52 Lists week #50; Accomplishments

-
Oh boy! This week's list assignment: List your Accomplishments for 2016  really stumped me at first.



I do enjoy thinking back through the year and looking at all that we've done.  I look at how much the kids and their skills have grown.  And yet I rarely think of those types of things as accomplishments... I know they are but I have a hard time thinking of them that way.

This year I think my biggest accomplishments have taken place right here on my blog!

I made a promise to myself that I would take one year and try to transform my blog from more of a daily diary to more of an authentic blog.



I would take one year to work at promoting my blog, linking up faithfully, making comments on other blogs daily, utilizing Pinterest, Google+, and Facebook more often....

And it paid off!

I have been approached to write a few affiliate posts.

I have been asked to write guest posts and even provide articles for larger homeschooling brands.

Each of these accomplishments have been met with equal parts elation and terror; I'm elated that so many people are reading and enjoying my blog but change often terrifies me and I'm always so afraid I'm going to mess up an affiliate post or write an article that just bombs in the eyes of the other editors and publishers.

I want my blog to grow.   I do so enjoy writing it and sharing my ideas but I'm also conscious of staying true to what I want my blog to be about and making sure I don't take on more than I can actually handle.  So while I still am not sure my blog is right where I want it to be yet I am happy with how much it has grown and changed this year.

It seemed like every time I thought about packing it in and quitting another opportunity came my way and kept me motivated to keep going.  I am so glad I have too!  I have met such wonderful people along the way.


week #20; My Summer Goals
week #23; My Pet Peeves
week #25; My Favorite Meals
week #30; My Favorite Games
week #31; Sports I Watch or Play 
week #35; How I'd Spend 1 Million Dollars 
week #37; My Favorite Places to Shop
week #38; Our family Traditions
week #39; The Things I Wish For 
week #40; My Daily Routine
week #41;  (Make up for any missed list)
week #42; List the Things You Do when You are Sick 
week #43; Conversational Favorites
week #44; November to do list 
week #45; My Gratitude List
week #46; My Thanksgiving Menu
week #47; Favorite Holiday Movies 
week #48; December to do list 
week #49; Winter Bucket List 



Linking Up With:


52 lists with Chasing Slow

TFT 8-24


This Is How We Roll Thursday Party

fandayfriday-link-party

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15 Signs that Homeschooling Is Working

-
Image
As a follow up to my "Kids Say" post I thought I should post some of the things my kids say (and do) that makes me feel like perhaps I'm not failing at this whole homeschooling thing.



I was surprised to find that this was harder to write than I had thought.  I figured it would be pretty easy because most of the time I am very sure of our homeschooling and all that my kids are learning.

Perhaps I've gotten so used to seeing and hearing all of their wonderful work, thoughts, and ideas that they don't stand out as much as all their little blunders?  I don't know.

I do know I have some pretty smart, happy, caring, wonderful boys who put their all into all they do.

They often amaze me and here's a sampling of those times:
1. Listening to my 7 year old playing in his room I hear: "Let them perish in the fields of Asphodel" (while playing he often quotes Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or other literary figures).

2. My 7 year old:  "it costs $35?  …
Read more

Friday Favorites-- Valentine's Day Week

-
Image
Even with two kids that were fighting off colds we managed to have a pretty fun week.  We got a small snow storm on Tuesday that turned to rain and freezing rain by night fall so Ian happily took off to plow and shovel Wednesday morning.  He was back by the time Alec was done at the orthodontist and what might have only been two days of schoolwork turned to three!  I was so happy to see us making great strides in our books.  So many of them only have a good 8 or so more lessons and I really hope to see us finishing up some in the next few weeks.



Here are some of our favorite moments and memories from our week:

Watching these two boys play with their friends at a really fun winter pool party.





Walking around town looking at all the ice sculptures for the fire and ice festival.



Seeing the welds Ian made on his first ever attempt at welding.  He told my husband he wanted to learn to weld and my husband complied.





Alec was happy to be at karate this week practicing his kicks!



All three b…
Read more

Unschooling Ideas for all subjects

-
Image
The boys all piled into my bed for some snuggling and cuddling.  We talked and just enjoyed hanging out with one another for quite a bit.  Once they all started tickling one another, feet were flying and wrestling ensued I decided to sneak out and spend some time on the computer coming up with a plan of activities.



It seems our weeks go best when I have activity ideas already in my mind when the week begins. 

 If we don't get around to them it's not a big deal, but it seems to work best if I have suggestions for some fun learning games and projects.

Typically I only plan enough activities to last us until lunch and then they're on their own for actual unschooling.

I don't force anyone to participate in any lesson or activity;  I suggest things to do that I hope they'll be interested in.

Lately, I've made the mistake of not having ideas at the ready and it seems like we're all floundering for things to do.  I started out trying to make a list of 5 activitie…
Read more

February Pinterest Challenge-- Cheesy Chicken Chowder in a Bread Bowl

-
Image
Welcome to the February Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants of this hop (and you too) to not just pin, but to make it happen!
I have been eyeing Simply Stacie's Cheesy Chicken Chowder pin for a long time and finally decided to make it one cold day last month.  It was AH- MAZE-ING!!!


I did have to make a few adjustments; mostly because I really need to go grocery shopping and partly because I wanted to make it just a bit healthier.  I added a bit more vegetables and cut back on the cheese.  I also wanted to get the chowder started while we were out hiking and prepared part of it in the crock pot.



Ingredient list:

3 cups chicken broth
1 Tablespoon onion flakes
1 cup celery, sliced
2 1/2 cups potatoes, diced (though I think I had closer to 3)
1- 12 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk, skim
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
in…
Read more

Fire and Ice Festival Sculptures

-
Image
One of the towns near us hosts a fire and ice festival each February.  We have yet to make it to the actual festival but this year we did go see the ice sculptures the next day. It's so neat to see so much detail carved out of ice!

A few of the carvings had lost some details and were showing signs from the power of the sun but thankfully it was cold enough that the sculptures lasted this year.









 My boys and I were quite taken with how they looked up close..



This was quite the throne!  Complete with swords carved all around it.



This train had slots carved it in that were filled with colored sand art!



Read more