Science fair fun

My son is participating in a home school science fair this Thursday.  Originally he was going to do an experiment about ant pheromones, but the ants didn't want to participate.  There were a lot of tears because right now he Loves ants.   I quickly found a dog experiment to do, since he also Loves dogs.
His experiment was, "what color can dogs see best?"  His hypothesis - "I think dogs will see red best because my dog notices me more when I wear red."

Technology ruining families

I recently have heard an add on the radio for a cable/internet company.  Mom is talking about her kids, all boys, and in the background you here kids playing and some crashing sounds.  Then mom talks about having cable/internet, you here silence, and then a quiet giggle.

It's got me thinking "What in the world is wrong with us?!?"

Why are we encouraging families that happiness is children (and adults) sitting quietly in front of a screen.  I will admit that my family definitely spends way to much time watching tv and playing video games, but my kids also go outside, play with friends (or just hang out being silly teenagers), and play with toys (ok just the youngest does that).  It appalls me that so many commercial are telling families "keep your kids happy and quiet give them the fastest internet".

I know how crazy and loud it can get when kids are playing and having fun.  In fact most days I enjoy the sounds of nerf gun wars, giggling girl talk, and what ever fun they get into.  The noise is how I know they're having fun.  When things get quiet, I get worried.

I couple summers ago I had seven kids running around my house for a week.  My four kids, their two cousins, and a friend of my youngest's.  All my friends kept saying how crazy I was.  But it was great!  Everyone had a companion to hang out with, so no sibling fighting.  Sure it was loud, and sometimes a little bit crazy, but I couldn't have been happier.

Instead commercial telling us we need the newest, biggest, fastest device/cable/internet/tv, we should have commercials that remind us spending time with family and friends is more important.

~Earthy Mom

Learning about Rocks & Minerals

We recently learned about rocks and minerals in science.  Potato really loves science, especially when we do hands on experiments.  We used Quizlet.com to learn rock and minerals identification.  We also did two experiments and went on a hike to a local granite quarry.

New journey, Homeschooling, how we got here

Potato and I have started on a new journey, homeschooling.

Potato is in sixth grade this year and has really been struggling.  I've shared many of our struggles on my personal facebook page.  Trouble started within the first week of school.  We live within a mile of the school, which means he has to walk.  Originally he was very excited, but walking and carrying a heavy backpack for my tiny guy (52 inches, 54 pounds and hypotonia) was just too much.  I thought no problem I'll just drive him to school, which worked for about a week.  Then he started refusing to go to school.  Every morning was a battle.

A better me

Last year in April I started my 5k training journey.  Since then I've run many 5ks, two 10ks, and two Warrior Dashes.  It's been a long and sometimes difficult journey.  I started this running journey with my sister and now my husband has joined us. I'm very competitive and hard on myself.  This often causes me to feel like I haven't done well in races.  I just have to remind myself that I've worked hard to get where I'm at.

I'm determined to get myself into better physical shape.

And my newest passion is yoga.

Scout leadership

Potato, Monkey, and some of the boys from Potato's Den
at the Camp chapel

Monkey is a Boy Scout and our Webelos den's Den Chief.  In the past year he has really stepped up into a leadership position.  He is taking his role very seriously

When we took Potato's Webelos Cub Scout den on a camping trip.  We went to our local Scout camp and the boys had lots of fun.  All of the boys had such a great time.

For this trip we took the boys camping at our local Scout camp.  The goal was to work on achievements for Webelos and Arrow of Light.

End of and Era

Mom and Grandma at the Relay for Life June 2012, 2 years ago

It's not an actual era, but it feels like one.

About a two years ago, my Grandma was very sick and survived her congestive heart failure and pneumonia.  She hasn't really been the same since then.  Her body has gone down hill.  She was not eating enough calories to keep herself going.  She needed constant care, which my amazing mom and our amazing home care woman gave to her.  In the past six months she has been admitted to the hospital for a collapsed lung twice.

Last month she had her last night with us.

Fun with my kids

Frozen, it's every where.  Three of my four kids Love it.  If you don't know what Frozen is, then you are probably living under a rock.  Frozen is the newest Disney movie, about two sisters.  One who is trying to hide from the world and keep her secret.  And the other who is overly optimistic and wants to see all the world has to offer.

The songs are very catchy.  I often find myself singing them.  Mostly because the kids keep quoting the movie and it makes me think of one of the songs.  My husband and Monkey are completely done with hearing any songs or quotes from Frozen.

Here is the fun part.  Ladybug, Duckling, Potato, and I were driving home from a friend's party.  Ladybug decided to play the movie on her Ipad.  Of course all three of them started singing along with the movie.  Potato even had his penguin do some dancing, he is such a ham.  Since we had recently watched some parents lip-syncing Frozen songs in their car, I got an Idea!  What if I pulled out my phone and tried to catch some video of the kids singing and having fun.  Check out our video to see and hear the fun we had on our long car ride home.

PS - Hope you all enjoy the view of my ear.

~Earthy Mom

Training for a 5k and more

3 weeks ago I decided I wanted to do a 5k.  Potato's school just had one last weekend, the Great Strides 5k.  All the money raised will go to the school's PTO fund.  I walked in it with my mom and my sister, and Monkey ran.  My mom came in 6th place for her age group!  And Monkey came in 4th place for his age group!
My sister and I plan to run in the Murphy's Mad Dash for a Cure 5k in May.  In September my husband and I plan to do our first Warrior Dash!

I downloaded a couch to 5k app to help me get ready for the Murphy Mad Dash because I haven't run since I played field hockey in high school.  I've been going out running 3 days a week right after I put Potato on the bus.  The other 2 days I've started doing strength training.  I love the way getting out and exercising makes me feel.  I feel like I have more energy for the rest of the day.  I feel motivated!  I am even beginning to look forward to my next run.  To see if I can run faster and further than I did the time before.

The first couple weeks were tough.  It was still very cold out in the mornings, 17-18 degrees cold.  I didn't want to go out, but I pushed myself to do it.  I bundled up in a sweatshirt, my winter coat, hat, and mittens.  I'm sure I was quite the sight.  I'm really enjoying the nice weather running now.  I will admit I'm not looking forward to the summer running.  I don't like really hot any more than really cold.  I'm kind of a 60-70 temperature type of person.

Time for me to get out and run!

~Earthy Mom

Hello Spring! I've missed you

First flower in my garden

I've been feeling great and really motivated lately.  And I think its is because Spring is in the air!

Winter is really hard.  I don't like the cold and it seems like it is always dark.

I love the spring time.  It feels warmer (even though it is only in the 40-50's).  The sun is out longer!  I can get out into the garden and I love seeing the flowers coming out.

Last night I heard the peepers, a sure sign of Spring.  I had to call my mom and tell her I heard them.  I drive the kids crazy making them come out and listen to the peepers every year.  The other day the boys and I checked out our flower beds and found 3 flowers!  The daffodils have popped up too and we can't wait for them to open up!

It just feels so good to see and hear all the signs of spring and new life beginning.

Welcome back Spring!

~Earthy Mom

Feeling like a single mom

Since the beginning of this school year I've been feeling like a single mom.  I've been wanting to write about it, but I was feeling too negative for a while.  Then I've been too busy to write.  So now I'm just going to get it all out there.

In September my husband took a new position at his job.  He now works from noonish to 9ish Monday - Thursday.  He is also taking a couple college classes in Electrical engineering.  Many nights he comes home and I get to see him long enough to say, "hi how was your day?  Good night, I love you."  He then stays up to do homework, while I head to bed.  He also has a class on Saturday mornings till noon.  I'm very proud of him for going back to school.  But I miss him and so do the kids.

Happy Eostre

Our family had a great time together on Eostre.  (Minus my husband who was at work and Duckling who is with her mom)
It started off as any other school day.  The kids got up and left for school.  I then proceeded to fill their baskets with goodies and hide about 42 eggs through out the house.  I also left a note saying to leave all eggs where they are until I got home.  Then it was time for me to head off to work.

When I got home all was normal, Boys watching tv and Ladybug playing on her Ipad.

New House, New Home

We just bought our first house a few weeks ago!  It's so exciting to be home owners!  We had been in the process of buying this house since August.  Our closing date kept getting changed because of lots of little things, but we are finally in our new home.

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, and the time just seems to fly by.  My husband spent several days packing everything up from our apartment.  I can't believe how much stuff we have.  We did donate quite a bit of stuff.  I have spent the last several weeks unpacking everything at the new house.

Sweet Sixteen

3 years old

Sweet sixteen

Where has the time gone?

My first born turned sixteen this month.  It's hard for me to believe that I am the mom of a smart, caring, and beautiful young woman. 

I didn't plan to have her, but she has been one of the best surprises in my life.  We have gone through good times and bad times together; hard times and easy times.  I wouldn't change anything for the world.  I've loved helping and watching her grow into the young woman she is.  And as much as I say I'm counting down the days till she turns eighteen and moves out, I'm not ready to let her go.

Blessed Solstice and Merry Christmas

The boys on the beach with the sun rising

Our family enjoyed a very wonderful holiday season.  We celebrated Yule and then enjoy Christmas with our families.  This year we were very lucky to have beautiful weather for the Solstice.  We woke up at 6am and the children checked out their stockings from the Yule fairies.  Then we all headed out to the beach to watch the sunrise.
Thanks to the weather being so nice and almost warm (60 degrees), we spent much longer enjoying the beach and sunrise.  We wrote

Where to start...

I've realized that it's been almost a year since I've written anything.  And a lot has happened in that time.

A Lot.

Ladybug will be turning sixteen in less than a month.  I don't know where the time has gone.  She is growing into an amazing young woman.  We are still having sex talks, but thankfully it's still just talk.  (Big sigh of relief)  Her letter to Santa, from last year, has mostly come true.

Let's talk...

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Strike update

So far we're doing amazing.  After my father and I talked with the kids, I've seen alot of improvement.  I am still on "strike".  Which basically means I won't clean up after the kids, and I'll only give them one reminder.  Which really in the grand scheme of things isn't a strike after all.  This is the way our house should and used to run.

The last few days I've had to remind them all to clean up after themselves.  But this morning I was pleasantly surprised with No breakfast dishes on the table or in the sink.  This is amazing progress!  I couldn't be happier.
They are still having some trouble remembering to put away coats and backpacks.  But one reminder of "Where does your coat/backpack belong?"  and it's taken care of.  Chores are also getting done mostly without reminders!  Yeah!
I am happy to report that my little mess makers have realized the error of their ways.  And I have realized the error of constantly doing for them.  I was doing all of them a great disservice.  I also realized that constant nagging/yelling is no fun for anyone and I'm hoping things will continue to run a little bit more smoothly everyday.

Pictures of my shame.

Water bottle and Dunkin Donuts bag on livingroom floor

Sink and counter piled with dishes

Kitchen table.  Not sure what is left on that plate

Dishes left on stove too.  Yup that's french fries on that bowl.

Coats, snow suits, hats, mittens, and boots piled up in the bathroom.

~Earthy Mom

No longer a Silent strike

I couldn't take it any longer.  I couldn't look around my house.  The mess is getting to me.  I think I was even beginning to drive my father insane with it.  He was in the know and I shared it all with him.  The few ups and many downs.  Today my father came to down to my house and looked around.  Then he told the children, "Your house is a trash pit.  Do you even realize it?"  They looked at him with blank stares.  "Your mother has gone on strike.  She is done cleaning up after you and doing Your chores."
The children, specifically the oldest, were angry.  They told him they didn't know what their chores are.  That they didn't leave any mess.  He told them to look around.  And that they are lucky to have me as a mom, because he would do much more than go on a silent strike.
So how did it come to this point?

My Mommy Strike

Today is the morning of the fourth day of my Mommy Strike.  I'm pretty sure nobody but me knows I'm on strike.  Not even my husband, because I have not told him yet.  I'm actually debating as to whether or not to let him in on it.  Since as I look around he has helped create some of the mess.  At this point in my strike I am having a really hard time looking around my house.  It is begging me to clean up.

Here is how the days have been so far.