Food Diary- Wed 5/19/10

Breakfast- cereal w/almond milk

Lunch- chicken breast (gave away most of the skin), baked potato w/Smart Balance

Snack- graham crackers with peanut butter and Nutella

Supper- at work- spinach wraps w/broccoli slaw and light cream cheese

Snack- ice cream sandwich

*drank lots of lemonade water today, hoping it helps my kidneys

Time To Buy A New Buzzer...

I'm so blessed he loves me so. This is what happened when I tried to cut his hair and the guide comb fell off. I've cut his hair for years, and this is the first time something like this has happened. Needless to say, I had to really buzz his head to even it out. If Murphy's law is real, this means the phone should ring and it will be someone wanting to interview DH for a job. 

Food Diary- Tuesday 5/18/10

Breakfast- OJ w/calcium, whole wheat toast w/Smart Balance, fried egg w/Mrs. Dash

Lunch- Burger, white bun, broccoli

Snack at work- I should have packed a supper- Iced tea (not sweet this time) and Sun Chips

Snack at home- banana and almond milk

Food Diary- Monday 5/17/10

Breakfast at work- non fat plain yogurt with honey, peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat, orange juice diluted with water

Lunch- 1/2 tuna sub on ww, steamed green beans, pickled beets

Dandy blend, almond milk, ice, water, chocolate syrup homemade frappe

Supper at work- second half of tuna sub from lunch

Snack at home- frozen banana blended into almond milk

Food Diary- Sunday 5/16/10

Orange Juice when I woke up

Breakfast- banana,berry, yogurt, almond milk smoothie

chocolate break & evil soda

Lunch- leftover pizza

Cherry Pie- too good! I must freeze the rest or I'm doomed.

Dandy Blend break

Supper- chicken breast, green beans, corn, garlic mashed (I did give most of the skin to DH)

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