Just Another Day in Paradise

Anniversary

2009-07-12T17:25:00.007-05:00

When Knight and I were picking a date to get married we just picked a random date. Now, 15 years and 4 kids later things are a tad more complicated than that. When I realized our 15th anniversary was coming up, it crossed my mind I would like to do something special. Something a little more than our standard dinner out. So I had mentioned I would like to go away for a night or weekend to celebrate. He said it sounded good to him so I started looking at the calendar for weekends that would work. We had a couple weekends in August that looked promising. Then I became aware that he wanted to do it either the weekend before our anniversary or the weekend after (our actual anniversary is on Wednesday). So I decided to surprise him. I changed some appointments, figured out what the kids would do, and then told him we were free to leave the next day if he got done early. He did get done early, I found a hotel room, and off we went to Duluth (our favorite vacation spot). All in all, a nice relaxing time. Here's some of what we did...

The view from our room...

We spent the evening on the beach...

Watched the sunrise...

Knight ate from Crabby Bills...

Update

2009-07-02T17:14:00.003-05:00

This is my ~~daily~~ ~~weekly~~ monthly update. I really mean to update more often but I always think

I need to get those pictures onto the computer to add to the post
When the next event gets done I'll have even more to blog about
I can't share that. It's not blog appropriate
I don't have anything worth sharing. Plus I'm sure no one reads this anymore

or any number of excuses. But here I am. If only to remind my kids of this summer since I don't scrapbook.

Last month my southern sister came up to Yankee country for a girls weekend. There was lots of relaxing, kayaking, beading, and henna to be remembered. There was the "remember when" conversations, along with the solving of all life's problems, and analyzing everything to death. But that is who we are and what we do. At times it's nice to catch up with your original family when life has separated everyone with lifestyles, or physical distance. Good times but I am glad to be home where I belong.

The three youngest went to camp the day after I got back from the girls weekend. They had a great time and came home a little bit more aware of God in their lives. I love that they have a great time with all the activities at camp, but what I love more is that it opens up more conversations about the truth of Christ. Rara was homesick for the first time this year, but she decided that it was probably an attack from Satan because he would not want her to be there having fun and learning about Christ. She's never been homesick before, so maybe she's onto something.

I also was able to go kayaking with a wonderful group of ladies, one of whom is back on furlough. It was such a pleasure to be able to share the kayaks with some ladies who needed a quiet morning in nature. The problem came when these women were not quiet, but having splash fights and laughing so much that they scared all the wildlife away!

That is how my days in Paradise are going. I am truly blessed

Annual Parade

2009-06-05T18:50:00.003-05:00

We have an annual parade that our village puts on every year. And since we live on Main Street, it comes right by our house.

We have had a tradition each year to grill out, invite a couple families and visit for the day.

Well, this year we have had such an abundance of sickness that I was not up to thinking about it when it came time to invite people. Knight was heading off to church and very stupidly I just said "I don't care. I don't want to think about it. It's your baby this year."

Oooops!

Let me say that again.

OOOOOOOOOOPS!!!!!

He just informed me that he was making calls to the invitees and seeing who was going to make it. It is up to 39.

Thirty-Nine people.

And I am not a crowd lover.

At least I know most of the ones coming, and those I know I like.

Panic is not quite setting in ... Yet!

Observations From the Couch

2009-05-14T17:32:00.004-05:00

Since I have been down with Strep since Tuesday and haven't moved off the couch, I had plenty of time to see things I may have missed if I hadn't had this "opportunity" of a couple days off.

1. My kids are growing up...fast. The house didn't get too out of order this time around. Dishes and laundry even were kept up. And there were even times that I didn't have to ask for them to do it!

2. Another evidence of my kids growing up is that my phone rings more for my kids than it does for me. My guess is that this will only get worse.

3. Video games are mind-numbingly boring. I had plenty of time to try to get past that ~~stupid~~ castle on Zelda (original) and I can't make it. But I can't force myself to play it for hours either. I tried Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and stratagy games. All of them don't entertain enough when you are tired of sitting on the couch.

4. My body can't take lying/sitting around for 2 days. I ache all over. Makes me wonder if those who are wheelchair-bound/bedridden live with aches from inactivity. I think of little Micah and wonder if he deals with this, and if he thinks that everyone is always in pain like he is, that it's normal. Mine may be slight, and very temporary, but it still gives me a new compassion for others.

In other news I sorta got paid for taking some senior pictures. The payment came in the form of a gift card with a nice thank you attached. Exciting for me. Imagine, if I actually keep it up, I may be able to make money at this!

Adventures in vehicle shopping

2009-04-24T20:23:00.003-05:00

We have been vehicle shopping... slowly.

Not being in a hurry and waiting for a deal to come along generally pays off. Also we have limited funds. That tends to make someone more patient.

I have been going online to look at our local and semi-local car dealerships to check out their inventory and see if they have what we are looking for. We knew we wanted a minivan, newer than 2002, preferably with quad seating and a CD player.

While looking online, we spent most of our time searching the lots with the best reputations. The place with the very best reputation in our area is in a tiny little town and a 20 minute drive to get there. They did have a couple that looked promising online so we headed down last weekend. The one they had sold, and the other was out on a service call.

Shucks. Call us when it comes back.

We talked to him about what we could do for trade and have been looking yet, but haven't found much. He thought the van would be back Tues. Tuesday came, and the vehicle hadn't made it back to the shop yet so he said he would give us a call.

So then comes the call today. And it's a good day, we have time to test drive it. But it was not meant to be. They can't find it.

The van is gone.

They have the title. He's asked all those who work there (he is one of the owners). No one knows what happened to it. They are embarrassed and wondering if it was stolen.

And that left us looking again.

We did find one at a huge bargain at a different dealership. 2003 Kia Sedona. Quad seating, CD player, leather seats, even a sun roof. Now I can pretend I'm cool and have a convertible as I drive my minivan.

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

2009-04-16T16:09:00.001-05:00

This was just great! Definately worth the watch

Name that disease...

2009-04-14T11:17:00.004-05:00

Since the illness in my house continues, I thought we could have fun with it. I will give you the background information, along with J-Bird's symptoms and we will see who can come up with what he has this time. It will be FUN!

J-Bird finished his amoxicillin on Sunday night(apparently irrelevant). Monday morning he came down with a fever of 102.7 (here starts the clues). He napped, didn't feel very well, but not REAL sick either. Tylenol helped a lot. This morning the first thing I noticed about him is that he had a rash on both sides of his face and I looked at his trunk and had some rash there too. I took his temp and it was down to 101. A couple hours later the rash is worse but the fever is down to 99.6. I took him in and got my answer of what is wrong with him this time. Here are the major clues...

-Starts as high fever. Goes down pretty quickly.

-Rash develops. This rash is known to be on the cheeks.

-A very common childhood illness.

-Normally kids get it between 3-4 years old. I guess home schooled kids may take a little longer to contract it.

It has two common names, and one technical name that I know of.

Ok, who can tell me what J-Bird has??? Come on and play along!

Did you know???

2009-04-10T16:01:00.004-05:00

Here is some things I didn't know but I have learned in the last 8 days....

People can still get Scarlet Fever. I didn't realize this. From conversations I've had, most others didn't realize this either.

Scarlet Fever is basically a reaction to a type of Strep Throat. Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria.
The bacteria make a toxin (poison) that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from
which this illness gets its name.
Not all streptococci bacteria make this toxin and not all kids are sensitive to it. Two kids in the same family may both have strep infections, but one child (who is sensitive to the toxin) may develop the rash of scarlet fever while the other may not.

The rash reminds you of sandpaper. Fine little bumps mainly on the trunk of the body.

You also get the slapped cheek look (red cheeks, white around the mouth).

It is treated just like you treat strep.

Once the rash goes away the skin starts peeling, especially around the fingertips and toes. No pain, just peeling. For little boys this can be fun to gross his sisters out with.

At least this is our experience.

50 questions about me

2009-03-27T08:31:00.004-05:00

Since I can't figure out how to get this on Facebook, I'll post this here. Mom says I need to blog more anyway! lol

50 Questions
1. What color is your toothbrush? Blue and White
2. Name one person who made you smile today: Rara, she's wearing a headscarf like she's Muslim today. You never know what to expect with her!
3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning: Checking Email
4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? Devotions
5. What is your favorite candy bar? Kit Kat Crunchy (or something like that)
6. Have you ever been to a strip club? Nope.
7. What is the last thing you said aloud? Go eat breakfast
8. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Peanut Butter Perfection at Cold Stone Creamery
9. What was the last thing you had to drink? Limeade (last night)
10. Do you like your wallet? It does it's job. What's not to like
12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? No. Who buys clothing weekly???
13. The last sporting event you watched? Superbowl? I caught a couple minutes of it.
14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? fresh homemade popcorn with salt and butter
15. Who is the last person you sent a text message too? Probably Knight
16. Ever go camping? It's been about 12 years
17. Do you take vitamins daily? No
18. Do you go to church every Sunday? Yep
19. Do you have a tan? No, it's March. My tan died in September when the weather turned
20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? No. Who would? I like Chinese though
21. Do you drink your soda with a straw? No.
22. What did your last text message say? I don't remember. It was over a year ago
23. What are you doing tomorrow? Cleaning, then... I don't know. First Sat off in a long time
25. Look to your left, what do you see? Fish tank, 2008 paperwork needing to be stored
26. What color is your watch? It's a silver razor cell phone. No need of a watch
27. What do you think of when you hear Australia? Kangaroos
28. ????? I guess they missed this one
29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? I normally go in. Why bring the mess home. Isn't the point of going out to not have to clean up?
30. What is your favorite number? ? I didn't know people were supposed to have one.
31. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone? I think Jodi.
32. Any plans today? School, cleaning, interview with reporter for a magazine (yes I'm serious)
33. How many states have you lived in? 5 I think
34. Biggest annoyance right now? That I'm tired
35. Last song listened to? Haven't turned it on today. I can't remember last one played yesterday
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? No, and don't care to try
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house? No, unless you count that I "made" the kids clean
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Tennis or boots
39. Are you jealous of anyone? Not really. I like my life
40. Is anyone jealous of you? I can't imagine why anyone would be
41. Do you love anyone? yes
42. Do any of your friends have children? Yes, most of them do
43. What do you usually do during the day? School, clean, cook
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? No
45. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? yes
46. What color is your car? Green
47. Do you like cats? Yes, but I'm allergic to them
48. Are you thinking about someone right now? Not really. Just my to do list
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags? No. Don't really desire it either
50. How did you get your worst scar? Surgery. Gall bladder. Fun times

There you have it. All the stuff you didn't know about me, and didn't really need to either.

Life Recap

2009-03-25T08:31:00.002-05:00

I have noticed something weird about blogging. The longer it is between posts, the harder it is to come up with something "blogworthy". And nothing in my life seems blogworthy right now. So here is what we have been doing to catch anyone up who still happens to be checking this thing (Mom).

It is that time of year again where I am looking at curriculum to order for next year. I have my list pretty well set, but I still have many books to add to wish lists so it will be easy to order when the time comes. Just my history and literature book list is 314 books long. It's a lot of books but really it isn't that many considering each kid reads at least 2 books a week for school. And the younger grades read more books since they are shorter. Beyond that, my list has math, grammar and grammar, spelling, handwriting, writing, science, music theory, and art. I am thankful that we can work with a school that helps us with purchasing our curriculum. We are able to get quality curriculum without worrying too much about cost. I still am not able to get everything on my wish list, but I can get the basics, and that's all that matters.

The kids are in their last month of Awana until the fall. They are working hard to learn the rest of their verses so they can finish their books in time. The grand finale for Awana is the pinewood derby race so the kids have been working on cars along with school and Awana verses.

And the last thing that we have been doing is dealing with spring issues. Cleaning the yard up. Taking plastic off windows. And I have been thinking about repainting and redecorating some rooms. The snow is almost all gone (for now) and it has rained for the last couple days so we should be getting some beautiful green grass soon.

That's our life in a nutshell. Not too exciting, but that's how we like it!

So... I'm selfish

2009-02-18T14:01:00.002-06:00

I will admit it.

I'm selfish.

See, I admitted it.

Last night someone gave me the rest of a bag of M&M's. I don't buy stuff like this and I thought it would be a great treat. So after the kids went to bed I pulled out the bag, ate a couple, put the twisty tie back on it and threw it in the highest food cupboard, way in the back. I couldn't even see it. I figured it would be out of sight, out of mind, and safe from little raiding vikings I have living in this house. Who would look there anyway? It's not like we make sweet bread very often, and that's what is stored up there.

Yeah, that was the plan.

Today, of all days, Rara decides to dig in the cupboards looking for things to make. Like jello, pudding, and...

"hey mom! Look what I found!"

Awww! Didn't even last 24 hours before they found them.

So much for a selfish heart. I should have known better.

Writing the right way

2009-02-13T08:21:00.005-06:00

While talking to my mom last night she let me know that I don't post enough. Not that she is being critical, she's right. I don't.

In my defense, it is winter, and we don't do much. Well... I don't to much. I should blog. And I will. It's my Feb 13th resolution.

Anyway, I have been doing curriculum research, getting my order ready for next year. I have been looking for a decent writing program and looked through one at a friends house yesterday. Then I went home and looked on Homeschool Reviews to see what other parents had to say about using this curriculum. And then I ran into this review that made me giggle...

i, personally, LOVE this curriculum. we r doing level 3.i like that it teaches so many different kinds of writing (descriptive,informitive,etc.) i love that it is so detail-oriented. My son's writing has improved alot in the past 6 months:) We STRONGLY encourage this curriculum.

It sounds like a good curriculum, but seriously... don't you think you should form correct sentences when you are talking about how you taught a WRITING curriculum? At least she gave me something to giggle about while doing research.

Great commerical you won't see during the superbowl

2009-02-01T12:34:00.001-06:00

What a great commercial!

How times have changed...

2009-01-20T11:25:00.004-06:00

I felt it important to have the kids watch the inauguration today. It shows a new president taking office, and one that made history in their lifetime. And it is educational. Cross off government studies on our to do list!

Anyway... if you were watching you saw Aretha Franklin sing My Country Tis of Thee. Being kids, they didn't know who she was. So Rara, J-Bird, and I have this conversation...

J-Bird- Who's she?
Me- Aretha Franklin. A famous singer.
J-Bird- How'd she get famous?
Me- She's a singer.
Rara- She got famous because she sings.
J-Bird- Oh, I get it! I think she made it big on American Idol!
Rara- No! I think she was on America's Got Talent.

Imagine a time when people got famous without having to worry about getting voted off the show!

Brrrr!

2009-01-16T10:33:00.002-06:00

As I sit here, and it has warmed up to a balmy -15 degrees I've made a decision...

Next chance I get, I'm going to vote for global warming.

This is ridiculous!

Tim Hawkins - Cletus Take the Reel

2009-01-11T21:11:00.001-06:00

This is just too funny!

Back to Life... Back to Reality

2009-01-06T20:16:00.003-06:00

We are now back into the routine of life... well, if you can consider our controlled chaos routine anyway. I have to admit that it does feel great!

Most of the Christmas gifts are now out of the boxes. We have used the quasedilla maker a couple times, I have cleaned the juicer nearly every day, and today I loaded pictures into the digital frame.

I even tried out the Wii Fit (stupid video game called me overweight, just cause I was standing on it! HUMPH!!!)

We had a great Christmas with the families. It's always nice to spend time with those we love but don't get much time with. I do wish we could see them more, but already my calendar is filling up. I even have something written in Feb already. I guess there is no rest for the weary!

If you are looking for me, I am basking in the fact that we are back to school and work.

Ahhh, routine.

Vacation... Episode 3

2009-01-03T09:11:00.006-06:00

From the Creation Museum we headed to Chicago to see Shedd Aquarium. It was great with lots of different habitats and wildlife, both in and out of the water.

The kids each had their favorites. Sharks, Sawfish, Guitar Fish, Stingrays, and the huge sea turtle.

The aquarium was horribly busy the day we were there and we were fighting huge crowds. Since we got a membership, we hope to go back when hopefully it won't be so busy.

Then from there we headed to our last stop of our vacation. The Chula Vista water park in Wisconsin Dells. The kids spent the time burning off all the energy they stored up from all the driving. They had a good time running the lazy river, going down the water slides, and playing on the play area. The water was a little cold for Knight and I so we spent most of the time sitting in the chairs watching everyone play.

We then made our way back home. It is nice to be back home and finding our way back to our normal routine. The first major vacation with the kids went very well, with very little fighting, lots of fun and laughter. We hope to be able to take another one someday. Someday, not anytime soon!

Vacation... Episode 2... The Creation Museum

2009-01-02T08:24:00.007-06:00

The Creation Museum opened only a year and a half ago. This was built as a state of the art museum built to talk about science from a biblical perspective. It did just that.

We checked out the planitarium, where they bring you far into space to look at other stars in the universe. We learned about blue stars, yellow stars, nebulas, and the order they have found in the universe. Watching that, you really feel how little our planet is, and how amazing it is that God cares for each of us, and knows us.

They also have a walk through history. This was one of the neatest parts. They have different scenes from the Bible along with scientific facts about those scenes from the Bible. There are dinosaurs, Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, Methusala, Moses, etc. They also showed how taking God out of most of society has changed it. Very interesting. It took a lot of time to go through it all.

Anyone who knows Rara knows her sense of humor. She is such a funny kid. Because the focus was on creation verses evolution, she asked me to take her picture next to "grampa" for the evolutionists! Funny!

They had a beautiful gardens that you could walk. On the day we were there it was around 70 degrees, sunny, and grassy. What a treat! It had a petting zoo, bridges (including some rope bridges the kids loved!) and dinosaurs. In the summer time, I am sure it has beautiful flowers for all to see, but still it was great to see some foliage and be able to enjoy the outdoors.

In the evening they also had a walk from "Jeruselem" to "Bethlehem". We had to pay our taxes to the Romans (a coin they provided) in Jeruselem, and then some townsfolk pointed us on our way to Bethlehem. Along the way there were fellow travelers either wishing us well, or telling us about a couple that came by hoping to find a room for the night. Then some shephards stopped us and told us that angels visited them about a baby, the Messiah, born to us. He told us where we could find the babe. When we got there, the couple was there, holding the babe next to a manger. (A live nativity)

The last thing I'll talk about was the show. Every day they offer a show or a lecture of some sort. The day we were there happened to be Buddy Davis. The kids had heard of him from some videos they'd seen, but I didn't know I had heard of him too. (For those of us who worked with the kids at church, he's the one who wrote Billions of Dead Things along with some other great songs). He put on a great show and the kids are enjoying a lot of his music.

It was a great time, and a blessed day. I have lots more pictures, but I haven't finished talking about the vacation yet.

Stay tuned!

Vacation... Episode 1... getting there

2009-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are hoping you are all having a great start to 2009. As for us we are recouping from our vacation.

There is so much to say about our vacation, that I figured I would have to break it down into smaller episodes.

We have been planning to do this vacation for a long time. In fact we tried to go over a year ago, but things happen and we went to Duluth for a couple days instead. Planning this vacation was fun, and the kids were SO excited.

We picked up the rental van on Christmas eve. We wanted to be comfortable on our drive and not worry about our high mileage vehicles breaking down. We decided to leave straight from my dad's on Christmas day so we tried to drop the dog off at the dog sitters.

Yes, I said tried.

We brought her over to the house and then she proceeded to wiggle out of the collar and run away.

When it was 5 degrees.

Anyhoo, we ended up getting her situated, and headed down to my dad's house. We had a great time visiting with my family and then we headed out. The weather held out for a couple hours and we made it to Wisconsin Dells for the night.

In the morning we got on the road first thing. We made decent time getting to Chicago around 11am. We figured we would make it through the city and stop for lunch around 12:30 just on the other side of Gary, Indiana. And we would have too, if it wasn't for the traffic jam.

We hit the traffic jam with only 10 miles to go before we were out of the city. Before that J-Bird was wanting to move to the city. 10 miles and 2 hours later he decided we needed to stay away from anywhere that could have that type of a traffic jam.

We definitely prefer the traffic jams in our neck of the woods. You know..."You know you're from Wisconsin when your idea of a traffic jam is 10 cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway."

We made it to Indianapolis only a couple house late, with only 1 kid holding a sick bucket, and only one trip to the Indianapolis Airport because of a wrong turn. Still, the hotel was great and when we woke up in the morning it was 59 degrees with grass around us.

From there we headed off to Cincinnati. The trip was beautiful, with the sun shining, no traces of snow anywhere to be seen. We didn't hit any wrong turns and wound up getting to the museum around 10.

Which leads me to tomorrows post... Episode 2... the Creation Museum

From the vacation hotel

2008-12-26T21:18:00.003-06:00

I'm sitting in Indianapolis. It was 48 degrees today. I can't tell you what I think of the state of Indiana because we didn't see any of it. It was covered in fog all day from the melting snow. So if you are thinking of me, wondering how I'm doing...

I'm thinking about sunbathing tomorrow.

Don't you wish you came with us???

More about our trip when we get back!

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas

2008-12-21T22:29:00.001-06:00

Enjoy some Christmas music

Vacation plans

2008-12-12T08:27:00.003-06:00

We are planning our first family vacation where we are driving more than 3 hours away. The kids are excited and my days have been filled with trying to figure out what all needs to be done for the various Christmas parties, plays, concerts, and get togethers to be excited about a vacation.

Our first major destination will be the Creation Museum. This is a place that Knight has been wanting to go to since it opened. From there we will head to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and spend a day there. Then we are going to try out a new (to us) water park in Wisconsin Dells, Chula Vista.

I don't know what the kids are looking forward to more, Christmas or vacation. Either way, I hope that they enjoy the plans we have made for them. And I hope I can return to my house sane after spending that much time on the road.

Jelly Telly!

2008-12-08T16:28:00.003-06:00

Anyone who has seen more than 5 kids shows in the last 10 years has watched and probably enjoyed the work of Phil Visher. You know... the guy who came up with those wonderful guys Bob and Larry. If you are like me, you were not really aware of all the turmoil that Big Idea has been through in the last 5 years (they just laid off 2/3 of the staff last week so be in prayer for those families), but if you are also like me, you became very aware of the softening of God in VeggieTales. The last movie that was in the theater didn't even mention God at all, just sort of hinted around.

What I hadn't realized is the Mr. Visher has moved on from Big Idea and has been working on a new format for Christian entertainment for kids. It comes in the form of Jelly Telly. Jelly Telly has a show everyday with a feature film on Sundays. They have games to play as well as the daily video. Jelly Telly has been out for about a month now and we have been really enjoying it. I signed up for a free months trial membership to see how the kids would like it. It is puppets, not animation, and I didn't know if the kids were getting too old for this kind of show. After all, I see them wanting to watch Disney online pretty often.

They LOVE it! It has the same quirky humor you saw in VeggieTales, great focus on God, and they have educational parts like Dr Sniffenhousen's Wonderful World of Science, Drive through History, along with my favorite Michael's Movie Reviews. One of the best things about this is that we can watch it when we have time. As long as there is Internet, we can watch it.

If you are interested head off to Jelly Telly, check out the grown ups page. Sign up for the free trial month if you are interested. Or if you really like it and want to help out a great ministry pay the $3 a month for a subscription.

And by the way... my kids watch less Disney. They love it. Even J-Bell who gets mad if they start the show without her.

This has been De's website reviews! Jelly Telly has no knowledge of this endorsement and I'm not getting paid for it (Although I wouldn't object to payment, Mr. Visher!)

Tis the Season

2008-12-04T11:11:00.008-06:00

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas. We put up the tree, the Bethlehem village (my favorite decoration),

and took the family picture for this year.

The day we set up the tree I was doing some work on the computer in the living room and I heard a splash and thump. Thinking I knew what that was but thinking I HAD to be wrong I waited just a little then my conscience was screaming at me to check. So I told the kids that I thought one of the fish just made a break for it. They checked the tank. Sure enough there was only 2 fish in the tank. We checked under the Christmas tree and there he was laying under the tree, still alive. We put him back in the tank and he survived. His tail was somewhat shredded by the tree branches and he was slow moving for the first day and a half, but he's back to his old self. Desti named him Lucky when she first got him. Apparently the name suits him well.

Spouse Meme

2008-11-18T07:55:00.003-06:00

I saw this meme on another blog and thought it looked fun. Plus I don't have much else to blog about.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? A Wii game. Normally Madden 09. If we had cable it would be the history channel, but we don't have cable. We don't even have one of the digital boxes you need in February. We don't plan to get one either. Anything we could desire to see on the TV, you can get through the Internet so we are just going to use our TVs for movies and video games.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch.

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Chocolate. Makes him get headaches. Other than that, he will eat anything.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Pizza. They still have food at bars, right?

5. Where did he go to high school? Menomonie High School. He still loves their football team

6. What size shoe does he wear? 10 1/2. We had to get him shoes a couple weeks ago. He went to the shoe department, I went to pick some other things up. We met at the register paid and went home. The next day I was packing the new shoes and noticed they were 9 1/2. When I asked him if he had tried them on, he said no, but he knew he wore 9 1/2. He tried them on, they didn't fit, we went and exchanged them for 10 1/2.

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Probably something Packers, or Civil War.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Egg salad, or ham, or turkey, or Philly steak, or peanut butter and honey, or.... like I said, he's not picky

9. What would he eat every day if he could? Red meat. Steak, roast, burgers. He likes his meat

10. What is his favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles, I think. At least it used to be when we first got married.

11. What would he never wear? Women's clothes. He would go naked before he put on a dress or a pair of panties. lol

12. What is his favorite sports team? Packers, Packers, Packers. Yet he rarely watches them

13. Who will he vote for? Anyone who has read this blog knows who he did vote for. Who will he vote for in 2012? We don't know who the candidates are but he's pushing for a Huckabee/Palin ticket.

14. Who is his best friend? Me, or the kids. We have to push him to do things with boys his own age.

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Get hormonal. I don't cry when I get hormonal, I get short tempered. Crying he could live with. Crabby he could live without

16. How many states has he lived in? 1 unless you consider the state of wedded bliss

17. What is his heritage? He's told me German but I think there may be some more in there. Nothing too exciting. It would be Swedish, Norwegian, or something else pretty white. Reddish hair, blue eyes, freckles.

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what would it be? Funfetti. You know, white cake with sprinkles in it. Sprinkles on the frosting. No chocolate at all.

19. Did he play sports in high school? No. He was one of those scrawny red headed kids who always got picked on. The most sports he played was backyard sports with his cousins

20. What could he spend hours doing? Playing the Wii, talking politics, playing with the kids at the park

21. What's something cool about him? He truly enjoys playing with the kids. They will play baseball until it's dark, or play and discuss Wii games until it's time for bed. He's as interested in it as they are.

Homeschool Memoirs- Mom Help

2008-11-13T08:27:00.004-06:00

Homeschool Mothers do a lot in a day…. I’d say they do more than the working mom because they have to care for the kids, the house, the meals, and much more. They are constantly on the go and with the kids! Sometimes you just need a break. You need to sit down and have a break. While I’m not a mom - YET - I know there I are times I need to sit down for a breather.

THEME:
This week I’d like to invite you to share what YOUR “Mom” help is. Some drink coffee, soda, or chia-tea. Others check email or read their favourite blogs. Some talk a walk…. what do you do when you need to clear your head and take a breather?

My "mom help" has changed over the years. I used to read blogs. I still do, but it is just down to my favorites and thanks to Bloglines I only have to check that to see who has a new post. I also used to talk on the phone. Now I am on the phone very little.

My "mom help" has turned into pet projects. I will organize a room, take or edit some pictures, or work on smaller projects. My smaller project right now is a family cookbook. I have emailed all of my side of the family with this and have been working on organizing the recipes coming in. Once I get all the bugs worked out I plan on contacting Knights side to do the same thing.

I also do run the Scholastic book club for our Homeschool group. I would consider that another "Mom help".

For me, my "Mom help" needs to have me accomplishing something. I know that homeschooling, and taking care of my kids is the most important job that I could ever have, but I also struggle at times with each day looking like the last. To help with that, I have smaller projects that I can fulfil my need for organization, creativity, and accomplishment.

sisters

2008-11-11T12:32:00.002-06:00

my sis is turning the big 13 today on nov 11 so here is thirteen things i like or dis like about her
1. shes bossy
2. she treats me farly
3. she came into my room last night asking for a brush
4. she agrees with me thar shes a dork
5. she whanted to die her hair pink with like orange high lights
6. she got a new hair cut (its reily creepy)
7. she is a fashen diva
8. she shares a clubhouse with me
9. she plays dolls with me
10. she creeps me out
11. she loves me
12.i love her
13.she has her own language with me
by

Happy 13th!

2008-11-11T08:51:00.006-06:00

13 years ago I officially became a mom. I am amazed at how quickly the time has gone, yet I have learned so many things. In honor of J-Bell I will list 13 things you may not know about her (Bwaaa Haaa Haaa)

1. She was my biggest baby at 8lb 13 oz.

2. She was born on her due date.

3. By the time she was born on her due date, I had been in labor a day and a half

4. She is my only baby I didn't have pitocin with.

5. She was never a good sleeper. She slept through the night at 3 weeks old, but she only took 2 30 min naps during the day. She gave those up on her own at 9 months.

6. When she was 1 1/2 and I needed a nap, I could put on the tv, put her on my bed and tell her she couldn't get off until I woke up. She didn't leave my bed, ever.

7. She was reading pretty fluently at 4.

8. She was one of my most difficult child to potty train.

9. She is not boy crazy (yet)

10. She wanted the new Barbie Christmas movie for her birthday.

11. She got a new haircut (and styling product) instead

12. She is already saving up for Drivers Ed (she knows that if she wants it at 16, she needs to pay for it)

13. Her full nickname to this day is "Jurnee Ju Ju Bumpkin Boo Boo"

Homeschool Memoirs-Games

2008-11-06T07:56:00.004-06:00

THEME
This week I want to invite you to share what different games you use for learning in your homeschool. Outside games, board games, or card games, and what purpose or subject you use them for.

I have used a variety of games throughout our schooling. Some more than others.

Ten Days in ____. This is a series of games (Ten Days in Africa, Ten Days in Asia, Ten Days in Europe, Ten Days in the USA) that helps with geography. The premise of the game is to create a 10 day trip through the land. It can be a challenge, but the greatest part is that you are studying the map the whole time figuring out how to get from one country or state to the next. Highly recommended!

Blokus. A strategy game for all ages. Fun, fast moving, and challenging. Another favorite in the home.

Zookeepers Nightmare. Another strategy game. Looks easy but is more difficult that you would imagine. Great fun thought and the pieces are 3D!

Bookworm Adventures. Helping Lex the bookworm fight bad guys by spelling words. The bigger the word, the more power to his punch. This even got Knight hooked! There is a lot of mythical creatures in this so if that bothers you, I would not recommend it.

Those are some of the games that we use in addition to our schooling.

from knight

2008-11-06T06:54:00.002-06:00

I am struggling with what I am teaching my kids, I was teaching them the value of hard work to get ahead of life. But with the new government that is going to punish hard work I'm wondering if I should teach them to work less and fish more. I am even wondering if I will want to cut back. I was told in order for the president to pay for his promises he will have to increase taxes on everyone making 42,000 a year or more, if I would drop a town or two on my route I would get under that and could fish more.

On my route their was a wife whose husband is trying to get her to move to Chili. Another woman said she feels like she just waisted 4 years of her life( she is going to graduate from collage soon) and why is she trying to get ahead when she will be punished for it. Another person is looking at moving to Costa Rica. I hope this new government isn't going to be about rewarding the lazy.

A new leader

2008-11-05T12:36:00.004-06:00

As the election is over (I am so thankful!) we will have a new leader come January. I have heard the fear from many people on what Mr. Obama stands for. I also know God is in control. Just as he was in control during WWII, just as he was in control right before the Exodus, and just as he has been in control during the good years of this country.

Remember the prophet Daniel:

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter."

Let us now turn our focus to praying for the man God has put into power. It is his perfect plan that we will have Barak Obama as president. Let us live in peace that His will is being done.

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever!

Homeschool Memoirs- Field Trips

2008-11-03T18:13:00.010-06:00

THEME:

This week I’d like to invite you to share your favourite field-trip that you’ve been able to go on since you’ve started homeschool. I’d encourage you to include photos, but you don’t have to.

I know we have been on a lot of field trips but I am going to talk about our most recent.

Living in Wisconsin we have a lot of dairy farms but we went on a "future farms tour" The first farm we went to was the NorSwiss Farms just about 15 minutes from our house. They are milking about 1400 cows right now but are moving up to 4000 cows!

Each cow has a computer chip strapped to their legs that monitors everything about them, especially their activity level so they know if the cow is getting sick or it is time to breed it again. They milk the cows on a raised surface right now which eliminates all the bending down for washing and milking so many cows. (If you look closely at the cow being milked you will see the ankle bracelet that holds the computer chip)

They are building a carousel to milk the cows on. On the carousel they will be able to milk 400 cows an hour with 78 cows able to be on it at the same time. The day we were there they were ready to install the carousel, but they were still waiting for it.

They also are a very "green" farm, recycling many different things. They turn the manure (30 lbs per cow per day!) into electricity, fertilizer, and even bedding for the cows! They use the heat that is generated by cooling the milk to heat water to clean out the milk pipes. They are also using sand bedding and have a sand sorter so they can reuse some or all of that.

At the second farm we were able to see robotic milkers in action. So cool!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

what to pray for

2008-11-03T18:04:00.002-06:00

I find myself struggling what to talk to God about. I must admit I think about if the Democrats get into power in all 3 branches of government all of the freedoms I will loose and will it get as bad as Germany in the 1930s except instead of Jews it will be Christians. Christianity seems to be the only religion that is slammed and people don't care. It makes me want to pray for God to judge this nation and show us why we should fear him.

During the last two months I have argued abortion, I have argued having a good work ethic instead of having the government provide everything for you, I have argued for traditional families. I have tried to argue what I think Jesus would want, the more I talk to people the more I see how easy it was for people to spit on him and beat him and nail him to a tree. People want sin plain and simple.

Thank God for my wonderful wife who reminds me that God is in control and he puts in leaders and takes down leaders. I hope he doesn't give us what we deserve.

I talked with my Grandpa over the weekend who has never told me who he votes for, but he did say vote for whoever makes the least amount of promises. I asked him about the great depression because people say we are almost in one. He said this is nothing compared to that, people are just saying that to get votes.

I just wish that people who claim a relationship with God, would vote on the issues that are in line with the bible. I don't see how anyone can vote for a pro choice candidate and claim to follow God.

God, Teach me what to pray for.

B-day/christmas list

2008-10-30T19:19:00.005-05:00

Great! Now grandma is giving me assignments. When will school end!?!?!? Well I guess this one is fun so, grandma gave me the assignment to send her my b-day wish or put it on the blog. So every one knows I'm putting it on the blog. A lot of this stuff I'm not going to get I'm positive about that. I'll get started.

1. Laptop computer. ( I don't think I'm going to get it though.)

2. Cellphone. (If I do get this I won't be able to call anyone. Why cant my mom just let me?!)

3. C.D player ( The one aunt Michelle gave me when I was 10 went bye bye )

4. The 39 Clues cards. (We have the book but need more cards )

5. I-pod.

6. Digital Camera

7. Football Cards. ( Got to beat J-Bird. )

I got my stuff down. Other than that, money will work too.

Quotes from Reagan

2008-10-25T15:29:00.005-05:00

It seems to me that both sides of the political aisle talk greatly of Ronald Reagan. So I thought I'd share a few quotes from the former president. All great quotes. It's amazing how this is so applicable today

All great change in America begins at the dinner table.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

Man is not free unless government is limited.

The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

Happy Birthday!

2008-10-22T11:32:00.002-05:00

it is daddy's birthday to day i just want to say how happy i am to have my daddy if i had the choice i wouldn't want to have any other daddy in the world things
10. good things about my dad
1. he is patient
2. he teaches me about the bible
3. he loves me very much and he wouldn't want any thing to happen to me
4. he teaches me stuff i need to now when I'm a grown up
5. he brings me on the rout to introduce me to the real world (tho i don't like it)
6. he does thing with us just to be with us
7. he helps me with math if i don't get it
8. he cheers me up when i feel sad
9. he kind of has his own language for me
10. when I'm doing stuff wrong he corrects me
these are just a few things about him that are great happy birthday dad

Homeschool Memoirs- Timely Facts

2008-10-22T08:19:00.006-05:00

Since I skipped last weeks homeschool memoirs (That assignment was hard!) I figured I needed to get back in the saddle and actually do the assignment this week. So here goes...
THEME
This is our 10th Homeschool Memoirs so this week it’s going to be about 10 timely facts about you! Write 10 interesting, crazy, weird, fun facts about you! Include facts about you as a woman, a wife, a mommy, a homeschooler, a homekeeper, a taxi-driver, a cook, etc . I only put 10 facts because I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but you’re welcome to do more!

1. I am almost 8 years younger than my husband. That makes me feel pretty young today.

2. We have hundreds of books. Our own library, plus our "school library" which has easily 400 books on it's own. Next school year my school list has a couple hundred books on it, and I have a wish list of probably 200 books on top of that. I love books. And I love to have them at my fingertips.

3. I would love to have a place in the country where I can grow and raise most of our own food. I would have apples, pears, berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries), garden, chickens, beef cow, pig and probably some other stuff. That is one of my dreams.

4. I am not willing to go into great debt for my dream, therefore I will probably stay in town.

5. I made a pumpkin pie from a can for the first time on Sunday. We had a can of pumpkin so we thought we'd try it. We didn't' like it as well. We will stick to using the pumpkin we bake down.

6. We use the barter system, a lot. The items we trade for the most is corn, bread, and milk. But it is not limited to that at all. We will also trade for chips, soda, firewood, maple syrup, auto repairs, or whatever anyone is willing to trade with us that we can use.

7. I don't like driving. I will do it without hesitation, but I prefer not to be in a car. I guess I prefer the destination over the journey to get there.

8. My favorite subject is history. I love learning about the past, but I couldn't care less about exact dates. I want to learn from history, but I don't see the point in having to know if something happened in 1843 or 1844.

9. I am the spender of the family. Sort of. I tend to spend a little more in daily life, but when Knight wants to take a vacation, get a new car, or something that is more substantial I can't see the point. Our cars run. I don't need a different one. So what if it has 283,000 miles on it (it really does). We don't spend much on repairs, and it starts when I want to drive.

10. I am the one who talked Knight into getting a Wii. He didn't think we'd really use it. I pushed and won. I am the only one who doesn't play it. I will play if I absolutely have to because someone made me feel guilty. I don't remember the last time I played. But Knight LOVES it.

Happy Birthday!

2008-10-22T08:07:00.002-05:00

Knight turns 40 today. For some reason this seems weird to me. Not because I think 40 is old, but it just seems more... grownup. Good thing that I'm younger than he is or I might have to grow up too!

Happy Birthday Darlin'!

Warning--Politics in the house

2008-10-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

This came in an email. Some really great points. Just as a side note, I went to Snopes.com to check out if this was real. Mr Brown has a note there on why he wrote the email and how he feels about it being sent world wide. Again, some good points and worth the read. Sad that he is receiving hate mail for this.

This article is from Huntley Brown - he is a fabulous concert pianist, man
of God and is a black man. I appreciate so much his reasoning for not
voting for Obama. I would like to see this article published or spread out via
Email to as many as possible. It's good stuff!

Why I Can't Vote For Obama By Huntley Brown

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an
email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to
complete my perspective. Those of you on my e-list have seen some of this before
but it's worth repeating...

First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need to explain why I will not be voting for him.
Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads, I follow. I can't dictate the terms, He does because He is the leader.

I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, human cloning - to name a few, then wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.

We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, "don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I don't know Obama, so all I can go on is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.
<http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/>
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

To beat Ted Kennedy and Hilary Clinton as the most liberal senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work with.

There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating. There is a reason the homosexual community supports him. There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him. There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court. There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill. There is a reason he voted "No" on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. There is a reason he voted "No" on banning partial birth abortion. There is a reason he voted "No" on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.

Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue. The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedures:
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps.(Remember this is a live baby)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

God help him.

There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.

Think about this: You cannot give a child an aspirin without parental notification but that same child can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.

There is a reason Obama went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years.

Obama tells us he has good judgment, but he sat under Jeremiah Wright's teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?

Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 "Go and make disciples of all nations." This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you believe what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?
Would you support a White President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a...
1. Commitment to the White Community
2. Commitment to the White Family
3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the White Community.
5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and embrace the White Value System
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.

Would you support a President who went to a church like that?

Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside.

This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discover he'd been going to a racist church. The TRUE church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.

A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches value system has to be based on biblical mandates. It does not matter if it's a white church or a black church based on racial values, it's still wrong. Anyone from either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.

Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book "The Goals of the Black Community". "If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him."

Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?

So what does all this mean for the nation?

In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.

Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says in 1 Samuel 1:9 "Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

Then God says

1 Samuel 1:18 " When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

Here is what we know for sure.

God is not schizophrenic

He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God. Maybe I am the one not hearing but I know God does not change and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.

For all my friends who are voting for Obama can you really look God in the face and say; Father ,based on your word, I am voting for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who will be making laws that are against you. I also know he will continue to push for homosexual rights, even though you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.

I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions. Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.

Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the nation,
1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation.
2. Who should determine that this is the right value system for the nation?

Blessings,
Huntley Brown

A different view of taxes

2008-10-15T14:21:00.002-05:00

I just got this in an email and thought it worth sharing...

BAR STOOL ECONOMICS
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve."
Since you are all such good customers," he said,"I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by$20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up
being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100%savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings) .
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings) .
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got$10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I did!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man."Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks,so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, or attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of Economics University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

Church Carnival 2008

2008-10-09T11:46:00.002-05:00

Last night was the annual church carnival. Great times had by all in attendence, and some awesome new games.

*Jen--I have a disk of all the pictures for you

Homeschool Memoirs- Study Spot

2008-10-08T09:58:00.003-05:00

THEME:
This week share your favourite spot to study with your kids. There are many places you can sit down to teach, learn, and work, but where do you prefer and why? You’re welcome to include a photo of your study spot! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s!

We live in an old house in northern Wisconsin. Most of our school year is during the cold season. What am I saying, most of our life is in the cold season! Our study spots reflect our house and the season. We do school in the living room except for the times someone is on the computers in the "classroom". Art history, Spanish, Typing, and research is on the computers. Other than that the most coveted study area is next to the pellet stove, or laying in front of the pellet stove. We covet heat in this house. I will normally sit on a couch and work with whoever needs help while the rest are working independently. I do have TV trays that the kids can use as a table if they desire, but most of the time they just use their laps. It's one of the best things about homeschooling. We can be comfortable while we work.

He's 8!!!!

2008-10-06T08:41:00.004-05:00

No more car seats in my vehicles. The last evidence of the little kid stage is no more. My baby turned 8 today. Am I crying cause I don't have a little one anymore? Nope. Not at all. I have enjoyed getting to know J-Bird for the last 8 years. It is great fun watching him grow and learn. He is a joy and I am lucky to call him my son. Happy Birthday Jay.

More Conversations

2008-10-03T08:21:00.004-05:00

As we were innocently driving to the apple orchard we passed some cows in a field that that reminded the kids about the dancing cows they saw at this years corn roast. The farmer that throws the corn roast raises heifers. Thousands of heifers. The kids have talked about the dancing cows before, but this kept going on and on and on.

It went basically like this...

Kids...
I wonder if those cows dance like the other cows at the corn roast?
Sometimes one of them would put their hooves on the back of the other one and dance.
Sometimes the one on the bottom would run away when one wanted to dance.
Would you call that dancing?

Dad...
Um...no

Kids...
Well, what would you call it?

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis?

2008-10-02T18:49:00.001-05:00

A customer of mine told me about this video. It's very interesting. Keep your finger on the pause button so you can read it all.
~Knight

Homeschool Memoirs- Snacks

2008-10-02T08:48:00.004-05:00

Theme:

There are so many different kinds of snack foods, store-bought and homemade, and I would like to invite you to share what snack foods your family usually snacks on throughout the week. You’re welcome to make season lists too. I know there are different meals we eat during the colder seasons than we do in the warmer ones, and I imagine there are also seasonal snack foods as well.

We are not big snackers in this house. Our kids are allowed one sweet snack a day, normally being a Little Debbie snack. Knight thinks that I shouldn't be able to completely ban them since that is how we pay our bills. I would not go and buy LD's but since we have the out dates, my kids are allowed one a day.

Beyond that, they can have any fruit in the house. We canned peaches, pears, and applesauce and froze strawberries and blueberries in addition to any fresh stuff we have that week.

We also will make strawberry julius, or pop some popcorn in the air popper at times. We also drink hot chocolate in the colder months that work well as a snack and takes the chill out of the bones.

A peek inside...

2008-09-29T20:29:00.004-05:00

We were doing family devotions the other night and we were studying Proverbs 22. We came to Proverbs 22:13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” and our study bible put this clearly that the lazy man is going to make excuses for not working.

The following conversation happened next...

J-Bird--"Ohh! J-Bell is like a sloth!"

J-Bell--"WHAT?!?!?"

J-Bird--She tries to stay in bed everyday!

J-Bell--"You want me to punch you in the head?"

J-Bird--*shaking his head...smiling* "It's just an example.... and it's true!"

Can't you just see their angel halos?

movies

2008-09-26T21:48:00.001-05:00

Took the family to the movie fireproof last night. It was great well worth the money.

Homeschool Memoirs- Summer Photo Essay

2008-09-24T08:48:00.010-05:00

THEME
This week I want to invite you to take a moment and post a Summer Photo Essay memoir. Starting from around the official date of Summer to this past week - just give a basic summary of your summer as I know someone of you are photoholics!

We don't do a big summer vacation in our family. We spend our time close to home enjoying the great outdoors.

We will spend our time kayaking...

Or at the pool...

Or at the lake...

Or picking strawberries. We put up strawberries, blueberries, zucchini, corn, peaches, and pears this summer. Applesauce isn't done yet, so I can't include that.

This year we didn't get to go boating at my mom's. We ran out of time and were sorely disappointed. I guess that means next year we will have to go extra!

Free Sale

2008-09-22T09:37:00.001-05:00

Free Sale

2008-09-19T07:41:00.003-05:00

We are in the process of setting up for the annual free sale. What is amazing to me is all of this is just from Thursday set up. The church family has all day today to bring stuff in also. I can't imagine what it is going to look like tonight!

Homeschool Memoirs- Favorite Things

2008-09-17T07:14:00.002-05:00

THEME:
Since I’ve been making you work really hard on the previous Memoir themes I decided to take a little break, and do something fun! This week I want to invite you to share a few of your favourite things. I know the list of favourite things could be never-ending, but I’ve made a list…

Magazines/Carnivals - About the only magazine I read is Readers Digest, the kids read Keys for Kids and Highlights

Freebie sites - any sites that offer freebies or often have giveaways-5 Minutes for Moms

Homeschool news/informative-?

Forums/book clubs -?

Networking, Blog “About” (sites that offer tech-support or tutorials for computer/internet) &

Quick Links -?

Mom site - a sites just for moms -5 Minutes for Moms

Inspirational/encouraging/motivational - Greg Laurie, Dave Ramsey

Youth/kid - sites geared towards youth/kids or owned by them-Fun Brain

Memes --Wordless Wednesday, Photo Hunt Saturday, Homeschool Memoirs

Organizing/crafts - sites that you look to for organizing tips or crafts -?

Homemaking/Homesteading ?

Bible-focused - sites mainly about God’s Word-?

Homeschool Method - sites that offer a lot of info on a certain method ?

Family blog - sites that give you a glimpse into another family’s life, run by a family -This is where I can't pick a favorite. My side bar has many blog, all of whom give insight into families

Businesses, particularly homebased-?

This was actually a really hard week for me. Obviously I don't spend a great deal of time on many different sites. Actually I spend less and less time on the computer, which is probably why my blog never gets updated. I check email, check bloglines, and check facebook (and play Scramble when time permits). I do this a couple times a day. Unless I have something I need to purchase or look up I don't stay on the Internet. The kids spend time looking up information for their lapbook research but they are not allowed to just surf in the Internet either. Hopefully next week will be easier!

39 Clues

2008-09-16T06:32:00.002-05:00

As a family we have been reading what is going to be a new series. The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones came out last week. I had heard about it from the today show and thought it sounded interesting. It is interesting, educational, and keeps the kids begging for more.

Actually the last time I read the book to them J-Bell started laughing so hard that she fell over backward in the chair she was sitting in!

It is fun to see the kids all so interested in a book, and in the same topic.

*Just as a disclaimer, this is not a Christian series. If you are looking to read it, use your own discretion

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-11T09:38:00.004-05:00

13 4 Things I am thankful for today

1. Choices. I am so thankful I have choices. I don't have to do what everyone one else is doing, and they don't have to do what I'm doing.

2. Homeschooling. It is work, but I love having my kids around, and there are so many teachable moments throughout the day. I would hate missing those.

3. Friends. I am bad at finding a lot of time for life outside of my family, but my friends seem to understand, and forgive me for not always being there.

4. Grace. Not only do my friends lavish grace upon me, but I have been forgiven much. I am SO thankful that God and people have bestowed grace to me.

*I was going to do a Thursday Thirteen but ran out of time. Thanks for catching that Molly!

Homeschool Memoirs- Something New

2008-09-10T07:37:00.005-05:00

This is our assignment this week:

Planning your homeschool is a lot of fun, especially if you’re going to be trying something new. Just like finding a shiny new penny, you’re excited to use it. This week I hope you’ll share something new you’re using, why you’ve decided to use it, and if you have used it how you like it.

We are trying a quite a few new things but my favorite is Spelling Power! For years we tried the old way of give them a list to memorize, test them on Friday, watch them feel like a failure. It just didn't work for us. At all.

A friend suggested Spelling Power. It is not graded. You start with a test to put them at the level they need to start at. The book then does tell the parent what grade level this is, but that information is not for the child. They test for 5 minutes every day, only working on the words they get wrong each day. The student workbooks are set up so they write out the rule for the list they are working on, have a 10 step study guide to work on their words, plus a place to write sentences. Then you are supposed to do 5 minutes of skill building activities. 15 minutes. No tears, no feeling helpless or like a failure, and the kids see progress.

What more could you ask for?

Homeschool Memoirs-Routines

2008-09-03T08:29:00.008-05:00

The assignment for this week reads:

I know some people are very routine oriented while others may be more “day-by-day”, and it all depends on your family and what works best for your life-style. This week please post hat your planned homeschool routine is.

I have a routine that I try to stick to, but as with anything it is more of a guide than a schedule. I came up with a daily schedule, and also a school schedule for each child. This helps me to be able to teach those subjects that require more teaching time to each child, and since we have a couple subjects done on the computer they needed to make sure our school day keeps going instead of waiting for others. Our Daily Schedule looks like this:

Schedule
7:00 am Wake up
7:30-8:00 Out of Bed/ Room Cleaned
8:00-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-9:00 Clean up/ Chores
9:00-2:00 School
2:00-5:00 Free Time
5:30-6:30 Dinner
6:30-8:00 Free Time
8:00-8:15 Straighten up house
8:15-8:30 Get ready for bed
8:30 Bed Time
9:30 Lights Out

Our school schedule looks like this:

School Schedule--J-Bell
9:00-9:30 Devotions
9:30-10:00 Math
10:00-10:30 Recess
10:30-11:00 Reading/ Tapestry
11:00-11:30 Spelling/ Grammar
11:30-12:00 Spanish
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:00 Writing/ Typing
1:00-1:30 Science/ Critical Thinking
1:30-2:00 Art

School Schedule--Desti
9:00-9:30 Devotions
9:30-10:00 Math
10:00-10:30 Recess
10:30-11:00 Reading/ Tapestry
11:00-11:30 Spanish
11:30-12:00 Spelling/ Grammar
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:00 Art
1:00-1:30 Science/ Critical Thinking
1:30-2:00 Writing/ Typing

School Schedule--Rara
9:00-9:30 Devotions
9:30-10:00 Spanish
10:00-10:30 Recess
10:30-11:00 Math
11:00-11:30 Reading/ Tapestry
11:30-12:00 Writing/ Typing
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:00 Spelling/ Grammar
1:00-1:30 Art
1:30-2:00 Science/ Critical Thinking

School Schedule--J-Bird
9:00-9:30 Devotions
9:30-10:00 Art
10:00-10:30 Recess
10:30-11:00 Math
11:00-11:30 Reading/ Tapestry
11:30-12:00 Science/Critical Thinking
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:00 Writing/ Typing
1:00-1:30 Spanish
1:30-2:00 Phonics Tutor

I have this printed up and we refer to it often. The subjects in bold are the ones done on the computer (Art being art history). That is roughly how we spend our day. The only other thing I really try to do is to turn off the phone once it is time for school to start. I keep my cell on in case someone really needs to get a hold of me, but most people know that I am available in the afternoons, not mornings.

Homeschool Memoirs--The Agenda

2008-08-27T08:06:00.004-05:00

This week’s theme is about sharing your 2008-09 homeschool agendas and plans. You’ve been preparing your plans for sometime and you’re ready to go. Or you’re still in the planning-stage and need some inspiration or tips on what to use. Because many use different curriculum and methods there is always something new to be gleaned from other homeschoolers. It’s always fun and interesting to see what other’s are using and the WWWWH as Robin Sampson suggests. So this week I hope you will share what you’re doing this year for your homeschool agenda.
Share the different curriculum you’re using. You can also include what age/grade you’re using it for, how long you’ve been using it, and why you like it.

After some years of using the school at home method (Bob Jones, A Beka) I found that style of homeschooling was not working very well for our family anymore. We branched out and chose to do Tapestry of Grace as our main curriculum. It covers history, reading, geography, writing, church history, and art. I enjoy this because we can all explore the same historical times yet each of them having the curriculum tailored to fit their levels. It is somewhat teacher intensive in terms of planning but we are getting our niche down and I am enjoying seeing my kids excited to read some of the books it calls for. We are doing Rosetta Stone for Spanish (great for learning to speak it, not so great if you want to learn the grammar behind it), Easy Grammar (looks great but haven't started it yet), Math U See (love, love LOVE MUS!), Spelling Power (again LOVE this, so much better than list memorization spelling that did NOT work for my kids), as well as supplementing some with Creativity Express for more art instruction(cute and fun, plus they are learning art history), Draw Write Now for how to draw(kids have fun with this and their drawings have improved), Typing Instructor (haven't started yet) and some thinking skills books and games. For science we are going to go through the Moody Science videos along with some hands on books and science kits.

We have lots of games that we play that are educational but fun. Some of our favorites are the 10 Days games for geography, and Zookeepers Nightmare for thinking skills.

Because there are so many different subjects and some are on the computer I have come up with a schedule for each child so they have their time on the computer, time for me to teach them, and time for them to work independently, along with much needed recesses. We don't have this completely set it stone, after all we homeschool for a reason and want some flexibility but our goal is the schedule.

Fishing

2008-08-24T21:39:00.002-05:00

On friday I took J-bird fishing and we were doing great we pulled in a couple of big Bass. It even made the bee stings not hurt so bad. I was starting to think we were going to limit out, then it happened. A guy comes up behind me as I,m pulling in a big one and asks how were doing. Five minutes later The man brings his son and grandson. They sit five feet from us and start casting in our spot. I was doing great at being kind even though our bobbers were with in a foot from each other. I asked them where their from. They said the twin cities which made me wonder if they like sitting on top of each other while they fish over their. Well I hope I taught J-bird how not to fish as I pointed out to him how bad what they did was. I also think God was trying to teach me something because when I got home I picked up the Bible to read the next chapter and it was on what good is it if I gain the whole world and lose my soul. It was a blessing to enjoy Gods great outdoors with my son.

Homeschool Memoirs

2008-08-21T07:31:00.012-05:00

I have decided to the new meme Homeschool Memoirs in hopes that it will help me blog more. When someone tells me what to blog about it really helps me get over the "I don't really have anything to say" mood.

This weeks Theme:

The first theme begins today, August 20th, 2008. This week, we want to hear about YOU. The author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool.

My name is De. I have been married for 14 years and we have 4 great kids (12,11,9,7). Both my husband and I became Christians almost 12 years ago and we have a great church that has become a great second family to us. I really enjoy photography, kayaking, and reading. I tend to drag my family with me when I want to hit the water or go take pictures but normally they are up for the adventure. We have our own business so we run our work and school week Tues-Sat.

We made the decision to homeschool when we had to start thinking of school for our oldest. We knew that we didn't feel she would be ready to be sent into the world to spend most of her waking time with people that may not share our convictions, values, and beliefs (not to mention we just didn't really like what was being taught). We felt that we could do the same or better job academically with them and we would better be aware of issues and problems as they arose so we could address them. Over the years we have had many days of school that turned in a whole different direction as issues, theories, or teaching opportunities have presented themselves. We have said we take it year by year but in reality we just "never say never" about sending them to public school. The plan right now is to school them through high school. We both really enjoy having them all at home and as we continue on this journey we find that we feel stronger each year that we have done the right thing.

That's it in a nutshell. I am so thankful that I have been able to be homeschooling the last 7 years (starting my 8th on Tuesday). I wouldn't want to change it for anything.

Scattergories

2008-08-20T09:17:00.003-05:00

I got this in an email from my sister, and since I know I have been neglecting my blog lately I thought I would post it instead of forwarding it on.(I RARELY forward anything)

The rules are you have to use the letter of your first name for all the answers, nothing can be made up and the girls or boys name can not be your own. Go ahead and play along.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? De

FOUR LETTER WORD: Dear

VEHICLE: Durango (that's a vehicle, right?)

TV SHOW: Days of Our Lives (is that still on?)

CITY: Dayton, OH

BOY NAME: David

GIRL NAME: Debbie

OCCUPATION: Dentist

FOOD: Donut

SOMETHING FOUND: Diamond (obviously not found by me)

REASON FOR BEING LATE: Dead Battery (on your car)

Warning... Shameless Plug!

2008-08-15T15:49:00.003-05:00

Today I recieved a comment on my blog that made me do the happy dance. It was from the 5 Minutes for Mom Team. It read...

I am visiting from 5 Minutes For Mom, to let you know that you are a finalist in our Summer Fun Photo Contest! Congrats!

Yeah Me! So if you feel so inclined hop on over to Summer Fun Photo Contest and vote*. There are some really great photos. If you can vote for mine in good conscience that would be even better, but vote for what you think is the best.

Thanks all!

*You will not need to sign into anything so anyone can vote. (That means you, Mom!)

Summer Fun Photo Contest

2008-08-12T08:08:00.005-05:00

5 Min for Mom is having a photo contest. I took this photo on our camping trip and I just love it!

Photo Hunt #5 -- Clouds

2008-08-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

For more Photo Hunt click here

The newest sports fan

2008-07-31T08:37:00.003-05:00

Just hours after blogging about nothing the kids let me know that we have a new Packer fan/golfer in our family. They were having a great time, and believe it or not, so was Allie.

Strange kids... even stranger dog. With that said, we learned that Allie loves to go fishing, almost as much as my mom's dog. She liked being on the dock watching them cast and loved it when they caught a fish!

What shall I say?

2008-07-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

I have nothing.

I want to blog, but with nothing to say the post is going to be pretty short.

I have a sick kid and because of that I have barely seen the outside of my house in days so I have no news. No funny stories. No big adventures. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

Aren't you glad you wasted your time coming here to find that out?

Photohunt #4 --Hanging

2008-07-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

For more Photohunt click here

Another Update

2008-07-24T14:09:00.009-05:00

So you know my commitment about blogging more, therefore keeping my mother from wondering if we are alive or dead? Oh, you can't tell I've made that commitment? Maybe that's because I am horrible at following through when the weather outside is anything but frightful. (and for those wondering... Yes, my mother keeps up with my life here rather than the phone. Why? Because neither one of us are horribly great at calling anyone, let alone each other!)

Ok, update time...

Strawberry season was late this year. We were able to head out to pick 4 times throughout the season and have lots of strawberries and strawberry jam in our freezer. Expensive, but I'm hoping that it will last until next summer. The kids were excited the first time we went out but quickly remembered that it isn't as fun as they think. We only do a basket a person each time we go so it is not so long picking and I have time to get them in the freezer.

We also had a family reunion of sorts. Knights side all got together at the farm and spent the day enjoying each others company. The family doesn't get together much as a group anymore and it was nice to see everyone. The kids were able to go on a hay ride. J-Bird loves playing with all the boys in the family. Most of them are around his age so he is in heaven not having to hang out with girls. J-Bell and Desti also have girls there own age so they were off exploring the farm on their own.

We also took the kids camping for the first time. We cheated slightly and borrowed my moms "cabin" (a camper set up at a resort). The kids wanted to tent it, so we brought the tent and let them sleep there, while we had the bed. They had a good time and they loved taking the kayaks out to the middle of the lake and jumping off. That was the plan to avoid the leeches (it worked).

I am aiming to start school in a couple weeks so then I will be back on schedule and hopefully blogging more regularly. Between times of cleaning, going to the pool, and kayaking I have been preparing for that.

Pictures to Enjoy

2008-07-16T14:48:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine emailed me some pictures she took. I asked her if I could share them here. This is what she emailed with the pictures...

On July 4th we were on our way to our traditional **** family picnic
when we passed this site at a gas station. It was way too good to pass up,
so we pulled over and took a couple of pictures.
Enjoy! Ruth

Thanks Ruth for sharing!

Lessons from a 9 year old

2008-07-16T09:39:00.003-05:00

Knight took Rara to work the other day. She doesn't have much exposure on the route yet, but J-Bell was gone and Desti was sick. That only leaves 3 choices: go alone, take Rara, or take J-Bird. J-Bird has long since proven that he is too young yet. Plus Rara loves to go.

So Knight is supposedly having a bad day, except it is really hard to have a bad day when you are with someone so happy and full of life. He shared some of what he learned having her around:

It is nearly impossible to walk from the truck to an account. It is much preferred to hop, skip, run, or use another mode other than walking
There is a difference between skipping and Wizard of Oz skipping. Wizard of Oz skipping is where you go twice on one foot, then twice on the other. Rara was more than happy to share this information with workers and managers alike.
When someone compliments you on your beautiful hair, it is cuter and funnier to tilt your head and repeatedly bat your eyes at them instead of saying "thank you"

We always say that with Rara the glass isn't half full, it's overflowing.

Update

2008-07-14T09:03:00.009-05:00

I know I need to get more committed about posting. Not because I have so many interested readers who are waiting for some witty comment out of my mouth. Those people who came for that gave up a LONG time ago. I just have this need for a creative outlet, and since most of mine are geared for the 9 long winter months we have up in these here parts, I haven't had any outlet for my creative genius (ok, not so genius, but, whatever!)

So here's the update of our lives...

My two youngest were baptized on the 6th. Pastor was suddenly nervous about baptizing J-Bird when, while they were in the changing room before going to the baptistry he asked Pastor if he could do a cannonball into it. Rara went first and when J-Bird came out he had a strict warning that no cannonballs were needed. Picky picky!

We had some blue jay parents ready to be empty nesters and kicked those babies out or the nest. We had what I think was two different babies land at different times on our slip n slide and sit there for a long time, one for most of the day. We went to bed and it was still there. We are hoping that it flew away instead of becoming lunch for a neighborhood cat. I wouldn't let the kids touch it, but they enjoyed being as close as they could to it.

Other than that, if you are looking for us, you can find us at the pool, or on the river kayaking. Speaking of which, I need to get ready. We are heading out again today, this time a new river. Hopefully I'll be able to get some great pictures to share. Anyone up to going out with me???

Photo hunt-- Pointed

2008-07-05T16:55:00.003-05:00

Fireworks from last night. Well, at least they look pointed.

Declaration of Independence

2008-07-04T09:49:00.003-05:00

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. — The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free system of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein
an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislature, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions we have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress

Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott, William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton.

Photo Hunt #2--Bright

2008-06-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

To veiw more PhotoHunt go here.

Is it getting warm in here?

2008-06-27T18:59:00.003-05:00

For the first time since we have moved into our house I sit surrounded by insulation. The insulators came today and filled our walls with expanding foam insulation.

They got the WHOLE house done in 6 hours.

When they were about halfway through the kids and I stopped home to grab a couple things, check on the progress, and grab some lunch. We came home to the door wide open (that is how they got the hose inside), windows still open, with the men working hard.

One of my wonderful, home schooled children looked at me and said, "It's starting to work already mom. It's already warmer in the house!"

I personally think the heat had something to do with the fact that it was hot and muggy today.

At least they are looking for positive signs!

Wordless Wednesday--Watch out for the horse Zebra!

2008-06-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

It was an African theme at camp this year...

FYI

2008-06-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

Just to let you know...

If...

your family enjoys kayaking, but is just getting into it and figuring it all out...

and if your husband decides he wants to see how the dog will do kayaking...

and if his plan is to get a blow up raft and put the dog in that and tow it, having one of the kids sit in the raft holding the dog...

and if you have never seen this dog around big bodies of water so you don't know if it likes it...

then...

...you may have a dog that does not like the raft

...the dog may jump out of the raft a couple times

...the dog may crawl up onto the tandem sit on top in the middle of the lake

...the dog will keep shaking all the water off, but it is now in a kayak with you, spraying you.

...the dog may kiss solid ground when you finally reach shore again.

I'm just sayin'

Sharing the Love

2008-06-23T08:23:00.003-05:00

Melody over at Slurping Life has decided to share some love with me. Melody is such a neat person, has such a talent for photography, and those boys! I just want to show up at her door some day and let our kids get rambunctious and crazy together. Thank you Melody for the love. You know you would be getting this from me had I got it first :)

For the ones I'm sharing my love with...
Amy from The Junk Drawer (previously Laughing Through the Tears) She is a special bloggity friend whom has never stopped praying!
Leeann from The World: Through the Eyes of Me I have been blessed by her honesty and love for life.
Cindy from Still His Girl Her and her husband has been an inspiration to us.
Rach from Greene Acres. She is a truly a blessing and a beautiful person, inside and out!

I am going to cut myself off at this point. Awards go around and spread so quickly in bloggityville that I wanted to leave some love for everyone else to share.

Photo Hunt #1 (for me)-- Water

2008-06-21T12:14:00.004-05:00

I have decided to play along with PhotoHunt.

About PhotoHunt: A theme is given for each Saturday. Post a photo, on your site,
that best represents the theme.

This weeks theme is water. This was taken from the comforts of my kayak.

Didja Hear?????

2008-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

They're Gone!!!

2008-06-16T13:48:00.005-05:00

The girls are at camp for the week. All settled in, their beds made, and thrilled I was leaving the last time I saw them (well... the backs of their heads anyway! lol) We only have the boy. He loves being an only child once in a while.

A new blog...

2008-06-13T15:23:00.004-05:00

As I was reading my daily fix to some of my favorite blogs, Big Doofus posted about The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks. Yes, it's a real blog. And I found it hilarious!

...but maybe that's just me.

For more "Unnecessary" quotations you can read Miss Sniz (wife to Big Doofus) post on the subject

Sew..Sew...Sew...

2008-06-13T09:55:00.006-05:00

I just finished this years swim suits. Camp is next week so I was on a time crunch. I'm done sewing for now. Woo Hoo!!!

?

2008-06-07T15:26:00.002-05:00

i feel so bad i was sad that i would have to work today and my sisters and brother got to do fun stuff all day so my dad took me to the movies and i dint eat that much but ether i got food poisoning or somethings going around so i vomited 3 times (my mom doesn't like me saying the other words for vomit) so my dad went throw all that for nothing so jurnee had that shoppers in discise thing so ciara got to go she has not done a full day she has only done 4 stops but there are 10 stops on my route she was very exited but when she is going to have to do it every 3 weeks she wont like it well by

?

2008-06-06T10:54:00.003-05:00

hello today we might get to go garage sailing today but tomorrow I'm pretty sure I'll have to get up at quarter to 4.00 and have to get sorry try to get done with the route and and get home at 11.00 so we can do camerama in Cameron if you don't no what the route is its were me and my dad go and sell little Debbie's and i think this is the order of the stops walmart in lady smith county market in lady smith the food mill the corner store 2 skabrouds that are my favored stops on the route i don't no the name of this one i call it the farm store 2 bp that one the people are Reilly nice and they have two stors and one is way out in the county so they let us drop of the little Debbie's there and they bring them out two the other store and then finely jimmy boys there Reilly nice to then we get to go home i love to eat at county market they have perfect cheese omelets there if you think I'm weird taking about food after all this if you tried them you would love them its the only thing i Reilly like about the route well the only people that Reilly no all this is Rebekah Lia Brandi and Sarah my best friends so as you see I'm very busy tomorrow and happy birthday to mom,gram pa,Burke,Gina,grandma,Angie,Josie other gram pa,Isabella pasters mom,Kristi and Mrs helms new baby

Baby story

2008-06-05T17:57:00.002-05:00

For a great childbirth story read Mommy's post about her newest daughters arrival. My kids were wondering why they didn't drop off the other little ones for us to babysit during her ob check. Excuses, excuses. How many people can say that their garbage man picked up their garbage at 9am and helped deliver their baby an hour later? Congrats Mommy!

**I'm sure our face friends have read it. I am putting this on for my readers who don't know them.

?

2008-06-05T11:17:00.004-05:00

i am very happy one of my cosines may have gotten saved with me in the basement of my gram pas house i told her aloud about it and right there me and her knelt down and i think she got saved but who knows but the heavens were rejoining i hope it took alout of explaining to but it was worth it and congratulations Mrs helms on the baby i rely want to see Anica please pray for Isabella her mom is not saved thank you by

Fishing at Dads

2008-06-03T12:21:00.002-05:00

My Birthday

2008-06-02T11:08:00.007-05:00

Yesterday we went down to my dad's house to celebrate his birthday. Since my birthday is today there were some presents waiting for me there as well. Becca gave me Digital Photography Workbook for Dummies and Digital Photography: An Introduction two books that will be very helpful in helping me really learn how to do this photography thing the way I want to. Gina gave me a great tripod for my camera. It has some features I have not seen on other tripods (not that I've looked a whole lot either). The tripod was on my wish list. My mom combined my two passions and got me a water proof case so I can take my camera with me on my kayak. Woo Hoo!

After that mom, Becca and I hopped into the kayaks mom and I brought to dad's, paddled to the other side of the lake, portaged across the road to the river, and paddled down to moms house. It was the first time I was out in our tandem kayak, and first time out this year.

Now I'm REALLY remembering why I love kayaking.

Paradise.

Business

2008-05-31T21:30:00.003-05:00

Have I ever let you know that I really dislike doing Knights job? I help him out on Saturdays at our mutually most hated store ever (sorry, I can't tell you who...you never know who may read this). Today I went and finished the work I normally do, and then I had to set up a demo at another account.

This did not make me happy.

Mainly because I had planned to bring my kids down to a birthday party and be available in case they needed or wanted help. He let me know the night before that I was needed at 11am for this demo.

Grrr!

So I worked at the icky place, picked up the kids, brought them to the party place (they were riding horses at a stables) run back into town and set up the demo, wait for the demo girl to get there.

And wait.

Um....

Nope, she didn't show. Talked to person at customer service. She hasn't seen the girl. Manager on duty? Nope, she didn't see her either.

Demo girl actually works for this customer as her main job.

I pack up and leave.

So glad I ran back wasted an extra 45 minutes driving for that.

She won't be hired by us again.

Great quote

2008-05-31T12:44:00.002-05:00

I found a great quote through one of the blogs I read. It was on a completely different blog than that but I found it.

"People say public schools are bad, but that isn't true. They're very good at what they were designed for -- to create people who could work in factories. They teach you to arrive at a bell, go to lunch at a bell and leave at a bell. You learn to sit at a desk and do the same work everyone else is. These things don't really have anything to do with education.
People don't realize that these things aren't inborn. In the old days, people regulated their lives by the schedules of agriculture. It took public schools to teach people to show up to the factory on time."

I know this may offend some people. But one of the arguments I have thrown at me as a reason not to home school is that my kids need to live by a schedule so they will know how to get up and go to work on time everyday.

Maybe my kids won't want to punch a clock. My husband doesn't. Very few people that I know (that enjoy what they do) actually punch a clock. I know they will have to at some point in their life, but that is why I'm teaching them responsibility.

And for the record, I'm not against public schools. I know their are some benefits. But they are not for us at this point in our lives.

Ok, I'm done now. :)

I feel like I'm 5

2008-05-30T10:27:00.002-05:00

My dad's birthday is today. His party is Sunday. Our parents are always hard to buy for since they generally have everything already or just go buy it if they want it. Quite a few years ago I gave my dad a birthday calandar. He loved it because he could remember the grandkids birthdays.

Then he moved to WI.

And lost it.

He has mentioned a couple times how he would like to have another one. So I went shopping.

Nothing.

Ok, not nothing. There was one, in book form. Very girly. Not that I think that would bother Dad. At all.

But not what I wanted to give him. So I did what any good daughter would do... I made him one.

Hope he likes it.

Who's stuff did you loose????

2008-05-29T07:46:00.003-05:00

Last night we were one of the last families to leave the church. Knight was talking, kids were playing, I was talking to different people while trying to keep an eye on the kids. A typical Wednesday night.

Knight and I got into the car and drove over to the playground to pick up the kids. They started piling in and Rara was still walking across the grass carrying 2 of her babies. No big deal. They Desti asks, "Where are your shoes?"

That becomes the question of the night.

A couple of my kids volunteer to help her look. Then I make the rest of them look. They recruit their friends to help them. Still nothing.

How do you loose a pair of shoes you were wearing?

So I get out to look. And I ask which pair she wore to church.

The answer is "Your sandals."

What?!? You lost MY shoes??

In true mommy fashion I ended up finding them. Only took 10 people searching for 30 minutes.

Can't you see my Supermom cape through my robe?

Wordless Wednesday--Cannonball Aftermath

2008-05-28T08:04:00.004-05:00

**On a side note, I have started a blog just for my pictures. I am hoping to post a new picture everyday. Since this is a family blog I will still share my family pictures here. The new blog is just for the art side of it. If you're interested you can check it out.

Update...

2008-05-27T07:15:00.006-05:00

Knight has been working very hard lately. Very long days (12-16 hour days). On Friday I talked to him and knew he was really beat down. He was worn out to the core. I knew he needed to get away so I started to look for places that I could take him. Our first choice for a get a way was booked full so that was out.

Then I remembered that we had not ever let the kids play at the park inside MOA. So off I went to set it up, not telling Knight. A friend offered to take Allie. I found that the cities were pretty quiet since people were leaving town for the weekend. (well, quiet comparatively to when we have been there before. It always is a jarring reminder of "oh yeah. I forgot what a big city really is like)

So I talked to Knight Saturday morning while we were both working and told him we were leaving town, staying a couple of nights. He, not being the control freak I am, just said ok. Didn't need to know where we were staying and what we were doing. I told the kids that they needed to get the house done while I was working in the morning.

Work got done, and we were off. All the kids knew was that we were not staying in WI. They figured out pretty quickly we were going to the cities. They played some travel games I printed off and had fun. We got to the hotel and let the kids play in the pool the first night.

They still were trying to guess what we had planned the next day and had their hopes up for the children's museum. We got to the mall and they were excited to find out we were going to buy them wrist bands for the park. We played ALL day and at the end of it everyone was wore out.

We came home yesterday and I crashed. I woke up last night to J-Bird telling us he had thrown up. I am thankful his sickness held off until we were back home to reality.

The last picture I have is for Cindy who has always wanted to go to the Mall of America. They were having a tap show in the middle of the mall. Just thought I'd share a picture of part of the mall. :-)

WHAT?!?!?

2008-05-21T17:50:00.007-05:00

I received an email today asking me to leave feedback for something that I purchased on Amazon. I submitted my feedback and then my eyes fell to the "Recommended Based on Your Browsing History" section.

I have recently purchased some items for a friend of mine. Most of it was not things I have purchased, but it was all for her home schooling. Normal, educational books and items. These are the type of items I purchase from Amazon. Not a big deal at all.

So my list included...
Carson Micro Max Lighted Microscope (ok, I can totally see that.)

30x Jewelers FOLDING EYE LOUPE... (wow, didn't know they had something like that. Sounds kinda neat)

Scientific Explorer's Disgusting... (the kids would love this. This should be on my list for next years schooling)

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible (WHAT?!?!?)

And good news... if you buy the last book and the High Times Growers Series: Jorge Cervantes' Ultimate Grow DVD you can get a discount! (btw...I think the title is so funny!)

Do you think they have misjudged their recommendations just a tad?

Too funny

Wordless Wednesday--Sunset

2008-05-21T10:00:00.002-05:00

Shutter bug

2008-05-18T09:19:00.002-05:00

As most of you know I have been playing with my camera a lot lately. I printed out and hung the first collection of my pictures yesterday afternoon but I'm still taking pictures. This is a hobby I enjoy.

Last night we took the kids to Prince Caspian. Near the beginning of the movie when the kids get back into Narnia and they are playing in the water there is a beautiful beach scene. The water is blue-green and clear. There are some really neat boulders and other unique landscaping.

J-bird, seeing this, turns to Knight and says, "Mom would take a picture of that rock."

My kids know me so well.

College soapbox

2008-05-15T10:12:00.004-05:00

**Warning, you may want to click off the blog now, as I am about to vent frustrations.**

*climbing onto my soapbox*

I am finishing my first class at the college and I will admit that I couldn't be happier. I have been frustrated at the lack of challenge this class has provided. I had expected it to be harder, something I would have to work at. The set up is each student has to post an answer to some questions each week. Then we have to reply to at least 2 other students during the week. This week is the last week and the subject is how you have improved your writing skills. A fellow classmate posted this...(copied without any editing)

"Improvin Writing Style
I need to work on all those areas my self , but u can do it we all can
i have determination and my 12 yr old son cheerin me on. I need to do well in
this class hopefully to get a better job that is were the typing skills come in
handy cause i am an administrative assistant ( office assistant) where most of
my job is typing.. The studin and note takin are an important part too because u
need to know how to wrtie note like for a letter.. Small brakes helps in
concentration u can learn more if everyhing is not so jumbled in my head, it
also give u time to rest and think about the next subject or topic.."

I just wanted to reply..."Seriously???"

I'm sorry but for 5 weeks I have listened to the professor ask the students not to use "u" for you, "i" for I, etc. I know I am less patient today, but each week it gets harder and harder to respond to posts like this.

And it bothers me that she will get full credit for it.

GRRR!

Ok, I'm done.

*climbs back off the soapbox*

Wordless Wednesday

2008-05-14T11:35:00.001-05:00

Just Another Day in Paradise

Anniversary

Update

Annual Parade

Observations From the Couch

Adventures in vehicle shopping

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

Name that disease...

Did you know???

50 questions about me

Life Recap

So... I'm selfish

Writing the right way

Great commerical you won't see during the superbowl

How times have changed...

Brrrr!

Tim Hawkins - Cletus Take the Reel

Back to Life... Back to Reality

Vacation... Episode 3

Vacation... Episode 2... The Creation Museum

Vacation... Episode 1... getting there

From the vacation hotel

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas

Vacation plans

Jelly Telly!

Tis the Season

Spouse Meme

Homeschool Memoirs- Mom Help

sisters

Happy 13th!

Homeschool Memoirs-Games

from knight

A new leader

Homeschool Memoirs- Field Trips

what to pray for

B-day/christmas list

Quotes from Reagan

Happy Birthday!

Homeschool Memoirs- Timely Facts

Happy Birthday!

Warning--Politics in the house

A different view of taxes

Church Carnival 2008

Homeschool Memoirs- Study Spot

He's 8!!!!

More Conversations

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis?

Homeschool Memoirs- Snacks

A peek inside...

movies

Homeschool Memoirs- Summer Photo Essay

Free Sale

Free Sale

Homeschool Memoirs- Favorite Things

39 Clues

Thankful Thursday

Homeschool Memoirs- Something New

Homeschool Memoirs-Routines

Homeschool Memoirs--The Agenda

Fishing

Homeschool Memoirs

Scattergories

***Warning... Shameless Plug!***

Summer Fun Photo Contest

Photo Hunt #5 -- Clouds

The newest sports fan

What shall I say?

Photohunt #4 --Hanging

Another Update

Pictures to Enjoy

Lessons from a 9 year old

Update

Photo hunt-- Pointed

Declaration of Independence

Photo Hunt #2--Bright

Is it getting warm in here?

Wordless Wednesday--Watch out for the horse Zebra!

FYI

Sharing the Love

Photo Hunt #1 (for me)-- Water

Warning... Shameless Plug!