Thursday, July 13, 2006

Forgot to mention that all but one of the photos on today's blog were taking by Jared....he's becoming quite the photographer. In fact I had no clue what we'd done today until I saw his pictures. LOL
Thursday...

The biggest happening of my day was finding a tube of tooth paste in the washing machine. The pictures Jared took of Zander below may validate my suspicions as to how this happened.

I received our first box of cloth diapers today…and two proraps. I’ve been researching diaper pails and laundering methods this evening. One suggestion had me totally perplexed. They said to fill your washing machine ¼ full, and put soiled diapers in it. On the 3rd day you are supposed to add detergent and wash. Now if you have dirty diapers in your washing machine HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES?????? Mike solved this for me by reminding me that most families don’t do 3 – 4 loads of laundry every day. Ah….mystery solved. {bg}

Jared has decided this week that he is interested in attending the Air Force Academy. He has spent lots of time researching the requirements to be accepted. This led to him deciding he’d like to attend a science workshop this week. He also requested information on the Civil Air Patrol and has told me we need to do lots of English, Match and Science in the next six years. Ya’all KNOW that Math and Science are my forte! Expect lots of exploding eggs in the next six years. Anyway, today was the first day of the science workshop. The goal of the workshop is to help the kids come up with an idea for a science fair project. Any great ideas out there? He wants to do some experiment on the human body….and the teacher said we’d have to find a real scientist to o.k. the project or they won’t allow it at district competition. I had no clue we were considering district competitions…..I think Jared has drug us into a whole new world of learning!

While Jared and his friend Cian were at the library, I took off on a mission to find Wholesome Foods. This is the only organic whole foods store in the Concho valley. I had been told that several items were cheaper than what we paid through Shop Natural. I went armed with a clipboard and my last order (4 pages long). I didn’t get through the list and may well be doing this during the remaining workshop days. We had a blast in the store. Stacia has come alive in the last two weeks. She played with clerks and grannies in the store. So far most the groceries are cheaper through Shop Natural. I found our sprouted bagels are cheaper at WF…..and the Organic Valley ricotta cheese is a bit cheaper but many things were a LOT more money. I was a bit sad. They seem like they want to work with me….we’ll see. At least I know that they are in town for times like today when I was out of the live culture yogurt we buy from Shop Natural…we picked up a quart in town. I also picked up some wonderful chocolate covered almonds….only to discover that NO ONE would eat them with me except Cian. Hmmm…..maybe that was always my subconscious plan.

My bike tire is fixed. I doubt I’ll reach my goal of 500 miles by the end of July….but I should begin moving that ticker again soon.

The boys will be home tomorrow night! We are excited. Please continue to pray for my friend Adrienne’s little daughter. Her leg has got to be bothering her and she is supposed to be “immobile” – come to think of it pray for Adrienne too….I can’t imagine trying to keep a 2 ½ year old immobile for a week. They’ll be casting it on Monday…maybe hot pin k or tie dye…..

OK it’s late and I’m rambling because I’m totally EXHUASTED!
Stacia has discovered Bre and Krista's old school desk (which sits in our living room as an end table these days).
Look what I found INSIDE the desk!

Ah....climbing on TOP is even more fun!



"Rrrrr" - Stacia's pirate look

I'm gonna JUMP!



What do you find in your laundry hamper?

I bought Zander and Nolan a set of blocks as a reward for keeping their room clean for the past six weeks. Zander immediately turned them in to zoo pens. This is his latest passion. He makes pens for all the animals with videos, blocks, trucks.....and he loves ZOO Tycoon! In the middle of the day I heard him yelling "The buffalo had a baby!!!" - turned out it was a rhinocerous but hey...he's only 4.

*House* by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

This book is written by two of my favorite Christian authors. I was sure I would love it.

After I began the book I was no longer sure I would love it. I didn’t appreciate the stereotypes written about AL – this in deference to my friend Chris. Once I got through that or over that I began to enjoy the book. Then I found myself wondering if I was “getting it”. I really like to have my reading enjoyment be pure enjoyment but I found myself worrying most of the way through this book that I may not be “getting” the deep implications intended by the authors. Finally, I decided to just READ the book and see where it took me. Yikes. This book had some interesting twists and turns. At alternate spots I was surprised, convicted, sickened, riveted….I would love to discuss this book further with any who have read it.

For instance – where do you think the authors switched places and who do you think wrote which part? I have my thoughts. They each wrote one part of the book. What deep implications did you take from the book? Did the darkness of the book bother you? Is there a place for such darkness in the Christian forum? What ages would you recommend this book for or be comfortable sharing it with? Around here I am not sure about my 12 yo – I think the older ones would be fine. The 12 yo may be fine…not sure…what do you all think? Is the 3 series by Dekker similar in tone to this one? What about Monster by Peretti?

This was a thoughtful mother’s day gift from my boys…..and I did end up liking the book. It will not find its way to Paperback Swap “just yet”. {G}

BTW finding an image of this book using “house” at google.com didn’t work very well….LOL