Articles to share

Okay...I get this magazine...but there were a few articles I really liked in here, so I purchased the digital version as well, so I could share with YOU!
(with the digital version I am allowed to share it on my blog!!)

The first thing I wanted to share is on page 32-37. Just click on the magazine below and go.
Samantha, I think you will like this. You will see that it is not just me and you that feel this way.
Candi, I think you would enjoy this article as well.

Yes I did put this on here specifically for Samantha and Candi, but also for anyone else that wants to read it is welcome to.

Candi in addition to pgs 32-37, go to page 138 and page 142...those two articles are about speech and language. I was going to give you my magazine...when I saw these articles, but I guess I am greedy and wanted to keep it. (shame on me) but that is why I got this digital version to share.

Look Inside >> Summer 2009

There are lots of other great articles as well. Feel free to read as much as you want. (it will help me get my monies worth:)
PS - if you don't like reading off of your monitor it gives you the option to print it off as a pdf.....how cool is that!

and of course --- if you are reading this on facebook and the icon to click didn't transfer over....just go to my blog to click through to the magazine.

It is official....I am now grinding my own wheat!

Yep, that's right, I mill my own wheat. After hearing all the chatter about 'the bread you buy at the store is just junk food' ....and even if you make your own bread but use flour or bread flour etc....still junk food........
I decide to look into it myself. If you want more info on the subject Bread Beckers might be a good place to start. I recommend their FREE audio cd.

Anyways, seems lots of my friends were grinding their own wheat and enjoying the health benefits of it. So after talking it over with Chad and coming to terms the time commitment it would take to grind my own wheat and make my own, bread, muffins, pizza dough, etc....we decided to do it.

This is what I purchased to get started.....

The large buckets are wheat....Here is my mill that grinds the wheat...
And the bread machine that is strong enough to mix milled wheat...
So far I used the bread machine to mix and knead and do the 1st rise, but then take the dough out and bake it in the oven.

I needed to store all the extra ingredients, so I found these jars at the Container Store and they do the job nicely.
I made labels using card stock, markers and packaging tape.

Here is how my counter now looks.

The yeast I keep stored in fridge (and after this photo was taken I found out that the lecithin would last longer if stored in the fridge, so it is now in there too)

I have only had it a few days and have already made bread, cookies and pizza dough. And everything so far has been yummy! I will post later about my bread baking experience.

Utah

Here are some photos from our trip to Utah. Chad's parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. We all got together and visited Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.

Here is a picture of everyoneme and Rose

Cassie, Rose and Tabby

Chad and Cullen

I plan to make a video of our trip at some point, but I thought I would go ahead and post a few pictures.

Homeschool Expo

Rose went to the Southeast Homeschool Expo with me. Even though we were there for 10 hours, attending workshops and browsing the expo booths, she did excellent. It was a long day for both of us. I enjoyed having her there with me. On Saturday she went swimming with daddy while I went to the 2nd day of the convention.
This was my first major homeschool conference (I have gone to small ones). It was so great. I loved looking at all the resources and curriculum available. The workshops had some really good speakers that was both encouraging and helpful. I am looking forward to going again.(for those of you reading this on 'facebook notes' feel free to click here to view the pictures and the full post on my blog....sometimes facebook doesn't bring everything over)

more of Tori and Rose

Rose and Tori goofing off.....

Rose and Tori playing horsie

Rose and Tori in the yard after church

Rose and Tori spinning in their pettiskirts

Rose and Tori playing play dough

Rose and Tori at Monkey Joe's

Rose and Tori playing with dolls

Rose and Tori at our church's America celebration

Rose and Tori standing in front of the huge hawk in our backyard

closer pic of the hawk, in case you couldn't see itin the previous pic

Rose and Tori at the movies

Rose and Tori at six Flags

Rose and Tori at the pool (which we went to just about everyday!)

Rose and Tori in the front yard

Rose and Tori (and Andrew) having water balloon games.

We loved having Tori here! She is a very precious girl, full of joy. She is very kind and sweet and an excellent helper. She has a big heart and God's love shines through her. I hope she comes down again for a visit. It was our pleasure having her here. A thanks goes to her mom for letting her come down. Here is a pic of me, my mom, my sister, Rose and Tori. Gma and Jen spent a few days here when they came down to pick up Tori.

We already miss you Tori.....thanks for visiting us!!!

A day a Six Flags

Chad and I took Rose, Tori (my niece), Autumn and Elisabeth (homeschool friends) to Six Flags on Monday. It was a nice day for it. All the girls were so well behaved, it was a pleasure to have them all with us.
This was Rose's first time riding roller coasters....she even rode one that did upside down loops. Very brave.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

If you are reading this on 'facebook notes' click HERE to view the video (you may also need to hit your refresh button once there)

Love babies?

It is common knowledge how much Rose and I love babies. We snatch them up to ohh and ahh over them when ever we can. So much so, that sometimes people are surprised when they find out I have only one child, they are used to seeing me with a baby and Rose. (Thankfully we have a couple of friends who are very generous and let us hold their little ones often, which we enjoy so much)
Rose has always been drawn to babies. When she was a baby and toddler herself and we were out in public, at the store or wherever, and she got upset I would only need to point out a baby and her spirits were immediately lifted. It was quite handy actually. Even at Rose's tender age I think she realizes how precious little ones are and that they are a gift from God.

Anyways, it seems Tori (my niece who is visiting us for few weeks) seems to share this same love for babies. Baby Sophia just adored her! Tori toted her around all day and Sophia didn't want anyone else. Here is a cute picture of the 2 of them:Which, btw, came in handy the other day when we ended up with 7 kids in the house (I had Andrew and Sophia and then my friend ended up in the hospital and I had her 3 precious ones). Everyone except Tori was 5 or under. But Tori was a Huge help. Actually Rose and Andrew were great helpers as well (They are both mature for their age, imo). Anyways, we spent some time outside. They played and played and 'took hikes' around the backyard....and of course it is always fun to get out the sidewalk chalk.

(for those of you reading this on 'facebook notes' feel free to click here to view the pictures and the full post on my blog)

Rose and Tori

My 9 year old niece is visiting us for a few weeks. We are loving having her here. It is so fun for Rose to have her cousin here.

Tori and Rose in the sand.Tori and Rose at the park.

Tori and Rose on a picnic.

Tori and Rose at the creek.

Tori and Rose at the movies.

Having your cousin around is so much FUN!!