Assessment Time

We have less than a month before we finish our school year and it's time to stop and take an assessment. In the public schools this means testing for the kids. Here in our homeschool it's time for me, the teacher, to stop and think about what we've done this year.

• Have we accomplished what we planned? 
• Have we finished our books that we need too?
• Is there anything we've missed/
• What areas are we weak in?
• What things need some work over the summer so we don't lose ground?
• And...what are we going to do next year?

This last one is a big question for me because we have been mulling over the idea of letting the boys attend the public school. I say letting because this is something they think they want to do. I visited the school and talked to them about what school would look like for our youngest. Being considered "low-functioning" he would spend the majority of the day in the special ed room so they showed me the room. I have to say that was probably the most depressing thing I've seen all year. It was small and crowded and I was quite surprised considering the school is only two years old. The kids I saw were all considerably lower functioning than our son, most of them nonverbal. As a taxpayer I have to admit I was stunned. I think our kids deserve a better learning environment than this. Just because a child scores low on the cognitive scale does not mean they want to be cooped up in tiny, dark rooms. Give them some space to play and learn. Give them some windows for pete's sake! 

The thought of Alex spending the majority of his day in that room for the next three years really depressed me and I can't imagine how he would feel. We have worked very hard with him to help him develop and feel as normal as possible. I feel that if he spent  much time there it would set him back miles. You see, my son is like the perpetual first grader. This is about where his skill level is. This is where he is developmentally. He could probably go to first grade every year and be very happy because these kids think more like him and he gets along with them when it's time to play. But apparently schools don't find it appropriate to have 11 years olds in first grade, so they have to be with their age level even if they can't perform the work and they can't relate socially to 11 year old kids. I miss the days of one room schools where teachers had more flexibility in working with these kids. 

We have the same issue in Sunday School. If he could go to class with the 1st and 2nd graders he would be very happy, because those kids are his friends. But instead he is expected to be in class with the kids his age, the kids who are mean to him and make him feel stupid. A place where all of the kids can read and he struggles. A place where all the kids are given parts in plays and he isn't so once again he knows that he is different, He doesn't fit in. And it breaks my heart when he comes home from church angry or crying because someone said something cruel to him.

So, unless something drastically changes we will continue on our homeschool journey. I have to admit this is not without a lot of kicking and screaming on my part. This is not what I want to be doing. But I am reminded that honor and duty are not something the military invented. It's something that God  ordained for parents, for children, for Christians. 

With that in mind, we will all soldier on.

What is Plexus and Why Do I Encourage People To Try It?

What is Plexus? I get asked this all of the time. Plexus is a health and wellness company that focuses on getting your body healthy from the inside out with plant based products. I usually recommend starting on the TriPlex combo but am now adding X Factor. Plexus TriPlex helps remove harmful substances from your body, replenishes the gut, and rebalances your body. X Factor is our wonderful multivitamin with Aloe. I just listened to a naturopath share her experience with XFactor and am ordering some ASAP for my youngest son. Here is the link to her story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJHiRMUaW4E&app=desktop

Why do I think you should try it? Do you feel tired? Are you sick to your stomach often? Hurt everywhere? Feel like you're missing out in life because you just don't feel good? Do you just want to feel better so you can participate in life more fully?  I was all of those things and after about three months using Plexus I started to feel better. I've been using it almost two years now and I feel better than I did when I was 30. I think that's pretty good since I just turned 54!

It is amazing what can happen when you have a healthy gut!

 #plexus #natural #plantbased

In the Intro to a Book I Just Started

From Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman

Little Things

For several years my husband has been wanting to put up a little storage shed. We have a one car garage and once you get 4 bicycles, a lawnmower and lots of other kid toys in, there isn't much room to move around if you pull the car in too. In the winter months it gets pretty hard to work in there. I don't know why it took so long but we finally decided to invest in a shed. We waited until Menards had their 11% rebate sale and took advantage of it because the savings in the rebate made up for the delivery fee. 

The boys were ecstatic! This is a project that they got to do with their dad and they couldn't wait to get started. Last week they finished it up and this weekend they painted it to match the house. I think it looks great and hubby is thrilled to get some room to work in the garage. 

Now if we could just get the grass to grow...

One picture!

I must really be slacking. I only took a couple of pictures on Easter and this is the only one that turned out. This is my grandson and his little sister peeking out behind him wearing the bunny ears we got for them. I thought they looked pretty cute!

We had a birthday party for these two on Friday. They are now 3 and 2! 

Saturday we had a quiet day. I went shopping and bought some new clothes for the boys who are literally outgrowing everything. I hope they stop pretty soon!

Hubby was sick all weekend so he was pretty much a non-player in the festivities. Thankfully he's feeling better today.

Our local school is still on Easter Break so I decided we'd take the day off too. Aaahh! What a nice feeling!

What did you do this weekend?

Some links of things I am loving right now...

These flag designs are from Lisa BonJeans site. Aren't they fun?

A few years ago I bought a book called Sew Serendipity and love the designs in it. The other day I came across the authors website and I fell in love with these two patterns. I would love to have this dress to wear on a hot summer day! Don't you just love the little bits of polka dot trim around the neck, sleeves and hem?

Here is the same pattern in different fabrics. Love it!

I'm not getting much done today. I should be cleaning house but instead I'm tidying my office and watching YouTube videos of  The Great British Sewing Bee. What are you doing today?

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Hey everyone! It's my birthday and thanks to my Plexus TriPlex I feel younger than I did 20 years ago! It's like I'm turning back the clock! To top it off Plexus sent my paycheck two days early. Happy Birthday to me!

I'm so excited I want to share my birthday blessings to you. So just for today I'm giving a special gift to anyone who joins my team as an ambassador. If you've been thinking about it today is the day! 

If you would like to know more you can email me at krishuskerbabe@gmail.com or check out my website below:

http://shopmyplexus.com/kristuttle/

Thursday Tidbits

I haven't taken time in awhile to just chat about life. Why? Well, my life isn't exactly that interesting. It is to me, but it's not much to write about. But I wanted to share a little bit about what's rattling around in my head. 

Spring- and all that comes with it. We're planting seedlings and the hubby and boys are building a storage shed in the back yard. The grass is greening up and my perennials are peeking out of the ground. I'm always a bit hesitant to start clearing the dead stuff off of my flower beds because it's not uncommon to get snow into May so I like to protect them for a bit longer. But it's nice to hear the birds singing in the morning and the occasional rain dripping off the roof. We have decided to change up what we plant in the garden this year. Going a bit more basic but wanting to get the pantry restocked. We didn't run out of anything this year but it was closer than we like. 

School- We are nearing the end of the year. I told Preston the other day that if he was diligent than he could finish his Math by the end of April. That will be nice for both of us. (smile) It's been a challenging year for us. I think we are all looking forward to a break. We are praying about changing things up in the fall, maybe an online program for Preston or starting a co-op in our community or even the possibility of sending them to public school, but I'm not sure I really want to do that. Maybe it's time to look harder for more options. 

Work- Hubby has been really stressed by work lately. There have been quite a few equipment breakdowns and he's feeling pressure to get it all working smoothly but the equipment is not cooperating. He has always been pretty good about leaving his work at work, but lately it seems to follow him wherever he goes. Maybe he's ready for a vacation too.

Well, it's time to get the boys back on task and then see if I can get a few things scratched off of my to-do list. I am looking around my office and seeing that I have been slack in keeping things tidy. Time to get busy!

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

Kris

Gut Health is the Buzzword These Days

For as long as I can remember I have had stomach issues. I thought it was inevitable because everyone in my family has stomach issues, so it must be hereditary, right? But what it we all had stomach issues because we all had the same lifestyles? Ate the same kinds of food? Had taken the same medicines? Definitely gives one a moment of pause...

The following is taken from this article: http://www.extrememakeovers.com/the-candida-die-off-process/

Here are common Candida Overgrowth and Leaky Gut Syndrome symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Brain “fog”—hard to focus or think straight
• Oral Thrush (a white film on tongue or in the mouth)
• Bad breath, foul taste in mouth
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating and indigestion
• Increasing allergies to foods (gluten or celiac problems can be a direct result of Candida overgrowth) more
  Constant craving for something sweet!
• Joint pain with arthritis-like symptoms
• Chronic sinus drainage—which antibiotics don’t help!
• Weight gain (or loss) and the inability to change it.
• Fungus on the toe-nails
• Itching, red eyes, ear drainage
• Acne Breakouts
• Candida Skin rashes on the body (eczema, atopic dermatitis)
• Candida Rash around the groin or in the folds of skin
• Vaginal yeast infections
• Bladder infections
• Anal, penile or vaginal itching
• Hair loss
• Vision problems
• Anxiety and/or panic
• Depression from feeling so low and bogged down all the time

• I had many of these symptoms. Almost two years ago I decided to try Plexus TriPlex to see if I could lose some extra pounds. I had no idea that I would also lose the other issues I had such as joint pain,headaches, hair loss, abdominal pain and indigestion, bloating, depression, anxiety. sinus drainage, fatigue....wow! I was one sick girl and didn't realize how sick I had been until I started to get better. TriPlex was the first step on my road back to health. 
• 
  

• If you have any of these symptoms and would like to try Plexus I would be happy to send you a free sample. My email is krishuskerbabe@gmail.com. If you would like to check out my online store and read more about Plexus products you can click HERE and it will take you there.
• Plexus has a 60 day money back guarantee for customers. 

Shop Hop Day 7 aka Last Day

It's a very good thing that this was our last day because Preston's allergies took a wicked turn and he developed a bad cough. My brother in law said the cedars were pollinating so I'm guessing that this was the culprit. It was time to go home where we have fewer trees. 

First stop was in Wayne and I forgot and left my phone/camera in the car. It was a small store but she had some fabrics I hadn't seen anywhere else. I'm guessing this was also their home and I like the idea of a shop/home. Next stop was in O'Neill which happens to be the Irish capitol of the state. They had shamrocks painted on the sidewalks all down main street.

And lovely green quilts and fabrics!

Notice how the quilts are reflected in the shiny ductwork?

I must have been in a big hurry to get home because I forgot to take pictures at In Stitches in Ainsworth also. I had been there before because it's on the way to my parents. The owner had some neat examples of fabric painting. Beautiful but way to much work for me. She is also a former homeschooler so we talked a bit about that. Apparently we both started in 1989.
We got home about 3 p.m. and had traveled five days and just under 1,400 miles without ever leaving the state. It was a good time and I'm glad we did it. We went in an unrushed manner so we could stop and look at things that interested us. It would have been more fun if my husband could have gone, but this way the boys took turns sitting in front and fought less.
Biggest thing I did right was load movies onto the tablets so if they got bored on the long stretches they could watch something. And we took frequent breaks to walk and stretch our legs.
Now that I'm home I need to get busy organizing my sewing area so I can do something with some of my new fabrics. After my trip to Hasting this weekend! (smile)

Shop Hop Day 6

Day 6 started out great! We had spent the night in Omaha so the first stop in Blair was a very short trip. This the the Acme Fabric and Quilt Company. They are a fairly new store and I fell in love with it. It's owned by a mother and daughter team and they were so friendly and their store was just adorable.

Alex thought this looked like Shaun the Sheep!

My favorite horse quilt on this trip!

Don't you love their fat quarter storage?

This was all minky fabrics, too soft, we wanted to just wrap up in it and take a nap!

West Point

I had thought about visiting my niece while I was here and seeing her new baby but then I assumed she had probably already gone back to work so I didn't call. I later found out she was still on maternity leave. Moral of the story: I should have called. :( 

Now we're in Wakefield and I really liked this store also. It was like the Tardis, bigger on the inside than outside! (HT Dr Who) She had older model sewing machines all over the store to use for decor. Lovely store and I found some patriotic fabrics I'd been looking for.

It was funny, I was looking at this display when I heard a familiar voice. I looked over at a group of gals who were shopping and recognized two of them from my Thimbleberries class. So funny to be in the opposite corner of the state and run into ladies from a neighboring town. Such a small world.

I Bee Quiltin- Norfolk

As I was walking through the store a woman stopped me and said, "Didn't I see you in Hemingford a couple of weeks ago? I recognize your boys." See! Small world!

This quilt made me wish I'd have bought the black Nebraska fabric instead of the blue!

Love this giant star in repro fabrics!

The boys had been really good all day so when we were done we found a cute coffee shop down the street from the quilt shop and they got hot chocolate. The store was really trendy and neat but they need to work a bit more on their coffee. Then we went for a long walk in the mall to get our muscles moving before we went to spend the night at my sister in law's home. I was worried that by now Alex would be having some problems since he was out of his routine but so far he was doing great! The next day was the hardest, but by then we were on our way home so it all worked out pretty good.