Meal Plan Monday

I just got home from a great concert event so I am pulling this together real quick.

Monday: Corned Beef, Beer Bread, Broccoli
Tuesday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli (NerdDad's on his own)
Wednesday: CheeseBurger Pie, Broccoli
Thursday: Boneless Ribs, Rice, Broccoli
Friday: Pork Loin Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

Nerd power: SR-71 Blackbird

Its top speed and altitude still hold world records. Its fuel (which it also uses as a coolant and as hydraulic fluid) is so slippery that it leaks while it's on the ground. Built to spy on the Soviet Union, out of titanium bought from the Soviet Union.



SR-71, built by Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works team some 43 years ago.

Blog Party 2009!!!!

I want to welcome everyone who has found me by way of 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party. I just took chocolate chip cookies out of the oven so come on in and make yourself at home!

So a little about the NerdFamily. Well, we are nerdy;). I love to blog about anything that interests me! I blog about anything nerdy, politic, crafty, or just anything that strikes my interests. I am a stay at home, homeschooling mom to 4 kids. Yes, that means I am a little nutty but fun;). So please look around at some of my posts and let me know what you think!

So, why am I posting this? Well, I want to welcome some new readers but I also want to win stuff! I am interested on prizes #89, #21, #22, #68, #109, #113, #118

Musings at the Gym

So I was walking on the treadmill and they have different tvs going. A news story came on about the economy really hurting people who have kids who are in private schools. Apparently many people are taking out 2nd mortgages in order keep their kids (elementary aged kids were the ones shown here) in private school. You have to be kidding?!?!?

Tell me why homeschooling isn't a better option than this? Is it really better to have to have both parents out of the home working (possibly 2 jobs)? Wouldn't your kids be better served to have a parent around every once in a while? I have known a few families where mom has worked just for the private school tuition and that was before the economy issues. They are sure that this is the better education and experience for their kids. This is the thing that angers me about anti-homeschooling parents. It is the mentality that the personal financial sacrifice is the nobler one. I wonder if it is that they don't actually value the personal position of parent. The impact you have on your child's life simply by being present. And that doesn't even account for the clear academic benifits to having the small group learning environment (which has been proven repeatedly) and the over all desirability of homeschoolers to colleges.

Ugh! This is what happens when I go to the gym at 6am;).

Morning Routine

Tammy's Recipes is hosting Make Your Home a Haven and this week she is focusing on having a Morning Routine of 5 things. The theory behind 5 things is that if you make your list to daunting you won't do it. To me the 5 things are just a few of the things to get my day off right but I haven't been consistent. So here is my first 5 things I want to get done in the morning.
1. Brush my teeth
2. Go to the gym
3. Shower and change
4. Make breakfast for the kids
5. Start a load of laundry

That is mine. What are yours?

Meal Plan Monday

So here we meet again. The weather around here can't decide if it is cold or warm. So I am going to focus on a little comfort food.

Monday: Stew
Tuesday: Cube Steak, Corn Casserole, Broccoli
Wednesday: Chicken, Asparagus and Pasta in a Butter Garlic Sauce
Thursday: Corned Beef, Corn Casserole and Broccoli
Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine

Sunday School Reflections

In James 4 there is a verse that says to "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."I put before you that this is so much more than just getting the dirt off. When I was a freshman in college I was blessed to attend a Shabbat at the local Chasidic rabbi's house. 1 of the things I remember was a ceremonial washing of hands. Everyone (including me) did it after the men's prayer time and before the meal. There wasn't any scrubbing but a specific calm procedure that served to cleanse you. Could this be what James is referring too? A solem cleansing of our sould and being?

These are the things that I think about during Sunday School. Where the Old and the New collide without fanfare or attention.

Technology, Education and Life

All I could think as I watched this video is about if our educational system is prepared to equip our kids for the next new things. The current public school system seems to be built upon a system that wasn't working before so why would it work better in the future? The current system teaches kids (by design) how to be great followers and workers, not entrepreneurs and inventors. Learning how to learn, logic and a love for knowledge is what kids need to be taught today to be competitive tomorrow. Are we teaching them that? I hope that I am.

Meal Plan Monday

Here is this week's plan!
Monday: Cube Steak, Pasta, Broccoli
Tuesday: Corned Beef, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli
Wednesday: Top Sirloin, Broccoli, Beer Bread
Thursday: Crockpot Ribs, Brown Rice, Broccoli
Friday: Chicken Kiev, Broccoli, Corn Casserole

Bullet, Explosions and Fun Oh My!

Just a little good-natured fun.

Bank Failure and Foreclosures

CNN has a very interesting map of where the bank failures and home foreclosures are at (per state). I was kind of shocked to see here in California our foreclosure rate was under 5%.

(HT: Why Homeschool)

J&J Women's History

Kilmer House has some interesting facts about Johnson and Johnson. Such as when they started in 1886 half of the staff was female. Also they sold home baby delivery kits. It is some really interesting stuff.

Jelly Telly

I love VeggieTales! If you didn't know that just means you don't know me well;). Now Phil Vischer is behind a new venture called JellyTelly. Originally they were going to be charging but they aren't any more (at least not for a while). While we are a pro-tv family, we wish there was more Christian media out there and this might be the answer! Watch the clips and then go check it out!!!





They are letting churches use the clips for download $4.99 to use over at JellyBits.

Video Fun

NerdDad found this, enjoy!

Meal Plan Monday

So here we meet again! So here is my plan...

Monday: Cube Steak, Asparagus and Pasta in a Butter Garlic Sauce
Tuesday: Boneless Ribs, Rice, Broccoli
Wednesday: Cheeseburger Pie, Broccoli
Thursday: Chicken Kiev, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Friday: Spaghetti, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Broccoli

Grow A New Bone!

Next Big Future has an awesome post on how to grow new bone cell off 3-D printed copy of a bone. It is so cool. Pop over and read all about it!

Obama and Keyes on Christianity

What makes me the most nervous about Obama and his Christianity is that he would need to ask Christ if he is "going up or going down". I can say that I am saved because Christ died for me and that it isn't in negotiation.

From the Mouths of Babes

So NerdPie (the 5 yo) is doing the extra credit book for Awana-Sparks and it requires that the kids read a book about a missionary. So I got a book on Junipero Serra (missionary to California) and it ever so slightly touched on the mistreatment of the Indians by the Spanish soldiers. She asked me right at that point if the soldiers killed some of the Indians and I answered her truthfully and said yes. So after we are done reading the book we are going through all the materials from Awana. One of the questions was about how the missionary tried to share the gospel. She said, "by killing them". After NerdDad and I quit laughing we told her the difference between the soldiers and Father Serra. But then I got to thinking, how many people think that is how the church today is showing Christ? By attacking and being mean? Is that what we want them to see? How should we change our witness?

Beth Moore just said in the Esther video today that the world doesn't care about our relationship with Christ but how we resemble Him.
There is your food for thought all started by a 5 year old.

Great Accesory Project

Tricia at Oh So Crafty made this really cute brooch and a great how-to. I am totally going to make but a little smaller!

Dream House Winner Time!!!!

Find out the winner of this year’s Dream Home 2009 by tuning in on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 8pm/7c on HGTV.

WFMW: Kids and Laundry

(This is a republish because this week's Work For Me Wednesday is an oldie but goodie call)

Moms, let me break the news to you...You don't have to do all the laundry but you do have to invest some time in training and let go of the details. Let us first start with the dirty clothes. By the time they are a year and a half my kids are responsible to put their own dirty clothes in the hamper (and yes I remind them;). Then by 5 they can sort their clothes into color piles (I do mine just because of the gentle issue). I do a cursory look until about 6. Now I don't really check the NerdBug sorting unless I knew there was some iffy things. They are also always welcome to ask me if they are unsure which pile they go into. Then we go onto the washing and drying. When we moved into our new house we got the new front loading washer and dryer. This is great for kids. Both the 4 and 6 year old can easily put clothes in the washer and move them to the dryer. The 6 year old can even start the loads. Then I have the kids dump all the clean clothes into a basket and move them to the loft (where I want them to be). Now my kids do all this while I am nearby usually changing a baby or something like that (my laundry room is upstairs).

Then I invested in those pop up baskets for laundry that they sell with all the "stock up you dorm" stuff for $5, one for each kids. The ones I got at JoAnns have handles, are colored (one for each kid) and have sections you can velcro up or just leave as on big long basket. I sort all the laundry and put the appropriate foldables for each kid. For the 4 year old I give her wash cloths, spit cloths and her socks. The 6 year old gets all of his clothes at this point. Now, not everything is absolutely folded perfectly but it will be ok. My rule is, as long as it all fits in your drawers it is ok. I have gone through and shown them the correct way to fold, had them show me they can and let it go. Remember, you don't have to look at it or do it so don't complain.

Now I can't wait until they can iron;).

Carnival of Homeschooling: NerdHouse

Welcome to the NerdHouse. Why don't you come on in and see the Carnival of Homeschooling we have set up? Lot's of people are already here with all kinds of great entries.

As we go in take a look at the family bulletin board. Kim at Kim's Play Place has is announcing Science and Technology Education Blog Carnival. I also have Home Spun Strip (#325) from Home Spun Homeschooling. They are always so cute and refreshing.

Let's take a seat in the living room for a moment to talk about the challenges and joys we face as homeschoolers. There isn't anything like a little community support. Erin at Delighting in His Richness shares I thought I could, I thought I could! She shares how to overcome the afternoon slump with kids. Summer over at Wired For Noise shares the 5 Books That Influenced Me to Homeschool. Susan over at The Expanding Life talks about our ever changing roles as parents and teachers in Serving Punch. Renae at Life Nurturing Education shares a glimpse in Like Mother, Like Daughter. The Crazy Mom over at The Crazy House share a humorous and encouraging look with Testing, Testing, 1-2-3. Timothy at Sometimes I'm Actually Coherent gives us How Times Have Changed. While reading one of the lessons from a McGuffey Reader prompts some thought on the question: What is childhood for? Why Homeschool talks about One of the great things about homeschooling - vacations. Beverly’s Homeschooling Blog (About.com)
has a forum member who wants to know How do you keep your sanity?

Let's go join that group over by the bookshelf. They are sharing some of their learning experiences. Tammy over at Adventures on Beck's Bounty share about her nature study with A Bird Highway? Christine over at Our Curious Home tells us about the First Day of this Late Winter Co-op. Dolfin at Lionden Landing shares her groups initial plans in building their Sunflower House. Dana at Principled Discovery tells us about What My Daughter Learned Through Blogging. Sue over at Homeschooling High School tells us why we should Teach Your Teens Real Life Money Skills. Two Kid Schoolhouse tells us why she reads aloud to her reading children in Reading Up. ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother talks about homeschool lesson task lists in Assignment List Time I Guess. Learned Genius tells us Why You Should Read the Classics: A Bibliophile's Diatribe. Jenny at Home is Where You Start From shares Our First Week with Sonlight's Language Arts.

They group over by the desks are giving each other some resources. Lynn over at Eclectic Education shared Our Lapbooks. We here at the NerdFamily need to get started lapbooking too. HEM Takes A Closer Look gives us a great piece on Hands On Learning. Tracey at Glue on her fingers, dirt on her toes, she makes laughter wherever she goes has a great unit study with Spring Forward, Fall Back. Living By Learning shares some great online resources and tips on Looking at Chinese Paintings with Kids. Shannon at Song of My Heart has a great Colonial Days and The American Revolution unit. HomeschoolBuzz.com Reviews shares their review of Artistic Pursuits Jr. High book one: The Elements of Art and composition. Let's Play Math shares a great Math Warm-Up: Today is February 4 x 3 x 2 x 1. Petticoat Government has a Cuisenaire Rod Suggestion.

Not all lessons have a spot on a report card. Both the joy and burden of being a homeschooling parent is that we are also tasked with the subjects in life. Jennifer at Cage Free Monkeys dealing with a lesson on sorrowing due to pet loss in Breaking Hearts. The Reluctant Homeschooler helps her daughter through friendship issues in I'm Busy Right Now. Becca at Inspiration for Mothers tells us What to tell your kids about suffering and injustice in the world. Dana at A Very Nearly Tea gives us a glimpse at Teaching Understanding.

Over at the kitchen table they are talking a little politics. Brian over at New Hampshire Rocks! tell us about an Attempt to Undermine Home Education in New Hampshire. Alasandra over at Alasandra's Homeschool Blog gives us Why Carol Moore Chose Not to Homeschool that invalidates her argument. Barbara Frank Online asks if Our Parental Rights in Jeopardy? Life Without School Community Blog talks about The Myth of Credentialism.

That brings us to the end of this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. Please submit your entries for next week's carnival that will be hosted over at Life Nuturing Education. Thanks again for joining me! So go read and comment!

My Vote is...

Since we the people apparently own 80% of AIG I vote we don't dump another $30 million into it. Fire all the people running it and what ever we do, don't let someone who works for the federal government run it either. Ugh!

Meal Plan Monday

Here is the plan for this week!

Monday: Fish, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Chicken Kiev, Pasta and Asparagus
Wednesday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli
Thursday: Hamburger Helper for Dad and the kids: NerdMom is going to Campaigna
Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine