Mansel on the Mat

Mansel likes wrestling. This photo is for his Grandpa and Grandma -- who don't get to see him wrestle often. He's wrestling at 80 pounds this year. Can you believe it?  That weight often puts him against 7th and 8th graders, so his record as a 4th grader isn't as good as you would like it to be.  But -- this year he is getting a lot of good wrestling time.  Districts will be March 13th. 

GO MANSEL GO!!

My Firefighter

Wayne likes to play dress up -- this day he donned a fire hat, his fireman boots, and his face mask (left over from Dan's c-pap machine)...

I'd say he's pretty close. LOL Better then his sister's princess dresses!

Wrestling Season in Iowa

If you aren't from Iowa -- you may not get this... but it's Wrestling State Tournament this week.  Amazing stories are surfacing -- and I'd like to share one of them with you.


 

My Facebook Face

Often I see pictures on facebook with pouting lips, or swooning eyes, or smoochy lips, or coy/sly looks... well -- here is my facebook look.

I can't even get close to those other teen age looks -- if I try it makes me look like a clown... so I'll just jump right to the look like a clown look in the first place.

Does it make you feel all swoony, pouty, poochy?

A Clean Room

You know... first impressions can sometimes be deceiving.  Look at this -- the boys cleaned their room.  

Those boys -- they know how to please their mommy. I love a clean room... this is Wayne's bed... doesn't he do a good job for a 4yo making his bed?  Ahhh...

How nice -- wait.... hmmm...what's that sticking out there... see it?  Under the bed at the end there?    That black thing?  What is that?

Here... bend down -- get a closer look.  Yeah, that's what I thought -- some one is a good shover... not a good cleaner.  :sigh:  Those boys...

A really good shover -- they packed that stuff in there tight.  Good grief -- they must have used their feet to get that in there so far.

Poor mister bear.

Check Out Sew Darlin' -- It's a Contest!!

I have a friend -- OK so she's an on-line friend, but I bet we'd be friends in real life.  She has met Ree.  Ü  I've never met Ree, but but I wish I had.  Anyway... Stacy is my friend.  Ü  She has redesigned her sewing blog.  It's CUTE!!  She's have a contest to get the word out about her blog.  (I should do that about my Scentsy stuff... shouldn't I).  Hmmm... anyway... 

Here goes. Go check out Sew Darlin'  -- you may find something you like, and you might as well enter her contest while you are there.

Did I forget to mention?  She's doing a give-away... and it's a doozy.  

"On the evening of February 22nd I will give away a $20 gift certificate."

That's huge isn't it?  Literally...

Oh -- I would love to win that -- wouldn't you?  You don't know?  Well -- you'd better get over there and check it out.  She has cute taste, and talent too.  (I've got cute taste and no talent... that doesn't work as well).  

Blog Trail Tuesday

My friend Melissa at Our Life as a Military Family is hosting a blog trail tuesday -- want to play along?

Have you ever clicked on a blog, only to be led to another blog, and then another, and another? Here’s your time to share some of those blogs with us! Share one or share many. Share one you’ve loved for a time or share one that’s new to you. Tell us why you like it. Help us spread the blog love!!

So this week I want to share a blog called Picket Fence Farm and Produce. This is a blog by our local CSA farmer.  (CSA being Community Supported Agriculture).  We are going to work on her farm this summer to pay for our CSA membership. I hope to learn a lot!  Before then, I've enjoyed reading about her farm on her blog.  I see she is getting into HONEY!  Yeah... I love honey.  Ü




Now it’s your turn! Use the banner above, if you’d like. Do a post on your blog about another blog. Be sure to link back to Blog Trail Tuesday blog! Then come back to Melissa's blog, and add your link to the McLinky. Be sure to add the link to the specific post – not your home page. Then be sure to check out everyone else’s links.  (If you can do all those things, you are a better person than I -- I messed it up last time... so here goes nothing).  LOL

We are a Bunch of Goats

We took a trip to the dentist yesterday.  Milo needed to get 4 teeth removed, maually, and Wayne needed to get 1 cavity filled. 

In the past when the kids have gotten teeth pulled -- some of them have fainted in the doctor's office, others have made it to the car before feeling light headed... so I warned the nurse... watch him, he may faint.

Milo did just fine. See his holes? 

Wayne on the the other hand... didn't fare so well.  Wayne had 1 tooth filled... he made it to the waiting area -- happy go lucky -- looky at my motorcycle toy I got.... made it to the car... told us all about it... made it into COSTCO after jumping through puddles and being scolded by his mommy... made it to the picnic table, waited for his lunch.  I ordered several things, so was making several trips.  I'd given him his yogurt and was picking up the hotdogs... on the way back to the table... I saw him with his head down on the table... I said, "Oh buddy -- do you have an ice cream headache?"  No response... huh?  I felt his head... clammy... looked at his hands -- white as a sheet.  What?  A fainter with delayed reaction?  Apparently so. 

I say our family is a bunch of goats.  When Danielle got 5 teeth filled in one visit -- nary a thought of passing out -- ever, there or at home.  Milo -- four teeth pulled a bloody mess... nothing.  Me?  When I see myself bleeding -- watch out... I may hit the floor.  I've got bragging rights... I've never officially fainted, but I get pretty woozy.  LOL  I know enough to sit down -- even if the onlookers are mocking me.  Dan... he's a fainter, Tori... she's a fainter... Mansel... he's been close -- pretty white and clammy.  Wayne -- one tooth filled, laughing and chatting and eating... then BAM... well -- not really BAM literally... I gently laid him down and put his feet up. So he never went completely down - like others have, but he definitely inherited the fainting gene from his parents.  Weird, huh? 

Dan thought he might faint just after seeing Wayne feeling like fainting.  Funny huh... guess he chose the right line of work -- no blood or guts or fainting when working on machines.  LOL

Tori is in a Skit

Funny.  Ü 

Free Printable Valentines

We are printing our own valentines this year.  Found some for Danielle to share.

do you do this?  Where do you find good ones?

Books, Books, Books

Do you have any used books lying around? Ones you've already enjoyed, but you're never going to read again? I did, and I finally found a great way to share them with other people!

It seems that a few guys were sitting around one night talking about all the paperback books that they purchased over the years while traveling on business. Each of them had a large stack of books that they had read, so they decided to set up a website at http://www.PaperBackSwap.com/ that allows all of us to swap books with each other.

Let me tell you how it works -- because it is so easy! I listed a bunch of books on the site (listing 10 books gets the first member in your household free credits!) and I got 2 free book credits to get started. So you can order 2 books right away - free of charge -- and have them mailed directly to you! No strings attached. No gimmicks. No spam mail. Nothing. You just have to love reading books.

When another member selects one of my books that I have listed, I mail it to them. Yes, I pay for the postage. But then I get another book credit and I can select a book that I want. So another Club Member returns the favor and mails me one of his or her books free of charge. For every book I mail out, I get another book in return - a true shared system!

When someone requests one of your books, all you have to do is print two pieces of regular paper from your printer which includes the mailing address and the recommended postage. Apply the postage, and drop it in the mail. Hey, for a typical paperback, you don't even need to go to the post office.

Right now the annual club membership is free. Eventually the founders will ask everyone to help contribute to pay for the upkeep of the web site, but for now the annual club membership is free. The annual dues will probably be between $10 and $20 based on the number of people in the club. But again, right now you don't even have to pay any dues for at least one year if you become a Member.

You really need to check this out. And if you do sign up, please use the following link:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=gabbygwenhwyfar@gmail.com
If you use the link above to join, I'll get a free book when you post your first ten books (and you'll still get free books for posting them!)

I hope you find something you like there.. it really is a great deal! 

My Favorite Commercial

Thanks Tim Tebow and his Mom.  Ü (Oh.. and Focus on the Family)

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.