The end of summer vacation

The summer is winding down. The kids went to the zoo with a aunt yesterday. This will probably be the last time of the summer. We will be off for a few days of camping next week before school starts and we have a rush of haircuts and doctor appointments before the end of vacation time.
The garden is growing like a weed- or maybe it is a weed! Really, I weeded the vegetable garden last week and now I can see where the cucumbers and tomatoes are. This is a great time for the garden. I am sick of zucchini and I wonder why I plant three plants when one is all I need. Anyone need baseball size overgrown zucchini? But I love making fresh cucumber salad, garlic and butter roasted beans and fresh cherry tomatoes.
And remember those little chickens we got in spring? They are now 10 fat and happy hens with free range all over my property. They should start laying in 2 weeks. Then it will be eggs, eggs, eggs all of the time.

My Anniversary

Today is my 17th wedding anniversary. The kids are with an aunty- my sister, and hubby and I spent the day at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Really, I loved it!

The new me.

I 've decided to show you the new me. Last year when I was ill for a while, I didn't keep up with coloring my hair. After a while I decided to grow out my coloring to see what it really looked like. I was pretty grey but hubby liked it so I kept letting it grow out. Well, after the last of it was cut off I'm left with a beautiful head of mostly grey hair. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it up but now I really like it. And it's really nice not to color any more. My hair seem much healthier, also. I did get a funny comment from my daughter asking me why her mom is a old grandma. What!!!:) But after explaining that kids have all different kinds of ages of moms, she is ok.

End of the school year.

The kids will be done with school tomorrow. I know it's late but they needed to add extra days to make up for the lost snow days. We had my daughters branching out yesterday. This is a little ceremony when the K4 children branch out to their new elementary school. Very cute! I have the summer activities planned. So that my son continues to learn and not lose what he has learned, I have decided to home school during the summer. I have a set schedule for Monday thru Friday and it includes 2 hours of school per day. It also includes crafts, lost of art and plenty of fun outside play. Both of my children benefit by a routine and I believe this will work for them. Let's see!

What is spring for?

Spring keeps me busy. In addition to working part time, keeping the home as best I can, playing with and teaching the children, helping hubby as needed with his work, ...I love to garden.

The poppies are starting to bloom, the bridal wreath is in full bloom. The nepeta, iris, euphorbia are blooming. I have planted my annuals for the year. Only $200 worth. I can usually spend that much or more on the front alone. I saved up and had a rummage sale for my annual flower cash. In fact, the Salvation Army truck came today to haul away the left over rummage stuff, they are great! And I always look for ways to help the Army. A few dollars for the bell ringers at Christmas, donations for their stores. I once was a scared 20 year old in Calcutta, India on my way to volunteer for Mother (now Blessed) Theresa and the Salvation Army gave me a place to stay. I've always been grateful.

But I digress, ...the garden. I planted a large cocoa liner basket on the fence with shady flowers and sweet potato vines. I planted celosia and petunias, geranium and Red Fountain grass (annual) in the planter beds in front of the Boxwood hedge. I do love my garden. I'll have to shoot some before and after photos later this year to show how everything fills out. Oh, and I added some more Pink Knock Out Roses since they are soooo fabulous and bloom all summer (with lots of feeding, Osmocote is what I use).

Not blogging lately.

I don't know why I'm not blogging lately. I am busy with my new work routine and schedule. But mostly I think it's because it's spring and my free time is spent outside. Unlike the other 6 months of the year that I am more sedentary, May is my month to plant, clean and start the year new.
The kids are busy, and I don't have much to say.
Sorry.

Box load of chickens

Hubby cleaned out the old chicken coop yesterday and said "Let's get some more chickens." Well, we have had chickens before and I'm surprised he wanted them again but the kids love it and if we don't over winter them it won't be too expensive. I agreed and we went to the Merton Feed Mill for a box load of chickens. $1.25 each. 10 in all. Little brown chicks for big brown eggs. We'll free range once they are able to get out side in 8 weeks or so. We are leaving them on the porch for now since the weather is too cool. I put them in a big plastic bin so the kids cane watch them and run to tell me when they need more feed or water.

My first day as a soccer mom.

We had our first soccer practice for my daughter today. All day I heard " I'm sooo excited, I can't wait to play soccer." My daughter is a 5 year old jock. She shouldn't be, with her eyesight and chance of retinal detachment. But she is a strong energetic girl who loves sports and being physically active. She has her protective eye wear and she has the approval of her pediatric opthamologist but it still worries me that she needs to play so rough. This is baby soccer, indoors with 4 & 5 year olds but still she charges around playing aggressively, pushing boys over to goal. I'm actually not embarrassed of her just proud that she is assertive and takes charge of everything she does. I'm kind of a loud assertive gal so it feels right to me:)

Another day on Easter break.

Well, the days are a bit slower. The kids are getting bored. We did art projects, a reading work sheet, ran to the store for more construction paper and pipe cleaners, more art projects, lunch, outside time to play in the snow, more art and more art. At least they like art:)

April Snow Storm

We are in the midst of an April snow storm. Looks like 5-10 inches. The kids are on Easter break so we are having a fun indoor day with breaks for the kids to run outside and romp in the snow. We decorated paper bag puppets that I found on this site. and they had a puppet show and played dress up.

New special needs blog and website

Here is a new blog I found about Specail Needs. I love the name...
Shut up about your perfect kids.

Happy Easter!

He is Risen. Alleluia!

Easter Candy in the snow

We took the kids to the Sussex armory for the annual Easter Candy handout. Cooooold!!! We made a mad dash for the goods and got back in the car to warm up.

We had a lazy afternoon. The kids played dress up Batman and Robin, played cars, and with blocks.

I read a book and thought about cleaning the house but reconsidered.

The book was so enjoyable.

Easter Weekend

It's Easter weekend and I have some nice quiet time with the family.
Of course this is Wisconsin so it just started to snow again. I was hoping for a little gardening, maybe start fertilizing and putting out my peony cages, but I have to settle for a walk around the garden with my winter coat and mittens. Easter Mass tomorrow and lunch at my sisters. It should be nice.
I sent an email newsletter to all of the Mommy Time moms. If you didn't get one, email me and I'll add you to the list.
Have a wonderful weekend!

My new life.

I've changed a big part of my life recently. I went back to work. Part time but still a big change. I've been a stay at home mom for the past 3 years and I had gotten so used to the home routine. Working for someone else is a new challenge.
Right now I'm still in orientation so it's full time for 3 weeks and very hard on the kids. I'm lucky that hubby is in Real Estate and has such flexible hours. The kids are always with a parent or family except when at school so they are coping.
I guess I'm lucky that I chose nursing as a profession oh so many years ago. Nursing has given me the luxury to choose my specialty, hours, quit for years and step back in. All great things to have. This job is days and I will be gone while the kids are in school so it shouldn't impact them too much. The only sad part is the weekend rotation but people are sick 24/7 and I chose a specialty that has patients every day, night and weekends.

Wisconsin Fish Fry

It's Lent in Wisconsin and I love this post from Tom McMahon.

Fish fry in Wisconsin is sacred stuff and every friday in lent and all through out the year folks stand in line for a great fish fry. Cod or Perch?

I'm a cod girl myself.

Sample Letter of Intent

I read this article from Parenting Special Needs and found this sample letter of intent to be a useful tool for parents of all children.
If my husband and I died suddenly, I have a great family to care for my kids. But what do they really know about the day to day life of the kids?This tool would clarify doctors names, activities they are involved in, school routines and plan for the future.
I want to make sure that I write one of these letters for each of my children. But I'll pray that no one ever has to use them.

How to stock a pantry.

I like to keep an organized home and I am proud of my well stocked pantry. As someone who loves to cook, I need 2 things to function in the kitchen. The Joy of Cooking Cookbook and a pantry which will provide the basics for any good meal. I think the list from this blog site will give you a great starter on the basics of your pantry or kitchen.

New IEP today.

I had a lengthy and involved IEP meeting for my son today. I have to credit the Hamilton school district for the wonderful professionals that worked with my son and evaluated his needs.
I was asking for additional evals for emotional and learning disabilities and found that he doesn't need these services. We will continue his speech, add OT and a psych component to his education but he has made so much progress by the half day schedule and working to redirect misbehavior.
Of course the medications have helped greatly and the time to allow him to know and feel safe at school.
He is now back on track to full days and hopefully advance to first grade next year. I feel very hopeful!

Would you want this mom?

I read about this woman who went to have an abortion, the abortion didn't work and she ended up having the baby. She is now suing for damages to pay for the child rearing costs of this little girl. How ghastly!
This poor child will find out she was to be aborted and that her own mother wants damages for the act that she survived! The best thing this mother could do is let this child be adopted to a family who loves her dearly and places her needs above theirs.
I dearly pray this mother finds unconditional love for her daughter or someone else that can provide it for her.