I have been browsing this blog getting lots of good ideas for healthy natural food to feed my family and it was making me rather hungry. So then I started thinking about breakfast and rather looking forward to it because I am having my most favorite breakfast ever in the morning.
Steel cut oats with blueberries, a bit of sweetener of choice( really wish HEB hadn't quit selling Sucanat in bulk ;-( ), pecans, a dollop of greek yogurt, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. I think I'll add some strawberries to it too. MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm.... What great start to the day!
* If your family doesn't like the texture of oatmeal, try putting the oats in a pot the night before with half the water needed to cook them and a spoonful of yogurt. Put the lid on it and leave it until morning. Add the rest of the water and cook as usual. Your oatmeal will have a much creamier texture. Mine is soaking while we speak! :-)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A Bit of Ridiculousness
solely in my opinion of course and I always feel opinionated around my birthdays...
A little blurb I read in Better Homes and Gardens:
The average teenager spends practically every waking minute outside of school using a smartphone, computer, television, or other electronic device. So says the Kaiser Family Foundation , which found that children ages 8-18 used such devices for more than seven and a half hours a day. That's why we were so excited to hear about GetNoodles. This free new educational software program interrupts kids' Web surfing, texting, blogging, you name it, with pop-ups that ask grade-appropriate questions in subjects ranging from geometry to German. Kids have to answer correctly to get back to their computer activities.
They really find that exciting? What about just setting time limits? How about handing them a book to read? What about sending them outside or having them play a sport? I can think of a lot better ways to curb electronic time than giving them electronic quizzes.
A little blurb I read in Better Homes and Gardens:
The average teenager spends practically every waking minute outside of school using a smartphone, computer, television, or other electronic device. So says the Kaiser Family Foundation , which found that children ages 8-18 used such devices for more than seven and a half hours a day. That's why we were so excited to hear about GetNoodles. This free new educational software program interrupts kids' Web surfing, texting, blogging, you name it, with pop-ups that ask grade-appropriate questions in subjects ranging from geometry to German. Kids have to answer correctly to get back to their computer activities.
They really find that exciting? What about just setting time limits? How about handing them a book to read? What about sending them outside or having them play a sport? I can think of a lot better ways to curb electronic time than giving them electronic quizzes.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A random 39
thoughts, facts, craziness, what-have-you....I have a lot of thoughts rolling around in my head lately and since I turned 39
1) I really really get frustrated when I realize I am acting like I am afraid to parent;I wish people in general would not be afraid to parent esp their teenagers
2) I'd really like an i-phone but if I become one of those people that can never put it down esp when around other people, I hope I have enough good sense to throw it away
3) One of the things I love about my husband is his rebelliousness toward any "need" for new technology such as fancy phones.
4) I've decided to just embrace my hair and not dye it....but I really really hope it isn't an ugly gray or might have to change my mind
5) I have lost my keys so many times lately that it just might be legal grounds for divorce
6) My newly 2 year old has already learned to ask me, "Why not?" when I tell him not to do something and it is kind of freaking me out.
7) My kids really stink at geography and since I am their teacher "shame on me!"
8) We will be studying lots of geography this year.
9) Excluding 3rd grade and parts of 6th grade(Mrs Steenbergen really scared me though I pretended she didn't), I loved school so it seems rather ironic that I homeschool my kids.
10) I really didn't like teaching school though.
11) I found it shocking when teaching school, that many of the other teachers were petty and vindictive.
12) If you are new teacher, and your principal gives you a new classroom with new desks and new whiteboards you might want to ask him/her to consider giving you the crummiest room in the school. The other teachers will not be happy otherwise.
13)Back to the positive...there is nothing like experiencing your child learning to read.
14) Excluding Creed, I can now say, "everyone grab a book and read for a while. It is wonderful!
15) I used to have a neighbor named Sue Ellen that used to say "Wonderful" all the time. I miss her.
16) I had another neighbor named Sue in the same neighborhood. She knew how to do all sorts of amazing things. SHe passed away couple of years ago; I miss her too.
17) This would be going a lot faster if my "a" key would quit sticking.
18) It drives Jon crazy how dirty my computer and screen can be.
19) I could live on chocolate alone. I wish that were a healthy diet.
20) I also still wish that there was a cherry coke zero flavored herbal tea.
21) I am loving iced red zinger iced tea these days.
22)Eating things with a lot of sugar makes my mouth sore and my throat to itch. It is very annoying.
23) The worst thing about chronic back/leg pain is not being able to play ball and stuff with my kids, but I remind myself it could be much worse and I am grateful they can all run and play.
24) I really want my kids to live a life of contentment so I need to be content myself.
25) At the pool one day this summer another mom asked me how many kids I had. She was shocked and her big question was, "Don't they want bunch of stuff?" Ummm...not really. So maybe we are getting somewhere with at least part of the contentment equation.
26) If I were giving advice to young mom's, it would be to stay home lot, let the home be the place both they and their kids are the most comfortable and content to be, be the happiest with your family and help you kids to be happiest with you and their siblings. In other words, let the home be the central community.
27) When our kids are being cranky and irritable, we usually realize we need to back off the media and/or slow down some.
28) A good breakfast really is an important start to a day. Both for mom and kids. This is the one basic/obvious item I have learned in the last couple of years.
29) Since homeschooling, I have realized that while I thought I had a really good education, it was rather limited in scope. I wish I'd read a lot more good books.
30) I didn't take typing in school because I was afraid I wouldn't make an "A." What a geek. Maybe I'd have finished this by midnight if I had.
31) I have a pretty amazing church family.
32) I can smell fish a mile away....and chocolate. But bring me chocolate, not fish.
33) I can't understand why anyone would want to wear shorts that barely cover their underwear or why mom's let their daughters out in shorts like that for that matter.
34) I never would have thought that I'd be 39 and be expecting child #7.
35) Back when I was younger, I thought it would be terrible to be 40 and pregnant. Now it doesn't seem quite the big deal. Although it is best to not think how old I'll be when baby is 20!
36) I really get annoyed when I sweep up enough crumbs under my table to feed a 3rd world country and clean out my fridge only to throw out food.
37) Parenting really does have to be purposeful. You have to know what your goals are and where you are headed and take steps to actually get there. I want to be even more purposeful this year.
38) When the kids are all in bed, I like to turn on the vent fan in the kitchen for white noise. It helps relax me. Maybe I just find the silence eerie.
39) I am actually surprised to find that I could keep on going for another 39. No wonder I need to invent that switch for turning off the brain at night!
1) I really really get frustrated when I realize I am acting like I am afraid to parent;I wish people in general would not be afraid to parent esp their teenagers
2) I'd really like an i-phone but if I become one of those people that can never put it down esp when around other people, I hope I have enough good sense to throw it away
3) One of the things I love about my husband is his rebelliousness toward any "need" for new technology such as fancy phones.
4) I've decided to just embrace my hair and not dye it....but I really really hope it isn't an ugly gray or might have to change my mind
5) I have lost my keys so many times lately that it just might be legal grounds for divorce
6) My newly 2 year old has already learned to ask me, "Why not?" when I tell him not to do something and it is kind of freaking me out.
7) My kids really stink at geography and since I am their teacher "shame on me!"
8) We will be studying lots of geography this year.
9) Excluding 3rd grade and parts of 6th grade(Mrs Steenbergen really scared me though I pretended she didn't), I loved school so it seems rather ironic that I homeschool my kids.
10) I really didn't like teaching school though.
11) I found it shocking when teaching school, that many of the other teachers were petty and vindictive.
12) If you are new teacher, and your principal gives you a new classroom with new desks and new whiteboards you might want to ask him/her to consider giving you the crummiest room in the school. The other teachers will not be happy otherwise.
13)Back to the positive...there is nothing like experiencing your child learning to read.
14) Excluding Creed, I can now say, "everyone grab a book and read for a while. It is wonderful!
15) I used to have a neighbor named Sue Ellen that used to say "Wonderful" all the time. I miss her.
16) I had another neighbor named Sue in the same neighborhood. She knew how to do all sorts of amazing things. SHe passed away couple of years ago; I miss her too.
17) This would be going a lot faster if my "a" key would quit sticking.
18) It drives Jon crazy how dirty my computer and screen can be.
19) I could live on chocolate alone. I wish that were a healthy diet.
20) I also still wish that there was a cherry coke zero flavored herbal tea.
21) I am loving iced red zinger iced tea these days.
22)Eating things with a lot of sugar makes my mouth sore and my throat to itch. It is very annoying.
23) The worst thing about chronic back/leg pain is not being able to play ball and stuff with my kids, but I remind myself it could be much worse and I am grateful they can all run and play.
24) I really want my kids to live a life of contentment so I need to be content myself.
25) At the pool one day this summer another mom asked me how many kids I had. She was shocked and her big question was, "Don't they want bunch of stuff?" Ummm...not really. So maybe we are getting somewhere with at least part of the contentment equation.
26) If I were giving advice to young mom's, it would be to stay home lot, let the home be the place both they and their kids are the most comfortable and content to be, be the happiest with your family and help you kids to be happiest with you and their siblings. In other words, let the home be the central community.
27) When our kids are being cranky and irritable, we usually realize we need to back off the media and/or slow down some.
28) A good breakfast really is an important start to a day. Both for mom and kids. This is the one basic/obvious item I have learned in the last couple of years.
29) Since homeschooling, I have realized that while I thought I had a really good education, it was rather limited in scope. I wish I'd read a lot more good books.
30) I didn't take typing in school because I was afraid I wouldn't make an "A." What a geek. Maybe I'd have finished this by midnight if I had.
31) I have a pretty amazing church family.
32) I can smell fish a mile away....and chocolate. But bring me chocolate, not fish.
33) I can't understand why anyone would want to wear shorts that barely cover their underwear or why mom's let their daughters out in shorts like that for that matter.
34) I never would have thought that I'd be 39 and be expecting child #7.
35) Back when I was younger, I thought it would be terrible to be 40 and pregnant. Now it doesn't seem quite the big deal. Although it is best to not think how old I'll be when baby is 20!
36) I really get annoyed when I sweep up enough crumbs under my table to feed a 3rd world country and clean out my fridge only to throw out food.
37) Parenting really does have to be purposeful. You have to know what your goals are and where you are headed and take steps to actually get there. I want to be even more purposeful this year.
38) When the kids are all in bed, I like to turn on the vent fan in the kitchen for white noise. It helps relax me. Maybe I just find the silence eerie.
39) I am actually surprised to find that I could keep on going for another 39. No wonder I need to invent that switch for turning off the brain at night!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Things that make you go, "Huh?"
I came across this site today from someone's link on facebook. I was instantly intrigued by their claim of calorie free peanut spread. Later when telling Jon about this calorie free peanut spread, Elizabeth asked, "Is it made of air?" Let's take a look at it, shall we?
Part of the description on amazon says this:
-Fat Free
-Sugar Free
-Calorie Free
-Cholesterol Free
-Carbohydrate Free
-Gluten Free
-No hydrogenated Oil
-Vegan
Just what does that leave us with:
I hate to say it, but I think this more qualifies as gutrot than food.
Part of the description on amazon says this:
-Fat Free
-Sugar Free
-Calorie Free
-Cholesterol Free
-Carbohydrate Free
-Gluten Free
-No hydrogenated Oil
-Vegan
Just what does that leave us with:
I hate to say it, but I think this more qualifies as gutrot than food.
One of my new favorite fabric/pattern sites
I recently discovered Marie-Madeline Studios. I love all their fabrics and just recently bought the street fair skirt pattern and can't wait to try it out. They also have excellent customer service!! Check them out; they currently have one of their great give-aways going on for a fat-quarter bundle. You can also visit another great site Flourishing Palms that is giving away one of their patterns and the fabric to make it.
Some statistics on pastors
Came across these statistics today regarding pastors and was sobered by them especially when I consider that some of them are probably low since many pastors would not want to admit to such thoughts/feelings.
25% have been forced out of or fired from their ministry.
90% feel inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands. 80% believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively. 45% say they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence. 40% have serious conflict with a church member 1x/month. 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend. 66% and their families feel pressure to model the ideal family to their congregations and communities. 20% admit to having an affair while in the ministry. 37% admit that Internet pornography is a current struggle. 72% stated they only studied the Bible when preparing a sermon 26% stated they felt they were adequately fed spiritually. 14% of pastors spend an hour or less in personal devotions each week.[2] 77% said they felt that did not have a good marriage. [3]
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Littlest Cousins
Reading with Grandma
Reading to each other
At the splashpad
fighting over a cup...Finn won
making up by sharing his cup
then wiping his mouth
Silly monkeys ahead...Give me five!
How about knuckles instead?
Why do they always want us to pose?
In the baby pool with buddy Jake
At the 4th of July concert withAunt Melissa
badminton anyone?
Dryland canoeing
Dirt! Dirt! Dirt!
First Ice cream cone
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