Rave: I decided a week ago that I did not need to smoke anymore. I have quit in the past and always gone back. I feel like I need to figure out how to cope better. Im not sure what the answers are yet, but Im taking it one day at a time. Im sure I will find success in this. My health is my focus right now and that is how it should be! The grandchildren are great motivators towards wanting to live a healthier life!

I am not Anthony’s teacher, I am his learning coach. He has a homeroom teacher that he can connect with anytime we need help in the school day. We can contact him with k-mail or a phone call. He also has a math and phonics teacher for his online classes. All I am expected to do is present the lessons. Several times a week we connect with his teachers and other students in an online classroom. The students actually get to raise their hands and participate. We started his history lessons this year by making a passport and constructing suitcases to travel the world with our imaginations. After learning, what each continent offers we moved on to the next. I do not remember learning that in kindergarten!

I am amazed at the lessons we accomplish everyday. When I brag about Anthony and this virtual school, people seem to think I sit him down in front of a computer all day. When in reality only about 20% of what we do is online. One of the online features this virtual school provides is Study Island. There students do lessons that are appropriate for their age. When the lesson is completed, they just move onto the next. Recently they added Reading Eggs to the Study Island program. Anthony loves this so much he begs to ‘play’ Reading Eggs.

K12 is all over the USA. I would recommend this program to anyone. If your family has different schedules or a child that needs extra attention, then this program might just be your answer. There are clubs and activities for children of all ages. Monthly the school holds outings for the many families around the state to get together and share an experience. This month is the 153rd birthday of our state, and they are holding the meeting at the state capitol. We do not have to work our schedules around school; we work school around our schedules.

She is not the only food network star I like. I have tried Rachel Ray, Tyler Florence, Sandra Lee and Ina’s recipes too. I decide which foods I make for my family and I alter any recipes I wish. Im picky and don’t use cilantro or mushrooms. When making Rachel Ray’s recipes I don’t use as much cumin as she does or omit it altogether. We cant blame those cooks/chefs for pounds gained or lost from their shows. They don’t provide the food or tell us how often to eat it. They are simply there to entertain us.

Over the years I have come to adore and trust Paula. If she promotes a product she uses herself, I’ve assumed it means its quality. Now that she is using her celebrity to endorse a deal with pharmaceutical company, it feels like it’s a ploy to make a buck off a bad situation. I hope the best for her and her family. Since coming to terms with my own blood sugar levels and need for diet and exercise to make changes, I can certainly sympathize.

I do however have an opinion on her news about having diabetes. I think she could have chosen to share her news in a different way. I believe it is a missed opportunity. Her own son has done a few shows with her trying to show the ‘lighter’ options. She could have used her disease and its announcement as a platform for promoting healthy eating, attracting an entirely new fan base and positively influencing the one she already has.

While there is much to expect in the new year there are also many milestones that will be reached this year as well. My hubby turns 50 this year! Ill meet a goal weight I haven’t seen since high school. We will also celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary!

Im looking forward to all the fantastic and exciting changes expected to take place!! Hope your new year brings you and your families lots of joy!

We weren’t sure what this line had in store for us, but Anthony just knew he heard bells. The closer we got towards the end the louder the bells seemed to be. Just as we made it to the top of the hill and near the end of the line we heard a jolly voice greeting the children before us. It was Santa!!! This time he actually convinced Anthony to climb aboard his lap and just as fate would have it my camera with the flash was in the truck. So out came my camera phone to capture the moment the best I could.

Anthony was telling Santa that he would like video games, Emily wants new dolls and Karmen got the chance to ask for a new bike, pink of course! Ivan told Santa that is what he would like one too and we all laughed as Santa exclaimed, “You would like a pink bike?” Ivan didn’t miss the opportunity to correct him and said, “No Way! Black and Orange, like OSU Beavers.”

The evening ended with cookies and hot chocolate. We all had a great time together!
Happy Holidays to you and your family!

She won a free copy of Can You See What I See? Toyland Express.

(Prizing courtesy of Scholastic)