Thinking of new ways to energize the boy's schooling this coming semester

And one idea came from the iHomeschoolnetwork blog's 10 Day series.  Schooling with Legos.  Now anyone who has a kid knows about Legos or has at least stepped on one in their lifetime, so this should be familiar territory.  My boy has oodles of his own and this is something I have wanted to try to incorporate in his lessons, and this link to 10 days of Teaching with Legos is a great place to start! [Be sure to hit the older posts button at the bottom of the page for even more Lego posts! There is even a link to a Lego lapbook!  Yeah!  I have been pondering what kind of lapbook we should do this year  because sadly-that too has gone by the wayside].

I will have to stock Pinterest and stroll around the internet to get more ideas too, but wanted to share that info, just in case you hadn't thought of it or seen it used before.  I will let you know how it goes for us.  And for the workbox lover in me-this will be a great way to use them since they have become a tad dusty due to the 'all in one' curriculum I have been using (which is another thing I need to use more of this coming semester).

Haven't been blogging much these days but here's the nuts and bolts

I have been up to my eyeballs in projects, life changes and whatnot and blogging has taken a back seat.  But my goal for the new year is to move on that a bit more.

Since the new school year started, we have had 3 weeks of traveling (mostly to FL when my hubby was working and the other was a few days up at Mackinac Island) then trying to get back into the flow of things (uh, not going so swell there) and also trying to sew and sew some more projects to put up for sale to help build our little adoption fund.  I have had to temper that from days of sewing to many days off due to my carpal tunnel and sciatic nerve issues-so it has been slow going at times.  I am about to wrap up that sewing blitz soon (just have a couple more Ntbk covers to finish, and maybe a few tea wallets) then after a long break, I will start some new projects (tooth fairy pillows, etc.).  We're still waiting to see what is going to happen with benefits and such at my hubby's job-as this 'fiscal cliff' will have major impact on his place of business' financials and it will directly affect everyone who works there-so we hold our breath as we wait to see the fall out.  So we're taking the adoption thing slowly right now to see what will come of this all and then after we feel comfy with things we'll ramp up our efforts.

That has been the hardest part for me personally.  I have been blessed and so excited to see our PW children find and then come home to their families this year. I am so happy to see so many RR families fight for their children to then bring them into their homes where they belong as well. But a small part of me weeps each time, a part of my heart shatters because it serves as a reminder that  it has been yet another year and we are no where (seemingly) with our adoption. And it has been yet another year our child waits and waits...family-less, without things the rest of us take for granted (like adequate food, drink and being clean, warm and loved).  That is the part that is the hardest to bear.  I guess only those who have walked this path could truly understand what I am saying there. It is has been the hardest road to walk this year-and I pray that in 2013-God will finally open those doors so we can move forward.  I ask that if you feel led, to please pray for Him to do so and to continue to uphold us as we wait (and wait and wait).

That said, I have also felt led by Him to (and this is a direct answer to a prayer I have placed b4 Him all year and then some) coupon like almost extremely but not quite.  Not the hoarding and overboard ones you see on TV but to build our stockpile and to get more for our money when it comes to groceries and such.  I was sick, sick and sick of getting half way thru the store and already being at our limit (we do only cash) for the food budget.  I cannot believe how poorly the dollar stretches when you don't. Not that I wasn't couponing before, I just wasn't doing it enough or to it's highest potential.  I have spent weeks reading and researching and in late Oct (mostly tho-November) working on this and I am seeing great results!  And I do plan on a big post about it but with the Christmas season upon us-I will have to wait.  I am proof it can be done. And no-I don't get everything for free.  I don't buy a lot of what those crazy coupon ladies do just to say I saved such and such-I buy what we'll eat and so there are times there are no coupons or it only knocks a bit off the top of the price...but it all adds up in the end and the way I shop is changing.  So I look forward to writing about a real person's (not that they are not real but maybe I should say 'realistic' person) way to shop wisely.
I hope it will bless some of you too to try to save this coming year.

image from Heart of Dakota

As for homeschooling-well I have to do some update posts on the Heart of Dakota deal.  My favor for it is waning because it is either too much over his ability (so I have to chop out a lot) or somewhat boring for him-not quite sure yet-haven't put my finger on it.  He does learn and we have been steady-ish with it all but something is missing (probably the hands on he loves) and so after I really sit down and figure it out-I will do a post on that as well.  Our workboxes have sat empty and that bothers me.  Our time has been minimal and dry for the most part-and that bugs me too.  SO I need to reconfigure and come up with something a bit more tweaked for the new year.  I will be sure to share once I have that figured out.  And this change up from 4 to 3 to 2 to now one kid in the homeschool has been a real challenge.  I have to say I like it better with more-I am forced to be all organized and challenged. With one-eh, it is too easy to go all lazy.  So I will chat about that as well.

Anyhoo-as we edge closer to the celebration of our Lord's birth (and yes I know it is probably not his real bday-doesn't matter as we are celebrating the event not the day) we are busy with preparations and baking and all that goes with it...so posts just are not occurring as often they could be.  I wanted to wish all my blog followers a very Merry Christmas season. Thanks for following us this year and I pray we will have exciting and new things to share with you this coming year. God Bless!!!