Should I take this personally??

OK I admit, when Brian and I first got married I was a horrible cook! But I KNOW I have grown lots in the last 16 years. I enjoy searching for yummy healthy meals and I enjoy cooking them.

I have this chalk board in my kitchen and I write my menu on it. The boys told me that they were going to help with the menu this week, no surprise. But as they chuckled and giggled writing on the board I knew they were up to something. This is what I found...

McDonalds, Arby's Chick-filet, IHOP, Andy's, Zaxby's, Taco Bell, (the forbidden word in our house), Sonic, Wendy's, KFC and Long John Silvers.

WHAT???

They told me that they thought I needed a break from all the cooking I do so they wanted to go out to dinner every night for the next 2 weeks. And because IHOP just opened we will eat there THREE times!

I am not completely convinced they are speaking truth!! Should I take this personally??

Did you know that 60% of American's are likely to get H1N1?

I wasn't too worried about this flu until I heard that statistic the other day. I also came across a few tips to help thwart off the virus and I wanted to share. Some are obvious but worth the reminder! Numbers 3 & 4 are new to me and we are certainly using them.

The only portals of entry of H1N1 are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, follow these very simple steps.

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt)... *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and20relatively inexpensive….under $15.

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I hope you all stay healthy this Flu Season!!

Guess what Brian came home with this week??

Just "ONE MORE" 50 pound bucket of mud!!

We had a minor (major in Brian's eyes) set back last weekend. We are so excited to be able to start painting but when we walked into the room we realized that there were several cracks! They weather had dropped below freezing so I guess that had something to do with it. But thankfully we were able to repair it before we painted!!

But now the room is all ready! We bought primer last night and we have a spray gun ready! Now hopefully we will be actually be able to find the time to start painting. It is gonna be a busy weekend!

One More...

When we started the Bonus Room project we bought 5- 50 pound buckets of mud and we thought that would be more then enough. Well, we have bought "One More" bucket of mud 4 times now! Last night, when Brian was done mudding for the night he informed me that we need "One More" but he was certain this was going to really be the last one. In fact he said that we don't even need the big 50 pound bucket! Hopefully the mudding will be complete by tomorrow night!

On Wednesday night Brian came home with a paint sprayer! It was very exciting to realize that we are about to embark on the painting phase!

We bought the wood flooring several weeks ago and the 22 boxes of wood have been residing in the office.

We are starting to get really excited for this room to be done. I did realize this week that Brian only has a 4 week break between classes this term. That was a little discouraging as we need the extra time, but we will do the best we can.

The "IF... THEN..." chart

A few years ago our friend showed us her "If... Then... Chart" and we thought it was a great idea. The chart names a bad behavior like stealing or hitting, then it shares a bible verse based on that offense. Then there is a section that you fill in your choice of consequences or discipline.

Though Brian and I agree to discipline our boys, we often don't discipline in the same way. This chart offers us the ability to be unified in our parenting and disciplining of our children. I bought the chart in May, the week after my head injury, but I couldn't be bothered to fill it out.

Well, last Friday I did fill it out the consequences. I also added a few extras to the list like..."If you don't clean up after yourself... then you will get an extra chore".

This morning as Hayden was walking upstairs to get dressed and brush his teeth he stopped to straighten up the couch pillows and fold up the blanket he had used. I asked him what he was doing and he quickly replied "I am cleaning up after myself so I don't have to have an extra chore today". I was very pleased with him! I guess he has all ready done enough extra chores to learn the value and importance of cleaning up after himself.

Homeschool Fun

We studied Archimedes this week. He invented a series of mirrors that reflected and directed sun beams at warships. As the Roman ships were sailing towards the city where Archimedes lived, he lined up 70 mirrors and they all were aimed at the coming ships. Both ships burned before being able to land on shore. Victory because of Archimedes.

So, our science project was to use a magnifying glass and burn our initials into a piece of wood. I had heard of this but never tried. So yesterday as the sun was shining bright, we pulled out our supplies and started. I was amazed at how quickly the wood started to burn.

Levi burning his initials while Hayden guides him.


Can you see the concentration?? It is hard to keep that little beam in one spot!

As Hayden was starting his "B" he saw a little bug walk past the wood plank. So, Hayden wanted to know how long it would take to fry a bug, it didn't take but a few seconds. Can you see the smoke.

The completed project. Well, maybe not complete, Dad needs to burn his initials too.

Gage decided to drink from our fire extinguisher.

Slithery Sneaky Snakes

I LOVE living in a home with woods all around us. I LOVE most of the creatures who dwell near us like the deer, fox, lizards, frogs and turtles. But there are a few that I HATE! Slithery Sneaky Snakes would be one of them!

This summer, as our dear friends were visiting, I opened the door leading into the garage. Right by the steps was a black thing, I wondered why we had a big bicycle tube in the garage. As the "Tube" moved behind the shelves and I realized it was a snake. I gasped as I slammed the door shut. I told Brian there was a snake in the garage. He giggled and asked how big, I told him it was at least 4 feet long. He then laughed out loud declaring that I over exaggerate everything by at least twice and it was probably only 12 inches long.

So out to the garage went Brian and Ken. Brian couldn't find it and then started to tease me that I must have imagined this "HUGE" snake. Then he heard the hiss of the snake. The snake eventually made his way out from behind the shelves and kept rattling it's tail like a rattlesnake but we knew it wasn't a rattler. Brian took pictures so we could search for online while Ken was holding the snake back with the garage broom. All the while I am trying to hold back the 5 boys who are desperate to see the snake.

After a quick search online we discovered that the snake was a Black Racer. They are not poisonous, but they can leave a painful bite. They eat rodents so I decided to let him live. After several minutes he slithered away into the woods and we discovered exactly why he is named a Racer. Though none of us actually got out the tape measure to measure the guy, we all agreed that he was AT LEAST 4 feet long. So much for my over exaggeration.

This weekend the boys were playing in the woods and discovered a 6 foot long snake skin. YIKES!! Thankfully it was just the skin. The boys thought it was the coolest discovery ever. They slid it onto a long skinny stick and they are taking their treasure to Royal Rangers tonight.

Yes, I do live with Slithery Sneaky Snakes and I don't like it!

5 weeks...

It seems as though lately our life are on 5 weeks cycles.

5 weeks ago Brian started a college class. (it ended Sunday)

In 5 weeks Brian starts another college class.

So, right now we have 5 weeks to work on our Bonus Room.

Give a Blessing

This is a thought I try to instill in my children. Yesterday at Walmart there was an elderly lady who had just checked out and stood there trying to figure out what to do with her now empty cart. Gage walked over to her and told the lady he would take care of it. She smiled and went on her way.

Then on the way to our car Levi stopped to help an elderly man with his cart. The man had a few bags left so Levi just stood next to him and waited. Levi then told him that he would love to take care of the cart. The man gave him the cart and then said "I would love to give you a little something, son". With that, he shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out two shiny quarters. Levi returned the cart and skipped the rest of the way to our car.

Isn't it funny that when we try to bless someone, we get blessed in return!

The Skate Park

The boys are all involved in Royal Rangers and they are LOVING it. Brian is co-commanding Hayden's club which is 6-8th grade boys. There is one boy in particular who is a challenge EVERY week, totally disrespectful and of course other boys follow his lead. I am going to call him Bill. Bill comes with a neighbor every week and we have never seen his parents involved in club.

Well, last night I checked in with Brian after club and he told me it was a rough night and Bill actually walked out of club. Call me cold, but I do not have patience for that kind of behavior. Since we had driven separately, I told Brian I was going to gather our boys and head home.

As I walked into the church skate park Bill shoved a MUCH smaller boy to the ground, who happens to be Hayden's Best Buddy. I told him to knock it off and that he can't behave that way. Well, the smaller boy had brought a skate board and a scooter to the skate park. Bill then asked the smaller boy if he could ride his scooter. The small boy said "NO". I thought to myself "GOOD for you for standing up that bully, he doesn't deserve to ride your scooter."

I ended up staying at the skate park for another 30 minutes, partly because I was afraid to leave the little guy alone with Bill. Later, as I was talking to one of the kids I noticed that Bill was riding a skate board, shocked I was trying to figure exactly who it belonged to. Then I noticed Hayden just standing around. My son had given his own skate board to Bill.

On our drive home I asked Hayden how Bill ended up with his skateboard. He quickly said "Momma, I learned off Veggie Tales that sometimes the only way to stop a bully is to love them so I shared."

It was quite a slap in the face for me as I was harboring resentful feelings towards this young boy, who probably doesn't know any better. And next to me is my son who is wise beyond is 11 years, showing God's love and mercy!