Me vs. Dogs

LOL -- you know me... I'm not fond of dogs -- especially those viscious ones.  Anyway -- I think this video is hilarious... maybe more than you do.  :snicker:  but I bet you laugh out loud in spite of your love of the ol'furballs.

Is this Cute?

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.comI'm not really a bumper sticker kind of gal, but I really want one of these for my vehicle.  That's not really practical is it -- since the last 5 people in the picture will continue to grow over the next several years... but really -- isn't that cute?? 

Hey -- you should go make one of your family... put it on your blog... then come back here and direct me to it.  I'd love to see it.  They make me smile!  I think it's because we are celebrating our family instead of... well the opposite of celebrating -- what ever that is. 

I'd love to use this as my siggy on a message board, but I don't know how.  How will you use it?

Wordless Wednesday

H.H.E. Field Trip to Fire Department

After our trip to the Knoxville Police Station we walked across the street as a group and took a tour of the Knoxville City Fire & Rescue Department. 

We got to meet a paramedic and she explained some of her uniform and how the volunteer system works.  They carry pagers around with them and they have certain tones for certain volunteers.  She opened up an ambulance and let the kids wander through it and ask questions.

A fireman explained his uniform to the kids as he put it on.  There was good discussion about fires and fire safety and plans for what to do if there is a fire at your house.  We came home that night and discussed again what our family would do and where we would meet if there were a fire here.  I love field trips, they usually trigger great conversation later.

Once they get the uniform on it's very different looking.  For short people it could be scary.  The oxygen tank makes lots of noise and beeps. So this fire fighter got down on their level and they pretended what to do if there were in a burning house and they saw a fire man. I had Wayne and Danielle go up and touch him.  You are to go TOWARD the fire fight, not under your bed and AWAY from the firefighter.  In the fire station is a great place to become familiar with a fire fighter.  Lets just hope we never have to meet one in our own home.

They got to climb in on and around a fire truck as well. 

I think Tori even looks interested... maybe. 

Thank you Knoxville Fire & Rescue Department for the great field trip! 

H.H.E. Field Trip to Police Station

Our Home Education Co-op has a great field trip system set up.  They schedule a field trip about once a month, and we usually try to attend.  In January we went to the police station.  Police Chief

Daniel Losada, (also knows as the juggling police man)  did a superb job of giving us a tour of the facilities, explaining his uniform, showing us his vehicles, and answering all our questions.

In the 2nd photo he is working his way around his belt that he puts on each morning for work.  When he puts that on, he adds 22 pounds to carry around all day long.  He passed around some handcuffs for the kids to hold and feel.  He explained his taser.  Wow.  It was a good visual for us to talk about later... why would anyone ever want to be a criminal and on the wrong side of the law?

The chief took us out side after a tour of the building and let us look at a patrol car.

He talked about the lights.  The RADAR system.  I learned that they have antennae on the front AND the back, so once you pass the parked car you should NOT stomp on the gas and feel safe, because he can still record your speed even as you are pulling away from him.  Pays to go on field trips.  I learned a lot.

Tori learned what is was like to be in the back seat of a patrol car.  Not too comfortable.  Plastic windows back there so one couldn't spit on the patrolman if they felt the need to.  Not too much leg room back their either.    The city of Knoxville does have a neat ride along program that the kids can do, sort of an abbreviated apprenticeship, if they would like to see what a patrolman does while on duty. 

Chief Losada really got up close and personal with the kids.  Here is a photo of Milo in the front seat of the patrol car learning all about the lights and sirens.  How COOL is that?

So we all gathered around for a photo op. 

Thanks Chief Losada!  Our family enjoyed the field trip to the Knoxville City Police Station.

Someone Was Flying High

I was looking at youTube videos the other day for some reason.  I get easily distracted, I can't remember what I was looking for.  I found THIS!  Hey locals... can you find your house? 



Thanks for the video floydflys72f. 

3 drivers

3 drivers in our house

Wouldn't you like to be a mouse

In the corner of the car

As we travel near and far

Let's see... how does Tori feel about this??

Yeah -- a picture is worth a 1000 words.

Early Morning Skating

WHO Van & Bonnie's Early morning talk show hosted a free skate at the Brenton Skate Park in downtown Des Moines.  I must have been nervous -- because they weren't moving that fast just sitting there. 

The kids and I went.  Wayne & Danielle got to stand close to them.

Bonnie is just as pretty in real life as she sounds on the radio.  She gave me a beautiful smile as I snapped her photo. 

We got early - early for us... 5:30 AM, but not as early as they did... they have a 4:59 club, which I'll probably never be a member of.

We left the house at 6:20 and got to the park at 7:17... not bad time.

Then we skated.  FUN was had by all.

Milo.  Milo was videotaped and got on the 5:00 evening news for about 3 seconds.  They showed him getting up off of the ice.  Apparently he fell down. 

Tori and some friends we found up there.  2 other home school families that we know also listen to WHO News Radio.  They took advantage of the free skate.  It's always fun to have friends around - no matter what you are doing.  See the pretty bridge in the back ground... and the fog. 

Dani had FUN!!  Not too much snow on her pants... when she fell she got RIGHT BACK UP!  It wasn't so crowded that the beginners couldn't hang on to the railing if they wanted to.  Worked great for Wayne and Danielle. 

Milo and Wayne hung out together some.

Another WHO listener saw me taking pictures and she offered to take one of me... so I let her.  I'm so glad I did.  The lighting is flattering. 

Mansel skated full speed the whole time.  He's just a blur in all the pictures.  What a pretty shot of the neat buildings around the rink.  This is where we got our skates and our free breakfast they provided.

THANKS WHO and VAN & BONNIE!  We enjoyed our time with you.

How to Peel a Potato

My friend Holly sent me this YouTube video... a GREAT tip!!  Plus it's fun watching the old Gilligan Island Lady peel a potato. 



Thanks Holly.  I'm going to use this tip next time I need to peel a potato.

Foor for Fines Day

Monday January 18, 2010
Food For Fines Day
Patrons may bring in non-perishable food in good condition to pay off library fines. Each food item = $1.00.


This coincides with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  They are collecting food for the food pantry in town - doing a service on two ends.  The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of Dr. King.1


So -- our library even has an electronic card catalog that we can look at from home.  We can put books on hold, check for availability, RENEW THEM on-line.  My goodness... I should never have an excuse for any overdue books.  Yet Monday I'll be taking in a flat of canned goods to eliminate my fines again this year.  

Woe is me!!

How do YOU organize your library books at home and keep from being late or overdue?

I need all the help I can get here friends.  

1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Knoxville Wrestling Club Tournament

Mansel wrestled today.

First match was over before I could get my camera ready.  Mansel sure is good at getting pinned fast.

2nd match -- Mansel was pinned again. This time he cried.  I told him to "turn up his man dial".  LOL  Then later I found out he got beat by an 80 pound 8th grader.  WHAT? Manse is only a 4th grader... that other guy was a runt... that's not fair.  LOL  So -- anyway.  It was fair... probably not fair of me to scold Mansel for crying. 

Match #3.  MANSEL WON!!!  (the other team forfeited that weight).  Well -- a win is a win!!

Match #4!!!  MANSEL WON FOR REAL!!  Here is the proof.

Mansel at Knoxville Tourney from Jennifer J. on Vimeo.

Long day -- but worth it after that one.  I'm a horrible video person.  I'd starve before I could make any money taking video.  LOL  Oh well -- we enjoyed watching Mansel wrestle today.  Thanks to the Knoxville Wrestling Club for giving him the chance to wrestle.

Share a Blog!

OK my 27 followers... I'm blogging today.  Can you believe it?



AND -- it's a goodie.


I've got a friend Melissa who is hosting a blog challenge.  It's an easy one, anyone can play.  But it will be a goodie... you'll get great information from this challenge.

  

Here are the rules...

to click on a blog in your blogroll and choose a new blog to check out.  Then post about that blog. And after you post about the blog, come back here and share the link below.  Not your blog link, but the link to the post about the new blog you’ve discovered.

So - the blog I posted on her blogroll is Antique Mommy.   She is sometimes sweet, sometimes tart, but always real. She is an older mom with one kid.  The stories she tells.  I LOVE reading her blog.

So -- click on the links... follow the rules... play the game.

HAVE FUN!