Home Sweet Home School

Deuteronomy 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

Ephesians 6:4 .... but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I am super excited to get back to school. That probably sounds strange. I am thinking of starting the day after Labor Day. I am still waiting for some of our new school books to arrive. Here are a few of things I am using this year:

Simply Grammar: Some old-fashioned teaching models are timeless. In this revised and expanded edition of First Grammar Lessons by Charlotte Mason, you'll discover one of them---the simple method of narration that focuses on conversation as a natural means of teaching grammar to your fourth to eighth graders.

Considering God's Creation: This hands-on approach to learning science is a wonderful alternative for all types of students! Chapters cover all aspects of God's creation, including the natural world, solar system, the human body, animals, plants, weather and more.

Spelling Power is a multi-sensory, multi-level spelling customized program.

This is by no means all that I am doing. This is just a few things I am excited about. I am still using Abeka math. Hoping to find a new curriculum next year for math. I am not excited about Saxon. We will see.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you home schooling mommies out there, that are still reading this.

Have a great school year.

12 Years Ago Today.

...the perfect day.

Happy 12th Anniversary my dear.

Welcome Aboard!!!

This is my fifth year "home schooling". My intention was never to be the "teacher" and my kids the "students". I never had any intentions of turning one of our rooms in our home into a classroom...with little desks lined up, etc.. That is just not what we do. I have read sooo many home school books. So many ideas. So many curriculum's. What I do has evolved in so many ways.

I heard about "unschooling" and a light came on!!!! Most people have no idea what unschooling is. This is not exactly what I do..but you get the idea.

I plan to put all of the stuff I'm going to use this year up soon. I am so excited for school to start this year. :)

The following is from http://www.unschooling.com/

Ever hear of the private school Waldorf? (click link) This is what they do.

What is unschooling?
Have you ever described 'red' to a person who is color blind? Sometimes, trying to define unschooling is like trying to define red. Ask 30 unschoolers to define the word and you'll get thirty shades of red. They'll all be red, but they'll all be different. Generally, unschoolers are concerned with learning or becoming educated, not with 'doing school.' The focus is upon the choices made by each individual learner, and those choices can vary according to learning style and personality type. There is no one way to unschool. Click here for more definitions.

If you don't do school, what do you do?
Read, play, sing, dance, grow things, write. All of these things and more are things unschoolers do. We do them because they interest us and bring us joy or because they help us accomplish our dreams. We do the things that have meaning in our lives and contained within those activities is real learning.

You mean I'm supposed to let them run wild?
Unschooling doesn't mean not being a parent. Children need loving adults interested in helping them grow and learn. Choosing to build a lego village will include the opportunity to learn math and culture, maybe even history depending on the type of village. We do chores, have a family life, and participate in the wider community. The children are actively engaged in living and learning during all of this.

But, what about math?
It's easy to see how children can learn many things without using traditional, formal methods of teaching, but many people see math as a huge stumbling block, mainly, because most of us have learned to hate math because of the way it was taught in school. There are a great many ways to encounter math in the real world. Geometry can be found in quilt making, algebra in painting a room. Shifting perspectives, from textbooks to the real world is sometimes difficult, but math that is actually used is math truly learned.

Is this legal?
Yes. Each state has its own specific guidelines that many unschoolers choose to live within. Some, like NY, are more difficult than some others, but there are unschoolers in every state in the union.

How do you know they are learning?
You will know by listening to them speak, by watching them play, just by being with them. You will know they are learning at 8 the same way you knew they were learning at 18 months. You will see them use their skills and knowledge. This does take some effort on the part of the parent. The information is not contained on a worksheet or within a report. It is not all nice and neat and tied up with a grade. It's spread out over the course of the day while the children are living their lives. You have to be observant and tuned into your child, in order to know.

The nice thing about this is that it's great fun to observe your children so closely, to be so in tune with their lives. It brings contentment to both parent and child to know each other so well.

Yeah, yeah...I know.... Ladies don't usually blog about politics.


But this time it is important.
More important than breastfeeding.
More important than midwifery (my current passion).
It is about the future of this country.
The future of YOUR children, and mine.
The future of all of those thousands of American soldiers over in Iraq.
They too, are some one's children.


And Ron Paul wants to BRING THEM HOME. NOW.


So. Could you take a moment to learn WHO this guy is?


Ron Paul is a true freedom loving statesman, and a Republican candidate for the Presidency, 2008.
He is a Texas Congressman. And he wants to fix what is WRONG with this country.
He is unlike any other candidate.
Watch one You Tube video, or Google video, and see for yourself.
He is amazing.
He will blow you away.
I double dog dare you to watch just one clip of him. Do it.

International Breastfeeding Symbol! Look for this symbol when looking for a breastfeeding friendly location.

Businesses that display this symbol make it clear that we (breastfeeding mamas) don't have to hide in the bathroom stall to feed our baby.

Which I refuse to do anyway. I think if a person is uncomfortable with a mother nursing her baby, he/she should look the other way. And if they are still uncomfortable, I will loan them a blanket, they can put it over their head, and go sit in the bathroom. :)

And yes!!! I am still nursing my 14 month old. That alone offends half the population. I might blog about that another day.

My Personal Favorite Natural Remedies

Oreganol (oil of oregano)- A natural antibiotic, for use in eliminating:

- colds and flu: several drops under tongue, rub into soles of feet for infants, or into chest (think Vicks VapoRub) for older kids

-respiratory illness: same as above

-ear infection: a couple drops warmed into ear canal, may need to dilute with olive oil

-yeast infection: several drops under tongue, 3 times a day until condition clears.

-staph infection: internally and externally

-bacterial infection: internally and externally

-Toothaches/oral lesions: Apply directly to involved region as often as needed.
-Athlete's foot/ ringworm: Apply directly to involved areas twice a day.
-Seborrhea: Apply to involved areas gently. Take also internally, 5 drops twice a day.
-Sunburn: Rub on involved region.
-Rash or hives: Rub on involved region twice or more daily.
-Psoriasis or eczema: Use internally primarily for adults. In children, apply small amount to the lesions once or twice a day.
-Warts: Saturate a cotton ball and apply to wart with paper tape. Repeat twice daily. Also, take the oil internally, 5 or more drops twice a day Available online, or at the health food store.

Arnica gel- a topical pain reliever for bumps and bruises. Fast relief for muscle pain, and stiffness swelling. This stuff is awesome! You can find it in the homeopathic section of your health food store. I use it on my little ones bumps on the head (when learning to walk), and for the inevitable bruises the older boys get all over their legs from who knows what.

Supertonic- a liquid concoction made from organic garlic, habanero peppers, horseradish, onion, and ginger in a base of organic apple cider vinegar. Make it yourself (just ask me for the recipe) or buy at:

http://www.herbdoc.com/ Whenever anyone feels a cold coming on, or has the sniffles..this will chase it off!!! I gargle it for a sore throat.

Echinacea- Boosts the immune system. It works by boosting the number of immune cells and the amount of natural immune chemicals in your body and then stimulating them into being more active. There are literally hundreds of other known and researched healing and protecting abilities of Echinacea besides colds, flu, sore throats and upper respiratory infections. A partial list includes inhibiting tumor growth, killing strep and staph bacteria, halting urinary tract infections, healing infected wounds, relieving hives and allergic reactions, stopping allergies, neutralizing toxic and poisonous insect and animal bites and stings, etc. I buy from http://www.herbdoc.com/ (You can make your own..just ask me how)

Since putting my kids on a regular regimen of Supertonic and Echinacea in cold/flu season, we have hardly had a cold, and no flu!! This stuff works!

My favorite stuff for prevention in a few days.

Have a great weekend!

Our Most Used Home Remedies

by Rabeka Joy Anast of Welltellme.com
April 2005

I have three children now, ages 4 and under. None of them have ever needed to go to the doctor. Any day I am expecting a broken limb to change that record, but until then... these are the home remedies we have used to keep us all healthy and smiling!

EARACHE- Garlic oil (crush a fresh clove in a tablespoon of warm oil, let sit 5 minutes, strain, administer two drops per ear, three times daily.

EYE INFECTION - Honey (stings!) or Colloidal silver drops four times daily (feels like water in the eye).

RESPIRATORY- Garlic press (crush a fresh clove inside a folded paper towel, pour hot water over, wring out and apply to chest for 90 seconds. Garlic in honey (half clove minced, coated with honey in a teaspoon, take orally twice daily. Echinacea tincture or The Immune Booster.

HEAD COLD - Garlic press on soles of feet (see above) and/or cinnamon essential oil smeared on soles of feet, Echinacea tincture or The Immune Booster, Eucalyptus essential oil baths.

FEVER - Warm/cool sea salt baths, Tylenol, Chamomile tincture.

SORE THROAT - Garlic press on neck and feet, Echinacea tincture or The Immune Booster, warm Garlic water gargle (pour hot water over crushed garlic, strain, and gargle water.)

NAUSEA/STOMACH VIRUS - Spearmint tea with raw honey, yogurt (stay hydrated.)

TOPICAL INFECTION - Garlic press, or Goldenseal press (tablespoon of powdered Goldenseal in paper towel, pour hot water over, steep for 30 seconds, apply to infected area 2 minutes.
DIAPER RASH - Lanoline, Aloe Vera, sea salt bath.

SKIN IRRITATIONS- Tea tree essential oil, or Neem essential oil, applied topically.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE!!! The first sign of illness in our home (a whine, a warm head, a runny nose...) is treated immediately with a dose of garlic and honey, and cinnamon essential oil on soles of the feet for two days in a row minimum. As a result, most illnesses are nipped in the bud. We rarely ever actually "get sick". If cousin Billy has a cold, and shared a cup with Tommy, give Tommy a prevention treatment, and make sure he doesn't lower his immune system with any sugar-sweets for 24 hours.

This article, and many other wonderful articles, remedies, and natural solutions to common ailments are at: http://www.bulkherbstore.com/

I am frequently asked "why use herbs, and not the store bought stuff?"

I use herbs because they are natural. The are not chemicals. Synthetic chemicals are fine for my cars engine, and maybe to scrub the toilet with, but NOT to put into my kids bodies. I always try the natural method first.

Are they as effective as the "store bought stuff?"

ABSOLUTELY!!! Just yesterday, Adrian started complaining of an earache. Right away I put a few drops of warmed garlic oil into his ear, and put him down for a nap. He woke an hour later still complaining of pain, so I did give him some Tylenol. He quickly fell back to sleep, and I placed a whole, peeled garlic clove on the outside of his ear (he didn't even notice because he was sleeping). He woke up this morning with no earache. Now isn't that better that a trip to the Ped. and a prescription for an antibiotic? I have been reading a lot about how kids today have been given so many antibiotics that their bodies are becoming resistant to the common antibiotics, and so the doctors have to prescribe the strongest antibiotics available, the ones that used to be reserved for the "super bugs" Scary.

I will share my FAVORITE natural product in a couple days. The best thing ever!!!

Harry Potter? No thank you.

Romans 12:9 ... Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

This is excerpts from an article :
Potter books: Wicked witchcraft?
by Julie Foster

To understand the controversy surrounding the books, it is necessary to review their content.

Set in England, the books chronicle the life of young Harry Potter, whose wizard parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort. Because Harry escaped the death curse of Voldemort, he was given a mark on his forehead – a lightening bolt. On his 11th birthday, Harry receives an invitation to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each of the four published books represents a year at Hogwarts.

Voldemort is a non-physical "dark magic" being who inhabits the bodies of various characters in the books. Perhaps most notably, Voldemort possesses Quirrell, Hogwarts' "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher.
Voldemort taught Quirrell, "There is no good and evil; there is only power, and those too weak to seek it."

"I made a very conscious decision right at the beginning that I was writing about someone evil, and I wasn't going to tell a lie. I wasn't going to pretend that an evil person is a paper cutout and no one really gets hurt. OK, if you're writing about evil, I think generally you have a responsibility to show what that means, and that's the way I'm writing them. I think they're quite, well actually, I think they're very moral books," Rowlings (Author) told a television news program.
Many agree with the author's premise, but critics object to the use of witchcraft and wizardry in fighting evil, not to mention the book's graphic depictions of evil. Even the good wizards in Harry's world cause eyebrows to be raised in many circles. One such example is found in Headmaster Dumbledore.

There are varying degrees of opposition to the Harry Potter books, from those who choose not to allow their own children to read the series to those who would have the book banned. One woman, filmmaker and occult expert Caryl Matrisciana, focuses her efforts on explaining what she believes are the dangers of the series and how the books portray a lifestyle diametrically opposed to that of the Christian.
Matrisciana, with her husband, Patrick Matrisciana, has spent 25 years researching the occult. ...... Eventually, she became a Christian and worked through the British media to raise awareness of the dangers of the occult.
Matrisciana encourages Christians in her new hour-long documentary video to take an honest look at the world children fantasize about when reading Rowling's books.
"Through Harry Potter books and audios, children as young as kindergarten age are being introduced to human sacrifice, the sucking of blood from dead animals and possession by spirit beings," the video states.
Many parents, regardless of their faith, may not wish to have their children read about evil non-physical beings who drink the blood of animals to gain power. But the books are marketed to children ages 9-12. For Christians in particular, the acclamation given Harry Potter's world is seen as unbiblical.
"My greatest concern is that godly fear that protects mankind from dabbling in the spirit world is being taken away from children who read these Harry Potter books. The terrors and horrors of black magic and occult practice, rituals, ceremonies and demon possession are being normalized," she said. "Alarmingly, the Potter books are engaging in pagan discipleship, disciplining our children to spiritual alternatives and also turning them away from the biblical principles and God's protection."
Some children who read the books, often more than once, may find themselves attracted to the magical world Harry lives in, she said. In attempting to create their own spells and charms, kids may turn to other books that teach witchcraft.
Just as Christians find themselves increasingly attracted to Scripture and the things of God, dabblers in the occult become more deeply entrenched in the dark arts, remarked Matrisciana, who lived through the experience herself.

The bible is pretty clear on such subjects:

Galations 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Thess 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Deut 18:9 ¶ When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Proverbs 3:7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I wonder what Jesus Christ thinks of a society that literally worships Harry Potter?

Hmmm.

Adrian's accident: the long version

Friday night, Adrian (he is 4 years old) has been riding his smaller 2 wheel bike for some time now. Jeremy (hubby) took the training wheels off his new bigger bike. Adrian went speeding out onto the road to show his brothers, and lost control in the loose gravel, landing directly on his chin. He pushed his 2 middle top teeth up into his gums, and scraped his chin up pretty badly. Poor little guy. So Friday night we iced his chin, and put him to bed thinking it was just a scraped up chin.

Well, Saturday morning when he woke up he could not open his mouth and was telling us his jaw was hurting. So I took him to the ER, and they did a CT and determined his jaw is in fact broken, fractured mandible. They could do nothing for him there. So we head home.

Sunday he is acting perfectly fine. Not complaining of pain or anything, he is even trying to eat the foods he likes, yet chewing carefully.

Monday we set an appointment for a consultation on his broken jaw. We are of course dreading what we believe to be the inevitable: plate and screws in his jaw bone, anesthesia, wiring his jaw shut... etc.

Tuesday we go see the doctor. She reviews his CT, and does an exam. She decides that she will leave him be, and that his jaw is already healing on it's own. She tells us that a child Adrian's age can heal a fracture in 3 weeks. She would like to see a follow up CT one month from his accident to confirm that he is healed properly. She also recommends "putting him in a box". This means: no bike, no scooter, no trampoline, no rough housing, etc... That will be the hardest part.

Today, Wednesday he is acting as if nothing has happened. He does chew his food rather carefully, but other than that, back to normal.

Thank God, for all of the answered prayers on this one. :)

Thankfulness

To realize the value of a sister
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly divorced couple

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn baby

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

-author unknown

Grandma Hoffman's Honey Pie

1c. honey

3 eggs (beaten)

3T. butter

1t. vanilla

1c. pecans

dash nutmeg

1/4t. almond extract

9" pie shell

Boil honey, wisk in eggs, add rest of ingredients, pour into shell.

Bake at 325 deg. 25-35 min til center is firm.

Hot water pastry crust

3/4c. vegetable shortening

6T. boiling water

2c. AP flour

1t. salt

In a tall bowl, place shortening, add boiling water. Stir vigorously until an emulsion forms. Stir in flour and salt. Stir until dry. Pour onto wax paper. Pull up sides of wax paper, and form a ball. Open and divide ball into 2. Roll out each ball between 2 new sheets of wax paper 1/8 in. thick. This crust is always flaky and perfect. Makes 2 9" pie crusts.

Proverbs 31

10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

3 births in 2 days

I have a had a very busy couple of days.

Tuesday afternoon, July 3rd. a new mama gave birth to her first child, a 7# baby girl at home. Mama and baby are doing great.

Wednesday, July 4th, at 6am, a dear friend of mine gave birth to her sixth child. I have never seen anyone make childbirth look so easy. She had 11# 4oz. baby girl in a beautiful water birth. Mama and baby are doing great.

Wednesday night, also July4th, another friend of mine gave birth to her forth son, at home into his daddy's waiting hands. 7# 4oz. Mama and baby are doing great.

Thank you Lord for these beautiful, healthy babies. I felt so honored to be at each and every one of these births.

And she's off....

Savannah is officially walking. Friday morning, a few solo steps. Saturday, all the way across the living room, with the biggest smile you could ever imagine. Then she gets so excited to get to her destination that she dives...and falls. Still smiling, gets right back up, and off she goes.

Success

Updates:

The boys are still fishing almost everyday, at the creek behind the house. When they are not fishing they are swimming.

No new pictures, of anything, due to my digital camera being broken, you can read about that here.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of two of my dear friends babies, one of which I have been asked to (possibly) catch (yeah!!!!!!) Please pray that both births go perfectly.

I am completely recovered from pink-eye. (I missed a birth last Saturday because of it)

Savannah is not walking yet, but she is close. It would be fine with me if she just stayed a crawler forever, she is growing way too fast.

Jeremy is working lots and lots of over-time.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE summer?

10 Homebirth Facts No One's Telling You

If you're newly pregnant, chances are you have never heard the truth about why homebirth is a safer choice for low-risk pregnancies. And if you're not newly pregnant, it is never to late to consider your options and give birth to your baby at home.

"The first intervention in natural childbirth is the one that a healthy woman does herself when she walks out the front door of her own home in labour."— Michael Rosenthal, OB/GYN (from Midwifery Today E-news 7:24)

1. In studies comparing home vs. hospital births. homebirths supervised by a “trained attendant” indicate fewer deaths, injuries and infections. Respiratory distress in newborns was 17 times higher in the hospital than at home. (1)

2. The US has the highest obstetrical intervention rates of any country. (1) The US is currently ranked 28th for infant mortality (that means 27 other countries have a better rate of infant survival than we do). (5, 33)

3. The superior outcomes seen in homebirths are not because the women are at lower risk or in any way special or different from women planning hospital births. (2)

4. You are very likely to have a c-section if you chose a hospital birth. The WHO concluded that there is no reason for any region of the world to have a cesarean rate of more than 10-15%. As of 2004, the US has a 29.1% c-section rate. This rate is up from 27.6% in 2003. (2, 20) (3)C-section infants also are four times more likely to die than those born vaginally. (5, 31)

5. The newest study, done in 2005 and published in the British Medical Journal showed homebirth with a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) to be as safe as hospital birth. The rates of medical intervention at home were lower, and the study showed a high satisfaction rate for mothers. (4)

6. The vast majority of woman are 2 to 6 more times likely to die if their babies are delivered in the hospital. (5, 25)

7. If your baby is born at home with a midwife, instead of in a hospital with an OB, he is six times more likely to survive his first year. (5, 29)

8. The longer your second stage of labor, the more likely you are in to receive a c-section when at the hospital. At home, there will likely be no time limit on your pushing stage unless there is a real problem. (5, 46)

9. When your birth is attended by a midwife, your chances of hemorrhaging and/or continuing to hemorrhage are significantly reduced. (5, 58)

10. A study published in the November 2003 of The Lancet found that c-sections double the rate of stillbirth before labor begins, in women who have had a previous c-section (and most likely a hospital birth). (5, 105)

Sources:1. From Is Homebirth for you? 6 Myths about Childbirth Exposedhttp://www.gentlebirth.org/format/myths.html

2. Goer, Henci. The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.

3. ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network)http://www.ican-online.org/

4. http://www.mana.org/CPM2000.html5. Doubleday, Jock. Spontaneous Creation: 101 Reasons Not to Have Your Baby In the Hospital (e-book available at spontaneouscreation.org)

Operation : Rescue

I've done it again.

I'm afraid my animal-lover, do-gooder self is showing through again. This is the 2nd animal in 2 years that I have rescued from abusive/neglectful homes. It makes me crazy when people have an animal...then starve it, ignore it, beat it, chain it, etc... not saying that all of that was done to this one, but the pic kinda speaks for itself.

Believe it or not this is a Shih Tzu. No, I didn't steal her, I talked them into giving her to me.

We tried (the night we got her home) to shave her ourselves...bad idea. Very bad idea. So I took her the following day to the groomer. Interesting side note: this dog did not even recognize dog food. So for the first week I fed her brown rice, mixed with tuna fish. Slowly introducing her to dog food. :)

Turns out, this is a very well-behaved, spayed, house-broken, 4 year old female Shih Tzu. BUT, this would be dog #5 for us...and aside from the fact we DO have the room (2 acres), I really don't need/want another dog.

So my quest is to find a forever home for Lily.

Oh yeah, after taking these pictures, I set my digital camera down on a flower planter...and it got rained on....all night.

Groomer: $30

Digital camera: $150.00

Knowing I saved this dog from a SECOND winter outdoors: Priceless.

So, be patient, her "after" pictures will be up, as soon as I can figure out how to get pictures from my camera phone..to email...to blogger. Help.

Oh yeah. Dog anyone?

Happy 1st Birthday!

So many babies...so little time.

I love, love, love my new swing!!!

Doggy!
We had a fabulous weekend. Grandma and Grandpa are on their way home, and we are recovering from a very busy weekend.

Savannah (and Grandma) had a very enjoyable birthday party.

Savannah can now say "Daddy" and finally..."Momma", and "uh-oh!"

She can sign: milk, eat, more, bye-bye, and her favorite..doggy. Oh! and she can blow kisses. So sweet. :)

Happy birthday baby girl.

Panic Mode.

Things have been so very busy around here.

I am a list person. I have lists for everything. (Jeremy calls this obsessive compulsive disorder...but I disagree) I have been working on these lists, to get ready for my parents arrival this Friday, 3 days left. I really do over-prepare for company. I don't even know why. This is the reason for the landscaping marathon I was on for the past 2 weeks, and tons of other projects. Like painting, new screens, carpet shampooing... I am so excited to see them. They visit Indiana once a year.

Savannah turns 1 next Wednesday. We are having a party for her (and my Mom, whom she shares a birthday with) on Monday, Memorial Day. So I am trying to prepare for that. I have an awesome cake picked out. I am praying I can pull it off, and make it myself. We are just having family (so far) for her party. I keep getting asked for gift ideas, and honestly, the child is in need of nothing. Literally nothing.

Oh! and Jeremy (hubby), and Jackson, and Austin leave for a Father-Son Retreat at

Camp Joy on Friday, complete with canoeing, fishing, archery, and paintball. They will return late Saturday night. They are so excited.

Did I mention Savannah turns 1 year old next week? :( I was packing away some of her infant clothes the other day...and couldn't figure out WHY am I crying??? And for some reason, I am having a really hard time parting with ANY of her clothes. I should box them all up and send them to my new niece...but I just can't. (And NO, I am absolutely NOT prego)

Some very dear friends of ours, The Peterson's will be moving home for the summer. I am so excited to see them!!! They will be here in time for our Mother Daughter Banquet at church, on May 31st. As rules have it, I will not be allowed to bring MY daughter. Only children ages 3+ are allowed to attend. Doesn't it stink when one rotten apple ruins the whole cart? (or however the saying goes) Anyway (sorry for the little rant) Oh well...that will make it even sweeter when Savannah is old enough to attend. And MY mother is planning on leaving May 30th. So I go alone.

A CONTEST!!!!!

Be sure to stop by Steph's blog, and enter the contest she has going on for FREE baby stuff from Mason & Matisse .

Happy Spring

For the past 2 weeks I have been cleaning out flower beds,

adding borders, planting a few new plants and laying mulch.

Above: small flower bed in side yard

Above: front flower bed

Above: herb garden on south side of the house, I need a lot of new plants on this end.
Side of potting shed.

So, I apologize to everyone because I have not answered emails, phone calls, etc.. I will probably get back to you...about November.

I'm off to play with the kids, you guessed it, outside.

Blogger ate my pictures, so I had to delete, and re-write this post.

Sorry for the 2 lost comments :)