Hello

(Think Niel Diamond here:)

Hello, my friend(s), hello. 
Just called to say, Hello....

Can you tell that Glee is back on? I think it might be just the best show on TV right now! (This from a former show choir dork who never really outgrew the title... seriously, why can't we just burst into song like that every day?)

Anyway, I am just popping in on my lunch break to say that I'm taking a few days off from the blog. I have lots of post ideas swirling around in my head...

...but my job is putting a serious damper on my knitting reading having any kind of fun blogging activities this week. Here in Missouri we have MAP testing (which has thrown my schedule into a blender), and it's the beginning of the spring IEP season (which also throws my schedule into a blender, and has the added curse bonus of TONS of paperwork. Yay me.)

Anyway, I hope to be back next week. Here are some post ideas I'm thinking about:

• Summer break is coming up! This means our summer [home]school begins soon!
• Chaos & general hi-jinx have invaded our house, along with pollen & dust.
• The garden is growing already! (Although it's currently not growing IN the garden... it's still on my kitchen counter.)
• I'm in the book of Luke of the Bible in 90 Days (I think today is approximately Day 105 for me). 
• more KidSpeak
• .....

Anyway, the rest of the month is crazy (I think I have five IEP's next week!) but I miss the blog & I miss all of you, and I will be back very soon!

Hugs!

This and That

Hi, Ya'll! It's Friday, and I have just a couple of quick things to share.

If you're a knitter, be sure to stop by my other blog to check out photos of my new FO (Finished Object). I did some fingerless mitts that turned out great. Also, I'm looking for some advice on making these lovely wool mitts less like a torture device scratchy. So if anyone has any ideas, I am completely open to hearing them!
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I'm still reading along through the Bible in 90 Days. I have left the OT behind. It's nice to be out of there. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know there is really important stuff in the Old Testament. But the end of it is just such a downer. Also, if it was a movie, it would be rated R for violent content. I have to admit that I was a little uncomfortable with reading so much about God's anger toward Isreal and the nations... and what he did to Jerusalem. I wasn't raised with those stories, or with that "side" of God. I mean, He definitely gave them chance after chance after chance... and I just think that if I had seen all those miracles and wonders that He did I would have been a little more devout in my faith. I am still confused about why His chosen people just couldn't seem to get it together and keep it together. I mean, I know that they couldn't keep the Law absolutely. The broken and sinful nature of man would never allow that. (Plus, it was a lot of rules to remember.) But, really. I do not have any idea how it is that after they witnessed the plagues and were delivered out of Egypt, that first generation went off & made a golden idol just because Moses was gone a little longer than they expected.

And later, when Jeremiah (now I know why they call him the Weeping Prophet) was telling them about the destruction and all the death and disease that would come to them.... I don't understand why they didn't get it together. He was pretty clear and explicit in his prophesies.

Now I'm in the book of Mark, and the reading is flying by. Although I have read bits & pieces of the new Testament, I've never actually read it through. The religious group I was raised in had its favorite verses, and pretty well stuck to them exclusively. But really, is there anything better than reading the Gospel? I mean, I can't put it down! I love reading all those red words, and I think I got all teary eyed about 23 times in Matthew. Jesus is just so awesome! (Yes, I'm a dork --> Goooo Jesus!!!! *Does a hurky*) A few of His parables have confused me, but He usually explained them, so I usually figure it out. I've still got a few question marks, but I'm trying not to get hung up on them.
*Don't know what a "hurky" is? You could ask Smockity. She sent me a great picture of one!*
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We had a sick little boy this week. I got to take off work on Wednesday to take care of him. I was bummed that he was sick, but it was really nice to spend the whole day with my "baby." He spent the entire day snuggling me, Nani-Bear and his "Foofy." Doesn't he look so pitiful?

He's better now, and back to tearing up life (and my house) at breakneck speed!

All About Ty

This post is all about Ty. He is growing up so quickly... I can hardly believe it. It seems like just yesterday that he was running around our house on those pudgy little feet with his woobie not far away.

Now he's a big first grader who is finding all kinds of independence.

-He can make his own sandwiches.
-He insists on walking to the bus stop "on his own" (which means that I drive or walk several feet   
       behind him).
-He can identify his own sensory needs & initiate supports some of the time.
-He can do real chores around the house that are actually helpful (though I have to remind him)
-He is a master at the art of negotiation
-He can now beat me (fair & square!) at several different games

And, he's a Cub Scout. Two weeks ago he got his Tiger Cub badge.

And he knows where it goes!

And he recently had some of his artwork displayed in the Board Room of his school district's administration offices!

 It's a paint-collaged alligator.

He loves art. My wonderful, creative, independent boy.

It's a Party!

 We had Riley's birthday party the last Saturday of March. (I know, I'm a terrible blogger to be so far behind...)

Anyway, Riley turned two! We had a small family party (well, as small as we can have since this kids have lots of aunts & uncles). We struggled to find a theme. He's not into any one type of toy. He doesn't have a favorite movie (he's never even sat still long enough to see a whole movie!). He doesn't watch TV or play video games, so he doesn't have any favorite characters. His nickname is "Wild Thing," but we did a "Where the Wild Things Are" party last year.

We finally settled on "Riley's Favorite Foods." The funny thing about Riley is that he is a bit of a picky eater (which seems funny to us because his older brother literally eats EVERYTHING). This child survives mostly on fruit and crackers. We always offer a variety of healthy foods, but he picks & chooses what he wants. On some days he will eat all kinds of foods, and on other days... well, it's all fruit & crackers, all day long.

So, I posted a snack menu on the front door. The items?

-Animal crackers
-Crackers and cheese
-Crackers and cheese with mini peperoni's
-Crackers and peanut butter
-Crackers and peanut butter with banans

And the cake? I made an angel food cake & filled it with fruit.

It was a great party, with food, family and friends.

Oh, and Tyson totally got into snuggling with the newest member of the F. Family - his cousin Claire!

Aren't they so cute?

Bible in 90 Days Update - Day 95

I'm still reading. And I'm still so very thankful for the wonderful support I received from everyone who commented and emailed and prayed for me when I thought I had failed completely.

Yesterday I finished the Old Testament and began reading Matthew. So far it's been awesome to read all those words printed in red. I have found myself teary eyed more than once since beginning the New Testament.

I learned some important things from all those wonderful women who offered their support and wisdom when I was ready to quit the whole thing.

I learned that I do not, in fact have to do  anything on my own. I have always understood my relationship with God as a parent-child relationship. He is my parent; I am His child. But I am also a parent, so I use my own experience to help me understand some of the things God does, some of the situations he lets me experience. And I know that in my role as a parent, I do not get my seven year old a glass of juice every time he wants one. I make him do it on his own. Because he can. Becuase I have given him experiences that have prepared him for a thirsty situation. I taught him to get his own glass of juice without any help from me. By this reasoning, I deduced that there should be some simple things (like reading the Bible, losing weight and doing my job) that I should be expected to do all by myself. Without any help from Him.

But someone who is really smart told me something that is, well... really smart. This is what she said:

Of course there are things your kids are expected to do all by themselves after you've taught them how. That's because your job as a parent is to prepare them for life without you. You won't always be there, so you have to be sure they are able to live when you're gone. But God isn't going anywhere. You're not expected to do things without His help because there will never be a time when He's not there for you. The point of your parenting is to make your kids independent; the point of His parenting is to make you dependent.


I also heard from more than one person that the Adversary will mess with people when we are on the right track. Could there be any righter track than committing to read the whole Bible, every word of the magnificent message God has given us, from cover to cover? Is there any righter track than spending at least a whole hour in His Word every day?

Someone else very wisely pointed out that God did not put the 90 Days expectation on us. We did that. I did that. God doesn't care how many days it takes to me to read His Word. He only cares that I read it. I haven't really failed if I am still reading... even on Day 95. I have much to learn from the words in that Book, and I won't really learn it if I am tearing through it at lightning speed in order to meet some self imposed deadline.

Finally, someone pointed out to me that we have seasons in our lives. We have to examine and evaluate each season to discover what this time is for. My life certainly has clearly defined seasons. Every year, in fact. Because I work full time from August to May, and I am home with my children from June to August. This season (the one in which I work full time and maintain my responsibilities as a wife/mom/homemaker) is a very busy one. Everything in my life right now is busy and fast paced. Maybe my time with God should be slower. Maybe every moment there should be savored.  Next year, during the summer season (the one in which I can slow down & focus completely on my family), I am planning to Read the Bible in 90 Days... in 90 days. When I will have an hour a day. When I've already read through it and savored all the words.When life is not passing me by at breakneck speeds while I limp along & try to keep up.

For now, I'm still reading. And I'm savoring. And I'm thinking I will end up reading the Bible in 90 Days... in around 110 (maybe 120) days. That's okay, isn't it? Because the important thing is that I read it.

WFMW: Coralling the Tub Toys

I mentioned in this post that I have a cheap, home-made, but totally functional bath toy keeper.

Today I'm going to share with you my super secret, totally complicated device, and instructions on how you can make one of your own.

Here are the materials you'll need:

1 small mesh garment bag
1 small plastic waste basket
   (both are available at Target, Walmart, even the dollar store!)

Be sure that the opening of your mesh bag will fit over the opening of your waste basket.

Okay, here are the really complicated assembly instructions:
1) put the mesh bag into the waste basket.
2) Turn the top edge of the bag over the rim of the wastebasket.
3) Secure with a binder clip or big rubberband if needed.

I always pull down on the edge of the bag so that the bottom of the bag is not sitting on the bottom of the waste basket. This allows space for everything to drip dry without the toys at the bottom sitting in stagnant water.

It cost me a only a few dollars, took about 45 seconds to assemble, and not only keeps the tub toys coralled in one place, but also allows for drying and super easy washing.

 And the washing? Well, I don't know about you, but we have hard water in these parts. This means that everything in the tub gets a buildup of soap scum (tasty!) and mineral deposits (exfoliant!) after a while. So, I try to wash the tub toys every so often.

When it's time for a wash, I zip the bag shut:

And then lift the whole thing out:

I then carry it to my washing machine and toss it in with my load of towels. I wash those on the hot setting to kill all the little germies, and I guess the agitation of the washer gets the film off because they always come out clean. (Of course, I do not run them through my dryer. I just put the whole thing back in the waste basket t drip dry.)

Oh, and let me say this:

I am absolutely not a domestic diva. (Seriously! I don't even know how to work our coffee maker!) I do not know if this is harmful to my washing machine. All of our tub toys are soft-ish plastic, and none contain small parts. And so far I haven't had any problems, although it does sometimes sound like someone put a bowling ball in the washer... I am not responsible for damage done to anyone else's washing machine if they run their tub toys through it. I'm just sharing with you the way that I  do it. It's not my fault if you're crazy enough to take me seriously...

Easter

May you have love, family, friendship and peace on this Holy Day.

May you have a blessed Easter!

Love, 

Kelly