Bethie Back At Horse Therapy

First she got on a REALLY BIG HORSE.

They even did some trotting and backwards riding.

The boys enjoyed some outside time with Esther.

And Bethie was overjoyed when they let her help with the clean up at the end.


We've seen some really big strides forward since she began her therapy classes, especially in motor skills and verbal development.

The funnest new thing ... which she started just before therapy ended early last summer .... she is SINGING!

One Man Band

Not so "Itsy Bitsy Spider"

Book Nook

Marriana and Joel love to sit in the book nook and look at books.

Don't they look like they are having fun?

The scrape on Joel's nose came from running into a saw horse while playing tag.
It's all well now.

Imagination

Joel adopted this little yellow cat from the counting cat box.

It needed food and water, so I put a blob of yellow glitter on his pencil box for it's food, and a blob of silver glitter for the water.

Once they were dry, they detatched from the plastic box.

Joel loves to play with the yellow cat and give it food and water.

He's very original with names too ... he calls it "Yellow Cat".

Update for Sept. 25

It's been a long week, and I frankly don't remember half of it.   Marriana has been down with a bad cold, which makes her very cranky.  Couple that with me being so close to delivery and the tiredness and back aches - just made for one long week.  Vannan and Joel both are sounding bad now - but Vannan claims her's is just asthma.  I'm hoping I don't go into labor until the colds are basically done....except I've got one now too.  I think all I've done this week is blow noses.... mine, Marriana's, and Joel's.

We made it to the midwife this week.  My bloodpressure is now borderline.  We are redoubling our efforts to bring it down and keep it there.  Because money is getting tight, we've not been eating like I should, so now I eat one thing, the healthy veggies and meats, and the family eats the yummy stuff.   I've even been forcing down eggs in the morning.

It's been raining so much, that I haven't gotten much sunshine or walking time to help with the blood pressure either.  And I've got to drink a lot more than I have been.  Sleeping more would help too.  There is just so much to do.  Yeah, I know, I unwind with a few minutes here and there with a computer game (facebook) - but really, all total, it's personally less than an hour a day.  

You would be surprised how much of the "game" time is Joel's.  He loves harvesting crops and feeding fish and cleaning tanks.  He also feeds the REAL dog - Toffee, takes out the trash (little cans), cleans his room and puts away his laundry, and he helps Vannan with her sweeping and making lunches.   Marriana has no idea that the mouse is really connected to the comuter, which I hope she learns once we've got the school computer back up and running.  But Marriana helps pick up toys, put things away, fold laundry, and helps Kendra with her chores.    The little ones feel important with a few easy tasks to perform.  Sometimes they help with putting away dishes, but not when they have colds!

Joel seems to be catching on to reading.  He loves to learn, and retains most of the new material and loves to review.  I have a hard time keeping him busy during the day.

Marriana learns very fast, but likes to do things her own way.  She is learning a great deal watching Joel and listening to the others learn.  She loves to cut and color (as long as she doesn't have lines to stay in or colors to follow), but she is still developing her motor skills, so I'm fine with that.  She loves her clay and playdough, and we try to paint at least once a week and glue once a week.

Vannan has had a slow week.  But she still got quite a bit of stuff done.  Kendra had a better week - she's picked up her pace and cranking work out at a nice speed, even on days that she gets off to a bad start.

The garden is about gone.  I can see a few banana peppers and small tomatoes that are growing, but we will probably turn the goats into the space in a few weeks to eat all the weeds and leftovers down.  I thought about trying for a fall/winter garden, but the weather is already cooler than normal and I don't think we have the time or energy to put into it.

Weather has been down to 60 at night, Vannan is freezing.  And today is the first day in a couple of weeks to reach into the 80's.  Lots of rain.  Fall is here, no doubt about it.  But since we live on a piece of property covered in evergreens ... not much change in color yet.  Some days I really miss driving in Colorado moutiains and all those yellow aspens.  We could look out from our back porch and the whole mountain looked ablaze with the yellows and reds of the trees changing.

Oh yes.  Pray for Tim.  He starts training for an insurance job on Oct. 5, the day after LaRue is due - and we hope she arrives between the times he has to be there for training, though Tim did tell them and they say they will work with us.  Now he needs a little road bunny that gets good milage, and we need a big car for the family.   And he's suppose to provide his own laptop computer.  Tim feels good about this direction.  It is the first really open door we've had in months - so we are proceeding with it until the Lord closes it or opens something else.   They think he will do very well after the training.

Kendra's Goals for Next Week

The goal is to complete between 40 and 50 items off of this list.   I went ahead and posted more than just the page she works off of .. which goes to 7/16 ... everything else is on page 2 and should show up next week.   I added the extra to show that YES, she will be covering Math this year.  So you can scroll down to her first NEW YEAR school day and see what she actually has on her shelf for this year.


KENDRA ---


4/21 PC – Research your Genealogy

5/14 Bible PC – Essay: What does the Bible say about being TRUSTWORTHY?

5/15 Bible PC – Essay: What does the Bible say about NOT being trustworthy?

5/20 Bible PC – V. Honesty p. 58 – 62 Christian Character

5/21 History – Ezek 48, 29, 35 – 37, Psalm 102, 89, 130, 106

5/22 History – Daniel 5–9, Ezra 1-2, Neh7

6/8 History – Return to the Land p. 13 - 48

6/9

Memory – Psalm 15: 1-3

History – RTTL p. 49 - 103

6/10 History – RTTL p. 104 - 149

6/11

Memory – Prov. 16:27 - 28

History – RTTL p. 150 - 194

Bible Study – p. 220 - 221

6/12

Memory – Prov. 17:17

History – RTTL p. 195 - 219

Bible Study – p. 222 - 223

6/15

Bible PC – G. Letter to EACH Sibling

Memory – Prov. 18:24

History – Nehe. 12, Psalm 107, 126, 87. 84, 121, 125, Ezra 3 – 4

English – 91 Class

Bible Study – p. 224 - 225

6/16

History – Daniel 10 – 12, Psalm 85, Hagg. 1-2

Bible Study – p. 226 - 227

6/17

Bible PC – I. Chap 20 Christian Character “Loyalty”

Memory – Ecc. 4:9-10

History – Zech. 1-8, Ezra 5-6

English – 91 Written

Bible Study – p. 228 - 229

6/18

Memory – John 15:12-14

History – Psalm 111 – 118, 134, Zech 9 - 14

Bible Study – p. 230 - 231

6/19

Memory – Rom 15: 1-2

History – Esther

English – Chap 8 Test

Bible Study – p. 232 - 233

6/22

Bible PC – Read a Book about a missionary

Memory – James 4:11

History – Ezra 4 – 10

English – 92

Bible Study – p. 234 - 235

6/23

Bible PC – Write a Book Report about chosen book

Memory – 2 Peter 2:10

History – Neh. 1 – 8, Psalm 146

English – 93

Bible Study – p. 236 - 237

6/24

History – Nehe. 11, Psalm 119

English – 94

Bible Study – p. 238 - 239

6/25

History – Nehe 9 – 10, 12 – 13, Psalm 135 – 136, 147, 149

English – ws 35

Bible Study – p. 240 - 241

6/26

History – Joel 1 – 3, Mala 1-4, Psalm 150

English – 95

Bible Study – p. 242 - 243

7/13

History – Streams of Civilization: p. 115 - 121

English – 96

Bible Study – p. 244 - 245

7/14

English – ws 36

Bible Study – p. 246 - 247

7/15

English – 97

Bible Study – p. 248

7/16

English – ws 37

Bible Study – p. 249

7/17

History – Kingfisher History Encyclopedia p. 48 - 56

English – 98

Bible Study – p. 250

7/20

History – KHE p. 57 - 61

English – ws 38

Bible Study – p. 251

7/21

History – Kingfisher Timeline

English – 99

Bible Study – Chap 6 Test

7/22

History – Understanding the Old World p. 203 - 224

English – 100

Bible Study – p. 252

7/23

History – UOW p. 224 - 237

English – 101

Bible Study – p. 253

7/24

History – UOW p. 238 - 259

Bible Study – p. 254

7/27

History – UOW p. 260 - 275

English – 102 Class

Bible Study – Final Test

7/28

History – UOW p. 276 - 289

7/29

History – Report: Homer

English – 102 Written

7/30

History – Report: Alexander the Great

7/31

History – Report: Achimedes

English – Chap 9 Test

School Year 2009 – 2010

Day 1 (8/24)

PC (Polished Cornerstones) - Already completed with the group.

Science – Earth and Life World of Science p. 140 – 143 + SE

History – Report: 1 Great Greek Philosopher of Your Choice (300+ words)

Art – 1

Math – Geometry – Read Introduction and Start a notebook

English – 103 (ALWAYS: Read teacher notes and do class work orally)

Reading – 41 Cleon and I

Bible – Far Above Rubies: Read Contents and Introduction

Vannan's School Goals For Next Week

If you compare it to last week - you can see what she got completed.  We had a few really hectic days and slow mornings, so didn't get as much done as we wanted - but I prefer quality progress to rushed to just get something done.

Our target is to finish between 40 and 50 goals each week.

I did have a question as to why she had so much math ... she got bogged down in long division, but she's cruising through fractions now with great delight.


VANNAN




3/30 Memory – Proverbs 3: 19 - 26

4/21 P C – Research your Geneology

5/19 PC – S. Essay about the “strange woman”

5/20 Bible PC – V. Honesty p. 58 – 62 Christian Character

6/16 Bible PC – Essay: Godly Friendship

7/14 Math – p. 158 - 159

7/16  Math – p. 160 - 161

7/17 Math – p. 162 – 163

7/20 Math – p. 164 - 165

7/21 Math – p. 166 - 167

7/23 Math – p. 168 - 169

7/24 Math – p. 170 - 171

7/27 Math – p. 172 - 173

7/28 Math – p. 174 - 175

7/29 History – Report: Homer

7/30

History – Report: Alexander the Great

Math – p. 176 - 177

7/31

History – Report: Archimedes

Math – Chap 8 Test


School Year 2009 – 2010  (This is where I had planned to start in August.  But after May, things just didn't go as well as planned.  We are now adjusting ... just in time for the new baby to arrive.  Pray for us.)

PC chapter: p. 83 Attentive Woman

Day 1 (8/24)

History – Report: 1 Great Greek Philosopher of Your Choice (300+ words)

Math – p. 180 – 181

English – 44 (Do Class Drills Orally)

Day 2

History – Short Story: Setting Ancient Greece

Math – p. 182 - 183

English – 45

DAY 3

PC – D. Following Instructions: Repeat Back

English – ws 26

Reading – 19 EX

DAY 4

History – ATA Timeline p. 38 – 45

Math – p. 184 - 185

English – 46

Reading – 20 Looking at Other Side

DAY 5

PC – E. Following Instructions: Do It

Memory – Prov. 18:13

Math – p. 186 - 187

English – Challenge Ex.

Reading – 20WB

Penmanship – 5

DAY 6 (8/31)

PC – F. Listen for Key Words

Memory – Prov. 20:5

Science – Lapbook: old maps

History – LB  (Library Book)

Art - 2

Math – p. 188 - 189

English – 47

Reading – 20 Ex

Spelling –2.1

Bible – 2A

Penmanship – 6

DAY 7

PC – Read an article or book about listening skills

Memory – Prov. 29:20

Science – Lapbook: Satellite

History – LB

Math – p. 190 - 191

English – write a missionary paragraph

Reading – 21 Growing Smiles

Spelling – 2.2

Bible – 2B

Penmanship – 7

DAY 8

PC – Essay: Listening Skills

Memory – Ecc. 3:1

Science – Lapbook: James Hutton

History – LB

Reading – 21 WB

Spelling – 2.3

Penmanship – 8

DAY 9

PC – N. Find 25 verses that teach about listening

Memory – Ecc. 3:7

 
 
If you happen to know of a good "listening skills" book to read or articles that you can point Vannan (and Kendra will be at this point in a few weeks), feel free to email them to them or to me.  Kendra can also be reached via Facebook.

Painting

Joel's Doodles

Fun Time at Preschool

Practicing writing

Color a pirate

color a workbook picture

snack time

Blockheads

I think this was Marriana's idea.

Too cute.

Children's Bible Lessons Published by The Restored Church of God

Children's Bible Lessons Published by The Restored Church of God: "Children’s Bible Lessons
Taking a basic, systematic approach, these lessons bring Bible figures and stories to life—engaging children and asking them questions—helping them learn, understand and apply vital points and principles from God’s Word.The Children’s Bible Lessons are presented in seven levels, from kindergarten through grade six. There are 12 lessons for each grade level, including special spring and fall Holy Day lessons. As children advance from one level to the next, the lessons become more detailed, leading children to grow in understanding—and interest. At the end of Level Six, children, equipped with invaluable principles, will have been prepared to better handle pressures they will face as teenagers. So will their parents."

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Little 12 page lesson plans for K - 5th grades plus some coloring books. I've not checked the theology or all of the content, but the ones I did pull up were simple and had nothing I objected to. And being a PDF file, I can take the puzzles or color pages that I need and leave the rest there. Hope you like them too!

How We Do School Goals

Each summer, I sit down with the new curriculum that we have chosen for the year.  The girls do get some say so in what they have for the next year - but mostly, we do a lot of their choosing for them.  We no longer STOP or START books much.  Math and English just go at whatever speed they manage to pursue, and other subjects vary depending on other matters.

Each week, I print a page of "To Do" for them to choose from.  They do have loose assignments for each day, but I don't get really bent out of shape if they get behind, sooner or later, they seem to catch up.  They have been doing quite well since Daddy (their Papa) fixed up an old laptop for them to use and we have a "room" that is dedicated to study.  We are getting far more done even with 2 preschoolers being noisy in the room too, and there are far fewer distractions.   (Facebook and her blog has also been a huge incentive for Kendra to get up and get going in the mornings.)


So here is a snapshot of what the girls are "assigned" this week.  The goal is for them to choose 10 assignments to do each day (though some days they get far fewer depending on inturruptions or length of an assignment).  And Wednesday's they are only required to do 8 goals.


You will notice that they still have a lot of "summer" work on their agenda.  As long as we are making progress forward - I'm satisfied.  Also, we take a LONG winter break and a very short summer break.  We also take weeks off for birthday's and some other holidays, it all pans out in the end.

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KENDRA ---


1/26 PC – X. Topic Study “serving” Report or Poster

3/30 Memory – Proverbs 3: 19 - 26

4/21 PC – Research your Genealogy

4/29 Memory – Psalm 24:3-5

5/13

Bible PC – G. Study of Trust

Memory – 1 Peter 2:12

5/14

Bible PC – Essay: What does the Bible say about being TRUSTWORTHY?

History – Ezek. 25 – 30, Jere. 52, 39, 40

5/15

Bible PC – Essay: What does the Bible say about NOT being trustworthy?

History – Lamn. 1 – 5, Psalm 79, 74, 123, 137

Reading – 36 EX

5/18 History – Obadiah 1 – 21, Jere. 40 – 43, Ezek 26 - 34

5/19

Bible PC – S. Essay about the “strange woman”

History – Ezek. 38 – 39, Psalm 80, Jere. 44

Reading – 37 Ex

5/20

Bible PC – V. Honesty p. 58 – 62 Christian Character

History – Daniel 3 – 4, Ezek. 40 – 47

Bible Study – p. 206 - 208

5/21

History – Ezek 48, 29, 35 – 37, Psalm 102, 89, 130, 106

English – 85

Bible Study – p. 209

5/22

History – Daniel 5–9, Ezra 1-2, Neh7

English – 86

Reading – 38 Ex

Bible Study – p. 210 - 211

6/8

Bible PC – p. 67 Loyal Woman: B. List what attributes to pray for future husband

Memory – Prov. 31:11

History – Return to the Land p. 13 - 48

English – 87

Bible Study – Test Chap 5

6/9

Bible PC – C. FIIR Judging Others – Read Verses in Bible

Memory – Psalm 15: 1-3

History – RTTL p. 49 - 103

English – ws 34

Reading – 39 EX

Bible Study – p. 212 - 217

6/10

Bible PC – FIIR: Gossip and Slander

Memory – Psalm 101:5

History – RTTL p. 104 - 149

English – 88

Bible Study – p. 218 - 219

6/11

Memory – Prov. 16:27 - 28

History – RTTL p. 150 - 194

English – 89

Bible Study – p. 220 - 221

6/12

Memory – Prov. 17:17

History – RTTL p. 195 - 219

English – 90

Reading – 40 EX

Bible Study – p. 222 - 223

6/15

Bible PC – G. Letter to EACH Sibling

Memory – Prov. 18:24

History – Nehe. 12, Psalm 107, 126, 87. 84, 121, 125, Ezra 3 – 4

English – 91 Class

Bible Study – p. 224 - 225

6/16

Bible PC – Essay: Godly Friendship

Memory – Prov. 27:6

History – Daniel 10 – 12, Psalm 85, Hagg. 1-2

Bible Study – p. 226 - 227

6/17

Bible PC – I. Chap 20 Christian Character “Loyalty”

Memory – Ecc. 4:9-10

History – Zech. 1-8, Ezra 5-6

English – 91 Written

Bible Study – p. 228 - 229
-

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PC is short of Polished Cornerstones.

And this is what I gave Vannan to do/choose from this week.

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VANNAN




3/30 Memory – Proverbs 3: 19 - 26

4/21 P C – Research your Geneology

5/18 Reading – Test 2

5/19 PC – S. Essay about the “strange woman”

5/20 Bible PC – V. Honesty p. 58 – 62 Christian Character

6/16 Bible PC – Essay: Godly Friendship

6/23 Math – p. 152 - 153

6/25 Math – p. 154

6/26 Math – Chap 7 Test

7/13 Math – p. 156 - 157

7/14 Math – p. 158 - 159

7/16

Math – p. 160 - 161

Reading – Test 3

7/17 Math – p. 162 – 163

7/20 Math – p. 164 - 165

7/21

History – Kingfisher Timeline

Math – p. 166 - 167

7/23

Math – p. 168 - 169

7/24

Math – p. 170 - 171

English – 42

7/27

Math – p. 172 - 173

English – 43 Oral

7/28

Math – p. 174 - 175

English – 43 Written

7/29

History – Report: Homer

English – Chap 4 Test

7/30

History – Report: Alexander the Great

Math – p. 176 - 177

7/31

History – Report: Archimedes

Math – Chap 8 Test

Phonics – Developing Better Reading 30

School Year 2009 – 2010

PC chapter: p. 83 Attentive Woman

Day 1 (8/24)

History – Report: 1 Great Greek Philosopher of Your Choice (300+ words)

Math – p. 180 – 181

English – 44 (Do Class Drills Orally)

Day 2

PC – C. Listen to a story, then tell it back, include as many details as you can

Memory – Prov. 10:19

Science – WOS p. 144 – 147 + SE

History – Short Story: Setting Ancient Greece

Math – p. 182 - 183

English – 45

Reading – 19 WB

Spelling – 1. 2

Bible – 1B

Penmanship – 2

DAY 3

PC – D. Following Instructions: Repeat Back

Memory – Prov. 17:28

Science – LB

History – All Through the Ages p. 38 – 45

English – ws 26

Reading – 19 EX

Spelling –1.3

Bible – 1 C

Penmanship – 3

DAY 4

PC – Play “Concentration” in a Group

Memory – Prov. 18:2

Science – LB

History – ATA Timeline

Math – p. 184 - 185

English – 46

Reading – 20 Looking at Other Side

Spelling –1.4

Bible – 1D

Penmanship – 4

DAY 5

PC – E. Following Instructions: Do It

Memory – Prov. 18:13

Science – LB

Math – p. 186 - 187

English – Challenge Ex.

Reading – 20WB

 
 
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It works for us!

Cutting

Joel still doesn't always hold the scissors right - in fact, most of the time, I have to fix them for him.  But he is so patient with his cutting.  What concentration.  He was cutting out little stars for his shape worksheet.

Cutting

Today, Joel had several cut and paste worksheets - so I put lines on a paper and let Marriana go at it.  She's quite good, and improves with each attempt.   Joel is careful and slow, so overall, his looks better in the end, but she's got the basic "cutting" down much better.

And in the background, you can see the baby bed that somebody surprised me with ... all fixed up in my favorite colors and lambs for LaRue.  Isn't it cute?  I'll have to post a better picture soon.

Waiting Game

We are sitting at 38 weeks today.  LaRue is kicking and wiggling and dropping into position to be born.  I've been having very strong Braxton Hicks contractions for around 3 weeks now, some quite long and regular for hours - and then it just stops.   And I've been in an agitated nesting state for nearly 2 weeks.  I think I'm driving everybody nuts - and I really am trying to stay calm and reasonable.   I really hope I don't go another several weeks in this state! 

Every pregnancy is different.  With Kendra, I started at a nice weight, kept to a good weight gain, and was sick well into the 2nd trimester.  I just KNEW she was a girl, in spite of no sonogram, but we had had names picked out for our first child since our honeymoon.  I'm just a little weird that way.  Then in the third trimester, we had problems, I gained over 50 lbs in 2 months.  Turned out later that I was allergic to milk - and was drinking more to get enough protien in my diet.  My water broke at 37 weeks 2 days (on a Monday morning).  That night we went to the hospital to be induced and ended up with a C-Section.  She was a pretty good baby - easy going and happy.

Vannan was an easy pregnancy.  I only gained 30 lbs with her, but had plenty of Kendra weight that I was (and still am) carrying around.  We had false labor with her from about 5 months on ... and were surprised when I started labor at 40weeks and 2 days on our 7th anniversary.  We homebirthed and I was able to fully enjoy having her with me from the moment she was born.  She was a very fussy baby and in spite of my best efforts, I was unable to get her and Kendra onto similar schedules for nearly 5 months.  One exhausted Momma.  And Kendra had given up naps!

There was a long break between Vannan and Joel, and finally on Halloween, I found out I was expecting again.  My blood pressure was a problem, and I ended up with a doctor and a shoe string promise of being allowed a VBAC, which got thinner and thinner with each visit.  I lost 20 lbs while I was pregnant and my blood pressure dropped to normal.  I felt great (if only I had stayed on that diet!).  Then at 37 weeks and 5 days, my water broke, I called our midwife - I knew our doctor would not come to the hospital on a weekend.  And she delivered Joel early Sunday morning.  Best birth ever.

So now we sit and wait for LaRue (although Kendra is absolutely sure the sonagram was wrong and we'll end up with a Rueben instead).   We've passed the 37 weeks - she could come any time now.  It's just a waiting game.

New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide - Local News News Articles National News US News - FOXNews.com: "New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide"


Americans who slap $1 pricetags on their used possessions at garage sales or bazaar events risk being slapped with fines of up to $15 million, thanks to a new government campaign.
The "Resale Round-up," launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, enforces new limits on lead in children's products and makes it illegal to sell any items that don't meet those limits or have been recalled for any other reason.
The strict standards were set in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act after a series of high-profile recalls of Chinese-made toys.
The standards were originally interpreted to apply only to new products, but now the CPSC says they apply to used items as well.
"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."

CLICK TITLE TO READ FULL ARTICLE



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This law was given a "stay of execution" for one year and it's time will soon arrive to be enforced in full measure.

Way back then, a few people were concerned that "second hand" had not been excluded from the law. They were told it wasn't an issue. Looks like those few were RIGHT - isn't that always the way with our governement. Pat you on the head and give you a lollipop with one hand, stab you in the back with the other one.

This is serious for those of us the buy almost everything we own and use second hand and consider JCPenny's a luxury store and Walmart barely affordable. I know I get funny looks when I consider $4 too much for toddler jeans at a garage sale - but our budget is THAT tight. I know people think we're weird for a lot of what we do - but I don't like replacing torn up or broken items due to carelessness. I don't like wasting food or seeing things go to a land fill.

Don't even get me started on my views of land fills. .... OK, you got me started. Just one question. How can the same person promote recycle, reduce, reuse, green living, and enviromentalism ... and throw so much away that doesn't even belong to them? I see the libraries tossing perfectly good books into land fills. Goodwills and other second hand stores toss half or more of donated items into landfills. Restaurants throw away more food in a night than my family eats in a month. All because the government says they have to do all that! We live in a disposable society. I'm not worried a bit about nonesistant "global warming", especially when we are overlooking a bigger problem of too much trash in our landfills - most of which is perfectly usable ... yeah, I've been known to dumpster dive - and come home with wonderful treasures - bookshelves, dressers, clothing. .... One man's trash is another man's treasure. ..... When my parents were young, you took stuff to the dump, walked around and picked up stuff and brought home new items to use, toys, clothes, furniture - all could be had to those willing to look. This still happens in many countries. I've read stories to my kids about kids going to the dump to find pieces to build a race car or other invention - something that doesn't happen anymore in America - and our kids are loosing their ingenuity and creativity.

This new rule will fill our landfills like nothing we have ever seen before - and with it put struggling families further and further into debt. So far, nothing the government has done has really helped my family become self supportive - just forces us to rely ever more on their concept of "generous".

And you should see what our wonderful government has planned (for your benefit and protection, of course) for small roadside gardening stands!

Marriana's Matching Game

Colorful beads that she matches to the same colored pipe cleaners.

I've got to find her some big HOT PINK beads too.

She enjoys this activity.

Later we will match types of beads - rooster, horse, person, etc.

Morning Walk / Run / Jog

Well, the boys and Marriana move pretty fast and race back and forth.
We've missed it with our record downpours the last few days.

I do something more like a waddling amble.

Update

We got to go to the midwife yesterday.  Everything is looking good, estimated maybe 7lbs already - YIKES.  And my blood pressure was up - not too high to be a problem - yet.  I wasn't surprised - I've been rather down and not watching what I eat very well.  I won't bore anybody with details.

I have been forcing myself to go for a walk every morning - however slow and short the walk ends up being.  I've had lots of company most mornings.  Makes the walk less boring to be sure to have a bunch of little ones along.  But the last few mornings have sure been HUMID.  Hope to get out earlier tomorrow.

Due date is creeping up - and I've delivered at 37 weeks twice - so finding it difficult to keep myself together for all the stuff I keep thinking has to be done.  I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with things I need to do and keep everything rolling and everybody happy.  Some days I think it's an impossible task.

Otherwise - we just try to get through one day at a time.   I'll let God worry about the details - if not - I'll go nuts.  How do people who don't have God manage to survive?

A Long Week - And Updates

I don't know when the last time I updated with a "letter" format.

Highlights - I actually got OUT of the house last weekend helping Dad shop for Marriana and Esther's birthday party.  We did take the little ones with us the first trip, and they had fun.

Sunday, we did the party at the park.  It went well, enough food for all.  The girls liked their presents.  And the cakes were great.  Esther's mom made them.  But no nap for me. 

Monday, Ruth came up for a while to clean some areas out for Dad and Rhoda's computer was hit by a virus that mimics your virus protection.

Tuesday, Preschool - tired kids - and the same virus tried to attack me.

Wednesday was a bit easier.  Tim's computer hard drive crashed, so he took Marriana to Longview with him so Rhoda could pick her up for AWANA - while he worked in Steve's shop on his computer.  Oh yeah, I've been trying to go for a "walk" each morning, the plan is to be outside by 8:30, but I've been making it around 9:00 or so... this morning we were late - and got to talk to the trash men when they got the trash.  The boys LOVED it.

Thursday, Joel nearly got attacked by a big dog on our morning walk (or was that Wednesday?).  I'm still shaking from that - nerves completely raw.  The rest of the kids had already turned and were mostly back to me when it came charging out of its yard.  Preschool later and I've forgotten the rest of the day.  I know the car is acting up again.  And Rhoda cut my hair.

Friday was stressful.  I didn't sleep well between a mild cold and allergies and just couldn't get comfortable.  It turned into a pretty bad day by the end.

I'm sure we did Saturday yesterday?  I've been in such a frenzied fog. 

Today, Tim said I needed a break.  He left me home, and everyone else went to church.  Afterwards, Kendra went for sewing lessons, Vannan went to Grandma's to work on her Family Tree, and Tim and Joel went to our friend Steve's house to work on the old laptop Dad is going to let the girls use for schoolwork.  We've got to find some low USB keys - under 512MB to use with it so they can run files home to print them when they need to.

Tim is still job hunting.  But is now working at setting up some kind of business from home. 

I'm 36 weeks today.  But tired and very stressed trying to get so much done and finding I'm failing at much of it.  I've always been the type to worry about not doing what is expected or letting somebody down - I've been trying hard to keep everybody else happy and do everything I can of what Mom use to do - and still do everything I was doing before.  The girls are a big help, I'm hoping to be able to do more after LaRue is born.

Kendra got quite a bit of schoolwork done this week - but needs time to do more.  It works very well for her to be next door - as she has fewer items to distract her.  But still there are distractions - I have to have her get down the puzzles and clay and things for Joel and Marriana's school and help put it back, and she is Marriana's partner.  She's been enjoying time on the computer and I even let her start a little cyber garden.  If she's careful, it will only take her 5 - 10 minutes a day to keep up, and it's a bit of fun for her to look forward to.  And teaches some math and planning skills. 

Vannan has been easily distracted of late - she's only got items on her school list that she's been avoiding.  But as she's been doing them, she's found that they aren't really all that hard.  She's really struggling with her Math - not that it's hard or she doesn't understand it - she just is slow and doesn't want to think that hard.   I think her dylexia may be part of her reluctance - it was for me.   She's still making plans for rabbits - but needs some help getting all the cages ready.  Ruth is going to take her rabbit hunting in Canton one of the First Monday's.   She does most of the chores and cleaning at Dad's house.  And sleeps next door with Marriana every night.  That way Dad can leave for work and I'll get them up half an hour to an hour later.

Joel is loving school.  He is very good at matching words and all the pre-reading stuff.  He loves math.  He loves everything except the writing part - although his letter formation is getting quite good.  He has a "reader" and reads a story each week.  He can sight read about a dozen or 2 dozen words.  And can tell the difference between Marriana and Matthew when he sees it.  His chores these days are taking out the trash (the walmart bags on the chair in the kitchen and the small ones around the house - it's Vannan's job to make sure the Wal-mart bags are replaced), feeding the dog, and cleaning up after himself for baths and play time.  He also likes to sweep next door with Vannan and help with lunches.  Joel is Vannan's partner.

Marriana is a watcher - she observes and imitates everything she sees.  This week we've had to deal with QTips in ears - I just wish I knew where she was getting them from!   She loves the 2 dolls she got for her birthday.  The dishes fit nicely into her backpack and she feeds them a lot.  I found a basket for her to put her dolly in for a bed.  She also loves matching her beads to the colored pipe cleaners.  She loved AWANA and is eagerly learning her verses.  I'm planning to start doing an 8 - 9 Bible time with her and Joel this week or next week .. and considering waiting until LaRue arrives.  We've been going through her clothes to find what she has outgrown - she was in 18 months in February - and now is outgrowing a 2T and into 3Ts.

Hmmm... anything else?

The garden is still giving us peppers and tomatoes - and we have a few cantelope that look like they'll produce.  I would love to put in some fall lettuce - but I don't have the energy to get in there and oversee pulling out the cucumbers and squash that is mostly dead.  We didn't get much from any of that.  I'm planning to bring the goats up in 6 weeks or so and leaving them in that area for a week or so to eat everything down and hope it will produce a better garden next year.  Dad and I have talked about how to keep the weeds more at bay - they grow so fast the girls can't keep up with them - even in such a small space.

Prayer Requests: 
a car for us - 8 seats at least,
furnace needs fixed still and nights are getting cooler,
Vannan has been really down lately, she's the type personality that feels responsible for everybody and everything, and takes it personally if anything goes wrong - she is excited about LaRue coming though, Kendra has been far more distractable lately,
Tim a job opportunity,
and a noneventful birth for LaRue.
And school for the girls.

I'm sure there are others - like my nerves.  I do fine as long as nobody rocks my boat or changes my schedule without warning.  But I'm having a hard time dealing with inturruptions and surprise demands on my time and energy - and I'm not sleeping much.

The only thing LaRue still needs (other than a place to put her car seat in a vehicle) is the stuff you go through - diapers, wipes, that kind of stuff.   I would like a swaddler like the Miracle Blanket - but I do know how to swaddle in receiving blankets and I'll be using my sling a lot.  She's been well provided for overall.  My sister still has a box of dresses for me to go through ... I just have to get to her.   (I feel like a bunjii cord on maximum stretch these days).   

My New Haircut

My sister cut my hair for me - it was too much in the way.

It grows so fast. We are hoping to send the tail to Locks of Love.

And LaRue is 35 weeks 4 days.

Not much fits these days, but I don't want to spend money on more clothes.

Kendra snapped this when I wasn't looking.