Happy Friday, y’all!  Thank you so much for the positive response to the revamped Weekly Wrap-Up. It makes me happy that y’all are as excited about it as I am.

What’s Happening in WUHS World

We’ve had a relatively quiet week. Megan’s boyfriend was here last Wednesday through Sunday. He’s a great guy and I love hosting when he visits, but you know how it is when you’re back to just immediate family after having guests. Or maybe that’s just introverts.

We completed – okay, Brian completed – our first small project for the remodel last weekend. He painted our front door and replaced all the ancient brass with beautiful brushed nickel.

Before

After

The hardware wasn’t cheap, but it was much less expensive than a new entry door. And, we’d still have had to buy the hardware. We were perfectly content replacing hardware. Our new door knocker is my favorite.

We still have to add the kick plate, but it was missing the screws that were supposed to be included. We’ll probably pick some up while we’re out tonight and get it added tomorrow.

Brian was off yesterday and again today. I wish I could say it’s for something fun, but, alas, we’re cleaning 25 years’ worth of junk out of the attic to get ready for our bathroom remodel. We’re expanding the master bath into what is currently attic space.

Do you have any idea how much junk and attic can accumulate in 25 years? {sigh}

From the Archives

I like when I laugh while reading an old post of mine that was supposed to be funny. It doesn’t always happen that way, but it did this week when I read 10 Funny Things People Think, Say, and Ask about Homeschooling.

Of course, sometimes I’m the only one who laughs at my jokes at home, so no promises.

Fun Finds

All About Learning Press is giving away a $100 gift certificate. We love their products! Head over to their site to enter the giveaway.

Surprisingly Social

I’ve been social against my will this month. Monday afternoon found me threatening to vote for whichever candidate had robocalled the least. All of these messages were campaign calls:

You may not be impressed with four messages, but we can literally go days without the landline ringing most of the time.

In Case You Missed It

Did you catch this week’s blog posts? I offered some tips for helping your homeschooled teen land a job, and Erin shared some practical steps for controlling your anger on those tough homeschool days.

And then there was the time that I redid our cell cake to make better pictures and was going to take it to my mom’s for dessert.

Q&A

Several people have asked me what I’m going to do when my youngest graduates. That’s next year, y’all! Yikes! I really love blogging and writing so I plan to keep doing that. I plan to continue blogging about homeschooling for awhile. Surely, it’ll be a few years before my ideas are out of date or my memory fades.

What Y’all Loved This Week

The Top 5 posts from last week (minus the three that are always in the top) are:

• 10 Reasons You Should Definitely NOT Homeschool
• Weekly Wrap-Up: The one where the wrap-up got a makeover (That one surprised me. Fun!)
• My Favorite Cold and Sore Throat Remedy
• Help! What if My Homeschooler Needs to Go to Public School?
• 10 Lies People Believe About Homeschooling Families

 

How was your week? Post about it on your site and link up. If this is your first time to join us, read the Weekly Wrap-Up guidelines first. You can also grab the banner code while you’re there if you want it.

Remember: link directly to your Weekly Wrap-Up post so that others can find it easily when they visit your blog. And, post a link back here so that your readers can find the Wrap-Up and join in the fun.

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Happy Friday, y’all! I’ve got something a little different for you today. It’s a Weekly Wrap-Up makeover! Yep, after over 10 years, the Weekly Wrap-Up is getting a complete overhaul, and I’d love your feedback!

I’ve had people ask why my Weekly Wrap-Up doesn’t focus on homeschooling much these days. One word: teenagers.

Since my youngest is a high school junior who completes her schoolwork independently, I don’t have a lot of fun projects and activities to share.

And, it wouldn’t take long for y’all to get tired of seeing pictures of her sitting on her bed surrounded by school books. Not to mention the fact that I’d have to set my alarm for two or three in the morning to take those pictures.

But, I still enjoy writing the Weekly Wrap-Up and catching up with y’all on a personal level. And, I’m going to need a place to share those home remodel pictures. {grin} And, photos of all the creatures.

So, I thought I’d try a post layout that would allow me (and remind me!) to share little snippets of my life, along with fun and helpful finds from around the Internet. Let me know what you think!

What’s Happening in WUHS World

Our project coordinator called Tuesday. Oh, y’all. He feared that he overwhelmed me with information. Nope, he just got me so stinking excited! I just kept thinking, “Oh, wow. This is really happening!”

On Wednesday, Megan and I took a little road trip to Atlanta to pick her boyfriend up at the airport.

He flew in for a concert they attended Thursday night. Because they were general admission seating, Megan and Jake got to the venue there crazy early – and wound up right in front of the stage! They were second in line to get in, so they were literally standing right up front.

Megan was beyond excited.

Tonight’s plans include a bonfire and s’mores if the weather cooperates. Yeah, I’m totally crashing that part of the party. {grin}

Our big, fur-baby celebrated her 2nd birthday on Thursday. Because all our creatures are rescues, Belle is the only one whose actual birthday I know. And, I’ll always remember it because it’s the day after Halloween.

She loved the party hat. {grin}

I wish this photo hadn’t turned out so blurry. It’s my favorite.

Speaking of Halloween, this is the first year that none of my kids have gone trick-or-treating. {sniff} I mean, yeah, I know my youngest is 17, but still.

Because we don’t get trick-or-treaters where we live, Brian and I went out to dinner and our new favorite place, Lowe’s. The stores were like a ghost town. (See what I did there?)

We decided that we might have to make a tradition of Halloween shopping in the quiet, peaceful stores.

From the Archives

Do you and your family love card and board games? I updated an older post with some of our family’s favorite games. Check it out and see if any of yours are listed.

Can you believe it’s November already? If you’ve got preschoolers, check out this fun craft for retelling story of the first Thanksgiving.

Fun Finds

Here are a couple of great deals you don’t want to miss.

Udemy has their courses on sale up to 90% off. Josh and I enjoy the self-paced video classes. We snagged a couple for just $11.99. The sale ends 11/13/18.

MasterClass has added some new classes, including Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar. If you’ve got a music lover, this could be a fantastic Christmas gift. (And elective credit if you’re homeschooling high school.)

Surprisingly Social

Have you seen this video? I saw it on Facebook a while back, and it makes me laugh every single time I watch it. And, every time I watch it, I have to watch it over and over so I can keep my eye on a different cat each time.

It totally seems like something my dogs would do.

In Case You Missed It

If you didn’t catch yesterday’s post, What You Need to Know About Homeschooling Kids with OCD, from contributing writer Adrienne Bolton of The Mommy Mess, please take a minute to read it.

Adrienne and I have both dealt with mental health issues in our family, and we think it’s time to start some conversations. The stigma surrounding mental illness needs to end. Families need to understand that they’re not alone.

You’re not alone.

The balancing act between guarding our families’ privacy and starting conversations is a delicate one, but we’re going to give it a shot.

Q&A

People often ask if we’re still using Trail Guide to Learning. We’re not, only because Geography Matters hasn’t completed the series through high school and my youngest is 17. We used Paths of Settlement and Paths of Progress. That was as far as the series went at the time.

However, we loved it and I highly recommend it!

Do you have any questions? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them.

What Y’all Loved in October

This is where I’ll be sharing the top posts from my site each week or, like today, the month that just ended. These three posts are ALWAYS my top three:

• Ways to Make a Cell Model
• How to Make an Edible Cell Model
• 100 Hands-on Activities for Middle School and High School

Seriously. Always. So, I’m going to skip them when I share the top posts, so hopefully, we’ll have a little variety. So, besides those posts, the top posts in October were:

• The 8 Stages of a Grocery Store Encounter with a Homeschooler
• 10 Reasons You Should Definitely NOT Homeschool
• How to Conquer Procrastination and Make Homeschooling Happen
• Parts of a Pumpkin Craft + Activity {Free Printable}
• My Favorite Cold and Sore Throat Remedy

Now, I’m off to enjoy a fun weekend with family – all of my family. Brianna and Andrew are visiting, too! My mama’s heart is full

Don’t forget to let me know what you think about the new Weekly Wrap-Up layout. I’m open to suggestions and feedback!

How was your week? Post about it on your site and link up. If this is your first time to join us, read the Weekly Wrap-Up guidelines first. You can also grab the banner code while you’re there if you want it.

Remember: link directly to your Weekly Wrap-Up post so that others can find it easily when they visit your blog. And, post a link back here so that your readers can find the Wrap-Up and join in the fun.

**Was your link deleted? Click here.**

 

Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you’ve all had a fantastic week. It’s finally starting to feel a teeny bit like fall here.

Of course, the cooler temps didn’t arrive in time for the outdoor festival we attended when we went to see Brianna last weekend. It’s hard to enjoy a fall-themed festival when you’re pouring sweat because it’s nearly 90° in October. {sigh}

Life in the south, y’all.

Are there any other ferret owners out there? If so, heads up, because I’m about to share something that may change your ferret-owning life. Okay, so I never wanted ferrets because they stink. And, then we kept Brianna’s ferret, Dobby (named after the elf in Harry Potter because both like to steal socks) for a week.

He didn’t stink if I cleaned up after him regularly, and he was so much fun and had such a great personality, that we decided to get our ferret, Sophie.

Then, Brianna and Andrew moved into a new apartment. Because of  the pricy pet fee and the fact that they’re worried he might damage the carpet, we have Dobby again. Probably permanently.

Y’all, I was doing pretty good cleaning up after one ferret, but two of them were kicking my butt. We were about ready to try to rehome Dobby because the smell was so bad. Then, last week, I came across a video on YouTube (completely by accident because I was there for something else) on keeping a ferret cage clean.

This lady is brilliant, y’all. Last Friday, Brian and I went out and bought the supplies that she recommended that we didn’t already have. Then, Sunday afternoon, we put the ferrets in their pet playpen (yes, for real) so we could tackle the room. Brian steam cleaned the carpet while I took their pen outside and scrubbed it down.

It took about 3 hours to get everything cleaned and set up based on the suggestions from the video, but it has been so worth the effort! The smell is completely under control. Even Megan has said so and she was the most vocal about how bad it was. (Maybe because the room where we keep the ferrets is right next to her room. {ahem})

So, if you have ferrets and you’re having trouble with the odor, or you’ve considered getting a ferret but that’s what’s holding you back, check out the video. It was a lifesaver – particularly since Dobby is apparently a very smart ferret. As soon as we started talking about rehoming him, he became the most loving, playful ferret ever. Well, except for Sophie. She’s the sweetest. {grin}

It was seriously as if he were saying, “No. Don’t send me away. Look how cute and sweet and fun and loveable I am!”

My to-be-read pile: Fellowship of the Ring and A Man Called Ove

I mentioned a while back that, as part of our remodeling project (which is taking forever to get underway), I’ve been scouring antique stores looking for rustic décor. I’m trying to be careful about what I buy because I love so much of it, but I don’t want to get so much that the house just becomes junky-looking.

Well, last week, I found a gorgeous piece that I’ve been purposely looking for – an old butter crock. I found it on Facebook Marketplace. (I so did not need to know that they have an entire antiques and collectibles category.) Because it was from an individual rather than an antique store, the price was much more reasonable than others I’d seen, and it was in much better shape.

I love it! Today, I’m meeting someone to buy a fantastic old Coke crate that I plan to use as a spice rack. And, Brianna is visiting this weekend, so we may go wander around the antique store a bit. I’m on the prowl for a vintage wooden ladder that I can turn into some shelves for the bathroom.

What’s going on with you? Is it feeling like fall where you live? What sanity-saving tip did you discover this week? What are you reading? Fellow moms of teens, what’s going on in your life since we can’t really share what’s going on in theirs?

How was your week? Post about it on your site and link up. If this is your first time to join us, be sure to read the Weekly Wrap-Up guidelines. You can also follow the guidelines link to grab the banner code.

Remember to link directly to your Weekly Wrap-Up post so that others can find it easily when they visit your blog. And, post a link back here so that your readers can find the Wrap-Up and join us.

**Was your link deleted? Click here.**