If you are into reading about biking across the US, then you would like this article:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/12/30/biking.america.ap/index.html

Advice of the day

I have a smart child. Mike was talking about finding the special battery for a Christmas toy and GAlen piped right in and said "Go to That.com". How cute. How strangly appropreate. What does this tell us about how conected our kiddlets will be to the net?

On other news Galen was like an apple computer trying to run a microsoft program yesterday. He kept restarting but always crashed at the same place. But at least he kept trying to start. It seemed as if the translator was broken yesterday (just during Tae Kwondo).

Have a good one

Clayton's WALL OF BABIES pic

In my house we have a wall reserved just for baby pictures. And all my babies' pictures hang there (even when they are no longer babies). This picture of Clayton is joining that wall today.

I feel like a new person!

I'm not sure if it is jsut that the holiday is finally over,
or that the days or slowly getting lighter again or
maby it was the fact that I finally got enough sleep to help shake off the sinus stuff.
OR maby it was that i took time yesterday to play a game and watch a movie and laugh

anyways- May you too renew yourselves!

Anticipation

Galen has learned enough about our world to anticipate future events. Needless to say he was literally clawing at the door when we tried to put him down to sleep tonight. Ewan had anticipation too, but after 1/2 hour he fell asleep. Galen did not, he just kept getting antsier.

So finally I looked at Mike and realized the wisdom in opening the gifts Christmas Eve. Have an early dinner, open gifts and let them play for a few hours before bed time. That way the worst of the anticipation is over and everybody sleeps. So we let Galen out and brought him upstairs to open his stocking. He did and then calmed down alot. We got him to lay down, quietly even for a few minutes. Do you think he'll ever sleep tonight?

A memory given for Christmas

My father is an electronics wizard, and he made a business out of designing electronics for people and businesses.

One Sunday after Church my Dad received a call from a special Ed Teacher. She had a robotic toy dog that she wanted modified to help one of her special students. Dad invited her right over.

She showed us the dog and told us what she wanted done with it. She offered to pay him, and my Dad took it right down stairs and began to work on it. I felt slightly miffed at him. “Dad, its Sunday.” I said emphasizing Sunday in hope to help him remember not to work on the Lord’s Day.

But Dad modified the dog right there, and got it to do exactly what the teacher was hoping. She was delighted and asked how much it would be. Then Dad just smiled and told her he wouldn’t charge her for it.

My view of his behavior on this Sabbath took a 180 degree turn. He showed me through is example that to honor the Sabbath we must be willing to do as Christ would do on that day.

Merry Christmas Dad- thanks for teaching me through example what is right.

You know it is Chrsitmas time when...

when the children are hyper and you feel wiped out

Today we finally set up our tree. I have been promising the kids that we'd do it "tomarrow" all week. And we lost an ornament already, but I made it abundently clear that if any more orniments come bouncing down the stairway (and crashing on the floor, sending chards of glass/ceramnic everywhere) that I would take all the decorations down immedetly and would not take them out again until next Christmas.

So far we have not lost any more.

I was working on a beautiful 6 month collage of Clayton, (so absorbed in it that the thought of stopping to save didn't occure to me) when the dish washer instahlation people turned off the power to the kitchen. (where my compuer's cord is plugged in). I couldn't reclaim the file, and haven't the presence of mind to try to redo it today.

In case you haven't noticed I have just enough sinus issues to make me slow of thought and slightly in pain. I could take something for it, but I usually wait until the pain demands it.

Well, I figured out what I am going to give my Dad this Christmas, Maby I can even get around to it sometime soon :)

Have a good one

more ?

"Yoda baby"

& "my Boys"

more!

At around 11pm
I heard this little coice saying "help me, help me"

He was trying to be a bat and wanted to hang upside down to sleep.

continued

in case you are wondering we are going in computer file order

year review (actually just fall review) in photos

Smiley Baby- at your service

I finally did it

these are some of the rejects from our Christmas kids photo shoot today.

Those lucky realatives will recieve a set of the printed pics sometime soon :) (and so will my wall)

updated pinwheel date cookies

as my father requested, I have sucessfully updated the recipie:

Filling:
1 pound chopped dates
1/2 c apple juice concentrate
1/2 c rasions
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1 c water
boil to thicken

Dough:
cream:
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c butter
3 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups whole wheat flour

roll dough to 1/2 " thickness
spread filling on it
roll up like a jelly roll
chill several hours/overnight
slice to 1/2" cookies
bake 350, 10 min

manifeting a blog discussion

: thinking is not enough doing is what counts
Paul Hunt: sounds like the latest entry on the hug blog
me: however you must be careful with what you think-you do it and you become what you do
Paul Hunt: thom mentiond something like that
me: maby our blog ring is too small if we are all thinking the same things on the same days
Paul Hunt: and he concluded that all we have to do is think the world is a better place
Paul Hunt: i commented OK the world is better
me: cool- think the world a better place- as long as you get off your buts and act on it
Paul Hunt: The next day, Kate had her test
Paul Hunt: manifesting is getting faster
me: time does fly- maby our communication lines with the universe is getting clearer
Paul Hunt: that is a goal
me: you know I did think about getting new clothes washer and dryer the day Mom bought them for me
Paul Hunt: manifesting momma
me: I was very much suprised at how fast that fleeting wish came true
Paul Hunt: if your manifesting is getting faster, and mine are too
me: what are you manifesting?
Paul Hunt: then maybe the myans are right
me: ok what about the myans?
Paul Hunt: manifesting will get faster and faster until, on dec 21, 2012 it will be instant
me: is that why the world will end?
Paul Hunt: yup
me: let's hope we manifest somthing good
Paul Hunt: I REALLY am seeing it faster
me: I think we need to start PR camaign on that now
Paul Hunt: so I really do want to be positive
Paul Hunt: we should bounce this around our blogs
me: I think you're right
me: so often they come as fast as I can think them
Paul Hunt: manifestations?
me: yes, is thought becomming that dangerous and why?
me: maby powerful is a better word then dangerous
Paul Hunt: Just for a moment, assume it is
me: then it is
Paul Hunt: POWER!!!!!

me: I am thinking of the power of creating, destoying and building of bcomming and dreaming
Paul Hunt: is that a quote?
me: no- but you can quote me
Paul Hunt: 2006 was on someone's calandar for a major change
me: probably a time when some of us will recongnise some of this power
me: How will we change the world? With what thought?
Paul Hunt: certainly positive ones
me: yes, because the positive people are the ones who first see this
Paul Hunt: we have HOPE
me: then we will manifest everyone else to be posative
Paul Hunt: I can live with that, 1000 years of bliss
me: maby I should manifest time & energy for these cookies
Paul Hunt: we can do that by saying goodbye
me: too late- i'm n ot going to start them at 11
me: but Clay is manifesting diaper change, think he'll get it?
Paul Hunt: he is your offspring, he has the power
me: well that does help explain Galen
Paul Hunt: in what way?
me: It explains his abilities to do things like get out of locked rooms and into locked rooms and get things down from high places and all the other mysteries he has presented us with
Paul Hunt: born with it
me: yeah- and never learned not to use his powers as a normal child does
Paul Hunt: no one is perfect
me: is that the autism difference?
me: why does cuddiling a baby feel so good?
Paul Hunt: yeah, malfunction in the power inhibitor
Paul Hunt: baby manifesting touch
me: no wonder he doesn't like going to school
Paul Hunt: it must be inherited
me: well baby certainly likes touch
me: I think babies can communicate tellipathically. I have had several that I was sure could. Where I jsut know what they need, before they have to cry. Like often I would go check on a baby just as he was waking up- and then there would be no need to make noise to get my attention
Paul Hunt: We all have the wiring to do that, some of us overload it with other signals
me: yes, surround ourself with noise. That is one reason why tv or radio on for background noise drives me crazy There are more important things to pay attention to
Paul Hunt: Whatever you attend to, you become.(Warrior of Spirit Handbook) OK.... I gotta sleep now
me: goodnight

tossing your cookies

we learned we that phrase came from. Galen ate all the fudge yesterday morning (I had put it in the freezer so they wouldn't be eaten, but Galen often doesn't notice rules (voiced or unvoiced). Then we made about 80 dozen cookies yesterday. The cut out cookies that you actually need butter and sugar in. And We also made gingerbread men. So that by evening time Galen was so sugared up that he started tossing his cookies. All over my compter chair, on the floor and everywhere.

As parents we felt it was our job to help him figure out that he was sick because he ate all the fudge and then engorged himself on cookies while skipping dinner.

Today we were very happy to see him eating some real food instead of just cookies- but the fudge was all ready all gone. And today we frosted cookies with my cake decorating kit and Galen actually achieved some level of real decorating. Ewan was just concerned over seeing how much frosting he could put on every single cookie and Ian just wanted to eat them.

Galen also managed a good amount of control over the decorating bags and tips.

Well It is past my bedtime - again.

Christmas Miracle

I believe in Miracles. My God is a God of Miracles. And I have just witnessed a miracle take place.

My laundry room is out of dirty clothes! Absolutly incredable. It's not quite biblical proportions (but my laundry pile was) but it hasn't happened in several years. In fact I might even be able to take the sheets of my bed and dirrectly into the washer with out bypassing any waiting items.

If you doubt this is a miracle you haven't hung around my house. It's makes me excited for when the dishwasher is hooked up. Do you think that can produce miracles as well?

A special friend

A special friend came to visit me the other day.
I did not realize that she was a special friend, and she made herself at home. She colored and ate and sang and danced and snuggled with me, and shared with me and made me feel as if I was her special and trusted friend.

Feeling proud of my ability to connect with this little being I talked to my father about how well she took a liking to me. Then he told me that is how she responds to most people, making them all feel like special friends.

What a true gift she has.

Where is Christmas?

I was going to leave this as a note on my uncle's blog, but decided to share it a little broader:

I find the celebration of shopping and "finding the perfect gifts" and going crazy over decorating or any other item that can distract from the Christ at this time, just plain hard to handle.
Where do I find Christmas, not in the stores, but in the inner heart.

Christmas is the patience to read one more book to the child before betime, Chritmas is letting the other car pull ahead of you. Christmas is taking time to sing, to pray and to be together. Christmas is graditude in your heart for all the amazing things created in the world. For me Christmas lasts all year round.

but at least in January I can think about going back into a store again.

learning assumptions

One of the first things a homeschooler has to do is overcome the learning assumptions made in school. For example: Galen at school read a book a week and that week they studied the words and read the book everyday, then he was to bring it home and read it.

That method had the effect of being able to read the handed out books very well, but in Galen it also created the assumption that he could only read what the school sent home. I have been showing Galen that he can read everything. We have been reading boxes, packages, all sorts of books and everything else we find with text on it, and he is finding that he can, and that's it's not that hard (also that Mom can always help him break down a word).

In a few months I expect to have instilled enough confidence in his reading that he will sit down with just about anything and enjoy it for it's text.

Galen seems to instictivly know what the word is (when he actually looks at it) but often he second guesses himself. However, he has all the natural abilities for speed reading in place.

Once the world of text is open to him, I will no longer be able to walk him through something. He will read about it and end up teaching me!

learning is hard work

Today I learned all about how airplanes fly, adn the princiapls of it as seem by Newtonist, Berenelli's and Mathamatics, Then I learned how to get the Childern to practice thier writting, how to let the childern play with out me while I clean the basement. (yes mom, it 's all for you).
And we did fractions and reading and talked about naming a Cat Santa. What cat? That didn't matter it was a cute story we made up. And we discussed all the finer points about what sounds the letter A could represent. We discussed the failer of the people destined to hold high political offices and planned when to do cookies, fudge and rice crispie staw bale houses.

Of course we also did, Tao Qwondo, Grocery shopping and several meals. Ask the kids what they learned today and Galen told me "That the spiders can't hold thier breath under the water." Ewan, of course wants to make an elecomagnetic crane, but I do not have the supplies on hand. So if someone wishe to donate a wire and batteries then he will be a happy child.

To embark upon homeschooling your child seems much like embarking upon your own business. Same risks, same engery and time commitments, same way it colors the rest of your world. Only there is more as risk- but yet also more chance of sucess.

wild ride

We went 20 miles out on snowy country roads to pick up 1/8 of a cow. Which translates in to about 17 lbs of ground beef, 3 roasts, short ribs, & 8 packages of steak.

The ride out was snowy. In fact there was a car passing us on the county road that we later saw in the ditch. Personally, I think anybody trying to go 60 on a snowy (unsalted) road deserves going into the ditch. And then on the way back traffic was slowed to a standstill on 694 as snow accumulated on the free way. I suspect there was an accident.

but as always a Potter book on tape makes rides interesting to listen to. And so we are all home safe while more snow gathers on roads that often remain so snowless because of the traffic.

Prepare to be pulleyed

Galen has now learned about pulleys. And is having fun using one we made and attached to his bunkbed. He had to learn about physics specifically work, gravity, force, how to use gravity to work with you, friction and then getting the design right in the current setting. The design aspects will take more work, but I think he is on the upwards path. :)

Over the river and through the woods. . . to the libary we go.

Books on electronics, Asops fables, pulleys, physics, Christmas turtles, adn the videos that I've been missing this year (liek a Charley Brown Chrsitmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas) I wanted to share them with my kiddlets. And it worled very well to fill the space between droping Mike off and Dropping Galen off.

Galen deffinetly likes learning more when nobody is sitting him in a desk to learn it. He aced his math tests, adn is reading easily since I've taken him out of all day school. And no major suprize that he doesn't want to go back for the afternoon schooling.

And intersetingly. His teacher is saying that he won't make eye contact with them anymore. And he is hiding under the desk at school. But at home he is talking to us in sentences, making eye contact, going to sleep eaiser, getting dressed by himself (this morning he even did it with out being asked) and is doing his chores with out much fuss.

Could it be that he only gives positive attention to the adults that spend hours and hours a day with him, adn the rest don't count? (enless they are Grandparents).

Home School on a Snowy Day

A collection of Poems by the students of life.

Galen hanging Snowflakes to mimmic effects
Of God and Nature.

Ewan coloring his "snow flags" orange and blue.

Ian crumbling snowflakes to make a snow ball.

Lots and lots a white paper flakes piled on the floor.

SNOW FLAKE
by the group

Falling Down
Falling Down
Crystle
White
To the ground.

Falling Down
on the ground.
It is white.

A poem by Galen

Gently falling to the ground
landed on the ground forever.

A poem by Ewan

Technicolor snowflake
orange and blue
Falling down in the sunset.

Monday night

Well it is monday night, after an increadbly full ( but fun) weekend. Weekends that last that long should with never end, or come with a warning sticker about how shocking getting back to life will be on Monday.

Let's see today I home schooled my child, paid bills for personal and business, fielded customer service questions, stayed on top of laundry, kept my baby fed and entertained and now I have to prepare for tonight's activites of Dinner, FHE, bedtime for kiddlets and homework. And perhaps if I have the time I will finish sewing up the special order gloves for a customer, adn then proceeded to a winter bunting for the little one (who is to big for any store bought baby bunting).

Ok- my mind is fried and I can't think of anything worth blogging- so I will get back to it later.

Economic issues

this artticle touches on several issues set to pull down the economy of our dear country
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/agm

It's an article on the lay offs GM has announced and breifly touches on why.
However it is interesting to think of it in terms of national issues instead of just GM issues

1. sales reversed for line up, many standard American products feel that pinch, becasue no longer offer the hippest newest, or best engineered products out there. We know that, but we don't care becasue the Chinise stuff is also cheaper.

2. Burden of paying pentions and healthcare for retirees. OUCH!, as an employeer myself I couldn't even begain to offer pentions or healthcare for those who can not work for me longer. As a member of Gen X, I can barley fathom anyone planning to live on a pension instead of personal savings for retirment.

3. High costs of unionized workers.

Basicly there are some major ecomonic problems ahead for us. Mostly the system of paying retiries not to work is not going to work. There too many of them and too few workers. Sorry retiriees, as a young middle class worker, I could use every scrap of my income to by peanut butter and bananas for my kid's lunch instead of helping you play golf. And if you have enough energy to play golf then you could be doing something usefull adn earning your own living (still).

And another I still don't get about middle class america is how come us family people have to have 2 people in the work force, be parents and still be paying your retirment? IF we are paying you to retire shouldn't you be raising our kids? At least that way the kids have an adult around and we have money for peanut butter.

So if we put the retired people to work, the other major concern is health care? Does anybody have a good health care plan before it eats us all for dinner?

home school revealith

I am begaining to think a mistake has been made. After working with Galen I have seen sloppy work, undone work and all manors of mistakes. Not because he can't do it, but because A) I've done it before, know it and don't want to do it again adn B) It's not what I wanted to do- so I did my own thing instead or C) What if we changed x?

I have also begun to see him setting us for getting the results he desires. I am not sure how far in advance he has been setting us up, but days or weeks in advance would not be out of the question.

Now he almost makes me afraid ( and eager) for the day he can freely read anything he looks at.

home school goals and this year plan

Home School Goals
By Raya Newbold
Last modified: Nov 2005

1. To create Self Directed learners. Who
a. Can read by themselves and can analyze what they have read for its merits and shortcomings.
b. Know how and where to find information.
c. Thirst after information and knowledge.
d. Can put new knowledge to use.

2. To create “whole” people. Who
a. Know right from wrong.
b. Want to and consistently behave kindly.
c. Show respect for and enjoy:
i. Individual people
ii. Mother Earth
iii. Our Creator, and Savior
iv. Ourselves

3. Create a good self regenerating family unit. Including an understanding and practical application of :
a. How to function in a family.
b. How to do daily family chores with happiness.
c. How a family functions in relation to larger societies. Specifically:
i. Government and it’s programs
ii. Religion
iii. Economy at local, national and world levels.

Galen’s Goals/Curriculum for the 2005/2006 school year.

Reading:
-Be able to understand most self read texts.
-Have a desire to read.
Materials:
All available text in all applications.
Evaluation Procedures:
Have him read 2 books of choice out loud.

Writing:
-Write one full page of self directed prose.
-Learn how to accurately describe items in writing.
-Learn to use generally accepted writing practices; periods, spacing, capitalization and paragraphs.
-Write simple thank you notes and emails.
Materials:
Paper, pen, computer, colors and mom.
Evaluations:
By looking at samples of his work.

Literature:
-Explain what is happening in stories with some introspection as to why.
Materials:
We will be reading literature as mother chooses, including but not limited to:
1. Scriptures
2. fairy tales
3. Cook Books
4. Dr. Seuss
5. Charlotte’s web
6. Charley and the chocolate factory
7. Native American lore
8. Proclamation on the family
Evaluation:
Have him write about a specific story.

Fine Arts:
Exposure to classical music, dance, 2d art, sculpture, theater and film.
Hands on experience in music (specifically with rhythm instruments), 2d art and sculpture.
Materials:
Local theater, art galleries, internet, library, classical music cds, paper, play dough, salt clay, modeling clay, and rhythm instruments.
Evaluation:
Have him write about a specific experience.

Math:
-understand money values of coins and dollars.
-understand how to purchase items with money.
-understand some basics of money budgeting.
-Be able to tell the days of the week, the months and years.
-Be able to point out today on a calendar and find out what things will be happening.
-Tell time on a clock, and look forward to events scheduled at certain times.
-be able to create a simple schedule.-understand basic number theory of tens, hundreds and thousands.
-addition and subtraction of single and double digit numbers.
-introduction to fractions, multiplying and dividing. (in real world applications)
Materials:
Clocks, watches, cash, coins and monopoly money, paper, pencils and measuring cups.
Evaluations:
Classic math tests. One per unit.

Science:
Learn about the world around him.
-learn 5 animal life cycles and food chains.
-learn about solar system
-introduction to the basic laws of physics as described by Newton.
Materials:
The internet, books at library, ball set, paper, pencils.
Evaluations:
One self written book on each animal studied. Be able to name the planets of the solar system. And a description gravity in his own words.

History:
Study of the Americas from ancient times to about 1800ad, focusing on the creation of government, under God, for the people and by the people.
Materials:
Keepers of the Earth, Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children.
The Learning Companion Volume 3
Founding Brothers, a History Channel DVD on the creation of the union
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution of the United States of America and the bill of rights
The book of Mormon
First Peoples: A Documentary Survey of American Indian History. by Colin G. Calloway
Evaluations:
Writing of the pupil from each time period studied.

Geography
-to see that we are part of the world and the lines on the map are political.
-To become familiar with world and national geography.
Materials:
Globe, maps, and trips to “lines” of states and nations.
Evaluation:
Naming of 5 different states and nations and be able to locate them on the map.

Government:-see history

Health:
Form some basis for basic healthy living and eating. Including:
a. nutrition
b. meal planning
c. how to select good food
d. Importance of hygiene and hand washing.
Materials:
The Joy of Cooking
Eat and be Lean
Mother’s experience
Evaluation: plan a day’s menu and shop for it.

Physical Education:
To participate in daily physical activities made to calm the body and focus the mind.
Materials:
Classes at Lees Champion Taekwondo Academy
Daily Yoga Sessions

time

times is distinic illusion we live in. At least it is an illussion that is not all are own. some illusions we got to share.

strangly, we had no fear. Acient herbal knowledge also played a role as did wise preperations. However, the attack was unexpected and very nasty.

pacifist?

As much as a pacifist I'd like to be, I had a "too real" dream last night that prooved that I would pick up arms in defence of my family and home, religion and freedom. Also in the dream the power of prayer, and personal purity outshown anything I could ever do with a weapon.

homeschooling Day 4

We skipped out of life last Friday (sinus issues made us not want to wake in time for the AM activities of school buses and the like), and I offically declared homeschooling for the day. Friday was a sucess and then Saturday and Sunday turned into homeschooling days. Sunday we involved the kids in all the cleaning and winterizing that went on.

And today the alarm was turned off when it was supposed to snooze. So we had another homeschooling day. It was great. We studied scriptures, did science experiements, lots of counting and math, reading, writting, played chess and checkers. And my kids turned out to be pleasent people, when they don't have the stress of school. (and my house stayed clean) Their attention span increased drastically. Could school be causing short attention spans? And Galen is so much happier not having to deal with the mass teasing he gets in school for his autism and vision issues. And- this is deffinetly a major selling point- when they are homeschooled they fight less with me, mike, each other and they fight things like bedtime, chores and listening to parents a lot less too.

My little angels are actually showing respect to me and Mike. I could get hooked on actually raising my kids instead of letting institutions do it for me. So I will call and offically registar them for homeschool. Kids can be nice to have around. :)

Sorry that it has been so long before writting. I have been dealing with sinus and Galen issues. On entises thoughts and actions the other one delays all abilities for thoughts and actions, especially when you throw in a baby with a cold. :)

Maby, I'll get me head clear some day- and if not. Oh well some happiest people don't try too hard to think.

The economies of Zion

To make it so there is no poor among you is not about hand outs or tax breaks, it's about fairly employing people, and the people being employable. First of all the poor need the education to be offered a good job. Then the job has to pay fairly, so they can afford to take care of thier family. Secondly, they got to be hard working and ethical. On the other hand the business owners and management can not get rich while thier workers struggle to make ends meet.

Also we need to respect all jobs, even those that don't usualy pay finacially (like motherhood), and concider how they contribute to society. Most of us can work many years of our life. When we can't work because of illness or the like, then we can be supported by family and others.

Another key is to stop seeking after stuff. 3rd cars, boats, large TV's, we have to realise that these are unneeded and accept that as we set up our economies. I don't know at what point our "Standerd of living" will have to change to affect this. But I for one know that many of things that are truely immportant are only made manifest when we clear out the junk.

homeschooling thoughts

To bring about a Zion society, we must educate our children to that end now. We must educate them in truth and light, we must educate them that all people are special (is that ironic?). And we must educate them on how to live, how to share, how to love. How to plan economically, socially and realisticlly to we can reach a state where there is no poor among us.

And in so teaching our children, we will find that we are teaching and refining ourselves to that same end.

That is the answer to the question I have been asking for a month. How do we bring about Zion?

butternut lasagna

Cook a butternut squash and mash it with the following:
sliced red bell pepper
chopped onion
sage
pepper
parsely
garlic
oregano
salt

cook the whole wheat lazagna noodles, grease the pan. Put down a layer of noodles, a layer of butternut squash, and a layer of swiss cheese. repeat layers ending with cheese. bake 350 degrees until throughly warmed. (about 1/2 hour)

Doing Nothing

When I hear the chorus of little boys sing out "nothing" to the answer of "What are you doing?"It's the mother in me I know that just can't trust it.

It must be because nothing means "nothing I want you to know about" or "nothing I want you to see."

They told me that today while drinking all of my apple juice concentrate. Well, there goes our cookies for the week.

I could have killed that kid for scaring me half to death.

My autistic 6 year old asked to go potty at about 10:30, so we let him out of his bedroom adn then he disapeared. Compleatly adn quietly. We search the whole house. We search up, down in, over through, under in all of his favorite hiding spots. We checked the doors. The front door was still locked but the back door was unlocked. Did he escape? Was he so upset that we didn't let him watch star wars that he ran? Is he outside, lost in the dark? Do we call in help to find him?

His glasses and shoes are still here. So we search the house again, calling him aloud )hoping we don't wake the others). I start searching in places where I don't think he would fit. but gotta check. While going through a pile of clothes I finally heard a giggling "I am here".

So I opened the suitcase. No Galen. "Where are you?" he hid behind my long dress in the closet.

This kid has never been so quiet for so long in his life. How did he manage to do it tonight?

Watched a movie I love

It is Ground Hog's Day with Bill Murry. I just love how he has to change his outlook and reason for being before he can get anywhere. Helps me to remember how I should try to be everyday (and not just on the days that repeat themselves).

To be a people person because I love and believe in the individuals. The more people I actually get to know the better opinion I have of people in general. Behind every mask of dyed hair and makeup might a women who actually is trying hard to discover herself. (and not jsut a floosy as I would quickly classify them as). It is true that our outter appearances tell alot about us, but very seldom do they tell the whole story and it is the whole story that creates the real people.

I think it would be fun to either write a book detailing the inner lives of the every people you meet on the street or have a TV series (preferably PBS) that would do that for us. Maby then we can stop seeing people as a mass entity and see them for the precious individuals that are deserving of our time and love.

Baby Business

My Baby is 2 years old (and according to paperwork will be 3 in January). And I realized that it is starting to toddle. I guess it must have guestated for a long while, probablly a little longer then the average human, but to grow something big like and elephant guestation always seems to last longer.

The business is learning to stand on it's own and starting to pay it's own bills. It has also learning how to communicate. But like any toddler it's vocabulary will increase fast. ANd it will learn many new things every day.

It's always fun to watch your baby learn new things. As long as I don't have to let go too soon :)

Advice

Never give up
Never Surrender
Never undress to dance in the snow

With day light savings time I expected to wake up to sun shine. But the day dawned grey, if you could say it dawned at all.

Serious Thoughts

There are a lot of bloggers out there that actually have serious thoughts. I find that when ever I have a serious thought it usually flees my mind before I can share it.

Maby the fleeing thoughts are not to be shared. Maby they are to be held in the still of our mind until such a time that they coless into an infinetly whole understanding. I am assuming however that the colessing process takes several millenia or so. Or probably actually exists in a sphere where time has a different meaning then it does here.

Well, If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I figured I blogged enough for a while.

But now I blog more.

haha just kidding, I can't say anything meaningful when I am surrounded by tired children.

last but not least

Hams

I love to make you smile

I always try really hard to act the person I want to become. Maby if I make a habit out of it, I'll make the person out of it too.

yeh, I'm still up

Just taking a quick break between pakcing 15 boxes and preparing the 5 line sheet sets that need to go out. and we're mailing bills and catalogs too, I didn't get to the rest of the Christmas flyers yet, those will have to wait until tomarrow.

please vote

Please vote for your favorite Clayton pic so I know which ones to print up for everyone for Christmas. Also if you could tell me what sizes . . .

Tuna wiggle revisited

While, with Mike at school and an Ewie opened can of tuna fish and peas, I just had to make tuna wiggle for dinner, I couldn't let the open cans go to waste.

But how does an enlightened soul make Tuna Wiggle? I asked myself.

Well, after using boiling up some ancient pastas, I put in some olive oil, sun dried garlic and tommato organic vinagrete, green beans, slice fresh tomatoes, the tuna and peas and about a cup of plain yogurt.

For something as rarely served as Tuna Wiggle is at our house it was quite well recieved. And not too bad tasting either.

I think I need a house like they're building

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/parenting/10/12/sixteen.kids.ap/index.html

more pictures

Now you see my Ian and all the boys playing with thier Christmas Toys.

More Clayton

Mike and Ian with some down time
Chester- he blends right in

Clayton fest

gotta love him!

Raya's Dictionary

I've been using language a little diffreently lately, adn have coined some new terms (at least new to me). So occassionally I'll post some up.

Over Tasking: the taking on of too many things at once to the extent that instead of saving resources you are wasting them. Like today when I was trying to bath the baby, make omlets and start dinner at the same time, I realized I was over tasking when I let the water run in the sink for a few minutes. Men rarely over task because they have a hard time starting more than 1 task anyways.

And finally a deffinition for when Moms say "I just want to be left alone": The bathroom is in need of a good scrubbing and I can't comphrend anything else until that is done.

Home can be a heaven on earth

especially when you put the brushed cotton organic blankets on your bed. Oh, sooooooooooooo sweet, warm and soft. Talk about feeling spoiled.
To get your own http://roundbelly.com/blanketsorgcot.html
If my kids were better at keeping thier beds made, they'd have one too. My baby does though :)
Also go for organic sheets. Talk about a good night's combonation. We just brought on King Sheets, although I have yet to put them on the site. They should be up next week.

Baby weighs 17 pounds adn is 26 inches long. He also recieved 5 shoots, but only needed one dose of Tylonal before he was smilling and cooing again. He hasn't needed any tylonal since.

And ever notice that as a women, I am always the last one to bed, and the first one up?

Smart Test

the following is copied from an email I recieve. After reading that I will subject you to my comments.

"Test for Smart People....I have determined that you qualify.The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't scroll down UNTIL you have answered the question! 1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?





The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?











Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?Wrong Answer.Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend... except one. Which animal does not attend?







Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?









Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old."

My commments: a real smart person would in reply in questions to get the feel for the true nature of the problems.

For example the questions to ask in response to #1 are:
1.What state is the Giraffe in?
2. So you mind if I chnage his state? (like turn him into steak?)
3. What size is the refrigarator?

Questions to ask in response to #2
1. Is this concidered poaching?
2. Are you going to eat him?
3. Does he want to be in the refrigorator?
4. And if the giraff fits into the refrigorator wouldn't be logical to think it would be big e nough for the elephant at the same time?

Questions to ask in response to #3
1. When is the confrence?
2. What is the confrence for?
3. Does any animal have a good reason not to attend:
yes- the giraff he is made into steak

Questions to ask in response to #4
1. What's on the other side?
2. Does somebody else have a boat?
3. How deep is the river?
4. Are there alligators there now?

What was your initial thoughts to these questions?

storm aftermass

The aftermass of wensday nights storm was Hurricane Galen. And what happens when a class 5 hurricane bumps into a tropical storm Ewan. Thier unbridaled furrious forces combined, and the house most deffinetly recieved more damage from them then the storms Wensday night.

Alot of it was actually due to the lack of sleep. I was tired and didn't want to deal with anything and then whenever Galen gets a lack of sleep the autism emerges with vengance- combine that with a lack of structed activites and it is the perfect condition for a Galen hurricane. Poor Galen is still suffering from it this morning- but I helped him on the bus in hopes of the school routine kicking him out of it. (or back into it, which ever way you want to say it).

I also make a point not to tell the teachers because often just going to school Galen's outlook will change and sun will come out.

Speaking of the sun comming out ... It is beautiful weather here! BEAUTIFUL! 65 and sunny with a pleasent breeze. :) I might have to make a point of enjoying it.

storm!

LAst Night the twin cities experienced a series of major storms. The first one that ripped through brought down power lines, houses, trees and of electricty. This was right after dinner. I stuck me head outside and Mike and I both called a "Tornado warning" on the kids
Right before the alarms started going off. Then the power blinked several times and about 4 minutes after being in the basment the power went out. So I causouly went upstairs to grab our battery powered radio and light.

A little later we heard a crash in our kitchen. Our kitchen screen had blown in. And every open window to the north or west was letting in lots of rain water. Before the second line of storms we closed some windows. And before the third line of storms went we were upstairs in bed. With the kids crawling in and out of our bed all night. We had the radio on until about 2 am (the last storm cleared out) and then woke up at 5:30 when the power came back on and went around turing off lights and securing things. Galen's school was canceled- just about everything north of country road D was canceled.

So last night we got to listen to lots of people call into the radio with reports of what they were seeing- real funnel clouds were reported - and even we saw circulation in the clouds. Then I got to change diapers in the dark (on Ian) and try to get everyone to bed in the dark. There was lots of amazing lightening and the clous movements were unlike anything I had witnessed before. It seems that there was straightline winds hitting north of us and micoburst and small tornados actually touching down here adn there.

Damage: one good nights sleep, one clean kitchen (we didn't even have time to clear the table after dinner before the storm hit), branches down and one landed on my garden- but it looks like the plants will survive- I already went out and straightened them up. We also had spome water leaking through the window in the basment well- luckily this was right over a drain in the basment floor.

Across the steet our neighbors lost one of thier weeping willows. Lots of branches down but it looks like our block excaped the trials that others all around us got.

talked to an old freind today

not like old as in ancient, but old as in college. She just turned 30 (gee, are you sure that's not old?) Anyways it turnsout she's engaged. That's a lucky man- one who sees beyond the skin

Anyways, I also talked to my parents who are enjoying thier vactation to Hawaii. Monday they went on a 12 hours bus tour, Tuesday they went on a 12 hour air tour, Today were going parasalling and tomarrow they are planning to go snorkeling.- sounds more like work then vacatioing :) But I would join them for the parasailing and snorkeling if I could :)

made an interesting observation today

1. That your kid is always the cutest.
2. That your kid is always the loudest in church.

Galen's Fund Raiser

My school's Annual Fundraiser with Innisbrook has begun! Innisbrook Wraps has great gift wrap, fun gift wrap accessories, delicious gourmet foods, fine Helen Grace Chocolates, Time Inc. magazine subscriptions, unique gift items and more.For every item that is purchased, Innisbrook will donate a percentage of the purchase price to my school. I also earn prize credits for every item sold except school supplies. The more prize credits I earn, the more prizes I win! Attached is a link to the Innisbrook website. Please visit the site and consider making a purchase on my behalf.
Our sale will be over soon, so hurry and place your order.Thanks for your help!
Galen
ID # I59957B
ISLAND LAKE ELEMENTARY

Double click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize me and my school automatically.http://www.innisbrook.com/acb/basket/index_child_reg.cfm?internet_id=I59957B&DID=7
If the above link does not work -
Click below
Enter ID # I59957B www.innisbrook.com/id.cfm

slept in today

Ok, I didn't sleep in, I got up, did breakfast and got the kid on the bus, then I went to sleep. I have a tendance to sleep if I got to bed too late the night before. And late just happens to be anytime after midnight.

Last night I cleaned the living room and the kitchen. They both needed it. We also hauled half the books from the floors and hid them in the excerise room. If the kids can't take care of them they do not need them about.

I cleaned part of the fridge tuesday along with the microwave (and the rest of the kitchen).

Clayton loves it when I sleep in. Then he get extra cuddling and sleeping and eating. What baby doesn't want that?

That reminds me I have a few cuts pictures of that doll. He was so perfect looking he could have been a life like manican (sp?) They are in they new organic wool sweaters from Germany we have them in stock for christmas season. www.roundbelly.com

Almond Joy Brownies

Mix:
2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 Tbs baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1/3-1/2 cup honey
2 Tbs Olive oil
3 cups water -add enough water for pudding like consitincy
1/2 c coconut
1/2 c mini chocolate chips
1/2 c almonds
Bake 350- until done but not dry ~30 minutes
makes 9x13" pan

now I can tell you if this is good or not in about 30 minutes :)

Why does only one of my kids not give us trash at bedtime? Why does it take the other boys hours to fall asleep? Why can't they just lay down and let sleep take them?

Someday- if I ever truely feel like it- I am going to count the number of times someone is crying in our house in a day. Right now we have 2. Both claim to want me. One has a claim I may listen to.

A few spare minutes

hi All,
I actually am waiting to take Ewan to school, but have 10 minutes between getting Galen on his bus and driving ewan. Then I'm off to excersize. I have plans to flatten that stomach (or at least flatten it enough that i don't look 25 weeks pregnant).

So let's see. Mike gave a talk yesterday in church, about how to turn our home into heaven, also how to turn it into a haven.

Galen had his first week of school. It seemed to go well from what I could tell. His teacher seems really excited and into poetry. She also has a lot of experience. I am thrilled to see her excitment about conintuing to teach first grade and hear all hger little tricks with the kids.

Ewan is going to his first day of school today. He also has a new teacher. And she has the usuall charaterisics of a preschool teacher. Always talks in a high and sweet voice and is into hugs and cuddles and all sorts of positive stuff some people get tired of (that's why general people hate Barney).

However It is the kind of thing you is really good for kids and I do have to admit I way prefer Barney over Pokeman. And that saturday night we actually sang and grouped hugged together. It is nice to have a large enough family to play group games. It is also nice to get some of them old enough to particiapte.

Have fun! My time is up.

chuck that

cuddily twerp is now 26" long adn is wearing size 18 months- he grew out of the sleeper he was wearing last night. This morning it wouldn't even stretch to his shoulders.

you asked

The cuddily twerp is about 25" long and is wearing 12month size sleepers.

I'll blog more later if I every sit down long enough to do so.

as a theif in the night

well, we know it's night

another one bites the dust

Who ever wrote "another one bites the dust." must have been talking about jars of peanut butter at our house. I think we open a new one every other day.- There are 3 empty jars of peanut butter in one load of dirty dishes- and I've only made one loaf of bread in the last week. Must be those pancakes, waffles adn everything else one eats PB on.

weekend update

another update that covers everything I haven't written about all week.

me: I think I almost have the basic sales estimates and budget done- now I need to line item things in the budget and try to tlive with it. :) Other than that I did go to the gym this week adn swam 10 laps. Galen and Ewan enjoyed the kid's zone (they played basket ball). I have also read a most intersting books on garbage. Mike says I've gotten into trashy books. And it made me think (i've got to be careful about what I read because I always think about it and how to apply to my life). At the conclusion, after folloowing all of her trash and recycling, she asks herslef, adn us this question:

"What would happen if we slowed our pace of buying, if we kept our furniture, appliances, adn cars for life, or even twice as long as we did now? Would the economy grind to a halt, throwing millions of workers ont he welfare rolls? Advocates of green design immagine a sunny future of high employment. it would take lots of people to refashion everything using only biological and technical nutrients. (according to the institute for Local Self-Reliance, sorting and processing recycables-of which everything of green deisgn would be made- employs ten times more people than landfilling or incineration, on a per ton basis)." Elizabeth Roythe, Garbage Land 2005.

Also she describes San Fransico's desire and goal to go to Zero waste by the year 2020. I am deffinetly thinking about heading towards that goal myself. I think I will start with getting washable nursing pads (already in iventory). Then I will think about reuse instead of repurchase. If I ever get the laundry in line I will think about using cloth diapers. Of course I never throw any cloth out. Papers, metal and some plastics are recycled. I have already begun composting kitchen scraps. As for waste water- that goal will wait upon a more rural location or more desperation. (oh by the way, Shea lso talked to the man in charge of London's waste water issues. He said that if he were desinging the system today, they would skip over sewers and jump right into composting). Humanue is great for composting, when it is not combined with urban run off or other things commonely flushed down toliets (like perscripton drugs).


Mike: has a new thing to model adn other than that is suffering from a sinus imnfection and allergies- the poor guy wan't up to much this morning- however he did enjoy holding the baby. :)

Galen: Galen earned his white leader belt (a white belt with a yellow stripe) on Friday. He did very well for one testing for the first time. Although he wasn't up to the orange belt kids (but that is 3-4 belts away). He has been semi challenging in the past week because there is not activites to keep him busy.

Galen meets his teacher and sees his classroom on wensday. We are all very much looking forward to school around here. He will be in first grade with specialist support.

Ewan: Ewan had decided that it is his job to tease and pick on people. Some day soon I will litterally sit on him next time he trys to pick on me.
Ewan also meets his teachers this week. He will be going to school 3 mornings/week (the mornings I plan to work out).

Ian: Ian gave me my scare for the month this week. I was reading a book while he was bathing in the other room (door open and visual contact available) when I stopped hearing happy noises out of him. So I got up to check on him. He was unmoving face down in the bathtub (by this time it was drained) adn I screamed "IAN!" which startled him awake and he started crying.
5 minutes later, after dressing him and putting him to bed, my arms were still shaking. Adenerlin must be strong stuff.

Clayton: Clayton has grown. He is now growing out of the 6 month size clothing. He smiles and talks to us, and just loves been walked around. And he sleeps. Last night he slept 8 hours. Ususally I get 6-7 hours outo f him before he's hungry but that has been extending. He slept most of yesterday, adn even slept at my nap time. it was amazing to nap for several hours with the babe next to me and not have him decided he's hungry. I am begaining to think he likes to hear us breathe at night as much as we like to hear him.

Overall we have had anoisy week, but I have found that quiet places are not commen to cities. If I step out side for some quiet that is when 20 motorcycles decided to ride by on thier noisy bikes. And then there are the nosy airplanes, the cars, cars, cars, cars. The resuarants that always have TV or radio or both on and ect . . .

I have long ago discovered that life is more managable if we let a few quiet moments in. I think that is what is worng with the American culture; Quiet is too hard to find, making acting out the only way to decompress from the nose of our lives.

I must be a fly

I'm stuck on the web.

And other amazing happenings of the day: I got a health club membership adn a personal trainer. Me! My personal trainer is a Rn who specializes in pre and post natal fitness. She has 3 children of her own. The health club has yoga classes at the exact time I was looking for them (while Ewan is in preschool) and has a swimming pool for laps and family swim and unlimited child care for $12.month (assumming you are there, that included up to 4 children). So I am somewhat excited. I decided that now was a good time to get into shape because I don't want to wake up in the hospital in 50 years wishing I had taken the time to take care of my body. And because if I live to be 96, I want to be active and busy.- That reminds me that for a 95 year old president Hinkley is doing amazing.


also tonight I read half of Charlie and the Chocolate factory to the kids (then we had to make some chocolate cookies). Galen was actually able to tell me about what I was reading.

Let's see I have 10 pounds of fresh organic peaches on my counter, and another box of fresh organic veggies. Ia m already munching the green beans down pretty fast, and am getting somewhat tired of tomatoes. This is a banner year for tomatoes.

Ian got a bug bite (we think spider) on his ear, and the poor ear has swellen up terriblly. He looks like dumbo or doopy on the one side.- I did get a pick of it so I will post it soon- Luickly it hasn't seen to have bugge dhim too much. I put some peperment oil on it this morning and gave him some benadril this afternoon. IT finally stopped swelling, and we all hoping it goes down overnight.

Meanwhile we shool out his blankets and looked around his room just to see if we could find the offending bug. But He might have even been bitten before bedtime and it just wasn't noticable until this morning.

So does anybody want a stab at creating a budget for my business? I'm willing to accept donation or ideas.
(budgets and sales projections are my job for the week- I still have a few kincks to work out).

Smile Fest Cont.