Welcome Nathan James

Thursday, January 31, 2008





My sister Jamie had her baby, Nathan James, Saturday January 26th. He was a whopping 9 lbs and 1 ounce! My sister is only 5'1 and weighed about 110 when she got pregnant! Wow were we surprised by his size. The picture above was taken today, he is being held by Twila and is about 5 days old. What a cutie!

This workout killed me!!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I have been really focusing on losing weight the last couple of months (okay so it has been years but now it is finally coming off!). So far I have lost 20 lbs but I have about 10 to go (maybe 15? I have never been below 140 so I am not sure where I will end up!) and I have hit a plateau. I have decided to up my exercise intensity and make working out a priority 6 days a week. I am doing high intensity cardio for 20 mins Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and weights Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Today, however my car wouldn't start so no gym and I really really really (did I say really?) did not want to go out into the frigid winter wonderland. So I bought and downloaded the Outdoor Fat Blasting Workout. I did it indoors with only slight modifications (i.e. I had to run back and forth) and I got a great workout. My heart was really racing and the workout went really fast because you are constantly moving. She has you do all sorts of fun stuff and you don't need any equipment. The moves are easy and make your muscles burn. Not affiliated just loved the workout....You can check it out here:
MyBodyBeats: Professional Workouts by IFBB Professionals

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Homeschool musings, Family update and a cool blog

Saturday, January 19, 2008


I am going to attempt to put a family update once a week for my mom (Hi Mom!)

We use Sonlight Curriculum which I am very happy to say works wonderful for us. I like the focus on Bible and memorization and the stories are wonderful. We learn many fabulous things that the kids love to share with Dad when he gets home. We have also been taking much advantage of our local PBS station and watching Signing Time and their various reading programs. Joey(16) and Eli (15) are also enjoying Sonlight very much and are learning church history.

The little guys are listening to His Kids Radio online. It has kid's music and shows all day that keep their little hearts focused on Jesus.


Joey and Eli are working every week on Friday night at the pizza restaurant and they are almost ready to take their last class to get their driver's license.Jed is doing a little Minquon math in school and he is doing very well. We tried the reading thing and he just isn't ready so we are going to hold off on that for a while. He is always telling me and dad that he loves us. He spends a lot of his time playing with swords (or whatever passes a sword in his imagination at the moment). As I type he and David have invaded my office with a mish mash of shields and makeshift swords.

David is a lover of computer and nintendo. We have to limit his time so he does other things (like fight with swords). He is doing really well with both his math and reading but his handwriting is terrible!! LOL We are working on that but we have a long row to hoe.

Twila got a CD player for Christmas and loves listening in her room to Christian music and audio stories. She has begun to do her own hair. Sometimes it turns out very well. Sometimes.... She is learning to read well and is reading basic chapter books. We have also been working on grammar.

Josiah is doing great. His progress with reading and math is very slow but there is progress. I am considering doing the GFCF diet with him again. We tried it once but didn't see a lot of results. However, we only did it for about a month and perhaps should give it longer.



Finally here is a blog to check out, every Friday she posts a free knitting pattern: Kathleen Taylor's Dakota Dreams

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A couple of things to love.....

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Just in case you haven't found this yet please check it out: http://www.craftlit.blogspot.com/ It is wonderful! Today I listened to The Lady and The Tiger. I have been looking for that story since highschool! It is fabulous! Go listen, tell Heather (is it alright if I call you Heather?) her podcast is great, then tell me what you think of the story!

I found these wonderful patterns to make sock monkey convertible mittens (I think that is what they are called, you know they can be either fingerless or mittens....). They are just darlin'. Here is the sock monkey head: http://www.yoelknits.blogspot.com/ (you have to scroll down, it was posted January 14th) and here is the fingerless glove: http://myknittingbasket.blogspot.com/2007/12/sock-monkey-fingers-popped-out-wrist.html
I am starting on these asap

So much to do....

Tuesday, January 15, 2008




I finally have a chance to post! My internet has been down all week and I was anxiously waiting to work on this blog thing! LOL

Here are a few things I am knitting:

I love them! As you can see switched colors on the second mitten to schnazz (sorry that's my personal word, it means fancy with a twist. I guess maybe it means wild and crazy. It all just depends on how you use it. Feel free to add it to your own vocabulary or not. ) it up a bit. I used philospher's wool which I also love but I am not sure I can tell you why.


Socks for my daughter!! (who incidently wants me to teach her to knit!)
I am using the Just Yer Basic Sock pattern by Alyson Johnson. You can find that here: http://piddleloop.com/files/patterns/Fingering%20Sock.pdf I am using Opal Sock Yarn.


I am also working on a shawl for me. I love the whole idea of making my whole clothes. You can see the pattern here: http://www.fibertrends.com/viewer/V4_shawls.html
Well it is time to study my Bible and head to bed. I have to work tomorrow :( I know in all things give thanks....... I am thankful I don't have to work the day after tomorrow!! LOL God is good!


My first blog...how exciting....

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Wow! I am really excited about this but not sure I have much to say!!! I am a busy mom that can stay focused on one thing for too long! I sew, quilt, knit, scrapbook, play guitar, play around on the keyboard plus sing with the worship team at my church. 2008 is my year to get organized! That means more time to do the things I enjoy like playing games with my kids!