Fizzed Out On the Countdown

Well, as you can see, I fizzled out on the countdown. Things just got so busy around here, I didn't even have time to get on the computer. DISLIKE!!! But, like everyone else now, we are in full swing with the schooling. No, my classroom isn't done!!! I didn't really expect it to be, just wishful thinking. The money seems to run our before the ideas do. OH WELL.

We are trying something new this year, online schooling for the two older boys. So far, so good. It's been an absolute time saver for me. It's so hard to get 4 different grade levels all taught in a day. The boys log on in the morning and have about an hour of work left after lunch. The girls and I are usually done before lunch unless baby sister is a big interruption, which sometimes happens.

The two Princesses with their first completed project. Our Creation Book.

Mr. Gamer doing his online schooling. Looks thrilled huh?

This is our second week and I think it will be a good year. It's going to take some getting use to for the boys, but I think they'll like it in the end. And, of course, I've already had one person say to me,"I just don't like sitting my kids in front of the tv or computer for hours at a time." Well, the instructions are online and they do have a couple hours of listening to the instructions. The rest is hands on work just like regular school. The only difference is I'm not the one standing there reading the teacher's manual to them like in the past. It just saves me some time. When you work part-time and homeschool, you are always looking for ways to save school time and get in more family time. Nothing wrong with that right?

Well, I hope everyone has a great year!! Again, sorry for the fizzled out countdown. I should have known I wouldn't be able to get on the computer every day. I get computer time in spurts. The good news is, at least now we have another computer to fight over. That'll be a different post. HAPPY FALL TO ALL!!!!

Streusel Coffee Cake

As you all know, I look for simple and quick recipes. I found this delicious and EASY coffee cake recipe at the Betty Crocker website. It takes only minutes to mix together and bakes in 18-22 minutes (with my hot oven-it only takes 15 minutes).

So, let's get to it!!!

Cinnamon Streusel

1/3 cup Original Bisquick mix

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons firm butter or margarine

Coffee Cake

2 cups Oringinal Bisquick mix

2/3 cup milk or water

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 9-inch round pan. In small bowl, stir streusel ingredients until crumbly; set aside.

2. In medium bowl, mix coffee cake ingredients until blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with streusel.

3. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Delicious golden brown!!! YUMMY!!!!!

Now, I don't drink coffee!! But, this was just as good with a tall glass of milk. All the kids ate it and there wasn't any left for daddy when he got home. I had to make another one. Since it was so easy, making another one wasn't a problem.

Hope you enjoy!!!!!

Never Forget

I remember exactly where I was. Do you? I had just finished a twelve hour shift at the local hospital. I was stopping at the grocery store when I heard on the radio the first plane had hit. I called my husband and he turned our tv to the news. At first, it was thought a horrible accident. Every one was talking about, "the horrible accident". The talk quickly changed to attack when the second plane hit. I immediately headed home. I sat on the couch, glued to the television. I held and hugged my two boys as tight as I could. I called my mom to make sure they had heard the awful news (which I was sure they had since their tv was usually tuned to FOX news).

I stayed awake for hours watching the news. The next couple of days were lived in disbelief. Though the majority of Americans don't live in constant fear today, we still remember. We pause to remember the lives lost on that day, the firefighters and rescue workers that bravely ran into those burning buildings to do their job, and all the families who never heard from their loved ones again.

September 11, 2001 will forever be burned in every Americans mind, as well it should be. Most Americans, including myself, had been living a life of complacency. We were under the impression that we couldn't be touched here at home. That day forever changed that attitude. Even today, we live knowing the possibility of another attack on home soil is not only possible, but probable. The hatred for the American people was evident that day and as far as I can tell, the sentiment has not changed.

Life goes on today, football games will be played, baseball games will be played and work will continue on. However, we will ALWAYS REMEMBER and NEVER FORGET 9/11 nor the pain and awakening that it caused.