WIDNEY WOMAN

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Cool Boots

Mini Me got new rain boots. J actually likes them.

I think I did good. What do you think?

Really? I didn't think so

A few people commented (on blog or in real life) about the harshness of my previous few blog posts and/or comments.

Really? I have read and re-read my blogs and comments. I don't see it. Okay. Maybe the one about Motor Mouth's hair might seem a bit harsh. But in my replies to comments, I thought I made it clear I was just reminiscing and laughing at some of the things people have said to me/us. I kinda had fun posting it. I was chuckling to myself the whole time.

J says the blog about homeschooling came across a bit edgy. I'm in the minority in the homeschool world on my views. There are so many diehard homeschoolers out there that want a Christian based curriculum that I found it harder to find a non-Christian homeschool program than a Christian one. I've had several offline conversations about my choice of curriculum so I saw this as an opportunity to answer those questions on a wider scale.

I changed the size of my font. Do you think that has something to do with it? Do you think people think I am shouting at them? I just found the font hard to read and am surprised no one asked me to make it bigger. Oh God, do I need bi-focals?

One of the reasons I love living in Chicago is that I don't have to sugar coat everything I say. People 'get' me here and I don't feel like I am this super harsh, northerner, big city girl trying to rephrase everything so as to not offend. Living in Tulsa was a lot like dancing on eggshells for me. I never really felt like I did the dance very well.

Now, I will be honest and tell you that when I am coming up on my period, it is best that I not communicate with people. My communication tends to be harsh and not widely accepted. But these posts were written after the hormones tapered back.

So my question to you is this:

Did you think my posts this week were harsh? Or do you think it is just a Tulsa people thing? Please be honest. We are in the safe hormone zone so I promise you will not get your head ripped off.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

My Kid Kicks!

I get to take our son to karate a few times a week. I am always quite proud of how quiet and well behaved he is and how quickly he picks up on the skills (kihon). I even enjoy it when his Sensai is firm with him.

The other day, I had a supreme proud mom experience.

I actually teared up. It was all I could do to not cry the ugly cry!

Motor Mouth successfully completed an obstacle course on his first try.

Some of the orange belts had to do it twice!!

Pylons

Jumping over blue disk things - sideways

About to punch a piece of paper

My baby SLICED that paper!

Performing his kata.

I am a very proud mama!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Homeschool - Christian or Public?

I was talking to my mother on the phone. Mom was telling me about an interview she saw with homeschooled children who are now in college. They loved being homeschooled and loved that their mom started their homeschool day with prayer. My mom asked if that is how I open our homeschool days with my son this year.

Laughing (maybe scoffing?), I said, "No, Mom, my son attends a public homeschool, not a Christian homeschool."

Seriously, Chantico Prep is a public school. I made our homeschool a public school on purpose. What? But you're a Christian! Why aren't you teaching a Christian curriculum?

Unlike many Christian homeschoolers, I am homeschooling for practical, educational reasons. Not because of religious ones. This is not a mission for me. It is a means to an end. And, based upon my personal experiences, I am not big on religion classes in schools.

Growing up, I attended a Catholic school with religion classes. When I transferred to a public school, I was behind on science, health, and math. I was a smart kid, so I was able to catch up quickly. But I felt the time spent on religion would have been better spent on math and science.

As a Christian parent, I see it as our responsibility to teach our children our beliefs through conversations, actions, prayer, music, and family Bible teaching. The Christian education our children receive in our home is supplemented by children's church and any other organized religious training we send our kids to.

If school is a 5-hr day, I would rather my kids learn 5 hours of core subjects. Which is one of the big reasons I love the K12 curriculum we use. Core subjects. No religion. Sorry Mom.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Setting the Record Straight

This is Motor Mouth.

Yes, his hair is cool. Yes, my hair was dyed while Motor Mouth was in the womb. But that has nothing to do with why his hair is dyed on top. He was not born that way. He was born bald. His father colors the front/top of his hair. And has since he was about 3 years old. No, it will not make him lose his hair. In fact, the boy's hair is getting thicker by the minute.

Why does his hair stick up in front? Well, we put gel in it. And no, it will not affect his brain cells. News flash, his brain is covered by a pretty hard shell called a skull. Gel is topical and won't penetrate through bone.

Anything else I can clear up for ya, just ask.

Family Fun Night - Boy Girl Night

We split Family Fun Night

I took the girl. J took the boy.

We stayed home. They went to Michigan Ave.

We got pictures. They didn't.

We touched chins

And played with each other's hair

While dancing

Painted fingers

And toes

Yes, my 2 yr old has BLACK nails

I asked pink or black? She said black.

We baked

She helped pour in everything

And helped stir it up

Licking the spoon!

Yeah, we collected trash on "girl's night"

Put away dishes, too!

Then pots and pans

Final product: Blueberry Yogurt Muffins for Mom's Group

Click here for the recipe

All in all, it was a fun night.

I loved tickling my baby girl and cuddling with her on the couch.

The boys worked at the church for a bit

Took the 'El' to Michigan Ave

Went to the Apple Store

Ate dessert at Cheesecake Factory at

Hancock Building

Brought dessert home for mom & sister

Everyone had an awesome time.

We need to do this more often!!

Please be sure to check out Whittaker Woman

for more themed family night ideas!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

What's Cooking Wednesday - Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

BLUEBERRY YOGURT MUFFINS

Today is my turn to bring treats to my Park Mom's Group. So, I opened "Cooking Light's Five Star Recipes: The Best of 10 Years" cookbook that Grandma Grandma (J's grandmother) gave me. This is my favorite cookbook because Grandma used it and it has dog-eared pages. I found this muffin recipe she made.

I love you Grandma!!

WHATCHA NEED

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/4 cup unsweetened orange juice

2 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (8 oz) carton vanilla low-fat yogurt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Vegetable cooking spray

1 tablespoon sugar

WHATCHA DO

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl

Make a well in center of mixture

Combine egg and next 4 ingredients

Add to dry ingredients

Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened

Gently fold in blueberries

Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar evenly over batter

Bake for 18 minutes or until golden

Remove from pans immediately

Cool on a wire rack.

WHATCHA DO DIFFERENT

I had 2-8 oz yogurt cups so I just put it all in

I didn't spray the muffin cups enough

Shoulda drained the blueberry juice (muffins were blue)

WHATCHA THINK

Yummy!!!!

Just like everything Grandma makes!!

WHAT IS "WHAT'S COOKING WEDNESDAY"

What's Cooking Wednesday was born out of The Fairy Blogmother's desire to get out of the 'what's for dinner?' rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over to link back here, the Home of What's Cooking Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Tackle It Tuesday - Desk Top

TACKLE IT TUESDAY!!

This is the desk I was supposed to be using to homeschool.

Yeah, not so much.

I figured out what I needed for organization, bought it, and voila!

Close-up

I really got into it....

Reorganized the entire bookcase

And the file box on the bottom right

To be honest, I only use the desk for storage of homeschool supplies. Our "class room desk" is in the kitchen, the living room couch,

dining table, or on the patio!!

I also cleaned out the 'letter' box. Wasn't going to 'cause I didn't think it was really part of the desk itself. It now houses my current reading material and daily to-do items.

Now, please be sure to visit the home of Tackle It Tuesday

Monday, September 15, 2008

Lighting Design

My husband is a lighting designer. He is pretty good at it. When we were first married, J made it so that I could read at night, without interrupting him. J made a fabric and wood headboard for us with individually controlled dimmer lighting on his and her sides. He had a pin spotlight shining directly on our pillows. Pretty awesome, right?

Last week, I asked him if he could do something with the lighting in our bedroom so I could read at night without waking him up. J told me to buy a book light.

I did.