Tomorrow’s my birthday. I finally started thinking about it and all I want is a few friends over for a nice visit. Anyone up for BBQ this Saturday? The kids were invited to a neighbor’s birthday party at 3:30PM, so I was thinking lunchtime. The pool’s a bit chilly, but Ben’s figured out how to get the spa to heat up (usually there’s only one fireball involved). I’ll try to get some cupcakes together tomorrow and Ben can BBQ some form of meat.
We dyed the macaroni.. among other things.
I turned around and MissC was taking the dye bottle out of her mouth. Then, she poured it on her wrist. I promptly removed the dye from the baby’s grasp and finished the macaroni.
This week, I was supposed to be enjoying the history and scenery in Yellowstone National Park, but Ben’s got a deadline. So, TJ is having his first vacation without us. We sent him on an airplane to visit Poppa & Nanna, and they’re in Yellowstone. In my family, no news is good news, so I haven’t heard from him since he arrived at their house. They’ll probably call to let me know he’s safely on the plane on the way home next week.
This week is VBS at the church family I attend. One of the gals in charge called me about a month ago and asked if I could help out in the nursery. Sure, I might as well. The girls were signed up and we waited for the week of fun & games. So, each day from 9 to noon we head to the church. The older two go to their class and I’ve got 4 or 5 just about two year olds and one little baby.
Monday, I didn’t know how many to expect, so we played it by ear. We went out to the playground when the PreK class finished and played for a bit while a helper stayed with the littlest (the Mom was set to come in to nurse in that time, so it was good timing). Then, they just played & had one snack break.
Tuesday, I asked for art supplies. We were mostly inside, and a snack. The crayons and markers arrived and we made a poster of hands and scribbles.
Today, I forgot my songs in sign language book, but we made sure to go out on the playground, had our set snack time and watched a Veggie Tale video, and made individual hand pages to take home.
So, two more days to go. I’ve been looking up ideas so that I don’t go stir crazy. I’m going to grab my sign-songs book and I’ve got a craft box and some ideas. We’ll make hand puppets one day and macaroni pictures another. I may even try a popsicle stick puzzle.
My daughters are fighting over this. MissC wants to hug him and squeeze him and call him, “George.” MissB’s favorite color is purple, and, well, the universe revolves around her, therefore Mommy must have made this for her. I was just using up yarn and trying the pattern book. They’re insisting that I make all the dolls. And, TJ wants a mouse for Hep Cat to play with.
This is my first non-maternity wrap dress. I like.
Altered: use shoulder height of 2 sizes smaller, rest of dress under sleeves and on down in ‘my’ size. Skewed armscye and used 1 size smaller to fit between top of side edge and outer shoulder. Added 9″ to hem and 2″ to sleeves. Fit great on first try! I think the darts need to be adjusted a little next time.
Ben picked the sleeves. He liked how the flutter sleeves mimic the flow of the skirt.
MissB said I look like Luke on my top.
(In which she realizes that she didn’t check the weight of the # of balls used in the original..)
I have four (4) balls of yarn. It’s lovely, the color’s called, “Sorrel.” My dear husband bought it for me and I looked at the four little balls and said that I’d figure out something to make of them. I searched patterns and finally settled on one. I started knitting. Hmm, 1 ball made it halfway down the shoulders. The second ball made it just past the join. I’m in the third ball and I haven’t finished the bodice. I picked up a ballband -50g. There are still two short sleeves to go. I’m thinking the last ball should be worked into the sleeves, then finish the bottom. I can always use another color for the ribbing (sigh).
I searched through Ravelry for ideas what to do with DK yarn. That really made me want the 9 volumes of Viking Knits! Anyway, I settled on trying the Soy Cardi, which I probably printed last summer just after she posted it! And, miraculously, I found that printout just after I dived through ravelry!
After the first skein of yarn:
I’ve nearly finished the November September Mystery socks… Yeah, it’s not November September any more (almost, though). These were cast on in March, I’m trying to talk myself into finishing them in July. I keep going back and forth on what to knit, cardigan or socks.
Wow, this thing has had some trouble this week. Usually, if a post begins with this sort of a title, it goes through. So, here’s hoping.
SICK. 3 down, 1 to go of the children. I’ve had it, too, but MissC’s had it hardest, so far. Sunday: MissC. Monday: I woke up sick, MissC was still sick, MissB came down with it in the afternoon. On my bed. Tuesday: I felt better, just tired, MissB perked up in the afternoon. Now it’s Wednesday, 5AM, and young Master TJ was up at 3AM to make a huge mess in the bathroom. It’s finally cleaned up, and I’m going to bed.
Yesterday, Ben decided to paint a wall that the children had decorated. The other day, they got into my rubber stamps and took the stamp pad to the walls, doorknobs, hands, eyelids, and necks around them. After a half dozen coats of paint, the wall has just a faint hint of the red showing through.
Ben’s friend from work, Ryan came over for a BBQ. The kids approved of him, and wanted to play with Daddy’s friend. MissB ran around topless like her aunties used to do (one when she was BB’s size, the other as a teenager..) 
and MissA took over his lap after dinner. MissC acquired a Dr Pepper and downed it.
Getting the kids ready for bed presented a slight problem. The tub has paint paraphernalia in it, and I didn’t have much time to clean it right then. Ben suggested a shower and I let the girls get in there. After a while, sopping wet MissC came into the kitchen where we were playing Five Crowns and handed Ryan the ‘toy’ she had been playing with in the shower. I’m not sure who blushed or laughed harder, but we all were cracking up and none of us could remember the name of the item. Ben mentioned that I’m going through training as a midwife, and Ryan asked, “Doesn’t it begin with an ‘S’?”
Yes, speculum begins with the letter ‘S’.
Well after Ryan went home and we turned in, MissC started vomiting. The first and last time she did was when she got hold of TJ’s Root Beer and drank half the can. I remembered the Dr Pepper and just worked with her. I’ve been nursing her, changing clothes and keeping towels handy for the last 9 hours and thankfully, she’s starting to have longer intervals between upchuckings. She’s kept a good desire for beverage, too, asking for water since about 9AM, and she’s starting to eat a bit again. She’s being so calm and only getting fussy just before, which gives me time to get her contained now. I just need to wash my mattress (or buy a new one…) and we’re all set.
Did you know that it wasn’t until our 39th president that we elected someone who was born in a hospital? The first 38 presidents were all born at home. As a teenager, I visited the then-new Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA, and was amazed to discover he was born in a cabin in the hills not far from the museum/library. Many of the presidents were also educated at home or self-taught.
One of the best ways to learn is to follow an example. In early schools, the students were taught to memorize their books: history was taught by reading the subject matter until the student was able to recite lengthy passages from memory. English was taught by copying sentences and breaking them down into the individual parts of speech. Mathematics were learned by rote and applied in class and at the general store. P.E. was taken care of with the morning chores, walk to school and games at recess.
In the last couple centuries (longer in Europe), school and birth have been removed from the home. No longer are children taught to sit and listen at Father or Mother’s knee -they ‘learn’ in school.. And, learn they do. Just as their ancestors did, by rote and recitation: they learn the morals of the peers, teacher or state, they learn their games, but they don’t learn much of the actual work.
Children will be children, teachers will be teachers, and parents must be parents. The very attitude that “it’s not my job” can easily be ingrained in the minds and hearts of our children. To affect a situation, there is only one person that you or I can control to bring about change. I can only take control of me. But, my actions, and my attitude can be infectious and bring about change.
Not everyone is able or willing, but I have chosen homebirth and homeschool. Midwifery is choosing me. What is it that moves your heart and life?
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