Saturday, May 31, 2008

Bit by the flu bug - Day 12

This is day 12 of the flu for one of our little ones. It comes and it goes, no fever, still drinking fluids, eating enough that I am not too worried... However, despite the fact that we are in general a ride it out family, I am thinking it has been going on a little too long, I think it's time for a doctor. Plan is to take him to an immediate care tomorrow if he is not better. I am a little concerned that he might have Giardia or something.

I still am not feeling great my self, but I am functional. Today was a nice day despite our illness. I got a date with my husband (thanks mom) and got to spend some time with my dad. We watched a nice movie called Noah Dearborn. One I would actually recommend.

Talk at you all later,

H

Thursday, May 29, 2008

To Momma Bug and everyone else can listen in...

The school work grind, is what we have been doing. As soon as everyone was well enough to sit up, we went back to work. I have been taking a self given refresher course before I head back for college.

I am going back and looking at all my homeschool extras I have picked up over the years and studying what I can of the math and the English. I have a lot of really good supplies. I know your not real thrilled with the Saxon math, however, as an adult I am enjoying it because I can go through and read each chapter to see if I missed something in school.

I also have math-you-see I plan on watching, but I don't have a VCR to play it on... I will probably have to go down to mom's house to watch it.

The kids are getting the hang of doing their school work... We are not yet to the point that I don't have to sit in the room, but we are getting close, we are no longer taking the W-H-O-L-E day to do it.

I am thinking they have earned an outing/field trip... I am thinking maybe to a creek. A nature walk or something... Only problem is today is not the day for it. We have a dentist Appointment today and everyone is still not completely well. Real soon though.

Hey, let me know if you know of any really good English courses I could look at to get refreshed in English before the fall...

Talk to you soon,

H

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Crock-pot Bean Soup

Crock-pot Bean Soup

10:00AM
Turn Crock-pot on high.
Take 1. Cup Aki bean (or pink bean) rinse and put in empty crock-pot.
Add 3. Cups extremely hot water (I microwave mine until its almost boiling).
Add 2 bay leaves.

Leave for 15min.

10:15AM Turn Crock pot off.

11:15AM Turn Crock pot on and add broth or water until crock-pot is ¾ full. Add ½ cup brown rice, ¼ cup lintels.

Leave for approximately 4 hours.

3:15PM If water was used instead of broth add one TBS. of salt. If broth was used add one tsp salt. Then add vegetables and spices as desired. I tend to use Mrs. Dash (or other non-salt spice mix), or Italian spices and celery salt and celery seed, or ground cumin seed and ground chili pepper.

Leave for Approximately 2-3 hours, until beans are really cooked but before they are mush.

6:15 Don’t forget to turn off crock-pot.

Back to basics

I am completely amazed!

I found a keeper. I have ordered A LOT of books here recently for the kids next school year.

I found a keeper!

Its called “Back to Basics” by reader’s digest!

I love it!

It has almost everything imaginable in it. It’s an odd mixture of new and old. For example, how to turn your above ground swimming pool into a fish pond to feed your family with…

It has how to pick land, how to make your own wind/water energy, how to tan a hide, how to make a sandal, how to build your own hammock, how to bee keep, how to use live bugs to protect your garden, how to build your own roasting spit with pluming supplies…

And much, much, much more.

Ok, the fish swimming pool is my favorite idea so far… How do you think the P.O.A. would feel when my doughboy busts and out come all the fish, to rot on the ground until I got home from baseball practice? (Think I could get away with this? Who would know? At least until it busts.)

Well, it’s something to think about anyhow…

Hope your having a blessed beyond belief day!
~Heather

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

College here I come!

Oh, what a day… a good day.

I did dishes.
I watched the end of a movie.
I taught school.
I REGISTERED for COLLEGE!
I applied for financial aid.
I applied for a BOGG waiver.
I took a placement test
I transferred my transcripts.
I folded laundry.
I listened to country music.
I blogged.

And my day is not over yet…

Wow, what a difference time in the word can make!
~H

And I listened

Despite all my hard tries for devotion times daily,... It has been hard and often rushed. Last night as I climbed into bed, I was not tired, there was no noise, no one needed anything from me... and I picked up the word and listened. And this is what I heard:

Matthew 6:9-7:14

9 Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. [1]10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, [2]on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread, [3]12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [4]14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Fasting16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [5] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. [6]25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [7] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy [1] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.


Each topic seemed to be about a part of my life right now. God is good. ~H

Monday, May 26, 2008

Flu

We got the flu. I am still trying to figure out how we got it. Anna and George got it. They haven't even seen each other the 5days. Yesterday afternoon was thier first day together and the only food they had that was the same was dinner.

Anyhow, so I am gearing up for a long day.

Trying to get all the laundry and dishes done, so if it gets bad everything we need is clean.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

Type at you soon.

~H

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Movie hangover headache...

As my mom so elequently put it...

Staying up tell 4am watching chick flicks is the homeschooler's equivalent of going out all night drinking.

So, last night I slept 10hrs. trying to make up for lost sleep. This morning, I have THE headache from not moving all night. I do feel better today though, I am actually sitting up instead of laying down. I spent most of yesterday watching the kids from a laying down position.

No this is not a normal event for me. It used to be though... Having no T.V. has kinda put a curb on it. (I don't own a lot of D.V.D.'s, for my computer)

It was fun. I feel kinda like a girl again. (instead of just a mom)... Makes me want to go out and buy lip gloss or something. =-)

Painted toe nails... Those of you with girls,... Do you paint their nails? I think this is one of those things my daughter has missed just because she got me for a mom. Right up there with not looking well put together. I was thinking I should practice on her while she is little so that by the time she is big I will have it down. I have never gotten the hang of all the 'girl' stuff.

Guess I hung out in to many tree's growing up.

NA! :-)

Talk to you all soon,

Heather

Friday, May 23, 2008

Forwards...

I am not the type to forward most things... Ok, yes we are all now remember my forwarding mistake here recently, but did you all have to bring it up?

Anyhow, and However...

Tonight I received this one.

Oh, this is so ME. Ok, so here it is...

~~~~~

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'


~~~

To cute, I know. Although, I think the ratio is off a little there, I think it would be closer to 4 under three, don't you think?

~H

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Friends

Lots of fun. These pictures are from a couple of days ago. I hope you all enjoy them. :-)






We had a great time and we 'both' hope we have made you 'both' homesick enough to come home.(momma bug and blessed quietness.)



Ok, I understand how AWFUL these pictures are. However, you can not imagine my distress when I saw this thing in my garage. I thought it was a snake at first (which I proved by screaming). Eventually I figured out it was a lizard. We tried to get a shot, but it was camera shy.





I know its beyond hard to tell from the pictures, but the tail was twice as long as its body and moved just like a snake.


Thank you Lord, it was not.


Then yesterday I was out on my lawn when a gardener snake appeared. Again Thank you Lord it was a just a gardener snake.


I don't do creatures. I can't imagine how I am going to survive three boys.


Well tomorrow, promises to be a fun day. A sleep over for me and the babies at a friends house. I hope I get SOME sleep.
Type at you guys soon,
Heather

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Veteran's Memorial Ceremony


Veteran's Memorial Ceremony




(I love this shot, although I wish there had been just a slight breeze
so we could have seen the flag better)





There is not much to say... It was a really nice ceremony. I think the pictures do it justice. Only one, out of all the speakers, was just a tad long winded,... Other then that. It was faster then I expected, however, we still had three people pass out due to heat exhaustion. THAT I SAW!

IT WAS A HOT DAY! It was a 102 at least, no breeze, no humidity, no shade.
Here is some well deserved free time. Run baby Run.


When we were ALL done we hit the lake. Lots of fun.






Hope all of you had a cooler day then we did.

~H

Friday, May 16, 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Sunny Side Up...

Have you ever had one of those WOW moments as an adult. Where you catch your self just as exited as the kids, over something you just never thought of before...
Well, I had one of those moments today. Yup. I sure did.
And over what you ask? A fly swatter!
Yes I said a fly swatter!
I didn't get to great of pictures but I will let you try and guess what my children came up with.


Like I said, not real great pictures. However it was a lot of fun!
They took spilled bubbles and dipped the fly swatter in them. Then used the fly swatter like a wand.
It was great, there were bubbles EVERYWHERE!
Best darn bubble wand I have ever seen.

We are having a sunny day. In fact I was just considering putting on a suit, a swim suit that is, and going and getting a little tan.
Hope your day is sunny side up!

Ps. PRAISE THE LORD!
We finally have APPLES on George's Apple tree.
All praise goes to God.
Out of six trees I have planted only two are alive, and one of those (the one that is not the apple tree) I only planted last month.

Yesterday's Blog - It's a Party!

Mother's day and Birthdays...



All in one day,... Just like us to Put something off... (Quarkyness #1)



Arn't we CUTE? I mean the baby!






Sip Anyone?











Here is our NEW fishing pole! Thanks Grandpa!






SOLAR OVEN TRY #2
This is my new solar oven,
Thanks to the kids and Grandpa,... Note still under construction (they have been working on it a really long time, but it still wasn't quite done.) It is Awesome though. It has two pieces of glass and a box that I can open from the back to put the food in. TOOOOO COOL.






I am sure there is a good tech name for this mini single binocular. Given to Andrew by Daddy for young marines.



CHECK OUT THESE CURLS
I am learning to style these curls... Quite a challenge. This time I put Gel on directly out of the bath. I LIKE IT. Trust me an IRON has NEVER touched this head, those are all her curls.








Here is the Swiss army knife Andrew got, again from daddy for the Young Marines.


Of course the camera had to go off after we landed in a pile.




I wont say how many candles were on that cake.
Say cheese. Sadly this was the best of the attempts to get a family shot.
CHECK OUT THAT FACE! Oh tooooo funny.
This ones not to bad either.
THE END!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Family...


























Here are some family shots of Mother's Day...



No, I am not in any of them... Me and the kiddo's spent the day at home in our sick beds. (note the P.J.'s in the next few pictures.)
















Here is our 'New to us' Grain Hopper. $20 at a used shop.




















This is the beautiful wheat flour it kicked out... The second time we ground it. (took two times to make it fine enough to use in bread) For those of you who think this looks easy, IT IS NOT!


















The too cute event of the evening was when I asked Anna to say "flour" and she thought I meant "flower" so she smelled it!




Last but not least, here is our 'new to us' dryer! LOL. Yeah, well... That is the way it works. Give something away and THEN you find a use for it.


Good evening to all,


God Bless,

~Heather

Ps. Thank you Mrs. C for remembering! Right back at you, well a little late. (A sheepish smile)

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Oh, what a week!

Bread... (Home made of course)

Sleeping bags 2...
Queen sheets...
Pillows...
Camp Chairs for kids...


Oh, what a week. The sad thing is I don't feel like I even got anything done. I am so ready for bed, but I am staying up with a little one so he can finish his work.

I don't normally do that. Normally anything not finished is just put off to another day, but I am afraid this was lack of diligence. So, I am trying to follow through and make sure we see no pleasure in stalling. But OH, I am soooo tired. The good thing is he is old enough to do his own work and I don't have to be doing anything other then supervising.

I was going to write a long goodbye, telling you all that I would be out of town this week. I was going with a girlfriend, we were going to take all 6 of our children and go camping. Notice I said WAS. Jonathan woke from nap today with a fever. 103.5', Poor baby. He slept most of the day and lay on the couch for the rest of it. Any of you who know him, know how sick he is. Normally that child doesn't sit still.

Anyhow, so NO CAMPING, I am bummed.

Well, we have started a timeline. Here it is. This is in our entry way.

I asked each of the children to pick one thing that they wanted to put on the time line today. George (who by the way wants to grow up to become president) said, "George Washington's Birthday, he is our first president!"... Andrew said "The first Vacuum Cleaner"; it took a little research to figure that one out.

Here are some dear friends that came to visit, I have been meaning to post these for a while now.

And this is Anna’s first haircut… I know, took me long enough, she is almost two. Her curls were just so cute… I hated to do it. Anyhow, these pictures are a little old but I figured you guys would all enjoy them anyway.
I leave you with a REALLY cool site to go look at George Washington's Rules of Civility.
God Bless, Have a great night!
~Heather