Longitude and Latitude

Friday, Kellen's (8) science lesson was about the trade winds and other weather patterns. As part of this lesson, longitude and latitude were used. He has a general idea what this is, but we haven't done much with it.

He was having a hard time remembering which was which, and I was having a hard time remembering how to get him to remember. I was a social studies teacher you know. You'd think I'd know a few tricks! Aha, like a light bulb turning on, I remembered.

This is a trick one of my students actually came up with. As a rule of thumb, students' memory tricks are usually the best. To remember which lines are longitude and which are latitude, picture a globe with the lines drawn on. See the lines going up and down, those are the long lines. Long lines are "long-itudes". Now, pictures the horizontal lines. They are flat, right? Flat lines are "flat-itudes."

I thought this was a great trick, and I remember slipping up a couple times in class and actually saying flatitude instead of latitude. Kellen didn't get it at first, when we weren't looking at a map. After explaining it while looking at a world map, it clicked. Just remember;

Long lines go up and down: Long- itudes = longitude
Flat lines: Flat-itudes = latitude

Car Farts

Last Sunday, Tim and Kellen went to church early, and I drove later with the three youngest. When exiting the interstate, I took the turn a little tight, and went on the rumble strip of the exit ramp for a moment.

Nolan (soon to be 3): What that?
Lydia (5): The car farted. (followed by an outbreak of giggles from the back seat)
Nolan: Mommy make car fart 'gain!

I obliged and a fresh round of giggles broke out. They were disappointed when I informed them that we had left the exit ramp, and I could no longer make the car fart. They did continue talking about it, and giggling the rest of the way to church.

About the Picture

As you've figured out, the picture was of frog eggs. Kellen actually took that picture last week. We have eggs and tadpoles all spring, well into the summer, in every puddle of water around. These are in the ditch of our driveway. It is amazing how many eggs are laid.

It is interesting and educational to watch them become tadpoles and then frogs. The kids will walk out the lane every so often to check on the progress. They get so excited when something changes! They run back to give me a report.

The sound of the frogs is just as much a part of spring here as seeing the eggs. I wish you could hear them. It is really pretty and relaxing. They sing into the night, and sing a lot when it is rainy. Those are happy frogs doing their work!

The Timer is My Friend

Last week, the kids needed to clean their rooms. I don't ask for much, I just wanted to be able to to see the floor. They were seriously dragging their feet. An hour and a half had gone by with me occasionally reminding, nagging, and yelling. We were getting nowhere.

Then I remembered a trick I used to use that somehow had gotten put aside; the kitchen timer, and you thought it was only for cooking! HA! I brought the timer to their rooms. Kellen groaned. Apparently, he had not forgotten my friend the timer. I told the kids I would set the timer for 15 minutes, and I wanted their rooms to be picked up.

I set it and hit the start button. The amount of cleaning going on was astounding. Of course, I made it fun by using my best announcer voice, calling out every so often, "Look at those rooms, I can almost see the floors. Just 10 minutes left folks, can they finish? Oh my Lydia, it is looking great, but don't forget about that corner over there! Kellen, I didn't know you were such an amazing room cleaner!"

The rooms were picked up in about ten minutes, but we didn't stop there. Oh no, there were still five minutes remaining. "Clean until the timer goes off," I called, and they did. They started looking under the bed, in their closets, straightening toys, and they cleaned until the timer went off. They were amazed at how much they could get done in 15 minutes, and so was I. We continue to have "15 minutes cleans" every couple of days.

Then yesterday, Kellen had a large list of vocabulary words to do for school. He was dragging again, In an hour he had only finished four. I didn't get frustrated. I simply brought in my friend, the timer, but not the announcer voice. The words were complete in 30 minutes time. Ah, my newest, bestest friend; my kitchen timer!

Works for Me Wednesday.

The First Sign of Spring

Do you know what this is?

Answer revealed later!
(No fair giving it away if you've seen this elsewhere!)
Wordless Wednesday

So Many Places to Go, So Many Things to Do

There is another blog in the family! Tim's other cousin, Mandy, that would be Heather's sister, has joined the rest of us in her blog, Controlled Chaos. Go welcome her to the blogging world!

Have you seen the battle that is happening? It is Iron Chef Moms. The Aldi Queen is taking on the Super Sale Shopper. Who can feed her family for less? The results are sure to be educational for us all!

Carnivals and Festivals you might like:
Make it From Scratch
Carnival of Debt Reduction
Carnival of Homeschooling
Carnival of the Recipes
Festival of Frugality (This was not up yet at the time of this post, but should be up this morning.)
And if you didn't see it here yesterday, Carnival of Family Life.

Enjoy all the reading! I wouldn't want you to be bored on a Tuesday morning! :)

Carnival of Family Life #45

Welcome to Edition #45 of the Carnival of Family Life. It is a big one. Like always there are lots of great entries, some informational, some just for fun, and some that are a little of both. Have fun browsing and don't forget to leave comments and let the author know you stopped in for a visit!

Things to Think About
When your child's birthday is near the kindergarten cut off date, you have a choice to make. See what Liz Smith decides to do in Do We Push Our Kids Too Hard? posted at Modern Sage Online: Practical Living Blog.

Darius presents Young People and Internet Safety posted at 2-Privacy.com.

Mike gives some good parenting advice for us all. Raising children - with or without autism is posted at Be A Good Dad.

The Rocketman has solved a bath time dilemma in OK, I Love You, B?Bye! posted at The Rocketman's Change For A Dollar.

How personal are you in your blog? TherapyDoc presents Anonymity, Blogging, and Boundaries posted at Everyone needs therapy? Lessons from a family therapist.

Megan Bayliss is getting married. Some interesting concerns have come up. Children at Weddings: Acceptable or Non-Acceptable? posted at Child protection: serious business..

Csara presents Mommy Etiquette , or the lack there of, at Baby Talkers.

Think you know it all about chicken pox? See what Rdoctor has to say. You might learn something new.

Amanda Rose presents Rugged Mountain Woman, Back from Hiatus posted at Rebuild from Depression Blog.

Tricia learns It's Worth a Whole Lot More when her son breaks one of her favorite things. Posted at Blogging Away Debt.

Super Saver presents Lessons From My Daughter - "New One" posted at My Wealth Builder.

Lena is surprised by her daughter's self confidence in Cherish posted at Cheeky Lotus.

What has been going on with Supermom? She lets us know in Where Have I Been? posted at SuperMom at MindSay!.

What is missing in playtime? Hsien-Hsien Lei presents Pediatrician-Approved Toys posted at Play Library.

Is your "to do" list draining you? Karen Lynch presents She’s Come Undone posted at LivethePower.

Writing letters used to be the only way to communicate with those far away. Skeet shares some memories in Letters.

Did you celebrate March 8th? Babylune tells us more in Happy International Womens Day.

Satisfaction is taken when hard work pays off. Especially, when it brings such joy to people. Holly shares Small Miracles at Hollyscorner.

Adelle has the Bus Stop Blues posted at KidFaves News.

Christine presents A Boy and the Shower posted at Everyday Disasters.

Karen Alonge thinks maybe we put too much pressure on ourselves as parents. She presents easing off ... posted at postcards from nowhere.

Family time is hard to come by. Carnival founder, Kailani presents Family Dinners posted at An Island Life.

Alan presents It gets lonely at the top - How to handle rejection posted at Made to Be Great.

Things to Have Fun With
I Slimed Them! Goo and fun go together. See what Stephanie and her kids did. Posted at Work at Home in Progress.

Viv connects with her sons in an unusual way in Unlikely Gamer posted at Cool Moms Rule.

Erin Go Bragh! St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Ideas tons of fun and easy ideas! Posted at More4kids Parenting & Family Life.

Erica Douglas presents Activity #7 Gunge or Dough or?..You Decide It is messy, but fun! Posted at Littlemummy.Com.

Get out of your play rut and Do Something Different posted at Littlemummy.Com.

Summer tells about a fun day. My kids are too cute, when you have a great camer... posted at Wired For Noise.

Ever wonder what life is like for moms in other parts of the world? Fun Play dates is showing us in their series, Global Moms.

Ellen McDermott presents Keynoter march 2007: Monday, March 5, 2007 posted at Keynoter march 2007.

Karen Weideman, aka Thrifty Mommy, presents 10 Sites for St. Patrick’s Day Ideas posted at Thrifty Mommy.

Lisa presents Rubber ducky birthday party ideas posted at Lil Duck Duck.

For Laughs
It’s 15 Degrees, The Furnace is Broken—It’s Go Time! A domestic emergency makes Chris feel alive. Posted at Chris Wondra . com.

Lakshmi presents Lessons I did not have to learn. The comments to this post are worth a read too. Posted at Alchemy.

Jami Leigh got a big surprise when her daughter got off the bus! Somebody call the fashion police posted at jamileigh.com.

Maureen must be the coolest grandma ever. Laser Tag - Grandma Style is posted at Empty Nest.

Tired of winter? Madeleine Begun Kane presents Is It Spring Yet? posted at MAD KANE'S HUMOR BLOG.

Laura presents doing shots mean mommy style a story about her trip with three kids to the doctor. Posted at Adventures in Juggling.

Next weeks host, DigitalRich presents When Trees Fly posted at DigitalRichDaily.

You know your the parent of a toddler when. . . Toddler Parent Checklist posted by Jennifer at Parenting Toddlers.

Karen Murphy writes a letter to her 3 year old in more stuff about Eric, because frankly, he's the most interesting one of us posted at Lion and Magic Boy.

"I’ll really start to worry if he leans across the dinner table when I present dinner one night and says - 'No Mummy, no vegetables - your fired!'." Leisa presents Mummy’s Donald Doll posted at downwiththekids.net.

Karen (Miscellaneous Mum) presents Riley's Birth Story posted at Miscellanous Adventures of an Aussie Mum.

MyBestInvest has scarred his son for life! But if anyone could pull it off, he could posted at My Best Investments.

Tips and Tricks
Have a girlie girl who wants curly hair, but you don't want to spend the money on curlers? Try Rag Rolling presented at Stop the Ride!

Is your child too young for a real job, but still wanting to earn some extra bucks? Matthew Paulson presents Great Ways for Kids to Make Money posted at Getting Green.

Julee Huy is In a Daze . The baby is sick. She is sick, yet life still goes on. Posted at Homeschool Daze.

Trouble at meal times? Jennifer gives us some ideas in Getting Your Toddler to Eat Veggies posted at Parenting Toddlers.

Lydia gives us three great tips for what to do when there are Too Many Toys? posted at Little Blue School.

So the Pregnancy Test is Positive, Now What? Lisa tells you. Posted at Let's Talk Babies.

Develop a love of reading in your child. Michelle presents Tips for Improving Your Child's Literacy posted at scribbit.

Morgan Abigail presents Learning To Read With Bob Books :: Morgan Abigail’s World posted at Morgan Abigail's World.

Frugal Duchess finds she has imparted some frugal wisdom to her teenage son in The Frugal Duchess: My Son's $10 Suede Sneakers from Target: Flexing Frugal Muscles. posted at sharon @ frugal duchess.

Antonio presents Weasel Your Way Out posted at Weasel Your Way Out.

I share with you some tips I've learned that work with my soon to be three year old in Dealing with a Strong Willed Child.

The March 19th Edition hosted by Digital Rich Daily. Information about the carnival can be found at An Island Life.

And with that we come to the end of the 45th edition of the Carnival of Family Life. WHEW! I am feeling a bit like Tour Guide Barbie as the credits roll at the end of Toy Story 2.

"I'm exhausted. Bye now. Bye Bye!"

Homeschool Day at the Capital

Tuesday was the 17th annual Homechool Day at the Capital. The following is taken from WVHEA web site.

Homeschool Day at the Capitol offers an excellent introduction to state government. Learn how the legislature works and find out about other offices of the executive and judicial branches of our state government. Explore the Capitol with a tour guide and on our scavenger hunt. Meet and chat with your representatives about homeschooling or whatever else is on your mind. Show our elected officials and the general public how homeschoolers learn by bringing displays of your special projects or your group’s activities.

Tim, Kellen and Lydia headed for Charleston for the event. I stayed home with the two little ones because Vivian was running a fever. Tim and the kids looked at displays, and mingled with government officials and other homeschoolers. The homeschool band played.

The band may be small, but they have one awesome director! *wink*

They sat in on a State Senate session.




Lydia (5) was very impressed by the hanging "diamonds."


She took about 20 pictures of the chandelier. I kid you not!

On the way home she had a photo shoot with her stuffed animals.


Perhaps we need to reconsider having the five year old as our photographer!



Crystal also posted about this day, if you'd like to see more!

Dealing with a Strong Willed Child - TT# 2

In a family of hard headed people, Nolan (soon to be 3), perhaps, has the hardest head in this house. He pushes every boundary, fights every limit, and pushes me to the edge almost daily. Before you think I have a devil child, he also is very sweet and loving. He loves to sit on your lap, and cuddle. . . when it is his idea! That sweetness, combined with the strong will, can be a dangerous (from my point of view) combination.


Here is a list of things that I need to remember when dealing with my strong willed child. If you have a little hard head in your house, maybe they will work for you too.

1. Be Consistent.
If I told him yesterday he can't jump on the bed, I can not let him jump on the bed today, when it is so cute, because he is singing a silly song while jumping.

2. Give Choices When Possible.
Nolan once had a fit in McDonald's because I got him a hot fudge sundae. I got Kellen and Lydia the same thing, but got Vivian a yogurt. I didn't ask what he wanted. Now had I asked, he probably would have chosen the ice cream, but he wanted to make the decision.

3. Keep Routines.
He always watches a short video before his nap. Having this routine lessens (notice I did not say eliminates) the battle at nap time. He always battles his nap, claiming he isn't tired, and then sleeps for about 2 1/2 hours!

4. Lots of Loving.

5. Make Him Laugh.
When he is digging in his heals, a silly face or even a tickle can break the mood.

6. Follow Through on Threats.
Don't say it if you aren't going to do it.

7. Don't Argue with Him.
He seems to thrive on the battle. I need to hold my ground with out it turning into an argument.

8. Pick Your Battles and Win the Ones You Pick.

9. One on One Time.
He acts out when he hasn't gotten enough of this.

10. Don't Give in to the Charm when he is Being Rotten.
Easier said than done.

11. Catch Him and Praise Him for Being Good.

12. Enlist the Help of the Siblings
Our rule at dinner is that everyone at least taste everything that is being served. Nolan will refuse and dig in his heels, until Kellen offers him a bite. Then he opens up wide and tastes the food. Often finding he really does like it!

13. When all Else Fails . . .Send Him to Papaw and Mamaw's!

Thursday Thirteen.

My Inspiration

If you've been around the 100 Acre Wood long, you know where most of my inspiration comes from;My cuties! Just look at my labels to see all the "kids" posts. That's a lot of inspiration goin' on! They inspire more than just posts for my blog. They are the reason we do the things we do, from Christianity to homsteading and frugality. They inspire us to be good examples for them. . . and give us a lot of funny stories.

An Island Life wants to know what inspires you. Details are at her site. Voting starts Thursday, go vote for me would ya?

My Cuties!

Go to Wordless Wednesday to play along.

Places to Go

This weeks Carnival of Family Life is up at Be a Good Dad. I will be hosting this carnival here next week.

Make It From Scratch is also posted over at Stop the Ride. Some very yummy and creative things there.

Have you seen Michelle's March Write Away Contest? This month she is looking for submissions about childhood memories. These should be good. Deadline is March 11th.

Tell us all a story about what your kids have done right lately. Focus on the good and share your story at Pass the Torch Tuesday.

Speaking of place to go, we are off to the Homeschool Day at the Capital tomorrow. The band is playing in public for the first time with Tim as director. I'm sure we will have more to share about this later. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Vivian

My baby turns one today. And yes, she is still my baby! I am not willing to concede the baby label yet. One year ago she surprised us by coming early, before a scheduled C-section.

The first few months were rough. She had a stubborn case of jaundice, and was very fussy. She spent a lot of time in the sling. Then, almost overnight, it seemed she became a sweet and easy baby. She has been that way since.





She is the sweetie of our church. She is the only baby, and I often don't even make it into the building without someone taking her for me. Funny, how I hated when people did that with Kellen, but now love it with Vivian. She has lots of moms, big sisters, and grandmas at church, who love to hold and play with her. She remains to the core a mommy's girl, and often comes back for a little momma loving before going off to play some more.

She is usually smiley, rarely fussy, and often has what looks to be her fist in her mouth. She actually is sucking on the middle knuckle of her index finger. She never would take a pacifier, but found her own. She attempts to sign "more" and "all done." Sometimes it sounds like she is saying, "mama," or "dada." She can stand alone for a quite awhile, and has attempted some lunging first steps. She is very curious, and constantly exploring. Often "exploring" the same places over and over. She loves to pull everything out of the cupboard, drawer, bag or whatever container things happen to be in. She also is starting to climb.

She is our cutie and we love her bunches. Happy 1st Birthday Vivian!

Big Plans for the Hillbilly Scouts

The cousins were here this weekend, and they and my two oldest (8 & 5), worked on Hillbilly Scouts most of the weekend. They designed a flag, that they are hoping Mamaw will sew for them. Ashley(11) and Miles (soon to be 9) copied the pledge and taped it to their doors. They all promised to say the pledge every morning.

Miles started writing a story. Kellen says they are sending it to Harper-Collins to get published. He has a membership to some of their kids programs, and thought that would get the book published. We tried to explain to him that it doesn't quite work like that. His response, "We'll just send it to Random House then."

Big plans were made for the summer, when Ashley and Miles are here for eight weeks. The four of them plan to camp by the creek for a week. The creek is maybe 1/4 to 1/2 a mile away. I am not a good judge of distance. There also is a significant difference in distance depending on how you go. The kids like to go straight down the side of the hill. I prefer the longer route that follows old logging roads.

They made lists of equipment, food and activities. All four of them were busy on some aspect of planning. Ashley even typed up some of it, and asked Mamaw to check over it.

The adults in this story could impose sensibility and reality on these plans, but why? They are being creative. They are making memories that will last them a life time. So, we try to guide them without crushing the creativity.

Will they really camp at the creek for a week? Uh, no, not now. We did suggest they try camping closer to home for a couple nights, before heading to the creek for a week. Closer, in as, I can see and hear them closer. They seemed ok with that, and went on with their planning and memory making.

Black Walnut Pie - A humbling learning experience

Pecan pie is on my list of things I've never made from scratch, but would like to try. We shelled black walnuts last weekend, and I found a recipe that looked similar to pecan pie, so I thought I'd try it. The recipe is from Bootstraps and Biscuits.

Black Walnut Pie
Beat 3 eggs, add 1/2 C brown sugar. Melt 1/4 C butter and add with 1 C corn syrup. Mix with the egg mixture. Stir in 1 C finely chopped black walnuts that have been mixed with 1 C quick cooking rolled oats. Pour into a 9-inch pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower heat to 350 degrees and continue baking till crust is nice and browned, about 20 to 25 minutes. You can substitute another C of chopped walnuts instead of the rolled oats. This will make the walnut flavor much more pronounced.

The Humbling
I've made my own pie crusts regularly for a couple of years now. I used to shy away from them, but picked up a few tricks that made it so much easier. As I am mixing the dough, I was thinking about the tips I could give you. What wisdom could I share, so that you too could make lovely pie crusts like me? (what does it say in Proverbs about pride?)

I was so into thinking about blogging, and my lovely pie crusts, that I didn't even notice I had put way too much water in. It wasn't until after I chilled the dough, and was trying to roll it out, that I realized what I had done. The dough was so sticky I couldn't work with it at all. I had to scrape it off my work surface and add more flour. The end result was not something I'd take pride in. It tasted just fine, but it sure wasn't pretty.

Humbly, I submit some tips (they really do work, I promise!) about pie crust:
1. Chill the ingredients before mixing.
2. Chill the dough before rolling
3. Roll between wax paper. This is what finally got me to make crusts all the time. It is so much easier to work with and get into the pie plate.
4. Do not add too much water!


The Learning
I really think the recipe is a good one, but my result was mediocre. The problem (besides the crust) was I didn't have enough corn syrup. I only had about 2/3 C. I referred to my substitution list. None of the quick lists had corn syrup on them. I dug a little more and the first substitute I found was molasses. I should have kept digging.

I like molasses, but even just 1/3 C was a little overpowering in this recipe. It even overpowered the black walnuts, which have a strong flavor themselves. I won't make that substitution again. I probably should have used maple syrup.

I will try this recipe again. Next time, I think I will use all nuts and skip the oatmeal. It was ok, even with all the problems, but I think it could be really good. It was a learning experience, but sometimes that is what cooking from scratch is all about.

The Stubborn Gene Dominates

If my family tree were an actual tree, I think it would be oak. My family is strong, solid and very hard; in the head that is. Papaw blames the Hershbergers on Mamaw's side of the family, who have a reputation for being stubborn hot heads. Mamaw claims it is those darn Millers. She has the story of Papaw's great grand father to support her position.

Jacob's Abe, (Amish are often referred to in terms of family lineage. There are a lot of duplicate names. Lineage helps keep everybody straight about who you are talking about.) Papaw's great grandfather, had quite the reputation. In fact, they called him a name, I don't know how to type in Dutch, but that translated means Jacob's Abe Thickhead. This man had such a reputation that the name stuck and became a synonym for stubborn in the Amish community Papaw grew up in. I am sure Papaw was often called Jacob's Abe Thickhead.

So, Miller or Hershberger, it seems as if my brothers and I had no chance of avoiding those "stubborn" genes. The boys, of course, are both very stubborn. Typical Jacob's Abe Thickheads! (love you, Eric and Jake!) I am only determined, thank you very much! *grin*

Tim is the opposite of a Jacob's Abe Thickhead. He really is the most easy going guy. As he likes to say, he is the only Indian in this family of Chiefs.

You would think our offspring might have a chance of avoiding the "stubborn" genes, but apparently "stubborn" is a dominant gene. I won't label Vivian as stubborn yet. She is only one after all, but the other three? No hesitation, they are independent, strong willed, hard headed stubborn kids. They all display it in different ways, but it is there.

Believe me, we've seen it and battled with it in all three of them. We don't want to squelch it. Independence, strong will and a little hardheadedness can do a lot of good when pointed the right way. It is our job to help point it the right way. It can be a hard job.

Maybe I am wrong. Maybe "stubborn" really isn't dominate. Maybe Vivian will show that the "easygoing" gene can win. In the meantime, I better go point my darling Thickheads in the right direction!

Converstaion with a Five Year Old

As reported to me by the dental hygienist.

Hygienist: Does your baby sister nap a lot?
Lydia: Yes, she sleeps all day.
Hygienist: Oh, I wish I could sleep all day. I guess I wouldn't get much work done though.
Lydia: Well, I think you would get fired.

Tell it like it is girl!

A link and a challenge

The Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Homeschool Cafe. What a fantastic job those ladies did. Go check out the latest news!

Don't forget, this week is Challenge Week for Make it From Scratch. I challenge you to make something you've never made before. Sunday is the last day for entries!

Check out a new mom blog directory. The Mom Blogs.

A Laugh and More

Tim posted an interesting video today. First it made me laugh. Then it shocked me, and afterward made me think. Intrigued? Check out posting fun.

Vivian Wants to Dress Herself

Just wish she wouldn't practice with my undergarments!

Wordless Wednesday.

A Monday at My House

This is reality people. Messy house, dishes, laundry and crazy kids. This is what Mondays are typically like around here.

Sorry the titles aren't all there. I thought I had more space.

I'm playing Owlhaven's A Day in My Life! Play along or check there on Friday for more entries!

A Little Switcheroo

I am messing with a few on my older posts for a contest I may enter. When I republish those posts, they will show up as the latest post, if you subscribe via feeds like RSS. So, if you are reading and think, "This sounds sooo familiar." it may be because you have already read it.

In other reading, The Carnival of Recipes is up. The topic this week is Slow Cooker Recipes. The Carnival of Family Life is up too.

I must go now and force, I mean convince my kids to go play outside!

More Bloggin' Fun

Share a day in your life in pictures. Owlhaven is hosting this fun play along. Pick a day between now and March 2nd. Keep your camera with you all day and snap shots. Then post them. Add them to a Mr. Linky on her site March 2nd. For details click here. How fun and easy!

Hmm.... should I clean the house first and let you see how I'd like my day to be? Or let you see the reality?

A little book to give to. . . .

Toni!
Randomly drawn by my husband.
Toni, email me with your address and I will get it in the mail.

A Story in My Life #6

I received a very sweet email from a reader yesterday, wondering what was happening with M.R. It has been about three weeks since I spoke with the adoption agency and received the letter from the adoptive family. (All correspondence with the adoptive family goes through the agency. We do not have each others' addresses.) I really did intend on updating here. I can't believe it has been so long. My apologies to those who were waiting for an update.

This story in my life is an ever constant undercurrent. It sometimes comes to the surface, as it had when I started sharing it here. Sometimes there are other things that keep my attention and time, as it has been the last few weeks. The contact with the agency and the adoptive family eased my anxiety, allowing this subject ease back down in my mind.

The last few weeks here have also been filled with out of the normal busyness. I need quiet when I sit to think (or write) about this subject. Quiet has been in short supply lately. There are my excuses, onto the story.

The letter I received was very dated. It was from 1999. I was a bit frustrated by this at first. This letter apparently had gotten buried in a file. Though I wasn't always prompt in keeping my address updated, (We have moved a lot.) I know that it has been updated since 1999! More frustrating, was in the letter the adoptive mother indicated that she would like to keep contact. She asked lots of questions about me and my life now (then.) I had written a letter in 2001 (of course not knowing about this letter from 1999.) I wonder if they ever got it?

It wasn't until the agency hired a new employee that the letter (1999) was forwarded. Coincidence that this happened around the same time this story started bubbling to the surface of my mind again? Maybe.

Maybe it was the Lord's timing. The years (and the Lord) have brought healing. Getting the letter this time was different from times before. Before I really wanted the updates, but each time one came it was like peeling a scab off a wound. I would bleed a little.

Receiving the letter this time was refreshing and joyous. It brought relief. There is a scar there, but the wound seems healed and ready for new things. Why waste time and energy with frustration or anger about what could have been if I'd gotten the letter in 1999? What is done is done. It has been worked together for good.

The letter was full of things about their family and M.R. The adoptive mother included mostly joys about M.R. and hinted at some frustrations. (normal parent type stuff) She also included school pictures from several years and a card made by M.R. that was really sweet. When the letter was written, M.R. would have been about the same age as Kellen is now. It was interesting to think of it with that perspective.

When considering all the letters, it is interesting too seeing how much she is like me, and my other children. The family has three biological sons and M.R. I remember in earlier letters, the adoptive mother saying how different M.R. was from the boys. It went beyond the girl/boy differences. She was just created differently. Maybe my next post will be about the things I know about M.R., like her personality and such.

For now, there really isn't much else to tell. I need to write the letter to the adoptive agency that will allow M.R. to access information if she requests it. I've also decided to include a letter for the adoptive family. Not exactly sure what I will say, but unless their opinion has changed dramatically over the years since they wrote their last letter, I think my letter will be welcomed. The worst that will happen is it will get buried in a file somewhere!

Holler Climbing?

Um, more like sliding. . .

Maybe, I shouldn't have been so happy all the snow melted!

They are at it again

Those girls over at 5 Minutes for Mom are give away crazy! Not that I'm complaining, bring it on! Now they are giving away a family game called Rhyme-N-Tyme. It looks like fun so head over to 5 Minutes for Mom
and add your name for the drawing!

Proof

I told you their creativity was messy!

Add your own Wordless Wednesday or see some more!

Some good stuff

Share something good about your kids over at Pass the Torch. I shared the Hillbilly Scouts story. The idea is to catch your kids being good and to share it. Pull something from your archives and head on over there.

The Carnival of Family Life is over at an Island Life.

The Festival of Frugality is up too!

And the Carnival of Homeschooling.

How's that for some good reading material?

A-B-C's of Homemaking

Sara, tagged me for this meme. Here is a peak at my homemaking skills or lack there of!

The A-B-C's of Homemaking

Aprons- Y/N? - Trying to get in the habit. The only apron I own is a Discovery Toys one. It serves the purpose, but I'd like to try making one sometime, maybe for Make It From Scratch.

Baking- I love baking, probably because I love eating the product. The scales show it!

Clothesline- Y/N? Yes, Yes, Yes. Year 'round. Whenever the weather permits.

Donuts- Ever made them? - Not since I was a kid. That sounds yummy though. I might have to try it!

Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday? - Pick up toys, again, again and again, and then just leave them for the next day! :) I'm pretty good about keeping the kitchen cleaned up. It is my dominion! Toys rarely enter.

Freezer- Do you have a separate deep freezer? - Oh yeah! Need a place for all that deer meat! We got a fantastic deal on this. We bought it used from a classified ad. We paid some ridiculously small amount for it. ($25? do you remember Tim?) It needed a little cleaning and a little paint. Tim put a new seal on it last year. We've had it for about four years.

Garbage Disposal- Y/N? - Yes, but we use it sparingly. Our septic backs up fairly easily.

Handbook- Y/N? - For cleaning? I'm not that organized.

Ironing- What is that? LOL Tim will do his clothes sometimes. Isn't he a great husband?

Junk Drawer- Where is it? - Not really a drawer, but the cupboards above the washer and drier serve the same purpose.

Kitchen- Design and decorating? - Corner sink with two windows. Counters and cabinets on two walls from either side of sink. Opposite walls have small table and my great grand mothers dry sink. Earth tones.

Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking? - Eating. . . oh, um. . . I mean providing frugal, high quality, nutritious meals, made from scratch for my family.

Mop- Y/N? - The kitchen has fake wood flooring. It is great for hiding dirt! :) Is this asking if I use a rag or a mop? Well, when it gets done it is certainly not on my hands and knees.

Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer? - Do I own any? I'd probably have to dig pretty hard to find a pair, and those would be from when I was teaching, five years ago.

Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check? - Window, except when the light is burned out, like it has been for awhile now.

Pizza- What do you put on yours? - We like it all. What actually goes on is totally dependent on what I find in the cupboards and refrigerator at the time.

Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment? - It is quiet here now.

Recipe card box- Y/N? - No, my recipes are in a pile in the cupboard, but my blog is quickly serving the purpose of a card box.

Style of house - Doublewide, but it has a new roof line and will soon be getting wood siding, so it really looks more like a ranch. We want to build an underground home, someday.

Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N? - Yes, tablecloths and I would like to switch to cloth napkins.

Under the kitchen sink - A mess.

Vacuum- How many times a week? - Need to everyday, but we are waiting on a part for my vacuum right now, and have to borrow Mamaws, so about once a week currently.

Wash- How many loads do you do a week? - Wash is measured in days, not loads, around here. There are six of us. We use cloth diapers. If I can use the line and the dryer, and keep the laundry going all day, I can get done in a day and 1/2. Most weeks it is three days. Last week it took all five.

X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off? - I am a list maker. Currently, on my refrigerator there are five lists, I think. There is one here by the computer too, and I have a few more in my head! I make them and I cross them off too! For some reason though, cleaning never makes it to my lists unless company is coming! Hmmm. . .

Yard- Who does what? - You mean the mud pit? Not much to do until we actually put the yard in. We both like outside work, so it just kind of depends who has the time and what needs done.

ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day? - Putting the kids to bed and making sure there is a path from my room to the girls' room in case Vivian gets up during the night.



There is a little glimpse of the homemaking here in the 100 Acre Woods. Who to tag? I'll tag Heather, Toni, and Lauren. Ladies, no guilt if you don't want to play, just thought it'd be fun to see your take on this. Of course, any one else is also welcome to join in!

A Little Book to Give Away

Simple Katie passed along the book, Musings of a Mediocre Gardener, to me, a few weeks back. This is a thoughtful little book; a gardener's reflections on life, people, and God. I really enjoyed it.

Katie sent the book, only asking, that I also pass it along when I was done. She put her web address in the book, and I will be adding mine also. The idea is to read it, pass it along and see where all it ends up.

I am now finished with it and ready to pass it on. Who would like to read it? Leave a comment. I will randomly pick someone on Friday. Of course, I also ask that you pass it on after you are finished.

The Return of the Hillbilly Scouts

Do you remember Kellen's (8) Hillbilly Scouts from last spring? This was Kellen's club where you are ranked by your hollow climbing, creek wading and hillbilly abilities. He, his siblings, and cousins played this all summer.

We haven't heard much of it this winter, until last week when he built a club house in the back yard. He used various scrap we have around from different projects. He built a table and used some 5 gallon buckets for chairs. He also claimed and named his territory. He was busy with it for hours!

Then he and Lydia (5) made helmets from shoe boxes. I'm not sure why exactly they need helmets, but it was cute. Lydia's didn't get finished yet.


He put feathers on top of the helmet to represent the levels he has reached. He also added a grouse level with a feather from the bird that crashed into our window.

Then this week he wrote the Hillbilly Scout Pledge of Allegiance. I didn't know what he was up to. I saw him at the computer and asked what he was doing. He was pretty shy about it, but told me. I was pretty impressed with what he wrote. I did help him with some spelling, but the rest is all his. He told me that he tried to use big words. Here is what he wrote:

Hillbilly Scouts Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge my childhood to be a Hillbilly Scout. To go against the ways of civilization. To be under no rules. To go through the world and do outrageous stuff (gross, weird, and just plain out dangerous) to advance up the levels of hillbilly-ness. To try to get our parents to home school us. I pledge this all to hillbilly-ness

No rules? Well, we'll see about that part! Meanwhile, imaginations are running wild here at the 100 Acre Wood. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Nolan is Growing Up

Tuesday, at our homeschool coop, Nolan (3 in May) told me that he had to go to the bathroom. I walked to the restroom with him, and took him into the women's. He walked in about three steps, turned and looked at me, outraged, "Mom, this is the girls potty!" He promptly exited, and joined Kellen in the men's room.

Carnivals, Festivals, Memes & Contests, Oh My!

There are so many good things going on in the blog world this week. I think I could spend a couple of days solid browsing. These four little people, one tall guy, and a mountain of laundry keep interrupting my very important blog browsing! *grin*

Here are a few things I am, or am trying to check out.

Carnival of Family Life
Carnival of Homeschooling
Festival of Frugality
Carnival of the Recipes

Wordless Wednesday
Thursday Thirteen

Owlhaven's I Am contest finalists.
Scribbit's Write Away contest winners.
Make it From Scratch!

Whew!

Make it From Scratch!

The entries are up over at Stop the Ride! Go tell everyone what an awesome job they did!

Ready to go!

Join in Wordless Wednesday or find more here.

Quick reminder

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day to enter Make It From Scratch! - The Contest. There are already some yummy entries. So far, it is all food. I guess you like to eat as much as I do! On Wednesday, I will be posting the links to all the entries for your browsing pleasure!

We took a liitle test. . . .

In case you were wondering about what Tim said here, or what I said here, we did decide to double check, just to make sure.

The result was negative.

Whew, what a relief. . . .

I think.

Maybe I Should Just Let Them Watch TV

In the past few weeks, Lydia (5) and Nolan (2) have become great playmates. Yes, they still fight some, but it has been a lot less than normal. Lydia will teach Nolan during school. It is so cute. "Nolan, this is the letter b, it says 'b,'" she says. It warms my heart.

They play all kinds of games together. They have named them; sweeties, honeys, Star Wars, mom & dad, and bad guys to mention a few. I love to watch them playing together, and to see their vivid imaginations. It surprises me, how much pretend Nolan is able to do, but I suppose that is just a by product of watching two older siblings.

It is wonderful, except for two things. No matter what they call the game they are playing, every game seems to involve either running between the kitchen and living room, or taking every single toy from one place to another. (sometimes both!) Usually, the toys are coming from bedrooms, and being put under the dining room table. The table is the fort, the house, the space ship or car depending on the game.

It's not so much that I mind toys under the table, but I do mind that when they are done playing, the toys are still under the table. I do mind that although they were able to move all the toys to the table, they believe they are physically incapable of moving toys back where they belong.

Add to this picture, that while they are moving all their earthly possessions under the table, Vivian (almost one) is pulling everything out of any drawer, cupboard, bag or box she can get her hands on. While I am at the computer, she pulls everything out of the diaper bag. While I'm brushing my teeth, she pulls out all the washcloths from the drawer. It looks like the whole house has exploded most days.

Obviously, Vivian is not going to clean up after herself, but Lydia, certainly, and Nolan, to a point, should be able to put toys back where they belong. It is such a battle, but it is one of those battles you know you have to fight. It would be faster just to do it myself, but I firmly believe they need to learn to clean up the messes they make.

This leads me to think. . . they don't make messes when they watch T.V. They don't run through the house either. They sit there in a zombie like stare at the screen. Hmmm. . . maybe. . . Should I trade messy, creative play, and the battle that comes after, for neat, zoned out in front of the T.V. kids? Very tempting, but I think I'll pass.

The Way to My Man's Heart - Cheesecake

Tim is coming home tonight! I was planning on trying my hand at homemade noodles this weekend, and thought I'd make them today for a special "welcome home/ early Valentine" dinner.

On the menu: homemade lasagna, garlic bread, and cheesecake. He has been eating like a king this weekend (the boss is paying), perhaps he will post about his $35 dinner entree later this week, but I know my man, and the way to his heart is homemade, especially homemade cheesecake!

I love lasagna, but do not make it very often. I usually make it from scratch, except the noodles. Today will be my first attempt at noodles. The kids want to help. This should be interesting! I will be posting more about that over at Stop the Ride!. I am waiting for an opportune time (read Nolan 's nap) to venture into noodle making, but I have started a few other things.

The garlic bread is in the machine. This is a recipe from Electric Bread, that I've made many times. There is garlic, spices and Parmesan baked into the bread. It already smells so good and it is just rising!

About a week ago, Michelle at Scribbit, posted a recipe for White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. Since then, I have had cheesecake on the brain. Tim and I both love cheesecake. I thought about trying Michelle's recipe, but Tim is a purist. He prefers plain cheesecake, so I decided to stick to our favorite recipe. I made it last night before all the craziness started.

This is a recipe we received the first few years we were married. It was part of a solicitation to subscribe to McCall's Cooking School recipe club. It is so good. I only make it a few times a year, for special occasions. It is a large recipe. I haven't tried cutting it down, but I am sure you could.

I was going to put the recipe here for you, but I just did a Google search, and found it posted several places already. So, I will just point you to iChef for the Ultimate Cheesecake Recipe, and give you a few tips about cheesecake I have learned over the years. I usually do not make the raspberry and peach sauce included in this recipe. They are good though, if you want to make them. Tim likes it plain. Sometimes, I will make strawberry sauce or something else too.

Some hints about cheesecake:

1. Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature.
2. Beat the cream cheese well. You want it light and fluffy, before you add ingredients. I usually beat the cream cheese alone, scraping the bowl often, then start adding ingredients. This recipe does not instruct you to do it this way.
3. Do beat in one egg at a time. It really makes a big difference.
4. Cool in the oven. I slightly under bake the cheesecake, turn the oven off, and prop the door open about 1/2 an inch with a wooden spoon handle. Leave it in there until it is room temperature.
5. Put a thin layer of sour cream on top after the cheesecake has cooled. This adds some flavor, but most importantly it hides the cracks. If you choose to top it with sauces or fruit, the sour cream gives you a nice surface for the sauce and looks pretty too! Of course, if you are making a flavored cheesecake, like Michelle's, the sour cream flavor may not be complimentary.

We've made many cheesecakes (yes, we, Tim cooks too) over the years, and always come back to this one. It is that good! Kellen just got off the phone with Tim. He told him we had a surprise for dinner. Hmm, I wonder if he suspects what it is?

Need Sleep

Tim has been out of town since Wednesday. Wouldn't you think I'd be sleeping better with no one hogging the bed or the covers? I should be getting lots of rest! But when he is gone, it takes me longer to wind down and go to sleep. I don't sleep as well, and I usually wake up earlier. Then of course, I have a night like last night.

10:00 PM
For some reason I can't explain, I decided to start our taxes. I am just getting started, and Tim calls. We chat awhile, and Nolan begins screaming. This sometimes happens and he usually settles down quickly. I'm in there trying to calm him and nothing is working. I go to give him a hug, and then I know what the problem is; either I forgot his diaper or he took it off. Both have happened before, and either way, he and the bed were soaked. I quickly hang up with Tim, and proceed to change him and pull off the wet sheets. He is screaming the entire time.

11:00 PM
He is finally settled in. I try to work on the taxes a bit, but the computer is not cooperating. Just as well, I think and head to bed. I read a few pages of the book I received from Simple Katie and fall asleep.

12:30 AM
Nolan is crying again. I can tell he is already out in the living room, so I call to him to come in my room. He settles into our bed and goes back to sleep.

2:00 AM
Vivian is crying. She sleeps through the night most nights. Tonight, she wants to nurse.

4:00 AM
I hear, "beep," pause, "beep," pause, "beep." I am going to ignore it. I am not getting up. I am going back to sleep. I am out of bed. Why is the smoke detector beeping? There is no smoke. The detectors are electric!

The one with issues, is the one I can barely get to. It is above our entertainment hutch. I push the "hush" button; doesn't help. I take it off the wall, and am trying to read the tiny print on the back the explains what the different beeps and lights are supposed to be telling me. Oh, there is a battery in it too. That is the problem. I take the old battery out, don't forget the detector is also unplugged, the thing keeps beeping at me! It has a life of its' own! One that is determined that I get no sleep. AAAHHHH!

I dig around for a new battery and try to put it in. The detector has a little trip thing at the battery, that you have to hold down, while you put the battery in, the correct way. I think I have it in right, but it is still beeping. I take out the battery, and try again. STILL BEEPING!! I try reading more of the tiny print.

You have to reset the detector when you put in a new battery. Resetting means pushing the test button, which of course means the alarm goes off; at 4:00 AM (or 4:30 by now) with four sleeping children. "Oh please Lord, don't let this wake up the kids." I think, as I push the dreaded button. I tolerate the endless (30 second?) blare of the darn thing, and breathe a sigh of relief; no one woke up. Maybe that should really concern me. After all shouldn't the smoke alarm wake up the kids? Oh, who cares, there is no fire! I put it back on the wall and go back to bed.

4:45 AM
I lay in bed, unable to go to sleep, because I am thinking about how I am going to blog about this sleepless night. Pitiful, isn't it? After a bit, I go back to sleep.

5:45 AM
Nolan, who is still in bed with me, starts fussing and kicking. Again, calming him is not working. Finally, he tells me, "Me hungy." (translation, hungry) He ate almost no dinner, so I know he really is hungry. "Why don't you go get a banana?" I say, thinking he can do that by himself, and I can stay in bed. I'm such a compassionate mom, you know. No, a banana won't do, "Me want cut oats." (translation, steel cut oats) Grumble, grumble, grumble, "Ok, Nolan." I say, because there is no convincing him when he is hungry.

We head out to the kitchen. Steel cut oats take about 30 minutes to cook. Lucky for me, there are some leftovers I can heat in the microwave. He wants applesauce too. I set him up with all his desires and a glass of juice, and I go back to bed.

6:15 AM
Contented, Nolan comes back to my bed too. We sleep.

7:45 AM
I am woken by the sound of Kellen yelling at Lydia, "Lydia, do not go in there and wake Mommy up!" Well, it is the thought that counts. Besides it is almost 8:00, I've slept in.

Tim is home tonight. I am looking forward to a full nights rest!

Again Cha Cha?

Well, they don't say breed like rabbits for nothing. About a month ago, I posted about our surprise litter of rabbits, that died. While I was trying to prevent this from happening again, Peter and Cha Cha got together briefly, and I was hoping they did not really "get together."

I marked the date on my planner and we have been watching her. No signs, until today. Kellen and his friend Ryan, found another four dead babies. This time she hadn't even made a nest. She only pulled a tiny bit of hair. Of course, all the hair had not grown back from the last time, so there wasn't much to pull from. We really didn't want them to breed and with this cold weather they may have died anyway. At least this time I know it is not going to happen again, because they are in completely separate hutches now.

We need to think about whether we are keeping Peter and Cha Cha. She especially is so cute and sweet. She is very tame and calm. Peter is ab bit more feisty, but still lovable. Kellen will be breeding rabbits for 4-H. They recommend we get two does and they need to also be New Zealands, like Scotty. We need more space for new does and for their litters. So, do we keep the pets and build more hutches or get rid of the pets and use the hutches we have? Decisions, decisions.

Passing Notes

Remember those school days, when you and your friends or current boyfriend would pass notes in the hall or when the teachers back was turned? Sometimes they were filled with juicy bits of gossip, but often just the mundane, "Hey how ya doing? I'm bored. What are you doing this weekend?" or the like. Usually, nothing too exciting, but it kept you connected.

Now we are older, our lives are busier and we aren't sitting in class together or passing in the hall. It is easy to get caught up in your own day, while your spouse is caught up theirs. Then you come together at night, eat dinner, get kids in bed and collapse from total exhaustion to recharge for the next day. It can be a challenge to stay connected as a couple.

Our solution? Pass notes, electronically. We shoot each other emails back and forth. We leave comments on each others' blog. Many times it is very practical, "Could you please stop for a gallon of milk?" Sometimes it is just sharing our day, "I saw what you're watching on ebay. I like it." Rarely is it filled with juicy bits of anything. No matter what words are in the notes, the notes say, "I love you. I am thinking about you. I want to share my day with you." They keep us connected.

Why not just call? We do that too, some. Somehow it is more fun to shoot little notes to each other, and often phone calls get interrupted. It is easier to type a quick note that we can read when we have a minute. It gives you that "we are stealing a minute for each other" thrill.

It is simple. It is fun. It works to keep us connected. How do you stay connected during the day?

For more relationship tips or to share your own visit Works for Me: Love Sweet Love edition.

Feel the Love

To add your own or see more go to Wordless Wednesday.

One Year Ago

One year ago, I embarked on a journey to the blogging world. The journey began as a means to keep in touch with out of state family and friends, and record our family happenings. It is still that, but has become so much more.

It has become my longest running journal ever. The place where I sort through and express thoughts and ideas. Where I have found that I can write something other than the research type papers I used to write in college.

The blog world is a place I steal a few minutes of adult interaction between ABC's, diapers and dishes. Where I can laugh, cry and learn with people around the world.

Along the way I've met and interacted with so many interesting people. People on paths similar to mine, and some on very different paths. People who I'd probably never meet in the real world because of our differing lives, but I am very glad I have met here in the blogging world. There has been something to learn from all of them.

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me. I love your feed back and comments. Keep them coming. I am sure there are many, many more stories to come of the Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood.

Carnivals

For your reading enjoyment, stop by The Carnival of Family Life #40, hosted at An Island Life, and the Carnival of Homeschooling hosted at About: Homeschooling.

Happy Reading.

It helps to look at your planner

I spent yesterday, gearing up for the week. It is a busy one. We did laundry, cleaned, and the kids and I had a family meeting. We have two field trips with our co-op this week. We normally go to the library on Wednesday, and Friday is the monthly homeschool project day that we attend. Normally, I avoid this kind of busyness, but the field trips are good ones. Tim is also leaving for a conference Wednesday and won't be back until Saturday.

I had the week all planned out, Tuesday the musical, Wednesday the library, Thursday the fire station and then groceries, and Friday (maybe) project day. This morning we got ready with minimal issues (Tim was home to help) and were out the door and on our way to the Clay Center, almost an hour drive for us. We get there and the people at the desk look at me strangely, and then inform me that the musical is tomorrow.

What?! I pulled out my planner. How could I make such a mistake? For weeks I've thought it was on a Tuesday, even though for weeks, it has been written in my planner on a Wednesday. Even though my friend, Mary, who is organizing this, sent an email yesterday about our Wednesday field trip.

So instead, we went to Aldi, without my shopping list. Who knows what all I forgot to buy or bought that we didn't really need? It was a different Aldi than we normally go to, so that counts as a field trip, right?

Mary, who reads this, is probably thinking I am a complete idiot. It is for this same outing that I told her that I didn't need four tickets, just one adult and three kids. "Uh, Steph?" she said, "That is four."

Really, I am not this air headed. NO, REALLY! Tim claims that the only time I do things like this is when I'm in a certain condition, that we are not certain we want to be in again. I have no reason, other than my apparent lack of functioning brain cells, to believe that I am in this condition.

I completely attribute this to overload of the brain. Tim has been working long hours, and when he is home at a decent hour, he usually is working on a vehicle or the house. There is a lot going on, and I can't get everything right! Though, I suppose I could look at my planner before driving an hour with four kids!

Something to think about. . . . .

It is amazing how much house work I can get done when Kellen and Lydia need the computer for school. Hmmm I wonder why that is?

Oh, my mistake!

Two of the cousins are here regularly and the kids are the best of friends. I love that they are close. Kellen and Miles are only three months apart and are virtually inseparable. Lydia and Ashley are almost seven years apart, but amazingly still play together well. Ashley enjoys being with younger kids and is really patient and loving with them.

For some reason, I can't explain she totally caters to and spoils Lydia. Lydia chooses the games and tells Ashley what to do. And yes, the power does go to Lydia's head! After playing with Ashley for awhile, Lydia thinks that I will cater to and spoil her also.

Yesterday, we had such an incident. Lydia was giving orders and throwing a fit when I did not drop everything to meet her requests.

Me: You can't just boss everyone around. You do not always get your way, and can not throw a fit about it. Lydia stop acting like a little queen. You aren't a little queen are you?

Lydia: No, mom. I am a princess!

Oh, my mistake!

Contest Fever

Seems there are contests all over of the blogging world. I told you about Make It From Scratch! - The Contest!, now let me tell you about another one. Five Minutes For Mom is having a contest for free jewelry from Alli’s Originals. I don't wear much jewelry, but these are too cute, and Lydia would love them! Go and see!

A banner mail day & a contest

Why do we all love getting mail so much? Most days, the mail consists of bills interspersed with junk? Yet, we still look forward to seeing what is in that mail box, because every now and then there is something good there. Some days there the box is full of goodies. Today was such a day.

Tim got the first of the jeans he bought on eBay. I got the peaches from Heidi. They look so pretty I may just look at them for awhile, and then I may hoard them for myself. Thanks Heidi. I also got the package from the adoption agency. I promise I will post about that later. It is all good, don't worry, just need time to process before I write. And if that were not enough for a banner mail day, there were no bills!

On to the contest. I am having a little contest over at Stop the Ride! so go check it out.

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