The Toe: Final Chapter?

I haven't been around much, and I completely blame The Toe.  But that may be coming to an end!  I saw the orthopedist yesterday.  He agreed with my family physician that the only way The Toe will heal straight is to put in a pin.  However, neither one of us wants to do the surgery route just yet (well, never for me lol.)  So he has taped The Toe up well and has me walking around in a "boot."

Stylin' aren't I? LOL!!  Check it out, though, I shaved my legs and painted my toes (yes, even The Toe) for the dr's visit.  :P  Now, the "boot" doesn't look like much, but already I have noticed an improvement.  I walked by ds3 today and he said "Hey, you're walking normal!"  Yes sir, I am!  No more limping around for me.  The dr said it would take at least 6 weeks to heal, maybe even until Feb. to actually "feel" normal.  If things haven't improved by then, we will discuss the other options.  Hey, as long as I can walk I'll be alright...not a toe model anymore, but alright. :P

Outdoor Hour Challenge#33: Trees-Oaks

It's been awhile since we've completed an Outdoor Hour challenge!  This will be our last one for the tree focus, as we don't have any of the other trees featured in the remaining challenges, and the boys are anxious to move on to the weather focus. :)

We enjoyed a beautiful, cloudless, brisk day for our walk today.  Sunny but cool and a slight breeze.  We observed the oak in our own front yard, noting it's acorns, leaves and branches.

The acorns were small, round and medium brown.

Here ds2 shows the "meat" of an acorn.  He was curious as to whether or not acorns were edible so we researched online.  They are!  Most are quite bitter, though.  He then admits to me that he had already tasted an acorn before, during a walk with my father lol. 

Here is ds4 sitting in the shade of the tree, drawing acorns. :)

Cute!

We took a short walk down the street (as long as my broken toe could stand lol) and found a large oak with different acorns in a neighbor's yard. 

These acorns were more oval in shape and we found them in various colors, from green to light brown to practically black.

Boys will be boys...they had to stop and see what's behind the fence. lol.  That area used to be open and had access to a little creek and wooded area.  That's where my father would take the boys for walks.  They would often find lizards, turtles and even snakes!  Since they built the neighborhood behind our subdivision this area was "developed" and what was left has been cordoned off.

When we got home the boys all made journal entries.  Ds3 is making his weather entry...a tornado and rain.  Don't ask why, I don't know either. :P

Ds4 drawing again.  Note the stuffed kitty by his side. :)

Ds2 drawing the oak.  Ds3 performing a move from Harry Potter.

Ds2's rendition of the oak in our yard.  A wonderful way to spend part of our homeschool morning. :)

Outdoor Hour Challenge #32: Pine Trees

 

A NOTE:  I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY SIDETRACKED AND DID NOT POST THIS ON TIME.  WE ACTUALLY DID THIS STUDY IN OCTOBER.

We did not do any nature studies during our week off...well, nothing official.  My kids and I both seem to take notice of the world around us more so now that we are doing the Outdoor Hour Challenges.  We delight in the simple butterfly flitting across our yard, the pretty vine growing up a tree trunk, etc.  But now our little vacay is over and we are back to official studies!

This week we focused on pine trees.  Ya'll know how I love to tell a story, and I definitely have one for this week's challenge. LOL  I had to take the kids down the street to our county's recycling center to actually find a pine tree.  This is sad, because we once had two glorious, tall, majestic pines in our own front yard!  We lost them both to hurricanes.  And when we went on a hunt in the neighborhood for a pine to study, I realized we were the only house that even ever had pines at all!  I was like a woman possessed every time we drove anywhere, looking for an elusive pine lol.  Luckily when we took some cardboard to recycle we found ourselves some pines (some that we could actually get to and observe...there were some on private property or dense areas we just couldn't access.)  So on our nature study day I drove the kids down to the recycle center and let them study away.  They picked pine cones and needles, rubbed bark and generally had a good time.  We got a few looks from other folks dropping off their recycling when we were in the car doing sketches, but they were friendly. :)

We divided up the sketching assignments, with ds2 drawing a pinecone and the tree and ds3 drawing the needles.  Ds4 did his own version of a tree.

Destination Disney: Epcot

Heidi at Reviews by Heidi hosts Destination Disney.  This week's theme is Epcot.  Epcot is a great park with plenty to do, but it is probably my 3rd favorite.  Can't really explain why, it just is.  Now my teenagers just love it.  On our recent trips when nighttime rolls around and we parents and younger kids are worn out, the older boys get to take the bus and hit a park for a few hours sans family.  They most always pick Epcot.  I think last time they simply rode Test Track as many times as they could lol.

   I do love one thing the most about Epcot:  The Garden Grill restaurant.  It is our absolute favorite place to do a character meal. :)  The last two years we have celebrated ds1's bday there.  They give him a free cake and the characters and waiter come and sing and make a big deal.  Here is the reason we all love this place...it's a restaurant and a ride!  It actually rotates (very slowly, believe me, as I am the queen of motion sickness lol) and you get to peek down at the Living With The Land ride as you enjoy your meal.  Plus the food is fresh and wonderful!  Now my boys (including my dh) will eat burgers and fries for every meal on a Disney trip...I kid you not, every meal.  I just can't do that. :P  At the Garden Grill they all eat the child's version (chicken strips, fries and mac & cheese) and I eat to my heart's content from the adult offerings (fried catfish, grilled steak, fresh veggies oh yum!)  They bring the food to your table "family style" which means they bring large serving platters filled with the food and you serve yourself there at the table.  They refill the platters as often as necessary.   Oh, and desert is fabulous...ice cream with topping for the kids and some wonderful bread pudding or other indulgence for the adults.

The other thing we do love about Epcot is that it hosts several fun festivals during the year.  So no matter when or how often you go, you can experience something different!  Our favorite is the International Flower and Garden Festival in the spring.  Not only do you get to see amazing flower displays, visit a butterfly house and attend "workshops" and other fun things, but they have concerts every day of some oldie but goodie entertainers.  We went one year when Davy Jones was performing and it was the best!  And now for the pictorial portion of our post. :)

Peter Pan topiary near Spaceship Earth.

 

  Ds1 (with ever present headphones in ears) outside a vegetable garden display.

Ds3 learning about growing beans.  Inside that takeout box was some bean seeds that he did indeed plant when we got home and they grew just fine. :)

Homeschool Preschool: Transportation Lapbook

Ds4 and I completed a transportation lapbook this week.  It was simple yet fun.  I found it at Homeschoolshare.  How impressed I was when ds saw an airplane and said "That's a form of transportation!" :)

Here is the cover.  We just found some clipart on Yahoo.

Opened up we see a car shape book about colors, a layer book of the different types of transportation, some cards that we used to sort and identify, a bus with movable wheels and the "Wheels On the Bus" song inside, and a cute boat ds painted that can rock back and forth.

Underneath the middle section we have an emergency vehicles wheel, a shapes bus, and a "what starts with b" booklet.

Here is the cute alphabet train booklet unfolded.

Here are some of the books we used with this study.  We also have an older book I found at a book sale long ago that is about planes and has flaps to lift and tabs to pull.  Always a hit with the kiddos. :)  This lapbook is an enjoyable way to introduce transportation to preschoolers.

Homeschool Memoirs: Mom Help

This week I’d like to invite you to share what YOUR “Mom” help is. Some drink coffee, soda, or chai-tea. Others check email or read their favorite blogs. Some talk a walk…. what do you do when you need to clear your head and take a breather?

Scripture Share:

Please share a Scripture that gives you a “mom” help when you’re spirit is feeling overwhelmed.

Well, being from the south, it's not too hard to guess my little helper...sweet tea!  I mainly drink water all day, but treat myself to a big cup of the sweet stuff as necessary. :)  Another treat for me is a good book.  I really enjoy escaping to the other worlds presented to me in a good book.  Finally, as a homeschooling Mom, I'm around my kiddos 24/7, so just taking any kind of trip outside the house by myself is a great help.  I don't get to do this very often, but at least every two weeks I do get to do our grocery shopping by myself.  I get to spend a good hour and a half recharging my mom batteries lol.  And when I get home the boys and dh put the groceries up and eat the 1/2 price Whataburger burgers I picked up for them and I get to eat a microwave meal of my choice anywhere I want...in front of the t.v., with a good book, etc. :)  Yeah for me, tonight is one of those nights!

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

The Toe

Oh I just know that everyone is anxious for an update on "the toe." 

 

It's still broken. :(  It's not as black and blue and red as it was. :)  I still walk funny, but I can walk so I am thankful for that. :)  I have to take several breaks a day to put "the toe" up because it gets swollen, but I get lots of tlc from my family.  Ds4 and ds3 actually kiss "the toe" when they walk by it when I'm propped up on the couch, and offer to change my ice bag.  And the cats love that I am still so often...a human couch if you will.

At first I felt very privileged when Mimi cozied up to me like this.

Then I saw her cozied up with my computer...not so special anymore, am I? :P  Stay tuned for another update on x-ray day!

Product Review: Seat Snug

I am a member of Mom Central, a great site that gives moms like us the opportunity to try new products.  I was sent a cool new product called the Seat Snug to try out.  It is designed to stabilize booster seats, making them safer to use.  I have used booster seats with all 4 of my boys over the years.  Currently, ds4 is in one.  And it is true, booster seats are convenient to use with older toddlers and preschoolers, but they do have a lot of "give" to them.  It's difficult to position the seat belt over them in a way that is snug enough to keep the seat secured to the car seat, but not too tight on the child.

The concept behind this product is pretty simple.  You simply clip it to the car's seatbelt, buckle your kiddo up, and tighten the lap belt portion over his hips to secure the booster seat.  The child still has plenty of upper body movement that you want in a booster, but is now secured better to the car seat.

The Seat Snug is designed to stay on the seatbelt once installed, but does have an "on/off" switch so you can easily adjust the belt on your child, or have someone else use the seatbelt.  The Seat Snug is easy to install (you can watch the video on the website and it comes with detailed instructions) and is made from very sturdy materials...this is not something that will fall off or break from simple daily wear.  There is plenty of customer service available, online and by phone.  The company will even send you a free replacement Seat Snug if you are in an accident or other impact with the vehicle it is installed in.

So far, ds4 and I are both quite happy with this product!  I found it easy to install and sturdy.  I have more peace of mind as to ds4's safety and comfort in the car.  Ds4 doesn't even know it's there!  And my dh, who was out of town when I installed the Seat Snug, could use it without instruction...it's that easy. :)

Here are the instructions.  Very detailed and easy to follow.  Took me maybe 10 minutes (will probably take you only 5 lol.)  I highly recommend this product and am glad that someone out there is listening to moms and our needs. :)

Not the best day ever...

LOL.  Well, we had a great day Tuesday, followed by some not so great days.  Yesterday dh was called unexpectedly out of town.  This morning I hit my pinky toe on the toy box and broke my toe!  It was sticking out at a 90 degree angle and the dr pulled it back into place, but the xray shows it's broken, so it's taped to other toes for now.  After a week we go back to see if it's healing well.  At first it didn't really bother me, but now YIKES!  I was a dummy and kept walking on it and now it's all swollen, blue and red, and throbbing. :(  I'm trying to keep it elevated and iced and the kids are trying their best...well, you know how that goes. ;P  So that's why I haven't been around.  Thank goodness for laptops, huh?  As soon as the throbbing stops maybe I'll do some catching up. :)

Best Day Ever

What constitutes the "best day ever" in my children's opinions?

1. Go with Mom to vote; thankfully no lines
2. Go to library; browse books and play checkers
3. Get free coffee from Starbucks for voting
4. Stop by PetSmart and play with kittens

There you have it!  All three of my younger boys proclaimed today the best day ever after we spent our morning doing the above.  And I thought we were just running errands. :)

And he said:  "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3

Book Review: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Whew, I made it through another book for Classics Bookclub at 5 Minutes for Books!  This one was tough for me, don't really know why, but I had a hard time getting "into" this book and actually read most of it in a last minute reading marathon.  Do you think having the book "assigned" has anything to do with that?  Maybe I'm harboring some ill feelings about school and being forced to read certain books?  But I'm not forced to read these books, I voluntarily joined the club!  Still....

Here are some questions from the 5 Minutes for Books site.

What meaning, if any, do you see in the novel's title? Well, we definitely see Francie grow and change much like a tree, going through various seasons of her life.

Compare and contrast Francie and Katie. Why do you think Francie feels closer to Johnny? Like many a mother and daughter, Francie and Katie are alike in temperament and belief, both proud and strong, though neither wants to see the likeness.  Francie feels closer to Johnny because her mother favors Neely.

The Nolans are poor, yet Francie reflects on her childhood with fondness. Why? How does growing up in Brooklyn shape who she becomes? She feels she had more fun because she had to make things fun.  She becomes an independent, resourceful person because of her experiences growing up.

Why does Francie's teacher dismiss her essays? How is this a turning point for Francie? Her teacher felt her subject matter was inappropriate.  She began to write sadder, more troubled stories after her father's death and the teacher felt she should write only happy stories.  She began writing stories that were based on her sad feelings, but turned around to be happy and discovered she wasn't being true to herself and her writing no longer satisfied her.

Now for my own thoughts and observations.  This book started out slow for me, but after Johnny's death and the focus of the book was mainly the women it became more interesting.  Not that I didn't like the character of Johnny or any of the other men, the book just seemed to make more sense and flow better when the men were just secondary figures.  It almost seems that getting together with Johnny was all a mistake, and that life for Katie and the children didn't improve until he was out of it.  But would Francie have grown into the same woman without Johnny in her life?   Would Lee have been Francie's Johnny?  But if she doesn't love Ben it would be a mistake to marry him.  So many questions left at the end of this book!  I definitely wound up liking this book and may even re-read it sometime to see if I can pick up on some things I may have missed this time.

To Whom It May Concern:

     Time change stinks.

                    Sincerely,

            Fun In The Sun Mom