Lenten Reading

Wednesday, the newest issue of Catholic Digest showed up in my home and the subscription is good for 2 years.  I’m not sure who purchased it, but it wasn’t me.  I’d subscribed years ago, but let it run out because of a few reasons that are most likely no longer valid.  I admit to not looking at it again until yesterday when I had a moment.  There were some great articles and suggestions on Lenten reading.

Since I’m on a cleaning out, purge the stuff, clean out the closets and drawers kind of kick this Lent, the following book fit right into the plan. 

Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit

I purchased it as an e-book on my kindle.  It asks that you do a very simple task to clean around your home, but also has a meditation for the day on how that task relates to life in a spiritual way.  The author wants the book to take you on retreat during the Lenten season.  Sounds perfect to me… I don’t have to leave the house and I get simplicity, too.

Joined up…

After seeing a few great deals on the Homeschool Buyers Coop, I decided to join and get in on the savings extended to homeschoolers.  They offer group  buying deals.  The more items purchased, the greater the price savings.  And, you can set the level at which you ‘want in’ on the savings.

The main reason I joined was to get a break on the cost of Dave Ramsey’s course for homeschoolers.

The plan is to have Dash go through the course and then his reward upon completion will be a checking account.  He’s old enough for the responsibility (already has a savings account and Paypal debit card) and we want him to learn financial responsibility while at home.  An extra workbook was ordered for Angelina, who will be completing the course in the future.

I do enjoy listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio.  He makes sense and gives advice from a Christian perspective.  We haven’t gone through his Financial Peace University, but I did purchase a few other resources for Eric and I (both audio and book format) with a group discount.

First Day of School 2010

~ September 7, 2010  ~ 

First Day of School for the Lahlum Family

 

 

We’ve started our family rosary again … finally.  Eric and I decided that morning is better, and it’s just easier to pray the whole rosary in the morning.  So, we all meet around the fireplace at 7:40am (at least that’s the goal – it’s usually attainable).  The goal is to start schoolwork by 8am, but on the first day we were a little slower.  It just takes time to get organized, you know??  I managed (11pm the night before – Labor Day was fun, but also a day of labour!) to construct and fill the Schultutes for each of the four older kids.  The kids had a blast, but I asked that the the posterboard cones, which are the base of the Schultutes,  be preserved for next year.  That’s my attempt at thrift …

View Full Album

Dash is an 8th grade student this year and Angelina is in 5th grade.  Zeke is in 2nd and Graham started Pre-School.  Louis is into just about everything he can reach and has discovered that he is strong enough to push our school chairs around.

Dash and I were a little concerned about Latin, as he started Henle Latin I for credit this year.  The first day was challenging to say the least, but I think we could both agree that it’s manageable and we’ve figured out the rhythm.  I honestly thought he’d have to learn a lot more to understand the exercises. 

Turns out the only rules we hadn’t touched on before were those concerning placement macrons.  Don’t ask me to explain it!  He’s been working really hard and has been doing great so far. He has surprised me by still being able to get done by Noon on most days.  I did not expect that, nor did I plan/schedule that for his day.  I was hoping to be done by 2:30pm!  I’m sure we’ll have those days.  Anyway, if this attitude keeps up, I will be able to say ‘we have turned a corner and are on a brighter and happier path.’ 

Angelina loves to work independently.  She only asks for help with recitation & memory work (necessary) or with Latin when needed.  I switched her to First Form Latin from Memoria Press (instead of Latina Chrisiana II – also from Memoria Press) and we both LOVE it!  Granted the first lesson was fairly easy for her because it was a bit of review, but I really appreciate how this program is laid out.  There is a paperback text and student workbook.  The quizzes are in a separate book – thank you Memoria Press! – so no more copying from the TM.  We are still using the DVD to teach the lesson, but I also sit down with her on the first day of the lesson to go through rules and grammar/vocabulary.  She’s expressed interest in learning about ‘old’ things, so I added Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons from IEW for her and Dash.  So far, it seems less intense than SICC-A, but will be a great review of everything they’ve learned thus far.

Zeke is at the awkward stage where he knows how to read quite a bit, but not enough to figure out directions.  So, he still needs me for … well, pretty much everything.  Even math.  Because he’s worked ahead in math, his book is at a higher reading level.  By the end of the year things will be quite different for my 7yo, but right now I struggle to split myself between Graham and him (and Dash, who seems to need me more … then let’s not forget Baby Louis!!). 

Graham is so excited to be in school this year.  The first two days, I asked him to wait until 10am so the older kids could be started.  It was a sacrifice for the little guy, but he was sooo good.  Finally on the third day, Graham asked if he could be first.  I couldn’t refuse him.  He is such a treat because he already has a great memory for facts.  He remembers letter sounds from the day before (unusual for my boys!) and he’s so enthusiastic about everything.  Graham has started to memorize (and is almost ready for recitation) the first poem I’ve taught all the kids, “Singing Time” by Rose Fyleman.  His expressions are adorably cute.  The first two days, his dad asked what he learned, he said “I learned to listen” and “I learned to be good.”  I think he knows what we want to hear!

And then, there’s Baby Louis.  Not to be outdone, he’s been working on the ‘toddle’.  Yes, he is starting to walk.  A full two months earlier than all the other kids, but how else is he supposed to be fast enough to keep up??  He has a goofy grin with four teeth, but they aren’t in the center like you’d expect.  He naps around 10am, which is perfect.  It gives me time to answer questions and finish up with the two younger boys.  If it’s a good nap day, I’ll have time to start lunch … if it’s not, Angelina helps out.

Summary:

While the first day was a bit crazy and hair was on the verge of being pulled out at points … it was, but I didn’t … all ended on a really high note.  Flexibility is the key.  If a planned activity doesn’t work into the day, let it go on tomorrow’s lesson plan.

Computer time, for me, will be more limited.  A few years ago, I made a rule for myself that I wouldn’t be on the computer – doing my stuff – during school hours.  The rule has since been amended because I cannot just sit on a chair in the schoolroom waiting for questions from the older two!  It’s boring & it’s too noisy to read a book (are your schoolrooms quiet??  If yes, how do you do THAT??).  So, my goal will be to check before our family prayer, and then not return until after 10am … or after the two youngest are done working.  We’ll see how this works.

Dash didn’t like all the noise during the first couple days, so I offered to let him do work in his room.  Where do you suppose he works??  Why of course he’s still here in the middle of the noise.  Go figure!  I knew he wouldn’t be moving … this is my socialite … it really does pain him to be alone in a room.  Angelina asked the first day if she could work at the roll-top desk located in a basement corner.  It’s quiet and she works quickly without being bothered.  She’s even offered to help her younger siblings.  Zeke and Graham share a smaller table in the schoolroom.  So, unlike last year where we did a lot of work at the kitchen table, I am firmly planted in our schoolroom this year.  It is good.

New Year TO DO List

Last year, I subscribed to Martha Stewart's magazine, Living.  I haven't subscribed before, but a subscription was only $5 ... I couldn't resist the temptation.  Anyway, in the first couple pages of the magazine, she has that month's calendar and each day shows something to do or an event.  It's secular, of course, and most of the events are personal or not something I would choose to do.  However, she does list some tasks that we should all put on a master calendar to help us remember 'TO DO' at least once each year. 

I especially liked some of the January reminders.

1. Make space in library for recent editions and dust books (tops and spines)

2. Clean out closets

3. Vacuum and dust refrigerator coils - I've always thought I should do this, but never have ... maybe I should start...

4. Order seeds for vegetable and flower gardens

5. Clean coffee grinder by pulsing bread in the grinder

Items I would add to the list of January reminders:

1. Write thank you notes for Christmas and Birthday gifts

2. Take down Christmas tree and store ornaments ... after Epiphany, of course!  **This could possibly be moved to the February reminder list**

3. Encourage the kids to snow-shoe and cross-country ski at least once a week.  Thank goodness we finally got snow!  I know I'm not the only 'one' who loves snow ...

4. If I haven't yet, make a list of New Year's Resolutions

Rosary Book

For the larger Rosary Book, I purchased a post-bound 8.5"x10" scrapbook/photo album at Michael's.  The album does come with some top-load sheet protectors (I cannot remember how many), but I purchased extra to complete the project.  The weekly Michael's ad has great coupons ... I'm certain I used a 50% off one item coupon to purchase the album, and scrapbooking supplies are regularly on sale.

Sorry for the poor pictures.  Glossy sheet protectors don't make for great photos.

The title page - page 1.

The next two pages - pages 2 & 3 - are titled "Praying the Rosary" and "Schedule for Praying the Rosary". 

Pages 3 & 4 include a listing of the prayers need to pray the Rosary and page 4 is the title page for the Joyful Mysteries.  All of the mystery pages are similarly created and placed appropriately within the book.

Pages 6 & 7 are examples of what is contained in the remainder of the book.  The mystery and two different meditations are listed on the left and an 8x10 picture is shown on the right.  The first meditation is more teen/adult, while the second is written more for children.

The last page of the book show the prayer "Hail, Holy Queen."

I also plan to make a smaller Rosary Book - the blue album.  It's pages will hold a 4"x6" print/picture of each mystery.  It's nice to have two copies and the smaller book will be great for travel.

*If anyone is interested in making a Rosary Book, I'd be glad to email you the prayers & meditations.  It'll save you a bit of time!  You can always change the font or wording to suite your personal preference.

First Day of School

Lahlum Family - First Day of School 2009

Today is the day! It's our first official day of school. Each child's binder is ready and all the new books are on the shelves. 

Graham - 3yrs. (above) - Pre-School

Zeke, 6yrs. (above) - 1st Grade

Angelina, 9yrs. - 4th Grade

Dash, 12 yrs. - 7th Grade

I finally got the German schultütes made last night (a couple other bloggers have made these and they really looked fun).  Last spring, I found these cute cards with the kids' names, biblical meaning of their name and a bible verse ... I taped a card to the front of each schultüte. 

This is our proposed schedule for the new year ... we'll see how it goes.  We've been working to get the kids into a routine with morning chores, but the morning prayer and inclusion of the rosary throughout the day is new. 

The Lahlum Family

School Day Schedule for 2009-2010

5:30-6:30a Parent rising time
7:00-7:45a Morning Chores
7:45-8:00a Morning Prayer: Front of Basement Fireplace
          ** Include 2 decades of the rosary and one other favorite prayer**
          Monday Prayer Leader: Dash
          Tuesday Prayer Leader: Angelina
          Wednesday Prayer Leader: Zeke
          Thursday Prayer Leader: Graham (with Mom’s help)
          Friday Prayer Leader: Mom
8:00a-12:00p Official school hours
12:00-12:30p Dinner  
          ** After dinner prayers: 2 decades of the rosary**
12:30p-1:30p Afternoon Chores
1:30p-2:30p Finish up school work
6:00-6:30p Supper
6:30-7:30p Evening Chores
7:30-8:30p Reading Time & Prayers with Dad  
          ** Include 1 decade of the rosary and other favorite prayers**
8:30p Bedtime for Kids
10:30p Parent Bedtime

How it went ...


Everyone was up and morning chores completed in time for our morning prayers. 

The prayer time was a bit dis-organized, even though I'd asked Dash to prepare early.  I'm sure we'll get the hang of it with time.  I didn't get our rosary book completed for this morning ... I actually forgot to put it on the list until last night (I'm not good at remembering to do 'things' that aren't written down)!  I have all the supplies and the prayers/format is already on my computer (I gave one as a Christmas gift years ago and always meant to make one for school and a slightly larger one for our family's prayer table).  I'll show pictures in another post; I plan to finish at least one this afternoon.  They are really neat, eye-catching, and especially help younger kids keep focus.

Even though we have a weekly syllabus I print out, the kids tend to skim the directions.  Frustrating for me, generally extra work for me and eventually for the kids.  Hopefully a few commen sense lessons were learned today with regard to reading instructions before proceeding  ... one of my kids had to completely re-do an assignment because it was wasn't written in the notebook.

The teaching DVD's for Math-U-See and Institute for Excellence in Writing (the oldest two are doing the second half of IEW's SICC-A this year) are so wonderful!  Angelina and Dash actually laugh while listening to Andrew Pudewa on the IEW DVD.

I was able to correct assignments as we went along today.  This works well because the kids can correct mistakes immediately.  Dash needed to watch a DVD for poetry, so he didn't finish with schoolwork until 3:30p, but that won't be the norm.  Everyone else was done before dinner (noon). 

I forgot our mid-day decades of the rosary, so we'll recite those before supper.  Like I said, the routine will take a few days!!

It's a cloudy, rainy day.  Dash was supposed to have his second football game this evening, but it was postponed & practice was cancelled, too. 

Sandboxes and Perennials

Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres came to town to see Angelina in Cinderella on Saturday night. She was excited to have both sets of Grandparents at the final show. Therefore, we had overnight visitors on Saturday. My parents went to Mass with us the next morning and then stayed to visit for a large portion of the day.

My mom is always looking for ways to help, so I asked if she'd plant my perennials. The bed had been prepped on Saturday and we only needed to arrange the plants (just in case they don't get moved around next Spring!) and stick them in the ground.



There is a rose bush on the corner with coral bells in front (above). The rest is not a perfect arrangement, but I like it. The daylilies and clematis (of which there are three - not sure where that third plant came from) are along the house. I have other plans for the clematis, but the daylilies will be staying in that spot, I'm quite certain. The hosta will like this location as well, but we'll have to see how the harsh wind treats them. Dash watered everything for us when the planting was completed. No more small containers to worry about!!! Can you feel my relief that this is done??



Grandpa was volunteered to help build the sandbox, supplies for which had been purchased last week. That task didn't take long, and it was a good project for Dash to help build. Zeke & Graham walked to the farm shed with Eric and, in two trips, brought all the sand toys to their new home. After seeing the kids' excitement, I wondered why we hadn't completed this simple task earlier??? Oh well, I can tell many more nightly baths are in our future.



Grandpa is finishing up one of the corner seats while Angelina and Zeke stamp down the pile of sand - to make sure it gets into the corners.





Graham (above), I can tell, will be out here quite a lot. Good thing I can see the sandbox from both the kitchen and patio doors on the back porch. Zeke is happy as a clam in the sandbox, too, and probably just as sandy at this point!



Only one task/chore we did not get done this weekend (and I am truly okay with that ... it would've taken longer than I wanted my parents to be busy on a project ... and I really need to be the one doing the measuring because the layout is in my head, if you know what I mean) - putting up a closet system/wire shelving in Eric's garage closet. At least the closet is cleaned out so I can measure and mark. Next Saturday (or maybe sometime this week)!

A Cleaning Saturday

To some this may be cluttered, but to me it's organized (and way more organized than it was earlier in the day)! This desk is where most of my lesson planning, bill paying, organizing, correcting schoolwork, and creating lists occurs. Today, Eric helped me hang the shelf above the desk. I like the little bit of extra space it gives me for knick-knacks and an organizer.

Some of the other accomplishments today:

1. Rabbit pens were cleaned by Angelina (after much hassle over the smell, she finally found that it was bearable if she put perfume on her 'dust mask'!!!) and the 'do' was transferred to the compost pile by Dash

2. The tree rows were weeded by the kids

3. Flower bed on side of garage was rototilled and Eric brought in two loads of fill dirt - the perennials will be planted and over-wintered in this bed

4. All the dishes were washed & put away

5. Dash's room was cleaned & the bed made for Grandpa & Grandma Golden Acres

6. All the door handles in the house were cleaned, courtesy of Zeke

7. The gardens were watered by Angelina - just in time to encourage the rain showers we received

8. Dash washed and disinfected all the garbage containers

9. 3 pictures were hung and 1 box was unpacked in Eric's Office

10. The front and back porches were swept clean by Zeke

Kid Clothing

Kid clothing is on my mind lately. Great sales abound this time of year, and I try to take advantage by fullfilling current and future clothing needs. I always struggle with the “How many clothes do my kids need” question. I’ve used FlyLady in the past to answer this basic needs question. I’m referring to her list again, as well as another ‘searched’ list.

Each child has a dresser, varying drawer space, and closet space for hanging and folded items. Some are better at using the space wisely, but they’re still in training. I’m definitely NOT the type to ‘fill the available space’. I only want to buy or have on hand clothing my kids will actually wear.

I don’t remember which radio personality talked about this clothing decision making process, but it was on EWTN, and makes complete sense for older children who want more say … both parent and child have full veto power. Have you heard this before?? It means if I don’t like the article (inappropriate wording, wording in the wrong place, too short, too tight, etc.), I can say “No”. And, if the child doesn’t like the article for any reason, they can say “No”, too. This sounds like a great idea to implement with my oldest two. They are both at the point where there are items that are rarely worn. Some were gifts, but most were purchased by me. I have a hunch this rule will save us money and save me the frustration of purchasing clothes to hang or be folded in a drawer, but never worn.

Our clothing needs are somewhat different because we do live on a farm. The kids need clothes that can ‘get dirty’. The dirt is not going to come out most times, and I don’t worry about it! I marked Dash’s old t-shirts so he can tell which are for outside work … I need to include ALL the kids. If jeans or shirts become worn or stained, they’re designated everyday.

I do not (intentionally!) buy white/light colored everyday socks for the kids. Black is my favorite for boys and relatively easy to find in stores. They all have a few pairs of light colored socks which are reserved for church and special occasions.

This year I made a spreadsheet to keep in my purse and remind me of what each child needs for Fall/Winter. I marked current size, HAVES and NEEDS. I added measurements (inches) because earlier this year when Dash needed jeans, I purchased four pairs in different styles for him to try. Only ONE fit him! Returns are a time-waster. So, individual measurements and a tape measure in my purse will save time.

Clothing list for Fall/Winter, a combination of FlyLady and our household needs …

Toddlers and Pre-School
7-8 everyday outfits
1-2 pairs dress pants (worn mainly for church events)
2-3 long sleeve dressy shirts (worn mainly for church events)
1 sweater (at least)
2 belts (brown and black – OR 1 reversible belt)
3-4 pajamas
1 swimsuit
2 pairs play shoes (usually the oldest pair of tennies and shoes that can get wet - rubber boots** or mock-crocks)
1 pair dress shoes
1 pair winter boots
1 light weight jacket
1 ‘for good’ winter coat
1 everyday winter coat (usually a Carhart* with hooded sweatshirt underneath)
1 pair snowpants (or snowsuit)
12 pairs of socks
7-10 pairs of underwear, you might need more depending upon the child

School Age
3-4 pairs of jeans or school pants
2-3 skirts for girls
6-7 school shirts
1 sweater (at least)
1 white cardigan for girls (to be worn over sleeveless tops or dresses)
1-2 pairs dress pants (worn mainly for church events)
2-3 long sleeve dressy shirts (worn mainly for church events)
2 belts (brown and black – OR 1 reversible belt)
2-3 pajamas
1 suit for boys, 1 dressy dress for girls (optional)
1 swimsuit
2-3 gym outfits
1 pair school shoes
1 pair shoes for dirty work (usually the oldest pair of tennies)
1 pair dress shoes
1 pair rubber boots**
1 pair winter boots
1 light weight jacket
1 ‘for good’ winter coat
1 everyday winter coat (usually a Carhart* with hooded sweatshirt underneath)
1 pair snowpants
12 pairs of socks
3 pair tights (white, black, multi-colored for girls)
7-10 pairs underwear

Seasonal clothing is kept separate from current clothing. In September, I store all the Spring/Summer clothes in a tub in their closet; in April, I exchange the Spring/Summer clothes for Fall/Winter clothes that will (hopefully!) still fit later that year. I store 'non-current sized' clothes in marked tubs in the basement.

Boy clothes in good condition are kept, but I have started to give more away because I’m not sure my younger boys will grow the same way as Dash. I no longer keep girl clothes, unless they have special significance. Angelina is nine, so keeping clothes for nine years … just in case I might have another girl … doesn’t seem practical when I have friends who can put the clothing to good use right now.

*Carhart is a brand of outerwear. If you live on a farm, you’ll have heard of this brand which is constructed to withstand wear and hard work. The outside fabric is a heavy Duck material and the inside can be either lined or un-lined, depending on the season for which the coat/overalls are made. While this brand is an investment, the coats last. We haven’t worn any out yet, and most have been passed down from Dash.

**You'd probably be surprised at how often my kids wear rubber boots. Many times, they'll throw on rubber boots instead of tennies .... Also remember, we have no grass, so the area around our house is generally either muddy or recently tilled loose black dirt. Anyway, I consider rubber boots a MUST HAVE for our family.

Computer Time in the Schedule

Jamie asked "where is all that computer time?" That's a good question, and not obvious from my schedule. There's quite a bit of down time I can play with throughout our week and that's where "my" computer time fits. So, I guess it's not on the schedule in a specific way because I fit it in when there is time.

My husband usually gets up and goes straight to his office for morning prayers and a little paperwork before showering and getting dressed. I like to be dressed before leaving my room, so that is what I do first. However, if I'm not hungry right then (usually around 6:15a), I'll grab my cup of tea and head downstairs to check emails before the kids are up. I like being able to check correspondence in the morning ... and I don't mean the chit-chat type. I advise a college group and my husband and I teach NFP, so I have to keep up on correspondence. If I'm not able to get on before school starts, there's usually a bit of time in the afternoon when the younger kids are entertained. My husband usually spends a bit of time in his office just after the kids go to bed (like tonight!) and then I have the evening hours to use for computer, too.

As for updating Homeschool Tracker, I do manage to complete some updates during school hours (record scores or adjust assignments). But, for the most part I do that work on a Thursday or Friday night. Since lesson plans are entered for each child, it only takes me about 30-45 min. each week to correct, enter scores, reschedule (if needed) & print out the next week's syllabus. Just to clarify ... I do the bulk of correcting during the week on the day an assignment is given/due. Some of my kids need to be held more accountable, and correcting immediately (especially in Math) helps catch problems faster.

Good Night! May God Bless and Keep You.

LibraryThing and CueCat

Just to indulge my perfectionist and organizational tendancies, I created an account at LibraryThing. So far, I've only entered our Redwall series by Brian Jacques. Just enough titles to play around with and figure out how the site works. A few other families in the homeschool group started an account, too. The book lists can be either private or public. For now, I'm keeping private. You can pay a minimal fee to upgrade your account (it's either an annual or lifetime fee) ... we'll see how it goes. This is just my kind of 'thing' though, so I'll probably find a way to acquire the lifetime membership!

This is a CueCat. It's a bar code scanner. It'll scan your books and enter all the information automatically into your LibraryThing account. You can purchase it from the website ... I could've borrowed from Fargo friends, but I'm not a patient person and I figured this would be a great way to help out my MIL, too. I started recording all her Little Golden books years ago, and CueCat can potentially save a lot of time (provided those books have a readable bar code).

Cover Page Fun

A couple years ago, I started using binders to organize weekly lessons and the related handouts for that week. Before binders, I kept their assignment handouts in plastic banker boxes - in hanging file folders - and just pulled out what they needed that day. Obviously that was before multiple kids were being homeschooled!

The binders usually last two years per child. They are used daily ... sometimes I can re-use binders from my husband, but I have come to prefer the D-ring binders that are 1.5 - 2 inches wide. I also make sure they are the 'view' binders with a front and back pocket on the outside of the binder.

Each child decorates his/her own cover page with crayons, colored pencils or markers. This has become an annual tradition and it's special art that I've kept each year. The back page is for sticker recognition. If they've done something particulary well or if there is something that needs a little more work, I choose an appropriate sticker and write a positive affirmation or encouragement. (I do keep sticker distribution equal because the kids keep track ... the point is not to play favorites, but to provide encouragement).

This year, I created cover pages with a black & white photo of each child on the front (examples using their blog names are shown above). Of course, the artwork will come later - after I've changed the names back!

How I use the binders:

1. The first section includes: weekly syllabus, binder contents page, prayer list, virtues list (as it pertains to their age), Reading Record, Ht. and Wt. charts, and Extracurricular Activities Info.

2. The second section is pocket dividers for the following subjects: Math (this is where I keep all the reference pages ... formulas, definitions, etc.) & Science, Poetry & Art, Editing and Spelling, Latin (drill sheets and tests), Phonics, Religion, Music, History, and Geography.

3. The kids have separate binders/notebooks/workbooks for these subjects: Math, Piano Study, Latin, Student Intensive Continuation Course - Level A (Writing and Composition from the Institute for Excellence in Writing), Health, Poetry/Bible/Ten Commandments/Saint/Fables Books (for narration and illustration), and Handwriting.

4. At week's end, each child's corrected assignments & papers are stored in a labeled hanging file folder; old lesson plan are recycled (my hubbie prints on both sides of every sheet of paper!); and the binder is replenished with a new syllabus and handouts for the coming week.

The itch to garden...

This year, I have a blank slate in which to garden. In the past, I've had a huge garden - approximately 16'x24'. I loved it and packed as much as I could into that space, often squeezing rows and plants together to get more for my time and create less room for weeds to grow. I've kept my garden plans in a binder since we started that garden in 1999 - it helped with rotation and was fun to look back at seed varieties.

However, I'm going to try something different with my blank slate. A few friends have had success with Square Foot Gardening, and I want to try my hand at it, too. I purchased this book by Mel Bartholomew and have read through it.

I've saved scraps from our home building and hope to get the soil supplies by mid-May. There have been many years where I haven't planted until June, and I've still had bumper crops. So, the time-line doesn't concern me too much.

If you want to know more about Square Foot Gardening, check this link, or check out the book at your local library. He makes a lot of sense and his ideas are easily applied to container gardening, as well.

P.S. As my SFG (Square Foot Garden) takes shape, I'll share more of the details.

Too Much Stuff - Part 2

Now that the toy supply is manageable, how do I determine what to let into the house from now on?

I am a work in progress and admit to not having complete control over this aspect of our household for many reasons. I would sometimes like to say "No more gifts, please." But, that's not really practical. Accepting gifts can be an act of humility; accepting the charitable actions of others is a good lesson for kids, too. In our house, receiving a gift means a Thank You note must be written - also a good lesson in manners and social graces. So, while these ideas aren't necessarily solutions, they are ideas that can help.

1. Our first defense is to give gift suggestions that are consumable or needed (clothes, art supplies, educational gifts, etc.) Thankfully, our relatives ask for gift suggestions most of the time and I can guide them toward fulfilling needs instead of wants.

2. A factor I consider, now that we've moved, is what will happen to the item if I no longer need it or if it breaks. I don't have easy access to recycling and our garbage is not picked up at the curb! Plastic, metal and glass don't easily burn or break down and must be taken to a pile on the edge of a field. Not very eco-conscious, in my opinion. It's at least something to think about, even if you can discard items easily by putting them on the curb.

3. Birthday parties. Friend birthday parties in particular are usually the source of small and mostly useless gadgets that add to the clutter in our homes. This is one of the main reasons I haven't done friend parties. Not the best reason, but it has been my way. In the past couple years, a really neat phenomenon has caught on within our homeschool group. The moms have continued to host parties, but ask that the guests bring as a gift a monetary donation that can then be donated. I absolutely love this idea! Some past recipients have been Saint Gianna's Maternity Home and a local family whose daughter was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. I am planning to change my stance on friend birthday's in April for Dash's 12th birthday.

4. Gifts that you 'Do'. By this I mean, ask for a gift of time. Grandparents are precious; so are aunts and uncles. Their time is even more valuable. Some of the best gifts my kids have received have been time with aunts, uncles and grandparents. The time spent together may have been at Chuckie Cheese or Space Aliens or just baking cookies, but it always created a beautiful memory. Instead of material gifts, ask relatives to give time . . . and then actually plan it! Yes, it may take more work to coordinate schedules, but it is worth that time and more.

5. For gift giving and suggestions, I tend to stick to the toys groups already in the house (Part 1 lists toys that are used most often in our home). That doesn't mean we don't purchase 'hot' toys every now and then, but Thomas the Train and Duplo Legos are stand-bys and they fit with what we already own and enjoy.

Too Much Stuff - Part 1

NOTE: This post somehow got incredibly long, so if you don't have time or the need to read, please move on to someone else's more inspring post! I tried to declutter the paragraphs of their extra words, but didn't have much luck. Guess words and toys are just attracted to me!

Since we recently moved, it would seem logical that I would have gone through everything and left behind any excess. I THOUGHT I DID! Our stuff made it into four garage/book sales in the past year (five - counting the church's garage sale shortly after we moved). Larger items were given to friends and family. And, we donated at least the volume of a small (think Volkswagen Bug or GEM car) car in furniture, clothes, and miscellaneous.

I thought we'd pared it down pretty good...

Why then, do I find myself shrieking, I mean shrinking, at the sight of a toy covered floor. Where did all those toys come from?? When it comes right down to it, I have no one to blame but myself - if I and my husband didn't give the items, they are most likely from a suggestion I freely gave when asked. In my defense, I don't always suggest toys!

So, I have two issues to deal with

1) how to determine what we keep, and

2) how to determine what to let into the house from now on.

In this post (Too Much Stuff - Part 1), I'll address the first issue, 'how to determine what we keep' from the toy perspective. I'll tackle the second issue in a later post.

What we keep seems to present the most disagreement. I like FlyLady's philosophy on decluttering and choosing what to keep. While I haven't followed her for a couple years, her suggestions really helped me get the stream-lining started. I went through clothes, toys, games, kitchen-ware, books, linens and furniture while asking myself the following questions:

• Do I love this item?
• Have I used it in the past year?
• Is it really garbage?
• Do I have another one that is better? If I do have another, should I really keep two?
• Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it or does it give me guilt and make me sad when I see the item?

If I'm helping the kids, other questions are included:

• Do you play with it?
• Is it educational or can you learn a skill from it?
• Would this be fun to have in the church's childcare room?

I add that last question because our kids spend about 2 hours per week at the church's childcare room. Sometimes its easier to let a toy or game go if they know they'll have the opportunity to play with it again.

My guide to how much/many of a particular toy to keep is that each kind must fit in a 22gal. or less tote - only two 22gal. totes are used for toys. If the tote starts to overflow; it's time to pare down.

These toys are kept in totes and are played with most often:

1. Legos - duplo (22gal. tote) and smaller
2. Thomas the Train
3. Dress-up
4. Fisher Price (22gal. tote)
5. Cars and HotWheel sets
6. Kitchen dishes, food and accessories
7. Dolls and clothes
8. Coloring books
9. Polly Pockets
10. Lincoln Logs
11. Blocks
12. Toddler

A toy box holds misc. toys (binoculars, balls, tractors, trucks, etc.) that don't fit the list. I've tried to keep close to this list and donate most 'other' toys. Toys are generally kept in one room. The exceptions are Angelina's girly toys (Polly Pockets, Barbie, Madeline and doll furniture) and Dash's smaller Legos, which are kept in their bedrooms.