Tuesday

Let's see...what DID we do today?

I worked out. We read a LOT about Israel from some books I found at the library. I paid bills. Josiah was off at 3 p.m. I ran to Wal-mart for essentials: new clothes for Arielle, new jeans for me, a few groceries and dog food. I ran to Sam's Club for milk - it is way cheaper there than anywhere else. Somehow I lost my Sam's Card. They informed me that I have a Sam's Discover that is supposed to be my new card. What do you know? Here in an envelope.....I do NOT remember asking for this card but Josiah informs me that one time we were in there they asked me and I said "OK"....guess I was distracted and trying to get out of the store???? Now what to do....

We had dinner. Contrary to the proposed menu in the sidebar - I bought the kids a "party size" pan of lasagna. Wow - folks must have small parties these days. I know bad mommy!!! Zander doesn't eat and I figured the rest of them could handle fake food once in a while...it did say in BIG LETTERS "no preservatives" on the box. LOL

I talked with a couple of folks about produce co-op. I should begin working on the newsletter, but probably won't.

I FINALLY began work on the boys' "curriculum worksheet" and "summary sheet"...things that NARHS needs. It really isn't a huge problem...but I should get it done in the fall and here it is FEBRUARY! I moved it from the important list to the urgent list. It was 70* or more today but I REFUSED to be lured to the park until I get this done!

Josiah was home tonight, and he won't be home on Movie Night, so we pretended we were the "TAF" (typical American family) or "SAF" (standard American family) and watched "TV". We watched an episode of "Mork and Mindy" and one of "Hogan's Heroes".

PACKAGES FROM AFAR

We received a package Saturday from my parents. It appears that unbeknownst to me, I had a birthday. ::snort:: The package also included boys birthday and anniversary (Feb 14th) cards.

The children knew right away that THIS was from grandma because of the wrapping....::snort::

I explained to the children that Grandma was used to packages being opened in Mindanao and that is why she uses DUCT TAPE and so much of it.....and we all laughed when we noticed the writing on the box. Um, Mom? How long have you been saving this box? ::snort::

My Gift - isn't it adorable? I tried to snap a picture of it solo but some little imp got her chubby baby hand in the picture.....

IMPROV

Our children have always loved staging plays. They've not done any "real" drama, but we've seen some great productions over the years! ::snort:: Bre used to spend days organizing everyone. In fact, when she is home, a play, total worship, human video, or step (stomp) routine usually manifests.

This a.m. Nolan and Zander worked hard on a play. I thought they were going to preform later this evening, but they did a special performance for Arielle, Stacia and I. I'm trying to work out details to get Arielle and Nolan into a 8 week drama class....mainly I need to find the handout! ::snort:: I asked Mike, and I think we'll be here for all the Fridays....oh yeah...well there are a few details I have to work out.

This play involved a dragon and a cat...and Eeyore and Pooh, and an epic battle between the dragon and the cat...

I told him that usually cats have mice in their mouth, he said THAT was gross...guess this cat was a dinotarian

Do the Next Thing...

Have you ever been in this mode? I simply need to keep doing the next thing.

We got to talk with Mike this a.m.

I got a work out in. Jamin has created a weight circuit for me to do but I didn't manage it this a.m. I'm not sure how to work it in. I don't know if it should replace one of my step workouts or be added to the workouts...since I didn't have time to add it and couldn't figure out what else to do with it....I did the two 8 Minutes in the Morning moves. LOL

We finished school. Jared, Arielle and Nolan are all trying to do two weeks of TOG each week until Mike gets home. In theory, this will leave them the rest of the year to focus on other subjects or to play...or maybe do all the fun things we aren't doing as they try to zip ahead. THIS was not MY idea. ::snort:: All of a sudden I needed MORE library books, needed to order MORE books I can't find at the library etc. I'm so thankful that Josiah drives now. He loves to do the library run. Off he went with a three page list. He found all but one of the books.

I planned to make bread. It didn't quite happen. We were invited to the park, but we stayed home so that we could get our library list compiled for Cy to take to the library and so that we could "do the next thing". We need to focus.


I cooked dinner (which was not what is on the menu in the sidebar - honest). We had oven fried chicken (again! But it is something everyone eats), oven fried fries and corn, salad and fruit. I was going to make biscuits but didn't have oven space.

We read some Jungle Book. I am really trying to figure out some books that will interest all the children/youth...but I'm struggling here.
Arielle didn't get sick today. Jamin's boil has started to ooze...or something...anyway HE'S convinced I'm not taking him to the doctor. We'll see.

The Big Lie, a True Story* by Isabella Leitner

This is a POWERFUL book. In this children's book Isabella shares her experiences as a Jew in Hungary during WW2. The text is easy enough for my 3rd grader to fly through, while giving her plenty of food for thought. I decided to read this one to both Arielle and Nolan and was glad I did. Isabella has written two books for adults about her experiences, Fragments of Isabella and Saving the Fragments. I plan to look those up this afternoon.

Isabella's father went to America in 1939 to try to arrange passage for his family to follow. The war broke out and Hungary was an ally of Germany. The Nazis entered their little town, Kisvarda, and rounded up the Jews. At Auschwitz her mother and youngest sister were killed. She was separated from her brother and she and her three sisters struggle to survive. This is one of the BEST books written about this time period that we've happened upon for young readers. It is NOT sugar-coated, but she does write with hope for the future. I was disappointed when I couldn't find the TOG book I was looking for but that disappointment led to us discovering this gem at our local library.

SEPARATION UPDATE

Time is passing...some days quickly and some days slowly. I believe we're 80% through the separation. Yesterday was tough. Zander broke down and cried and cried. He hates this house and wants to go live in our other house in AK. Who knew he remembered AK.....however as we talked it became apparent that he wanted to go back to a house where everyone STAYED PUT. Since we've moved here I had a baby, the girls left, the girls came back, grandma and grandpa came and then girls and grandparents left, girls came back, dad left, girls left, girls came back and girls left...... I think the poor boy really misses a "simpler" time. Though I loved AK I do not remember it as a "simple" time. It was a time when our family priorities got way out of line....but children remember things differently. Thank God for grace.

I share the story of Zander because it illustrates what I see most in the family dealing with. We actually are doing very well, but we miss those who aren't here....and we're ready to "be a family" again. Though, of course, we ARE a family. It's exciting to be able to sit and discuss these things with the children. I know this time is really drawing us closer as a family. I believe that it's giving all of us time to evaluate our priorities and how we spend our family time when we are together. It's a good thing. I learned how to fix the sink - that's got to be good. LOL

Sunday

Sunday school started well and ended well. The children were watching "Facing the Giants". Our RE coordinator played Bible Bingo with Zander, which will help him feel more comfortable with the RE room - I'm hoping. I visited with Steve (friend Debbie's dh). He apologized that they missed my birthday. I told him not to worry.

We headed to chapel and Arielle got sick. I'm really perplexed. We went out to eat with Steve and Debbie two weeks ago and she got ill during the meal. She's NOT thrown up at all, isn't running a fever; but sporadically she'll get nauseated...several times a day. I'm tracking it beginning today to see if there is a pattern. I'm thinking if it goes on another week, I'll head to the doctor. I thought it was a flu bug...but it doesn't seem to be acting right. I'm wondering about low blood sugar and maybe she needs a snack before meal times....I know it's been at dinner time the past two nights. It passes and then she gets up and eat. She gets white as a sheet. Mike, today as we got into the van, and she was sad to miss church....she said, "Do you think you could ask Dad what's wrong with me?" I think she's lost faith in ME. LOL

While I'm on illness related things. I would welcome any knowledge anyone wants to share on boils. Two of our nine children seem to be prone to repeated boils. I used to think it was a cleanliness issue but none of the others get them....and the two that get them are our neat freaks!!! I'd love to know any theories on what causes some to get them so often, ways to prevent and ways to treat.

Jamin stayed home with Arielle and I took the others out for our weekly dining out event. I had promised last week that I'd take them to Burger King - because I didn't want Burger King last week. LOL I had to pay up today. We went to one with an outdoor play area. I had the big salad and it was o.k.

Then we went to Walmart. Josiah got a hair cut. Jared has GROWN more. I bought him new pants when Mike LEFT - what 4 1/2 months ago? They were inches too short already. We bought MORE pants....an inch bigger in the waist and 2 inches longer. We also bought goodies to mail to Mike and the girls for Valentine's Day /Anniversary.

Zander had earned play station time and so the afternoon was spent with the little ones playing. The big ones went to the mall on some mysterious mission. I laid down with Stacia.

Today I made 1200 calories for the first time since starting to count....it was the SHAKE that we have once a week. I measured it all carefully....3/4 C ice cream, 1/4 C milk, 1 T hard shell and 1 peanut butter ball - 400 Calories. I won't "have" to eat my chocolate almonds tonight. ::snort::

I tried to go to spark people but the whole add a meal thing was very time consuming...for instance I know my smoothies are 300 calories because I counted all the portions...but to put smoothie on the meal plan it kept saying 250 or whatever.....so I'll probably just keep my little notebook thing going. LOL

Not a real exciting day. Time to watch Hogan's Heroes with the big ones.