You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to.
-- Henny Youngman
The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it.
-- Ann Bancroft
Any husband who says "My wife and I are completely equal partners," is talking about either a law firm or a hand of bridge.
-- Bill Cosby
I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry. -- Rita Rudner
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
-- Benjamin Franklin
My wife dresses to kill. She cooks the same way.
-- Henny Youngman
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
- Rodney Dangerfield
A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
-- Milton Berle
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.
-- George Burns
What's the difference between a boyfriend and a husband?
About 30 pounds.
- Cindy Garner
When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking.
-- Elaine Boosler
I bought my wife a new car. She called and said, "There was water in the carburetor." I said, "Where's the car?" She said, "In the lake."
-- Henny Youngman
Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.
-- Phyllis Diller
My mother buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping.
-- Rita Rudner
The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
-- Henny Youngman
People are always asking couples whose marriages have endured at least a quarter of a century for their secret for success. Actually, it is no secret at all. I am a forgiving woman. Long ago, I forgave my husband for not being Paul Newman.
-- Erma Bombeck
At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" The other replied, "Yes, I am, I married the wrong man."
After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, "You know, I was a fool when I married you." The husband replied, "Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn't notice."
A man inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."
When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.
I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.
Losing a wife can be hard. In my case, it was almost impossible.
I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months -I don't like to interrupt her.
Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.
My girlfriend told me I should be more affectionate. So I got two girlfriends.
A husband said to his wife, "No, I don't hate your relatives. In fact, I like your mother-in-law better than I like mine."
A man meets a genie. The genie tells him he can have whatever he wants, provided that his mother-in-law gets double. The man thinks for a moment and then says, "OK, give me a million dollars and scare me half to death."
How do most men define marriage? A very expensive way to get your laundry and cleaning done free.
A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.
The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.
Getting married is like buying a car. Once you get it off the lot, you're sure you could have gotten a better deal! -Anonymous
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
When Things Just Don't Go Your Way
We started back to school this month and I'm using a Konos Obedience curriculum. I was so excited to find this as it was exactly what I wanted to do with the kids: a medieval unit study. It's been going along pretty good. But today, for the end of the week, I thought we could do a tea party in the morning rather than in the afternoon, so I followed the recipe for Queen Cakes they had in the book. It called for 1/2 CUP of baking powder. I don't know what happened, but they came out horrible.
I whipped up some regular biscuits and we had those with strawberries and whipped cream. Next, the kids were suppose to wear some royal clothing, kings and queen outfits they put together themselves. Money is tight, so no extras. Isaac and Hannah were the only ones who participated. I can always count on Isaac being a willing participant. They made their crowns last week and I thought they came out quite nice. We just used some glitter glue, sun catchers and gems on scrapbook paper.
We've done a few science experiments with light as well, and part of that was rainbows. We were blessed with a double rainbow last night.
Flashlight tag. They were moving so fast you can't see them.
When I can't get them motivated to do important things like school or chores, this is what they do to occupy their time:
Playing in the wind of the fan.
Wearing tights on their heads (Hannah has no knowledge of this):
Or we're just simply chilling out.
Sometimes I get frustrated because I think this is what happens in other people's homeschools: They sit down for scriptures where everyone listens, the kids are dressed and ready to go, school goes on for 2-3 hours without interruption where they all work quietly together and they have these fabulous afternoons full of science experiments and historical facts.
A case of "Why do my kids act like Rottweilers and their kids are Golden Retrievers?"
I think part of being a homeschooler is that you can't be so rigid all the time that it is no fun for anyone. You have to allow time for silliness and spontaneous activities. Don't get me wrong, we have times when we still have to buckle down and say sorry, its not going to be fun, but it has to be done. However, this week, I have to say it's mostly been fun we've been having.
I whipped up some regular biscuits and we had those with strawberries and whipped cream. Next, the kids were suppose to wear some royal clothing, kings and queen outfits they put together themselves. Money is tight, so no extras. Isaac and Hannah were the only ones who participated. I can always count on Isaac being a willing participant. They made their crowns last week and I thought they came out quite nice. We just used some glitter glue, sun catchers and gems on scrapbook paper.
We've done a few science experiments with light as well, and part of that was rainbows. We were blessed with a double rainbow last night.
Flashlight tag. They were moving so fast you can't see them.
When I can't get them motivated to do important things like school or chores, this is what they do to occupy their time:
Playing in the wind of the fan.
Wearing tights on their heads (Hannah has no knowledge of this):
Or we're just simply chilling out.
Sometimes I get frustrated because I think this is what happens in other people's homeschools: They sit down for scriptures where everyone listens, the kids are dressed and ready to go, school goes on for 2-3 hours without interruption where they all work quietly together and they have these fabulous afternoons full of science experiments and historical facts.
A case of "Why do my kids act like Rottweilers and their kids are Golden Retrievers?"
I think part of being a homeschooler is that you can't be so rigid all the time that it is no fun for anyone. You have to allow time for silliness and spontaneous activities. Don't get me wrong, we have times when we still have to buckle down and say sorry, its not going to be fun, but it has to be done. However, this week, I have to say it's mostly been fun we've been having.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Free Down Home Healthy Cooking: Recipes and Tips for Healthy Cooking
Balancing healthy cooking with down-home flavor can be difficult. Especially when you have a family and are on the go a lot. We know! Not to mention cooking the same foods over and over again can get boring.
Down Home Healthy Cooking is a free cookbook that will help you and your readers create healthy meals while keeping the down-home taste.
We are a couple of down home girls ourselves and share our favorite meals in our ebook and in our Queen Bee Homemaking blog. Enjoy!
Down Home Healthy Cooking is a free cookbook that will help you and your readers create healthy meals while keeping the down-home taste.
We are a couple of down home girls ourselves and share our favorite meals in our ebook and in our Queen Bee Homemaking blog. Enjoy!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Loobalee Giveaway!
Enter Our LoobaLee Subscription Giveaway!
Win 3 Free Months of Selling Time on LoobaLee!
LoobaLee is a new site for buying and selling children's designer clothing and accessories. It's exclusively designed to be custom to the kids clothing market, as well as be fun and easy for busy Moms too! LoobaLee promotes an "outfit your kids for virtually free" philosophy, and blogs about how to "Buy right, Care right, and Sell right" to help dress your kids in quality designer clothing for less!
Hurry! This opportunity closes on Aug 29, 2009
Note: Currently open to U.S. Residents only
Here's How to Enter
Step 1. Visit LoobaLee, and Register for a free Member account.
Being a Member on LoobaLee unlocks additional shopping features such as a Watch List, saving favorite searches, and the ability to exclusively hold items in your cart for up to 3 hours!
Step 2: Comment on this blog post with your LoobaLee User Name
Shiloah's Review:
Loobalee is a quality website where women can go to buy and sell like new clothing for their children. I'm all about thrift, especially high quality. So, what's the difference between this and say, eBay? For just $3.99 per mo., or as low as $2.50 a month (for an annual subscription totaling $29.99), Sellers can put up unlimited listings w/o any additional fees -- no 'premium' listings fees, no end of sale commissions, etc.
When I was signing up for the subscription service I loved how they asked if the items you were selling came from a smoke-free and pet-free home. Winning a free selling membership is a perfect way to try this exclusive website!
Dawn's Review:
I love the colors they used on the site! I also love the fact that it differs from Ebay in that you can buy it right then, no waiting around for an auction to close or risk being outbid. The clothes are cute, in style, and what a perfect way to pass on gently used clothes that our kids outgrow so quickly!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Things to do in a Small Town
I was actually going to do a post on comparing brands of clothes, but I'm limited to Walmart brand or ones that nobody has ever heard of, so I thought I would try this topic instead.
We've been living in a town of 5,500 people for 3.8 years, not that I'm keeping count or anything. We moved here for employment, and the weekend we came out for the interview I toured the town in a whole 20 minutes. The job was good and we were determined to make the best of the situation no matter where it was. It must not have been too bad since we're still here and I'm still half sane.
So, things to do in a small town:
1. Visit the 6 public parks or two ponds in town.
2. Go to the movies for 5.50 a person or 3.50 a kid. (You can get the kids a combo popcorn and drink for 1.50 more).
3. Go to the library. I read a lot.
4. Walk the nature trail.
5. Run the 3 mile bike trail.
6. Play soccer, kickball, T-ball, tennis, football, baseball/softball, or run the track.
7. Come for the 4th of July fireworks display. You'll only sit in traffic for 20 minutes vs. 2 hours in big cities.
8. Visit the local museums. It may only take you 15 minutes to go through, but that's something to do to get.out.of.the.house.
9. Go to the lake. Day pass is 4.50.
10. Wander through the huge antique mall here. Even if you've been through it 14 times in the last 6 months, you'll still find something new every time.
11. Enjoy a treat from one of the 10 fast food restaurants or one of the 6 sit down restaurants.
12. Visit the cemetery.
13. Drive around aimlessly telling your kids you are lost and need help finding your way home. Do this until your 3 year old can give you directions to get home.
14. Watch the skateboarders crash and burn at the skate park.
15. Get a car wash.
16. Wander through the U-Save Buenz pharmacy home decorating department or Trail's End (truly a fabulous store).
17. You could do a shopping spree at Pamida or Alco, but you'll probably be hard pressed to spend more than 30 minutes in each store. (Word of advice, save that money and time for when you can get to the big city (North Platte, population of 23,000), unless you are desperate to get.out.of.the.house).
18. Walk around town. More than likely you will find a quaint back alley or unpaved road and see things of beauty there, like wildflowers, horses, or fields.
19. Take up nature photography.
20. Watch the stars. They are so close here, you'd think you could touch them.
Sometimes I fear that when we do leave this place, I'll miss all these things. The hustle and bustle of a bigger city appeals to us in a way that says we're safe because we have amenities close by, things to do like zoos or amusement parks or bigger museums and theaters. You have more options. I do have to say that living out here without all the "options" has humbled me, made me less materialistic (that's not to say I don't drool over every pretty catelog that crosses my threshhold), made me more patient. When we go to places like Omaha with tons of stores and things near by, its like culture shock and there's too many choices to make we get overwhelmed. You actually get a workout from walking from one side of Target to the other, because it takes more than a minute to do so.
This summer we've had more visitors stop in to see us than any other year. While it feels good to be the hostess, I do have to say I feel a little honored that our friends and family happened to stop by in Nebraska. Who said there's not much to do here?
We've been living in a town of 5,500 people for 3.8 years, not that I'm keeping count or anything. We moved here for employment, and the weekend we came out for the interview I toured the town in a whole 20 minutes. The job was good and we were determined to make the best of the situation no matter where it was. It must not have been too bad since we're still here and I'm still half sane.
So, things to do in a small town:
1. Visit the 6 public parks or two ponds in town.
2. Go to the movies for 5.50 a person or 3.50 a kid. (You can get the kids a combo popcorn and drink for 1.50 more).
3. Go to the library. I read a lot.
4. Walk the nature trail.
5. Run the 3 mile bike trail.
6. Play soccer, kickball, T-ball, tennis, football, baseball/softball, or run the track.
7. Come for the 4th of July fireworks display. You'll only sit in traffic for 20 minutes vs. 2 hours in big cities.
8. Visit the local museums. It may only take you 15 minutes to go through, but that's something to do to get.out.of.the.house.
9. Go to the lake. Day pass is 4.50.
10. Wander through the huge antique mall here. Even if you've been through it 14 times in the last 6 months, you'll still find something new every time.
11. Enjoy a treat from one of the 10 fast food restaurants or one of the 6 sit down restaurants.
12. Visit the cemetery.
13. Drive around aimlessly telling your kids you are lost and need help finding your way home. Do this until your 3 year old can give you directions to get home.
14. Watch the skateboarders crash and burn at the skate park.
15. Get a car wash.
16. Wander through the U-Save Buenz pharmacy home decorating department or Trail's End (truly a fabulous store).
17. You could do a shopping spree at Pamida or Alco, but you'll probably be hard pressed to spend more than 30 minutes in each store. (Word of advice, save that money and time for when you can get to the big city (North Platte, population of 23,000), unless you are desperate to get.out.of.the.house).
18. Walk around town. More than likely you will find a quaint back alley or unpaved road and see things of beauty there, like wildflowers, horses, or fields.
19. Take up nature photography.
20. Watch the stars. They are so close here, you'd think you could touch them.
Sometimes I fear that when we do leave this place, I'll miss all these things. The hustle and bustle of a bigger city appeals to us in a way that says we're safe because we have amenities close by, things to do like zoos or amusement parks or bigger museums and theaters. You have more options. I do have to say that living out here without all the "options" has humbled me, made me less materialistic (that's not to say I don't drool over every pretty catelog that crosses my threshhold), made me more patient. When we go to places like Omaha with tons of stores and things near by, its like culture shock and there's too many choices to make we get overwhelmed. You actually get a workout from walking from one side of Target to the other, because it takes more than a minute to do so.
This summer we've had more visitors stop in to see us than any other year. While it feels good to be the hostess, I do have to say I feel a little honored that our friends and family happened to stop by in Nebraska. Who said there's not much to do here?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
A Homeschooler's Day
Being the start of the new school year, for public schoolers and homeschoolers alike, I thought I would share what a day with us is like. It's amazing anything really gets done.
6:30 Alarm goes off. Curtis hits snooze.
6:40 Snooze
6:50 Snooze
7:00 Snooze. Ammon gets out of his room and just as I start to pick him up and see if he'll lay with me, I discover he is soaked from the waist down.
7:10 Ammon bathed and dressed. Joshua pooped but makes it to the toilet just in the nick of time. Clean him up and get him dressed. Wake everyone else up.
7:15 Scriptures
7:30 Showers
8:00 Curtis to work.
8:10 Kids put to work: unload dishwasher, clean cat box, straighten living room (Yes, it already needs it and we've not even been up for 2 hours), clean bedrooms, get laundry gathered, clean up kitchen floor.
8:45 Breakfast: biscuits, sausage and peaches.
9:00 Insane urge to have to vacuum the entire house.
9:30 School officially starting. Kids seated at their desks. Ammon and Joshua contained to a play room and school room. They would rather climb on the desks than play with all the neatly sorted toys.
10:00 Quick stop for Jesse to bring down the fan because I'm roasting. It falls down the stairs. Ammon poops. More climbing on desks. Isaac looses a pencil and throws a tantrum.
10:30 We've covered 4 types of sentences, elements of fiction, read some books, done some laundry.
10:45 Joshua pees his pants.
11:00 Math
11:08 Joshua figures out how to open the bedroom window, sticks a pony bead in the handle after he unscrews it off the hinge and the cat gets out.
11:15 Joshua escapes outside. Probably to get the cat, but we don't know he's outside.
11:30 Clean up and break for lunch, only I decide it would be better to do two quick errands and then eat lunch. Everyone scrambles for shoes and socks.
11:35 Isaac discovers the window is open and the cat is gone. Hunt begins.
11:45 Cat found. Clothes changed. Shoes carried to car.
11:50 Scrapbook store with 6 kids in tow to get 3 pieces of paper. Joshua plays with the cash register.
12:00 Alco discount store to look for art supplies for crowns and a field trip through the lightbulb aisle. Joshua runs up and down the aisle, Simeon managed to sneak the penguins in with him and does his own shopping trip. Hannah begs for stuff. We can't find anything we need in the craft section, so we go to the school supply section. It's almost desolate. We go to the toy section (*groan*) and find some "stickers" that turned out to be tattoos, a box of gemstones and stuff I thought would work, and glitter glue.
12:41 Back home for lunch. Ammon is alseep by the time we get home. Joshua pees his pants. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.
1:00-3:00 Watched Coraline. Really didn't like the movie. Ammon naps. Joshua pees his pants again, but never takes a nap.
3:00-4:30 Light lesson. Did an experiment in the dark bathroom: make a call, count some change, throw a ball and try to catch it and write their names. It was interesting. Made our crowns. Haven't completed them at the time of this writing.
4:30 Play outside.
5:30 Inside from playing, cooking dinner, talked to friend and sister. Joshua pees his pants again. Well, actually poops. But Curtis is home and cleaned it up for me. (Is it bad that I'm happy about that?)
6:45 Dinner served: cowboy beans on tortillas.
7:30 Father's Blessings for all the kids for the start of school. I always enjoy hearing Isaac's especially.
7:45 Ammon, Joshua and Simeon put to bed. Hannah in shower. I begin to plan for the next day's school.
8:30 Hannah to bed.
9:30 Boys in bed.
And yet, I still find time to facebook, email, blog and chat with friends. I think I'll get off to bed. I'm exhausted!
6:30 Alarm goes off. Curtis hits snooze.
6:40 Snooze
6:50 Snooze
7:00 Snooze. Ammon gets out of his room and just as I start to pick him up and see if he'll lay with me, I discover he is soaked from the waist down.
7:10 Ammon bathed and dressed. Joshua pooped but makes it to the toilet just in the nick of time. Clean him up and get him dressed. Wake everyone else up.
7:15 Scriptures
7:30 Showers
8:00 Curtis to work.
8:10 Kids put to work: unload dishwasher, clean cat box, straighten living room (Yes, it already needs it and we've not even been up for 2 hours), clean bedrooms, get laundry gathered, clean up kitchen floor.
8:45 Breakfast: biscuits, sausage and peaches.
9:00 Insane urge to have to vacuum the entire house.
9:30 School officially starting. Kids seated at their desks. Ammon and Joshua contained to a play room and school room. They would rather climb on the desks than play with all the neatly sorted toys.
10:00 Quick stop for Jesse to bring down the fan because I'm roasting. It falls down the stairs. Ammon poops. More climbing on desks. Isaac looses a pencil and throws a tantrum.
10:30 We've covered 4 types of sentences, elements of fiction, read some books, done some laundry.
10:45 Joshua pees his pants.
11:00 Math
11:08 Joshua figures out how to open the bedroom window, sticks a pony bead in the handle after he unscrews it off the hinge and the cat gets out.
11:15 Joshua escapes outside. Probably to get the cat, but we don't know he's outside.
11:30 Clean up and break for lunch, only I decide it would be better to do two quick errands and then eat lunch. Everyone scrambles for shoes and socks.
11:35 Isaac discovers the window is open and the cat is gone. Hunt begins.
11:45 Cat found. Clothes changed. Shoes carried to car.
11:50 Scrapbook store with 6 kids in tow to get 3 pieces of paper. Joshua plays with the cash register.
12:00 Alco discount store to look for art supplies for crowns and a field trip through the lightbulb aisle. Joshua runs up and down the aisle, Simeon managed to sneak the penguins in with him and does his own shopping trip. Hannah begs for stuff. We can't find anything we need in the craft section, so we go to the school supply section. It's almost desolate. We go to the toy section (*groan*) and find some "stickers" that turned out to be tattoos, a box of gemstones and stuff I thought would work, and glitter glue.
12:41 Back home for lunch. Ammon is alseep by the time we get home. Joshua pees his pants. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.
1:00-3:00 Watched Coraline. Really didn't like the movie. Ammon naps. Joshua pees his pants again, but never takes a nap.
3:00-4:30 Light lesson. Did an experiment in the dark bathroom: make a call, count some change, throw a ball and try to catch it and write their names. It was interesting. Made our crowns. Haven't completed them at the time of this writing.
4:30 Play outside.
5:30 Inside from playing, cooking dinner, talked to friend and sister. Joshua pees his pants again. Well, actually poops. But Curtis is home and cleaned it up for me. (Is it bad that I'm happy about that?)
6:45 Dinner served: cowboy beans on tortillas.
7:30 Father's Blessings for all the kids for the start of school. I always enjoy hearing Isaac's especially.
7:45 Ammon, Joshua and Simeon put to bed. Hannah in shower. I begin to plan for the next day's school.
8:30 Hannah to bed.
9:30 Boys in bed.
And yet, I still find time to facebook, email, blog and chat with friends. I think I'll get off to bed. I'm exhausted!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The 5 Year Old Explosion from Happiness
I've talked about Simeon and his love of penguins and trains. He hyperfocuses on these things, although lately, I think bats (*shiver*) may be moving in since he won't stop talking about bats, baby bats, bats in caves, big bats, bats that try to get tangled up in Mommy's hair...you get the idea. Last weekend we got a rare opportunity to go to the Omaha Zoo as part of an Omaha Autistic support group. It was great!
First place we had to see was the penguins. Honestly, I could sit and watch these guys all day. We got there at feeding time and so they were active, begging for food, swimming (racing, as Simeon says) and hopping around. He didn't want to leave either. He's got two stuffed penguins he carries around, Cody and Pingu, and we fit them into a backpack for him. Their heads popped out the sides so they could see the zoo too. Simeon was so happy in the penguin exhibit, he grinned from ear to ear. If he could have, I think he would have been in the tank swimming with them.
I recently learned that Simeon is freaked out by butterflies. I don't know what it is that scares him, but his only explanation is that they are "weird". Well, everyone else in the family wanted to see the butterfly exhibit at the zoo, and I forgot about Simeon's freakish fear of them, so guess what happened when we walked into the exhibit? Screaming in a high pitch voice for Mommy, panic as he shoved his way back to me and then the death grip on my leg almost tripping me on the narrow path of the exhibit. We did make it through, and while I really tried to calm him down, I couldn't help but smile at the misconception of his fear,until I saw him laughing at me in the Rain Forest exhibit with a huge bat flying around diving for my head. I swear that bat had a 5 foot wing span. And yes, those were MY high pitch screams as I ran for cover from the hideous bats. Moving on...
The day we went was 100 degrees and windy, however at the zoo, since it was in a valley, we didn't have a puff of breeze in there to cool us off. We walked down to the zebras that had a zoo train depot right next door, so we figured, instead of dragging us all over the zoo and getting even more dehydrated, we'd take the train. Simeon had recovered from the excitement of the penguins to only explode again at the sight of the train. Even if the train had never moved, he would have been a happy camper. It was nice to get on there because with the speed, we did get some breeze and we got to see most of the outdoor exhibits we wouldn't have been able to too with six kids in tow and it so hot.
Off the train, onto dinner, and into a cool IMAX theater. After the theater, we went into the Kingdom of the Night exhibit. Once again, bats, but this time they were enclosed. I'm sorry, Simeon, I did not stay around to entertain your questions, but rather pushed through to the alligator exhibit that was even more scary than the 1000bats flying around. The last time we saw this exhibit we saw it in the dark, with only spot lights highlighting the animals and a floating boardwalk making our footing unsure. The kids had nightmares for weeks. This time however, the lights were on and it wasn't as scary as the last time.
I love the whole zoo, and while this event was for our whole family, it was really Simeon we focused on that loved the exhibits. I don't know if it's because he doesn't really remember the last time we were there, or he was so cute with his penguin backpack, or so happy at almost every exhibit, it was wonderful to see him enjoy something so thouroughly outside movies or his train tracks at home. One of the last exhibits we got to go through as the hospital. They had a zoo surgeon there that had his arm mauled just a couple of months before by a tiger. He showed us x-rays of some bats, and then, at the very end, an x-ray of a penguin that had swallowed a penny.
Simeon's eyes were big as plates. He explained how he had swallowed a penny just a month before and had to go to the doctor for it too. Unfortunately for the penguin, his didn't just pass through, but he had to have surgery to remove his penny.
At the end of the evening, we visited the bears and tigers, saw some monkeys, and then it was time to go. As we waited by the exit while Curtis took some of the kids to the bathroom, Simeon asked me if he could see the penguins again. The exhibit had closed and so I told him that they had to go to sleep. He stomped his foot and yelled "Tell them to WAKE UP!!!" I think the zoo has a webcam for the penguins, so I'll have to look that up for him, poor guy.
I think this is why we love children. Raising them can be very tedious and tiring and stressful, but there's also these moments we get that we see their dreams come true, when they still see magic in everything and when they just exude happiness and joy and peace and over-flowing love. And these moments are what we remember and how we forget all those moments that aren't so exciting, or painful, like their labor pains. Its over the simplest things. Who would have thought watching penguins would have been a wish come true?
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sometimes You Need a Little Fluff
Since life has seemed to spiral out of control for me this summer, I turned to books to just get some down time for my brain. I thought I would do a short book review for what I've read this summer.
Jodi Picoult
The Vanishing Act
Well, if you ever wondered about what life was like in prison, how to make meth, and Hopi Indians, here's your book. I like her style of writing and there is no predicting what happens next. It was a legal drama, and it was very, very interesting. Jodi's characters were very well developed.
Plain Truth
I love Amish and I love baby stories. Only, this is based on a murder of an Amish baby and forbidden love. It has now become one of my favorite books.
Debbie Macomber
I read several of her books this summer. I read the Blossom Street series, and it was okay. Very good fluffy reading. Keeps your minds off of other stuff while you get involved in the characters' issues. I read some of her books right after my divorce and enjoyed them then too. They are romance novels though, and I sort of feel like I've outgrown these, and thankfully, the ones here are not the raunchy kind.
Fern Michaels
I read one book, just to see what happened, but it was terrible writing and I was really annoyed by how she wrote the dialogs. It wasn't how normal people would talk, and she didn't have a lot to back it up. Her books took up and entire shelf and part of another one in the library. I wonder if it was a case of "pressure writing" and not something that was thought out well.
The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton
I LOVED this book! For anyone that has ever had special connection with a dog, or coyote, or really, any animal, this story is for you! Charlie, the coyote, came to her when he was only 10 days old. I was reminded of all the special moments I had with my dogs and how much happiness can come into your life with pets. She also has a website that you can sign up for daily pictures of Charlie here.
Ben Franklin's Almanac of Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Advice. This wasn't exactly fluff, but it was fun to read. It's set up like a calendar and every day has an article, tidbits, quotes, and dates to remember. Very cool!
There's been other books I've read this summer, but can't remember them right now. Hope you have had a good summer. List some of your favorite books below. We'd love to hear about them!
Jodi Picoult
The Vanishing Act
Well, if you ever wondered about what life was like in prison, how to make meth, and Hopi Indians, here's your book. I like her style of writing and there is no predicting what happens next. It was a legal drama, and it was very, very interesting. Jodi's characters were very well developed.
Plain Truth
I love Amish and I love baby stories. Only, this is based on a murder of an Amish baby and forbidden love. It has now become one of my favorite books.
Debbie Macomber
I read several of her books this summer. I read the Blossom Street series, and it was okay. Very good fluffy reading. Keeps your minds off of other stuff while you get involved in the characters' issues. I read some of her books right after my divorce and enjoyed them then too. They are romance novels though, and I sort of feel like I've outgrown these, and thankfully, the ones here are not the raunchy kind.
Fern Michaels
I read one book, just to see what happened, but it was terrible writing and I was really annoyed by how she wrote the dialogs. It wasn't how normal people would talk, and she didn't have a lot to back it up. Her books took up and entire shelf and part of another one in the library. I wonder if it was a case of "pressure writing" and not something that was thought out well.
The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton
I LOVED this book! For anyone that has ever had special connection with a dog, or coyote, or really, any animal, this story is for you! Charlie, the coyote, came to her when he was only 10 days old. I was reminded of all the special moments I had with my dogs and how much happiness can come into your life with pets. She also has a website that you can sign up for daily pictures of Charlie here.
Ben Franklin's Almanac of Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Advice. This wasn't exactly fluff, but it was fun to read. It's set up like a calendar and every day has an article, tidbits, quotes, and dates to remember. Very cool!
There's been other books I've read this summer, but can't remember them right now. Hope you have had a good summer. List some of your favorite books below. We'd love to hear about them!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Groceries and Saving Time
As a geographically single, homeschooling mom (again thanks to the Army) the first thing I have to do is cut out ALL unnecessary trips to town, things outside of the home...pretty much anything extra. If it causes strain on our new family rhythm it has to go.Years ago, when I was pregnant and on bed-rest I had looked into grocery stores that deliver to your home. That really makes life NICE! I'm in better physical condition this time, but it's still nice to have things delivered, so you can be home more getting everything done that you need to. If I can order it online or by phone and it comes to me by the United postal service or another delivery service, that is less gas money I spend and less time away from more important things. Time is money and time is love. I want to save it for the more important things in life or for the really fun shopping like Barnes and Noble. {smile}
This weekend I started looking up grocery delivery services in my area. The only one I really saw was Schwan's. I saw their prices were a little high, but they are still cheaper than eating out with the kids when I do have to leave the house. I think it's worth having a few "easy" and pricier meals delivered to me than spending gas money, time and money eating out. I'm going to try them out.
Today I found this free promo for $10 for Schwan's! I signed up right away! It's free, why not try and make your life a little easier too?
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