More about teeth...

This is good news, and just want to log it: E has a loose tooth! We discovered it Tues. June 19. In the midst of flossing his teeth, I saw an adult tooth popping through. We hadn't even discovered the loose tooth yet. I figured, it was probably loose, too. We tried it, and low and behold...looseness. I about cried. I'm sort of emotional. My first baby, his first loose tooth. OK, I'm done with the tooth bit.
I'm pretty excited, we now have a system in our hottub that is virtually chemical free. Just in time for the homeschool BBQ. I'll go ahead and post now, then pluck my brain for better things later.

30 days of no complaining

This means to friends, in my own head, etc. etc. I have a family heritage of complaining, so God, please help me to be positive. I realized that I sounded a bit negative in my last blog, but I truly am thankful for free lunch...yippee! So at the start of a new week, with a great Father's Day having been had, I shall, at the end of this blog name 10 things that I'm thankful for. Going back to Father's Day, I had a semi-long conversation with my dad today. It was nice. He has given me a heritage of frugality, and stubborne...determination (had to change that as to not sound negative ;) I appreciate the talks we have, as I did not grow up with him. Nor did I see him in the best light growing up. As an adult, it's neat to get to know someone who essentially gave me life!
I have not blogged about my oldest's b-day party. We had about 19 kids present. Yikes. It was loads of fun. Pirate themed, treasure hunting, pinata, the works. I'm sorry if you're reading this and you were not invited. We had to trim the guess list, and it ended up being mainly home school friends. My oldest son has quite the outgoing personality; it's a good thing we are "socializing" him properly. LOL.
We are looking forward to an exciting summer of swim lessons, park days, killing gardens, then begging my friend Abby for some of her produce. I cherish this hot weather, but I'm not good at watering my photosynthetic friends. I plan to also hit some farmers markets this week, a birthday party, a bam bam practice and game, taking my father-in-law out for Father's Day, and finishing this house up in preparation for the home school barbecue. Sorry if this sounds like a diary. I just want to be able to look back at this journal and see what was going on in this part of my life. Sometimes I need to do that--mentally plan, or go over what's already been done. I guess it's part of my only/oldest child perfectionist in me. I sometimes over-plan, then if plans fall through, I'm disappointed. God is helping me with this. He is also helping me with patience. Especially with my children. I'm a SAHM for goodness sake, shouldn't I have patience? It (I) am a work in progress, as we all are.
Thank you for listening to my rant/non-complaining/electronic journal...and for your endurance, here is my list of 10 things for which I am thankful:
1. God, that He loves me even if I am not perfect
2. My husband, that he loves me even if I am not perfect
3. My children, that they love me even if I am not perfect (I sense a theme...)
4. The family I have not under this roof
5. My wonderful friends
6. Organic food
7. Hot summer days
8. Our country, and the freedom it stands for
9. Garage sales/thrift shopping
10. Yummy yummy tea

Now it's your turn...10 things for which you are thankful!

Free Lunch!

Where have I been--this is the first I have heard about the free lunch program through the summer. Today was the first day of our free government hand out venture. Here's how it went:
I have to say, it's amazing that public schools have not changed since I was in school. For the most part, this elementary school looked the same as mine did in the early 80's. I find that to be really sad. We have new government buildings, shelters for the homeless, etc. etc., but can not scrounge up the finances to update a school. Smells of fresh paint wafted into the lunch room. (I left with a head ache). Star Wars posters hung all over the walls. Is this an educational center, or a dropping zone for busy parents? Yikes. I'm so glad we homeschool. Not to mention the lunch lady...man they haven't changed either. A woman? that strikes fear into any 6 year old heart. OK, hear ends the negative. Now the positive: free lunch. OK. So, we'll be going to the park next time free lunch rolls around. I figure that we have to pay property taxes for the school, we don't use the school, so we should go for free lunch (at least we're paying for something). Folks, I want everyone to research the beginning of public school, how it was all started. Tell me if you don't find that it has its roots in socialism...indoctrinating...check out this blog: http://www.mommylife.net/archives/2007/05/a_wake_up_call.html
Pray for our nation. Pray for our children.

My Mom

I try to be light hearted, and maybe even a little witty on this blog, but if this is a blog about real life, one can't always be that way. Some history: I lost my wonderful mother just over 3 years ago to breast cancer. Last night, I had a dream with my mom in it. It was like she was really there, you know. And in a dream, you don't know what's real, so it all seems real. In the dream, it was as if she had been gone for a long time, just getting treatment or something. I remember I was walking in the dream (which is normal because I did walk up until 6 or so years ago.) I was in my grandparents bathroom, struggling to get dressed. I needed a shower but didn't have time since everyone was waiting for me. I have to say, here, that whenever I can't do something physically, I've always turned to my mom. She was my main support, my helper, my...beloved mother. I remember dressing haphazardly in a white Disney sweatshirt, greasy hair, and just feeling depressed that I could do nothing else for myself. Then, we were at the restaurant with all her family from Virginia...Dennis (her husband), Erin (my cousin), her brothers, her mother. And then she was there. It's like she was making the rounds, seeing everyone after her long sabbatical. When she got to me, all I could do was hold her. I love you, I love you, I love you was all I could tell her. Never leave me again. I need you. She says, it's OK honey, I'll help you get ready, I'm here now. Oh GOD this dream hurts me so much. I ache so badly for her at times, and it's dreams like this that bring it all back. I guess maybe someday my kids will feel that about me. I pray we have a bond as strong as my mom and I.
Mom, I know you've always been proud of me. You told me numerous times. I'm OK, and I'm being taken care of. I know you wouldn't have died if I weren't...you're that strong. I sob when I think that you can't hold your grandchildren. E remembers you. He remembers throwing the ball with you in the front yard. And, he even thinks he sees you sometimes because someone looks like you at the mall or something. Then it all comes back. L talks about you as if he knows you, and it's so cute. We all miss you.
OK, now it's time to take your advise. For all the times you told me to clean my damn room. I have a big pile of papers I have to go through before the kids wake up. And I know how you hated clutter. I am (and was) the clutter queen. Maybe that's why we butt heads so often? :) You will always be with me. Maybe God will give me more dreams. Although it hurts so badly, it feels good to have you in my arms again. Until we meet in heaven...

Fever or fiction?

OK, so the title only has a half to do with the blog today, but I thought it was cute. I was, in fact, suffering from a fever last week. I know why, because I like to self diagnose. My temp was still under 100, so I rode out the storm. There are two bodily things that God blessed me with on this earth: a strong bladder, and an excellent immune system. OK, so there you have it.

More medical news: I am apparently a bad mother, and my childrens' teeth are rotting. We brush, yet we don't drink tap water. I have never had a cavity in my life, and I think hubby had his 1st one a few years ago. I do have mixed feelings about ingesting fluoride, since there are reports from various towns newspapers, and well, it's not all that documented on what it does to a body, just on teeth. I can't justify downing fluoride just to save my kids' teeth. I'd rather them die with rotten teeth than have them die early of cancer etc. etc.

OK, so issue number 2: do I go the route of filling cavities with the ever evil mercury? Well, according to the kids' dentist, there was no other viable option. I do sound a bit anti-establishment, but mercury, brain damage...why would I want to put that in my child's teeth? I was given the "Oh, we've been using it for years..." So that makes it OK? If I remember correctly from my education, in the history of the U.S. the medical field thought that washing one's hands was unnecessary. Yet, people kept dying of infection. If that were to have never been changed, we may not even be here today. Seriously folks, even if proof is readily available to the medical community about a certain drug/food etc. that is dangerous, it's the attitudes and the way "people have always done it" that is hard to change.

So, to make a long story even longer, we found an excellent dentist in...Omaha, NE. Yes, we have traveled 8 hours thus far to get my little guy taken care of. No, the dentist is not on our plan, but I don't care. He's the only one that uses non-mercury fillings. Not only does he not use them, he doesn't use gas. I found this out AFTER the procedure. And you know what? My son wanted to come back because he told the dentist that he loved him. (Tears welling up) My son is very loving, yes, but man, what did this dentist do? He's amazing. Toys helped. Him being a Christian helped. Everyone was so great there, I just wanted a big group hug.

Anyway, I wanted to post a home school item, but I don't have it readily available. So, I'll end with this. Oldest son comes up behind me and says: (hand gestures like he really put some thought into this) "So if you have the word crap and "e" then does that make crappee?"
Man, the things kids say. After stifling a laugh, I had to correct that crappy is a word, but it does not end with an "e", it just sounds like it. I'm afraid at what word is next!

A day full of fencing

Today started the project of Jericho, ok so maybe it's not the wall, but a nice wooden privacy fence. This is the year we are improving our house. It's just time. We feel like we are going to be here for a while, even though we have been wavering on whether to move or stay. This is what I think: Why, if we are finally NOT house-poor, would we want to move up, just so we could be poor again? I say psha to "keeping up with the jones'." What about getting out of debt and saving for retirement, and vacation, and giving to charities, living outside oneself. Oh the veritable list goes on. Back to the fence: pray for no rain, and lots of friends to help. Hubby took the day off so he could work for 2 straight days on this project, (plus his van was so full, there was no way he could use his van for work tomorrow).
I'm pretty pumped about the home school craft day tomorrow. It's always nice to do something crafty since I'm not so good at it :) I love my home school mama friends, and I learn so much from them. We also just visited the "new" central library today. I know, I live in Des Moines and I had not yet been to this beautiful library. We will be going there more often. The kids love it, and I just love the sights/sounds/smells of downtown. I am truly a city girl, but like the privacy of the country, hence, the privacy fence.
Well, we will all be eating breakfast as a family in the morning, and I'm looking forward to that. Oh, how my pleasures have become so simple. Maybe I can go to my favorite tea store tomorrow. I'll let ya know how it turns out!

I don't want to perish...

So even though I have an irregular posting (it's been a month), I'm really going to try. I've not changed since I was a child...3-4 diaries, started, never filled. I think I'm growing up now? Anyway, I've realized that my kids may want some record of the cute things they've done/said. Blogging is a great way to capture those things. These are some things that are of late, from the mouths of my babes:

Here's some background: We had an outstanding Easter play at our church, and a Good Friday service. Ethan's age group were in the sanctuary, not in their regular classes. This particular pastor quoted John 3:16 from the King James version. If you're not familiar, it uses the word "perish". After explaining this word to Ethan, he seemed fine, and nothing more was said.
Enter Ethan, a few days later...I had asked him to do something, and this was his response:
"I don't want to perish, so I'll be a good boy and do what you say."
We'll see how long this lasts, eh? If only DHS could hear our oldest say, don't kill me, I'll do it!

Next child, Luke, and his funny antics: We were reading one of his board books (Dora, to be specific). We were identifying some shells Dora had found at the beach. We had to name the color, etc. One of the shells was a brown color (you know where I'm going with this), so he named it the poop shell. To make it better, in his 3 yr old language, he added an "o" to the shell, making it poop shello. So, when anything remotely looks like this said shell, or when something minor goes wrong in his little life, it is affectionately called, "poop shello". We then break down in laughter, and realize the funniness in whatever situation.

So that's why I love my kids. I can be high strung at times, but God gave me them to make me find the humor in anything we may endure.