Thursday, November 15, 2007
More tricks from Rebekah
Well, less than one month ago, we were thrilled that Rebekah had finally learned to sit up on her own. Since then, she seems to be progressing quickly through the milestones. She can now pull herself to standing, wave bye-bye, and clap her hands. I wish I had a digital video camera to capture her antics. :-)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Apple Orchard Field Trip
Today, we went to Nivens Apple Farm. It was only about a 30 minute drive, maybe less. Trey was my navigator and he did a great job, even figuring out how to reverse the directions for the ride home. We all had our orange shirts on - even Rebekah had an orange onesie on! I wore her in the front pack and she seemed to love it. She even kept a hat on the whole time.
We were the only family there, although some older couples did come and go while we were there. First we went into the shop and looked around. The most intersting thing in the shop was the baby chicks with an animatronic rooster on top that had a motion sensor. He would pipe up every time someone walked by to tell about the chicks. Cute one time, annoying the thirtieth!
We went out the side door and found a porch with picnic tables on one side and rockers on the other. One of the tables had a large checkers game on it, but the children were more interested in the playground. They scampered off to crawl through some long black tubes suspended off the ground. Then they bounced on the inner tubes. Trey and Bobby both bounced very high.
Also in that area were a Little Tykes house and a teepee. They seemed to have seen better days and had many flies buzzing around them. They were from the animals that were close by. We saw a cow, a pig, some chickens, goats, and a donkey. There was a sign about a peacock, but we didn't see it.
They had some large cardboard pieces where you stick your head through to get your picture taken. The first one was farm animals with five holes. Perfect for our five big kids. The other one was a school bus with 6 holes, so I had Sarah hold Rebekah's head through one and got all the children in a picture.
They had a large wooden board cut and painted to look like an apple. It had some fold up flaps with questions about apples and the answers underneath. We learned that it takes about 36 apples to make a gallon of cider. They had another with facts about pumpkins and we learned that pumpkins can be orange, tan, yellow, and even blue!
We saw pumpkins growing in the pumpkin patch. Some were small yet ripe and some were huge and not ripe yet.
After touring the pumpkin patch, we headed back into the store. We bought Gala Apples for eating and Winesap Apples for baking plus a gallon of Apple Cider. The lady behind the counter was very freindly after we started picking out apples. She gave all the children 2 samples of cider. She also turned on the train for them to watch. We were very interested to learn that the metal buckets hanging from the ceiling were actually concealing the speakers for the sound system!
We had a fiunt time and we hope to go back next year.
We were the only family there, although some older couples did come and go while we were there. First we went into the shop and looked around. The most intersting thing in the shop was the baby chicks with an animatronic rooster on top that had a motion sensor. He would pipe up every time someone walked by to tell about the chicks. Cute one time, annoying the thirtieth!
We went out the side door and found a porch with picnic tables on one side and rockers on the other. One of the tables had a large checkers game on it, but the children were more interested in the playground. They scampered off to crawl through some long black tubes suspended off the ground. Then they bounced on the inner tubes. Trey and Bobby both bounced very high.
Also in that area were a Little Tykes house and a teepee. They seemed to have seen better days and had many flies buzzing around them. They were from the animals that were close by. We saw a cow, a pig, some chickens, goats, and a donkey. There was a sign about a peacock, but we didn't see it.
They had some large cardboard pieces where you stick your head through to get your picture taken. The first one was farm animals with five holes. Perfect for our five big kids. The other one was a school bus with 6 holes, so I had Sarah hold Rebekah's head through one and got all the children in a picture.
They had a large wooden board cut and painted to look like an apple. It had some fold up flaps with questions about apples and the answers underneath. We learned that it takes about 36 apples to make a gallon of cider. They had another with facts about pumpkins and we learned that pumpkins can be orange, tan, yellow, and even blue!
We saw pumpkins growing in the pumpkin patch. Some were small yet ripe and some were huge and not ripe yet.
After touring the pumpkin patch, we headed back into the store. We bought Gala Apples for eating and Winesap Apples for baking plus a gallon of Apple Cider. The lady behind the counter was very freindly after we started picking out apples. She gave all the children 2 samples of cider. She also turned on the train for them to watch. We were very interested to learn that the metal buckets hanging from the ceiling were actually concealing the speakers for the sound system!
We had a fiunt time and we hope to go back next year.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Beach Day!
We went to the beach last Saturday. I have not been to the sea in a few years, so I really enjoyed this.
We left around 7:30am for Folly Beach. We stopped at one rest stop on the way down and arrived at the Folly Beach County Park at around 11:30am. They had changing rooms so we could all change into our suits. We did this a few at a time, but I think we could all change at the same time if they are not too crowded.
Rebekah spent most of her time in the stroller under the umbrella, but I did take in the water for a short while. She seemed to like it, but prefers the pool.
My favorite part of the day was bouncing in the waves with Sarah and, for a short time, Bobby. Bobby had skinned his legs early in the day and the salt water irritated it, so he didn't stay in with us very long. Trey didn't like the waves splashing in his face, so he stayed in the shallows. The little boys had a blast just playing in the shallow waves and the sand.
Nice note - I mixed up some baby cereal for Rebekah with bottled water but she doesn't like it cold. There was a spot selling snacks and the guy there heated it up in the microwave for me. :)
After showering off the sand and getting changed, we headed into Charleston to drive around. We found White Point Gardens and got out to wander around. We went on the wall (The Battery?) and looked out at Fort Sumter, which is on our "To Do" List for another trip. We also had fun looking at (and climbing on) the cannons in the garden.
After driving around some more, we went over to Mount Pleasant to look at Patriot's Point. When we first saw the planes at the Patriot's Point Museum, Trey started screaming "Thank you! Thank you!" It broke my heart to have to tell him we weren't going there this trip, but it was at the top of the list for next time.
We had seen signs about the Hunley so we followed them to a museum. It is in a very scary part of town and the admittance price seems very high ($12 per person), so I don't think we will return there.
We stopped briefly at a LaQuinta Motel before heading home. I just wanted to see the rooms, which were very nice, for future reference.
I hope we can return to Charleston soon!
We left around 7:30am for Folly Beach. We stopped at one rest stop on the way down and arrived at the Folly Beach County Park at around 11:30am. They had changing rooms so we could all change into our suits. We did this a few at a time, but I think we could all change at the same time if they are not too crowded.
Rebekah spent most of her time in the stroller under the umbrella, but I did take in the water for a short while. She seemed to like it, but prefers the pool.
My favorite part of the day was bouncing in the waves with Sarah and, for a short time, Bobby. Bobby had skinned his legs early in the day and the salt water irritated it, so he didn't stay in with us very long. Trey didn't like the waves splashing in his face, so he stayed in the shallows. The little boys had a blast just playing in the shallow waves and the sand.
Nice note - I mixed up some baby cereal for Rebekah with bottled water but she doesn't like it cold. There was a spot selling snacks and the guy there heated it up in the microwave for me. :)
After showering off the sand and getting changed, we headed into Charleston to drive around. We found White Point Gardens and got out to wander around. We went on the wall (The Battery?) and looked out at Fort Sumter, which is on our "To Do" List for another trip. We also had fun looking at (and climbing on) the cannons in the garden.
After driving around some more, we went over to Mount Pleasant to look at Patriot's Point. When we first saw the planes at the Patriot's Point Museum, Trey started screaming "Thank you! Thank you!" It broke my heart to have to tell him we weren't going there this trip, but it was at the top of the list for next time.
We had seen signs about the Hunley so we followed them to a museum. It is in a very scary part of town and the admittance price seems very high ($12 per person), so I don't think we will return there.
We stopped briefly at a LaQuinta Motel before heading home. I just wanted to see the rooms, which were very nice, for future reference.
I hope we can return to Charleston soon!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Jeffrey's Best Birthday Ever!
Jeffrey was 5 on August 12, 2007. We had his party that day after church. It was also Sarah's 12 birthday party. :-)
We had the party at Grandmother's house, as our guest bathroom is still in the middle of a remodel. At the party was Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt Beth, Uncle Scott, Cousin Laura, Grandmommy, Uncle Greg, Aunt Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Blair, and all of us. We had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
Here are the gifts he received:
Grandmother and Grandfather - Spiderman Backpack
Aunt Beth et al. - GI Joe Sigma Six toy
Grandmommy - Playmobile Pirate toys
Uncle Greg and Aunt Caroline - Cowboy Hat
Mr. and Mrs. Blair - $25
For his birthday dinner after we got home, we had spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sauce. At that point, we told him that his gift from us was $15 to spend at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Last night we all went to Build-A=Bear to spend his money. He picked out a dark brown bear. One of the staff helped him stuff it. After he had picked out a heart and placed it in the bear, she laced it up tight and tied the laces. Then Jeffrey had to take it over to the wash station to give it an air wash and brush out his fur. Then we picked out a shirt for him - Jeffrey choose a pirate shirt that came with a bandana to go over his ears. Arrrr! Then we registered him on their kid-friendly computer (so we can get lots of junk mail!), we paid for him. At that point they gave us the bear's birth certificate (Pirate Blackbeard) and put him in his carrier so he wouldn't bite us on the way home.
Next, we went to Toys-R-Us so he could spend his money form the Blairs. He picked out a Playmobile Pirate Treasure Chest to go along with his other toys. Today, he is dressed in his pirate shirt and playing pirates with all his siblings (except Baby Rebekah!).
He has declared more than once that this was his best birthday ever!
We had the party at Grandmother's house, as our guest bathroom is still in the middle of a remodel. At the party was Grandmother, Grandfather, Aunt Beth, Uncle Scott, Cousin Laura, Grandmommy, Uncle Greg, Aunt Caroline, Mr. and Mrs. Blair, and all of us. We had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
Here are the gifts he received:
Grandmother and Grandfather - Spiderman Backpack
Aunt Beth et al. - GI Joe Sigma Six toy
Grandmommy - Playmobile Pirate toys
Uncle Greg and Aunt Caroline - Cowboy Hat
Mr. and Mrs. Blair - $25
For his birthday dinner after we got home, we had spaghetti and meatballs with tomato sauce. At that point, we told him that his gift from us was $15 to spend at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Last night we all went to Build-A=Bear to spend his money. He picked out a dark brown bear. One of the staff helped him stuff it. After he had picked out a heart and placed it in the bear, she laced it up tight and tied the laces. Then Jeffrey had to take it over to the wash station to give it an air wash and brush out his fur. Then we picked out a shirt for him - Jeffrey choose a pirate shirt that came with a bandana to go over his ears. Arrrr! Then we registered him on their kid-friendly computer (so we can get lots of junk mail!), we paid for him. At that point they gave us the bear's birth certificate (Pirate Blackbeard) and put him in his carrier so he wouldn't bite us on the way home.
Next, we went to Toys-R-Us so he could spend his money form the Blairs. He picked out a Playmobile Pirate Treasure Chest to go along with his other toys. Today, he is dressed in his pirate shirt and playing pirates with all his siblings (except Baby Rebekah!).
He has declared more than once that this was his best birthday ever!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
What actually happened for Mother's Day Weekend
We got on the road Thursday as planned, but later than hoped for. This wasn't a big deal, however, as the Microcar Museum was closed for construction. We did detour very briefly through Athens to see the only double-barrel cannon known to exist.
Over the course of the weekend, I found I had forgotten the following:
plates, plastic ware, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, milk, can opener, charcoal, lighter fluid, a belt for dh's shorts, most of the sleeping bags, and the bedding for my bed. We went to Wal-Mart to replace most of the forgotten items and used packing blankets for sleeping blankets.
Friday, we went to Six Flags as planned. John and I decided to dress the dc in swimwear since they wanted to play at Skull Island. Unfortunately, Skull Island and most of the water rides were closed. The one running had an extremely long ride so we avoided it. Everyone but the baby went on at least one roller coaster and the children all had fun in the Bugs Bunny area.
Saturday started nice, although it got hot quickly. Trey had gotten Jeffrey's cold (from before we left) and started vomiting. We kept hoping he would get better under John's ministrations. Meanwhile, I took the other dc to the lake for swimming which they really enjoyed. When we got back to the campground, I planned to take a quick shower before John took them back to the beach. On the way back from the shower, it started to sprinkle. Since we could no longer swim, and Trey was still vomiting, we decided to go home. As John and I started packing up, the rain started to pour down. We put the dc in the car and packed as quickly as we could. We still got soaked!
he ride home was quick and uneventful. Once we got home, William found a tick on him. John tried to remove, but the mouth broke off inside him. They ended up going to the ER for 3 hours, where they dug the mouth parts out with tweezers. [b]Ouch! [/b] By grace, when John got home he was finally able to get Trey to stop vomiting without a trip to the ER for him (the usual result).
So, I spent Mother's Day washing everything we brought with us. At least I didn't have to cook as I had made lots of food before we left.
I think next year I will plan a brunch on my behalf. :-)
Over the course of the weekend, I found I had forgotten the following:
plates, plastic ware, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, milk, can opener, charcoal, lighter fluid, a belt for dh's shorts, most of the sleeping bags, and the bedding for my bed. We went to Wal-Mart to replace most of the forgotten items and used packing blankets for sleeping blankets.
Friday, we went to Six Flags as planned. John and I decided to dress the dc in swimwear since they wanted to play at Skull Island. Unfortunately, Skull Island and most of the water rides were closed. The one running had an extremely long ride so we avoided it. Everyone but the baby went on at least one roller coaster and the children all had fun in the Bugs Bunny area.
Saturday started nice, although it got hot quickly. Trey had gotten Jeffrey's cold (from before we left) and started vomiting. We kept hoping he would get better under John's ministrations. Meanwhile, I took the other dc to the lake for swimming which they really enjoyed. When we got back to the campground, I planned to take a quick shower before John took them back to the beach. On the way back from the shower, it started to sprinkle. Since we could no longer swim, and Trey was still vomiting, we decided to go home. As John and I started packing up, the rain started to pour down. We put the dc in the car and packed as quickly as we could. We still got soaked!
he ride home was quick and uneventful. Once we got home, William found a tick on him. John tried to remove, but the mouth broke off inside him. They ended up going to the ER for 3 hours, where they dug the mouth parts out with tweezers. [b]Ouch! [/b] By grace, when John got home he was finally able to get Trey to stop vomiting without a trip to the ER for him (the usual result).
So, I spent Mother's Day washing everything we brought with us. At least I didn't have to cook as I had made lots of food before we left.
I think next year I will plan a brunch on my behalf. :-)
Monday, April 09, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
My suggestion for Mother's Day Weekend
I just got a flyer in the mail for Six Flags over Georgia. They are having an exclusive homeschool day on Friday, May 11 (10:00am-5:00pm). There will only be homeschoolers there that day.
Tickets are either $24.50 or $17 per person. The $24.50 ticket includes a free meal and a return ticket. Return ticket is valid Monday-Friday, May 28th-August 10, 2007. Tickets must be ordered by April 27th.
There is also a free workbook available on-line - but I can't find it right now.
If ordering tickets on-line, the promo codes are HOMESCH (for $17 ticket only) or HOMESMEAL (for $24.50 ticket incl. meal and return ticket).
So, here is my suggested itinerary for the weekend:
Thursday, May 10
Drive to:
The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Inc.
2950 Eatonton Road
Madison, GA 30650
Open 1pm-4pm (call to confirm)
Drive time = 2 hrs. 40 minutes
Admission is free, but a donation is suggested
(all proceeds go to the Morgan County Humane Society)
Then to:
Hard Labor Creek State Park
Knox Chapel Rd
Rutledge , GA 30663
Drive time = 20 minutes
$23/night
Set up camp
Friday, May 11
Drive to:
Six Flags over GA
Homeschool Day
Drive time = 1 hour
$144 for the day (incl. $15 parking)
Drive back to campground for the night.
Saturday, May 12
Camp and enjoy
Sunday, May 13
Drive home
2 hours, 40 minutes
Tickets are either $24.50 or $17 per person. The $24.50 ticket includes a free meal and a return ticket. Return ticket is valid Monday-Friday, May 28th-August 10, 2007. Tickets must be ordered by April 27th.
There is also a free workbook available on-line - but I can't find it right now.
If ordering tickets on-line, the promo codes are HOMESCH (for $17 ticket only) or HOMESMEAL (for $24.50 ticket incl. meal and return ticket).
So, here is my suggested itinerary for the weekend:
Thursday, May 10
Drive to:
The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Inc.
2950 Eatonton Road
Madison, GA 30650
Open 1pm-4pm (call to confirm)
Drive time = 2 hrs. 40 minutes
Admission is free, but a donation is suggested
(all proceeds go to the Morgan County Humane Society)
Then to:
Hard Labor Creek State Park
Knox Chapel Rd
Rutledge , GA 30663
Drive time = 20 minutes
$23/night
Set up camp
Friday, May 11
Drive to:
Six Flags over GA
Homeschool Day
Drive time = 1 hour
$144 for the day (incl. $15 parking)
Drive back to campground for the night.
Saturday, May 12
Camp and enjoy
Sunday, May 13
Drive home
2 hours, 40 minutes
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Passover and Easter Menus
For our Seder, I think we will have:
Roasted Chicken
Cheesy Potato Kugel (from allrecipes.com)
Buttery Cooked Carrots (also allrecipes.com)
Haroset (using pears instead of apples)
Meringues for dessert
For Easter, I am planning:
Baked Ham
Sweet Potato Casserole (the one with the marshmallows on top)
Potatoes Au Gratin (for dh who won't eat sweet potatoes)
Overnight Blue Ribbon Dinner Rolls (allrecipes.com, again!)
Some sort of veggies to be chosen by dh
Carrot Cake
What are you planning?
Roasted Chicken
Cheesy Potato Kugel (from allrecipes.com)
Buttery Cooked Carrots (also allrecipes.com)
Haroset (using pears instead of apples)
Meringues for dessert
For Easter, I am planning:
Baked Ham
Sweet Potato Casserole (the one with the marshmallows on top)
Potatoes Au Gratin (for dh who won't eat sweet potatoes)
Overnight Blue Ribbon Dinner Rolls (allrecipes.com, again!)
Some sort of veggies to be chosen by dh
Carrot Cake
What are you planning?
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
It's a Girl!
Rebekah Rose was born 02/22/07 via scheduled C-section. She was 9 lbs., 2oz. and 22 inches long. She had some problems with jaundice her first week, but that is now resolving itself. Other than that, she seems perfect in every way. Of course, we know that she is a sinner. ;-)
Wish I knew how to post photos!
Wish I knew how to post photos!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
My Walt Disney World Tips
Back in the Spring of 2002, we took our 3 oldest children to Walt Disney World. They were 6.5, 5, and 3 at the time. I tend to like to have lots of safety measures in place ahead of time so I can just relax and enjoy when we go out together. Here is what we did for that day to set my mind at ease.
The children were all dressed the same in yellow shirts, red shorts, and white hats with socks and shoes. This made it easy to keep an eye on them in the crowds at the park. They each had a "fanny" pack they were told they had to keep on all day. In the fanny pack was an index card covered with contact paper. On the card, I wrote my husband's name, his cell phone number, and the phone number of where we were staying. I instructed the children that if we got lost, they should find a Disney employee (they all wear name tags) and tell them their parents were lost. Then they should show them the card.
I also brought child safety leashes for the two younger ones. When we first arrived at the park, we rented a double stroller. I told the boys they either had to wear a leash or be in the stroller - their choice. The stroller was a great investment because by the end of the day, all three children were happy to be in the stroller! It's important to remember that all the strollers look alike, and that park employees will move your stroller while you are on a ride or on line. I bought yellow ribbon that had been curled and tied it to the handle of our stroller. This made finding the stroller much easier.
Another concern with spending the day at WDW is the effects of the sun. First, use sunscreen. We put it on when we arrived at the parking lot, then again every few hours in the park, especially after Splash Mountain. The other effect of the sun is dehydration. We brought in water bottles for each child and made sure they had a drink before and after each ride. We refilled them with the water fountains around the park. Remember that the effects of the sun are there whether you can see the sun or not, so be careful on cloudy days as well.
If possible, borrow a copy of the Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World. It will describe the advantage of FastPasses, which we loved. It also is helpful in planning your itinerary - which rides to get to when, etc.
Enjoy!
The children were all dressed the same in yellow shirts, red shorts, and white hats with socks and shoes. This made it easy to keep an eye on them in the crowds at the park. They each had a "fanny" pack they were told they had to keep on all day. In the fanny pack was an index card covered with contact paper. On the card, I wrote my husband's name, his cell phone number, and the phone number of where we were staying. I instructed the children that if we got lost, they should find a Disney employee (they all wear name tags) and tell them their parents were lost. Then they should show them the card.
I also brought child safety leashes for the two younger ones. When we first arrived at the park, we rented a double stroller. I told the boys they either had to wear a leash or be in the stroller - their choice. The stroller was a great investment because by the end of the day, all three children were happy to be in the stroller! It's important to remember that all the strollers look alike, and that park employees will move your stroller while you are on a ride or on line. I bought yellow ribbon that had been curled and tied it to the handle of our stroller. This made finding the stroller much easier.
Another concern with spending the day at WDW is the effects of the sun. First, use sunscreen. We put it on when we arrived at the parking lot, then again every few hours in the park, especially after Splash Mountain. The other effect of the sun is dehydration. We brought in water bottles for each child and made sure they had a drink before and after each ride. We refilled them with the water fountains around the park. Remember that the effects of the sun are there whether you can see the sun or not, so be careful on cloudy days as well.
If possible, borrow a copy of the Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World. It will describe the advantage of FastPasses, which we loved. It also is helpful in planning your itinerary - which rides to get to when, etc.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Gobble, gobble!
Here is my Thanksgiving Day Menu:
Breakfast -
Company French Toast
Sausage
Juice
Mid-day Snack -
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Bread
Banana Bread
Fruit Salad
Main Meal -
Roast Turkey
Herbed Dressing
Cran-Raspberry Rum Relish
Mashed Potatoes
Creamed Corn
Peas
Dinner Rolls
Dessert -
Pumpkin Pie served with homemade whipped cream
Pear Crisp served with vanilla ice cream
Here is what I have made/done so far in preparation:
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Bread
Banana Bread
Cran-Raspberry Rum Relish
Sliced Celery and Onion for Dressing
Made Chicken Broth
Made roll dough (needs to rise over night)
Made and toasted bread for dressing
Made and cubed bread for Company French Toast
Mixed Company French Toast
Hope everyone enjoys their day!
Breakfast -
Company French Toast
Sausage
Juice
Mid-day Snack -
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Bread
Banana Bread
Fruit Salad
Main Meal -
Roast Turkey
Herbed Dressing
Cran-Raspberry Rum Relish
Mashed Potatoes
Creamed Corn
Peas
Dinner Rolls
Dessert -
Pumpkin Pie served with homemade whipped cream
Pear Crisp served with vanilla ice cream
Here is what I have made/done so far in preparation:
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Bread
Banana Bread
Cran-Raspberry Rum Relish
Sliced Celery and Onion for Dressing
Made Chicken Broth
Made roll dough (needs to rise over night)
Made and toasted bread for dressing
Made and cubed bread for Company French Toast
Mixed Company French Toast
Hope everyone enjoys their day!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Still Pregnant!
The bleeding has stopped and I am off bed-rest! I have had four ultrasounds and they all look very promising - healthy heartbeat, healthy wggling baby. :-) The due date is estimated to be 03/01/07.
I have been struggling with very bad morning sickness, which is good and bad. It is good because it means my hormones are doing what they are supposed to do. It is bad because it means I still need to spend most of my days in bed. At one point I got so dehydrated I needed IV fluids. Now I am on meds for the nausea. The meds leave me exhausted and dizzy, so back to bed I go. LOL
All this makes being a mom and homeschooler difficult, but my dc are really helping out, mostly. My dd has really been a great help. What a blessing she is!
I hope to blog more when I am feeling better in a few weeks!
I have been struggling with very bad morning sickness, which is good and bad. It is good because it means my hormones are doing what they are supposed to do. It is bad because it means I still need to spend most of my days in bed. At one point I got so dehydrated I needed IV fluids. Now I am on meds for the nausea. The meds leave me exhausted and dizzy, so back to bed I go. LOL
All this makes being a mom and homeschooler difficult, but my dc are really helping out, mostly. My dd has really been a great help. What a blessing she is!
I hope to blog more when I am feeling better in a few weeks!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I'm Pregnant!
Unfortunately, I am having a lot of bleeding from where the placenta implanted, so I am on bedrest for the time being. Maybe I can get back to blogging once I am allowed to be sitting up again.
Friday, July 07, 2006
My Wholesome Wear Swimsuit
I finally convinced my husband to allow me to buy a Wholewear Swimsuit. They are very expensive! I did get one on sale, which helped. The best time to buy is during winter when they are least expensive.
I had not planned to buy a new swimsuit before our trip, but one of my children got creative with my old suit and a pair of scissors. *sigh* So there I was, just a few days before our trip and no swimsuit. Not a happy momma.
I called and the woman who runs Wholesome Wear had one in stock that sounded perfect. She went out of her way to make sure I got it before my vacation. The customer service was above and beyond!
The suit itself is wonderful! The under layer is very comfortable. Hopefully I can tell you without giving TMI that it eliminated chaffing problems I have had with other swimsuits. The outer layer does not drag me down in the water. It is a lightweight material that doesn't hold water. Instead of absorbing water, it lets the water flow right through. Because of this, it doesn't cling when I get out of the water, either.
Not only do I feel modest yet cute in my Wholesome Wear Suit, it protects my shoulders from sunburn! With a good hat, I am set for a quick trip to the lake. I would still use sunblock on my exposed skin for a day at the beach, but that is a lot less skin than it used to be!
I strongly recommend Wholesome Wear Swimwear! Check them out yourself at http://www.wholesomewear.com/
I had not planned to buy a new swimsuit before our trip, but one of my children got creative with my old suit and a pair of scissors. *sigh* So there I was, just a few days before our trip and no swimsuit. Not a happy momma.
I called and the woman who runs Wholesome Wear had one in stock that sounded perfect. She went out of her way to make sure I got it before my vacation. The customer service was above and beyond!
The suit itself is wonderful! The under layer is very comfortable. Hopefully I can tell you without giving TMI that it eliminated chaffing problems I have had with other swimsuits. The outer layer does not drag me down in the water. It is a lightweight material that doesn't hold water. Instead of absorbing water, it lets the water flow right through. Because of this, it doesn't cling when I get out of the water, either.
Not only do I feel modest yet cute in my Wholesome Wear Suit, it protects my shoulders from sunburn! With a good hat, I am set for a quick trip to the lake. I would still use sunblock on my exposed skin for a day at the beach, but that is a lot less skin than it used to be!
I strongly recommend Wholesome Wear Swimwear! Check them out yourself at http://www.wholesomewear.com/
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
What I Did on my Summer Vacation
For our summer vacation, we went camping in MD, NJ, and VA. We visited family and friends along the way. We saw sites of historic interest - some just of interest to a few of us, some of interest to all of us. We roasted marshmallows, looked through telescopes, froze some nights, sweated some days, and had a wonderful time!
On Saturday, June 10th, we got a mid-morning start to our first destination, Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City, MD. Midway through NC, we saw a sign about a bridge being out between VA and MD. At the VA Welcome Center, I asked about the delay and was told the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Outer Loop of the DC Beltway would be closed that day due to construction. The sweet old lady at the Welcome Center suggested we take Route 301 instead. As my niece later commented, "301 is never a good idea." The 8 hour trip took us 11 hours. Toward the end, my husband was driving very aggressively to get us to the campground with enough daylight to set up camp.
The campground was nice, with hot/cold showers, automatic toilets, and a nice playground. The sites were a bit small, although there were trees and bushes in between the sites to create privacy. To keep the plants there, they had loose gravel at each site and you were only allowed to set up on the gravel. Not the most comfortable for my dc without camping mattresses.
On Sunday, we went to church at Bishops Cummins Memorial Reformed Episcopal. John's brother-in-law, David Crum, was recently installed as the new pastor there. We enjoyed the service and later went to a picnic sponsored by the church. We enjoyed fellowship, food, and volleyball.
Sunday evening, I woke up to the sound of rain starting. We stowed everything quickly and managed to keep most things dry. In the morning, it was still raining, so we went to the Crum's house. After the rain cleared, we went into Baltimore's Inner Harbor for lunch at Five Guys Burgers. Love their fries!
After lunch (Thank you, Aunt Jill!), we went to the Jamestown Experience and aboard the Godspeed, a replica of one of the ships that brought settlers to Jamestown. It was their last day in Baltimore and we were very glad we went. If it comes near you, definitely make plans to go.
The next day we left for NJ. After setting up camp at Voorhees State Park in Glen Gardner, NJ, we made dinner. The campground was beautiful and we were practically the only ones there. There was one guy staying in a camper cabin, but most night he came home at 11:00pm and left around 5:00am! I was less thrilled with the bathrooms, however. The toilets were not flush toilets - just nice seats over a large retaining tank. The showers didn't let you adjust the temperature either - at first you froze and then you roasted! Very hard on young children used to lukewarm baths. They also had the most bugs of any campground bathhouse I have seen!
The next morning, we went to Round Valley State Park to swim. Unfortunately, the beach was closed, so we went to Spruce Run State Park. We had a good, though chilly, time swimming. We left when my oldest boy turned blue.
After lunch, we decided to drive to Madison to go to Whole Foods Market. Along the way, we spent a good deal of time seeing places we used to frequent when we lived up there. By the time we left Whole Foods, we were in the middle of rush hour traffic. We rushed back to the campsite and then headed over to the T**'s house - friends of John's from years ago.
My older boys had a wonderful time playing with their son. The younger boys enjoyed the toys Ms. T** had for her daycare. Sarah enjoyed the horse, Dolly! The adults had a nice time just chatting.
Thursday, my friend A*** came to visit with her 4 children. We had a great time playing on the playground equipment at the campground and chatting together. She took some pictures I hope she will post on her blog. ;-)
That evening, the T**'s came over and we roasted marshmallows. The Feingold approved marshmallows from Elyon were delicious!
Friday, we did more site seeing and then went to Lewis Morris County Park in NJ to see the site where my family used to picnic when I was young. The area has changed some, but we did find the site and take pictures. Then we went to Jockey Hollow and learned about Tempe Wick and about Washington's encampment in that area in the winter of 1779-1780. On the way home, we saw many of the mansions of Bernardsville, NJ. After a quick dinner, we went to the T**'s house. Sarah, William, and Jeffrey got to ride on Dolly while the older boys played with S***. Then they all watched the new Hot Wheels Accelleracers movie together.
Saturday was my father's interment service at Community Congregational Church. Unfortunately, they didn't have the plaques for Dad or Granny up yet, but it was nice to see the ones for Jeff and Grandmommy. We also ones for Alice Wilgar and her mother. So sad.
Afterwards, we drove around Short Hills and Millburn looking at the places I lived and played as a child. After a quick stop at South Mountain Reservation to change clothes, we drove to Budd Lake to surprise some friends of John's. We had a nice visit with them, but hope that next to plan something better.
That evening, we went to a program at the NJ Astronomical Association Observatory. We saw an informative video about how the observatory came to be there. The telescope was closed for repairs, but outside many of the members had set up telescopes. We saw Jupiter (and four moons), Mars, and Saturn (incl. rings!).
That night was rather rowdy at our quiet campground. There were quite a few more campers. In fact, there was a cop at the entrance letting only valid campers into he campground. He chased a group out around 11:00pm. The rest of the night was quiet.
Sunday we got a late start, partly from letting everyone sleep in. We were packing the trailer when Jeffrey got in the van and put it in neutral. The van started rolling backwards, with the trailer heading for John. I tried to open the driver's door, but it was locked, so I reached through the open window and put the car back into Park. Unfortunately, the window frame gave my shoulder a good whack in the process.
After that, we had a rather uneventful (though painful) trip to Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, VA. This campground was another nice one. Level sites where we could set up on grass. The restrooms had self-flushing toilets and nice showers. They could use a curtain over the changing area outside the showers for a bit of privacy.
We set up camp and headed over to John's brother's house. After driving in 90 degree heat with no air conditioning, we were disappointed their pool was broken. However, dinner at Five Guys Burgers and cuddling on the couch watching Shrek on their projection TV more than made up for it.
When we returned to the campsite, there were more campers. One group, not far from us, was clearly not there to camp. They were playing loud music and drinking. They turned off the music at 11:30pm when my dh asked, but still kept talking and laughing loudly. When the ranger drove through at midnight, my dh mentioned it to him and he ordered them out of the campground. We slept soundly after that!
The next day, we went into DC, after wasting over an hour looking for Einstein Bros. Bagels. We went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and then to the Air and Space Museum. Then, after a driving tour of DC, we went back to Falls church and found the Einstein Bros. We had been searching for. It was worth it! The bagels were delicious!
From there we drove to Whole Foods, during which it started to pour. Of course, it was the one day I hadn't prepped the tent for rain - moving the mattresses to the middle, making sure the windows were closed. I'm not sure it would have made much difference. The wind was so strong it blew rain under the tarp over the top and into the tent.
That evening, we sang Happy Birthday to Aunt Sandi and had Dominos for dinner. After a dessert of Breyer's Ice Cream and Whole Foods cookies, we watched the rest of Shrek and said Good-bye.
Back at the campground, things were soggy. We debated driving home that night, but decided to stay and leave in the morning, mostly because we would have been at least an hour, in the rain and dark, packing up. Driving home the next day in the heat, we wondered if we had made the right decision. Still, we made it home in less than 8 hours, including stops for lunch and potty.
We are glad to be home! My shoulder is feeling better and the poison ivy I caught is starting to itch less. Many of the children have colds and I am leaving for the hospital shortly as Trey is getting dehydrated from a virus he caught.
I don't think I will plan another long camping vacation until either we get a camper or at least a vehicle with air conditioning. But a weekend trip to the beach sounds like a good idea! :-)
On Saturday, June 10th, we got a mid-morning start to our first destination, Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City, MD. Midway through NC, we saw a sign about a bridge being out between VA and MD. At the VA Welcome Center, I asked about the delay and was told the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Outer Loop of the DC Beltway would be closed that day due to construction. The sweet old lady at the Welcome Center suggested we take Route 301 instead. As my niece later commented, "301 is never a good idea." The 8 hour trip took us 11 hours. Toward the end, my husband was driving very aggressively to get us to the campground with enough daylight to set up camp.
The campground was nice, with hot/cold showers, automatic toilets, and a nice playground. The sites were a bit small, although there were trees and bushes in between the sites to create privacy. To keep the plants there, they had loose gravel at each site and you were only allowed to set up on the gravel. Not the most comfortable for my dc without camping mattresses.
On Sunday, we went to church at Bishops Cummins Memorial Reformed Episcopal. John's brother-in-law, David Crum, was recently installed as the new pastor there. We enjoyed the service and later went to a picnic sponsored by the church. We enjoyed fellowship, food, and volleyball.
Sunday evening, I woke up to the sound of rain starting. We stowed everything quickly and managed to keep most things dry. In the morning, it was still raining, so we went to the Crum's house. After the rain cleared, we went into Baltimore's Inner Harbor for lunch at Five Guys Burgers. Love their fries!
After lunch (Thank you, Aunt Jill!), we went to the Jamestown Experience and aboard the Godspeed, a replica of one of the ships that brought settlers to Jamestown. It was their last day in Baltimore and we were very glad we went. If it comes near you, definitely make plans to go.
The next day we left for NJ. After setting up camp at Voorhees State Park in Glen Gardner, NJ, we made dinner. The campground was beautiful and we were practically the only ones there. There was one guy staying in a camper cabin, but most night he came home at 11:00pm and left around 5:00am! I was less thrilled with the bathrooms, however. The toilets were not flush toilets - just nice seats over a large retaining tank. The showers didn't let you adjust the temperature either - at first you froze and then you roasted! Very hard on young children used to lukewarm baths. They also had the most bugs of any campground bathhouse I have seen!
The next morning, we went to Round Valley State Park to swim. Unfortunately, the beach was closed, so we went to Spruce Run State Park. We had a good, though chilly, time swimming. We left when my oldest boy turned blue.
After lunch, we decided to drive to Madison to go to Whole Foods Market. Along the way, we spent a good deal of time seeing places we used to frequent when we lived up there. By the time we left Whole Foods, we were in the middle of rush hour traffic. We rushed back to the campsite and then headed over to the T**'s house - friends of John's from years ago.
My older boys had a wonderful time playing with their son. The younger boys enjoyed the toys Ms. T** had for her daycare. Sarah enjoyed the horse, Dolly! The adults had a nice time just chatting.
Thursday, my friend A*** came to visit with her 4 children. We had a great time playing on the playground equipment at the campground and chatting together. She took some pictures I hope she will post on her blog. ;-)
That evening, the T**'s came over and we roasted marshmallows. The Feingold approved marshmallows from Elyon were delicious!
Friday, we did more site seeing and then went to Lewis Morris County Park in NJ to see the site where my family used to picnic when I was young. The area has changed some, but we did find the site and take pictures. Then we went to Jockey Hollow and learned about Tempe Wick and about Washington's encampment in that area in the winter of 1779-1780. On the way home, we saw many of the mansions of Bernardsville, NJ. After a quick dinner, we went to the T**'s house. Sarah, William, and Jeffrey got to ride on Dolly while the older boys played with S***. Then they all watched the new Hot Wheels Accelleracers movie together.
Saturday was my father's interment service at Community Congregational Church. Unfortunately, they didn't have the plaques for Dad or Granny up yet, but it was nice to see the ones for Jeff and Grandmommy. We also ones for Alice Wilgar and her mother. So sad.
Afterwards, we drove around Short Hills and Millburn looking at the places I lived and played as a child. After a quick stop at South Mountain Reservation to change clothes, we drove to Budd Lake to surprise some friends of John's. We had a nice visit with them, but hope that next to plan something better.
That evening, we went to a program at the NJ Astronomical Association Observatory. We saw an informative video about how the observatory came to be there. The telescope was closed for repairs, but outside many of the members had set up telescopes. We saw Jupiter (and four moons), Mars, and Saturn (incl. rings!).
That night was rather rowdy at our quiet campground. There were quite a few more campers. In fact, there was a cop at the entrance letting only valid campers into he campground. He chased a group out around 11:00pm. The rest of the night was quiet.
Sunday we got a late start, partly from letting everyone sleep in. We were packing the trailer when Jeffrey got in the van and put it in neutral. The van started rolling backwards, with the trailer heading for John. I tried to open the driver's door, but it was locked, so I reached through the open window and put the car back into Park. Unfortunately, the window frame gave my shoulder a good whack in the process.
After that, we had a rather uneventful (though painful) trip to Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, VA. This campground was another nice one. Level sites where we could set up on grass. The restrooms had self-flushing toilets and nice showers. They could use a curtain over the changing area outside the showers for a bit of privacy.
We set up camp and headed over to John's brother's house. After driving in 90 degree heat with no air conditioning, we were disappointed their pool was broken. However, dinner at Five Guys Burgers and cuddling on the couch watching Shrek on their projection TV more than made up for it.
When we returned to the campsite, there were more campers. One group, not far from us, was clearly not there to camp. They were playing loud music and drinking. They turned off the music at 11:30pm when my dh asked, but still kept talking and laughing loudly. When the ranger drove through at midnight, my dh mentioned it to him and he ordered them out of the campground. We slept soundly after that!
The next day, we went into DC, after wasting over an hour looking for Einstein Bros. Bagels. We went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and then to the Air and Space Museum. Then, after a driving tour of DC, we went back to Falls church and found the Einstein Bros. We had been searching for. It was worth it! The bagels were delicious!
From there we drove to Whole Foods, during which it started to pour. Of course, it was the one day I hadn't prepped the tent for rain - moving the mattresses to the middle, making sure the windows were closed. I'm not sure it would have made much difference. The wind was so strong it blew rain under the tarp over the top and into the tent.
That evening, we sang Happy Birthday to Aunt Sandi and had Dominos for dinner. After a dessert of Breyer's Ice Cream and Whole Foods cookies, we watched the rest of Shrek and said Good-bye.
Back at the campground, things were soggy. We debated driving home that night, but decided to stay and leave in the morning, mostly because we would have been at least an hour, in the rain and dark, packing up. Driving home the next day in the heat, we wondered if we had made the right decision. Still, we made it home in less than 8 hours, including stops for lunch and potty.
We are glad to be home! My shoulder is feeling better and the poison ivy I caught is starting to itch less. Many of the children have colds and I am leaving for the hospital shortly as Trey is getting dehydrated from a virus he caught.
I don't think I will plan another long camping vacation until either we get a camper or at least a vehicle with air conditioning. But a weekend trip to the beach sounds like a good idea! :-)
Friday, May 19, 2006
"When I Grow Up"
My children told me what they want to be when they grow up. I don't have a Word Processing program right now, so I thought I would post it here. This way, they can come back and read it in 20 years and see how close they were.
Jeffrey, 3.5, started the conversation saying he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.
William, 5 years old, wants to be a test driver for remote control cars.
Bobby, 7, wants to be a race car driver. He plans to build a solar powered truck with a keyboard to control it so he can make use of the skills he has developed playing Lego Racer.
Trey, already very tall at age 9, wants to be a basketball player.
Sarah, 10.5, is not sure what she wants to do exactly. She wants to do something really exciting, like maybe a zoo keeper, and then get married and have children so she can tell her children about the exciting thing she did.
Jeffrey, 3.5, started the conversation saying he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up.
William, 5 years old, wants to be a test driver for remote control cars.
Bobby, 7, wants to be a race car driver. He plans to build a solar powered truck with a keyboard to control it so he can make use of the skills he has developed playing Lego Racer.
Trey, already very tall at age 9, wants to be a basketball player.
Sarah, 10.5, is not sure what she wants to do exactly. She wants to do something really exciting, like maybe a zoo keeper, and then get married and have children so she can tell her children about the exciting thing she did.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Our Passover Unit Study
I decided last Friday to do a unit study to prepare for Resurrection Sunday. I surfed the internet and found a study by Karen Caroe on Passover. We have done other studies she wrote and this one was just as good as the others. :-)
I spent Friday afternoon preparing - printing out coloring pages, deciding how much to do each day, etc. Sunday evening, I was flipping through the TV channels looking for something for the dc to watch to keep them quiet while we made dinner and found a movie on the Hallmark Channel called "In the Beginning". When we turned it on, they were showing Joseph being harassed by his brothers for being his father's favorite. We got to see how the Israelites got to Egypt and then all about Moses.
Monday, we did a quick history review from Creation to Joseph, showing how they came to be Egypt. Then we learned about how Moses mother saved him from death and he became an adopted son of the Princess. We looked up Egypt on the map and colored maps showing Egypt and Israel. Then we learned about how God called Moses to lead His People out of Egypt.
Tuesday, we studied the first nine plagues. Having seen them on the TV movie helped the children remember them. Then we read the Biblical account and discussed how it differed. After that, we learned some about Jewish culture, including learning to dance the Hora! We also learned some Yiddish phrases that are used in American today.
Wednesday, we read Exodus 12 and learned about the Passover. We also discussed the Hebrew Calendar and compared it to our calendar. The older ones worked on memorizing the months of the year and the younger ones on the days of the week. Sarah reviewed "30 days hath September."
Today, we will discuss how Passover is celebrated today. We had a Seder a few years ago, so some of them remember it. We will discuss the Hebrew terms for the various foods served. We will also discuss how leaven compares to sin. Tonight, we will go to our church's Agape Feast to celebrate Maundy Thursday. I am hoping they have Matzoh for the communion bread, as that's what Jesus would have used since He was celebrating Passover that evening.
Friday, we will discuss the symbolism of how Jesus is our Paschal Lamb and it is His Blood that saves us from death.
I spent Friday afternoon preparing - printing out coloring pages, deciding how much to do each day, etc. Sunday evening, I was flipping through the TV channels looking for something for the dc to watch to keep them quiet while we made dinner and found a movie on the Hallmark Channel called "In the Beginning". When we turned it on, they were showing Joseph being harassed by his brothers for being his father's favorite. We got to see how the Israelites got to Egypt and then all about Moses.
Monday, we did a quick history review from Creation to Joseph, showing how they came to be Egypt. Then we learned about how Moses mother saved him from death and he became an adopted son of the Princess. We looked up Egypt on the map and colored maps showing Egypt and Israel. Then we learned about how God called Moses to lead His People out of Egypt.
Tuesday, we studied the first nine plagues. Having seen them on the TV movie helped the children remember them. Then we read the Biblical account and discussed how it differed. After that, we learned some about Jewish culture, including learning to dance the Hora! We also learned some Yiddish phrases that are used in American today.
Wednesday, we read Exodus 12 and learned about the Passover. We also discussed the Hebrew Calendar and compared it to our calendar. The older ones worked on memorizing the months of the year and the younger ones on the days of the week. Sarah reviewed "30 days hath September."
Today, we will discuss how Passover is celebrated today. We had a Seder a few years ago, so some of them remember it. We will discuss the Hebrew terms for the various foods served. We will also discuss how leaven compares to sin. Tonight, we will go to our church's Agape Feast to celebrate Maundy Thursday. I am hoping they have Matzoh for the communion bread, as that's what Jesus would have used since He was celebrating Passover that evening.
Friday, we will discuss the symbolism of how Jesus is our Paschal Lamb and it is His Blood that saves us from death.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Feingold Program
Even before my oldest son was born, he was a handful. We called him Pele, after the famous Brazilian soccer player of the 70's because he "kicked" me so much. After he was born, he remained a very active child. He slept and ate well, but during play times, he was always trying to get into mischief.
By the time he was three years old, I told everyone I was looking for a military pre-school boarding school. As I prepared to homeschool S***, I knew that T*** would be a problem. How would I keep him quiet while I schooled S***? And how would I ever school T*** when I didn't even want to be around him?
The problem was he had no impulse control. He couldn't stop himself from disobeying. No matter how harsh the punishment he had just received, he would do the same thing again.
Around the time I started school for S***, I started to participate on some homeschool message boards. Some of the other mothers mentioned the Feingold Program. It seems their children had shown symptoms of ADHD. Rather than put them on medications, they joined the Feingold Association. By using the Feingold Program, they had given their child the self-control they lacked. So I looked into the Program.
Basically, it boils down to this: many foods contain petroleum (crude oil). Some people are extremely sensitive to petroleum. Eating it makes them lose self-control. Eliminating it from their diet and enviroment gives them back their self-control. Some people are also sensitive to foods high in naturally occuring salicylates and need to avoid or limit these as well.
One of the major benefits of joining the Feingold Association is the Shopping Guide. It lists foods that the Feingold Associations volunteers have researched and found to be petroleum-free. Armed with my Shopping Guide, I can go to the grocery store and buy foods that are safe for my family to eat.
What foods have petroleum in them? Most artificial colors, artificial flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ. The preservatives can bee hidden in ingredients of ingredients. For instance, you may be able to find a loaf of bread at your grocery store that does not list preservatives as an ingredient. However, they may spray a pan spray on the pan to keep the loaf from sticking. This pan spray may be preserved with a petroleum based preservative. This will leech into the food and is enough to cause a bad reaction in some people. So even reading labels is not enough.
To find out more about the Feingold Program or to join the Association, go to http://www.feingold.org
By the time he was three years old, I told everyone I was looking for a military pre-school boarding school. As I prepared to homeschool S***, I knew that T*** would be a problem. How would I keep him quiet while I schooled S***? And how would I ever school T*** when I didn't even want to be around him?
The problem was he had no impulse control. He couldn't stop himself from disobeying. No matter how harsh the punishment he had just received, he would do the same thing again.
Around the time I started school for S***, I started to participate on some homeschool message boards. Some of the other mothers mentioned the Feingold Program. It seems their children had shown symptoms of ADHD. Rather than put them on medications, they joined the Feingold Association. By using the Feingold Program, they had given their child the self-control they lacked. So I looked into the Program.
Basically, it boils down to this: many foods contain petroleum (crude oil). Some people are extremely sensitive to petroleum. Eating it makes them lose self-control. Eliminating it from their diet and enviroment gives them back their self-control. Some people are also sensitive to foods high in naturally occuring salicylates and need to avoid or limit these as well.
One of the major benefits of joining the Feingold Association is the Shopping Guide. It lists foods that the Feingold Associations volunteers have researched and found to be petroleum-free. Armed with my Shopping Guide, I can go to the grocery store and buy foods that are safe for my family to eat.
What foods have petroleum in them? Most artificial colors, artificial flavors, and the preservatives BHA, BHT, and TBHQ. The preservatives can bee hidden in ingredients of ingredients. For instance, you may be able to find a loaf of bread at your grocery store that does not list preservatives as an ingredient. However, they may spray a pan spray on the pan to keep the loaf from sticking. This pan spray may be preserved with a petroleum based preservative. This will leech into the food and is enough to cause a bad reaction in some people. So even reading labels is not enough.
To find out more about the Feingold Program or to join the Association, go to http://www.feingold.org
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Field Trips
Somedays I feel like we could spend a year doing just field trips and still have plenty of places I would want to go. Yes, my ideal field trip is to the beach. There is so much to study there - ocean animals, seaside biomes, lighthouses, tides, etc. But there is more to life than just the beach (so they tell me).
In planning our trip to NJ, I am planning "lay-overs" to visit family outside Baltimore and Washington, DC. The possibilities for field trips at these two locales seem endless. How do I pick just 2 or 3 things to see in each city? Afterall, we are supposed to be there to visit family - which is another thing I love to do. (Any talk of a family reunion at a beach would be A-okay with me!!)
Then I picked up something about the Appalachain Mountains at a NC Welcome Center. Turns out to be Geotourism MapGuide put together by National Geographic. It lists hundreds of places of interest along the mountains. Battle sites, places to ride steam engine trains, art centers, farms, caverns - the list goes on.
Tomorrow, we are going to the Discovery Place Museum in Charlotte. So today, I am getting ready. I have made extra sandwich rolls to bring with us so we can picnic for lunch. I have made PB Oatmeal cookies for us to snack on. I have washed our field trip outfits (red polo shirts, jeans, yellow sweatshirts - you can't miss us of you try). I have ironed demin dresses and white headcoverings for Sarah and me. It's 2:30pm and I'm ready to go to bed.
I think the idea of taking a year just for field trips is intriging. I think the best way to do it is in an RV. Oh, and bringing a maid would help too! LOL
In planning our trip to NJ, I am planning "lay-overs" to visit family outside Baltimore and Washington, DC. The possibilities for field trips at these two locales seem endless. How do I pick just 2 or 3 things to see in each city? Afterall, we are supposed to be there to visit family - which is another thing I love to do. (Any talk of a family reunion at a beach would be A-okay with me!!)
Then I picked up something about the Appalachain Mountains at a NC Welcome Center. Turns out to be Geotourism MapGuide put together by National Geographic. It lists hundreds of places of interest along the mountains. Battle sites, places to ride steam engine trains, art centers, farms, caverns - the list goes on.
Tomorrow, we are going to the Discovery Place Museum in Charlotte. So today, I am getting ready. I have made extra sandwich rolls to bring with us so we can picnic for lunch. I have made PB Oatmeal cookies for us to snack on. I have washed our field trip outfits (red polo shirts, jeans, yellow sweatshirts - you can't miss us of you try). I have ironed demin dresses and white headcoverings for Sarah and me. It's 2:30pm and I'm ready to go to bed.
I think the idea of taking a year just for field trips is intriging. I think the best way to do it is in an RV. Oh, and bringing a maid would help too! LOL
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