompt a lot of discussions, including one a few days ago that the girls were glad that men no longer had multiple wives.

I have also started the twins (6th grade) on new history. We had finished out our old history program and are now using Alpha Omega's Lifepac. Their sister in 8th grade uses the 8th grade Lifepac and we have been impressed with it.

We are starting to get seed and nursery catalogs in the mail. It has been nice to sit and read those by a fire while the snow falls, and dream of spring. I plan to do the garden entirely different this year I am going to increase the size, but not the crop. Last year I had tiller issues. I am also on the average gone off and on during the summer as church dorm mom. So, this year the rows are going to be further apart. Providing there are no tiller issues, I will till between them. If the tiller presents a problem, I can mow between the rows.

I had a reader email me some questions that I plan to address one at a time, I've been working on my answers for her. If anyone has any to add to the list, feel free!

#1 How do you and your kids do your chores and what are they?
#2 How do homeschooling families afford to have a parent homeschool?
#3 How do you decide what materials to use--does the state pick them out?
#4 I have heard homeschooling parents say certain things "count" for learning. How do you know what counts? Is there a state list you have to follow?
#5 I often see homeschoolers, mostly girls, dress differently, such as more dresses, one piece swimwear, shorts to the knees. Are most of you from a certain religion or something?
#6 Are homeschoolers allowed to watch TV?
#7 What materials are required to have on hand to homeschool?
#8 What do I need to do to start homeschooling? I have been watching blogs, websites and such and am leaning that direction.
#9 Is homeschooling more expensive than public schooling? What are your costs??

150 years of Pony Express @ St Joseph MO

You can share the experience of the Pony Express Trail
and join in the first educational event celebrating the
150th anniversary of the Pony Express

Family Day
Saturday January 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pony Express Museum, 914 Penn Street, St. Joseph

During Family Day, children will have a special opportunity to step back in
time with our Run Wild experience. This is a hands-on workshop being
offered free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of United Missouri Bank.
Run Wild will give kids a taste of what it was like when the Pony Express
Riders travelled across the Wild West. In the Community Room, Run Wild
participants can choose a horse (a stick horse, of course!) and travel
across all the states between Missouri and California. Along the trail,
they will encounter the ferry boat, wild animals, Native Americans, and
other pioneer features. Special re-enactors and educators have collaborated
to develop this new educational event featuring crafts, games, and prizes
especially for our 150th Family Day.

Admission to the Museum for Family Day is half price on January 16th and
visitors of all ages can view the exciting renovations which are nearly
completed at the Pony Express Stables and Museum on Penn Street. The Run
Wild event is an extra presentation, offered free by the courtesy of United
Missouri Bank. Families who want to participate in Run Wild without going
to the Museum should also enter through the main entrance and tell guest
services that you are only attending the Run Wild event. A special stamp
will allow you to proceed to the Community Room.
The Pony Express Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. M. Karl Goetz and the
Goetz Pony Express Foundation, along with aid and support from the Chamber
of Commerce, the citizens of St. Joseph, and the St. Joseph Museum, Inc.
helped to save this historic structure. After stabilization and renovation
of the remaining portion, new exhibits were installed and the stables opened
to the public. Today the museum continues to stand as a tribute to the
legend and legacy of the Pony Express and its enduring era.
For further information about its programs and 150th anniversary events
please call us during business hours at (816) 279-5059 or visit the museum
website at www.ponyexpress.org.

Cindy Daffron
Director of Development
Pony Express National Museum
914 Penn Street
816-279-5059
PXDirector@PonyExpress.net

More snow this morning.....

We got even more snow this morning!! I think it is getting old, but it is pretty. It is causing some hardships here on the farm--such as getting hay and wood. Our chickens are refusing to lay, but one duck is giving me an egg each week. I believe they are striking for warmer weather. They refuse to leave their coop where they have a heat lamp on.

Yesterday we had another homeschool family from church over and the men worked together getting hay and wood, while us gals stayed here at the house (in the warmth) and made some potato soup and grilled cheese. The kids played games on the Wii. We had a lot of fun. There are still some public schools closed for tomorrow, although the county is starting to get the gravel roads in the rural area cleaned off now.

If you are in the St Joseph MO area, here are some upcoming classes for you.

Don't miss out on these upcoming Center for Community Arts classes for kids!
Pre-Registration Required, Call 271-4106

Beginning Wheel Throwing for Kids
Ages 8 and up
This class is for kids who want to learn how to make pottery using the
pottery wheel.
Must have experience in hand building.
Focus will be on centering and pulling pieces while creating bowls, cups and
vases.
Students will glaze their own pieces and they will be kiln fired
A lot of good, messy, fun!
Tuesdays, January 12 - March 2
6:00 - 7:30
Tuition: $75.00

MudPuppies Pottery
Ages 6 - 12
New students will learn the basic skills of hand building.
Returning students are welcome and will work on advanced skills.
Students will glaze their own pieces and they will be kiln fired.
Mondays, January 25 - March 22
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Tuition: $75.00

Mud Dobbers
Ages 4-6
This class is designed for children and a grown up to enjoy making clay
masterpieces together.
Students and adults will glaze their own pieces and they will be kiln fired.
Mondays, January 25 - March 8
6:00 - 6:45

Aikido
Ages 6 - 15
This modern Japanese art involves both physical and mental discipline for
self defense and self control.
It is taught in a noncompetitive environment and will help build your
child's self confidence!
Parents are allowed to participate with their child's permission!
Wednesdays, January 13 - April 28
6:30 - 7:30
Tuition: $75.00

Martha Greer, Director
Center for Community Arts
Missouri Western State University
Downtown University Center
515 N. 6th St.
St. Joseph, MO 64501
(816)271-4121
fax:(816)271-5847
mgreer5@missouriwestern.edu

Great school sale for homeschoolers

The following is from an email I received:


Dear Friends,

Outreach Christian Education after 30 years of school service has closed. We have curriculum by Bob Jones, Abeka, and ACE. We have dissection kits and many miscellaneous items. We will have an open school sale on Friday, January 22nd from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The location of the school is 2900 N.E. Cates, Avondale, MO. 64117 (a small community outside of North Kansas City.)

For more information you may call 816.455.5575 and ask for Kathy.

A good Christmas

We had a great Christmas. It was the first time in several years that we had all the kids at the house at the same time! We have had them in town at the same time before, but it has not worked out to have everyone under the same roof at the same time. It was wonderful. Taylor took the little girls shopping before Christmas, and Tysa took them shopping after Christmas. We had a beautiful white Christmas. Snow and sleet started on Christmas Eve, and we have had some daily since. Several days ago it was measuring 11 inches in the front yard and 17 inches in the back. Some has melted (it got up to 42 degrees once day, but not for long), but new snow has replaced what we lost.

One of our Christmas get togethers got snowed out, so we still have one to go with my family.

The girls have played in the snow, and gone sledding, we have been stuck in the snow, pulled out and even had one kind stranger with a CASE backhoe dig out the end of our driveway. Whomever you were, thank you!!! Tomorrow I think we are going to make some snow candy or snow cream.

All 5 of our Christmas calves are doing well. The little white one blends right in with the snow.

On the homeschooling front, we have taken a break for the past 8 days. We have done some reading, home-ec and history, but have taken a break on our other subjects. We will start back on it this coming week.

Even though the Christmas holiday is over, I pray everyone keeps the Christmas spirit in their hearts year long, and remembers that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

Everyone have a happy and safe New Years.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Notice I said Christmas as in CHRISTmas, not the holidays. They have taken Christ & God out of the schools, tried to remove him from our money and most public places, and now the movement is on to remove him from Christmas. What do people think Christmas is about? It is a celebration of his birth. How can you have a birthday party without the birthday boy? Someone didn't think this one through very well. We have several friends who are without jobs this Christmas season. One thing I have noticed however about the friends from our church and our homeschool coop is that those who have their lives centered around Christ are adapting well. I am not meaning materially, I am talking about their attitude. They are focused on the true meaning of Christmas, and not about what they can not afford to buy this year. It is a lesson many of us should study.

Our tree is up (finally), gifts are under it. I still am not quite ready, but getting closer. For today and tomorrow, all our daughters are in town. We had a good lunch today and then we split up for Christmas shopping. There is still a huge pile in my bedroom to wrap. I did a big part of my shopping with no kids and it was wonderful!!! Tomorrow we will have a Christmas with all the girls, then Thursday a Christmas Eve celebration with JD's side of the family, followed by a candlelight communion service at our church. Then on Friday, my family is coming up for Christmas. Three family Christmas celebrations in a row, all involving food. Wonderful!!

We have been moving slowly the last few days due to sinus infections. Not fun at anytime of the year, but worse yet when you have baking, cleaning, painting, sewing and shopping to do.

Sunday night the church had their Christmas program. It was very good. The story centered around the kids trying to decide what to do for their program. To help them decide, they watched videos clips of older programs--so we got to see some clips from 10 years ago--it was interesting and fun to watch the kids grow up during evening on video. Our minister and his daughter wrote the play and did an excellent job of it.

This week we have taken a break from our formal schooling, although the girls have been raking in some home-ec hours with their baking and sewing projects. I will post some pictures later in the week of some of their sewing projects, but since they are gifts, I can't post them now or the cat will be out of the bag.

Our new calves are doing well, and we are still awaiting the birth of the remaining ones--hopefully before next week when some are being sold.

I did get our upstairs office painted. I had hoped to also have the living room done before Christmas, but this sinus thing I have been fighting got the best of me. In fact 2 days I didn't even get out of bed until after noon. I think I am on the mend now, hopefully.

couple #1, couple #2 and couple #3

We had another calf born today, as well as one on Sunday right before we left for church. That leaves us with 3 on the ground and we think 3 more yet to calve. Newborn calves are cute. Evidently coyotes must think they are cute too, because we had one eye balling them earlier today. Elizabeth ran outside and it took off.

We are getting ready to sell part of our herd probably next week, so this is a great time to calve. Everyone that is born to a momma we were selling is more money. (I think I hear a new dishwasher calling my name.) We intend to build back up the herd we keep, mainly Angus, and we have already had 2 added to it.

Sunday afternoon I took the girls and 2 of their friends ice staking in St Joseph. They all had a really good time.

Snow days....

So, if you homeschool, do you have snow days??? Well, in our house, the answer is yes and no. A good deep snow, is just too hard to pass up. So, we do have to allow some time to go out and play in it--after all, that is something you just can't do every day of your kid life, and unless you live in the northern area of Alaska. But, we still manage to also do some lessons as well, mainly reading and math. I never have to argue with my kids to do their reading. They all love to read. In fact, often we have the opposite problem, they need to do their other lessons and quit reading. But for now, they are outside sledding and trying to build a snowman. I say "trying" because Whopper, their calico cat is also trying. Evidently she has understood that while the girls are piling the snow, it is her duty to knock it back down again.

At one point I watched the "cat rodeo" from the window. Whopper got on Elizabeth's back. Elizabeth has on several layers, the last being a carhartt coverall so her movement is rather limited. Whopper took advantage of that and climbed up her back. No matter how Elizabeth wiggled, bent, moved, jumped, or squirmed, the cat hung on, with a look of satisfaction and determination on her face (very similar to that I just caught a mouse look that they get).

All the schools are around here are closed today, and most were also closed yesterday. It seems like they have more snow days now then they did when I was a kid. Also, the snow doesn't seem to get as deep as it did when we were kids-remember when we used to get snowfalls that came to our knees? Emily once told me it was because I was taller now, so my knees are higher. Maybe thats it.

Our new calf continues to do well. It is starting to wander off from its Momma some. The momma doesn't like that and calls it back. If the calf ignores her, she goes after it in a dead run. I think the calf is beginning to learn to listen to Momma the first time. I wonder what it thinks of this snow....

Yesterday, in the sleet, the girls and I went to Aldi. I spent around $180 and got food by the case, as usual. This should last us 6 weeks. By the case I buy, mushrooms, olives (but Aldi was out of olives...), speg sauce, corn, green beans, chili and kidney beans, peaches, pears, mixed fruits, cereal, oatmeal and more. We filled 2 carts full. In addition to having an upstairs kitchen and pantry, we have a large pantry in the basement and are slowly making a smaller kitchen down there, to use while canning. Right now the basement kitchen has a refrigerator and stove. We still need to put a utility sink in and then that area will be finished. I try to keep my foods by the case in the downstairs pantry. My husband laughs at my pantry, he calls it the "emporium". But, I notice he shops it quite often.

After our Aldi trip, we went and bought paint. I think I will start with our office. I don't do ceilings, but plan on hiring a church friend to do those.

So, we have plenty of food, paint and corn for popping. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

PEARL HARBOR DAY a day that would live in "infamy"

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Sunday, December 7, 1941 the Japanese executed a carefully planned attack on Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii. Just 18 months previously, FDR had moved our fleet to Pearl Harbor in an effort to help prevent the Japanese from attack. A good website to learn more about Pearl Harbor, and to see pictures is http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm Lesson plans are provided at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/pearlharbor/.

President Roosevelt said it would be a day that would live in infamy. Yet, people are already forgetting, just as they are forgetting other wars in the past, and some claim that Hitlers holocaust never occurred. Soldiers did not give their lives for us, for our freedom in order for us to forget.

Missouri Legislative Academy Jan 5, 2010

Capitol Legislative Academy

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

10:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Jefferson City, Missouri Capitol
House Hearing Room 7

-Find your way through the Legislative maze and PROMOTE YOUR ISSUE.

-Learn the most effective way to approach your legislator.

-Gain knowledge from a mock hearing.

-Become skilled on how to present your subject matter.

-NETWORK with other like-minded Missourians.


Citizen lobbyist training
for the novice and the experienced!



Lunch and materials included.

RSVP by January 2nd 314-983-0680 or moeagleforum@gmail.com
Money must be received in advance to be assured of lunch.
$12 per person, children under 12 - $5

Checks: MO Eagle Forum, 229 Chesterfield, Business Pkwy, Chesterfield, MO 63005
Presented by: Missouri Eagle Forum
Concerned Women for America of Missouri
Families for Home Education
Missouri Family Network

New Life on the farm

Today we awoke to find we have a new calf. Last month I had told my husband I thought we had some new calves on the way, but this one was a total surprise. It is a pretty brownish-red color, like is Grandma. Its Grandma is a red shorthorn, but its Grandpa and Momma are Angus. Not sure about the daddy. Momma is named Ms. 54 (its her ear tag number) and is very very gentle. She loves to have her ears scratched. She is a first time momma and doing a very good job. The baby has been up some but doesn't wander too far from momma. It is nursing good and momma is staying right with it. I just wish she had had it a few days ago when it was warmer. Seems like that is a trend here on the farm, to have calves on the coldest days.

The girls put a heat lamp in the chicken coop last night. They also added more hay in the rabbit hutches and the pigs house. We had several inches of ice this morning in water tanks. Just a few days ago it was 70 degrees. What happened??

I just updated the prayer list on my sidebar. It was good to remove several, as they have been answered by our Awesome God. Susie's cancer is gone, Gracie's adoption is complete and she is now at her new home in America.

On the home front, I made some real good thrift store buys this week. In the last 3 weeks, we have managed to kill 2 vacuum cleaners. I went thrift store shopping and found a canister one (I hate bags), 2 velvet dresses for the younger twins for Christmas, some shirts for Emily, a pair of insulated carhartt coveralls, a couple books, and 2 educational math computer game CD's. All for under $30. Not bad in my opinion. The math games have been a hit. Rebecca hates doing her math and this is a good fun way to do some math and she doesn't realize she is learning from it.

Free Christmas events

This list came from my friend Bonnie.

Saturday, December 5, 2:00 - 7:00 p.m., Christmas on the Farm at Watkins Mill State Historic Site. Come see the Watkins' house all decorated in candlelight for Christmas including the Flaming Plum Pudding. For questions, call Watkins Mill State Historic Site at (816) 580-3387.

Sunday, December 6, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Open House, 1602 Park Lane, Kearney, (Regency Park). Come see old time crafts (jewelry, crochet, weaving, pillows). Call Gerri Spencer @ (816) 628-4397 for more information.

Sunday, December 6, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., Christmas at Pharis Farm, Clay County Historic Site, 20611 EE Highway, Liberty (off of H Hwy, east of Liberty, near the Liberty Hills Country Club). Come see a Victorian Christmas featuring music, period decor and costumed historic interpreters, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit. Refreshments will be served in the 1820's cabin. For questions, call Clay County Historic Site at (816) 736-8500.

Saturday, December 19, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Open House at the Kearney Historic Museum, intersection of Washington and Jefferson (33 Hwy), Kearney. Come see displays of Christmas during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

If your a KC parent of a 2010 Homeschool Grad....

and you are interested in receiving information about the Northland homeschool graduation, contact Tori Olson and Angelique Long at Northland2010@yahoo.com.

For MO homeschoolers-a new site

I just found this website for field trips for Missouri Homeschoolers. Mainly it appears to be for those in the southern part of the state, but if there was something interesting, I am sure it would be worth the trip to join them. Their website is http://www.fieldtripsonline.org. There are other things on their site as well, such as a printable form to record reading hours. Also, there is a list ring you can join to receive emails of upcoming trips.

Watkins Mill Christmas on the farm FREE event

Sadly our family will miss this due to a Bible Bowl Tournament. We have volunteered athe farm in the past. All activities at Watkins Mill are fun, educational and family orientated for all ages.

Christmas on the Farm

Christmas on the Farm will be held at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site on Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Admission is free for the event and there will be an open house at the Watkins family home for the duration of the event. Activities at the home will include holiday caroling, reading of family letters, free samples of traditional holiday treats, plum pudding flaming demonstrations, and an opportunity for children to visit with Father Christmas. Activities at the visitor center will include kids crafts, live traditional holiday music, and a performance by the Lathrop Singing Mules grade school choir. For further information contact the park office at (816) 580-3387.

Free Concert in St Jo

Come hear the Griffon Junior Singers annual Holiday Concert! The concert
will be held at 7:00 pm Friday, December 4th at the MWSU Downtown University
Center, located at 515 N. 6th Street.

The concert is free, but donations of a canned good for the Second Harvest
food bank are being requested.
Griffon Junior Singers is an award winning choral education program that
offers children grades 2 - 10 the opportunity to participate in an
enriching choral experience. The choir consists of local public, private
and home schooled children.
The Griffon Junior Singers Prelude and Premiere Choirs will be performing a
variety of holiday and traditional selections.
Griffon Junior Singers is a partnership between Missouri Western State
University, The Western Institute's Center for Community Arts, and the St.
Joseph School District.

Financial assistance for Griffon Junior Singers has been provided by the
Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. This project is also supported in
part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Martha Greer, Director
Center for Community Arts
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Drive
Spratt Hall, Room 105
St. Joseph, MO 64507
(816)271-4121
fax:(816)271-5922
mgreer5@missouriwestern.edu

No, homeschooling ISN"T expensive (unless you want it to be)

I had someone send me a note that they thought homeschooling was expensive. No, its not. In fact, many parents report it is cheaper than PS or Private school as you have no lunches to buy, no school uniforms, no special PE shoes, you aren't required to have certain folders in certain colors and special markers and glue of only one brand. You also don't have to buy school clothes each fall.

In many homeschool houses, you find one parent often works from home or there is a stay at home parent. This isn't because they are rich, its because it saves them money. In the case of the work at home parent, it is cheaper than paying rent or mortgage at an office, in addition to the utilities. Often, it is a trade that can be passed on to the children to learn as well. And, if there are several children involved, a stay at home parent prevents having to pay for childcare and most often cooks from scratch, sews, gardens and does other things that save or generate an income.

You can buy books or computer programs each year for your children if you homeschool, but you don't have to. Here are some ways a lot of us save. Just get creative!!

1. Join a homeschool coop and take advantage of coop classes. Many coops also advertise and swap books and materials with each other as well.

2. See if your local public library offers homeschooling classes

3. Take advantage of free music recitals at local or nearby colleges. One tip I learned here is that the recitals at night often cost money, but if I go to the ones during the day, they are free.

4. Make your lesson plan for the year, then hit the library. Plan (generally) what you want to do for each subject each month or quarter, then shop the library accordingly.

5. Shop the Internet for websites that have free worksheets you can download. For a kindergartner or first grader, there are thousands of free worksheets on math, addition, telling time, letters, handwriting...

6. Wal-Mart and teacher supply stores have those great all in one books that are full of worksheets. They sell for around $9 to $11. You can use it and then if you see an area he needs more work in, go to the Internet for more free worksheets on the same concept.

7. Read, read, read. My girls learned a lot of history that way by reading books such as the biographies of the presidents, diaries from the civil war and letters from the underground railroad.

8. Plan day trips and vacations around field trips. Learn about where you are going then go. Many places (such as Fantastic Caverns) now offer "homeschoolers days", where they discount the price and offer a class in addition to the normal tour. Local businesses in my area are great for taking my kids to the back room and showing them the "behind the scene" tour. To date my girls have visited or even got to "work" for several hours at the library, a bank, fire department, pizza hut (they even let the girls make their own pizzas), vets office, auction, public garden, horse stable and more.

9. Each time you travel, map your route on a map with your child. This even works for short 20-30 mile trips

10. Most states offer free travel packages. We have studied about 20 of our states so far, by sending off to the state for their free state travel package. Its a good way to get a map, learn about the industry, climate and geography of that state.

11. Join Scholastic for homeschoolers. They offer some really good learning CD's for the computer.

12. a good incentive to read is to join Pizza Hut's reading program. It is free and open to homeschoolers.

13. Email, call or write companies and ask if they have an education kit or package. Many do and will send you information about their company, their history and a bit behind how their product was invented or started. Heinz sent us some really good info on pickles and ketsup that was fun to learn about.

14. Find another homeschooling family to "partner up with". Ideally they should have a child the same age as yours, or older (to give you advice what they did at that grade)

15. If you have access to the history channel, or science channel, they are great. If not, your local public library will have many of their programs on tape.

16. Take advantage of sales. When wal-mart has their back to school sales with the notebooks for a nickel, I buy several cases. I also go to the school districts when they have their sales to buy used books--normally I have paid less than $1 per book including text books and teacher books.

17. Visit homeschooling blogs and websites for ideas.

18. get together with other parents who homeschool and barter teach once a week or every two weeks. You teach Spanish and they teach math or whatever their speciality is.

19. Supplement your learning/teaching with activities such as 4H, Scouts, church youth group & Bible Bowl (we sometimes count church as history even, rather than religion, depending on the lesson). Don't forget music lessons count as well as any sports they are enrolled in.

20. Don't forget your phys ed --learn the history and rules of a game, then go play or watch it. My girls loved it when we did baseball--we went to a Royals game afterwards. We also spent $9 and went bowling one Friday after we studied the history of bowling.

21. Do you have a mechanic in the family or a friend who is one? Overhaul the lawnmower or change the oil and count it as a couple hours (or how ever long it takes) as votech-small engines.

22. Browse an antique store and try to guess what various items were used for. Why did the items change into what we have today? Such as a sad iron, being heated on a fire to the electric irons we now use.

23. Find the homeschooling contests in your area--we participate each year in a science fair, spelling bee, bible bowl and more.

24. Find a music teacher and have them tell you when their recitals are and go visit them.


Don't let cost be the reason you don't homeschool. Its like buying a car. You can buy a dependable car without the extras or you can get the luxury car with all the extras--but they will both get you to the same destination.

Be sure to first check your states requirements for homeschooling. In MO we have to have 1000 hours, with 600 of them being in the core subjects. But, even that leaves room for creativity--cooking can be cooking but if you have to double, triple or have a recipe, it can become a fun math lesson in fractions that you can eat! Making candles can be an art or it can be a history if you actually do some research and history along with it.

Free Lesson Plan on the Iditarod Race

My girls and I like to follow the Iditarod each year. For those of you who don't know, the Iditarod is a dog race in Alaska. We like to do various things while we check the status a couple of times each day--things like checking he weather there vs the weather here at home, map studies--where are the racers on the map?, figuring out their mph, learning about the dogs, and reviewing the history of the race. The Iditarod Trail, is now a National Historic Trail, but began as a mail route and supply route. Gold came out this same route, all by dog sled.

In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail was used to bring in serum for diptheria to Nome. This race was a race to save lives and records were set and broken.

Below is a copy of an email I received to help get you started. Just follow their links.

Hello from the Iditarod Education Department! The 2010 Iditarod is just around 'the trail' and the season of connecting the race to your classroom curriculum is about to begin! We hope you will be with us this year!

Herb Brambley, the 2010 Target Teacher on the Trail has begun posting lesson ideas. http://iditarodblogs.com/tott/
The For Teachers section of the site has been undergoing some redesign with a better menu bar to help you locate information you need. http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/
At the For Teachers section, you'll find many new items, pod cast information, Here's What's Happening, and a section for Students.

Many new items will be added soon!

My goal in emailing you today is to remind you that the newsletters will be arriving more frequently with the purpose of helping you meet the educational standards for your students and to help you know everything you need to know to follow the race.

You can review the newsletter that was sent out at this link: http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/newsletter/ Scroll down the page to find the latest newsletters.

Let me know if you have questions or comments.

I am looking forward to the race this year and helping your students be successful.

Diane Johnson
Iditarod Education Department
605 228 6071
djohnson@iditarod.com

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Happy birthday to my dad!

We have had a very busy month. Next week it will start to slow down for us again. We have been to a play "A Christmas Carol" and saw several of our homeschooling actors and singers. They did a very very good job. We have had several training sessions for the fire department, made more laundry soap, started some Christmas sewing, had 4H activities, Bible Bowl, a wedding, a baby shower, youth group meetings, trip to Grandma & Grandpa's, and I had a 30 year class reunion planning meeting. We had 2 weeks where we had something going almost daily.

Friday was our last day of homeschool coop for the semester and next week we have our winter program for coop. Then we will break until Feb of 2010.

The girls have been busy selling Girl Scout cookies. They are also working on Christmas presents, which they tell me I can't put on here, as some people might find out what they are getting for Christmas!!

Gehmans Country Fabrics and More - Fabric, Slips, Dresses, and much more

Gehmans Country Fabrics and More - Fabric, Slips, Dresses, and much more

I finally found a place that sells little girls slips and pettycoats!! They also sell bonnet patterns if you are looking to make bonnets for little ones, or if you do any reenacting.

Their prices are good and the quality is very nice.

This weeks deals from couponmom.com

It is Monday, so start planning this weeks shopping. Check out couponmom.com for the best deals and the coupons to match them up with. This week it looks like I will be stocking up on Dawn dish soap. CVS has it on sale and I have several 75 cent off coupons and some CVS bucks, so I will get about 3 bottles for free. Not bad.

Halloween is over, so if you drew your pumpkin faces on, you can recycle them into pumpkin pie. I bought a few and plan on cooking them down later this week and then freezing them for Thanksgiving and Christmas pies. Just remove the stem, wash the pumpkin and cut into about 3 or 4 large chunks (more or less depending on the size). Then boil till mushy. Drain them well, smash up and put in freezer bags and freeze. I freeze mine 2 cups at a time, as that is what my pie recipe calls for.

This afternoon the kids and I are going to travel the US. I have several videos that I got from the library for my coop class that are due tomorrow, that we will watch this afternoon. We are going to watch the history of the discovery of the Grand Canyon, learn about the gold and silver rushes, the rocky mountains and the great lakes and about an Indian Reservation. A couple of the videos are very short, around 20 minutes but most are around 50 minutes. So after lunch we will settle down with some popcorn and watch. I will count it as history time and geography.

Printer Ink Tip

I just learned this one yesterday. Wish I had learned it long ago, as it would have saved me a lot of aggravation. I am assuming this is true for a lot of printers, so I am passing it on.

Being homeschoolers, we use a lot of ink and paper. To save, I have Walgreen's refill my ink cartridges (for an HP 2210) when they run their specials of refills for $5, or I buy the used/refurbished ones at Office Depot or Walmart. Usually they work, sometimes they don't. Or, I will have one that I have used several times and it will suddenly just stop-for no reason.

This happened again this week. My nearest Walgreen or Office Depot is 30 minutes away, so its a real pain to go buy one and bring it home only to find it won't work. And, the 2 I got wouldn't work. I called HP to see if there was a work around as I didn't want to drive all the way back again--I mean we are talking 100 miles for 2 trips.....

I was told to look at my cartridge for a date. There is evidently a microchip in the ink cartridge that tells the printer when that date has arrived. When that date gets here, it is considered to be an expired cartridge and will no longer work. the two ink cartridges I bought were indeed expired (sold to me by Office Depot in October and one had expired in April of 2007). That also explains why ones I have refilled over and over suddenly stop--the date came up.

So, I will no longer refill them close to or past the expiration date, and I will open the box and check the expiration date of refurbished ones at the cash register BEFORE I drive all the way back home.

I thought this was worth passing on!

Pumpkins Etc

This morning I took the kids to Pumpkins Etc. They all had a blast. I would highly highly recommend this pumpkin patch to everyone! It is family run. There were several patches to choose from. You can take a wheelbarrow with you to put your selections in or (as in our case) give a kid a ride. When you first get there, you will be greeted by cats. Lots and lots of cats, mostly cute babies. We were told that early this morning they had counted 21 of them. We also went through the hay bale maze. There is also another maze that we did not go through. They have a picnic area if you want to take your lunch. Prices were very reasonable. Admission is FREE, and you don't pay for anything except what you buy. They sell pumpkins, candy, gourds, honey (from Smithville)and mums. Get more info at http://www.pumpkins-etc.com/ They have a Platte City address, but it is actually on the Smithville side, more towards the Hoover area. It was very easy to get through and signs marked the way well.
If you have little ones with you, they will enjoy the airplanes from KCI that fly over often. We had to stop and wave at each one and guess where they were going.

We also saw a cute halloween display on highway 92 on the way there. It was all made of hay bales painted up. The kids had me pull over so they could see it better.

Rodeo, Pears and Apples. Signs of Fall

Last night JD and I took 7 girls to the Annual Bayer/Dodge Rodeo at Kemper Arena (American Royal Building). We had a lot of fun. All 7 of the girls ride on a regular basis, so they really enjoyed it.

Before we left to go, the twins and I finished up the last batch of pear sauce. Last night JD brought me a bunch of apples that a friend from work gave him. His friend just bought a commerical orchard and they came from there. So, probably on Monday I will start making some applesauce. JD has also requested that I make him an apple crisp.

St Joseph MO area-Remington Center Events

visit the website at www.stjoenaturecenter.info for more information about the upcoming events, or call at 816-271-5499.

Friday, October 30 -- 5-8pm

Children's Halloween Party: includes magic shows, balloon animals, face
painting, food, and goodie bags. Free with paid admission. Wear your
costume!

Sunday, November 1 -- 1-5 pm

$1 Admission Day: help celebrate our One-Year Anniversary with $1 admission
for all seniors, adults, and youths. Children three and under are free.
We'll be serving refreshments all afternoon, as our thanks to our patrons.

Saturday, November 14 @ 2 pm

Second Saturday Story Time: We're reading "Blue-berries on Parade" from the
Disney's Pixar movie "A Bug's Life." Join us for a coloring activity,
snacks, and take-home goodies!

Saturday, November 28 @ 2 pm

Last Saturday Craft: Let's Play Nature Bingo! It's a fun way to learn about
animals and nature, and we'll have some cool prizes for all our contestants.
We're also making leaf prints for you to take home.

Saturday, December 12 @ 2 pm

Second Saturday Story Time: We're reading a book about snow, and having a
winter party! We'll be serving a snack, have a coloring activity, and even
have some take-home goodies for you.

Saturday, December 26 @ 2pm

Last Saturday Craft: Let's make pinecone decora-tions! You won't believe how
cool pinecones can look with this fun craft.

Pear Sauce

Today I made up a batch of pear sauce. I make it the same way I make apple sauce, but use pears instead. I cook down the pears (whole) and mush. Then I run them through a sieve, add sugar, cinnamon and a little lemon juice (it helps to keep the color). I didn't make enough to can, just enough to eat-a few quarts. We also like to eat it on biscuits.

Its been busy

I have not blogged in awhile, I'll do better, I promise.

We have been very busy lately. We were in a parade with our church group in Liberty. MO.

Our new 4H group has taken off well, with close to 45 kids joining. We were in a very cold parade for the Plattsburg Fall Fest and our group came in 3rd place for organizations. The morning was in the 30's as we created our float. At one point during the parade route as we were downtown the temp jumped to 48 as the buildings created a windbreak. But, as soon as we turned the corner, it went back down to 41. The kids and adults who rode on the float were brave, and well bundled in blankets. As for me, well, I drove, so I had the heater on. A few of the younger kids rode with me, but we were still cold as we had the windows down. We celebrated national 4H week by decorating the windows of 3 local businesses. For a small town, Plattsburg has a very large and nice fall fest. The entire town is involved.

Our homeschool Coop has started a new semester. The kids were really excited to be back into their Friday routine and see all their friends. This semester I am an aide in drivers ed, and am teaching 'Awesome America'. One of my students is currently on vacation, touring the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Mt Rushmore. The rest of the class is hoping she will return with lots of pictures. So far in class we have learned about the flag and how to fold it, the history of the pledge, watched a video on the Grand Canyon, Lewis and Clark, history of Uncle Sam, and about Martin Luther King Jr. We also ate some of America's favorite snack foods while watching the GC video. As usual, the class really likes to eat.

On the farming front, we have sold some cattle and are planning on changing over to Angus. In about 2 more months our pigs (hopefully) will be ready for market. All they hay has been cut and the crop farmers have taken in the soybeans, but have not yet started the corn. It has been cold and damp the majority of the time. Our ponds are all full. I am afraid it is going to be a long hard winter though. The horses and cows are already starting to get their winter coats, and normally they aren't this time of the year.

On the home front, we had a family wedding last weekend on the Espey side in St Joseph MO. It was good to visit with family and as my dad pointed out very nice to see family at a happy event rather than at a funeral, which the past 10 years or so seems to be the more often case. After the wedding my parents spent the night here and we had a good visit. My dad grew up on a farm, so he likes to check the status of our farm every now and then.

We also spent a weekend at the Kansas Speedway for the Nascar races. Tysa came home from Chicago for the weekend and Taylor came up from Arkansas for the races on Saturday. However Emily and Rebecca spent Saturday in St Louis, but were able to go to the races on Sunday afternoon. So, all 5 girls were home that weekend, but never at the same time.

I am also posting an old picture that a friend sent me on facebook. It shows my family back in 1970. My kids got a kick out of it and so did I.

In Independence MO--for homeschoolers everywhere

November 11 at the Mid-Contient Public Library in Independence, they are having a home school expo from 9 a.m. to noon! This is located at the 3440 S Lee's Summit Rd in Independence, MO.

Go to http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/temp/homeschool_expo.pdf for all the information.

Some of the featured events include:
Children's autor Christine Taylor-Butler
various booths
database classes
tours of the genealogy center
door prizes
storytime and crafts
experiments
clowns and face painting
police department
Burr Oaks (another neat place for homeschoolers!)
Steamboat Arabia (and another great homeschooling field trip)
Families for Home Education

Not just for homeschoolers....St Joseph MO

Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 1 pm to 5 pm

$1 Admission

Children 3 years and under - Free

Free refreshments will be served.

Remington Nature Center is located at: 1502 MacArthur Drive,

St
Joseph, MO 64505

Where is the Heart of Your Home

Where is the Heart of Your Home

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Soap for a year & Alpha Omega lifepacs

This afternoon Emily and I bottled up the gel /liquid laundry soap I started last night. It came up to around 12 gallons--enough for a year. The best thing about it is the price. It cost less to make a years supply than buying one bottle of generic laundry soap. It is better on the septic tank and has no perfumes or dyes to irritate.

Emily is now into week 3 of her new curriculum, Alpha Omega's lifepacs. I am really liking it. The only thing I do not like about it so far is there is no clear cut stopping point for lessons. Each subject can be bought individually for around $50. It comes in a box or kit. Each kit contains the teachers book/answer key and 10 - 12student books. The students begin with book 1. When it is done, they go to book 2 and so on. The books are designed to last a year. But, if you want them to last longer or shorter, you simply adjust the number of pages you do a day for that book. For example, we homeschool year around, so we would not do as many pages a day as someone who homeschools only 8 or 9 months a year.

The twins are not using the lifepacs yet, but I think I will start to phase them over to it as they finish up their current books. I bought Emily's at the Family Christian Bookstore in Independence, but I am also seeing them on ebay, so I may try that route first for them.

Mowing was on my list for this morning, but it was still too damp from yesterdays storm. So, hopefully I can get it done tomorrow. We also have training tomorrow night for the fire department on Forcible Entry, then I am back at the station again on Thursday night. Friday we have JD's work picnic at Worlds of Fun and Saturday the church has a float in the Liberty parade. Busy busy.

http://www.magfundraising.com/ClayCountyChristianChurchBibleBowl

http://www.magfundraising.com/ClayCountyChristianChurchBibleBowl

This is one way our girls Bible Bowl team is hoping to raise some funds. One weekend a month they quiz in St Louis MO. Next summer they will be traveling to Colorado! Funds are needed for travel expenses, their share of the church van expenses, Bible Bowl books and more.

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It is raining on the farm

Its raining. Rainy days around here are good for sleeping in. The girls and I took advantage of that. We had a very busy weekend with late nights on Fri, Sat and Sun, so it was good to get a good nights sleep and catch up on some much needed rest. JD worked all night on Sunday night, so the rain is allowing him a good days sleep now. It is a slow rain now, but early this morning it was full of thunder and lightening. Emily woke up to find Rebecca asleep on her bedroom floor. Apparently at some point during the storm Rebecca changed bedrooms, but doesn't seem to remember doing it.

The chickens are not so sure about the rain. They come out when it lets up, but run back to the coop or under an apple tree when the rain comes down heavier. The cows and horses are all gathered in the tree line, and the pigs have not ventured out of their hut. The cats are staying under the girls play shed, out of the rain. It doesn't seem to bother the beagle any, but the old black lab has taken to the barn. He has the same idea we had this morning--he is sleeping in the hay.

Rainy days are good for baking bread and making soap. I plan on doing both here in a bit. We are almost out of laundry soap, so I will make a batch. A batch normally will last me for a year, and I make it for under $5. This one didn't quite make it a year, but I also gave away 2 gallons of it. I do not add any dyes or perfumes to my soap as I try to keep it as natural as possible since we do have a family member with allergies. It is a 2 day process to make.

Rainy days are also good for catching up on the sock basket. (Actually it has grown to 3 sock baskets at the moment--isn't that terrible??) I have several library videos I want the girls to watch this evening, so we will sit around and watch them while we match socks and listen to the rain.

Originally I thought this afternoon we would have an electric free time, but it is too dark and overcast. We have fun doing an electric free days/nights during cool weather. No lights, TV, radio...is allowed. We light the oil and kerosene lamps and read, play board games or on one occasion coaxed my husband to play the piano for us. Sometimes we will even cook over the fireplace. It is also a good way to keep everyone in good practice for when the power goes out!

Last week the hay was cut again, raked and baled. It is all gathered to be loaded, but the rain stopped that.

Firefighting homeschooler

One way we "supplement" Emily's homeschooling is by her being a fire fighter cadet. She is a volunteer at our local fire department (which is all volunteer for both in town and rural). She is a cadet. To be a cadet she must maintain a good grade average and attending training, among other things. She attends the same training as the adults and goes out on calls just as a regular firefighter.

Friday night and Saturday our department hosted training on school bus accidents. We had several other fire fighter departments from the state that also attended. Emily attended with JD and was the youngest female to go through the course. It started out as a cool day, but got very hot. By the time you add in the weight and heat of the bunker gear, it was not pleasant....

Her highlight of the day was kicking out the front windshield of the school bus before it was rolled over. She also learned to operate the various rescue saws and how to right or raise a vehicle with air bags. They cut up the bus, removed seats and learned where the various unseen parts of the bus (such as roof supports) are located.

She has also taken her NIMS tests and passed. Her next test will be HAZMAT, and next week we attend a class on forced entry. She is also able to start most of the fire vehicles on the department, although she is too young to drive them.