Making movies

A couple of weeks ago, we had a friend over for the day. He is the son of a dear friend of mine. After our plans to go to the lake were canceled with the out-of-season cool weather, they were searching for something to do. A said that they make videos at home, so out the camera came with the 8 gig card and they were in business.

Here's the result on Godtube.com.

With all this movie making going on, C.12.B. has decided to make another film called Refiner's Fire. I'll be helping him with writing today.

I'm so proud of them all. They worked on this for hours!!

We're in the movies..

Not counting the movie where I publicly embarrass myself for the sake of showing a few people how to do dishes. We really are going to be in a movie!

I must digress: I'm going to try to make this post while 4 of my children run around the house on their "camping trip" where they have lost the 2 year old and they are "searching" for him. All this is going on with my 4 yo and 2 yo not having any sort of a nap. Needless to say, bedtime will come early for them as they are a little... well... GRIPY! In fact, I'm learning how to homeschool with littles ones awake, which has been interesting, and I still have much to learn. We do our reading (history, science, art, music, notebooking) in the afternoon, while they nap. I can't wait until Fall, when they can get some of that built up energy out. It will be nice for all of us to spent some time outside. I won't punish them by making them go outside now! LOLOL Okay, now that I'm through with that little rabbit trail, back to the story.

A friend of mine emailed me the other day that they were having a movie shoot nearby and needed extras. When I started reading the email, I immediately knew what it is was about. The two young producers are homeschooled boys who produce Christian films, were featured in our local paper several months ago.

Okay, I'm coming back to this about 4 hours later! Haha!

Well, anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn't attempt an afternoon and evening outdoors in the Texas August heat with 5 children in tow for anything - except for Christ. Going to this was more than being in a film. It was about standing up for Christian film making and supporting those who are putting these films together.

Just before we were set to leave, it started pouring down rain here and I thought for sure it was off. I called the phone number on the website to confirm. God had a different plan - everything was a go and there were clear skies all around the filming location - just 20 miles from our home!

Everyone loaded into the car and we headed out (with PFOGs in tow!). When we arrives it was all hands on deck and we set up the family for what we thought was going to be a short thing. We were there about 2 1/2 hours - and my littles were PERFECT for about an hour and half. I have to notate that this is a very good thing and a result of our practice church training at home, because B.4.B. will be in church with us starting next Sunday.

The whole process was so interesting and I could see the wheels turning in C.12.B.s head the whole time. It was so very cool because several men, and the young producers got on stage to talk about the purpose of the film and to bring glory to Christ. They requested everyone dress modestly in "business casual" for men and boys and long skirts and dresses for the girls and ladies. A whole youth group showed up from a local church who must have missed that part of the message :(. P.9.G. later told me that she felt sorry for the girls and the fact that they don't dress modestly, because they didn't realize what they were showing off. Wow!

As I drew out the camera to take some pics, I realize the batteries were dead! The kidlets had been doing some film making of their own and failed to charge them. Hello! So I grabbed my phone and started taking some pics, but have since found out that I may not be able to get them off my phone! urg.

It was really incredible to see all that goes into this process. You can see us in a couple of pictures on the website - www.thewidowscry.com .

I'm so glad we went. Oh, and the weather? It was perfect! It really wasn't that hot. There was a bit of shade where we were and a nice breeze. God was definitely giving mama a break. Heehee.

Mayflower Pilgrims video

We got a great video from Netflix - The Mayflower Pilgrims. It is 43 minutes long and really expands on what we have already been learning the last couple of days about the Mayflower. My children (and I) were thrilled to find out how many "real" people there are in Almost Home. That was a fun discovery last week. Having a great time in My Father's World. We are 1/2 through week 4 and can't believe how fast it is going by. And I haven't quit on something - so that is a big time thing!!!!

Missouri Album DONE

I have finished our Missouri/Arkansas album. All layouts have been saved in jpg and will be heading to the printers next payday. When you are printing 18 layouts, you have to plan for these things!

We are on the road to debt-free(ness!). After a big grocery shopping trip yesterday I spent a lot of time today processing much of the food we bought. I cooked down tons of ground beef and made a huge pot of spaghetti/pizza sauce. I also made 40 Pizza PFOGs for dinners this month. Even when we finish buying milk for the next month, I will have dropped our grocery budget down by $300 per month!!!!!!!! It's really about cooking from scratch and going to meat-less (or less meat) meals. I still have several things that need to be done, but they aren't imperative.

So, here is the entire Arkansas/Missouri album!!! Woohoo - my first complete digi album.

Away for the week...

I haven't been on the computer much (less than 15 minutes total) since Saturday night. Needed to take a break. Yes, I'm missing out on many great freebies on the digiscrapping arena, but I'll live! LOL I've been sick with a stomach virus, but that's not what has kept me off - it's just the fact that I needed to take a step back and analyze the amount of time that I was spending on the computer. In the past few days we have been able to do a lot, even with me down. I'm getting back up to speed - just in time for DH to return to his normal work schedule. His new office is complete and he will be going in tomorrow. We are all sad, but glad that it is happening for just two days, until his next day off. We've enjoyed him being home, being with us, and the extra pair of adult hands has been wonderful. We'll survive!! I'm learning to just take it to God when things get crazy loud around here. I'll admit that I usually seek solice in the computer, but no longer!!! I've enjoyed some really wonderful times with my children the last few days and it has been awesome. Lots of reading, lots of resting, and fun activities, too.

I started K with B.4.B. on Monday. It's a pretty quick time as MFW wants you to get just ease them. Did I mention that I love that?! He loves it, too!! THe first 10 days is on Creation, to set the foundation for the rest of the year, when we learn about all the things that God has created A-Z. It's been fun!! I'm glad I waited until we were at week 3 with our big kiddos in Exploration to 1850. We started a read aloud this week, that so perfectly accompanies the rest of the study. I'm loving the Charlotte Mason blend. It's like the perfect balance between Sonlight and KONOS, both of which we struggled with. I don't want to leave my littles out. I couldn't seem to change that with Sonlight. And as we started to add to our family, KONOS was far too overwhelming. Did I also mention that we love the Book Basket idea from MFW. They even give you a list of books that they suggest, but even when I wasn't able to find those exact titles, I grabbed something from that same area in the library - viola!

I also received my copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette on Friday. I've been able to do some reading in it and am psyched. I used to own this book, but when we were contemplating our RV move, I sold it in haste. :( Paid double for it what I had before, but still pretty cheap!

Well, this post is turning out longer than I intended. I think people are actually coming to my blog. I put up a stat counter, because I didn't want to keep blowing hot air with no one actually reading. Not many seem to comment, so you never know. Now I do! Heehee!

Video bloopers

Oh, the art of editing! these are HILARIOUS! I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Dishwashing 101 video

We had a great time shooting this video. It may sound completely dorky to some of you, but washing by hand was new to me. Thanks to all the people over at the RDE yahoo group, I was able to get started. We've learned a lot over the past few weeks. Hope this will give you some help - or a chuckle.

Pocket Full of Goodness or PFOG

These little goodies are going to become a staple in our house very quickly. I got the idea for them from Linda at Radical Debt Elimination. Her video is great and has so many ideas for saving money!

So, what is a PFOG, you may ask. That would be the acronym for Pocket Full of Goodness. I decided to coin the term because of them being such a favorite around here lately. Another thought that came to mind for a name was "Leftovers in a Pocket", but that wasn't as cute. LIAP?! Nah.

Tonight I think we'll have oriental PFOGs.

What can you put in a PFOG?

pizza fixin's - cheese, pepperoni, sauce
bbq chicken
broccoli, chicken, rice

or any leftovers.

*I'm amending this to say that these are perfect for on the go meals. When you know that you are going to be in the car, running errands, at a friends, etc., these are a go-to meal! Veggies, protein, and starch all in one. Bring these and your mason jars of water/ice and you are set to be on the road for a while!

Here's the recipe that I use when making the dough. It's altered a little from Linda's, because I wanted a sweeter dough.

2 cups warm water
3 tbsp. yeast
1/4 c. sugar
all-purpose flour - as much as you need to clean the sides of your mixing bowl.

Now, I realize that some of you may be having a conniption fit that I'm using white flour! believe me, I know - me, too. But, it's cheap and makes yummy biscuits. I've almost perfected my biscuits!! Now, I think I will try this with 1/2 wheat, 1/2 white. I prefer the white flour for some things because it makes a softer dough.

this makes about 24 PFOGs, so split it up into 24 little balls. Then flatten them out in your hand and fill. I put about a heafty spoonful of filling in each, the cinch around teh edges. Bake at 350 for about 18 minutes.

Big P wants me to make some with breakfast fixings. I'll do that soon and keep them in the fridge and freezer for Sunday morning breakfasts. He usually makes Sunday breakfast, but I can do this to give both of us a break.

Oh, for lunch we had beef/pineapple/coconut stir fry (w/ cabbage, broccoli, and green beans). I think this would make a yummy PFOG.

Life is school

..but I do love curriculum and MFW is the closest thing to life and learning that we have experienced in a VERY LONG TIME.

Loving Rosetta Stone! I'm doing it along with my big kidlets. I love how it doesn't tell you how to do ANYTHING, but you figure it out and this is exactly how you would learn if you lived in the country where the language is.

Loving God and the History of Art. Wouldn't have looked into this curriculum at all before, but we are really enjoying it. Now we know why people would use oils verses water colors and why still life paintings started having less detail! Wow!

My little boys are loving time with Mommy as well. We have been working with our activity bags every day and they just love this time. I'm seeing that my 2 year old knows a lot more than I thought he did. My 4 year old is getting pretty handy with the scissors as well.

We are a very happy brood here!

Week 1 of School

I'm learning even more how life is school. You'd think after 7 years, I'd already know this, but I feel that our schooling choices have progressed over the years. I'm so glad that we chose My Father's World again this year. We are doing Exploration to 1850, which is year 4 in the 5 year history rotation. We had started year 1 a few years ago, but we were trying to juggle it with Homesat and it was just very difficult to do. I LOVE how this year is going. We have fully completed week 1 - and according to schedule! Heehee!

We started week 2 this morning and talked about memorizing God's Word. We will start memorizing tomorrow. Our goal is memorizing the whole book of James this year and Big P is going to do it along with us. I didn't ask him - he volunteered! Wow - What a Man!!!

I love how MFW eases you into the school year. I love that part! The Charlotte Mason approach is definitely perfect for our family. I think this is because I have at least 2 very different learners and this approach meets both of them where they are. We are also really loving notebooking. I think we have realized that lapbooking (and making the tiny books) aren't our thing, but notebooking is perfect for us.

P.9.G. gets to start in her new level of math today. She is very excited! C.12.B. will start in his new level on Wednesday - he's psyched about it, too. We start Art and Spanish today, too. God and the History of Art looks great. Perfect for my oldest son, who doesn't like art, but loves history! I'm going to ask him to try to do some of the art projects and I believe it will challenge him some. We are using Rosetta Stone again. We purchased the complete setup this spring and we all love the layout. We used it through a library before, but they are discontinuing that program.

I think that's about all right now. ;) Until next time.

What Big P made for me

Big P built me a page on our website. It's our personal website, so I won't share it here, but I will tell you about it.

He has been learning how to build websites - along with C.12.B. He built a page that has pictures of us when we were little and says how he was waiting for me! :) It's so sweet. It sings, too - Air Supply!!!

I love it and it is truly one of the best presents he has ever given me. It took him a while and it was geared towards what I like. So, that's what made it so much more special!! :)

I'm soooooo blessed!!!!!

What I made for Big P

Here's what I made for Big P for our anniversary

Twelve Years in the Making

Big P and I will celebrate 12 years of glorious marriage on Sunday, the 10th. We are still happy and so blessed! So I made this layout to commemorate. I also have another thing, but I can't divulge it here. He reads! :)

Declutter Day!

Declutter Day!

• These are the rewards for each level.
• The levels and rewards build on each other.
• We may not be able to do all of these on the same day, but we will put them on the calendar.
• You must check with us before getting rid of anything that doesn’t belong to you.
• You must be careful with the things that you decide are going to go.
• Trash doesn’t count.
• If you wouldn’t want to wear it or play with it, it doesn’t count. These need to be things that people can still use once we give them away.

Rewards:

100 things – sleep on the couch

200 things – chicken enchilada soup dinner

300 things – Cici’s at home

400 things – starbucks drinks

We reached 120 items today!! We'll continue this and keep track on our whiteboard. It was fun. We got to go through things that I have wanted/needed to go through for months. I got this idea from www.homemaking911.com and a talk that she did for a Cindy Rushton seminar - Let's get ready for the new school year.

The Farmer Family...

(hear snapping in the background)

I was having some fun with the Kristin Aagard kit - Oink Cluck Moo, and I wish I would have saved these as PNG files. But here they are. They were really fun! Heehee!

Debt Elimination

Here are some of the simple changes that we have been making lately to save money money and pay off our debt quicker.

1. handwash all dishes. I was and P.9.G. dries and puts away. It is working beautifully and we do it twice a day.
2. reducing grocery budget. we have stopped getting raw milk and are majorly reducing our grocery budget by simplifying meals. I'm also only going to be going grocery shopping once per month and then stopping for fresh veggies and fruit after church on Sundays at the little market.
3. raising the thermometer. We live in Texas and it is hot here! HOT! We raised it up to 77 degrees and it has been there for several days. This morning I raised it up 1 degree and Big P said "I can feel it!!" So, I've promised to put it on 77 while he is here.
4. Big P has been working from home for a few weeks - this is week 3. He will be here at least 1 more week. They are doing some construction at his work and their desks are in major upheaval. It has drastically reduced our gas bill.
5. Reduced our Netflix plan from 3 at a time to 2.
6. No more starbucks! LOL See previous post.
7. Big P fixed the shower - which was costing us quite a bit in water monthly. The dripping (excuse me, constantly flowing) water didn't bother me, but I kept seeing dollar signs in my mind.
8. Taking food and water with us when we get in the car. Today, Big P is going up to work to pick up his new pager. He took 4 of the kidlets with him. They packed crackers, apples, water. And when they were on their way out the door, I shoved 1/2 a loaf of bread in their bag! LOL Don't stop!!!!!!!
   

We are doing this with the encouragement of The Boynton's from Radical Debt Elimination. We are still going through the book and Big P has been working on our debt worksheet. This is where you fill in all that you owe, APRs, etc.

Just thought I would share...

$900.64

That's approximately how much of my husband's hard earned money Starbucks has seen over a year. He likes to say that it is our money, but when I've been spending it like that - unnecessarily - it's his money that I'm wasting!! That's estimating 3 drinks for myself and 1 for Big P each week over the last year. That's INSANE. And I can't believe I'm posting it on my blog. But, it's my attempt at humbling myself and getting real enough to see that their drinks, albeit very yummy, are EXTREMELY overpriced. Recently I won a $25 gift certificate to starbucks. The sweet ladies just put it into my paypal account to use how I wanted. I should have done a better job at how it was used, but here's how I have used it: $2.50 used to purchase 2 of Yin's Templates, treating Big P and myself to a SB drink Sunday after church, $6.95 for a huge bottle of their caramel syrup, and I have $5.78 left on it. I plan to give that to Big P to use for my requested anniversary gift - one of their coffee tumblers that you change the insert on. That's how I won the contest, so I really should own one! LOL

This is my simple attempt to try to lure people away from Starbucks, or at least use them as a very AND I MEAN VERY special treat. Special doesn't mean grocery day with all 5 of your children - which happens weekly. Special, as in your 12th anniversary (mine is on Sunday!!), your birthday, etc.

So, I have been working on recipes for my coffee drinks at home. When I come up with one that is a rave, I'll post it here. Tweaking one from a friend of mine right now.

First day of school

Our first day of school was yesterday. Things went pretty well. It was a light day. I love how MFW eases you into the school year. We did our Bible study, math, history, and science and Big P read from In God We Trust (which is also part of the MFW Exploration to 1850 program).

I spent yesterday evening running some errands - just Baby A and me. We went to 3 libraries (1 just to drop books off), bank, post office, and Hobby Lobby for their 1/2 price scrapbook sale.

Also finished putting all our our Missouri trip photos into templates and ready to scrap!!! Yea!! Plan to work on that tonight.

I read over what we would be doing today and headed to bed (a bit too late! Heehee).

I won! I won, I won, I won!

I can't believe it, but my starbucks tumbler won. I'll be getting a $25 starbucks gift card. Couldn't have come at a better time, as we are getting really serious about eliminating our debt using the Radical Debt Elimination program.

Here's a link to Teri's blog announcing the winners:

http://teristhingomyjigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/drum-roll-please-and-winner-is.html

Never thought those pics would have come in sooo handy. Heehee.