They got in big trouble for not picking up today. Then a few hours later they made another big mess with these little glass beads we use for sorting (or throwing all over the school room as the case may be). I told Maverick and Griffin (who did the scattering) to pick them up. This is conversation that followed...
Me: Pick up those rocks again.
Maverick: I didn't DOOOO anything.
Me: Of course not Maverick. You never Doooo anything (with just a touch of sarcasm)
Maverick: Yes I do. I ask questions.
And that, folks, is the truth. He asks a lot of questions. So many that my answer is often "To make you ask questions."
And for the record- He also picks up beads with the right motivation.
PS- I'm not sure that this new schedule is really going to work either. Anyone who has experience and an idea (or no experience and an idea). How do I get the one to nap and not just yell at the others to be quiet all afternoon? Our house isn't big enough to spread everyone out. Griffin discovered what was going on and wouldn't nap cause he wants to do school too. And now they are ALL fighting and Griffin is exhausted and the afternoon is maybe even more stressful than before. :( I just don't know WHAT TO DO!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
School Experiment!
We've been struggling with our schedule since we've been back from vacation. Griffin still gets up so early (5:50 this morning- although he went back to sleep in my bed). And the big boys have just grown out of their naps. So all afternoon while Griffin is sleeping I tell the big boys "Be Quiet" or something similar. They don't want to be quiet and I don't want to yell at them all afternoon. No matter how great the day has been stress levels raise in the afternoon and by the evening when we are all together as I family, I am ready to run far far away for a while. Not exactly the way we want our evenings to go.
So today we are doing something TOTALLY new. We always do school in the morning but today I have lots of bread bowls to make for a dinner party this weekend and I am doing that before lunch while the kids play. They've played play-do and are building hot wheels tracks now and playing indoor croquet. So far (although we are only a few hours into this experiment) there hasn't been much fighting. I don't pretend to think that won't change. I am getting to do somethings I need/want to do and they are getting to play without being told to be quiet. Also Griffin isn't getting into mischief while we try to get our school work completed.
Then this afternoon after Griffin is down for his nap, we will have school time. Griffin isn't really old enough to participate in the sit down work and often creates distraction anyway. It is quiet work so they shouldn't get in trouble for making too much noise. When we have a field trip or other appointment in the afternoon, we can do the sit down work in the morning before we go. Or they can take it with them and keep them busy while we wait for our appointment. And if there is a fun science or social studies activity Griffin can participate in, then we will do that in the morning while he is awake.
I am hoping that it is a better use of all of our time. Now if I can just figure out where a shower for me fits in, the plan would be perfect. :) We'll get it all figured out just in time for thanksgiving break. LOL!
So today we are doing something TOTALLY new. We always do school in the morning but today I have lots of bread bowls to make for a dinner party this weekend and I am doing that before lunch while the kids play. They've played play-do and are building hot wheels tracks now and playing indoor croquet. So far (although we are only a few hours into this experiment) there hasn't been much fighting. I don't pretend to think that won't change. I am getting to do somethings I need/want to do and they are getting to play without being told to be quiet. Also Griffin isn't getting into mischief while we try to get our school work completed.
Then this afternoon after Griffin is down for his nap, we will have school time. Griffin isn't really old enough to participate in the sit down work and often creates distraction anyway. It is quiet work so they shouldn't get in trouble for making too much noise. When we have a field trip or other appointment in the afternoon, we can do the sit down work in the morning before we go. Or they can take it with them and keep them busy while we wait for our appointment. And if there is a fun science or social studies activity Griffin can participate in, then we will do that in the morning while he is awake.
I am hoping that it is a better use of all of our time. Now if I can just figure out where a shower for me fits in, the plan would be perfect. :) We'll get it all figured out just in time for thanksgiving break. LOL!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Adventure with Quinoa!
So I am always ready to try new food. So when Shane and I stopped at Whole Foods on the way home from our trip and I saw quinoa in the bulk bins I decided to get a little. There was also a "How to buy and cook bulk food" booklet that told me what to do with the stuff so that helped too.
So, quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) in the book is described as a grain with "light, nutty flavor" It is higher in protein than other grains and expands to 4 times its volume when cooked. The expansion thing is SO nice to know when cooking from bulk the first time. It suggests use in "grain salads" or as a stuffing for zucchini or tomatoes. Also good for fajitas or enchiladas. After you rinse it several times, it simmers for 20 minutes.
So it has been in the cabinet for a little bit and I decided to try it today. I didn't want to stuff tomatoes or zucchini so I got online and looked at www.allrecipes.com for some ideas. I did have some tomatoes but they needed cleaned up (some icky spots) so I went with a salad. I cooked 1 cup of quinoa and then stirred in a couple of chopped tomatoes, some halved green olives, and some feta cheese. I decided to add some salad dressing to the bit I put on my plate (I wish i had not done that).
So what is my opinion on quinoa? YUMMY! The salad was very good. I will use black olives next time (I didn't have any) simply because I like them better. The quinoa itself is exactly as it was described a little nutty and very crunchy...almost like the crunch makes it "pop" a little. Kinda hard to describe. But it was great and a nice addition to my lunch ideas. I coudn't get the boys to try it cause they don't like feta or green olives. I think I'll sneak it in something they DO like sometime and see how that goes. It could easily be used in place of rice for a vegetable stir fry to bump up that protein.
This is what my first attempt at quinoa salad looks. Pretty yummy if ya ask me. :)
So, quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) in the book is described as a grain with "light, nutty flavor" It is higher in protein than other grains and expands to 4 times its volume when cooked. The expansion thing is SO nice to know when cooking from bulk the first time. It suggests use in "grain salads" or as a stuffing for zucchini or tomatoes. Also good for fajitas or enchiladas. After you rinse it several times, it simmers for 20 minutes.
So it has been in the cabinet for a little bit and I decided to try it today. I didn't want to stuff tomatoes or zucchini so I got online and looked at www.allrecipes.com for some ideas. I did have some tomatoes but they needed cleaned up (some icky spots) so I went with a salad. I cooked 1 cup of quinoa and then stirred in a couple of chopped tomatoes, some halved green olives, and some feta cheese. I decided to add some salad dressing to the bit I put on my plate (I wish i had not done that).
So what is my opinion on quinoa? YUMMY! The salad was very good. I will use black olives next time (I didn't have any) simply because I like them better. The quinoa itself is exactly as it was described a little nutty and very crunchy...almost like the crunch makes it "pop" a little. Kinda hard to describe. But it was great and a nice addition to my lunch ideas. I coudn't get the boys to try it cause they don't like feta or green olives. I think I'll sneak it in something they DO like sometime and see how that goes. It could easily be used in place of rice for a vegetable stir fry to bump up that protein.
This is what my first attempt at quinoa salad looks. Pretty yummy if ya ask me. :)Tuesday, October 26, 2010
MIA!
I have been having trouble logging into my blogging account. Now I finally got in and have really have nothing to say. Shocking! I know! But it is what it is.
The boys have all been coughing and running low grade fevers. They, now, seem better. Shane, however, is hacking up a lung and neither of us are getting any sleep!
That is all I've got for now but I will try to do a real post soon. So much for weekly menus and all that jazz...oh well! We are still eating and I'm guessing most of you are too so no harm done.
The boys have all been coughing and running low grade fevers. They, now, seem better. Shane, however, is hacking up a lung and neither of us are getting any sleep!
That is all I've got for now but I will try to do a real post soon. So much for weekly menus and all that jazz...oh well! We are still eating and I'm guessing most of you are too so no harm done.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A very very few phtotos!
Well, I was able to resize and load up a few photos. There is just NO way to share them all online. Nor do photos really do any justice whatsoever to the Canyon itself or to the experience of riding a mule into the canyon. Before moving into pictures, the mule ride is heavy with history. It is the traditional way to see the canyon. It is how the first explorers experienced the Canyon and how President Roosevelt visited before making it into a National Park. It is terrifying and exciting, exhausting and empowering and altogether amazing. It is also very hard to do...there are 5 million visitors to the Canyon yearly...only 10 people per day get to ride to the bottom on mules (and stay over night)...that is less than 1% who actually get to ride the mules into the canyon. Those 10 have to weigh in (and be a certain height). If you are too short (less than 4'7") or too heavy (over 200 lbs with clothes and gear), you do not get to go...period...no arguing no exceptions. It was an experience I will never forget and one I hope I get to repeat (despite the difficulty in getting "tickets" and the expense)...it was well worth it.
We got to the canyon in the middle of the thunderstorm...in a moment of sunlight we went out to check it out and got this picture...we were soon back in the shelter of a restaurant. :)
The morning of the mule ride down was rainy again. They supplied us with raincoats and I was VERY thankful we had rain pants (even if they were camo)...it was nice to stay dry. See how I am leaning way back in the saddle. The ride is steep...you lean back to stay on...but it makes your back ache.
This is a section of the trail after we broke for a stretch and some snacks...this particular corner is called "Jesus Corner"...cause if you aren't praying you are likely swearing...it was a TIGHT corner with a steep drop ...the trail we switchback onto here is to the right of the big rocks that mark the edge of the trail...see how you can't see it...you couldn't see it from the mule either. It was so scary!! You can also see the trail cut into the edge to the right of the mule rider. Those switchbacks are called "The Devil's Corkscrew." They were a little scary too!
One of the first sites of the Colorado River (did you know Colorado means "reddish brown"- creative weren't they?). We rode alongside the Colorado for a while...unfortunately, it was a LONG way down the whole time. :) You may be able to see the bridge. That is the "hikers bridge" cause the mules won't walk across the metal mesh floor...we took another bridge down the trail a bit...it had a solid wood floor in it.
The mule behind me (named Mercy) was kinda slow (picky with her footing) so they got behind. Shane took this picture of K-Bar (our wrangler) and me out ahead. We are rounding a corner- the cliff to our left drops down to the river!
Here is a view from Phantom Ranch at the bottom. The sites were amazing. And you couldn't even tell you were in the "inner canyon." The inner canyon is big enough you can't see the ridges of the "Grand Canyon" in most places.
On the way up we had to rest the mules every now and again...this is at one of those stops looking back across what we had just climbed...amazing.
Here we are back at the top...we'd made it both ways in the rain and cold. Who would guess that I couldn't really feel my fingers and my hat was dripping rain in my face? It was an amazing trip!! My mule. Ted Bundy (who I called Teddy) kept me on my toes but I loved him. Shane's mule, Lucy, was a calm, easy going thing...until she got close to Teddy and then she would bite him... on the way up she bit him nearly every time we stopped to rest...and we would both say (in sinc with K Bar, the wrangler) "Knock it off Lucy." And she would lay her ears back, a little miffed to be in trouble. Teddy's ears flopped the entire time showing that he was pretty relaxed about the whole thing....except when we got to a puddle...then he would concentrate to not get his feet wet and consequently tight rope along the outer edge or try to brush me off his back by banging my knees along the inside cliff. I spent a lot of time going "Teddy, it's only water" K Bar laughed every time. :) But I never convinced Teddy that the water wouldn't hurt...and I think he enjoyed when I clenched from the tight-roping or hollered from the knee banging...he was really rotten I tell ya! :)
The section of rock that appears "lit up" in this photo is the battleship...it looks like a battleship with its canons sticking out the side...one of the many things hard to see in a photo. This is taken from within the canyon but it is easily visible from the south rim...it is the most photographed rock in the canyon.
From the rim you can see a chunk of the Colorado River. See the reddish brown slightly to the right of center. If you have amazing eyes, you may be able to see the TINY black line there that was the bridge we crossed. To the left of the river is a green patch of trees (you have to "cross" the little ridge and it is partly in shadow)...that is Phantom Ranch where we stayed overnight.
Here we are on our last day at the canyon. We had already ridden the mules and were still standing upright. :) The sun had FINALLY come out and we did some walking along the rim trails and trading picture taking with other couples.
This is a favorite "rim shot" photo. I like how the trees frame the photo and the light emphasizes all the layers and the beauty of the canyon.
We got to the canyon in the middle of the thunderstorm...in a moment of sunlight we went out to check it out and got this picture...we were soon back in the shelter of a restaurant. :)
The morning of the mule ride down was rainy again. They supplied us with raincoats and I was VERY thankful we had rain pants (even if they were camo)...it was nice to stay dry. See how I am leaning way back in the saddle. The ride is steep...you lean back to stay on...but it makes your back ache.
This is a section of the trail after we broke for a stretch and some snacks...this particular corner is called "Jesus Corner"...cause if you aren't praying you are likely swearing...it was a TIGHT corner with a steep drop ...the trail we switchback onto here is to the right of the big rocks that mark the edge of the trail...see how you can't see it...you couldn't see it from the mule either. It was so scary!! You can also see the trail cut into the edge to the right of the mule rider. Those switchbacks are called "The Devil's Corkscrew." They were a little scary too!
One of the first sites of the Colorado River (did you know Colorado means "reddish brown"- creative weren't they?). We rode alongside the Colorado for a while...unfortunately, it was a LONG way down the whole time. :) You may be able to see the bridge. That is the "hikers bridge" cause the mules won't walk across the metal mesh floor...we took another bridge down the trail a bit...it had a solid wood floor in it.
The mule behind me (named Mercy) was kinda slow (picky with her footing) so they got behind. Shane took this picture of K-Bar (our wrangler) and me out ahead. We are rounding a corner- the cliff to our left drops down to the river!
Here is a view from Phantom Ranch at the bottom. The sites were amazing. And you couldn't even tell you were in the "inner canyon." The inner canyon is big enough you can't see the ridges of the "Grand Canyon" in most places. 
On the way up we had to rest the mules every now and again...this is at one of those stops looking back across what we had just climbed...amazing.
Here we are back at the top...we'd made it both ways in the rain and cold. Who would guess that I couldn't really feel my fingers and my hat was dripping rain in my face? It was an amazing trip!! My mule. Ted Bundy (who I called Teddy) kept me on my toes but I loved him. Shane's mule, Lucy, was a calm, easy going thing...until she got close to Teddy and then she would bite him... on the way up she bit him nearly every time we stopped to rest...and we would both say (in sinc with K Bar, the wrangler) "Knock it off Lucy." And she would lay her ears back, a little miffed to be in trouble. Teddy's ears flopped the entire time showing that he was pretty relaxed about the whole thing....except when we got to a puddle...then he would concentrate to not get his feet wet and consequently tight rope along the outer edge or try to brush me off his back by banging my knees along the inside cliff. I spent a lot of time going "Teddy, it's only water" K Bar laughed every time. :) But I never convinced Teddy that the water wouldn't hurt...and I think he enjoyed when I clenched from the tight-roping or hollered from the knee banging...he was really rotten I tell ya! :)
The section of rock that appears "lit up" in this photo is the battleship...it looks like a battleship with its canons sticking out the side...one of the many things hard to see in a photo. This is taken from within the canyon but it is easily visible from the south rim...it is the most photographed rock in the canyon.
From the rim you can see a chunk of the Colorado River. See the reddish brown slightly to the right of center. If you have amazing eyes, you may be able to see the TINY black line there that was the bridge we crossed. To the left of the river is a green patch of trees (you have to "cross" the little ridge and it is partly in shadow)...that is Phantom Ranch where we stayed overnight.
Here we are on our last day at the canyon. We had already ridden the mules and were still standing upright. :) The sun had FINALLY come out and we did some walking along the rim trails and trading picture taking with other couples. 
This is a favorite "rim shot" photo. I like how the trees frame the photo and the light emphasizes all the layers and the beauty of the canyon. Monday, October 11, 2010
Back at HOME!!!
Shane and I just got back from our 10 year anniversary trip! It was SO MUCH FUN!!! We left the boys with my parents for 10 days and road tripped down Old Route 66! Our goal was to NOT eat or stay in any chain restaurant or hotels....and we did it! We ate good ole food (I gained 4 lbs in 10 days) and stayed in little out of the way places every night.
Our destination was the Grand Canyon where we rode mules to the bottom of the canyon and stayed overnight in a cabin at Phantom Ranch. The experience was unbelievable. So many people visit the canyon each year (5 million or so) but so few SEE the canyon. It is something I will never forget. The pictures all need to be resized which I am going to work on this week sometime and post a few. They are nothing compared to being there though.
The menu for this week is a "scrap the bottom of the barrel" kinda menu. I go grocery shopping on the 15th and I'm trying to make it till then before I shop after being gone for a while. We did stop and get some produce, milk, bread, and eggs. So this is what we are eating this week.
Monday: Vegetable Tomato Soup
Tuesday: Going to a friends for supper- she is making meatloaf.
Wednesday: spaghetti or pasta of some kind
Thursday: chicken and rice in the crock pot
Friday: is the FIFTEENTH so we will be eating out while we grocery shop. :)
Pictures coming VERY soon of the trip! With a more complete story of the whole thing!
Our destination was the Grand Canyon where we rode mules to the bottom of the canyon and stayed overnight in a cabin at Phantom Ranch. The experience was unbelievable. So many people visit the canyon each year (5 million or so) but so few SEE the canyon. It is something I will never forget. The pictures all need to be resized which I am going to work on this week sometime and post a few. They are nothing compared to being there though.
The menu for this week is a "scrap the bottom of the barrel" kinda menu. I go grocery shopping on the 15th and I'm trying to make it till then before I shop after being gone for a while. We did stop and get some produce, milk, bread, and eggs. So this is what we are eating this week.
Monday: Vegetable Tomato Soup
Tuesday: Going to a friends for supper- she is making meatloaf.
Wednesday: spaghetti or pasta of some kind
Thursday: chicken and rice in the crock pot
Friday: is the FIFTEENTH so we will be eating out while we grocery shop. :)
Pictures coming VERY soon of the trip! With a more complete story of the whole thing!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
FLYlady update and Menu for the week!
Well, things are going passably well with FLYlady. My kitchen is staying cleaned up and the floors are cleared of toys and junk most of the time. The weekend was hard with SO MUCH going on but I'm just picking up again and keeping at it.
This week the Zone is the Master bedroom and I am thankful for that. Our bedroom is so often a dumping ground when we don't know what else to do with stuff....I got a lot of that picked up yesterday. It is still a challenge for me for some reason. For example, we have a lot to pick up today...but it won't take long to get it done so I don't know why I didn't get it done yesterday. :( So, it is working but it is 2 steps forward and 1 step back it seems. You can check her out here
And our menu this week is kinda thrown together....
Monday- tuna burgers, broccoli, and pears
Tuesday- porkburgers, deviled eggs, grilled potatoes
Wednesday- finger foods (our toothpick meal again). The boys have Awana and I have a haircut...no time for cooking and cleaning it up.
Thursday - Pasta
Friday - shrimp and I don't know what (it is Aiden's birthday and he wants shrimp but I am not allowed to make pasta with it)
Well, gotta go get the rest of my morning routine done (should be done already before I come to the computer but...). And I have clothes to hang out on the line and stuff. We have a busy day today!
Tomorrow I am going to try to post pictures of the fall festival parade! It was a fun time!
This week the Zone is the Master bedroom and I am thankful for that. Our bedroom is so often a dumping ground when we don't know what else to do with stuff....I got a lot of that picked up yesterday. It is still a challenge for me for some reason. For example, we have a lot to pick up today...but it won't take long to get it done so I don't know why I didn't get it done yesterday. :( So, it is working but it is 2 steps forward and 1 step back it seems. You can check her out here
And our menu this week is kinda thrown together....
Monday- tuna burgers, broccoli, and pears
Tuesday- porkburgers, deviled eggs, grilled potatoes
Wednesday- finger foods (our toothpick meal again). The boys have Awana and I have a haircut...no time for cooking and cleaning it up.
Thursday - Pasta
Friday - shrimp and I don't know what (it is Aiden's birthday and he wants shrimp but I am not allowed to make pasta with it)
Well, gotta go get the rest of my morning routine done (should be done already before I come to the computer but...). And I have clothes to hang out on the line and stuff. We have a busy day today!
Tomorrow I am going to try to post pictures of the fall festival parade! It was a fun time!
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