Accidentally Homeschooling...and beyond

All is quiet around here so I thought I'd sneak in a blog post. Pops is out shopping, the Gman is at the trampolines with 5 boys, and Grandma is napping.
Happy belated Thanksgiving! I'm the least sentimental person I know, I missed a chance to send Thanksgiving Day wishes to the kind souls who take a moment to read my ramblings. I truly am thankful for you. If you have never read five question Friday, you're in for a treat. This is where I reveal my deepest and darkest secrets or random things about me that you may have never known or cared to know about. It's like a little game, meet the blogger. If you have a blog and want to join, just click on the cute picture below. You will be taken over to Mama M.'s site where other bloggers link up. If you don't have a blog, I'll share mine with you. You can answer the questions in the comments section below. You may even win a prize like an iPad, a Hummer or a gently read book.

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I haven't played in a while. Blogging has taken a back seat to my crazy life. Tonight, I need to lighten up and blog for fun. If you want to jump in on the blog fun, head over to Mama M.'s and answer the questions below. As always, if you don't have a blog, I'll share my blog with you. Just leave your answers in the comments.

1. Shoes in the house - yay or nay?

Both. I have a great mudroom with shoe trays. The kids are trained to kick off their shoes. But.....as I type I can hear the Gman walking around with his shoes on.

2. What do you call them- flip flops, slippers, thongs, etc?

Flip flops. I am so happy that they have improved since they used to be the rubber painful things bought at CVS. Statue man gave me the most comfy white pair from The Finish Line that I adore. I wish I had a pair in every color.

3. What song are you almost embarrassed to admit you know all the lyrics to?

4. What is the best quality to have in a friend?

Faithfulness. 'Nuff said.

5. Do you know what you want for Christmas?

I want cancer to disappear and never be seen or heard of again. Amen.

Have a great weekend! I'm leaving my problems behind and heading into Boston with Statueman to take in a Red Sox game tonight to celebrate his birthday. I won't tell you how old he is because I know a lot of mathematicians read my blog and I'm not telling my age.

Thanks for stopping by,


Terri G.


Disclosure *I don't like to cheat. I write my answers before I read any other 5QF blogs. Any similarities to others are purely coincidental or just because great minds think alike.

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I just love this meme, which thanks to Bloggy Boot Camp, I am pronouncing correctly. If you have never joined in the fun, head over to Mama M.'s site and link up. This is a great way for your my followers to learn my deepest darkest secrets or some trivial bits about me that you will forget before you even finish reading this post.

And if you don't have a blog, Blogger is back up and running. You have no excuse now. But I'll be happy to share my blog you can answer the questions in the comments section. I like to share my blog.




1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?

Ankle socks are my first choice, but lately a matching pair will suffice.

2. Was your children's name a mutual decision or was it a debate? 

We discussed it together. By the time the fourth boy came along, we had run out of names we both loved. We ended up choosing his middle name by asking the first person who walked in the room his name. He was the guy who picked up the lunch trays. We thought we had to pick a name before we left the hospital. The funny thing is, the guy happened to be a friend's father. We didn't find that out until much later. We joke about naming our son after him.

3. What is your favorite type of weather?

Fall sunny skies. I just love the crisp days at the end of a hot summer.

4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day?

I'm so sad to say, I have no devices to be left to. I'm cursed or blessed to automatically wake up between 5 and 6 a.m. It doesn't really matter how late I had stayed up either. I try so hard to go back to sleep, but it rarely happens. Thanks to my iPhone, at least I can lay there and check my email.

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet? 


No, we haven't. I'm a procrastinator, so probably by the time I think of it, I'll be under pressure to buy. Or who ever is burying me will have to pay top dollar.


Thanks for stopping by,

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I love Five Question Friday! If you have never joined in, this week is a great week to jump in on the fun. You don't even have to have a blog to play. I will offer to share my blog, 'cause that's the way I play. You can leave your answers in the comments. I'd love to know more about the super intelligent people who take time to read my blog. If you want to play, visit Mama M. by clicking the blog button below and link up with her crazy blogger friends.

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I welcome reader comments with open arms. I also understand if you aren't the commenting or hugging type of person, you can drop me an email at accidentallyhomeschooling@gmail.com.

 It's Friday again? This day keeps coming up, like every 7 days? Time flies. If you want to play, hop over to Mama M.'s. and link up.If you don't have a blog yet, leave your answers in the comments.I'll share my blog.

 I have playing this meme for a while. I really like the way her questions lead to reminiscing about the past and seeing how much God has done in my life. I know many bloggers have fond memories of their growing up or certain times in their lives. Some jogs down memory lane are funny, but some can be somewhat relieving. Like thank God those days are over.
If you want to play click on the button above and play along with Mama M.


2. If you could do a different job for one day, what would it be?

I would like to try being an airline stewardess. I understand it's like being a waitress for hours to the same customers, but it still looks like fun. Perhaps one on a flight to Hawaii.

3. Do you remember your biggest fear from when you were little?

This fear gripped me. I was very afraid of the dark. Being the only girl as a child, I had my own room. This meant getting across the bedroom into my bed with no light on. Of course there were creepy monsters under my bed. This was easily solved by the sprint and dive into the bed. No monsters hand could reach me if I was airborne. Now I know why my bed had a deep depression in the middle of it.

4. What do you think is a waste of time? Why?

Here's where I alienate my readers, friends and some of my family. Blog reading....no really I am kidding. I am so thankful when anyone takes the time to read my blog. But really, I think watching t.v. is such a time waster. When it comes to this, I am like the obnoxious x-smoker. There was a time when I wasted huge amounts of time in front of a television watching soap operas. I am actually embarrased to admit it. That was before I came to Christ. Being T.V. free for 24 years is liberating. I get offended at the scantily clad t.v. stars, the immodest commercials, the treatment of fathers, the lies of commercials, and the lack of values of the t.v. shows. I also don't like the way it robs time from families. So many women I know complain about their husbands, "all he ever does is sit in front of the t.v.". I know my marriage would not be as strong, if a t.v. was involved. The Gman would be complaining, "All she ever does is watch the cooking show, she never cooks."

5. What is the oldest item you have in your closet?

I recently contemplated throwing it out, but I cannot part with it. It is a really cute sleeveless blouse with a gigantic collar. The reason I can't throw it out is: ssshhh.... I am secretly sentimental. I bought it to wear on my honeymoon and I have pictures of me, wearing it, and the Gman in our newlywed bliss.  It still fits and it should be back in style...soon.

Have a great weekend!

This is taken from Mama M.'s

Rules for Five Question Friday: Same as always!! Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then c'mon back and link up (on Friday!). If you don't have a blog, but wanna play along with the coolest blog hop in town, feel free to leave your answers in the comments below!

1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself?


Of course I feel guilty when I spend money on myself. Right now there are so many pressing financial needs, that I can't splurge on myself without feeling terrible.  In fact, I can think of a time when I so wanted to splurge, but the practical side of me won out.
A few weeks ago, I accidentally dropped my cell phone in the pond. It drowned. Yeah! This was my chance for the upgrade. I have wanted the iPhone forever. Thankfully, Verizon doesn't support it. But wait, there's the Droid, which I have lusted over for about a year, which my very cool Dad owns and actually has learned how to use. Now is my chance. 


BUT NOOOOOOOO. 


Common sense prevailed. I got the phone that's free with a rebate. It still is way nicer than my drowned phone. It has a keypad, so sending a text won't take longer that handwriting a 3 page letter. So at times guilt can be a good thing. Plus were are approaching the Anniversary, Christmas, Birthday, Valentines Day gift giving nightmare season, in which my husband is known to splurge.
Let him bear the guilt.

2. How well do you know your neighbors?


Get the violins out. We moved into a really nice neighborhood a few years back. This is a challenge to me. Why? They manicure, pedicure and decorate for every season. So my front yard is... what it is. They probably don't care, but the contrast is there. So we worship different things. Now, we are weird homeschoolers who live and play in our backyard which looks fabulous. 

When one of my neighbors came in the back for the first time in a while, he said "Wow!" He was visibly surprised. I told him "We're not into fronts." And I meant it. In all areas of my life. So I know my neighbors enough for a friendly "Hi" and that's about it. 

3. What age are you looking forward to being?


I am not really looking forward to any future age. I just experienced an unsettling event at my Post Office. A very confused woman was trying to explain some gibberish to a total stranger. It was obvious, she had memory loss and/or dementia. I admit, I am frightened of old age. But, being someone who is a lifelong learner, I intend to fight the good fight like my pal Sabie. Exercise, work, challenging puzzles, Omega oils, reading, and prayer to head off the aging mind.

4. Do you get excited when the mail comes? Why?


I do get excited. I ignore the bills and look for the packages. I shop online and I am a reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew. That means packages arrive. It's like Christmas. O.k. I guess I am a little kid when it comes to this. I do let my boys run out and bring in the mail.

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?


I remember before we moved to my childhood home. I only remember 2 silly things. My oldest brother threw his peanut butter sandwiches near a tree outside a barn and the crib I slept in. It had lambs on it. I just saw one recently at a thrift shop and couldn't believe they still existed. Yeah, it was a while ago like a lot little more than 18 years ago.

HAVE A FUN WEEKEND! I will be spending Saturday shooting some Confederate soldiers with Paperboy and Little Guy. Look for an upcoming post about the battles.




I welcome reader comments with open arms. I also understand if you aren't the commenting or hugging type of person, you can drop me an email at accidentallyhomeschooling@gmail.com.

I thought before we get hit with Hurricane Earl tonight, I'll squeeze in one more blog post. This is one of my favorite memes or as we homeschool moms say "a writing prompt". Link up to Mama M. in fact, send her some homeschool wannabe wishes. In have a feeling she is being influenced by the Pioneer Woman. Here are my quick answers, before I panic about the hurricane.

1. What do you do when you have time to yourself?


This morning, when I had a few minutes alone, I prayed and read the Bible(Romans). Before you start thinking "what a Godly woman." Don't. 4 out of 5 times, I would have gone back to bed. Now later on in the day, when I get alone time, I do strange things. Like shower, blog, and use the ladies room. See, it is obvious I have not had much alone time lately. 

2. When you look out your kitchen window, what do you see?


I see a lovely manicured back yard with a beautiful swimming pool. It looks bare because all of the patio furniture is stacked in a safe spot hiding from Earl. Nothing like an approaching hurricane to motivate the Gman to do a quick clean up. Nice job, Honey!

3. Who/What would you want to be reincarnated as?


Sabie's cat 'Miss Kitty'. She is unconditionally loved no matter how ornery she is. She can hiss, growl, scratch and bite and yet, she is still treated like a queen. Sabie has a funny saying: "A cat and her staff live here."

4. What is your biggest pet peeve about other people's kids?

Since a few of my pals read my blog, I must tread carefully. I am the mother of boys who frequently misbehave or sometimes just act like normal boys, I am subject to this much annoying behavior. 


I am annoyed at endless tattling. I understand that justice is important, but when something isn't a moral issue, it wears on me. I let my children be adventurous. They can climb high, they make weapons, they can walk to the jetty, they are allowed to jump off the rocks, they can swim over their heads. I allow them to ride their bikes to the store. I am not ignoring them. They are doing the same things I did as a kid, and I lived to blog about it. I know my child has climbed up the tree, that is what normal boys do. All that being said, I still am thankful when someone brings something to my attention. If my kids are in the wrong, I do want to know. Even though I do have eyes in the back of my head, I sometimes miss things. 

5. Regular or Diet soda?


No soda. I gave up diet soda a few years back. I threaten my children with paying their own dentist bill if I catch them drinking soda. Random just came back from Arizona, the land of endless Dr. Peppers. Thanks Dad! I think his detox is complete. 


Have a great weekend!

I welcome reader comments with open arms. I also understand if you aren't the commenting or hugging type of person, you can drop me an email at accidentallyhomeschooling@gmail.com.

Wow! Already Friday?  I am a little late today with my post because I spent 5 camera-less hours at the beach with Little Guy. I had a great time with a new homeschool friend sharing some war stories. I promised her any conversation we had would not be blogged about, but boy did she have me laughing. So now back to my answers to one of my favorite memes. If you have never played, why not? If you don't have a blog, I'll share mine with you because that is the type of person I am. Leave your answers in the comments, you never know, there may be a suppressed blogger inside of you. If you play, link up to Mama M.'s blog and join the fun.

If you want to join in on the fun, link up with Mama M. here. 
If you don't have your own blog...Why Not?  Seriously, if you want to play, you can leave your answers in the comment section. You never know, you may win a fabulous prize. Since this is my blog and I make the rules, I can do a giveaway whenever I choose. I may choose you.


1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?

Now how would I know? I am sleeping. I'll have to ask my hubby. I don't want any pressure about being neat or messy while I am sleeping anyways. That's why it is called rest.

I have always thought being part of a sleep study would be a nice little side job. Perhaps when the kids are gone, I'll try it. Yeah, pay me to sleep, I just hope the beds have memory foam.


2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.

Woah, another tricky question. Skinny, kind, gracious, articulate, organized, content, athletic, but really it depends on the time of day that question is asked.

I wish I was more like Jesus.
I am sure He wasn't chubby, cruel, unforgiving, bumbling, disorganized (he didn't have kids or a home), or restless. I don't know if he was athletic, but I do think if he did play sports it would be baseball, the gentleman's sport. And of course he would have been on the Red Sox. Before you start thinking, I have been carried away by false doctrine, I am kidding about the Red Sox.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

I wish I had been warned about the expenses of owning a larger home. I have noticed everytime one thing is fixed, there is a new problem.  I blogged about my money pit before. I could blog for many more days about it, but the goal of my blog is to uplift.


4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?

We just finished a s'more party and I am finally getting around to posting this.


I haven't played in a while, but I do love this meme. If you want to play,  head over to Mamma M.'s and copy the questions, fire away. If you don't have a blog, I'll share mine. You can answer the questions in the comment section. You never know, you could win a prize, I've been known to reward readers with a used beloved book.

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?


NO, I didn't. I did have a favorite doll which I blogged about, that got lost in the lake that I still think of once in a while. But I am not bitter.

2. Do you dream in color? 


I am not sure about this one, but my dreams are filled with action, emotion and usually some major conflict. At times, when I am trying to fight off the bad guys, the Gman has to wake me up and help me. He always seems to know when I am losing the fight. Thanks honey!

3. How tall are you? 5' 6" Do you wish you were shorter or taller? 


I wish I were taller. If I could stand it, I would wear 6-inch heels. I just love my ankles too much to attempt it. 
Tall = skinny to me. 

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be? 


Leonard Nemoy or James Earl Jones. Then I may actually take them serious and follow the directions.

5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?


About an hour ago, I returned it to the corral. That's because my shopping trip was without kids, o.k. I was desperate. It was 85 degrees and 100 percent humidity. My trip was a combination of: I need quiet time and I need some air conditioning right now. If the kids are with me, they put it away for me. 


Have a great weekend!

I welcome reader comments with open arms. I also understand if you aren't the commenting or hugging type of person, you can drop me an email at accidentallyhomeschooling@gmail.com.