Secret of Productivity!
It’s amazing how productive you can be if you wake up at 3 a.m. and go to bed at midnight! :::snort:::
School went well today. I was thrilled that we seemed to have figured out the secret of schooling with two roving toddlers….UNTIL the police called. It seems that Stacia dialed 911. She used the phone that doesn’t work. THEN when they called I tried to answer on that phone and it “doesn’t work” so he was worried that something really was up at our house. We’ll fine tune the plan tomorrow.
I’d appreciate any tips on helping a boy hold a pencil. YES – he’s my 4th boy to school but he’s 7 and I’m sure the others were holding the pencil by now. I’ve tried everything I know. It’s torture for him to write – but he’s going to have to write this year sometime.
Josiah went to work for 4 hours today. We planned HIS meal choice for dinner. He got called back in. LOL He had Chicken Divan at 10:30 p.m. Debbie, I’ll post the recipe tomorrow or the next day.
After school Arielle and I broke away to mail packages to Mike and the girls. Then we zipped to the grocery store to get everything we need for this week’s menu. I was blessed that whole chickens were on sale at HEB for $.49 a lb. AND I found some wonderful tasting organic Ritz like crackers! It was a good day. :::snort::::
I came home and assembled Divan, boiled 4 chickens, made Grams’ Italian Salad Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Catalina, made halibut salad and chicken salad….I felt very productive.
I even :::drum roll::: remembered to pay the bills! I also got to talk to Mom and Dad tonight.
It really is late – so that’s enough for tonight.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Prayer for my Dad:
Background - many will remember he is a retired missionary who was trucking to finish out his time until "social security age" - though he hoped to work until 70.
Feb/March he fell from the truck and broke/shattered/pulverized his hip. He had surgery. He was in rehab. He was progressing quickly. THEN the long screw they had installed pushed through the ball joint of his hip and he had to have the surgery totally redone.
He had that second surgery in maybe July? He did the whole rehab thing again. This time the docs have had him go much slower at trying to walk etc. He saw the doc on Friday and they expected that he'd be able to finally put full pressure on the leg. There is evidence of bone regrowth. Two screws had been placed in a V shape into the new plate and ball joint in his leg/hip. The screws are now uncrossed and one of them has snapped. He has NOT been walking without a walker etc. He's been very careful to follow all instructions. He has a CAT scan on Tuesday. The screw has not worked it's way through the ball joint again but it can't be good to have the screw broken. Mom says the top broke off "like a matchstick". Obviously, they have not discussed with the doctor yet if this will need to be fixed surgically, but Dad is saying no more surgery. This is an incredibly painful surgery from all the doctors and nurses say. It makes me sick that this is happening again. Please pray for good information from the CAT scan.
Dad has not worked since the accident. At first his company and workman's comp were being very fair. This has been complicated as Mom and Dad live in OR and Dad worked in WA. They were given bad or different info in OR and this affected some of their benefits. IE in OR they advised Dad to begin taking Social Security and said it would not affect workmen's comp...when Dad did that the state of WA's workmen comp DID lower their monthly amount. My parents had to begin paying back what they said was an "overpayment". THEN Dad's company complained and said he didn't really make what they first reported...and they lowered it again. This has happened twice. They have lowered their workman's comp from $3k a month to $1K a month. Obviously, this wreaks havoc with a budget. They just received a letter saying that if they don't immediately repay all that they were "overpaid" the state or workman's comp or someone is putting lien on their home and starting proceedings.....They are in the market for an ethical, competent lawyer in WA who understands the WA worker's comp system. They are NOT trying to milk the system but this WAS an on the job accident, Dad did work more than his company is reporting and they have been making bi-monthly payments as requested by the Workmen's Comp.
Prayer on all fronts is appreciated.
Background - many will remember he is a retired missionary who was trucking to finish out his time until "social security age" - though he hoped to work until 70.
Feb/March he fell from the truck and broke/shattered/pulverized his hip. He had surgery. He was in rehab. He was progressing quickly. THEN the long screw they had installed pushed through the ball joint of his hip and he had to have the surgery totally redone.
He had that second surgery in maybe July? He did the whole rehab thing again. This time the docs have had him go much slower at trying to walk etc. He saw the doc on Friday and they expected that he'd be able to finally put full pressure on the leg. There is evidence of bone regrowth. Two screws had been placed in a V shape into the new plate and ball joint in his leg/hip. The screws are now uncrossed and one of them has snapped. He has NOT been walking without a walker etc. He's been very careful to follow all instructions. He has a CAT scan on Tuesday. The screw has not worked it's way through the ball joint again but it can't be good to have the screw broken. Mom says the top broke off "like a matchstick". Obviously, they have not discussed with the doctor yet if this will need to be fixed surgically, but Dad is saying no more surgery. This is an incredibly painful surgery from all the doctors and nurses say. It makes me sick that this is happening again. Please pray for good information from the CAT scan.
Dad has not worked since the accident. At first his company and workman's comp were being very fair. This has been complicated as Mom and Dad live in OR and Dad worked in WA. They were given bad or different info in OR and this affected some of their benefits. IE in OR they advised Dad to begin taking Social Security and said it would not affect workmen's comp...when Dad did that the state of WA's workmen comp DID lower their monthly amount. My parents had to begin paying back what they said was an "overpayment". THEN Dad's company complained and said he didn't really make what they first reported...and they lowered it again. This has happened twice. They have lowered their workman's comp from $3k a month to $1K a month. Obviously, this wreaks havoc with a budget. They just received a letter saying that if they don't immediately repay all that they were "overpaid" the state or workman's comp or someone is putting lien on their home and starting proceedings.....They are in the market for an ethical, competent lawyer in WA who understands the WA worker's comp system. They are NOT trying to milk the system but this WAS an on the job accident, Dad did work more than his company is reporting and they have been making bi-monthly payments as requested by the Workmen's Comp.
Prayer on all fronts is appreciated.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Sunday
The good thing about having a baby cut 4 molars at one time is that you can watch a whole disc of the *Here’s Lucy* show in one night.
I am SOLD on that click and pull option at Sam’s Club. I waltzed in, up to customer service…they went and got my carts, scanned my card and it all popped up on the screen. Nice.
Zander is learning a hard lesson tonight. At our chapel we have a cry room. Usually I leave during the sermon and take Stacia to the cry room. Since Zander would be sitting without an adult at that point, he comes with me. On the way into church he noted two of his friends playing back there. I told him that we’d go in during the sermon. He proceeded to act up during worship. I explained calmly that if I had to take him out before the sermon we would go to the van and not the cry room. I don’t want him to think that if he is naughty he can go play during church…neither do I want to disrupt the whole service. I also told him that if I had to take him to the van he would go straight to bed when we got home. He lived right on that “boundary” (oh he’s got so much of me in him). I took him to the back pew. I told him again what I expected and what would happen next. He crossed the line. We went to the van. We came home. He’s in bed. He cried and cried and I wanted to give in….but there you have it. Grace forgives (and I forgive him); mercy walks through the consequences with you (and I curled up in bed with him until he went to sleep). He missed our weekly ice cream. He was heart broken. BUT I explained he had made the choice. He told me he loved me. I hope he has learned and REMEMBERS.
I got our group Shop Natural order together so that I don’t have to worry about it on a school day.
Lisa has inspired us and I’m making a menu. Well, actually I thought of the need all on my own. :::snort::: We are eating out far too often with Mike gone. We are back to Sunday’s only and this will help. In fact I took the kids to Cheddars today instead of fast food. I told them that it will be cheaper than eating out multiple times at fast food. It was. LOL The boys all go to give their favorite foods…Arielle wants bread and apples….that’s about it for Nolan and Zander as well. Here’s our list of meals and we’ll eat them on whichever night we have a yen for that meal. LOL
Lasagna
Chicken Divan
Hawaiian Chicken
Pizza – Friday (Jamin got dough for 12 pizzas in the freezer today)
Leftovers
Meatloaf
Sunday – eat out
I've been reminded today of a sermon my favorite preacher once preached. "I didn't ASK for THIS"....and I'm choosing joy!
The good thing about having a baby cut 4 molars at one time is that you can watch a whole disc of the *Here’s Lucy* show in one night.
I am SOLD on that click and pull option at Sam’s Club. I waltzed in, up to customer service…they went and got my carts, scanned my card and it all popped up on the screen. Nice.
Zander is learning a hard lesson tonight. At our chapel we have a cry room. Usually I leave during the sermon and take Stacia to the cry room. Since Zander would be sitting without an adult at that point, he comes with me. On the way into church he noted two of his friends playing back there. I told him that we’d go in during the sermon. He proceeded to act up during worship. I explained calmly that if I had to take him out before the sermon we would go to the van and not the cry room. I don’t want him to think that if he is naughty he can go play during church…neither do I want to disrupt the whole service. I also told him that if I had to take him to the van he would go straight to bed when we got home. He lived right on that “boundary” (oh he’s got so much of me in him). I took him to the back pew. I told him again what I expected and what would happen next. He crossed the line. We went to the van. We came home. He’s in bed. He cried and cried and I wanted to give in….but there you have it. Grace forgives (and I forgive him); mercy walks through the consequences with you (and I curled up in bed with him until he went to sleep). He missed our weekly ice cream. He was heart broken. BUT I explained he had made the choice. He told me he loved me. I hope he has learned and REMEMBERS.
I got our group Shop Natural order together so that I don’t have to worry about it on a school day.
Lisa has inspired us and I’m making a menu. Well, actually I thought of the need all on my own. :::snort::: We are eating out far too often with Mike gone. We are back to Sunday’s only and this will help. In fact I took the kids to Cheddars today instead of fast food. I told them that it will be cheaper than eating out multiple times at fast food. It was. LOL The boys all go to give their favorite foods…Arielle wants bread and apples….that’s about it for Nolan and Zander as well. Here’s our list of meals and we’ll eat them on whichever night we have a yen for that meal. LOL
Lasagna
Chicken Divan
Hawaiian Chicken
Pizza – Friday (Jamin got dough for 12 pizzas in the freezer today)
Leftovers
Meatloaf
Sunday – eat out
I've been reminded today of a sermon my favorite preacher once preached. "I didn't ASK for THIS"....and I'm choosing joy!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
I picked up this game at Tuesday's Morning about 2 weeks ago - when I was trying to decide if I needed a yogurt maker.....haven't decided yet. This is ABC BINGO - FOREST. Isn't Zander's expression here great? I guess that's his "game face". And look...Nolan's skater hair is finally long enough not to stick out all over the place.... 
I loved the board, the photos, the playing pieces, the idea...
but some of the words were bad picks. I wish a homeschool mom had made this game. I had visions of it being great for enforcing phonics and speech.....you roll the dice, move to a picture of something in the forest, say the word and pick the letter on your bingo card that you hear at the start of the word. Sounds good doesn't it....but with word choices like "knot hole" and "opossom" I was less than 100% thrilled.
but some of the words were bad picks. I wish a homeschool mom had made this game. I had visions of it being great for enforcing phonics and speech.....you roll the dice, move to a picture of something in the forest, say the word and pick the letter on your bingo card that you hear at the start of the word. Sounds good doesn't it....but with word choices like "knot hole" and "opossom" I was less than 100% thrilled. Keeping Busy!
We are fortunate to have one of America’s most well-preserved Forts in our town. I’m not sure what that statement is based on but that’s the line. It is an amazingly well preserved fort. We love history. Today the “TX Archeological Society” (or some name close to that) held an Archeology Fair at the Fort. Cy didn’t have to work until tonight, so we opted to head over.
Folks were wandering around in period costume. I did get a kick out of watching a soldier’s pocket begin to jangle…after a moment’s indecision he whipped out his cell phone.:::snort::: There were horses riding up and down the parade grounds. The cannon were shot several times. There was a drum and bugle corp. They had demonstrations on spinning, medicinal herbs, foods of the time, fire-starting, basket making, lace making, pottery painting etc. Zander opted to roam around and not do many activities. The big boys sat in the shade and watched people coming and going. Arielle and Nolan had their faces painted with Indian signs and made clay pots.
They would have done more but the big boys were ready to leave way before the younger ones were. Note to self – leave the big boys home next time. :::snort:::
While at the Fort Zander grabbed my hand and said, “I love you, Mom”. I told him I loved him. Then he said, “I miss my Dad”. I told him I missed his dad too. Then he said, “And I miss BreAnne and Krista too!” I told him I missed them too. Then he was off and playing again. :::sigh:::
Before we left for the Fort I had gone online to Sam’s Club and tried out the click and pack or click and shop or click and something feature. I got an email saying my food is ready to be picked up. I’ll do that tomorrow after Sunday school. I’m thinking this will save me TIME and MONEY as I won’t be sucked into buying things I don’t have on my list…. I had REALLY gone online to sign up to upload my photos to their site and get them printed. I was shocked to find that it is CHEAPER to upload them here at home and get them in an hour than it is to do the 2 – 3 day pick up. I uploaded the family photo we had taken so that I can send some to Mike and the girls. . . and grandparents.
We left the fort and came home for lunch. While the kids ate I raced to Sam’s and picked up the photos. I’m impressed with their printing. Honest – you can’t tell these are digital at all.
We attempted to find some caches in the two hours we had before Cy had to get ready for work. We were RIGHT AT two of them but the muggles showed up. We’ll have to go back some day when the park is quiet. We did find a Foursquare church we didn’t know about. LOL Then we headed to find two more caches. Again – we were .2 away from them – but we weren’t dressed to climb through cactus today…we thought this would be along the river walk. LOL We finally found one. I should say *I* found one. It was HOT…95*. The kids were tired and discouraged. They found the spot where the GPS was going off…and you had to climb down. All the notes left earlier about this had talked about being “blood donors”. The cache was rated ¾ and they sort of lost heart. I decided to give it a shot and it was EASY…hidden in a brick on the side of the path…I didn’t even have to climb all the way down. So we found ONE cache today. Ah well….not great but it was “fun”. :::snort::::
Josiah had to leave for work at 4:00 p.m. I baked bread. I played a game with the little ones (see photos somewhere – probably above). I made dinner – the garlic bread (below), rigatoni and the spaghetti sauce I made earlier in the week. BRE CALLED! It was such a blessing to get to talk to her.
We went for a nice family walk, gave the little ones baths and I’m going to work on my Shop Natural co-op order while I wait for Cy to get home from work.
Folks were wandering around in period costume. I did get a kick out of watching a soldier’s pocket begin to jangle…after a moment’s indecision he whipped out his cell phone.:::snort::: There were horses riding up and down the parade grounds. The cannon were shot several times. There was a drum and bugle corp. They had demonstrations on spinning, medicinal herbs, foods of the time, fire-starting, basket making, lace making, pottery painting etc. Zander opted to roam around and not do many activities. The big boys sat in the shade and watched people coming and going. Arielle and Nolan had their faces painted with Indian signs and made clay pots.
They would have done more but the big boys were ready to leave way before the younger ones were. Note to self – leave the big boys home next time. :::snort:::While at the Fort Zander grabbed my hand and said, “I love you, Mom”. I told him I loved him. Then he said, “I miss my Dad”. I told him I missed his dad too. Then he said, “And I miss BreAnne and Krista too!” I told him I missed them too. Then he was off and playing again. :::sigh:::
Before we left for the Fort I had gone online to Sam’s Club and tried out the click and pack or click and shop or click and something feature. I got an email saying my food is ready to be picked up. I’ll do that tomorrow after Sunday school. I’m thinking this will save me TIME and MONEY as I won’t be sucked into buying things I don’t have on my list…. I had REALLY gone online to sign up to upload my photos to their site and get them printed. I was shocked to find that it is CHEAPER to upload them here at home and get them in an hour than it is to do the 2 – 3 day pick up. I uploaded the family photo we had taken so that I can send some to Mike and the girls. . . and grandparents.
We left the fort and came home for lunch. While the kids ate I raced to Sam’s and picked up the photos. I’m impressed with their printing. Honest – you can’t tell these are digital at all.
We attempted to find some caches in the two hours we had before Cy had to get ready for work. We were RIGHT AT two of them but the muggles showed up. We’ll have to go back some day when the park is quiet. We did find a Foursquare church we didn’t know about. LOL Then we headed to find two more caches. Again – we were .2 away from them – but we weren’t dressed to climb through cactus today…we thought this would be along the river walk. LOL We finally found one. I should say *I* found one. It was HOT…95*. The kids were tired and discouraged. They found the spot where the GPS was going off…and you had to climb down. All the notes left earlier about this had talked about being “blood donors”. The cache was rated ¾ and they sort of lost heart. I decided to give it a shot and it was EASY…hidden in a brick on the side of the path…I didn’t even have to climb all the way down. So we found ONE cache today. Ah well….not great but it was “fun”. :::snort::::
Josiah had to leave for work at 4:00 p.m. I baked bread. I played a game with the little ones (see photos somewhere – probably above). I made dinner – the garlic bread (below), rigatoni and the spaghetti sauce I made earlier in the week. BRE CALLED! It was such a blessing to get to talk to her.
We went for a nice family walk, gave the little ones baths and I’m going to work on my Shop Natural co-op order while I wait for Cy to get home from work.
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