Backstory

So guys, I'm beat. This homeschooling Public School Alternative Learning Experience Program thing is really rewarding, but man, it's so much work! I've been uncharacteristically excited about the beginning of a new year with E, but with the recent State Legislation changes to our program I feel like I've learned and done more work that E ever will this year, and we haven't even started classes yet! Our first real day will be this Monday and we've got a lot of great stuff lined up and some really exciting changes too. For starters, the Hall family and ours have formed a co-op! I'll be handling Visual Art Appreciation and World Geography over here, and my good friend Jen will be working with the gals on Ocean Studies, and Life Skills and we'll trade World History back and forth each month. E and Kaela are such good friends and Jen and I get along famously.

E will also be logging a few hours at our Homeschool Resource Center each week with: Pottery, Spanish, Problem Solving (math), Plants and Earth, Exploring Cultures Through Literature, and her YMCA gym & swim! Whew! Add all that to the basics I'll also be covering with her individually: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic and we've got ourselves one heck of a schedule. Not to mention the 2 classes I singed N up for this Fall...so all of this to say, I may be a bit absent for a while...until I can catch my breath. D's out on the road again, we're planning for E's 7th (can you believe it) birthday, and the garden is just now starting to slow down. I even had an anniversary a few days back, and couldn't stop to give a little shout out about our 12 years! Thanks for all the e-mail's and calls; "we are here, we are here, WE ARE HERE!" (Horton hears a Who)

I'll be back soon, can't stay away too long!

::::::::::

Here is a little something to chew on...Happy Anniversary D.

2003

8/14/2011 *and apparently I'm a terrible speller and forget to use the built-in spell-check...bear with me everyone...

A Few Speed Bumps

I miss it here.  I'll be back soon, we're in the process of revamping our homeschooling schedule, scheming ways for our lazy doggie to loose weight, cutting a huge hole into our yard (garden expansion), acclimating our chick babies to outdoor living with the one-year-old-territorial-meanies...and re-reading all that makes me sound like I live on the prairie...

Make Week

I'm a few days late in the game, but check out Simple Organic's 'Make Week' idea!

Celebrate Earth Day's 40 Anniversary with a Carbon Neutral Blog

Did you even know your blog in effect gives off CO2?  "According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g (0,0008oz.) of carbon dioxide for each visit. Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly carbon dioxide emissions of 3,6kg (8lb.). This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems."  For every single blog that participates in this project, “Make it Green” and “Arbor Day Foundation” will plant a tree in the Plumas National Forest, which is situated in Northern California and was devastated by multiple fires in 2007.  This program originally started in Germany with a goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  They plant a tree for your blog and thereby neutralize it's carbon footprint for the next 50 years! Everyone can make a small contribution to the environment. Every tree counts!

Visit the Make it Green website and see how you can join, Arbor Day is April 30th.

* Quotes from Make it Green website
* Photo from  PLAY Green

:::::

This is the response I recieved after my request was submitted:

"Thank you so much for participating in our initiative and making your blog carbon neutral! Your tree will be planted this month by the Arbor Day Foundation. The scheduled start plant date was Monday, April 19 and the trees will be planted by a contracted crew. The roads are being plowed, all contracts solidified, and twelve shipments of 150,000 seedling each are being assembled. We thank you for the support!

There are still some trees looking for a sponsor. So if you know some people who have a blog or website, pass it on and we'll make their blogs carbon neutral too!"

Backyard Farming Giveaway!

Want this Peeler?

Enter to win over on Backyard Farming!

Jan Brett Fan Club

This woman is a bit of a super hero; creative story lines and clever twists on classics with some of the most beautiful illustrations you'll come across. If you love her books as much as we do, you'll love her website! There are free coloring pages, activities, videos, and and a lot of fun Christmas-y crafts!

Awkward Family Photo's

I'm sure I'm one of the last to come upon this hilarious site...please take a look if you haven't seen it. I was crying I was laughing so hard.

*Thanks Brian for introducing me!

Orangette on the Radio

Take a listen on KUOW

*Thanks for the heads-up Karlee

Bent Objects Book

You Know How It Is...

Well, I have become one of those crazy-busy and sleep deprived moms that just can't seem to find even one spare moment in my day to keep y'all updated on our newest addition. I have, though, taken a few pictures in the last few weeks that I hope will be enough...I can tell you he weighed just under 12 pounds at his 2-week check-up and has started smiling at us! His big sister can't get enough of him, but is still adjusting to life with a newborn...Recently he's hit a bit of a fussy patch that we're still working out...all in all we love being a family of four, and I can't believe he's been with us for almost a month!

bathtime

snuggles

nakkie tummy time

The youngest cousins (N-4 weeks, Inger-4 mos., and Laila-11 mos.)

a wet willie

Papa with all the grandkids

E helps out with N's first bottle

a ride with dad

Take the Camera and Run

After scrolling through Jen's recent post with photo's of her and her daughter, E really really wanted to grab the camera and take some silly shots of me too. Each one is a pose she requested...

400

This marks my 400th post! Whoa! That sure went by quickly. Thanks for joining me, and all your comments!