In Training For HIM

Hi my name is Ms. Klutz!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:19:00 +0000

Last Friday I was a total klutz! Yes I said it, a KLUTZ. I lost my balance going out into the garage; down a step that I have walked a million times and fell backwards slamming my calf into the step. This you would think would not be that big of a deal. Get up and go on about your day, right? Well that was not the case. I went to stand up and wow pain shot straight through my leg. I could not put any weight on my foot at all with out major pain.

Imagine a charley horse 10x over. Yeah that is some kind of pain. "OUCH" Every step I took made me want to fall. I could not walk. I ended up driving to Mc Donald's got lunch for the kids and cried the whole time. I got to work and made it to the couch and was crying when my boss came home and she took me to the ER cause the pain was so unbearable.

I came home with this....

No I did not have a broken leg. That is only a half cast to keep my leg stable. The ER doctor thought maybe I tore my calf muscle part or whole.

"Ouch" right?

I got into see a orthopedic doctor on Monday only to be told the same thing.

Not happy!!!!

I was sent for an ultrasound to make sure no blood clots. That came back fine and now I have to wait till tomorrow (Friday) to have the MRI done. The wait for the MRI is due to the insurance took its slow easy time to approve the MRI.

Typical!

So here I sit working with my leg up.

Hating those crutches that sit against the wall mocking me, more and more every day!!!!

Back to work looking for homeschool authors and high school homeschool curriculum. Love that even though I am not able to be on my feet I can still get my work done from the comfort of my bed. Love my job!

Lil Momma Strouse

Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000

This is what you do when you are waiting and you are 4 years old.

Hang upside down under a ping pong table!

Lil Momma Strouse

Fun Stuff!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:24:00 +0000

We have been doing all kinds of fun stuff this week. In our area this is Spring Break week for the public schools. Since the youth group Biggun goes to had a great mission trip planned for the first three days of the week. We chose to go ahead and take the week off and let him help out with that. You know we homeschoolers never get to "socialize" (Said with a evil smile on my face.)

The Pipeline (youth group) did a great job locally. They helped a family rehab a house that was needed the help, they did work around the church - washed windows and things like that then finished their time off with helping a church members family member move. They did a lot of "Jesus work." I am very proud of all 35 students.

As for the littles, we used this week to have fun doing Easter projects. Speaking of Easter, we have never been a family to do the Easter Bunny, Santa, tooth fairy and so on. My kids think of it all as being just cartoon characters. We watched the movie The Guardians. If you are not familiar with this movie, the guardians are all the cartoon versions of the holidays, such as Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and the Sand Man. They all guard over the children and keep them happy. The Boogie Man is also called Pitch, is back and wants to take all the kids happiness and give them nightmares. Then there is Jack Frost that kids do not know about or understand but he keeps giving kids snow days. You see all the cartoon characters in this movie. We watched this movie and after the movie my two littles (age 4 and 6) could not stop talking about Easter. But not what you are thinking. They could not stop talking and asking questions about Jesus on the cross, in the tomb, and how can he be in our hearts and in heaven. It is amazing to see how they took "Holiday" talk and remembered that it was not about the cartoon version but about our Jesus. Makes this Lil Momma's heart just beam.

What else did we do.....

Oh we made stain glass crosses and stain glass butterflies out of tissue paper, wax paper and liquid starch.

Since we had the liquid starch out we also attempted to make slime. It did not work correctly but the kids still had a blast playing in it.

We sang educational songs and played educational games on the computer. What a great week! Can't wait to see what next week has in store for us.

Lil Momma Strouse

Where is my boy?

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Do you see my camo boy?

Look close!

There he goes.

I caught him!

Lil Momma Strouse

Moose and his "DS' game....

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 02:11:00 +0000

Moose is trying to show daddy his new "DS" game.

Okay if you look close it is not a DS but a "Leapster"

Ssshhh don't tell Moose.

Lil Momma Strouse

Ebates.com

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:03:00 +0000

How many of you have heard of Ebates? Ebates is a great place to earn money while you are shopping. You just sign up and then choose a place you plan on shopping even Amazon.com. and go through their link and you can get all kinds of cash, yes I said cash, not rewards points, back. They Will send you a check in the mail. How cool is that???

Lil Momma Strouse

Pretty Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Lil Momma Strouse

Crazy Last Couple Weekends!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 21:49:00 +0000

What has Biggun been up to? Well the past few weekends have been busy. He has had birthday weekends with a friend, state fair with a friend, then to round off the 3rd weekend he had winter retreat with the youth group of the church we have been going to.

I don't have any pictures from the birthday weekend, but he had a lot of fun helping his friend Lil D, celebrate being 13 years old.

The Florida State Fair was in his words "Awesome." He went with his friend Camo Boy and his family. They enter items into the fair every year and usually end up winning things. This year Camo Boy came in second place for his cookies. That is impressive! While they where there they went out and road some rides with Camo Boy and his big sister, Vet Tec Sis. She is like the big sister Biggun never had. She picks on Biggun like any big sister would do. It is great for him to have someone like her in his life. He gets to experience the older sister time without having an older sister. Here is a perfect example of it.

Oh wait, here is the example of him getting treated like a little brother.

Love that picture. It is so funny.

The third weekend was Winter Retreat with the Pipeline Youth Group.

He was on the "Green Team"

There where 4 teams, pink, green, blue and red. Their theme was...

Philippians 1:20 (NLT) For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

They ended up with a different slogan by the end of the retreat. The slogan at the end of the retreat was the above bible verse and the words

"I am NOT ashamed"

They create banners and this was his groups banner.

Each group had to come up with a cheer. I have not seen the cheer but I have received pictures of it, Biggun danced with a bucket on his head and at the end took it off and yelled "I am NOT ashamed"

While they where there the whole Pipeline Youth Group did the Harlem Shack.

Biggun had so much fun and learned so much. I love his youth group.

While Biggun was away working on his dance moves and all, the rest of us just hung out. I have been reviewing elementary homeschool curriculum for the littles and high school curriculum for Biggun. Trying to decide what we are going to do next year.

Well that has been our crazy last couple weekends.

Lil Momma Strouse

Floppy Ear

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:30:00 +0000

Dixie Ann

Lil Momma Strouse

Happy 6th Birthday Honey!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:44:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Honey!

This last week Honey turned 6 years old. WOW when did this happen? I can't believe this girl who I never thought I would have is turned 6 years old. How is that possible? She has grown tall and has an opinion or question on everything. Her Gamma says she is more like me daily. That scares me more then anything. (big smile) Here are some highlights on Honey's Birthday.

Cake Time

New Dress

More Dresses

Two Strollers?? Wonder Why???

Maybe this box that she held with her feet will show us what she needed two strollers for.

Twin Babies!!!

That is why she needed two strollers.

Happy with two babies and strollers.

(Love that both Gamma and Nana are on either side of her head in the background.)

She asked for skates and this was a great deal. Skates that will grow with her, helmet, knee and wrist guards. The best part is they are 3 wheel skates. One in the back and two in the back.

Honey the Mommy practicing with her twins. She has even played school with them. I over heard her say things like, "It is time for you to learn to read and for you to learn to write."

She really enjoyed her birthday.

Oh! Moose enjoyed playing Honey's new Leapster game with Aunt T.

(Sorry if pictures are fuzzy. Honey would not sit still long enough for me to take clear pictures.)

Lil Momma Strouse

Mid February already?

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:54:00 +0000

This week has flown by, we are already on Wednesday! I can't believe we are to the middle of February either! Where has the time gone? In my house it has been used to school.

Here is Moose and Honey playing a shape matching game, before we did alphabet flashcards.

Here is Biggun working hard on his pre-algebra math then he will move on to literature games.

We also had some imaginary play. Honey was very creative in turning a back pack into a front facing baby carrier. She comes in and says

"Look Mom, I look like you when Moose was a baby."

Honey said "I have to keep the babies legs warm. Notice the puppy (stuffed animal) hanging out of the back pack?

Then there was Moose who had to photo bomb the picture! Got to love my Moose.

Lil Momma Strouse

Silly Glasses Pictures!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:26:00 +0000

Thinks he is so cool.

Is she the next book worm???

The many identities of this little guy!

Lil Momma Strouse

What book is your child reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:51:00 +0000

For the longest time Biggun would not read anything on his own for fun that is. I would have to assign it as part of his school. There have been times that I have read out loud to him or we have listen to a book on CD. When we did that we would follow those books up with English practice worksheets to confirm his reading comprehension. We have read Treasure Island and Charlotte's Web to name a few.

Now all of a sudden he is reading for his own for pleasure. Not a lot but it is a start. He spent the night with his friend Camo Boy a week or so ago and when it was bed time Camo Boy was reading his book. Biggun asked him to read out loud. (Yes that surprised me too.) Camo Boy went right along and started reading. Biggun got so involved with the book he was listening to he came home and begged me to take him to the library and get the first book in the series. It took all I could do to keep from showing how excited I was over this request. The first chance we got we where at the library.

Oh! This book series is a version of Peter Pan. The first book in the series is Peter Pan and the Starcatchers by David Barry

I sent Biggun to bed last night and I got up to go to the bathroom about 30 minutes later and saw his bedroom light was on. I opened the door ready to get on to him and there he was reading his book, without being asked to read it. (Big smile) Instead of getting on to him I told him to finish the chapter and lights out.

Never thought I would say that. That is a lesson to me never say never! What book is your child reading?

Lil Momma Strouse

Spelling Flashcards!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:01:00 +0000

We are using ACE Word building to help Biggun with his spelling and reading. Biggun enjoys this because he knows exactly how many pages he has to do. He can look ahead and see what he will be doing. This has been a great way to build his vocabulary and reading ability. But we needed some extra help with some of the larger words. I turned to spelling flashcards and games with those certain words. Spellingcity.com makes it very easy. I just add the words he needs to practice more to a list and there are all kinds of things we can use for him to work on learning those words.

As you an see there in the two screen shots you get a definition, how it is used in a sentence and then actual word. If you look at the bottom of the screen you can see that these flash cards are printable. We love all the spelling printables that are available to us using spellingcity.com Take note of the GREEN button, that one is Play a Game! We like that section too.

Lil Momma Strouse

John 1:29

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:35:00 +0000

John the Baptist answered the, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." (John 1:26-27) The next day he (John) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,

"BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD"!

(JOHN 1:29)

Lil Momma Strouse

Life is like a a big Fill In the Blank.

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:59:00 +0000

My life fills like a big fill in the blanks game. My kids seem to always to always ask questions that I have to fill in the blanks on. Questions like when we stand outside and look up at the sky and I hear The sky is __________, what is it Mom. You know the word.

Then there is doing letters with Honey and she keeps asking me. " I know that S is in my name but are _______________ letters in my name. Sometimes she will come up w/ some strange letters in that blank like Z.

My favorite fill in the blank questions to get are about God or Jesus. The innocence of a 5 and 4 year old can really make a 37 year old Mom think. Like Mom, where there ______________ at the stables when Jesus was born. Some of those fill in words might be rats, penguins or even lions. Or what about "Mom, Jesus was wrapped in cloth before put in the cave with the big rock. Was that cloth __________. Fill in that one with any color you can imagine.
It is times like that I want to do lapbooking with my littles to help them with the understanding of God's word.

Below is a picture that has nothing to do with this post but I sure thought it was cute.....

Lil Momma Strouse

Transition from Middle to High School

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:26:00 +0000

We are almost done w/ middle school and I have been looking into what we need to do for Highschool Boy there is a lot to consider with high school.

How many credit hours.
How those credit hours are qualified.
How many different subjects have to be taken and the number of years or credit hours to use with them.
One thing that had not come to my mind was homechool-friendly colleges.

I had neve thought there where non friendly homeschool colleges. But I am getting my education very quickly. My son wants to go to a technical school and the strange thing is what he wants to do is plumbing and it says he has to be 16 and NOT in highschool. But other courses they offer are duel enrollment. It is all new to me and forgone. I am trying to figure it out. If you live in Florida and have any encouragement to homeschooling highschool please leave a comment and share. I am always looking for help.

Lil Momma Strouse

Math, Writing Letters and School w/ Big Daddy!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:35:00 +0000

Math, Math, Math, Math, Math!!!!

This used to be the favorite subject in our house and reading was the subject that Biggun did not like. Well once you mix letters with numbers the math anxiety sets in and Biggun feels like he can't do it.

Yes, I am talking about algebra. With algebra you have letters mixed with numbers. To my son it seems like there is now reading his hated subject mixed in with his favorite subject.

Biggun started to algebra on time4learning.com today and the above picture is what it started out like.

Then it was praying that he would understand it.

Then there was get 100% on the quiz!!!!!! Yep the boy got 100% on his first quiz. What a great way to help him get past the math anxiety.

Honey worked on writing her letters today. She was not doing such a good job with a regular pencil, I gave her a colored pencil and it was like she came to life and was able to get all her tracing perfect after that.

She worked so hard.

I wish I had a picture of Moose doing his time4preschool.com with Big Daddy. The two of them have had done school work two days in row and they both seem to be having lots of fun "playing the preschool games" with the program.

Lil Momma Strouse

Back to School in a few more days...

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:22:00 +0000

Only a few more days until we go back to school. I don't know who dreads it more me or the kids. I have enjoyed the 2 week break from school. Well the littles LOVE school. They love the time4preschool.com and the kindergarden time4learning.com program along with the other LightHouse workbooks we also use. But they are young and they love doing school. They ask daily for school work. We have done some simple things but not "school."

As for Biggun he is not happy about going back to school work. But he will be more happy then he was last semester cause now he has his own laptop to work on for school. We will be adding Time4Learning.com's Algebra. I have been using time4learning.com forever it seems and did not know they had Algebra as an option. But we will try it and see how it goes. He will also be able to do his spelling list on Spellingcity.com. There are spelling list by grade but we make our own. Since he is in 8th grade.

Lil Momma Strouse

An Educational Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:48:00 +0000

You read that right. This was the year of the Educational Christmas.

Both littles got LeapsterGS's, with Tangled, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Ni Hah, Ki-lan.

And Biggun made the mistake of telling his Aunt Cathy that he could open any gift and rewrap it with out anyone knowing. Well Aunt Cathy I fixed him.

Yes that is a box that is totally wrapped in duct tape not wrapping paper! Man I love Aunt Cathy. That was only for the case to put the for the new Laptop he got. He finally got through all the tape and the accessories that went with the laptop.

Now he can do his own school work like study vocabulary words and even do math online.

Lil Momma Strouse

Still Schooling?

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Are you still doing school?
Are you doing Christmas school?
When do you plan on starting back up if you stopped schooling for the holiday's?
Are you changing anything when you start back up?

I have had these questions asked to me by lots of people, both those who are homeschooling and not homeschooling.

So lets see if I can answer them.

Sorta still doing school. We have gone into holiday mode and slowed down.
Sorta, we did not choose a set theme like symbols of Christmas or name of Jesus like we have in the past but we have done some Christmas things that are educational.
We plan on going back full swing the most likely Jan 7th.
Looking at different Math programs for my oldest.

I can't wait for Honey to get one of her Christmas presents it will help her with reading comprehension. I know she is not reading yet, but she needs to work on her comprehension of what is being read to her.

What are you doing? Share your answers on your own blog and link back to my comment section. I will check out your answers too.

Lil Momma Strouse

Helping out a friend.....

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:41:00 +0000

I have a friend who wants to learn how to write a blog. Char is the sweetest friend. She has even started a blog The Slaughter House Mom , yes that is a play on her last name Slaughter, but has not gotten very far with it.

Between being busy with her own kids (both in highschool band),working part time, and helping support her husband in school for his bachelors in Nursing. She has not had much time to really devote to her blog. I recommended to her to take a blog writing course. To help her along.

I am also trying to get my son to take the same course. So that he can use it for his writing curriculum. Do it as his daily journal writing. I have mentioned that before but I am still working on convincing him.

Lil Momma Strouse

Unexpected Lessons in Homeschooling.

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Poor Dixie Anne.

Okay most people would think I was going over board w/ this sweet puppy, but she is still a baby. See this sweet baby girl got not only 3 shots yesterday that in the past she has had reactions to her vaccines. Where she whimpers for a day or two after she gets them.

I knew when I dropped her off yesterday to get her vaccines and spayed she would be the same way if not worse. Mommy intuition was right. She has been such a big baby since she got home. She has laid around. She hates the cone of course but when she is awake and out of her kennel I have taken it off. But when she is kenneled I have no control over her going after her stitches.

She whimpered and her eyes watered like she had been crying.

At one point last night she was shivering, again we live in Florida and it was not cold - just a reminder. So she got covered up w/ a blanket stopped shivering and slept soundly. Now I would expect that from other breeds of dogs but from a pit, never would have though she would want to be covered up. But then she had to have her feet out just like Lil Momma.

Here we are this morning and she was so full of energy when she first got up and I think she totally forgot about her tummy. Cause she started whimpering and settled down next to me w/ her blanket of course. She even is trying to help me write my blog.

I am praying when I go to work that Biggun can keep a good eye on her. A great example of unschooling. Learning all about the the spaying process and how to take care of her and her stitches. This is what makes us such open minded homeschoolers. That we can turn almost any situation into a lesson with out it really seeming like one to our children.

I am worried about reactions. That and she is really wanting to go outside in the back yard w/ our other dog Daisy May - 20 month old pit, but the back yard is very sandy from them running around and she can't go out there w/ her stitches just yet. That and Daisy May treats Dixie Anne as her own pup. We have to keep her away from Dixie Anne so she does not lick her like a mommy dog.

Here she is about 2 minutes ago sleeping, something she usually does not do in the morning. She is usually outside playing. But she started shivering and this is how she is resting now.....

Lil Momma Strouse

Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:39:00 +0000

Jesus graphics provided by MySpaceGraphicsandAnimations.com

Lil Momma Strouse

Update since Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Lil' Momma @ In Training for HIM) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:02:00 +0000

What a week so far. We have had sickness even a trip to the ER , teeth being pulled due to decay and infection in the gum, along w/ migraine, trying to catch up on work from the days off at the Thanksgiving Holiday with Marble Maintenance Ent. Inc.

Whew, I am tired just typing that.

Here are some pictures to share....

Trip to the ER to turn out to be enflamed stomach. (gastritis) She still is running a fever on and off. But seems to be getting better. Even with not filling good she is asking to do her kindergarten curriculum

If you look close in the circle you can see the little black spot. That black spot is only a small visual of what was really going on in his mouth. He will not let me get a picture of his front missing teeth yet. But here is a funny picture of him after they got pulled and he got a silly mustache and was still a little loopy.

My silly boy!

Biggun has had a cold/flu type symptoms for a few day now. You can tell when he does not feel good when he passes on Bass lessons and Boy Scouts. He did not even make it to youth. I do believe it is on its way out. Thank goodness. We have been slack on homeschooling for the past two weeks due to all the sickness and stuff. He has been avoiding any schooling even homeschool math at all cost.

My migraines are still coming and going. The chiro helps but when I get to stressed and I would say all that was mentioned above would make anyone have a migraine.

Here is my new hair style. Sorry about the grainy picture but it was a phone picture. And no I did not have a migraine when I took that picture.

One last picture from a date night with Big Daddy when he took me out to karaoke.

Now you are all caught up.

Lil Momma Strouse