Happy Birthday, Trevor!

The final kid, celebrating his final 1-digit birthday.

Trevor's 9th birthday

 

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Animal Control: It Just Never Ends (at least, for me)

Had a little excitement, Friday night. A bat appeared out of nowhere and began swooping around the hallway and kitchen, forcing us to put Pierce Brosnan and all of his James Bondiness on hold, for a bit.

The first job was to get my hands on a tennis racket, which we keep so the kids can play baseball.

(don't ask about why they use tennis rackets to play baseball...ask about why I needed it for the bat...because--as I learned from Eileen Kepple (thanks, Eileen!)--a bat's radar doesn't always sense the racket as well as it would a more solid object, such as a broom, which I have to say, was quite exhausting that other time...)

In all the flurry, it did take me a few moments to open the storage container, which calls for someone with a greater wingspan to push in two buttons at opposite ends, at the same time.

However, by a simple maneuver just short of double shoulder dislocation, I was able to do it.

The next step was to close the stairway door, preventing said bat from going upstairs in the dark and quite possibly instigating massive shrieking.

Then there was the sight of Ma, hearkening back to her days on the tennis team, swinging wildly for a brown object that kept circling overhead (a technique we never learned at tennis practice).

Despite the heartfelt support from Loren and Carolyn, safely watching in the hall, I missed "several" times. Luck was not totally absent, however, as suddenly I was simultaneously aware of a surprised exclamation from Loren and the sight of something brown hurtling across the kitchen to the other side of the dining room table.

"Where is it...? Where did it land...?" I asked myself, nervously searching my brain for any info on bat retribution.

It lay stunned on Melinda's chair, and the rest is somewhat hazy, due to adrenaline and my need to not inform the DNR of the details concerning how it ended up outside, quite a bit less than conscious.

I'm feeling inspired enough to compose a rap poem about all the animals I've "controlled" over the years, but first I need to decide whether to limit it to the house, the yard, or creatures I've taken out with the vehicles.
 

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Cow Appreciation

One can't help but admire the stoicism of cows.


Day after day.

Season after season.

Snowflake after snowflake.

Nothing deters their unending quest for cuddish material.

Whether it's winter's corn-glean from an old field, or methodical summers spent working their way from pasture to pasture, one, bladey-green mouthful at a time.

The never ending process...

...it just never ends.

One could almost render them incapable of eschewing chewing.

Well. If they can do it,

so can I.
 

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Good times

Nothing quite compares to the thrill of being on the phone with one's medical insurance company.

Unless it would be getting a root canal.

But thankfully, today's small hassle is nothing compared to the five fruitless hours I spent talking to unhelpful insurance people a decade ago. I don't even remember what kid it was, but apparently we'd had the audacity to have an inexpensive home birth rather than go to the hospital and run up a LOT of charges, like the good sensible people we should have been.

And I'm not making a point about whether people should have homebirths. I'm simply remembering the supreme runaround that ended with the disappointing verdict that they were not covering this homebirth, due to using an "out of network provider," (midwife) despite the fact that they had happily covered this very same midwife after the previous homebirth.

It would seem that refusing any coverage is even cheaper than accepting a low-cost homebirth.

But that's all behind me now, and I bear no ill will. Well, perhaps a faint residue of scorn pity for people who don't follow the facts back to the start point and try to make ignoramuses like me come up with information they are not entitled to.

____________

On a more positive note, we hit two libraries, start to finish, in 3.5 hours, today! That has to be a new record (except for that time when the library was closed).

New books, another "undate" tomorrow, and less than half the school week left :-)

I can live with that.
 

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Across the Globe

When I first heard about the earthquake in New Zealand this evening, I looked at the magnitude (6.3) and gave a mental sigh of relief. Seemed a lot better than the one back in September, which registered 7.1. No one perished in that large quake and it wasn't even reported on very much, this side of the world.

However, as the evening wore on and more reports came in, it looks to have done considerably more damage, due to being closer to Christchurch and also nearer the surface.

Of course, since we have relatives in New Zealand, and specifically in Christchurch, the anxiety level began to rise (most of Loren's oldest brother Bruce's children live near the quake's center).

I am thankful to report, however, that of all the nieces and nephews and their families (5 couples with children and another niece) are all accounted for and safe. This includes several of the younger ones who were in school at the time.

The quake hit around 1:00pm on Tuesday, when children were in classes and there was much activity in the city. This is unlike the September quake which took place in the dead of night, with almost everyone safe in their homes.

Sadly, due to the time of day and the location of the tremor, much, much damage has occurred, with multiple fatalities.

I can't help but notice that since people have died, it it receiving much more press.

Sounds to be a very bad situation, so we would appreciate prayer for everyone who has been affected by this.
 

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Born to Walk

I used to use the phrase, "sweating like a pig," but then I found out pigs don't actually sweat, so right off the bat we know two things:

1) either I am not a pig, or,
2) pigs are just really good at hiding it.

At any rate, I am terrifically "glowy," having just finished another 6.5 miles on the treadmill.

And by "another," I mean that the same thing happened yesterday.

My new incentive? Nighttime TV. Viewing the odd autopsy on CSI:NY puts a treadmill workout in a favorable light. You certainly can rack up the miles when immersed in a crime lab!

You can also sweat a lot.

Usually I have put in 3 miles by lunchtime, and an evening hour show is easily good for 3 or 3.5 more, though you have to ramp up the speed a tad for that extra half mile.

(did you ever notice that people who are dieting talk about food and exercise...like, ALL THE TIME?

Don't they know that people get tired of hearing about it?

Don't they realize that just because they went outside again and pruned two more apple trees and carved away half a pear tree, that the rest of us have lives, fer cryin' out loud?

It's almost as if people on a fierce regimen think it's hard or something, and they have to psych themselves up to the task. Pat themselves on the back. When in reality, we all KNOW it's a piece of cake and if they could just be great like us, they TOO could have wonderful lives that revolve around....whatever.

And another thing...I've noticed that fitness/diet nuts are quite susceptible to taking on new personalities...almost as if they talk outside themselves...it's weird--the worst cases can be identified by excessive use of ellipses)

But getting back to reality, it's time to sit back and relax with Carolyn and Ethan as we voyage with Captain Kirk, Spock and...some guy named Khan.
 

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Trees, and is there life after computers?

We've managed to get through another day (almost) and I think the kids are having fun doing different activities together.

*thump*

(the sound you just heard was someone--either Carolyn or Trevor--falling down from their roller skates. You know, the skates that someone gave us. Sometime. Somewhere).

No one is crying, however, so I'm just going to ignore it, for now. At least they haven't been sitting in front of their computers all afternoon.

The addition has been a real hot spot for activity, what with a dart board and two pairs of roller skates.

Now, if I can just get them to not get up early and start throwing darts first thing in the morning...

In other news, warm temps made for a beautiful day. And since it's the first official thaw of February, that means pruning, pruning, pruning. Finished the three apples trees by the road and all of the raspberries.

That took three hours, plus my nap-time, which means it feels more like five or six hours. Hopefully I won't wake up dizzy tomorrow, since I was craning my neck and looking up a lot, which has caused me problems in the past.

Another day of pruning should get most of it. There was still snow in the raspberry rows so I've probably missed a few.

Soon I'll head down to the basement for the last treadmill drill. Yesterday I managed a new record--six miles!

I might try for that again tonight, unless the ol' bod gives out. In which case, bury me beside my popular tree.

Preferably in the shade, in case I'm still sweaty from the treadmill.
 

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Day One to a Better Mind

I'd actually known the kids were spending too much time at their computers.

In the old days, they self-regulated themselves with a timer. Sure, there were some slip-ups and "unintentional" goings-over the limit, but in general, there were rules and since the kids were downstairs, I could keep tabs on them.

All that changed when their computers moved up to the second floor addition. Not that I don't enjoy the peace and quiet, but my age and the geographical move made regulation more complicated.

For one thing, I couldn't be running up and down the stairs all afternoon checking on different people taking their stints at different times. For another, it became apparent that Nolan was performing certain creative experiments with the time/space continuum. I mean, who knew that turning off the timer meant it never beeped when game-time was over?

Of late, I'd been letting them pretty much play computer games (after lunch...not all day) without much restriction.

I had mentioned holding game time to a certain hour of each day, but had never gotten around to implementation.

Talking with Judy Hintz on Tuesday and thinking about Nolan's lack of development in certain areas helped me to realize I couldn't put off the restrictions any longer.

As of today, it's a whole new world in Hoytdom.

I told them that once their prescribed game time and educational activities were over for the day (which they have to partake of together), all would be banished from the computer room.

Alternate activities to include outside play, books, board games, etc.

Then Nolan discovered the dart board that someone from church had given us. After doing a quick calculation on the potential for ER visits and general maiming, I said those immortal lines spoken by mothers from time eternal, "Go talk to your father."

Loren, in a very helpful spirit of keeping them out of the computer room, set up a piece of plywood along the stud-exposed wall, to which he affixed said dartboard.



They've been at it pretty much non-stop, before and after supper. And only two darts have been broken!

After the second one bit the dust and Ethan came in complaining about how hard the other two boys were throwing--never mind that he started out with a fastball pitch technique--I again stated, "GTtYF."

Loren went out and demonstrated an underhand toss, saying, "Some people throw them like this..."...*thump*....BULLS-EYE!

Much heraldry ensued.

___________

In other news, I was down another 1.5 pounds, this morning. An absolute miracle since I literally spent almost 12 hours sitting, yesterday....hope it holds :-)

I'm planning for another go at the treadmill around 8, which amazingly enough coincides with "Criminal Minds."

Wonder if they need any more consultants?
 

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The day of testing-ness

Mercy, I am so tired!

It has been a long and profitable day for Nolan et Ma. Very thankful for the safety in traveling, for the kids being in bed, and that I have some concrete things on which to work.

Educational Resource Associates, Inc. is located in West Des Moines and also Ankenny. The main office, however, is in WDM (not to be confused with WMD, although, since the guy lied about the latter, maybe they are interchangeable).

Pardonez-moi le lapse politico.

We will be getting the official written report in a week, but after 4 hours and 20 minutes of testing, here is a general synopsis:

1) Nolan does not have a learning disability (whew!)
2) Nolan does have a high IQ (hmmm :-)
3) Also a good aptitude for math
4) His homeschooling background has stood him well...we didn't do anything "wrong"
5) He does not think linearly (logically), but "outside the box"
6) He definitely needs some help in the area of inferential comprehension (reasoning, drawing conclusions)
7) Even though he can read a lot of words, he doesn't know what all of those words mean

Those last three items, plus his tendency to work slowly and carefully, are what trip him up on the standardized (timed) tests every year.

The good news is, now that he's been through the testing procedure at ERA (not to be confused with "that-amendment-which-shall-not-be-named"), his results can be used in the future to negate a bad result on the Iowa Test of Basic skills, should the Department of Education again show their disappointment in Nolan's scores.

Nolan thought the whole long testing period was "fun" :-) He didn't even want the snacks that were offered. But by the time 1:20 rolled around we were both pretty hungry!

He'd seen a Culvers nearby, but I told him that was too expensive. Then it was going to be Hardee's, but I convinced him they had horrible fries (they do) and somewhat reluctantly he was persuaded to Arby's, half a block from the test site.

After he took one bite of a beef-n-cheddar, and two curly fries, he proclaimed it quite nirvana-esque. An extremely happy camper, he was.

Ma got by with a side salad, 1/3 a packet of dressing, 1/4 of a chocolate chunk cookie, two stolen fries from Nolan, and a diet drink.

(Some day I want to eat, again!)

We got back by 2:00, the scheduled consult time for Judy Hintz and myself.

I was very impressed. Of course, it helped that she was most supportive of what he had done, so far. But it was also clear that he has a few areas that need work. Obviously, we knew that...which is why he was there, but I am not qualified to diagnose the situation and it was SUCH A RELIEF to talk to someone who is.

Now we need to decide just what to do, concerning possible one-on-one work between one of the teachers and Nolan, or trying to adjust things ourselves. I certainly have my preference, but that will wait.

In the meantime, one thing we can definitely change is the amount of time he (and the others) spend at the computer.

For too long I've ignored the fact of using it as a baby sitter, so I've already told the kids that things will change, including the description of that change, tomorrow.

But first, I'm totally beat and need some decompression time.
 

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The Diet Update

I hate to say this, for fear of jinxing the process, but things are cruising along fairly well.

As of this moment, I have put in 26.5 miles on the treadmill for the week. A new record, to be sure. Plus, I plan to get on one more time this evening...

As for weight, I'm down 3 more pounds since the last blog update (Facebook gets more frequent reports), so that makes 14 pounds lost in just under 5 weeks. Still two more weigh-ins to go, though...maybe I can squeeze off another half pound.

I guess this business of feeling hungry half the day is paying off.

One of the reasons I started the latest weight loss project was due to sore feet every time I came to a standing position. I am happy to say that the left foot doesn't bother me much. However, the right foot, the really sore one, is still sore. It just doesn't always hurt in the same place. Now the pain has migrated back to the arch and heel. But I figure that if I keep losing weight it should get better. If not, I'll head back to the PA that told me to buy new shoes (!) and see what she says. If nothing else, I can wow her with the fact that I've lost some weight. It will be nice to have positive feedback from someone who isn't on Facebook or doesn't live with me (people never notice if they see you every day).

Another reason is the fact that with unchecked weight gain, I figured sooner or later I'd be ripe for Type II Diabetes. Hopefully that has been put on hold, though I'm sure there are certain people out there who think I am doomed.

In other news, we have the dates for the boys to get their Iowa Test of Basic Skills, so it is time to order the practice booklets for Nolan and Trevor to see if some better scores can be attained, this time around.

There is more than one way to feel doomed, ha ha.

Only 15 more weeks of school left in the year!

Of course, it won't end there. I have no doubt that I'll be working with Nolan and Trevor throughout the summer, just like in 2010. That is probably the reason I find the homeschooling to be more of a dreary task, this year. There just hasn't been a break.

Maybe I can farm them out to someone over the summer! Of course that is never going to happen. And that is why here at the end of the homeschooling involvement (as in, the last 10 years, providing I don't have to hold anyone back, again...) that I am really getting sick of the whole business.

But then, if I didn't homeschool, what would I DO with my days?

I think a person should be honest and not pretend this whole business (homeschooling) is a piece of cake, or that it's just so "homey and fuzzy-warm" being responsible for their education, day in and day out. It's not. But it probably beats the alternative.

Probably.

At any rate, I'm going to keep plugging away and also plugging my successes :-D

And looking forward to my next "meal."
 

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Normal is....normal

Been wracking my brain for something exciting to post about but life seems to be humming along in a rather normal, if mundane, way.

I get up and give some assignments to Trevor and Nolan, so they can get started on school.

Then I mix up my protein drink and set it to chill in the freezer.

While the two boys are industriously working on school...*insert totally unfounded idealism*....I head to the basement to put in my first stint on the treadmill: 1.5 miles.

Up from the dungeon, I get the dishes ready for the unwilling victim, Trevor or Nolan. This is usually accompanied by the claim, "But I did it yesterday...I remember..." after which I show them the incredibly helpful, if pathetic, record that I keep to offer undeniable proof that I am not making Nolan do it 5 days in a row.

That small crisis averted, I proceed to sit down at my computer and indulge in my frothy "Jillian Michaels Triple Chocolate Protein Shake."

It's my 200 calorie reward for getting on the treadmill before breakfast. Because it's been in the freezer for almost 25 minutes, there are little bits of frozen goodness around the edges which I stir in for sumptuous repast that only someone calorically deprived would consider tasty.

It's really good, which should tell you something.

Then my first session with the boys commences, where we do the combined activities: reading from Nolan's history and going through a U.S. Government softcover. We've gotten to the presidents and are trying to memorize the order as we study a small bit about each of the nation's leaders.

By this time, Ethan is really hoping we'll be done soon, in-between volunteering to answer questions (and usually denied) from the gov. book he's already been through. He is anxious because he knows that as soon as I take the boys up to the computer room, he and Carolyn, who've been doggedly pursuing their education since the dawn's early light...*cue music*....get to have their morning snack.

So while they are preventing a morning faint, I am upstairs watching Trevor and Nolan at their computers: math drill, spelling and for Nolan, typing practice.

I used to take a book and read in a nearby recliner, but then I had to pull up a chair and read right between them, to verify whether "someone" was actually doing all he's supposed to, as opposed to dropping lines of type when I wasn't looking.

Today I didn't even bother taking a book.

*sigh*

After that it is back down to the kitchen for the boys' snack ("No, you can-not have s'mores every day.") and my half apple of crunchy, sweet goodness (YUM!).

Then the push to finish up everything else with my two erstwhile slow learners.

Usually I try to stagger their activities so I can listen to Trevor read while Nolan does his math (for example). But since Nolan's on a geometry section which he LOVES, he's been getting started before I even get up and thus, throwing my entire synchronization out of whack. He gets points for starting on his own, however. And it is a blessed relief not to have to cajole him to finish several long division problems under 60 minutes time. After science and other subjects, Nolan quite often finishes up with Grammar. As he completes the two required pages I am completing numerous inner cartwheels of joy, contemplating impending freedom from one tyranny of my day.

If things are going well, we finish almost by twelve. Usually, however, it is closer to one or later.

Now it time to hoof it back to the basement for another 1.25 miles on the treadmill, all the time partaking of helpful cooking shows on the PBS Create channel that have me making long range plans to spend a couple of years in Europe.

Immediately upon dragging my sorry self up the stairs, Ethan often greets me in the kitchen, tongue lolling out yet still conscious enough to utter those immortal words, "You're going to make lunch soon, right?"

(to be continued)
 

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Another Monday, in the Can

Only 15 Mondays of school left!

Got through most of the day OK. The boys finished their lessons, albeit it with such agonizing slowness in spots it was all I could do to keep still. Hafta wonder if there isn't some type of teacher/hyperactivity disorder that involves barely keeping your sanity while students don't "get it."

Nolan was able to keep himself in check, for the most part, meaning he didn't get into one of his "moods" for more than a few minutes at a time.

Four loads of laundry washed, folded and put away, and a fresh batch of granola made.

Also did the shopping and boy, was it cold!

Wind chill was not at all comfy. And right now it stands at -28, with the actual temperature -7 degrees F.

And the wind did not content itself with freezing Ma's face.

Hungry tentacles of snow were snaking across the gravel roads...
...but not in sufficient number or depth to deter Ma from her weekly mission.

Things have been going so well on the diet (down 12 pounds, altogether) that I decided to treat myself to 1/2 of a Special Dark Hershey bar.

Kept me warm on the ride home ;-)
 

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The Diet Update

Checking back I see there hasn't been a recent report on the current weight-loss endeavor so I'm obliged to interrupt the bliss of not hearing from me.

Two pounds down, this past week, and that makes a total of 11 pounds lost :-)

Monday will be exactly 4 weeks so if I could just squeeze off another pound...but I highly doubt it. Not with all the sitting involved with church tomorrow, followed by the necessary nap to recover from an early alarm.

Still, very happy to lose 10 pounds per month. Anything else is gravy.

Which I can't eat.
 

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Free at last

We can now officially exit the driveway, and not a moment too soon.

I had several packages to mail and the post office closes at 4:15.

Complicating matters was my need for additional packing tape, a rather thoughtless desire as it takes away from the materials Trevor and Nolan utilize to polish off their Lego guns.

4:05 saw me in the post office, trying to finish taping boxes with the newly purchased roll. Finally had to ask the postmaster for help since I'd completely botched feeding it into the "handy" dispenser.

All was accomplished and I left the post office at the stroke of 4:15 and 30 seconds.

Pulling in the drive, I saw the four youngest heavily involved in horseplay upon the snow mounds.


It appears Trevor and Carolyn are quite decided in not allowing Ethan to be "King of the Mountain," leaving the opportunistic Nolan free and clear to reign for at least a minute or so.


Now, for the weekend :-)
 

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Blizzard pictures

Nothing real exciting here, by way of pictures. When these were taken it was -20 windchill, so this little Ma did not stay outside for long!

The steps had to be cleared before one could do anything.
And since that drift was still over my boots I had to shovel a a small path to a lower section.

Looks like Ethan will have his work cut out for him. Though it's hard to see, the drive is almost completely filled with 2-3 feet of snow, tightly pack in by the winds.
(This was taken on Wednesday morning. It is now Thursday afternoon and the the drive is cleared almost 2/3 to the road).

Around the back of the garage, I see where the Bells' RV has created an impressive wall.
(and no, we are NOT buying this RV. Loren is fixing it up for Steve and letting him park it here for a bit instead of their small driveway).

Had to go back around the house to get this opposite angle.
The kids have already staked out places for snow caves.

No pretty pictures. So cold I couldn't stay out for more than 15 minutes. And even though we have lovely frost patterns on the windows, they are the old kind that you can't hardly clean without breaking them, so the dirt rather cuts down on the aesthetic quality.

Oh, and I think I've figured out why we don't have birds at the bird feeder any more (other than that occasional woodpecker). With that snow berm around the house, there are no more dead weeds and vegetation, which some of the birds like to have nearby. Also, the juncos prefer feeding on the ground. Guess I'm gonna have to rearrange things, hereabouts...
 

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Priceless Mea Culpa

I was glancing around the computer room, killing time until Trevor finished shutting down his computer, when my eyes fell on this:

Written yesterday, I'm guessing. The tape at the top tells me this was once posted outside a closed bedroom door.

Sounds as though something occurred while I was gone, and, that it's been taken care of, in a manner of speaking.

Influence of the Lemony Snicket series hangs over all.
 

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