Thursday
School

Bought plane ticket for PWOC conference (I have to go up earlier than our ladies, but will drive back with them)

Piano Lessons

Play Date with Friends

More co-op stuff (United and Produce)

Shopping

VP Debate (YES, we watched! LOL)

Mailed check to DA Chap Fund for our ladies to attend PWOC International Conference

Day 2 of Stacia in panties - still no accidents

Friday
Produce Co-op

Shopping

Jared's HOME! We're enjoying the stories. The house has seemed so quiet. I should explain. It's always NOISY but Jared is an extrovert. He's always up for long discussions. He rallies the littles in games and such. Things have been quiet this week.

Day 3 of Stacia in panties. She did have a small accident this afternoon but it was because I had pants on her. She LOVES dresses and the pants certainly slowed her down. LOL

Here are some photos of Jared at camp.... He's the one with his mouth wide open!







Here are some photos of Jared's homecoming! Stacia HAD to tell him her new trick! I decided the pants can wait. LOL

Zander was glad to see Jared. He said, "You mean you are going to live with us again?" I felt terrible. He'd made several comments this week about "Bre, Krista, Josiah and Jared" growing up and leaving....and I kept telling him that growing up is normal, that they are still a part of the family but I didn't CATCH that he thought JARED had moved out of the house permanently. ::sigh:: Jamin did spring cleaning in their room etc. NOW - I understand the horrendous week that began on Sunday. I try to anticipate "changes" for Zander...but this one caught me by surprise. I need to start getting him ready for May and Jamin possibly staying here in TX when we move on.

©2008 D.R.G.

A Few Things:

1. Several have asked and I've now linked my list of election resources in the sidebar under pages....it will stay there until Nov 4th - by which time I assume most will be ready to move on to a new subject. If I had more time and energy, yes, I would compose more lists like that for y'all. ::snort::

2. Can anyone tell me what the benefits are of "following" a blog?

3. Yes, I'm fairly passionate about the right to vote. Have you REGISTERED???? If you are a citizen and have reached the age of 18?

4. Does ANYONE know how you create a graphic that you can animate. For instance, one that you can mouse over and get little pop up sayings? I know it can be done because I've seen it.

©2008 D.R.G.

Could it be????

I learned years ago that I prefer waiting until a child is ready to potty train, rather than trying to convince them they want to sit on a toilet. With the first four children *I* was trained to remember to take them.....but my memory isn't what it used to be....and I was content to wait. I've learned when it's THEIR idea they catch on quickly and painlessly.

Every a.m. I have asked Stacia if she'd like to wear panties for the day. Nope. O.k.

Today THIS BIG GIRL

put on panties and wore them ALL day. She didn't have ONE accident.

Could it be that shortly we'll be without a child in diapers??? If so, it will be the first time in over 23 years.

Of course, she didn't NEED any "potty incentive," but I got nostalgic. I have an emotional connection between potty training and m/m's. ::snort:: Who can forget the days of "sinking cheerios", "making bubbles," or passing out m/m's to a child learning this marvelous life skill? I bought 3 lbs of m/ms thinking we'd shortly need them as incentive for Stacia. She doesn't LIKE them. She wanted a bandaide. Yep - a bandaide.

I realized today that Mike and I stop in the closet and grab an m/m every time we exit the bathroom. Could it be that my inordinate fondness to m/ms stems from POTTY TRAINING rather that deprivation in the jungles of Africa or the forrests of the Philippines or GREED???? It's a thought.

Even stoic, introverted, big brothers CAN be wrapped around a 3 year old's finger.
A really serious blogger would GET UP, take photos of the BIG bag of m/m's in the closet, and the bandaides...but ah well.....serious I am not.

©2008 D.R.G.

Will this be the last pool day?







It's HOT outside but the pool is a bit chilly!








©2008 D.R.G.

IT'S SO QUIET

Our house is very quiet with Jared (14) gone for the week. Jared is the ultimate extrovert.

We all got quite a laugh out of finding this photo of him on the World View website (he's the one talking).


©2008 D.R.G.

Margaret Chase Smith

I don't have lots of bloggy time tonight.....just home from a fun PWOC. Tonight I'll simply answer my question of yesterday. ::snort::

Margaret Chase Smith (December 14, 1897–May 29, 1995) was a Republican Senator from Maine, and one of the most successful politicians in Maine history. She was the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate, and the first woman from Maine to serve in either. She was also the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the U.S. Presidency at a major party's convention (1964 Republican Convention, won by Barry Goldwater). She was a moderate Republican, included with those called Rockefeller Republicans. When she left office, Smith had the record as the longest-serving female senator in United States history.

Many are telling me this has been on television lately. I wouldn't know. ::snort:: I first discovered this interesting fact while the littles and I explored the election process. Here's a quick homeschool or life tip...visit your local children's library. The non-fiction picture books for youngsters are often quick to read, full of easy to grasp facts and colorful (I like color). ::snort:: The older students and I will often grab a biography or an adult non-fiction to further explore a topic after our attention has been grabbed by a children's book. I enjoyed this book on the right. Click the book cover for more info.

I'd like to read more about Margaret. I found her early life to be fascinating. I am currently looking for Politics of Conscience: A Biography of Margaret Chase Smith....but I don't want to spend $30. I want to find it at our library, unfortunately our library has NO adult biographies on Mrs. Smith...another great reason to check out the youth biographies...they tend to have a wider selection. I guess adults read only romance and westerns??? ::snort::

There you go - a worthwhile and educational post - they aren't all about picking noses and such.

©2008 D.R.G.

Monday - huh! Imagine that - another Monday....

Let's see.....I didn't make it to the gym because with Jared gone there is one less adult to help juggle schedules with littles. I'll go tomorrow.

I did get a lot of WORD STUDIES finished this a.m. - BEWARE THE WORD STUDIES (just a warning for my PWOC ladies). ::snort::

Nolan had speech. I continue to closely observe the various classes that come into the library during this time. Today the librarian told her second class that you have to be a "legal citizen and 21" to vote....I wonder if I should tell her that isn't quite right....I also wonder if I should tell her that Hillary Clinton was NOT the first female to attempt to win a major parties nomination???? Any of you care to guess who was the first female to run for her party's nomination? She obviously didn't make it - and it was decades ago.

We zipped through some more school...studying Islam this week...and voting. We had a good look-see at an absentee ballot today from the state of Alaska.

AH - the big news is that the new AK plates for the Toyota have arrived. I'm excited. I think folks like AK drivers better around here...or maybe I'm a bit zippier in the Corolla - but I'll be happy to have my AK plates. LOL

I spent a LOT of time getting 3 weeks of produce co-op and one month's organic co-op finances ready to deposit...only to discover the bank closes at 4:00 p.m. LOL

Nothing exciting...but it WAS rewarding....and I miss Jared. I can't find any photos yet on the website....

©2008 D.R.G.