Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bedtime routine


Lily has taken lately to Bret (daddy Bret that is) reading her to sleep. That is their new "thing". He reads her a few books and when she is ready and tired she tells him she is ready for "Little Bear". Little Bear ALWAYS puts her to sleep and she knows it. Then in the morning they hang out and watch tv together for a bit. She won't want to do these things forever. Take it while we can get it...

Zombie Bret


We got this App off Facebook to make a person into a Zombie. Here is Bret as a zombie. All the girls want to do it. It is on my list. LOL.

Marley and her art work


Marley has been asking me daily for a craft to do. We have been collecting and pressing leaves for several crafts for the upcoming weeks. A week ago we went on a walk with the dog and collected some things for our daily craft. This is Lily's "We are not Weeds" garden that we keep in the house.

Happen Art Work

Wednesday's art work at Happen, Inc. was making spiders. Bret came for their open Studio while Brenda was at photography class. I sculpted a gourd. Bret sculpted a duck with an open beak to hold candy in. I can't wait to see how they will turn out! Pictures to follow.

This Year's Christmas





This year each kid gets a stipend to spend on Christmas presents for the whole family. I take them shopping one by one to pick out their loot. We go out to lunch and make a great exciting day of it. I think the kids are really enjoying the time they spend with me shopping. So that is really cool. Then I got this great idea off a borrowed Family Fun magazine. To make our own wrapping paper designs, AND to write on the wrapping paper why we picked this present for each person. I love it! So personalized!! So here is Marley organizing all the snow globes when we went together. She turned them all on at the same time because they sounded better. And Bret having a great time trying on clothes for fun with the hangers still attached. Bret and I both LOVED that hat. I told her she better not go back and buy it for me, because I will know she just wants to steal it!! LOL.

Toy Lab





So here I took Brenda one day and Lily the next day. Technically the toy lab is for 6 and up because the younger kids want to just PLAY with the broken toys. Lily did great! AND they even let ME do one!!!!! I will add pictures of Brenda, mine, and Lily's creations soon! Soo cool. The picture of Brenda and me, courtesy of Brenda's friend. I am always holding the camera and seldom get pictures of me with my kids.

Girl Scouts in October - Juniors



This month's activity was earning the Outdoor Creativity badge at a local preserve. We came across a cool wall that had been an art project for Girl Scouts in the past. We hiked, made stamps out of things from nature, wrote nature Haiku's, and created frames from sticks. The fruit leathers I brought were a big hit for the ride home!

Greenacres







We were invited to a program at Greenacres through a friend who has a child at the same photography class as Brenda takes. There are a set of these classes that are advertised through a homeschool group we are in every year but they fill up quick. So there was room for us and we went. The weather was supposed to be great and I wanted to get the girls outside. The topic was outdoor survival. We made shelters, built a fire, and fished. And we were introduced to the group of 3's. A person can go without air for aprox. 3 minutes, without water for 3 days, and without food for 3 weeks. The food thing was a shocker for me. Three weeks to starve to death. Anyway it was a great program. And even Marley found a friend to hang with. The program was until 1:30 but was still going on at 2:05 when we had to rush away to pick Gaige up from school. We hope to make the class next month.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Our trip to the Cemetary


Our town has one of those awesome cemetaries where it is a park as well. We went on a tour and learned so much. I had no idea so many famous people came from this area...

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Greatest unknown Homeschool Resource of the Week



These are Bret's Toy Lab creations.

M&M Girl Has the power of shooting M&M's at people. Putrid Pinkie makes people eat their veggies. Her hair turns brown is the cold and pink when breathed upon by warm breath. BuzzWrestlerYear speaks for itself. lol.

Ok Here we go. Now I don't have a Homeschool resource of the week really but this is a fabulous amazing spectacular experience. First I should say that we attend a pottery program through a company called Happen once a week. It is a community outreach program. I am sure I have mentioned it before. Through Happen we found out about this community outreach program that where kids 10-15ish could take a photography class and learn about community outreach through their photography. So I signed Brenda up for that while Bret and I take the pottery class together. Through Happen I learned about their Happen Toy Lab. Now this is the coolest place of all. For $15.00 a child can take 7 broken and taken-apart toy parts to invent their own toy(s). The Toy Lab workers take the pieces and turn them into the toy that the kids want it to be. The kids name their creation and give it super powers and take their super power guy home.

WELLLLLLL, P & G recently gave Happen a grant so that they could provide 9 or 10 months of Toy Lab for free. That is right folks I said FREE. My Brownie troop went today as our October Outing. It was soo much fun. And I have scheduled Brenda to come with me alone for our special time. I cannot say enough about the people who run these programs. They are animated, fun, and make each experience we have a blessing.

Check it out at http://www.happeninc.org/toylab_index.html

It is a blast of a deal at $15.00. It is amazing for free!!!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Soccer


And here is Bret on the way to the game. The girls like to color their hair blue for their games.

Photography Class


So once a week Brenda and her friend go off to take a photography class. It is sort of a community outreach program. It is a free digital camera class where they use the cameras on hand to learn different techniques and apply them to their work. For our first three weeks of the class, the class ends at 6 and we have to be at our soccer game by 6:15. This is no small feat. So of course Brenda goes to the class all dressed up for the game. Anyway here she is getting her picture taken as she jumps off a bench...

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Daddy Snowman



We made home made play dough the other day. I think the kids know well enough that we do not buy the stuff any more. But making it is accessable to them. So we did. I only had blue dye so we made half whiteish and half blue. It is all blue now.

This is Marley's Daddy Snowman. I was so surprised that she would come up with the idea of making a person with actual arms and legs like that! I don't know why, but it seemed fascinating to me. LOL.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Art Class





As Brenda starts her new photography class, She loves it appearantly, in spite of some personality conflicts she has with one or two girls there. That was to be expected...

Anyway while she starts her new photography class, it is a great opportunity for Bret and I to share some art time of our own. The class today, although not pottery which is no doubt her favorite, was about making Prints. The way the classes work is this. First there is a 10 minute lesson where these fabulous people that work here (most are college students) put on a kind of play that explains how the art is done at the same time amusing the pants off the kids with their humerous antics. Then we have half an hour or so to do the project. As well we can come half hour before or after the class to work on our own pottery of our choice. Last time we went we painted pig whistles that were headed to China. All kids who painted these whistles would receive a gift from China back in return. Really just an amazing program. Super find, as was the Photography class.

Today was a killer of a day and this whole month of Wednesdays proves to be the same way. First I picked Gaige up at 2:15 to get him to the councilor office by 2:45. We left there about 4 and were home by 4:25. Then we headed to art by 5. The art class Bret and I went to ended at 5:45. Brenda's photography class ended at 6. And we had to be back by 6:15 for our soccer game. And now today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one... only slower thankfully.

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