HSN: Not Back To School Picnic

At the HSN picnic this year, I really tried to meet some people with kids Brenda's age so I could network her into some activities with peers. Most of what we do seems to have gotten too old for kids her age. Plus we ate tons of food, played with friends, and in the end came home a mad mushy mess. When you look like this, I know you have had fun!!

Survival Skills

This year in Girl Scouts I have made a decision to proactively NOT rush activities through. I will let the girls take their time learning. Even if it means we are doing less and enjoying ourselves more.




We put together a Survival Skills day at the park a few weeks ago. I had lists of things for us to do. But what did we actually do? We made solar ovens that took 2 hours in the sun to begin cooking the garlic cheese bread pizza.



We practiced our team building skills. we made shelters in the woods.



And we hung out together and enjoyed eachother's company. All and all, a day worth the energy it took to produce it.

Crazy View from the Car Window

I heard about this before we took the trip. On the way to Chicago, driving up I65 were these miles upon miles of windmills. Indiana's answer to sustainable living?



Someone posted on facebook that BP was one of the investors who helped to construct these amazing miles of metal wind-energy users. And something negative about BP and oil spills. Will we ever get over this tragedy? And is it BP's fault? Are we not driving cars to work and on vacation and to the grocery store? Who here can say they don't EVER use oil? Who doesn't use a product that need oil to be made in one way or another? Is BP to blame for this? Could this happen at all if we, the consumers, didn't want more oil? I guess if you are going to point the blame, be ready to stop reaping the rewards that oil has produced. Be the change. Who here has become the change? Anyone?

Brenda and I Take to the Road

So my sister has been placed in a home run by nuns. I thought to take a small trip to see her and spend some time with her. It has been years since I have been back to Illinois. Not wanting to drive the distance alone, and after my friend who was going to travel with me had to change her plans, Brenda and I took the trip together.



So we got up early and took the 6 hour drive up to see my sister's new home. Then we headed straight out of there and to Lake Michigan for some fun in the sun.



It has been years since we have been around sand (not including the sand box at the museum of course). When judged... my castle won. But don't tell Brenda that. lol.



What did Brenda have to say? The water was SOOOOO cold. But she and my sister got in anyway. Me? No way. I already know when I get that cold that I can't lose the chill for days. It was winter in the water over there. I am too used to our nice warm pool.



On Sunday we visited a Unity Church in Des Plaines IL. Afterwards there was a concert/cook-out. We stayed. This is us with Lena from Russia. She was wonderful fun! The service? Reverend Gregory Barrette was amazing. I would never skip a Sunday if I could hear him talk each time. So inspiring. He truely seems to live what he says. I was told that he is that way every service. I want to go back. If you live around there, GO GO GO. I love to attend a service that makes me want to be better than I was when I left.

We headed next to a movie. We wanted Eclipse but we couldn't find it anywhere at the right time for us. Instead we saw Dispicable Me. I loved it. Brenda too. My sister (who is a much bigger movie-goer than we) didn't care for it much. Maybe we were just romanced by the big screen and popcorn.

Then off to take the long journey home.

Time For Math

Today Brenda worked on her times tables with PAC MAN. How cool is that!!

Girl Scout Pool Day

This poor little bug was caught hanging out by the water slides. I don't get to see these guys anymore where we live so that was an exciting moment for me.



Marley and a friend... Girl Scouts to be.



So there was pizza, hot dogs, cup cakes, and all kinds of goodies. They picked their activities for the year; they swam, dived, and tanned; they ate; and they spent some much needed quality fun time together. Love those kids!!

Meijer You Rock

So call me stupid (well don't really) but I am shocked to find out how many kinds of sprouts I can buy. We bought onion sprouts the other day from Meijer and I was so impressed by the taste that I went back again for more. Kroger, Walmart, etc. Cannot find any other sprouts anywhere except Alfalfa and Mung Bean sprouts. But Meijer has a variety. This last week to add to my onion sprouts I bought spicy sprouts too. AND THEY ARE SPICY lol. Thank you Sandra Lee for making such a fun variety of sprouts.

For you vegans out there. Or just vegetarians, or just you people looking for an awesome lunch, this was my onion sprout, avacado, tomato sandwich with vegenaise. Yum. Might be one of my fav sandwiches.

Need A New Look??

So it occurred to me today... well a couple things really. One was that Brenda has no nice clothes for church. She is strictly $3.00 walmart shorts and hand-me-down t-shirts right now. The other thing is that flip flop season is almost over and all the girls have besides sandals are tennis shoes (and they really should not be wearing flip flops to church anyway). So we headed to the thrift shop for a little make over.



So we played around a bunch trying on stuff we will never buy because it is funny. Then we got down to business. I found some couch pillows for cheap. We can always use more of those!! Plus a serger for $1.99!!!!!! Can't even believe that one. Now to find out how to use the darned thing!



The girls each got to express a little bit of extra creativity that, I have come to find out, is overflowing these days.



Brenda is shampooing and Bret is the shower. (In case you didn't figure this pic out already. lol.) So NEWSFLASH for our family... Brenda will wear dresses and skirts. Now that was a new development in our household. Wowee to that piece of information.