Cuniform writings . . .

Don't mind me for some reason I had crusiform rather than cuniform in my head . . . oh well loooong morning for Mommy.

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

No Snow Days . . .

One downside to homeschooling for the kiddos is that they don't get snow days - but the upside is that we get to snuggle on the coach with pillows, blankets, and our heater and do our school work. . . or be completely silly when they realize Mommy is taking a picture.







Have a wonderful day everyone - we are a balmy 2 degrees (wind chill of -12) right now.

In His service - Lisa

Avery's Song

Noah is trying to teach Avery guitar- and she is actually not doing too bad. I was in the family room and Bob came and got me to go listen to Avery. She was sitting on Noah's bed and singing her little heart out - hope you all enjoy. This is when life is truly GOOD!!!

Christmas 2009

How to flush a potty with no water?

Well this question might not mean a lot to some, but for us it has become our daily task as we have had frozen pipes (until last night) . . . So just in case you would ever happen to need this information here is my wisdom on flushing a potty (that word seems better than toilet) without running water.

Materials needed:
1 mop bucket or similar pail
1 smaller bucket for scooping (or you can always just use your hands)
1 pair of waterproof gloves (these need not fit perfect - Daddy's work just fine)
1 scarf
1 hat (to cover those ears)
1 warm jacket
1 pair of waterproof boots (feet wrapped in Wal-Mart sacks work just as well)
1 hardworking boy (complete with sound effects) who thinks it is a game to dig trails through the snow
2 towels (one for the hardworking boy to step on and one to set the pail on)
1 scoop for placing snow in pans
2 pans
Optional: medium sifter used to remove the grass, acorns, rocks and "gumballs" from the snow that the hardworking boy scooped up by accident

Directions:
1) Wrap hardworking boy up in above warm clothing (even if he protests that he is SO hot)
2) Send boy out to scoop up snow and place in bucket.
3) Make sure boy stands on above towel so he is not soaking the floor with melting snow
4) Place pots on stove and turn to high
5) Dump snow into pots (setting bucket down on the other towel)
6) Send boy out for more snow
7) Repeat steps 2-6 as needed until you have one full bucket of water
(3 buckets of snow = 1 bucket of water)
8) Take off lid to toilet tank
9) Dump the bucket of water into the tank
10) Flush . . . VICTORY ! ! ! !
11) Make hardworking boy some warm hot chocolate followed by a big hug and kiss.

Important Note:
It is VITAL and I repeat VITAL that you ask hardworking boy if he has to use the potty before you proceed with Step #10 (ask me how I know this)

If no snow is available . . . well sorry you better make a trip to the gas station.








Have a wonderful day everyone - and yes every faucet in my house is dripping - Lisa

A little birdy told me . . .

So I have been wanting to put these pictures up FOREVER and am just now able to thanks to my dear husband and my wonderful Christmas present (Cable Internet) - Although I am guessing that after this he probably will be rethinking his decision.

OK so here is the story ... I like to decorate for the seasons, especially fall - so I really didn't see any harm in hanging a fall wreath on the outside of the door. Well little did I know that this little guy or gal would think it a perfect home. There was a couple times when we came home that as we came up to the door something would dash out of the wreath and fly away . . . well one night that was not the case. Bob forgot to check the wreath before he opened the door and well you guessed it - in flies a little "unwelcomed" house guest. Have you ever tried to catch a bird? Let me just tell you it is the most frustrating thing for the person trying to catch it and the FUNNIEST thing for those watching (and taking pictures). I don't think Bob was too pleased with the picture taker in some of the pictures, but I couldn't resist- I mean seriously how often do you get a bird flying into your house?
I love this picture - I'm not sure if he is trying to catch it or just shaking his fist in utter frustration.

Oh he is soooo close - but no. The bird decided to check out the rest of the house and left the backroom for a quick look around and then headed for Noah's room. Now Noah's room is not that big, but I tell you we could not find that bird anywhere. We looked in the closet- behind the door -up on dressers - no bird. Now I'm thinking this is not too fun - we really need to find this bird. Well after thinking it had somehow gotten past all of us and was now in another part of the house - Noah discovered it on the side of his bed . . . OK little guy time for you to go home - it was a nice visit but God gave you a much bigger home to enjoy.

Sweet victory . . . All snuggled up in a towel ready to great the world once again. He is cute though don't you think? (the bird too)

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Sunday Drive

I found this song on Tangle and had to post it . . . we LOVE our Sunday drives - really any day drives. We have been known to jump in the car and let the kids pick right or left for a few hours before heading back home. It is amazing how little we know of where we live and God's beauty all around us. I hope you take the time to enjoy what God has put all around you.



Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Just another wonderful reminder . . .

Just another wonderful reminder from the Lord of why I am where He has me at this moment in my life. Little girl decided to pack a lunch for her and Bubby. She laid out the tablecloth, packed a wonderful lunch complete with apples, baby carrots, left over pizza, and Doritos. Of course she also brought out the books so Bubby could do a little reading to her as well. It is moments like this - on days like these that I take a deep breath and say, "Thank you God for allowing me to be right here - right now."
What an amazing God we serve!

I pray each of us will enjoy the gentle reminders God gives us throughout our days. Have a blessed day everyone - Lisa

Laundry Soap Recipe

For those of you who might be interested in making your own laundry soap here is the recipe that I use. Now before you totally think I have lost it - it is really not that hard and it works GREAT. A 5 GALLON bucket of laundry soap cost me around $3.50 to make and it usually lasts about 6 MONTHS and we do A LOT of laundry around here. So here is the recipe. This recipe is off of the Duggar Family website.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap (can also use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax (this can be bought at most Wal-Marts)

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons for scent. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Just a few of my own personal notes. . . . Super Washing Soda is toxic - so be sure to keep it any place other than the kitchen and make sure kids cannot reach it. It is not the same as Arm and Hammer baking soda - completely different thing. If you try to substitute baking soda for washing soda the laundry soap with not thicken and will not work properly. Also I thought I could make my soap smell really nice as I am spoiled and like my laundry smelling like anything other than clothes :-) so I tried to use Caress soap - don't waste your money the smell will not be there. It still cleans fine, but no heavenly scent.

I am now use ZOTE laundry soap - you can order it online as well, we have a Mexican Market that I can get it from here, but like stated above there are other soaps that will work just fine.

To grate the soap I use my food processor - it does a great job and since it is just soap you are grating it will not be dangerous for food after.

I hope you all give this a try. I think you will really enjoy the results and the savings.

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Moments Like These

It is in moments like these that I am reminded how incredibly BLESSED I am. I am so thankful that Avery has a "Big Bubby" to take care of her and to help her grow into the young lady that God wants her to be. It is truly humbling when you walk in the living room and your 9 year old boy is on his knees by the couch praying for his sister because she is getting in trouble for disobeying and if that wasn't enough for the tears to start flowing, he goes to bed and prays that her heart with turn to God and she will get saved "because she is going to learn the hard way Mom if she doesn't give her heart to God". I have no other words to say other than I LOVE being these two kids' Mommy !!!!

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Just Because . . . .

Just because . . . for no other reason than the fact that I love these pictures of our "little princess" doing her handwriting. They have desks, they have a table, but somehow they always chose to do their work at ANY spot other than these two places.



Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Astronomy and our Amazing God. . . .

I think one of the best things about homeshooling is how much you learn along with the kiddos. I am so thankful that everything our children our being taught can be backed up with the WORD of GOD ! ! ! It is so refreshing when you look at the world through God's eyes and not man's textbooks/theories. God's word is FULL of truth and promises and amazing facts - we just need to be willing to open it up and teach from it. I thank God that even through the difficult days (and yes we really do have difficult days around here) that God is faithful to take my selfish eyes off of myself and place them back on the greater picture-HIS GLORY!!!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Pictures at the Park

It is working . . . well sort of , but hey I will take what I can get. I really wanted to get some nice pictures of the kids at the park, but with two very goofy kiddos that is almost impossible. Still the last one isn't too bad - so I will consider the adventure a success.

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

A little sad . . .

Well just to let you all know - I really want to blog. I do . . . honestly, but our computer will not cooperate. At this point I can't upload pictures so all I can do is just type. Well where is the fun in that. So I guess I will have to wait until I am able to go to the library and try their wireless. When ? ? ? Not sure on that one. But we will see.

Until then - I pray that you all have a wonderful day and maybe soon we will be back up and running with our regularly scheduled program. - Lisa

Vacation Week . . . Moscow Circus

We had a wonderful vacation and I wanted to share just a bit of our fun. . . Our vacation started with going down Monday to see the Moscow Circus at Yakov's theater. It was a fantastic show. I loved the fact that it wasn't just a circus, but it was actually a story that played out in the circus. Andrei the Clown falls in love with Marina the Ballerina but her sister, who runs the circus, does not want them to be together. They struggle to find their way to be together in America . . .

While we were waiting to go inside . . . we spied someone we knew - Noah's best buddy from Scouts and his family. They have a daughter that is also Avery's age, so it worked out perfect. It was so fun to watch the kids enjoy the acts in the lobby together. When we went in for seating they were actually just one row behind us . . . what are the chances. The kids LOVED it and I'm so thankful for shows that we can take the kids to and not be worried about what "previews" they might see or what language they might slip in.




This was Avery's favorite thing - the human slinky . . . amazing. Mine was the bubbles - I cannot even describe how fantastic it was. . . .


I will post more later . . . but right now we are off to do visitation for SBBM.

Have a wonderful day everyone - Lisa

Stop taking my picture . . .

Little miss got the camera again and this time Noah was her victim. . . and he was not too happy about that either. They truly do love each other . . . sometimes they just forget how much.


Peaceful little boy sitting and playing . . . Enter Sister . . .

Not so peaceful little boy saying "Stop taking my picture!"

Little sister pleased to have accomplished yet another day of pestering . . . . hmmmm wonder where she gets that from?

Lisa