October 19, 2010

Math with Sam as soon as he rolled off of the couch this morning. Yes, I said couch (for some reason we are frightened to sleep in our rooms after we have a weekend visit with Dad, and besides that, we, along with much help from our dear friend Shaimek,  have destroyed our room to the point of it being a fire hazard...). He came straight to me griping about his morning chore, food & water for the dogs. Cassidy should do it, he says. So we did fractions/adding fractions/dividing fractions/percentages. We have five dogs. How many are yours? Two. Two-Fifths. How many are Cassidy's? Two. Two-Fifths. How many are Josiah's? One. One-Fifth. Did we account for all of them? 2/5 + 2/5 + 1/5 = 5/5 = 1. Yes. What percentage is yours? 2/5 = .4 x 100 = 40% what percentage is Cassidy's? 2/5 = .4 x 100 = 40% What percentage is Josiah's? 1/5 = .2 x 100 = 20%. Did we account for all of the dogs? 40 + 40 + 20 = 100, yes. Let's compare the percentages and see who has the biggest interest in the dogs....Sam = Cassidy, Sam > Josiah, Cassidy > Josiah, Josiah < Sam, Josiah < Cassidy. Other factors: Cassidy stayed up late last night doing two projects for school, Cassidy got up early this morning and went to school. So, um, get your rear out there and take care of those babies. And don't you dare take a sip of water until they have fresh, cold water. Math  - check. Message delivered - check.

I am heavy into planning and packing for the FLT Fall Gathering today. I am going through and picking out our raggedy, warm clothing and shoes. I already have two suitcases filled. I bring extra, extra for the boys, from experience, as they tend to become wet & filthy several times a day at FLT. Thinking of food, food, food... What to cook, what to buy, etc. We can't wait!

Amy's Organic Tomato Bisque Soup and Grilled Raw Milk Cheese (on Udi's) for lunch today. The boys and I both did some water Kefir Lemonade to get us some beneficial bacteria in our guts. I did another Nettles Infusion today, and it had me bouncing off the walls. Love it.


We set up an assembly line today and the boys filled up about 80 Halloween treat bags. The party is Halloween night...I have NEVER been this prepared before! It's the Nettles, I tell you! 



The boys helped me "pick-up" in the back yard. I do love my dogs, but they shred anything they can get their teeth on, including the tarps on the grill and the fire pit...total losses. And the marking, UGH!...all five are boys. This is my blade of grass, no mine!

I had Cassidy take Sam to his soccer game so I could get our dinner just right. Mike gets irritated with me for not being there, but it rushes me and interrupts my domestic groove. It also stresses me out. I don't do well with the atmosphere of organized sports. I have tried so hard, and I am thoroughly at a loss on what to do about it. I may try home school soccer next season. It's during the day, and it will relieve Mike of coaching. It's also only slightly more expensive than playing for the city, and probably way less politics, I suspect. Mike says I should have been at the soccer game, it was Sam's best game ever. Sam has only played soccer three seasons in his life. I'm so excited for him. Mike said he was on it the entire game, and no one got past him down the field. We have had issues with him being "lazy" on the field/not playing the game...he puts his hands in his pockets and sometimes saunters over to the ball...it reminds me of his Dad's sense of urgency, and makes me crazy! I have visions of his Dad, hands in pockets, sauntering over to rescue baby Josiah when he started towards the road once...etc...(<<<<scream!!! This situation calls for running as fast as you can, dumbass, not a saunter!!!) It just so happens that Sam had a pair of shorts on tonight with NO pockets, and Sam attributes his awesome playing to this. Sam loves to sew....time to sew the pockets up on all of his soccer shorts!

Mike took Sam to cub scouts. He got to be the Croaky Crocodile in a "skit" at scouts, and had me read the skit over at dinner so he could chime in with his Croaky Crocodile parts. He was so excited about it. He really loves cub scouts. Nothing like doing silly things with a group of silly boys your age, especially when you are the silly age of eight. Gold Rush Camping is coming up soon!

I did home made cornbread for the very first time, with cheddar cheese & onions. I thought about hush puppies, then thought, ugh, too greasy. Shrimp Cocktail > Jumbo Shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce/fresh horseradish, Baked Tilapia Filet, homemade Tartar Sauce, homemade Cole Slaw. Everyone loved it all. Cassidy only ate the shrimp and tartar sauce, but said I may have Captain D's beat...WTH? Well I hope so! Made two Carrot Cakes, and got to use the cooling racks my husband surprised me with. The cornbread was really good, but still not like Granny's. Mike loves it, so I think I will make some for his Big 40 to go with the chili beans. I breaded the Tilapia in: 2 tbsp organic cornmeal, 2 tbsp. dry organic bread crumbs, dash salt, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp. dill weed, dash of pepper. This is per pound of Tilapia. Dipped in (almond) milk, then breaded. Poured melted butter & fresh lemon juice over filets, then baked at 450 for 10 to 15 mins. This gave the illusion of fried fish, without it actually being greasy fried fish! It was soooo good. I have always made my own tartar sauce...mayo, onion & dill pickles in chopper. I can't stand a tartar sauce that is too pickly. The cornbread: organic cornmeal, organic unbleached white flour, honey, baking powder, ORGANIC shortening (no hydrogenated oils! found it at Earth Fare, KPM!), sea salt, eggs... and I added onions & cheddar cheese since we are having seafood. May do jalapenos in it for Mikey's Big 40!

The boys are fixated on Wii Mario Kart at this time. We have had it for 2 years, and they have just now really gotten into it. I think it was too difficult for Josiah two years ago. Josiah is so thrilled when, "we opened up a NEW level, Mom!!!"



The keyboard turns out to be huge family fun. Mike had it auto-playing "church organ preaching music", Josiah pretending to be playing, and Mike performing "preaching" comedy,....yes, a mockery of TV evangelism...we are all going to hell, I told him. I about pissed in my pants laughing at him. And Josiah sat there so serious "playing" the "church organ" for him. I should have gotten a video, I swear.

I read from Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allen Crow as the boys drifted off to sleep.

Mike, Cassidy, and I had Carrot Cake together at midnight :)

Husband ~ "Mmmm...what's the crunchy sugar in your icing?" Me ~ "Ummm...too much sugar?".....

I went back over the icing recipe...I had overlooked the SIFT instructions....bwahahahaha!

 

October 18, 2010

The boys started out playing Battleship, which is a fantastic manipulative to show an actual purpose for plotting points on a coordinate plane. We have the U-Build game, which they LOVE, because they get to build their own ships with legos. They began to argue though, so I had to separate them and help them recognize their needs and meet them. This is a typical "crash" after a weekend at their Dad's and Maw-Maws. I would say today the needs were protein, detox (from candy, sodas), and rest judging from the successful results once they did 1/2 hour soaks in the tub with Epsom Salts & ACV, then a snack of Almond Butter and Banana Slices on Udi's bread, which Josiah learned how to make today. It gave him the opportunity to practice coordination: Cutting with knife, spreading the almond butter. Of course, we discussed the nutrients in each ingredient and what they do for our bodies. Sam fell asleep during reading time, and this is a sure sign that the boys had little rest at their Dad's this past weekend, because Sam hardly ever willingly takes a nap. 

I went ahead and purchased candy for Halloween treat bags last night, and with much difficulty. I finally settled on the "least toxic" candies. It really just chaps my ass that partially hydrogenated oils, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and high fructose corn syrup are in just about every single candy there is, and ones that are available to our children on a daily basis, not to mention that on Halloween and for days/weeks after, their little bodies will be overloaded with this toxic shit. I have all of the candy on our Project Table, because I am going to have the boys make up the treat bags. I am really proud of them for making it through the temptation of the candy bags being right there in front of them all day, especially after a weekend at Dad's.

For lunch, we had Organic Split Pea Soup, Grilled Raw Milk Cheese on Udi's Bread, and Water Kefir Lemonade.

Chicken Taco Soup: I slow-cooked a whole chicken today, de-boned, shredded it, and sauteed it in my homemade all organic Fajita Seasoning & Garlic Gold Oil. Then back to the crock pot with: Chicken Broth, Pureed: Fresh Organic Tomato, Fresh Organic Onion, Fresh Organic Garlic, Organic Black Beans, and a little bit of Cilantro. Pour over Organic Gluten Free Tortilla Chips, top with freshly shredded Raw Milk Cheese, and Organic Sour Cream. It was a hit! Sam said, "This is off the hook, Mom!" Josiah and Mike had seconds. (Shaimek wouldn't even try it though....)


I did a Nettles Infusion today...blech...but makes me feel oh so good!

We read today:

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer, How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro, and Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro. The boys were most fascinated by the Apple...because of the Ovary, the Pollen (male cells) and the pistils (female "tubes" leading to the ovary), because of the compare and contrast to human fertilization. They eat apples every day, so now they know they are eating around the apple's ovary (the core) and that the seeds inside of the core are fertilized female cells. We didn't get to the next chapter in Bunnicula, because Sam fell asleep and his snoring made Josiah and I sleepy...nap time.  Sam carried Bunnicula around the rest of the day reading it himself, because the suspense is killing him and he can't wait until "group" reading time happens again.

Shaimek was a handful this evening. Now that I look back on it, he didn't come here until dark, because he was playing with Diamond, our ghetto neighbors' daughter. Diamond is a tween and she is out of control. I'm thinking maybe she rubbed off on Shaimek, and it was difficult for him to switch gears so quickly. The boys get a little wild sometimes when they play together, but last night, Shaimek was outright disrespectful and out of control. It was 9pm, and of course, his Mom had not picked him up yet. I had to have Cassidy drive him home after we had strike three with behavior issues.  One: Pointing a laser directly into Mike's eyes after Mike had specifically told him earlier, "Do not point that at anyone's eyes." Two: Playing too rough and injured Josiah. (I didn't count: Going into my fridge without asking, then when I asked why he was in my fridge, very disrespectfully to me, "I'm thirsty! I want a drink!"). THREE: Picked up one of my witches, a Halloween deco I have had for yeeears, threw it at Sam, it hit near Sam' elbow and hurt him badly. He has a huge knot, and he cried for awhile. I put Arnica on it, which helped minimize the bruising and swelling. Sam was screaming, "I hate you! Get out of my house now! Never some back!" After Cass took Shaimek, Mike had a really good talk with the boys about not allowing things to escalate to that point, and about how friends should treat friends. I am so thankful he has words when I do not. 

Mike has set up our Wii to take advantage of some features we were not previously using. I don't know the details, but it is "online" now. The boys can look at the forecast (which Josiah is going to love), and can look at the playing time spent on each game every day, which is great for them to get a good sense of time.  Our main reason for doing this is to try Netflix streaming for our home schooling (we have run into some cases to where an interest presents itself, I think of a movie that would be great, but can't get my hands on it...), and we are waiting on some disk now to be all set up for it.

I didn't get a chance to practice piano today, but I did find some really cool FREE worksheets online to help the boys learn notes. Sam was jumping at the bit to start lessons today, but we just couldn't squeeze it in.The boys did have loads of fun playing with the huge, rectangular box that the keyboard came in! Mike and I thought it would make them a nice "boat", but they insist that it is a "casket", and had big fun playing Zombie.

I finally finished Moll Flanders last night. The boys were having trouble getting to sleep, so they came and snuggled up to me and we went over the November Issue of Sam's Highlights Magazine.

Lot's to do to get ready for FLT! Yay!

October 16, 2010

Josiah has been playing with "letters" for awhile, but has been mainly interested in numbers. I have noticed an increased interest in writing and reading in the past two weeks. Asking me how to spell words, how to make the letters. I am noticing him recognizing letters on his own. He gets the Bananagram letters out and rearranges them. When I read to him, he wants me to point to each word as I say it, and gets really aggravated with me if I drop my finger. I printed him out some letter charts to use if he wants to, and he's using them. I also draw letters "in the air" with my finger, and we draw letters on each other's backs and try to guess them. I am thrilled, and it's hard not to jump in with some flash cards and worksheets, but I have done really well so far allowing him to lead. Many will not understand the point in this, but this is a snapshot of Unschooling. There is no forced curriculum. His interest in reading and writing is sincere and self-motivated, rather than motivated by promise of rewards ("good" grades, stickers, stars, etc...) or threat of punishments. On the other hand, I am still working on reversing the damage done to Sam's self-motivation and natural curiosity, even in the short amount of time he spent in the world of traditional schooling.

It's so exciting, witnessing them rearrange it and put it together, all on their own....why do we have so little faith in our children? Why do we put "learning" in the "box" labeled "school"? You don't need a classroom, a test, a grade, to pursue your passions. These three things will, most of the time, actually distract you from true learning.

~ Thursday, October 7, 2010 ~

The boys requested pancakes for breakfast. I make them with flax seed and berries, all natural maple syrup. SO yummy! Then the toilet got stopped up ;) I can always count on flax seed to clean my kiddos guts out.


It's beginning to look like a lot like Halloween in the Duralia house. We pulled all of our decos out. Nothing is "in place" yet, but it's out, and THAT was a major undertaking, considering the attic space they were in is stuffed to the max with heavy-ass storage boxes. The boys helped and we got it done. I was able to find my huge food processor, which I need to make hug quantities of Master Tonic.

After our soccer game, we took Shaimek out for his 8th birthday. Fuel pizza, Chili's for Molten Chocolate Cake, Walmart for new Wii games. The boys all had a blast, and Shaimek slept over.



I am having a rough spot with the husband that is making me very sad.

~ Soccer Jamboree, October 2, 2010 ~

Josiah did not want to play soccer this year, but he does enjoy kicking back, soaking up Vitamin D, and nibbling on Mini Vanilla Bean Scones from Starbucks.

 Mike coaches Sam's U10 Soccer team, as long as Sam wants to play. Jamboree is the season kick-off. Team & individual pics are taken, and we play a short game. 

Coach Mike tucking in shirts for team pic.

Sam's BFF Lorenon is on our team this season!

Crazy pre-game pic.

Good game!

Post-Game 'Talk'

~ Wednesday, October 6, 2010 ~

The boys fed, watered, and played with the dogs first thing this morning. They chose a breakfast of muenster cheese (Josiah  points out that muenster sounds like monster, so we will call it "monster" cheese for Halloween...), fresh sliced organic oranges, and chocolate almond milk in their new Halloween mugs from Starbucks.

Cassidy came home for lunch and had the cutest thin bandana necklace on! She made me one before she left. It is easy to make, and very inexpensive! She simply cut a strip about one inch wide off of a bandana, twisted it up tightly, and tied it around my neck.

Building a camp "fire"

Hey look! Bedding. I'm going to piss on it first!

No, I'm going to piss on it first, no, ME...etc...

All dogs OUT!

The boys built an amazing all-natural structure out back, and the dogs awaited anxiously, hoping to be the first to piss on it.  They decorated it with sunflower plants. It was really quite beautiful. I'm glad I took pics soon enough, because when the boys put their sleeping bags & pillows in it, the dogs all came rushing in, destroying the structure. I told Sam that next time we are out, we will pick up some twine/rope and figure out how to tie the sticks together at each joint. It is so refreshing and exciting to see children engaged in creative play.

This little man found the perfect spot in the sun. Getting so big, so quickly!

Sammie watching the boys build their structure, but he knew Mama was sneaking up to take a pic.

Shaimeek is eating his bowl of white bean and chicken chili with us at dinner, and asks, "What are you cooking tomorrow night? Can you do pizza again?" ;) I am happy we can be his mentor family. Tomorrow is his birthday, he tells us, so pizza it is. He says chocolate on chocolate for the cake...good choice!

 

Husband had band practice, so I made him two grilled nitrate/nitrite free ham & cheese on Udi's white to grab and go after work. 

 

White bean and chicken chili: I cooked 2 or 3 pounds of all natural boneless, skinless chicken breasts & dry white beans in organic chicken broth in my crock pot all day. When beans were soft, I took out one cup of beans & broth (not chicken), pureed them, and stirred them back into the crock pot. I pureed 4 fresh cloves of garlic & one onion, added 1 tbsp of cumin, and sauteed this mixture in a tbsp of Garlic Gold Oil for a few minutes to get the flavors going. Then added this to crock pot, stirred it in. I stirred and stirred until the tender chicken breasts fell apart into shreds on their own. Sea salt & pepper to taste. Serve with freshly grated cheddar & drop of sour cream, crackers.  I made enough to freeze 3 portions. Husband ate two big bowls after band practice, and gave it two thumbs up! It's a keeper!

 

Josiah got out of the tub, and went to boxing on the Wii in his birthday suit! It was so darn cute! I do want to post the pic, but I'm not because of pervos. Or, it would so fit into the absurdity of my life for the ex (the no car seat using, allowing rated R movies, smoking while on mind-altering illegal prescription drugs, teaching prejudice and hatred....etc...etc...ex) to get a hold of it and take it to court claiming child porn!

~ Monday, October 4, 2010 ~

What were the words that came out of my mouth the night before this visitation, standing in your living room, JEN GOWAN?...... "Oh, yes, things are going great. Getting along well with the ex. He seems to be more responsible now, works with me on things, etc. He has a very nice girlfriend now, who I believe is a good influence on him..." Well FMR, as soon as I get the words out of my mouth, and I give him some credit.......

The boys spent the night with Maw-Maw Pam last night and spent the day with her today. I worked this deal with the ex, because Sam had Soccer Jamboree Saturday, which cut into the ex's visitation weekend. I picked up the boys at 9pm. Josiah is sick (croupy cough, phlegm, threw up twice because of phlegm, up all night with him), and Sam is bouncing off the walls from all of the JUNK available to him at Maw-Maw's. There are really good things about that family, but some of their ways chap my ass as well. Things like sunscreen, car seats (their Dad came to the Soccer Jamboree in Rock Hill to pick them up WITHOUT A CAR SEAT for Josiah - he is still in the size range for a 5 point harness..then he acted PISSY when we insisted he use ours, and Mike took so long securing it correctly in his truck..OH! And while Mike is doing this, the ex tells me, as he smokes a cigarette, that Aunt 'Chelle is giving him her prescription meds to stop smoking....so we are a) taking someone else's prescription which is illegal, b) taking a mind-altering prescription while NOT under the care of a physician that can make you violent, and c) still smoking....), and a healthy diet mean very little to them, but mean very much to me. I do not shelter my children from the world, but I'm also not going to invite them to sit down and watch an R rated movie with me, nor do they have free reign over the cable stations. Sam & Josiah watched Step Brother at Maw-Maws, and Sam came home quoting lines, something like, "suck a camel's d***".... Nice. Oh, and even NICER..."Aunt 'Chelle got a new puppy! It's a Pit Bull! She said she picked that one because it doesn't like black boys." When Sam told me this, I asked, "Why would she want a dog that doesn't like black boys, Sam?" (I don't know.) "That doesn't sound very nice, Sam. So the dog wouldn't like Shaimeek or Lorenon? Your dearest friends? Does she want the dog to hurt black boys? Why only black boys?" (Sam makes the connection and states that no, this is not cool of Aunt 'Chelle at all....Mom - 1, White Trash - 0).... ( A few visitations ago, the boys told me that Paw-Paw was using the "n"-word and laughing about it. ) I listen to a lot of hip-hop and R&B, and every time Sam gets in the truck when I pick him up from visitation, he starts reprimanding me, "Why do you listen to that Hip-Hop stuff? Put it on Country!" But three days later he will be dancing to my music. It's good to know I have someone that loves my children enough to feed them poison, neglect to secure them in car seats & seat belts, neglect to apply and re-apply sunscreen, expose them to ignorant talk, and model hatred and prejudice. If something should happen to me, these are the hands my boys would fall into. This scares the hell out of me.




I have to stay focused and try to discover what the Universe is trying to teach me with this, or I will blow my stack. How could anyone not want the very best for their children and grandchildren? For all children? 

I did Mediterranean Beef Brisket in the crock pot for dinner. I bought the brisket already sliced. I pureed the following: two organic tomatoes, 5 cloves of fresh garlic, 1/3 cup of black olives (pitted). I added 1/2 cup dry red wine & 1/2 tsp rosemary to the puree, and cooked the brisket in this mixture all day. The brisket was so tender, and the gravy was tasty. Mike absolutely loved this dinner. I served it with mashed organic potatoes, steamed green beans, and red wine.

~ Shatley Springs Ride, Sunday, October 3, 2010 ~

Mike and I on the 2009 ride. ENGAGED.

Mike and I on the 2010 ride. MARRIED - notice Mike has filled out a little! It's most definitely my fantabulous cooking.

Mike's friend has coordinated this ride for 13 years.This was my 2nd year on the ride. The ride has nice scenery, them some real good eats! I love doing this ride with my husband. I think a lot while I am riding. It was COLD this year! Since I didn't have a blog last year, I am going to include pics from the 2009 & 2010 rides.

http://www.shatleysprings.com/

My Facebook posts from the 2010 ride:

9am......hearing wham blasting from the convenience store speakers makes me wanna pump the shit out of some gas.

12:27pm.......just sat down at shatley springs, thinking, "hurry up and bring me sum pintos n cooked cabbages bitches!

5:15pm......it has been a long, cold ride. thawing out at hooper's with fat tire and wings.

6:05pm......is slizzered.

 

 

 

                                                              2009

 

We stopped here on the way back....

This lead singer pronounced 'motorcycle'....'motorSICLE', like popSICLE

Biker chicks gettin' down.

Stan & Wanda!

We picked up some take-out for the kids on the way back in. Ghetto-style. 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                   
                                                                                 2010
 

WHAM! I don't want to play around. I don't want nobody's baby. Part-time love just brings me down ...

Me ~ Riding Camera Happy

My baby gets DOWN in some curves.

My baby also takes a leak on 77...

Me trying to stay warm ~ STILL Camera Happy!

Josiah would be so pissed if he knew he missed this!

Ended the ride with a rainbow!

Two drafts at Hooper's: Fat Tire & 1554, then home....Put on my flannel PJ's & went to bed at 7pm.