Grace's Baptism.....Your all invited!!!

Christmas Resources

The LDS church has put out a get website just about Christmas. It has been a great resourse for FHE and for homeschooling. It has coloring sheets for the kids and printable games. A tons of fun stuff! Teaching that focusing on your loved ones, enjoying or building holiday traditions, and following the Savior's example of service, you can give yourself and your family true, lasting Christmas gifts.

http://www.lds.org/topic/christmas/index.html

Christmas Resources

My First day of home schooling...

I would like to report to you that I officially survived my first day of homeschooling. I can say it was not as bad as I had imagined and that I think that I may have done a good job. Only losing my cool once, regaining my "ness" and moving on. Plus both girls report to me that "home-school is cool" and that they had a lot of fun. It was nice spending time with all of them, and seeing them work together. I did have to establish a few rules. But all in all I am very happy with today!!! I'll let you know how it goes in a week or more.....

a nasty feeling....

Since having 5 kids (actually since #3 came) I have always thought-dreamed -fantasied about the day that my own children would go to school. The day that I would no longer hear the pitter patter of little feet, the day I could crawl back into bed and sleep until they got home from school(my gluttony sin, refer to previous posts). In all of my dreaming I have wrestled, tango-ed, fought a true feeling that came loud and clear when Grace was at the end of her Kindergarten year.

She started struggling with school and I truly felt for her, mostly feared for her. I mean being the spawn of 2 brain dead parents that both struggled in school really has it's disadvantages. BUT I was proactive, I spoke with her teachers, read books and started to work a little at home with her- but still fought that " feeling". Her teachers all said the same thing...." she's a bright girl, just give her some time it will come sooner or later". I was happy to have her their learning and being taught by the pros's. That is what these people do, this is why they go to school for, to teach my child that is struggling. Because what do I know...
I mean I have to hit spell check five times before I can post anything on this blog, I still don't know where to put coma's, apostrophes, exclamation points and sometimes question marks? I love run on sentences - and I really like to do this ........... thing. I can read but hooked on phonics barley worked for me. ANd Don't even ask me fraction's, its a wonder that any recipe of mine turns out. Algebras what's that; and how do you spell it...? I took Freshman health (sex ed) and failed, twice, and had to take it as a senior and only barley passed because I was a T.A. the period before and got to correct the tests before I took them.

I talked to a few people about this feeling, Lets call them "that feeling" friends. I Only choose certain people to relay this "feeling" upon. People that I knew I wouldn't get the " have you lost your mind"- or the "really? and how do you plan on doing that" or the " ummm do you think that's a good idea?" Comments from. Some days my heart would feel full and I would talk to My "that feeling" friends and I would feel good, confident and ready to start a new challenge in life. But the self doubt, the negative comments and insecurities would take hold and become too much that I would push the feeling aside.

This year, a new school- more nasty feelings welling up inside and more of me pushing them aside. But something new, these feelings were much stronger. Plus another child is struggling and a lack of help from teachers prompts me to swing into action. What I started to notice is that some teachers really care about test scores, and not actual learning. I also noticed that these "extra help" programs are a lot of busy work and not much actual teaching. The more I saw into the public school system (IE PTO....not pretty, scary and a whole other story), the more I helped out in my kids classes, the more I listened and watched the other kids (horrifying) and saw the class sizes (26-29 kids per class) the more time I spent at the pubic school....the place that my child will spend 12 years of their life attending........the stronger the feeling grew.

The more time I spend with my kids- teaching, the more I Realize that..... who knows my kids better than me? who can figure out what they need better than me? figure out how they learn? and take the time to teach them individually? Who has a long term interest in my child? Who would give anything for them? Who loves and wants the best for them? who wants them to be the best they can be? who may go insane before they all move out? me. and Mike.....

Mikes beds

I have been meaning to post these for a while.....times just flies.

Mike was asked to build these for a lady in our ward. He did such a great job I wanted to show everyone!!

These are all individual pieces that had to be hand painted.....
But the end result was well worth it!!!

We didn't even get a finished picture. He also had end caps for the posts....Very cute. I am so jealous!!!

Halloween 2009

Isn't Halloween fun...I mean thankgoodness its over But we had a fun year this year. I am finding that my supply of dress up clothes is shrinking. Also when they get to a certin age they tell you what they want to be...instead of the other way around.

Grace -7 Kitty Cat

Hannah- 5 Hannah Montana
Esther- 2 Poodle

Brodie-4 Devil Ie.. ladies man

Benjamin- 7 months- skunk

8th grade Halloween garage Party

This year my friend Kami threw a pretty fun party in hear garage. The whole time I was their I kept having flash backs of 8th grade. We had a Dj who played so tubular music, Like MJ and sir mix a lot and like...we did the limbo...(of which my back is still feeling the pain of it), the donut eating contest (which I got way to many images stuck in my mind that I'd rather not) fun times.

The gangs all there...

and just so you dont think I am huge...I have a bouncy ball in there.......

We are as you guessed it a redneck couple...... I have to say that I am disappionted that this outfit isn't as cute as the next night. The one I didn't take any pictures of but you get the jest.

This is not a fake trashy Heather face this is a real trashy Heather face...I think I was done, no more pictures please. But Mike keeps going....

and just so....

The below story is suppose to be a tag...But I know how much you all love when I do that to you. So this time I will just participate and not tag anyone. If you chose to do it, pick 10 things you like and10 things you dislike that no one would know about you. I am now telling you this mainly so you don't think I just like writing about myself.....But note I did think of two Strike that 3 more things: (yah for you)

1. I wear most of my PJ pants inside out....ask me why??? I know you wanna???? well.... I hate nubbley things...you know things with little balls, rough fabric only on the inside. Why would I wear the soft side out? Just so I look nice? The point of wearing PJ pants is not looking nice, its the thanksgiving dinner syndrome, comfortably, room to roam and pretty-ness does not apply. So I wear my pants inside out....makes total since..Right? you wanna try now don't you. Go ahead let your tag hang out and become a slob like me.

2. I won't drink old water. This will have change in the apocalypse, but for now, I will not. Even if I wake up in the middle of the night with my tongue stuck to he roof of my mouth, I will walk to the kitchen and get new water, rather than drink any gross flat water.

Definition of flat water:
a glass of water that was probably poured hours or days before... BUT all the ice has melted, it has all of those weird air bubbles, and is by My definition"flat" or gross.

2.5 AND Yes I too will save my family from aliens....as I to usually have 2-3 glasses of water on my night stand. (IE movie: signs)

OH wait I just remembered one. I hate to stick my hands in old, dirty, used bath water....Like from my kids....... OHHH SOOOO Gross! I try to get my kids to do it, I have even paid them with chocolate and coached them while trying. But for some reason I always have to stick my hand in a pull up the plug, (then in my head, I have a battle) do I stick in my watch hand or my ring hand???? usually my watch hand is the loser. Easier to clean......

A few things you may not have known about me....

I don't use wooden spoons, Nor do I ever eat with those tiny wooden Ice cream spoons. I forbid use of those spoons in my house. (And actually I sent those ice creams to preschool with Brodie, I removed all wooden utensils and added in plastic, I knew I wouldn't even be there to watch in horror, but just the thought of it gave me the chills.....uhhhhhh...) I do believe that these will be included at the dinner table in my version of hell.

I love when my husband walks around the house without his shoes....barefoot.....He knows it too.... and he is sure to point it out. "wife.....soooo I am walking around with no shoes....{wink -wink}"

I love when I go into a babies room after a nap and with that I just woke up face and pink cheeks, they look at you and smile like you are just the person they wanted to see....

I won't empty the dish washer after the "dry cycle"..... If I have to, I will use my sink hose (what are those called anyways? you know the sprayer in the sink?) to spray down the dishes just so that squeaky feeling is off the dishes. I have now discovered this thing called- a 7 turning 8 year old, its a great thing......

I love after a cold day of playing outside my kids come inside and I become thee greatest mom ever because.....I can make hot cocoa.
ALTHOUGH....When they start to read I am in trouble... IE...Dump package in water.....

I typically don't like red heads.....although I do have a very good friend that is this exception.
But its true I am a redhead racist.....

I don't like to be touched when I sleep....when I am sleeping don't touch me.... cause I wake up a 40 foot tall dragon with 10 heads that can spit fire and haulk brimstone luggies at you. Just ask my family.....

I hate armpits.... I cringe at the sight of them...even my own. Blahhhhhh

I love when men, I mean... My husband whistles.....Just something very soothing about it. I could shut my eyes and automatically be some where else. I remember a memory of my Great Grandpa Antrim whistling, thats all he is doing, just a low tone whistle. Something about it...just something....I like it...alot

I have a addictive personality. I don't gamble, smoke, do drugs, drink, facebook, farmtown, farmville, mob wars. For a few of those I am currently attending AA meetings and I am currently 26 days sober. With only 2 relapses....and its OK I am a good person anyways.

Note above: I like pink cheeks.... I remember that my grandma Joan told me that back in the good ole days they (girls) would pinch their cheeks when a handsome young man came around. I guess it was their form of blush. Maybe this is why I now go a little too heavy at times on the blush.

I love to sleep, actually, this will be where my heaven or hell check list go SO wrong, Sloth is my deadly sin.
I love sleep, I am not a night person, nor a morning person.
In bed at 7 [] Check
wake up at noon [] check
Really if I only could, I totally would, I mean if its true that if you truly desire to be bad, that its just as bad as actually being bad? If so say hello to those little wooden spoons my friend......

I love the idea of running........this is all I am gonna say about this.

I will let a band aid stay on my arm for weeks just so I don't have to pull it off AND NO, I do not let any one else pull it off. What's it hurting? let it stay on until I know that cut is good and healed.

AND HORRIBLE, SO HORRIBLE....................
I tell my kids to "just pull it off quick, cause it will hurt less that way". If they really knew that I wasn't in that bath tub to just relax....and that I was really in there crying, pulling off a tiny band aid. I mean really they would think I was a baby or something.

My canning jars.....

I made it with out any casualties. I am alive and well (NOT sane, I said well) It has been a busy few weeks. But I can say officially that my canning season has come to a halt, (NOTE: I did not say to a end because if I do, I know 10 bushels of apples will end up on my door steps and you know how I hate rotting fruit). I think I over did it again this year, I will never learn my lesson. But I can say that this year was a douzie. 124 quarts of peaches, 156 quarts of pears, 38 pints salsa, 18 quarts of marinara sauce, some apple sauce?, 22 quarts of pickled green beans, 8 quarts apple juice. No not all of this was done by myself I did have a few good friends over to teach methods of my madness, a good friend and a good sister. It has been a fun year but I am tired now.

In all of this madness I had a offer that I could refuse, BUT OF COURSE I didn't (don't you know me at all????) A friends father in law was going into a nursing home and his basement was full of canning jars. No one in her family wanted them....(hmmmm) This fine lady knows that I Hoard canning jars and will do pretty much anything to get them (not that! get your mind out of the gutter) But there was a hitch to these canning jars.....of course. Nothing is free.Note above "no one in her family wanted them".....go on) These jars were full of food. OHHH and not just any food, food from 1958.....1972...1976....1980....and so on. Most of the food was unrecognizable and foul.

About 300 jars later, compost heap swelling, me dry heaving, good friend and husband laughing, we got'er done! I worked hard for those jars, and so I thought...But I had no idea YET what hard work was. I had been busy canning and had to let these jars sit for a while, when I finally got to washing them, that food (Yep...from 1958) was a little bit hard to get off. It has now taken me 3 days of soaking and washing and rewashing.

Those Canning jars have given me time to think about things. What I found is no matter how much crap and foul smelling stuff is inside of us, we can come clean. We can be sat up on a self for 50 plus years and once we are washed, we can be as good as new again. I tell you these jars sparkle and shine like the day they were first bought. They have a history and Oh how I wish I could see the things that once were inside of them, apple sauce, chutney, green chunky stuff with red flakes(still have no idea what that was). While I was dumping and heaving, I thought to myself one day will this be my stuff being dumped into a compost bin? I hope my kids know the value of canning jars and know all of the work that was put into them. I hope they know that those jars maybe filled with food, But better yet they are filled with love and like us once cleaned are as good as new........

I'm a little busy right now.....

I have a few of these....

and some of these....

a sink full of these..... A counter of these....

Oh wait did I mention these....

wait?? Or perhaps these???

I Only have a few of these....

Oh wait I forgot then there is these.........

Oh and then dumb me went and ordered...all of these...... (5 bushels of peaches, 2 bushels of pears, 50 pounds each-350 pounds)

Note the date on all of the pictures...... I let you know if I survive pray for me......

Door to door...

Living rural Idaho we get very few door to door sales people. But can I say when we do its always quiet entertaining. Yesterday while doing my routine kids count, a car pulled up into my driveway. A small girl with a huge smile on her face climbed out of the car, first approached my kids, which by this point were talking to her and practically jumping on her. After repeatedly telling my kids to stop mauling this poor girl, she stuck out her hand and introduced herself. She had a thick accent that was hard to understand. She told me her name and said she was from??? somewhere in Europe. She told me that she was with the educational department and that she was sent out to explain some "educational resources" that were available to us and the school district. She also told me that she was required to meet 40 parents in our school district per day. She explained to me that it was very hard for her to do. So me being a PTO member, Mom, huge supporter of our school district I thought... well... sure I am busy, but I can help this poor girl out.

Can I say this girl was smooth....she asked if we could sit down somewhere and of course I invited her in. First strange oddity I notice was that she seemed really comfortable, took her shoes off and made herself comfortable. Other oddity....she for a short time sat on my couch..But then made her way to the floor and pretty much sprawled out. She sat on my carpet the way I would expect my 8 year with ADD to sit. She didn't start her spiel right away, she asked me questions first, one right after another....after 15 Min's of this I finally said, so what was it that you needed to show me? At this point she pulled out a note book that I assumed had her "educational resource's". She proceeded to show me a list of people. She asked me if I knew any of them and I said, "oh yes quite a few....."
She had pages of them....To not hurt people's feelings I will not name names.....But you know who you are...
She then started her educational spiel.... I should of known.....I shoulda seen it coming.....she was selling books....and the reason that she was so nice to my kids.....(skkkkills) is that she wanted them to be their to put the pressure on me.

(you Must say this in a THICK European accent, a cross between swedish and german)
"You kids like these books? OHHH good these are books your mommy can buy for you??? arn't they nice, you want these don't you"

to which I had 4 children looking at me saying,
(you must say like whiny 2,4,5 and 8 year olds......)
"ohhhh please mom, they are so neat, we would love to read these....Please" "can we have them, we never get anything, pleassssssssee"

at this point my children were silenced and were told to go outside..NOW.....
I explained to this sweet young lady that we would not be buying any books now or later. She then abruptly asked to use the bathroom. Then ever so nicely told me that she would leave a few books so I could look through them while she was in dispose. While in the bathroom I placed her "educational Resources" back in her bag and gathered her stuff up for her. At the same time I heard oddity number 25, I heard my bathroom drawers being opened and shut.... AND then my closet bathroom door.....(I heard these because of my stealth eagle hearing that I have developed over the last 8 years of hunting children). Maybe this is what they do in Europe but not in my house. I wasn't to worried about to much I mean if she really wants to steal kids under ware and hair bows.....then so be it.....When coming out of the bathroom I handed her her bag a walked her to the door....She got the idea....
Oddity number 30.....
she said before stepping out of the door "please wave to me when I leave" and she walked to her car. I promptly told my kids to come inside and Shut the door. I did not wave.
Weird right?
Later that day I sat down at my computer and looked up the cost of the books... that Roughly I figured when bought in her "deal" cost about $25 per book, I found the EXACT BOOKS for $14.95 at amazon. The set $69.95, her set $149.99
I saw many names of my dear friends on that list....I hate to say you were had....but you were...and if she went to the bathroom while she was there....you ott to look around and make sure nothing is missing.....

Its kohlrabi...the purple stuff....and swiss chard..the leafy stuff

I love gardening.....I love sharing gardens....Soon to be pickled.....YUMMY Purple potatoes..... Grape flavored

I found this a few morning's ago...she went and got her own breakfest..........

This was taken a few weeks ago...it is now 3 times this size!!!! ITs a WATERMELON!!!!!!!

NO JOKE....I grew a watermelon in Idaho
and a cantalope... I love it!!!

Don't judge it looks gross....

I remember seeing canned Beef on a food storage shelf at Mikes parents house. I remember saying to my self that I would never eat that vommit sludge in a can....... So here is crazy me eating my words again..... Cause.... I love the stuff.....Oh you will judge as I did, cause the look of this canned vomit is almost enough to abstain from ever eating it and making a silent vow to die rather than partake as I did. Though if we are about to run out of food you just remember that I will be the one to live (slowly dieing) but eating good....

This stuff makes tamale meat that will blow you away, it is great for that quick stew, soup, or Shepard's pie. This time I took a mixture of elk and beef.....

You cut everything into small chunks...I prefer them on the larger size, but its your preference. I think the ball book says 1 inch chunks.

I had a helper....and willing child to learn to art of the trade. Plus a ankle biter that just won't go to far from me.... he looks so Idaho....any who...

I seasoned the raw meat with onion soup packets..... You can use mushroom... Cajun....taco or just salt and pepper. You just need enough to cover each piece. Its about 3-4 soup packets for about 20 pounds of meat.

Then I shoved the raw meat in the jars....(tasty... nothing like meaty kids hands)....take a butter knife and push all of the meat to the bottom leaving No air space. add nothing else..... You can add beef stock. I dont...but you can...

Righty tighty all of the lids....

WITH A PRESSURE cooker...Process at 15 pounds for 1 hour 30 mins.

So as for having some protein in your food storage, this is the way that I would go. I mean "them there Beans" will due for a while but just wont cut my meat craving's. By far this is cheaper than spam (and way less spammy) or freeze dried yuck I mean fake meat.

I will post a Homemade tamale recipe that will have your mouth wanting more really soon!!

First day of school!! yah for MOM!!!

Today was Hannah's First day at school! My big Kindergartner! Age 5 Mrs. Wilson, I guess she really like rules....Which I'm hoping will help Hannah.... in the long run.....She has trouble with rules (like her dad) She seems so tiny still!!! The nice thing is that Hannah had such a great big sister that was there to help her, sit by her on the bus and help find her classroom for her!

Grace started yesterday in 2nd grade age 7. Yes she is wearing and coat....its cold here in the morning.Grace has Mrs. Coffin and is very excited and just wants to please. She was so truly nervous. New school , teacher and friends! By day 2 she was a champ, and helping Hannah!

It was fun but thank goodness its over!!!!

This year (again) I coached soccer. I had a really fun bunch of kids. 9 Boys and 3 girls. Not too rowdy of a bunch, but rowdy enough to be undefeated! OH YAH....Soccer is very time consuming and although I have a lot of fun doing it...two days are taken, one for practice and the other for the games. I had some great Parent helps....you can't do it with out them!!! Things really snapped for Grace this year, she started to get and understand that the game is not running around following the ball. This year she made 2 goals!

This would be a typical Heather face out on the field, This year I only managed to tell off 1 parent, maybe a few more...coaches But I can say that most of the refs were forewarned about me....and most likely had previous experiences with me. I found that the mother in me doesn't stop at the soccer field. A few kids on my team found out the hard way. This year Hannah played. I was a bit worried that she might be a bit timid out on the field. NOT SURE WHY I THOUGHT THAT. But she carried soccer just as she does her normal life.

No holds barge style. She had girls that would try to hold conversations with her out on the field and would just run right past them...She was playing, not talkin'. She did really well.

Next year I will coach Hannah's team.

She scored once this year and was so excited.

For the love of canning!!!

Oh for the love of canning..My garden is coming!!!! I have tomatoes, brocoilli, cauliflower, peppers, corn(not yet),Pumpkins, Lettuce, spinich, Fennel, carrotts, Pea's (oh holy... I have peas) It is soooo much fun. I have decied that a greenhouse is truley in my future..Because this is such a high.

( it may look like a weed patch but truley things are growing in there!!!!)

I love the fact that my family is eating what we grew....and planted as a family. My kids are having so much fun going out to check each day what is new. They are eating everything and loving it. Weeding is another story...

I have a few tom-toes that are good softball size and a few peppers that are coming up.

And oh holy I've got peas.....Good thing my kids LOVE them. These ones are about to be pulled up to see if I can get more in before snow starts.....Maybe I can get some to freeze....

I have romas brewing and onions that are looking so yummy ready to be salsa-fied.

Here are a few pumpkins that planted them selves and I did not have the heart to pull up!Its fun to find plants that I did not even plant!!!

Thank you HF for the weeds with the veggies.....