My Name is Kerrie, and I'm a Bravo-holic

I think I’m watching too much TV, which is like 7-10 hours a week, mostly while Sam sleeps on me early in the morning or while he sleeps on me for his naps and the kids run amok in the house. Specifically, I'm watching shows my mom tapes for me from http://bravotv.comBravo Channel. It’s no secret I love all the Real Housewives (although I’m falling out of love with the New Jersey one), much to my husband’s disappointment. It's not exactly uplifting television, I know.

Lately I’ve been watching something I never thought I would like called Million Dollar Decorators. The other day I said something to my husband like, “Hmmm, the pea green chair next to the pea green glider with the pea green drapes as a backdrop and the rose-colored carpet is not the aesthetic I’m aiming for in our living room.” Yeah, he looked at me like I'm crazy because it generally takes an army to get me to wash a dish, and why the H would I care what the "decorating" looks like?

Watching this show makes me want to rip out my dark wood cabinets with gold pulls in my kitchen and put in something a little more "fresh." It makes me want to touch up the paint on the baseboards. It makes me get more mad than usual when Eva covers her body with hot pink lipstick and then rolls around on the light gray carpet. [Aron, "Who would give a 3-year-old this color of lipstick? Who in their right mind?!" And I have to sheepishly reply, "Oops, uhm, me."]

I also love Flipping Out because Jeff Lewis makes me laugh my butt off when I can't figure out if he's being funny or a serious jerk. I love everyone who works for him and dig his design aesthetic. Specifically, I love wallpaper like this? You?

Kansas City Children's Museum: Kidscape

Back in May we hit a cool place called Kidscape at the Johnson County Museum in Shawnee, Kansas. It's FREE (donations gladly accepted), and is small. My only beef with it is that there are two ways out of it that lead into the main museum, so you can't relax if you have a kid like Sam who will keep trying to run out of one side or the other. Then again, the benefit is that you will lose some weight. Unless you use chocolate to medicate any mommy problems you may have.

The first room has a Wii, which we don't own and I had never played. I dug bowling! The big boys played it while Callie taught Sam how to fish.

Eva had a blast in the medical room caring for her 7 babies of all nationalities.

Michael found a cool box of connecting tile thingamajigs.

This is the front of the dress shop, where you can work on your fashion creation skills. Boys love it.

There's also a theatre where the kid can play dress-up and put on a play while you sit in cushy red velvet seats. Did somebody say red velvet cake? Gotta go.

Blueberry Picking at The Berry Patch in Cleveland, MO

 This summer we took 6 kids (our ex-neighbor and friend is with us a lot, and we love it!) to The Berry Patch in Kansas City. We went at night so Aron could come with us, and also it was a little cooler and a LOT less crowded. I like to stay on the down-low like that a lot ... go places when they are less crowded. I figure I bring enough of a crowd of my own!

 Sam and I dressed in blue for our blueberry pickin'.

After we were done we rode on the blueberry train ... plastic barrels connected together. We rode all over the patch, and it rocked.

Guest Post: Tips for Getting Your Family Active

Today we are fortunate to have another guest post from Kathleen Thomas from Primrose Day Care Schools. Today's is about: Daily Physical Activity: the Foundation for a Healthy Lifestyle. When I told Joel about the 60 minutes of daily activity that kids should be doing (not to mention adults!), he was like, "Is that all?" Between swimming, riding his bike, chasing his siblings and more, he racks up quite a bit, as do my other kids! And I'm thinking the reason I recently effortlessly lost 15 pounds is because of literally chasing Sam everywhere we go! Check it out:

By: Kathleen Thomas, Primrose Day Care Schools  

Experts suggest that young children need to accumulate at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of physical activity every day. Unfortunately, many children are not nearly as active as they need to be. It is clear that along with poor diet, physical inactivity has contributed to a large increase in childhood obesity in the United States in the past 20 years. The following statistics are unsettling: 

Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese nationwide. (Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). The percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states. (Source: Trust for America's Health) 

Research has shown that children who develop basic motor skills such as throwing, catching, kicking, jumping, skipping, and balance are more likely to grow into healthy active adults. Studies have shown that daily physical activity helps children academically as well. Learning basic physical skills is essential to the healthy growth and development of your child. 

Dr. Stephen Sanders, author, professor, and director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science at the University of South Florida is a member of the Primrose Schools Education Advisory Board. He says that children do not necessarily learn physical skills on their own. He has found they need guidance and assistance from adults, challenging activities, and opportunities to practice and refine physical skills. 

“The amount of time children spend daily in physical activity is decreasing, and it will take a determined effort from parents to reverse this trend.” 

So, what can parents do to teach their children about the importance of being physically active and help them learn these necessary skills? Trying the tips below will help you and your family create a fun environment for physical activity and will contribute to everyone’s physical health. 

Tips for Getting Your Family Active: 

Find appropriate, safe spaces for quality physical activity: Provide safe spaces inside and outside for your child to be active. 

Ensure the availability of age-appropriate supplies: Being physically active is like learning to read, write, or do math problems in that each requires proper materials or equipment. 

Provide abundant supplies of balls, hoops, hockey sticks, bats, paddles, racquets, musical

instruments, jump ropes, etc. They need balls of all sizes, shapes, and weights such as beanbags, sock balls, and rubber balls. Equipment should be soft, lightweight, and made for children.

Be active with your children: Don’t just send your children outside to play--be a role model!  Go outside with them and participate in games and other activities that require physical exertion!

Use sidewalk chalk to create your own four-square or hopscotch grids; blow bubbles then chase them around the yard to see who can catch them; go on a walk around the neighborhood or through a park as a family; play music and dance inside or outside; and when the weather is nice put on your bathing suits and run through the sprinklers.

Promote a feeling of success when you play with your child. If your child is not yet able to successfully throw and hit a target, encourage them to move a little closer so they can be successful. Skills are acquired incrementally. Children who do not experience success have a tendency to quit and not practice. Acknowledge their efforts with specific comments. No matter what your child’s skill level is, be a supportive coach. They will benefit from your encouragement. 

When children come into the world, physical activity is at the very center of their lives. They have a mission to learn to crawl, walk, run, throw, catch, and kick. If they are going to enjoy participating in physical activities now and as adults, they need to build on that foundation of success an enjoyment that begins in infancy. So, grab a ball, badminton racket, or jump rope and set aside time each day to play with your child!

Reasons to Homeschool: Time With Grandparents

OK, I admit this was taken in the summer, but it could be in the spring or fall or winter. It's a photo of my dad pushing a few of the kids I brought on the merry-go-round at the park by his house. To me, it's cool to be able to hang out with my dad during the week. We have plans to go to the nature centers by his house, and to me that counts as a field trip, only less noisy and crazy and with zero permission slips to be signed and no nasty school busses.

We also like to chill with my mom, although now that she's working we don't get to as much. On her day off during the week she likes to work on her tan with her friend. Once cooler weather hits, though, we'll be alternating weeks at each other's home ... heading to Mickey D's playland for lunch, maybe to the pet store, maybe just sitting around watching movies and playing games and talking.

We also get to have my MIL come over every other week. She is retired now and likes to help out ... somehow I always end up relegating her to my nasty kitchen. I know she's coming, so I let the dishwasher run and let dishes pile up in the sink and have her make Koolaid and cook meat for dinner and such when she arrives. She also cleans my fridge. She is a Godsend!

Then there is my FIL ... who sometimes takes Joel to our local food bank to volunteer with him.

Let's not forget my step-parents ... Nana who will be an amazing resource for quilting and cooking advice and how is nice to just chill out with. She makes the most beautiful quilts for the kids! And Papa Dave, who scares the crap out of the kids by chasing them around the house and the yard with water and a scary voice.

What a great set of parents. A reason to homeschool AND a reason to never move away!

Schwarzenegger/Shriver/Alimony and the Media

So I'm hearing about how Schwarzenegger doesn't want to pay "spousal support" to Shriver, right? But I'm confused already. I mean, it doesn't sound like he is trying to get out of giving her the 50% she is "due" per California law. It sounds like he doesn't want to give her ALIMONY.

Didn't alimony go out with the 80s, when women needed the extra cash to buy their cocaine and globs of makeup and hairspray?

Seriously, though, I get annoyed with the media sometimes. They spin crap with no problem whatsoever. It's easy to spin Arnold because he screwed up. He made a baby with another woman and didn't tell his wife for TEN YEARS. That is messed up. But let's put that aside for a second ...

I ask you, doesn't Maria Shriver have like loads of her OWN money? I mean, the feminists say we better damn well be able to take care of ourselves, and she sure can. She probably has inheritance money since her poor relatives die all the time. She probably has money from when she was a big-time working professional and author. She can make another million in the next year without even trying. She's AMAZING.

So the media likes to get us all worked up about stuff. We are stupid. We believe what they want us to. Arnold is bad. Maria is good. Give her mo money. That will make her feel better, at least, right?

NOW ... if this were a REAL couple, like say my hubs and I (which it ain't gonna happen, so don't get any ideas here ... I'm just illustrating) ... I would have to throw the kids in daycare and school and get a J.O.B. Alimony would be a huge laugh! Alimony is for those with loaded husbands. (Child support is a totally separate issue, folks, and I would go after my man for loads of that so I could perhaps attempt to keep homeschooling and work from home, BUT a judge would probably not let me get away with it and just tell me to get a job.)

Or ... is alimony for the women because they are taking care of the kids and want to be stay-at-home moms? Is alimony like payment to them for watching the kids? That's sweet if you can afford it. But Maria's kids are grown and in school.

Does the media ever get you riled up and then you find out later the story was totally different. I'm trying to learn to suspend my disbelief ... and belief.

Homeschool Elementary Grammar With a Big Family ... Cheap

So when my oldest was in 2nd grade, I bought "Language of God for Little Folks Level A" by Nancy Nicholson, which is through Catholic Heritage Curricula and was a great basic grammar resource. I realize it's not for everyone, as some of the sentences to correct are religious (specifically, Catholic). The thing is Joel went through it really fast, and it was going to be $13 plus shipping for me to buy one every other year for each of my homeschooling kids, not to mention the price goes up for each year you need it for.

While I do love this resource and recommend it, I just can't afford a standard curriculum and so I use resources like "What Your X Grader Needs To Know", Evan-Moor workbooks, Basic Skills workbooks, etc. I also RE-USE stuff.

So I came across "Language of God" in the basement ... trying to clear out old homeschool stuff because I save every piece of paper my kids touch! I realized I could re-use it ... not as a workbook but as a basic resource. It takes a little bit of time to type of my own sentences, etc., but I save them on the computer and they are ready for the next kid.

Also, I use the used workbook as a guide. Like instead of having my kid spend time working on something they have probably already learned through basic common sense, I verbally quiz them based on the workbook questions. Like I'll say, "Where would we use a capital letter?" instead of having them do countless workbook pages. If they can answer, I leave them alone. If not, we do some pages and revisit with a verbal quiz later.

How do you save money homeschooling a tribe?

Teach Your Kids to Detach from Stuff ... But How?!

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to come with my mom to a restaurant every now and then to hang out with her and her high school friends. They are the neatest bunch of 60-year-old chicks out there, and I love being able to go meet with them. I was able to get away recently thanks to Jordan (Aron was working on our wooden fence that's falling down, so I needed my daughtersitter). I got to spend an hour and a half with 5 cool women, including my own mom, AND eat the best pizza out there AND drink iced tea AND eat a big old slice of white cake. Don't tell my husband about the bad diet (never mind, he reads the blog, so the jig is up).

One topic that came up was junk we have in our homes. One woman has cool crap that her kids are going to want someday, but that's because she has traveled the world and has unique crap. The rest of us, though, decided long ago that if we don't want our parents' crap, why would our kids want OUR crap?

Crap (aka material items, some that have emotional meeting and most that do not) can make us depressed, it can take over our lives, it can make cleaning our home seem almost impossible. Little kids love their crap because they are just starting to collect it and everything is special to them (ah, the rocks!).

How do you teach your kids to detach from crap? I know my kids see me getting rid of more and more stuff over the last few years and not accepting new stuff. Recently my dad gave me a bunch of framed photos of my from when I was a kid and I'm thinking, "What am I going to do with these? I'm not going to put them up all over the house because (1) it's narcissistic and (2) I don't have the room!" So they are in the basement because I am stuck and don't know what to do with them and don't want to hurt Dad's feelings. (I think I'll just take the pics out, see if he wants the frames and if he does not, I'll donate them and just file the pics away).

I know this is a topic that could span many a blog post and this is just the tip of the iceberg, right (I have lots of posts under the label down the right side of the blog under CLEANING where I talk about getting rid of crap, storing crap, etc.)

What are your ideas? And by the way, happy birthday to my dad, who is one cool guy and grandpa to 8 kids (I have 2 step-nieces and 1 brand new step-nephew!).

Homeschool Science Experiment: Diving Raisins

Check out this wicked cool science experiment we recently did. It's called Bobbing Raisins or Diving Raisins. You put about 2 T. of baking soda in a tall, clear glass. Then you SLOWLY pour in white vinegar. You can pour it in fast and get that volcano effect and amaze the little tots; just put a towel under it. When it's as full as you want it to be, pop in a bunch of raisins and watch them sink. Then come to the top. Then sink again. It's cool. Something about releasing gas and then going back to the bottom. I told the boys it's like the raisins swim to the top to fart, then sink to the bottom to get more gas. Hey, when you're dealing with boys and small tots, you have to be creative! Have fun!

Bust Summertime Boredom with 10 Wallet-Friendly Ideas from Primrose Schools (Guest Post)

Happy 3-year Blogging Anniversary to me (actually it was on Saturday, but I totally forgot)! I started this blog in Phoenix when we had driven across the country with 4 kids in a minivan to be with my husband for 3 weeks. Instead of sending countless emails about our adventures, I started a blog and never looked back.  Here's my maiden post. And here's a guest post today from Kathleen Thomas at Primrose Schools about summertime boredom!

By: Kathleen Thomas, Primrose Child Care

What could be worse than a rainy summer day, when your children are cooped up inside and you have nothing planned? For parents, even sunny days that seem filled with endless opportunities, still yield the inevitable “I’m bored!” Undoubtedly, your children will utter those words at least once during the upcoming summer months.

Studies show that without stimulation, children can lose up to 60 percent of what they learned during the school year. Primrose Schools, a family of 200 accredited private preschools, suggests the key to overcoming summertime boredom and the “brain drain” effect is to encourage imaginative play and have a plan in place to keep children engaged during the summer months.

“It’s important to keep children’s minds active during the summer, but it doesn’t take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention,” said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. “After all, imagination is free.”

Summer is a great time to encourage children to let their imaginations soar.  School schedules can sometimes be demanding and time for less structured, imaginative activities is often scarce. The freedom of summer gives children large blocks of uninterrupted time to create projects of their own choosing that can last several days or even longer.

Here are 10 ideas parents can use to keep young minds active during the summer months:

                                                                                                                                                                            

1. Beat the Boredom Jar: At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or that you can enjoy doing together. Encourage your children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar as the family “Boredom Buster Jar.”  They’ll feel more involved in the project and more likely to think this is a “neat” idea, if they participate in the creation and idea generation. Next, write everyone’s ideas down on slips of paper and as a group decide which ones should go in the jar. Anyone in the family can pull any idea out of the jar to fight the summertime boredom blues.

2. Stories Alive: It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer. Make reading even more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life. For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations. Read the book with your children and then challenge them to create their own town with materials they find in the backyard.

3. Art Treasure Chest: You’ll need to gather basic art supplies–child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape, and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines, and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there’s always something new for the children to find. Even if you normally have these supplies around the house, it‘s fun for children to know that the Art Treasure Chest is just for them. They’ll probably have some good ideas of other household items that can be recycled to fuel their creative energies.

4. Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out.  They are the directors, actors, and producers.  They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family’s favorite songs. Record or video the performances and enjoy the replay.  You’ll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.

5. Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. All the items you need can be found around the house–some chairs, cushions, blankets… and of course adult supervision.

6. Cookbook Fun: Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children?  Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try. Measuring can be a fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.

7. Summer Scrapbook: All you need for this project is a spiral notebook. Encourage everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events throughout the summer.   Children love to go back through scrapbooks and albums and tell about what happened at each occasion.  They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time.

8. Listening Game: Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen.  What do you hear? Do you hear what I hear? Can you imitate the sound? This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening.

9. Camping Out: Pretend to campout in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite.  You might even decide to spend the night!

10. Scavenger Hunt: Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list. Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.

Parents can use this list of ideas as a starting point for summer activities that offer a balance between the freedom of child-initiated play time and more structured activities.

“Keeping children engaged with open-ended activities that stretch their imaginations during the summer months helps them develop their independence, creativity, and thinking,” said Dr. Zurn. “We want to help parents keep the “brain drain” at bay while their children play.”

When preparing for a brain-drain-free summer, remember to suggest or provide age-appropriate activities.  Many times, children say they are bored because the activity they were doing was either too simple or too advanced to keep them occupied for long.  Activities should be fun and challenge what they know but should keep in line with the interests and developmental levels of your children. 

Ultimately, we know every child is different, with different interests and learning styles so having a variety of ideas is a great way to be prepared during the summer months. Involving children in the planning of ideas gives them an opportunity to express their individuality and creativity.

So with these tips in mind, sit down with your family and make a plan for an engaging, imaginative and fun summer.

Updated 4/22/26 (1861)

How to Have a Fabulous 40th Birthday Party

For my 40th birthday, back in 2011, I knew something was up. A bouncy house was delivered in the morning. My husband's cousin was picking me up to take me to lunch for my birthday. Hmmm. Things that didn't normally happen. 

Went to BD'S Mongolian BBQ for lunch with Tresa then she pulled out HIGH heels and a 70s outfit and wig from her trunk. I was like NO WAY. How am I supposed to wear these?

But I did ... we went back to my place after cruising around in the Mustang convertible Aron rented for my birthday weekend and BAM there was a party going on! SURPRISE!

He even had Mi Ranchito cater it, which is like MY FAVORITE MEXICAN FOOD PLACE! We had Mexican food for days after and I was in heaven.

My husband dressed the boys in 70s garb ... don't they look all smarmy and cute? I think they're saying, "Hey, there, ladies, give me a call in about 15 years!"

I don't have a pic of Aron AND the boys with Aron in his 70s stuff. He did shave his facial hair to be all 70s and smarmy and then put on one of the wigs like the boys have on. He made me wear one, too. I embraced it.

Hubs rented me a 2011 red Mustang convertible for the WEEKEND since it's my very favorite kind of car in the world and always has been. Do you like my wig? How about the 4-inch platform Barbie heels? I dig them so much. They give me attitude ... until I fall on my face. I'm here with Callie. Sam is parking the car.

A shout-out to Bethenny Frankel and Skinny Girl drinks above. Mom and I were dying to try it. Let's just say there's a reason it's called "Skinny" ... I put some Koolaid in it and it was good to go!

If you're in KC and need a DJ, these people were awesome and open to suggestions!

After the DJ left the party was pretty much over at my house ... imagine what the neighbors were saying! There was a big ole tent in the backyard and a bouncy house and lots of debauchery (not really). So I took my pals Michelle, Ellen and Eva on a spin around town. We were free of kids for about an hour, then ready to go back to our families. I love my friends!

As always, what would we do without Jordan? She got a 'fro on Sam and he rocked it.

I hope sharing my experiences might have inspired you more to plan a perfect 40th birthday party like this. Likewise, if you want to find some more awesome ways like this then you can check out this amazing article about birthday inspiration on 40th birthday party ideas.

LEGO MBA (Master Builder Academy) Kits

Like I need more LEGO stuff to spend money on! So in the recent LEGO magazine I found the coolest thing that would make a great birthday or Christmas gift for the LEGO freak in your life. I'll just type it verbatim:

The gift that keeps giving all year long!

NEW! LEGO MBA Kits 2-6 Subscription

Ages 8-12 947 pieces EXCLUSIVE

Includes 1 LEGO MBA kit delivered every 2 months (5 kits total) and the members-only website! Each kit includes an 84-page Designer Handbook teaching 2 MBA techniques, building instructions to build 3 models, one at a time, and exclusive minifigure or accessories. Subscribe beginning in July 2011!

Subscription includes:
Kit 2: Microbuild Designer

Kit 3: Robot Designer

Kit 4: Flight Designer (this is where you get the exclusive LEGO MBA minifigure)

Kit 5: Creature Designer

Kit 6: Auto Designer

4659018 LEGO MBA Kits 2-6 Subscription $69.99 plus shipping and handling fees

You can order at http://LEGOmba.com or call 1-800-453-4652

Kids at Funerals

Would you dare take 5 kids ages 10 and under to a funeral? I did just last week. My great uncle died, and he was one of 5 children himself and was one of the funniest people I had ever known. I pictured him in Heaven laughing at the antics of my kids as I chased Sam around a puddly parking lot at the funeral home.

I was holding up well until the military played "Taps" ... then I lost it and was grateful for my prescription sunglasses and the fact that the little ones had to be in the van and so I was away from the crowd as I cried. Then when the flag was folded and handed to my wonderfully ornery great aunt, I lost it again. Imagine 68 years married to someone culminating in a US flag being handed to you and 3 shots being fired.

I hugged my dad with extra fierceness and hugged all my uncles and my grandpa as well. I think I hugged everyone and held them tight.

There was a lunch after the funeral at the church my family attends. This is a church where I grew up and went with my grandparents when I would stay with them on weekends. My parents were married there in 1970. It was where I decided I'm not a fan of church nurseries because I remember being scared out of my mind to go stay with kids and adults I did not know a few Sundays a year.

Please take a moment and consider helping out somewhere. I never thought about how wonderful food tastes after sorrow, and certainly never considered that there was a team of wonderful women cooking it all and serving it to mourners. I'm pretty sure someday I will be a woman cooking food for post-funeral luncheons because it's something I've appreciated several times.

Melburn, you will be missed.

Homeschool Burnout

Recently on a Facebook homeschool group a mom was talking about getting discouraged and wondered what the rest of us do on days like this. I told her how I live right across the street from a fabulous public school and sometimes joke with my kids that they are driving me so crazy that I'm going to walk over and enroll them in school. Then I told her on extra hard days I remember that I'm not necessarily homeschooling because of my faith, but because of the freedom it affords.

I love that if one of my kids is sick I don't have to throw them all in the van to take x number of kids to school in the morning, pick up a kindergartner at noon, then pick up more at 3:15. I love sitting around nursing while reading to the kids, being able to watch educational shows that I pick out versus some stranger teacher or administrator picking them out. If we stay up late doing something fun as a family, we get to sleep in a little.

Field trips consist of all kinds of fun things and can happen anytime: the zoo, the farm, the circus, a kid art exhibit, a children's museum, to Phoenix where their dad is working, to Colorado for a vacation in September when there are no lines on rides. My husband comes home on his lunch break. My house is filled with happy sounds (and yes, sometimes the sounds of kids fighting and I yell KNOCK IT OFF !@#@#$). Oh, and how nice it is that if my kids aren't "getting" something in their learning, we skip it for a few weeks and come back to it and keep doing that until it clicks.

Also, we get to hang out with extended family as much as we can. And my hope is that my kids might be great friends when they are older because they are together a lot doing fun things.

My kids are only young RIGHT NOW. I want to enjoy it RIGHT NOW. I'm not saying that people with kids in school are not enjoying their kids. Most of my best friends do not homeschool, and we are not at odds in any way. I support them, they support me. But when pressed to come up with reasons why I homeschool and how I make it through every day, the above is what I come up with. I will never say that everyone should homeschool. But I also don't believe it takes a "special" or extra-patient person to do it.

You can do it. If you don't want to do it, don't. But please don't step on my choices. Let me take things further than I should, as I am prone to do. Feminists: you are pro-choice, right? So support my choice to homeschool and have a ton o babies!!!!

Blacklisted from the PTA

I have to admit that I am only in the middle of reading my advance copy of Blacklisted From the PTA, but I am totally in love. I have loaded it onto my sweet new sixth child, my Toshiba Laptop McLoughlin (yes, she has a middle name now, ElfMom!) and read it every chance I get. I love the irreverent humor, and you will, too! She says things we all think, like how we all need to date our hubby more, and she gives us tips, like to make sure you shave before you go out and don't tell him to order the diet plate. She also shares her brief foray into the world of cloth diapering (brief, as in hours!). I love Lela Davidson and can't wait to read more of her essays. She is going to be a popular writer, so watch out for her! If you want to know more, check out the links below to get her book in paperback, on Kindle, to follow her on FB or Twitter. I guarantee she'll have you laughing!

P.S. You gotta love the red pumps on the cover!

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936214431/?tag=hubp045c-20

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054M8O8E/?tag=hubp045c-20

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BlacklistedFromThePTA)

Twitter @leladavidson, #BlacklistedFromThePTA, #PTAoutcast

Diversity Training in my Homeschool

This is a picture of Michael patiently teaching Sam to mess around with crayons on PAPER instead of WALLS. I love the diversity in my homeschool. We're around black people, white people, brown people, mocha people, purple people (just kidding!), bullies, crazies, oldies, babies, doctors, janitors, engineers, nurses, writers, mailmen and soooo much more. I suppose I am the best teacher for my kids (along with their dad) of tolerance and the fact that diversity is good. I'm NOT saying we tolerate being treated badly or watch as others are treated badly. I'm not saying that the diversity of a person who mistreats animals is okay, either.  Well, I've totally lost my point now, and that's just the way I am. Just enjoy the cuteness of my boys being sweet together.

Procrastinating Mommies

Do you procrastinate when you have too much going on? Sometimes I find myself dragging my feet when I have only a few minutes to get 5 or 6 kids fed and into the van and dressed for dance class. I find a dish to wash. I find a phone call to make. I hurry and get Sam dressed and then rest for a few seconds of well-deserved but ill-timed down-time (loving-the-hyphens!). I write a blog post. I dig around in my bag. Then I rush everyone into the van and we go. Sometimes we're a few minutes late. Then I rush the remaining kids to buy hamster food because the dang thing has been out for days and we've been feeding her things we probably shouldn't. Then we take their friend-who-spent-the-night home. Then we pick up Jordan, pick up the Activitied Child and head home. Or to the pool. No wonder I procrastinate. And this is SUMMER, which means there is LESS going on!

Rosetta Stone Free Demo CD

I called 1-800-349-5311 to get the Rosetta Stone free demo DVD. It rocks. Too bad my memory is so bad after having and caring for 5 kids over the last 10 years that I probably couldn't learn a new language at gunpoint. I have enough Spanish in my brain to get by ... I get to practice it sometimes here in Kansas City. I would learn more if I had to, just as I would easily learn sign language if I had a deaf child. As for teaching my kids a foreign language, however, I'm stuck. I always thought we'd easily learn Spanish together, but I have enough trouble fitting regular stuff into our homeschooling days.

What are your thoughts on foreign language learning? I know a lot of people who are teaching their children LATIN, for gosh sake. I think it would be cool but am so scatterbrained and disorganized that I don't know where we would fit it in. Tips?

The Well-Planned Day GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Rebecca Keliher of Home Educating Family has generously offered to send one of my readers a copy of her wonderful homeschool planner called The Well-Planned Day. I can vouch for this $24.95 resource ... I just bought one and love it. It's gorgeous and includes articles about homeschooling. You can check it out here, then come back to leave me a comment, which will enter you into my drawing. If you don't feel comfortable leaving contact information on the comments section, please leave a comment and then email me at mommykerrie at yahoo dot com.

Tell your homeschooling friends! You can also head to http://www.wellplannedday.com/ and sign up for a sample issue of Home Educating Family!

This giveaway ends on the 14th, when I will draw a name and post it here.

Thanks for participating!

LEGO Master Builder Academy Building Challenge!

I love LEGO contests for kids! Just got the new LEGO magazine in the mail yesterday. Well, the boys did, but I think it's cool, too.  I don't see this Building Challenge on their website so if your kid is a LEGO freak and doesn't yet get the magazine, here are the details of the Challenge:

It says to take a look at the sneak peek LEGO Master Builder Technique on a page of the magazine, and they call it "Sideways Building." It's basically just making something cool out of LEGOs that is not going straight up and down!

"We'll pick 10 of our favorite models and give each of their builders a LEGO gift card worth $100.

How to enter:

1. Build a model of an outer space vehicle using pieces from your LEGO brick collection. Make sure it includes Sideways Building!

2. Take a color photograph of your model. Color photos or photo-quality computer print-outs only. No Polaroids, please.

3. Write a description of 150 words or less telling us about your model. Don't forget to say how you used Sideways Building to make it!

4. Mail your photo along with your name, age, address, daytime phone number and the name of your model to:

LEGO MBA Building Challenge
PO Box 1625
Enfield, CT 06083-1625

All entries must be received by September 30, 2011!"

Sidenote: my husband grew up in Enfield, CT!!!

Fourth of July

What is it about lighting a firecracker, throwing it REALLY fast and then hearing it BANG! that is so much fun? Most years I'm inside nursing a baby or being pregnant and hot. I did miss festivities last night due to a baby who likes to fall asleep for a nap/bedtime at 7 p.m. lately, but I did get to blow up some firecrackers yesterday. It's actually illegal in my city/county, so don't tell the fuzz, okay?

So today we went to a parade in Lenexa and got tons of candy. Now we're at my aunt's house in another county so we can LEGALLY blow stuff up. Later we'll go out hunting for a great display ... we haven't seen a real display since like 2001 when Joel was a mere week old and I sat in the truck nursing him while we watched fireworks.

What are your plans? Whatever you do, enjoy your independence and your freedom!

Guest Post: Seed Catalog Curriculum

I'm so glad to have Carol Alexander back as a guest poster, this time about homeschooling! Check out her information below, and be sure to head to her blog!

When I got my first seed catalog in the mail this year I was really excited. Not just because I get anxious to get my hands in the dirt. But because of all the school assignments that come in those catalogs.


What? You’ve never seen all the wonderful school curriculum hiding in your seed catalogs? Well, let me introduce you to a few assignments.


Math:


On the front of my Gurney’s catalog is a giant coupon that reads: “Good for $25.00 worth of products in this Gurney’s catalog when you buy $25.00 or more of additional products at the catalog price.” Have your child go shopping in the catalog. Using the order form found between pages 32 and 33 have him “order” $50 worth of product, figuring the totals, the tax, the discount, and the shipping.


If you get $25 free off of a $50 order, what percentage is that?


One ounce of summer squash seeds contains about 225 seeds and sows a 100 ft. row. If you get 25 seeds in a packet for $3.99 or ½ oz. of seeds for $12.99, which is the better deal? If you want to sow 300 ft. or row, how much will the seeds cost you?


Language:


See the customer reviews in the shaded green boxes on the pages of the catalog? Have your child write his own review of his favorite vegetable.


Have your child write some ad copy describing his favorite fruits, flowers or produce.


Here are some vocabulary words: hybrid, lumina, vigorous, unique, exotic, Latino, resistant. I’m sure you can find a lot more!


Science:


See all the sprout seeds on page 29? Grow sprouts at home. There’s no better way than to learn the science of growing plants.


Assign a paper answering the question: “What is the difference between hybrid, open-pollinated, heirloom, and genetically modified when it pertains to garden seeds?”


Do a research project on Gregor Mendel and his work pertaining to hybrid plants.


Art:


When your garden is in full beauty, sketch plants, flowers, and fruit in your nature journals.


Discuss and approach the challenges of photographing produce in the garden as well as on the table.


Home Economics:


Create three recipes using fresh fruits or vegetables from the homestead.


Learn to cook and eat three new vegetables this summer.


This is just a sampling. You can get more than 50 lesson plans using your seed catalogs from my e-booklet Seed Catalog Curriculum. This e-booklet is full of ideas to use with elementary, middle, and upper-grade children. You can use any catalog. In fact, the more the better. Plus, I give you the names and contact information to order your own...if you don't already receive them in the mail.



Start integrating your homesteading with your homeschooling now. Buy Seed Catalog Curriculum and you will see how easy it really is. It's only $3.99! Just click here for more information.


Blessings,


Carol

Freelance writer and mom of six, Carol J. Alexander writes about homeschooling and homesteading from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her articles have appeared in BackHome Magazine, Grit, Urban Farm, Home Education Magazine and various Regional Parenting Publications. Visit her blog http://everythinghomewithcarol.blogspot.com/.

Homeschooling: Getting It All Done

Let's jump right in to Homeschooling Month on the blog. I certainly don't mean to alienate those who don't homeschool. My very best friends don't homeschool! But something we have in common is that we want great things for our kids and we want them to love learning. Some of the things I write about this month may definitely be of interest to those who don't homeschool, so don't write me off just yet! Soon I'll be back into writing stories of my bad behavior in public and of the goofy things my kids do. Ah, heck, I may just put a few on here for fun this month.

Anyway, above is a picture of something I tried that failed. I try lots of things that end up failing and it used to really get me down. Then I realized that if I'm never failing, I'm never trying, right? Anyway, we are always looking for ways to keep our homeschool days on track. I'm not great at schedules since I'm a go-with-the-flow mom with a baby always attached to my boob. Someday I might be able to have a schedule and stick with it, but for now I'm going easy on myself and we are doing the best we can. Amazingly, more gets done than we realize.

So the above is a planner I wrote up for my oldest son, who was only 9 at the time. He wasn't ready for his own planner. Eventually he will be, especially since I NEED HIM TO BE, and especially since he NEEDS TO BE so he can be all self-sufficient at college and in life, right? So for now Mom will keep track of the daily assignments and the kids are free to look ahead and see what's planned.

If you homeschool, I'd love to hear about your successes and failures and when you decided to go easy on yourself as a teacher and as a mom.

My Sixth Child is a Toshiba Laptop

Or, if you count my surrogate daughters Jordan and Reever, this is actually my EIGHTH child. My sixth child is ...

A Toshiba laptop.

Yep, I put birthday money together with some writing money and made the leap. I'm at McDonald's right now eating fries and informing you of this big event in my life.

In case you haven't figured it out by now, no, I am not pregnant.

Thank you to everyone who gave me birthday money to buy this wonderful material item I have been dreaming of for a long time. No longer am I "chained" to my desk at the house. I can work on articles while I homeschool at the dining room table, outside, or even in bed!

Still no Internet access at home, but at least now I'll be taking my very own computer to Starbuck's to post blogs and submit queries and articles. I am grateful and thrilled.

P.S. I had an amazing birthday ... Aron threw a BIG bash complete with DJ, Mexican catered food and 1970s theme ... I have to post photos of THAT because my husband wore tape-on black chest hair and a 'fro AND rented me my dream car ... a red Mustang convertible ... for the weekend! I love you, babe!

My Wife

Guest Post.  Today is Kerrie's 40th birthday.  She is eternally young to me and is so pretty I love her very much.  Her laugh keeps me young and her smile brightens my day.  She is a beautiful mother to our 5 children and a patient, faithful wife.  She is a blessing to me, to our family and to all who know her.  Happy birthday Kerrie, I hope to have many more wonderful birthdays with you.  I love you.

Kerrie McLoughlin Turns 40 Today

Yup, folks, I'm 40 today. It's also Father's Day! I'll be busy hanging out with my dad and Aron's dad and relaxing because it's my birthday. I don't want anything special for my birthday ... just more of the same great life I've been given. I wouldn't turn down some chocolate, coffee or Chapstick, either.

Have a great day!

Potty Pictures

Yes, I know I am strange. But realize that many other mothers are doing the same exact thing right now: taking pictures of their kid on the potty. It's cute! And she's "reading" while she's doing her business. You can't go wrong with a shot of that! The point is that I love taking pictures ... it's just the getting them in the scrapbooks that is the problem lately! Help!

The Negative Mommy Blogs

I'm sick to death of the negative mommy blogs. You know the ones ... the ones who bitch and gripe about being a mom and how hard it is and how they've lost themselves and all that. Admittedly, there are times when I get that way ... when I'm freshly postpartum or super-pregnant, when I'm nursing all night and have not slept, when my husband and I are in a funk, when my kids Won't. Stop. Arguing.

Don't get me wrong ... I don't love the sappy blogs, either. I'm pretty picky that way.

Anyway, I just want to comment on some of these blogs something like, "Dang, why did you procreate? Did you think it would be simple? Next time your parents say they want grandkids just tell them no. Next time your husband bugs you for another baby, just get your tubes tied." Wait, I forgot, that's not cool. It's much better and more 2011 to TELL your man to get a vasectomy.

I like blogs like ScaryMommy.com where she talks about normal mom stuff like ignoring your kids and how that makes them more self-sufficient. I don't even care if you have your kids in daycare and have to or want to work. Just stop griping about it. That's what your best girlfriends are for.

Now I'm going to comb through my last 3 years of blog posts to erase any negative crap I've posted about my kids. Never mind. I don't have time for that.

Kerrie McLoughlin Cub Scout Leader

I kind of fell into the role of Cub Scout Den Co-Leader. I don't know if I expected to sign up my kid for Scouts, drop him off at meetings and then come get him an hour later. I probably figured either Aron or I would hang around at meetings and stuff to help out, see what was being done, etc. But nobody else signed up to lead our den a couple of years ago, and we stepped up. I'm the organizational genius (ha!) behind the true Leader, Aron. He actually leads the meetings with our tiny den. Joel has one more year of Cub Scouts before he becomes a Boy Scout next February (if he chooses to continue to Boy Scouts). Scouts has taught Joel a lot of good things. By the time you read this, he will have gotten back from a week of day camp with his dad.

Kerrie McLoughlin's Kooky Kids

To me, this is what Life is all about. This is all I've ever wanted: marriage and kids. Maybe you think I'm crazy for having so many kids and for enjoying their presence most of the time. Maybe I think you're crazy for drinking yourself to death or for getting your tubes tied or for being a depressed, negative mess. We're all different, right? We all enjoy different things. I am in love with my kids. None of them were "surprises" ... they were all planned and welcomed. (not that surprise babies are any better or worse ... I'm just saying that Aron and I know what we're doing here and dig these kids like crazy!).

Kerrie McLoughlin's Husband

I think these two pictures say a lot about my husband Aron. I have known him for 16 years and have been married to him for almost 13. He puts up with a lot from me! I'm a bit of a firecracker, poor guy! I love how he mows with the baby and doesn't mind having all of us climbing all over him. He is the kind of guy who does things much slower than I do things, but he does them CORRECTLY and he FINISHES them. Opposites attract for sure. He also gets my blog posts by email, so I love you, babe! Have a good day at work!

Kerrie McLoughlin's Dad

This is my dad. He was about 32 days from being 21 when I was born, and I am his only child. He was in the Army and was stationed in Germany. He is adorable and funny and he is my best guy friend after my husband.

Kerrie McLoughlin's Mom

This is my mom with teeny little me. I was born about 23 days after she turned 21. I'm her only child. She's also a Gemini (see yesterday's post) and I am a lot like her. She is beautiful, she is tough and she is my best girlfriend. She delivered me in an Army hospital in Germany, and to me that is very brave.

Kerrie McLoughlin as a Baby

Welcome to June ... my month since my birthday is on the 19th and I turn 40 this year. I'm starting out this month with a picture of me at 5 weeks of age in Frankfurt, Germany, where I was born. I am a Gemini, which explains a lot. My husband thinks astrology is a bunch of hooey. You see, he has an identical twin brother and they are VERY different in my eyes. So I suppose in that case astrology is a little iffy ... they are Scorpios and my husband does not act like the typical Scorpio. But I digress. Just read up on Geminis and you will understand me completely, unfortunately.

DO NOT BUY Target's Create Your Own Wooden Clock

We needed a clock for our wall in our dining room, where we do most of our homeschooling. Instead of spending $3 on a cheap wall clock at Target, I blew $10 on a make-it-yourself one so the kids could create it and be proud of it hanging on the wall. Here is what they created:

Cool, huh? Too bad I had to return it, which broke my heart and upset my kids, as well. The piece that holds the clock arms to the front and the battery compartment to the back (the washer?) was too big and did not screw on. My husband ran all over the place looking for a washer that would fit ... no dice. So I went to Target and opened another box to see if it would work, but NOPE. Aron called the company and they have stopped making this ... no surprise. What is annoying is that they are still on the shelves at Target.

I can't find my piece of paper with the manufacturer information (not a shock since I'm not the most organized person in the world), but when I do I will post it. In the meantime, don't be tempted to pick up this do-hickey!!!

Memorial Day Blue Laws

I'm probably at church right now (if you're reading this at 11 a.m.). Then we won't be heading to the pool because we don't shop or spend money on Sundays so my husband extends that to not going to places where people have to work, which means the flipping pool. Trying to change his mind is like hitting your head against a brick wall, and I'm not patient with mind-changing anyway, so I just sigh and let stuff go sometimes. Pick your battle in marriage, I always say ... yeah, right!

Tomorrow I hope to be at the pool with the kids unless it rains in KC. Then lots of hanging out. How about you?

Hubby didn't want me to mention this, but I think it's a big deal that he went to Joplin, MO for 3 days to help out. I'm pretty much bragging that I have a kind-hearted husband who enjoys helping others. He is certainly too good for me. So we will be enjoying him today and listening to his stories of the town hit so hard by a tornado, only 2 hours from where we live.

MommyKerrie Is Taking a Break This Weekend

I gotta take a bloggy break. I'm getting burned out again. This always happens this time of year, about the time summer comes around and I realize I still have homeschooling to do and I have tons of fun stuff planned for the kids over the summer and tons of other writing projects I want to get to while kids are laying around in a post-pool coma.

And let's face it ... I'm getting my butt kicked trying to keep the house looking decent these days. AND I have all those millions of photos staring at me when I go to the basement to do laundry and they are BEGGING to be put into simple scrapbooks. And you all know how DEMANDING my husband is ... give me a backrub this and rub my feet that and make me some duck a l'orange this and fetch me a martini that. HAHA! Yeah, right!

So leave me a comment and let me know some of your summer plans. I'll still be blogging ... June is the month of ME since I'll be turning 40. Then July is homeschooling month. If you guest post for me that will give you some new fans and me a freaking break!

Frugal Tip: Set Up a Budget

I started using an on-paper budget when I started losing bills and having to pay late fees for bills I had forgotten to pay on time. Some of the more spontaneous people I knew made fun of me ... until they found themselves in credit card debt with a wicked Target credit card bill coming every month.

Setting up a budget (either on a piece of paper or in Excel, which is how I do it because I like the calculations) has helped me to prioritize what I spend money on and we are never late with bill payments now.

It's easy to do.  If you use a piece of paper, make column headings like "Name of Bill", "Total Amount Owed", "Amount Due Now", "Due Date", "Date Paid", "Amount Paid". You decide how you want to set it up.

Down the left side list your bills: rent or mortgage, utility bills, car payments, dance lessons, groceries, gas for your car, everything. Don't forget about those things that come every two or three months, like maybe your trash bill or if you pay your car insurance every 3 or 6 months.

Whip out your calculator because you may have to adjust some of your amounts that you spend on unnecessary stuff like fast food. If you are low on money for a certain paycheck, watch what you spend at the grocery store because that is the easiest place to cut costs. Shop at discount stores and consider some meatless meals like Frito Pie, grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly.

Check back with your budget often to make sure you're on track. It will take some tweaking and a few months to perfect it, but soon you'll be on your way to financial success. Setting up a budget is especially important for couples who maybe aren't on the same page financially ... like one spends a lot and one prefers to save.

I also highly recommend any book by Dave Ramsey, as well as his radio talk show!

Frugality Tip: Take Care of Your Health

Recently a guy was telling me how he spent $14,000 on medical care in 2010 for a family of 3, and that did not include the premiums he was paying through his work. I was shocked and wondered how we had paid way less than that, even the year that Sam was in the NICU for a week, and we have a family more than double the size of his. Here are some factors that will have you paying out the wazoo ...

1. Do you smoke? Not only are you probably looking old and wrinkly and blackening your lungs (how fun for your kids to have to take care of you when you get emphysema!), but you probably feel like crap, too. How far can you run before you are out of breath? Are you sick often?
2. Do you drink alcohol often? Wine now and then is said to be good for you, but are you throwing back a 12-pack of beer nightly? That's a different story for Mr. Liver, and I hope your kids are available and still in contact with you when it's time for a ride to your AA meeting (since you got that DUI and all that).
3. Do you take too many prescription drugs? Do you need them to help you sleep, wake up, be happy, get over an illness, for pain? Do you need them to live?
4. Do you run your kid to the doctor for a paper cut?
5. Do you head to the ER for a headache?
6. Do you hit the therapist up every time you experience rejection or are having a hard time with someone?
7. Are you on birth control pills? Have you read the warnings on those puppies lately? Breast cancer doesn't sound like a fun way to spend my fifties.
8. Do you over-sterilize everything you or your precious kids touch? Stop that! The less we wash our hands in my house, the healthier we are.

I hope my non-judgmental and amazing health tips will help you to cut your medical costs in the future. You can send some of that extra money my way for my LegoLand 2012 fund. Thank ya.

Guest Post: Behind the Piano

I love this guest post by Carol Alexander ... it shows that you have to think outside the box when it comes to saving money. I am in her position (well, not behind the piano!), and my writing desk is small and is up against a living room wall where I can be near my homeschoolers. I love her tips on saving on office supplies, especially!

By Carol J. Alexander

In twenty-three years as a stay-at-home-mom, I have learned that you make money by saving money. Because most people already own a computer, paper, and pencil, a writing business requires less start-up than the average network marketing scheme. But one step into your local office supply mega-store could undo that in an instant. With so many years’ experience making ends meet by bargain hunting, using what’s on hand, or doing without, it is only natural for me to apply these principles to my business. Let me show you a few ways you, too, can put more of your earnings into your pocket.

I save a tremendous amount of money by buying a year’s worth of office supplies during back-to-school sales. I purchase copy paper for $2.50 instead of $4.50 and spiral notebooks for a dime. Pens, pencils, notebooks, and folders all sell for next to nothing this time of year.

For larger items, I decide ahead of time how much I want to spend and do not buy until I find my price (or better). I also practice delayed gratification by saving cash for the purchase. Then, I track the sales. I use the Internet to compare brands and to search for rebates. I watch the advertisements in the newspaper. Most large-ticket items like computers and electronics go on sale in August and for the holidays. I recently purchased a laptop and printer. I shopped for something that would meet my needs, was a quality product and was within my price range. After the sale prices and rebates I paid less than $400 for the pair.

I have saved my business the most money in the design of my ‘office.’ An article in a recent writers’ newsletter discussed outfitting your office in these slow economic times. Most everything the author suggested I cannot afford to do. Also, in a popular book for writers, the author cautions the reader against starting out too big, too fast. She shares that she only recently graduated from her modest 10’x10’ office in the spare bedroom to something more spacious. Let me assure you, if I had another 10’x10’ room in my house, I would rapidly separate some boys. My money saving office measures precisely 5’3”x3’4”.

You wouldn’t believe what I fit in 17 ½ square feet. I have a comfortable, ergonomically designed office chair my husband picked up at a thrift store for $5 and an old kitchen table that I use as a desk. I also have a bookcase that holds the books I use constantly, an inbox (for putting works in progress), some catalogs and journals. A few flower pots sit on the shelves to hold paperclips, sticky note pads, pencils and a stapler.

On the other side of the piano (Oh, I forgot to mention that my neat little space is behind the piano!) sits a small filing cabinet and on top of that is the printer. And that is all I need…for now. Granted I’ve only been pursuing this writing career for a few years; but I earn money. I am published in national magazines. I am happy with my progress.

So, when can I turn the spare room into an office? I don’t anticipate having a spare room until my now 16-year-old son moves out. So, until then, you can find me behind the piano.

Carol J. Alexander writes from behind the piano in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her articles have appeared in Urban Farm, BackHome Magazine, Grit, Home Education, The Old Schoolhouse, and several different parenting magazines. She is also the author of two e-books for homeschooling parents: Seed Catalog Curriculum: 50+ Lesson Plans Using Seed Catalogs, and Planning a Homeschool Graduation. You can find Carol, or her books, at her blog EverythingHomeWithCarol.blogspot.com.