All About (my) Boys

Truth Is...Thursday

2012-01-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

truth is....
- my children's birthdays are on the Same day every year, yet I always seem to not realize they are quickly approaching until I no longer have time to plan much.
* I cooked meat the night before so Connor could have his requested breakfast burritos on his birthday.

truth is....
- if I had planned better and had a more open day, I would have cooked the meat in time for DINNER and used leftovers for the burritos, but by the time I got home there wasn't time, so Brian took the boys to Taco Bell for dinner while I got 2 pounds of cow cooking in the oven.

truth is...
- Ki should be pastry chef. He loves cooking and talks about being a chef, but he really doesn't like working with meats and doesn't eat veggies.... So maybe he should go for Mastery of a selective area in his culinary pursuits.

truth is....
- Ki designed Connor's cake and decorated it. It is based on one of Connor's favorite online games.... LEAGUE OF LEGENDS..... it has a gum paste sword and yellow spin lines and around the edge it says Spin To Win and have grey gum paste swords. It was his first time using gum paste.

truth is....
- We would benefit from a nice kitchen scale. And I really like when Ki has Cooking Type Studies, but my hios and thighs don't quite feel the same as I do.... last week he made Blueberry Tarts.

truth is....
-I have been way too busy this pastvweek. and it has not been super productive busy. It's justr "running all over the place" busyness. Like to take Connor to his Volunteering gig...

Truth Is.. Connor cracks me up sometimes. I asked him to erase the dry erase voard for me..... I came back to find this-->

Truth Is....

Connor LOVES Breakfast Burritos!!

YOUR TURN!! Write your Own Truth Is Post and Link It Up HERE-->

Thursday

2012-01-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Why oh why did NONE of you stop me when I mentioned a bike ride with a sore shoulder???

I thought I was dying from the pain! It was not a god idea. It was hurting so badly, it ached in my chest in front. Which happened to be around the area of my heart, and the pain then went down my arm... Which had my husband freaked out and googling "heart attack symptoms in women."

Googling, not Wikipedia-ing. There was no Wikipedia yeasterday, thanks to the blackout.

Ki was so glad to have Wikipedia back today after yesterday's blackout. (SOPA protest)
He spent the morning studying Middle Earth Elves.

Connor tod me they (C&G) needed litmus paper for their science experiment, so I dug into the box of science paraphernalia and found the red and blue litmus paper. I learned that toilet bowl cleaner is acidic. I always assumed it was akin to Draino, and a base. This could be useful information if I am locked up in a storage shed and there is a bomb timed to go off in 23 minutes and all I have to aid escape it is chewing gum, toilet bowl cleaner, and duct tape.

Connor says the number 23 is evil.

I really should ice this muscle pain. Ice just sounds so.... cold. I am out of Fiioricet. And afraid to take Brian's Vicodin.

A ConnorConversation:
Riding in the van, wearing a jacket, he looks up inside his sleeve and say, very confused..
"Huh? I didn't know I was wearing a long sleeve shirt!"

upon further inspection ..... he says:
"Oh, the jacket's just lined."

today, well actually "Yesterday"

2012-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Ki was using this card as a bookmark. It's from Mimi and Papa. I was looking at it while we were sitting at the table eating dinner yesterday.

I told Ki it looked very yummy and I wish I had one of those to drink! He said if he knew how to make whipped cream, he'd make one for me. So I told him how to m ake whipped cream. Good thing he made those LEMBA BREADS- they use cream so we had extra......

This is what Ki brought me later in the evening........

That is his mug from being in the play. The cat used to disappear completely (except the smile), now it just fades.......
My evening treat was so yummy.....
I vowed to ride my bike extra and do extra walking lunges..... so, OF COURSE, I wake up this morning and can barely move or be still.. Pulled some muscle around my scapula. It hurts SO HORRIBLY!!! It hurst a all they way through to the front of my chest. But not much in the front. But A LOT in the back, whenever I move or twist it hurts worse.

I have some Aspricream rubbed into it, but it's nt helping. Maybe a hot shower will help... then I'll just bike ride in pain....

her are those pictures I promised... From Gavin's J-Term course. He is learning to use Blender 3D for computer graphics. He's starting with spaceships. I think his goal is to be moved on to drawing people/game characters at the end of J-term.... not sure.

I think his spaceship looks like an alien goblin pig character. So, I'd say he's halfway there!

This is the same drawing, from a different angle.... I'll post some more pictures later after he is further along in the process.

Still haven't found what I'm looking for.....

2012-01-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

.... because half way through looking I forget what it was I was trying to find.

Usually I find what I was looking for a few days or weeks later. The mental conversations goes something like this:

"Hey there that is! How'd it get there? Oh, I think I was looking for these last week!!
Hmmmm. I wonder why I was looking for them. I can't imagine what I was thinking of using them for...."

So I pick them up, whatever they are, and place them somewhere I think they might go.
A couple days later I will suddenly remember what it was I had planned on doing with them, so go back to where I found them. But they are not there anymore because I moved them to someplace I thought they might belong.

Then I have to don my FBI Profiler hat and try to deduce where I may have thought they belong based on ther size, shape, my intended function, and the state of mind I was in last week.

I sure keep myself busy. It's no wonder the bathroom never gets cleaned enough.

Last night I made myself a mug of chai. Well, I should back up a bit. Last nigh I thought about making some chai. There were no mugs in the cupboard. There were no mugs in the dishwasher, except the smaller ones the kids use that don't work well for microwaving a mug of chai tea. There were no mugs in the sink.

I found one on the table, that looked clean enough. I gave it a quick rinse in the sink and wondered where all the mugs where. Then I wondered if I should really make chai for myself as I treated myself to cocoa in the morning.
"Hey, I used a mug for the cocoa." was my next thought. "I bet that mug is upstairs." This thought distracted m from the thoughts that were were trying to keep me from my chai latte.

I made my chai. Went up to my room to read my email.

"Ah there is the mug from the cocoa, right on the little stool that I have shoved next to my bed because I have no night stand and my little drawers with PJs and mismatched earrings I take off at night and am too lazy to go put away.. is too far from my reach to set my cocoa. or chai."

I pick up the cocoa mug andd decide to set it on the sewing machine table for now. I'll take it downstairs in the morning.
I set it down next to 2 other mugs.
AH-HA!!

I turn and see another mug on the bookshelf.
AH HA ! ! again!

So, that is where all my mugs went.

Today I am washing mugs and doing walking lunges.
And I should just go ahead and finish of that list cup of chai in the carton. It's probably only half a cup anyway. Might as well drink it now and have a clean start tomorrow.

le-le-le-lembaas.....

2012-01-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

Are you an elf? Do you know an elf? Do like to eat? and need to travel?

Then you might find yourself in need of....

LEMBAS!!

Elven Lembas Bread. Perfect for travel.

Nutrient-packed! (one bite will fill a grown man's stomach!)

Packaged for travel convenience. (wrapped in Mallorn leaves and secured with silver elven cord)

Oh.
Did you answer NO to the first 2 questions, but YES to the last 2? Or maybe you were a bad elf that has been banned from the elven farmer's market and can no longer obtain Mallorn Leaves....

Either way, you may have to improvise and bake your OWN human-version of Lembas.

Smiley, my In-House-Goblin-Elf-in-training, made this pseudo-elven nutrition bar.. Elven Lembas Bread. (that is Smiley pictured above) RECIPE FROM HERE
The recipe calls for self-rising flor. Ki googled and found a way to make his own self rising flour. Being that we live in "little Mexico", so it seems, it is easy to find banana leaves at the store, but I have not seen self-rising flour here.

Here is the famous travel food next to one of the books authored by J.R.R. Tolkien. And a banana leaf. A big banana leaf. Our fill-in for Mallorn Leaves.

I did not take the time to check to see if it was THE actual book that mentions Lembas bread, but no matter.

The banana leaves are large and need to be torn into appropriate sized strips. You can just wing it, which we often did, or you can place the Lembas on the leaf and tear the leaf at the correct width for that particular Lembas.

Then tear a second strip to wrap the other way.

I sometimes cut the tip into a point, to resemble a Mallorn Leaf a little better.

Then just wrap the leaves, wrap your cord (we used silver wrapping paper ribbon)

And now you have a wonderful little elven treat for your next Amtgard gathring!!

Linked up at:

Jobs and Resumes (J-5)

2012-01-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

I thought about rotating this picture, but decided I like it the way it is. It is from Yesterday's Fun with Feces School Adventure. (READ about it HERE)

Today ended our first week of J-Term. (you can read about J-Term HERE):

I laid out 3 science tests and told boy to do their test whenever they felt ready today. Connor took his test as soon as he finished breakfast. Ki studied bit longer before taking his test. Gavin took his test a little at a time.

That was all they did for science today.

Gavin spent more time practicing the new computer graphics program. I promise to get pictures SOON!

Connor took his resume to the animal clinic and talked to the lady there. It still seems funny that my 16 year old needs a resume. On the way home we stopped by another Animal Hospital and he got an application. I had him attach a copy of his resume to his application.

We talked a bit about the city animal shelter- it is NOT a no-kill shelter. I asked how he would feel volunteering there and he said he wouldn't want to. I can't blame him.

Ki made Lembas Bread today. I will get pictures tomorrow when he wraps it in leaves like the elves did.

Gavin will be making Fried Rice tonight for those of us that like friend rice. That would not be me. That would be himself, Connor, and the exchange student (Dashnyam). I bought some veggies and fruits to cut up for everyone and those of us that are left, Ki, Brian, and myself) will find other foods to eat. Maybe a bowl of cereal for me. Maybe Ramen noodles for Ki....

Connor said he wants rice... and scrambled eggs separately.... Aparently Connor does not like fried rice... just rice. and scrambled eggs. and onions-raw.

Brian will be staying up late tonight- hopefully- and sleeping Saturday morning to afternoon.... hopefully. If he plans well. He has to go into work from Midnight to 10 or 11AM Sunday.

All in All, I am pleased with J-Term. Ki is enjoying his Middle Earth books and projects. Gavin is always happy when he gets to draw on the computer all day long for school.
And Connor is getting good experience between writing ressumes and volunteering at different places. He rode his bike to turn his application into the 2nd place. Anything to get those boys ACTIVE!!

Nothing new or exciting today, though. I have no brilliant break through ideas or awesome science projects to share. But Ki and I did have a discussion about what things we could do with a paperclip. I said pen the CD thing on the computer, make a 'jumpy thing', stab someone in the eyye if they attack me, Attach a bunch together into different shaped... Ki said he could make a taco holder and use them to be the 'skeleton' for claymation figures, and pierce his ears.

"Fun with Feces"

2012-01-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

TRUTH IS: We are debating renaming Connor's J-Term.

"Fun with Feces"

Tuesday he was picking up Dog Feces and today he was washing the backside of a horse.

[ABOVE: CONNOR WASHING -KI WITH THE HOSE}

[ABOVE:KI - Larry teaching]

TRUTH IS: Ki kinda skipped class today to join us. But he read on the drive and will be cooking Middle Earth treats over the weekend. Besides "Showing Kindness" always wins out over "school". C&K helped take care of the aniimals and helped the disabled adults with their riding therapy.

TRUTH IS- Animal Care is a pretty fun J-Term class! Connor Brushed, washed, cleaned hooves, learned to guide his horse, then got a short riding lesson! Ki too! Then they fed the other ranch animals.

TRUTH IS- I am tired. Driving makes me very tired. 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back. It is actually 25 minutes each way, but I was rounding UP.

TRUTH IS - I homeschool because I am lazy and impatient. I had to go into the school office again to get Dashnyam's missed class excused, because he changed his schedule and is no longer taking that class!! I am counting the bike ride as my exercise today. All 8 minutes of it.

TRUTH IS: I am too tired to tell the truth anymore- BUT you can go read MORE TRUTHS at this link: Truth Is Thursday Link-Up

J-Term Day#3

2012-01-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Let's back up to Tuesday night. I went the whole day without a headache only to get one AFTER I crawled into bed. I had to get up too take something.
I also woke a few times with a screechy throat.
Dashnyam forgot to have me sign his school papers last night, so he woke me up from my Finally Restful Deep No Headache sleep. Yes, it was 8AM. but still - it was a touch annoying.

Ki went through his recipes and made a list of the ones he wants to make, then he put them on the calendar for the days he wants to make them.

I started using www.pepperplates.com. It keeps track of recies, menues, and has a calendar planner. Ki used to that list all his recipe dates.

Gavin did a lot of drawing with SAI and with Blender. He took a screenshot for me to post, but still needs to actually email the picture to me.....

Connor wrote his resume for the animal clinic. They don't do applications, you just give them your resume. My 16 yr old now has a resume.

I had to go to the high school because they called to say Dashnyam was absent for one of his classes yesterday. Yesterday, the first day back, he went in to see his counselor to change his schedule. So he did not go to the class he dropped because he was in the class he switched to. The attendance lady said she could not change the absent mark, I'd have to go clear it with his guidance counselor. REALLY?? well, the G.C. was not even there, so the Attendence lady took a note and said she'd clear it with the G.C. for me.

I got another call today, again saying he was absent for a class... so I guess the guidance counselor never cleared it... so I have to go back tomorrow and try to get this sorted out.

I am grateful for those 10 yrs I had that I did NOT have to deal with the public school system.

Dinner was Pasta Buffet. Two pasta types, 4 different sauces! It was fun. even if Connor and Ki refused to try a new sauce and stuck with the plain ol regular tomato sauce.

AND I did my exercise today. I just forgot my vitamins...... one day everything will all comee together.

So, there you have my short shootouts for the day.

Ghetto Elves

2012-01-10T16:00:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here sipping Algorn's Athelas Tea.. an herbal cure for sore throats and Morgul Blade Wounds.
Along with my tea I an eating Ghetto Popcorn. That is what my 18 yr old called it. Microwave Popcorn popped in a brown paper bag, secured with duct tape.

Connor went to my friend's house today and walked their dogs. We don't have dogs. Connor's observations:
"They smell EVERYTHING we walk by!! Every few steps I have to stop t let them smell something else!"

"They pee on everything!! All they do is pee on things."

"and they poop in OTHER PEOPLE'S YARD!"-- like that is the height of rudeness- to poop in someone else's grass.... which, it is actually, if you think about. I would think it was very rude of you if you pooped in my yard.

Me: "Did you have to pick up their poop?"
Connor: "Yes"
Me: "Did you wash your hands?"
Connor: "No."
Me: {hands him the hand sanitizer}

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Today was the 1st day of the new Bible Study. We are going through the book 1 Corinthians along with the book BE WISE.

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

Ki printed out Middle Earth Recipes for his JTerm class. he acidently printed 3 copies. I may be out of Printer paper now.

He then hole-punched them and put them into a binder. I think there are 55 pages. He made one of the recipes today. I call it Garlic Tea. The book calls it Argorn's Athelas Tea (or king foil brew).... You can't really taste the garlic. and now my Morgul Wound is heaing nicely.

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

I called the vet about the potential position for Connor and filling out an application. They said they don't do applications; Connor needs a resume. I actually laughed- out loud.
I asked what a 16 yr old does for a resume.
So, even though t his Animal Care Session isn't panning out as planned- it will be good. Connor will get experience writing a resume and being intrviewed; whether or not it results in employment.
I told him this might be more of a "Volunteering" class than Working with Animals- as the main reason he opted for his class was the potential for employment.
Volunteering is a very good thing. And practicing to get a job is also a good thing. I hope Connor is enjoying his J-Term.
**************

I know Gavin is enjoying drawing on the computer for half the school day! As soon as he saves some screen shots for me, I'll post them. For now, here is his cat drawing he made with paint tool SAI:

J-Term Monday(1)

2012-01-09T15:20:00.000-08:00

I emailed this to Ki and had him print it out and put it in a notebook for J-Term:
Ki, choose 2 of these to do during J-Term

-Make A Shoebox Diorama of a scene from the books.
-Make some puppets and do a short puppet show from a scene in the book, o or make up a little story with 2-3 characters.
- Make a Comic Book For a scene in the story
-Memorize a song or poem and recite it for us.

KI: do all of these:
-Choose 5 recipes to make (or more!) LINK to the RECIPES:

-Read the Companion Book I bought for you

-Map Activity (Choose 1 or think of a better one) >print a copy of the map and mark the different journeys (use different colors) >or> Make a 3-D map or 3-D section of the map. (using salt dough/clay/pip cleaners, etc)
>or> Create your own fantasy land and make a map of it.

- Write few sentences that define folklore and explain the difference between folklore and ordinary fiction. Include the names of other folklores.
Does folklore differ from legend? if so, how?

- do some research on the author. write a short report about the author. You can do this in the form of an Outline or short notes- then use that to teach us about the author.

This morning, Connor filled out the online application for volunteering at the animal sheter, then I took him to RAD: Ranco des Animales ...for Disabled people. He met and fed the animals today. Thursday he will go back and help with a petting zoo and maybe horseback riding.

I called the Animl Shelter to double check things... good thing I did.. marked the wrong age somehow (14-15). he is 16 which means he does NOT need me there with him.. ALSO, the lady I talked to on the phonoe said for cat care he did NOT need the orientation, it was just for dog handling- so he could come in anytime. The lady today, the lady who is actualy in charge of volunteers, said that is not true anymore. (it was last year). This year all volunteers need training. Training is the 21st. I was hoping to get him started sooner. Bonny said she might be able to schedule a cat orientation for a sooner date. That'd be great.

I have a feeling this will be a stretched out J-Term class....... I will need to find some animal care things for him to do until the local shelter is ready for him. I might drive him out to the Ranch 3 times a week for now. I might drop off at a friends hues tomorrow to walk and brush their dogs while I go to Bible Study.

Ki really enjoyed reading the Middle Earth Guide book I bought for him! It is like a dictionary of all the characters, places, events. He read that a while then finished up the 2nd LOTR book. Tomorrow he will start book three. He is a slow reader.

Gavin did his Chemistry this morning while Connor and I were at the Ranch. He was busy working on his Blender program when I got home.

J-TERM 2012

2012-01-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

We will be doing J-Term a little differently this year. We are not starting until tomorrow- instead of starting the first week of January. I figured it'd be easier to just have my boys n the same holiday break schedule as our public school attendee student. (Dashnyam- exchange student)
So, J-Term will probably overlap the first week of Fenruary. I know the boys will NOT want to be shorted out of a week of their precious J Term!

So, what is on the agenda for J-Term this year?
Gavin will be doing 2.5 hours of Chemistry in the morning then 3 hours of Computer Graphics after lunch. He is learning Blender. He plans on using online tutorials and I bought a book for him to use.

Connor is doing Animal Care in the morning. I will be taking him to volunteer at different animal shelters. On the list of shelters to check out, I have a ranch that has animals foor diisbaled people. I was told by a friend that they always need volunteers and her boy volunteers there, too. AND our vet said she will keep Connor on the list for a paid job. they have college kids working in the kennel in the morning, buut with classes starting back pup, they may lose a worker or 2- and Connor could apply. AWESOME-- PLEASE KEEP ALL DIGITS CROSSED!
Then Connorr will do 2.5 hours of Chemistry after lunch. C&G could do their cchem together, if they went at the same pace and all- both reading/watching the CD Rom together. They did for a while, but found it was better if they just did their own.

Ki is doing LOTR and his Science. I will let him choose which in the morning and which in the afternoon. Connor's volunteering kinda sets his class times- and Gavin's Chem needs to be different than Connor's

So, Ki will be spend 2.5-3 hours a day reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I bought a companion book for him. a Middle-Earth Guide. And he wants to look up foods and see what he can come up for making them.
He is doing a general science.

I only let the boys choose 1 class this JTerm and assigned SCIENCE as their 2nd JTerm class. In the past, They have usually chosen both of their JTerm classes.

------------------------------

my BHF tok a bit if a break over the weekend. Brian and I drove to LA to get a new van.

I will start back on my Better Health and Fitness tomorrow.
Breakfasts: Fruit and Protein.
Lunch: Protein and Juicer.
Snack: something grainy most likely

I havee dinners planned for the week. I will call this week Pantry Posh.
I am trying to use up what I already have in the pantry/freezer.

SO: STAY TUNED for JTerm Updates and to find out what Poshness from the Pantry is planned day-by-day!!

Just Say No!

2012-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Today I did a little Alzheimer Prevention. Gavin has told me that one way to lower your risk of Alzheimer's is simply driving a different route to places you go. Take a different way home. Go to the grocery store the back way. I took the Llompoc Gate pput pf base instead of the Caifornia gate. Took 2 wrong turns.

Those that know me know I hate driving and that I can get lost 3 different times driving to a place I know and drive to all thhe time and should know like the back of my hand. Driving a 'new route' increases the risk of getting lost, wrong turns and frustration.

I dropped the boys off at their friends house yesterday. I have been there enough times, I knew how to get there, alll was fine... I went to pick them up from the same hues I know and drove to just fine a few hours earlier... and took TWO wrong turns.

I think for me, even driving the 'same way' is like a driving a 'new route'.

There is a good reason I like to leave 15 minutes early even for places that I KNOW.

Today I am thankful for ear tacks.

SO, just say NO to Alzheimers and get lost on your next outing!

Now, I need to figure out t make a FACEBOOK LIKE button, so you all can LIKE this on your Facebook page. (I think I did it.. check it out at the bottom in that little area before comments)

numb lips.

While I was sitting in the waiting room at the dentists I read an article in a magazine about how children should be involved in extracurricular activites. two of them. IIt gives them a passion or energy for life. So they will have a good self image and not take drugs. The author wrote about how it took a while for her older daughter to find her notch.. when she was 16 the mom finally noticed the daughter doodled on her papers and decided to sign her up for an art class instead of yelling at her, like usual, to py better attention in class and stop doodling.. Seems to me maybe the most important things is paying attention to your child and being involved in their likes.. not necessailrry just having an extracurricular activity. She talked more about how kids need 3 things, 1 is school, so they need to be signned up for 2 other things... and how she is still waiting for her youngest daughter to find something she likes to do. he ends with "My younger daughter is on Google right now looking up Ventriliquism Dolls.. God Help Me!!"

Seriously?? I think it'd be great if my child look that up and then did some project or practiced this talent. We could make stuff together and tell stoories with this technique, research Howdy Doody, etc.....

I think maybe this mom needs to spend more time WITH her girls instead of sending tthem off the next annd newest activity.
You know what is even bettter for a child's self image and keeping them off drugs? QUALITY FAMILY TIME!

My boys extra curricular activities include... being brothers. They have a passion and energy for being brothers.
Gaming Conventions and LARPing and Family Game night.

Xbox and Commputer games bond them together and excite their interest iin things (graphic arts, Story Writing, Game Design, Dying Wool, etc)

Why is the world so anxious to pack their kids off and send them away from the family? They are away from family bonding 6+ hours a day already with ging to school.

JUST SAY NO tot shipping your kids off for all their free evenings and weekends!

(and I am NOT saying I think extracurricular activities are bad, they can be very good.. I am saying the article felt like a mom who didn't pay enough attention to her kid and was more concerned with shipping them off to this lesson and that to make sure they tried everything-- instead of spending time as a family and really getting to know her children)

BHF_1.3

2012-01-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

yesterday was less than minimally blog worthy. The most blog worthy part was around noon....

When it was 12:12 1/2/12

And the yummy Creole Style breakfast! Brian took me to Bon Temps (Creole cafe) for breakfast. I got Pain Perdu (French Toast) with honey-rum syrup, toasted pecans and whipped cream. I had a side order of Hot Sausage.

I spent about $160 at the grocery already this year!

That is enough of what happened yesterday.....

Brian returned to work today. Though vacation is over and I love my husband, I am very happy to have my schedule back!

I had my protein shake for breakfast. Did a few sit ups. Watered the citrus trees while doing walking lunges. I like when I can actually get life done while exercising. Exercising is kind of a time drain otherwise.

That was lunch.. Juicer:: Blackberries, a couple grapes (for the liquid, as blackberries are as thick as tar), half a bunch of spinach, 2 carrots.... and a 1/2 chunk of fresh ginger.... it looked like Prune Juice when stirred. tasted just fine.....

My acupuncturist commented on my tongue being purple and said it meant something about 'stuck energy/emotion".. I told him it probably meant I have a blackberry juicer for lunch.

Have I told you how much I love acupuncture? I told him that the ear tacks not only help headaches, but they seem to filter some of my over-sensitive sensory processing. He was almost excited to hear that, something about research and the Amygdala and he thought it would work that way.

Oh, I had some sesame-honey covered almonds with my juicer. A girl needs protein, ya know.

That Crock Pot Dinner?

BHF_1.1

2012-01-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I told Connor that, if he wants, for school this month all he has to do is read the Lord of the Rings books. He turned it down, saying it wasn't a very useful skill...and he wouldn't really be LEARNING anything.
I would have JUMPED at that chance had my teachers offered it to me in school!!

I said he could learn all about Middle Earth/Tolkein Lore, how to speak with an elf.....

He claims none of that is useful.

I said reading is always a useful skill... and he claimed he already knows how to read.

Ki, said HE would take a Tolkein Class (he had chosen Culinary Arts....I bet he will still be willing to cook lots for me, though)

I am waiting on pins and needles to hear what Connor will choose to learn for our 3 week J-Term. I hope whatever he decided is a useful skill will at least be fun for me. That iss what homeschooling is all about, isn't it? Fun for me?

Gavin must not think so. He always chooses stuff like Physics and Computer Programming. I guesss Computer Game Grahics Design is a little better.

At least I will have fun with Ki.

Who, by the by, was a tad temperamental today. Moody is a better adjective for him. We really need to get back to decent schedule soon....

My BHF for session 1 day 1 was to have a protein shake for breakfast...CHECK. And to fill my Vitamin Caddy thing...CHECK... and have my week planned... CHECK. I will try out my pilates DVD while the boys are at the Youth Center daily this week. I makee no promises for how far into the DVD I will get.

I welcomed the New Year doing what I am best at! Having a Massive Headache! I expect the year to only get better from here.

Nice to See You!

2011-12-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hi, welcome back to my blog! I haven't seen you all round these parts for a month and a half!! Where have you been?

Oh, well, I am just glad you have returned.

today is the last day of Deecember, which means tomorrow i s the first dday of January.
We usually do J-TERM at school here, for the whole month of January. Our foreign exchange student (Yes, he is still here) doesn't return to school until January 10, so we are taking off the same dys s him.

Except he starts back to school on a Tuesday.
I can not start anything on a TUESDAY. That is just insane! I think II am doing pretty well to start the 2nd week. It goes against every fib err in my being to NOT start in the very beginning. The first Monday of the first month of the year.

I told all 3 boys they will be continuing their science studies for J-Term. So one of their 2 classes is science.
Gavin will be working on learning Blender for his Choice Class.
Ki will be doing Culinary Studies

Some of my online gals want to start a fitness countability thing, so i am joining in. My focus will be just general health, eating right, destressing, exercise.... weight loss is not my focus. (But it'd be a nice fringe benefit I bet- it iis not a goal or anything though.

I think I will call my "Better Heath and Fitness" regimen my "Off to a Better Start"
Or, maybe just BHF.
Maybe I will call it BHF and call January's Installment
"Off to a Better Start."I think I like that.....
So, here is my plan for "Better Health & Fitness: Off to a Better Start, Day 1".. or "BHF:Off to a Better Start-1"
January 1 - I will fill my Vitamin Daily pill holder thing. I will make sure I have plenty of Bubbly Water available to drink. I will pick some lemons to have to add to my bubbly water this week. I will make a menu for the week. And a game plan for exercise.

Tomorrow I will report in if I do what was planned, along with what I plan to do the rest of the week.

thhe basic plans are:
Free Computer/Xbox time until lunch (with chores donee by 10)
Then Quiet Time/Reading from 1-2
then I will be shipping all 4 boys off the the youth center. They will ride their bikes,
2:30-6:00 will be my Destressing Routine.

Truth Is......

2011-11-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

Truth Is...I am posting this blog so that no one thinks that I was abductd by aliens or have fallen down a cliff.

Truth Is... I am typing this post all on the little pop up, on-screen touch keyboard, because I am too lazy to turn on the blue tooth keyboard and make sure it is synced with Ivan.

Truth Is... It is good , for someone, to have only gotten a day or two to agree to an exchange student.

Truth Is... I will have to think very long and very hard about every doing a full school year exchange student again.

Truth Is... I don't mail Christmas Cards. Maybe a homemade one to grandparents sometimes, but that's usually it. I let go of that stress years ago.

Truth Is... I think I am ready to move back to Ohio.

Truth Is... I have had th boys reciting scripture before computer time. It makes mmfel a little better about their ~~too much~~ time spent on the computer. They have 3 different passage/vexes eah week (just 2 on the first week). [1] a verse they already memorized in the past. [2] 'last week's verse. [3] a new verse for the week.

The 'past' verse is one they know well, the 'new this week' they write out and read to me on Monday, can read or recite Tuesday through Thursday, but have to recite by Friday.

Truth Is... Dashnyam can say some of the verse with the boys.

Truth Is... I think it is time for a Paid Jobs week.

Truth Is... I made a surprise for a friend. After I give it to her, I will post pictures.

Truth Is... I will ride my bike today. If I post it, I feel obligated by guilt to really do it.

REALLY??

2011-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

WOW, I knew it had been a while since I last blogged... but I could have sworn I last Blogged early-mid October. I guess not!

So I owe you all an apology, a few catch-pup blogs, and I owe Julianna a big THANKS for taking the time to ask me where I was and get me motivated!

October-- We took a family trip to Omaha to attend a neice's wedding. Dashnyam was going to with Gina's family. She is the Exchange Student coordinator, but then they found another host family (who had a boy from Germany at the time) foor him to stay with.

long trips make me kinda not-so-healthy
So I came home to spend a week and half sleeping up right on the couch drugged up on Ni-Quil.

Then we had too get caught up on schooling and Clean the house because the Exchaange Student Halloween party was held at my house.

Gavin is signed up for the December SAT. I think I'll sign Connor to take is this spring, too.If he wants.

The boys had a science test a few weeks ago. I let them use their notes for their test. (hoping to motivate good note taking). Gavin had a it of a cold that week so he only had notes for half the chapter. Connor told Gavin that he had his notes, so Gavin sked if he could use Connor's notes. I said "Yes"--because I know how Connor takes notes.
We get to Panera (because that is where we take science tests. Hey, some families have their Sunday Waffle tradition, we have our Science Test at ith Sugar annd Caffiene tradition)
C&G are taking the test, G is asking C a lot of stuff.... I later ask Gavin how it wet using someone else's notes.
Gavin said he'd have been beter off taking hhihs notes on just half the chapter than using Connor's notes. I asked him why half notes would be beter than Connor's notes on the whole chapter.

He said "MOM, Connor didn;t have notes!! He had ONE SENTENCE for the WHOLE chapter!!!"
I laughed nd said "I know. Connor doesn't take notes."

connor just never takes notes, never has. He got a 95% on the test.
Gavin got a 90%.
they were looking over their tests together and I hear Connor say to Gavin: "Why did you get that one wrong?? I told you what the answer was!"
Gaviin: "I thought you were wrong."

I said "Really Gavin? He told you the answer aand you still missed it??"

Gavin finished up the chapter 5 notes after the test. (so he'd have them for the quartly test)

a couple of days ago Gavin posted on Facebook:
"Today I wanted to look some stuff up so im looking up...
the Geneva convention and the hague conventions as well as the avalon project laws of war. "

Somedays I am not sure he is even my kid. You could't pay me to research political/law stuff.. and I don't even know what the sat 2 thing are that he looked up....

Mallard Feces

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

me: "You like spinach. and Blackberries. And Carrots. Do you want some?"

Gavin: "No."

me: [stirs it around...] "You know what this looks like...??"

Gavin: "Why do you think I said 'No.'."

me:"it kinda looks like diahrrea"

Gavin:"I was thinking Duck Poop."

me: "you're right, it does look more like duck poop. I should name today's juice concoction, Duck Poop. No, let's go with something a little fancier.. How about I name this one "Mallard Feces." ?"Gavin:"Maybe just "Lake Scum"

me: "That is a bit less off-setting."

Today's juicer came about via a different path than normal.

Gavin was Jonesing for the blackberries I had on the counter, saved for my juicer, so I asked him if he wanted some of my juice before I added spinach. He did. So I made juice with Blackberries, 2 pears, 1 carrot, and a slice of ginger for Gavin:

I like the layered look to the juicer stuff....

I poured half of it into a cup for Gavin (after I stirred it)

Then the half that was still remaining I added a bunch of spinach. ('bunch 'as in the 'bunch' from the store, not just 'some large amount')

and 3 more carrots......

It was not gross. It was not lunch. but a snack. Lunch was a protein bar, excedrin, and a nap - a need resulting from too much driving yesterday- in the dark.

Did I mention that Dashnyam has learned to ride a Bike?

Brian taught him.

J.P Day 2

2011-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:00

Today when I left on my bike to ride to Bible Study it was COLD. Not only was it COLD, but it was actually drizzling. I made it 3 blocks and turned around and drove the van. I am a Bicycling Wimp. But I can say that I started my day with a brisk 1 mile bike ride.

When I got home from Bible Study, my 15 yr old son, Ki, decided he wanted to make juice in the juicer. He likes to do Kiwi and Strawberries (with half an apple to make it 'juicier')

I suggested he put in a sice of ginger- which he did.

(Ki has also decided to severely limit diary because it's not really all that good for you, and can be a bit..'binding'.. which triggers his reflux.)

I then had my turn at the Juicer. I started with a couple handfulls of spinach leaves. There is not juice to those things, so a couple of handfulls ends up looking like 3 Tablespoons of juice.

but WOWSER, is it GREEN!

Ki saved me 1 kiwi, 1/2 an apple, and 5 strawberries, so I addded those.

it was still looking VERY GREEN, so I added a couple handfulls of grapes. Really Dark ones. almost black. I want the spinach for the health benefits.. NOT the taste!

It looked pretty. But was still looking quite green and I thought it would taste nasty, The grapes covered the spinach taste well and it wasn't nasty at all.

I don't expect super-yummy treats, it is juicing for health- NOT yumminess, but I don't want anything too yucky. This was actually kind of good.

Then Ki asked why the juice in the fridge is clear, but when he uses the juicer it isn't. By 'clear' he meant 'not thick'. Iexplained that juice from the store is usually more like having juice squeezed out of the fruit (and adds water sometimes), but the juicer squishes up the insides of the fruits, too- making it thicker(and healthier).

The Chai Latte did not call to me today, but the chocolate covered peppermint patties did, so I will have the boys eat those today. I am denying that the Ding Dongs even exist in the pantry.

Juicer-Prep Day 1

2011-09-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Let me start by telling you about my lack of commitment.

I gave up on couponing- so my "31 days of Couponning" page has been deleted

I page up on the "30 Days to a Clean House" book thing, so that page on my blog has also been deleted.

I still read, but gave up on keeping a reading log- so that page, too, has been deleted.

My blog looks more clean and streamline now.

I also gave up on having breakfast with Dashnyam ay 7:45 in the morning. We will just do that every other Monday- because those are "Late Start Days" and he doesn't have to leave for school until 9:10AM.

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

Now, onto Juicer-Preppedness-Week

The goal...plan... is to do a 2 day juice fast this weekend. Or maybe next week. In order to be ready for that, the juicer sites say to avoid dairy, caffeine, alcohol, etc for a week before the fast. The "etc" is wheat and refined sugars. I will try to limit those.

Also, to get ready, I am juicing for lunch this week. breakfasts will be my normal Protein Shakes. (Egg White Protein powder, berries, banana, a splash or rice/soy milk)

Dinners will be normal.

MONDAY'S MENU:
Breakfast- Protein shake with strawberries, a banana, a scoop of protein powder.... but no splash of rice milk. I forgot to get it at the store yesterday.
It was a little on the thick side, but not bad.

Lunch was from the Juicer.
1 Carrots,
a pear,
7 strawberries,
2/3 of blackberries from the little plastic box
a slice of ginger root

(I'll add some crackers or nuts...)

JUICING LINK 1

JUICING LINK 2

No dairy, No caffiene- though the homemade peppermint patty was calling to me from the top shelf of the fridge. And so was the Ding Dong from the pantry. And the Chai on the bottom shelf of the fridge. I just plugged my ears and fired my lazers!

They just all gang up on me when I have decided to ignore them.

I rode my bike to the store. It is probably a whole 2/3 of a mile round-trip. Surely that counts for exercize...

Dinner tonight is "Sub Sandwiches"

I bought different lunch meats, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cheese, onions, etc... And I think we have some corn chips. I will skip the cheese on mine, keeping with the no dairy thing. I usualy skip the cheese, though.

I need to go oversee Ki's science .... and give him a test maybe.

Foodies

2011-09-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

The above treats I made for my friends at church. They are Peppermint Patties. Ki had asked for a big one for his birthday, s I decided to make a batch of regular ones while I was at it. I wrapped mine in foil and put heart stickers on them.

2 things-
[1] they were DE-LISH-OUS !!
[2] they were VERY VERY MINTY
the recipe calls for a mere 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil. That stuff is PO.TENT!

Last year I bought a little Summertime Kids cookbook.
We have never used it. I decided it was time it got some use.

I got out my Post-It flags. I have 4 colors. I marked 1 dessert and 1 main dish for each boy.

Today they drew ~~straws~~ tiny pompoms from fuzzy bag to decided who got to be chef on Friday.

Ki is making the main stuff (actually, he is making grilled cornbread, and he'll help with the main dish, but the cornbread was the recipe from the book)

Gavin is making Orange Torte. It is a fancy ice cream cake, I think.

I think I might make fettuccine with bolgnese sauce. I'll have Dashnyam help me.

also, on the topic of food.......
You may have noticed that a little over 2 weeks agog we got back from a 4 day gaming convention. Not healthy eating.
You may have noticed that Gavin had a birthday 2 weeks ago. cake. ice cream.
You may have noticed that last week, we went out to dinner twice for our anniversary.
You may have noticed that we had taco & cake on Friday for Ki.
You may have noticed we had pizza and a giant peppermint patty Saturday.

Soon, you may notice my hips are subsequently wider and more jiggly.

HENCE, it is Juicer Time! I want to do a 2 day Juicer Fast. This takes some pre-work. A juicer fast should be proceeded by a week of abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, dairy, and they say wheat- but I am not that crazy. I will try to limit it though.

I will post about my juicer journey, for those who are interested. Those not interested are still free to read and comment. :)

Oh, here are pictures showing how I made ONE GIANT PEPPERMINT PATTY. It was 9" in diameter.

I made a 'double broiler' with a medium sized pot and a metal bowl. I melted the chocolate chips (Ghiredelli bittersweet) with a Tablespoon of Shortening.

I used disposable foil pizza pans...

CLICK HERE for the recipe

Bake A Cake

2011-09-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today is Ki's Birthday! He is 15.
YEAH!

He asked for tacos for dinner and eating out at Del Taco was decided.
YEAH! (for the no-cooking part)

In order to help Dashnyam with acquiring and comprehending the English language, I handed him the cake mix box and told him follow the directions and bake the cake and to ask me if he needed help or did not understand something.

This was proceeded by talk concerning his low grade in History class and his need to ASK for help, say when he does not understand, and not waste his time just staring at words or talking as if he does understand.

I showed him the list/picture of the needed ingredients and I showed him the 3 steps. He read. I had the cups and oil and egg box out.
STEP 1 was to heat the oven and grease the pan.

I asked him what he was to do for step 1. He picked pup the measuring cup.

I asked him again, what does STEP 1 say to do. I pointed to where STEP 1 was on the box. He read. He stood there. He stared at the box. Eventually I asked if he understood what we was to do. He said no. I asked him why he did not ask me for help. He of course said he didn't know. I reminded him that he is to ask when he needs help or let me know when there is something he does understand. I then explained what was meant by "Heat the oven to 350" and showed him how to do that.

I found the pans and told him to use the cooking spray (He and Ki used if yesterday for banana bread, so he was familiar with it). He sprayed the pans and then went on to step 2.

He did step 2 (mix all the ingredient.) He plugged int he beater and mixed the cake. After I explained to not turn them on before he put them into the batter and too hold them upright.

I asked him what was next. He read and asked me "Is this the pan?"- pointing to the cake pan.

He had never baked a cake so I asked him if he knew what cakes did in the oven when they cook. I asked him if they filled the bread pan to the top with batter. (no) and if the banana bread was up to the top of the pan when it was done cooking. (yes). I told him the cakes will get taller when cooked, so only fill the pans halfway.

We talked about how the round pan was less full and the square pan was more full, so the round pan would cook faster. We read the package about cook times. I pointed to the different times. I pointed to the 'cupcakes' and asked him if we made 'cupcakes'. He said "yes.". Me: Do you know what cupcakes are?
Dash: no
Me: if you don't know, then don't say yes. Ask what they are.

ME: I will ask you again. Did we make cupcakes?

Dash- Yes.

Me- If you do not know what cupcakes are, then when I ask if we made cupcakes you need to say to me that you don't know what cupcakes are. Let's try again.

Me- Did we make cupcakes, Dash?

Dash- I don't know what are cupcakes.

Me- I explained what they are and then asked him if that is what we made. He said no.
We found the cook time for the round pans and I told him to check sooner because our round pan was less full.

I told him when to check the cake and how to use a skewer to check if they are done.

He asked about turning off the oven. (He seemed concerned it was still hot, but figured it out. I can't imagine he really thought it would be cool right away, maybe he just didn't know how to know for sure it was off)

He inverted the pans and cut the bump of the bottom cake so he can stack them.

And he iced them.

He has started to ask me to explain how to do things and letting me know when he does not understand!
I think the cake making activity has been good for communication and comprehension!

Dashnyam's Very First Cake!

PREVIOUS DASHNYAM POSTS:
DASH1
DASH2
DASH3
DASH4

DASH 5

DASH 6

Truth Is.

2011-09-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

TRUTH IS.... I have been married for 20 yrs now!

TRUTH IS.... my boys were the main feature on the front page of the newspaper.

TRUTH IS.... Ki turns 15 tomorrow.

TRUTH IS.... those were not in keeping with the whole 'Truth Is Thursday' spirit, but were more of a Mommy-Hijack of the Truth Is... Post.

Deal with it.

TRUTH IS.... if it were not for Julianna, I'd not have even remember I needed to blog something.

TRUTH IS... I have heard "OOOPS" so many times while my son was making the banana bread, I am a little afraid to taste it.

TRUTH IS... I have control issues. It is killing me to not know exactly what Dashnyam is learning every day. I found out today he had a test today. And there is a Parent Teacher meeting tonight, but I have an anniversary date with my husband so can't attend. it is kiiling me to not bee on face-to-face talking terms with his teachers on a regular basis. I wish I could just homeschool him.

TRUTH IS... I need to find aa better way to post pictures to my bog while using the iPad, right now I have to go to the main PC to add pictures.

TRUTH IS... I remember having more stories to post, awesome ones, at that. But I am brain dead from an overly busy schedule and have totally forgotten all of them.

Plan & Dash

2011-09-07T17:43:00.001-07:00

Dashnyam survived 72 hours of gaming. He usually was in bed by 9, though the rest of us were up till 2AM often.

He played some new games and even taught a game of mine to a couple kids there.

I think we almost have our scheduling worked out.

Mon & Tues we will all eat breakfast together with Dashnyam- 7:30 AM
Other school days, Dash will get his own breakfast. My boys will have their morning computer time that ends at 8. Then Breakfast and jump right into school.

I think "after school computer" will be from 3-4:30. So all 4 boys have their computer time at the ame time instead of it feeling like there is always some kid playing on the computer.

some days I will have work/projects for my boys to do with Dashyam- to keep him involved and communicating.

Dinners will be around 6. 4:30-6 will be somce kitchen cleaning, helping me cook, or doingn their projects/activities with Dashnyam.

All times are subject to the random temporal shift that exists at this location.

PART 2-
I would like for my boys to be done with their schoolwork at 3 (about the time Dashnyam gets home from school)

So we are working on a schedule with the boys- what I want done / what they want done how much of each.

Ki makes breakfast Tues & Thurday.

Most 'chores' arond here are "do what I ask, wen I ask for help" So there are real assigned work other than GCK have 1 morning job each and everyone neds to clean their own eating place. I try to find something for D to do each daly. Today he helped bring the laundry in from the drying lines.

For School here:
G is doing calculus. he chose is math and made his goal and decided an our day shoud suffice. Tody after finishing his caclulus he was figuring out how to talk to aliens using math.

G&C are working on their chemistry. I want them to get through this course and want them to do 1 module every 2 weeks, but they can determine how much ti8me ech y they need to make that work.

K has his Apologia book, notebook prcased one with fill-ins) and his audi CD to listen to the book. Brian put Ki's Audi CD on the iPod for easy listening. I think listening will really help Ki's comprehension.

C&G are self-teaching Japanese. I asked them to do an hour a day, but I think 30 minutes a day s fine, esp if they practice with each other nd G downloaded the Japenes audio lessons to his iPod.

C is doing Statistics & Probabilty. His book is back ordered so he watching videos at www.khanacademy.org and I will see if I can find some problems online for him. He said Khan doesn't have problems to do, jst videos, and that made him sad. he says stuff like that often- never with a sad voice. He is just being Connor.

I an still looking for classes for Ki.

Ki is doing whatever math he wants at Khan. 45 minutes a day.

THIS will be a very structured school year for us!!

Here are some pictures from the gaming conference:

DASH6/7

2011-08-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here I sit. You can't see me here sitting, but I assure you that I am. In fact I an sitting in my bed. Which could explain why I am tired.

have a lot of thought, but they all seem to be overlapping each other, vying for my attention. Each trying to be the first to get out og my head and into this weblog.

I think I need to go eat dragonflies while the ~~prisoners~~ thoughts fight it out amongst themselves.

**** passage of time ****

I am back from lilypad hopping and dragonfly eating . . . and happy to announce the winner of the fight (for dominance amongst the thoughts).... * The Scheduling Thought*
I have decided that the best way to live on a public school schedule while home schooling is to adapt our homeschool life to fit the public school schedule, while trying to maintain some freedom. I think it may be a losing battle. The best place to start is the beginning. So we will all have breakfast together with Dashnyam on Mon, Tues, and Thursday. Mondays- because every other Monday is Collaboration Day- which means Dash's class starts att 9:55 instead of 8:30. So every other Monday will be a relaxed, later, breakfast together. and Tues & Thursday was chosen because those are Ki's Mornings to make Breakfast.

***passage of time - to watch a few minutes at Netflix, go downstairs to get my phone- stop to talk to Ki about something, get distracted by Gavin explaining his chemistry lesson and ask for money to buy milk, tell the boys they all need to be off the computers at 4:30, then come back to blogging ***

Thee next thought to rear it's head is the "what I did today" line of thinking.
8AM: hear the alarm and debate actuallly getting up.
8:10- decide to lay in bed and check my email.
8:17- I am now downstairs making bacon and french toast and calling the boys in to eat breakfast.
8:30- Breakfast and reading Story of the World, have Dashnyam finish getting ready and packing his lunch.
remind the boys to check the borad for their school work and tel them I want their chores done by 9:30.
9:06- drive Dashnyam to school. I wanted to go on campus with him to make sure he found the correct place to get his pictures taken for this ID and the yearbook. It ended pup being NOT the building I was originally told so I was glad I was there to ask annd find the right place.

around 9:30- drove home, grabbed a cloth grocery bag, biked to Von's for yogurt.
10- I realize I still haven't had breakfast, so I grab a protein drink. I bought a few at the store the other day for mornings like this.
Then I take the clothes out of the dryer, because it doesn;t work and I have to go hang the clothes. I remind Ki to not bother with the dryer, to set the basket by the backdoor next time. I then go hang the clothes on the clothesline.

Edit some photos on the computer. Research, call theater class places for Ki. Read to Ki from a science book.

I have the boys help clean in the kitchen and then I make the marinade for the Tandorri Chicken. (for Tuesday) I clean up from that, split the marinade in half. Half for the chicken half for extra sauce). Then I get the clothes from the washer and take them out to hang them.
By now it is around noon and I grab lunch. around 1, Ki says he is going for a bike ride. I tell him I was getting ready to bike to Trader Joes and he can join me. So much for a nap after lunch.

We get home at 2:13. just in time to tell Gavin to go get Dashnyam from the school. I had not been paying attention to the time so it as a good thing I got home when I did, or Dashnyam nay have had to figure out to walk home on hs own. I am having Gavin (and something the others) walk him to school and back. I figure it gets my boys out of the house and a little exercise, it gives me some time in the house alone IF II send all of them.... and gives Dashnyam a few days to figure out the route. I think I may keep 2 days a week I send ALL 3 boys to walk him to school- for the entire school year. So I have a few minutes quiet. we'll see how that works out.

it is now 4:10. Gavin has gone to the store because he thinks we do not have enough milk for potato soup. I think we do, but I think he plans on making a boatload of soup, so he can have soup all week. The dishwasher is running. The dishwasher is running and I need to go bring the 2 loads of l sundry in from the line.

****passage of time**** (so you not mistakenly think I write these entries all at once)
I'm back. The laundry has been brought in, G&D picked tomatoes, C&K cleared the dishwasher, G made potato soup, D helped prepare the salmon, Brian and I drove to A.G. to buy an extra-long twin mattress for Gavin...

and now it is time for dinner.
Here are some pictures from the weekend...... and links for other Dashnyam Blog Entries

I should do some yoga, but am tired from my 2 very short bike rides.

BRIAN & DASHNYAM --->

DASHNYAM-->

SMILEY CHARGING AT HIS MOTHER while unleashing the cry of a banshee--->

DASHNYAM--->

PREVIOUS DASHNYAM POSTS:
DASH1
DASH2
DASH3
DASH4/5

DASH4? or is it DASH5?

2011-08-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

PREVIOUS DASHNYAM POSTS:
DASH1
DASH2
DASH3

Because I did not do a DASH entry yesterday (Thursday) on Day 4, do I call this entry DASH5, because it is Day 5 with Dash OR do I call it DASH4 because it is the 4th entry in the Dashnyam Chronicles?

Did that sentence really need to have the word 'because' three times??

Last back-track a bit to yesterday for a short overview of Day 4 with Dash. Yesterday I drove him to school, spent an hour talking to attendance officers and parent support people. They were all very kind and helpful. I was armed with phone numbers and a calendar with all the odd days that school starts/ends at different times that normal or there is no school. And there are LOTS of those days!!

I finally got my google calendar loaded up with all the new info and deleted all my old times and plans for our school. They will be re-planned this weekend.

Paul stopped by our house waiting for time to take the bus home (A friend from Grover Beach that takes classes down here and rides the bus). Gavin walked Dashnyam home. The boys relaxed, D did a little homework, we went to church, came home, Dash forgot to finish his homework until 10PM, so he was up kinda late.

NOW for DAY 5....
I guess I should call this entry DASH4&5. or DASH 4/5.

I woke, very unwillingly, at 7:14 and got to Dashnyam's room around 7:17. He was still sleep. I thought he didn't understand how to turn on his alarm clock, but Gavin to old me he did have it on, but when it went off at 7AM, Dashnyam turned it off and went back to bed. He was tired from staying up late to finish his homework. I'll have to give him more notice of when we have things planned in the evenings so he can get his homework done around our schedule..

I sent all 3 of my boys out to walk Dashnyam to school with giving Gavin specific instructions of timing how long it takes. They left the house at 8:10 and said it took 13 minutes to get Dashnyam to the corner. It's about a 3-4 minute walk for Dashnyam to get all the way to his class. So we'll plan on a 20 minute walk,to account for waiting on the light and cars to cross streets. Ki said they lucked out with the street crossing today and didn;t have to wait to cross any streets.

I made chai. I discovered that those bulk, Mexican, inexpensive cinnamon sticks are CHEAP for a reason.. they are cheap cinnamon! The whole entire bag has no cinnamon smell, the sticks broken have no yummy cinnamon scent and I licked one and it didn't taste like cinnamon at all. So I added extra clove and anise to my chai. but it's not as good as with the cinnamon. That'll teach me to buy cheap spices!

10:00 - Gavin is learning Japanese, Ki is doing laundry, and Connor is cooking a PVC pipe in the oven. The leather hardening didn't work well yesterday. They will try again after gathering more information.
They are working on weapons for Feast of Mars (Amtgard camp). Connor seems to have finished and socked his weapon today. i has something planned. I need to sew some sashes.

One of Dash's teachers emailed me today, in response to one I sent her, just checking on how he is understanding and going in the class, since he had told me he was a little confused. Sounds like things are going well. He took a reading placement test today to make sure he is in the class he needs to be or if he needs to be moved.

I wonder if I can get Brian to take the 4 boys to church tonight and leave me at home.

TRUTH IS THURSDAY

2011-08-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

(Visit Julianna to link up or read more TRUTH IS ...Thursday posts)

Truth Is....... I am very glad my boys are NOT in the local public high school. Day 3 of dealing with the school system and I am ALREADY fed-up with it. And let's not EVEN get into me having to be on a Public School schedule.

Truth Is...... I fired my lazer.

Truth Is..... I don't know if I will make it to my next acupuncture appointment.

Truth Is.... I should have opted for a massage instead of acupunture, or maybe both.

Truth Is.... I enjoy this big, busy mess of hosting a foreign exchange student! And Dashnyam is a great kid! (read about Dashnyam HERE)

Truth Is... I need to stop hosting foreign kids because each time I do my list of "Countries I want to Visit" gets longer..... Or maybe just host from countries I have already visited.... but where's the fun in THAT?

Truth Is... it is time to color my hair; cover those greys again.

Truth Is.... the boys will have more school work/less unschool this year. Sort of. Though in high school, unschool often still looks a bit like 'curriculum/classes' in a way. They decided what they wanted to learn and now will have to follow the text book/course guide and do it. I got a Lapbook/ journal for Ki to do with his science. I am sure he will "Make it His Own" though.

~ His text book, journal, and audio CD arrived today, but they sent the wrong text book, so we have to wait a week to get that to use to plan his science days.

Truth Is..... I am tired and feel to brain-dead to think of anymore "Truths."

DASH3

2011-08-24T19:04:00.001-07:00

After his classes, we took Dashnyam to the Farmer's Market . He was offered a piece of plum. The stand owner used a wooden skewer to hand them out. I held the skewer with the piece of plum out fr Dashnyam. He leaned forward and ate it off the skewer, much to the chagrin of the stand owner, who instantly felt bad for his reaction as it made Dashnyam feel bad.

We then walked to the Apple Guy. The apple guy is really nice. He always makes us smile for a free sample. He was handing a sample to Dashnyam then told him he has to smile first, it's their rule. Dashnyam didn't understand him at first, so I repeated it slowly. I told Apple Guy "this is our exchange student from Mongolia that I mentioned last week." (because I am SURE he remembers MY conversation from all the farmers markets he goes to almost daily.) He shook Dashnyams hand and introduced himself (and I STILL can not remember his name) and asked Daashnyam a few questions.

We then walked to the ice cream store (on the far side of the parking lot). I bought the boys cones, we walked back to the van, then had to buy crickets and bloodworms. We went to PetSmart. We walked around with Dashnyam looking at the fish, birds, cats, etc. Dashnyam said they only have dogs for pets in Mongolia. His family doesn't have a dog though. I wonder how accurate that is. I can't imagine a place without cats as pets, or frogs, or other 'non-dog' animals.

Once home, I realized I forgot to buy lasagna noodles, so I biked to Von's while D&G picked tomatoes and C&K brought the laundry in from the line. They played on the computer while I cooked stuff. I then had Dashnyam, Connor, and Ki assemble the 2 lasagnas. MMMMMmmmm, the lasagna was YUMMY!! Dashnyam loved it, too. Connor always loves lasagna.

Brian took G&D to buy wood for making a bunk bed, K&C stayed home. Me, too. So I could type this blog.

I got a recorded message from the school today, informing me Dashnyam was Absent for his first class today and it is unexcused and I need to turn in a note....... UM- He did not even get his class schedule until 9:30-- AFTER the first period class was over anyway!! The school is the one who decided to not givehim his schedule yesterday like was originally planned. and now I have to turn in a note for him unexcused absence.
DAY 1 and I am ALREADY SICK of dealing with the public school!

ug.

Oh, his schedule! He got English, US History, and PE:Aquatics. School is from 8:30-2:30. YEAH!!!! I am kinda glad he did not get the extra morning class or the extra evening class- as that would make the school day from 7:30-3:30. The morning would have been 'ok', but I am mostly glad he gets out at 2:30 so we have time for things like the beach and farmers markets and other fun activities! And he goes in ate enough we can eat breakfast with him!
And I'm sure he'll learn lots from us, probably more than if he had those extra classes. He'll be with us for reading Story of the World. I'll have him read part of it out aloud (my boys all do this) and I think I'll ask Brian to do a little math with maybe.

PREVIOUS DASHNYAM POSTS:
DASH1
DASH2

DASH2

2011-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

I will start this entry off by answering a few questions:

(from Julianna-)
So, I'm facinated. Are you home schooling him as well, or is he going to HS and benifitting from your home school adventures?

Is he completely fluent in English? How long is he staying? Is there any culture shock?

Inquiring minds want to know. :)

He will be attending the local high school as soon as everyone gets their act together, gets a schedule, ect. He took a placement test on Monday and has a meeting Wed morning about his schedule. I have no idea if he will start classes Wed or later. I am not home schooling him, but I'm sure he will benefit from time to time, from what we have going on here plus he'll be able to understand me. Some of the teachers at the high school are native Spanish Speakers who speak English as a 2nd language and are often difficult to understand for a foreigner in a class room setting.

He is NOT fluent in English but speaks well enough for us to have conversations. I learned that McDonalds has not invaded Mongolia yet!

I am not sure about culture shock, but he is getting over Jet Lag finally.

He and his friends back home have Facebook accounts and he plays Call of Duty on the computer at home.

Now for Day 2 of the Dashnyam Chronicles:

I was very tired this morning and a tad headachey. and very hungry.
My morning shower didn't even help me feel more awake. No matter. There was work to be done. My boys were awake. (small repeat from previous post here->) I had Ki start making pancake batter while Gavin and I hung a load of laundry. Connor cooked the pig bacon and Gavin did one fast batch of turkey bacon. It gets cooked in the microwave and only takes 3.5 minutes. Dashnyam woke up in the middle of that time (thanks to a call from me) and he was assigned the task of cooking scrambled eggs. I got another load of laundry started, then we sat to our breakfast. Ki adds pecans to my pancakes!

While we were eating breakfast, I read the first section of our Story of the World (history) book.

After Breakfast Gavin and Connor did a little Japanese study (and science research). I looked up times for the farm, for pumpkin engraving, but they didn't open until 1 and Dashnyam had to be at school at 2, so we'll do that later. We all went to the park instead. We first stopped by Target to buy a soccer ball and an inexpensive Frisbee. The boys enjoyed kicking around the ball and throwing the Frisbee- at the same time. They did a little pond-rock-hopping, walked in the 'wooded area', and then we had lunch at Burger King.

At home Dashnyam got ready for his meeting at school while Connor and I hung clothes out to dry. then I took Ibuprofen and went to bed when Gina picked up Dashnyam for his meeting. I fell instantly asleep. It was one of those deep coma-like sleeps.
I woke up an hour later and found that Dashnyam had been home for a while due to the meeting being canceled. He has to be at school tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9AM for the meeting about his class schedule.

While I was checking my email and still feeling half asleep, Dashnyam came and asked if he could help clean anything. I pointed to the kitchen (where the dishwasher was open) I told him to get the other boys and put away the dishes from the dishwasher. He went in the kitchen and started washing dishes. I got Ki and Connor to help him with clearing the dishwasher, then had Gavin wash a couple dishes. I brought in the laundry and washed the rest of the dishes. If it weren't for the prompting of Dashnyam, I'd have just zoned out till time for Bible Study.

I had G&C check on that college class, which they were dropped from the list, but can sit in on and hope they can be accepted if there is room. Turns out the class was in Lompoc!
I am not driving an hour Tues and Thur for a class they are just sitting in on an off chance they MIGHT get to take it. I was pretty disappointed, but that's how the cookie crumbles, I guess.

All 4 boys were playing Halo when I got home from Bible Study. I never even asked what they ended up getting themselves for dinner.

(CLICK HERE to read DASH1 blog entry)

PICTURES from today-

DASH1

2011-08-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

DAY 1 with our foreign exchange student from Mongolia. Slightly out of sequence.

KI, CONNOR, DASHNYAM, GAVIN - at Pismo Beach. It was Dashnyams first time to a beach. He and the other boys had a fun time wave jumping. Itt's too coold to swim and I am too fearful of sharks to want them out too far, The have fuun waavee jumping and if the waves are good enough, my boys will also body surf. I'm sure Dashnyam will get to enjoy larger waves some time whle he's here. Dashnyam slept on the way home. He slept on the way there, too. Jet Lag from a 15 hur time difference. Dinner was Lemon Pepper Chicken (crock pot) with bread & dipping sauce and asparagus. The asparagus had a delightful glaze of Balsamic Vinegar with a touch of soy sauce and brown sugar.

Connor & Gavin decided to make Spaghhetti Sauce Yesterday and had Dashnyam help. But Connor used too much much oregano. I told him tooo much, because I wasn't paying attention and forgot he also was using some Italian Seasoning. Dashnyam would have been better off eating the ham sandwich he packed for hiss lunch. He ended up only doing a placement test at school yesterday so he was home by noon and just ate lunch with us.

Dashnyam's family own a restaurant in Mongolia. I look forward to a Mongolian meal!

Below is Dashnyam on his first day at the high school, but iit was just testing, so not a full, real day.

And here are some pictures from the beach ....

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

Yesterday, aftr the beach and while I was working on dinner, Gavin and Dashnyam went for a walk in the neighborhood. After dinner, they played on Xbox. I made banana bread. Dashnyam liked that a lot! with 6 of us eating, I need to make a double batch of banana bread next time! And I'lll have Dashnyam help. He says he likes cooking.

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

This morning Dashnyam slept in till 9. He didn't have school in the morning. Gavin helped me hang a load of laundry ut to dry while Ki started making pancakes. Connor made the pork bacon and Gavin made a batch of turkey bacon (for Ki). Dashnyam set the table and made scrambled eggs. I supervised and started a load of laundry.

Laundry is Ki's morning job, but during the school year he has a deal where he makes breakfast a couple days a week instead of doing laundry. This school year he is doing breakfast on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

While we ate breakfast, I read the first section in our Story of the World book to the boys. after a few weeks I'll have to ask Dashnyam how much he understands from my reading. Or maybe just have him take a quiz with the other boys.

The Mongols are coming!

2011-08-17T10:05:00.001-07:00

WOW, I bet that was VERY VERY UN-P.C. of me. Very... UN.
on Sunday we will go to the local airport here in Santa Maria to welcome DASHNYAM to the States and to live in our home for 2-4 months. He is an Exchange student from Mongolia. He's 17.

I am googling and Wikipedia-ing all about mongolia. Becuase.. now this is where my ignorance REALLY starts to show... all I think of when I think of Mongolia are nomads dressed in layers of furry tunics with their mountain goats. and how can a family like that afford to send their kids to America for 10 months??

another very NOT P.C. thing to say or think I guess. But, how was I to know??

Wikipedia says that half the population in Mongolia is nomadic. It also says that Mongolia is a Parliamentary republics with a non-executive President. I am not fully sure what that means. I guess they are ruled by a prime minister that can not carry out the laws or make new ones??? one more thing to research....

But the house is pretty clean. This was all last minute. I got a phone call Monday- got the OK from Brian Tuesday, Gina told me we needed pictures of the bathroom, boys room, kitchen, etc- to put in our application. . . that night. So the boys and I cleaned like mad.

HERE is the online profile for Dashnyam, the student.

here are the pictures we posted on our application...

KITCHEN:

Why, yes, that is a stuffed turtle we rescured from a scummy pond hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen picture on our application... Every Well Decorated Kitchen has a pond rescue turtle hanging from the ceiling, don't you know...

Living Space:

after I uploaded our Living Rom picture to the application site, I noticed the picture of Gavin's eyeball in the table. That's just how we roll. I am just glad I removed the 2 skulls from the kitchen shelf before I took that picture.

Family Members:

The hot pink streaks in the hair don't send the wrong message do they??

this has me all choked up and teary..... from all the dust that was flying in the air from them moving junk off the floor and fromo under the desk....

and now, here are some random picture I took recently that make me smile:

oh, how'd this get here.. this is the boys' bathroom.

here they are.....

2011-08-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

A picture of the boys at the Acupuncture Open House. They had Martial Arts demo, art display, tribal instruments from different countries, food, needles, message, and more.

Ki got Ear Points and a massage. I just got a massage.

The boys sent me their intended class plans for school. for a few months. We'll try it till our winter break and see if adjustments need to be made. Unless of course it REALLY doesn't work and we need to adjust sooner. I am hoping they will self adjust. Ki is usually good at self-adjusting.

Connor's List:

3600 seconds of math statistics and probability a day
- www.khanacedemy.com
- TopShelf Statitstics (Book *click here to see)

- Possibly, Standard Deviants supplement and brushing up on Alg if needed

read "Lord of the Rings" before next year

1 chapter of science a week (*until finished with the Chemistry Course, but I think it takes 2 weeks to do a good job on a chapter. I'll let him try 1 a week and see how long it takes to change his mind.)

learn Japanese for 2700 seconds a day - with Gavin. (program TBA)

Computer Illustration class at Allan Hancock College 8 hours a week(inc lab)

----------------------------------------------------------------

GAVIN'S LIST:

2 chapters 3rd edition calculus and analytical...geometry (Brian's College Book)
*Supplemented with the following if needed:
-google
-khan
-dad
-Standard Deviants, other online or library sources as/if needed

30 minutes Japanese a day
-unless it has chapters on the program.
-May use flash cards and google

*We have not chosen our program yet. and I will suggest 45 minutes, but 30 may work. He'll be working with Connor.

Drawing livestream it from about 6 to 10+ pm Tuesday Wednesday and maybe Friday
(*he needs to show me he can have his morning work done by 9Am without reminders and with getting up on his own before I will permit computer drawing until 10PM)

Read one book of "LOTR" by end of Sept

Computer illustration at AHC

(he will be finishing up Chemistry, too)

___________________________________

KI'S List of "EVIL SCHOOL"- as he put it

-math 1 Khan video and 30 min of work a day *(I will ask him to follow a course, in order)

-read 3 pages a day in LOTR

-get to 3 pull up in a row (*he also makes sure he rides his bike a few times a week)

-register for acting class at Pismo- * not sure what the dates/times will be for that.

-you were going to give me science. *He will be doing Apologia General Science CD-Rom. I will have him look up extra experiments (that are more fun that theirs- which are boring) and videos.

*And I have him cook a couple meals a week as part of his school- since he wants to be a chef. but he usually asks to, so it's not really like making him.

College Classes start on Aug 23 (for G&C). I suggested C watch some Pre-Cal vids on Khan before he starts in his book (Sept 6)

Ki likes to ease into school, so I will leave that up to him. I will tell him he needs ti figure out what he needs to do to ease into school, becuase we will be starting 'full day' on Sept 6. he is good at making his own plans for stuff like that.

Had The Talk....

2011-08-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

So, I has to have the talk with my young men today. That talk parents have once the children reach a certain stage in life. I gathered them together and handed them notebooks and pencils and then proceeded to give The Talk.

The "What do you plan on doing this year in your education?" Talk

Ki has requested an acting class and will be doing the Apologia General Science this year (to get a firm base from which to choose his science next year).For Science I asked if he wanted to make the syllabus or if he wanted me to make. He wanted me to. Then I asked if he wanted me to just tell him something like "Start on Chapter 1 and there is a test in 2 weeks over chapter 1" Or if he wanted what to read daily or weekly. He asked for a Weekly Plan, He asked for a WEEK PLAN. So instead of "Monday:read pages 1-4, Tuesday read Pages 5-6 and do experiment, WED: read pages 7-10.." He wants me to plan "Have read pages 1-15 by Friday and have done the experiment listed on page 6".

I told him that he has reached that stage of life and education which requires me to keep a transcript of his classes and what he's learned, so I want him to chose 1 area (in science or math or whatever) and work through it, so I will feel comfortable saying he did, in deed, take "Biology" or "Algebra" or "Culinary Arts" or whatever. I asked him to make a decision on what he wants to learn in math and then to make a plan on how to do it. He said he'll probably choose KHAN academy for math. I told him to give me a plan. To write something like how much time each week or each day. Or he can plan to learn "X" amount of sub topics each week"....

I asked all the boys, yes even the almost 18 yr old, to give me a short term reading plan. A few books they want to read and their personal goal of when they plan to have them finished. Again, Ki prefers the almost-daily goals, like "read 45 minutes a day" instead of just "have the book finished by Thanksgiving"

I gave the older 2 the same talk about Math- Choose something to learn (Trigonometry, Prob & Stats, Calculus, etc...) Then figure out what resources (KHAN, Take a Class, Use a text, etc) and then a game plan,. It can be general like "complete the course by March" or as specific as "Do 1 section in the book a day" or "Complete 6 online tasks at the particular website a week"The older 2 are doing Computer Science. Their Computer Illustrations class at the local college is 8 hours a week and whatever they need to work on at home.

I told G&C to think of something else to learn.. a language, a new art they don't know, a time in history, a country.... make a plan of how and when. (Ki's Acting Class fills this gap for him)I also told them that this plan does not have to be for the whole school year. We'll try their plan for a couple months then they can decide if it is working (or I might have to step in with some structure)

Gavin already decided on Calculus and Japanese and, I think, Lord of The Rings. (we'll see if that changes by Friday)

They are to have their list, plans, goals, schedule ready by Friday and we'll go over what they come up with. They can hand write or email it to me. Gavin prefers to email me these things usually.

I've been Meaning to......

2011-08-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

There is a lot I have been meaning to do.

the first item is just something I have been meaning to do for 2 days : I want to announce the marriage of my brother to Lindsey. I am happy for them!

I have been meaning to get these "I've been meaning to..." posts written in time to link up top I'm A Lazy Mom's blog on Mondays...

I am using my iPad to take pictures because: and I guess posting pics to a blog from an iPad doesn't work. I can't even see them now.. but I could when I first posted this.

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO.. get a new battery charger for my camera.
.

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO... finish this puzzle:.

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO... clean out annd organize the hall closet. Maybe I'll put that on the list for the boys to do.

I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO... organize the plastic container drawers.....

I have been meaning to clean out the school shelves.
I have been meaning to have a garage sale.
I have been meaning to make a list of jobs for "Earn Money Week"
I have been meaning to exercise more.

The boys are all at camp this week. I did not take a picture of them getting ready to leave, but I did get a picture of the boat they will have on the lake for water games:

SO: What have you been meaning to do...?

Conversations

2011-07-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

The boys were playing on Xbox and Bickering! Bickering to HIGH HEAVEN!

So I call out to them:

ME: "GUYS!"

THEM: "Yah, mom?"

ME: " You are about 2 seconds away from... [pause]... something."

KI: "What?"

GAVIN: "FOOD!!?"

ME: "No. Something to help you learn to not bicker."

KI: "That'd be good."

ME: "As soon as I can figure out what would teach you to stop bickering....

I couldn't think of anything to teach them to stop bickering at the moment, so I dropped it. But the diversion was enough to divert them from bickering.

Later we all 4 biked to Trder Joe's. I decided to try the Coconut water. I chose MANGO. Ki decided he'd try some, too, and picked chocolate. Noww chocolate MILK sounds good, but chocolate flavored water? I went with mango because fruit sounds good with water and mango & coconut go to gather in fruit salad. Connor suggested Chocolate. But he won't even drink these I bet and doesn't want one either way.

Ki asked if we could get a Swiss Chocolate bar. I said yes.

At home I opened my mando coconut water. after I shook it well. Then I peeled back the foil tab and proceeded to drink a sp.
It about got SPEWED all over the table!!How can mango and coconut taste that hideously together??

Ki let me try his chocolate and it was fine. (not great, but fine enough)
Connor informed me that I should have listened to his advice on this topic.
Lesson Learned: Choocolate is a good choice in most situations.

Ki brought me a dollar to pay for part of the chocolate bar, since it was an 'extra snack'.

Somehow something whent right with these boys despite all my blunders and mess-ups.

****
Ivan Update:
I have downloaded some free books. Classics. The Time Machine, Treasure Island, Frankenstein, Ivanhoe.
And some crazy person put Pride & Predjudice on the e-reader free. I was barely tollerable with zombies, I can't imagine reading it 'as-is'.

I won a Gift Card to Amazon from LAZY MOM! YEAH! I got the e-book version of "Christian Theologes of Scripture"
somewhere I must have matured a little. Or grew horribly boring. As I am really enjoying this book with it's historical theology of Scripture.

THANKS, Lazy Mom

****

Connor's braces are GONE! He is happy!
The sent him home with a little gift basket. And just WHAT does the orthodontist send home to the child who just got their braces off?? Taffy, Jolly Ranchers, Lollipops, Tootsie Rolls...
It seems they are hoping for repeat business ..

Stars

2011-07-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Last night I dreamt that Brian was giving me Botox Shots in my eyelids! Close to my brow, actually. He had been watching this show all on Botox and decided my eyelids needing puffing out with infection. I was asleep, but not after the first shot! Then I was too scared to move because I couldn't have ONE fat botox brow, so I sat through the other side. I was SO STINKING MAD at him!!!

Another dream about my husband from last night... He had Chicken Pox. He was totally covered. But in my dream adult chicken pox only lasts 2-3 days. I think he got off easy for the Botox stunt.

Brian gets nervous when I tell hiim I dreamt of him.

Last week I finally write a blog that really is All About my Boys & Homeschool- the original intent f this blogg, and no one leaves a note, I guess the "all about me and my thoughts" is preferred.

I emailed the boys with their school for this week:

School Week:

MONDAY: Funday Monday! Doughnuts for Breakfast. Read 30 minutes. Let's do something fun. Shell Beach? Pirate Fluxx?

Tues-Friday :
- 5 Word Roots total.
- 30 minutes reading per day
- Ki 2 Khan Science Videos a day or 8 total
- C&G ~ 5 total Chemistry Sections

DAILY- get 30-60 minutes exercise a day. ideas: Bike, walk, amtgard, lifting weights, parkour, scooters, yoga cards, Ninja WorkOut, Park, Frisbee Golf

The mot exciting thing about this week... I will not be making dinner, but am assigning that responsibility to my offspring. My youngest is making breakfasts this week, so I'll not have him do dinners. Just C and G will be making dinners.

I'm still not used to reading/commenting on blogs with the iPad. So I am still behind on that.

Today's topic at church?
Song of Solomon Chapter 4. Sexual Intamacy.
Or otherwise entitled; "The fine art of blushing"
I like these topics to not be public conversation pieces.

I have some tinking to do tonight. Or maybe tomorrow.

and lots of laundry. Our washer was not working for 2 days. Then we were gone all day Friday.

think I'll go read now. I'm reading "The Stars My Destination." by Alfred Bester.
Speaking of STARS-- I downloaded a free App from NASA. It's pretty great!

Blogging 'Bout Boys & Books

2011-07-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

I love me a little alliteration in the afternoon!

As 'quasi-unschool-eclectic-homeschoolers' we kinda do school Year Round. But not 'full-on-hard-core' all year. Well, not ever probably, but less in the summer.

Over this summer are kinda finishing up some Chemistry. Some days less than others. The boys are also doing Word Roots. A CD-Rom with games to learn Latin Word Roots. It only takes about 15-20 minutes for Word Roots.

This week is a little on the MORE side. I asked Gavin (17) how his school was going today. He said he was pretty much done with what he needed to do today, butt has some more Chemistry to to later today. (I give them a week goal- "Have X-amount done at the end of the week, so hhs 'enough for today'- is is own amount he thinks he needs to do daily yo keep on track and he much not have done 'enough'
earlier this week so wants to make up some tonight to be ready for tomorrow)

I reallly do just have a short point here, but it seems to require some extra explaining , so you understand what is going oon..
SO... Gavin says he is done for what he needs today but has some more to do later and he'll do it after church. I reply with a reminer that we'll get home around 9. He says; "I know. I figure I'll do my chemistry between 9 and 11 tonight."

Now, we come to my point in all of this. How much I love the freedom of this homeschool adventure and that is naturally leads my young men to figure out how to be responsible & independent. Some parents would not like if their child decided to wait until 10PM to do their school work. Or if they chose to spend the morning playing Magic the Gathering and going for a bike ride so they do school after dinner. Or when they choose to do no math Monday-Thursday and just do the weeks worth of math on Friday. I like that my boys plan their day and do their school when they see fit. As long ass it gets done in the end, it's good with me. My high school teacher used to say; "It's your baby. You deliver it!"- meaning 'as long as the work gets done, I don't care how- its your project/work- do it however it works for you.'

When the boys were little and it was getting late, around 9. I'd have them brush their teeth, get into PJs and play quietly in their rooms. I never told them it was Time to Sleep for them. Just time to be quiet in their rooms (lights off)so I could sleep. They could d play quietly unti they were reedy to sleep. It seemed like it would cause a lot less bedtime battles of "But I'm not tired, mommy! I don't want to sleep!"- then they force themselves to stay awake to prove a point. As they got older, they could turn their lights off on their own t 9:30 or 10 or, when older, whenever they were ready.

I have decided that this 'school year' I will have the boys create their own school schedules. It should be interesting. Ki is my MOST "Unschooler at heart" and the most likely to plan too much. I am looking forward to see how and what they plan.here is my guess:
Gavin seems to like to break his work down into daily portions. If they have to do "10 sections of something by End of School Friday" Gavin will do 2 a day, usually.
Connor like to either do it all at once or all on Friday. Having a free week and one busy day.
Ki gets OverAcheiver Syndrome and also when I assign something he is the most likely to say "well, can I do "such and such" instead"- and his suggestions are always good, they are just 'with a twist'

This school year they will all 3 be "in High School" . Not that it means much. Except I will be keeping High School Transcript for 3 kids.

Be on the Look Out for their personal school Plans! I'll have them do that in Early August, I think.

Bullet Points

2011-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Connor gets his braces off today.
I won't go with him. He'll walk there and back. Because I have acupuncture this morning.
which makes me feel like a bad mom, but not being able to do anything do to migraines makes me feel like a worse mom.
The best free app for the ipad..... the TIMER + app. So I can set the timer before I start to play PocketFrogs.
Despite Ivan's drawbacks (no DVD playing and the email reader is weird) I really am happy with him.
Ivan II is my iPad 2, in case you missed that.
Ki was told to watch Chemistry Videos at KhanAcademy.com- for school- since we are doing chemistry stuff right now. He told me all about the videos he watched- Hemoglobin, Neurons, Oxygen, Sodium-Potassium Pumps.... I asked "Did you watch CHEMISTRY videos??" Ki said " Well, they were under Biology, but biology and chemistry are pretty much the same thing."
I am glad I am not keeping a high school transcript for that one yet...
Connor has his Learners Permit for driving. He is actually excited. Not overly, though. He says driving is scary and exciting at the same time. He was asking to drive since the day he got them. I said something about his desire to drive and his response was that "It's not that I REALLY want to, but I have to drive 50 hours with my learners permit."- Like he is asking to drive not so much ecause he wants to but because it is required.
We got a Fry Daddy for Ki (mainly him as he cooks the yummy foods)- and we haven't gotten to use it yet. the first food to be cooked in it will be doughnuts.
The tomatoes from our garden are yummy!
I wonder if we can fry them in the Fry Daddy. Beer Batter Fried Tomato Slices...??
My thighs will never be like they used to be....

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Ipad Carrying Case I made for Ivan

2011-07-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

I saw a cross-shoulder carrying case for iPads and decided to make one. I had this fabric in the sewing room-->

I measured the fabric and the lining fabric, made straps and pockets and added a button- for decoration. I was gonna add a magnet snap thing, but wasn't sure if magnets were OK.

Because of the flap, I had to keep the strap not attached up at the top.- but it attached all the way on the back side. (having both sides partially unattached made it hang weird.)

I made the small front pocket with a skinny pocket for the Stylus, I keep lipgloss and the screen wiping cloth in the larger part of the pocket.

made gussets in the bottom- so it keeps its shape and looks more tailored and less- 'thrown together homemade'

The inside pockets were made for a credit card & Drivers license. - so I can just have 1 bag to carry when I'm going places.

If You Give a wife a Scrubby

2011-07-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

A little poemy thing, written my me- many years ago.

If you give a wife a scrubby she'll feel compelled to scrub the sink and make it shine.

Before she can use her scrubby to shine the sink, she has to clear out the dishes.

Before she can clear the dishes out she has to unload the dishwasher.

Before she loads the dishes from the sink into the dishwasher she may as well gather ALL the dirty dishes from around the house.

After the dishwasher is reloaded she has to start the dishwasher.

When the dishwasher is reloaded and started, there are still dishes in the sink.

She uses her scrubby to hand-wash the rest of the dishes.

Before she can hand wash the dishes she has to rinse the sink and clean it.

Before she can rinse the dishes she has to clean the counter so there's a clean place to put the drying towel.

Before she can clean a place on the counter-top she has to remove all the clutter.

Then she has to get the clean towels from the dryer; which needs to be restarted as the towels are still slightly damp. Finally the dryer is done, the pantry is re-organized (while waiting), and the towels are brought upstairs to be folded.

NOW she can hand wash the dishes.

After the dishes are washed she can finally use her scrubby to shine the sink.

Before she shines the sink she should move the clean dishes.

Before she can put the clean dishes away she has to dry them.

Dishwasher emptied/reloaded/started. Counter decluttered and wiped clean. Extra dishes washed/dried/put away.

Time to Shine the Sink!

The sink is shined, now the floor is icky from all the dishes and clutter being moved through out the kitchen.

Before she goes to bed she HAS to mop that nasty kitchen floor.

Before she can mop the floor she needs to vacuum it.

Before she vacuums the kitchen floor she has to take out the trash, move the trash can and get the kids to move their toys.

She can't vacuum and mop while the breakfast table is all dirty. (The dirt will just fall on the newly cleaned kitchen floor) So she de-clutters and cleans the breakfast table.

Then she vacuums.

NOW she can mop.

The counter-top needs to be wiped off again.

So the wife gets her scrubby out again and cleans the counter top, then rinses her scrubby and now she has to shine her sink AGAIN....

Random Cerebral Plundering

2011-07-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Location	Date	Local Time	Activity
EPZ, China	07/15/2011	12:43 P.M.	Departure Scan
EPZ, China	07/14/2011	2:22 A.M.	Origin Scan
China	07/14/2011	11:15 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

My Ipad has departed China. Soon it will arrive at my home. It will join the Pining IPad2 Power Adapter and the Logitech Keyboard Case that are already here. it will be so wonderful to get to use my power adapter, finally. As it is, it sits alone and useless in a drawer next to my bookcase. It has purpose in life.
Did you see my son Gavin's Bamboo Tablet Art Video? It's linked up at Yesterday's blog entry HERE.

I recently deleted many blogs from the list of Blogs I Follow. I do not have the time for 130+ blogs. I went down to 45-ish. Some of those have very infrequent new posts. I think I will list my Most Frequently Read Blogs and a few New Blogger friends. Go visit and tell them HI.
are you a lazy mom, too? then go read STACIE @ IMALAZYMOM
got boys? like the Beach? visit ANGIE @ PEBBLEKEEPER
Fashion. Photographs. Food. Funny Dialog. AMBER @ SASSYCLASSY (composing mom)
Crazy is a Crazy Does. we got CRAZY here. Do you? GINA has her OWN BRAND OF CRAZY
Funny. Fifty. and a little bit Foreign. I give you CAROL @ FACING50W/HUMOR
do you homeschool? Got little ones? like Science? visit TRICIA @ ADVENTURES IN MOMMYDOM
MERYL @ DEPARTING THE TEXT a parent. a PhD. Opinions. on teaching and schools
Simple Life. Homeschool. Green. visit IS THERE A BATHROOM ON THIS SHIP
i actually need to go read 7 comment there. her blog was brried in the 130+ blogs and I kept missing it. YEAH for refinding favorites!
This is one for yummy recipes and cooking How Tos! MIKA @ MIKAS PANTRY
THAT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU AL BUSY FOR AWHILE.I'LL LIST MORE LATER. THE 'BEYOND "M" BLOGS... SO IF YOU START WITH 'N' OR BEYOND- YOU'LL GET LISTED..."
that's all, folks.

~If you enjoyed my blog, please Click your heels together 3 times and say "there's no place like home,"~

Truth Is... Scrambled Pancakes are good

2011-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Truth Is..... I have had this headache since Saturday. Or maybe Friday. I forget. I am out of Fioricet.
Truth Is..... I am wondering if my husband's Vicodin from his surgery will work in place of Fioricet.
Truth Is..... I am too scared to try it, though.
Truth Is..... My son just brought me a bowl of Scrambled Pancakes. Breakfast in Bed. He 'scrambled' the pancake batter while cooking the pancakes, like one would scramble eggs. Then sprinkled them with Cinnamon Sugar.
Truth Is..... they were pretty good.
Truth Is ..... I don't like coffee at.all. But I do like espresso.
Truth Is..... I am a week late mailing a birthday card to a friend's daughter in Japan.
Truth Is..... I am thinking of having the boys make their own school schedules this year.
Truth Is..... Gavin spends most the day on the computer. Perfecting his art skills. Check out his Videos he posted today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axYukjlbxHw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39nZJUh21WI&feature=related
and here is the 3rd in his series today:

Truth Is...... Apple has inefficient shipping. I got my iPad Power Adapter today.... my iPad won't be here until next week. Apparently, Apple thought it was important to have the adapter with nothing to adapt to yet.. Now there is a lonely power adapter in the drawer waiting to be joined by an iPad.
Truth Is....... my iPad2 will be here next week!

Location	Date	Local Time	Activity
EPZ, China	07/14/2011	2:22 A.M.	Origin Scan
China	07/14/2011	11:15 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

Frankly, dear....

2011-07-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

Frankly, dear - I missed Truthful Thursday-AGAIN. Julianna's post reminded me of what I forgot.
Frankly, dear - it's been a week since my last post. I guess I need a more interesting life about which to blog.
Frankly, dear - I can't find the battery charger for my camera- so no interesting pictures. Maybe I can find an older picture to re-use.

Frankly, dear - we played around too much and didn't get through Chemistry, so it is our Summer Course. I took the boys to Panera for their test. chapter 3. Yes, we had that much fun doing other things during the school year.
Frankly, dear - though I like Panera's pastries, I do not like their chai or lattes, so I walk 3 doors down to Starbucks for my chai or latte and take it to Panera to eat with my pastry.
Frankly, dear - we are very spoiled Americans
Frankly, dear - I enjoy having my offspring on Facebook. what an easy way to send them assignments and online links for research, or to share YouTube songs! Gavin is researching predestination (to be able to talk about what he believes with his youth pastor). So I opened my Facebook Chat and messaged him with some Bible Verses and stuff to help his research.
Frankly, dear - It made my heart smile to get this from gavin (on Facebook) " i already have 4 pages & bible verses and what I think of them. I may have 10 by Sunday and i think thats a good amount. Do you mind if i stay for longer to discuss about it? if james is free and ready?"
Frankly, dear - I am tired of Halo Reach in the house. But it has lessened the Starcraft game I don't like....
Frankly, dear -I love that Ki just randomly thinks of things to do. He's almost 15. We comes walking out of his bedroom with some clay and says he's going to make a caterpillar. It's cute. light green and dark green with pink feet and yellow eyes. He made a leaf for it, too. Now he's killing things on the Xbox.

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Catan by Ki

2011-07-01T07:44:00.001-07:00

Ki made a new Catan Map. He fashioned it from the picture on the back of the card. I added a 3-tile island under the dessert region. At first I wondered if it would be too difficult with the resources clumped, but it turns out, if you build at a 2:1 port for your Main Resource then it works pretty well. Since the only ship route was to that 1 small island we didn't bother with the pirate.

We also had a change in rules; which made the game interesting, but got Ki to participate.

See Ki up there? He played the Robber and the Banker. So we called him the IRS.

When someone rolled a 7 they placed the Robber marker. Then Ki (robber/banker/IRS) took a card at random from one of the players on that hex tile. When we were losing 1/2 our cards on 7, Ki got those cards.

We were doing play testing. We found that people were getting so many cards after a while and Ki seemed to always choose Gavin when he could and Ki used his resources for development cards- So I had a turn, the Robber got a play (but no roll), then it was Gavin. We decided that the player before the Robber should instigate "Special Builds". So after I took my turn, I called "Special Build" and the players could build with their resources one last chance before the IRS swooped in and devastated them.

They asked to play to 15 VPs, but it was too long that way. We ran out of Cities and stacked settlements on boats- as a City. Then I ran out of roads and used boats. SO- 13 VPs should have been the limit.

All in All, it was fun. Next Time:

-only 13VPs

-Start Special Builds earlier

Our other rule was if the robber got up to half the settlements/cities as the players, he had to become a player. Ki just built 1 settlement on a GOLD. Actually in the beginning we said if he got to 2 Settlements/2 Roads- b/c that is about what we had. But I think the rule for that is when the Robber has 1/2 the Settlements/Cities as the players (the least)- then he becomes a player.

In order to get to play games we have to do crazy things like this- let him change everything all around with future options.

**Actually, Connor made our first 'made up map'. In the Seafarers, he took all the tiles (land & water) in the normal game map, but shuffled them and put them out randomly. That was fun!

My Guy Ki

2011-06-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here are Some Ki Rituals:

He HAS TO get his morning good-bye kiss from Brian before Brian leaves for work. Brian leaving out the door will wake him up and he will RUN outside to catch him if he doesn't remember the kiss Brian gave him while sleeping. If he wakes up after Brian has left he will ask me if Dad gave him a kiss. But usually a kiss from daddy will wake him up enough that he remembers. Of course he is often awake when Brian leaves.
Ki always has to say say something like " Do the best you can and come home soon."
Ki is 14.5
I love that he still loves his hugs and kisses from us.

Ki needs to get his hug before bed and often can't remember so ends up getting 2 or 3. Or maybe he does remember and this is his way of getting more... Hmmmmm?
He asks me almost nightly "So, how was your day?" waits for me to answer (which requires examples of why it was a good day, etc) then tells me about his day. Often throughout the day he will mention when something happened to make it a good day. "Wow, this is a really good day! I just got all the answers on this page correct." or "This is a good day! I got to have chocolate with my lunch!" Which is a far cry from when he was 4-7 and every day he was near tears proclaiming it was the worst day of his life ever!
When Brian gets home he gets a hug and kiss and asks Brian "So, how was your day?" (with answers, explanations, conversation.)
Also, before bed he almost always asks me "tomorrow's plans"Even though I try to write them on the board.Tonight he asked me :"So, what do we have planned tomorrow?" [I love how he says "SO, ______ ]Me: "Hmm, tomorrow... Word Roots, Some Chemistry Research online, reading Hour, Connor is making dinner and I am going to Bible Study."
I love how he listens too intently then gives me a nod and word of approval.Then he asked "Did I ever tell you about Supernovas? That is what I researched for science the other day?"

Then he told me about them and we had to look up Neutron Stars- he thought they were neat and wanted me to see the picture on Wikepedia.
Ki isn't much for playing computer games.He prefers watching Netflix during his computer time.
He helps out in church. He is a group leader in the kids class. (I think 3-6th graders)
He always wants to be an evil goblin when he at at Amtgard (LARP) and is hopes to have a unibrow when he grows up, because all evil scientists have a unibrow.

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Random Friday

2011-06-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Supposedly, Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 30

random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. I was tagged.

So, here goes:

I do NOT like coffee at all! Bleck.
Well, not regular coffee-pot coffee; I DO, however, like a good Espresso Latte w/ extra flavor syrup.
I do not like to paint my nails nor do I have a desire to have painted nails; fingers or toes.
My toesnails are sporting an awesome trichromatic sunset scene, thanks to my husband.
My Teddy Bear is in the room. He's almost 39.
Speaking of toes... I am wearing a toering. I bought it with a good friend of mine, maybe 5 yrs ago? It WAS a Mood Ring, that changed colors. But after years of wearing (and I suspect all the showers) all the time, it turned to black, then the plastic "mood indicator" came off, and now it isa silver band.
I have permanent indents on the sides of my toe. If they ever find my skeleton (post-mortem ) & have it invistigated by an awesome forensric anthropologist, she might find indents on my phalanges.
The week after Lisa and I bought our matching toeriings, I lost mine. So I went back to the store & bought a new one. I guess the old, worn, toe ring I am wearing is an imposter?
Fatigue has left me. For today anyway. I woke up early and made muffins with streusel topping. I hope to be productive until the next round of fatigue.
My cat died last year.
I think my pastor looks like a Pachycephalasaurus.
Pachycephalasaurus is one of my favorite dinosaurs.
Yes, it really was part of the reason I chose my current church. Because my pastor looks like a dinosaur.
I have 7 'notices' on Facebook this Morning.
I am reading a book called; "Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog)
A few years ago I read Doomsday Book, then I read the 'next' book. The name of which is "To say nothing of the dog.", in which the book from #15 was mentioned. I really enjoyed the Doomsday Book author, so I decided to get "Three men in a boat". Apperantly, it is not easy to get three men in a boat; to say nothing of a dog.
I finally found my missing Catam Tiles the other day! I tink we have enough tiles to play 2 different games of Catan.
Connor woke up around 6 to play Xbox. His brothers are still asleep. We have never had a gaming system in the house before last Sunday. We went from 'NO Gaming System' to 'Hours of Halo' overnight. My ears are still reeling.
I'm not sure if 'reeling' is the word I want.
Hopefully I will have a greenhouse when we move back to Ohio.
The boys' cat is allergic to fleas.
Brian took the van to work. (his car is broken)
#21 + #22 = I will be riding my bike to the vet to get the cat's flea drops today.
I play games. Not the kind with your mind. Board games. (board games is a good option when one is bored). Cards Games. Looney Lab Games. I demo them at Gaming conventions.
I am growing tomatoes, spinach, strawberries, jalepenos, and sunflowers out back.
I will miss my keylime tree when we move.
I have learned to like Avocadoes. They taste somuch better fresh than the ones I had tasted in Ohio, which were probably shipped in from Mexico.
I am not tagging anyone here. (I only tagged on facebook. lucky YOU!)
The cat brought in a dead rat and deposited it in the boys' room. Now, we wannt to look up the time rates for rigor in different animals
I have a thing about misspelled homophones, much the chagrin of my offspring.

"hey, what's down there?...Hello! Anyone?"

Lettuce on the Table

2011-06-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream with a little deer, a fawn. It was in our yard and trotted over to me. It was red (real animal fur red, not fake Plastic red) and had a black muzzle. It had found a grapefruit to eat but didn't like it. It asked for some lettuce. Thankfully we had some left over from yesterday's BLTs (that was the real life part that inspired the dream) See, we really did have BLTs last night. And though I made sure the tomatoes and salad were out away, I didn't get to the lettuce. It was on the table when I woke up this morning.
And being a lazy summer day, it is still kinda morning. So nothing noteworthy has really happened today. Except finding the lettuce the deer never ate.
The following is a jumbled account of my yesterday.
The story starts in the middle of the night, which I assume was very early Wednesday morning. Instead of waking up for the start of day I was waking up for a Migraine. What an awful interruption to sleep. The waking up is proceeded by dreams of pain and tears. Night time migraines are not my friend.
So, I medicate and go back to bed. I'm not even positive I was fully awake. Thankfully I was cognitive enough to only take 2 Aleve.
So later I do wake up for the day. Still headachey, groggy, and now a bit numb. I decide to have a quiet day full of reading and nothing. This meant I was NOT going to bike to Trader Joes like I had planned. I had planned on having Ki and Gavin bike with me, so they could get the foods they needed for their meals. Instead I drew a map, made a short list, gave them money, and sent them sans me.ya. That went over well. not really.
I will copy a few posts from facebook- I was posting with a friend about the episode.

K&G just left with a grocery list & money, on their bikes- to Trader Joes K is making dinner tonight & G is making dinner Friday. I told them to make sure they write what they need on the list and they can each get a snack & if they found anything we need/use often, they can get it. (of course it has to fit into the $ I gave them & the baskets on the bike)
[her response]
Ki came back b/c Gavin went 'the wrong way, with the money'- so he wanted money so he could get to the store himself. G came to the house looking for K, they argued about which street to cross. G gets something stuck in his mind and assumes everyone knows exactly what he is thinking. Ki is very literal and by the book and sometimes has trouble with the concept of doing thing a little differently to get the the same end result. I think they are fine now. Gavin didn't think 1 of the streets was safe to cross so took off further to get too a cross light. (Ki was stuck on the concept of . "but mom said THIS street")
[more with the responding]
G came back AGAIN, said K did not wait after crossing the street and he didn't know how to get to the store (K had the mad). I drew the map TWICE with him watching, talked about many times and it is basically just 2 different streets! Take street A to street B- bike down street B till you get there! Is it really that hard??
Poor Gavin. He is SO "Slow on the Uptake" and has little common sense. (yet is so very smart, in the brainy-way)- but Ki sometimes has very little patience for Gavin. (but it does get old, having to explain things 4 and 5 times to a 17 yr old who still just stares like a deer caught in the headlights)
[responsdingness]
Ki just called, he must have borrowed a phone. He told me Gavin didn't go the right way, AGAIN. and didn't show up at the store with him. I told him G came home, got another map (of the 2 streets to get there)and will be there shortly.
*****
HUGE POSITIVE = Ki remembered my phone number w/ area code!
They met up, shopped, and came home - separate ways. They figured out their own ways and were fine that is was not the same way as the other.

~*~*~*~ I had more to say, but this has gone on long enough ~*~*~*~~*~*~*~ Someone must take a stand & make it end. ~*~*~*~
~If you enjoyed my blog snap your fingers ~

almost-random

2011-06-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

I always think of interesting things to blog about while I am out and about living life and being busy. At least I think they'd be interesting. It doesn't really matter because I always forget them when I get home and am ready to blog. So, I will just be random and see what comes out of my brain as I sit here with headphones inserted into my ears, playing Soul Music, trying to drown out the noise of 4 ~~men~~ ~~boys~~ males playing XBOX.

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

The boys played on the Xbox this morning. About 2 hours. The Morning Media and Games policy at this abode states:"A child may play on the computer/Xbox until 9AM (8 on 'normal school days) starting no earlier than 6AM (for Noise Control and The Sanity of the Mother Unit). Any Morning Housework is to be done by 9AM, too (8 on school days)."

So they can decide of they want to do their work first, then play till 9/8 or of they want to play till 8:30/7:30 and then do their morning jobs.

**********

I just listened to a song called; "Thunder Chicken".

Yes, you read that correctly.

If I needed a name for a game character or persona, I think I might go by Thunder Chicken.

**********

Some days I get tired of doing what I know I should do to be a healthier me. It can be a lot of work & planning. I talked to my acupuncturist about it today. I need to go back to have a Posted-In-Plain-Sight Morning Chore List and Evening Chore List. I always forget tings like taking vitamins or adding extra protein to my breakfast. Running out of frozen berries... or bananas... temps me to grab "whatever" for breakfast, instead my Protein Shake. Nothing hits the spot in the morning like the berry-banana-protein-shakes.

I got more Olive Leaf Extract. I had run out. It does help take the edge of my fatigue issues.

My Goal (given by the doctor) is to just do Olive Leaf & protein shakes (or adequate other stuff) CONSISTENTLY for 2 weeks.

"Consistently" is my weakness

**********

I forgot what I was writing about up there...(because 'focus' is another weakness)

So the boys got 2 hours on Xbox this morning, diid their jobs, their (very small amount of) school, some physical activity, cleaned up from lunch, etc. So they asked for more time on the Xbox. It ended up being almost 2 more hours. I thought of letting Brian know the amount they played today and suggest he do something different with them this evening. (he likes to spend some time doing things with them after dinner).
Well, he stopped at Best Buy on the way home and picked up a 4th Controller- so he could play WITH them, instead of taking turns. How could I say anything against that? Life is short. Father-Son time too precious. Let them Play Xbox!

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if you did not enjoy it, then come back in a few days and try again.

My Lazy Day

2011-06-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

I had such high hopes to get through this Chemistry CD-Rom. I must admit to you that basically can not stand curriculum or a spelled out list of "do these 32 steps in order".
So using a CD-Rom 'textbook' is so NOT up my alley.
I really want to get through chemistry course so I can add it to the High School Transcript. I just get so bored. I do add extra experiments ans stuff, which helps. some.

Today's Lesson from Chemistry "textbook" was about elements. I had listed some extras in my notebook. A YouTube Song (Meet the Elements, by They Might Be Giants, because one can never have too much They Might Be Giants in one's life)

A Decomp reaction of changing Sodium Bicarbonate into Washing Soda. Click Here . and HERE.

Another experiment found online.

And printing out some worksheets on the Periodic Table of Elements. I planned on just some basic questions like:
"List the gases"
"What does Pb stand for?"
"What is the atomic weight of Calcium?"
I have had zero desire to teach using the CD-Rom. So I printed out 5 pages of questions about elements and the periodic table for the boys. It required research Beyond just looking at the Table. They will do that in lieu of the Teaching Disc. (which is Apologia, which I LIKE, but need to go the "do it ourselves/independent way" sometimes. Sometimes I just read the lesson myself, them find fun things to teach it to the boys. But I decided it's time they get a little practice taking notes.... seeing they are in high school now with college looming around the corners, but there is only so much 'curriculum/text' I can handle.

SO, instead of teaching today, I printed worksheets for the boys. And they will do the sodium bicarbonate thing without me. We already listened to the song. Multiple Times.

Lazy Homeschooling on my part. Yeah Me.

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

I used the water sprinklers today. I usually opt NOT to,because I always forget to turn them off in time. I didn't do too badly with it today. I asked Ki to turn them off for me when I realized it was ~~past~~ time to stop the water flowing in the yard.

I joined Goodreads.com and spent time updating my Book List. Then I read a new book. And fell asleep.

The dinner plan today is LASAGNA with turkey meat .
~If you enjoyed my blog, please blink 3 times~

Almonds, Chocolate, and Bacon

2011-06-19T17:38:00.001-07:00

Ki made chocolates for Brian for Father's Day. He melted chocolate chips in a 'double boiler' in the microwave, dark chocolate. He added almonds and sea salt and used the candy mold he got from Grammy. It makes little squares. about 1" x 2" I guess.
I made scrambles eggs in 3 parts, for breakfast, for Brian, Gavin, and Connor . The batch with onions/peppers cooked IN to them, the batch with onions added at the end, the batch with nothing added. [b/c she likes to spoil her men]

Looks like it might be thick orange juice, all frothy and cold......

.... but it is eggs, all scrambled and ready to cook.

That picture is gross and awesome at the same time!
******************************************
I forgot to bring my camera to church to get a picture of the painted window that matches my toenails. I made earring, bracelet, & necklace to pick up the oranges ins my blue dress, to coordinate with my toenails. Margie would be so proud of me.

I made other things, too. A set in Purple, and in Green, and in Pink. I remember my dad making jewelry when I was little. We'd go to festivals and fairs and he'd sell them. I have a few pieces he made. I remember him polishing stones in the rock tumbler and falling asleep to that sound some nights.

I may need to find a friend for the pink set. which is more pink than the picture shows. The flash whited it out some.
Brian requested BLTs for dinner. Hence the BACON part of the title. But all we have is Turkey Bacon and he & the boys opted against stopping at the store for pig bacon. I think we actually have about 6 slices, so Brian will get that.
*******************
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!Brian is enjoying some game time on the computer. He got the TV fixed yesterday. We had been without a television since Christmas. That is when broke. The day my boys finally got a Gaming System. We have never had a gaming system, no gameboys or anything. They got Xbox & Kinnect for Christmas, turned the TV on to hook it up, and It went blank; dead in the water. It was kind of funny actually; the TV dying the very day we finally get a gaming system to play.
The boys got the Xbox hooked up and are playing a car racing game.
I am about to scream and scratch my skin off and my eyeballs out. I do NOT think I can handle the sound. at. all.

Computer, TV, Bacon, Gaming.... a boy can't ask for much more than that, even a boy in his 40s.

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THOUGHTS for THURSDAY

2011-06-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

[I think...] The Time Traveler's Wife was not enjoyable. way too much "Chick-Flick" (and too much kissing). not enough Sci-fi (or good sci-fi)
[I think...] I did enjoy spending snuggly time with Brian while watching said unenjoyable movie. Brian painted sunsets on my toenails the other night. I thought I'd be nice and get a movie he'd like. Brian likes those romance flicks, sometimes. We both like Sci-Fi. I would rather gouge out my eyes than watch a Chick-Flick. This one- the sci-fi bit was a dorky disguise to get people to watch a Chick-Flick. So, I guess the book was the same. Chick-Lit with a cheap Sci-Fi overlay.
[I think...] my boys will appreciate it if I write a dinner menu for next week, so it's not all "get your own food when you are hungry, because I don't have anything in mind to make for dinner".
[I think...] I prefer a Word-for-Word translation of the Bible, as opposed to a Thought-for-Thought. How can people today decide they know what the writers where really thinking?
[I think...] crackers are good for tummy aches, but I'm not sure why. I have been getting random stomach aches lately. usually after I eat.
[I think...] I need to cut dairy out of my diet - completely.
[I think...] It is not for us to Make Our Kids have a Love for Reading. We shouldn't make them want to be a doctor because we are/wanted to be. We shouldn't make them love dinosaurs because we do. Why should it be any different with reading. A Love For ______ should come from the individual; their personal thoughts, abilities, desires. No where else do hear about parents working to make their kids love something like that (well, not usually).
-- I love to read, so I do read. To my kids, to myself, I have books and teach my kids to read and how to find books about what they like, I share my love by taking them to the library and exposing them to books and literature. But whether or not they LOVE to read is up to them. I love God, but do not want to make my boys love God. I want to share with them my love for God and hope they decide to love Him as I do. I just don't get how we are to MAKE our kids love things. They will love things of their own choices; which we can influence of course.
[I think...] my boys are making a big mess, right now, cooking dinner. I am glad they are doing the cooking though. They decided to cook ALL of the spaghetti, the strainer was too small, the LARGEST bowl was too small. Noodles are hanging from drawer and counter and strewn across the floor.

[I think...] I need to clean the cupboard in the bathroom.
[I think...] more people need to comment on my blog.[I think...] maybe I should write more interesting blog entries.

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SHELLS & FLAG BURNING

2011-06-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Today, I took the boys to Shell Beach. It's about their favorite beach. There really isn't much sand or waves. But there are rocks and caves and tide pools... and... sometimes an octopus. But not today.
Their Friend Tyler came. Bringing friends with us on outings is a bit different at these ages. Tyler is a college freshman.
They swam in the seaweed all the way out to the Seagull rock. Where all the seagulls roost.
It was a long trek through cold and murky waters. very cold. and seaweed-y.
**********************************************
we celebrated Flag day by burning our American Flag. It seemed wrong, but all the places I read about said that is the way to dispose of an American Flag that is no longer in good enough shape to be flying/hung. Hopefully we did it correctly.**********************************************
We got back into our Chemistry Lessons- yesterday. I forgot to buy lye. I need lye for out experiment. Maybe I can buy some lye tomorrow.
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You have cat litter on your lips

2011-06-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

conversation with husband went something like this:
He is cleaning off his desk area
HIM: I assume you still want this lipstick (he found while cleaning and is opening to look at it)
ME: not if it's covered in cat litter
HIM: EEEWW. Why is there cat litter on this?!
ME: I didn't say there was cat little on it.. I said IF. I don't know what is on it.
HIM: Then what is this stuff all over it? (bringing it to me)
ME: Oh, that's superglue from when we were fuming for fingerprints.
***********************
Tomorrow the boys and I delve back into our Chemistry Lessons. And maybe some Latin.
******************
Our pastor is preaching on the greatness of sex this summer.
************************
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Coupon Update:

2011-06-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

Good News: Saving 50% on Probiotic Drinks. Bad News: 50% is $13- meaning the normal amount is $26 (then add tax). . . ouch.

and the two extra coupons that were SAVE $1 each- for a total savings of $15

Hey, it's not much I guess (considering the whole amount with vitamin purchase and our 'healthy cookie treat'- but without Normal Sunday Paper Coupons-I have to take what I can get.
SO, if anyone wants to get coupons for a non-dairy, non-soy, vegan Probiotics Drink (little 2 oz shots)Let me email a referal to you so we both get coupons.
********************************************
Now that I have had my bike ride and bought my healthy foods,it is time to drive to Starbucks and redeem my FREE DRINK coupon!

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2011-06-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

My 31 Days to Clean page and the 61 Days of Couponing Page have both been updated.
Brian & Connor are still out of state. I miss them.
Gavin & Ki helped out at church today. We stayed both services so they could help at the BBQ and Kids Classes. I helped out in the nursery 2nd Service. There ended up only being1 kid and the other lady held him because he cried himself to sleep.
Nothing astounding to write today. Remember to check out my challenge pages if you are interested.

Gavin got a haircut.

Church Music??

2011-06-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

I should be cleaning the windows downstairs. I went downstairs to clean. I even went to play some music to keep me from wandering too far mentaly which leads to physical wandering... and, look, I am already distracted by something shiny and no longer downstairs, but in my bedroom typing this.
I could have typed it from the downstairs computer, but I'd have to find my blog, then sign in. On my laptop, I am already signed in and my blog is a link from mt homepage.
See, I was looking for some music to play when I was suddenly hit with a story to tell you.
I was on the PC downstairs and opened up a new window for YouTube. KKi's account was signed in already, so I checked to see if he had any playlists.
He did.Weird Al playlistAvatar (cartoon) ListThen I saw Church Music.
Awww, how sweet! My little boy made a playlist for Church Music! It made my heart smile.
I opened it and started reading through his songs.Some DC Talk SongsSome Worship Music SongsBon Jovi- Livin' on a PrayerHillsong HosanaMusic
back upWhat was that last one? Before that?That made my mouth smile. and laugh.
And I just had to come share that with you.Bon Jovi is Church Music to a 14 yr old who thinks they are singing about relying on God and praying.

OK.I can go back to cleaning now. But not to that song. I use to like it when it first came out. Then it was played on the radio over and over and over and over day after day when it first came out. I still can't listen to it.

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Playing Catch Up

2011-06-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

We've been home since Monday night.
Game Weekend in LA was fun. (*pictures in previous post)
Julianna- those are little plastic pyramids in that last picture- part of the games I run at Gaming Conventions.[LOONEY PYRAMIDS]
Here's a quick overview:We were gone may 12-May 20th: San Francisco then Amtgard Camp.
We were home May20th-23rd. I caught up on laundry, cleaned a bit in the house, and mostly recovered from a respiratory thing I caught on the trip.
We left early May 24th and returned home late on May 27th.
I have been running errands.
Today, Connor and Brian left for Omaha. They will be back in a week.
I am now, FINALLY, ready to get moving on my 31 Days to Clean and on my 61 Days of Coupons. You can follow along on their Pages.
There has been a TEEN HOMESCHOOL group formed. Once homeschool kids reach about 13 or 14, they become a very rare breed. We stopped going to homeschool functions because they were all trips geared towards 5-10 yr olds. It'll be nice having some older kids for the boys to hang with. Today we are meeting at the skate park. My boys are still older than most I think, but not buy much. Today the list of kids planned to come are Gavin-17, D-15, Ki-14, A-12, S-11. (I forget Scarlett's actual age, I think it is 11)
Leave me a note. I am bored and am already missing Connor & Brian.

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Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

really?

2011-05-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

I just answered our front door. There was a kid there, about 10.
KID: "would you like to donate money to our elementary school"
I am kinda dumbfounded at that and look at his plain manila envelope with a sheet of white paper with the name of the school in plain type and then some lines with 1 person's name and amount they gave.
KID: "It's for a jog-a-thon.
ME: "when is the jog-a-thon" (the paper has no info besides school name, kid's name, and 1 donation)
KID:" I dunno. They didn't tell us."
ME: "No I don't want to donate."

Summer of Challenges

2011-05-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

30 Outfits Challenge
31 Days to Clean Challenge
and now:
21 Days of Warrior Prayers (praying for boys)
I have decided I like doing these little challenges.
I did the 30 outfits as a way to go through my closet and see what all I had and wear it. Usually I just wear about 10% of my clothes. I enjoyed this one. It was actually fun to make new outfits and feel a little dressier (and get out of the rut of wearing the same thing everyday)And my husband seemed to like it, too. Which was a good motivation for me to bite the bullet and try to dress a little nicer, or new, or at least 'not the same jeans & top daily'. I knew Brian would appreciate it.
I just started the 31 Days To Clean with some online friends. We do the daily challenges and post Before & after cleaning pictures. B&A cleaning pictures are a real motivator for me. This book has Martha and a Mary Challenge. One challenge to clean and another to show love via our homes. We are only on Day 3. I leave for 4 days in L.A. I will be on day 5 when they are on Day 9. But I hope to get caught up in a few days.Day 1- was write a little mission statement for why you want a clean house. What is the goal? What is the Motivation.
Day 2 was clean the fridge/freezer insides. And make a list of ways to add more fun to the home. A Game night weekly? family bike rides? decor/lighting candles? Have happy music playing in the house?
Day 3 -today- clean the tops of the fridge, shelves, cabinets. I don't have shelves in the kitchen (but I do in the dining room, but those will be for the Office/Den challenge week, as they are homeschool shelves). My cabinets don;t have dustable tops. BUT I do have 2 tile tops to ovens- they are like big shelves. I will clean those.
If anyone wants to join in, let me know and I'll share the link to my online 31 Days to Clean photos. There is a printable calendar HERE for what to do each of the days.
I had already decided to give Coupon Shopping a real try in June and July. I will call it my College Try Coupon Challenge for June & Julyor I should use a number. like the other challenges:"61 Days of Coupons"
And recently a friend on Facebook and fellow homeschool blogger (Angie) posted about a21 Days of Warrior Prayers. (with a free eBook to follow).I decided to add it to my Summer of Challenges.
I have been thinking of making a Facebook Account for my blog. It's probably just a Peer Pressure thing. So many homeschoolers/moms have Facebook accounts for their blogs. I could be fun. But I doubt I have enough readers.
And I have been thinking about the couponing. You see/read about people that end up with 12 tubes of free toothpaste or 8 bottles of free body scrub, and how they ended up spending $3 out of pocket on $35 worth of stuff... and it is a bit intoxicating and desirable. But I out thought into it and will have a post to write about that in the near future.
YEP: I am Diggin' Challenges. With Day Numbers in the Title!
Don't forget to check out the post of vacation trip pictures!! -->
http://kabersblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/pictures-words.html

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Pictures & Words

2011-05-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

San Francisco was fun. Well, actually it was wet, dreary, and cold and I had a nasty sinus cold. But being sick with a hotel and spouse to deal with the boys is better than being home alone with the 3 boys while sick.
Getting out of town was fun.
China Town was pretty much like China actually.

[above] It was the 1st time I have seen a Bomb Squad on the road next to me. The lights flashing and all.

[above] Connor caught a newt. Ki was holding it for that shot though.

[above] Connor. Climbing.

The city was a busy city, but the architecture was neat. China Town was almost like reminiscing (I went to China a while ago)
Brian bought me some yummy tea at a cute little tea room.

[below] Pier 39 in San Francisco ->

[scenery shots] -->

Then we went to Darkshore; Amtgard Camping event:
[below] Connor

[below] Ki (from the back, with his leather armor. not the man-boob dude)

[below] Gavin

[below] Ki and his new gnome throwie (umm, looks like he's giving me the bird.)

[below] Connor (with the lime green sword)

We are home now. A few dozen loads of laundry have been washed; it seems.
Today was Bible Study day and acupuncture and visiting the neighbor.
and cleaning the fridge.
and not thinking up an exciting post.

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darkshore

2011-05-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

We leave tomorrow for a week of travels, sight seeing & camping. San Fran, Wendy, Darkshores.(which means today is a day of doing laundry, fertilizing the garden, & buying toiletries)
Here are some pictures from some of the week's activities:
[making a ballista]

[getting our hair ready for Darkshore]

[Ki sewing a tunic for Darkshore- with his hair finished

And when the bloggersite was down the other day I felt like bloggin and couldn't blog, to I made a facebook weblog:
The Blogger site is down. So I will just talk here instead. I have gotten used to having a place to 'talk' when when words are in my head. So bear with me. or ignore me.

The boys couldn't find the Standard Deviants DVD, so I told them to skip Chemistry and go out back and make amtgard weapons. So They worked on a ballista they hope to take to camp next week. It's a fine line between Chemistry and Power Tools, right? It's all good in the end as long as I'm not in the E.R.

This morning I told them to just do half their math today- so they can have more time to work on their ballista and other projects. Math? Weapon Making? Math? Weapon Making? Idecided weaponry is more fun. School-Shmool. Gavin's reply to 'just do half your math' was; "O.K., but I'll be doing more becuase I need to make up for Tuesday." (He decided to go out to dinner with his dad instead of finishing his math. It was a business dinner with some guys from work.)

Life is short. Make a Ballista.

I decided to take Connor tot he DMV to get his learner's permit. If I had decided this a few days ago, he'd have had time tii study. He studied hard- 2 months ago, but we ended up not having the proper paperwork, then got busy . So he missed 1 too many. And I took him to Panda Express.

I hope they don't end up needing too much therapy from Life with an Impulsive Mom.

Now, I need to go color my gray hairs. I always know when it time to color them because Connor is obsessed with my shiny gray hairs and will tell me how awesome (and plentiful) they are when they start showing too much. And he was commenting on my awesome shiny gray hairs today. So I stopped by Sally's to get stuff to take care of that issue.

The wonderful mail delivery lady brought my SEE-N-READ stuff today. They are basically just blue see-through plastic overlays that also have a strip cut out. So you can read the sentence in the cut out or through the blue and it will keep me..err, Ki, from always losong his place while reading. I hope it makes it so I can read in burch. The flouresents lights bother me too much and reading during Bible Study gives me a migraine.

(that's it from me. I feel better having gotten all those words out of my head)

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Let's give a hand to the Deviants!

2011-05-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

The boys froze water.

in balloons.

and latex gloves.

For the purpose of THROWING them and watching them shatter.(and drinking the not-yet-frozen-water out of them)
They watched the water bubbles move inside them and looked the air bubbles inside, too

I have some Chemistry DVDs from Netflix. They are the Standard Deviants ones. I have the boys watching them this week, as kind of an overview before we get back into the DVD course. I was watching them watch them and listening to Gavin who is re-explaining pretty much everything, with more detail and more examples. So, I wonder why I even bother teaching him. This is how it has been his whole life. He always seems to already know what I get ready to teach him. I think he should be my co-teacher for this course. (we are using Apologia High School Chemistry DVD Course)
I just need a place to list all my planned experiments all together. to make it easy for me to gather everything we need. These are pretty much the NON-DVD Experiments (demonstrations). just for me to remember.
Make Black Snakes (fireworks):http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/a/blacksnakes.htm

Magnetic breakfast Cereal Sulfur & Iron mix
Vinegar & Egg thing

NI3 explosion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt9xCq0Dq9ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L436Rx42jXg

Burning Money (combustion) http://chemistry.about.com/od/demonstrationsexperiments/ss/burnmoney.htm
Jam Jar Pulse Jet Engine: (just because it's fun)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AePLpM5SnqE&feature=related
Experiments/Demos downloaded from: http://www.nclark.net/ChemicalReactions
Burn Ice Cubes: http://chemistry.about.com/od/funfireprojects/a/iceonfire.htmMake Hot Ice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-KOYQsIvU
Simple Colored Flames: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfii6r-ul-cMore Chemicals to use: http://chemistry.about.com/od/analyticalchemistry/a/flametest.htm
I need to find someone to go in with for buying these chemicals!!
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YO!

2011-05-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Oh My.
Where have I been?
Not here in the blog world.
I have been in my van. Driving.
But the play is over. The kids were great. I am tired of driving. And paying $4.15+ a gallon for gas. I think I filled up the van 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Once it was $4.32 a gallon!
LAST WEEK: In the midst of the Play Frenzy I had to make a stop at my acupuncturist's. I had an awful migraine with sensitivities and tingly/numb arms and face. I sure feel LOADS better when I came out of there, after some massage and hitting some major points. I had about 5 needles in my head. I normaly only have 2. I left there with 6 ear tacks. 4 in my ears and 2 in my back.
Hector is a Mexican guy in town that always comes by our house looking for work and money. Always trying to get paid way more than his work merits and it seems he often is pulling our leg.All is fine with his family until he thinks we didn't pay him enough then his baby is in the hospital. But, he is out working to get money and I am ok to pay for hard work. But when we were gone Saturday he cam by and pulled weeds when we were NOT here. Gavin got home and Hector talked G into paying him for the work and letting him in the backyard to do more work, which he insisted Brian pay his for doing. And he pulled out all my Asparagus Plants. I was NOT happy about any of it! And Gavin forgot to tell Brian he had Paid Hector $20 already. Hector got paid and paid again then had Brian give him a lift to the store and got dropped off. A liquor Store and dropped at a bar.
THIS WEEK: I have little planned. Bible Study is on Tuesday. I will be here every night to make dinner! I have to pick up my sewing machine so the boys can work on their amtgard stuff.I assigned them an hour of reading and an hour of math. I wanted to get back into Apologia Chemistry, but I can not find our CD-ROM. So we'll watch some Standard Deviant DVDs and take notes. **FOUND IT! but still gonna just watch the Standard Deviant DVDs this week- then seriously Buckle Down with Apologia in June & July.
Ki is reading White Fang. Connor is reading The Adventures of Tom Sayer. Gavin is reading Two Spies and a General. They are to do 1 hour at Khan Academy daily- with 15 minutes of that being watching videos. and Ki has 15 minutes of review.
TODAY: I watered my garden. We have to tuck seeds in here & there where we have room. So my garden is in bits and pieces around the yard. I found 18 sunflower starts in back and 9 in front. I planted the ones in front a few days after the ones in back. I ate a strawberry from last years plant. 2 of the new plants (24) from this year didn't survive. (there is a chance one of those might be revived..).
NEXT WEEK: We will be headed out to Yosemite for hiking and pictures! We'll cross a BIG BRIDGE and then cross it to come back. We'll visit a friend on the way home, then attend a 4 day Amtgard Camping Function. We MIGHT stop by Pinnacles on the way home.
Then we'll have 3 days to unpack, do laundry, repack for 4 days in LA for a gaming convention.
So I won't be blogging much this month I guess.
That iPad is looking better and better.... I looked up iPad 2, was impressed (the guy says ALYOOMINIUM... that gets me every time). Talked to Gavin, who totally shot it down and said I'd be better off just getting my laptop upgraded. Then he said if I gave him $600 he could make a really good computer for me.

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WAZZUP????

2011-05-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday! Which means it is almost Sunday! I plan to knit and sleep and drink Starbucks.
The boys had dress rehearsal this week and opening night of their play was last night. They had a great time and did a awesome job!
I didn't get very many pictures last night. But I got a few.
There are 3 more performances.
This is all there is to this blog post, because I have been too preoccupied to think of anything witty and to busy for anything blog worthy to happen. (except my 6 ear tacks I have right now to help reduce the headaches)

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How To Tuesday: make a seed starter greenhouse

2011-05-03T02:38:00.000-07:00

I begin with a story. A Dialogue between a hungry 17 yr old boy and his mother.
SON: "Mom, do you know where the small pan is??"MOM: Eating Chocolate Covered Almonds while Watching Netflix -(thinks to self. "oh, no. I totally forgot about that!)
MOM: :"ummm. In the back yard."SON: "WHAT?? Why is it out THERE??"MOM:" I took it out to clean it. It was super dirty."SON: "So, is it clean?"MOM: "no."SON: "ARG!"
I had it out back my the compost pile squirting the moldy spaghetti sauce out with the hose- but got distracted.
NOW for my HOW TO mini-Instructional. (and, don't worry, it won;t be how to clean dishes. That'd be like the Blind leading the Blind. THIS How To is for a mini-greenhouse to start your seeds.
Well, not an actual house.
and it is not actually GREEN.
But you get to use a knife and a soldering iron.
and tape.
And before I begin I must apologize for the quality of the pictures. I used Connor's video camera- that takes stills, but not that well. I was too lazy to find my good camera:
So, choose your seeds. For my first project I went with Bell Pepper Seeds.
Then get some 2 Liter bottles, knife, scissors, packing tape, soldering knife, and dirt.
take the lid off of your bottles and rinse them. (my just had Club Soda, so I didn't bother rinsing them)Then pinch the side a bit and make a small cut:
Then Use scissors in the cut, and cut around the entire circumference of the bottle:
I just follow the label. And I advise leaving labels on to protect the roots from the sunlight..
I like to cut a few slits in the lid. I find this helps them fit on better:

Then I use a soldering iron to put the holes in the bottom. WAY EASIER then when you had to poke them with your safety scissors in 4th grade.

Next add the dirt:
I like to start with some type of gravel for drainage. I had some clay spheres I got at a Hydroponics Store- so I used them:

Just a handful to cover the bottom.
Then I took a mixture of: Compost/Garden Soil & Potting Soil & Sphagnum Moss. I filled the containers to about 2 inches below the top of the label.

Added my seeds, watered with added fertilizer, put the lids on, and then the packing tape around the seam.

I misplaced the lids, do I added more tape to cover the opening.

I bought some apples at Costco. They came in this plastic bubble container:
I thought I'd try using it as a seed starter. I filled with the dirt mixture.poked holes, through the dirt with my scissors- because I forgot to to make holes first.

then added the seeds.
and watered and snapped the lid closed.

I hope it works.

I'm Joining Julianna in Posting a How To Tuesday Post with this hop:Click to see more How To's on Tuesday!

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Monday

2011-05-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

WHEN did the sun start getting up so early! Mr Golden Sun was shining full force by 6:45 this lovely AM. This AM that I had planned to sleep in- to prepare myself for a week full of Driving Stresses.

I feel gypped somehow. I was so sure someone changed my clock. And I just now learned that GYPPED come from gypsies. (I thought it was JIPPED until I looked it up on Wikipedia. You can learn SO much on Wikipedia!!) The point being- I feel I am missing 2 hours of sleep.

I herded the male offspring into the van to get a few things checked off my To Do list. (things like (take boys to Starbucks for Breakfast and Pick up Brian;s Suit from the Dry Cleaners)- but could not find my keys. I had to call Brian while the herd waited in the van. But I found them on Brian's dresser under a black sock behind the camera battery charger. So, it was all good in the end. I got my Chai.

and Gavin got a chai.
and Connor got Hot Chocolate.
and Ki got a Vanilla Steamer.

We had our PSYCHE quiz. The boys love that show. After we sat down with out breakfast (oh, yeah- they all got pastries & I got a yogurt cup) I quizzed them.
How many shelves in the pastry display?
How many people wearing hats?
What did the cashier look like?
The Street Number for the store?
What was on the Today's Special Sign?
Describe the Barrista......

they did not do so well.

We then played a game of FLUXX. Ki won.

I picked up Brian's dry cleaning and make a quick stop at the Thrift Store for $2.74

The BEST part of gardening?? The CHOPPERS! Or clippers, but CHOPPERS sounds better.

I hacked down a large bush. Then whacked off limbs to some roses and other green growing things. Then poured a bag of dirt into the contained plant area in the front and planted about 25 sunflower seeds.

I have plans to hack and whack more stuff. but I needed a break. So I rode my bike to the pharmacy to get my $30 allergy nose spray.

And when did that go up to $29.50?? Oh, the high prices I pay just to breath at night.

BTW- when I went to add a picture to my last blog, I was notified I had reached my available limit for pictures. Talk about sad. I was mortified! How can they LIMIT pictures? so wrong. I went and deleted 100 pictured from my Blogger Album- so I should be fine fine for a couple more weeks.
AND, if you want to see me in my Renaissance Garb- check the previous entry at the bottom!

Did I mention this was a NO SCHOOL WEEK?

They only have to read and get some physical activity daily.
Morning Computer is over at 8:30 (they often wake up at 6 or 7 to play longer) and no more computer games until dad gets home.

They have been making an arsenol of amtgard armaments today.As soon as my sewing machine returns from it's medical check-up, they will be sewing covers for them and maybe a new tunic.

It is now 1PM and I need to shower, pack snacks, and offer money to Gavin for cleaning my mess in the front yard.

COME BACK tomorrow to see my FIRST "How To Tuesday" Post!! You will be AMAZED and ASTONISHED at my Aptitude!

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been meanin' to....

2011-05-01T15:33:00.001-07:00

The List Is Short this month. Not so much because I do not have a much I need to do, just because I do not have a lot that "I have been meaning to do."

Take the sewing machine to have some yearly maintenance done. Brian decided he needed the sewing machine to work on some stuff for Darkshore so he took it in to the shop.
Wash the sink- scrub the sink and the backwash area. with Bleach Cleanser.
Have the boys clean the front room. VERY well. dust. windows, everything.
Go to Starbucks by myself.
Take Connor to lunch at a cute little hamburger/sandwich place I saw on my bike ride
Exercise DAILY. That means EVERY DAY (except Sunday- God said I have to rest.)
Finish my Bible Study chapter for Tuesday.
Bring the boys to Starbucks.
Buy a New Card reader so I can easily post Pictures. right now I have to do pics from my husbands computer and it's a bit of a hassle, as my accounts/passwords are on my laptop. So I use his built in reader, email the pics to myself, then find where they were downloaded, so I can post them.

Things I have done... because that list makes me feel happier:

Planted 25 Sunflower Seeds
12 Sugar Snap Peas Seeds
12 Strawberries.
6 Jalapeños
3 Bell Pepper seeds
Helped at a garage sale.
Took pictures at Amtgard
washed a couple dishes
sucked the gunk from the bottom of the tadpole tank
emailed the boys with their school list for this week.
ate too many dark M&Ms.

I am joining Stacey's Blog Hop: Things I've Meaning to Do.."- You can join too! click the above button, read , and then write your list. Then at the end of the week- see what you have done from your list! Why are you waiting?? I know you have been meaning to make that list!

And there I am in my fancy dress... with Eleanor (a friend;s daughter) and Dasher (Gavin)

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This is why I need to workout more:

2011-04-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

Ki made Bacon-Pancake-Poppers for breakfast.Bacon dipped in Pancake Batter and fried. Like a Bacony-Breakfast Hush Puppies:
here is the link: BACON PANCAKE POPPERS
And when my son makes a wonderful breakfast, I'd be a bad mom too refuse all of it..right??
This is why I am no longer 120 pounds.
We made 'funner cake' with the extra batter.
YUM!
Ki made some with piggy bacon and some with turkey bacon.
I used those clear squeeze bottles (like they use for ketchup or mustard)- cut off more of the tip- then squeezed the thick batter out- for Squiggles.

Below: One Bacon Popper and some Squiggles:

Powder Sugar is great on the squiggles (they are basically funnel cake)
Cooking is part of Ki's "school work".
He makes breakfast 2-3 times a week and sometimes dinner or lunch or a dessert.
**I saw a question on Hip Homeschool Moms facebook today. Advice for homeschooling more than 1 child. My advice; "teach them early on how to make their own breakfast so you can sleep in."

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Thorough Thursday:

2011-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

I was debating between doing a THANKFUL THURSDAY or a TRUTH IS: THURSDAY.
I decided to do both, thus making it a Thorough Thursday.
Truth Is: I probably complain too much to Gavin about being on the computer. Most of what he does on the computer is drawing with his tablet and art program, and making videos. Or researching stuff. He keeps his gaming to about an hour a day I guess. I feel like he is on the computer a lot. too much. But the computer art and programming is the directins he wants to go after school. If he wanted to be a chef and was cooking all the time I'd not complain. Or if he wanted to be a chemist and was always doing stuff with the chemistry set, I'd not complain. So if he wants to go into computer programming or computer animation, I should not complain about him doing that often.

Thankful: that he has a passion and talent and practices to improve.

Thankful: that homeschooling gives him lots of time and opportunity to hone his skills.

Here is his latest video/drawing. He'd LOVE if you went to youtube and left him a comment or friendly critique. (for more videos by Gavin, visit his Yutube Page; dashermkii)

Truth Is: I am sporting fake fingernails. The kind you buy at Rite-Aid and glue on. I fingernails are thin, peel, rip, and split. I had 4 ripped/split nails last week and got tired of it. They kept catching on things and getting ripped further. If I had time & money I'd have a nail salon just paint them with acrylic- so I don't look like... a chick with long pink fingernails.

Thankful: for options to improve my fingernails.

Thankful: for Superglue- good for fingernails AND lifting fingerprints!

Truth Is: We raise and harvest mosquito larvae.

Thankful: I can't really think of thankfulness for this one... I am thankful that over 20 of the tadpoles survived into froghood.

Truth Is: I found some recipes in my new book "Food the Die For!". Recipes that sound yummy and I want to make. But, truth is, no one else in my immediate family will eat this stuff.

Thankful: for friends who will come to my house for garlic soup and squash & chestnut stuffed ravioli.

Truth Is: I would LOVE to serve on Jury Duty. I have been 'called' 3 times but they always end up not needing me. :: pouty face :: But the people that do NOT want to serve and try to get out of it- end up the ones that get to do it.

Truth Is: I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY BOYS IN THEIR PLAY NEXT WEEK... darn fake nails and trying to type. I hit the CAPS LOCK,

Thankful: for the chance for Connor and Ki to act and perform!

Connor as Henry the Night Watchman

Play: "After Hours"- performed by Central Coast Homeschool Theater Ensemble.

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C is for COOKIE!!

2011-04-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

C always has to be for COOKIE, [and that's good enough for me] even if the topic is homeschooling. We like to eat cookies. We like to make cookies. And eat them.

C is also for Connor, who made Ninja Cookie Cutters for me! (I guess I should do a better job introducing my son.... Meet Connor. He is 16, loves cats, smoke bombs, and doesn't have a middle name)

C would be for Consistency, but I fail in that area. Which is why I was unhappy with the last Letter Post where I felt I had to write an whole article about one word. My mind is too scattered to stick with one word. So I am going with LOTS of "C" words that can go along with homeschooling! This will be so much easier for me!

C is for CHEMISTRY! Like all science, my boys love Chemistry- at least the parts that involve experiments and making smoke bombs. The balancing of chemical equations? Not so much.

C is for Crime Scene Forensics- This was one of the "Electives" chosen. We don't call them electives, but a few times a year I have the boys chose something to learn/study for an intensive 2 hours a day. (more about this with the Letter J. So now you have Q and J to look forward to!), anyway- they chose CSI

To read some of our CSI Class Activities CLICK HERE.

C is for Curriculum- umm, we don't use those... so, moving on to the NEXT "C"...

C is for COLLEGE- because the boys are getting to age where what they want to do in college is part of what they are working towards right now. Here is where I insert lots of questions and occasional doubt. things like: Will they go to college? How will they pay for it? Will I be able to find all those scholarships available to homeschoolers? Did they learn enough before college? Will they live at home? Will they finally remember to change their undewear? Will my homespun transcript be good enough? Should we bother with diplomas or not?

C is for Computer- a place where I can purchase those meaningless homeschool diplomas. A way to email my boys different assignments, projects, links, and more. Where we get our Current Event news and research things of interest. A tool for Gavin's computer based art. His latest toys are a Bamboo Digital Tablet and a new graphic program called SAI. He draws pictures and makes short videos. He thinks he might want to be a computer hacker for the government 'when he grows up'- which is pretty soon! "Computer"- probably one of the things I fret over the most... how much computer time is too much? How late is OK to be on without interfering with their sleep? What is the child plans on going into computer programming r computer animates art? then all that time they spend programming and drawing on the computer is all helpful towards their goal maybe? I go back and forth with the computer. It all ends up feeling meaningless. Is it really such a big deal ? Is it something I need to micro-manage? no.

Other "C"s that come to mind -

Culinary - Ki loves cooking and fancy foods and learning about culture through recipes.

Culture- I love culture. Homeschooling has made it easier for me to join my husband on some of his business trips - like China, India, France.....

Copies- I spend more time than I want at Copy Stores- copying pages from activity books and hands on workbooks.

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a short.

2011-04-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday night Ki called Grammy and set up a Skype time- So the boys and I got to talk to Grammy & Pappy! Ki is my little Social Coordinator!
We had a nice chat. Even the cat got in on it. Too bad Brian was not home. Hopefully next time.
When we were finished, it was about 8:45. I handed the boys bags and flashlight and sent them out back to find Easter Eggs. I told them to careful with the aloes/agave/roses. Connor did not heed my warning and cut his hand on the big blue agave plant.
Ki found the most High Yield Eggs out there. I put coins in our plastic eggs.
Connor still has 1 more to find.
The seemed to have fun trying to find hidden eggs in the dark and being tricked by golf balls, rocks, large snails, fallen limes & lemons, and other 'almost egg size objects'
Flash Light Egg Hunts is the way to go with kids that are just too old for easy, day-time, kiddie egg hunts , but that still want to have some Easter Egg fun.

Down Side- no pictures.. But we have LOTS of egg hunt pictures when they were younger. and now they help hide eggs for little kids.
I ripped my thumbnail.
***********
monday-C&G now have prescription Poison Oak creme.I have new mascara.We have lots of easter Candy (mimi's package arrived)The house is still messy.my fingernail ripped. again.
Still Not a DEEP,Philosophical Post.. but was not in need of a nap today- so we are getting closer...

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Sunday Soliloquy

2011-04-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

"Soliloquy- speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers"(esp like in a play- but 'like in a BLOG' works, too, I bet)
I am very very tired. I stayed up late and woke early. Which is backwards to what I prefer to do. I like to go to bed early and sleep in late.
I no longer seem to have a migraine after 14 days. My eyes are tired and I'm still wearing sunglasses even indoors, for that reason, but it is not the same as the Migraine Light Sensitivity. Best of all is my cerebral functions have returned and the synapses are firing as normal. I am back to being able to almost think full thoughts again. Once more I am enjoying being mentally distractible and over-flowing with half baked thoughts. YEAH for normality!
my head kinda hurts, though. but not 'migraine hurt'. I think I just need a nap.
Connor has Poison Oak. it was such a small spot when he got home from camp and so mild, I assumed it'd get better soon. I forgot his obsession with scratching and picking scabs. He is now covered with itchy res bumps. I will have to call the doctor tomorrow. Tomorrow we have Play Rehearsal at 3. Tuesday is Bible Study and C has an Orthodontist appointment. Brian gets home from his business trip around 3 or 4 on Tuesday.
Gavin has a small spot of Poison Oak. I wonder if I just take Connor and get prednisone for both of them. and I need more Fioricet..... I may not have time for all these doctor appointments.
The boys enjoyed their Silly String today- their friend may not have found it as enjoyable, though.
We need to clean the house Monday. And get back on a school(ish) schedule. Both require planning on my part. I think I need a nap first.
I should probably do the good homeschool blogger thing of writing a post all about what we are doing in school and what they are using to learn their different topics. That, too, requires a nap first.
I am up to 3 needing naps now.
Gavin (17), came down this morning for church- Easter Sunday Church- wearing a too small Doctor Who T Shirt. WHY?
[a] my son needs more clothes[b] I need to do more laundry[c] he doesn't really care what he wears[d] all of the above
if you answered [d], you are correct and win 3 points.
I got one of Brian's dress shirts for him to wear. Then he needed a belt- be cause he is 6'2 and weighs next to nothing. So can't fins pants skinny enough AND long enough- so 'long enough' wins.Anyway- he looked very nice all dressed up.

I'd like to write an awesome post that makes everyone read and and be moved by my moving words of awesomeness.but instead you all get ramblings. So, enjoy them. There isn't anything else. (because fancy writings would also require a nap, and 3 is my limit)

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ABC's of homeschooling

2011-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

But I saw this at Homeschooling for His Glory- so I have to say I am taking it from Joelle, not from 5kidsandadog. Credit where Credit is due- and that is in 2 places this time.
I will be doing a couple of letters at a time, because I am not consistent enough to do them on schedule.
A is for Autodidact- That is why I homeschool- to help my boys become autodidacts; someone who is self-taught. For us that means allow them the freedom to follow their passions and interests, to not let 'school' get in the way of learning. I may not have taught my boys everything from the long list of 'Facts taught to kids all throughout school'- but I taught them something more important. How to learn on their own. How do decide what they need to know and then teach themselves. Elementary Years are easy. They boys are little sponges learning everything and asking about everything. The Junior High years are the ones that make you doubt as they chill out and just... exist.... but now that they are in the High School years, I am seeing it all come together. Well, Ki is still in the Junior High phase, but he has always been the more 'self-directed' of the three.
I bought them these T-Shirts a few years ago....."I can't go to school.... I'm autodidactic."
Things brings me to thought of discussing unschooling- but I'll leave that for "Q"OTHER A's: Amtgard. Animals. Art. Advice (we all seem to get a lot of that as homeschoolers, LOL)

B is for BOYS- because I am homeschooling 3 boys, it seemed like a good choice for this 2nd letter in the alphabet. I am surrounded by boys. I am teaching boys. I assume this is a different ball game them homeschooling all girls. Our days are filled with Making their own Ninja Throwing Stars and a target board- in the back yard. Dissecting Cow Hearts.... in the back yard. ParKour practice...in the back yard... Making & Wielding Renaissance Weapons.. in the back yard... Hmmm this is why I often have the gardener skip doing the backyard.....
Maybe "B" should have stood for "BACKYARD"
We also have less violent things happen in the backyard. Gavin grows strawberries. Ki collects Mosquito Larvae for his tiny froglets. Connor lays in the sun and pets his cat. I lead Nijna Training Exercises.

I love having boys! I'm more of a Hiking in a creek, catching newts, and dissecting cow heart- kinda girl than a ruffles, bows, and pink kinda girl. But I guess if I had a girl she'd not be too into pink and ruffles anyway.
My boys have been good at insisting they learn when they are ready- regardless of it it lines up with my timing or a schoolbook's timing.
some were doing basic algebra at 6 and some didn't read till 5th grade.... or at 4 yrs, but refused to read around me until much much later- when they were ready for me to have confirmation they could read. Some refused to count to 6 until they were 6 years old.
That makes it sound like I have 5 or 6 boys.....no. Just the 3 of them.
and I can't imagine them having nearly the success in public school that they do here and now. I am thankful we get to let them learn their own way.
OTHER B's: Backyard, Biology, Bible, Bored, Books, Blog, Blessed

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