Sunday, September 27, 2009

Flats


We have just joined a yahoo group that trades Flat Travelers. These are little cut out "people" who go to different places and have adventures. Sorta like Flat Stanley

Currently we have Flat Baxter, Flat Owen and Flat Nan visiting us. What I like about this idea is that you don't have to plan special stuff to do with the flats, just regular day to day stuff for your part of the world/country. Flat Owen is from Indiana, so while the farm life around us might not be new or different for him, the woodpeckers and squirrls might be. Also it is fun to see how different families work. One family who is hosting a flat drives a 15 person van with 8 car seats.

We will be trading flats back next week so we will get to see what adventures our flats have been on while they have been on vacation and then send them off again.

To join the Flat Trravelers Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flat_travelers_homeschool/

Monday, September 21, 2009

College of homemaking

OK I am still working on the College of Homemaking stuff. So far it is going well.

Projects:
1. 2 knitting projects in the works, Getting closer to done on the mitts and almost to the armholes on Hubby's sweater.
2. I made Baking Soda biscuits. I liked them, the kids ate them some and Hubby wanted me to buy a sifter. Since I now have a sifter I'm going to try it again and see if they turn out better.
3. Make an embroidered item: Still working on Hubby's Russian Garb. I just need to do the embroidery at the bottom.

As it is getting colder here, Hubby's sweater is a priority.

Oh and as a "yay" (something good that you do for yourself or others) I make the kids a list of what school work they have to do each day. I have started making one for myself with housekeeping chores on it.

Today's chores were -
  1. Wash the windows inside and out-- done
  2. Laundry Remember to get the stuff from the line before dark --done
  3. Practice Violin -- done
  4. cook some beans to freeze-- done
  5. Make all the beds -- done

I figure 5 chores that I don't normally do a day will eventually lead me to better habits and a cleaner house.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Girlie


I was thinking last night about Girlie's birth. It was a traumatic experience for me- I don't know how Girlie took it, I can't remember. After being induced I had a short-ish labor (5 hours), no drugs except that sleeping pill which the nurse promised me would let me sleep during the early stages of labor (not really) and ended up in the OR after delivery. I'm guessing the hospital birth was a better plan than the birthing center with the midwives.


One of my favorite pics of Hubby and Girlie. Both taking a nap. I'm guessing the birth was traumatic for them too.

If you look close you can see Girlie smiling. Sorry for the quality of the pics. I had a terrible room for recovery.


Girlie is now 6 years old and I am amazed at how she has grown and changed. She is a sweet, loving, funny, opinionated, dramatic, "balls to the walls" kinda girl.

As we are getting ready for a test at the hospital next week, that will require Girlie to be sedated, if you have a moment please send some good wishes her way, and for Hubby and I too, as we are all a bit concerned over the procedure. Even though we have been assured that it is "routine" and "nothing to get excited about" she is our baby and the thought of what is to happen is scary.


Thursday, September 17, 2009

My fighter boy

It has been a long week. Between scouts (girl and boy), schooling, dentist visits (oh yuck thy name is dentist) and generally crummies I am ready for the weekend. So now that we have made it to Thursday I thought I'd share some lovely pics my sister took of Boyo in July when he went for a visit.
Boyo is in Red

And if you can't win.... Retreat with style!

Monday, September 14, 2009

College of Homemaking


I found this cute blog a while ago and the owner is setting up a "College of Homemaking" co-op. I figured it was worth a try. My homemaking skills are pretty good- no comment on the housekeeping ones. But I thought that it would be fun.

You can check the blog for the older list of requirements for the degrees but if you join the yahoo group (where all the fun is!) you can see the newer 21st century version with requirements that are applicable to us today -facebook, renewing books online, programming parental controls.


My tasks that I am working on:

1. Knit an item -- I have 2 in progress, Raven's Xmas mitts and Hubby's knotwork sweater. I know at least one will be done by Dec. Hopefully both!!!

2. Learn to quilt or make a quilted thing -- This will be done when I teach the girl scouts for the Quilt it try it

3. Make baking powder biscuits. Planning that for dinner tomorrow. We will see if that happens.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Do you remember the day?

For every generation there is an iconic day. For my husband it is the day of the moon walk. He remembers watching it in his house in Cuba as a 4 year old. I can see him sitting watching on that old TV looking very much the way Boyo looks but probably with a better tan.



But for me, my iconic day is Sept. 11, 2001. And like everyone else today I think back to where I was when I heard. I was 8 months pregnant working at Catholic University in Washington DC. Hubby was home on sabbatical watching the talking heads on CNN. He called me at work and told me about the first plane. Honestly my first thought was "What a terrible accident, I wonder what was wrong with the plane?" Followed by a brief prayer to protect the people and that there wasn't a child care center in the building. When hubby called back a little while later, he said there was a second accident, and still confused (like many women with a baby in their belly- my mind worked oddly) I thought, "Guess that pilot shouldn't have been rubber-necking the other crash." Then hubby said it was terrorism and he was coming to get me.



By the time the towers fell and cell service was cut, the University gathered in the main hall with the priests and there was a prayer service going on. All of the staff and I were in the balcony watching and praying when a call came into the receptionist desk. It was hubby and he was downstairs.



It is a terrible feeling seeing the destruction of hate while holding a new life in your belly. On one hand there is terror but the other hand is hope. Can I protect this baby? What will his life be like? Will he grow to be an adult or will hate cut him down like so many others? Or will my child make the difference? Will he find a way to solve these problems? Will he grow up as a protector to the people he loves?



Two years later when September 11th rolled around again, I again held a new life, this time a 7 day old baby girl but my feelings were different. There was still the terror, but it was a more common new baby terror. But with the strides our country had made in only 2 years I was hopeful. I knew my daughter would have a good chance, I prayed that neither of my children would ever be touched by hate. And as a sat feeding Girlie, I remember marvelling at the loss so many had felt and the pride at what had been accomplished since then.



Now 8 years later, I still pray for those families. That they have found peace, that all the mothers who had newborns or were pregnant with their husbands in the towers have found a way to survive and to thrive. But most of all, I pray that something like this never happens again.

Monday, September 7, 2009

It's Magic Try-it Lapbook


Ok first off I am sorry I have been gone so long. We had a huge family vacation and with getting back into the whole schooling thing... well let's just say it took a bit of time.

But for your enjoyment I have finished a Magic Try-it Lapbook. This lapbook is based off the try-it from the River Bluffs Council http://www.riverbluffs.org/PDF_WhatsNew/WhatsUPPatchProgramBooklet11408/ItsMagicPatchProgram11408.pdf

This council is dissolving so it is tricky to figure out where to order the try-its so I will help you out. :) You have to call them directly at (618) 692-0692 / (800) 345-6858 and ask for the store. Then ask for the It's Magic try-it. They currently have them in stock for a dollar and change.


They will not be available after Oct. so Order them quick!!

I used left over minit books from other projects to create the books for my daughter. So the PDF books might look different.

Here is a picture of the inside Girlie's Lapbook. Picture of the front is at the top of this post.


Here is the link to the PDF for the lapbook and as always I hope you and your family enjoy making it. Please drop me a note telling me what you liked/didn't like.