February Desktop (or phone) background

Here is the desktop background for February- I put a quote or two from the Visiting Teaching Message in there as well. I find it handy to keep those kinds of things in front of me. I figured out how to make it my phone background as well!! Apparently I am a little tech-backwards. haha

We filled out our Homeschool Affidavits that Arizona Law requires and had them notarized yesterday. Tomorrow I will put them in the mail. So official now!

Ernie (my brother-in-law) is in the hospital in San Diego. I know I wrote about it earlier. This past Monday marked his 2nd full week and his 3rd Monday. BOOOO! Hopefully he starts healing faster so my sister, my parents and he can ALL come home! We miss them!

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline and Latter-Day Homeschool and JuddzWorld!! Happy & Satisfied!!

On The Web

We have been a homeschooling family since my son was in Kindergarten. This past October our family prayed and had the impression that we should send them back to school. We had a 7th grader at Middle School and a 6th grader, 4th grader & 1st Grader at the Elementary school. They started an hour apart. I felt like I was on the road ALL OF THE TIME! It was crazy. But we all stepped up to the challenge and did our part willingly for “The Good of the Family!”

Needless to say, at Winter Break (I prefer calling it CHRISTMAS Break) the children got together and made a list of “Reasons We SHOULD Return to Homeschool”. On this list were 12 very important things. Things that I could not be prouder of my children for coming up with and BELIEVING it! They weren’t just doing this to get out of ‘doing something’ but were following up on their feelings and thoughts. Here is their List:

1) We miss seeing Dad.

(He works 2nd shift and so would go 2-4 days without seeing them AT ALL)

2) We don’t like listening to the cussing

3) Negative peer pressure 

4) Bullying

My 1st Grader was bullied and we were only in the school for a bit over 2 months. Then the teacher takes my little 1st grader around to the 3rd grade classes and has her pick out the ones that were bullying her. There were 2. Then they ALL went to the Principals office. I think that Traumatized her more than ANYTHING!!

5) A lot of ‘yucky talk’

Apparently the older girls were privy to a lot of discussion on Law of Chastity things. Things that are now in their heads that they can’t get rid of. This is the one that most affected my 7th grader – she was in tears telling me some of the things. My 6th grade daughter had a friend of a friend telling their group that she had been pregnant 3 times and her Mom didn’t know and well, blah, blah, blah.

6) Having to listen to the opinions and concepts that the teachers believe in and sometimes have it rammed down their throat.

(remember, this was during the Election).

7) Seeing bad things

My son has a friend from another Ward and Cub Scouts and was in his class at school that liked MOONING random ‘friends’ on the playground. My 4th grade son thought this was ‘gross’. (GO SON!!)

8) Being around drugs and other related issues

9)We Miss Dad!

10) We feel like our attitudes are worse now that we are in school

I loved this one! They could see that their personalities were changing and not necessarily in a good way.

11) Don’t feel the Spirit while at school

YES!!!! They have listened to us teaching them!!!

12) We miss Mom! & We will NEVER ask to go back to Public School again!!

I think this one was their ‘brown-noser’ one!! But I will take it!! hahaha

As we have gotten into our homeschool routine they are seeing and noticing changes that they can appreciate AND recognize in themselves – especially my 7th Grader. It has been amazing. I have loved having them back with me and feel invigorated to do more and to do better for them – as a mother, as a teacher, as a wife, as a Daughter of God. It really couldn’t have happened at a better time of year right?

The following are  some links that we have enjoyed using as we stumble our way through Homeschool again! I really do love and appreciate and show gratitude DAILY for the amount of material that is FREE and available online. It really is amazing! (One of the Lord’s tender mercies, I believe!!)

Game GOO– This one has Reading/English type games to make that more fun for children. My Kindergartner enjoys is, my 4th grader LOVES it and even the 6th and 7th grader do it for fun. (when there is time for the computer with 9 people).

Shepherd Software– This one has games for EVERY Subject you could imagine and EVERY age group. They advertise that Adults love to play too! :)

Tumblebooks – I LOVE this resource. This is awesome for preschool up through Elementary school aged children. (My 2 year old and 1 year old LOVE to listen and watch the stories!)

Vocabulary – They claim to have 1 thousand English Games. They also have vocabulary lists – click through the whole site – it is pretty incredible. It has the higher grades – which is very important.

MathMammoth – This woman, Marie, is amazing! She shares a lot of FREE math resources and videos and she also has curriculums available for purchase

The last one I want to share is ScootPad. This is a wonderful resource that we can use as Homeschool parents. It is like an online classroom. The lessons/practices are Standard Based (which I think it is AWESOME!) and it is a K-5 resource. You are the teacher and give your children passwords and can assign them homework in Math, Reading, Spelling (you add your OWN spelling words), etc. There is a place for reading logs. So COOL!! So far my children are really enjoying it. It doesn’t move them to the next level until they “Pass” their current level. It isn’t games – it is practice pages. You assign the number of questions and also how many you want them to do in whatever span of time. I usually do it by week.

Hopefully this has helped some of you have more ideas for resources you can use and take advantage of!!

Homeschool ROCKS!

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline and Latter-DayHomeschooling!! Happy & Satisfied!!

I am the Light of the World

 

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline!! Happy & Satisfied!!

Sunday is a Special Day

 

 

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline!! Happy & Satisfied!!

Ernie

Well, my brother –in- law was scheduled for a Heart/Kidney Transplant work up in San Diego, California at the University Hospital there. It is supposed to be one of the best in the country. Things have been a bit crazy and although he had a 2pm appt with the Transplant team there he ended up going through the ER -  having had a heart attack. A policeman was in the neighborhood and relived my sister of doing Chest compressions until the Paramedics arrived. In the process he has 8 broken ribs, his heart has stopped multiple times, and he aspirated stomach contents into his lungs. Today is Friday and he is still in. This is my sisters update:

Hi everyone -

I am just going to attempt to recap the day for you and then if I missed someone in my email list please forward as you feel best. Ernie had an appt here in San Diego for an evaluation to see if they would be willing at UCSD to evaluate for a heart/kidney transplant.

He has met most the team through the backdoor. He came in to the ER Monday morning because he passed out and I had to call 911. Short story he had a heart attack, 10 min of chest compressions and his heart stopped once.

So now he is in ICU at UCSD Thornton ctr because this hosp was close and i asked them to bring him here. He was intubated Monday, but improved Tues. Yesterday he had a couple vtach episodes and then after dialysis his lungs seemes to get cranky, so now he is on a CPAP machine and they have discussed doing a bronchioscope to find out what is going on in the lungs, but he has to be intubated to do it safely.

Yesterday he spiked a fever and they are concerned about a possible pneumonia. He has an NG tube to help get fluid off his stomach and his esophagus had a few issues they are concerned about, prob relating to the chest compressions but no one has yet confirmed my theory.

He has 1 or 2 broken ribs due to chest compressions for so long and in quite a bit of pain from that part of the experience.

I have met a large part of the heart transplant team and they said we make quite an entrance. ;). I have met with a social worker, diabtic educator, psychiatrists, tons of cardiologists, Nephrologists for his kidneys, and 3 heart transplant surgeons (Dr Adler, Dr Greenburg, and Dr Bernard.

We asked the Bishop in the area if they could arrange someone to help my dad give a blessing. They sent 2 of the cutest missionaries, very sweet young men...fun to be with missionaries.

Cori's Mission Pres and his wife will be telling Cori what has been going on today. Ernie and I are trusting her decisions.

His heart function (ejection fraction) has dropped from approx a 20% to now approx 10%. He is alert, asking us to scratch his head and get back rubs, he is aware of all that has gone on but is very tired so he forgets and we retell him. He is on Morphine and Ultram for pain mngmt and a strong iv med to boost his blood pressure.

My parents drove out Monday and Ernie's mom flew out so we are all staying at the La Quinta approx 10 minaway, but we get to drive by the San Diego Temple when we come and go from hospital to hotel.

Things change frequently so if you have questions you can call any of us and we will do our best to fill you in.

We feel your prayers and support and love you all. THis journey is a bit bumpy but Heavenly Father has the controls and we are working to improve our faith.

Love Ya, Nelle

This is her update for today:

Morning Everyone!

Just as a quick update on Ernie in case one of us did not get with you yesterday. Ernie has become more stable throughout yesterday. Several corrections on my earlier email include he has 8 broken ribs and it is not a CPAP but a BIPAP machine for his breathing.

They are working to wean him back on to regular nasal canula for his breathing, but he does have a pneumonia from aspirating possibly stomach contents during CPR. He is on antibiotics and working with a lung team. It may take a while to recover from the pneumonia because with 8 broken ribs he isn't able to take as deep of breaths as they would like to help clean it out. But he is working hard to improve.

He got some really good rest finally yesterday after 4ish, of course with the little interruptions....but they did not do any procedures so he got better rest. Couple options they have mentioned are a possible ablation again to find the arrythmia. This may be able to wait until we get home if he responds ok to the increased dosing of amiodorone.

The transplant is off the table for a variety of reasons, but the infection is a major cause at this time. He has some esaphageal damage they are not sure is due to the chest compressions. He still has the NG tube currently.

The hospital allowed us to stay at their Bannister house - it is about 20 min away, but it is a better price.

I spoke with President and Sister Collins yesterday. I had asked they talk to Cori in person about all that has transpired. They were so loving in their kind words of praise of Cori and her missionary efforts. They said they can put her anywhere with anyone and she changes the whole atmosphere and her companions with dramatic missionary results. Her and Sister Donaldson have their YSA branch on fire with missionary work. They expressed Cori's concern and love for her Dad. She did not request to come home. President Collins and Sister Collins expressed their desire to maintain her 'fire' and they will help her through. I will keep them aprised of Ernie and let them help me make decisions on what and when we should tell Cori information. It has been Ernie's desire that she stay on her mission at this time. We all felt this is the right decision and are so proud of her. If you can help us support her with positive encouragement towards her missionary efforts we would appreciate your help. Thanks for all you have already done to help her, especially your prayers.

They are going to do some testing to make sure he does not have a clot in his right leg where the central line is placed today and make a decision on using continuous dialysis for him instead of the other type because it is more gentle. They have helped me understand this a little better and although i am not thrilled he will be on dialysis 24/7 for a few days it is more gentle for his heart and healing.

I can not tell you enough how your prayers are lifting us and helping answer prayers in so many ways. We love you and know of your love for Ernie. He has excellent care from his drs and nurses and they are working hard to keep communications fluid on their expectations and progress. We are very disappointed about the transplant option, but now we know.

We love you! Nelle & Crew

I can’t imagine what it is to be my sister and deal with everything that she has in her 22 year marriage. I have known Ernie for 22 years. He IS my brother. He is an amazing person and I have a great deal of respect for him as a Priesthood Holder and as a person. The things that HE has to deal with is just incredible. To think that they are trying to be grateful for his 8 broken ribs . . . if he didn’t have them, he wouldn’t have been resuscitated multiple times. Tender mercies for sure~~

 

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline and Latter-Day Homeschool and JuddzWorld!! Happy & Satisfied!!

Sunday, Sunday

 

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline!! Happy & Satisfied!!

Homeschool

I am proud and happy to say that we are homeschooling our children, again. They started public school in October of 2012 – at their request. They came to us toward the end of Winter (we call it Christmas break) Break and listed out 12 reasons why they thought they needed to be taken out of school. Now, they could have been silly and just made up reasons and just said that they didn’t like it. But these are the things that they mentioned:

1) Missing Dad – he works 2nd shift so they would often go 2-4 days without seeing him at all.

2) Having to listen to bad language

3) Having to listen to the teaching/opinions of their teachers and having to figure out for themselves if they align to what their teacher said

4) Missing Dad ;)

5) Gross things. My son had problems with a friend of his ‘mooning’ his classmates on the playground. really??

6) Having to listen to yucky/inappropriate stories/jokes/talk – usually sexually explicit things

7) Peer Pressure to do or say or be things they wouldn’t normally do

8) Bad attitudes – They noticed that their attitudes were grumpier / more impatient than before school

9) Missing Mom

10) Bullying – 3 of my children have been bullied in the Public School Setting. They were only at this school since the end of October and my 1st grader was bullied.

11) Not enough family time

12) More importance placed on appearance/worldly things

Not bad, if I do say so myself. My children could ‘choose’ to be like everyone else and just get desensitized to all of the inappropriate things at school, but they are wise enough to know that they had a choice to partake in that or not. Luckily, for our family – Homeschool IS a good fit for us. I know that my husband and I are much happier with them being home. It feels like our family is ‘back on track’.

I am grateful that my children asked to go back and we allowed them. Truly those were the same reasons we wanted to keep them OUT of school. I told the children this and they kind of sheepishly laughed and said that they understood more. They also said that they wouldn’t ask to go back – EVER AGAIN. :D

Right now we still have the Kindergartener in his Online School (Mercury Online). This is good for him. However, we will be doing the ‘educating’ ourselves. There is more than enough quality resources that we can pull from via the internet, public libraries, life experience, etc. There isn’t ANYTHING my children can learn in a public school setting that they can’t learn 100% more/quicker/better/etc. at home with their parents (who have their entire best interests at heart) to help lead them and guide them.

This week has been awesome. I have LOVED having them home with me and I have repeatedly expressed this to them on MULTIPLE occasions!! :) I will continue to do so!

We have had some negativity in regards to ‘they can’t be kept in a bubble’ and ‘they need to learn how to cope in the ‘real’ world’. Really? I believe I can cope in the real world without immersing myself in drugs. I believe I can cope in the real world without being involved with promiscuous people, etc. It is such a lame argument, really. What research has ever been done to show that people in Public Schools are better equipped and more capable to be successful in the ‘real world’ than people who are Homeschooled? I believe that statistic doesn’t exist.

Make it a great one – FOR YOUR FAMILY!!

Make it a great one!!

About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline!! Happy & Satisfied!!

FHE: God is my Heavenly Father

Click this link to go to her PDF page from SugarDoodle.net

January - I Am a Child of God, and He has a Plan for Me

Week 1: God is my Heavenly Father. He knows and loves me.

Song: I Am a Child of God

Scripture: Enos 1:5, Moses 1:6, and Joseph Smith—History 1:17

Lesson: Primary Manual 1 – Lesson 1 - Primary Manual 1 - Lesson 1

We are spirit children of Heavenly Father. Before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that make us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.
Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children. We don’t remember living with Heavenly Father before we came to earth, but we know we are his spirit children because we read it in the scriptures.
Heavenly Father loves each one of us very much because we are his children. He knows our names and all about us. He knows what makes us happy and what makes us sad. He knows what is best for each of us.

Activity 1: Primary Manual 1 - Lesson 1

Say the following verse several times, using the actions described:
Heavenly Father Knows Me
Heavenly Father knows me (point to self)
And what I like to do.
He knows my name and where I live (make a roof by touching fingers of both hands).
I know he loves me, too (cross arms and put hands on shoulders in hug).
He knows what makes me happy (put fingers on smiling mouth).
He knows what makes me sad (put fingers on down-turned mouth).
I know he wants to help me (point to self),
And that’s what makes me glad!

Activity 2: Royal Crown - Friend, January 2009

Song: I am like a Star


Make it a great one!!

Make it a great one!!  About Tammy: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of 7 (ages: G12, G11, B8, G6, B5, B2, G1). Stepmom of 2. Mother in law to two, Grandma to Peyton, Mattix and Andrew and blogger at BellaOnline!! Happy & Satisfied!!