Two years ago today...

We left Pennsylvania.

Wow time really does fly.

The biggest thing I missed was our house, we had a great little house, of course with 6 people it wasn't big enough but it was built right and the location was great.

I do miss some people, I could name them all.

I do not miss the weather or the *steel mill mentality*

We are progressive people, we are forward thinking, always open to change and growth.

We lived there for seven years and before that nine years in California. If you want a complete culture shock move from CA to PA :)

I struggled for years, wondering why God sent us there, it was really a rough time for ME personally. I did grow a lot, I learned a lot and I realize that it was part of my journey to be who I am.

We had trying times but we had good times too and two of our children were born there, the older two were born in CA.

So we packed up the truck and it drove away, we packed the van and cleaned the house(it wasn't sold yet) and we left PA...

Wow, two whole years ago! Here we are living and loving and learning in TN.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

While this is more my style...

These were too cute to pass up :)



Yes, I am Irish, it's in my blood. I DO NOT eat corn beef and cabbage but I sure can drink.

Happy St. Pat's Day to all my friends whether you are Irish or not :)

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Paranormal :: Poltergeist


2. Alarm :: Smoke, clock, fear, tornado


3. Operative :: word


4. Changing :: me, always learning, growing, changing


5. Framed :: set up


6. Beer :: Michelob


7. Referral :: job


8. Unmasked :: honest


9. Movie star :: Sandra Bullock


10. Handbook :: Teenage Liberation Handbook, A must read!

Get your words and play Luna Nina

We have a tub

We have lived here almost 2 years and never had the use of the 2nd bath. Jason just fixed the tub and it is finally ready to be used.

See the nice hole.

It is finished and I will be taking my first bath in my new tub tonight :)

WOOHOO!!!! I love my mr. fix-it :)

Back into TV Land

Bear with me, this is supposed to be at the bottom but I can't figure out how to move it and I don't feel like typing the post over. You'll get it as you read :) This is Jason fixing my ceiling. What does this have to do with TV, you ask...

There is always a story around here...

Today the cable guy was supposed to come between 12-3pm, I went to bed at 3:00am and I couldn't sleep...

I knew I had to get up just in case he showed up early or at noon, so I got up at 11:00am. I know for you normal people that isn't early, but it is when you are me and you didn't even sleep.

So I felt like crap :)

The day went on and we started thinking he wasn't coming so the guy called around 2:30pm, he was off in the boonies and apologized but he was on his way. Like they can't give him two jobs in the same vicinity...

So we are already wired because we have cable internet, we decided to go for the triple deal, tv, phone, internet.

Jared and I were in the boys room learning about the solar system, he had questions and thankfully I have encyclopedias in the house with pictures. So we were reading and talking and minding our own business when all of a sudden...

BOOM, CRASH, OH SHIT!

Well here's the picture.

The cable guy fell through my ceiling! First of all he wasn't hurt, phew!

All Jason could do was laugh and assure him it was OK, he was very remorseful. The thing is Jason already stepped through the same spot and we had the ceiling taped up, I'm not kidding! Except this was much bigger and now had to be worked on today. Oh Home Depot loves us!

I just told him *welcome to the money pit*

So anyway everyone is so excited we haven't had TV in 10 months. So guess what everyone around here will be doing for awhile :)

I didn't get the memo

So this morning I got a rude awakening by someone knocking and my dogs wanting to get them. It was 10:15 am by the way so you can only imagine my displeasure. None of you have ever seen my in the morning but I'm sure you can imagine it.

So apparantly we are in violation of two city ordinances, who knew.

I was standing on my porch in my pajamas, thank God I wore something presentable to bed, waiting for this guy to write me up.

I asked him if there was a rule book or something, I mean come on...

Apparantly they are cracking down, that means the city needs money so we are out canvassing the neighborhoods looking for whatever we can get people on.

Hitting is never the answer

We had a small incident tonight where Cassie was messing around and apparantly hit the neighbor boy and he hit her back, no time for her to apologize or say it was an accident or anything.

My husband will not stand for anyone hitting his daughter...EVER! We talked to everyone and got the story and then Jason talked to the boy. He basically said I don't care what she did you do not hit my daughter and you do not hit girls. The boy didn't know what to do, he went outside, walked around, thought a little and cried a bit. He is also spending the night tonight, we left that up to him if he still wanted to. My son told him that *you don't hit girls* my kids whack each other on occasion. Jason has had the talk with them and even though she is your sister you do not hit her and even if she hit you first... We told them that we know she can get out of hand but that they need to come to us and we will talk to her, do not hit her.

Some people may think it's a double standard but you know what I don't think it is. We don't want him or any boy to grow up and hit his girlfriend or his wife. We are also talking to Cassie about not hitting boys or girls or anyone for that matter.

When an adult hits another adult they can be arrested if the person presses charges. Parents have no right to hit their child who can't press charges. You want to talk double standards? Parents hit kids then turn around and tell them not to hit. That is stupid! Do as I say not as I do, I heard that one enough growing up to make me gag...

Spanking is wrong period, no if's and's or but's about it! Hitting is never the answer, we need to model this for our kids and help them deal with frustration and anger that would cause them to hit.

This is an ongoing thing for me as a parent, when my kids whack each other sometimes I just ask them if they want me to do that to them, of course they don't.

ABC meme

I borrowed this from Kelli

A - Available?: after 1:00pm

B-Best friend: Jason

C-Cake or Pie?: It depends, I love Apple Pie but if I'm having sweets it's Green's & Black organic dark chocolate

D-Drink of choice: Merlot

E-Essential thing used everyday: Computer

F-Favorite color: Red

G-Gummi bears or worms: YUCK

H-Hometown: I was born in Lewiston NY, I have lived all over the place and don't consider anywhere my hometown.

I-Indulgence: DUH!!! dark chocolate, red wine

J-January or February: WHY? I guess Feb because it's closer to spring

K-Kids and names: Kieran, Brennan, Cassandra, Jared

L-Life: The learning never stops

M-Marriage date: April 3, 1993

N-Number of siblings: 2 and 2 step

O-Oranges or apples: both

P-Phobias:closed spaces

Q-Quote: Everyone wants to tell you what to do and what's good for you. They don't want you to find your own answers, they want you to believe theirs. Socrates, Peaceful Warrior

R-Reason to smile: my kids

S-Season: Fall

T-Tag three people: Anyone who wants to do this :)

U-Unknown fact about me: ?????I think you all know me :)

V-Vegetable you don't like: Broccoli

W-Worst Habit: Interrupting/finishing people's sentences

X-X-rays you have had: ankle, wrist, teeth, hip, cat scans and ultrasounds

Y-Your favorite food: Pizza

Z-Zodiac: Taurus

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Homicide :: CSI (I love CSI all 3 of them I'm jonesing hard, I just found out they will be back on in April)


2. Divisive :: Homeschool/Unschool, Christianity/Churchianity, Socialists/Libertarians


3. Flash :: Lightning


4. Steaming :: Tea Kettle (especially when I forget I'm heating water)


5. Crunch :: chips


6. Look out! :: The shit's gonna hit the fan!


7. Anticipating :: Waiting, wanting, impatience


8. Slim :: Me at 16


9. Navel :: Fuzzy (I do not do peach anything since I was 16 and had a really bad experience)


10. Help :: That is what I TRY to do, help others do better, be better, think better than they are at this moment.

Luna Nina

Apples and Oranges

What is the real purpose of school? I believe it is just Government babysitting and controlling the masses, dumbing down at it's finest. So why do people new to unschooling or not so new for that matter want to see proof that unschooling produces competent, thriving, successful adults?

How many incompetent, wandering aimlessly, sitting on welfare, can't learn how to get a life kind of people come out of public school? You know as many as I do, really. There is no guarantee on life and unschooling doesn't guarantee anything that looks like schooling. We don't want to look like school we are separated from schoolish ways and thoughts and results.

Unschooling produces free thinking people who know how to learn, people who follow their interests and people who are productive in society. You can argue that so does school, look at all of us, are we incompetent dumb asses? No we saw through the crap and we did what we had to but we, well I, don't give school any credit for my brains or success.

Success is in the eye of the beholder, it means different things to different people. My hope for my kids is that they grow up happy and free to choose what they want to do with their life. I hope that they will find something they love to do that makes them a living. They can do anything they set their mind to because they have been allowed the freedom to find out WHO they are and WHAT they want and they KNOW HOW TO LEARN.

There is no reason to compare schooled kids with unschooled kids, we don't even have the same goals, apparantly we don't even speak the same language. Actually it seems that many homeschoolers speak the public school language and do have the same schoolish goals.
You know I'm not trying to be divisive but it's pretty hard not to. My friend just told me that her son was invited to a sleep over with other homeschoolers and was told to bring his homework. WTF???

If that makes any sense then please enlighten me so I can gag... How utterly ridiculous that homeschoolers are doing this. They leave the school system but they just recreate it with school at home and co-ops and all sorts of other ways, trust me, they do it here too, I'm just not interested and not even close to participating.

If your goal is to produce products of public education then save us and them the heartache and just put them in school.

If you want happy, productive, free thinking people who know how to learn what they need when they need it then unschool. Don't try it, don't toy with it JUST DO IT, your kids are young once and don't have the luxury of a do over.

You know what, who cares if they don't learn long division or the times tables, or whatever your hang up is until they are 18. Does it really matter?

All of these kids are sitting in school for 12 years of their life getting shit crammed into them that they have no interest in or use for. Why not learn things when you are actually interested and have a real need for? I gave my teachers a run for their money with my questions and attitude. It is so easy to memorize facts, take a test and forget it. I have learned so much as an adult and as a result of my kids interests. I promptly forgot whatever facts they taught in school, what purpose did they have in MY life?? NONE!
I won't even get started on all the classes I HAD to take and college too that is another topic.

My point is either unschool or don't it's really that simple. Many people are drawn to unschooling but don't fully deschool themselves and allow the freedom and joy that comes with learning.

What happened to Spring?

I'm pretty sure we were wearing shorts at the zoo last weekend. This is just a dusting but it is like really freakin cold.

Unschooling or not?

There have been some really good threads at Always Learning lately, the link is in my sidebar.
It is Sandra Dodd's list, she is straight to the point and cuts through the crap which is probably why I like her.

I agree with many things she says, not everything but who agrees with everything. I agree that we can't babystep and pussyfoot around people's feelings. Kids are young once, we only have one chance with them, parents who are seeking unschooling do not have the luxury to take years to get it all the while their kids are growing up before their eyes. Wouldn't you rather be told straight out what things are like then to smack yourself upside the head 10 years later and wish you had gotten it sooner?

When people are seeking out unschooling by joining discussion lists then we need to be honest and forthright, we need to tell them like it is.
I am so sick of people being offended by one thing or another, it really gets old. Either you want to get it or you don't but don't blame us for trying to help.

I admit I have been kind of soft lately due to the fact of *offending* people in the past, not purposefully that's for sure.

I love it when people cut the crap and tell me head on what they think and it's high time I go back to doing just that.

I run a list with over 370 people on it and I have not been diligent in keeping it up to unschooling snuff. I have let many things go that should be addressed, I'm not a babysitter, I can't control what people say.

Someone sent me an email who unsubbed and pretty much insulted our group and said we weren't unschooling or gentle parenting.

She wasn't there very long and never posted and it was during a time of some turmoil by a few members.

I could have been really offended by some of the things she said but I'm not. I am actually a little taken back and surprised but I have to let it roll. I can not please everyone and I don't plan on it, somehow I think I used to want to.

I do not understand why so many out there want to claim the unschooling title without actually doing it. There are people out there giving unschooling a bad rap because they call whatever it is they do unschooling while it clearly is not. Everyone is free to choose what they do or don't do but don't call it something it clearly isn't.

Unschooling has a purpose, there is a reason for the distinction, to meet like minded individuals who live and learn in freedom.

I am not big on labels, I would call what we do *living* but since everyone lives...

Daily Groove

This is very timely for me as I was woken up before I was ready and I layed in bed trying to go back to sleep. I struggle with this kind of exhaustion and it's definitely mental :)

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noellewww.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove:: Easing Exhaustion from Within ::

Resistance is holding onto thoughts that block your experience of Well-Being. Worry, frustration,resentment, annoyance, etc. -- all are manifestations of resistance. Clinging to resistant thoughts takes a lot of energy-- energy that *could* be easing your path.

Ironically, parents often complain about (i.e.,resist) not getting enough sleep. When you resist that condition, the resistance drains your energy, causing you to need even more sleep! Of course it's good to get as much rest as you can when you're exhausted. But you can also balance the equation from the *inside* by releasing the resistance that creates the stress that makes you tired --including your resistance to tiredness itself.

Today (and tonight) notice how you talk and think about sleep and rest. Gently release any thought that feels stressful. Imagine that every time you release a resistant thought, it's like giving yourself an hour of sleep. :-)

http://dailygroove.net/exhaustionFeel free to forward this message to your friends!(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)Copyright (c) 2008 by Scott Noelle"Inspiration & Coaching for Progressive

Parents"http://www.ScottNoelle.comhttp://www.EnjoyParenting.com 1044 Water Street, Suite 342Port Townsend, WA 98368USATo unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?LIxMLOyctCyMbGwMzKxMtEa0zIysTCwsHA

Some moments are still a little challenging

I have a lot going on in my head but I will try to focus.

I have been a mom for 12 1/2 years and I'm so quick to give advice about *getting over yourself* and these are *your issues* and blah blah blah...

I do give myself the same advice by the way... All day I kept telling myself to get over it, it only bothers YOU, you are the only one who even knows it's bothering YOU!

My house has become a disaster area, for many reasons, that I may or may not share. I used to keep house so well, of course as anyone will testify if you do that then it is ALL you are doing.

So, I have learned to *let go* oh my gosh you have no idea how much I have let go in the cleaning department. We go days with stuff strewn about before I (we) pick it up, the clean laundry piles up waiting to be folded. Cassie's room, oh let's not go there... I cleaned the boys' room today because I wanted to and you wouldn't know it now :)

It's all for my own peace of uncluttered mind, but who am I kidding? My mind is so full of thoughts and ideas and opinions, I might use mess as an excuse. For example the last time I cleaned the boys' room was so I could watch Across the Universe, I actually can't sit and watch a movie with a mess around me. Am I just weird? Don't answer that.

I have come a long way with a lot more to go, this post wasn't even going to be about messes or cleaning. I clean when I want to period. I am not kidding, I used to be so crazy about picking up or doing dishes or whatever. I have been known to let go on occasion and now don't always do the dishes before bed, even though I hate to wake up to a mess. It is so liberating to say *you know what, I don't want to do the dishes* My husband is so easy, he always tells me to take a break or don't worry about it, I'm learning from him, he is so easy going and relaxed. I'm just an uptight honky :) anyone seen Bringing Down the House, love it.

Life is messy, kids are messy, people make messes, otherwise we would do nothing and learn nothing and live in a box covered in plastic for fear of making a mess. That doesn't happen here, nobody is afraid to make a mess.

We live here, we learn here, we work here, it definitely gets messy. You know what it's a-ok as long as I can find the floor long enough to vacuum it :)

Tonight the kids were being loud and really not listening and I got a tad bit agitated. That was what my post was really about. I don't want to get upset or frustrated, I just want to sail through any challenge and work it out, tonight was a little difficult. It's over now and at least I can go over it in my mind and figure out how to do better next time.

The Saga Continues...

The adventures of Petie and Boomer continue!

This time...

Is much different then previous hacks. He hacks the delegate counting! He makes it so they count the delegates wrong. And makes it so anyone that would count it disappear! Interesting isn't it? Now, he must make it so no one messes up America! This story continues, more hacks coming up.

Kieran wrote this.

There is a floor!

I vacuumed and mopped today, as you can see Cocoa is happy. After I let her in, they were out all day, she is a spoiled little house dog.

Mocha too :)

I have no idea about all the spots it must be the lens. Kieran is like mom what ARE you doing????

A trip to the zoo

Here is JW1 and JW2 on the merry -go- round.

Kate and Cassie.

We had beautiful weather yesterday so we decided to go to the zoo, well apparantly everyone else in the greater Nashville area had the same idea. I have never seen so many people there, it was so packed.

We ran into some friends and had a good time, I got to see my girls too, they need a bath :)

Meet Petie...

The computer hacker, he is erasing files and wreaking havoc everywhere.

This is Boomer, his sidekick, together they sure are trouble makers.

Oh looks like he is trying to escape...

Join us again for the Adventures of Boomer and Petie.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Chemical :: smell (Jason is refinishing our tub and the chemicals smell)


2. Poker :: Ante up (The kids and I play poker often)


3. Federal :: Taxes (need I say more)


4. Mattress :: Sleep


5. Who am I? :: queen of something :)


6. Investigation :: FBI


7. In good hands :: Allstate


8. 8:30 :: time


9. Creditors :: UGH!


10. Resource :: Internet

Get your words at Luna Nina

Unschooling Voices Issue 13

Unschooling Voices is up at Po Moyemu

Thanks to Silvia for pulling it together this month, there are lots of great posts to read.