Princess Perky's Page

I need a nap, EL is sick and was up half the night, the other half was spent precariously trying not to wake her up.

So today for bonus nap time I decided to let the kids watch a movie. Hulu happens to have Anastasia, and I don't think the kids have ever seen it, not a bad flick.

BUT Hulu is 'getting stuck' I have to keep stopping the movie so it will buffer. IS everyone home sick today watching hulu, or is my computer just lousy?

The other day a friend of mine commented that we always have tons of fresh fruit and she wondered what our secret was.

Truth is I don't have one, we spend more on groceries than anything else besides the house payment.

I know that Aldis has decent fruit but it needs to be eaten quickly and we only shop once a week (this is non negotiable, my husband hates driving and I don't)

Sometimes there are nice sales, coupons, and we tend to look for fruit that is in season. Plus we are willing to eat frozen, but other than that we just pay what we have to to get the fresh fruit.

Today was a rather good day, we managed to get chores, and some education in with minimal fighting/fussing

The kids were cooperative so life was smooth and things were completed quickly. I love when that happens.

I also am amazed at how much can be accomplished when it does:
-kids rooms cleaned, beds made
-living room clean/vacuumed
-kitchen clean/vacuumed (no, not swept/mopped)
-dishes, laundry, breakfast, lunch
-math for the older three
-writing for all (yes L sat in my lap playing with a pencil, cute red scribbles .)
-geography game for the older three
-bible story, verse, copywork
-Drew Monet's 'water lillies' from memory
-worked out on Wii fit (borrowed for week)
-All three played on wii, and some other free time.
-family tree by G, with some notes about Gma when she was his age.
-chapter of book on Braille
-L down for nap, and other had some quiet time.

Outside G is squirting the grill, which nearly instantly dries, it is rather fun to watch how fast the water evaporates. I asked him why and he said 'cause it is metal' which is kindof right. Though frugally it is a waste of water....I should tell him to squirt the plants.

Saturday was the Cub scout crossover, the fellow in charge of burgers and buns brought traditional white buns for all...and a pack of whole wheat for us!

Unasked, he knew we were the 'health nuts' and he decided to do something about it! I was amazed and greatful!

Then the lady who made some sort of bean/veggie salad (I dunno what to call those) made it a point to tell me she used fresh veggies. I didn't have the heart to tell her I am the worst health food eater and don't eat tomatoes unless cooked and hot. But I really appreciated the attempt!

yesterday was ELs birthday party, we had the usual burgers and dogs, and several new guests were introduced to whole wheat burger and dog buns..I used to buy both, but finally decided to make my life easier, I would stick with what we ate, and have never had an adult guest not eat them. I think most folk would be surprised to learn how good whole wheat is.

I also had lots of fruit, which always disapears, and whole wheat ritz..though I doubt they are any healthier than regular, I find I like the taste of them better. Again all was eaten. Maybe if more folk bought, shared, and displayed healthy foods, those white, sugar starch foods would lose some appeal. For now folk think junk food and good times go together, yet at my house, so far as all the comments I am hearing go, good times were had without the junk, or rather without as much. Burgers are after all junk...but no chips, and whole wheat all around.

Or not we did have oreos as a cake . (husband doesn't like cake, so we stuck candles in the oreos for him)

So I was at the computer with plans to stop the Myzoo action and go to some sort of school like lesson with the kids.

I turned around to find my oldest curled up on the couch with a book about ancient Egypt. hmm don't want to disturb him.

Checked on JC, curled up with a book reading aloud to her dolls. Ah nope.

UE was also 'reading', and almost asleep in bed. EL was already asleep.

So there went my school plans, their (self directed) education was getting in the way!

This is a personal pet peeve of mine....

When one lists recent purchases, I tend to get glazed over eyes, and wonder why I am being told this information.

Now if you buy a new gadget and want to show me it, sure, we like to share the joy.

But to simply run down a list of toys and expect me to care? What could possibly come of that besides your pride at all you have.

Do you need me to come tell you a list of recent achievements of my kids? Would it make the mother of an 18 month old, who can't walk, happy for me to say "EL can walk, says two or three words and can find our noses, and her ear, plus she knows if she takes her diaper off she will be taken potty, yes she can 'pee on demand' oh and she can 'moo'"

Seriously what good can come of that?

Sure if I came on here and said "EL found her ear today!" all the kid loving folk could rejoice with me, but my listing all the things she can do is more like a resume, or "don't you think she is the best!"

Not to mention the mother of any 11 month old who isn't up to par is left to wonder why.

The only time a list matters is to oneself (and spouse), or when checking the health of a situation. You need to compare your own list to a baseline, such as if you are on track for retirement for finances, or age appropriate milestones for kids.

The rest of the time, please don't list all your toys/kid skills, just tell me todays and I will rejoice with you.

From

Many folk are buying gold and silver as insurance against the collapse of the US dollar.

Why? What good is it!

With the paper money I can at least insulate the attic or burn it for heat.

Gold on the other hand serves no useful purpose. Can't eat it, can't burn it, can't grow anything out of it. It isn't even useful as a container to cook in.

Though I think silver at least can make decent silverware, so long as you have the time to care for it.

I personally would prefer a few apple trees or some potatoes.

So I decided it is officially to much work to do both Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts on the same day.

I told my Webelos leader I was not going to do them both anymore and his face was like a gift to my heart. It showed disappointment instantly, (then a more respectful face of understanding.)

When I explained I was moving the GS to Thursday, his instant relief was music to my heart.

And then just because it was a bad day, I mentioned how I would quit the CS and let them find a replacement..."H@!! no" was his immediate reply. Not the best word choice, but I loved the sentiment.

So is it bad of me to love knowing others find me helpful? Or better still irreplaceable.

My husband has been asked to take a 'furlough'. Which is a nice way of saying don't come in one day a week for a month.

So we are using the first two weeks days (this Friday, and next Monday) to go to PA. Bit of last minute, but well seemed like a nice silver lining anyway.

One of the next weeks we will use for my husband to take my daughter to work, she hasn't had her turn.

And maybe with one I will get some 'Honeydew' work done?

I just had to toss some leftover Chili. It was too small a portion to use any of my pots (I don't have a baby pot) so instead of heating it up to eat, it got ignored for a week.

Now while berating myself for not using it up, I came up with several creative uses.

1. Chili sandwich(in the oven)
2. Eat it cold for EL (if she eats off the floor I bet she would eat it cold)
3. pout with noodles or rice to make larger portion
4. use the big pot and keep a closer eye on it

But the truth of the matter is, I prefer a microwave.

For Scouts 'world conservation' badge, G has to keep a bird chart and name 10 birds, 5 'IRL' (In Real Life).

At first I was a bit worried, not that he can't name birds, he has an amazing memory. But worried that we wouldn't see 5 different birds around here.

So far, since Tuesday, he has seen Wrens, Black birds, Crows (how does he know they are different?) Blue birds (or Jays?), a robin or two, and a cardinal.

Never knew there were so many different things right here.

One thing I am learning to do different with the Charlotte Mason, is to look right here for nature. One of my weakest subjects.

If you happen to have time on your hands and are avoiding work at all costs, you could check out one of the many facebook apps.

But I warn you, it could mean the end of productivity!

I have spent the last 2 hours playing chickionary while waiting for my mafia timer to refill my energy so I can go do more jobs.

For no other reason than to watch the experience tick up and new levels.

What a waste of time, ooh I have more energy, gotta go!

One would think that being a non TV dinner family we could manage without one easily.

One would be wrong. The other night when nuking some vegetables my microwave went 'BZZT' so I took the stuff out unplugged it and cooked the veggies on the stove (how archaic)

But doable, I managed.

The next day I managed to learn how to use the timer on my stove instead of the microwave for making cookies, (ok actually I went with the time honored, 'take em out when they smell good' method, but I tried to remember to use the stove timer)

I steamed some brocolii on the stove, cut up leftover food and made succotash instead of heating up the mini portions, and essentially managed to cook all weekend without a microwave.

Now I am ready to have one, please?

Not that I can't manage, it's just that microwaves are so much quicker!

I imagine if I go without for a month I will be used to it, since my husband uses one at work for his lunch and I can use the stove. But I don't think we will go that long, I expect one to be installed within the week.

NWF has a national

We have been converting our library of CDs to MP3, and of course that makes you look closely at what you have.

Having kids I spend more time listening to

This is an exciting time in my sons life. He has discovered beer. And requested we buy him some to try.

I follow the theory that my kids are better off expiramenting at home while I am there to watch, rather than secreting it away.

So we shall buy some this week and see what happens. I expect a bit of a mess, but I am sure he will enjoy the fun. I might save it for Thursday or Friday when we will have several of his friends over and make it a party.

Cracked.com recommends

So I heard once that "If you eat good, and sleep good, You will have a good time"

I neither slept well nor ate well this weekend.

Let's look at food first. I packed plenty of fruit and some trail mix, I assumed the camps meals would be acceptable for carbs and protein.

Lunch was chicken strips on a white hotdog bun with sweetened applesauce and chips. Now the average Joe (or Jane) might find that acceptable, I on the other hand discovered a body used to whole wheat and unsweetened fruit (that also happens to be hypoglycemic) can't eat like that.

Dinner was more white hot dog buns with dogs in them, and chili for topping. Now my chili has lots of good stuff, tomatoes, beans, onions, meat, flavor. Their chili on the other hand..not so much.

Breakfast was white spray on pancakes..that tasted something akin to rubber and foam.

Then there was the sleeping, now I am not normally a difficult sleeper, I don't nap well, but I do fall asleep easily and usually stay there as long as possible regardless of how uncomfortable I am.

This time I was not only sleeping in jeans (because my Daughter wouldn't sleep out of my arms and I wasn't smart enough to change before the rest of the camp went to bed, and wasn't willing to let her scream and wake them up.) I was sleeping on LOTS of roots, with covers that were constantly being stolen. I was shivering from about 2 am on. At 6 am when my normal Sunday alarm went off for church I was HAPPY to get up! I jumped for joy! Which is the first time in my life I have been happy to get up, I hate mornings. Even for a good thing like Christmas, I would normally prefer to postpone morning till noonish.

PLUS my daughter HATED it (EL, 10 months) so she was up constantly, waking me up. Fortunately only one other person heard her once in the night, so I wasn't the bane of the camp.

Part of me wants to say never again...the other part of me figures I can solve those problems.

On the positive side I was able to say "she is not a happy camper" and for the first time I actually had a camper to say it about! (It is one of my stock phrases for cranky babies)

UE and JC had a lot of fun though, both had a bit of trouble sleeping, but enjoyed some nature walks, crafts, a 'bouncy bridge' (cable bridge), a 'pirate ship' (pirate shaped pavilion), the campfires,staying up late, playing with tents, and of course just being outdoors.

GMC was of course happy to be back, BBs, Archery, climbing wall, plus crafts and fires. He slept fine, I think he is getting used to roots and the like.

So points to remember for the next time I camp:

1. Pack all my own food including whole wheat carbs, and real protein (hot dogs and fake sugar filled chicken doesn't count).
2. Pack an air mattress if I have a baby/toddler with me.
3. Acquire a larger sleeping bag, meant for two at least.
4. Pack something to hold organic waste till we get back to a compost bin (all that perfectly good scraps going into giant plastic garbage bags.....)

Today we had folks over for Science

The focus was Light, we broke it, bent it, and mixed it up.

I found a how stuff works article last night to read a bit of (mostly I paraphrased for smaller kids)

then we talked about how waves are NOT objects moving, but energy..prolly went over their heads, but playing in water was fun.

-broke light with a prism, wish I had enough for each kid .

-bent light with water (pencil in clear glass) and magnifying glass (wish I had one for each kid)

-mixed light (filters over flashlights in dark rooms) had enough for them to take turns (yellow, blue and red light combines to white if you do it right)

-told the rainbow boy story, and they drew pictures about it.

And since I happened to have this big bucket of blue water I just had to add some baking soda and popcorn and red vinegar just because.

Next month we are going to do some fun optical illusions.

So my son had a birthday, recieved some gift money, and then all the kids got some for the holiday.

Now what would any sane boy do with all that? Dunno, but just as I insist they brush teeth every night, I insist they deposit some in long term savings, some for the church and do think about what they buy.

GMC figured out the percents (math class in target) to give and deposit, then with what he had left he went to the store with an eye to buy.

We hit the after Easter Sales, nothing good. Though the boys both wanted dino heads shaped like eggs. Like I need more eggs.

GMC found a game some sort of star wars board/collectible card game. He was very interested until we explained he would have to buy extra sets for the game to be fun, so that $15 game could turn into a $45 game or more before he had all the fun parts.

Then he found a computer game on sale for $10, and wanted a book. Normally I find books the best investment, but a jedi book? Do we really need the in depth 'science' behind light sabers and droidekas? Oh well it is his money.

JC found a simple recipe game with her money, good skills for UE to learn, but he wasn't interested she was..oh well they will both play it.

UE found a book he wanted about dinosaurs, nothing fancy, but a decent book he can mostly read himself, doesn't hurt anyway.

Husband found chocolate, and robins eggs.

All of the sudden I am getting emails asking me to make certain someone is signed up for all the stuff we need to take camping Saturday..I don't think I signed up for that.

And I have to find out who is going on the field trip the following Saturday.

AND I know I gave this job away finding out who is going to the summer Day camp...info and money due tonight..there is a reason I gave it away.

Plus I am missing a bear leader, may be missing a cub master, and missing an assistant GS troop leader. (the Leader is me)

This is not my day

BTW the company did show up last night, at 6:30....bit later than the 2pm phone call.

And they may or may not be on their way over.

Don't you just love information?

I may or may not get off the computer to go clean.

Or I may go read with the kids and ignore the dishes.

I have been thinking lately about 'true unschooling' and I am not actually a proper unschooler. The trouble with un-schooling, to me, is that it assumes a child will learn all they need to know without interference...and while that is true it isn't good enough for me.

I know for example that EL will learn English without my help, but I also know that if I point interesting things out to her stressing the name (Apple, would you like Apple? have an Apple, more Apple? all in the space of 5 minutes) she may learn quicker, (or not), she aught to learn what apple is at least. On the other hand she isn't very likely to learn kumquat..but then she doesn't need to. If I wanted her to learn kumquat I aught to go get one and treat it like I did the apple.

I think the same thing applies to older children, they will learn plenty on their own, but if I want something in particular. I prolly aught to teach it (like phonics) but I shouldn't try without relating the lesson to the kid (like getting an apple to eat)

Which is why I like much of Charlotte Masons teaching, while we can't always take a kid to the past or another country, we can use what she calls 'living books' to help bring kids reasons to learn.

She also tends not to place emphasis on what you don't know so we can fill in the gaps (really like in Gods world we could ever hope to know all of it?) instead asking kids to share what they did learn, might not be the exact high points we found, but it is bound to be interesting what they learned.

Bringing kids into the nature we teach them about, and placing real items in their hands, helping the lessons mean something to them (you pick a tree to learn about, doesn't have to all be the same tree for all kids) these are the parts of CM that appeal to me. And in some ways it looks like unschooling, because we are not to terribly worried about having the exact right lessons according to state, and are not taking these lessons out of the real world, (from the real world not out of it). But because we bring interesting lessons to the kids it isn't unschooling.

On the other hand the most important lesson an unschooler can give us is that it will be ok, a child is designed by God to learn, no matter what you do they will, and for the most part they will learn all they need in the world, without a single drop of interference.

So if one lesson isn't sinking in, that is ok, they either wont need it or it will sink in later. When they want-kids have to choose to learn for it to stick, we forget that often because children naturally want to learn, from birth, and I bet before they are naturally inquisitive, it is only after when one drills the curiosity out of them that they stop wanting to learn. (though all children are different, one may be a fountain of questions another more scientist exploring without asking, a third content to skim the surface, a fourth who knows?)

Visits to the dentist really take a bite out of your wallet, especially now that we have 3 going. (EL has only two teeth, not much to clean!)

But good news all three have no cavities, and all were praised for being good at brushing.

Since I am there to see them spend way to little time and be sent back every night, either it doesn't take much, or the kids have good genetics. Or they eat the right kinds of things?

I am not sure, but we have no plans of changes, so I guess we can expect the healthy teeth to continue for a while.

Before the appointment and during the wait we finished a full days worth of learning. (though there was some learning going on during as well)

Then after, my oldest spent 4 hours with my husband at work. I heard he had a lot of fun, I hope he learned something.

JC will get a turn later this month.

I used to have no need of those weekly organizers, what would be the point when I barely have anything scheduled?

Now I am working with a group of moms on a homeschool book club of sorts, and we are having trouble choosing a day.

I actually sat down and typed out my weekly schedule (evenings only)

Some Mondays-meetings for church (CE or Tech)
All Tuesdays-scouts
Most Wednesdays- Music
Most Fridays (after Lent)-games here

That doesn't leave a whole lot of free time! But at the same time I don't really want to drop any of them, though I would love to do scouts during work hours so we can have more nights home.

Lately we have been buying a brand of eggs that is often double yolked. For the most part we don't care.

Last night however I tried to make fried eggs. Out of 6 eggs, 9 yolks broke. Not that I am very skillfull, usually out of 8 yolks 2 or 3 break.

Now for the math..3/8 compared to 9/11 (one was a single yolk egg).

Which is the better average?

Not that busted yolks are the end of the world, the kids don't seem to mind.

Just found out the homeschool enrollment for 09 is open.

The Daisy troop voted to grow butterflies for their garden service project, so now I am hunting butterflies.

I found several kits online, which seem a bit pricy.

I also found a few websites, which ask you to already have a native plant (like milkweed) for your butterfly. which we don't of course.

I wanted to find a local butterfly farm, would be nice to support a local group, but I can't find info of any in the Charlotte area.

so we will prolly go with the kits, because they come with food.

It is amazing how much I can get done when she takes a real nap.

It is also amazing how relaxed I feel with a snack eaten, juice drank, and a todo list as long as my arm all checked off!

Course the todo list for the other arm is still there, but one thing at a time (or 20)