Homeschooling: and I don't even wear a cape :o)

As you know from my opening post, DH and I have decided to homeschool our children. We have quite a few reasons for this, but I won't be listing them here right now because, quite frankly, I'm not interested in having to defend them. I say that in the nicest way possible, truly. :o)  But I will talk about how I finally ordered our preschool curriculum this morning. After researching various curriculums recommended to me by other homeschooling familes, we have chosen Sonlight. (http://www.sonlight.com/)

We like that it is a literature based curriculum and that it is highly praised by those who have used it.  We also like that it is a flexible curriculum and we can add to it if we wish. We can also swap something out if we need to. Here are some of the things we will get to work with in the P3/4 core package.

Doesn't that look fun?!

 So, long story short...We are heading into this wonderful adventure of homeschooling, the supplies are coming, and we are so excited!  Are you a homeschooling family? Do you want to be? Tell us all about it! :)

Losing it!

Oh, that title could mean so many things...and depending on the day I probably could mean it in any way you think of. :) But today I am talking about pounds. Extra ones. Ones that cause you to say "Ack!" when you see them in the mirror. Give me an "Amen!" if you know what I'm talking about.   I have always struggled with my weight. I am a big girl with a big frame. I come from (among other things) Norwegian and Dutch people who cannot be called merely "tall." No, with family members who are almost 7 ft tall and solidly built, I think you can imagine I am not dainty.  But really, would you expect a descendant of the Vikings to be small? No way! (Hey, I'm told a mace and a broadsword require alot of heft to wield.) So, I'm 5'11" and carrying around, ahem, a few extra pounds. (and by few I mean a few times a few times a few, etc.)  When I look at my body in the mirror, I am NOT happy with what I see there. Suffice it to say, I look at my post-baby body with it's extra pounds and it Diastasis Recti (split ab muscles) from carrying my ten pounder and I am NOT laughing.  So, I've begun doing something about it.   I realized that I am in control of not only feeding my family, but also making sure they have the proper nutrition and fuel for their bodies. I also realized that I am teaching my girls how they should be eating. If they learn by watching, I was certainly failing them.  DH has been carting around some extra pounds as well. We've been married nearly eight years and the numbers on the scale have only been going up for both of us...until now! I have lost 15 pounds in the last 3 weeks, and DH has lost 8.  Want to know how? Good, because I was going to tell you anyway. :)  There is a tool on http://www.choosemyplate.org/ called the SuperTracker. You can enter in your height and weight and your goal weight and it will tell you how many calories you need as well as how much of each food group you should take in for good nutrition. When we started using this tool, we realized we were eating WAAAAAAAAAAY too much sodium. It's in everything, but when you used canned ingredients or cook with a little salt, it adds up very quickly. I also saw that I wasn't eating enough during the day, so by the time evening came, and the kids went to bed I was ravenous and not making smart choices. I had a lot more holes in my nutrition than I realized. So, using the tracker I have begun to plug those holes, and make better choices. I have begun to see food as fuel and my portions have become more reasonable.  I am actually eating more than I ever did, but the calories aren't empty ones so they are actually helping my body burn the stored energy (ie. my fat!) so that I can trim down.  We really are trying to make this less of a diet and more of a lifestyle change, and so far it's working. We realize that some things we used to eat just aren't worth it, and we make a better choice. I'm pretty excited about it. I like that my clothes are starting to feel loose, and that I am reaching the mini-goals I have set for myself. I also like that I am being a better example for my kids. I don't want them to ever have to struggle with their weight like I have. I want this to be the only lifestyle they remember so they can avoid the health problems that come with poor nutrition and obesity.  The next step to our lifestyle change is to add more exercise. I already keep pretty busy doing the housework and being with my girls, but I am going to need aerobic exercise to get my heart and lungs healthier, and some weights to strengthen some of these crazy viking muscles I've got.  We have an elliptical machine in our bedroom that is currently taunting us from the corner. I am going to get on it and slowly, gradually spend more time exercising.  

And now here is another inspiration for myself. If you have a pinterest account, (and you should!) you have probably seen this pin:

This is really only funny if you have read the Hunger Games series. I have (and liked it!) so this is hillarious to me.  If you are working toward a weight loss or healthy lifestyle goal, leave me a comment. We can do this together. I will update on my progress every once in awhile so you can see how I'm doing.  Be blessed! (and "May the odds ever be in your favor." lol)

Book Review: "Chasing The Sun" by Tracie Peterson

photo courtesy of traciepeterson.com

It's book review time guys and dolls! Today we're taking a look at Chasing The Sun by Tracie Peterson. This is book one of the "Land of the Lone Star" Series.   Here is the description from Tracie Peterson's website, http://www.traciepeterson.com . (Incidentally, you can also purchase the book there. :o) )

    
"When her father disappears in war-torn Mississippi, Hannah Dandridge finds herself responsible not only for her younger siblings but for the ranch her father recently acquired on the Texas plains. Though a marriage of convenience could ease her predicament, she determines to trust God for direction.
 Wounded soldier William Barnett returns to his home only to discover that his family's ranch has been seized. Though angry and bitter at this turn of events, he's surprised to discover that it is a beautiful young woman with amazing fortitude who is struggling to keep the place running.
Hannah, desperate for help, and William, desperate to regain his family's land, form an uneasy truce. But nearby Comanche tribes, the arrival of Confederate soldiers, and a persistent suitor all threaten the growing attraction that builds between them. Will they be able to set aside their own dreams and embrace the promise of a future together?"

Isn't that appetizing?  I thought so, too. That's why I selected this book to review. I am an absolute Historical Fiction Hog.  My poor husband would become a Historical-Fiction Widower if I didn't purpose to limit my intake. However, this certified HFH has a very big pet peeve. I cannot stand a writer who does not check their historical fact. You can tell when an author has not done adequate research because you begin to see contradictions in their work. I am very happy to say that Tracie Peterson is NOT one of these authors. She very clearly researches well in preparation for her books and she weaves the facts into the lives of her characters beautifully. I don't want to spoil the book for you so I will keep my examples vague.  In this book you will learn a little about the time when a wild Texas belonged, not only to Mexico, but to itself as a republic. You will also hear mentioned the name of Sam Houston, the first and third President of the Republic of Texas and a very influential man in the history of Texas. You will certainly learn something of the Civil War and of the dynamic between white settlers and the Native Americans of the time period who were facing a battle of their own.

So, I think I've made it pretty clear that I applaud Tracie for her historical accuracy. Now I'll mention a few other things I appreciated about Chasing the Sun.  I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Hannah. It was a pleasure to see how she grew and changed in the face of challenge and danger, and how she drew on her relationship with the Lord to keep her focus on what was right.  I also liked that the other main character, William, was very "real." He wasn't one of those characters that either starts out extremely villainous and becomes Prince Charming or one of those annoying ones that has it all together and patiently waits until the misguided female gets it together. He was a more believable kind of guy and that made him more exciting to get to know.   Tracie also did a great job on leaving the ending open to more books in the series, but not leaving you hanging so much that you get frustrated. I don't like cliffhangers, can you tell?  So, thank you very much, Tracie Peterson, for not making me crazy with the ending of the book. I love when it ends with loads of promise and not one speck of a loose end. :o)

And now, to make this as balanced as possible, I'll tell you what I didn't like.  There isn't much, really, but  I thought that Tracie could have described the setting a little better. I didn't get a sense of what the ranch or the town was like. I enjoy it when a writer makes me feel like I've been dropped into the prairie with the covered wagons.  I like to have the scene described so well, that I can almost smell the bread baking in the big iron stove of the rustic kitchen. I want to feel the hot wind blowing the dust in my face and hear the cows low during round up. Get my drift? 

In summary, I felt like this book was well researched and well written. It had deep and believable characters that I will enjoy reading about in future books and the plot was a great foundation for further storylines.  If you're an HFH like me, and you like a good love story I recommend picking up this book.  Enjoy!