Howdy Helpers!

Our Ranch Hands' chore list is AWESOME!!

I put the finishing touches on it & we've been using it all week.

Each Outlaw has their own pocket to put their chore in once they have completed it.
Under each Outlaws' pocket are boots with their chores on them w/ prices on the back (*I laminated these & wrote the price with a dry-erase marker -- always leaving room for negotiation). On the right side are badges for extra chores that aren't required - in case they are looking to earn a little extra help. One even says, "Extra." That one varies - they just ask me or Big Daddy if there is anything we would like them to do & we price those chores as we go.

At the end of the day I get the prize money out & give them their earnings, with the option to purchase anything from the store. *We do have store hours - it is NOT open 24/7!!!

They only earn their pay if they didn't have to be remind/had a good attitude when they were. The job has to be done correctly (with grace & mercy occasionally. For chores that are not completed they loose a privilege & it is not returned until the job is done correctly the following day(s).

Behind the scenes: I used a large poster board, pre-cut letting & pockets from a teacher store & used a digital kit to create the boots & badges. I put Velcro on the back of the chores & attached them to the poster board. Currently, it is hanging on the side of my frig with magnets I add to the back of the poster. Once our new school room is done I will add a boarder around it & hang it on our bulletin board. I also use these pockets to leave notes about their chores or to surprise them with bonuses/coupons.

This might be my favorite system so far . . . How do you handle chores at your house?

The General Store

I finally worked all the kinks out of our "General Store." It is now set-up & in full use. I am so proud to say that my children are taking full advantage of it! Whew-hoo!!

Here is how it works . . .

I bought Melissa & Dough play money = "Buckaroo Bucks" & "Cowboy Coins"

My Outlaws may purchase a Privilege from this list:


Or an item from a clear plastic bin that is under the General Store wall.

How do they earn money you ask??? Chores & good behavior.
*I will post more on our chores tomorrow.

We also have "Coupons" & "Bonuses."

• Coupons are a discount for good grades & following the rules.


• Bonuses are for good/desired behavior.

Check 'em out:

On the back we write (w/ dry-erase) the discount or reward. We either give them directly to one of the Outlaws when we catch them with praise worthy behavior or we put it in their bin as a surprise.

Each Outlaw has a wallet that they are responsible for keeping their money in & not loosing it - just like real life!

This system has really made praising our kids so much easier. Sometimes we get so caught up in training them that we forget to praise them as well. It is also perfect for teaching life lessons with money. I can not tell you how eager it has made my kids to do their chores & even extra! We are ALL lovin' it!!

A WHOLE HAND

My biggest Mustang is a whole hand now.

(If you have any idea WHY my picture continuously upload distorted like this PLEASE e-mail me)

Tucker turned 5 yesterday!!

Tucker,
You are such a joy to have as a son. Your eyes just melt my heart. I love how sweet you are with you new baby brother (& wish you were that sweet with your other little brother) . I look at you & see an amazing little boy - so intune with nature. We could drop you off anywhere on our 700 acres & you'd find your way home. You know the land & love the animals - God has blessed you with such a free spirit. I love to watch you use it to glorify Him & enjoy His creation. I love you sweet boy!!

The day of an outlaw . . .

What in tarnasions does a bunch of rootin' tootin' Outlaws do all day?

I'll tell ya, they drive their sweet, beautiful, happy all the time, never raising her voice, loving, smart, fun, momma CrAzY! Here's how . . .

On the days Big Daddy works, his alarm goes off at 5:30 am. I wish I could say I get up then, but I don't. I hit the alarm give him a shake & go right back to bed until a mischievous little blond headed outlaw or a sneaky little curly bald headed outlaw crawls into bed with me & my little buckaroo. With 4 in the bed, the mommy says, "LET ME OUT!!" I'm up, I hit the computer to check e-mails, turn some christian music on & start draggin' the bigger outlaws out of bed by their feet! Rise & Shine Sunshine!!

8:30 is our goal time for breakfast. We eat, talk about the day & go over memory work.
9ish the boys start their chores & I prepare to start our day of school.
9:30 we should be starting school: Momma's boy does his independent work (Explode the Code, Spelling & Grammar). The Mustangs get a lesson in Phonics & do their HWOT activities)
10:15 I'll probably be breaking up a fight over one of the HWOT manipulatives & sending the Mustangs to a center for a break. At which point I will give Momma's Boy a quick lesson from First Language Lessons.
10:30 I feed them a snack from their "saddle bags" & we do an art appreciation activity "Come Look With Me" series.
11:00 Momma's boy works on his math & the Mustangs & I do Little Hands to Heaven
12:00 They are already hungry again so we take a break & eat lunch & appreciate some good ol' country classical music.
12:30 We will all do science together
1:30 I'll have story time with the Mustangs while Momma's Boy does his handwriting
1:45 The Mustangs are having a much needed quiet time & watching a very educational movie. This is Momma's Boys "Mommy Time" we do reading & then at
2:30 We do our Tapestry of Grace work
3:30 They are racing outside like a bunch of WiLD MuStAnGs!!!

I let my boys play A LOT. The above is an ideal day - which is feasibly, but not always attained. I try not to stress over time (*unless we have some where to be). If they just aren't feeling it that day & need to release some boy energy I turn them loose. If I'm just not feeling it - they escape! :) My goal is not to raise the smartest Outlaws on this country hillside. I just want happy, well-rounded, God lovin', outlaws kids. Their biggest job is to be a kid - there is plenty of time to work & really, playing is their work too. I am total Type A, & I do tend to allow distractions (I might be an ADD mom too!), but we get the job done; however, All work & No Play makes mommy have a CrAzY day!! I try to meet the balance between the two & pray diligently!!

We school 4 days a week & spend the 5th day at Enrichment Class. When we are on break from EC I try to make Fridays fun. Sometimes that means field trips, outside time with me or Big Daddy just hanging out, or just a free play day. Somehow our days get filled rather quickly & we have to use Fridays as our catch up day & actually do schoolwork, but for the most part it is Friday Fun Day. We also do Spirit Days on Fridays.

Blended families . . .

When I was 17 I became pregnant with my first baby.

At 18 I gave birth to my first son.

At 19 I became a "step-mom" to 2 beautiful girls.

When I typed "stepmom" in at dictionary.com the page showed this:
No results found for stepmom:
Did you mean supermom (in dictionary) or Stepmom (in reference)?

Being a stepmom has to be one of the most difficult jobs there is & having a blended family is definitely work. Our family is about as blended as they get. Tim & I work very hard at the blending of our family & I think we do a fabulous job. None-the-less, there are trials & low points (as every type of family encounters from time to time), this is a rough time for our family & without blabbing our business all over the internet & really upsetting our attorney with getting into the details I just want to say, Please pray for us, as we are headed back to court this week.

Lord, You know my heart & I trust You with all of it. I pray for Your will to be done, knowing that Your plan is not always the same as our plan. I give You my weary mommy heart & trust that You are in total control. Please take these worries from me Lord, allowing me to trust You completely. Help all those that are involved in the decision making to see our childs best interest & do all in their earthly power to protect her. If this is a battle You are sending us into, I pray You cloth us with Your armore & lead us through it. If this is a lesson You are teaching I pray You hold us tight as we open our eyes to things we may not be seeing. No matter what Lord, I trust You & will not be shaken. Lord God Almighty "Bring the rain!"

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain
I am yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above
because you are much greater than my pain
you who made a way for me suffering your destiny
so tell me whats a little rain

Angel

Angel Dawn Eager Bell. Angel is my cousin. Until 2 years ago our lives have been almost parallel, yet so different. Angel was born 2 months before me. Our story starts before our birth - both of our moms married brothers. She is my daddy's little brother's daughter. Then both couples divorced 2 year after our births. We were the only children from our biological parents. Angel's mother & my momma both remarried men significantly older than themselves & both entered the journey of step-parenting. :) Angel moved to Taiwan for several years & I moved to California. 9 years later our mom's were divorcing, remarrying & having babies again. Angel has a brother 11 years younger than her & my sister is 11 years younger than me. We both dated our high school sweethearts & both ended up with broken hearts. A few years later we both married. The week my sweet baby, Talon, died Angel found out she was pregnant with her first baby, Kylynn. 18 months later we were both pregnant & we had had babies 2 months apart (just like us!). Angel had all girls & I had all boys!

Angel & I were so close in age, people often mistaken us for twins & as we got older, sisters. We were much like sisters - I'd say we were best friends, but we fought way too much for that (& made up of course). We loved each other very much & she loved to aggravate me. One time she chased me around with high heel shoes in each hand. I really do have wonderful memories with Angel. We spent a lot of time making mud pies & playing barbies for hours together. I have a lot of 1st's with Angel. She introduced me to "prank calling" - we would call grocery stores, ask if they had "Olive Oil" when they would say yes, we'd say "well let her out." We thought we were so funny.
When we were 16 Angel tried to teach me to drive her brand new car - a standard. I ended up at a red light on the slope of a hill with a car an inch behind me. I totally freaked out & started crying. I was so afraid I was going to stall out, roll back & hit the car behind me. She pulled the emergency break up & we changed seat in the middle of the road. We laughed so hard we cried. One day my mom took her prom dress shopping while I was at work. Angel talked my mom into buying her a $500 prom dress!!! Which my mom later had to return after Angel admitted she was wrong about saying her parents wouldn't care. LOL

Angel was always the wild child & I just tagged along - much to scared to get into any major trouble. She was so cool. I loved going places with her. She took very good care of her "little cousin." Our bond slowly began to change after Angel got married. She married a boy that had a past history with heroin. They had their first child together less than a year after being married. She was so excited to be a mommy & was very proud of her daughter. Angel & her husband had a very rocky relationship & their problems only grew worse when 18 months later she had another baby - that was very colic & became sick & almost died. Angels marriage was a violent marriage. It began with fights of throwing things & lots of yelling, with drug use adding to the problems. In the beginning the fights were probably mutual combat. As time passed, they were buried in financial debt & were treading water to keep their heads up over all the consequences of the bad decisions they had made & she was very run down. November 2006 Angel showed up to our family Thanksgiving dinner high. It broke my heart to see her like that & I was so angry with her. Couldn't she see what she was doing? What happened to my cousin? At that point I confronted her & told her I couldn't have her lifestyle around my kids. We didn't speak for several weeks. Christmas she didn't show up. Something inside me told me to call her. I called & told her how much I missed her, was praying for her, & was here if she needed me. That was the last time I talked to her.

June 13 I got a phone call my cousin overdosed on heroin & zannex. She was at a park with her husband & when he realized she wasn't breathing he just dropped her off at the ER entrance. He left her dead. After she died our family discovered that Angel's relationship with her husband was much more violent than any of us realized. We had all been supportive of her leaving her husband more times than I can count. I offered to help with the girls, buy her books to go back to school, whatever it took to get her out of that relationship. I don't know why she stayed. I never imagined she was in as much pain as she was when she died. We quickly learned that he beat the fight out of her - she was no longer fighting back. She was giving us excuses for the bruises & stitches. Not telling us about the abuse. She just self-medicated herself so she would feel. She left behind these beautiful girls.

The girls are now living with Angel's mom & dad & they let me have them for all of last week! We had so much fun together. Oh did they remind me of their momma. To be so little they have so much of her in them - the little things . . . they walk like her, blow their nose like her, boss me like her :) I just loved spending time with them. I felt like a fly on the wall watching our kids play together - Little Angel's & little Tiff's running around - I wish she could see them now. She would be so proud. We miss her.

Our Homeschool Fun: Friday's Gracious Giveaways Turtle Taylor Review and Giveaway

I am all about the give-aways this week. I just entered Our Homeschool Fun: Friday's Gracious Giveaways Turtle Taylor Review and Giveaway & I'm hoping I win so I can get a Dinosaur Crayon Wallet.

Visit
to enter to win a Turtle Taylor product. -- Fabulous stuff!!

For the Grand Finale…

I am all about the give-aways today! This is a HUGE one . . .

Click here For the Grand Finale… @ Jessie Hawkins she is giving away a Vita-Mix 5200 BPA free blender!! Retail value over $450!

I wonder how much I'm increasing my chances by entering all these give-aways - maybe I need to find more so I have a bigger chance at actually winning something.

Okay, I gotta stop - 40 watermelons to pick, load, & take to a local mom & pop store down the road . . . oh, & apparently a poopy diaper - fun stuff!!

Liberty Kids Give-Away!!

Kellie @ Blue House Academy is giving away a complete, 6-DVD set of Liberty's Kids episodes. WOW!! I am not much of a winner (I'm mean, I'm not a loser! I just don't win things very often) but I really really hope we win this one & if one of you do - don't tell me! lol

Click the link below to visit BHA & get the details.


GOOD LUCK!!

Starring Taylor as Leslie

Daddy's Girl performed last weekend at a local theater in The Bridge to Terabithia. She did amazing!! I was blown away. Our daughter has some major acting talent. They did such a good job performing that both nights my mustangs asked, "Mommy, why did sissy die?" ((sniff sniff)) They acted so well that the boys thought for a second that she really did die - that what they were seeing was really. At the end of the show she even had a little girl come up to her & ask for her autograph. VERY CUTE!

This play was a huge learning experience for Daddy's Girl. She worked very hard & her hard work definitely paid off. She learned the lesson of commitment. When you say you are going to do something you do it. You don't just quit when something better or more fun comes along. She also learned the difficulty of sacrifice. Sometimes you have to sacrifice what you really want to do at that moment for your responsibilities. She had lots of lines to remember & had to work very hard, but she did AMAZING!! I pray that God uses this experience as a character building experience for her & that the end result was rewarding for her. We are very proud of her!!

Watermelon Festival

Do you have any idea how many watermelons 4 acres can produce? OMGoodness!! We have been super busy with our watermelon patch & just in time for the Watermelon Festival in our very small country town. We had a blast & the kids did pretty darn good selling watermelons. Momma's Boy was the only one that stayed behind with Big Daddy to sell (he made over $100 on his own) - all our other Outlaws ran for the streets . . . for bounce houses, face painting, bull riding, snow cones, & homemade ice-cream.

We always have such a great time at the Watermelon Festival. This year the kids & I rode on a float with their Gammy & cousins.

Howdy!

Ladies (& Gentle) Welcome to the Biggest Little Rodeo in Texas . . .

Let me introduce you to my Outlaws:


(Tiya, 14 - Freshman)
Tiya is the our oldest daughter & will start high school this year. I can NOT believe she is a freshman & I really can NOT believe she is big enough to wear my clothes now. OMGoodness!!! She is quite the little athlete & stays very busy playing just about every sport imaginable. She attends a public school in OK where she lives with her mom, stepdad, 2 other brothers & a new sister on the way.


(Taylor, 11 - 5th Grade)
Little Miss Taylor. She is such a well-rounded girl. She is the perfect girl for a herd of boys & fits in just perfectly with all the boys in & out of our home. Yet she still maintains her girly-ness. She is a tough cookie with a heart of gold. Outside of being the best big sister EVER, she stays busy scrapbooking, riding 4-wheelers, & performing at a local theater. Taylor is my most challenging student, but by far the most rewarding.


(Tyler, 8.5 - 3rd Grade)
My Sweet Boy. Tyler is my tender hearted son. He loves his momma & knows just how to make me laugh. He is a very diligent worker & takes an amazing self pride in his work. He is definitely my people pleaser - always willing & eager to help. Tyler is the typical big brother - very protective, but always aggravating his little brothers. His sister & him have a wonderful bond & are un-admittedly best of friends. Tyler can be found hunting, fishing, in search of a new knife for his collection, helping his daddy on the farm, or on a baseball field. He is my class clown & by far my easiest student.


My Mustangs. These boys are only 20 months apart & have a typical love hate relationship -- they love each other for 5 minutes, then hate each other for 5 minutes & that is the routine daily. They play well together, but love to fight. I seriously think they look for reasons to fight. Together they are a handfull, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are somewhere b/t PK-K - My favorite age to teach!


(Tucker 4.999 - early K)
Tucker. This Mustang can melt his mommas heart instantly with those gorgeous eyes. He is definitely going to be heartbreaker (especially because he really does NOT like girls - sisters are okay - girls not so much). Tucker loves horses! He is 100% Cowboy by every definition. If he is not shadowing his daddy he is in his own imaginary world with his toy animals. His imagination is outstanding! I love to watch his wheels turning. Tucker keeps himself pretty busy - too busy for school (he thinks). He has just started to have an interest in letters & numbers. His spirit is one of a kind & I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world - even if he is 10 before he can read or write. LOL


(Trevor 3 - PK)
Trevor. Oh Trevor! This boy is the reason for the bags under my eyes & is well on his way to giving his 20 something momma gray hair! He is work. But I can't think of any other job I would rather have. Trevor is Tuckers brother. They have great adventures together & never leave me without a good story to tell. He spends a lot of time following his big brothers around, but this year as done an amazing job filling the role himself. He is very sweet to his 'lil buckaroo. Trevor is our dare devil - absolutely fearless. He loves climbing things & then jumping off . . . He has a wonderful smile & the best little giggle. He is definitely his mommy's boy, but really loves his sissy.


(Truman 3 months)
Truman is the baby God knew I needed - PERFECT! He is 100% laid back. He is such a good baby. I could not ask for a better baby. He sleeps so good, smiles when he is awake, & is perfectly content in the ciaos around this farm. He just goes with the flow & is happy no matter what - well, unless he has a dirty diaper or is hungry. He loves to be held, but does just fine on his own. He totally melts my heart!

So now you have officially met My Outlaws. They are my pride & joy & are giving me the ride of my life :)

Hop over to Darcy's blog to check out other homeschool kiddos on their first day of school or pre-first day of school pictures.

Inspiring . . .

I had a great time doing the School Room Blog Hop & have probably won the "Most Posts" award. :) I'm such an over achiever! Anyway, as much as I have enjoyed sharing my ideas I have also been inspired by others. Here are a few of my favorites:

Well Spring Academy
Love the make-over; Although, I like the purple walls (coming from a mom with 4 boys). I really like the board on the wall with the buckets, the shelves with the art work & pictures displayed, & bookshelves up high.

By Sun & Candlelight
This lady is definitely much more of an over achiever than myself. She decorates her room with the seasons. Love the idea . . . .

Dizzy In The Noodle
This is a great room for little ones. I WANT HER TABLE!!! She has some IKEA goin' on & I love the curtain rod for displaying artwork.

Homeschool Musings
Love the cabinets & desks!!!

The Well Rounded Mama
This room is so clean & just feels quiet & relaxing. Does this Mama really have 4 kids? 2 of mine would have it destroyed in less than 8 seconds. I love the big windows & the table!!!! I might have to steal her craft supplies storage system.

In The Potter's Hand
This HS Momma's husband made her a table similar to the one I like from Pottery Barn. Love it! See Honey, her husband made her one!

It's A Boy's Life
I am totally likin' the "Command Center" & I really needed to see the cubbies with the Montessori activities. -- This is what I had in mind to back the couch in our reading area. I love how the "centers" are arranged in this room.

Our Homeschool Fun
This is where I found the idea of snack baskets - which I will be doing, but calling "Saddle Bags." This is a HUGE schoolroom that looks like a lot of fun could be had in.

Mt Hope Chronicles
I love this one. I love the color. I love the quote above the doorway. I love the "slightly chaotic wall - the book display is lovely. I just really love this room!

The Snail Trail
I REALLY REALLY REALLY like this make-over!! I'll admit it - I am a little jealous. This room ROCKS! I absolutely want those letters on the wall! I know Big Daddy can make me a lamp post like this one. She did a great job!

A Homeschool Journal
This room looks like soooo much fun. The color is rockin', the gutter shelves look fabulous, the ABC cards all the way across one wall is so cool, the IKEA stuff looks great in this set up (this room could be in a magazine!), & my boys totally want the lego table - super cool!

Life In Grace
I'm like the table facing the couch set-up & the bookcases with lights.

Which rooms were your favorite?

WARNING: SCHOOL ZONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Here is our new schoolroom!

It will be the boys bunkhouse when they are a little older, but for now it is mine all mine ours. Below is Big Daddy's barn/shop.

Come take a look inside. Watch your step.

Here is my floor plan:


Excuse the mess . . .

Right here to the left of the door is where I want my little looker-room area. Sorta like this:


Here is the view from these windows:



Once completed the room will have a small bathroom & a mini kitchen (hints the old frig- Big Daddy thought it would be easier to get it in the room before walls & doors are done), it will be moving to a different wall once "we get to that point" as Big Daddy continues to remind me in my eagerness.

Here are my plans for this wall:


This is my favorite part of the room - a small bathroom will be to the left of this wall & to the right will be our "Reading/Library" area:


Here is the view from this wall *which will eventually have custom solid glass windows:

They will even have a view of the deer when they come up to our feeder:

Here is a pic of a quick layout I drew up:


Our first day of school will be Friday, Sept. 11 - It is our first day of Enrichment Classes. Then we will begin at home the following Monday. So basically, Big Daddy has exactly 1 month to get this done. :) I won't be able to furnish it right away & I'm sure the plans I have will change quite a bit as the room progresses, but I gotta have a plan . . . . :) Here are the kids school desks:

The big kids have the same style - just bigger ones.

I am so excited about our new room & extremely proud of the hard work Big Daddy is putting into it for us. I can hardly wait until it all comes together.