The Curriculum Of The Day.

Today's curriculum is YEAST!Yay!!!(the good kind!)

I've been wanting to make some wheat bread for a while now, so I spent a good hour finding and bleaching the kitchen counter.Then I got out the biggest bowl in the house and put in the yeast and the water and the honey and the oil.At this point the girls all came in and wanted to be a part of whatever was going on!Dylan was interested in the living yeast.Earlier this week we had read a library book called "The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate The School." By Judy Sierra,with very fun pictures by Stephen Gammell.The book features a "mutant yeast",which grows and grows when fed sugar.So, naturally Dyl and I did an experiment; we removed two equal portions of the bread recipe and added and equal amount of salt to one, and sugar to the other.As we observed the experiment, Eve began adding the flour to the bread and Pearl wanted to be involved,so she took over the experiments,measuring and adding 1/4 teaspoon amounts of flour to each experiment.This inspired Dylan to work with Pearl making bread recipes with the experiments to further observe the differences.SO,as I type the breads are rising and the girls are putting their finishing touches on their breads.This should be both tasty and interesting!(The boys spent this time watching pbs,Eli in hopes of a Scooby Doo naptime movie.)

Apple's game

Sometimes I think Apple is playing their own game of "Let's Make An i-Deal!" Remember,back when ideals had nothing to do with technology?

I just realized...

I am a Stay At HomeSchool mom.Adds a little SAHS to my step.:)

So...what if....

Here's the thing.I am being strongly inspired to move the fam back to SLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is not my plan!I am quite happy and content here!(or I was until the universe put me in a funk for denying the SLC idea)There will be some perks, like returning to the OC, and cultural stimulation in close proximity....But I love the quiet here! The stars!The space,this dream house we live in,our yard and garden.Not to mention, I have made some really great friends!I have invested a lot of LIFE to this place and I was planning on reaping the benefits for years to come!But NOOOOOOOOOOO! Some life destination is calling to us from SLC and we can only deny it by living in a funk for the rest of our lives....SNOT GONNA HAPPEN.So,here we go!

just thinking of more words like normalcy

I was just thinking of more words like normalcy(I mentioned how that word annoys me, and sounds fake and has irritated me since it's overuse in the days/years following 9-11)Just in case any of the media need a new catchy NON word to get our attention again....

Seriosity.(as in;The seriosity of the situation continues to increase.)
Complacentness.(as in;The complacentness of the misinformed seems to be growing.)
Absurderocity.(as in the absurderocity of things is getting out of hand.)

In short, the mediocreness of our (general public) education system is learning all the persons of the future to get lame talking skills and the media just embraces whatever gets attenticated to and then it looks like a real word, and it's a viciousterocity of a cycle,and......well, it just really needs to get suffixed!

UPDATE

So, it is now July,and our lives have returned to a normality of sorts(I dislike the word normalcy-sounds made up.)Shaun has a job, AND he likes it!Yaya!At Deluxe running a press.He works afternoon-night shift, so evenings are odd but it's great to be employed!Once we get used to our new schedule, it will be awesome.Also, Shaun has his own truck for commuting.A tiny mitsubishi-cool!We have a van during the day!!!!Wow.The blessed trick is finding time when I have few enough kids to fit in and go somewhere.I'm watching 2 boys on Mon and Tues, and 2 other boys on every other Tues and Sat.:)All get along great together, and we have a kid in the house from each year from 1-10 except 7 and 9!(there are two 6 yr olds though.So I don't think the 7 counts.:)
The health concerns we had in June are all healed:)Thank Goodness.
My own healing was aided in the chance to doula for Eagen.I kicked my own fears and cares of possible inabilities by helping her realize her own fantastic birth!!!!!SUCH a terriffic experience!Thanks Eagen,Yony and Miguelito!
I finally got the garden going,and I just love to garden!Such a great activity.:)
The laminate is all in, and we are on occasion turning attention to a bit of tile instalation in the entry and soon in the kitchen "spillway" by the sink,dishwasher,fridge and oven.
I've even had the chance to get back to some knitting, and learned a new stitch yesterday-"bobble"fun,crazy stitch!
The final step to rebuilding our lives is the instalation of regular activities.We've missed a couple months of our homeschool playgroup,and knitting.Bellydance may be out, but I am determined to try bringing all the kids to the playroom there and HOPE it works out!I SO need that class in my life!:)And with the use of the van in the evenings we will begin regular attendance at the Treehouse museum again, but now for the participlays!FUN!
Crazy fun updating!

I love....

I love that the front room is clean
I love that Pearl fed me nacho cheese chips while sitting on the counter as I did a load of dishes this morning
I love that we have clean dishes
I love the pulled pork in the crockpot we are having on toasted buns for dinner
I love when four year olds take 3 hour baths
I love when cousins come over and keep all the kids playing in the yard all afternoon
I love gardening with kids!
I love the Dr.Pepper and junior mints sitting by me
I love that today is FAR better than yesterday, and infinitely better than the day before.
(and I really like hulu.)

Well, guess what!

We/Shaun have/has been upgraded from looking for a better job part time, to the opportunity to seek one out full time!Isee the gears turning.....yes.....yes,that's right.He got fired.Technically let go, as you cannot legally be fired unless your work is defficient.He got fired for his work being too good.After working all day Saturday, After putting in a full day Monday.Gee, thanks, new manager!Yeah, we knew the deal was sealed when the senior manager of 15 years was fired not two weeks ago.It was a matter of time, and frankly, a relief.We are free to find more suitable employment.:)AND,to install the laminate flooring!YAY!

SO, folks, let us know if you have any great connections regarding anything requiring 6 mo. or less training or management positions.We are open to relocation:)

In the meantime,we appreciate your support in keeping this a positive and regenerative experience!

Well, THAT was short-lived!

I began this year with a great idea to post once a week and title the posts with the number of the week....I made all the way to Week Two, and I was even late for that!!!!!Such a sad state of affairs!WELLL,therestwasnotmyfaultthecomputergotavirusanditshutdownandweJUSTbarelygotitfixedandupagainandiknowithasbeenmonthsbut.....
So,I return,humbled,less wired,and SO ready blog again!:)

A lot has gone on in what I will refer to as "The Lost Months" (dramatic,right?)I turned....(deep breath)THIRTYONE!Again,I couldn't help it,it just happened on it's own.It's a heavy one.I am IN my 30's now.IN.No longer are my 20's a mere yesteryear away.(sniff)
In other aging news,PJ is no longer a baby!!!!!She is an official toddler.With the bruises and vocabulary to prove it!Her face changed in a 3 day space of time, and she looks as old as she is.(Only more bitter,as the same thing was happening to me.I have a wrinkle/laughline and funky facial hairs !-all will be denied if brought up publicly.)
Eli is a preschooler now!!!!Also broadening his vocabulary to include Scooby Doo phrases such as "I can look at myself naked!" "Jinkies" "Zoinks" and a plethora more(about 5 dvd's worth)He also has deeply incorporated the word "exactly" into everyday use.For example; I,hackwey don' like to eat those,those,THOSE!"Or,"I am hackwy tiurd mom."I know, ya just wanna hug him, don'cha!!!!!
Eve is cooking chocolat chip pancakes as I type.She truly is a natural chef.She's been having night terrors, though they have waned in the last 2 nights.She's a good cleaner and will do the job 100% including vacuming IF she is alone.She is completely uncoperative in groups.She's on the verge of decoding words,which is very exiting!She is also as fast as I am in simple addition and subtraction flashcards!
Dylan is way too quickly becomming a young lady.She apply's red lipstick when going anywhere of import,is very particular about her wardrobe, and shoes,and yet....she could care less the there is a colony of snarles on the back of her head....She is also a speed wiz in math and is reading when interested.
Asher is reading everything in sight!!!!!He is also becomming a broody,reclusive,moody person.It's a 50-50 who ya get with him.He is a very astute observationalist and surprises us with very articulate reports,ideas, and commentary.
Shaun is working away,and we are on the verge of a new and improved financial situation-we just need to grab on to it.We just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.And I do hold out hope for another 11.
I have been using my time offline knitting up a storm, and will report with photo's later.

As for now, pearl has somehow gotten the pamcake mix and poured some inthe carpet, so I will be closing here to address that.Wish me luck!

Week two 2010

So, I'm a few days late on posting this, but I am getting it posted!I would really be happy if I could manage a post a week of the whole year.:)So here is week 2.

Monday we established our school schedule. Very important for a good,well rounded week.Okay,honestly, I'm assuming this is what happend, because sadly I cannot remember right now!We DID have a good week so we must have established it on Monday!

Wednesday is our day with the van, so we usually go to the treehouse museum...


Pearl at the dress up mirror.

Our damsel in distress.

"Am I rescued?"

The huge chess set we all love.Pearl was plowing down these pieces with her head,then climbing onto them and rolling them around with her belly.Fun, imaginative game!


Dylan and Pearl crowning the Queen.

Eli's favorite chess set.Fun to throw and knock over.


Pearl with one of the doll displays.

We LOVE the Treehouse!Surprisingly, Asher is in none of these pictures.He is usually at the chess sets most of the time.

Dylan has been making an aquarium all week.Completely self led.She found all the sea books we have,and studied them,played with our hermit crabs, inspected a dried starfish we have, and on Friday, she made a sea anemone!Awesome!

Eve making her anemone/noodles/dreds...Great use for the garlic mincer.Ever the chef.:)

I finally got the boys lego books framed and on their walls!

Fun week.We also switched Eve from her daily Language arts(reading and coloring)to phonics.She is SO ready to read!Yay!And Asher got more in depth with his writing.:)

Phew!See ya next week!

Hold the phone!

It has happened, my friends!I have,after eleven months of toil,COMPLETED my first knittery!!!!!!It is a success!It works, it fits, and it doesn't look like crap!Suuuure,it's not wool like I planned,and we hardly use cloth anymore, but This may be the very boost I need to feel like I can get back into our cloth!Okay, that's a bit early yet.Maybe in a month or so, when it's warmer and we can air out bums and rooms and hang the diapers outside and put the animals outside so they don't eat the soiled diapers....BUT the point is, I domestically engineered!

What I have learned knitting this diaper cover;

1-I had a very tense year.(tight stitches!)

2-I need to learn to relax when I am knitting.

3-I CAN follow a pattern!!!!!

4-HOW to knit!

5-How to do a purl stitch,and ribbing.

6-How to double crochette!

7-That I much prefer crochette especially with little tasks requiring me to use one hand.When I'm knitting I have to stop the whole thing and start it all back up.With crochette I just hold my work and hook in one hand, the hook holds my place, and I have a free hand!

8-and this one is HUGE!!!!!!! I learned the deep satisfaction of providing a fine and useful article for the use and comfort of my child. :)

9-I learned a little about the art of perserverance(not how to spell it, mind you).I learned how to keep at something a little at a time.I learned to put something aside and not lose focus.I learned that time can be magically made,and creation,no matter how small brings peace of mind.

10-I can see how knitting opens pathways in the mind for greater focus,mathematical reasoning,kinetic understanding of how things can fit and work together,and a purposeful reason for following direction and pattern set out by someone else.I can see how it would help the mind strengthen reading(left to right)and hand-eye coordination.I can see how the mind needs some work to free up other important parts of the mind,of thinking and problem solving and creativity.I can also see how these things are being lost to our children and ourselves.Too much,too fast,too easily at the expense of others efforts and our own time traded for money and then for items we feel we don't have the time to create for ourselves.It's a cycle.A pattern of sorts.

Hey,look at that!I can almost see the >>>>>> of a knit pattern in those words.The tapestry of my blog...O.K. a little far fetched,but,I am inclined to quip "I don't give a knit!" Potty mouth.Must be why I knit a diaper cover....

Week one 2010

What a great week to start the year with!We were so ready to return to our regular lives after the holidays,it was a relief to be on task again!I had kids asking for more schoolwork,more structure,etc..!Truly!AND I was actually able to provide it!SO,we had a full week of consistant school lessons!FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!

Also, we got lots of quilting and knitting done,

and to top off the week, Eve lost a tooth unexpectedly Friday night-her tuna melt toast was too toasted she said.It took her about 1/2 an hour to process and then she was happy to show and tell dad and siblings:)THEN Saturday morning the one next to it flopped out!She was still in bed!AMAZING!Very exciting!She placed the teeth in an acorn top for the tooth fairy to transport easier.:)

Great week, hope we can keep it up!