Indifferent

I'm just not  into Easter...

We don't make a big deal out of it.  Even when I was a christian, the Church of Christ didn't recognize Easter as a holy day. They practiced that every Sunday they celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

As a child I remember wearing a new dress, going to church  and getting a basket of candy.

When our kids were smaller we did do baskets. Honestly my kids have candy, ice cream, cookies, several times a week so I really don't see the point of getting them a bunch on Easter. I did get them all a chocolate bunny and they decorated eggs because they wanted to.

We had a nice steak dinner because we wanted to, not for any special reason.

I'm not all ecstatic saying *He is Risen* because it doesn't make sense to me.

Yes, I do believe that Jesus died on the cross and arose 3 days later....once....not every year.

You can't even commemorate it like a birthday since it's never on the same day, heck this time it's the end of April for crying out loud.

I'm not trying to step on any toes here, it's just how I feel. We are all free to celebrate and hold our own beliefs.

The day of Easter holds nothing special for me.

Well... except it's another day that I get to spend with my family, they mean EVERYTHING to me!

Not really

So I'm not really calling off dinner, just annoyed about the gluten issue and am not prepared to make anything gluten free.

We'll  be making turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, squash, corn, stuffing, apple and pumpkin pie, that will make my family happy.

As for what I'll eat, not sure yet.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

Last year was one of the most difficult in my life. Jason was unemployed last Thanksgiving so I'll just deal with the gluten issue.

This year is so much better.

We have a warm house, food, internet,work and healthy  unschooling kids :)

It's all good :)

Calling it off

I'm calling off Thanksgiving dinner  due to gluten!

I tell you I've been having a pity party.

My favorite part of dinner is stuffing, biscuits, gravy and apple pie!

Sure these items can be made gluten free but do they taste good?

I am not going to experiment trying to make these items in two days when I haven't even figured out how to do it regularly.

I pretty much just avoid gluten, I have it once in awhile by choice.  Sure I could eat regular stuff and possibly suffer .

UGH!

So WAHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm not sure what we are having for T day dinner anyway, it's just us.

Just venting...

Annual Learn Nothing Day

Well it's that time again when unschoolers try not to learn anything.

We all know it's impossible but it's fun to try.

I'm sure I already failed and it's only 12:38 am :)

Enjoy your day.

Learning happens.

You can't stop it.

Just wish the mainstream folks picked up on that :)

2nd Annual Learn Nothing Day

As unschoolers we know it's impossible to learn nothing, this day was started as un unschooling holiday. Go here for more info.

No matter how hard we try we just can't learn nothing.

This year we are spending the day at a park in eastern Tennessee with several unschoolers.

We are going somewhere we have never been and meeting people we have never met. I guarantee we will learn a lot. I'll remember to take pictures :)

It's going to be awesome to meet real live unschoolers!

Happy New Year

I wish everyone a safe and fun New Year's Eve and a wonderful and prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

We are truly blessed.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

elves

I am FINALLY done shopping.

I haven't wrapped one present.

Yes, I know what time it is.

I could sure use some elves right now...

Coffee first...

drained

I am so drained from shopping.

I have gone out several nights and I'm exhausted.

I don't know how people shop for fun. My body hurts and I have no energy left.

I am fairly introverted so being out like that makes me need to come home and retreat.

I can't because my kids missed me and need me and I have stuff to do.

I do a lot on any given day, I'm up until 3am usually but I was falling asleep last night in the store.

I'm like I have to get out of here and get some fresh air it's only 10:30pm, I have so much to do.

It feels like I haven't accomplished much, it feels like I don't have everything.

Oh, I don't I just realized one of Brennan's presents never made it home. I have to go back to the store tomorrow with my receipt and hope they believe me and give me another one.

Cookies to bake, gifts to wrap, cleaning to be done and most of all I need to chill out.

I have some weird sinus/eye thing going on, not sure what it is but it is causing me strife.

For anyone who cares, those damn mice are having a buffet at our expense...

A cat is my LAST resort, I'm highly allergic plus we have dogs and guinea pigs.

I've got nothing profound to add to tired to think...

Shopping

I started Christmas shopping tonight.

I usually buy most things online because I am not a crowd person and I'm definitely not a shopper.

I didn't have any money until yesterday so online shopping is out unless I want to spend buckoo bucks for shipping.

I live very close to a shopping center that has almost every store I need.

I am very sore and I only went a couple of hours. I do not know how people shop all day.

I admit that I had a pretty good experience, I got some great deals and ran into mostly friendly people.

I am a pretty nice person, no really, just don't cross me...

Ha!

I smile, I open doors or hold them, I say excuse me, thank you etc...

I was met with most people smiling back at me and holding doors, it was a nice surprise.

Maybe I just live in a friendly city.

Last night I went out to coffee and did a little shopping with the homeschool moms that I have been meeting up with.

It is so wonderful that Jared is letting me go out without him. He really is growing up. We just bought him a bed and he has been sleeping in it pretty well. When he wakes up he comes and climbs in bed with me but Jason is usually long gone by then so it's great.

Our bed was getting crowded, he isn't a little baby anymore.

I missed blogging yesterday, so there goes my blog everyday for December NaBloPoMo.

Dang!

I thought I had time but got to my computer at 12:02 am, I just missed it by 2 minutes so I didn't even bother to post last night.

Oh well it's not like I would win anyway...

Getting ready

I offered my house for our homeschool group Christmas party...

I have been so behind in housework since the kids were sick, it seems like I have cleaned non- stop for several days.

We are going to bake and decorate cookies and exchange homemade ornaments.

I still need to go make the dough so it can chill and here I am blogging about it.

Ha Ha!

It's funny because I look around and see stuff everywhere. There really is always stuff everywhere as the kids go about their day.

I guess I am more concerned about the living room, dining room and kitchen, those are the rooms we will be in.

I know the kids will end up playing in the bedrooms though, it's inevitable.

It's ok. I love seeing them all play together and just have fun. I don't mind a houseful of kids, actually I prefer it that way.

I still have to inform the dogs that they are not invited to the party and have to stay outside.

Cocoa is such a spoiled house dog, she only goes out to do her business and runs back to come in extremely quick. If you ask her if she wants to go outside, she runs off and lays down, it's quite comical.

Enough blabbing I'm off to make dough and finish cleaning...

Giving

It really does feel good to give.

We are rarely in a position to give money.

In the past I have given my time and help whenever I could.

With it being the holiday season it does bring out the good in most people. Jason and I would love to be able to give to those less fortunate.

It's hard when you are just living paycheck to paycheck with your own kids to feed and clothe.

I have started to go through some clothes the kids have outgrown. I always give them away, I used to sell them but now I don't.

I have several items that I am giving to someone who really needs them and can't afford to buy them.

In giving we are both blessed. I feel like I helped someone and her kids are getting something they really need.

I wish I could do more, help more people but I just have to do what I can when the opportunity arises.

I hope we all look for opportunities to give or help others as needed, no matter how small it may seem, it really does make a difference.

Christmas meme

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? red wine

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? we wrap presents

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? colored

4. Do you hang Mistletoe? I have in the past when I could get some fresh stuff

5. When do you put your decorations up? started today, the tree won't go up until 2 weeks before Christmas

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? anything with chocolate

7. Favorite memory as a child? I don't know?

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth? That he lives in the North Pole? I've been there, it's near the St. Lawrence Seaway.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights, homemade ornaments, store bought ornaments.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Hate it! It is pretty when it falls but that's it.

12. Can you ice skate? Absolutely NOT!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not as a child, I've gotten many nice gifts but the best for me is spending it with my kids.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my husband and kids.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? chocolate

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? baking cookies

17. What tops your tree? star

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum? yum

21.Favorite Holiday Movie? Christmas Vacation

Forts

Cassie and Jared have been playing together a lot lately which is good since I've been sick.


Cassie's fort with Boomer too.

Jared's fort.

They were having so much fun. They kept changing the styles and making different ones. These were the only pictures I took though.

Notice the strand of legos, those are the lights.

kid's say

The kids have been eating candy since we got home last night.

They had dumped it all out on the table to sort and trade, the older kids picked theirs up and took it to their rooms. Jared left his out on the table and kept coming back and grabbing something and going off to play.

Late last night he said, "Will someone pick that candy up because everytime I see it, it makes me want to eat it."

Today was Cassie's last soccer game and it's also her 9th birthday. They had donuts and cupcakes after the game.

We came home and the kids still went to their candy stash and nibbled throughout the day.

A little while ago Cassie asked me if I dared her to not eat candy for two days. I paused a moment and then said sure I dare you. She said, "Then please take it and hide it so I don't know where it is."

I just thought these were funny things they said, I think they are realizing their personal limits.

We are having her birthday party next weekend when grandma is here from Texas.

Halloween

Here they are before trick or treating.

Jason has on Cassie's witch hair wig, she said it bothered her so he put it on and was being an old British rockstar. He went out like that too with sunglasses on and an accent.

When we got home they dumped out all the candy and ate a lot, made some trades and packed it up for later.

Birthday sleepover fishing trip

Kieran and Luke sleeping.


Kieran caught 4 fish, here is one of them.



Skeleton?

Taking a break.

Jared with a stick gun.

Brennan and Luke.

Brennan...

Blowing out the candles.

Everyone had fun and my baby is 13 now.

Learn Nothing Day

It's impossible!

Jared woke up and sat up in bed and asked me for his space book and some paper. He drew the different shapes that the moon makes before he even got out of bed.

I really hope that people out there who don't get unschooling have a wake up call.

You know the phrase *shit happens*

Well *learning happens*

You can't stop it, it's as natural as breathing, at least for my kids it is.

Always unschooled kids who were never told what, when, or how to learn, live and learn naturally.

To stop learning is to stop living.

Happy Learn Nothing Day!

I assume we all failed :)

Friends

I LOVE YA SISTA'!!!

Girlfriend and Sister's Week

I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have.

To the cool women that have touched my life. Here's to you!

Everyday is Mother's Day

It is for me anyway...

I know that everyday I am blessed because I am a mother, because I have children.

If you would have told me 17 years ago that I would have 4 kids I would've asked you what kind of drugs you were taking.

I spent most of my young life taking care of other people's kids and two of those were my siblings. I was already a *mother* and needed a break. I also was very career oriented and I didn't think a family would fit in.

I wanted my Hotel and I had my goals and expectations and plans set, there wasn't going to be kids. I knew that one career was it I could not give my all to both.

I also had endometriosis and didn't think I could have babies. I begged for a hysterectomy but they don't routinely do that to 19 yr olds.

So after I went to college awhile I changed my mind and I had to have a baby.
No easy task but what in my life has been easy????

So after drug induced menopause twice and fertility drugs I have four beautiful babies.

I am blessed and anyone who has a child is blessed, children are awesome.

Embrace the journey, embrace those children, they grow up way too fast.

Motherhood rocks!