No Menu this week

Todd has been out of town all week on a business trip, so I didn't make a menu because I thought we could just wing it.  The kids will be really happy to see their dad tomorrow night when he gets home.  AND they'll be really happy to get some decent meals again.  When I have a menu, I do a much, much better job putting well balanced meals on the table.  So far this week we had McDonald's twice and Pizza Hut once. We had cold cereal for breakfast one morning (although the other mornings we had breakfast burritos and eggs and toast.)  We had leftovers one meal that were pretty nutritious, and another meal was toasted submarine sandwiches that were not too bad.  Tomorrow our local homeschool group is coming over for a potluck lunch so hopefully there will be some vegetables and fruit to counteract our week of poor eating.  Friday we'll be back to our normal routine.  At least I haven't pulled the frozen pizzas out yet. :)

The teaching of gentlemen

Some of the kids have recently read "George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation"  A book of 110 rules of civility that he copied when he was a young boy.  One of the rules is, "  Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed."   The girls have been trying to teach the boys that it is not polite to look at girls when they don't have enough clothes on.  They have the boys practice closing their eyes when a pretend scantily clad girl is around. (Before I was expecting Lincoln, the girls kept telling me they really wanted a brother.  After playing with a group of rambunctious boys one day, they were commenting on how rough they were. I told them that that is what boys are like and if they had a brother that his what he would be like..., to which they replied - "Ours wouldn't be, we'd train him!"  So that is what the boys in this family have to live with.)

Anyway, we stopped at Casey's tonight on our way home from Bible Study to pick up a bag of ice. While we were waiting in the van for Abby to buy the ice, a girl with skimpy clothing walked by. Garrett exclaimed, "YIKES, she doesn't have a kirt on!!" I asked him if he had closed his eyes. "Not very well." He replied.

So if you don't want your little boy to think...

naughty things are cute, you probably shouldn't take pictures of him washing his hair with his iced tea.  He might wash his hair with his chocolate milk a few days later...

I never thought I'd have to say

No Garrett, we don't wash our hair with iced tea...

Horsing Around

Ooops

Mommy, look, I got them on right - the button is in the front

They don't look quite like they usually do, and the tag is in the front - hmmmmm 

I can't get them buttoned

Lost in another world

Menu for the week of 3/18/12

Sunday

• Breakfast -  Dutch Babies
• Lunch - Sandwiches
• Supper - at some friends' house

Monday

• Breakfast -  Breakfast Burritos
• Snack - Cookies
• Lunch - Sandwiches, Vegetable Tray with dip, chips
• Snack - Pretzels
• Supper - Leftovers

Tuesday

• Breakfast - Eggs in a hole
• Snack - Crackers with lunch meat
• Lunch - L/O Bean soup with rice, Rolls
• Snack - Goldfish
• Supper - Chicken Wings, Garlic Buttered Pasta, Peas, Applesauce

Wednesday

• Breakfast - Baked Eggs, Toast
• Snack - Granola Bars
• Lunch - Sandwiches or leftovers
• Snack - Peanuts
• Supper - Turkey gravy & Biscuits, Cottage Cheese, Squash

Thursday

• Breakfast - Steel Cut Oats, Fruit, Toast & Peanut Butter
• Snack - Crackers with cheese
• Lunch - Baked Potatoes with Broccoli, Ham & Cheese
• Snack - Bananas
• Supper - Beef & Bean Burritos, Guacamole, Corn Chips, Corn

Friday

• Breakfast - Blueberry oven crepes
• Snack -  Apples & Peanut Butter dip
• Lunch - Sandwiches
• Snack - Snack Mix
• Supper - Pizza, Fruit Salad

Saturday

• Breakfast - Skillet Potatoes with eggs & bacon bits
• Lunch - Steak, oven fries, sauteed mushrooms & onions, cooked carrots
• Supper - Leftovers

The kids brought this

new little lamb into the house to show us while we were fixing supper, and her mama followed her right in the door.  Unfortunately the pictures of that accidentally got deleted and we decided not to have a rerun for pictures.

Gracie

Gracie & her mama, Gabby

Our latest lesson in civics

We found out yesterday that one of the presidential candidates, Rick Santorum, was planning to visit  Effingham today.  We decided it would be a great civics experience for us and the kids so we headed over there.

Here are a few pictures from our day.

Some of us with Rick Santorum

Some of the Duggar family was there campaigning with Rick Santorum

The Motorcade

One of the most interesting things to us (besides meeting Rick and the experience of the whole thing) was watching the secret service.  They were absolutely engaged in their job.  They weren't standing around cracking jokes or looking bored.  They were watching everything that was going on.  Ready to take on anything that would threaten the security of Santorum or the crowd.  Very impressive!

Politics aren't something I used to be very interested in, nor did I follow them very closely.  Before and since the last presidential election, though, I began researching and learning more about the candidates.  Having children makes a person think about the kind of world those children are growing up in and what they will be facing as adults - perhaps with their own children to bring up.  My litmus test, I have realized, is really very simple.  I don't trust the judgement of those who don't value the sanctity of life. Period.

I don't really like to engage in political conversations - especially with people whose political view I don't know or with those who don't agree with my views because that is not a great way to make or keep friends. Nor do I generally post political things on our blog.  I have, however realized that it is important for us to take our civic responsibility seriously.  1 Timothy 2 says that we should pray for those who are in authority so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty...

Because we live in the United States we also have the privilege and responsibility of voting for those who lead us.  Because the Illinois primaries are later than several other states, there is often a clear front runner before Illinoisans get to vote.  This year the race is so close, every vote will make a difference.

As James Madison said in Federalist 51:
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."

Grover & his friend

These pictures are a couple of weeks old, but I just transferred them to the computer from the camera this afternoon.  He had a few other adventures, too, but we must not have gotten pictures.  Thanks for visiting, Grover!  (And S&V)

Hee Haw

Not sure Penny & Polly have been ridden before, but they are being pretty patient (mostly)

Sorry, Q & A - I almost cropped this picture so it was just the boys and donkeys, but I love the expressions on your faces.  If you insist, I will crop it - otherwise, it's staying :)

Helicopters

This is Lincoln's post.

Yesterday we saw two double propeller helicopters flying over the pasture and over the house.  We all went outside and waved at them.  It was neat!!!

(Unfortunately nobody thought to take the camera outside.  Lincoln has been asking and asking me to put a post on the blog about the helicopters, so finally I had him tell me what he wanted it to say.  He's expecting some comments...) :)

The reason for my earlier post today...

Why do boys think the sounds that their bodies make are so, so, so, so, funny?  And why do they think it is so funny to imitate those sounds all. day. long?

And how can they be so disgusting and still be so sweet and cuddly and loving? 

You know you have a teenager in the house when...

... she is debating with you, starts to state her facts, and realizes she is actually arguing with herself...

(It was almost as if she was arguing just for arguments sake or something - hee hee)

(Since she reads this blog, I should add that our teenager is really a very good, helpful, obedient girl - she does have fun debating though.)

This is going to be a very short post...

Boys are a completely different breed than girls.  That is all.

Random Pictures from the kids' camera

Spring!!

Heidi's new hearing aid - except they ordered the wrong color  so she'll get the royal blue  one next week

Our Indoor Critters

nassarius snail

nassarius snail

The "nose" of a  Nassarius snail - they burrow under the sand

Damsel Fish

Damsel Fish

Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby

Yellow Headed Sleeper Goby - They scoop sand up in their mouth and then sift it through their gills

Crab

Sand Sifter Star Fish

A more perfect union

As Tamara just mentioned the older kids and I (Todd) have been spending our Monday and Thursday Evenings watching Hillsdale College's online Constitution 101 course.  Each Monday a new Lecture, Study Guide and Quiz are released and each Thursday there is an Question and Answer session where the week's lecturer answers questions sent in by people who have watched the lecture.
So we pile up the clean laundry and save it for Monday and Thursday evenings and then we have a laundry folding party while we watch the lecture or Q&A.  It is great to spend time with the children and learn alongside them.  I have always been a bit of a history buff and I have always known our Constitution made us different than any other country.  But our Constitution didn't happen by accident, and this course is doing a great job of laying out the experiences, philosophies and ideas that the Founders struggled with as they were trying to form "a more perfect union".
Tonight was week 4 of 10 and the topic of the lecture “The Separation of Powers: Preventing Tyranny”.  Sometimes you hear the question, "Is human nature good or bad?"  The answer is really both.  There is enough good in each person that he can govern himself, but none of us are perfect and we can easily trample on the liberty of our neighbor.  In Federalist 47, Publius writes, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny".  So the Founders sought to divide the power between the branches (and between the federal government and states) so that "ambition would counteract ambition".
The course is free and available to everyone at http://constitution.hillsdale.edu/.  It is based on the Constitution course that Hillsdale requires all of their students to take.

One of the many reasons...

...I love home schooling.

During supper, one of the kids offhandedly asked "What is today's date?"  A chorus of, "March 12th," came back to her.  I said - "Hey, it's almost the Ides of March."  "What's that?" someone asked.  "The day Julius Caesar was killed," Todd replied.

This is the part that I loved... The four kids who are taking history together started excitedly discussing the fact that they had JUST studied that TODAY in history.  I love it when they can all learn together.

(Also, on Monday nights, Todd and the 4 oldest kids fold laundry while they take an online civics/constitution class.  Who couldn't love that?) :)

Menu for the week of 3/11/12

Sunday

• Breakfast -  Hashbrown, bacon & egg casserole
• Lunch - Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Beans
• Supper - Popcorn, Cheese, Apple Slices, Turkey Salad

Monday

• Breakfast -  L/O Blueberry Oven Pancake, Fried Eggs
• Snack - Oranges
• Lunch - Leftover Turkey casserole
• Snack - Trail Mix
• Supper - White Chicken Chili

Tuesday

• Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Toast
• Snack - Popcorn
• Lunch - Chimichangas, Toppings, Corn
• Snack - Raisins & Peanuts
• Supper - Sandwiches

Wednesday

• Breakfast - Baked Eggs, Toast
• Snack - Pretzels
• Lunch - Sandwiches
• Snack - Peanuts
• Supper - Wonton Soup, Bulgogi, Rice

Thursday

• Breakfast - Steel Cut Oats, Toast & Peanut Butter
• Snack - Crackers with cheese
• Lunch - Leftovers
• Snack - Rice Krispie Treats
• Supper - Red Beans, Sausage & Rice

Friday

• Breakfast - Eggs in a hole
• Snack -  Bananas
• Lunch - Sandwiches or Leftovers
• Snack - Cookies
• Supper - Italian Beef Sandwiches, French Fries

Saturday

• Breakfast - Dutch Babies
• Lunch - Leftovers
• Supper - Pizza

Lamentations 3:22, 23

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I don't know if it was the full moon, or the getting over a cold, or the being stuck in the house because of the cold wind or if it was just a bad day, but one of the kids had a rough afternoon yesterday. He/she just couldn't be good. He/she couldn't sit on a chair to calm down - the chair would just scoot all over the floor. He/she couldn't just sit on my lap to calm down - the wiggles were just too much to contain. He/she couldn't be nice to his/her sister and on and on. So the warning was given at 4:30 - "Go, get your pajamas on..." and the reply was "NO!!!" Uh - oh, now he/she was really in trouble... By the time the pajamas were finally on, and with plenty of warning, the guilty party was sentenced to an evening in his/her room, including supper. There were a lot of tears and grumpiness and meanness coming out of this normally very sweet child. But, he/she finally settled down, was sorry, had supper alone in his/her room and spent the evening with some library books.

This morning, sunshine has returned to the child. It is as if yesterday had never happened. For both of us. The smiles and giggles and obedience have returned.

I love the picture it gave me of God's kindness and mercy and of the peek He gave me into the way He feels about His children.  The way none of the behavior (and believe me, there was plenty of it) didn't turn my love away from the child. No, I didn't like it and wouldn't put up with it, but I still loved him/her just as much as always. I love the way, this morning, the child was in no way uncomfortable with me.  There are hugs and snuggles and I love yous just like normal.  It's as if it had never happened. What a wonderful thing to think of God "Casting our sin into the depths of the sea."  Can we, after we have turned to God in repentance of our sin, forget it as if had never happened - trusting in His forgiveness?  We do have to bear some of the results of our sin, of course, but we don't have to hang on to the guilt.

I love what we can learn from a child.

Random pictures from the week

With a house full of girls you end up with an abundance of dolls!

This is where you wake up in the morning if you don't make it into the chicken house before the door is closed for the night...

The snow was so wet and the rollers were so ambitious that the head and body got too heavy to lift... so... this poor snowman ended up looking like he had met the snowplow.

Yay!  Our "new" driveway was delivered today

Menu for the week of 3/4/12

Sunday

• Breakfast -  Scrambled Eggs , Toast
• Lunch - Ham Sandwiches, Chips, Cookies
• Supper - ? 

Monday

• Breakfast -  Cornmeal Cereal, Toast
• Snack - Cheese Cubes with Pretzel Sticks
• Lunch - Quesadillas
• Snack - Bananas
• Supper - Beef Pot Pie, Salad, Squash

Tuesday

• Breakfast - Egg Sandwiches
• Snack - Granola Bars
• Lunch - Taco Soup & Toppings
• Snack - Raisins & Peanuts
• Supper - Stir Fry Vegetables & Beef, Rice

Wednesday

• Breakfast - Muffins, Poached Eggs
• Snack - Oranges
• Lunch - Potato, Broccoli, Ham Soup, Banana Sheet Cake
• Snack - Leftover Muffins
• Supper - Taco Salad, Fruit Salad

Thursday

• Breakfast - Steel Cut Oats with Blueberries & Granola, Toast & Peanut Butter
• Snack - Crackers with cheese
• Lunch - Leftovers
• Snack - Popcorn
• Supper - Ham & Beans, Cornbread

Friday

• Breakfast - Blueberry Overnight Oven Pancake
• Snack -  Oranges
• Lunch - Leftovers
• Snack - Apple Slices
• Supper - Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans  Toasted Submarine Sandwiches

Saturday

• Breakfast - Dutch Babies Breakfast Burritos
• Lunch - Pizza
• Supper - Pasta Casserole

And we did it again...

Just because we have a hard time resisting cute pasture animals, two new critters (a pair of miniature donkey sisters) have joined the farm.

Penny

Polly

Just the right size... (for Lincoln and Garrett, that is) 

The winning name is...

...Liberty

The other suggested names will be kept on file for our future calves.  Thanks for playing along.

The schedule was dropped this morning when...

...we found this pretty little girl in the pasture.

So now for a name.  The mother is Independence (Indy) the father is Oliver. Several of our cows have flower names. So far we have come up with Liberty, Bell, Bluebell, and Freedom. Any  suggestions?  I should add that Independence got her name because she was born around July 4th.