tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66958187376279467042024-03-18T22:54:38.726-05:00Random Spots of ThoughtAn assortment of children tales, pet tails, book reviews, and general family life.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-63444478032746108962013-07-30T20:25:00.000-05:002013-07-30T20:28:50.516-05:00Natural Food Dye Strawberry Cake Experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaDj2PCglN_t_GPmS46LrbMd4KeX80HB8-O-ymWib-RPqPODcE00gqOaz0d2eopu8ryPjLIO3lwkueaidV-5HgUl7rvgWtH6YhVKo3yCnow6Zeq72b14ZS6EwdLAJWu8-VUWRckRru9U/s1600/cake+batter+types.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaDj2PCglN_t_GPmS46LrbMd4KeX80HB8-O-ymWib-RPqPODcE00gqOaz0d2eopu8ryPjLIO3lwkueaidV-5HgUl7rvgWtH6YhVKo3yCnow6Zeq72b14ZS6EwdLAJWu8-VUWRckRru9U/s200/cake+batter+types.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
For my birthday this year I wanted a healthier strawberry cake with no artificial food dye. (Our 5yr old has neurological reactions to artificial food dyes, plus they aren't good for any of us.) To start with I purchased a Duncan Hines white cake mix (never use Pillsbury brand, they have red #40 even in the white cake mix!). I separated the white cake mix powder into 3 bowls using a measuring cup to get as equal portions as I could. The box mix called for 3 egg whites so it was simple to add 1 egg white to each bowl. Next the recipe called for water, so I put a 3rd of the amount of water in one bowl for the white batter. For pink batter I used fresh strawberry juice (we have a juicer) instead of water and for the dark pink batter I used fresh beet juice (again, from our juicer).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a-WTgCNPEcJRzI5whFPmm6piUN2tilR-bBDbFDhjSF18R4GCvyK265x_D3Ivjolj0qI3aCS3I2KNW49dGM4MSSE5bXJnHXN77cMcdo36zj-zAzLlRJp2MOv056GHN3PbZNunTc5NkpI/s1600/camo+cake+batter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a-WTgCNPEcJRzI5whFPmm6piUN2tilR-bBDbFDhjSF18R4GCvyK265x_D3Ivjolj0qI3aCS3I2KNW49dGM4MSSE5bXJnHXN77cMcdo36zj-zAzLlRJp2MOv056GHN3PbZNunTc5NkpI/s200/camo+cake+batter.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTGofbovrr41iv9WQJ7bavL7ck1vBsiRTdCbT2CFVnZ3mOwiWxlVeCiitGnNZ6Fvy5sN2bMA7xZEVw__m5EUAoipWUX_DM40OtLRM5dGrm1X9lOXaIdqCoY_Yw8t2F60MQSVSc5vmNAg/s1600/sriped+cake+batter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTGofbovrr41iv9WQJ7bavL7ck1vBsiRTdCbT2CFVnZ3mOwiWxlVeCiitGnNZ6Fvy5sN2bMA7xZEVw__m5EUAoipWUX_DM40OtLRM5dGrm1X9lOXaIdqCoY_Yw8t2F60MQSVSc5vmNAg/s200/sriped+cake+batter.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I've been seeing the camouflage cakes in Target and Walmart over the past year or two and thought it would be neat to try making one of those. I easily found the instructions online and it was simple to alternate blobs of batter in my cake pan (see picture on the left). While researching the camouflage cakes I stumbled upon something called a zebra cake that had really neat stripes. Since I was already playing around I figured now was the perfect time to try one of those too. The instructions called for putting a small blob of batter in the pan and continuing to alternate colors placing each spoonful in the center of the pan. Gradually the batter spreads out and covers the whole pan (see picture on the right).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7x0JrvnyELTfxUPnPLtlM8grLdgxVSnhUy4S4Xc533abuX4bspvlyKNzPBTNOCdxgU2V1AE17m6qdW02SE3yQ3rBelOAmw8OzZYwGA7gOth-Rbt0MLhXVIE1X6NLPRAWhNxodKYRbRw/s1600/camo+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7x0JrvnyELTfxUPnPLtlM8grLdgxVSnhUy4S4Xc533abuX4bspvlyKNzPBTNOCdxgU2V1AE17m6qdW02SE3yQ3rBelOAmw8OzZYwGA7gOth-Rbt0MLhXVIE1X6NLPRAWhNxodKYRbRw/s200/camo+cake.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCfZTDBid9BmNH-JYAWZ_YTWuLrpRfRYC2iEpK_yGHB3ZOue19ebJU5K75dishuygGu0_Qj2NFieA_9jKQrKR7Odwg6Kadmfgd-UopT09eCvbDblrExMPP2vzfocI58VveEetmXFANHg/s1600/striped+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCfZTDBid9BmNH-JYAWZ_YTWuLrpRfRYC2iEpK_yGHB3ZOue19ebJU5K75dishuygGu0_Qj2NFieA_9jKQrKR7Odwg6Kadmfgd-UopT09eCvbDblrExMPP2vzfocI58VveEetmXFANHg/s200/striped+cake.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The colors aren't near as bright after baking, but still looked awesome in the cake pans. We were so excited to put this cake together.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the icing I used a simple recipe that called for fresh strawberry puree, powdered sugar, vanilla and salted butter. The icing tasted GREAT, but next time I will make up a larger batch.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AhnYgI8RB8hm4EwsHhM9jh5Em0BaYeGhAyeLmhoONapjSUmDiospPXtqs7FUw-LuBQGXJCo4ZIp30OL5vUf3ueDiC4zNAsfrlc6UHOcWJ9t5NcyWAcpglAAAigO9Dh8Qv_q3P0KUtlI/s1600/cake+slice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AhnYgI8RB8hm4EwsHhM9jh5Em0BaYeGhAyeLmhoONapjSUmDiospPXtqs7FUw-LuBQGXJCo4ZIp30OL5vUf3ueDiC4zNAsfrlc6UHOcWJ9t5NcyWAcpglAAAigO9Dh8Qv_q3P0KUtlI/s320/cake+slice.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's a picture of what the cake looked like once sliced. The bottom half (left) was the zebra striped layer and the top half (right) was the camouflage layer. We were really disappointed at how the dark pink of the beat colored batter turned tan after baking. The light pink and white layers were mostly unchanged, but really not that noticeable unless you were looking for them. The cake tasted great, which is of course the most important thing, but as a camouflage and zebra striped cake go the colors after baking were a flop.</div>
<br />
I haven't given up though. I think I'll try some darker berries or something other than beats next time to see if the cake will retain it's color after baking.<br />
<br />GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-37413898027719457402012-10-17T23:37:00.002-05:002012-10-17T23:38:42.117-05:00The Kindness of Strangers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkxtxjngHQOMNUAQqXke0hJoOGJy4cyiUtSIVDrnihYhQjRdl-5nVPq1DhyP2jlOD6eqS4qOk8PhYu0pXwQZEMv4513A-pVpjzYZmaWn8PtIw9Vn-R5GfoWcebVzjedjRPFu39xlmEe0/s1600/brooke+cute+kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkxtxjngHQOMNUAQqXke0hJoOGJy4cyiUtSIVDrnihYhQjRdl-5nVPq1DhyP2jlOD6eqS4qOk8PhYu0pXwQZEMv4513A-pVpjzYZmaWn8PtIw9Vn-R5GfoWcebVzjedjRPFu39xlmEe0/s200/brooke+cute+kitty.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
This afternoon I took our children to Toys R Us so they could give me some ideas about what they want for Christmas. I had my handy smart phone with me so I could snap pictures (and prices) of the things they wanted the most, then my husband and I could review the photos later. The children were warned in advance that this was NOT a buying trip, simply a looking around and checking prices trip. We spent well over an hour looking at toys of all shapes and sizes with me taking pictures of the most desired ones. As we made our way towards the front of the store we passed the stuffed animals and our daughter saw the stuffed cats. So, of course we stopped to look at them. She chose a kitty that she just loved and kept hugging it to her chest while her big brother was looking at these huge stuffed snakes. Several minutes went by and both children were asking how much the stuffed animals were, but the prices on the shelves didn't seem to match up with the hodge-podge assortment of stuffed animals. I figured what the heck, we'll check the prices, put them back on the shelf and head out to the car. Well things didn't go quite that easily.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxAStX1INRcYGG9vcRZwLbLo1Ab5TrG0JJjkRn5nIeUaE08ttXO45zoteVXJVk9Fi8wc6MhYNnqpbNqmvD8ih2tG0i8WfxeQ4GWUUVgg37g57f5e4yrHzzQIxq1QigdCR31DTH3KEa2w/s1600/brooke+petshop+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxAStX1INRcYGG9vcRZwLbLo1Ab5TrG0JJjkRn5nIeUaE08ttXO45zoteVXJVk9Fi8wc6MhYNnqpbNqmvD8ih2tG0i8WfxeQ4GWUUVgg37g57f5e4yrHzzQIxq1QigdCR31DTH3KEa2w/s320/brooke+petshop+birds.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
The price scanner nearby didn't work (of course!) so we took them to the register and asked an employee to check the prices. After she scanned them I told the children okay, we know the prices and can add them to the Christmas list so go put them back on the shelf. This is when my sweet little almost 5 year old went from her begging/pleading face (see picture to the right) to full-on heart breaking sobbing. She cried and cried, not loudly but with huge tears running down her face as she put her $8.99 stuffed kitty back on the shelf. I felt like a terrible, horrible parent for making her put it back, but my thoughts were:<br />
<ul>
<li>Her birthday is in 1 month</li>
<li>Christmas is in 2 months</li>
<li>She has over 15 stuffed cats already at home</li>
<li>This was a "looking" trip, not a "buying" trip</li>
<li>She's just really tired and could use a snack</li>
</ul>
So we headed out to the parking lot, with 1 crying child, 1 quiet/deep in thought child and me with a broken-heart questioning if I did the right thing. Her soft sobs really were quite heart-wrenching. I'm thinking all this when I hear someone behind me say, "Excuse me Ma'am?". I turn around expecting to see an employee, but it's a customer who has followed me out of the store. The nice lady then says, "Could I buy those toys for your children?" I told her she was really sweet to offer, but it wasn't necessary. I explained that we were simply looking for Christmas ideas and that my sobbing daughter already has quite a few stuffed cats. The lady replied that if there was a problem or something she really didn't mind paying for them. I declined again, but thanked her for her kindness. Talk about total stranger kindness! What a blessing to have someone offer to buy a toy to help cheer up a child.<br />
<br />
In the car we had a snack and a drink, then my sweet little girl fell asleep within 5 minutes on the ride home. Food, drink and a nap cures most tears and what that won't cure a mom's kisses usually will.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wpaXi9YX6c_QzRX4AS60s2hkcap8aTt-8mhOJI_tbAv3swcdRPQmyfwI1imNRJzbpSgABwHEwUfUecA0ITPg3E_ZfvAC4vc1_rmgdjTbIQVaZmBQBOA-1HYQa18ia3TAPGxHsPZQ9pE/s1600/brooke+funny+face2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wpaXi9YX6c_QzRX4AS60s2hkcap8aTt-8mhOJI_tbAv3swcdRPQmyfwI1imNRJzbpSgABwHEwUfUecA0ITPg3E_ZfvAC4vc1_rmgdjTbIQVaZmBQBOA-1HYQa18ia3TAPGxHsPZQ9pE/s320/brooke+funny+face2.JPG" width="249" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-61098293145907245432012-06-11T23:17:00.000-05:002012-06-11T23:24:58.608-05:00Organizing Family Life<br />
I try to be an organized person, but from the outside I know my life appears very unorganized. In an attempt to feel more organized I've made a few changes. Some of these ideas still need a bit of tweaking, but so far they are helping.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCj6CwjBK0Z9QgGD26cFdOSuF7imbaXcDT6Y1AsRe2RufveIv0zNXLNwJljY6DCujJ9SuX1dEG1Eew4CSbEe7urY4pHINCm46IbOdKaacdURzhFJlL0thz-GO9eGrhGNMzTCN7a2AFIQ/s1600/lukes+artwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCj6CwjBK0Z9QgGD26cFdOSuF7imbaXcDT6Y1AsRe2RufveIv0zNXLNwJljY6DCujJ9SuX1dEG1Eew4CSbEe7urY4pHINCm46IbOdKaacdURzhFJlL0thz-GO9eGrhGNMzTCN7a2AFIQ/s200/lukes+artwork.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXRgMM4jYiLZ1G5jxKcVcWoskff-EOZG48VofmXV5Eca0OdRZr_daiDVDC4Dxw6WFY7Pn7ROw2yr3Ul1Hy44y7-HmVS8nyQg8vUgyKngNfl7LQdTcP_2JCCRRHE1OT3whFAHW11lfxxY/s1600/brookes+artwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXRgMM4jYiLZ1G5jxKcVcWoskff-EOZG48VofmXV5Eca0OdRZr_daiDVDC4Dxw6WFY7Pn7ROw2yr3Ul1Hy44y7-HmVS8nyQg8vUgyKngNfl7LQdTcP_2JCCRRHE1OT3whFAHW11lfxxY/s200/brookes+artwork.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
First I purchased these cool tie-dye posters to display the children's most recent artwork. The many drawings and paintings they do were beginning to take over the house. My <i>hopes</i> are that we will replace these with new pictures every few months and take photos of our favorite artwork.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzBVenXh6uKMt5Dw7sMUFU1dpvHN1ZBzhBMCFWv-Gmx0XZtjqOWtWpowg_JYWNfGzuf39lr1Ih1O_OgIxgC9JApUPLR9eg6gplQINEuz7A5Wg7eQgZYGG70uVz0l6MTfG0XSNdkGxz0Y/s1600/book+bins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzBVenXh6uKMt5Dw7sMUFU1dpvHN1ZBzhBMCFWv-Gmx0XZtjqOWtWpowg_JYWNfGzuf39lr1Ih1O_OgIxgC9JApUPLR9eg6gplQINEuz7A5Wg7eQgZYGG70uVz0l6MTfG0XSNdkGxz0Y/s200/book+bins.JPG" width="157" /></a></div>
<br />
Next I labeled their book bins, not because they needed it, but because I wanted to give each child a sense of pride that these were <i>their</i> books that they were capable of reading whenever/wherever they wanted. Don't let the mess of the other books fool you. I could straighten these shelves every morning and they would look like this by the end of the day. We are a family who loves books. We love to read aloud to each other or just thumb through the pages looking at the pictures.<br />
<i>-Side note: I've actually re-organized these shelves since taking this picture and hopefully it will be easier for the children to re-shelve the books they take off now.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwrN5DwPvQz2mPoWxOaqoItl5LJW1VqO85yyIzxvBUDw7qTmN4G4MUmofC-0JJk2DVUEL6mfjgliLJ-XoKj2JVEHy_bcofEtAKeVKCThVkd6Vs1PZbLmh7TMz4SVfjmSRaAm0TTkPg00/s1600/drawer+organizers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwrN5DwPvQz2mPoWxOaqoItl5LJW1VqO85yyIzxvBUDw7qTmN4G4MUmofC-0JJk2DVUEL6mfjgliLJ-XoKj2JVEHy_bcofEtAKeVKCThVkd6Vs1PZbLmh7TMz4SVfjmSRaAm0TTkPg00/s200/drawer+organizers.JPG" width="176" /></a></div>
After that I decided to label the children's toy bins. For the past couple of months it has become a problem to get them to clean up their room because they don't know where to put things. (Basically this means the Legos and stuffed animals have taken over.) I purchased several plastic bins with lids that fit under the bed, plus these handy drawer units seen to the left. The under the bed bins have Legos, baby doll clothing and small stuffed animals in them. They're all labeled so the children and their friends can easily see what goes where. The empty drawers in the picture aren't empty due to lack of toys, we just couldn't decide what to put in them yet <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I firmly believe that every child needs family chores or responsibilities that they do NOT get paid for. No one pays me to clean or wash dishes, and no one pays my husband to cut the grass or change the oil in the car. Why should we pay our children to do things they are "supposed" to do as part of the family? Now, in saying that, I will pay them for doing extra chores. Things like picking up limbs in the yard, folding towels or helping me mop the floor. I created some responsibility charts that I thought were awesome and used a ticket reward system so if they completed everything each day they earned 1 ticket that evening. Below is an example of my initial responsibility chart.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A-2ZDwzzQViP0mYYDBATUH9P7fTXypi_kweIJ7zarjuv7pVRIVWBqnBcdFBlFT4KQoKZB55pcfLzUWJp98ngno95TP2cxnhHYYUhUe4hrBL1s_wbMtHi4QQM0Lialz9YW5HYgnGvx5s/s1600/chore+chart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A-2ZDwzzQViP0mYYDBATUH9P7fTXypi_kweIJ7zarjuv7pVRIVWBqnBcdFBlFT4KQoKZB55pcfLzUWJp98ngno95TP2cxnhHYYUhUe4hrBL1s_wbMtHi4QQM0Lialz9YW5HYgnGvx5s/s320/chore+chart.JPG" width="291" /></a></div>
<br />
We used these charts for one week but after just a couple of days it was obvious they needed to be re-done. Our daughter is only 4 so she doesn't read very well plus the type on this was just too small. I was so pleased that they worked for ME, but they didn't really work well for the children at all. So.... I spent another evening creating these charts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5BiLwaa5mLCwCqXyDeBTqgiW_ho18eHUGDNijk0nlNIIIPdmPoo_Mhusx9OCCQoiZqu7HkaEUlQsF4ZEuWNtt0QET5xpTA8PGKFWKTuMLWNNutj9js9IENCEUq7mp-G3627xoAbA4IU/s1600/chore+charts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5BiLwaa5mLCwCqXyDeBTqgiW_ho18eHUGDNijk0nlNIIIPdmPoo_Mhusx9OCCQoiZqu7HkaEUlQsF4ZEuWNtt0QET5xpTA8PGKFWKTuMLWNNutj9js9IENCEUq7mp-G3627xoAbA4IU/s400/chore+charts.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The responsibility charts above have been working great so far, though I'm sure I'll find some way to improve them in another week or two. Our 7yr old doesn't need the picture clues on his chart, but I felt it was important to have both charts in the same format. Most of these items are things that the children tend to forget to do without a daily reminder so this seems to really help.<br /><br />What do you think? How do you keep your child's artwork organized? What about weekly chores? I would love to hear ideas from other parents.<br /> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-74401338083879095132012-02-04T23:58:00.000-06:002012-02-04T23:58:55.545-06:00Games We Love to Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRNCHes3hS9XTqOUTLmLhNYZUIipgugIPAZNvB8hjyNAzOfeZNzFXPQTD98sFFDgnyYhQu1h-DqXRA0o6UYeWkQK_ndzqDrK46I1HxgtIihyrEWSAvkIbfqT4KKWUteJsGl2N9zS5XoM/s1600/uno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRNCHes3hS9XTqOUTLmLhNYZUIipgugIPAZNvB8hjyNAzOfeZNzFXPQTD98sFFDgnyYhQu1h-DqXRA0o6UYeWkQK_ndzqDrK46I1HxgtIihyrEWSAvkIbfqT4KKWUteJsGl2N9zS5XoM/s1600/uno.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over the past few months our children have finally reached the ages where we can truly play family games together. We enjoy many of the classic games such as Sorry, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Uno, Old Maid, and Go Fish</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. We've also found some of the newer games to be a ton of fun. My personal favorites so far are Bananagrams and Blokus. (Okay, so I'll admit Bananagrams is waaay over our children's heads. Mostly they just try to spell a word or two out of the letters. My husband and I enjoy playing</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Bananagrams enough for the whole family so I felt it worthy of being included on this list.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Side Note: Our six year old has recently discovered the game of chess. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'ve played against him several times over the past couple of weeks and frankly I'm floored that he actually understands all the movements each piece can make. (I don't think I understood chess until I was well into middle school). An adult playing against a six year old in chess isn't exactly challenging, but the point is he learns from his mistakes so each time he gets a little bit wiser and thus plays better.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, back to the other games... </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't played Uno in a while (like 20 years or more) then I must remind you that this is not a quick game. Though a couple of times we've played a game in about 20 minutes, most of the time it takes almost 45 minutes to an hour to play just one game. Several times we've just had to set a time limit and call it quits. :-/</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry can be equally long and painful at times. It's a bit easier to manage because if you want a shorter game then just play with 2 pawns per player instead of the full 4.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z8fre4f6CkwoOHymMW7B-fTrLQTcITriffWMai2Sx8LKLZZy5JjTNnB8z52zBZgwYnAWjufwPzqRsQbXLEGP1rXSnAehDFaHeDKtXwYLPmYdpdwCMsKVXObUSNfx5xqDdDeLEq6JaCA/s1600/Blokus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Z8fre4f6CkwoOHymMW7B-fTrLQTcITriffWMai2Sx8LKLZZy5JjTNnB8z52zBZgwYnAWjufwPzqRsQbXLEGP1rXSnAehDFaHeDKtXwYLPmYdpdwCMsKVXObUSNfx5xqDdDeLEq6JaCA/s1600/Blokus1.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blokus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Old Maid and Go Fish are both pretty quick and simple games. Perfect for filling in the dead time while waiting for food at a restaurant or for waiting in a doctor's office. I haven't tried either of these (yet) but that's about the time it takes to finish one game.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Blokus... Now this game can take as little or as much brain power to play as you want to put into it. It's colorful and engaging for the children, but challenging enough for adults to keep our interest too. The goal is to play all of your pieces, but it's not as easy as it looks.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you enjoy Scrabble then you will surely like Bananagrams. There are several different ways to play and the instructions include a shorter version of play as well. My husband and I can typically play one game the regular way in about 25 minutes, or we can play the shorter version in about 5 minutes. This one really makes you use your brain but the challenge is worth it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPeTn7fyT2F9zn-3tjZePI8jGomXfUG-oBt0LX5unLhODVIzTvxoECztKXnDNDa_YUDq9CmMTRzWejgGKQAYlftRzBT6-AVz0_c-Qn7HSuIrNsK0Hr_YCo09uwHi4pIG5itng8mFbbE8/s1600/bananagrams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPeTn7fyT2F9zn-3tjZePI8jGomXfUG-oBt0LX5unLhODVIzTvxoECztKXnDNDa_YUDq9CmMTRzWejgGKQAYlftRzBT6-AVz0_c-Qn7HSuIrNsK0Hr_YCo09uwHi4pIG5itng8mFbbE8/s1600/bananagrams.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blokus photo by</i><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Greg Aleknevicus<br />
Bananagrams photo by CenturyHouseGifts.com</span></i></span></div>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-34191939482124690232012-01-22T21:20:00.002-06:002012-02-04T23:59:34.756-06:00Healthy Fast Food Restaurant... Would You Eat Here?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why do 99% of American fast food restaurants offer french fries as a side item? Because people BUY them. In recent years some of the more popular fast food chains have begun offering apple slices or a fruit cup in exchange for the fries, but only when you buy a kids meal. If I want fruit instead of fries I would have to bring my own because it's just not an option at most restaurants.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Below is my ideal menu for a healthy fast food restaurant. (Note: This restaurant does not exist, yet. Perhaps you the reader will be interested in opening one?)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'll start with the side items. You may be wondering why.... well because these are the items that need to change the MOST to make fast food healthier.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5eJsf-fAtrEXcFf0DnaK7hZWpf7lB7nuhfoSVphnZODaOmvXLdyWcZgD3j3XOJ7_kBq94IDVFoulI8IjbLYqIzkWUCbnNtTl1ALKDhuOpMcjQ7ttnjmGI-Mb0nrvHw3GpNoxV2ozuK0/s1600/roastedchickpeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5eJsf-fAtrEXcFf0DnaK7hZWpf7lB7nuhfoSVphnZODaOmvXLdyWcZgD3j3XOJ7_kBq94IDVFoulI8IjbLYqIzkWUCbnNtTl1ALKDhuOpMcjQ7ttnjmGI-Mb0nrvHw3GpNoxV2ozuK0/s1600/roastedchickpeas.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Roasted Chickpeas</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">photo courtesy of Maggie Hoffman</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Healthy side items:</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
sweet potato fries<br />
apple slices</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
mandarin oranges</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
raw baby carrots<br />
yogurt cup</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
lime seasoned <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-chickpeas/" target="_blank">roasted chickpeas</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
chili seasoned roasted chickpeas<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Healthier dessert choices:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-duran/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">pumpkin chocolate chip cookie</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<a href="http://cookierecipes101.com/lowfatappleoatmealcookie.htm" target="_blank">applesauce oatmeal cookie</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/white-chocolate-chip-cranberry-oatmeal-cookies-112683" target="_blank">cranberry white chocolate chip cookie</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Healthy entree choices:</b><br />
<br />
Turkey burger on whole wheat bun</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Garden burger on whole wheat bun<br />
Grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat bun<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vegetarian pita sandwich</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> - hummus, lettuce, tomato, onion, green pepper, feta cheese and provolone cheese on toasted pita bread</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Grilled cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Healthy topping choices for burgers and sandwiches:</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_r05jfXLdpjg3fPHnH9uK1TkpWS6Dr4tAhJmwnTeOq2AfSNduU3bxcj_ruYLdWkwJh6D8pw_qnNsJFOzbGKaQlJOiiRCDyQxht0z2KEgbJcBiF06Q6zWrwDJ10SD4D_uJbSLEYKlpPY/s1600/freshspinach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_r05jfXLdpjg3fPHnH9uK1TkpWS6Dr4tAhJmwnTeOq2AfSNduU3bxcj_ruYLdWkwJh6D8pw_qnNsJFOzbGKaQlJOiiRCDyQxht0z2KEgbJcBiF06Q6zWrwDJ10SD4D_uJbSLEYKlpPY/s200/freshspinach.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Spinach<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of Clearly Ambiguous</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
turkey bacon</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
fresh spinach leaves</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
fresh romaine or red top lettuce (no iceberg lettuce found here)</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
fresh green bell pepper strips</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
fresh purple onion strips<br />
fresh diced tomato<br />
hummus</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
organic ketchup (no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial<br />
colors or flavors)</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
lite mayonnaise</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
lite ranch dressing</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
low fat white American cheese<br />
low fat provolone cheese</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">low fat pepper jack cheese</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, would you or your family eat here? Would you even miss the french fries with so many healthy choices? I know our family would love these foods and would likely eat here several times a month if it were available at a reasonable cost.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition to the above, I would love to find a family friendly restaurant that not only offers healthy, wholesome foods, but offers food without any artificial food colorings, artificial flavorings and no high-fructose corn syrup. Think it's not possible? Well I think it IS possible. We the consumers just have to demand these types of foods. The stores track what we purchase and therefore stock more of what we purchase. Restaurants do the same. Items that don't sell very well won't remain on the menu.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Choose to eat healthier foods. You and your family will be happier and healthier for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-49763643472507593142012-01-11T00:36:00.001-06:002012-01-11T00:48:43.265-06:00Best Friend Conversation In Darci's Apartment<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAOpyVF8c794Jym-O2TVjvwRBgOTywuOoVWRVzwcXNsD0YKyM6exvhVE4CKeo8mvC5BiCRyOecw40H5L_w4KON-cS0yykIelNXdOz-KXSifJYe_qrptFWdtZdCirlYknICH1iSHcLse0/s1600/darcis+balcony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAOpyVF8c794Jym-O2TVjvwRBgOTywuOoVWRVzwcXNsD0YKyM6exvhVE4CKeo8mvC5BiCRyOecw40H5L_w4KON-cS0yykIelNXdOz-KXSifJYe_qrptFWdtZdCirlYknICH1iSHcLse0/s320/darcis+balcony.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darci's balcony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: medium;">
As soon as they were both sitting Darci turned to Verdin and asked, “Okay, what’s going
on?” Seeing that Verdin wore a surprised look, she decided he
might need more explanation for her question. “You have always
been super polite and courteous when in my home, but you’ve also
been relaxed around me as well.” She paused to see if he was
following along before she continued. “Just now you practically
forced me inside from the balcony and said it was too windy for me.
Then you stood and waited for me to ask
you to sit, while normally you would have been already lounging on the couch
before I came back from the other room.” Darci looked at him
intensely and saw that his clear gray eyes looked a bit taken
aback. “I want you to tell me what you are thinking,” she
said softly. “Why are you acting this way?”<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Verdin looked
away from Darci and closed his eyes for a brief second before looking
back at her again. She was so astute at
what he was feeling, he thought. Apparently he gave away too much information
with his actions. Taking a deep breath he began to try to explain.
“I’m sorry if I have made you uncomfortable in your own home. I
realized today that I am perhaps the best friend that you have.”
Verdin paused to see if Darci would object to this comment, but she
didn’t so he continued. “After realizing that I was indeed your
friend I figured I needed to do a better job and make sure that you
were taken care of. I didn’t mean to almost ‘force’ you
inside; I merely wanted to get you out of the wind so you wouldn’t
become ill.” Verdin gave her his best abashed
look and hoped she would understand. “Please,” Darci burst out
with a laugh. “I’m not a fragile flower and a little cold wind is
really nothing.” He saw her look down at her lap before looking up
at him again. “But I do appreciate your concern,” she added
quietly as she gave him a smile. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>This is an excerpt from a book I've been writing. Comments welcome.</i> </span></div>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-26581235389598018942011-12-30T22:10:00.002-06:002011-12-30T22:10:14.190-06:00Homeschooling Blog Move<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vs6AXixiAEk/Tv6LBokXu5I/AAAAAAAAAGo/eZJQWOvgi1I/s1600/luke+reading+book.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vs6AXixiAEk/Tv6LBokXu5I/AAAAAAAAAGo/eZJQWOvgi1I/s320/luke+reading+book.JPG" width="320" /></a>A couple of months ago I decided there was a need to have a separate blog for my <a href="http://therandomhomeschoolspot.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">homeschooling information</a>. I had been wanting to create a Word Press website for a while so it was the perfect opportunity for me to combine both of these into a new site. You will see some of my older posts from this page on the <a href="http://therandomhomeschoolspot.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">new blog</a> as well as a bunch of new information as well.<br />
<br />
I'm keeping this blog up as a personal blog and place to share the funny and cute things that happen in our lives, but 99% of all homeschooling stuff will be on the other blog. If you enjoy reading about our homeschooling journey or want to find out more information join us. You never know what you might be missing out on. My latest post is, <a href="http://therandomhomeschoolspot.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/underestimate-children/" target="_blank">"Why Do People Underestimate Children?"</a>.<br />
<br />GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-12983121604692365992011-12-13T23:46:00.001-06:002011-12-13T23:47:55.898-06:00Darci's Birth Scene<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The day I was
born I almost died. The doctor told my parents that he didn't know
how I had survived, but it was certainly a miracle and the first one
he had ever seen. My dad says angels were watching over me that day
and that God had answered his prayers.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I was born a
bluish-gray, the color of death, or so I've been told. At some point
before birth the umbilical cord had wrapped around both my chest and
my neck, so with each contraction the cord had squeezed around me
tighter and tighter. Upon my blessed arrival when I should have been
taking my first breaths, I was limp and lifeless. I remember my
mother once told me how she held her breath and watched in disbelief
as the doctor suctioned out my mouth and nose all the while demanding
me to breathe. He then breathed into my tiny mouth and nose and
gently shook me trying to stimulate life back into my body. I don't
recall my mother ever making it past this part in telling the story.
She would become quiet and I could tell she was trying not to think
about it.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVSNQeV3w_-Adybs4UTjLtkXtIMQWyl1-WirS8SUZc6KqXhyYg9MSGdfa-4OcQKlt-cLWLosh1Dk0K3eAQF515Hr9dZvJiiFUTyf3pgTK88DqEXj7wqiVk3KgpxFfXCtnU-cVVZuM9qU/s1600/newborn+brooke.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVSNQeV3w_-Adybs4UTjLtkXtIMQWyl1-WirS8SUZc6KqXhyYg9MSGdfa-4OcQKlt-cLWLosh1Dk0K3eAQF515Hr9dZvJiiFUTyf3pgTK88DqEXj7wqiVk3KgpxFfXCtnU-cVVZuM9qU/s320/newborn+brooke.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;">My dad,
however, seems to enjoy telling the story. He goes into great detail
about how the nurses scurried around me hooking up monitors while the
doctor tried to get me to breathe. He says at one point the machines
which had given a few soft beeps went eerily quiet and then the only
sound in the room came from the doctor who would occasionally yell
out, “Come-on, BREATHE!” while performing CPR. A long time
passed without any change and my dad says he prayed over and over for
me to live. Right about the time it seemed the doctor was giving up
on CPR and was going to stop, my dad says that I took a deep breath.
I then continued to breathe and within a few seconds my color began
to look a little more healthy. He claims it was the happiest moment
of his life.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Obviously I
don't remember that day, but I'm sure there was an angel there with
me. I keep hoping that one day I'll get to meet him or her. I'd
like to ask them if they somehow gave me my gift or did they already
know that I would be special? I have no doubt that my gift comes
from God, but I'm curious if I was born with it or did an angel bring
it to me on the day my life was saved. I guess it doesn't really
matter though. Either way the outcome is the same, but that doesn't
stop my questions from coming. Why do I have this gift? Why was I
saved when other infants would have died at birth? How am I ever
going to fit in with 'normal' people when I can't help but act
differently?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>This is an excerpt from a book I've been writing. Comments welcome.</i> </span></div>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-69311856582340941442011-10-31T15:21:00.001-05:002012-02-05T00:01:07.225-06:00Red #40 and the Places it HidesThere are many, many articles available online about the food dye red #40 and it's effect on children. It can cause major behavior problems, emotional upheaval, hyperactivity and cause normally happy children to act "possessed". How do I know? Because our 3 year old daughter is also one of these children who is effected by it.<br />
Red #40 is a menace to our children and it can be found in the most unlikely of places. Below is a list of the most bizarre places red # 40 can be found. You'll notice I didn't list the obvious red/pink/purple things, but the food items that are white, golden, yellow, etc. may also contain <a href="http://www.red40.com/pages/foods/index.html" target="_blank">red food dye</a> so don't be misled!<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr><td class="bodytxt" colspan="2"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx98vIJRbcqkihP8qkRfp0rrHoNOCcEFTeSPCQ1bLA4Dr8SQ90PdB-OG3F3Sz0qviutIfrRXwtnWOJCZ1wlnQi_Z6KjR8CDu6sJ51f-t3zQXjafPZGVPeQMP5xGMvgXCHMKJ6J75qO4F4/s1600/frosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx98vIJRbcqkihP8qkRfp0rrHoNOCcEFTeSPCQ1bLA4Dr8SQ90PdB-OG3F3Sz0qviutIfrRXwtnWOJCZ1wlnQi_Z6KjR8CDu6sJ51f-t3zQXjafPZGVPeQMP5xGMvgXCHMKJ6J75qO4F4/s1600/frosting.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Baked Goods:</u><br />
Pillsbury
Crescent Rolls<br />
-dough<br />
Pillsbury Supreme Frosting<br />
-vanilla
(yep! Check the label!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake
Mix<br />
-Funfetti<br />
-Yellow<br />
Pillsbury Pie Crust<br />
-Refrigerated
Pie Crusts<br />
Pillsbury Quick Bread & Coffee Cake Mix<br />
-Cinnamon
Swirl</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Duncan Hines Deluxe Cake
Mix<br />
-Golden<br />
-Fudge Marble<br />
-Yellow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Duncan Hines Homestyle
Frosting<br />
-vanilla (yep! Check the label!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Breakfast:</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Trix Cereal</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eggo Waffles<br />
-blueberry<br />
-strawberry</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz0NzORUefo4_PLO7o0_0Es_-JGv0UExQL1EeLQhGmgvCHvgD0zFKGBedMTT2NR7ByMxd4ubDvtUM-erhHKZApCASUYykEBpF5u31M9fTTojbfbCFMJdsO1UiyOiYz26DvxPDsBHcpEg/s1600/cakemix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz0NzORUefo4_PLO7o0_0Es_-JGv0UExQL1EeLQhGmgvCHvgD0zFKGBedMTT2NR7ByMxd4ubDvtUM-erhHKZApCASUYykEBpF5u31M9fTTojbfbCFMJdsO1UiyOiYz26DvxPDsBHcpEg/s1600/cakemix.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Snacks:</u><br />
Del Monte Fruit Salad
<br />
Yoplait-Trix Yogurt Snack Packs <br />
Combos Pretzel
Snacks<br />
-Pizzeria Pretzel<br />
Doritos<br />
-Most flavors<br />
Little
Debbie<br />
-Fudge Brownies<br />
-Swiss Cake Rolls
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Smuckers Fat Free Topping<br />
-caramel
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Drinks:</u><br />
Ocean Spray Ruby
Red Grapefruit Juice</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Country Time Pink Lemonade<br />
Crystal
Light Pink Lemonade</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Roughly 99% of the items below have red
#40 in them:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKl07txWu3pFihThRQwyxIOUWWlokPwP3Xf2_VmDq_6CmHPrKefBo61cnoA0DDq1theFcm6R2_Zj3fhDwok7ONzYpj-3pENOOJ0Fv78wd4335NEYmyRRDQeuD8QAQ48xCEII2po76m2U/s1600/lollipops.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKl07txWu3pFihThRQwyxIOUWWlokPwP3Xf2_VmDq_6CmHPrKefBo61cnoA0DDq1theFcm6R2_Zj3fhDwok7ONzYpj-3pENOOJ0Fv78wd4335NEYmyRRDQeuD8QAQ48xCEII2po76m2U/s1600/lollipops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
popsicles<br />
jello<br />
fruit-snacks<br />
lollipops
and candy<br />
cough syrups<br />
liquid pain relievers/fever reducers<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKl07txWu3pFihThRQwyxIOUWWlokPwP3Xf2_VmDq_6CmHPrKefBo61cnoA0DDq1theFcm6R2_Zj3fhDwok7ONzYpj-3pENOOJ0Fv78wd4335NEYmyRRDQeuD8QAQ48xCEII2po76m2U/s1600/lollipops.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKl07txWu3pFihThRQwyxIOUWWlokPwP3Xf2_VmDq_6CmHPrKefBo61cnoA0DDq1theFcm6R2_Zj3fhDwok7ONzYpj-3pENOOJ0Fv78wd4335NEYmyRRDQeuD8QAQ48xCEII2po76m2U/s200/lollipops.jpg" width="160" /></a>You can assume these items above have it unless
it specifically says “dye-free”. Popsicles are easily made <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKl07txWu3pFihThRQwyxIOUWWlokPwP3Xf2_VmDq_6CmHPrKefBo61cnoA0DDq1theFcm6R2_Zj3fhDwok7ONzYpj-3pENOOJ0Fv78wd4335NEYmyRRDQeuD8QAQ48xCEII2po76m2U/s1600/lollipops.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>at
home using various fruit juices. <a href="http://www.annies.com/products/Organic-Fruit-Snacks" target="_blank">Annies brand</a> organic fruit snacks
use natural fruit and vegetable juices for color (check for these at
Target, Publix and similar stores). Our latest find has been some
awesome organic lollipops at the health food store. They're made by
<a href="http://yummyearth.com/" target="_blank">Yummy Earth</a>, they taste great and are completely dye free. Read the labels and make wise choices. Your child will feel better and be healthier for it.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-28078984349065648402011-09-24T21:53:00.001-05:002011-09-25T13:38:41.042-05:00Queen of the House<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8jnhwv4ImRfkLskdIjd-Z6oPMWBVurnjt5LNg-vP0I2ObIV4RLga0xLC1e_ApZLT_U2dPLh7LetLQZCqyuBVO9RQ2ykyn_oH0zcVsvCeSfI94O2DkTgg0TKnALF1fp9NUaxJ0qBj2-U/s1600/paisley+cat+sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8jnhwv4ImRfkLskdIjd-Z6oPMWBVurnjt5LNg-vP0I2ObIV4RLga0xLC1e_ApZLT_U2dPLh7LetLQZCqyuBVO9RQ2ykyn_oH0zcVsvCeSfI94O2DkTgg0TKnALF1fp9NUaxJ0qBj2-U/s200/paisley+cat+sleeping.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken before her injuries.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExq1vNqmW0ftjSSgPVW24U0NSIUMTtwU1P8o8AeiwUcXnDaiFBHzCHjde9WpsEe_Pyk7JsMRcIa88dOyknYnfXW5DZWJVQ02oCGVw_5-SO81oEn_F95D36bsfZsFZqCk3VqMyN04NHM/s1600/brook+napping+with+paisley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHExq1vNqmW0ftjSSgPVW24U0NSIUMTtwU1P8o8AeiwUcXnDaiFBHzCHjde9WpsEe_Pyk7JsMRcIa88dOyknYnfXW5DZWJVQ02oCGVw_5-SO81oEn_F95D36bsfZsFZqCk3VqMyN04NHM/s200/brook+napping+with+paisley.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nap time together.<br />
This was taken before her injuries.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Those who know even a little about me quickly realize I am an animal lover. I've posted before about the number of farm cats we have (most are rescues). This blog post is honor of our miracle cat, Paisley. She's like a furry member of our family. Or as our 3 yr old would say, "like a person in a cat suit."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z3E_InPdodXDiJxuT5dE_iRslgKAJA5F2u0XmCSTY_m-JP_CoYW6r59tWQf46kb7ld9NIul03B26V8UlqDrl_I-LazrEvmC2texdUr9jtm4QmMFCNrZ6s0_pIfmaxO9POfiues-Zg84/s1600/paisley+xray+fxd+frtleg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z3E_InPdodXDiJxuT5dE_iRslgKAJA5F2u0XmCSTY_m-JP_CoYW6r59tWQf46kb7ld9NIul03B26V8UlqDrl_I-LazrEvmC2texdUr9jtm4QmMFCNrZ6s0_pIfmaxO9POfiues-Zg84/s200/paisley+xray+fxd+frtleg.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD02tR3yQhkfpMeNWyVU7f6-RnrT_TgRD0BVRVQA32XzIolWQl2E6PmQu3hb65YRm9MxiwZ5ogM13Bz8s40W9XS44t7kV1MKUZvhveXXKguRLueViZDWhLiy1HiRxI6cPTNoFU_a73E6U/s1600/paisley+xray+hips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD02tR3yQhkfpMeNWyVU7f6-RnrT_TgRD0BVRVQA32XzIolWQl2E6PmQu3hb65YRm9MxiwZ5ogM13Bz8s40W9XS44t7kV1MKUZvhveXXKguRLueViZDWhLiy1HiRxI6cPTNoFU_a73E6U/s200/paisley+xray+hips.jpg" width="170" /></a><br />
When she was just ten months old she was hit by a car and sustained three broken legs. After many hours of surgery, ten weeks of cage rest, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, and a ton of prayers our sweet cat was eventually able to walk again. It took another 4-6 months before she was able to run, climb and jump. All of this was accomplished through the daily prayers of our young children, my husband's willingness to spend a whole LOT of money on a cat, my dedication to doing the physical therapy & hydrotherapy (it's true that cats really don't like water) and the dedication of the veterinarians at Bit & Spur Animal Hospital. She not only
survived, but has surpassed the veterinarians' highest hopes. Though Paisley is left with a limp due to her right front leg being shorter than her other legs, it doesn't seem to bother her and it certainly doesn't keep her from jumping on dressers, or climbing around behind the entertainment center.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdWCM451Ekelb95WCR9Mi0hIT78cc049nClJ15HMkB5Oe5X6G4HmQTmgElz1jKBWWROiSj5hAyLUCD0E2m5AZABRyK2aP1OBtvlVuCtSkGeJscPCvwA4iPveT7ZCf5_rVrlVI1XIm_To/s1600/paisley+3+broken+legs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdWCM451Ekelb95WCR9Mi0hIT78cc049nClJ15HMkB5Oe5X6G4HmQTmgElz1jKBWWROiSj5hAyLUCD0E2m5AZABRyK2aP1OBtvlVuCtSkGeJscPCvwA4iPveT7ZCf5_rVrlVI1XIm_To/s200/paisley+3+broken+legs.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just 2 weeks after surgery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paisley is now a little over two years old and is living the good life of being ruler of
our house. We love her and in exchange she brightens our days by getting in her
favorite "dead cat" sleeping position right in the middle of a walkway
so we have to step over her. She sleeps where she chooses, in whatever position she
chooses and brings great comedy to our family.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQcY8zr6D0StYcstLwCqhEAcYOO6JlpGdaqmug2hb05jKKYm2cH8BRrqGMdxepzt8B0BV03GdIwwxSXoBW-L9YBn7x5NuICzHUXisFLb8awqNokosTAjNijpzG3au_08NPNGFzK9b6CI/s1600/luke+with+best+bud+paisley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQcY8zr6D0StYcstLwCqhEAcYOO6JlpGdaqmug2hb05jKKYm2cH8BRrqGMdxepzt8B0BV03GdIwwxSXoBW-L9YBn7x5NuICzHUXisFLb8awqNokosTAjNijpzG3au_08NPNGFzK9b6CI/s200/luke+with+best+bud+paisley.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best friends watching cartoons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinxMQd5wV2e4K4bADk8kxwyfb6D0SS36EC_5y2t5O6dMB8EG7F6ntk1hD0kcU3lttATmMs0AnqXKOMckqGBg6mX1oYGDiI7bsO0Y3mNuhw05TzBu3hYTvBKFrJy_RR0H7rd2P9iG3-4I/s1600/paisley+upside+down.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinxMQd5wV2e4K4bADk8kxwyfb6D0SS36EC_5y2t5O6dMB8EG7F6ntk1hD0kcU3lttATmMs0AnqXKOMckqGBg6mX1oYGDiI7bsO0Y3mNuhw05TzBu3hYTvBKFrJy_RR0H7rd2P9iG3-4I/s320/paisley+upside+down.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her favorite way to sleep post-surgery. I think she became so<br />
accustomed to sleeping in odd positions due to the external<br />
pins on her front leg that she just prefers this now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g-ls15oyU65EcBS2_8Uqu8YNdrfcAZfSGMqUlTvoKHLfzPAOgxqbTWcxIxqEAY85h-3kzW2BcbTgMLepdCsoeZm2bKOE2HHeagwI5veXTmNXUkBXtAvS2ZKFaMaZFteirCt8AMRiWiY/s1600/paisley+on+schoolwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g-ls15oyU65EcBS2_8Uqu8YNdrfcAZfSGMqUlTvoKHLfzPAOgxqbTWcxIxqEAY85h-3kzW2BcbTgMLepdCsoeZm2bKOE2HHeagwI5veXTmNXUkBXtAvS2ZKFaMaZFteirCt8AMRiWiY/s400/paisley+on+schoolwork.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lying right in the middle of Luke's school work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HhsBDr8US9cYYIjvB-hDAgcxsLfWyd6gwcuOsFGjN-dtaSVIYh-xQ8C0QkXEwjQW40fmXf0DTeIf1N4sLSMa2fDga-bUes9l8uTO6Q34e_rdGFmOCssvdJMPc61zYbhUpOuopofe-94/s1600/paisley+in+laundry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HhsBDr8US9cYYIjvB-hDAgcxsLfWyd6gwcuOsFGjN-dtaSVIYh-xQ8C0QkXEwjQW40fmXf0DTeIf1N4sLSMa2fDga-bUes9l8uTO6Q34e_rdGFmOCssvdJMPc61zYbhUpOuopofe-94/s200/paisley+in+laundry.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNqOYAipSnwsWZIEhbk5jO3H8vYQ5qxpb3Do3YfmzNyH4MFMbPjvA6yufcGVNrD8T_sncCMWWxYF9xgT4EO0KhoKsREBbIDGzOPqerImPi08s0IHtnVmO7BWs5ip2BoZqhGKeWLQeR3A/s1600/paisley+in+sink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNqOYAipSnwsWZIEhbk5jO3H8vYQ5qxpb3Do3YfmzNyH4MFMbPjvA6yufcGVNrD8T_sncCMWWxYF9xgT4EO0KhoKsREBbIDGzOPqerImPi08s0IHtnVmO7BWs5ip2BoZqhGKeWLQeR3A/s200/paisley+in+sink.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvsstix4PORTekmaJGRqvuUALxyXGNzxI1jSbcdiSe2OCXscP6YLVYzkyVQD3KzeB8jGoXwcdUFbQGZKekwIAq1srmCK2V44F7dtymg6LPxMkZjmorTJiSSXlCDCo3s7R8UHjCUOg3dY/s1600/paisley+on+dresser.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvsstix4PORTekmaJGRqvuUALxyXGNzxI1jSbcdiSe2OCXscP6YLVYzkyVQD3KzeB8jGoXwcdUFbQGZKekwIAq1srmCK2V44F7dtymg6LPxMkZjmorTJiSSXlCDCo3s7R8UHjCUOg3dY/s200/paisley+on+dresser.JPG" width="183" /></a></div>
<br />
This cat truly sleeps where she wants, when she wants. She was sound asleep in the pictures above until I disturbed her with the camera flash. Far left she's in the bathroom sink, middle she's on top of my dresser and far right she's laying in a basket of clean laundry (note the paw lifted up to block the camera flash from her eyes).<br />
<br />
<br />GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-55159327892876003452011-09-18T14:53:00.001-05:002011-09-24T21:55:51.567-05:00Constantly Amazed by the Ignorance Around UsHave you ever seen someone that doesn't seem to have ANY common sense at all?<br />
<br />
In the news we hear about the people who think it's okay to leave their young child in the car alone while they run into the store, post office, etc. Typically one of three things happens: the car is stolen with the child in it, someone takes the child, or the child finds a way to get out and the mother drives off leaving the child behind unknowingly.
What is wrong with these people? Sometimes drugs or alcohol are involved, but many times it's just a seemingly normal mom who thought it would be quicker to run into the store without the child.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9WILlqc9Yg5aOUS_GtZC3zcpqAouTMVxCQ6SCBhXEBeLz9QXdNrKRTbzG9UPL3BKgCDuQpmLIbCnjnXZg5dtBePsuW9MjTpHW1kT5qajRwUnvavc8EoYnB6w74x61cRHTsqCbuWkYuE/s1600/barefeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9WILlqc9Yg5aOUS_GtZC3zcpqAouTMVxCQ6SCBhXEBeLz9QXdNrKRTbzG9UPL3BKgCDuQpmLIbCnjnXZg5dtBePsuW9MjTpHW1kT5qajRwUnvavc8EoYnB6w74x61cRHTsqCbuWkYuE/s320/barefeet.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
Friday evening our family was in Sears Essentials and a little girl of around 4 or 5 years old was skipping and running up and down the toy isles. What caught my attention was the fact that she was barefoot and completely ALONE. Not an adult in sight anywhere. I kept my eye on her for a while thinking her mom or dad would come from the next isle over any minute, but no one ever came looking for her. The young girl just looked at a few toys here and there then ran to the next isle. At one point she even ran around a few isles in the electronics department which was right beside the toys, then apparently realizing there were no toys over there she ran and skipped back to the toy department. A good 7-8 minutes had gone by at this point with no adult supervision of this child. We were ready to leave the toy section so I let one of the sales associates know about the young girl by herself. As soon as we turned to walk off the mother of the girl came walking over from another part of the store. I overheard her tell the sales associate she had been keeping an eye on the little girl. Yeah right! I had looked around <i>many</i> times hoping to find a parent watching her from a distance and saw no one. The way the girl was running back and forth from one isle to the next there was no way anyone could have kept track of where she was without being right there. I just shook my head and went on with our shopping. A while later we walked near the toy section again and I noticed the same little barefoot girl was back, skipping up and down the isles by herself. I don't think her mother had a clue in the world that leaving her young daughter alone like that was a danger.<br />
<br />
Common sense is partially instinct, but the larger portion of common sense is learned. This means people need to be taught by their parents, grand parents, teachers and other mentors things like:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>You cannot leave young children unattended ANYWHERE (car, home, front yard, etc.) </li>
<li>You cannot let an elementary age child play games on the internet without some supervision to make sure they are playing what they’re supposed to be playing and haven’t accidentally clicked to something that is not child friendly. </li>
<li>Children should not walk around in public areas barefoot (neither should adults for that manner). The floors in stores aren’t THAT clean, not to mention who lets their child walk barefoot through a parking lot to and from the car? Broken glass, sharp rocks and hot pavement are the first dangers that come to my mind though I’m sure there are others. </li>
<li>Put all trash in a trash can, don’t throw it out the window of your car or leave it in the parking lot. Adults who litter are teaching their children to litter. Children learn more by seeing and observing than they do by listening.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWthcC5CqomF8L1zXb5YPNBb_8bc7wd4Dr7vcThrg50ykc7uaaEhxyoBtSES6qYmkrRJCwHK8Km5U9Iams2epSSJsj6167xOf8dN5tzebTWOt3QutP4W4xz4H1IuyKM9xi1SlJ5c4S7x4/s1600/litter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWthcC5CqomF8L1zXb5YPNBb_8bc7wd4Dr7vcThrg50ykc7uaaEhxyoBtSES6qYmkrRJCwHK8Km5U9Iams2epSSJsj6167xOf8dN5tzebTWOt3QutP4W4xz4H1IuyKM9xi1SlJ5c4S7x4/s320/litter.jpg" width="95" /></a></div>
I could go on and on, but what’s the point? The people who NEED to read this the most are the ones who are least likely to read it (again the common sense thing). All I can say is we should try to be good mentors to others and by doing so hopefully we can help the next generation improve.
GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-69923245025148031222011-09-14T22:47:00.002-05:002011-09-14T22:57:18.696-05:00Going Against the GrainAs parents we always try to do what is best for our children. We give them healthy foods, constantly watch over their safety and teach them what they need to know at appropriate times. What do you do with a child whose birthday falls after that dreaded "September 1st" mark which deems them to wait another year before starting Kindergarten? Do you just go with the flow and wait another year? Experts tell us the first three years of a child's life are the most important. This is when they learn to walk, talk and socialize both verbally and through facial expressions. So if you are an assertive parent perhaps you taught your two year old her colors and then at three you taught her shapes and how to count to ten. When your child is four you teach her everything a typical preschool would teach; letters, the sounds they make, counting to 20, etc.<br />
<br />
Getting back to the "after September 1st" birthday.... Now that you have prepared your four year old for Kindergarten, what exactly do you teach your child who is now turning five, but will have to wait another year to start Kindergarten? Do you continue on and teach them the basics for reading, counting to 100, and so on? Or do you give them the year off and just let them play and "be a kid" until they start Kindergarten the next year?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve1fyKRfJ9-8_NY7r6ZYxiSyci__0bp4taFlEB341Q6JUzUebu_6B35ZU30mcqcX58sPWwDdikcf2MQy2BwkLci0FPTsMpIUyrp0r4XIC5dnl6Zp0nvOHLwL1l4QSlbwhTHyvn15D8JI/s1600/brookes+drawing+feather+man+with+1+foot+8.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve1fyKRfJ9-8_NY7r6ZYxiSyci__0bp4taFlEB341Q6JUzUebu_6B35ZU30mcqcX58sPWwDdikcf2MQy2BwkLci0FPTsMpIUyrp0r4XIC5dnl6Zp0nvOHLwL1l4QSlbwhTHyvn15D8JI/s320/brookes+drawing+feather+man+with+1+foot+8.11.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
I personally believe that giving them the year off is a total waste of the super-powered learning skills that young kids have. Ask any expert and they will tell you the best age to learn a foreign language is age six and under. It's not that older children can't learn a foreign language, but it requires a bit more work. Obviously the average American isn't trying to teach their five year old a foreign language, but I feel it's important to continue teaching children in fun and engaging ways throughout the year (yes even during the summer). One of my favorite books on this subject is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learning-All-Time-John-Holt/dp/0201550911">"Learning All the Time" by John Holt</a>. I think this should be required reading for all parents and caregivers. Children have a true LOVE of learning as youngsters, but too often they lose this by the time they reach 8-9 years of age due to boredom and lack of being engaged (another topic for another day). If a child is ready to start Kindergarten at the age of four, they should be allowed to do Kindergarten level work, regardless if they are at home or at school.
I know what many of you are thinking... What about social skills? Just because a four year old is academically ready to start Kindergarten doesn't mean she is emotionally and socially ready. Well, I agree with you, but what if the child was tested by two separate teachers and then allowed to participate for a day of Kindergarten before making the decision. Either the child has what it takes or she doesn't. (I'm using she throughout this simply because it's easier than saying "he or she".)<br />
<br />
Now, to get to the real issue. Our three year old will be turning four this November. She already knows her colors in English (and many of them in Spanish as well). She can count to 15 in English (to 10 in Spanish), and she knows the alphabet and basic shapes. I have done very little formal education with her, yet she watches educational cartoons and participates when we play hide-and-seek in which we always count in Spanish (you should try it, it's fun!). The next logical thing for her to learn would be the sounds each letter makes and to count to 20. I have all of next year to teach her this (remember she will be turning four in Nov.), however once she's learned all of this the next stage is beginning to read. As a homeschooling parent I feel that the September 1st birth date deadline is simply a "suggestion" and not a firm line for every single child. I'm not saying that our child is exceptional, but what I am saying is that I refuse to just sit back and <i>wait</i> for our child to be old enough to start Kindergarten. I think education should always be based on ability, not on what everyone else is doing. If your child is ready to learn then by all means show them the way and make it fun. Education should never stop, not for our children and not for adults either.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmqVdtbVoxRjStWKVGEUdmWJYLIvC4n8QQUonHeF4Y7YTp_Stzo9iTY7omK1sO4dazy5AOVWwauz3prNZFPYc2LAuoLUNGdcob-oHuhPOjRn83ZVZ0kD7e-i7Dbhv09rJ16zCznjI_bg/s1600/sorting+animals+-+homeschool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmqVdtbVoxRjStWKVGEUdmWJYLIvC4n8QQUonHeF4Y7YTp_Stzo9iTY7omK1sO4dazy5AOVWwauz3prNZFPYc2LAuoLUNGdcob-oHuhPOjRn83ZVZ0kD7e-i7Dbhv09rJ16zCznjI_bg/s320/sorting+animals+-+homeschool.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is just one of the many ways we play games and have FUN while learning.
GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-87945685586756143742011-07-24T14:54:00.001-05:002011-09-24T21:56:14.001-05:00Going With My Instincts and Against the CrowdI base much of my parenting on instinct and what just "feels right". For me it really feels wrong to drop off one of my children with strangers. Yes, I know that everyone starts off being a stranger until you get to know them, but it's not just the teacher that is a stranger. It's the class full of children that are strangers as well. As a parent, why should I want my child to hang out with a group of children their same age for 7-8 hours a day, 180 days out of the year? Is it not better to allow shorter periods of socialization with a widely diverse group of people? I think so and research proves it is so.<br />
<br />
The paragraphs below are from "Homeschooling Step-By-Step" by Lauramaery Gold & Joan M. Zielinski. In this part they are discussing the transitions involved when children start off in public school and then are home schooled.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdOJ3dyPQgAbL9N1XUKVwreM-pqehD_kiluAElprOrTfx2mWd7j_YFqgImqGEsT0-29tt3mmv99jN2hV6RcGOQNbrvkIIRyNddkug5-sisZyq0iISuenW8xU_CMwA3eqzY4M2-JA0GfA/s1600/DSCN4146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdOJ3dyPQgAbL9N1XUKVwreM-pqehD_kiluAElprOrTfx2mWd7j_YFqgImqGEsT0-29tt3mmv99jN2hV6RcGOQNbrvkIIRyNddkug5-sisZyq0iISuenW8xU_CMwA3eqzY4M2-JA0GfA/s320/DSCN4146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
"First, you and your children have become strangers while they were in public school. They were gone all day and were under the extended control of homework-assigning teachers all night. If your children were in school for a prolonged time, you may not even like one another all that much. Don't worry. This will pass. As you and your children learn again what it means to be a family unit--a group of people who actually live and eat and play and work and learn together --you'll soon find yourself enjoying their company, discovering their personalities, and learning to like them all over again.<br />
Second, your children may not trust or like you. They've been 'sent away' to strangers where they were taught habits and beliefs and mannerisms that just don't sit well with mom and dad. It takes time and trust for them to unlearn bad habits, to learn to interact with adults and to appreciate your commitment to teaching them. Give it a chance. Those strong ties that existed when they were young are still there, and they'll spring back into place given sufficient love and nurturing." <br />
<br />
Reading these paragraphs really breaks my heart. I do not want my children to become "strangers". I also cannot imagine missing out on so much, like watching their faces light up when they figure something out. As for homework, school teachers already have the children for 7 hours each day, why should they have to be burdened with even more school work at home? (I'll answer my own question here.) Because the students CAN'T learn everything in school. There are too many distractions and interruptions, not to mention an often overwhelming feeling of boredom or failure.<br />
<br />
We all know there are good teachers and not so good teachers, but the truly GREAT teachers have a way of taking a child's least favorite subject and making it FUN! Yes, it is truly possible! I really wish more teachers would be enthusiastic about what they are teaching. Enthusiasm is catching and almost any subject can be turned into fun and interactive games with some effort. Re-arrange the desks into a circle or a few small squares. Instead of teaching AT children, ENGAGE them in the discussion and INVOLVE them in the educational process. Get out of the chairs and stand in small groups around the room to answer questions. The different ways to make a class more fun are boundless. It just takes enthusiasm and effort.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Y0PJg8Oco2EJRZItLqvdC50UHEkuqpD9PDSpRRnzK5FUlmtToUGFHyAOZzVLWpzHMiqn2MzcvcrCieJCdxXDYbzCD4RI3y1-9rsKVUWvD4sqKVkTFy_3KPIgF8_2gdyBtIFRLoei5o/s1600/luke+cathat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8Y0PJg8Oco2EJRZItLqvdC50UHEkuqpD9PDSpRRnzK5FUlmtToUGFHyAOZzVLWpzHMiqn2MzcvcrCieJCdxXDYbzCD4RI3y1-9rsKVUWvD4sqKVkTFy_3KPIgF8_2gdyBtIFRLoei5o/s320/luke+cathat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
This pretty much sums up my thoughts on how the school system is not for us and why I've chosen the path I'm on. There is no way that a child can learn better in an environment surrounded by their peers than they can when surrounded in a loving, home environment. Numerous studies (do an online search to find them) have shown that home schooled children not only learn MORE, but they tend to have a love of learning that continues into adulthood. Plus it cannot be denied that the teacher- student ratio of 1:2 is better than any public school in the nation. :o)GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-8705801179307547522011-07-15T09:40:00.004-05:002011-09-24T21:56:42.532-05:00Getting Organized and Keeping a Loose Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI4S-D-8sfOqTKfg5FLO-bF1a0sFGJc2gLXXSibrz4f3WLbaklighw3leIH2Iy97g8T48_yfYDYvPCeqhHanx87JLt1iCpUIjiqokHhhiyv_P42IiZ1bRnVTTTPtuNwvdorW2AaBRbB8/s1600/homeschooling+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI4S-D-8sfOqTKfg5FLO-bF1a0sFGJc2gLXXSibrz4f3WLbaklighw3leIH2Iy97g8T48_yfYDYvPCeqhHanx87JLt1iCpUIjiqokHhhiyv_P42IiZ1bRnVTTTPtuNwvdorW2AaBRbB8/s320/homeschooling+box.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I've been wanting to write this for a while now, but just now found the time. About six months ago I wrote about getting things ready for homeschooling first grade. Well we started homeschooling first grade back on May 25th and the children have been learning 4 days a week since then. (Side note: I firmly believe that children are learning all the time and learning doesn't stop for weekends and holidays, however we have what I like to call "official school days" 4 days a week during the summer.) So, now that I'm about 6 weeks into homeschooling I can tell we definitely need to be more organized in some areas. <br />
I found this really cool storage box at a missions yard sale a few months ago. It was just too awesome to pass up and now I'm so glad I have it. I've organized our homeschooling materials in the slots by subject and since there are way more slots than subjects I've filled the others with supplemental magazines on art, science and geography. I've read online that most homeschooling families use a filing cabinet. Well this box is my "filing cabinet" and it doubles as a bench or play table in the kids room. I think it's a great use of space!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0d_OuwDNXnOYNeuHxS_V0Dth09FBmxpokn046icvaexVzrJPbkstzOAu7YKC-Gtp8IBBY0iydnSiv65EEZqghcAN4PgstbiR5rXfOhS_tckpoONsM3DIW6ARzw6Z4KvpCx6wNo7-Kjg/s1600/homeschooling+box+open.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0d_OuwDNXnOYNeuHxS_V0Dth09FBmxpokn046icvaexVzrJPbkstzOAu7YKC-Gtp8IBBY0iydnSiv65EEZqghcAN4PgstbiR5rXfOhS_tckpoONsM3DIW6ARzw6Z4KvpCx6wNo7-Kjg/s320/homeschooling+box+open.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As for organizing a schedule, many homeschooling families have a strict schedule they follow. Example: 8am Science, 9am PE, 10am Math, 11am Science, and so on. We have a much looser schedule than this because I've found that life on a farm with young children will always bring daily surprises. We start our school day with the Pledge of Allegiance and Lord's Prayer then our first grader works on handwriting and spelling words while our 3yr old works on a page or two out of a preschool book. After about 20 minutes of this we go to another room and play some math games on the floor (counting/adding marbles, pattern blocks, addition bingo, telling time, etc.). The math games usually take up 30-45 minutes, but I never stop if we're all having fun. I don't think learning should be about watching the clock, it should be more about being in the moment and learning what is going on around us. After the math games we will either have indoor PE, music, or art depending on what day of the week it is. This could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how enthusiastic the kids are about what we're doing.<br />
After our morning lessons we usually have a snack around 10:30 and then <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02c_A-Ron7THYQeJddG1bxdt_kOeNswwYrqfRqNTtB1GVVaGcUsv5a1Yi4yMnqyN44WR7n4iTJrwj6KdF_umInXmEtp9RC8XIYiiVEafuyvNrwUN4ZAzWnINxavM8RQDuc9h4e01WMcw/s1600/luke+pe+zipline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02c_A-Ron7THYQeJddG1bxdt_kOeNswwYrqfRqNTtB1GVVaGcUsv5a1Yi4yMnqyN44WR7n4iTJrwj6KdF_umInXmEtp9RC8XIYiiVEafuyvNrwUN4ZAzWnINxavM8RQDuc9h4e01WMcw/s320/luke+pe+zipline.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
play educational computer games (Jump Start, Math Blaster, Raz-Kids, etc.). This allows me to get some housework done or help them where they need it. Most of our Science and Bible lessons are after lunch. If we have a Science project to do I will read the lesson and let them follow along with me looking at the pictures then we will do the project later after quiet time. Quiet time is from 1:30-3:00 and the children can play quietly in their room, look at books, watch an educational (and calm) cartoon such as Signing Time, or play on their learning laptop (a kids computer with tons of games for ages 5-10).<br />
<br />
Pretty much that's it. It's certainly not a "set in stone" schedule and occasionally things have to be shifted around for vet appointments, swimming, impromptu playdates, etc. It is summertime after all and as I said before, learning happens all the time.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-16216351477912583632011-07-11T22:47:00.000-05:002011-07-11T22:47:29.285-05:00Why Do People Sit There?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-h8DLG4nphgdaZyEhhHKC4zgbBd-CFXSCvQmnCYNaIByZVOw4lE5M09aUgdWveSKQNZv0-xjSpPrW1vJ3WxM5NzEqK_yG5NSR3Tm4K1JmlqNAO1b7EU7QIkiwpefgClJgEDzSNzgC4Y/s1600/wafflehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-h8DLG4nphgdaZyEhhHKC4zgbBd-CFXSCvQmnCYNaIByZVOw4lE5M09aUgdWveSKQNZv0-xjSpPrW1vJ3WxM5NzEqK_yG5NSR3Tm4K1JmlqNAO1b7EU7QIkiwpefgClJgEDzSNzgC4Y/s400/wafflehouse.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Lately we've been eating out more than usual. Not fancy restaurants, but just places like Zaxby's, Moe's, Waffle House, etc. What I don't understand is WHY do so many people eating by themselves sit at a booth that could hold 4 people instead of choosing a smaller table? Many times our family of four is left with trying to rearrange tables (if they are moveable) or pulling up extra chairs. Waffle House is the worst for seating, because they only have 4 booths that will sit a family of four. I can't tell you how many times I've been to Waffle House and had no where for us to sit other than at the bar stools (we have young children so this wouldn't work very well) or at a tiny booth intended for two people. Why do couples feel the need to sit at the larger booths? It shouldn't matter if it's Panera Bread or the local diner. If you are seating yourself choose a table that will appropriately seat you and your party but don't take up the extra space. Be courteous and leave the larger booths for those with more in their party. (Whew! That's the end of my rant.)GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-12662702881055521912011-06-22T22:43:00.002-05:002011-09-14T08:02:05.043-05:00Southern Girl or Something Different?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ7qbhQ6b-dgtTXPDJ0L-HyQp6-CSF21M6gDjKcBLzrebfuTbBck2aJrLCvxNxoPlODY0cC7HLE4B8ny2j_6nOUIO5MPyNxor_UwjOacdCXC_btW-VSThzUIxoDIlp3_QYc1_7ZhgCPc/s1600/ruffled+shirt+%2526+jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ7qbhQ6b-dgtTXPDJ0L-HyQp6-CSF21M6gDjKcBLzrebfuTbBck2aJrLCvxNxoPlODY0cC7HLE4B8ny2j_6nOUIO5MPyNxor_UwjOacdCXC_btW-VSThzUIxoDIlp3_QYc1_7ZhgCPc/s320/ruffled+shirt+%2526+jeans.jpg" /></a></div>What defines a Southern Girl? Is it the food she prepares for her family? Is it the hospitality she shows her guests? Perhaps it's the clothes she dresses her children in. I hope it's none of these, because I only cook when I have no other choice. I'm a bit scatter-brained and not real into having formal guests (or unannounced guests either). As for dressing our daughter in the current style of monogrammed everything, pillow-case dresses, ruffled pants (or clown pants as I like to call them) I <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> would rather not unless I absolutely have to because someone gave the outfit to me. Why is it that everyone I know just <span style="font-style:italic;">adores</span> these types of children's clothes? <br />
Perhaps I'm just not Southern enough? I was born in Mobile and other than five years spent in Indiana as a preschooler (that I barely even remember) I've spent the rest of my almost 33 years here in South AL. Maybe I'm just Southern at heart, but not in my head. Is there even such a thing?<br />
My idea of cooking a family meal is making tacos. When friends or family come over I might remember to offer them a drink if they are here long enough. I also expect them to tell me if they need something (I know, shame on me! I really was taught better!). As for dressing our children, they wear shorts and t-shirts. Yes, even our daughter (gasp!). Don't get me wrong, she has plenty of dresses that she wears to church and some play dresses too. Ninety percent of the time though she can be found wearing a t-shirt and shorts. As a little girl once myself, I find that dresses inhibit climbing and crawling. Plus there's that dreaded issue of 'you aren't supposed to do flips or hang upside down from the jungle gym wearing a dress. *sigh* <br />
Parents, let your children play and get dirty. Let them spray each other with the water hose and splash in the mud puddles they create. Enjoy watching as they create mud pies or dig holes in the dirt with sticks. I have never understand why a parent would dress their child in a frilly white outfit and then send them to preschool where they are expected to do what...? PLAY! That's right... finger painting, running and climbing on the playground, falling in the dirt, etc. It all happens no matter what clothes a child has on, so be <span style="font-weight:bold;">real</span> and dress your children appropriate for the occasion. They aren't mini-adults (someone needs to tell the clothing designers this), nor are they dress-up dolls.<br />
I know this blog is starting to sound like a rant (not my intentions) and I'm sorry if I've offended anyone. Perhaps I didn't play with dolls enough when I was a child. Maybe I'm just wired differently from all the other Southern moms that I'm around. I'm not sure what it is, but when I'm surrounded by a bunch of moms who love to do all these seemingly Southern things I feel a bit like an alien. Me feeling like I'm from a different planet is MY issue, not yours. Knowing the problem is the first step, right? I'm working on it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6vNb5YOtT_gw0KA-BP1bon9tVQKKcUHowiOQNW5ZKGQTOnrRz321a4l9IwwF5OytJ3o0a9qfmtNGtasTtgl1NKwydIjH6ia_zozHr_nytry5XCjZ6oWeMV9RJpPg9dv3ZrwRSe4wJXs/s1600/birds+on+wire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="206" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6vNb5YOtT_gw0KA-BP1bon9tVQKKcUHowiOQNW5ZKGQTOnrRz321a4l9IwwF5OytJ3o0a9qfmtNGtasTtgl1NKwydIjH6ia_zozHr_nytry5XCjZ6oWeMV9RJpPg9dv3ZrwRSe4wJXs/s320/birds+on+wire.jpg" /></a></div>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-41074046231804077782011-05-31T07:47:00.000-05:002011-05-31T08:18:04.767-05:00Summer School Begins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_hq39q2zOET636QIKRjRESUvgW79pj3hIfAlGLi81w1-IcjAUpKbqNYbSkU3gZewZvCVYnibTmS6wecG58ifasHZ-yrLMtrbo61VQ_46onbmT1Q705xXxiSclr_UAiT7NqH4bhMdgmY/s1600/weeksbay+fieldtrip.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_hq39q2zOET636QIKRjRESUvgW79pj3hIfAlGLi81w1-IcjAUpKbqNYbSkU3gZewZvCVYnibTmS6wecG58ifasHZ-yrLMtrbo61VQ_46onbmT1Q705xXxiSclr_UAiT7NqH4bhMdgmY/s400/weeksbay+fieldtrip.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612867624776602834" /></a><br />I had big plans for the start of our summer. I even had an official start date for when to start homeschooling again (June 14th). This start date would give us about three weeks of summer break. Everything began to change when just two days after Kindergarten graduation our son started asking for some first grade school work. At first I told him later because I was busy with housework and it was inconvenient. We had a field trip planned with some homeschooling friends later that same week and the morning of the field trip our son looks at me with excitement on his face and asks, "Is today the first day of 1st grade?" He had repeatedly been asking this question all week and his hopes were dashed each time I explained that this was his summer break. So this time I looked into his big blue eyes and replied, "Yes, today is the first day of first grade." Then I watched as he jumped in the air with enthusiasm and said, "Awesome! I always wanted to take a field trip on the first day of school, thank you Mommy!"<br />That was last Wednesday, May 25th, a far cry from my plan of June 14th. Since then our little first grader has been happily practicing his handwriting, learning spelling words, practicing his addition and subtraction, and reading "1st grade books" as he calls them. He is happy and loving every bit of it. I know his enthusiasm will wear off eventually, but it gives me a happy heart to see him smile and laugh as he learns.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This picture is from our field trip to the Weeks Bay Estuary, his first day of first grade. :o)</span>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-31168606410748398292011-03-24T09:16:00.000-05:002011-03-24T10:09:12.045-05:00A Language of Her Own<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ3y1-dpTcc3T5ifxahRy4oINLLFgtwAsCK0J-aV3FS0JDnxOCfthfCUHbOtZ2CkYGdHX5V8BbLxjnudnasUQCX_lKq9Q0QGxF8Dx5FMMJey4UhgqyHcIVXZUVkAKS4kDFCE-EgH0WBM/s1600/brooke+shovel+beach.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ3y1-dpTcc3T5ifxahRy4oINLLFgtwAsCK0J-aV3FS0JDnxOCfthfCUHbOtZ2CkYGdHX5V8BbLxjnudnasUQCX_lKq9Q0QGxF8Dx5FMMJey4UhgqyHcIVXZUVkAKS4kDFCE-EgH0WBM/s400/brooke+shovel+beach.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587663557065080610" /></a><br />We've known for a while now that our little girl is quite unique. I mean, all children are unique in their own way, right? Well our three year old has created her own language. She knows English quite well, but enjoys making up new words for various everyday items and situations. Apples are "apps" and bananas are "banoonoos". She calls her bottom a "cat" (I have no idea why) and when she needs to go potty she says, she needs to go "I" (pronounced "eye"). There are many others, but these are the most common ones she uses daily.<br />In addition to all the new words and new uses for old words, she has trouble saying the r sound. Words like corn, horn and Lord come out sounding like "cone", "hone", and "Lowd". No wonder young children need a translator (typically mom or dad) so other people can understand them. Sometimes mom and dad need a translator too!GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-86710115433600357882010-12-30T12:26:00.000-06:002010-12-30T15:39:19.298-06:00Ready For 1st Grade?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUrbXxy6enDxqD55AEo-x_Jo13P9LTHONMYlGvi7t7t0XllmUYw_I7JJ-aLvSbckod5VBFCwvdDwhYKZ9PAV1_NXb3w6karjhniBjsBxhhX9EeG67lR0zdFfs_oq6OgZbf7_lvmsd9dM/s1600/1st+Grade+books.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUrbXxy6enDxqD55AEo-x_Jo13P9LTHONMYlGvi7t7t0XllmUYw_I7JJ-aLvSbckod5VBFCwvdDwhYKZ9PAV1_NXb3w6karjhniBjsBxhhX9EeG67lR0zdFfs_oq6OgZbf7_lvmsd9dM/s400/1st+Grade+books.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556585322127416914" /></a><br />So what does it take to do 1st Grade at home? I've picked up various books at yard sales, book sales and such over the past two years, plus we have the Jump Start computer games. So, are we ready? Until recently I just stored them on a shelf, but now... Now we're getting closer to the time for starting 1st grade so I decided to go through everything this week and formulate a loose plan. I quickly realized we have too much STUFF. <br />Learning doesn't always involve books. It's the hands-on adding and subtracting of pebbles and the making leaf patterns that I dearly love. Rarely does a teacher take the class outside to learn about earthworms, but why not? Surely it's better to learn about the earth and the creatures that live in it out where these things are? (weather permitting of course)<br />Everyone who finds out we are pro-homeschooling seems to ask won't you get tired of being around your children all day? Well, I've been around them almost all day, every day for the past 5 years (for the oldest) and 3yrs for the youngest. Some days I'm more tired than others, but they are God's blessings and He put us in charge of taking care of them. I also believe that children become easier to live with as they get older (I may change this way of thinking as mine get older). :-) I would much rather have my children here where I can watch them delight in learning than in a room full of their peers for 7-8 hours each day.<br />So, if you're still with me on reading my ramblings... I have now accumulated way more books than I will probably need for 1st grade, but I feel blessed to have several different options for math worksheets and literature lessons. As for science, it happens all around us every day so I'm mostly focusing on Reading, Writing and Math. In addition to those the other 1st grade subjects for our son will be Music, PE & Spanish (every other quarter) and Sign Language (every other quarter). I'm not going to count Bible as a subject for school, though we will have a daily bible story and weekly bible verses.<br />For those who are wondering why I'm thinking of 1st grade half-way through the kindergarten year, well I'll tell you. We plan to start 1st Grade in June and enjoy year-round learning with a one week break in between quarters. If you're thinking, 'whoa, that's too much school!' really it's not. We'll be doing lessons Mon - Thurs and Fridays will be our field trip/catch up day. I'm thinking a field trip twice a month and on the off weeks we'll review as needed or play online learning games. <br />I know, I over-think things sometimes, but I like to plan ahead. Now I have a plan and I have roughly 5 more months to think about it and change it as needed. :-)GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-35774545939036779242010-09-27T19:40:00.000-05:002010-09-27T20:16:05.979-05:00The Lost Sticker<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO-aEz5whQ3XVXmrhnDWZ_7OQ9-A-aakEk55LQBLg0t5UvMXPvZQgM5cNzOxHRwCFIdQXpbNMZhscyKXCQEb3atVS8CN5cIgGS64IPecN_qZ9h1oWv3Ho4psfjpM3PjvcOMTtqqrGeBc/s1600/brooke+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO-aEz5whQ3XVXmrhnDWZ_7OQ9-A-aakEk55LQBLg0t5UvMXPvZQgM5cNzOxHRwCFIdQXpbNMZhscyKXCQEb3atVS8CN5cIgGS64IPecN_qZ9h1oWv3Ho4psfjpM3PjvcOMTtqqrGeBc/s200/brooke+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521766977158156594" /></a><br />While in the car today my almost 3yr old kept telling me she had lost her sticker. It was a small sticker that had been on her hand and she was very sad that it was gone. Assuming that it had fallen on the floor I told her we would look for it once we were home. Several minutes later she coughed a few times and said something was in her mouth. (you can see where this is going) I looked in the review mirror and she had her mouth open and was just looking at me. I asked if there was a hair in her mouth and she said no so I suggested that she drink some water and maybe it would help. This whole time she was verbal but mostly kept her mouth open and continued to look uncomfortable. I was contemplating stopping the car when she told me she was going to throw up so I quickly pulled over, yanked her out of the car and stood her on the grass. Then she simply stood there a minute then smiled at me and said "It's gone". I was confused and asked what's gone and she pointed to her water bottle and said, "My sticker. I poked it in that hole and now it's gone." The light bulb in my head finally went off as I understood that she had poked her sticker in her water bottle spout, had taken a drink and had the sticker stuck in the back of her mouth. Well now you and I both know where that sticker went... in her tummy! Just goes to show even children that are old enough to know better than to put things in their mouths, will still put things into their drinks and end up swallowing them.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-38192040882042260212010-09-26T15:33:00.000-05:002010-09-27T10:30:02.036-05:00The Berinfell PropheciesVenom and Song (book 2)<br />by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper<br /><br />This second book in The Berinfell Prophecies takes the thrill up a notch from the first book. The seven young Lords are learning to get along with each other, learning about elves and other beings, plus they are training together so they can eventually fight the spider king. The Lords are only thirteen years old and yet they grow and mature quickly during the events throughout this book.<br />For me, this Venom and Song was an enjoyable read and difficult to put down near the last few chapters. If you like reading books about castles, fantasy creatures and heroes with special gifts then this book is right up your alley. The cover artwork is awesome and gives a good feel for what the book is about. There’s action and adventure with a good moral story between the lines as well. There are a lot of characters and at times I had a difficult time remembering who had what special gift, but the cast list at the beginning of the book was a great reference. Reading the first book of the series is a MUST to really understand and enjoy this second book. Happy reading!<br />I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze dotcom. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-66118173259459427212010-09-21T19:58:00.000-05:002010-09-21T20:16:14.069-05:00Sweet and Honest PrayersThe bedtime prayers below were said by our 2 year old daughter without any prompting or input from Mom and Dad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Dear Jesus, please help our Paisley cat to get all better, Amen."</span><br />(She prayed this prayer every night for several weeks after our cat was hit by a car and had to have major surgery back in April.)<br /><br />Later on the above prayer was changed to:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Dear Jesus, thank you for making my Paisley cat all better, Amen."</span><br />(she said this same prayer almost every single night for 3 months! Amazing!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Dear Jesus, please keep Ella from chewing on my drawing pad, Amen."</span><br />(Ella is a 17 month old friend of ours and like most children her age she likes to put things in her mouth.)<br /><br /><br />This last one wasn't a prayer, but was so funny I had to add it. This morning while walking through the line of cars at Hardees' drive thru I encouraged our 2 year old to hurry so we wouldn't get squished. She replied, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"If you get squished we have to put you in the trash can." </span> I promptly responded that if I were squished I wanted to go to the hospital instead of the trashcan. See, in our house broken toys and squished fireman hats (you know, those plastic ones from Firehouse) go in the trash can, so I understood her way of thinking. These are those moments where you try to keep a straight face, but inside you're busting out laughing because it's just so FUNNY!GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-56508321436368872712010-08-18T09:48:00.001-05:002010-08-18T10:05:50.852-05:00First Days of School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyBdQZTBdxQZ3H6KHh_gY_RMNYUog7szmCdjCk1-NR5PdgBalbVSkTaIIA2RcH6Ckb8Kky7CYn8VJeVvxZfX8JMWKDGoLjM5cljBwqGNUpPUZORhlUORa2Gz3UYvc76pfBPZz5dEK_n0/s1600/luke+1st+day+of+K5a.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyBdQZTBdxQZ3H6KHh_gY_RMNYUog7szmCdjCk1-NR5PdgBalbVSkTaIIA2RcH6Ckb8Kky7CYn8VJeVvxZfX8JMWKDGoLjM5cljBwqGNUpPUZORhlUORa2Gz3UYvc76pfBPZz5dEK_n0/s200/luke+1st+day+of+K5a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506766013621901810" /></a><br />I've always loved the first day of school. For me it was always a combination of great excitement and slight anxiety of meeting new people and new places. There is nothing like the smell of a box of new crayons and having all your supplies all neat and tidy in your backpack. Well our oldest started Kindergarten last week and though he only goes half days he is loving it and I'm loving it. I feel so blessed to be able to spend some time alone with our youngest. There's no fighting over toys, just snuggle time reading stories, art, games, puzzles, and more! So, while one starts K5 in private school the other is home with me. We do a lot of homeschooling stuff with a focus on playing while we learn. For an almost 3yr old we do a ton of art, PE and learning life skills. Real life is the best way to learn! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8uBrIJNqU1e5pJ7LXYJBfFZZ4sbUmwhWfMla7ZtNUHUeVLDIH-iF63c2QbTEEWYEO3iIDDeGuAw4sFXc2W8g2DELGWngRx0o5i3Q9kJ1spLa6HWZlLqCa3QKYEZoU-Xf5NMwNrfOm8A/s1600/brooke+painting.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8uBrIJNqU1e5pJ7LXYJBfFZZ4sbUmwhWfMla7ZtNUHUeVLDIH-iF63c2QbTEEWYEO3iIDDeGuAw4sFXc2W8g2DELGWngRx0o5i3Q9kJ1spLa6HWZlLqCa3QKYEZoU-Xf5NMwNrfOm8A/s320/brooke+painting.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506763761465703874" /></a>GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-30726154515061550532010-06-28T20:37:00.000-05:002010-06-28T20:50:13.049-05:00Kitty Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDMOGs-B4g_ntuk4T8OB5LyNMh80C5OANdL8rzQtaM5C3SdBJ_TLhigXdWlua-3UCDgqKt_VumyB0MWBJsm6gN2m56Fb6cwU_EbmzdPKlwgeUGarokZdb4IU8wv13V7WYJwiKtnuiWuo/s1600/wubzy.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDMOGs-B4g_ntuk4T8OB5LyNMh80C5OANdL8rzQtaM5C3SdBJ_TLhigXdWlua-3UCDgqKt_VumyB0MWBJsm6gN2m56Fb6cwU_EbmzdPKlwgeUGarokZdb4IU8wv13V7WYJwiKtnuiWuo/s320/wubzy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488003999495379842" /></a><br /><br />Well our youngest has found true kitty love. I knew our daughter, B-Kat had my love of animals from early on, but her ultimate favorite are cats. Big ones, small ones, fluffy ones, shaved ones, she doesn't hold any prejudices against any of the varieties. When we visit people who have a cat she will immediately run over to pet it, while typically the cat looks at her with big eyes and slinks away with a look of, "uh... I don't think so!" B-Kat has also perfected the art of cat behavior which not only includes crawling around on all fours meowing, but also rubbing her head on people's legs and attempting to drink water out of a bowl. I dare-say this child is truly her father's daughter (those who know him will understand). The kitten B-Kat is holding in this photo is "Wubzy" named after the cartoon "Wow, Wow Wubzy". This poor innocent kitten has been toted around since he was 6 weeks old (he's now 4 months old) and he is the most gentle, mellow cat we've had in a long time.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695818737627946704.post-30821652601034082022010-06-06T15:07:00.001-05:002010-06-06T15:09:06.914-05:00Clean and Interesting Romance BookI just finished reading Love On A Dime, by Cara Lynn James and I was amazed at how this simple romance story grabbed my attention from the start and kept it. The story is based in New England in the late 1800's, when a young socialite named Lilly writes dime novels in secret. She learns how keeping secrets can tear at your heart and soul, and when it comes to marriage, love must be number one; instead of leaning towards how the marriage could benefit the family. The story inspires the reader to worry less about what society thinks, but to follow God’s plan and to look towards him when you are unsure of what to do. This is an easy read, but keeps your attention enough so you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. As an active reader of novels I was quiet impressed at how the sweet romance between the main characters was “clean” and there was no need for the immoral lust and other things the typical romance author adds to their stories. I give this book an A+ for clean romance and a B+ for good writing and character plot. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.GoatSpotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17822644902809299463noreply@blogger.com0