Monday, September 7, 2009

The Last Day of Summer




Today was the last day of the pool being opened. On the way home we noticed the leaves on the trees and bushes turning their yellows and reds and oranges. The time has come for cooler weather and crunching dead leaves under our shoes, reading books on the patio to the sound of cool breezes blowing by, and the sweet smell of fall.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Brenda's Ten



So Brenda is 10 on Tuesday. I bumped into someone I knew a few years ago at the mall. She was shopping with her teenaged daughter. She said it was her daughter's birthday and every year for her birthday they go shopping for the day. Some window shopping some buying. But they have a great time together and that is her daughter's birthday present from her. I have always loved that idea. Brenda loves to shop and of course buy. So we set a limit and off we went. First to the Thrift shop for some winter clothes. She has either worn out or outgrown her clothes from last year. She just had to have these shoes that I didn't like at all. But she swore that she would wear them all the time. (And when we got back home we saw one of her friends. The first thing she said was that she liked Brenda's shoes. And she was wearing the same shoes with a different pattern. So I guess I was wrong.) We shared a burrito at Chipotle for lunch. Then we headed over to the Flea Market together. We had never been before and that place was bigger than a MALL. She bought a couple more Webkinz there and we did some Christmas shopping too. Last we did go over to the mall to do some window shopping where she came across this FRED shirt she just had to have. She paid for half of the shirt and away we went home for a couple hours at the pool. Who is Fred you ask? Within the next day I will link a Fred video to my blog for you to see. You will wish you didn't ask...

Free Friday






The kids have been working so hard that we all took the day off on Friday. Well kind of. We headed to one of our favorite Northern Kentucky parks to take an exercise trail hike, play on the swings and slides, do some more work on our Unity Church recognitions, spend some time at the local wetlands. We read some more of the Junie B. 1st Grader book we are reading. Boy I could read those over and over and still be amused. Then when the heat started to get us down we swung over to the museum center for the rest of the day. We hung out in the air conditioned surroundings, making art work for the new Children's Hospital wing, watching the fish, climbing in spider webs, etc. Then we came home for dinner and straight to sleep. Brenda's birthday is on Tuesday. She and I were making a shopping day of Saturday together and we both needed a good night sleep.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Family Fun Day






Unity Family Fun Day at church today. There was barbeque fun, tickets for games, prizes to win, bubbles galore, and of course the ultimate face painting. We haven't been out to do much lately so I couldn't resist a chance for all the kids to have a good time. Even Gaige hung out with friends. He volunteered with the food and clean-up.

Friday, August 28, 2009

What is going on now???

Pictures to follow. Interested in our actual Homeschool Lives?? Both the girls opted for soccer this year and they are on the same team. And doing remarkably well appearantly. My daughters are not killing eachother on the team. LOL. And since my husband lost his job a couple weeks ago, I gave the girls the choice of joining dance again or going to UWWG (Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering). We couldn't do both. They opted out of dance for UWWG. Interesting choice. Evidentally they have more fun in that one week than in an entire 9 months of dance class. Girl Scouts of course has started again for Brenda. My Brownie troop will probably start up in October since I don't have an adult helper until then. Also there is a place called HappenInc. that provides free pottery lessons 3 or 4 days a week so we go there once a week for art now. Brenda is beginning a photography class as well. Brenda has chosen to take up piano. I am helping her out until we can afford lessons. Bret is learning to read. And the girls are both working on a recognition through our church for Girl Scouts as well. So we are in our beginnings of busy-ness.

Brenda's first shiner


We went to "Uncle" Scotty's house for a barbeque get-together. And on leaving, Brenda bent the car seat down to situate herself in the car. The seat flung forward too fast and hit her in the eye. And waa-laa her first Black Eye. She was so embarrased at first. Then so proud next. LOL.

So on we trek...



The school year has begun here is our small town. Why does that matter to us, homeschooling mom and family? Well it means the beginning of our Girl Scout year. A new pastor at our church where we meet that seems real cool! So here are some of our girls working on a team-building activity. The girls each got four puzzle pieces (the puzzle was from my Marley's Wubzy Puzzle collection. LOL.) and they had to put the puzzle together touching ONLY their pieces. Silently. It was fun. Then we headed over to Dairy Queen for a tour to complete a badge. (And some Thin Mint Blizzards of course...) Great start to the Girl Scout year!!!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Part III -The End

Here is the last of my posts on the topic. We are a constantly changing world. What seems ok one day is not acceptable the next. And so here we are. The boy is faced with maybe years of house arrest at his gramma's house with an ankle bracelet, separated from his family, going to school and counciling and right back home. I am sure the family realizes how lucky they are... he is. We live in a county that is so overwhelmed with kids that need to be locked up, there isn't room for everyone. Practically like being grounded at grammas.

And funny how this has changed our life too. Gaige has had to change schools too. He goes to school, counciling, and back home. Not much different than Ryan when you look at it that way. Of course we have left time for his community service which he is regularily involved in now. And his computer time, phone, video games... all gone. But he can gradually regain some of what he lost over time of good grades, proper behavior at home, changed attitude. I know this does not sound like the unschooler of last year. It is not. People don't come and go from our house like they used to. Gaige is not left to fail classes and roam the streets with friends in assumption that he will find his way. He doesn't tell us how he hates all of us anymore. He probably still does. And in three years he can move out if he chooses not to follow our rules any more. But chaos is over. I remember being his age. I remember hating life. I thought that if I waited it out he would come back around. After all, I did. It went too far. If it were a pendulum I would say our life has come full swing to the other side.

When we told Gaige what Marley said happened on Gaige's watch he shrugged his shoulders and went back to his video games. My husband had left Gaige to watch her while he went to pick up a pizza for the boys. Later he told us we didn't have proof. So when the proof came in there was nothing else to say. Just straighten up or be miserable while you await your 18th bday. And I don't care which. I would love to see a turn around, but I am not holding my breath and I am not going to wait it out a second more.

So is house arrest justice or is it being grounded at grammas house? No it is not justice. But in the court's defense, if they put him away until he turned 21, that still wouldn't ease our pain. It wouldn't make things better for us. Because our healing is not about his justice. And there is no punishment that is worth what this has and will put us all through.

But the Wild Women and Church have made me stronger over the last few years. And wiser too. I will share my thanks now a little out of season. I am thankful for such a strong, brave, animated child. After all, without her testimony, convicting Ryan would have been hopeless. I am thankful for Dotty, the prosecutor who was none less than Wonder Woman herself. And the detective that bugged the heck out of Dotty until she decided to take the case. I am thankful for all the worse nameless things the boy could have done but didn't. I am thankful for the opportunity to try to turn Gaige back in the right direction. And that I know how strong I can be, even when I am sobbing uncontrollably. I know so many great people and I didn't realize it. I now see how much a single moment is worth, not just the ones you wish you could change, but also the ones where you realize that you ARE the change. I fight daily with hating that boy while knowing from church that only love can drive out darkness. But I am only human still. I am glad that quiet meditation brings me peace while I find a way to heal us all.

Thank you all, last of all, who listened to me rave and cry over this through the summer. Sometimes I could think of nothing else. And you were my wall to lean on. Thank you for not letting me fall when I wanted to. And I will take you all with me where ever I go.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Worried about the rapid warming of the Earth??


I posted a while ago about how the agriculture industry appears to be responsible for over 15% of human-induced green house gas and specificallly how high the animal agriculture green house gases are. That if you are concerned about making a difference, rather than playing the blame game, you could make some changes in your own life to reduce these gases. Namely go vegan or even vegetarian is helpful. That is too much to ask? Just cut down on your meat consumption. Eat two more meals a week that contain no meat. It is not hard to do. PB&J, Spaghetti without the meat, humus, bean soup, rice, veggies, veggie sushi, there are even some really great imitation meat products out there. But this is trial and error as there are some not so good imitation meat products out there as well. After all if everyone did this there would be a huge difference made.

I came across this interesting article recently that I wanted to share... Along these same lines. Just interesting to know what science is doing. Just give this article a chance. Because it is fascinating to know these things.

In-vitro meat: Would lab-burgers be better for us and the planet?

By Matt Ford

(CNN) -- Meat is murder? Well, perhaps not for much longer.


Artist Banksy has satirized modern farming and meat production; could in-vitro meat be a better option?

A pioneering group of scientists are working to grow real animal protein in the laboratory, which they not only claim is better for animal welfare, but actually healthier, both for people and the planet. It may sound like science fiction, but this technology to create in-vitro meat could be changing global diets within ten years.

"Cultured meat would have a lot of advantages," said Jason Matheny of research group New Harvest. "We could precisely control the amount of fat in meat. We could make ground beef with an ideal fatty acid ratio -- a hamburger that prevents heart attacks instead of causing them."

But it isn't just the possibility of creating designer ground beef with the fat profile of salmon that drives Matheny's work. Meat and livestock farming is also the source of many human diseases, which he claims would be far less common when the product is raised in laboratory conditions.

"We could reduce the risks of diseases like swine flu, avian flu, 'mad cow disease', or contamination from Salmonella," he told CNN. "We could produce meat in sterile conditions that are impossible in conventional animal farms and slaughterhouses. And when we grow only the meat we can eat, it's more efficient. There's no need to grow the whole animal and lose 75 to 95 percent of what we feed it."

Read the whole artical here...
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/07/eco.invitro.meat/

Saturday, July 25, 2009

How It Feels... Part 2

Last night was Family night at our local pool. It is dark. I am in the water with the girls. Marley is juming off the side and swimming with me when Brenda come running over to me... They are here! she whispers in an urgent voice. She didn't say "they". She used the names of Ryan's siblings. I am inclined not to use their names on my blog. This is the third time we have been at the pool with them since the incident, yet the first time we have seen them since Ryan has been charged and pled guilty.

The first time I saw them at the pool, I only knew the girl. I was coincidentally sitting next to their babysitter when I turned and said "Come here, Marley" and the boy's head shot up at Marley's name and connected eyes with me. We just looked at eachother for a minute, he curious, me realizing who he was. I had already told my kids to stay away from them to avoid any issues while we were waiting for the trial to start. I didn't know how much Ryan's siblings knew about what was going on and I didn't want any problems. Marley had told little Bret in her own way, so we had already been inclined to have a sit down with both Brenda and Bret and tell them what had happened. But so anyway the point is I now knew who both the kids were.

Back to last night's Family Night at the pool... I told Brenda that it is no big deal. Just leave them alone. She said so we can play with them now? I suggested that she don't and she reminded me that she doesn't like the girl anyway. She moved on to other things, like dunking me under the water. What is protocol for that? How am I supposed to feel about the siblings. They danced together last year at the dance studio. They know eachother. It isn't THEIR fault really that their brother did what he did. I kinda wish they would just move like Ryan's Myspace said they were doing, so I could avoid these confusing situations.

I know my husband doesn't feel the same way as I do. But I can't help it wondering about the mother. Because I am a mom and can wonder from a Mother's perspective. We, as parents, have the easier position. Chances are Marley will forget this ever happened in a couple years. It will just be a blip in her radar so to speak. But Ryan's mom... Well it must be a real painful place to be. There are no winners here.

Camp Whiporwill

This year, while Brenda's troop headed off to Camp Stonybrook for TAC (Troop Adventure Camp) I knew that Bret's troop would be less willing to take a plunge like that. Also being the younger troop, I was hesitant to take them all to camp like that without more parent supervision. Sooooo... I offered up Me and My Gal Camp at Camp Whiporwill. This camp offers a one night two day camp where mom comes with her daughter, they sleep in tents, and enjoy all camp has to offer together. As expected, I had two other girls sign up, only one ended up coming. We were at camp with lots of other Girl Scouts met a bunch new friends, even one girl that was from our old homeschooling troop that... well didn't work out for us.



Here are Bret and Eva playing in the dark of the tent with flashlights.



Bret got her first opportunity to participate in the Flag ceremony. This was a great experience. I am glad that we did this!



We went canoeing. I think Brenda was a bit jealous about this one. Bret handled the boat almost exclusively herself. I did help steer a bit. And we raced Eva up and down the small lake.



This is our Creek Hike. If I look a little muddy that is because at Camp Whiporwill the entire creek hike is a clay wall. This hike was such a blast!

The funny thing about Eva, when we first started the troop last year, Bret and Eva were like acid together. They didn't get along, but funny their personalities were so alike. Even their temperments were the same. By the end of the year, Eva is Bret's favorite girl in the troop. And too bad they have moved. I told them if they can't find a good troop in their new town, they can sign back up with us and do our activities with us. We would love to keep her.

So I chose Camp Whiporwill to see how it compares to Camp Stonybrook. Here goes...
Camp Whiporwill Good points... The latrines SOOOOO much better and less smelly. The pool warmer. The tents the same except we were right next to the swinging bridge which was cool!! Much way cooler creek with tons of clay wall. Canoe lake.

Camp Stonybrook Good Points... Ten foot diving board and bigger pool. Singing hill (I missed that compared with Camp Whiporwill's Singing Patio). Better and bigger dining hall. Plus Tank is there and I just love her.

Although it seems like Camp Whiporwill has MORE on the list, I think the things at Camp Stonybrook weigh heavier to me. Still I have more warm feelings toward Camp Stonybrook.

I am behind again... Color of the month







Brown...
When you see the color brown what do you think? How do you feel? Brown is often a color used in Fen Shui. Wondering why? That’s because brown is considered a down to earth or natural color. The Psychology of the color brown is tied to mother earth.

No surprise. Look around you what do you see? Wood, stone, dirt, gravel, brick, and the list could go on. It is found in both non living and living things. What color are they? Brown of course. Brown is very much associated with mother earth and that is why it is considered natural and down to earth.

It is also considered a warm neutral color. It’s represents earthiness and wholesomeness even though it can be somewhat dull and drab by itself. Brown is associated with friendliness, simplicity, dependability, reliability, steadfastness and health. Perhaps that’s why the UPS guys were brown uniforms to portray the image or dependability and reliability.

Brown has several lighter relatives including beige, taupe, cream, and tan all of which make great backdrop colors making other colors appear deeper, brighter, and richer. Brown in a room will make it feel comfy, warm, inviting, and honest. Puce, khaki, ecru, coffee, cocoa, terra cotta, oak, liver, brunette, chocolate, russet, nutmeg, auburn, wood, sienna, bay, sand, cinnamon, tawny, fawn, mahogany, bronze, toast, oak, copper, umber, hazel, and ginger are all considered to be in the brown family.

Even though brown is found in mother nature all year round it is most often associated with fall and winter. Perhaps that’s because we tend to notice it more then when the green of spring and summer isn’t present to grab our attention.

In ones wardrobe brown is considered a more casual color than black but is considered an excellent choice, especially for men, who work in an environment that isn’t quite formal but is beyond casual. Brown will add class, it will others feel that you are approachable, you’ll have the image of reliable and dependable. All from one color. Remember Navy and grey work well with brown.

Brown mixes well with green especially those shades considered earthy, so think trees and leaves. In fact green and brown are often used together on recycled product packaging to convey a message of earth friendly.

Replacing your black with dark brown will add a slightly warmer tone and will be less intimidating or formal than black. If you want to brighten brown up add some rusty orange, pumpkin orange, orange red, or pale yellow. Gray, green, red, pink, and deep purple shades also look very nice with brown as well as all other neutral colors.

As with any color there are both positive and negative aspects to the color. Good brown includes a brown bottle like the ones used for beer, brown related to cooking is good, and brown also stimulates the appetite.

Brown in the bad sense might be “brown nosing” as in kissing but to get ahead, “brown out” as in not enough power to go around so the system crashes and burns.

Found at... http://www.articleclick.com/the-psychology-of-the-color-brown.html

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How it feels... Part 1

Of course this is a homeschool blog. And since it is about MY experiences in my homeschooling life, I am compelled to add a little more detail to my most recent story.

I should start by saying that all the people, friends, aquaintences, and family, who have come by in person, by email, phone, whatever to tell me how sorry they are and to tell me their own personal experiences, be it something similar happening to their child or themselves or someone they know and how they dealt with it... or never did; it is all at my heart helping me heal. Because the funny thing about this is how hard it is for ME. The mom. The one whose job it is to protect her from these things.

Next I should like to say it has brought up deep wounds in my own life from when I was little not much older than she. That I could now look back and say why was no one protecting ME. And to see that same thought some day in my own daughter's eyes feels unbearable to me.

Now it may seem a little strange to some that I will even get on my blog with intents of blurting all this out. Almost like airing dirty laundry for all to see. All I can say to those people is that so many people have come to me with their own stories that I cannot imagine how common this really is. Something as unthinkable as what was done to my little three year old girl.

When she first told me, which thankfully was the next morning when she woke up (I had been out with friends the night before and my husband had gone out for pizza leaving our 14 year old son to watch her only to come home to find that our son was on the computer and his friend was alone with our baby) such a panic swept through my stomach. The one of my daughters that has almost never been away from the house without me was dredging up these horrific stories with such detail. The timing, the situation, her story, it all just matched. And never once in all this time did that girl waver from her story. In fact this wouldn't have even gone to trial if it had not been for her willingness to go and tell her story to the social workers assigned to handle the case. The tape of her story was so annimated and detailed that the prosecutor's office felt between that and their other evidence they could proceed. But even though it had to be pushed by the detective, because she is only three and it is not done that a three year old takes the stand. That most of these kinds of cases go completely uncharged due to the inablilty to collect usable evidence.

This boy for a month, while we were waiting on pins and needles for him to be charged, was hanging out with friends, posting inappropriate pictures on his myspace, declaring his innocence to everyone he could find, going to the local ammusement park, rafting, etc. Even referencing our 3 year old daughter online! Having a good ol time while we were scrappling to find a way to pay the bills for the hospital rape kit and testing and the upcoming counciling that our family would be receiving. It was such a hard month for us. Waiting and waiting and waiting.

We have moved our son to another school knowing that this boy would be back in school eventually. There is a good chance, even with pleading guilty to the Felony 3 Gross Sexual imposition of an under 12 as he has, that he will be let out for outpatient treatment. Because it happened a couple weeks before his 14th birthday he won't have to register as a sex offender. So if we don't get the word out, no one has to ever know it happened. His friends call our family liars and threaten our son. Like we would make up this story, subject our daughter to hours and hours (two days worth) of doctor probing and interviews... for the fun of it. As if this is all fun for us.

Temporarily moving on...





We picked up our cousin the other day and headed over to the Blackberry Winery for some blackberry picks. Haven't made the pie yet, but it is on the way sooner than later. But if you have been here for a while you know we do this every year. It is one of the bright sides to my July. It RAINED the whole time we were there, but I was not about to make a second trip for my pickins, so I picked in the rain. Prices went up to $1.75/lb. but still such an amazing deal.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Where have we been...

The good news is finally in. It is bitter sweet. But sweet just the same.

Ryan Haney, Gaige's 14 year old friend, has been charged with Felony 1 RAPE of my three year old daughter. If you keep up with my blog because you live around me, if you know the boy, if you know people who know this boy... just be aware.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Family Emergency

No more details than this to come right now. If you are a friend, pray for the right outcome of this situation. I won't message here anymore until we can resolve this. That is where my energy will focus for a while.

Troop Adventure Camp

We are still recovering from 4 days of Girl Scout Troop Adventure Camp. Whoooo. Was that an ordeal. We creeked,
made candles and pottery,
swam,
took a night hike,
made nature animal pets,
made s'mores,
worked on survival skills,
went on a treasure hunt,
invented some brown bag skits,
performed a skit at the All Troop Campfire,
Learned and sang tons of Girl Scout camp songs,
And so much more.
We laughed, we cried. We ate Snack's camp food. We peed in latrines. We survived our first TACamp with this troop. What fun and exhaustion all at the same time. What an experience to remember.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Color of the month

Check out these blue pics from National Geographic. http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/life-color-blue.html
Or take your own. But this month's color is blue. How does blue affect you???

Scroll down to see what blue can do...



The Color Psychology of Blue
•Blue is described as a favorite color by many people and is the color most preferred by men.

•Blue calls to mind feelings of calmness or serenity. It is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly.

•Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness.

•Blue is often used to decorate offices because research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms.

•Blue is one of the most popular colors, but it is one of the least appetizing. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate. Blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries and some plums. Also, humans are geared to avoid foods that are poisonous and blue coloring in food is often a sign of spoilage or poison.

•Blue can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature.

•Consider how blue is used in language: blue moon, blue Monday, blue blood, the blues, and blue ribbon.


Yes, outdoor swim team begins again. Even in the rain. Marley likes nothing better than to splash in the pud muddles from days of rain.




Then all the city of kids is off to the park for craft time. MWF we go there from 10-1ish to see what is the latest craft of the day.



Last year, my girls showed the neighborhood kids how they can eat the mullberries of the tree. I don't even really know what kind of tree it is, but we used to eat them off the tree by my house when I was growing up. Some lady told her grandkids, OOO don't eat off that tree, dogs pee on trees. Hmmm. Well, it stuck. The kids all hoard the fruit from this tree, bugs or not (don't tell them I said there are bugs on the fruit. Really, what is a little more protein in their diets...) :-)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Bowling






Me and the girls (the boys are still in school this week) we went bowling together. I don't believe that any of us bowled even close to 100. ha ha ha. What fun we had. Not a homeschooling event. Just us having some fun together.

Check out kidsbowlfree.com to see if there is one in your neck of the woods. It is a bargain to say the least.

Getting Creative


The girls were playing with some leftover girl scout picnic cups. Stacking cups is so fun. Not the competing kind that people do, but the let's build a tower kind.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Bridging Happens...



My Brownie is a Junior now.

Then we were off to the library and the pool.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Moving back IN?????



So appearantly Josh is moving back in. Not sure all the details, but he should be back soon...

PS I am not sure why he and Tyler are dressed like this. Evidentally he BOUGHT those pants by CHOICE.

Wowee!


We headed for the pool with friends as soon as the parade and ceremony were over yesterday. My 3 year old, Marley, jumped off the diving board and swam back to the side a bunch of times!!! Is there nothing that girl can't do?? Certainly she can climb over any mountain to get anything she wants that she has been told not to get. Sigh.

We are so glad the pool is back opened again. Even if it is just for the weekends for now.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Boy I AM behind...


Here are Brenda and Bret at their dance recital this year. My husband chipped in some time to set up his equipment and do the sound. What a difference quality sound makes. The school sound board is so old it must have come with the school;( But anyway it was great to see him volunteering his time to help the girls out. They were excited to have him there. He doesn't get to be involved with their activities very often so I know it meant a lot.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

A Trip With Friends


I took Marley with a friend to the Museum today to hang out. Don't they look like they were having fun?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

New Weekly Quote


I haven't done this in a while because that other quote was so great. But we probably need some new inspiration. Here it is, I will post it later on the right side...

We don't live in a world of reality,
we live in a world of perceptions.
Gerald J. Simmons

Life in Orange






Am I behind??

For the next month orange will be the color. Here are some great orange backdrops for your computer that are orange. Don't want to have orange on your computer? Other ideas... put out an orange candle. Wear orange socks for fun. Put your fav quote on an orange piece of paper and magnate it to your fridge to hold that thought. Think orange. See if the color makes a difference in your life.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Not Related Really


Josh and his Girlfriend at Prom. He isn't homeschooled anymore, heck he isn't even at home anymore, but we are probably closer now than ever. We think Brittany is fab and are glad that they seem to get along so well.