Making A Home

Today...

My children did their annual testing for homeschoolers (though the parent partnership we are involved with.)  I was trying to encourage them to take their time and do their best, but not to worry too much about the results - that they really don't mean much.  And we proved that...

- Hallie (who took the "regular" test for 2nd graders) scored lower in Math than Molly (who took the "primary" test for 1st graders)... and was very upset about it.  "Now everyone's going to say SHE'S the WINNER and SHE'S the BEST!"  (Pretty sure her blood runs green... this is the same child that had a fit during church one week because she heard there was a "Molly" on the worship team, but not a "Hallie.")

- Sam (who was solving basic algebra problems verbally in the car on the way to the testing site, and finished his 4th grade math curriculum for the year over a month ago) scored in FIRST GRADE for math.  It's laughable.

(Gideon and Molly scored at or slightly above their grade levels for both reading and Math.)

While the chidlren were doing their testing, Baby K and I ran all over the county (practically)...

- We zipped over to MP3 to drop off our (and a friend's) re-enrollment packets.  (Today's the deadline, and while I was really considering NOT doing it again next year due to new restrictions, I figured it would be easier to drop out than to try to get back in if I changed my mind... so we re-enrolled, and that gives us a few months to make our final decision and see what activities will still be covered.)

- We ran to the doctor's office.  (I have an appointment this afternoon and couldn't find my new patient paperwork, so I picked up a new set.)

- We grabbed coffee at a drive-thru.

- And got back just about 5 minutes before my last child (Gideon) finished his test!

After I picked them up, we picked up happy meals to celebrate being done with the test for the year.  (I know, I know...)

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The zoo accidentally sent me a renewal reminder this morning.  (We just renewed last month!)  To make sure it was right in their system, I logged onto their website to check our terms and got a chuckle out of what they had down for our family's membership...

My Membership Information

Annual Pass Membership
Current Status: Active
Joined on 3/31/2011		Expires on 3/22/2012
Membership Cards:
Brian
Hilary
Benefits:
Quantity		Description
2		Adult(s)
4		Child(ren)
0		Flex Guest(s)
15		Toddler(s)

Do they know something I don't know???

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Baby K update...

Thanks for your prayers for the meeting Wednesday.  Turned out it was completely and totally pointless (the MEETING, not the PRAYERS!)  K's brother's family drove almost 2.5 hours to be at the meeting, and I got a babysitter... we were told this was the meeting where they would decide who would ultimately adopt K. 

Turns out Great Grandma is still in the running... we were misinformed.

Brother's family wants her (and totally understandable, as they knew about her before she was born and she probably should have initially been placed with them).

But she is thriving and completely attached to our family.  And moving her would be detrimental to her AND my other children.

Mom still wants her with Great Grandma, but if not her, then us.  But ultimately a judge will decide, and because of "policy", the state has to recommend brother's home rather than ours.  BUT, the Guardian Ad Litem can recommend she stay with us, and I think she would recommend that. 

Most of the meeting was spent with someone asking a question and the state's attorney interrupting them and saying "That's not for this meeting" or "We can't discuss that" or "You'll have to talk to your lawyer about that."

Like I said... pointless.  The 2 good things that came out of the meeting: I did get to hear from Birthmom's mouth that she still wants K with us if she can't go to grandma.  And I got to talk face to face with the brother's family and hopefully start to build a relationship, so that if K stays, we can get together with her brother and keep them in contact, and if she goes, hopefully we'll at least get an update now and then. 

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Quotables (from Facebook) 2011... so far.

I realized during a discussion with my husband the other night that I'm posting more and more of the funny quotes to facebook instead of preserving them on my blog.  (Remember, we make family yearbooks out of the blog, and have really enjoyed re-living a lot of the memories of past "kid-quotes.")  So I'm scouring my facebook posts for some of the quotables and "moments", just so we'll have them here for the blog book.

We'll start with one from today:

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Gideon had been sent to his bed to chill out after a major meltdown.  I was hoping to invite him back out, but wanted to make sure something had sunk in.

Mom: "Gideon, have you learned anything this morning?"
Gideon: "Mmfmfmmsmfmfm..."
Mom: "I can't hear you, Gid."
Gideon: "MMfmFMmmsmfmfMF..."
Mom: "Gideon, Molly's coughing right next to me, the baby's babbling, and the water is running in the kitchen, you're going to have to speak up for me to be able to hear you."
Gideon: "I LEARNED NOT TO RAISE MY VOICE TO YOU!!"
Mom: "Oh. Good." :)

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Easter 2011

After making "Resurrection Cookies" last night with the children, and letting them help this morning with the "Resurrection Rolls", Sam saw me getting out the potatoes to start breakfast and asked "Now are you making Resurrection Hash Browns?!"

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Gideon: (Working on his schoolwork) I need a vegetable that starts with "A". Is an antelope a fruit or a vegetable?

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"I DON'T love you, but I love your food, and the clothes you buy me!" (Thanks, daughter. I think that just about gives me all the warm fuzzies I need this week.)

(This was Molly, and I post it here so that I can hopefully look back on the absurdity and laugh... when her attachment disorder isn't running so rampant!)

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Oops, just found out Baby K knows how to drink from a straw! I was holding her and my Cool Coffee Cream... next thing I knew there was a bit leaking out of the corner of her mouth!

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Just finished a wooden 3-D frog puzzle/model. Why is it that the children's projects always end up in my lap to finish? Gideon is adding the googly eyes himself... guess that means he made it. ;)

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My eldest put his laptop on the ground (despite countless reminders, lectures, etc about where it goes)... then proved he knew where it belongs by putting it away to cover up the fact that he STEPPED on it and cracked the screen. He's in his bed until I can look at him without wanting to scream.

(Thanks to Stephani Z's suggestion, we found someone who replaced the screen for $100! Yay!)

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Fired the counselor last night. She was sweet... but didn't "push" enough. Can't find anyone around here who knows what to do with attachment disorder, and one of my children needs something MUCH more intensive... which probably means driving to the Seattle area several times a month... and a nice big price tag.

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DO NOT tell my children that Spring Break starts tomorrow! I'd rather take our break when the sun is shining and we can hang out at the beach! We'll pass on being cooped up (by the rain) with no school work this week, thankyouverymuch.

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Just got back from taking my children to a labyrinth at a local park. Perfect to go along with our Greek study! They LOVED it... (well, all but that one who would rather whine and fuss and cry loudly than just follow the path! The others went through it 3-4 times each, laughing and grinning the whole way.) Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera, or even my Droid!

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Just PAID OFF our student loans! Once and for all!!! We are SO going out to celebrate tonight.

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HELP!! I'm up early, my children are all asleep, my husband is at work and my COFFEE MAKER isn't working!!! Can't even ENJOY the quiet!

Hooray for good customer service! 10 minutes on the phone with Keurig and they are sending out a whole new brewer! (1-2 days processing, 5-7 days shipping.) In the meantime, I'll be getting my "spare" back from my mother, now that they finally bought one for themselves.

Figured if I needed to go out for coffee anyway, might as well keep driving. Now we are at the zoo! Studying birds.

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Could it be? Handyman should be coming Monday to start the install process of... a DISHWASHER! (Assuming he doesn't get called away to an out of town job first.) Pathetically excited.

Ah, bummer. Dishwasher guy had to reschedule. Get used to those dishpan hands, kiddos...

(Been trying to get a dishwasher put in for MONTHS... as of late April, still trying to get ahold of the guy, who said he had to do a job in Oak Harbor, then we were next!  It's been well over a month.)

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Nature kinda stinks sometimes... We're watching "The Crimson Wing" for science and NOT enjoying seeing the Maribou Storks killing all the baby flamingos. Hallie's in tears.

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Just got back from Hallie's first audition (for a local production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Wow. She blew me away. I had no idea she had talent like that! HAD to take her out for ice cream after a terrific job like that! List will be posted Friday.

She made it! Hallie will be in the Kid's Chorus of Northwest Washington Theatre Group's production of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at the MBT in May! (Now to figure out this rehearsal schedule!)

And we're diving right in! Hallie had a 3 hour rehearsal tonight, another 3 hours tomorrow morning. Then we're off until Tuesday, I think. Anyone have any size 13/1 jazz or ballet shoes they want to sell for a good price?

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Crazy day. Strong winds this morning blew our rolling gate right off our back fence. Husband had to intervene when a crazy drunken lady was harrassing our girl scouts selling cookies at Fred Meyer and trying to take their cookie money (police apprehended her). AND baby's birthmom exposed her to the flu during her visitation - hoping she doesn't catch it (nor the rest of us!)

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IRS... It's on its way... And you owe me, bigtime. Get my deposit ready!

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We have a tooth!!! Baby K just popped through her first tooth this morning at not even 5 months old (Sam and Hallie were both almost a year old when they got their first!) - lower left. And the lower right is not far behind!

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Hallie after coming in from outside: "My hands are COLD... and I can't warm them up too fast or I'll get CHILBLAINS!!!" (Seriously... look it up!)

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Busy 2 days making breakfasts ahead for the freezer - breakfast burritos and mcmuffins. I have 8 meals complete and the makings for 8 more... but I'm running out of freezer space!! (And the boys have a scout meeting tonight, so I'm running out of time to rearrange and make room!) I have a feeling I'll be cooking late into the evening when we get home tonight.

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I always said I would really LISTEN to my children. Then God gave me Sam. He's in the middle (hopefully at least the middle) of another wandering Asperger's monologue. A few sentences in, my brain involuntarily shuts down.

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Some days I think morning sickness, back pain, labor, and even someone dancing on your bladder MUST be easier than the emotional turmoil and uncertainty of trying to adopt, and not knowing if or when this baby will be ripped from my arms. But not having been on the other side... I can truly only guess.

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"Do not expect the rewards of this family if you do not accept the responsibilities of this family."

 

TOS Review: See The Light

See the Light is a DVD series of art classes... as simple as that!  We received the first DVD in the series, Volume 1, Art Lessons 1-4: The Basics.

Artist and Teacher Pat Knepley takes the children step by step through learning about basic supplies, proper pencil grips, and drawing a few simple objects - an apple and a shoe, with emphasis on composition and "drawing what you see, not what you know." 

 My children certainly enjoyed the lessons... but they always love art! 

What I liked: The instructor did a great job of explaining the basic tools (pencil, charcoal, erasers, chalk), and showing how different pencil grips work to change the line you are drawing.  Although I enjoy drawing and art, she definitely has a knowledge to share that I don't instinctively have on the subject.  The lessons were broken down into short bits so as not to overwhelm the children with too much information at once.  I also loved that they required pretty basic supplies.

What I didn't like: Alright, I know I may not be too popular on this one, but I really thought the way they tried to tie in to Biblical topics or worldview were over the top.  It was stretch at best, and personally, I found myself rolling my eyes more than once.  Not that I don't appreciate that the videos are from a Chrsitian point of view... I do... that part just wasn't so well done.  For example, after having the children draw an apple, the instructor picks it up, gazes at it and says so "casually" (ha ha)... "You know what this apple reminds me of?" and launches into a few sentences about Adam and Eve. 

The nice thing is, right now you can try the DVD out for yourself and see if it would be a fit for your family.  (Perhaps your "cheesy-meter" isn't set as sensitively as my own.)  See the Light is offering this same DVD (4 lessons, plus a bonus on using chalk) for free on their website, so you can try out the series.  Click here to order.  Or you can go here instead, to view the first 3 lessons online.

The full year (36 lessons) of Art Class DVDs cost $99.

"This 9 volume DVD series contains 36 complete step-by-step tutoring lessons, taught by Master Artist Pat Knepley.

Pat Knepley’s warmth and engaging personality captures the attention of children, draws them into the learning process, and leads them through a successful drawing experience in every lesson.

Each lesson runs approximately 15 minutes and includes suggestions for follow-up drawing activities.

Art History is another feature of ART CLASS. Your children will become acquainted with the famous masterpieces of many artists.

Biblical truth is integrated into every lesson!

NO WORKBOOKS EVER! These lessons require only basic supplies. Most lessons require only a piece of copy paper, a #2 pencil, and a good eraser."

Or you can get access to the same lessons, online, for $10 per month. 

Baby K Update - Mid April

Baby K's birthmom sent me a note via the transporter (the lady that picks K up for her visits and drops her back off after) last week, asking for a Christmas photo of K (I'd been meaning to send one and hadn't gotten around to having it printed yet).  Monday morning I went to upload a few photos to Fred Meyer, so I could pick them up that afternoon... and they weren't on my computer.  NONE of my photos were on my computer.  There wasn't even a "My Pictures" folder anymore.  As a matter of fact, all of my documents and music were gone, too.  I was in a state of shock... Everything?  Gone?  I checked my external hard drive, knowing I'd been remiss in backing up, and found the last time I'd backed up my photos was in October... which means I ONLY had photos of Baby K's first 2 weeks of life.  I'd lost SIX MONTHS of photos of my baby!!!

I have been able to compile a small collection since then, from my blog, from another blog I was starting, in case we were able to adopt her (to post updates for birthfamily, like we do for Gideon and Molly's family... thankfully the Christmas photo I needed was there!), from mine and Brian's facebook, and from friends who had snapped a few photos of her over the first 1/2 year of her life.  I have enough that it doesn't look like we've COMPLETELY ignored her existence.  I still long for the photos that are missing, and am in contact with an old friend whose brother is a data forensics specialist and may be able to help me find the files if there's any trace of them left on that laptop... waiting to hear back about meeting up to pass him the computer.

But as I was saying...

It occurred to me that sending that photo (and a few others) to K's birthparents was also the perfect opportunity to send a letter (I got approval from the SW and Guardian Ad Litem first) urging them to sign relinquishment papers before their rights are terminated and they lose the chance to choose where their baby ends up, and any hope for an open adoption agreement!  I spent over an hour on the letter, and hope I properly communicated our love for K, her attachment to us, the detriment it would be to move her after this long, and the urgency to sign SOON if they intend to.  I printed the letter, signed it, and tucked it in the visit bag with the photos. 

Then before the visit time arrived Wednesday morning... the SW called.  They are moving things forward.  I don't know what the sudden rush is, but they've decided not to wait around for termination.  They've scheduled a meeting for next Wednesday morning - representatives of the department, birthparents, the adoptive family of K's older brother (who want K), and myself.  Basically, they are putting it all on the line, in less than a week.  Everyone comes, talks, discusses, and a plan is made for K.  Which means if the birthparents don't sign relinquishment to us in the next 6 days (or, last chance, at the meeting itself)... the state has to go with policy and place her with her biological brother's adoptive family. 

We're praying and trusting God to do what's best for K and for all of us, but oh... my flesh is nervous. 

NWTG Presents...

 

Recipe: Sausage Pancakes

I picked up a bag of frozen sausage patties at Wal-mart a few weeks ago for $5, and came up with a marvelous idea to use some of them... Sausage pancakes.

First, cook sausage patties on the griddle, until they are warmed through.

 

Meanwhile, make pancake batter.  Here's the recipe I used (adapted from a waffle recipe we have on a fridge magnet):

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Stir together dry ingredients, then add remaining ingredients and stir just until blended - some lumps will remain.

 

Pour pancake batter on preheated griddle, to about the size of the sausage patties (they'll spread out a little to end up slightly larger than the sausage).
 


Top each pile of batter with one sausage patty.
 
Continue to cook until bubbles form and set.
 

Top each sausage patty with more batter, spread to cover the sausage, but try not to overflow too much!

 

Let cook for a a bit longer, until any overflow has begun to set, then flip pancakes over.

 

Allow to cook until other side is browned.

Top with syrup...

 

And enjoy!

 

These are seriously delicious, but VERY filling.  I made them two days in a row... once to try them out, and once to take photos to blog and share with you!  The first day I just made one sausage pancake each (but a double batch of the batter) and made regular pancakes with the rest, and they finished them ALL.  The second day, I made a single batch of batter and just made them each two of the sausage ones, and only 2 of the 4 children could finish them.  (But that left some for daddy when he got off his early shift!)

 

(Cook up the remaining batter into teeny tiny pancakes for a sweet baby.)

 
 

XIV & K

A few quick photos on the lawn Wednesday, after girl scouts...

After 2 1/2 days of sun that were supposed to be rainy... as the sprinkling just barely started... and just a few hours before the snow hit the foothills, and the next morning, the lowlands.

 
Baby K (6 months) and her buddy, Apollo (9 months). 

Ridiculous

April 14, 2011

 
Must be global warming.

TOS Review: Kinderbach

I love music.  Always have.  Probably helps that my dad and brother are extremely gifted in that area.  (Give them an hour with any instrument and they'll be playing it like they've been taking lessons for years.)  I, however, did not inherit that gift.   I got other great gifts... like allergies, and weak teeth. :)  I took piano lessons for about a year, guitar for about a year... and didn't find the real desire (contrasted with the work required) to continue either.  I know just enough to peck (or pluck) a few things out on either instrument, which comes in handy now and then.  Like recently when helping Hallie learn her part in the ensemble for the play she's rehearsing and separate her notes out from the rest.  She insisted I teach her to play a few lines, too.

I would love for my children to learn to play the piano, and possibly move on to other instruments in the future.  Sam took piano lessons from my mom for nearly a year (and made good progress... though he quickly got bored with the book and preferred to write his own songs, and when given his practice schedule, would try to negotiate down how many times he had to play each piece! It's likely some of the children will continue on with her when we can find a good schedule.)  Malaika took piano lessons briefly while living with her great aunt for that few months.  She reports she learned "that B and C are the two middle keys."

 

I was excited for my children to try out Kinderbach, an internet (or DVD) based piano instruction program intended for children age 3-7.  Each week is divided into 4 lessons, each with a video they can watch online and a few activity or coloring pages that can be printed from the PDF lesson books.  And I loved that it was mostly independent.

There are 2 sample lessons on their site that you can try for free.

 

"KinderBach uses playful characters to teach note reading, rhythm, singing, and composition."
The website describes the program as follows:

"Solid Curriculum
Fun Characters
Multi-Learning Styles
Engaging Videos
Hands-on Pages
Music Theory Games
30-Day Guarantee
Child Paced
Convenient"

And affordable!

Traditional piano lessons can add up. Between the transportation to and from, as well as childcare for the other siblings the high cost of the lessons themselves can be astounding. Families find the cost of KinderBach 75% less than what they would spend on regular music lessons – and that’s just for one child.  A single KinderBach membership services ALL the children in your family even if they are on different levels, learning at their individual pace.  The larger your family, the more you save!

The online version costs $19.99 per month when billed monthly.  (MUCH less than private lessons.)  And only $7.99 a month when billed annually at $95.88.  Again, that's for the whole family!  My impression of the program is that it's VERY thorough.  They are covering music theory from the very beginning, clapping out rhythms and learning to keep time.  The names and locations of keys are taught in a clever manner (Dodie the Donkey - the D key - lives in his house... between the two black keys.)  It certainly makes these things easy to memorize.  For very young children (say, ages 3-5), it seems like it would be a great introduction to music and piano.  However for my children (even the younger ones that are technically in the proper age range), it moved WAY too slow.

I must point out that my girls are 7 (at the high end of the age range) and my boys are 9, so slightly above.  This proved to be an issue in their enjoyment of the program.  At first, they all seemed to like it (each child worked through the first 9 weeks of lessons).  The characters were fun, they liked the coloring pages, and the lessons were easy.  But they quickly tired of it.  I thought perhaps I could inspire them by jumping ahead to show them how close they were getting to playing an actual song, on the staff... and I couldn't find one until WEEK 51!!  Almost a full year into the program, and that's if we took no breaks! 

So, while I do think the program could work great for very young children, if you were so inclined to start them so young... I'll need to find something that moves much quicker for my crew.

(Disclaimer: This product was made available to us for the review period in exchange for my honest review.  I have not been compensated in any other way.)

Arcademic Skill Builders

Just wanted to showcase my new favorite find.  3/4 of my children have finished their math curriculum for the year, so we're using the rest of the year to brush up on our "math facts."  I'm trying to find as many good resources  as I can (so they continue to have fun while learning them).  I've showcased two that I was asked to do reviews on for this year, but since my review period is up... I downloaded a free trial of Quarter Mile Math, but my eldest got bored with that in a matter of days. (Glad I didn't pay for it!)

So I set out to search for something more exciting... and before I even hit "search" on Swagbucks, it occurred to me there were probably some FREE sites for learning math facts through "video games"...

What I found was Arcademic Skill Builders.  And I (and more importantly THEY) love it!

Their favorite games is "Kitten Match."  This simple game lets you play as a kitten, grabbing yarn balls that add up to a target number.  Since the target number stays the same throughout the round, they are getting well versed in combinations that add up to 10, or 8, or whatever.  As an added bonus, it's a multiplayer game, so they can play against each other (on different computers). 

In addition to addition (ha ha), there are math games for subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, integers, decimals, and time.

 
AND... other games for Language Arts (like a Spelling Bee game and a game that has you matching antonyms, synonyms and homonyms) and Geography (matching state abreviations and shapes to capitals, and capital cities to countries.)

I'm thrilled with it... especially the fact that it's free!  And a few of the games have even been optimized to play on the Wii through the web browser!

(I am showcasing this site because I like it... and for no other reason.  I have not been compensated in any way.)