Jack's gift to all

I brought home a steak burrito last night for Myles, and Jack (who only has two teeth) got a hold of it! He said that Jack ate nearly half of it before he discovered what he was doing! I was so upset. It was his first (and hopefully last) taste of meat.

Then, today of all days, he had some very stinky, VERY messy diapers! Yucky meat! He has already had 2 baths and 3 outfits on. I just hope it's all out of him now! Back to being a vegetarian baby.

Meat: the gift that keeps on giving (especially when it is seasoned and eaten by a toddler who is not used to it!)

Gotta love the English language!

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Oatmeal

We have oatmeal for breakfast a lot because it is cheap and healthy. I just made oatmeal in the crock pot! It was very yummy and so easy! I will definitely be making this often. It also stretches farther than cooking it in the microwave or on the stove.

I just used Old Fashioned Oats, since that is what I had on hand. The directions on the carton say to use 2 parts water to one part oats, but for the crock pot I used 3 parts water. So I used 2 cups of oats and 6 cups of water. Then I threw in some maple syrup and brown sugar (I know, real healthy, right?) and turned it on low for about 6 hours (I was up late). It is perfect!

Jacob woke up and gave me his usual "Mommy, I'm hungry!", and I was able to just go in and scoop him out some. He had breakfast within a minute of telling me he's hungry!

And the verdict: everyone loves it!

One more link

I should have mentioned Hallelujah Acres since that was the first place where I learned about the raw vegan diet/lifestyle. Their web site sure has changed a lot over the years, but they still offer the same great advice! And they only promote "high raw", which is 85% raw or higher, but I believe the founder is 100% raw vegan himself, so they do support it! Check them out! They have some really great products for sale too!

Just curious.....

I am all for being more "green" and living a healthier lifestyle. I just don't understand why there aren't more Christians out there wanting to do this? It seems to mostly be very new-age type people who are eco-conscious. I just don't understand....I would think Christians would be more aware of being good stewards of the world and our bodies that God gave us!

Personally, for about 7 years now I have been wanting to be 100% raw vegan, and I have on several single days during the last few years, and once even for 5 weeks straight (and lost 38 pounds and had TONS of energy). To most in our culture this seems very extreme, but really it is the most natural diet/lifestyle for humans. Hungry? Grab an apple off a tree and eat, or pick some berries or edible flowers or leaves while on a hike. Obviously I don't do this myself, mostly because it is not very easy to do in our culture. We don't go on hikes regularly (though I would love to more often!) and it is just easier and more "acceptable" and much more convenient (unless you hike regularly!) to buy our food at the grocery store or maybe have our own garden, but that is usually a supplement instead of a sole source of food.

Now, I certainly don't expect everyone, or even very many people, want to be raw vegan. I admire anyone who genuinely tries to make healthier choices for their families, no matter how small, because I know how hard it is! But I was just browsing around some raw vegan web sites and blogs, and most of the "raw food gurus" are totally into meditation and "enlightenment" and things like that. It's all such a new-age mindset. But because God is our Creator and everything in nature points to Him, I don't understand why I am not seeing more raw vegan sites that are owned by Christians. Hmmmm.

Here is one man though who has already made a mark in the raw food community and is highly respected by many other raw food "gurus", and he is a Messianic Jew! (Click on the "links" button on his sidebar to see some other great sites!) My BFF and I went to a raw food seminar in a nearby town nearly two years ago where he gave his lecture and sold his tapes, books, etc. We enjoyed it immensely. The food was great, and he used quite a bit of Scripture regarding food! Aw, I just found out via his blog that he and his wife are expecting their first baby in mid-January! And I believe she is having a raw pregnancy! Awesome!

Okay, enough ramblings for tonight...I mean, this morning. Hey, it's Christmas Eve! :) I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas, and remember to celebrate Christ year-round, not just during the Christmas season. :)

Win a breast pump!

Win a Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breastpump from Nature's Child - Wholesome goods for Mothers and Babies

Win a Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Breastpump from Nature's Child - Wholesome goods for Mothers and Babies

Grilled Avocado Sandwich

Another recipe from vegweb.com

Grilled Avocado Sandwich

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 large, ripe avocado, preferably Hass or another "fatty" one
4 slices of sandwich bread (whatever kind you like)
vegan "buttery" spread
optional: whole grain mustard, vegan mayo

Directions:

Cut avocado in half and remove pit. Slice into thin wedges. Set aside.

Spread the buttery spread on one side of all the bread slices. Place one slice, buttery side down, in a preheated frying pan over medium-low heat. If you want to add vegan mayo, mustard, or other "dressings" now is the time! Otherwise, lay the avocado slices from one half of the avocado on the bread, covering well. Place another slice of bread, buttered side up, on top. Let cook 3-5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden to your liking. Carefully flip the sandwich over and grill the other side 3-5 minutes. Repeat the above to make the second sandwich.

This is best when you have a really fatty, good avocado (like Hass). If you use a Florida or other "low fat" or "wet" avocado the flavor is still there but it isn't as good in my opinion. This goes well with soup.

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 20 minutes

***

Oh, wow! This is awesome! Now, Myles doesn't like avocadoes, so since it was easy to make him a regular grilled cheese, I just did that for him. Everyone else though had one of these, and they were a big hit! I even put sauteed onions on mine. It was so good! It was perfect with the split pea soup too!

For the purpose of texture, I mashed up the avos and spread it on the bread.

Jacob actually wouldn't touch it, but I think he would like it if he would try it. The other two asked for more, so we'll definitely be making this again soon! I forgot to put mayo on any of them, but it was so good without. If I can remember next time though, I think mayo would be really great with it!

Split Pea Soup

Edited to add: Jack woke up with an upset tummy. :( Next time I will keep the soup simple for everyone else and only use half the other ingredients for my own portion (and leftovers). I don't think that would make the recipe any more difficult, and everyone would like it a little more with it being more bland. 

From vegweb.com

brynns split pea soup

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 MED ONION
3-4 STALKS CELERY
4-5 CARROTS
1 CLOVE GARLIC
2 LEAVES FRESH basil (1 teaspoon dried is fine)
4-6 WHITE ROSE POTATOES
3 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL
2-4 CUPS DRIED SPLIT PEAS
SALT TO TASTE
VEGETARIAN VEGETABLE BROTH

Directions:

Finely chop onion, celery, and garlic. In LARGE pot, add olive oil and saute onion over med heat for about 5 min. then add celery and garlic. Continue to saute for another 10-15 minutes or so, while you peel and chop your carrots into bite-size pieces. Add carrots to the onion and celery, along with enough water to cover all ingredients. Add basil and veggie broth ( I use Knorr brand veggie broth, it comes in double size cubes of which I use about three to five depending on how much soup I am making. Cover and simmer on med-low heat while you peel and cube your potatoes into bite size pieces. Add potatoes to veggies and cover with water, plus enough to bring the water level about 4 inches above the vegetables. Cover and simmer until all the veggies are soft. Next, using a strainer and ladel, scoop the stock from the vegetable mixture through a strainer into a med-large pan and put your peas into it. Cover and cook until the peas are VERY soft. You then need to blend the split-pea mixture,using a blender-I prefer a hand blender so I can blend it right in the same pan. Blend until very smooth and add to the vegetables. Now just season to taste... ENJOY!!!!

Serves: many

Preparation time: 1hr+

***

I followed this recipe almost exactly (I rarely measure anything), and it was DEEEEEEE-LISH! Well, I think so, anyway. The only big thing I did differently was I blended all the veggies, not just the peas, and it came out with a mashed potato texture. Myles actually likes it! Jonathan and Jayla tried it and didn't care for it, but they didn't seem to totally hate it either. They already knew what was in it, so I think they expected not to like it.

Jacob wouldn't touch it, but Jack totally loves it! Yea! :) I'm glad I'm doing this now before he realizes what he is eating and that he is not supposed to like stuff like that! LOL!

Btw, the one down side to this recipe is that if you are hand-cutting all the veggies along with the cook time, it does take a while to make. I may try it in the crock pot sometime.....just chop it all up and cook it for a while all together. I did actually ENJOY cooking this though, and I'll have leftovers for several lunches!!!

Italian Shells

If I had to pick just one dish as my all-time favorite, it would be this one! It has been a family favorite since it was introduced by an aunt around 20 years ago, and now it is my hubby's and kids' favorite!

From recipezaar.com (but mine is slightly different):

Ingredients
1 lb pasta shells, medium size
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces provolone cheese, shredded
1 lb ground beef
2 cups marinara sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions
1. Cook shells & drain. (while waiting, go on to next steps).
2. Brown ground beef & drain. Add salt, pepper, & marinara sauce. Simmer 20 minutes.
3. In deep pan, line bottom with 1/2 of the shells. Cover with half of the meat sauce. Spread half of the sour cream lightly over & then sprinkle with half of both the cheeses. Repeat.
4. Cover & bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes.
5. Uncover & bake 20 minutes more.

***

You can always add any onions, pepper, seasoning, etc. and it is very good and versatile! I almost always use 5 basic ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or Morning Star "crumbles" (meat imitation)
16 oz sour cream (twice than the original recipe because we love it!)
16 oz pasta shells
1 can/jar tomato sauce (spaghetti, pizza, marinara....it's all good!)
16 oz cheddar cheese or rice cheese (or 8 oz of two different kinds)

I usually mix the first 4 ingredients together instead of layering. It turns it pink (sauce + sour cream), but I just like the texture better. It doesn't dry out around the edges and bottom that way. Then I just put it in the oven around 350 for 20 minutes or so. Leftovers take longer to heat unless you use the microwave, and I actually think leftovers taste even better!

I made this again today to take to church, but I made it in the crock pot. I did not pre-cook the pasta and it turned out fine, but I think I will pre-cook it next time or maybe just add a little extra liquid. It was really good though! Nearly all of it was gone, even with the "fake meat"!

Oh, and on this link it says it serves 4-5 people, but holy cow! The 6 of us can easily make two meals out of it!

Potato Goulash

Original recipe from Vegweb.com

Potato Goulash

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

4 large baking potatoes (peeled and cubed ~1 cm or smaller)
1 medium white onion (chopped)
1 medium green pepper (chopped)
Spices to taste (Black pepper, Chili powder, Cayenne Pepper)
1 can (11 oz.) Golden sweet corn (preferably unsalted)
1 can (15 oz.) Joan of Arc Spicy Chili Beans
2 (heaping)tbsp Vegetable Shortening or equivalent oil

Directions:

1. Mix chopped potatoes, onion, and green pepper in a bowl and add the listed spices to taste (I like mine really spicy, so I'll leave the amounts up to you.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil or shortening (I have found that shortening allows the potatoes to get soft and not crispy) over medium heat in the largest skillet you have, preferably 10 inches in diameter.

3. Add veggies and cook until the potatoes starch (become soft).

4. Add corn (drained) and cook for about five minutes then add beans (not drained, they come in a spicy sauce).

5. Cook over medium heat about five minutes more, then serve.

6. This dish is really good with blue corn chips and some sliced fruit (nectarines) on the side.

Serves: 4 to 6.

Preparation time: One Hour.

***

Now for OUR version!

Tonight I just used regular canned beans because it is what I had on hand, but it is definitely better with chili beans! And the kids don't usually like spicy foods, but this isn't too spicy that they can't handle it. They like the taste enough to overlook the spiciness. :)

So normally I just fry up some potatoes, usually cut in small cubes or fry-cut. Then I add some other veggies that everyone likes. This tends to be one of those last-minute "What am I going to make for dinner?" recipes. Personally I LOVE the original recipe, but I'm the only one who does!

So tonight I opened some cans that I've had for a while and the finished dish was potatoes, beans, green beans and corn. I also added some garlic and chili powder. I admit I added too much garlic, but I liked it! Everyone else thought it was okay but would be better without so much garlic! LOL! Jack actually loved it!

I have made this several times now and it is slightly different each time, but most of the time everyone loves it. So it will continue to be a regular on our menu. Only I will try to plan ahead and not use all canned foods!

Oh, and I have made this with sweet potatoes before too! I really liked it, but the family had mixed feelings about it. I think they liked it but just prefered white potatoes. This is really good with rice or bread too!

Right now Jacob and Jack are playing with cars and their new bridge (some PVC trim left over from trimming the door). Jacob just drew a circle on a piece of paper and described to me that it is a racetrack and showed me where the cars drive on it (like one of those little maps in the bottome corner of a video game). He has been playing with cars and his new bridge all morning!

Jayla is still watching cooking shows. She has seen bits and pieces of some before, but this morning she has been glued to the TV like she can't get enough of it! She even told me in great detail about how to make this one particular cake. I was surprised at how much she remembered! Right now they are mashing avocadoes.....it looks like guacamole, which she hates, but she LOVES plain avocado. It is one of her favorite foods.

Jonathan is having a hard time getting along with others this morning, so I sent him to his bed for a few minutes to calm down and read. He was reading about sharks, but I think he is watching the cooking show right now (in the same room). He just asked me if we could finish his super-hero story (I just type out what he makes up), so I guess we'll do that now.

A moment

Right now Jacob and Jack are playing with cars and their new bridge (some PVC trim left over from trimming the door). Jacob just drew a circle on a piece of paper and described to me that it is a racetrack and showed me where the cars drive on it (like one of those little maps in the bottome corner of a video game). He has been playing with cars and his new bridge all morning!

Jayla is still watching cooking shows. She has seen bits and pieces of some before, but this morning she has been glued to the TV like she can't get enough of it! She even told me in great detail about how to make this one particular cake. I was surprised at how much she remembered! Right now they are mashing avocadoes.....it looks like guacamole, which she hates, but she LOVES plain avocado. It is one of her favorite foods.

Jonathan is having a hard time getting along with others this morning, so I sent him to his bed for a few minutes to calm down and read. He was reading about sharks, but I think he is watching the cooking show right now (in the same room). He just asked me if we could finish his super-hero story (I just type out what he makes up), so I guess we'll do that now.

This moment has been brought to you by.....hehe. That just seemed to fit there. :)

Jack is almost walking!!!!

Any day now, any moment now, Jack will join his siblings as a walker! :) He has been standing alone for around a month or so but has not taken any steps yet. He is possibly my most cautious child of the four, it seems!

But in the last few days, he has attempted to take a step several times from the middle of the room! He usually falls gracefully or just sits down, but he is about to get it! And it's about time! He has been standing long enough now that when he did it again this morning, I almost ignored it (we usually clap and cheer), and then Jonathan said it's getting old. LOL! Plus he will be 18 months old next Saturday, so we are SO ready for him to walk!

We're so proud of you, Jack Jack! :)

New crafty fun!

My mom got this for us, I mean, for the kids for Christmas along with a lot of extra nylons! And here is the book that comes in it. It looks like it is out of print but you can still find it in some places.

I have looked through the book, and there are so many different things to do with nylons! There are decorations to make, dances and games, toys and other crafts. This will definitely keep us, er, I mean, the kids, busy for quite a while!

I am saving it all for this weekend when it is supposed to be really cold again. We're all ready to dig in!

Thanks Mom/Grandma! :)

It's COLD here!

Yesterday the wind chill got below ZERO degrees! Brrrr!

Well, I've been doing much better about keeping up with blogging lately. Then last weekend I bombarded everyone with tons of new posts as I was beginning to transfer my old blog over, and now it's quiet here!

See, we live in an old drafty house. The drafts are BAD, especially when it is very windy. (I'm going to focus on fixing that later this week.) Not only is it cold and drafty, but this house is also in need of new wiring. So, when it is really cold like this, we need to turn on all the heaters we have (no central heat and air at the moment), which means I have to unplug the computer, which means no blogging!

I need a laptop!!!

But it's all good! I'm sitting next to the front door that is really drafty and also on the north side of the house, and it's not bad today! The temps are about the same, but I guess the wind isn't blowing. Yea! It's actually quite warm in my bedroom!

We've mostly been watching TV (way too much of it.....I'm getting sick of flipping through show after show!), reading books, finger weaving, face painting, crocheting (I taught the kids a chain stitch this morning, and they caught on very quickly), playing with blocks and Legos, fighting off the dogs when we're trying to prepare a meal and eat (since they are in the kitchen right now because of the weather), trying to keep the dogs and cats away from each other, and taking turns in front of the smaller heaters. I am getting so stir-crazy!

To top it all off, I can't find my phone. I really feel isolated today!

We can't get out right now either because Myles took the van. He doesn't have a working heater/AC in his car. We're supposed to get out tomorrow though, unless our activities get cancelled. We've got PE and then a gingerbread house-making party! Fun!

Wow, this post sounds so negative! LOL!

But it's all good. We'll get out tomorrow, even if our activities are cancelled (because it is supposed to get above freezing tomorrow!) and I'll go get what I need to seal up the front door. It's supposed to get like this again this weekend, but at least we'll have a couple of days to fix the problem.

I hope everyone stays warm! I already have lots more pictures to blog about, but they'll have to wait. I need to turn the heater back on. (sigh)

Train show

Last weekend we went to the train show. We mainly went for Jacob, but we all had a good time. I don't think I've been to one before. I loved all the model trains all throughout the building! I can totally see Jacob doing this as a hobby when he is older, or perhaps even selling them himself in his own little hobby shop. He even told me that when he gets bigger he is going to buy such-and-such, and a couple of times he would wave over the whole table and say he was going to buy them all. :) He is certainly good at building things and has a great imagination and a lot of patience to go with it, so I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Jayla and Jacob each got an Engineer's hat (Jonathan was too old for one, I guess), and they also played a train simulation game where they got to drive the train. It was just a Microsoft game on someone's computer, but it looked pretty cool. He even had a console with operating switches and levers, and they could (had to at times) blow the horn. Fun!

There was also a play area, but it was a little crowded, so we didn't spend much time there. My favorite display was the Lego train tracks! Click on the images to enlarge and look at the detail. They are made completely out of Legos!

How GREEN are you?

1. Which household material is considered hazardous waste?

A. Metal
B. Plastic Packaging
C. Batteries
D. Spoiled Food

2. When shopping at the mall for the newest fashion trends, what type of bag is the best to use to conserve natural resources and protect the environment?

A. Paper Bag
B. Brown Bag
C. Plastic Bag
D. Recycled cloth bag

3. Over the course of a year what is the amount of the environmental pollution caused by non-biodegradable, synthetic materials that are found in non-organic feminine hygiene products?

A. 1 Million
B. 45 Billion
C. 50 Thousand
D. 100 Million

4. About how many soda cans do you need to recycle to buy that elegant new flat screen you have had your eye on for months?

A. One million
B. Three thousand
C. One thousand

5. To produce your favorite newspaper about how many trees are used?

A. 100,000
B. One million
C. 500,000
D. Two Million

6. Which blonde starlet unwinds every night in a solar powered house?

A. Britney Spears
B. Cate Blanchett
C. Scarlett Johansson
D. Gisele Bundchen

7. Which of the following is a renewable resource?

A. Oil
B. Trees
C. Iron ore

8. Which of the following is the number one cause of tropical deforestation world wide?

A. Wildlife
B. Commercial Loging
C. Clearing of land for agriculture.
D. Gathering of fire wood

9. How much plastic do Americans throw away each hour?

A. 100,000
B. 1 Million
C. 2.5 Million
D. 3 Million

10. In one year, how many trees do Americans use?

A. 850 Million trees annually
B. 100 Million trees annually
C. 15 Million trees annually
D. 965 Million trees annually

Answers:

1-C
2-D
3-B
4-B
5-C
6-B
7-B
8-C
9-C
10-A

How green are you?

You scored 1-3 correct: Florescent Green
You are a florescent green girl. It is very important to become environmentally aware and active for yourself and future generations.

You scored 4-6 correct: Kelly Green
You are a Kelly green girl.You care about the environment, but could become even more educated.

You scored 7-10 correct: Forest Green
You are a forest green girl. You are very aware of environmental issues, and you care about the environment. Keep up the good work! Tell others!

I guessed on a few of these, but I scored a 7!

Fun recipes for homemade paint

I haven't tried any of these yet. This was sent to my local homsechool group. They sound like so much fun, especially if you have young kids.

********************************

For bathtub finger paint

1/3 cup mild liquid dish detergent
1 tbs corn starch
food color
1. mix detergent and cornstarch
2. pour into several plastic ice cube trays
3. add different colors of food coloring to each section and stir with a small spoon.
Last...paint the tub !

********************************

like oil paint

2 TBS. liquid dish detergent
2 TBS. tempera powder paint
1/2 tsp. water
Mix together and paint!

*********************************

pudding paint

1 large package of instant vanilla pudding (3.4 oz)
2 cups ice cold water
food color
1. whisk pudding and cold water together for 2 minutes.
2. refrigerate for 5 minutes.
3. divide pudding into several small bowls or muffin tins.
4. Add food coloring to tins or bowls. 5 to 7 drops should do it.
Now paint! If you eat it it's OK too.

************************************

Shaving cream paint

1 can shaving cream
food color
Squirt small amounts of shaving cream into muffin tins and add food color.

***********************************

Face and body paint

2 TBS. solid shortening
1 TBS cornstarch
4 or 5 drops of food color
1. mix shortening and corn starch until smooth.
2. add food color and stir till smooth.
It washes of with soap and water.

*********************************

Jiggler paints

1 package of sugar free flavored gelatin
2 tbs. hot water
Mix and cool then paint.
If you use unflavored gelatin you can add different colors.

States I've visited

I took a couple of states off of my previous map (on my old blog) because the more I think about it, the more I think I didn't ever go there. I'll have to brainstorm with old friends and family, but this map below is probably more accurate, at least from what I actually remember. This is a fun and easy way to track where you have been. Check it out!

visited 19 states (38%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or try another Douwe Osinga project

Mayne Island Cob House!

This is the Flickr site I was looking for in a previous post. These picures show the construction process of a very beautiful cob house. Check it out!

They do look sort of Dr. Seuss-ish, don't they? :)

Turning blogs into books?

Has anyone ever actually turned their blog into a book? I've been considering this for a while, and after a recent discussion in my homeschool group, I am seriously considering doing this! I usually put all my favorite pictures on my blog, same as scrapbooking, so it would be cheaper and faster than printing all the pictures out and putting them in a scrapbook. I am so far behind on scrapbooking too! It's killing me!

This is one site that was mentioned to use for turning your blog into a book. It looks really great! Does anyone have any other sites to recommend?

My original blog (unschooling101 - I don't want to link to it directly, but you can look it up by that name) that was started long ago, it seems, is just sitting there, waiting for me to do something with it. I have been wanting to transfer everything to one blog. So I think over the next few weeks (or months!) I will transfer everything here. So even if I backdate them, if you are subscribed through email, you will be getting a lot of *old* posts from me. :) I think you'll enjoy them if you've never seen my original blog. I tried to do some interesting activities and lots of pictures. I have pictures of our hula hoops on there!

We've been busy this week and will be again today and tomorrow, so I will have lots to post with pictures when I get a chance!

Editing photos

I just love this picture of Jonathan, and this is his natural color too. His lips are always so pink! I wish I could take credit for the photo, but Jayla actually took it. Ain't he cute? :)

I don't usually edit a whole lot because I just don't like to take the time to do it, but in some cases there is something specific I want, like in this one. So which one do you like better, color or sepia?

Original

cropped

sepia

8 Random Things meme

I've been tagged by Christy! So, 8 random things about myself. Let's see.

1. I am not a picky eater, but I cannot STAND vinegar! If it is covered up with a lot of sugar, I might like it, but if I can tell that there is vinegar in it, BLECH! I've tried to make myself like it before because I know there are health benefits, but I just can't take it! YUCK!
2. I've only had two cups of coffee in my entire life. The first was with my friend Sara on the plane to Brazil when I was 15. The second was with the same Sara just this past September on vacation. :) I'm thinking I need some more coffee, so she needs to come for a visit soon!
3. I have been to/through 20 different states and out of the country once, but I have never been west of Oklahoma.
4. I just took my very first train ride earlier this year! And so did all four of my kids, each at different times. Jacob went to visit my brother and his family in Texas back in May with my parents, I went with Jack to pick up Jayla in August and then Jayla rode back with us, then Jonathan took a trip with my mom a few weeks ago. Myles has ridden a train in Mexico before, but it was nothing like the Amtrak that we rode on!
5. I can play the flute, but I never really enjoyed it much. There was one church orchestra that was a blast to be in (because of the people), but otherwise I really only enjoyed marching band. And we were AWESOME too!
6. I'm not really sure why we moved around a lot, but I can count a total of (that I know of/remember) 11 different houses, at least 5 different churches and 4 different schools before I was 18 years old. And because of this, at least in part, I accept change pretty well but I have a hard time being content! We have been in this same house for over 9 years now, the longest I've ever been in one place, and I was ready to leave about 7 years ago! Myles is the opposite.
7. I love cob houses and underground houses and want to build one of these someday and actually live in it! I would love to own a whole section of land (640 acres, which is one square mile) with ponds and a creek and have my kids raise their own families on the same land someday. :) I would love a cob community. How cool would that be?! We could meet together for church each week (or every day!), have our own water and power system and of course have a community garden. Our children would take care of us and also each other, then the next generation and so on....In a perfect world.
8. I was in Kung Fu in high school (it was a ministry team, and the same Sara I had coffee with was also on this team) for two years. I earned my second sash before we moved away. In my college years I took Tae Kwon Do for two years and earned my 2nd belt. A couple of years ago I was in Karate for several months and, even at my age and weight and general lack of "being in shape", earned my 2nd belt.....and then I got pregnant again. I haven't been back in it since then, but I totally love the martial arts and plan to get back into it when I can!

Okay, that's 8 things! I bet Sara, who I hadn't seen in 17 years before September, probably knew more of these things than anyone else in my current circles. So I'd better tag her. :) So here are the eight:

Sara
Christina
Misty
Laura
Hobo Mama
Paula
Bethany
Sasha

Wow, that was hard to pick eight because several of my blogging friends have already done this! I look forward to reading these! :)

Right now my kids are all laying in bed, talking and playing. Jayla is adding numbers and quizzing me. Jonathan is "educating" her further in her math. She asked me if I knew what 6 + 6 was and then told me the correct answer, 12. Then Jonathan told her that 12 + 12 was 24, so 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24, which is also the same as 6 x 4! I love it when they learn good things from each other, especially when they are right! LOL!

Loops & Hoops

If you were intrigued by the recent post about finger weaving with nylon loops to make jump ropes, bracelets, belts, etc. then you might be interested in this book. This is the sister company for Hobby Lobby, so that is where you can purchase this IRL. I found the same book on Amazon for $8 and another site for nearly $5, so this is a great deal!

I am going to get this for my kiddos for Christmas along with a couple more big bags of nylon loops, and maybe some cotton ones as well. They love using them, and I don't have to worry about anything getting smashed into the carpet or staining anyone's clothes! We may even get some loops this week and work on jump ropes for gifts for friends. We made hula hoops last year, and they were a big hit and so easy! We still have some of the materials left, so maybe we'll do more of those again soon. I'll be sure to post pictures if we do!

Prayers please?

Have you ever had those days when you think you just can't take any more bad news or anything negative in your life?

Our whole year has been like that. Well, mostly the past 6 months. I just keep thinking, "God, how strong do You think I am? I can't possible bear any more burdens, and I have no more tears to cry!"

The good news is that God carries our burdens for us, and He walks us through the darkest times in our lives.

I have thought a lot lately about the poem called Footprints. I have loved that poem ever since I can remember.

"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

But it is still hard. Please pray for us. It's been a very emotionally draining year.

My family :)

I saw this on a friend's blog and decided to make one myself. I want to put something like this on our van! I didn't want to make one with our pets because there are not a lot to choose from on this particular site, and we have 2 dogs, 3 cats and a turtle! Try it out. It's fun! :)

Get your own Family Sticker Maker & MySpace Layouts.

Cleaning for nothing?

Okay, in a previous post I bragged on how well my kids are cleaning these days. Well, I assure you they do not always clean so well.

Yesterday we were going to have some friends over for a late birthday party for Jacob. After calling around, I decided to postpone the party because everyone was either sick or had a sick kid or two. Only one family was healthy, and her kids are 8 and 12!

So I told the kids that they could go ahead and watch cartoons because we were postponing the party. Jayla got a little upset and said, "You mean we did all this cleaning for NOTHING?"

I took this picture just moments after she asked me this question.

Now I ask you, does this.....


look clean to you?

(sigh)

Deck the Halls

Since we were home all of Thanksgiving weekend, we went ahead and deorated for Christmas! Well, when I say we decorated, I mean we put up and decorated our tree. We have a wreath for the front door but haven't put it on yet, but other than the tree and the wreath, we don't do any other decorating. It just isn't practical for this phase of our lives or this small house we are in!

But regardless of the size of the house, the tree we have this year is the biggest I have ever had in my whole life! It is mearely inches from our ceiling, and it is sitting on the floor, not on a table or desk like trees from previous Christmases! I bought it at Wal-Mart for $78, one of the cheapest 7.5 foot trees I've seen, and it was worth every penny!

We still have not finished those popcorn strings yet, so I'll have to post another picture when those are done, but for now, there are lights, candy canes and tons of Hallmark ornaments (a family tradition) on our tree. We actually had plenty of room for all our ornaments this year, with lots of room to spare! Wow!

So here are a few pictures of our decorating time together. :)






The tree is straight! I have no idea why the kids are all leaning the same direction! LOL!

We took a break after setting the tree up. It took a while to spread out ALLLLLL those branches! There is no way that it will ever fit back into that box either!

On to the lights and ornaments....

A fun moment in our day

Jonathan and Jayla were cleaning a bit ago. Jonathan came up with a game to make it more fun. I have absolutely no problem with them playing a game as long as they are getting something done (because I simply cannot do it all by myself), so if it works and does not take them away from helping out, then I am happy that they find things to make it more fun for them.

So they took their jump ropes that we recently made and started jumping. They do hot pepper jumps for as many times as they can. Whatever number they reach, that is how many items they pick up and put away. So Jonathan jumped 9 times then picked up 9 toys. Jayla jumped 12 times and picked up 12 toys. Sometimes they only jumped 3 and other times they got as high as 20, or close to it.

I have to admit that I thought they would get distracted, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had almost the entire room cleaned in about 3 or 4 minutes! I am proud of them. :) I never had to go help them and they actually enjoyed cleaning!

Jonathan has even volunteered to do the dishes twice this week! I think he was actually trying to get out of cleaning his room, but hey, I'll trade him any day! LOL!

They are getting very good about helping me out more, and the house reflects it! It is not completely clean (the entire house) very often, but it is very close at some point every day, and it honestly would not happen without their help. Jacob is a good helper too! He loves to vacuum. Jayla loves to dust and help with laundry. Our house is far from "pretty", but at least it's getting and staying somewhat clean these days! :)

The "S" word!

We were out today, visiting with some ladies from a local church, and one lady we were talking with heard that we homeschool. She was very nice, but she was concerned about "socialization". I just had to laugh because my kids were all there talking to these ladies right along with me, and she was concerned that they may not be getting enough socialization? LOL!

I'm sorry, I know this topic is tiring at times, but I just had to give that perfect example of how uneducated (pardon the pun) people are about homeschooling!

My kids go everywhere with me, for the most part. The exceptions are when my husband is home and I want to just run a quick errand or want time by myself, but otherwise I always seem to have them with me. I don't mind at all. That is how I prefer it. They are learning right along beside me. I'm living a "real life", so they are learning what "real life" is. It is not sitting at a desk for 6 (or more!) hours a day,

Now, I'm not putting down our education system, well, maybe a little, but I just feel so strongly that homeschooling for most people is so much better than our culture's education system! I'll stop there. I've said all this before, and I think I've made my point. LOL!

Here are a few other blogs about socialization among homeschoolers. Enjoy!
Heart of Wisdom
Homeschooling is Life
Eclectic Parent
Great article by Lisa Russell
HSLDA
There are MANY more!

Finger weaving with nylon loops!

The kids and I have been finger weaving a lot lately. They don't know it yet, but I had actually bought one of these looms (metal with a metal hook and nylon loops) for them for Christmas. Well, someone recently gave us a LOT more of them, and not all nylon, so we've been using them up. I made them each a jump rope, and they LOVE them, especially Jayla. The older two could have made the ropes themselves, but they are not fast at it yet and it takes a long time when you are just beginning. You can make all kinds of things like this, such as headbands, bracelets, etc. Jonathan likes to make "snakes"!

Just by the colors you can probably guess which is Jayla's. :) The rainbow one is Jonathan's and the darker colors with the white is Jacob's.

I was showing a friend how to do this today at homeschool PE. Jayla had brought one of the jump ropes along, so my friend was curious how it worked. So, since I had simply tied off the end, I untied it and showed her how. Then I told her that there surely had to be a Youtube video of it or something. Well, I didn't find a video on it, but this is a great instructional page with pictures of exactly what I was showing her!
http://www.makingfriends.com/jump_rope.htm


On this page it says that the age recommendation is 8 and up, but my 6-year-old caught on a lot quicker than her 8-year-old brother, but it didn't take him long to learn it either. I bet my 4-year-old could do it too with a little extra help! Give it a try! It's fun! :)