Crayon stubs

That's a good idea!  Collecting crayon stubbs to keep them from taking up space in landfills and making new crayons.  I like the idea of the ones that make new multi-colors. 

Marry for Money?

So I made the right choice afterall!  Now they're saying that a wealthy man isn't such a great choice. 

"Release your dream of marrying a man with money. Scientists say guys with smaller paychecks are emotionally available, faithful and better in bed."

sprinkler fun

Our neighbor put out a sprinkler Thursday afternoon and the kids had a blast!  Check out little Timothy Monroe, with the water blasting up his shorts.  LOL, it gave him a bubble butt.  Miss Leanna, posing in her new swimsuit. 

Thursday afternoon

Justin, playing with Patches, and Timothy using Starfall's educational website. 

Proselytising (and homeschooling stuff too)

Though this is from a homeschooling article on Enjoying the Process (as opposed to the product).  It was a good reminder for me, as there are definitely times with four young kids that I lose focus and worry more about the product than the process.   I also wanted to mention that I found some interesting thoughts not specifically related to homeschooling.  This particular part reminds me of people I know: 

"Thinking through deeper issues, including religion, philosophy, and the ultimate meaning of life and death, is also a process. We should all try to recognize that everyone needs to go through these processes on their own. Once we believe that we have discovered the truth for ourselves, there is a huge tendency to want to take that product and hand it on a platter, pre-formed and suitable for framing, to everyone we meet. While it is always fine to share, it is much better to enjoy the process of listening to others, while helping them to think through their own ideas on the subject. I figure that if I am correct in my own view of the truth, then that truth will be able to stand up to analysis and criticism from others. If there are areas where I am still in error, I may also benefit from listening carefully to the ideas of others. No matter what, each individual will need to process this information on their own, and arrive at their own conclusions. Other than planting seeds for thought, there is little I can do to speed up the process for them anyway."

I needed that!

This gave me a good laugh! 
From Awkward Family Photos website.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

We just started reading Mr. Popper's Penguins tonight and Leanna and Justin were LOVING that book.  I just found this free Mr. Popper's Penguin lapbook.  Really neat.  I love that you can find so many sources of really great ideas for education.  You don't have to homeschool to take advantage of these ideas either!

Jacob argued with me that those pictures were not of penguins!  "That's bird!" he stubbornly insisted.  We did have an interesting discussion after I stopped reading about the North and South Poles.  (Justin: Can you take an airplane to the North Pole?  Me: I think you have to travel by reindeer, like Santa!  Timothy, suddenly interested: Yeah!  Santa uses reindeer!!  Justin was asking questions about where the two poles were, so I'll have to remember to show them on a map.  It was hard to explain exactly how they are at opposite ends of the earth.  I'll show them on a ball, since our globe is in a box, who knows where! 

Eating out with kids

I liked this post on taking kids to restaurants.  Particularly since Nanny Sue just treated the kids to a lunch at Burger King on Saturday afternoon(thank you!), and they were all very well behaved.  A lady sat nearby us with 3 girls and 2 boys and they were nicely behaved as well. 

Inspiration

On a sunny afternoon, a chubby little fist, full of color and creativity! 

I was catching up on SouleMama's blog, (which is always a pleasure) and it reminded me of this picture I took last month of Jacob.  I'll make an artist of him yet!! 

He's just starting to want to draw.  This reminds me that we haven't been doing nearly enough projects lately.

Recent Crafts

On a rainy day Leanna made jewelry for herself out of pipe-cleaners, and Justin and Timothy each made some little animal crafts. 

Our street is well-protected!

Aren't we lucky?  No one will mess with us......we have superheroes living on our block!

This is my goal.....

I ran into this  article on large homeschooling families, but it really applies to any family with organizational challenges!  This is my goal for one day-when we have our own house again-because realitstically, given my personality, a husband who doesn't pitch in,  and the fact that I have four young children who carry my genes, we will never be a family with an immaculate house.  Or close to it.  But one that nurtures creativity, that I can live with.

Absorbing education

It's pretty awesome to realize that the boys are learning things, without my sitting there forcing them to go over letters or numbers.  Without doing countless worksheets.  The progress is slower this way of course.  But I think the extra time spent playing will benefit them more in the long run. 
It's hard though.  You have to shut off the voices in your head that say they show know this, this, and that already!  You're not doing enough!   You aren't providing them with enough.  Those voices are loud.

• Yesterday Jacob pointed to a letter and said, "S" and he was correct.  I've not even tried to teach him the alphabet song yet!  

• Timothy and I read a book about bats and on each page one bat left.  He was correctly counting how many would be left each time and found the word "BAT" five out of six times in the word find.

• Tonight Justin told me that twice at our old house, he fell asleep simply because he kept his eyes shut.  He said he thinks it might happen two more times here.  Then he said, "that would be four times then!"  I said "Justin!  You're doing addition!!"   I've never tried that with him.

I think it's more exciting in real life than just looking at plain numbers on a page.  A lot less boring, certainly.  But it's neat to see it happen, and of course it's always nice to know I've not completely ruined them!

Allergy Fun

I just ran across this story of a family's fun preparing for an event with an allergic child.  Her child has severe allergies, and at the end of the post they tell how he did have a reaction from secondary contact-he didn't even eat the offending food!  Scary stuff. 

We're just coming down from an allergic reaction of some type.  We were in Allentown last Tuesday for an appt. and Jacob's skin was clearer than it had been, I assume from being removed from Wilson air/pollen (sue's yard is surrounded by trees and she has neighbors on both sides who don't cut their grass often).  So at first I just thought it was his skin going back to a Wilson normal.  By Friday night his body was hot all over and he was COVERED in red bumps.  He hadn't eaten anything (that we know of) and he actually wasn't scratching all that bad.  More confusing was the fact that the little boy Sue babysits had a couple bumps so they kept thinking it was something contagious.  I was pretty sure all along it was an allergy thing, but lost a lot of my confidence because everyone was panicking.  People got in a state worrying about impetigo and sandboxes.  There were phone calls and discussions with friends and neighbors!  It was turning into a VERY BIG DEAL.  We went to the doctor on Monday afternoon and they said that Jacob's body was in a weak state from the fever (and he's always compromised  because of the eczema to begin with since eczema is the immune system attacking his body) and was probably more susceptible to whatever it was that caused the reaction so that's why it spread out of control.  So now he's on 3 oral medicines and a stronger hydrocortizone and an extra skin med.(his rescue cream) plus double the normal aquaphor applications!  But it's going away! 
The good part is that Jacob is willing to take his medicines.  Amazing what a difference a year makes.  Last summer we couldn't get any medicine in him!!  He seemed to even know when it was in his food or chocolate milk, now he's willingly doing it.  No struggle!  This opens up the possibility of benadryl for whenever his skin get worse, not just emergencies. 
The little boy Sue babysits was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease.  They said it's going around.

Internet ties

Just sharing some thought provoking posts.  One of my favorite blogs, by writer Katie Allison Granju, has multiple posts lately that really inspire thought.  Including links to posts by friends (I really like that one)  and others on the subject.  Read her post on the secret she's no longer willing to keep.  I don't have the time or privacy to fully explore my thoughts on the subjects, but to summarize:

Katie's oldest child had a drug overdose and was brutally beaten.  For several days they didn't know if he would even make it.  Now they're looking at a long period of therapy and wondering what happens to him once he is fully functioning again.  Will he take this as a sign to stop, or will they be back to square one?   Her posts make me cry.  Her love for her son shines through so clearly and it makes me feel her pain through that universal tie all mothers have.  Circumstances don't matter, you just know there is a mother heartbroken over her baby boy and you grieve with her.  It's scary because it's clear this mother adores her children and tried her best and still......sometimes that's not enough. 
 Who knows where I may one day find myself in this parenting journey.  Where but for the grace of God, go I.   I feel bad that she has to endure people's judgement at this time when she has so much to worry about.  (she's also heavily pregnant with her fifth child). I know I couldn't take the judgement she receives on a regular basis, let alone at a time like this. 
This incident has brought forth a slew of interesting topics: about secrecy and addiction (or any illness) about how to avoid drug problems, is experimentation ok?, how can this (can it?) be avoided, does calling addiction an illness actually make things worse, where are the boundaries between her life and her child's-can she talk about his life without damaging his privacy?, parental expectations about child rearing, about the recognition that some people get addicted quickly and easily while others are not wired that way, and also how sharing the difficulties of raising older children can be a relief for the person sharing and the person reading it. 
Again, I don't have the time now to write my thoughts on all of this, but I wanted to share it because there are a lot of though-provoking topics, beautiful writing, and because I think I think it's good to put these stories out there to help others. Though I don't know Katie or her family; this has affected me as well.

Kids eat free at Quiznos

For details
Unfortunately for me, it's only one kid per adult though.  Free is still free. 

: (

Division loses a member!

New toy for Tom

We finally got our tax rebate.  Tom got an iphone.  The 3GS.  He hasn't put the thing down since he bought it on Saturday.   Literally, he's been sitting on the couch, just playing like it's a video game!  I don't know that I've ever seen him like that before.
Me, I got some educational material for the kids.  I hit up Becker's and Borders.  I could so easily spend thousands if I could!!

EDIT: I should add though that this new phone has already been very useful for his business, and it's also a business expense that can be claimed.   Plus he was due-overdue-for an update.  

Photo mosaic

Update on Photo Mosaic

So far they show only a miniscule portion of the pictures sent in on the NYT Lens blog, but they promise more will come.
I think it's a really neat project, I'm glad I participated.   They say, "So far, that portrait seems to be one of surprising tranquillity. No one has to tell readers of The Times, or just about anyone else, how upended and violent the world seems to be at the moment. But our respondents tended to show moments of repose, rather than anxiety; of warmth, rather than heat." 
I think my picture fit in with that, it's a happy moment.  

 But I, like others in the comments, objected to this portion of the post:

" It may not constitute a “realistic” view of the human condition, but it does offer something of a balance to the images of suffering and destruction that are more often a staple of the Lens blog.
Another impulse discernible among the early submissions was domesticity. Rather than looking for broadly symbolic visual emblems, readers concentrated on showing their worlds (and maybe a few more cats, dogs, tulips and coffee cups than we hoped to see, if truth be told)."

I think the media distorts our views of what life is really like. Yes there is a lot of violence out there, but maybe there really are more happy moments, more tranquility than we've come to believe.  Maybe the reason there were more moments of domesticity was because there ARE more moments of domesticity in life.  In my humble opinion, it is more interesting to show your own world, exactly what you were doing then, than to photography something abstract or beautiful that has nothing to do with you.  Maybe our worlds ARE broadly symbolic afterall.
I thought it was rather nice that there were so many similar photos.  Kinda comforting. We're more alike than we are different, no matter where in the world we come from.    
I'm looking forward to seeing all the submissions.  It should make for an fascinating picture of our world. 

Our photo-mosaic picture

Enjoying a sunny afernoon in Utopia, PA.  

This is the picture we submitted for the NY Times photo mosaic, as I posted about before.  We took the picture at exactly 11:00 AM, Saturday May 2, 2010.  

Yumm!

Anyone wanting to make this for my birthday, or a day ending in y, is more than welcome too!!

A good idea, I think

Boy Scouts introduce Video Game merit

by Ben Silverman

Buzz up!

Evidently bored with building fires, tying fancy knots and helping old ladies across the street, the Boy Scouts of America have decided to hip it up a bit with a brand new honor rewarding their understanding of video games.

The new Cub Scout ‘Video Game’ loop and pin.

While that may sound ludicrous to old-school Scouts, the new "Video Game" award is intended to make Tiger, Cub and Webelos Scouts more responsible gamers.

Rather than shooting their way to success, they'll have to accomplish a number of far more mundane tasks to earn the new belt loop and pin, such as explaining the importance of the video game ratings system, working with an adult to build a schedule that includes chores, homework and gaming, and playing a game designed to boost math, spelling or other school-oriented skills. Belt loops and pins are the cub scout/webelo equivalent of merit badges for boy scouts.

Of course, earning the game award involves playing games, too. Scouts will have to show their shopping savvy by comparing games at different retailers for the best prices, install a gaming rig, and -- toughest of all -- play a game with a friend for one hour. Is there a statute of limitations on getting Cub Scout pins? Because I earn this one pretty much every day.

To be fair, the requirements do seem to fall in line with the overall Boy Scout mission of being a responsible citizen. And with harsh language and intolerance plaguing online gaming, anything that helps instill good sense into young gamers is okay in my book. You can check out the full list of Video Game award requirements here.

So does gaming has a place in the Scouts, or should they pull the plug on this in favor of more traditional outdoor activities? Earn your 'Commenting' badge and sound off!

Confronting the dark side

Why unsanitised (Disney) fairytales are important. 

Misconceptions

I LOVE this list!  

The Public School Parents' Guide to Homeschool Parents  

"We all know that there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschoolers, and, while most of those tend to be centered around the kids, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschool moms (and dads), as well."

Quote

"I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built upon the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think. Whereas, if the child is left to himself, he will think more and better, if less showily. Let him go and come freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself, instead of sitting indoors at a little round table, while a sweet-voiced teacher suggests that he build a stone wall with his wooden blocks, or make a rainbow out of strips of coloured paper, or plant straw trees in bead flower-pots. Such teaching fills the mind with artificial associations that must be got rid of, before the child can develop independent ideas out of actual experience." -- Anne Sullivan

Socialization, exercise, and fair and share.

I went to the homeschool fair and share last night with Leanna.  It's a chance for you to see what curriculum others use and how they like it.   Plus you get a free curriculum item.  And lots of catelogues.  Leanna stayed in the children's section (right outside the door) and played with some kids who were there, then made friends with the teenage librarian.  They hugged when she left.  It's nice to be reminded of why you're making this decision and see so many other people doing it too, and doing it well.  I had some questions about portfolios and unschooling answered, which was nice. 
Saturday night we went to the park with Uncle Billy and had a nice long, active gym session.  There were a few kids maybe a year or two older than Leanna, and some teenagers.  They all played tag (uncle Billy included) and it was a competitive, fast-paced game!  It was funny to watch, and I was pleased to see that Leanna is just fine interracting with kids of all ages.  It puts to rest any doubts I have about either homeschool socialization or her old school thinking she just wasn't able to interract or make friends.  All the kids got lots of excersize.  And Uncle Billy kept up with them too! 

Rock N' Roll baby

Ha.  Nanny Sue has a  wiggles guitar and I told Jacob to go "rock" with it.  I meant in rock n'roll fashion.  He took the guitar and proceeded to "rock" it......back and forth like a baby. 

:  ) 

Links

I found this, looking for music websites for kids.  It's an online piano, you chose the notes and then it plays back what you've composed. 

There are plenty of bigger pianos you can find if you google Online piano. 

More on Math

http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/39676

I wish I were brave enough to do that!  It makes sense to me and fits in with much of what I've read about how children learn.  Self-motivation is key!

math games

Dishwashing: hand vs. machine

I was curious which is greener, to wash dishes by hand or use the dishwasher.  I know dishwashers use hotter water which kills germs that you don't get by hand, and I'd heard it uses less water.  But I wondered if the electric used kills the value?

Here's the last paragraph of this article on the subject:

"Built in dishwasher vs. hand-washing: And the winner is...
These numbers indicate that it's possible to be more efficient when hand-washing, but it's pretty tough. Can you successfully wash and rinse a soiled dinner plate in just over a cup of water? If you can keep the water use low, equal to an efficient machine, you'll require less energy, but doing an entire load of dishes in 4 gallons of water is roughly equivalent to doing them all in the same amount of water you use in 96 seconds of showering (using a showerhead that emits 2.5 gallons per minute).So, as long as you don't often run your dishwasher when it's only half full of dirty dishes, or unless you are very miserly with your water use (or have an old, inefficient dishwasher), the automatic dishwasher is likely to be more efficient. That is to say, it's possible to use less water and energy by hand washing your dishes, but it's not easy. Of course, if you do it just right, it might just be a wash.
Hit the next page to dig a little deeper and see where all these numbers and calculations came from."


So for the vast majority of us, the answer is to use a dishwasher!  I'm ok with that one!

Crushing spirits

 I enjoyed this post about someone's moment of clarity re: her role in bringing up her child.  Here's the most important part(to me):


"We have had to walk such a firm line with him to keep him from being rebellious. Well, we were up in his room. He was throwing a fit. I was sitting with him explaining that he's not to act that way. It hit me with a blow - I may never be able to control him. I may never be able to control him. That's exactly what went through my brain. I may never be able to make him conform to the image I have of a good child. He might always make me look bad. The next question that ran through my brain was, "Can I love him the way he is?" Can I accept him even if he's different than what I want? Maybe he'll walk a path that doesn't make sense to me.Maybe he'll show us a different perspective on life. If I try to make him conform to the identity I want him to have, our family may miss out on his unique gifts. So I set him free ... in my heart.

Does that mean I don't continue to train him on acceptable behavior? NO! It doesn't mean that I stop training him in good character. In fact, I didn't change a thing outwardly. I still discipline him. I still get frustrated and yell (sshhh, don't tell anyone). The change in me was so subtle. I had let go of control spiritually. Let me tell you, this has somehow changed Andrew in palpable ways. He does not struggle with anger like he did before I set him free. He is so much more open to listening. I don't treat him like I dissaprove of HIM, just the act or behavior. His little spirit can sense it. It's amazing to observe."

This is something I know, but reminders are always good.  I have four kids that act like the one she's describing.  I feel a lot of pressure to have "good" kids and often I do feel like people are judging me and that influences the way you parent.  Sometimes a reminder that it ain't all about you is good.  Your desire to make the child blend in more can crush them (which actually makes them even more difficult to handle).  I know people that I believe this happened to.  Particularly now, this is a good reminder for me!  

Christmas lists?

Also, family members take note!  I found this: Wishtracker 
You set up your wishlist and have family/friends do the same.  I can go in and see each member of my family's wish list, and mark an item as purchased or whatever. However, the person never sees what has been purchased, so the surprise is never ruined.  So it's like an amazon wishlist, but for everything.  

Shall we try it?

Random Recent Things

*It rained yesterday afternoon, and we ran outside quick to put the lid on the sandbox and pick up anything that shouldn't be outside.  I was babysitting a neighbor boy too.  I told them to get their sillies out, quick!  Then they all just started running in a circle in the rain, yelling at the top of their lungs.  It was hysterical, and they LOVED it!  (probably not loved by any neighbors who were home then, but it afternoon and they're KIDS)  They need more moments like that.


*I've discovered Justin likes history (or at least Roman history)  It's really cool to be reading something to Leanna and suddenly have Justin pipe in with a question or comment.  It's a great feeling to have these moments where you're discovering what neat people your kids are.


*The boys love watching the garbage truck come, since here it comes in the morning.  Jacob yells, "Come back Truck!"  They always say hi to the garbagemen. Leanna likes giving flowers to random people when we're out walking.  It's her own idea, and I think it's a neat way to brighten a stranger's day.


*Did you know that Roman bath houses were a lot like modern malls, but with bathing?  I knew they did public baths but I've now learned that it was a big social thing too.  They bought food there, could sunbathe, get a massage. The baths had hot and cold pools, towels, slaves to wait on you, steam rooms, saunas, exercise rooms, and hair cutting salons. They had reading rooms and libraries, as among the freeborn, who had the right to frequent baths, the majority could read.  They even had stores, selling all kinds of things, and people who sold fast food. I learn a lot through educating the kids!

Photo Mosaic

I love this idea, the NY Times is asking people to take a photo on Sunday, May 2 at 11:00AM Eastern Time and send it in within a few minutes.

The idea is to simply take a photo at that moment that day and upload it. (Which also happens to be my Dad's birthday)  From their announcement:

What matters more than technique is the thought behind the picture, because you’ll only be sending us one. So please do think beforehand about where you will want to be and what you will want to focus on. Here are the general topics:

Religion
Play
Nature and the Environment
Family
Work
Arts and Entertainment
Money and the Economy
Community
Social Issues

You can read the initial announcement here (includes directions): http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/about-3/

More information is also available here: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/readers-9/?src=twt&twt=nytimes

Missing my camera

I miss being able to unload photos and share them here.
Our camera, our new camera that I had just bought on Black Friday, is dead.  Apparently got knocked over  or stepped on at some point after the move.  I found out the night before Easter when I went to take pictures of Easter egg making.  I still have our old camera, which does have more options (but less megapixels by far), so I am not camera-less.  But our compuer isn't up and running yet, so I can't unload pictures.   And I miss the smaller, less obtrusive camera.  It could safely fit in my pocket or purse and just wasn't so bulky.
I did check at a camera shop and I'd probably be charged $20.00 to send the camera to be examined, and then most likely about $80.00 for repairs, which is the cost of a new camera already.  
 :  (

Pass it on, baby!

I found this blog which collects children's clothes to pass along to other mothers who could use them. It's called Pass it on Baby!  A neat idea.   From the blog:

"One mother clearing out her child’s closet and packing up clothes she once loved on her own child, the other beginning to stock hers with a new size and some of those same loved pieces – meant for another to love."
As they point out, it brings joy on both ends. 

another kid cooking show

I just watched this with the boys-Jacob in particular liked it.  When she eats some chocolate chips he kept yelling at the computer, "Hey!  Spit it out!"   He was truly indignant, which is pretty funny considering that little Hot Chocolate, as Laura calls him, would be my biggest chocolate stealer himself!!

I'm rich!!

Wahoo!   I've earned .40 cents through Amazon!    LOL, I can almost buy Justin a snickers bar!
Still kinda cool though, cause I did earn it........took several widget adds, and unfortunately mutiple emails back and forth to customer service and the person who bought!

Nutella's Yummy

Sounds delicious, I googled Nutella to see if there were any interesting recipies.  Last night looking for a new way to get some fruits/veggies into the kids, I cut up bannas and added some Nutella.  Delicious!

I'll have to try this Nutella recipie from Anali's first ammendment next:

Nutella Banana Muffins
(adapted from delicious days)

1 stick = 1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 large ripe bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup Nutella
1/2 cup vanilla rice milk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In medium bowl, add melted butter. Mash bananas into butter with a fork. Mix in all the remaining ingredients except the flour. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Add flour and stir just until combined. I used my regular sized muffin pan and put in paper liners. Pour batter into muffin pan and bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.



*Updated 2/8/08* I had to let everyone know about this great recipe for homemade Nutella that I saw on the blog of Mr. Zen Chef himself, Chefs Gone Wild. Check out his very funny post and recipe for Zenutella!


(the post includes a story about Steve Martin! and Nutella!  How cool is that?!)

Man this year is going fast!

Just a reminder, though I think a hand-picked bouquet is a wonderful mother's day present myself. : )

I'm so relating to this one!

A quote from a blog on what to expect.com called There is NO cookie  cutter for motherhood:

'This isn't the first time I have seen the severe looks people give when they see a big family.  I was talking to my husband after last week and how I think some people automatically think that large families have naturally more wild children than the "average" person and that they will cause more trouble.  I would have to disagree with this train of thought.  Sure the noise level is going to go up a few decibels but I don't think that a boy that comes from a family of five or six is more apt to get into mischief than a boy who is an only child.  It just "appears" that way because there are more of them running around.  

 

I also think that in general, our world is becoming more and more impatient with children.  You don't want them looking through your stuff at a garage sale?  A.) Ask them politely if they wouldn't mind finding something else to do, B.) Find the heart to bear with their curious nature, or C.) Don't have a garage sale.

 

Don't get me wrong there is a need for boundaries to be set and rules to be obeyed but you wouldn't expect an only child to sit in the house all day twiddling his thumbs and not saying a peep.  Kids need to be allowed to run around and perhaps a little whooping and hollering while they're at it.  They need to be allowed to explore and get their energy out.  Maybe even to learning to deal with the barking of afamily pet is something we can all work on.  After all sometimes a dog is the perfect friend for a child. If a child happens to get into something they are not suppose to or try something you don't approve of, be a little forgiving, they're not perfect yet.  Having said this, there are times for punishment but not with a condemning lecture telling them what bad children they are.  Having a big family isn't always easy, if you notice a child doing something they probably shouldn't, politely inform the parents of your concerns but don't condemn the parents they are trying their best.  Raising a large family isn't an easy task.'

Adjusting

Since our move, I've noticed some changes in the kids.   Leanna and Justin are somewhat defiant, I've had trouble making them listen.  (more than normal)  Timothy was rather weepy for the first week and a half.  He was crying over little things that would have rated only a yell in the past.  With Jacob it's too hard to tell because he's just been in misery with his skin!  Since we moved here his skin has been awful, some days it looks like he has welts!  So he's generally been rather cranky and cries a lot, but given how bad he must feel, it's tough to say whether some of it is just from the move or not.
It makes sense that it's tougher on the older kids, they were more used to how things used to be......our routines and ways of doing things.  Leanna is particularly bothered by this and has been taking it out on Nanny Sue a bit.  She resents the change and the new way of living.  This should lessen as time goes by and I've been working on her attitude as well.  Our schedule is still all messed up, we just don't have a rhythm going yet.   We're here for two weeks now.  There is a lot of adjust to for all.

On the bright side, the kids like the animals and playing in the yard with the next door neighbor.

cheesecake

Made a cheesecake last night, first time I've ever tried that.  I thought cheesecake would be very complicated to make, but it was really easy.  We'll see how it turns out (haven't tried it yet).

Today's agenda: make healthy bars for kids from a recipie Jamie sent me a few months back.

Recent cuteness

Random cute stuff:

The week we left our house it was raining the one day and Jacob came out on the back porch and said, "Hey!  Who turned the water on??!!"  He kept repeating it, wanting an answer.
Last week he pointed up and said "turn the light on!" (referring to the sun). 

Yesterday Timothy told me when he grows up he's going to drive a motorcycle and a car.  (I hope not!)
But he's also commented on someone on a motorcycle and how they should have a helmet on, so if he does, maybe he'll at least be safety conscious!

We made Rice Krispie treats last night and Justin and Timothy helped.  I don't know what I'd do without Justin to stir in the love!!  

Products

Looks good, I've read good reviews........It's supposed to be good for keeping kids busy in a non-mind-numbing way!!

Local news

News about Straight No Chaser, which includes two local members. (One of whom I went to high school with, sang in high school choir with and I sang with his sister in a girls choir.  My cousin was in a boys choir with him too)

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice
by Robert Frost


Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.


We've lately been reading some poetry now and then.....I've picked some from my college textbooks.  Although I know she doesn't understand much of it, I figure exposure to good poetry is never a bad thing and might in some way inspire her.  Besides, you have to be exposed to the good stuff in order to recognize it.  Yesterday Leanna decided to memorize this poem all on her own.  I'd mentioned that I wanted her to start memorizing some poetry, but I hadn't picked any out yet for her to do.  I suspect she picked this one at least partly for the length, but she's rather proud of herself.
I was going to add a video of her reciting it, but since blogger changed, I no longer have a link to add movies (the one for pictures doesn't work). 

Sweet artwork

One night Leanna made me this banner and duct-taped it to the doorway.  For no particular reason, she just thought it would make me feel good.  I guess I can't be doing EVERYTHING wrong when she's so sweet all on her own! 

Scenes from downtown

I took a few pictures downtown today, I still always feel funny doing it, I think people are wondering what the heck that woman is doing taking pictures of buildings and things!  But it's still kind of neat to look at it through the eyes of a camera.  You notice things that you might not see otherwise.  And despite the city seemign to get worse and worse, there are still many parts that really are very pretty, if you take the time to notice. 

This house just had some neat architectural details: the tops of the windows, the ornamental pieces on the higher windows, & the brick arches.

A downtown clock

These two shots were taken right by the Baum (it's the red brick building.  The trees just looked really pretty, and I took the second shot to show the school as well. 

 

The ever-present scaffolding, somewhere downtown always seems to have it. 

More Christmas presents, finally used

Justin made me these pictures, just because!  Cute marker by number kits by ALEX (though Justin just colored how he wanted). 

Life as education/little pleasures

These are from today, just sitting for a few moments outside a construction site.  I love that picture of Justin, it gives a glimpse of what an older Justin may look like (I think).  I know, he needs a haircut.  Every week we have time to kill while Leanna's in her art class-it wouldn't make sense to walk home, we'd have to turn around and walk back out again in about an hour; plus everyone wants to take off their shoes and socks and get their clothes all dirty when we get home, so I'd just have to re-do everything before leaving again! 

So instead me & the boys walk around downtown.  I confess we do often visit Dunkin' Donuts (coffee fix!) because it's a pleasant way to kill some of the time and get rid of extra change in my pockets, and we visit the dollar store too.  But we also walk around and look at the neighborhood.  It's times like those that I am grateful to be a stay at home Mom, because I have the time to stop and watch the street cleaning truck go by, the man lower himself down into the manhole, the workers wash the windows hanging from a platform, workers washing windows from the ground with long squeegees, the jackhammer buzzing away, digger trucks loading dump trucks, streets being paved, and construction workers slowly errecting buildings.  These are all things we've stopped to watch and talk about.  The boys are just fascinated with this stuff.  Occasionally workers have waved at us or even stopped to talk.  It's nice not to be in such a rush that we can't stop to do that, or even to have the time to notice these things in the first place.  I've noted before that many of our best conversations come when we're out walking.....so many topics come up naturally.  Life itself really is an education.  It's one of life's little pleasures that I am able to appreciate. 

The building we've been watching go up since November, when Leanna started Art Classes. 

What all the toddlers are reading......

Jacob spent last week's art class-walk-home perusing a real estate magazine in the stroller.
(His sister has a habbit of picking up free magazines, but then not wanting to carry them home).  

Support for parenting teens/letting kids tell their own story

A thoughtful post on the lack of support for parenting adolescents and the topic of letting your children tell their own stories online....both interesting topics. 

I like her idea of blogging only with children's initials instead of names so that what you write about them doesn't come up on a search engine.  Right now I'm fairly safe as my kids are all young, and three of them have very common first names.  I have googled them to check that their info is relatively safe, and it is.  I imagine that sometimes it would be difficult because you'd like to talk about some aspect of your (older) child's life, yet it is not just a part of your life, it's their life too and they have the right to have some control over it.  I'd imagine it's all about balance, like everything else in life. 
Yet another aspect of parenting that my parents and grandparents never had to deal with! 

And at a private christian school, no less!

I like this principal's idea: school cancelled due to a sun-day

I thought this was hysterical

World Repair Kit

Pretty cool, a bit pricey at $25.00, but I love the idea: World Repair Kit

Just a reminder

Anyone buying books for easter, or any other occasion, is more than welcome to use the search bar for amazon on my blog......and in the process support a struggling family!!  (I still have no sales and not even a click through!  :  (  So keep me in mind when you make an amazon purchase) 
Or if I post a link for an amazon product here, I get credit if you click on the link)

Curiouser and curiouser!

A page with some Alice in Wonderland quotes.  On the surface they may seem just nonsense.  But if you read with care, Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgeson) really did have something interesting to say.

(The story behind the books is pretty interesting too, it would be pretty awesome to have someone make up a story just for you and then have it published and turn out to be a classic book!)

Buncha pictures

Smoothie face Jacob & silly Leanna

Leanna, playing with her friend

Jacob and his beloved Sunbutter, or as he says it, Shun-butter!  He's just really happy that he can eat his own "peanut butter and jelly" sandwhiches. 
According to the nurse at our last visit, it's safe, although it says soy is processed on the same equipment-and previously I was told to avoid those types of products.  (as though the allergy stuff wasn't confusing enough, I've been told different things by the allergy doctor, his nurses, and the secretarial staff over the phone!) 

Nails by Leanna

She does not only my nails, but also her brother's.  She's recently begun mixing colors for more fun!  We found an old purse of mine full of nailpolish, so she's been in nailpolish heaven.

This amused me

Taking a slight break from all the packing and cleaning.  We suddenly got internet back last night, and we have no idea why, but I'm taking advantage of it while it lasts!!
This one still makes me laugh: While packing last night, I started going through piles of papers Tom had tossed on the floor to be thrown away.  (I've learned to check through for important stuff)  And sure enough, I found a stack of recent bills amongst the trash.  "Tom!" I turned around, "Did you really intend to throw away all these bills?!"  He replied, completely seriously, "They'll send more." 
Well, he has a point.

Dinosaurs Love Underpants!

Sorry for all the product posts recently, but I found this book tonight and intended to look it up and to add it to my wishlist for Justin!  Dinosaurs and underwear???  Perfect! 

I found this book tonight at Barnes N Nobles, and flipped through it.  Really cute. 

Moving discoveries......

I am thrilled that I found


while packing up my craft room books. I love love love this series of books, though I only have two.  I loved them as a girl, and I remember I did attempt to share them with Maree, many years ago.  But she wasn't much interested.  Leanna, however, I am happy to report was just as into them as I was.  They're a great personal look at history....short stories with a moral-but not overly preachy-that a curious and strong willed child can certainly relate to. 

Talk to me Like I'm Someone You Love

I ran across this book on a post from Owlhaven, Talk to me like I'm someone you love. 



It made me immdeiately think of some feuding family members of mine.  : )    
Might make a nice resource for a therapist too! 
From Owlhaven's blog review of the book:

Some examples from the book:

–”I was making a big deal out of something that just isn’t that important. I want to let it go.”
(How nice would it be to hear that one in the middle of a disagreement? And what a gift to give that to a loved one!)

–”When you are so intense, it’s hard to take in what might be valid about what you’re saying.”
(so much better than saying, “Stop yelling at me!!” — a line I’ve tried on several people without any noticeable effect. )


–”I am upset. This doesn’t mean you are a bad person…It means that if you could just listen, I would feel incredibly loved.”
(for those moments when you need a listener, not necessarily a solution)


–”I love you. I hate fighting. Can’t we just hug?”
(this one is used not to ’shut down’ a person, but to come to some peace when a heated discussion isn’t seeming to get anywhere.)

Further explanation of Leanna's sculpture (and a cool book)

The book read by John Lithgow. Good advice, for anyone, of any age. If you don't already know it, this is an extrememly popular book to give as a present for graduates.
Around 2:35 you can see some of the structures Leanna's class used as inspiration for their sculptures. The whole class' sculptures were really neat. All twisty arches and houses on stilts and such. Hers actually looks much better in person than it does in the picture(I'm not sure why).

On a related note......(to the soy post)

See how excited he got when he saw I got more lotion (right now I'm just using petrolium jelly because it's cheaper.  Normally we use a generic version of Aquaphor).  He got so excited he took off his pants right away so we could put some lotion on him immediately! 

Inspired by a morning of art, Leanna came home and made jewelry for people she loves. 

Artwork from the last class of the winter semester

Leanna's sculpture (inspired by Dr. Suess's Oh The Places You'll Go)

and her city-scape watercolor pencil drawing (cool tecnique using salt and water to make the snowflakes)

What would you do for a kit kat bar?

For a kit kat bar, Timothy will write his name, perfectly. 

Today's artwork

Today's artwork that she brought home, anyway.  Today we had to stay after, so that the teacher could photocopy Leanna's drawing of her class, because she just thought it was so cute.  She asked Leanna if she could keep it, but Leanna said no, so she made a copy.  These are just the pictures she made during their free time at the beginning of class. 

Soy is everywhere

After a while, you really begin to wonder why they put soy in EVERYTHING?  Did you know you're drinking soybean oil in that soda?  Ewwww. 

Finding inspiration online

Today's the first time in a while I've visited SouleMama's blog, which I always find so inspirational.  I love this sweater she made for herself!  Although she thinks it's too big, I think it fits perfectly. 
I'm still in a funk, but I figured I have to keep posting stuff if I want anyone to use my amazon links (a way to make a tiny chunk of change) and if I decide to try for an online writing job, I should keep my blog current.  I'm not sure I'll even bother with that route anymore, but I don't want to completely close the door either.   
At this point I feel like I'm continually waiting for the other shoe to drop....the next bad thing to happen.  I'm getting scared because it's been getting worse and worse, so I really hope it stops soon before anything truly tragic occurs.  I'm worried that something will happen to one of the kids next, and I don't think I could handle that. So I can't guarantee for the future, because more bad stuff might happen, but for today I'll post a little more.