I could have given a pretty good excuse to skip out again this week, for example: my son’s baby shower starts in 8 minutes. But here I am, faithfully sitting in front of the computer, blogging away. The sacrifices I make for my readers…
Here’s what I have for you. There are several contributions from a couple of faithful comedians, since these contributions go back several weeks.
And I found many others that were too good to read alone.

Stolen links:

• “Family” Vacation from Don’t Try This at Home
• Bedtime prayers – princess bride style from Raising Five
• Laundry Drama from Rocks In My Dryer
• Asrat Asks the Age Old Question from Cappuccino Life
• That IS a Lot and Charlotte Mason Was a Wise Woman from Here in the Bonny Glen
• Rachael and the Baby from Seven Silly Southern Sisters
• You know you’re raising country kids… from Owlhaven
• Speaking of ostriches… from The Greenhouse
• Overheard this morning … from ATYPICAL pposite of typical

Donated links:

• Little Prayers from Robin’s Nest
• The Flip Flop He Spotted from World’s Greatest Place to Live INSIDER
• Children’s views this week from Bruggie Tales
  Clare has very definite ideas as to what makes her a good girl.
• Lizbeth named her baby Mizz Sherrod? from Patricia Ann’s Pollywog Creek Porch
  When Emily was 3 years old, she was confused when Michael, the nephew we raised, and his wife Lizbeth named their newborn Kari.
• Kids say the funniest things! from For a Season
• Not Normal from Principled Discovery
  OK, depending on my frame of mind when I think about it, I’m not sure whether to laugh or to cry. But laughing is better for you in the long run and helps me keep better perspective. My son has pica and this entry is about that.
• Chocolate pudding and toddlers, never a good idea… from Lil Duck Duck
• Make a Family Cartoon Clock! from Creative Homeschooling
  Turn an ordinary clock into a family heirloom with this fun activity. All you need is a cheap clock, children’s books, some photos and a bit of creativity. Voila, you’ve got a clock that will be treasured for years to come! See also how to make Cartoon Fridge Magnets.
• Overheard, times two from the SmockLady
• My Aunt Weasy and her roly poly family from Seven Silly Southern Sisters And Their New Bro
• Are there Superheroes in Heaven from Homekeepingheart
  I was explaining to 4yo Justin about getting a new body in Heaven, andhe had his own ideas about what kind he wanted. I know I’m biased, but I thought it was the funniest thing ever!

If you read all the way to the bottom, you’re a real carnival fan – are you interested in hosting the carnival on your blog? Let me know in the comments, or email me at homeschoolmarmATgmailDOTcom.

Hope you enjoyed it – I’m off to the baby shower!

Helpful links:

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Carnival rules and guidelines
Submit a post to the next carnival

I read from Mark 13 to Luke 6 today. For some inexplicable reason, I sat at the dining room table to do my reading. This was a very bad idea. It went something like this:

me, to myself: hmmm…I’m starting at Mark 13 today.
undisclosed child: Mom. I already brushed my hair. Will you style it for me?
(I do a high, must be very high, pony tail)
Then I sweetly explain to her that I am reading God’s Word, and she must not talk to me for a little while unless it’s very important.
me: Mark 13, verse 4:
undisclosed child: Mom! I’m hungry.
I oversee breakfast.
me: Mark 13, verse 3. no, wait. I was on 4. Or did I get to 5?
undisclosed child: Mom, the baby is awake. Can I hold him?
me, in an angelic voice: Yes, honey. Thank you. Mark 13? what verse was I on?
Then I sweetly explain to her that I am reading God’s Word, and she must not talk to me for a little while unless it’s very important.
(I start over because I don’t remember where I was)
undisclosed child: Mom, what does it mean in Luke chapter 2 when it says…
(I explain the passage)
Then I sweetly explain to her that I am reading God’s Word, and she must not talk to me for a little while unless it’s very important.
Mark 14. I’m pretty sure I read all of 13 at some point.
The toddler climbs into my lap. She is grimy and her diaper is dirty. I wipe her up, do another very high pony to match her sister’s hair, and hand her off to my oldest for diaper duty.
Mark 15.
undisclosed child: Mom, the baby is crabby. I think he’s hungry.
I sweetly explain to her that I am reading God’s Word, and she must not talk to me for a little while unless it’s very important.
I nurse the baby while reading. Mark 15, verse 6.
undisclosed child: Mom?
me: WHAT????
undisclosed child, cowering and sniffling: never mind, Mom.

After that, my reading went a little faster.
Yes, I apologized. And yes, I’ll be using some progesterone cream today. And yes, I’ll be reading in my bedroom from now on.

money at my house.
Mom has been giving us ten cents for
about two feet of rock lining,
or she’ll pay us five cents for each
Daddylongleg we flush down the toilet.
And its fun!

If you are a member of the blogroll all ready please do a post about it, If you are not members here is a link to the rules page! And also members please ask your parents to do a post about it so the blogroll can get more members.

I think he looks just like Dad, don’t you? (Mom and I made some touch-ups on the picture with paint-brush.)

When my Aunt Weasy was two or three (She is almost 18 now) she collected a family of roly-polys. She played with them all morning, showed them to everyone. There was a Mommy roly-poly, and a Daddy roly-poly, and a baby roly-poly. Mom said that she built houses for them, and she kissed them, made beds for them, and made them go to the store, just a bunch of stuff like that. At noon, my grandma called her in the house for lunch so she set them on the ground ever so gently, as she smiled at them, and then can you guess what she did? She squished them went inside and ate!!!

I just found out that my Rabbit knows about my blog! she did alomst the same post at 12:00 Am this morning as I did today!

I just found out that my Rabbit knows about my blog! she did alomst the same post at 12:00 Am this morning as I did today!

My rabbit has a blog, please don’t leave comments on it though or she will find out that I found out! I found out last night when I got up to go to the bathroom, I saw her sneek in and type up a post. Here is the link: http://mylifeinacage.blogspot.com/ check it out it’s funny!

Who is still with me? My four older girls and I are keeping up with the challenge so far. I haven’t started reading yet today, but did read a few extra chapters last night.
If you’re wondering how I managed to get ahead, my technique can be summed up in two words: Self Delusion.
Here’s what I do:
I divide my reading into two sessions. I “plan” to read 5 chapters at each sitting. But when the first 5 are done, I talk myself into reading 2 more. Who knows what might come up? Why not get a jump start on my afternoon reading?
Then there are 4 possibilities for the later reading:

1. I don’t get around to it. This is not insurmountable, since I only have 3 chapters to catch up on the next day.
2. I read 3 chapters. Great. Right on schedule.
3. I delude myself again: I sit down to read 3 chapters, but I decide to read 5 since that was what I had intended to do. Why read less now just because I read extra this morning? I am now 2 chapters ahead!
4. I practice Super Self Delusion: I sit down to read 3 chapters and ask myself, “Why just 3? I read 7 this morning. I can read 7 now just as easily.” Bingo! I am now 4 chapters ahead.

Self delusion. It’s the procrastination antidote.

Did you know the New Testament has about 300 chapters in it? Well my mom thought of a challenge: To read the new testament in 1 month 10 chapters a day, I’m doing it in fact today is my third day and I’ve all really read Mark chapter 2! I encourage you to start the New Testament challenge today!
Today while I was reading about the 30 silver coins that Judas Iscariot traded Jesus for I remembered a story my sister Deanna told me:

Once there lived a king in what was said to be the most beautiful kingdom ever. One day the king decided to have a paper posted all over the kingdom that told the villagers to come to his palace on a certain date and tell what they think he was worth.
So when that date came people came and told early and late some said “I would go over a million mountains and give up all my wealth for you Oh king!” others said things like “everything I own” or “Anything for you Oh great king” But when it came to a very poor looking man near the back of the line the king asked “And what do you think I am worth?” The man answered “29 pieces of silver”
“29 pieces of silver!?!?!? What makes you say such a low amount?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!” said the king in much fury.
“Are you worth more than my Lord Jesus Christ who was sold for 30
pieces of silver?” replied the man.

I forgot the rest of the story but what do you think he would do?