Jan. 10, 2007 Snow and Hot Chocolate Movie Day
This morning we had snow.
Had I not looked outside when I got up, I still would've known because my 3 year old looked outside immediately and said, "Sister! Have you looked outside? It's like a MIRACLE!"
So in appropriate snow day fashion, we took the day off of "school". We played outside in the snow for the morning, then drove to my parents house and spent the middle part of the day sipping cocoa and watching silly movies (I mostly dozed on the couch, to be honest, but it was lovely).
We were sure to head home in the early afternoon because I wanted to avoid icy roads as the temperature dropped. Now, it being evening, I started to feel guilty about all the "schoolwork" we didn't do today. But as I thought about it, I realized how much "school" really happened. Playing outside? Our evening brisk walk in the snow? Hello?! P.E. Class! We scrapbooked for a couple hours in the evening...that's like art, reading, writing, spelling, storytelling, all rolled into one. My oldest sat and did Sudoku puzzles part of the evening too. Math!
And the hot cocoa and movies? Well, no good education is complete if you don't know when to step away from the busyness, snuggle up together, laugh, snooze and enjoy chocolate! |
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Jan. 6, 2007 Where's my cookie cutters!!!
I'm one of those talking and walking in my sleep types.
Well, to be fair, its been MANY years since I've walked in my sleep (as far as I know)...but my husband says I often will wake him in the night speaking my garbled alien sleep-tongue. He's learned to live with it.
But last night, he said I woke him at midnight, reaching under the covers on his side of the bed and trying to pull them off of him. When he asked what I was doing I said, "I'M TRYING TO GET MY COOKIE CUTTER!"
Apparently he tried to wake me and explain how out of my mind I am, but I only responded with a, "huh?", "What?" and promptly zonked out.
Sooo...any dream interpreters out there no WHAT I was thinking with that one? Or if not, can you tell me where my cookie cutter is?! |
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Jan. 2, 2007 First Day Back and no Casualties!
We all survived our first day back to "school" post-Christmas break!
Yesterday, I planned on spending the day getting "organized"...on paper anyway...mapping out a rough lesson plan, a menu for the week, etc. etc...all related to the New Year's sentiment of pulling one's life together.
Anyway...mid-morning I decided that organization was for "LOSERS" and I was gonna spend the day playing poker with my family (no money...just chips...I'm REALLY BAD at it), eating popcorn and shirking reality.
And it was a lovely New Year's Day. By evening, I was bit panicked with the "what'll we do tomorrow?" feeling...not wanting to plop my kids in front of Veggietales for the day because I couldn't get it together to pick out a couple activities, a book or two and a general "goal".
Nonetheless...miraculously, it all came together within an hour or two after the kids were in bed. My husband, who had been out hunting for the day, shot an elk and was dealing with that which left me with complete silence and solitude! Normally, I would be anxious about him being out in the dark and the woods and my being home all by my little lonely adult self. But it proved to be the perfect opportunity to do all the planning I had been putting off that week.
So...even though I had the added reponsibility of watching my sweet little 10 month old niece today, we managed to carve out time for reading, vocab, lively discussion, math, phonics and to start a new page in my daughter's nature journal.
I EVEN had leisure to do some of my own reading "homework" for a homeschooling course I am taking through Homeschool Oasis. A fellow veteran homeschooler and friend, Barb Shelton has designed a wonderful course called "A Season of Re-Education and Renewing of the Mind".
Although I am "legally qualified" to homeschool in Washington state, I found myself struggling with my own education in the light of what we try to do at home. In the midst of my floundering, God lead me to this course, which has really been helping our homeschool as well as my own spiritual growth. On top of which, the course has a GREAT reading list. Now to find time to DO all that reading! |
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Jan. 1, 2007 Blue Hairs R Us
Its official...I am morphing into an old fogey. In fact, I'm thinking of going out today and investing in a plastic rain bonnet, some rollers and a pastel housecoat.
First of all...my new year's was not spent dancing the night away in a lovely little sparkly black dress, drinking champagne or kissing and throwing confetti. I did tell my husband though, as we went to bed at 10:30, that if he was awake at midnight, he'd darn well better kiss me.
We spent the evening with my parents and sister and brother-in-law, drinking herbal tea and played Pictionary and Texas Hold 'Em. I realize "poker night" and herbal tea doesn't QUITE qualify me for old fogey status...but its only a few small steps to pinochle and Metamucil shots.
Secondly, at midnight, when I was awakened by the sound of my neighbors, who sounded as if the strings of firecrackers they were lighting were being thrown at the side of my house...I had no urge to get up, stand outside and yell Happy New Year! What I really wanted to do was lean out the window (I can almost see the pastel housecoat and rollers now) and yell "SHUT UP! SOME OF US ARE SLEEPING!"
So anyway...its New Year's morning and I'm headed out for a bowl of high fiber cereal and a cup of tea. A little "hair of the dog that bit me" you might say.   |
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Dec. 29, 2006 Post Christmas Clean Sweep
Today is that most dreaded of days. The day I take down the Christmas decorations and pack them away for the year. It's always a bit depressing...UN-decorating. Like saying "fun's over! Back to work."
Although, in a way, I've come to enjoy it for what it is. As the tree comes down, my living room seems to grow again and magically de-clutter.
It also inspires in me a great desire to ORGANIZE. I spent most of this post-Christmas week lolling about in my pjs until 2 p.m., tidying up, putting Christmas detritus away and thoroughly cleaning the closet. I have half a truckload of stuff to take out of here to Goodwill or the Community House. It's very satisfying. I always wonder how I manage to ACCUMULATE so many unnecessary things...right up until my family starts opening Christmas presents. 
Christmas was lovely...busy and messy...but lovely. I plan to post a Christmas slideshow like the absolutely beautiful one that my friend kampsplete added to her blog. But since my aunt took most of the pictures, I will have to wait until I get a CD of them. So more on our Christmas fun later.
So...I will endeavour to increase the frequency of my postings, now that the holiday season is moving into the distance. For now, I wish you all a very Happy New Year! |
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Dec. 15, 2006 Mixed feelings about the man in red: aka - Where's my freaking candy cane?
My youngest daughter was OH SO EXCITED to see Santa. Right up until she got into his lap. Then she was all business.
"I'm invisible! Give me my candy cane so I can climb my mother like a tree!"
Meanwhile, my 7 year old was quite smug in her pretty dress. Her only request being "I want a drum set!" and a sweet little "Thank you Santa!"
At least no one was screaming, right? |
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Dec. 7, 2006 My baby is THREE!
Oh what a melancholy day! I know its very selfish of me, but I really struggled with the idea that my baby has outgrown toddler-hood. Which is not to say that there might not be other babies in my future, but then again...
We had a Disney princess clad pizza party for her the night before her actual birthday and then spent the "day" at home celebrating as a family.
Check out my little lovely in her new gauchos and Pippi-like braids:
I was so proud of how incredibly gracious she was opening her gifts. I don't think I've ever heard her spill so many "thank you's" out of her mile-a-minute mouth before!
So now that those festivities are over, the focus is entirely on Christmas. I have allowed my children to continue to believe in Santa Claus, although our focus is always on the true meaning of the season.
I am a Christmas decorating madwoman and have at least a half dozen different nativity scenes around the house including the very cool Playmobil version that the kids can toy with. I even put away our regular pictures on the wall and replace them with Christmas pictures. Our regular story books get put away for the month and replaced with Christmas books.
Anyway, tomorrow is our day to go visit Santa Claus and get the yearly pictures taken. I'm not sure if my girls are more excited about seeing Santa and telling him their Christmas wishes, or if the thrill is all about getting in their pretty dresses for the event.
We have a WONDERFUL Santa that comes into the local photo studio, and I just love the romantic look of those old Santa photos.
Here's one of my dad from 1946:
What was especially cool about this one is that they actually had a tape recorder there and made a 45 record of my dad as a child talking to Santa. Last year I had a friend with the proper equipment burn it to CD so that I could copy it for my siblings as a gift. It is SOOO cute. If I were better at this blogging thing I'd post it on here.
Anyway, this blog, it seems, is as disconnected as all the other thoughts in my head, and my husband is currently waiting for me in order to start the next "Lost" episode that we have on DVD...so off I go! Santa pictures soon to be forthcoming!
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Snowing in Washington in November? What is going on with this weather? All I know is HURRAH CAUSE ITS SNOWING IN WASHINGTON IN NOVEMBER! I'm one of those who never outgrew the utter delight in waking up to a lovely white landscape! It feels like a holiday!
We live up on a hill, so we tend to get an extra inch or so of snow for every inch they get in the lowlands, and I gotta tell you, I feel SPECIAL!
My two year old's face was CLASSIC when I pointed out the winter landscape yesterday morning.
Yet another benefit to homeschooling...even when every other kid STILL has to go to school (in spite of the snow)...you get to suit up and go outside to make snow angels and snowmen! We watch a neighbor girl/friend of my oldest daughter during the week in the morning and occasionally after school. Her mom works early out of town so she drops her off at 4:45 a.m. so she can finish sleeping and get ready for school. When I discovered that she had school in spite of our two inches of snow (in the Pacific Northwest...life usually STOPS for snow), I even felt the injustice of it all. While I am rushing her out the door to get to school, my own two girls were cavorting outside to play in the falling snow.
I can just hear her at home in the evening, "I WANT TO HOMESCHOOL TOO MOM!"
Here's my oldest by our snowman:
And my young one...I just love that hat...the way it squishes her little cheeks!
Well...I started this blog and then saved it as a draft and walked away...so its old news now, but I'll post it anyhow!
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Nov. 24, 2006 HURRAH for the day AFTER Thanksgiving!
Well...its the day after thanksgiving and I think I feel even MORE thankful than I did yesterday! Its a rainy gray Pacific Northwest day, our overnight visitors (my aunt and uncle) just left, my fridge is full of glorious leftovers, my kids and I are still in our PJs and talking about spending the day scrapbooking, and my husband (who is again out hunting today) shot a lovely buck yesterday with which to fill our freezer.
So in a nutshell, I don't have to get out of my pjs, don't have to go anywhere, don't have to cook anything, can eat good food till I burst, and have the memories of a lovely Thanksgiving day with family to savor. Yesterday we ate a huge feast, visited, the girls spent time after the meal "dancing" and singing with their uncle and great-uncle, we played scrabble and laughed, watched a Christmas movie and snuggled in to nice warm beds.
All in all a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thank you God for our many blessings!
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Nov. 23, 2006 HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my homeschoolin' bloggin' friends out there!
Turkey's in the oven, girls are bustling about excitedly, husband is in the woods hunting (that's HIS Thanksgiving tradition), family is on the way and I am FILLED with Thanksgiving! (Though not yet filled with turkey, fixin's and pie!)
Here's a picture of my daughters' centerpiece for our table. Lovingly made from toilet paper tubes! HHH
Just wanted to take a minute to wish you all a warm and wonderful
Thanksgiving with LOTS and LOTS of delicious LEFTOVERS for the long
weekend!
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Nov. 18, 2006 A Big Lazy Saturday
I always feel like there is no sense in writing in my blog unless I have something at least mildly profound or entertaining to say, but then I end up not writing in it for weeks. It's all so ridiculous.
So here I am.
Its a quiet Saturday at home for the kids and me. Daddy is working (ah, the life of the self-employed). My youngest woke up not feeling well and fell asleep on the couch (unheard of for an energetic, strong-willed not-quite 3-year-old) early in the day and woke up with a fever of 102.5. Fortunately the Tylenol brought it down, and I only had a short moment of serious worry (I'm thinking appendicitis, emergency room, unheard of illnesses...why are moms so CRAZY?!).
I have spent WAY too much time in front of my computer today. I have relatives to chat with online, but more than that, I've been working on our Christmas card. Not inclined to send store-bought or write your basic newsletter, I've taken to making a Christmas Newspaper-type card, customized for our family. This year it includes a great many photos, Christmas drawings by my girls, "articles" updating recipients on the girls' progress throughout the year, the business' progress, our home remodelling and any other "BIG THINGS" happening to us in the year 2006. I also usually throw in a favorite recipe, a favorite Bible verse and this year I wrote a fun poem for the front and made a "MAD LIB" for the back. I guess its my way of justifying those four years I spent majoring in professional and creative writing in college. HA HA.
Though really, I'm quite happy with the way its turning out (even though I spent WAY TOO much time on it while the kids were begging me to "make Christmas ornaments" with them -- note to self: get priorities in order!)
I did finally unplug myself from the computer (only to return...umm...now) long enough to fix lunch, make oatmeal cookies and do some scrapbooking with my oldest.
All in all, a lazy but somewhat productive day. Everything a Saturday should be (except for the sick little one.) Hope all my fellow bloggers are enjoying comfortable and peaceful weekends!
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Nov. 11, 2006 The grass is greener RIGHT HERE
I LOOOOVE this time of year. I LOVE living in the Northwest and reveling in the changes of the seasons. Of course, this time of year, what that means is RAIN and a lot of it. (Okay, MOST times of the year it means rain and a lot of it....but hey, its green and lovely here.) But I can not describe the satisfaction I now get sitting in my house with my feet up on my windowsill, gazing past my new front porch and watching the rain. And even though the rivers are at flood stage and the wind is howling, it hasn't deterred all the birds in their quests to get at the bird feeders the girls and I put in the trees out front.
Perhaps its the fact that I'm getting older (my birthday is in two days), or perhaps its the contemplative state brought on by spending too much time staring at birds and falling rain, but this year, for the first time in my life, I feel truly content and thankful. So much of my life has been spent waiting for the next big thing or looking for that greener grass on the other side of the fence.
When my oldest daughter was first born, I had to continue working, albeit part time in order to clear up some debt. My husband and both grandmas were able to handle the childcare but I was in MISERY over the fact that I was not the one taking care of my precious gift full time. And I spent a great deal of time making sure that everyone knew just how miserable I was. Including my husband. A couple of years later he started his business and I had to return to work FULL time in order to make that happen. I spent a lot of time crying and feeling sorry for myself and just knowing that it couldn't possibly be God's will for me to send my child to someone else all day. Finally, in the throes of my anger and sadness and depression, I turned to God and realized that all that time, I had NOT been thankful for all the blessings I had been given. And I realized that I had NOT been trusting God to guide my life and the life of my family. I prayed and cried and repented and decided that if God wanted me to work, then I would work and trust that He had a plan for me if I would just trust and obey. Nearly immediately after that, I found out I was pregnant again, the business was doing well enough for me to quit, our debt was gone, the question of medical insurance was answered and after my 2nd daughter was born, I was able to be the stay-at-home mom I had always wanted to be.
God IS AWESOME!
I think of that time as my GODSMACK now. I learned so much about trusting in God, about looking to his Word, and in the years that followed, full of their own challenges, God has continued to work in me adding new lessons, bringing me through trials, leading me into new friendships and helping me to know Him better.
And so back to that sense of contemplative contentment. I am terrified and excited by the work that I know God is doing in my life and in the lives of my family. I am comforted and challenged by His Word and learning about the power of prayer and what it means to know Him better.
Mostly, I am thankful for the blessings I have been given. And out of thankfulness, comes joy, albeit sometimes fleeting as I babystep my way to a better understanding and a closer walk.
"For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every stiatuion, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:11-13
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Nov. 3, 2006 Getting Into the Spirit
I have been a bit of a no-show in the blogging world recently. Not that I haven't wanted to get on here, but it seems that life has been extra busy lately and having time to process and purge my own thoughts just hasn't happened.
Nonetheless, I caught a fellow blogger/friend's recent posting about "Getting Into the Spirit" and it motivated me to talk about holiday preparations. I always have plenty to say about my favorite holiday!
This may be the first year...EVER...that I have my holiday shopping done and WRAPPED before the end of November. I'm not QUITE there yet, but I have made such a solid dent that I'm feeling quite confident. Of course, as a single income family we have to work within a budget and in order to be fair to the kids I need to keep track of what I buy, but this year I started a notebook to keep track of all the pertinent information and for once, I feel organized. (Albeit in this one isolated area.) I really want to be able to enjoy the month of December and spend it celebrating the true meaning of the season, and sharing it with my girls, rather than fighting the crowds and my own self-imposed stress.
That said, we have a great many holiday traditions. Decorations that have been handed down in the family that always are put in the same places. I always buy a new ornament for each of the children each year, trying to make it pertinent to the year's events. On December 23rd, the whole family camps out under the Christmas tree for the night. We also spend the majority of December listening to Christmas music nearly non-stop (much to my husband's chagrin --hey, he's usually working anyway!). We also make a Birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve, (along with the more traditional but far less meaningful cookies for Santa).
There are too many more things to list, and I'm tired tonight so perhaps I'll pick up this subject again later.
As for a Bible verse that applies to the holiday season, and to where I am in life right now...I would have to pick this one:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me. that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight."
Who can possibly imagine that its more than the awesome gift of salvation, but the quest to really KNOW and understand our savior and creator. Unfathomable!
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Oct. 19, 2006 Thank God for Homeschooling!
OK...let me get this straight. Certain public schools have decided to ban games of tag and touch football during recess because they are "too dangerous". Then they remove vending machines and tell parents they can't bring cupcakes for their children's birthday because of the surge in childhood obesity.
In addition, because kids are unable to blow off steam during their recess periods, they return to the classroom wound up and are soon diagnosed with behavioral problems. Ritalin, anyone?
A gay high school student is total to remove HIS skirt during spirit days and members of the community are up in arms protesting this unjust discrimination. Since when is it a RIGHT to wear just whatever you want to public school?
As parents continue to hand over more and more of their God-given and ordained responsibility for educating, training and instilling morality in their children to the public schools, the situation we find these children in, the quality of learning, the condition of their hearts, continues to deteriorate at an accelerating rate. Its absolutely tragic.
Thank you for allowing me up on my soapbox this morning.
I just thank God that he's leading so many of us down a path that I KNOW is right. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Thank God for homeschooling!
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Oct. 17, 2006 A Happy-Go-Lucky Barfer is Born
Ok...well maybe that's taking it a bit far.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is going to be a bit graphic. But hey, my DAY has been a bit graphic. You just gotta roll with the punches.
My 2-year-old woke me up at 4:30 this morning with a "Mom! (boohoo) I BARFED!"
There is nothing good about being woken up that way.
I got up, stumbled into her room and surveyed the damage. Wadded up the damage and took it down to the laundry room, briefly comforted the child and went back to bed WIDE AWAKE with my ears wide open.
It wasn't until after I laid there for a few minutes that I realized that there was no precursor to the event. No moaning, no suffering, no crying and whining. She did what inevitably (apparently) had to be done, called for backup and went back to bed. What is that about?!
When my oldest child had her first (in her memory) experience with vomiting, there were tears and fear and shaking and sobbing and her statement, that summed up the whole experience was "This is the WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
She gets that from me. I would rather chew my arm off to escape a bear trap than throw up. I would sooner take a 4 hour nap naked in the snow than throw up. There is always a great deal of anticipation and struggle and grief and anxiety and pain and disgust and then relief followed directly by anticipation, struggle, grief...etc. etc. ad nauseum.
My 2 year old daughter's statement (after the 2nd unpleasant episode) was "Mom, sometimes I barf." Absolutely matter-of-fact. Followed closely by "Mom. I love you." AWWWWW. I'm gonna keep this one. Just one more wonderful genetic quirk she obviously and fortunately inherited from my husband.
Anyway, she's feeling better this evening. We all lived, the laundry is done and things seem to be returning to normal. Except...
In the back of mind I keep thinking "Am I next?"
(Cue the "Psycho" music here)
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Oct. 10, 2006 The Man I Love
Well...I've seen this on other people's blogs and it never hurts to remind oneself of all the good stuff about one's other half...sooo...
15 Reasons Why I Love My Husband
1. He's a manly man! Two days ago he shot a deer while out hunting and he carried it in by himself on his back. Not a small deer either. (visions of Charles Ingalls in my head!) OOO yeah.
2. He is a craftsman. My husband is a carpenter and a contractor. But he's much more. He's an artist. When he builds a piece of furniture the joints are perfect. Everything is smooth and level and flawless and bearing his own sense of aesthetics. My house is full of his handiwork. From our hardwood entryway floor to the hope chest at the end of my bed.
3. I've spent more years with him than without him. He really KNOWS ME. We started dating when I was 15. We had more than our share of turmoil and drama before we were married. Even went our separate ways a few times for short periods. But we REALLY know each other...and love each other anyway... ha ha ha.
4. My husband is not the romantic type. At first this would sound like a negative aspect and I often think it is, but when he DOES decide to be romantic? JUMP BACK LORETTA! When I was 18, he came to my high school (he had graduated by then) and FILLED my car with miniature roses, and then sat in his car across the parking lot with his binoculars to watch me find them. He's been known to give me homemade cards too.
5. He's a good cook. And he rarely needs a recipe. While I do most of the cooking in the house, he is clearly the one to whom cooking comes most naturally.
6. He's a good daddy. He is definitely the disciplinarian in the house. But he is also the one who reads to the girls every night and takes them on nature walks and brings home different critters for them to pet and love. Though he often appears aloof, he LOVES the goodnight hugs and kisses he gets from his girls and thrives on their little wrestling sessions.
7. He's very clean. He never leaves the toilet seat up (in fact he usually closes the lid too). He always replaces the toilet paper. He's the one who cleans the long lost mystery food out of the back of the fridge every week, and back when we had an indoor cat, he emptied the catbox.
8. He wears almost the same thing nearly every day. This used to really bug me. I SOOO wanted to see him wear a button down shirt or a sweater. I think I've seen him wear a sweater ONCE in nearly 18 years. He rarely gets cold. Sun, rain or snow, he almost always wears a t-shirt and Levi's 501s. Oh, how I love a workin' man in 501's. He wore a very nice suit for our wedding and a tuxedo at both of our proms. Other than that, he's the easiest man in the world to clothes shop for.
9. He's tall. Maybe its shallow. But I love that he's tall.
10. He LOVES to hunt and fish. The part of me that loves the romantic aspect of my front porch, loves to can, bake bread, garden and quilt LOVES that he hunts and fishes.
11. He's incredibly smart with money. He hates to owe anyone money and always makes sure the bills are paid and money is laid aside first. As a one income family, we live on a tight budget, but I almost never have to worry about a bill being paid late or there not being money for our mortgage payment. He's very sensible and responsible.
12. He's a good provider. See #11. We live on a budget but we live well. And its all because of him.
13. This one isn't appropriate for the blog. But trust me, its a good reason.
14. He's hilarious. He has a tendency to be sullen and hard to read at times and that's just a part of who he is. BUT, he has a great sense of humor. We have definitely spent more time laughing together than arguing together.
15. He knows what he believes and why he believes it. God has worked in his life, and he is very convicted. He's not afraid to let others know what he thinks and share his heart and mind. There is never any question that he will do what he says he will do. He doesn't make decisions lightly or believe in anything without a lot of thought and consideration. I have great respect for his beliefs and opinions.
Wow. I actually thought I might have trouble making this list. I think I could've kept going! Amazing how often the good stuff gets taken for granted in the ebb and flow of our busy daily lives.
Thank you God for a good man to grow old with! I am blessed indeed!
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Oct. 9, 2006 Front Porch Update
Well, my lovely front porch is not yet finished, but it now EXISTS! We are Tyvek-ed and sporting a new roof and well sealed up for the winter months. The porch still needs railings and stairs and pretty posts and a ceiling and lights, but its coming along! My husband has to get back to the PAYING work now, so I may try to talk him into teaching ME to put up the railings. Granted, it will take 10 times as long and not be as precise, but I will LEARN! And after all, we homeschoolers are all about the learnin' lifestyle.
So, I just have to post an in progress photo!
Here's my rather shabby looking classic milltown 1936 house this past July:
And now...with a new porch, new siding, new roof, some new windows (not pictured) and a TRASHED front yard 
So now I need some great suggestions from all you folks out there who are highly skilled in landscaping!
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Oct. 4, 2006 Bathroom Scale: 0 -- Me: 1
I have a fear of my bathroom scale.
Probably not unlike most women. It took me years before I would even buy one, then I decided that such thinking was ridiculous and irrational. Why be afraid of a scientific hunk of plastic and metal?
I'm not overweight, but like most other women, I grew up on television and however unrealistic it is, somewhere in my mind I still find it completely unfair that I'm not built like the female cast of "Friends".
So I sneak by my scale on an almost daily basis trying to ignore it or occasionally casting furtive glances its way.
My husband on the other hand will stand on it right in front of me and say, "Check it out! 201 pounds!" He is 6 foot 3 and seems to fluctuate between 190 and 210 pounds with no effort at all.
And of course, my two young girls stand on it for fun and exclaim any increase in weight with great joy! Oh, to have THAT attitude!
To make a long boring story short, I have a syndrome that makes me predisposed to gain weight if I'm not careful. How desirable is THAT on top of all my female angst over appearance and weight?! Like so many other things, it became obvious to me that such rantings and worryings should be given to God. Fear of my silly little bathroom scale seems ridiculous and quite self-indulgent in the face of so many greater issues.
However, that doesn't excuse me from taking responsibility for myself. So I adopted a consistent exercise routine and after months of this I finally climbed on the scale and discovered that I have lost 8 pounds! And I have muscle in previously unmuscled areas! HOORAH!
More energy and better health! Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with having an hour to oneself in the morning! (I exercise before the rest of my family gets up.)
Now if only the Tillamook Mudslide ice cream would cease its siren call from the freezer! And if I can keep up this exercise routine in the face of the holiday season! I figure something about typing it in here for all the homeschooling world to see makes me somewhat more accountable. While I enjoy exercise and all the benefits thereof, I find "dieting" impossible and have a hard time finding truly healthy recipes that my whole family would enjoy. Anyone have any favorites that they don't mind sharing?
I won't say that my illogical fear of the bathroom scale is completely gone, but this week when I walk past it, I know who won.
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Sep. 29, 2006 Plunger Wielding She-Ra - Mother of Power!
I am not a girly girl. I have no fear of breaking a nail when I do the dishes, or of getting downright filthy when working outside. Although I don't care for spiders and certain bugs, I don't scream or jump on chairs when I'm liberating them from our house. Lately I've cleaned up some pretty horrific potty training accidents. I am, in fact, generally the one who mows the lawns and washes the cars. But I draw the line at certain activities. When it comes to gutting animals, identifying that strange clunking noise coming from the car, or doing anything to do with plumbing or electricity or crawling under houses, count me out. Clearly, that is a "boy job".
However, today I added plumber to the list of capabilities in my repertoire. I mean, I'm not adding it to my resume or anything, nor do I believe that handling a plunger qualifies me for a license to plumb. But I've definitely developed a new skill.
At the same time, I seem to have solved the case of the disappearing toilet paper. (I have a daughter who has recently become very interested in detective work, so forgive me if every activity in my life here lately takes on the flavor of a Nancy Drew novel.)
My youngest daughter, in her zeal to now take care of her potty issues on her own, asks me to leave once she is seated on her little "throne". ("GET OUT MOM!" --my strong willed younger daughter does not mince words.) So I haven't really been monitoring toilet paper usage. As it turns out, half the roll, along with the tube itself was used and tossed in the toilet at wiping time.
For the last few days my husband had been remarking about how fast we're going through toilet paper. I grew up in a house with 4 girls and 1 dad...I know about quickly disappearing toilet paper. Alternatively, my husband grew up in a house with 3 boys and 1 mom. He knows nothing of toilet paper requirements.
Today, as I heard from the bathroom, "OH NO! YUCKY YUCKY YUCKY!" (never what you want to hear from the bathroom)...the issue became clear. I ran in to find my entire bathroom floor covered with toilet water. Mind you, had my husband been home, I would have immediately thrown my hands up in the air and ran out to the shop to find him ("Fix it! Fix it!") Instead, I tiptoed thru the mess to the closet for the plunger (What do I do with this thing?) Then, having no clue what to do with it, (pathetic, isn't it?) I took cues from any movie I've ever seen when a plunger has been used and stuck it in the toilet. With one foot on a step stool and one on the toilet seat, I wielded my weapon and within minutes the toilet was drained.
I have to admit, I was truly grossed out as I used all of my old towels to mop up the floor. I guess I needed to scrub my bathroom from top to bottom anyway.
Anyway, with a half naked and slightly damp two year old under one arm and an extra large plunger in the other, I truly feel I am segueing into the well rounded mother I hope one day to become.
Maybe I'll learn to change the oil in my car next.
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Sep. 27, 2006 Our mini break...here and gone (but not forgotten!)
By the way, I never mentioned it after our mini break 2 weekends ago, but we had an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend away. We spent our hours reading, playing games, visiting, sitting around the campfire, fishing, watching the kids splash in the water, napping and watching the river and its myriad creatures go by. No one wanted to come home.
So for those in proximity to the Pacific Northwest and willing to spend a bit of $...I highly recommend the Kalama River Ranch. Lovely cabins, spectacular setting.
Here's a photo of the fam with the river as a lovely backdrop:
What was DIFFICULT was coming back and diving headlong into school again, along with following up on the potty training, getting the outside of our torn up house back in order and weather-proofed, continuing to can the bountiful harvest (pears and green beans now) and watching my lovely 6 month old niece. REALITY...sigh.
However, school is going well so far. We are using Beautiful Feet for American history, Apologia and misc for Science, Sonlight for Language Arts (loosely), Math U See, and I'm trying out "How Great Thou Art" for art classes, and an inductive Bible Study book that I found on www.cbd.com. My daughter has also suddenly become interested in newswriting, so she is making her own little newspaper which opens a door for all kinds of language arts and computer instruction. Off and on lately I feel frustrated with not accomplishing all that I want to. Never once do a doubt that I'm doing the right thing with homeschooling. It's just that sometimes I doubt that I'm doing it the right way or well enough or something... (Could I be under attack?) Perhaps being under attack (hello doubt, frustration, impatience and irritation!) is a sign that our homeschool IS going the right direction?
Must pray...
Anyway...its evening and I'm tired. Lately I've been feeling like climbing into bed at about 8 p.m. and curling up with a selection from the stacks of books awaiting my attention on the nightstand.
So...on that note...I will leave you with one more lovely picture of my youngest and I from our weekend away...(my aunt takes lovely photos!)
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