Alabama History Historical Figures Presentation

My Alabama History Class did their historical figures presentations. Here are a few of the students. From bottom up are : Matthew Jensen as Hank Aaron; Keaton Rodgers as Helen Keller; Jeremiah Jones as Bobby Allison; Meagan Godsey as Taylor Hicks; Hanna Fowler talking about the group Alabama; Eric Shotts talking about Mr. Pulium; and Sarah Lavender as Emma Sansom; Amy Carlson speaking on Taylor Hicks. The kids did great. I hope the high schoolers do as well.

Quilting a Potholder

What is wrong with me??? I am trying to learn to quilt. Okay. I am starting with a potholder, but hey that's a start! I have got to finish the potholder in the picture. I still have to add the lavender trim around it and add the loop. After I do the potholders, I am going to ... hold your breath ... attempt to make a queen size quilt for my bed! Where did that come from?? Sarah is taking quilting in co-op class and I have been helping her with some of her homework. It was fun. My grandmother who has lived with my parents since I was 2 or 3 was like a sibling. We slept in the same bed together and everything. She quilted her whole life. When you thought of Grandma Polly ... you thought of quilting. She made beautiful quilts and lots and lots of baby quilts. Anyway, I should have spent more time and tried to learn from her and my mom but you know how it is when you are a kid. Anyway, I am going to take a turn at it and see how it comes out. Between my mom, Sarah's teacher, my quilting magazine, and the internet I might at least get it together whether it looks great or not.

Goodyear Blimp

This is from a few months back, but very cool. While going to karate one day, we saw the Goodyear Blimp in the sky looking like it was landing. We tracked it down to the Attalla regional airport. Low and behold they let us go across the runways and climb on board the blimp. No, we didn't get to go up in it, but neverless it was a very cool experience. The second picture with the kids in a seat is actually in the blimp itself. There is a picture of the blimp on the wall behind them. Of course, when we got home we had to look it up and learn how a blimp works. Very simply actually, it raises and lowers by adjusting the "air" that is in separate balloons inside the helium balloon. Increase the air and the balloon lowers, decrease the air and it raises. Helium is lighter so that is how it works.

Shogun

We have been studying Japan now for 3 weeks. Well 1 week we were off because of sickness, but we finally made it to Shogun. Better than chinese, but not as good as Mexican!!! The kids loved it. So did daddy, he had not been there before either. But get this, our chef was "micronesian" and didn't know any Japanese and gave a peace symbol when I took his picture. Our crazy. What happened to the Japanese chefs?? Anyway, there was a Japanese chef at the sushi bar.

Storm

Look at these clouds. We left home last night to take the kids out for Japanese. We are going from our house toward Odenville when we see these unbelievably scary looking clouds. I called home to ask mom to if there were any warnings we should be aware of. She checked the TV and then said nope. We just kept watching and talking about these hideous clouds. About the time we got to Leeds, our friend called and told us the news was saying there was a tornado heading toward Ashville. I said I believe it. I was glad we were heading in the other direction. Fortunately, Ashville was spared, but we really got to see some awesome clouds.

10 Things About Me

Okay, just for those of you who don't know me that well here are ten things about myself.

1. I hate doing laundry...just look in my bathroom closet floor!
2. I love to sleep in...I could sleep to 11:00 or 12:00 easy if the kids would.
3. I love tv shows about families...Jon and Kate plus 8, The Duggers, Kids by the Dozen.
4. I love deadlines and having a full schedule...co-op, support group, play group, ect.
5. I love Lil' Michael but I am sick of Karate...3 times a week to Gadsden!
6. I hate when Michael works 2nd shift...from 3:00 pm till bedtime seems like forever.
7. I love Mt.Dew, macaroni & cheese, and potatoes...which is why I weigh what I do.
8. I hate Children's Hosp ER waiting room...we waited 9 hours one night, walked out at 7:00 am and went to Pediatrician's office.
9. I love co-op...and so do my kids.
10. I love what a manly man my husband is...hard biceps and strong opinions!!! :)

We've Been Sprayed!!!

Okay...everyone is sick. Let's go back a few weeks. The week before little Michael's bday Feb 16th. Michael Sr. and Jr. had the flu, even the dog had kennel cough. The week after his party, brother relapsed and ended up with pneumonia. Then Julia got just a cold. Then I got a really bad sore throat with laryngitus. Starting Friday before last March 13th, Sarah got sick and she now has pneumonia. Last night, Sarah was coughing, Julia had a fever again with coughing, and brother was coughing. It seems like everyone is relapsing. I have missed the last four weeks of church! What is going on??? I feel like we have the plague. Well, weeks ago Michael told me when he was driving down the road he noticed a LOT of "chem trails" in the sky. By chem trails, we mean the smoke trails left behind airplanes. There are people that say that some of these trails are on purpose...that the government is "poisoning" us with different drugs or viruses that they are testing. I didn't believe it until this month! Most everyone we know has been sick, especially the families with little ones. I have cloroxed door knobs & toilet seats, boiled toothbrushes, washed sheets, threw out the dogs, everything!!! Man, I will be glad when we are well again.

Curriculum Discounts!

I am now a distributor for Bright Ideas Press and Alpha Omega Pub. I am preparing a couple of orders and am accepting any pre-orders anyone might have. I am passing along the savings. Bright Ideas Press does "The Mystery of History" volumes and some really cool elementary and middle school science books. I can get you that at 25% off and you won't have to pay any shipping! Pretty cool! Check out their website here: http://www.brightideaspress.com/ . Also, I may order from Alpha Omega who does the Lifepacs, Horizons, Switched on Schoolhouse, and more! I can get you 10% off anything from their website and you wouldn't have to pay any shipping! Also Horizons is now doing an elementary level P.E. curriculum and a Health curriculum. Check out their website here: http://www.aop.com/ . Just shoot me an email if you are interested!

China

For the past two weeks we have been studying China. We finally went out today and eat Chinese food. It was the kids' first time eating Chinese. It isn't near as good as Mexican. Anyway, we had a good time. Next week, we are on our way to Japan. Shogun hear we come!

History Lesson in Gadsden, AL

Sarah is doing a historical figure presentation on Emma Sansom for her Alabama History class. We spent a long time in Gadsden, Monday and had a great history lesson. 15 year old Emma Sansom led Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forest and his confederate soldiers across Black Creek in order to get to the Yankees. What a heroine!! We had a great time and learned a lot.

Snow

Well we finally got some white stuff. Sunday we woke up to snow on the ground and more falling. It was beautiful! By the end of it all, we had a couple of inches on the cars and porches, but very little on ground. Just enough for Sarah to make a few snowballs to throw at the neighbors. Of course, Lil' Michael had pneumonia so he couldn't go play but Sarah did bring in a snowball for him and Julia to eat. Since the bad weather and most everyone in the house already sick, we stayed home from church which is rare for us. But, I have to admit we had a good time. We stayed in our PJ's all day by a nice warm fire. We truly enjoyed our "Day of Rest".

Michael turns 7 !!!

Last Friday, Feb 20th "Brother" turned 7. We went to co-op that day and came home with a couple of extra boys, plus 1 that came over that evening! We had a houseful and had lots of fun. He had a great time with all of his friends getting to spend the night with him. He had a Batman party and got lots of great gifts which was shared by all. Other than the phone call about Emme we all had a great day together. Thank you Lord for another year with my little man!!!