Lessons from the Chicken Coop!

So it has been a crazy few months.....where blogging didn't happen.  But that's ok.   This morning I learned a lesson while taking care of my "critters" and I thought I would share.

We have a small flock of chickens (7 hens and a rooster plus 3 guineas), 2 goats and a pig.  We also have a cow who lives across the road with my uncle's donkey and a shared miniature horse.  One of the reasons we have a little farm is so that we can grow/raise the food that we eat.  So most of the critters are expected to "earn their keep."  The pig and the cow live full, well fed lives and will be butchered for their meat.  The goats are both expecting and will provide milk for us once they freshen and the babies are weaned (I am SO excited about goat babies).  The donkey is not mine although he does provide much entertainment and the miniature pony was given to us and the kids love him (so they kinda get by on their looks-HA!)

And then we come to the chickens....their "job" is to provide eggs.  And they've been slacking.  Hens need daylight to lay so a decrease in egg production isn't unexpected but its like they've mutinied.  Recently, I've been lucky to get an egg a day... not cool ladies.  I've increased their feed (they free range but this time of year there is less to find) and offered them homemade suet.  I'm considering starting a meal worm farm to give them as protein filled treats.  They are happy about these developments.  But I've not seen any increase in egg production.

And then this morning while I was outside I decided to move the goats hay feeder.  It was a little close the door to the barn and with all the rain the last few days it was getting damp (not cool!).  And there mixed in with all that hay was a STASH of eggs.  I've collected them all and I'll check the for freshness with the "float test," and then mark them so I know to crack the in a separate bowl to make sure they are good before using them.  So the hens have paid their debts!

As I was finishing up the chores and enjoying the morning quiet, I was thinking (sometimes dangerous I'll admit).  How often do we wonder why God is not giving us a desire of our heart?  How often do we think "Why won't __________ happen for me?"  Why can't I find a better job?  Why does that other person get all the luck?  Why can't I have a new house or better car?  When the entire time its not that it isn't happening....its that we are looking for the answer in the WRONG place.  My chickens were not slacking....I was looking in the wrong place.

And my God is WAY better than my chickens.  He provides an abundance of what we need if we look in the right place.  A new job, a bigger house, and better car,  better "luck" can all be found if we look for it in Him!

Recent appointment with the Doctor. :)

We recently spent at a nearby library for their Doctor Who event.  We made bowties and watched an episode of Doctor Who.  It was a good time!

the kids waiting to head in.

Bowties are cool!

A and the sonic screwdriver.  (I let him borrow it.)  

Looking good there

L is ready to be a companion ;)

Wish I didn't have to write this....

But I think it is important.  So here goes....

I have a beautiful family.  We are raising them in the way we feel is best.  That means we do things differently than a lot of people. I can handle the snide remarks and ignorance of others (it actually makes me feel sorry for their ignorance).  My children, however, should not be bullied by adults who think differently than I do.  It is not the kids' fault that we are raising them differently than the mainstream.  And I am sick of it.  If you have something to say....say it to ME, without my children listening.  I can handle your ignorance....laugh at it most of the time and it doesn't change who I am as a person....I've got broad shoulders, bring it on....but leave my kids out of it.

We have a beautiful daughter who looks differently from us.  If you know me or read this blog you will see her picture.  We have 3 handsome boys as well.  We homeschool.  Pop, candy, and processed foods are not a part of our everyday diet.

Words are powerful powerful things.  In church on Sunday, the sermon was about the power of our words.  We have the capability to injure or to heal.  To tear down or build up.  And we don't need to be physically fit or have any training....all we have to do is open our mouths.  And we are all so good at that!


People say/ask the most ignorant things when you have a "mismatched" homeschool family.  Its like because we are different, we are clearly open to anyone's opinion. And we need to hear it because clearly we are weakminded idiots who are ruining the next generation.  Most of the time, I can let this roll like water off a ducks back....but my kids are going to be effected.  I TRY to answer kindly because they are learning from me how to handle the ignorance and rudeness of others.  I'm not sure how much longer that is going to last. (consider that fair warning)

To most people, (clearly not all because these are things that have been said to us in front of our children) these statements are clearly over the line.

"How much did she cost?" (WTH! For the record, I was rendered speechless in my utter fury over this one and typing it out makes me cry.  I could have killed this man with my bare hands if I wasn't totally and utterly shocked by his nerve.  This was also not a person we know personally....and I may have cost him his job once my power of speech returned....I kinda hope I did)

"Is that one adopted?"  Seriously, "that one."  she is a girl and the proper pronoun is "she."  Again random stranger in Pizza Hut.

"Is your new husband black?"  Nice.  very nice.

Moving on to homeschooling (they make me want to hurt people less)....

"What about socialization?"  oh Lord have mercy.

"You know you can't school them thru high school"  Well, thank you for your compliment to my intelliegence.

"But they will miss sports and prom"  really?  They do sports not related to the school system where their last name doesn't matter and I went to prom 3 times....unimpressed....there are also other options within the homeschool community.

and the list continues....forever and ever.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 12:1  

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

– Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

Two words in these verses jump out at me.  "reckless" and "careless"   These are the words that "pierce like swords"  and by which we will be "justified" or "condemned."

So here we think about the questions and statements made that are seemingly ambiguous but that will seep into the fiber of my children's lives because that's what words do....they seep in and change who we are as people.  Some might use the words "self fulfilling prophecy"...but what if the words don't come from within?  What if they come from well-meaning curious people who REALLY don't mean to be offensive?

Words like

"why didn't you do her hair this morning?"  after we spent an hour of crying while trying to comb it because it is so different from mine and we are struggling with scalp issues that are causing pain and itching so it can't be in braids for a bit.

"is she hiding things in her hair?"  seriously, people.

or maybe just petting her head without permission....she is not a puppy or a doll and that is her head that you are touching without permission.  (I might start petting people back....it worked when people touched my pregnant belly without asking)

---can you tell we've had some hair issues recently---

"is she black?" (whispering the word black).  Folks it is not a secret.  Nor is it shameful.  She is black.  And you are short/tall, thin/heavy, wear glasses/or don't and have straight/curly/long/short hair.  However, if you think it is something that needs to be whispered then maybe you shouldn't ask....like you wouldn't ask "is she stupid?" or "why is she so fat?" of an adult you know within their hearing....even in a whisper.

"Is she yours?" or the more offensive "This one clearly isn't yours"  -why yes, as a matter of fact, she is.

or

"what did you learn in school today?"  I don't quiz your kids about their school lessons....don't check up on ours.  There is clearly a difference between genuine asking what they are learning about and a quiz.  My kids and I are ALL able to tell the difference.

"What a beautiful daughter?"  Now this one is really tricky.  Sounds like a compliment doesn't it?  And it is (intended as one) I get that. And she is beautiful... But there are 3 boys who are sitting here and being looked over like they are nothing.

"I didn't think they were allowed to have any sweets.  You are so picky about the food they eat."  yes I am.  And they are fine with it most of the time.  they get plenty (a lot) of treats - I really like to bake especially cookies (with real butter).   Thanks for making it clear that you think I feed them too much healthy food....why don't you have another marshmallow and shove the bag at them too making me either let them eat them (and be sick the next day) or be the jerk mom who won't let their kids have any fun....thanks.  :/

 "You are only _____________."  - way to make a kid feel like they aren't enough.  That they don't measure up.  That they just aren't quite good enough.

These words that we say (and I am SURE I am guilty of saying things that make people feel bad....I am not saying that I don't stick my foot in my mouth occasionally) seep into the fiber of their childhood....of their memories...of who they are.  I am not a proponent of keeping everything fair and that one child might actually deserve praise when another doesn't (As an example, I do not think that trophies for participating is a good idea at all).   I am saying like the proverb says that we need to be careful with our reckless and careless speech...because those are the words that hurt most.

Even from these "harmless jokes" or oversights....my daughter learns that her hair is ugly even after we work on it all morning.  She learns that it is a joke and not as nice as everyone else's around her because clearly her hair is vastly different from others.  She learns that people can say whatever they want about her because she looks different.  She learns that because she is different she doesn't have the right to her own space and people can touch and pet her as they wish and without her permission.  My kids learn that their education is sub-par because they aren't in a classroom (I have strong opinions on this that I will not expound upon today). And the boys learn that because they aren't different they are easily looked over and not noticed.  And my kids think they are missing out on things because of the statements made around them.

Of course, as their mother (and dad), we do all that we can to counteract these statements....but it is a big world and full of a lot of stupid....so it is a big big job.

Scheduling! House cleaning! and Summer School! Attempt #1

One of the sessions I took at Homeschool Convention this year was a class on scheduling.  I have never liked the idea of scheduling by the clock and prefer the idea of routines better but the speaker (whose name I've forgotten) convinced me that maybe some scheduling (by the clock-YIKES!) would make everything go much smoother in our house.  With 4 kids in 4 different "grades" and the need to start teaching the older one (or two) some self motivation techniques, I think this might be the year to just take this plunge.  So I've been thinking/making one before we start some summer school (tomorrow).

Actually, I've been working on it before now but less "officially"...My part so far has been to set an alarm and get up in the morning at 6.  That way I get some quiet alone time to read my Bible, pray, and do some journaling.  I hate mornings but I love being able to have that time.  I also get a little time to check email and facebook without the kids.  I can't expect them to start disciplining their time without first disciplining mine. :)

I have also built a weekly cleaning schedule so that each room will be cleaned (dusted, vacuumed, etc) each week.  It also works the kids into this schedule and no one will have a ton to do.  We should be able to keep the house clean in around 30 minutes a day (15 minutes to clean a room and a 15 minute dash n stash before daddy gets home each day) plus the time it takes me in the kitchen to keep it clean....that room is just continually a mess since everyone seems to want to eat multiple times each day.  ;)

This is our new trial weekly cleaning schedule.  Each person is given a different chore for the week (floors, surfaces, walls, windows).  And we'll clean a different room each day.  Tuesdays are for toilets and the division in the bathrooms will be done differently.  And on Wednesdays I will do the next item on the rotating chores list to do some of those things that are required less frequently while the kids maintain their desk area.  We'll see how it works.

I took the plunge and while home from church with a sick kid, I made a daily schedule.  It starts at 6 am and runs through 5.  Evening time is family time and we will do family things....no schedule necessary.  This is our summer schedule with only an hour of school time.  Of course, it is going to get much more complicated (and difficult) once we are doing a full school schedule.  But I think this is a good practice run!

This is our first attempt at a daily schedule "by the clock".  I did it in half hour increments and we'll see how that works. I made the blocks nice and big so I can jot down notes of what did and did not work and make adjustment in the next bit.  Then hopefully, I'll be able to successfully make a daily schedule for school time.   

While I was doing it...I went ahead and made out a lesson plan for the week...we're going to do some geology with Mr. Hibb and start the Lego Quest.  The boys will all be working on math again.  And we'll do Smart Kids Launchpad on Fridays (for math).  Only doing school 4 days/week with one day spent at a day camp offered at a local church.  The great thing about all of these plans is that they are not very school like at all!  Mr Hibb is FULL of experiments with just a little reading in between times.  The Lego Quest is just a great way to be more creative and open up some options with legos.  And the launchpad are all activities.  Math and reading is the "schooliest" school work.  They will also have the option to start spanish and keyboarding now (or waiting till later), it is all computer based so I think they maybe will like it.

Lets get this party started!!!!  But not till Monday at 6 AM...don't want to throw the schedule off.  ;)

Mini Vacation #1

This year instead of one big long vacation, we are doing several little mini vacations....and we had a chance to do the first one a few weeks ago.

We took all the kids to Medieval Times.  We also stayed in a hotel with a pool.  What more does a family need for a little get away?  Oh yeah, hotel also had a really nice hot breakfast.  :)

Everyone had such a great great time!  The food was phenomenal and our serf was totally great with the kids   "dragonblood soup for you sir"  or "Here's your baby dragon....it tastes a lot like chicken."  The boys loved eating with their hands.  I wasn't sure L was going to eat cause she LOVED the horses.  LOVED them.  It was a perfect mini vacation.  I didn't get many pictures (cause I was eating with my hands too).  But I got a couple.

Ready to head in.

waiting for them to unlock the gates

So excited!  yay

All the kids got swords and shields....I tried to get L to get a princess hat but she wanted a sword and shield like her brothers.  I have a feeling she is going to be a tomboy  ;)

Announcing the start of the games.

bring on the horses

bring on the knights

bring on the food

We wear green crowns because we are in the section of the green knight...

presentation of the knights....and time to put the camera away.  :)

Our family is growing......

Meet Betty and Lois.  (l-r).  Our newest "kids"....they are so cute and fun and friendly....and LOUD!  :)  These are a dairy breed so hopefully by next spring we'll have more babies and fresh milk.  I'm sure goat milk will take some adjustment but I'm excited about it.  :)

And "Bacon"....he is also friendly and the kids love chatting with him cause he always snorts back.  But they also know his name determines his destiny....I am sure some people think that is cruel or mean but so many have no awareness of where our food comes from.  Unless a person is 100% vegetarian then everyone eats animals that started out as cute little babies...and many times not in the 5 star lifestyle our animals grow in.  ;)   

And our ducks....One is Donald and another is Aflack but I don't know which ones...the rest are probably named too but I don't know what.  We are looking forward to seeing how many males and females we got here and trying duck eggs....and then hopefully having duck babies....we will not be butchering these cause duck meat is icky....and I'm sure it's similar to butchering chickens which is a job I loathe.... :)

The kids were bummed when they figured out this kiddie pool wasn't for them.
But the ducks LOVE it!  And the kids literally sit out there and watch them play.  Who needs tv?
HA

We also got our garden in.  And they helped a little.  :)

I love spring.  It is such a time of possibilities.  I am always excited to garden and I pray this year that the garden is successful.  I've planted zucchini, cukes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, green beans, peas, cantelope and watermelon.  Fingers crossed.

Back to work I go!  :D  Happy spring to everyone!

So. Totally true story....

A recent facebook status says I wish I were a comedian so I could say "well, at least I've got new material" about certain life experiences.  (or something like that but I'm too lazy to go back and look).  Seriously, sometimes it's like, Really?  I can not even believe this got so ridiculous....I'm not half as gifted at writing as I am at telling stories (which I think I tell an awesome funny story - don't correct me if I'm wrong, I don't wanna know).  But this is what happened.

It all started with a queen size box spring that we no longer are using....I really just wanted it not leaning against my library wall any longer....so I posted it for sale OBO on facebook (true sign of desperation)

And a random, strange (although I wasn't aware HOW strange at this point) woman (lets call her Susie-not her real name) private messaged me and said something like "This is rather forward of me but a friend (lets call her Jane) of mine just lost everything in a house fire and really could use a queen sized box spring.  Would you donate it?"  I said "SURE! As long as she can come pick it up."  Little did I know what can of worms I was opening.

Jane doesn't have a car.  Fine.  Susie's keys are locked in her truck.  Sorry bout that.  Just let me know when you work it out.  I will be home all week.

This afternoon I get a phone call with the caller ID blocked.  Does anyone answer those?  I don't.  Then I get a screaming text (I know she's screaming because it is ALL CAPS) that she is coming somewhere near my house tonight and can get the box spring.  At this point, I don't know if this is Susie or Jane but whatever I want the stupid thing out of my library.  Then she asks me to meet her somewhere with the box spring.  Um, no.  Meet her at DQ so she can follow me to my house.  Um, strike two.  Meet her at the highway.  Not really likely.... I text her and say my house is not that hard to find....and give her directions.  (for the record after you turn off the highway it is 2 turns- one of them at a t road and our house is the last on our road)

We text for a while and then she asks to call.  Fine. I now discover this is Susie and not Jane. She is apparently meeting someone about a couch.  Fine.  She doesn't know where they live.  Fine.  She tells me their names.  Ok?  She says "I'm a Christian and in the church so I don't talk bad about people but I think these people are shady."  and then proceeds to talk bad about them.  She, of course, doesn't have the gas money to drive all the way up here if the couch is going to fall thru.  She is a single mom.  Somehow I feel like I am supposed to have an answer or do something about the couch.  I have no idea who the couch people are.  I do not care.  I finally try to bring the conversation back to something that makes me think she is going to get this box spring by saying "I am not really sure what you want from me.  I have a box spring that I am more than willing to give you.  I do not know anything about a couch or who is trying to give you a couch.  I just need to know if you are going to get this box spring."  "Yes, but (what a BIG BUT) I have a panic disorder and it is triggered when I'm driving somewhere unfamiliar.  So I'm not sure if I can find your house."  Wow!  Now I am not making fun of panic disorders or those who suffer from them.   But that right there is a red flag.

She is coming to town at 4:15 to meet someone at Dairy Queen and and old lady (her words) for one thing or another.  And then she will come here.  Fine.  I call my mom because I don't want her here without backup and I discovered the King is working late.  I expect her to call at 4:15 and be here around 4:30.  

At 4:20 I haven't heard from her.  So I text her.  Oh, she is coming but she decided to eat some supper then she is going to go look at the couch and then she'd try to make it.  I tell her that this won't work.  I have to leave at 5:30.  She replies with "I thought you were going to be home all evening."  About ready to blow a gasket I text her that "My evening plans have changed.  I was trying to roll with the punches and as she was supposed to be here by 5, I didn't think my plans for the evening were her business."

After 5 I text again.  "Are you close?"  She replies "I am going to call.  You need to answer"  Well, alright then bossy britches (notice the R- it is there).  So I answer and she puts someone else on the phone who is helping her.  I KNOW this person.  She was trying to help lead her to my house but Susie didn't know who she was trying to find so my acquaintance wasn't able to help her much.  (I think I might see some of her problems finding people-I gave her my address and directions TWICE - She contacted me via facebook more than once).  She tells me where they are.  THREE DOORS FROM MY HOUSE!  She was fine.  She just needed to KEEP GOING.  I walk to the end of my drive and wave cause I CAN SEE THEM.  As she pulls in (in her nearly new Dodge Ram Quad Cab and I feel less sorry for this single mom with no gas money) she says "We had SUCH a hard time finding your house."  I just pinch my lips and nod.  My dad and I load the box spring.  She watches and tries to chat.  She has 11 cats and a puppy in her home.  That's all I need to know.  I leave her standing in my drive and hope she can find her way to the couch (which is in no way likely to fit in her truck).  And I think to myself....

1.  God gives us all different gifts, and maybe, just maybe, if you have a panic disorder triggered by driving in unfamiliar places, you should not offer to drive to unfamiliar places to pick up random things like box springs for your friends.  I think that might not be your gift.

and

2.  Next time I think I'll let Aiden use the box spring for target practice.

and

3.  I wonder if Tim Hawkins needs an opening act.  sigh.

We're so Sappy!

Well, its that time of year and we're hoping its a good one.  Maple Sap Season.  Every couple years we tap a few trees and make our own maple syrup.  It is something I love doing....and the kids have a great time too.  Plus we get awesome homemade syrup.  Here's some pics of the day.  And by some, I mean A LOT!

We started by building lids for the buckets we would be collecting in.  Each of the boys got a chance on the different power tools.  Only one made this mama clench....

A with the circular saw...

M takes a turn with the power saw.

G has a go....

They all did great

 A getting the measurements just right so he can.....

drill the holes in the lids.

A saws off the 1/2 inch PVC to make the stile.

M has his turn  (G was missing for this step)

Since the PVC was half in and we used a slightly smaller drill bit (1/8 of an inch smaller) the boys used a grinder to whittle down the end to a point.....this is the part that made mama clench.

By doing this....the pipe will have a tight seal within the hole in the tree preventing leaks

M was smoothest with the grinder.  Whew....glad that's done.

 And off to the woods we go....

L just sitting on a log supervising.

G taps the first tree.  When I was little we used an old school drill (and did it by hand).  power tools all the way now.

First taste

another taste

drill the hole at a downward angle so the sap can run out more easily....

Hammer in the stile....

getting herself a taste

another kid....another tree

This is our collection method this year.  Tap in the tree with plastic hose running down through a hole in the lid on a 5 gallon bucket.  the block is wedged under the handle keeping the lid down....

Focus is important.

 Work is done....time for play!

slackline fun over the creek.  

Pappy and L take time to chill.  :)

Keepin it real....

So the last several days have been anything but normal....My parents took all the kids to an indoor water park Thursday and Friday of last week.  Then we had the weekend.  Sunday we missed church thanks to more winter weather.  Monday we HAD to get groceries or risk starvation (ok, that may not be exactly true but close enough) and then karate.  Tuesday we had our normal day of volunteering and music lessons.  And finished it up with night school.  Night school is very very very rare around here but we had some catching up to do.  That is SIX days of no regular school hours.  Holy cow is that crazy!

So today we are back to school.  In a big way.  And it is HARD!  It is always hard after a break but wow!  Plus we got MORE snow last night, which gives my kids ants in their pants.

School usually starts at 9 here.  We spend 30 minutes per subject.  Bible/Awana, then Science, then 30 minutes of seatwork, then social studies, and another 30 minutes of seatwork.  After lunch the kids get to play for a while before naps and quiet reading.  (Seatwork is any subject that they can do primarily on their own with little bits of help from me - math, handwriting, phonics, etc).  Then we are home free and they can play as they wish.

  This is what today looked like.

9:00 - Bible and Awana.  We read our Bible study and then started practicing Awana verses.  Hit meltdown on memory work by 9:15.  Put it away and tried to practice our karate form.  Dismal failure.  Gave up and started science.

9:30 - We'd been doing science for 15 minutes.  It was a pretty intense (maybe TOO intense-I may have gone overboard) science lesson with lots of writing.  M was really having trouble with all the writing.  But I still knew he could do it.  Didn't finish science till 10:15 (started 15 minutes early, finished 15 minutes late)  There were tears involved and M didn't quite finish all of his cards.  He will have to finish those later.

10:15 - seatwork.  I did G's reading lesson (I think he's finally getting it) and the others did math.  M had trouble with a few questions in that he didn't want to do them at all.  A poked around for 45 minutes but did finally finish.  M finished his science cards.

11 - we "should" be getting close to wrapping up and making lunch.  It is clear we will not finish before lunch.  Still have social studies and spelling (for A).  Give up and make lunch.

12 - really want to do social studies but it is clear focus is no better because the snow is calling.  Let them go out and play.  G can't find his coverall bibs.  Most of all their gloves are missing.  They all have homes where they are supposed to be.  M yells at me that he needs his gloves.  I go bat crap crazy because I am unable to conjure gloves out of thin air and I don't know what he expects me to do.  He finally settles for the little lightweight gloves (yes I know his hands are going to be cold but again....I don't know what I am supposed to do).  While they are outside, I clean the laundry room and the library up (hoping to find gloves or bibs-woodstove is in the library so we dry wet clothes in there).  No luck.

1 - everyone comes back in and is practicing their instruments.  I realize I am still in my pajamas and have not yet brushed my teeth.  Last night's dishes (and all those dirtied since then) are piled in the sink.  Meh, whatever.  Its time for L to take a nap.  Take her potty and get a book or two to read.  Send the others to their beds for rest/quiet reading (they take how to draw books and enough paper to kill a forest of trees).  After L is in bed make them lay in their beds quietly since we've been at melt down pretty much all day.  Pray they fall asleep.

1:30 - L is sleeping.  M and G are close and A is reading quietly in his room with instructions to stay in there.  This is where my day gets challenging for me.  I have dishes to do, laundry to fold, my bedroom needs picked up, and any number of other things need done.  Plus I'd really like to make some healthy snacks since there really aren't any in the house right now.  I am also part of a fitness challenge with a group of friends...and need to fit my workout in sometime today.  Today it is only 20 minutes...but I risk waking the kids up while I do it.  So what do I choose?  Today, the workout ranks first.  And I'll try to not make a bunch of noise.

1:30-2:15 - workout-done ; shower-done ; teeth - brushed. (YAY!).  Oh and I'm dressed....kinda.  I put on clean pajamas.  That totally counts.  A and M start asking to come out of their rooms rather than read quietly in them.  I know they are big (10 and 8).  But I NEED down time in the afternoon or angry Hulk mom appears (she's already ducked in once today).  I am not asking them to sleep.  Just stay in their own spaces and do something quietly.  That's all.  When they come out, they talk, they fight, they laugh.  Then they wake up their sister who cries, and screams, and whines.  Quiet time is just a part of our day.  Frankly, we all need a little space apart from each other....

2:30 - A and M are up playing nicely (yes I caved - lets hope the nicely playing lasts).  Folded the laundry.  It is now in piles on the library floor.  Lets hope it gets put away before it gets kicked over and has to be folded again.  Socks are thrown in a laundry basket.  I HATE sorting socks.  Maybe I'll pay the boys to do those.

3:00 - Boys are "playing Battleship".  Which seems a lot louder than it should be.  This is when I start craving an afternoon snack....but since I haven't had a chance to make anything (I'm not blowing all this working out on junkie snacks), I don't know what to eat.  Oh, that reminds me.  I forgot to get the burger out of the freezer for dinner tonight.  Great.  Melted some peanut butter to dip a banana in....L woke up and now I'm busted with my snack.  Eat all sneaky in the kitchen. Totally did not enjoy it.

3:15 - Finally getting to social studies.  And spelling.

4:10 - finished with school.  FINALLY!  And I only yelled one more time so we could get spelling done. :/  I should totally do the dishes and start on supper....but I'm gonna play on pinterest for a while and beg the King to do the dishes for me. (it worked....he washed the dishes for me....he ROCKS!)

5:15- dinner is served.  Shepherd's Pie. 1 of 4 kids ate it.

5:30 - I actually did tonight's dishes but the King is making puppy chow for movie watching tonight (way to sabotage my eating babe-and I still don't have any healthy snacks so I KNOW I'll eat some)  so I will still wake up with a sink of dirty dishes.  Whatever.  I'm done for the night.  Gonna print some music and practice my guitar.

5:30b  Except the computer screwed up so I didn't get the music printed fast enough....they are done with the puppy chow and ready to start a movie....so I don't have time to practice.  Nice.


It is pretty clear things do not always go as planned in our home.  I think there is perception of homeschooling families that one of two things are true.  1) the kids (and mom) mess around all day and no one really learns/does anything.  2) they are this super family where everyone gets along and sticks to the plans and it all comes up roses.  And, in truth, we all just do the best we can with the day/attitudes/personalities we have going on in our home....just like any other family.

Again facebook and food is leading me here!

I am currently in 2 or 3 conversations on facebook about food!  And I love food!  I like to cook it, bake it, grill it, make it ahead and freeze it, and last but certainly not least, eat it!  But that statement should be qualified because although I am not a picky eater (I will literally try nearly anything once) I am selective about what goes into my (and my children's) body(ies).  We eat FOOD!  Not chemicals that have been processed in a lab and then dyed and flavored to resemble food.  This has effected nearly everything about our lives.  We are happier, healthier, and much better off (in my humble opinion) for it.  But it is not without difficulty.   One of my facebook conversations on facebook was prompted by an article listing 13 (THIRTEEN) substances found in "food" in American that are banned in food in other countries.  In order to eat healthy, we must be continually vigilant.  And this is annoying and overwhelming and frustrating to so many.  That makes me sad and not just a little angry. 

Without getting political, I think that if we got REAL FOOD to put in our bodies there would be less of a health care issue in our country.  (I will say no more on this subject).  It should be easy to put REAL FOOD in our bodies.  But the fact of the matter is that it isn't...we have to pay attention and buy and prepare food intentionally to eat real food. 

Also, in the interest of full disclosure or "keeping it real" - we occasionally eat at Wendy's or McDonalds....we buy chips as a treat and we eat sweets (although usually homemade) and we buy junky cereal (Cocoa Roos anyone) sometimes.  We like take out pizza.  But we try to follow a whole food, REAL food diet as often as possible.  "Cheating" (for lack of a better word) is not such a big deal when it isn't a steady diet.  

Today I am going to share a few blogs that have helped with our real food journey.  I am doing this from the top of my head while my kids do school so this is no means the entire list.  I will share more later. 

http://www.feingold.org/  This website (and we joined the organization) was the start of our real food journey.  We followed their diet strictly for over a year.  We have now become more relaxed but this really helped me learn what to look for and avoid. 

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/  This blog is AWESOME!  Simple kid friendly things that are all real food.  I love getting ideas from her!  She also talks about how to pack real food to go which is something that is so hard to do sometimes....

www.pinterest.com  OK- I can't imagine that you all haven't heard of this one but it is a great place to find recipes.  I have found some great ones for homemade "mixes" and seasonings among other things too numerous to list.  Of course, you can also find a lot of junk food on there too.  :) 

So I am going to try to blog on this "regularly."  Of course, we'll just have to see how that goes.  :)

My last tip for today is to buy food as near to the way God made it as possible.  Instead of buying strawberries n cream oatmeal buy quick oats (or rolled or steel cut) and frozen strawberries.....cook it in milk and Voila!! real strawberry n cream oatmeal that is actually strawberries instead of whatever the company is trying to pass of as strawberries. 

#24 - CHECK

Making homemade popsicles (or in this case fudgesicles) was a HUGE HUGE success.  I made these last weekend using a recipe I found on pinterest.  It was easy peasy. 

1/3 cup Nutella
1 cup milk

whisk it together and put it in freezer pop molds and freeze...then eat.  And try not to make yummy sounds as you do!  They were GREAT!!!  Here are some photos to document the chocolatey yumminess!  

I'm mixing up the nutella and milk....please disregard my lack of make-up and the fact that my hair is barely combed or that I didn't clean up the supper waffle iron....I was focused on more important things.  Namely, NUTELLA FUDGESICLES!  It's all about priorities folks!

The middle kid is liking his.

Big Boy is doing a good job avoiding brain freeze -  not an easy thing to do with such yummy chocolatey frozen goodness.

Can his mouth BE any bigger?  I guess he takes after his momma. 

You'd think that by opening his mouth as big as he was that there would be less on his face.  But you would be wrong.  At least he gives them a thumbs up!

Look at that smile!  He is HAPPY!

He is happy!  I also wish he would wear pants....This one apparently takes after his Grandpa on his dad's side! 

Today I also made more popsicles (no pictures though)....they were even easier.  I just poured some orange juice in the molds and stuck them in the freezer.  I can definitely see popsicles being a standard part of our summer this year! 

..........Only 99 more to go!!!