The Homefront Lines

Antibacterial Wipes

2012-01-30T11:28:00.001-06:00

I am all for convenience. I love convenience. Convenience loves me. We have a friendship, a bond. It's sort of inseparable. Well, it used to be. I am having issues with ingredients and prices of "convenience". Therefore, I have taken a pledge this year to do less convenience and more preparation. One of my first endeavors is homemade antibacterial wipes.

I love antibacterial wipes. I use them in the bathroom to wipe the toilet seat, handles, doorknobs, etc. Cool and I recently had the stomach flu and I credit my use of antibacterial wipes to the picklets not getting sick. And thank goodness they didn't. Oh yeah, thank goodness.

A big problem with antibacterial wipes is the added junk you just don't need. According to Clorox.com the ingredients in their wipes is: water, substrate, isopropyl alcohol, alkul dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, Alkyl polyglucoside, Fragrance, Preservative and Propylene glycol propyl ether. I had to look at the definitions for 5 of the 9 ingredients. And even though I know what fragrance and preservatives are, I don't know what are contained in those. I had to find an alternative.

I have done some research on how to make "natural", low cost, effective cleaners. This one is simple, low cost and effective. Win-win-win!

You need:

1 roll of paper towels. Any brand of paper towel will do BUT the thicker, more quality, brands hold up better to rubbing the surfaces. I use the cheapest ones I can find because my children use wipes as their main cleaning supply.
rubbing alcohol. Rubbing or isopropyl alcohol is a natural disinfectant. . Hospitals and doctors offices use it. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me. Rubbing alcohol is also one of the main ingredients in Clorox wipes

Your method:

Cut the roll of paper towels in half. This is a messy job as pieces of paper towel lint fall from the roll, but a serrated knife does the job. I have heard using an electric knife works too, but I have no need to invest in something like that just to cut paper towels.
Put one half of the paper towels into an air tight container. I use the Cottonelle toilet paper holder they sent me free. It matches my bathroom, is decorative and was FREE after all. If the roll seems too big, I put the roll in Ziploc bag, pour the liquid over it and it and put it in the container. I have not had a problem getting it to fit after they are wet. Of course it depends on your brand.
Pour rubbing alcohol over paper towels until wet. The amount you need depends on the thickness of your paper towels. I usually put too much in but I can squeeze out the excess if I need to.
Take the paper tubing out of the center, discard and pull towels out from the center.

That's it! Easy peasy, right?

Now, the smell of straight rubbing alcohol ~~can be~~ is very strong and overwhelming. I did some looking around and found that you can mix rubbing alcohol with essential oils. So, I drip essential oil drops into my rubbing alcohol bottle, recap, gently tilt to each side and then pour over the towels. :) I picked orange and peppermint. It was a nice improvement.

My cost for homemade antibacterial wipes:

paper towel roll 33¢              1/2 roll 16.5¢
rubbing alcohol 55¢                1/3 bottle 18.3¢
essential oil $4.15                   15 drops 51¢
container free                          container free

**Grand total: It costs me less than a dollar to make a container of wipes (1/2 roll of towels, 65 wipes) for wiping down the bathroom. And that could be even less if I didn't put the essential oil in. For me, it is cost effective, easy to make and uses natural ingredients. I love being frugal. :)

I know this solution isn't for everyone but it is definitely one way for me to make a financial difference in our house!

**The costs in your area, the brand of towels you use and the kind of essential oils will vary the cost. And be sure to add in the container if you need to buy one.**

Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T04:13:00.000-06:00

Fly your flag today.
It is Veteran's Day

Define a Veteran:

Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

~~~Author unknown~~~

Sweet Turned 13!

2011-11-04T11:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Sweet's 13th birthday. She enjoyed the day watching her brothers do her chores and eating the good food Dill made for her including waffles, sausage, corn bread and birthday cake! He is a good big brother.

Running low on cash we couldn't afford a big present, so she received a few small presents. Two cost $3.00 the rest cost free up to $1.00 with a final total of $13.00 plus change. Instead of packing them in a gift bag and having it be over instantly, Dill and I made up a scavenger hunt. It was fun to find hiding places and make the rhyming clues.
One of my favorite clues was this one. I didn't think she would get it in a zillion years. Not only did she get it but afterward she corrected me. Of course I didn't catch that on tape!

I love her facial expressions as she reads and figures out where the presents are located.

The scavenger hunt, though fun, was not her favorite gift. Dill not only made her breakfast AND most of supper, he also bought her a new light sabor. Darth Vadar lives and reigns once again in the pickle barrel.

A lot of great memories were created last night. I hope she remembers it as fondly as I will.

Hippo Birdies my love!

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

Words to Live By

2011-11-03T06:14:00.000-05:00

Saw this on Pinterest and had to share.

As we grow up, we learn that the people that weren't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others hearts. You'll blame a new love for things an old love did. You'll fight with your best friend, you'll cry because time is flying by, and eventually you'll lose someone you love. So take too many picture, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Because every second you spend angry or upset, is a second of happiness you can never get back!

A Quote

2011-10-22T04:26:00.001-05:00

A Quote about girls by Chip.

"Life was a lot simpler when girls still had cooties."

Giraffe Test

2011-10-21T08:04:00.003-05:00

There are 4 questions. Don't miss any of them!

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

Stop and think about it and decide on your answer before you scroll down.
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The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2 How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
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Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator? Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant, and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend....except one. Which animal does not attend?
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Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.

Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
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Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across.

Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting! This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively proves the theory that most professionals do not have the brains of a four-year-old.

List of Things to Do Today or Where is Me Time?

2011-09-15T04:42:00.001-05:00

Deliver papers
Get Cool up by 5 so he can do some fund transfer for work
Return from papers, fix breakfast, pack Cools lunch, kiss him goodbye
Sign and address get well cards for my uncle and Miss Crisp's mom
Finish laundry by 1
Clean kitchen this morning only to mess it up again with lunch and re-clean
School da kids (or keep saying go do your school work until I am blue in the face)
Meet with supervising teacher at 2
Take Chip to gym to talk about possible coaching job 3-3:30
Take Sweet to another gym by 4
Pick Chip up from 1st gym
Go to Target for MIL
Eat supper at MIL
Pick Sweet up from gym at 6
Take Chip to CAP by 6:30
Go back to MIL and clean up from supper
Pick Chip up at 8:45
Head home
Mentally run through tomorrows list of things to do
Wonder when homeschooling turned into "You are never home-schooling"
Fall asleep worrying that I won't wake up by 4 to deliver papers on time.

Puzzles

2011-09-13T15:45:00.000-05:00

This year I am trying to incorporate puzzles into our school routine. Puzzles not only give the picklets a little down time, it helps with their spacial skills, cognitive skills, analytical skills, problem solving skills and reasoning skills. And even more than that, puzzles help with imagination, patterning and thinking outside the box. And of course there is that boost of confidence when a puzzle is finished. Depending on the puzzles you get, your kids can appreciate art, learn geography, history, science and the layout of the ocean bed a million years ago. Puzzles rock and are going to be a BIG part of our school year.

For the beginning of our school year I got two puzzles out that the picklets needed to work on. One easy, one harder.

Ocean Critters teaches about life at the bottom of the sea. The picklets both picked it off in less than an hour. This was the easy one.

The other puzzle I picked is called Lost Art Michelangelo. I picked it up at Goodwill. It only cost me 88cents. There was a reason it was so cheap.

The picklets (and their parents) have been working on this for quite some time on and off.

There are about a zillion different possibilities but only one solution.

We are all pulling our hair out trying to figure out that one solution. The picklets even got grandma involved. She enjoys the challenge...go figure.

Since we have all worked hours on it I decided to get the solution from the box. Here is what is said:

Stuck? For the solution, send a stamped self addressed envelope to University Games, Lost Art Solution...

Yep. You have to send away for the answer.

Being as this is the 21st century, I googled University Games and contacted them via phone to see if they could email me the solution. The lady on the phone had never heard of this puzzle. She took my name and number so she could call me back after researching it. Lo and behold, by the end of the day I had a phone call telling me they hadn't carried that puzzle in years and no longer have the solution.

So, I googled the person who "invented" the puzzle and actually found a phone number. So, I called and he, himself answered the phone! I told him what I was looking for and he said he would email me the answer key. I received it later that afternoon.

I have yet to reveal to the picklets that I actually have the solution. I am not sure when or even if I am going to let them know. Who knows, I might just study the solution, sit down next to one of the picklets while they are working on the puzzle and put it together like it's nothing. That would show 'em.

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

A Tour of the School Closet

2011-09-12T13:49:00.000-05:00

By nature I am an unorganized person. But lately I have been in an organizing mode. This is not by choice mind you. The picklebarrel is in need of a major overhaul so I am forced. The first of my projects was our school closet. It was to the point that we would open the door and pray that nothing would fall out on us. Getting it shut again took an act of congress. And with school starting it was a necessity to be sure everything has a place and there is a place for everything. It is a nice way to start off the year! =D

I did not take before pictures. I am sure it would have broke the lens of my camera. It was THAT BAD!
Looking in the closet. Grammar posters are hung on the door making for easy reference if needed.

The boxes and drawers are full of craft items, glue, markers, clipboards etc.

Is this too organized?

The green lidded boxes are the picklets individual boxes. I had better never hear I can't find scissors or a stapler or sticky notes again. They also have picked out the pencils they want to use and keep them in the box too.

When you look in the closet to the left we keep educational games and puzzles. These are free for the picklets to play anytime. Into the Forest is one of the favorites so far this school year. Of course River Crossing, Rush Hour and HiQ are favorites of the picklets as well. When the US puzzles are finished they will modpod them for the walls. One shows the US at night and one shows the states and capitals.

Up above the games we keep loose leaf paper, composition books and spirals. The paper was only a penny so we have a lot of it. I know it will get used though.

To the right of that I have our box of paint holding the notebooks up and plaster of paris is to the right of the paint. On the top shelf we have our three ring binders and file folders for lapbooks.

The shelves on the lower right hand side contain baskets with our science equipment, staplers, stampers, math items, chalk, and scrap paper. We also have dominoes and figure logic. The floor has their lap desks (for couch work) and a big popcorn tin of crayons.

It is so nice to know where everything is. The picklets can find what they need and as long as I am on top of making sure the items are put away, we know where they are next time too.

Yes, by nature I am an unorganized person but I think I can learn to like knowing where everything is. ;)

9/11

2011-09-11T04:30:00.002-05:00

At a loss for words today. The date brings such memories, those of which I hope we never have to relive. God Bless.

Air Show

2011-09-09T07:08:00.001-05:00

Being a member of CAP, Chip has had some terrific opportunities available to him. One of them was security detail at the airshow a couple weekends ago. He spent two long days walking the perimeter, policing the area and keeping people back behind the line. He left home at 5am and didn't get home until 10pm. He was tired, oh so very tired, but loved every minute of it. We attended the airshow the 2nd day.

It was pretty cool to walk in and see my eldest standing guard. Though the fact that he really looked like a soldier was sobering. The bus he is standing in front of has a jet engine and went down the runway at over 300 MPH.

We got a front row seat and saw some pretty cool planes and tricks.

Seeing the planes up high was much easier when they would put on their smoke.

This plane dropped parachuters. Those parachuters had red smoke but I didn't get a picture of them. :/

It was a cloudy-ish day but made for great silhouette pictures when the sun tried to pop out. Actually the sun fully came out about the time the show was over.

The University of Iowa engineering department has a trainer plane. They did a mock mission that was pretty cool.

Throughout the day we would catch a glimpse of Chip. He hated the fact that I took pictures of him. What he doesn't understand is I am proud of him.

Dill tolerated the obligatory picture.

And I love this picture of my oldest and my youngest. I have no idea what they are looking at since the airshow was in back of them. Notice the caution tape between the two.

The highlight of the day was being able to see USAF Thunderbirds.

Cool was psyched! His dream in life is to see either the Blue Angels or The Thunderbirds, preferable both. One down, one to go!
It was spectacular.

Of course, I am sure he was wishing he was a cadet in CAP because Chip was fortunate enough to not only meet The Thunderbirds, but got to see the planes and talk with the mechanics. Poor Cool had to go home while Chip got to have all the fun!

It was a great weekend, a great show, a great learning experience and something I am sure Chip (and the other picklets) will NEVER forget.

If you are interested in seeing a Thunderbird show, here is a great video, taken in Boston, from start to finish and is very good quality.

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

Questions from Chip

2011-09-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

Chip: "Why is there a bowl of chicken noodle soup in the bathroom?"
Me: "Because Shadow (the cat) was eating it."
Chip: "Why did you give Shadow a bowl of chicken noodle soup? AND why did you give it to him in the bathroom?"
Me: He was hungry."
Chip: "Uh huh."

And thus ended the chicken noodle soup questioning from Chip.

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

Experimental Outside Cooking

2011-09-05T10:12:00.000-05:00

We had a hot streak that lasted about a month this summer. It was humid and in the 90's everyday. There was no rain to speak of. The thermometer would show the temperature being in the 80's at 3 am each morning. It was hot. It was miserable. But it gave Sweet the reason to do some outside "cooking".

Car cookies were a given. She made dough and put some in the back window of the car with a thermometer.

She checked it each hour to see how hot the car was. Oven like is what we were hoping for.

It was looking good and then...

The thermometer broke. There were little pieces of glass and red liquid on our cookies. UGH!
Sweet also decided to see if she could bake an egg in the back window.

And why not try to cook an egg on the sidewalk and make some toast too?

The cookies turned out good enough to eat with the exception that a thermometer exploded all over them leaving remnants of glass and red liquid as a topping. We did break them open to see their gooeyness.

The other results have been put on video because a still picture didn't do it justice.

This is the baked egg from the back window of the car.

This is the egg that was cooked on the sidewalk.

We found it interesting that the white didn't turn white. It just sort of dried up.

Here is the toast.

What you didn't see in the video is that Sweet spit out her bite after I turned the camera off. She said it was horrible. It sounded like toast but that is as far as it went.

It was a good day of experimenting even though the final products were not what we had wanted. The left over cookie dough in the fridge was just the thing she needed to end of the day!

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

End of Summer Hurrah

2011-09-03T03:44:00.004-05:00

To mark the end of summer and the beginning of the school year we went to Adventureland. This year was a bit different as the kids are old enough to go off on their own, ride the rides they want and have a little freedom. It is bittersweet to say the least. Cool and I went off on our own, talked, people watched, walked and enjoyed the day together. Periodically we would catch up with the picklets and try to enjoy the fun through their spirit and energy.

Cool rode with the picklets on the Saw Mill Splash. He was pretty sick afterwards since is spins all the way down.

Chip really wanted us to go to the magic show with him. It was only a 15 minute show but it was good. The magician did the Houdini trick.

As a family we went to the juggling show. It too was only about 15 minutes. The juggler was an actor that was in Law and Order or some other show like that. He was funny but the music was way too LOUD. Here he is balancing chairs on his chin. While he was juggling the fire batons he dropped on of the batons and caught the grass on fire.

I did a lot of people watching while I waited. These two were sound asleep at a picnic table in one of the food courts. Eventually they woke up and she barfed her guts out all over the ground. He stood there and laughed at her. I informed Cool that if he ever laughed at me while I was puking he would regret it. He concurred.

Sweet spotted this Amish family coming in the gate around lunch time. While walking around in the afternoon Cool and I were behind them. I snapped some shots trying not to get their faces. They didn't ride any rides, they just walked around. The best I can guess is the two older ones in front (the woman is holding a 2-3 year old girl and the man is holding the hand of a 5-7 year old girl) are either the parents or grandparents. There were two boys and 4 teen to twenty year old girls plus the two little ones. I thought it was interesting that for purses the girls carried ice cream buckets with lids.

In all it was a fun day. Not too hot and even though we walked around the whole day, it was quite relaxing.

I know Dill had fun! And even though that is a terrific picture of my middling child, the reason I post this picture is to leave you with a taste of the prices.

(c) 2008-2011 Wicked Pickles-Homefrontlines

Card to my Husband

2011-09-02T03:58:00.000-05:00

Today marks the day that Cool and I got married. The wedding was nice but left a bit to be desired as our priest of was drunk. But it created memories that just make you shake your head. Anyway I wanted to share the card I got for him.

"You give me that loving feeling!"

"Of course, sometimes you give me that 'I want to kick you in the butt' feeling, but let's not dwell on that."

Yes, that is the kind of card I give my hubs on our anniversary. It's the truth but I love him and he loves me.

Happy Anniversary Cool!

Philosophy

2011-09-01T09:03:00.001-05:00

Today we are going to explore philosophy a bit with a guest speaker. This individual has "schooled" all of us on life through out the years. He is a great role model to us all. Please welcome Mr. Charles Schulz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, and his views on philosophy. I encourage each and everyone of you to read these words, think about them and how true to life they really are. Mr. Schulz....

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? Hmmmm.....The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies...Awards tarnish...Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most!

'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.
It's already tomorrow in Australia !'

''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!"

(I don't know if Charles Schulz really wrote this...I don't really care...it makes an impact that that is what matters)

Toasted Marshmallow Day: August 30

2011-08-30T08:12:00.000-05:00

Today is Toasted Marshmallow Day! Yum, yum, yum. Marshmallows have to be one of my ALL TIME favorites. Whether toasted or made into treats makes no never mind to me. According to yahoo news,

The second-to-last day of August provides a great excuse to have a bonfire and toast up the remaining summer marshmallows. Whip up some Double-Dipped Marshmallow Sticks or classic S'mores. Marshmallows are an abundant and cheap summer treat, but that was not always the case. They were "once so rare that that only pharaohs could eat them" according to Campfire Marshmallows. Ancient Egyptians mixed the sap of the marshmallow plant was mixed with honey to create a sweet treat in 2000 B.C. Today's marshmallows are made from corn syrup, sugar, water, dextrose and air.

"The marshmallow plant is native to salt marshes and shorelines in Asia and Europe and is now grown in the eastern United States "according to Campfire Marshmallows. The plant, specifically the skin of the Althaea officinalis plant, can be used to treat irritated skin.

Make a mini unit to do with your picklets...they will have fun, learn and remember the hands on fun!

Read:

How Stuff Works: Marshmallows
The History of Marshmallows
The Marshmallow Story (good for around a campfire)
How Did the Marshmallow Get It's Name?

Make some yummy treats!

Homemade Marshmallows
Toasted Marshmallow Shake
Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Toasted Marshmallow Cupcakes
Warm Toasted Marshmallow Malted Milk S'mores
Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Cake

Marshmallow Crafts

Marshmallow Building
Marshmallow Faces
Holiday Marshmallows
Marshmallow Tea Cups
Halloween Marshmallow Heads
Make a Marshmallow Popper
Make a Marshmallow Shooter

Art
Marshmallow Art
How to draw the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
Art lessons from Mr. Marshmallow

Get Active with Marshmallows

Marshmallow Kick, Throw, and Blow Activity
Tie pillows onto your arms, legs and body. Race down the sidewalk. Give s'mores awards.

Watch:
Ghostbusters

Parents:
Test your kids! We tried this once. It was a disaster.
Marshmallow Experiment

Science

Marshmallow Masher
Monster Mallows
The Anatomy of a Marshmallow
Marshmallow Catapult
Marshmallow Tower
The Marshmallow Machine
Marshmallow Lab

Have a fun, stick, gooey day!

Intrasquad Competition

2011-08-28T07:52:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Sweet's gymnastics club hosted an intrasquad meet so the gymnasts could get an idea of what the judges are looking for. They had the opportunity to have some constructive critisim from the people who are actually going to judge them this season. Sweet was so excited to actually be able to compete since she chose not to last year. Over all she did well. She had an 8.7 average with a total of 34.8 total score. This would have been higher but the judge asked her to start from a different corner for her floor routine and it totally messed her up.

Vault 9.3

Bars 9.0

Beam 9.1

Floor 7.4

Congratulations Sweet! It was so great to see you put your talent to work. Daddy and I wish you the best of luck this season. We are so proud of all your hard work and dedication! Here's to a GREAT season of fun!

Above All

2011-08-27T04:38:00.004-05:00

I believe everyone has a calling. Some know they are meant to be a mom. Some a teacher. Some an accountant. Some know they are meant to be in the military. Chip is one of those people.

To better prepare Chip for that service we signed him up to be a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He meets with his squadron about 2 hours per week to get aerospace education, moral leadership and physical training. He dresses in BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) and spit shines his boots (which I found out doesn't really require spit!). He participates in mock search and rescue missions and meets on the weekends for activities such as placing flags on the graves of veterans, marshalling aircraft at airshows and O-Rides. O-Ride, short for orientation ride, has been one of Chip's favorite part of being a member of CAP.

Not knowing what to expect the first time, we took Chip to the airport dressed in BDU's, armed with sunglasses, chewing gum, a camera and water. Soon a CAP pilot introduced himself and the next thing we knew we were on the tarmac watching Chip be briefed on how to do the pre-flight safety check.

Soon after we watched the small plane take off "into the wild blue yonder". A couple hours later we picked him up and found out that Chip actually got to fly the plane! I think he was in love.

He has since had another motorized O-Ride (where grandpa was allowed on the tarmac to "inspect" the plane)

and a glider ride. He is hoping for 2 more, the maximum alotted per cadet in a given year.

Since he is almost 18 this will be his first and last year of O-Rides. It is too bad because had we known about the program earlier, he could have had several under his belt, been in line for pilot school or quite possibly had his own license by now. Plus he is missing years of invaluable preparation received for possible search and rescue missions.

Chip can continue to be a member of CAP, as a cadet, until he is 21 and if he keeps up his studies through CAP he still has the possibility to earn scholarships that could possibly include flight school or better.

Armed and Ready

2011-08-26T04:11:00.001-05:00

...to clean the bathroom!

Happy 91 Gaga!

2011-08-25T06:08:00.001-05:00

My dear, sweet Gaga turned 91 this week. My aunt wanted to take her out to a fancy, smancy restraunt to celebrate. Gaga vetoed it. She doesn't eat enough to justify those prices. Plus she can't hear because of all the background noise. So we ordered in chicken and had a potluck. It was priceless!

She made a wish and blew out the candles. She didn't know what to wish for so we gave her suggestions...lol

She got puzzle books from Shark.

We gave her salt water taffy and a shirt with sunflowers and a scarecrow.

Sweet and Dill gave her an art project they named "These Colors Run".

She also recieved a blooming violet from my mom, $5 for gambling from Chip and 2 jugs of weed killer from my dad. What exciting presents we give!

We made sure to get a picture of Gaga and the picklets. These are pictures we will all treasure in years to come. :)

It was a fun evening. We are so lucky to be able to spend this special time with Gaga and we all know it.

"These Colors Run"

2011-08-24T04:39:00.002-05:00

Different versions of these have been been showing up on pintrest and various blogs for the last few days. It seems to be the latest thing in homemade art. I of course, was intrigued. I had new crayons. I had foam board. I had hot glue. And I had a hair dryer. I had to try it. =D

The original plan was for Dill and Sweet to work together and make a print for my livingroom. I thought it would be a great first of the year art project. And indeed it was a great project but as they were picking out crayons Dill thought it would be great to make one for Gaga's birthday instead. Now, how could I say, "No, you can't make one for your 91 year old great-grandmother." So I, being the unselfish person that I am said, "GREAT IDEA!" (I hit the dissapointment...lol)

The picklets knew that Gaga wouldn't want a huge picture to hang. In fact they weren't sure if she would actually hang it up at all but that didn't stop them. They planned, measured and cut a peice of foam board to a size they though was just perfect for Gaga.

They played around with the crayons, moving them around until they thought the light to dark ratio looked good. They then played around with whether the crayons should be glued straight across or in a design. They opted for the swag window vallence design.

It was very pleasing to the eye...at first.

Once the heat of the hair dryer started melted the wax we found it wasn't so pretty. The wax started splattering across the room. We had crayon wax on our hands, our shirts and in our hair.

Plus it all melted together and created not so nice colors.

We concluded there were two reasons it turned out looking the way it did. The first being we mixed the colors up instead of keeping like colors together and the second being the swag design. There wasn't any barrier when the heated air melted the wax. So, the picklets tried again. This time they hot glued the crayons, "CRAYON" side up keeping the colors in the same color groups.

And when the colors started melting, they melted in streams, keeping the colors bright and vibrant.

It turned out gorgeous!

On the back the picklets wrote "Happy 91st Birthday Gaga. This is an original piece of art created just for you called 'These Colors Run' Love, Sweet and Dill." They wrapped it up and took it to Gaga's 91st birthday party.

She opened it and really liked it. In fact, everyone at the table liked it. They liked it so much that I think there might be a crayon print making factory in the picklets future.

Saying Goodbye

2011-08-12T09:03:00.002-05:00

On July 25, exactly 15 years after we said goodbye to my Grandpa, we said goodbye to my aunt Elaine. She was born was down syndrome. It was recommended by the doctors that she be institutionalized. The family was told she would never walk, talk, be potty trained, be able to care for herself...etc. My grandparents, who were leaders in this revolution in Iowa, knew it would be BEST to keep Elaine at home. She did walk and talk. Learned to cook and clean. Took care of herself to the best of her ability and became the heart of the family. Her death is a LOSS to all of us. She is soooo missed.

The days before her death I sat in a small town hospital, along with other members of the family, taking turns holding her hand, talking to her and smiling at her. It is a stretch to think that she knew we were there or that we brought her any comfort, BUT there is that remote chance and that is what got us through that time. We watched her take her last breath at 12:45 am. We stood there looking. Tears running down all our faces. We were frozen. We didn't want to leave her.

Elaine had a beautiful, albeit long, Catholic mass with my grandparents good friend Fr. Ed presiding. One of my aunts gave the readings...2Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith." How she managed to say it without breaking down I will never know. Another aunt had us praying for saints and the sick. How she managed to say it without breaking down I, again, will never know. Fr. Ed talked about visiting grandma and grandpa and saying to Elaine, "How is my little sweetheart?" And Elaine smiling back at him with the biggest, widest smile in the world. He said it without tears but I swear to you there wasn't a dry eye in the pews.

The oldest nieces/nephews from each of the families were given parts to read for Elaine's eulogy. Isn't that a horrible word? I stood up there reading..."Elaine Cecelia was born to....Elaine always emphasized Cecelia because....Elaine loved her big sister so much...Elaine's biggest brother was her protector while Elaine's other brother was more daring...Elaine's relationship with so and so was hard to explain but Elaine knew so and so had her back..." Then my cousin got up, "...while it was recommended at 3 months that Elaine be institutionalized....the doctors soon realized and actually recommended that Elaine stay with the family...the strides she has made....moved to the house.....special friend Brian..." Then another cousin, "Love is patient, love is kind....It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." The three of us held it together while there was not a dry eye in the pews. We walked out of the church, following Elaine's casket singing On Eagle's Wings. We stood in the back of the church, a circle around Elaine's casket holding hands. Not wanting to let her go.

We drove in the rain the 16 miles to the cemetery where Elaine would lay to rest beside Grandma and Grandpa. Fr. Ed gave a short but nice service. Each of the nieces and nephews received a flower for Elaine. One by one we laid them on her casket...our last gift to the aunt who had actually been our gift.

We all stood there looking at her casket, arms wrapped around each other, not wanting to leave her. Somehow we managed to leave and all met up down town. A nice glass of wine, a good meal and great company followed the hours after. We laughed, caught up on each other and vowed to get together more.

We laid Elaine to rest on a Thursday. We left that afternoon to go home after an exhausting week and actually felt at peace.

Yesterday while I was cleaning my purse I found a crumpled up piece of paper. I opened it up and a flood of memories came to me. While I was sitting there talking to Lainy-Bug, singing her songs Grandpa used to sing to us all, telling her stories of the kids, telling her how much we all love her and that it is OK to get in the car and go home and to make sure she gives grandma and grandpa a hug and kiss from me, I continually read a saying that was hanging on the wall. It was cross stitched and beautiful. I wrote it down and stuck it in my purse.

"Sometimes when a light goes out of our lives
And we are left in the darkenss
And we do not know which way to go,
We must put our hand
Into the hand of God and ask Him to lead us---
And if we let our lives become
A prayer until we are strong enough
to stand under the weight of our own thoughts again,
Somehow even the most difficult hours are bearable"

And you know what? They are.

Spaghetti Tacos, part 2

2011-08-09T04:35:00.000-05:00

The picklets like iCarly. Carly, Sam, Spencer, Freddy, Gibby and Guppy....the picklets all find a piece of common ground. That would be spaghetti tacos. Back in '09, Chip made spaghetti tacos for us. I reluctantly tried them and found they were pretty darned good. They were a novelty and I thought they would pass.

I found out nothing passes quickly where there is a popular teen show on...lol. One night last month I told Sweet I would like her to cook supper for us. After a long thought process she decided to make spaghetti tacos. Laughing, I let her have at it.

The tacos were delicious with the shell adding a delightful crunch you wouldn't normally get while eating spaghetti.

Though the tacos were good, I have to admit I am a garlic bread fanatic. So I invented my own little sandwich.

At spaghetti hot dog! Now that is good eating!

Planning Ahead

2011-06-11T20:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I have blogged. It just seems nothing interesting is going on...and if it isn't interesting to me it surely isn't going to be interesting to anyone else. =D

This next week is going to be pretty busy. Tonight Sweet is helping to supervise a lock-in at Sokol. There are 13 young gymnasts signed up. One of our coaches planned the whole night out with games and movies. Cool took our popcorn popper in, bought some great bowls and soda for the event. Chip downloaded a bunch of group dance songs for the kiddos to learn. It should be a fun night for all involved. Thank goodness it isn't me. I am NOT a night person. I am usually sound asleep by 10...I can't imagine staying up all night supervising. But Sweet is psyched about it!

Tomorrow she leaves for a week long gymnastics camp at the University of Iowa. She is on the front page of the women's gymnastics camp page with head coach Larissa Libby. Pay no attention to the bent arms and legs. ;-)

Pretty sweet! She is packed and is so excited about it. She saved and payed for it herself so it means a lot to her. She gets to stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria and have gymnastics for 8 hours a day. I know she will work hard and gain a ton of experience from it. I'm gonna miss her though.

Chip is going to a week long drum camp at a local college this week. He will learn how to play the drums, have choreography lessons and have an experience of a lifetime with Sheltered Reality. He loves music so this should be right up his alley. This group sends quite a message and, I think, will be a great benefit to his character education. I can't wait until the end of the week so we can hear what he has learned. I know he will be tap, tap, tapping all week.

Dill is participating in a teen library program Tuesday Where he will watch and review Kiddy Grade: Pieces of the Past. It is an Anime movie so of course he is excited about it. I don't think this will do much for his character education but maybe his artistic side will benefit. :-/ He also has Tae Kwon Do and Hopkido practice.

To get ready for our busy week I have done some cooking ahead. I boiled and peeled a dozen eggs, made 36 banana nut muffins, peeled and cut 10 pounds of carrots, cooked up two pounds of taco meat, have refried beans in the crockpot and made two batches of brown rice and froze. That will give me a step ahead come Monday. :)

Hope your summer is as fun as ours.