Nerd Family. Pro-Nerd. Pro-Family.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

All About NerdMom

Recently it has come to my attention that I have real life people (that I know) who still don't have any idea of who I am. Also it has come to my attention that many of you don't know about my other blogs. So let us start at the beginning. My real name is Jackie Cromwell and ions ago was Jackie Little. I go to New Covenant Community Church in Fresno Ca.

Now the other blogs... Remember the are all having giveaways also!
NerdFamily Food
NerdFamily Things
Making Money, Keeping Money

Separately, here is my Cast of Characters:
NerdDad: My wonderful and loving husband
NerdBug: My eldest boy, who is now 6 years old
NerdPie: My sparkling little 4 year old girl
Nerdling: My cute 2 year old boy who is built like a linebacker
NerdPud: My 7 month old little girl. She is the Pud (short for Pudding) because she is the last course.

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WFMW: Life & Focus Help

Yes, this is the secret, a notebook. I keep it around the house and in my purse. Then when a thought comes to me (about anything) I jot it down. This helps to make sure things aren't missed (by forgetting it later) and helps me to focus on what I am doing. I don't need to try to hold on to things while I am trying to do my Bible Study, play with my kids or out shopping. I have a spot for things to tell my husband, things to buy, things to study, etc. It has been a huge blessing! Try it and let me know what you think.

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

***Comments are closed, a winner will be announced soon!

So it is time for a giveaway ya'all. For those of you are new, please peruse the blog. Then come back and enter my drawing. I am giving away a Test Logic, grade 2. It is a great electronic tutor tool with a talking pen. It covers Language Arts, Math Concepts, Social Science and Science. This are great for kids to have some independent learning time. Just comment between now and Sunday February 3rd at noon pst. You need to make sure I have your email in case you win! This drawing is limited to US Residents only.

Want more drawings?

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Meal Plan Monday

Here is this week's menu. As an afterthought I realized that I am very pig heavy.

Monday: Ham Pasta Alfredo Bake
Tuesday: Pork Roast, Fried Potatoes, Broccoli
Wednesday: Cube Steak, Broccoli, Beer Bread
Thursday: Pork Loin Chops, Stove Top Stuffing, Asparagus
Friday: Tilapia, Jasmine Rice, Broccoli

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Heart of the Matter

I found out about this Friday meme over at Heart of the Matter where you post your thoughts about the following quote.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
- William Butler Yeats

I love this imagery for a couple of reasons. A fire being is active versus a pail that is static. The pail is filled by someone else where as a fire consumes its own fuel and if you don't provide it, it will reach out and grab it if it is near. A pail is the same filled or empty, but a fire will die without fuel. A pail can only carry so much but a fire can burn forever.

The imagery of the fire is what I desire for my children. It isn't about individual facts but a love for learning and a yearn for more. The unquenchable fire.....

So what do you think?

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Still A Cool Car


I still think this car is cool. Supposedly they are reworking the transmission but will be producing all new ones by mid-March. I guess that they are going to be doing a patch. Then once they have a permanent solution they will retrofit all the ones that are already out. I do have to say, if I was going to put out $98,000 I would wait for the finished version.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

What a Hard Day

Two Blonde Boys: Lunch with Randy...

I am wiping away tears. What a hard work these 2 must do. They are on their way back to work. I am a little worried that it seems they are driving doing these shenanigans. Is this where I say that one of them is our worship pastor and the other one does all our lighting stuff? Or should I not mention that fact;)?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Heath Ledger is Dead

According to Fox News Heath Ledger is dead. His body was near sleeping pills and they think it was a factor. The things you are alerted to when your niece is on your MySpace friend list. I really liked him as an actor in everything I have seen him in. I am very sorry for his daughter and everyone who loved him.

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Sunday, January 20, 2008

I Guess I Got What I Want and Deserve

So Friday we had a typical laid back day. We got up and did all out normal breakfast, chores, etc. Then we read Chapter 5 in Story of the World which is on the first unifying ruler in the Sumer area in Mesopotamia (Argon). With in the chapter it briefly introduced the concept of Military Dictatorship, which is how Argon ruled his new country. They loosely go this concept and I told them we could talk about it later.

So we all go get on shoes and go to Costco so we can take advantage of getting in early (with our Executive Membership). One of the nice things about going at this time is there is almost no one there and the kids get cookies. So we eat our cookies and are cruising the aisles and NerdBug brings up Military Dictatorship. So we start talking about it. NerdPie then asks if Argon is still there as a country. Then are there still Military Dictatorships? As we are walking through the store I see people staring. Then the Nerdling (2 1/2) starts saying, rather loudly (but not yelling), military dictatorship over and over. People were staring and not in a good way. So I try to change the subject to the alphabet and songs, didn't work. Then 1 couple says quietly, "Do you homeschool?" To which I say yes and keep walking. Then another woman that I had seen in a couple of aisles asks also. I say yes. Then she engages me in a conversation about what are we studying and other such details. She is looking for supplemental materials for her very bright kids that are in public school.

All I could think through the whole trip is, "Couldn't you guys keep you nerdiness at home?" Then it hit me, this is what I always wanted and how I raised them to be. Sure, we are a little different but should them wanting knowledge that seems to be above them really be a bad thing? I helped make them this way. That is the joy of homeschool, you sometimes get just what you really want;).

(Now, in telling part of this story at my Growing Kids God's Way Class tonight I was told I am definitely living up to my blog name;)

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Meal Plan Monday

Here it is everyone! A couple things had to be moved from last week due to a chicken shortage;).
Monday: Dijon Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Kale, Beer Bread
Tuesday: Enchiladas (in the Freezer)
Wednesday: Italian Turkey Sausage and Escarole Soup, Bread
Thursday: Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Friday: Garlic Chicken, Broccoli, Sweet Corn Muffins

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Friday, January 18, 2008

Costco Gas

Well, here is just a quick post post for anyone in the Fresno area. Gas at the Clovis Costco was only $2.99 a gallon about 10am this morning! If you have time and are in the area, Go Fill Up! Who knows how long such a good deal will be going. It is the first time I have seen it under $3 in a while.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Way to much Time and Talent



I know, I am spemding to much time on YouTube but he is good.

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Sunday, January 13, 2008

Meal Plan Monday

So things have been so crazy that I haven't posted my meals in a while. This week I am going to try out a few meals. If they are successful I will post the recipes over at my food blog.

Monday: Ham Alfredo Pasta Bake
Tuesday: Marinated Pork Loin Chops, World's Best Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday: Tilapia, Penne with Pancetta, Spinach and Crumb topping
Thursday: Garlic Chicken (new), Broccoli, Sweet Corn Muffins
Friday: Dijon Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Kale (new), Beer Bread

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

My Daughter the Songtress

So after dinner tonight NerdPie (my 4 year old little girl) tells me she has a song for me. She claims that she and her doll made this up for me.

"No matter where I go,
No matter where I am,
You'll always be my mama,
even when I'm dead"

While it was cute, I am mildly disturbed;).

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Friday, January 04, 2008

Frodo, Don't Wear the Ring



Now it does have the a** word but it is hilarious. Especially for Lord of the Ring Fans.

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Martha's vs Homeschool Mom's Way

Now that Christmas is over and I am dealing with the trauma of everything not being all pulled together and neat. I needed a little pick me up! I found this over at Ann Zeise's humor page. Thanks Ann!

Martha's vs Homeschool Mom's Way

Martha's way #1: Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake; you are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway.

Martha's way #2: Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Buy the precooked kind you nuke in the microwave for 30 seconds. The hard part is getting them out of the plastic bag.

Martha's way #3: To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix and keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

Martha's way #4: To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Who cares if they crack, aren't you going to take the shells off anyway?

Martha's way #5: To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Sleep with the lemons in between the mattress and box springs.

Martha's way #6: To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Eat at Chili's every night and avoid cooking.

Martha's way #7: Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Feed your garbage disposal and there won't be any leftovers.

Martha's way #8: When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Go to the bakery. They'll even decorate it for you.

Martha's way #9: If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up"

Homeschool Mom's Way: If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too damn bad. My motto: I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes.

Martha's way #10: Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Celery? Never heard of the stuff.

Martha's way #11: Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

Homeschool Mom's Way: The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust and so I don't do it.

Martha's way #12: Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Brown sugar is supposed to be "soft"?

Martha's way #13: When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Homeschool Mom's Way: The only kind of corn I buy comes in a can.

Martha's way #14: To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Eat, cook, or use the egg anyway. If you feel bad later, you will know it wasn't fresh.

Martha's way #15: Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Martha, dear, the only reason this works is because you can't rub a lime on your forehead without getting lime juice in your eye, and then the problem isn't the headache anymore, it is because you are now blind.

Martha's way #16: Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Leftover wine?

Martha's way #17: If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Go ask the very cute neighbor to do it.

Martha's way #18: Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Mashed potatoes will now be replacing the anti-bacterial soap in the handy dispenser next to my sink.

Martha's way #19: Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer.

§ Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

§ Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

§ Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

§ Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Homeschool Mom's Way: Put your jewelry, vases, and thermos in the toilet. Add some Alka-Seltzer and you have solved a whole bunch of problems at once.

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