I noticed it is actually getting colder, like we only have half the windows open instead of all of them..

The real issue is going to PA where it really was chilly one day and worrying that my son might be cold due to holes in his knees..something enviable in hot weather, but not so much in cold.

So I grabbed a pair of my hopelessly un-patch-able jeans cut out a portion and sewed it onto my sons...didn't take long. I started and finished it while the kids were doing school work this morning..but..the end result is he has a oval patch..you can clearly see the stitching (I didn't have the right color, and I have WAY to much thread to be buying any.)

I am not sure he cares..but I do. If he was my daughter a pretty pink thread and a butterfly or flower shape would make her happy..but he is too old for trucks on his pants..not sure if there is a solution.

The registration for the cub scouts is supposed to be one price to cover registration t-shirts, books and patches.

But I already have a book and I don't want to buy a shirt (ebay!) and I don't need a new patch, I am perfectly happy with a used one...in fact it will be saved for my younger son to use on his shirt when I definitely will not want to pay one inclusive price!

I can't be the only one can I?

This was the shocked question when my husband explained how we use 'real' maple syrup, not flavored corn syrup. Of course he mentioned the price (being the math memory of the family he knows, I don't)

A family member was amazed, It was difficult for them to grasp why 'us po folk' would buy expensive syrup. The truth is we buy lots of expensive items...fruit and veggies are often more expensive than many kinds of junk food. Pop is cheaper than juice (and lets not get into 100% juice vs fruit punch) But it isn't about the dollar, it is about the value. We feel 'real' syrup is worth more than flavored sugar. This may be a debatable issue, science is not 100% on our side, but it is enough for us to do it.

Don't get me wrong we don't always think price equals quality, I have found great cheap clothes and lousy expensive ones. I have read the ingredients on an expensive food and preferred the cheap one. It is again about the value...we want to get the most value for our money when we choose to spend it.

update: I got an article in the email today regarding HighFructose Corn syrup..

spark peaople

Thought it was worth sharing

I just got back from a visit with the relatives, many of whom follow the 'everyone else is doing it' theory. So I felt the need to rant.

Don't get me wrong if I see someone doing something good I might borrow it. I am after all on here to find new ways save from 'anyone else'. And I do the same with parenting issues, I watch and learn or ask and learn.

BUT

I do not do ANYTHING just because everyone else does. I do not take any and all government money, I do not let my kids drink pop any old time (very rarely yes, daily, weekly, no) I also do not let them eat hot dogs any time they want or watch TV nonstop...I don't care if 'EVERYONE' else does it. We care what We feel, and research often backs, as best for our kids.

What kind of example would I be setting for my kids if I caved to adult peer pressure? How could I punish them for doing 'what everyone else is' if I myself do 'what all the other people do'...this doesn't mean I have to go out of my way to be different. It just means that with money, health, education, and discipline we follow the best method we can. If the rest of the world wants to live beneath their means, switch to whole wheat, avoid high fructose corn syrup, home school, de-clutter, etc. we still would as well.

I am a 'persuasive parent' I practice all

10 habits in order to convince my children to do things my way...Now before you go thinking I am brainwashing them from free thinking free will children into automatons... realize you are prolly doing it to your kids too. If you don't you should about some things.

1. Repetition
brush your teeth, brush this way, check out this example of clean teeth, and now the yucky teeth, Listen to this story about brushing teeth. Trust me we all do that! (though not all parents about teeth)

2. Reasons why
Because if you don't you will get cavities, or your teeth will need pulled, or you will just plain have bad bread/yucky teeth, and because I don't want to pay for any of that to be fixed! If you havn't told your kid why yet, you should.

3. Consistency
Monday - "brush your teeth"
Tuesday - "brush your teeth"
Wednesday -"brush your teeth"
......you get the idea

4. Social Proof
The dentist and all parents think tooth brushing is important! (a few testimonials from those not ingrained in this habit in youth and how they are paying the price are well warranted)

5. Comparisons
See the non brushing mouth..see the yucky cavities..see the dentist bill

See the frequently brushed mouth, see the nice teeth..see the no cavity bill is lower...

6. agitate and solve
oh my I haven't brushed my teeth, I would rather read/play/watch/cuddle/sleep but I know a yucky feeling mouth has yucky germs that eat away at my teeth, I will go brush MY teeth. (and of course you will too)

7. prognosticate
If you do not brush your teeth regularly you will have a yucky mouth.

8. go tribal
Time to brush teeth for everyone! (and I do mean everyone a whole stack of tooth brushes a full bathroom and one big brushing party goes on)

9. address objections
I know it seems like a waste but it is important. I know you don't like the tooth paste much, next time you can pick. I know yellow isn't your favorite color of brush, next time we trade them in we will look for pink!

10. story telling
Once upon a time there was a little girl (rabit, bear, fish, whatever) who rarely ever brushed her teeth, now she is all grown up and had to go to the dentist to get a root canal...she had to pass up on going out to several fun events (renfest, football game, movie, whatever) because she didn't have the money left over after the root canal.

Now we don't have to do that every night, but those are ten of the tricks we use to convince our kids to pick up a lifelong habit of tooth brushing.

If only I could formulate finances into all those rules......a save money mantra instead of a brush teeth. Part of the trouble is teeth need taken care of twice a day (minimum) money doesn't.

Or it will be for the trip, if weather.com is accurate that is.

I was so worried about cold, not that cold is a problem, but that we do not want to deal with the extra packing of winter coats! 3 kids, two adults and iffy weather makes for one full packed car!

So packing the clothes I did include a few warm pieces, for layering, but I think we can skip the winter coats.

I also added my daughters princess costume for the RenFest, I will try to get a picture for you all.

And we are cashing a check to have some 'splurge money'..there is plenty in the bank, but I plan on using that for the car. And we always like to splurge a little at the RenFest...we save all Gold coins to use at the food vendors, just looks cooler I think a pouch full of a wallet with American bills ruins the best costume..a pouch full of gold coins looks nice, even if it is a native American, instead of a medical king or something. (course if everyone did it, the vendors would have to heavy a load to carry to the bank!)

I received a depressing note in the mail today, no extra was sent on the car last month...I kept it in the account to use to buy a shed..that we didn't buy..because apparently there is more work involved than I thought, leveling ground and stuff....I still want one, but for now the stack is in the garage...and he is the one who has to get in the cold car 5 days a week, I only have to on Sunday or evenings, so I guess it will have to stay out for a while longer with the boxes in.

So when we get home I will send the money off and let it pile back up for a later purchase of a shed.

I read an article yesterday on preferred parents, most children have one at some point, some keep it up long enough to give Mom or Dad a complex.

The line "I promised myself life wouldn't change when the baby came" inside the article struck me as one of the most selfish anti parent ideas ever spoken.

Oh I understand it, with each kid I promise not to fall off the house bandwagon and make certain at least some cleaning gets done..not to mention the vow to make a shower a higher priority in the first few weeks..but I know that baby takes precedence over a clean floor, and a daily shower.

A new life, impressionable, needy, genetically engineered to nurse, hold, and seek comfort, comes into yours ....and you think yours wont change?

How can anyone offer a child all the love, time, care, and support they need without putting a crimp on pre baby life? How do you fit in an infants nearly 24 hour care, with any life!

Why would you want to have a kid just to keep on living life the same? There is nothing wrong with scheduling some 'grownup time' (and everything right with some) but there is something wrong with failing to schedule A LOT OF 'parenting time'..The different part about having kids isn't the 9 months of pregnancy or the labor and delivery. It isn't even the next 18 years..having a kid is different for the REST OF YOUR LIFE......

We are planning a last minute (well last week anyway) trip to PA, and one of the things needed to be done (that might actually get done) is making sure all the bills will be paid while gone.

I love online bill pay, but I hate the fact that it could go very wrong...Not that the snail mail system never lost a check..just that I guess seeing immediate proof of payment makes me feel like I need that proof, whereas the old snail mail was sent of with a 'lick and a prayer' cause there wasn't a thing else to be done.

So all this instant news just means I have to check each day! Though for me, that is good, I will either do it nearly every day, or hardly at all!

Nearly every day (I like that phrase, it makes you think I do it all the time, but gives me an easy out if I skipped today)

Anyway, 'nearly every day' I log in to ING to make sure bills are going out, and money is available for spending if needed. I also log into our 'brick and mortar' bank..mostly to transfer money out and put it in ING.

Today I brought up ING, and froze..I literally cannot remember the number, the same number that I enter nearly every day..I don't even know the first digit!

After typing this and trying again I finally came up with it, but really you would think I am ancient or something, can't even remember a number I use nearly every day...It's the kids, they steal brain cells!

Last night after the in laws went back to the in laws. My husband and I day dreamed about buying the property next door..it is empty and according to a couple reports from the company it isn't big enough to build a big house and still be the required distance from the curb and neighboring houses.

So if we buy it we could convince them to let us combine the properties, and add on to our house...

from simply adding a 'master suite' to doubling the size of our house all dreams were considered.

And perhaps the scariest thing of all...I honestly would consider adding on a loan payment to buy the property.

But we really shouldn't..this community is about as anti libertarian as they come. Can't even try to 'naturalize' the lawn, has to be green and all that. Not to mention the clothesline restrictions.

I had a good idea for a blog note last night while trying to fall asleep. Like most ideas it was completely gone by morning.

I had another one while doing the daily 'clean up chores'. Completely forgotten by now.

Then there was the inspiration while planting outside...you guessed it, forgotten.

So reading the article on PF about how to keep track of your great ideas hit home!

Of course I had this idea to write things down before..they turned into mile long to do lists..I have one of those in my head, the inability to remember it all is the only thing keeping me sane!

Actually this is why I do the same thing in pretty much the same order every day..not the whole day, just the work. It really isn't that big of a deal to do dishes then laundry as opposed to laundry than dishes, but I seem to run on autopilot better than conscious..so every day 'workout, laundry, breakfast, teeth/face, dishes/kitchen, vacuum, swiffer, bathrooms, clothes, laundry'..this means when (not if, when) I am interrupted by a kid I know to go right back to where I was. At the worst I can run thru the list (even going to the washer or kitchen to check) untill I hit on something I didn't do yet.

The kids have the same kind of list: 'breakfast, clean up, teeth, face, clean room, make bed, daytime clothes, vacuum, dust, house help' Which means I don't have to know what they need to do in addition to what I am doing, I just ask how the list is going.

So I prolly wont ever become rich, since all the good ideas are lost, but at least 'nearly every day' the work gets done.

Now if I an figure out what I was going to do after I posted.....

We went to the park yesterday for our usual weekly recycling run..and while there we decided to try and pick up some garbage along the way...I have since decided that there aught to be a law...you cannot shop at McDee's unless you can put the garbage in the trash!!!

How about an enterance law..something like the hitchhikers galaxy ticket system..only in reverse..anything in has to go out with you! or else you can get a reciept for putting trash in the trash can.

Oh and fishing should be outlawed unless you get your 'stuff' inspected, come out with less than you went in get fined..

I lost count of how many lunch containers with drink bottles, cans, or Mcdee cups were found sitting ever so perfectly right where the owner left them.

What on earth are people thinking! I understand the occasional mishap, I have lost items before that were supposedly safely tucked in my pocket for disposal. But the amounts we were finding could not have been accidental!

Of course you know this is how silly laws get started...supposing you had the money to police trash removal, it is a good thing right? but then you have to find the money for it, and innocent people like my husband and I would have to stop and get our bags checked on the way out to make sure we had trash in them...while the 'illegals' are sneaking out empty handed, having left their trash behind.

You cannot legislate good behavior...wish you could though.

In general we are frugal people, and non spenders. Even when we got into debt, we did it with normal grocery buying and having a 5,000 dollar baby (JC - no complications that was our portion..ugh)

So when we spend big it is unusual..oh we have our 'latte' trip ups (dried mangos!) but mostly we don't have a problem living within a budget, and especially since the last raise. (bring us up to a decent wage).

BUT! I have insisted that something be done about the boxes...They are growing, my husband is a pack rat, and I have HAD IT. I dunno if it is the right thing, but I figure a shed for his junk is cheaper than a psychologist. or a marriage counselor. So...we are going hopefully tonight to buy the biggest shed they have, and have it delivered. Yep delivered, paying the extra fee just to get it delivered, and if they offer an express delivery I want it!

I had aloooong rant here to add, but I think that would by 'airing out dirty laundry' so ... I wont.

deep breath..deep long slow breaths..thats it...life will go on...

20/20 had a show on health care last night and while making copies I watched it (put in sheet press button, wait 5 minutes, turn over, put sheets back in press button etc..total time waster)

Anyway, the proposed plan by many is to 'have the government take over' the first thing I have to ask is how well did that work for education? Today a high school GED test contains LESS knowledge than a common 8th grade test from 60 years ago..and many 'graduating' students couldn't pass the GED if they tried!

Now before you think I am a total Anarchist, I do feel some things are done best by a large slow body..protecting the borders..Of course weather or not we need any, and from whom is a completely different debate, let's leave it at individuals don't band together to train as often as an army.

Now back to health care, what is an alternative to nationalizing it? How about not getting any for simple routine care..how about including Dr visits as a routine reoccurring bills, not unlike changing the oil in your car. This is the method I prefer with an added insurance for major issues, like cancer.

The number one complaint is that if it came out of pocket, many people would not get routine checkups. Maybe so, many people don't change the oil in their cars either..many people also don't read to their kids. I can't make you read to your kid, and I have no right to, neither does the government. Same with getting your cholesterol checked, I have no right to make you do it, and neither does the government.

Besides, I haven't been to a real Dr.in 2 years, after my youngest son was born one of my moles started bleeding so we had it removed and checked. Before that it was a sympathy visit when my husband had a bleeding mole. I figured since I was making him go, I aught to join him in the torture. (both were fine) Aside from the Dr pestering me to find some excuse to get the insurance to pay for a full workup of blood tests, I learned nothing and didn't want to ever go back. (I have had prenatal care, all three kids were delivered by medical professionals)

Until recently I had health coverage, I just never stopped to look for or visit a Dr. I had better things to do with my time (no offense to any Dr.s). So no amount of health care coverage free or paid by me is going to make me go without a good reason. Only difference between the health care I have had and government would be the wait time..I was in the office within days of calling, and it could have been sooner except each time I made them wait till my husbands day off.

In England there was a recent campaign promise to 'reduce hospital wait time' to 18 weeks..that is almost 5 months! Canada has a similar problem with wait time. Dr.s go on strike there as often as teachers do here! I know they don't want to, but they DO want to be able to pay their own bills.

I am sure there are some kinks that could be worked out to help, but the short version is we have better cheaper cell phones and better cheaper education toys outside of the government system..We also often have better medical equipment..but in the hands of the insurance companies we can't pay for it.

Many companies are working on a flex medical spending plan..where you have insurance for big things, but routine care is your own responsibility..think of it as being in charge of your own oil changes, but repairs on say the transmission are covered.

I think specific kinks need worked out of that too (for example children should have more routine things covered) But I also think this is a wonderful method, and if more people would be conscious of what it really costs to run a blood test or get a script for antibiotics, maybe less parents would ask for one when their child only has a bad cold.

Then again, people might be too stupid to take care of themselves.....many do not brush their teeth or avoid fat. They also do not care for their children's teeth or diets. The junk food industry is booming, sedentary entertainment is a multi billion dollar industry, and we sit around and complain because insurance companies don't want to pay for open heart surgery....

How about we put the government in charge of making TV shows, and junk food..they can screw that up (no more Hershey's special dark!) we can start smuggling in chocolate, (without the regulation how do we know what people are putting in that back ally dark chocolate?) and no one wants to watch government run TV, so we can maybe get off our duffs and go outside once a week at least (or not, we will be online finding a dealer to mail us chocolate!)

Our week in review (cheap, and fun)

Sunday was church with a potluck meal. Followed by a cub scout meeting (looooong, but we got important things covered) Then the library, then the in laws for dinner (the tacos were WAY better than our PBnoJ!)

Monday we went to the recycle center..gas money only, nice stop at the nature center to check out the animals (a tadpole had grown up quite a bit) and then leftover salad outside picnic. followed by a nice hike over to see the pond (I was surprised my youngest walked 3/4 of the way before even asking to be picked up! bout 1 mile)

Tuesday was a couple quiet games followed by a library rented movie on trains (cub scout theme of the month) and then boys off to their meeting (tons of fun according to them) and extra stories for the girls (and youngest)

Tonight we are taking the kids back to the playground for GMC to practice riding his bike with no training wheels..in some ways he is a bit old to be finally learning (5 in April) but in others he himself is not the physical type, so we are rather proud of him (besides we refused to work on it with him all summer..when outside we were all about swimming! Which he can do quite well.)

So this week has been fun filled..and nearly free

And looking ahead:

Thursday is a 'thing' at my husbands work, might be bring the family which will be free fun.

Friday we might have company (casual invite only) or else we will watch the other movie on Ben Franklin we borrowed from the library (free of course)

Saturday afternoon is a litterbug pickup event at the park (free).

Of course one day we will need to go shopping for groceries...but not till Sat prolly. Nice cheap fun week. My favorite kind!

Ok really it was only $59...then we also got floss for $59. Every dentist I have been to in recent years has sent you home with a toothbrush, sometimes toothpaste, and floss.

I am getting ahead of myself I aught to mention that the staff was very friendly and patient and that my son didn't give any hassle whatsoever.

Except for X-rays...I actually asked him if he wanted the X-rays, mostly cause it always helps if your kid wants to do the stuff you are going to make him do. I expected him to eagerly jump at the chance to see his skeletal looking teeth in a 'picture'. He did say he wanted to see them, but not till next time. I really don't know why he wanted to wait, but with how long the cleaning lasted and how well he did, and how expensive X-rays are, I decided not to push the issue. (Besides I asked, not fair to then say he had to)

He also has one tooth going grey! Last month he ran into his cousin and then said his tooth was loose, I told him not to mess with it till we found out if he was supposed to or not (when I was a kid they told us to 'play' with our loose teeth so they would fall out sooner). The Dr said not to worry, but it might fall out earlier than it's 'turn'. Apparently it is now grey, and thankfully not a grownup tooth since it is dieing...a tooth dieing, odd.

So after the cleaning he was given a basket of treats to choose from like tattoos, gliders, and such. (I love that, a non sugar treat!) and a baggie of the toothbrush and paste, and floss.

At the in-laws house later he tells his favorite cousin "I got a free toothbrush!"

Umm, not really, it was a $118 visit, that includes toothbrush, paste, floss, oh and a cleaning.

We no longer have dental, baring major surgery for the tots, the cost was much greater than paying out of pocket, so I called around and found the cheapest price.

I was slightly surprised to find the place advertised as 'low cost so all kids can get care' cost more than the family dentist.

We of course picked cheap (and happens to be a friends dentist, so comes recommended) We also opted only to take the oldest, GMC. Somehow we just can't see taking a 1 year old and a 3 year old to the dentist yet..though if the coverage was low we might, at 160 per visit, we aren't. (adults are 180... no we don't have apointments)

GMC on the other hand is getting up on the age of losing teeth, and besides it fills a cub scout elective

Off to pack food for the drive.

Most months we run a surplus of cash in that we send off to the car (in addition the the normal payment)

Next month the car insurance will be due, and being smartish I have money in the savings account mentally marked 'escrow' for just such expenses as these.

Now the question is, do I take the money out of savings and use it for the insurance, or do I use the surplus and send less on the car.

I am leaning on surplus, cause it seems that paying down is easier to sacrifice for than savings...but then, mathematically the interest paid is more than the interest earned...Though I am not using that math to empty the account, we feel the need for some savings 'just in case'.

Just not sure yet.

We were walking to the pool yesterday, and we watched several girls get off the bus at the end of the block, then I was a bit suprised to see them start running top speed, giggling all the while to the other end of the block.

And was treated to the obnoxiously LOUD sound of SQUEALING brakes, as the bus stopped at the other end of the block to let of more kids. I about dropped to the ground and curled up in the fetal position in pain. For a moment the world blacked out as I struggled to remain upright!

You do realize I live in one of those suburbs with blocks being all short, size of two houses and two small lawns, that is it. Not like a 'city block' of 1/4 mile, or whatever, this is a bloody suburb!

And if my ears from the street were in that much agony, what kind of damage is being done to those kids riding on that stupid bus every day?

I would also like to point out we live less than one mile from the school they were being dropped off from...and less than 2/10ths of a mile from the entrance to the community!

I spent the next 20 minutes snarling at everything as I heard the squeal of brakes many more times (thankfully from further away each time).

Did I mention how bad it hurt?

The US government pays for lots of studies 'research grants'... here are a few I would like paid for.

How do childhood sleeping habits relate to insomnia in adult hood? I know lots of insomniacs and I have a guess as to which sleep method their parents choose (rock em, cry it out, gradual removal)

How does a mother attitude on breastfeeding effect her attempts? While we do all know that a certainty of failure is most likely to be fulfilled, how little doubt it may take to derail the effort is a curiosity to me.

How well do home schooled children rate in life satisfaction..not wage earning, but base a few simple factors how statistically do they fare on happiness in life? I have seen some preliminary reports suggesting that not only does homeschooling improve avg test scores (and often IQ, though is that a chicken or egg thing) But I would like to see more concrete evidence on something that ought to be more important than testing brainy.

How well do adult home schooled rate on average sex life? The recent comment about public school being better for your social life got me interested...I would like to know if it is a phenomenon only in my 'circle' or if it is home school wide....

How much stuff causes sensory overload in an average child? Most people know that ADHD, and ADD and forms of Autism are effected by stuff, but unless all the children I have ever come into contact with have one of the three, all children are effected by clutter...so how much clutter is too much?

Just my random list of questions for the day.

Normally we do not buy movies that my brother in law has..which in general means we do not buy movies.

Some films we find important enough to have at two houses...Star Wars for example.

Others were acquired before we moved so close or given as gifts, and some we still buy so that the kids can see them, somehow my brother in law with teenage kids doesn't seem to buy veggie tale movies anymore...

But in general we don't buy movies.

And as in some music, we copy what we like well enough to borrow more than once (which isn't much), generally we listen to it in the car and we will not keep originals in the car, so for movies it is also offered...and if you knew how hard it is to get each kid adjusted to not messing with the movies you would understand why!

Then came firefly....we saw it from my brother and were instantly hooked. I sent my husband online fast to find us our own copy, and then one of the movie Serenity. Then we proceeded to pester everyone we knew who made 'copies' of movies to make sure they PAID for firefly.

It is true we are actually Fans...not just 'fan of the movie/show, but capital F - Fans.

Never thought I would say it, I am a tech geek but not a trekie, I am a sci-fi fan but no Darth Vader posters adorn my walls, yet I could not avoid becoming a Fan of Firefly.

Though we have yet to succumb to buying the fan club membership...instead we bought the softest T-shirt emblazoned with 'Firefly'...another thing I have never myself done. I figure if your show needs me to advertise it it must not be any good...except Firefly...it is good enough for me to pay to advertise it....did I mention how soft the shirt was? I have a couple nightshirts that soft, but they are also too thin to wear in public, the firefly one is soft and strong and thick enough that nothing distracts from the 'Firefly' name.....pretty cool shirt.

So have I mentioned Firefly enough? have you seen it? if not you should..

And I would love to hear a recording of 'you can't take the sky from me'........(course the last recording crashed my computer...)

First it is good for you "Get the kid out in the son, get some color into him"

then it is bad "sun causes cancer! wear hat and apply sunscreen liberally!"

And Now.....

ten minutes of Sun could stop cancer

Good grief...you can't win.....

Or else it just goes to show, 'everything in moderation' including sun safety.

Do I even need to tell you what movie? In nearly all cases when I have read a book and then seen the movie (or the reverse) the book was better.

A book can spend a whole paragraph describing an outfit, or setting the scene, or filling you in on thoughts..but a movie HAS to move quick.

I am guilty of that need myself I like fast music, fast fight scenes, and faster car chases. Don't slow 'em down 'for effect' please. (ok one slow bullet evade is ok, but I already saw it so no more are needed)

And yet, when I read a book you can make that fight scene of seconds take several pages and fill me in on the hero's thoughts, the villain's every snipe and trip. And while you're at it go ahead and tell me how the sun felt mercilessly beating down on the bystanders...No rush, use all the words you need (and none that you don't).

So how can a movie even hope to compete with a book? Seems the only thing a movie can do is hope to encourage non readers to join the fan base....hard to sell XYZ gadgets if no one outside of the library has heard of them...but then they often ruin the world for the reading fans.

Edit to add pertinent article

1 in 4 Americans didn't read even one book last year

Europe that the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) in the UK is looking into banning cars from school zones, not to protect students from being hit by a car, but instead to get kids to walk more. And to be honest, the biggest reason they’re looking into it is to reduce the waistlines of kids in the UK, who are rapidly catching up to their counterparts in the U.S. by packing on the pounds due, in part, to a sedentary lifestyle facilitated by the good old-fashioned automobile.

See that our lazy lifestyle is catching on! even kids in other countries are getting into the anti health habits!!!

I have no idea how I ended up on this topic, but it hits home as my husband is about to start leaving earlier for work...not due to school buses, they are a minor addition to the upcoming traffic, instead to the VAST number of moms and dads who drive on in to schools (one of which is right outside our community)..the number of people idling in line to drop kids off less than one block from the door makes his commute 10 minutes longer than during the summer....

I feel compelled to point out that we live less than a mile from said school, and many of the cars in line come from our community....

I have no desire to be in the middle of a day care debate, but I think this article is funny enough to share, so please keep your pro or con agreement of daycare to yourself and enjoy the onion satire:

Deathstar daycare (with pictures of storm troopers and kids)

The new Sunshine Death Star Play and Learning
Center provides battle station parents with a fun
and safe environment for their children. The
Imperial Emperor himself has overseen games of
Duck Duck Goose encouraging the tots to "feel the hatred".

I just got our local park program list in the mail and was looking thru it for all the events, there are a lot, and most are 3$ each...we will be taking advantage of a few this season...and enjoying the ability, I am remembering when the idea of having 6$ to spare for a class was way out of budget!

Then I thought I would check out our local library..hardly any programs for non preschoolers....compared to the library by my brother it is pathetic, but I branched out to other libraries and found even less listings.

I seem to be getting spoiled to think that a library with half a dozen free 'classes' is pathetic....

"but when is it my turn with you mommy?"

G came out of the room at 1pm today, and since I wasted more time than I was supposed to, I wasn't done on the computer (usually done by then)

I suggested he get a shower or something he needed to do (the hour he leaves me alone is our nap time arrangement)

He said "but mommy, when is it my turn with you?" I was surprised, I thought he just was bored and wanted something to do each day..but apparently he wanted me .

so of course I left my fun and work on the computer and went to spend time with him, I told him to meet me in my room with whatever he wanted to do with me...his pick...Goldbug the book we have been reading for oh 4 years. Though since h is older, we managed to find Gold bug on every single page, and then go back and see if Dingo Dog. Mistress Mouse, and Officer Flossy are on each page (no but cutely hidden on many)

Now no more time wasting, I do need to work.

First of all, how would I let him sleep in after a late night? Every Cubscout night is way to late, he doesn't nap, but he will sleep in.

And who would vacuum the boy room? It would still be used by UE and JC, but UE can't vacuum yet, and JC already does her own.

While on the subject, when would he dust? again, room would be used, but UE doesn't dust well (though better than he vacuums)

Moving along the morning, would I have to remind him to put his clothes away after dinner like I do daddy? I prefer having them put away right after they are folded (most often by him)

What about reading those nifty Ranger Rick mags...would seem silly to read them to UE alone, but with GMC makes sense....Or that cool book on King Tuts tomb, totally not JC's speed, but really interesting. Now way would I read that to myself, but hearing GMC read it...Somehow only reading at bedtime doesn't seem like enough. Especially since many evenings are full of company, music or cubscouts, or swimming and the story is cut out or at least shortened.

And who would I play Go with? JC is too young, and most adults I know don't play (not to mention they tend to work during the day)

What about Oregon trail! when would we get to try again to actually make it to Oregon?

And who would be Papa bear for the skit he wants to do with sock puppets?

When would I find the time to play with paper clay, or science experiments?

And would the cute things he say be enough if I only got to hear them from 3-7? I rather like the quiet breakfast with JC, and the later insights of GMC....(on days when he sleeps in, breakfast is late for him, JC NEVER sleeps in - but she napa)

Not to mention seeing him remake a optical illusion while drawing (draw two small pictures about 2 inches apart, look at the mid spot and move the paper closer to your nose, the two objects will move into each other) I would have to wait till 3 to see it, if he even remembered what on earth that window and guy was drawn for!

And that little aside while figuring out some division sums about how easy division is...wouldn't get to hear that if he was doing division for someone else...not to mention he wouldn't be allowed division in public school.

No I can't think of anything that would be better if he were gone all day....I don't even know what I would do with myself...

Since this is the first year he would legally be allowed to enter public school Kindergarten I am being asked a lot more why we don't send him....This week I was asked if I hadn't been looking forward to sending him to school. Nope.

ps

cutoff age by state

Well there are some more expensive, but this will be the most expensive experiment I ever do.

For VBS we volunteered to do the science, I don't think that is a mistake I ever intend to repeat.

there are supposed to be 4 different experiments every day! We cut it down to 3 one for each age, but that still has my head spinning, I am used to one a day, all kids share, and no fancy supplies allowed (no budget)

Day one and each day after we are working on growing 'coral', which will actually be salt crystal formations, supposedly they look similar to certain kinds of coral.

the bottle of 'blueing' needed costs 7$...enough for 4 kids to make a batch....we have 50 coming...there is no way we are buying enough for all 50 kids!

Instead we are planning on putting several kids together in one tray and hoping to transfer the finished product at the end of the lesson...might get away with only 3 bottles.

Todays chapter of the smiling hill farm story involved storing food. First they built a store room, from the picture and description they built something about the size of a modern smallish bedroom, about 4 or 5 times the size of my pantry.

Then they proceeded to fill it with dried fruit (pie from dried apples? ugh!) nuts (you mean like off the dirty ground? eww) plus room for molasses (for sweetening, do you know how unsweet molasses are?) and salt (straight from a salt lick, eww) as well as lard salted meat, pumpkins (how many pumpkin pies can you eat anyway) beans (dried of course, you know how I fail at those) and oddmints like 'paw paws' and persimmons (hey that was just for seeds in a fairy tale, we don't eat those do we?)

Anyway after the read I sat there thinking of just what we devote space to in our homes, and I have more space devoted to clothing than food! Seems a bit odd since food is so much more important. I also have a stack of junk beside me (husbands) that is larger than my pantry!

What on earth happened that Americans have houses and values so far gone from the pioneers that we no longer feel the kitchen has to be large much less the pantry!

When we house shopped we saw so many homes with small kitchens, no room for a table full of guests, and matching small dining rooms, what on earth do I need a dining room for if it only seats 4 small folk? I have 5 in my family and love company!

Seems to me houses are built for what people pay for, and people aren't asking for big kitchens or a big pantry, they are paying for room counts and big closets to stuff with clothes.

Ice conduction electricty answer