Candle By Night

I can't believe it. It's almost impossible to believe that Sweet E went from this.......to...... . 1 week old 1 year old 2 years old 3 years old 4 years old 5 years old 5 1/2 years old  this. She has grown up so much! Happy 6th Birthday Sweetie! I love you so much. God has blessed our family by giving you to us. You are growing up into such a beautiful, sweet little lady. :-)

I finally made my own vanilla! I had the supplies for a couple of weeks, but I had a hard time getting the pickle smell out of the jar lid. But I finally figured it out. I boiled the lid with some baking soda for a little bit. Then added lemon juice. After boiling it for a while I but it into a plastic bag with some activated charcoal. The next day...no pickle smell! So I could finally get started on making the vanilla. I used the instructions from Heavenly Homemakers . I purchased a pound of vanilla beans from Olive Nation with the discount code from Heavenly Homemakers.   I cut 80 beans to put into the gallon jar . Then I poured a gallon of vodka into the jar. After 6 months I will have a gallon and a half of pure vanilla! I didn't have a half gallon jar so I just used the vodka bottle. I had poured a little of it into the gallon jar and had room to add 40 beans. I had 120 beans. The exact amount called for ...for a gallon and a half. Not that it would matter if I was...

In our homeschool lessons spelling isn't very strict at this point. By that I mean we don't have spelling tests or anything yet (next year we will do more of that). But I was given the opportunity to review some spelling software called SpellQuizer . I am very excited about this program. Knowing that I have something new and different in my homeschool arsenal is exciting. (I know, I am weird like that). It's a downloadable program (which is always a plus) and it's so easy to customize it to your child's needs. They even have a special link for homeschoolers . You can make up a spelling list for your child in just a few seconds. They have video demonstrations as well. You can go to this link and see a quick and information demonstration on how to create spelling lists, practicing the lists, sharing and importing lists. You can use this program with any curriculum. That's what is so great about it! Even if I change my mind on what curriculum I am going to use t...

Boy, I sure have a lot to catch up on. I am afraid to say it.......no one is sick in our home. I don't want to say it, fearing that it could change any minute. :-) We have had sickness in this home since Christmas time. Beloved and Big T were on antibiotics the other week (Makes the 4th time since the first of November for Beloved.) Can't wait for spring to come and the children can play outside more often! Between being sick and the weather, cabin fever is really bad in our home! But we did have a lot to keep us busy in February. February 7th was Little E's 4th birthday. This little boy can drive me crazy most days, but when I do get an "I love you" he melts my heart. (And let me just add that I am blessed to get an I love you from him once every two weeks. Seriously.....he isn't affectionate) Mr. Ornery is 4! He had a hard time deciding what kind of cake he wanted. But finally decided on a Clifford rice crispie cake. I am pretty happy with how it t...