Food Diary- Saturday 5/15/10

Breakfast- tall glass of water, 2 cranberry pills, plain non-fat yogurt with honey

Lunch- leftover taco meat & cheese wrapped in a spinach tortilla with lettuce

Not pictured- 2 inch square of vanilla cake at work

Supper- thin crust cheese pizza - too tired to cook after grilling at work all afternoon

*Treats- homemade cherry pie from my loving neighbor - No mistake you see two photos- Its amazingly good!

Ghirardelli caramel chocolate square

Not pictured- a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream

*I can see now why I crashed at the end of the day. I should have eaten better earlier, before working all afternoon, on my feet over a smokey grill.

Akamai Backyard - Growing food on the Garden Island of Kauai - Start Page

http://akamaibackyard.com/
A very inspirational homeschool in Hawaii! Homeschoolers can do amazing things when they have the freedom to follow their dreams.

At The Sleepyhouse This Weekend....

DS11 made cupcakes and wanted me to take a picture of them, but not him. :) (Don't you love his t-shirt!) He decided he had the taste for vanilla and pretty much made them on his own. I helped with the oven transferring part because I can reach into the oven more safely.  I was also the taste tester! They are yummy! 

I'm still not feeling 100%, but supposedly my UTI is gone. I stopped in for a recheck because I'm feeling run down and not quite right. I'm going to try cranberry pills and eat more yogurt. Maybe my body just needs more time to bounce back.

My family took me to a nursery and bought me a belated Mother's Day gift, a few petunia plants and inpatients. The boys helped me fill most of our pots with the remaining dirt our neighbors gave us. Sometime this weekend, I hope to get those flower plants transplanted.

I have to work today at my pool's safety day and swim meet. I'll have it easy though. I'm on the food station, so I get to be a grill master all afternoon. DS11 wants to join me, but I think its because he knows we're planning on having a bouncy house, one of those inflatable play areas.

Our friends will be bringing over their parakeet for us to bird sit this week. They are flying out to Pennsylvania to go house hunting. :( We don't want them to move, but their dad's job is being transferred. Our home school posse won't be the same without them. :(

I hope to get some cleaning done sometime this weekend too. I've been too busy or too run down, and my nest isn't feeling right to me. Working extra hours is a mixed blessing. The extra money helps, but the time away stresses me out.

Well, I better get moving. Have a great weekend!


 

Now that I have a few hours of free time, I'm too tired to enjoy it. Do I cat nap and risk it turning into a power nap, or head outside into the sunshine to enjoy the fresh air?

13 For Thursday

1. I miss my blog. :( Been too busy.

2. All seedlings have failed. We didn't expect the freezing temperatures Mother's Day weekend and all of the seedlings froze up. We'll still hoping our newly planted seeds sprout up and make it. I may resort to buying a few tomato plants and hope blight doesn't come with them.

3. Need to get back to the photo diet. It was really working well for me, but somewhere between getting the UTI, and going out of town last weekend, I stopped snapping photos.

4. DS11 and I are now workout buddies. Hopefully we'll encourage DS14 and DH to join us. Today we did some muscle toning and yoga. When the sun returns we'll get back to our walks.

5. I had a dream about frogs. We were raising them in a fish tank and it was getting over populated. We were going to have to set up another tank for them. I'm hoping this means good things are in store for us, but it also could be my subconscious dealing with all the responsibilities I've been juggling.

6. I'm going to be a Great Aunt! Or is the term "Grand" aunt?  My nephew will be a father this fall. I can remember babysitting him. Boy, I am getting old! :) I wonder how my sister feels about becoming a grandmother? I know my parents are excited about their first Great Grandchild.

7. Every year I say we are going to the Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering in Sandusky, OH. Come 2011- WE ARE GOING!!! I really mean it!! The gathering has been moved to mid May of 2011 so we won't have to worry about driving through snow, and the room price has come down! I'm counting the days until registration opens.

8. I wish I had more time to sew.

9. I wish I had more time to plant.

10. I wish I had more time to clean and purge.

11. I wish I had more time to come up with a business to run with the family.

12. I wish I had more time to take care of my health.

13. I wish I had more time to write a proper blog post.

5/9/10 Weekend Notes

I'm tired, but want to make note of the wonderful weekend we've had.

Friday we traveled to the homeschooling conference. My family was so awesome and helped me get everything ready for the workshops we were hosting. Oshkosh, well, was Oshkosh. Its not my favorite town, but by now, its become a place of humor for us. Sorry Oshkosh. :)

Our Apples to Apples workshop went great. I was really surprised to see how the boys were not shy at all, and were so willing to welcome guests. I learned DS14 has quite a sense of humor, taking after his father.

Our other workshops went very well, despite the cold, rainy weather. I was just happy it did not snow. Many families were willing to put on a jacket and hunt down our Letterboxes. Twice the expected people showed up for our ATC workshop which was a pleasant surprise!

DH & I did not have alone time on Saturday, but it was still a great anniversary.

Sunday DH took myself, my mother in law, and the boys out for lunch at Micocina, my favorite Mexican restaurant. DMIL & I were given free peach white wine drinks and our meals were half price!

After lunch we went for a hike at the UW Arboretum. We followed a new interesting forest trail and ended up by the lilac garden. It couldn't have been more perfect of a day.

Today was also the last day of my medication so hopefully I'll start feeling better. I'm not sure my UTI is gone, and I've been feeling really run down, but hopefully it is gone, and it was the medicine zapping my energy. I'm hoping to have a more healthy week ahead.

Food Diary- Tuesday 5/4/10

Breakfast- whole wheat toast, an egg with Mrs. Dash, OJ w/calcium

Lunch- broccoli slaw, tuna, light mayo, pickled beets

Snack on drive to work - free small mocha frappe!

Supper at work - chicken meatball noodle soup

Snack not pictured- a glass of 1% chocolate milk and a cookie before bed :( I was tired and not feeling well.

A Sample of Unschooling In Action

A great example of how unschooling works.

DS11 is fascinated with UFOs. While watching a television special, he begins to question UFO geometry.

"Mom, why is it no one has ever reported a square shaped UFO? I think there have been reports of all different kinds of shapes, but not squares."

From that question, we had a discussion on shapes which leads us to look online for more shapes.

We discuss why squares may not be the best for aerodynamics.

So from a curiosity about UFO's, we explored geometry and physics. What's so great about unschooling is questions can lead to answers which lead to more questions. It can be a ongoing investigation, leading to different pathways to explore.

In a school setting often its, "Here's the problem- find the answer that I'm looking for, the way I want you to- great! You're done now because you've met the teacher's/school's expectations.

Unschooling gives the individual ownership of his/her own learning. You decide how far, how high, how deep, you want to strive for. If trusted, humans have an infinite amount of curiosity and creativity. We were made that way, in the image of our creator. Trust unschooling!   

Food Diary- Monday 5/3/10

Breakfast - peanut butter & Jelly toast, Nitrofurantoin

Lunch- chicken meatball noodle soup - I love my mom in law! She's mine and you can't have her!

Snack- graham cracker with Nutella and Peanut butter

Supper- Spaghetti with caramelized onion garlic marinara, garlic toast - I love my husband! You can't have him either!

Snack- light ice cream with Nitrofurantoin
 

What is essential is to realize that children learn independently, not in bunches; that they learn out of interest and curiosity, not to please or appease the adults in power; and that they ought to be in control of their own learning, deciding for themselves what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. -John Holt

Counting My Blessings The Past 24 Hours....

I'm grateful that.....

There was still cranberry juice in the fridge.

My DMIL got my message and called me back, sharing her wisdom.

I have a wonderful husband, willing to drive me to Walgreens and not batting an eye when I buy more than one over the counter remedy in desperation.

I didn't have to prepare a family meal or do dishes when my wonderful husband took us out to eat.

I'm not color blind.

The Mercy Urgent Care clinic is open until 9:00pm on Sunday nights.

An understanding husband who convinces me its okay to see a doctor and not suffer.

The caring receptionist who bumped me into first position before I passed out from the pain.

My sample gave no doubt, to anyone's naked eye, you could see something was really wrong!

The physician assistant who faxed over the prescription without delay.

Walgreens was still open for business.

My DH still drove, while I could curl up in the fetal position in the back seat.

My wonderful sons, who continued to follow through with my expectations even though my medical crisis could have given them a free pass to slack off.

There's a bathroom very close to my bed!

I have a loving husband who will bring me drugs at the right times and keep pushing me to drink when all I want to do is curl up and cry like a baby.

I have an understanding boss!

The medicine has begun to make the scary color go away and diminished the razor blade, stabbing needle pain.

And most of all, a loving God who answers prayers and holds my heart during all of it!

Food Diary- Sunday 5/2/10

Breakfast- 3 glasses of cranberry juice (no photo)

Second breakfast- 2 homemade corn muffins

A Lunch of Sorts- monkey face (apples, peanut butter & raisins)

Medical Intervention!- powdered cinnamon, honey in warm water (couldn't get it all down)

2nd Medical Intervention!- Walgreens for over the counter UTI relief

Supper- Old Timer burger & fries at Chili's, (no photo) trying not be a party pooper but really not feeling well

*Also not pictured, the gallon of water and iced teas I drank all day trying to prevent the inevitable.

Journal for Saturday 5/1/10

It was another windy day, but we did our best to move some of the dirt from the driveway. Each one of my sons helped me wheelbarrow loads of dirt and compost into the two new Square Foot Garden beds we've built. Of the yard and a half of dirt our neighbor gifted us, we probably still have a little less than a yard left.

DH worked a bit in his makeshift office in the mancave. He had an off day, not feeling right. He did take a break to drive me back to Menards to pick up more wood. We have so much dirt still remaining, we've decided to make at least 2 more SFG beds. This will bring us up to 5 total. I'm sure I'll find something to grow in them. If the dirt pile still isn't gone from the driveway, I will fill containers and grow even more goodies.

I was worried Yumi was getting sick, but thankfully she seemed better Saturday. Friday night I thought she was getting a urinary track infection, but now I'm thinking it was clogged glands. I cleaned her up best I could, and we put her in the garage for the night to save the carpets from any spraying. She seemed herself on Saturday and actually seemed to have enjoyed her night in the garage. There is an old couch to curl up on in there, and I'm sure she found a few mice to play with. She isn't squatting as if to spray and her backside isn't smelly. ("Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you...")

We finished writing clues for our Letterboxing workshop next Saturday. Now I have to carve, carve, carve, and hope I can get all the stamps done in time. I'm bummed the weather forecast for Oshkosh next Saturday looks dreadful, 80% chance of rain, high of 44, but I can't control the weather. Hopefully families will bring raincoats and umbrellas.

We're suppose to have 75 participants scheduled for the Letterboxing workshop. Our other workshops are much smaller, around 20 participants each. I'm bummed the turnout for the ATC workshop is so low.

I'm going to have to learn about plumbing. Yesterday DH said he could hear water running, but thought it was the boys and I working on the garden beds outside. Later when we went to move laundry, we noticed the machines were completely soaked and the laundry waiting on the floor was as well. There was a dark, water stain on the foundation wall coming from where the outside hose hooks up. I think the pipe has burst and when we turn on the outside hose, we are flooding the laundry area in the basement. I may be watering our gardens with buckets for awhile. Unless I hint around I need the cute watering can I saw at the garden center for Mother's Day! ;)

I've got rhubarb to chop! My neighbor gave me a bunch and even offered if I want to dig up the plant in her yard, I could move it to ours. I will have to make my rhubarb muffins this week and polish my stainless steel pans.

As for our daily dose of cheesy horror, we watched Hello Mary Lou, Prom Night II on the "THIS" network last night. "THIS" is becoming the choice channel for us. I hope we're home in time next Saturday night for "Dolls".

"Mom, You know what's strange? Growing. You can't feel it happening, but you eventually realize you have. I think that's because it happens slowly." -DS11

Food Diary- Saturday 5/1/10

Breakfast - cereal and almond milk

Lunch- chicken, black beans, onion and tomato quesadillas with spinach tortillas

Supper- mac & cheese and broccoli

Snack- popcorn (I left about an inch in the bowl)

Snack#2- ice cream sandwich

Unschooling Rules

http://unschoolingrules.blogspot.com/
So much great wisdom written here! Grab a cup of tea.

Kenosha Fun Friday 4/30/10

Sometimes you need a change of scenery to find your joy once again. We decided a mini-road trip to G-Ma's was in order.

After arriving in K-town, we picked up DMIL and rode up to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. There is only one Chick-Fil-A in Wisconsin. You have to break your diet rules and get a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. It truly is the best chicken sandwich you will ever eat. I'm sure my friends in the south, who can eat them anytime they want, are thinking, what's the big deal? I've heard through my Illinois family, Chicago is getting two Chick-Fil-A restaurants. Maybe someday they will open one in Madison,WI or Janesville,WI.

To work off some of those calories, we headed to Petrified Springs Park. This park has very cool hiking paths through hilly forest and a beautiful stream running the length of the park. We took another wishbone photo for the scrapbook. Somewhere I have the same photo of the boys making a wish when they were younger.

I didn't have on my hiking shoes, but did okay in my Birkies until we hit mud. I had to try and wash my foot off in the stream and now DH is joking I'll get fish foot, whatever that is. Actually my would be blister is feeling pretty good. Maybe those petrified springs have healing powers?

We stopped at a new super Walmart on the way back to G-Ma's. DH needed new t-shirts and frankly, they have the best price. I usually don't like Walmart, and here's another reason why. They are now doing that annoying receipt check at the door like they do at Sam's Warehouse and Costco. I know this is for loss prevention, but if you are going to have 10 check out lanes open, you need to have 10 highlight marker checkers at the ready, at the door! It infuriates me to have to first wait to pay and then wait in an even longer line to exit the store. Target, please build more Target Greatlands so we can avoid Wal-Fart.

We headed back to G-Ma's to watch her Chiller TV cable channel. We don't get this channel and that for my family, is a travesty. This cable network was made for us! We watched cheesy horror shows and worked on a puzzle with G-Ma.

We picked up thin crust pizza for supper. You can't go to Kenosha and not get thin crust pizza. There are so many great pizzerias to choose from. Kenosha thin crust, IMO, is the best. Its cracker crisp thin, not New York folding, or Chicago -you have to eat like lasagna- style.

We drove home after supper, missing most of the severe thunderstorms, but still rolling through enough to make the drive interesting.

One final dose of cheesy horror- Devil Dog- and then it was off to bed.
 

Food Diary- Friday 4/30/10 Why I Can't Live In Kenosha

This is why I love to visit, but cannot choose to live in Kenosha. Too much temptation!

Breakfast- cereal and almond milk before we hit the road

Lunch- Chick-Fil-A sandwich, waffle fries, sweet tea

Snack at DMIL's- Pecan Kringle (Ancestors from Denmark- I love you.)

Supper at DMIL's- Infusino's cheese and onion pizza & mojos (Italian potatoes)

I think its a law somewhere, when you are in Kenosha, you must eat true thin crust pizza.

Happy Save The Frogs Day! Won't you help me save frogs? Please, please, please, don't dump chemicals on your lawns!! http://savethefrogs.com/newsletters/2010/2010-04-30-Happy-STF-Day.html

Food Diary- Thursday 4/29/10

Thursdays are crazy days. My menu planning goes right out the window and these photos prove it. For the record I did have a headache before I finished work. I'm sure the headache was from poor nutrition and being too busy. By the time I got home, I wanted cold comfort.

Breakfast-  Didn't eat one. :( Was too busy. I did drink some tea.

Lunch- 1/2 tuna sub on whole wheat, picked beets, diluted lemonade

Pitiful chocolate break- I licked the brownie batter from my Swedish whisk (homeschool posse ate all the brownies and I didn't get one, but that's a good thing.)

Supper- at work-  the second 1/2 of my whole wheat tuna sub from lunch, Diet Rite

Snack at 9:30- Cookies and cream ice cream

Its Thursday Isn't It....

13.....

1. Waiting for our homeschool posse to arrive. The brownies are cooling.

2. Can't wait to visit DMIL tomorrow on our K-town mini road trip. I'm predicting pizza will be consumed.

3. This photo food diary thing is working very well. I do think before I eat something, and I am noticing more when I'm actually hungry and when I'm not.

4. I think Yumi is watching what she eats too. She went from chowing down every last kibble to actually leaving bits between feedings. Maybe its the warmer temperatures?

5. My neighbor called and told me to keep our cars out of our driveway today. He said someone is coming with a "delivery" but he wouldn't tell me what it is. I think he is gifting us some glorious garden dirt, but I shouldn't get my hopes up.

6. This morning I realized my son is learning quite a bit from watching old 70's game shows.

7. I have not carved a single new stamp yet. The workshop is in 9 days. Guess what I'll be doing Saturday and Sunday!

8. I saw a lady selling little cakes out of her van. I have no idea what she was asking for them, but again I had the thought- WHY CAN'T I COME UP WITH A GREAT BUSINESS IDEA!

9. DH has been applying to everything, even stuff outside of his field. Why isn't the phone ringing?

10. Why are birds so messy?

11. The new show I'm fascinated with- 6 By Design - How on earth can a family of 7 children live in Manhattan and move so frequently? If they can run a business with all that chaos, surely we could too?

12. I want my husband to create more of his artwork. I think it could be the answer we need.

13. The phone just rang! It was not a job offer, but it is confirmed, glorious garden dirt is on its way to our driveway courtesy the best neighbors in the world!

Food Diary- Wed 4/28/10

Breakfast - almond milk and granola cereal

Lunch - black bean veggie wrap, Diet Rite

Chocolate break - semi-sweet chips

Commute to work - Dandy Blend & almond milk homemade frap, light whipped cream

Supper to eat at work - sweet potato & cream cheese spinach roll up

Night snack - homemade corn muffins, smart balance, OJ w/calcium

Food Diary- Tuesday 4/27/10

Breakfast- 8:30 am after dropping off the car for an oil change, egg McMuffin- without the oink, sweet tea


Lunch- 12:00pm Italian seasoned No Yolks noodles with chicken breast, oven roasted sweet potato fries, diluted lemonade

2:00pm - That's not coffee! Dandy blend & cocoa powder, light whip cream, 2 Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Mint UFOs

7:30pm - At work, after being yelled at by customer, ants on boats, Emergen-C

Food Diary- Monday 4/25/10

Thanks to Stormmie for this blog idea. I hope it keeps me accountable and on track.


6:00am Breakfast at work - 1 cup non fat plain yogurt, 1 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup granola, diluted OJ, Emergen-C with water later
11:30am snack on the drive home - carrot stickies
12:30 lunch at home - veggie & chicken wrap, Diet soda
3:15pm CHOCOLATE BREAK! Two Trader Joe Dark Chocolate Mint UFOs
6:00pm Supper at home - burger, broccoli, hash browns cooked in olive oil, diluted Kool Aid
8:00pm snack at home - 1/2 mug of almond milk and grahams with Nutella & peanut butter

I need new glasses. I keep trying to wipe off this cloudy spot only to realize its the scratch coating coming off. Its about time. I think I bought these before my children were born.

Wants or Needs...

So much to do... so little time to do it...

Do I tend to the wants or the needs?

WANT -  To purge and organize the nest. The other day the boys suddenly decided to clean up their room on their own because they wanted to organize things. I love doing this and being able to do this with them would have been so much fun for me! Unfortunately, I had to leave for work and the next day, they weren't in the mood to play "Clean House". :(

NEED - My kitchen floor needs TLC, only I can't bring myself to do it.  I tell my boys often, when you find a woman you love, make sure the kitchen floor you give her is not white.

WANT/NEED ? - I'm running out of time to get all our seedlings started indoors. Soon the calender will dictate we might as well plant directly into the garden. The time crunch is taking the fun out of it. I have to trust the unschooly, go with the flow, garden method. Last year we didn't seed start and we still ended up with fresh veg. There is no need for perfection when it comes to the art of gardening.

NEED - I have to carve stamps, lots of them! Our Letterboxing workshop is coming up and usually by now, I'm much more prepared. Thankfully DH has helped me in the design department, even sketching them in Autocad for me! All I'll have to do is trace and carve.

WANT -  To make some ATC's. Actually this could be a NEED. I should have some ready to trade.

NEED - To clean and purge our bedroom of dust and clutter.

WANT - To paint and redecorate our love nest. Unfortunately we can't do this without first checking off the NEED to clean it.

NEED -  To menu plan. I hate to admit it, but with our busy lives, we're ending up doing too many sandwich, fend for yourself, suppers. Its just such a challenge to find something everyone will eat that is healthy. Plus we all don't get hungry at the same time. The sleeping teenager is expecting breakfast, when we're ready for lunch.

WANT - To get back to exercising and actually enjoy it. It shouldn't feel like a NEED to do it, but a WANT to do it.

WANT - To study frogs. I find them very interesting these days.

NEED - To learn what I can about business marketing even though its not a passion of mine. This Autodidact needs to learn to push her comfort level past safe boundaries.

WANT - A family business that supports us where we only have to work 3-4 days a week, enabling us to enjoy spending the rest of our week free to explore our interests. It is important to keep dreaming, and someday I will figure out how to make this a reality.

We're heading out to scout hiding spots for our new Letterboxes. Hopefully we can finish up before the rain moves in.

I Can't Think Of A Title- Does It Matter Anyway? I'm Just Going To Babble....

I'm fighting off a virus. I'm not sure which one. It could have been the sinus infection DH had a few weeks ago or the head colds the boys ended up with. With me though, my sinuses are fine, this virus has settled in my throat and chest. The nagging, scratchy cough is still hanging around, but thankfully I only had one day of complete shut down. All I could do yesterday was sleep and try not to move because every time I did it hurt. Every muscle ached and my skin felt like pins and needles.

I'm grateful my illness waited for my parents to leave. We had a nice visit with them, and hopefully we won't have to wait quite as long between visits.

We exposed my mom to movies she probably wouldn't have watched. One night, I think she didn't know how to turn the channel and she watched Wrong Turn. Although she raised me with classic monster movies on Saturday afternoons, she doesn't enjoy gore. I also got a kick out of watching her watching Fido, a humorous zombie movie on any zombie fan's must see list.

My mom did enjoy our visit to a high end nursery near us. She bought several herb plants and we all enjoyed the flowers and gardening toys. I have no money to spend on plants and flowers, but it was still fun to browse. The nursery has a huge indoor greenhouse with patio furniture and a Koi pond. They also serve free coffee and don't mind if you simply hang out, enjoying the fish. I found myself wandering around, checking out the variety of plants and asking questions whenever a salesperson asked if I needed help. I figure I could browse there on a regular basis and end up learning quite a bit! How long though before they recognize I'm the woman who never buys anything?! :)

I am having garden envy. I was all excited because we have the materials to set up two more raised beds in addition to the one we built last season. Then I saw a house down the block with 6 such raised beds. Sigh.....One day at a time. This unemployment mode can't last forever right?

Three more bags of clothes made it to Goodwill. I got tired of seeing the boys wear their old, worn out clothes. DMIL has blessed them with so many nice new shirts and pairs of shorts I couldn't understand why they were wearing the old, worn out stuff. Turns out their dresser drawers were so full, the new stuff was buried under the old. They would always just grab the top clean shirt. So out with the old, in with the new and hopefully we'll figure out a way to rotate the wardrobe better.

I have to start carving stamps. I'm way behind! I usually prepare for our homeschooling workshops months in advance, but somehow, its coming down to the last minute this year. The workshops we're hosting are repeats so at least we can re-use some of the materials. We do want to offer new stamps for the Letterboxing workshop and new hiding places. Its a favorite at the conference, and I think the returning families would appreciate new stamps.

I think we'll carve more puzzle themed stamps because its quick and easier to carve one big stamp and then chop it into pieces for separate Letterboxes. This way too, the finders can try to put the stamped pieces together to form the original carving.  I also want to make Letterbox Trading Cards to leave in some of the boxes. It will go along with our Artist Trading Card Workshop.

As always I'm being over ambitious, but I've found its best to aim higher than you think you can. You end up accomplishing more that way.

Can You Hear Him Celebrating?

We are celebrating a Pokemon victory this morning. DS11 is "beyond awesome" due to his capture of uber rare Nidoran. He was down to his last, original Pokeball and he had to attack twice. The chance for failure was very real, but victory over ruled!

I've been told many others have had to use "cheaties" or action replay to achieve a Nidoran capture.

After the hoots and hollers, he ran in to wake the sleeping teenager. I held my breath, thinking this would not go well, but I was wrong. DS14 woke up and was happy for his little brother. Then he rolled right back over and drifted back to unconsciousness.

What a great way to start our fresh day!

"Human intelligence and reasoning reside in wisdom, not math. Wisdom is the ability to bring one's values, likes and dislikes, knowledge about other people and their likes and dislikes, and general knowledge of the world together in a manner that leads to workable solutions to the problems that confront us--solutions that promote our own and others' happiness and decrease our own and others' miseries." Peter Gray

Such A Beautiful Day Spent Together...

We woke the sleeping teenager and headed out Letterboxing. We drove to Milton and hiked at Storr's Lake- Ice Age Trail section. Four letterboxes were planted there and although it was a bit too easy finding them, it was still a nice place to stretch the legs, with scenic views of two lakes. I'm sure we'll head back there again once the trees dress up more for summer.

Milton is a neat little Wisconsin town. The Milton House is there which is a historical monument. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Abraham Lincoln also was stationed near Milton and while there, someone stole his horse. He had to walk back to Chicago which blows my mind.

We stopped on the way home and treated ourselves to Wendy's for lunch. There was no chance we could have eaten al fresco. The wind was not blowing in a good direction. You could smell serious sewage or pig farm in most of Janesville today. We hid inside.

After lunch we stopped at one of the best libraries in our area, Hedberg Library in Janesville. The Hedberg family donated millions to this library and it shows. The collection is unbelievable. Although we can inter-library loan anything through our town's library, sometimes its just fun to go and browse because Hedberg has so much stuff. I came home with books on Gandhi, as I promised I would, and gardening books of course!

After the library we were glad the bad smell had finally blown away. We decided to check out the Rotary Gardens before they begin charging for the season. This used to be an amazing botanical garden and it used to be free. Then vandals did a great deal of damage and now the park is admission only during the prime growing season. We can't afford to pay what they're asking, so we try to go on free days. Its one of those things on my list when we win the lottery. Buy out the Rotary Gardens to make it free for all once again.

Its a perfect day for Letterboxing! Heading out to hunt down four of them before lunch.

Its True Love! He just brought home ice cream sandwiches! (Its that, or he's found a way to get me off of the computer!) :)

Another Proud Mama Moment....

Proud Mama Moment of the day.....

DS11 told me, yesterday he talked his older cousin out of doing something that would have been really wrong to do. I'm so proud!! To know he can withstand peer pressure and make the right choice, affirms to me that we're doing something right.

He knew it was important to be respectful of the neighbor's property. He used sound judgment and figured out the actions his cousin wanted to take would have gone against our teachings. He knew he needed to help his cousin understand the consequences that would follow if they went down that path. He stood up to his older cousin and prevented a bad situation.

Even though he may only be able to tell you right now Gandhi was "that Indian Guy," I know he has learned some very valuable lessons that will help him make wise decisions for his life. I can go to the library tomorrow and grab some Indian history and Gandhi biographies, but tonight I'm so happy my son understands right from wrong and how to stay out of trouble!

Why We Continue To Homeschool While DH's Unemployed

Home Education Magazine is preparing an article for their summer issue. A reader is questioning whether they should continue homeschooling after her husband was laid off. It inspired me to share our view on this subject.

Why do we continue to homeschool while going through unemployment stress?

1. Its a part of real life. We learn by living. Sometimes life is good, sometimes its not, but to quote my favorite band, "Everyday above ground is a good one." Life goes on.

2. Challenges often are opportunities for learning and growth. As baby eagles mature, their parents change the nest. They remove the warm, cushy nesting and expose more of the scratchy sticks. The discomfort helps motivate the baby eagles to fly free. This stressful time in our lives will strengthen us and lead us to a better place.

3. Support- Keeping our family together means we can support and lift up each other. Why would we want to separate when staying together during this difficult time can only strengthen our bond?

4. Normalcy- When stress bombs shake your footing, its good to still have something to cling to and bring you back to solid ground. If we were to send the boys away to school, after they have always learned at home, it would add to the stress level, not make things easier.

5. Homeschooling can be inexpensive, even less expensive than school. - We've never had to pay school fees or break the bank during back to school shopping. Being life learners (unschoolers), we've never purchased boxed curriculum. The library is and always will be, our best friend! 

6. Flexibility- We are fortunate to live in a state where we have control over our home based private education. If we want our school hours to be the traditional 8:30-3:30, September through early June, or if we want to follow a different schedule, its our freedom to choose. This is partly why I can work the hours I do, opening some days and closing others. DH can job search and consider taking a first, second or even third shift position because he knows any of those schedules would still allow him time to spend with the boys because we can arrange our schedule to be what ever works for the family.

7. The timing. I can't help but think about how blessed we are to have had more access to DH now, when the boys are on the cusp of becoming young men. As they transition from boys to men, their father can be their role model. I also know I'm a better homeschooling mom because my husband has been given the chance to share our life learning opportunities these past 6 months.

8. I refuse to allow the Unemployment Monster to get my cubs! I will forever be in Mama Bear mode. I will never allow anything to get in the way of our ability to give our children the best. I know homeschooling is the best option for their education.
 
I know we still hope for the day when unemployment survival mode ends, and it will be difficult to not have him around so much, but I know this experience has strengthened us and our unschooling.

I'm Not Wanted....

...For Jury Duty!

I showed up with several books, bottles of water and a PB&J sandwich tucked away in my bag. I felt like Allison in the Breakfast Club, "You never know when you have to jam..."

After making it past the security screening like a moron, (insert embarrassing purse search nightmare here later), I settled into Boredom room 220 with Everything Bad Is Good For You. I only got to read for 15 minutes.

We watched an introduction to jury duty video which included the stereotypical dumbing down, and then we were welcomed and thanked for our service.

With pumped up egos, we were walked into the court room, single file, ducks in a row. I was #8 with a welcomed back row, aisle seat. One by one we had to stand and introduce ourselves into a microphone with terrible feedback. For a random selection of the community, I couldn't help but notice, we were all white and over the age of 35. Guess its true we need more minorities and youth to vote.

The case involved a prisoner suing a prison guard, the prison nurse and the prison doctor. He attempted suicide with self inflicted wounds and apparently he didn't feel the prison staff did their job in caring for him. The cherry on top- the convict was representing himself.

I was actually really looking forward to hearing this case. I'm open minded. I knew the guard, nurse and doctor were innocent until proven guilty. I really wanted to hear how a convicted felon would prove to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was neglected by the prison staff.

The judge promised this case would only take 1 or 2 days tops. I really wanted in. I think I was dismissed when I revealed I was a homeschooling mom and one of my hobbies was blogging. Dismissed with me were nurses or those who knew health care professionals, and a retired army man who said prisoners deserve to be punished. (Mr. Retired Army Man was also upset the security guards took away his pocket knife.) Kept on the jury was a man who's brother attempted suicide and a man who's brother was currently incarcerated. Interesting isn't it?

I still might be called to serve on a different case throughout the month of April. I feel better knowing this federal district court has a reputation for quick, speedy trials, usually not longer than a few days.

After having gone through the morning's uncertainly, I now feel safe to share, I had an irrational fear about setting foot into the federal courthouse building. Its April. Its a federal building. 15 years ago, I lost a co-worker and friend when McVeigh bombed the Murrah building in Oklahoma City.

I had that shadow on my mind and even going through tightened security to get into the building, I still felt vulnerable. Thankfully, the clerk in charge of welcoming us and answering our questions addressed my fears without me having to say a word.

She brought the subject up and assured us the building was surrounded with cameras. I realized that wouldn't really save us, but just knowing someone else was recognizing the anniversary of this tragic event helped.

I thought of my friend and how I can still remember her sweet, friendly southern drawl. She was taken from an 8 year old boy and husband who loved her. I'm grateful justice was served, but nothing could take away the pain and loss, felt by so many. Victoria would want me to do my civic duty, and I'm glad I did.

Its Jury Duty Day #1. I'm bringing a bag full of books which means I won't get the chance to read them.

Calm... blue... ocean... trees, forest, chocolate, fuzzy kittens, cool breezes, walking barefoot in the dewy grass, deep breath in, deep breath out, bear hugs, Melon music, big blankies, - I'm trying to relax!!!

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Naughty cat ran out the door again. I hope she comes back soon. :(

I want to make mancakes, but none of my men are awake yet. The Sleepyhouse lives up to its name today.

I'm So Proud Of My Yu-Gi-Oh Master!

Warning- Proud Mama Post!

Last night DS11 went to a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament at a game store. Last summer he wanted to sell all of his cards. Thankfully no one bought any, because now he's totally into the hobby again. When DS11 is interested in something, he is borderline obsessed with it.

He had been looking forward to checking out the tournament all week. I've been told DS11 was the youngest person there, with the next oldest being in high school. Most of the players were young adults. This didn't bother Jared though. Maybe its from being homeschooled, but he doesn't worry about age differences.

Once at a co-worker's birthday party, we had lost sight of then DS9 for a few minutes. We found him playing horseshoes with a group of adults. Later at that same party, the adults came looking for Jared to see if he wanted to play another round. (These were not creepy adults mind you.)

They arrived at the Yu-Gi-Oh tournament at 6:00pm. Frankly I thought after an hour, DS11 would be bored and ready to go home. I was wrong. They called me at work at 9:00pm saying they were just now leaving the tournament. I was amazed he sat there playing with strangers for 3 hours. When I was his age, I would have been too shy. 

I don't get Yu-Gi-Oh. Every card seems to have a different rule. I know during their matches, they have to practice math, adding up and subtracting points, but how they keep track of all the rules is beyond me. I suppose it because he enjoys it so much, and that is why he can comprehend all the complicated rules.

DS11 is looking forward to going back to the game store to play again in a few weeks. While he was there, some of the experienced players coached him and that really encouraged him to learn more.

Its so awesome to witness this. As a home schooling parent, when we can't be the mentors our kids need, we can still facilitate that process and help them find what they are looking for. I think its awesome DS11 is reaching out to share and enjoy a hobby that brings him joy and satisfaction. Even if I don't get it. :) 

I had a dream in which I had to go back to college and live in a dorm room with my husband and children. The freaky thing is, when I told DH this, he told me he had the same dream yesterday!!