Christian: Can we get an engine so I can take it apart and learn how it works?
Um... sure? Where the hell do I get an engine he can take apart? His only requirement is that it is a gas engine.
Christian and Alex then went on to argue the merits of gas vs. "other" engines. (I wasn't paying attention, so for all I know they could have been talking about Jello powered engines.)
Ethan: Maybe I will be a plumber.
Christian: You sure have the butt crack thing down!
Ethan of course had to get down and demonstrate his best plumber's crack.
Friday, June 22, 2007
I <3 Homeschooling!
I love homeschooling. I love that I get to spend the day with my kids and that I am taking an active part in shaping the adults they will become. I love that we can spend as much time as we want to on something because I get to choose what they will learn and when they will learn it.
I am almost done planning for the fall. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to use but just needed to put in on paper. So far, the only books I have to buy are four astronomy books for Christian and Lightning Literature for all three. (British Literature: Early - Mid 19th Century and 7th grade)
My only question is this... How important is handwriting? All three of my boys have horrible handwriting. They inherited it from both sides of the family and I am beginning to think there is no hope. Alex and Ethan still write in big "little kid" letters and you can barely read it. Christian writes so small you can barely read it. He was also (un)lucky enough to be taught "ball and stick" at home and forced to use D'Nealian for the 1/2 year he was in PS 2nd grade. His writing is all kinds of messed up. Sigh...
Do I just give up and let them type everything or do I continue trying to get them to improve, even though we have worked through "Handwriting without tears" and it didn't help?
I am almost done planning for the fall. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to use but just needed to put in on paper. So far, the only books I have to buy are four astronomy books for Christian and Lightning Literature for all three. (British Literature: Early - Mid 19th Century and 7th grade)
My only question is this... How important is handwriting? All three of my boys have horrible handwriting. They inherited it from both sides of the family and I am beginning to think there is no hope. Alex and Ethan still write in big "little kid" letters and you can barely read it. Christian writes so small you can barely read it. He was also (un)lucky enough to be taught "ball and stick" at home and forced to use D'Nealian for the 1/2 year he was in PS 2nd grade. His writing is all kinds of messed up. Sigh...
Do I just give up and let them type everything or do I continue trying to get them to improve, even though we have worked through "Handwriting without tears" and it didn't help?
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Happy Birthday
Today we celebrated Marty's birthday and Father's day.
We went on a 2.7 mile kick-you-in-the-ass hike. (The river trail.) If it weren't for the huge horse fly that followed me for most of the trail, it would have been a perfect hike. Of course, we went right after I worked out...
I tried to get a good picture of the boys and Marty together for his Father's Day present (a picture frame that says "Dad") but of course it was like taking a preschool class picture. Maybe worse.
We grilled out steaks so hopefully that made up for the horrible birthday cake he ended up with. I bought a small (4" LOL) red and green cake at Meijer. It wasn't until I was putting it into the van that I noticed that it had red and green Christmas tree sprinkles on it, too. I convinced myself that they couldn't possibly be allowed to sell a cake that was that old and went on my merry way. When I got it home, I managed to drop it and most of the frosting slid off onto the container... all in one piece. When it came time to serve the cake I had to smear the frosting around and it turned into a lovely brown with red streaks. Of course, we were out of birthday candles, so I put toothpicks in the cake and lit them. (Don't laugh! They stayed lit until just before I sat it in front of him.) As he looked down at his brown and red streaked cake with smoldering toothpicks his only comment was "What a commentary on my life." The smart ass will get a real cake tomorrow.
We went on a 2.7 mile kick-you-in-the-ass hike. (The river trail.) If it weren't for the huge horse fly that followed me for most of the trail, it would have been a perfect hike. Of course, we went right after I worked out...
I tried to get a good picture of the boys and Marty together for his Father's Day present (a picture frame that says "Dad") but of course it was like taking a preschool class picture. Maybe worse.
We grilled out steaks so hopefully that made up for the horrible birthday cake he ended up with. I bought a small (4" LOL) red and green cake at Meijer. It wasn't until I was putting it into the van that I noticed that it had red and green Christmas tree sprinkles on it, too. I convinced myself that they couldn't possibly be allowed to sell a cake that was that old and went on my merry way. When I got it home, I managed to drop it and most of the frosting slid off onto the container... all in one piece. When it came time to serve the cake I had to smear the frosting around and it turned into a lovely brown with red streaks. Of course, we were out of birthday candles, so I put toothpicks in the cake and lit them. (Don't laugh! They stayed lit until just before I sat it in front of him.) As he looked down at his brown and red streaked cake with smoldering toothpicks his only comment was "What a commentary on my life." The smart ass will get a real cake tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Graduation
Marty has two cousins that graduated from High School this year. They are having a dual party this weekend and one sent us the invitation to the ceremony, picture and invitation to the party. The other didn't. I suddenly have the urge to send a large sum of money to the one who invited us. Is that wrong?
A joke from Carin's sister
Yup... stole it right off of Carin's blog. Mwahaha...
You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a 'drop off', (The ground is 18-20 inches below the level you are traveling on), and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping horse, which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a galloping zebra. Both the horse and zebra are also traveling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?
For the answer, click and drag your mouse from star to star.
*Get your drunk-ass off the merry-go-round. *
You are driving in a car at a constant speed. On your left side is a 'drop off', (The ground is 18-20 inches below the level you are traveling on), and on your right side is a fire engine traveling at the same speed as you. In front of you is a galloping horse, which is the same size as your car and you cannot overtake it. Behind you is a galloping zebra. Both the horse and zebra are also traveling at the same speed as you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?
For the answer, click and drag your mouse from star to star.
*Get your drunk-ass off the merry-go-round. *
Hell Explained By Chemistry Student
The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term.
The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let’s look at the different religions that exist in the world today.
Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle’s Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it?
If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...... leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."
H/T: Doc
The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let’s look at the different religions that exist in the world today.
Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle’s Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it?
If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...... leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."
H/T: Doc
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Decorating when you have no talent - or decorating budget
These are so my SIL can see what we were talking about.
The ugly pictures - These were marked at $14.98 each at the Salvation Army and a woman was nice enough to give me an extra church bulletin for 40% off each (!!)
*Edited to add - my elderly neighbor said that she has seen these paintings before, and has even seen figurines made of them. I did a quick search online and found this. Who knew my not so ugly pictures were famous?!
Above the bookcase - My grandma's mirror. The jug was $2 at a yard sale
Pictures I painted (can't you tell by the complete and total lack of artistic ability? lol) made into 1 big picture for above the huge TV cabinet
50¢ yard sale picture frames, 10¢ (large) and 25¢ (small) thingies and pieces of my old red shower curtain fills a small blank wall
The ugly pictures - These were marked at $14.98 each at the Salvation Army and a woman was nice enough to give me an extra church bulletin for 40% off each (!!)
*Edited to add - my elderly neighbor said that she has seen these paintings before, and has even seen figurines made of them. I did a quick search online and found this. Who knew my not so ugly pictures were famous?!
Above the bookcase - My grandma's mirror. The jug was $2 at a yard sale
Pictures I painted (can't you tell by the complete and total lack of artistic ability? lol) made into 1 big picture for above the huge TV cabinet
50¢ yard sale picture frames, 10¢ (large) and 25¢ (small) thingies and pieces of my old red shower curtain fills a small blank wall
Saturday, June 16, 2007
In a nutshell
Brother, SIL, nieces came to visit. Lots of swimming, park visits, birthday party. Ate at uncle Marty's work (best part of the visit when you are three, I'm sure.) A few tears (mean aunt Krista...) Flu bug for Alex. Head colds for the rest of us. Finally better. Whew!
I have lost a total of 19 lbs. I won't mention how many more I want to lose, but suffice it to say I am in for the long haul.
New neighbors upstairs. Uber-yuppies from Boston. They are nice, though. A baby (7 mos, I think) and a 3 year old. My brother found a ring with diamonds in it and when I asked them if it was hers I found out it was the daughters. The three year old daughter. The dad said she "has a bunch" and they "were expensive" and she didn't even know it was missing. >Insert your own snarky comment here about a) the fact that he told me it was expensive and b) the fact that a 3 year old is wearing - and losing - expensive diamond rings. I'm too tired to put that much thought into it.<
Found big pictures for above the couch. I love them and everyone else thinks they are ugly. Except Marty who a) doesn't have enough of an opinion to care and b) even if he did would never tell me they were ugly. Will post a picture later. Then you can tell me they are ugly, too. ;-) Finally got around to hanging some other things I have. It is starting to look like a home.
There, you are caught up.
My niece, Sydney fell into a fire pit last night and has 1st degree burns on her hands and 2nd degree on her knees. They were at SIL's parents house and before anyone could grab her, Syd took off running to give her mommy a hug and tripped. Luckily, there was a grill grate in the pit, so from what I understand it stopped her from going in head first. Her knees hit the side of the ring, so that is why they are worse. She didn't cry at the hospital, and the nurse told my brother she was handling it better than some adult patients. They live in Akron where the Children's hospital has one of the best burn units in the country, so they cleaned her up, bandaged her and sent her home. She told me on the phone this morning that she is better... "not a lot better - just a little, Aunt Kwista." :o(
Yesterday was Marty's birthday. In typical restaurant family fashion, we will celebrate it - and fathers day - on his next day off. C'est la vie!
I have lost a total of 19 lbs. I won't mention how many more I want to lose, but suffice it to say I am in for the long haul.
New neighbors upstairs. Uber-yuppies from Boston. They are nice, though. A baby (7 mos, I think) and a 3 year old. My brother found a ring with diamonds in it and when I asked them if it was hers I found out it was the daughters. The three year old daughter. The dad said she "has a bunch" and they "were expensive" and she didn't even know it was missing. >Insert your own snarky comment here about a) the fact that he told me it was expensive and b) the fact that a 3 year old is wearing - and losing - expensive diamond rings. I'm too tired to put that much thought into it.<
Found big pictures for above the couch. I love them and everyone else thinks they are ugly. Except Marty who a) doesn't have enough of an opinion to care and b) even if he did would never tell me they were ugly. Will post a picture later. Then you can tell me they are ugly, too. ;-) Finally got around to hanging some other things I have. It is starting to look like a home.
There, you are caught up.
My niece, Sydney fell into a fire pit last night and has 1st degree burns on her hands and 2nd degree on her knees. They were at SIL's parents house and before anyone could grab her, Syd took off running to give her mommy a hug and tripped. Luckily, there was a grill grate in the pit, so from what I understand it stopped her from going in head first. Her knees hit the side of the ring, so that is why they are worse. She didn't cry at the hospital, and the nurse told my brother she was handling it better than some adult patients. They live in Akron where the Children's hospital has one of the best burn units in the country, so they cleaned her up, bandaged her and sent her home. She told me on the phone this morning that she is better... "not a lot better - just a little, Aunt Kwista." :o(
Yesterday was Marty's birthday. In typical restaurant family fashion, we will celebrate it - and fathers day - on his next day off. C'est la vie!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Sniff, sniff
My brother, SIL and nieces came to visit over the weekend. We had a great visit and now have head colds to remember them by. lol That's ok... they also had a flu bug so it could have been worse. I keep forgetting to grab the camera out of the car so I can't post pictures yet. I'll get them soon.
Not much else is going on. Just sitting around sniffling.
Not much else is going on. Just sitting around sniffling.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Dark clouds
So I have been doing kick ass on the diet. I have stuck to it 100% and have lost a pretty big chunk of weight. (The last time I lost weight even close to this was when I had the flu. LOL) I have hit a plateau because my body is happy being a fatty. I however am not, so I keep on keeping on.
I was so thrilled with what I had done that I was on top of the world. And then she struck...
Have I mentioned lately that my MIL sucks? I called her the other day so that Christian could wish her a happy birthday and let it slip that I was on a diet. After finding out how much weight I have lost she had to one-up me with the weight other people have lost. She asked about exercise. I told her what I am doing (almost 3 miles, at 3 MPH and 2% incline) and she tells me she is walking 4 miles a day, blah, blah, blah. She can never let me have my moment, you know?
So I fell for her trap (you would think that after 17 years I would know better) and let her ruin my attitude. After a lifetime of it, Marty is immune to her BS and tried to cheer me up. My MIL has problems and I need to just move past this and remember to keep my mouth shut next time! I am vowing right here an now to never let her ruin my attitude again.
There. My cathartic vent of the day is over so now I can get on with more important things in life.
By the way - the scale this morning seems to indicate that the plateau is over. thankyouverymuch!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
A Buggy Birthday
My niece turns five tomorrow. Late Thursday night they will drive all the way from Ohio for a dual birthday - Uncle Marty's birthday is June 15th.
I have no idea what to get her for her birthday. What do five year old girls like?? This particular five year old girl likes bugs and rocks. On second thought, this might not be too hard.
The plan for when they are here is:
Friday
Dow Gardens - We went to Dow Gardens the last time they were here. It was cold and not much was blooming yet, so I thought it would be fun for them to see the changes. I will be giving them each a nature journal and colored pencils and will show them how to record what they see.
Afterwards we will either go to Marty's restaurant for dinner (the girls looooove it there) or come back to the house and grill out.
Saturday
Pool and birthday party BBQ!
The girls love the pool, so no visit would be complete without it! After a day at the pool we will come back here for a BBQ and birthday party. I have a feeling it will be bug themed. :o)
Food - Cupcakes with a plastic bug on top, cups of dirt(AKA dirt cake - but for littles I will make it in small cups) with chocolate ice cream instead of pudding and normal BBQ food
Games - "Buzz, buzz, sting!" (instead of Duck, Duck, Goose), Cocoon game (pair each girl with someone and see which team can wrap a girl in toilet paper first), Flyswatter race (carry a bug on a flyswatter from point A to B)and Pin the spot on the ladybug (giant lady bug on poster board. Either paper circles or oreos with 1 side removed)
Bug "gift bags" - Bug kits (dollar store) with anything with bugs on it I can find at the dollar store
Decorations - just printed and colored pictures of bugs
I have no idea what to get her for her birthday. What do five year old girls like?? This particular five year old girl likes bugs and rocks. On second thought, this might not be too hard.
The plan for when they are here is:
Friday
Dow Gardens - We went to Dow Gardens the last time they were here. It was cold and not much was blooming yet, so I thought it would be fun for them to see the changes. I will be giving them each a nature journal and colored pencils and will show them how to record what they see.
Afterwards we will either go to Marty's restaurant for dinner (the girls looooove it there) or come back to the house and grill out.
Saturday
Pool and birthday party BBQ!
The girls love the pool, so no visit would be complete without it! After a day at the pool we will come back here for a BBQ and birthday party. I have a feeling it will be bug themed. :o)
Food - Cupcakes with a plastic bug on top, cups of dirt(AKA dirt cake - but for littles I will make it in small cups) with chocolate ice cream instead of pudding and normal BBQ food
Games - "Buzz, buzz, sting!" (instead of Duck, Duck, Goose), Cocoon game (pair each girl with someone and see which team can wrap a girl in toilet paper first), Flyswatter race (carry a bug on a flyswatter from point A to B)and Pin the spot on the ladybug (giant lady bug on poster board. Either paper circles or oreos with 1 side removed)
Bug "gift bags" - Bug kits (dollar store) with anything with bugs on it I can find at the dollar store
Decorations - just printed and colored pictures of bugs
Friday, June 01, 2007
He is going to kill me...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)