Quote of the day (already) by Caleb, who was frustrated... struggling to bring me a full half gallon of skim milk (which is not typical for "Bam Bam"... I think he's wiped out):
"Since it's called skim milk, it's not supposed to be heavy!"
Cracked me up!
Lisa
Luke 12:48b: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (NIV)
Happiest Place on Earth
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
One More Collage...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Happy Birthday Seth!!!
Wow... 9 years ago today I gave birth to my first child. Nine... Gosh it goes fast...
Seth had a great birthday! It was sort of unconventional in that we had to do a lot of the every day kind of stuff that just makes up life, but he still had fun!
Of course, he chose to celebrate at "The Rat Place". I used to have high hopes that he would outgrow this, but I am adjusting to the fact that Chuck-E-Cheese is just a staple birthday "item" around here! This was actually preceded by funfetti cake topped with chocolate frosting and Super Mario Bros. characters with mint chocolate chip ice cream!
This is the first time that I noticed that Seth's enthusiasm was sort of subdued at present time... not that he didn't love what he got... and not that he didn't rake it in... because he did... on both accounts. But he was thankful in a more mature, nine year old sort of way!
Here are the b-day pics. of my growing up way too fast kid, who will always be my baby:
Lisa
Seth had a great birthday! It was sort of unconventional in that we had to do a lot of the every day kind of stuff that just makes up life, but he still had fun!
Of course, he chose to celebrate at "The Rat Place". I used to have high hopes that he would outgrow this, but I am adjusting to the fact that Chuck-E-Cheese is just a staple birthday "item" around here! This was actually preceded by funfetti cake topped with chocolate frosting and Super Mario Bros. characters with mint chocolate chip ice cream!
This is the first time that I noticed that Seth's enthusiasm was sort of subdued at present time... not that he didn't love what he got... and not that he didn't rake it in... because he did... on both accounts. But he was thankful in a more mature, nine year old sort of way!
Here are the b-day pics. of my growing up way too fast kid, who will always be my baby:
Lisa
Monday, September 14, 2009
Being Sick Just Sucks...
... I have had a "stomach virus"... apparently... for goin' on a week now.
After 3 days of vomiting and diarrhea, I decided a trip to Redi-Med was probably a good plan. This is saying something, because I do not go to the doctor unless I am really, really sick. Well... after sitting in the Redi-Med waiting room for 45 minutes, a nurse pops out and says, "Just go to the ER. If you're dehydrated, they'll give you an IV." Oh... lovely... but I can't say I was surprised. I mean, after all, that's pretty much why I came in the first place.
So I wait in the ER waiting room for another hour + (minus the few minutes in which the way too fresh, potty mouthed, EMT took me back to take my temperature and blood pressure while he acted like an idiot). Seriously, if the guy called me "sweetheart" one more time, I was gonna deck him, and he was gonna need an empty bed in the ER. (This says nothing of what Phil might have done...)
Finally, they take me back to the ER, where I wait... again... A nurse from our church sees us and takes me to a different room and apparently lights a fire under the rear of the ER doctor, because he shows up! Thank you, Lynn!
After giving plenty of blood and enduring two bags of some sort of IV fluid, I am told that I have slightly low potassium, given four nasty potassium pills to swallow (which I thankfully do not throw up), informed that I must be getting better since I haven't thrown up in a couple of hours (uh... hadn't eaten anything, either, but I guess that's beside the point), and sent home...
Where I continue to vomit and have diarrhea for the next 2 days...
As of this morning (although I am going to "back date" this post for yesterday to make room for Seth's b-day post later), I am living on Saltines and water, with a few bites of soup here and there. Ugh... This has to give...
Lisa
After 3 days of vomiting and diarrhea, I decided a trip to Redi-Med was probably a good plan. This is saying something, because I do not go to the doctor unless I am really, really sick. Well... after sitting in the Redi-Med waiting room for 45 minutes, a nurse pops out and says, "Just go to the ER. If you're dehydrated, they'll give you an IV." Oh... lovely... but I can't say I was surprised. I mean, after all, that's pretty much why I came in the first place.
So I wait in the ER waiting room for another hour + (minus the few minutes in which the way too fresh, potty mouthed, EMT took me back to take my temperature and blood pressure while he acted like an idiot). Seriously, if the guy called me "sweetheart" one more time, I was gonna deck him, and he was gonna need an empty bed in the ER. (This says nothing of what Phil might have done...)
Finally, they take me back to the ER, where I wait... again... A nurse from our church sees us and takes me to a different room and apparently lights a fire under the rear of the ER doctor, because he shows up! Thank you, Lynn!
After giving plenty of blood and enduring two bags of some sort of IV fluid, I am told that I have slightly low potassium, given four nasty potassium pills to swallow (which I thankfully do not throw up), informed that I must be getting better since I haven't thrown up in a couple of hours (uh... hadn't eaten anything, either, but I guess that's beside the point), and sent home...
Where I continue to vomit and have diarrhea for the next 2 days...
As of this morning (although I am going to "back date" this post for yesterday to make room for Seth's b-day post later), I am living on Saltines and water, with a few bites of soup here and there. Ugh... This has to give...
Lisa
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
First Day Of School 2009...
Among other things... it was the first day of school around here! Pretty basic kind of school day for a homeschooling family with a 4th grader, a 3rd grader, a Kindergartner, and a 2 year old:
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Obama Education Speech...
Following are my thoughts on President Obama's education speech (that is to air tomorrow at schools around the country) and the "I pledge" video (that I assume is also to air). I have simply copied this from my facebook page, so it's not great writing... just a few opinions...
I just finished reading the transcript for President Obama's speech tomorrow and viewing the "I pledge" video. If you want to know what I think (which, I can't really figure why anyone would, but ya know...) read my comments to this status update...
In my opinion, President Obama's speech, itself, had VERY LITTLE to object to. I find it perfectly acceptable that the President of the United States would want to address school children to encourage them to continue their education, to find their talents, and to do their best. I felt that President Obama said many of the same things that I say, myself, to youth when I am trying to teach responsibility. I thought that some of the content was a little over the heads of young children (for example, Caleb, who starts Kindergarten tomorrow, is not going to "get it" all). My only real concern beyond that was that there was no obvious connection to faith, but I don't expect that from something that will be shown in public schools. It is my job, as a parent, to make those connections for my kids.
The "I Pledge" video had a few positive moments, but for the most part it was pretty stupid and highly political. Mostly it made me think of a campaign ad. I thought they went a little over the top encouraging kids to pledge to serve President Obama, specifically. However, I do not think it is a bad concept to teach our children to be servants to others (although I don't believe this video really did that). My concern about the conservative commentary that went with the video is that it is assumed that children of all ages know who all of these celebrities are and respect them. Frankly, not a single one of my children would recognize even one of their faces or care in the least what they have to say (minus maybe Seth recognizing the team logo for the athlete who was featured). To be honest, I couldn't have named a single one.
I have to assume that a lot of these celebrities are associated with what I would consider trash in the entertainment world. If parents are allowing their kids to be influenced by these kinds of people, on a regular basis, to begin with, then we have a parental problem more than an extreme issue with a 2 minute video clip. I would have been a lot more concerned if the celebrities in question were Mickey Mouse and Corbin Bleu.
Final assessment... If we can find a way to watch only President Obama's speech, without the fluff of the video or commentary, we probably will. I haven't looked at the "lesson plans", but there are enough concepts in the speech, itself, that we will have our own responsible discussion about the importance of education and becoming the people that God has created us to be. Although I am not a huge supporter of President Obama (though I did like many of his ideas during the campaign), I will always teach my children to respect the President of the United States of America. Respect for authority is Biblical, and we don't always get to pick and choose just what we want that to mean...
I just finished reading the transcript for President Obama's speech tomorrow and viewing the "I pledge" video. If you want to know what I think (which, I can't really figure why anyone would, but ya know...) read my comments to this status update...
In my opinion, President Obama's speech, itself, had VERY LITTLE to object to. I find it perfectly acceptable that the President of the United States would want to address school children to encourage them to continue their education, to find their talents, and to do their best. I felt that President Obama said many of the same things that I say, myself, to youth when I am trying to teach responsibility. I thought that some of the content was a little over the heads of young children (for example, Caleb, who starts Kindergarten tomorrow, is not going to "get it" all). My only real concern beyond that was that there was no obvious connection to faith, but I don't expect that from something that will be shown in public schools. It is my job, as a parent, to make those connections for my kids.
The "I Pledge" video had a few positive moments, but for the most part it was pretty stupid and highly political. Mostly it made me think of a campaign ad. I thought they went a little over the top encouraging kids to pledge to serve President Obama, specifically. However, I do not think it is a bad concept to teach our children to be servants to others (although I don't believe this video really did that). My concern about the conservative commentary that went with the video is that it is assumed that children of all ages know who all of these celebrities are and respect them. Frankly, not a single one of my children would recognize even one of their faces or care in the least what they have to say (minus maybe Seth recognizing the team logo for the athlete who was featured). To be honest, I couldn't have named a single one.
I have to assume that a lot of these celebrities are associated with what I would consider trash in the entertainment world. If parents are allowing their kids to be influenced by these kinds of people, on a regular basis, to begin with, then we have a parental problem more than an extreme issue with a 2 minute video clip. I would have been a lot more concerned if the celebrities in question were Mickey Mouse and Corbin Bleu.
Final assessment... If we can find a way to watch only President Obama's speech, without the fluff of the video or commentary, we probably will. I haven't looked at the "lesson plans", but there are enough concepts in the speech, itself, that we will have our own responsible discussion about the importance of education and becoming the people that God has created us to be. Although I am not a huge supporter of President Obama (though I did like many of his ideas during the campaign), I will always teach my children to respect the President of the United States of America. Respect for authority is Biblical, and we don't always get to pick and choose just what we want that to mean...
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Life Lessons From Aladdin...
I always remember being rather disappointed with, "The Return of Jafar", as far as sequels go. I mean... come on... let's face it... sequels are rarely as good as the first, but, "The Return of Jafar" was just rather pathetic. It has probably been at least 8 or 9 years since I have watched this movie. I know that I have never watched it at a time when any of my children would have been old enough to remember it... until today...
It's still a pathetic movie. There is really no plot development, and of course there are the obvious issues of changing vocal talents and second rate songs. But there was also an underlying theme that I just loved. THREE separate times in the movie a line is used that says something to this effect: "Genies can't kill anyone... but you'd be surprised what you can live through"...
Now backtrack with me here. In, "Aladdin," we meet Jafar... evil advisor to the Sultan. Jafar is power hungry. Through a series of events he goes as far as to make multiple attempts to kill Aladdin in order to secure the lamp, and consequently, the Genie... Although Jafar does not succeed in his attempts on Aladdin's life (remember the line, "How many times do I have to kill you, boy?"), he does eventually gain control of the lamp, making him the master of the Genie... and now the wishing begins...
Number 1: Jafar wishes to rule Agraba, on high. In essence, Jafar wishes to become Sultan, which has been his goal all along. Genie grants his wish, and there stands Jafar... powerful Sultan... but still unhappy, because Jasmine... and her father... and Aladdin... refuse to bow to him. So...
Number 2: Jafar wishes to be the greatest sorcerer in the world. Now he is bestowed with the power to force them to bow. He causes great havoc and destruction, until he is reminded by Aladdin that he is still not the most powerful being in the world, because Genie gave Jafar his power. And so...
Number 3: Jafar wishes to be the most powerful genie in the world. And at this point, we are a little concerned about this nearly unlimited power, until the lamp appears and Jafar is reminded that with such power comes... well... "itty, bitty living space".
Jafar reminds me a lot of people. Please, please read that right. I did not say that Jafar reminds me of specific, individual people. I did not even say that Jafar reminds me of a lot of people. What I said, exactly, is that Jafar reminds me a lot of people. People are often power hungry with no regard to the great responsibility that comes with leadership. They wish... and when they get what they want... they wish for more... and more... and more... until they have everything in the world and are so confined by it that they can do nothing but spew hatred toward others. Jesus compares this to murder. But in the end, people do not ultimately control the power of life and death. Although I would still say that you'd be surprised what you can live through.
A final thought... There was also another very teachable line in the film. I absolutely loved the concept that doing the right thing is hard, because you often have to do it alone...
Lisa
It's still a pathetic movie. There is really no plot development, and of course there are the obvious issues of changing vocal talents and second rate songs. But there was also an underlying theme that I just loved. THREE separate times in the movie a line is used that says something to this effect: "Genies can't kill anyone... but you'd be surprised what you can live through"...
Now backtrack with me here. In, "Aladdin," we meet Jafar... evil advisor to the Sultan. Jafar is power hungry. Through a series of events he goes as far as to make multiple attempts to kill Aladdin in order to secure the lamp, and consequently, the Genie... Although Jafar does not succeed in his attempts on Aladdin's life (remember the line, "How many times do I have to kill you, boy?"), he does eventually gain control of the lamp, making him the master of the Genie... and now the wishing begins...
Number 1: Jafar wishes to rule Agraba, on high. In essence, Jafar wishes to become Sultan, which has been his goal all along. Genie grants his wish, and there stands Jafar... powerful Sultan... but still unhappy, because Jasmine... and her father... and Aladdin... refuse to bow to him. So...
Number 2: Jafar wishes to be the greatest sorcerer in the world. Now he is bestowed with the power to force them to bow. He causes great havoc and destruction, until he is reminded by Aladdin that he is still not the most powerful being in the world, because Genie gave Jafar his power. And so...
Number 3: Jafar wishes to be the most powerful genie in the world. And at this point, we are a little concerned about this nearly unlimited power, until the lamp appears and Jafar is reminded that with such power comes... well... "itty, bitty living space".
Jafar reminds me a lot of people. Please, please read that right. I did not say that Jafar reminds me of specific, individual people. I did not even say that Jafar reminds me of a lot of people. What I said, exactly, is that Jafar reminds me a lot of people. People are often power hungry with no regard to the great responsibility that comes with leadership. They wish... and when they get what they want... they wish for more... and more... and more... until they have everything in the world and are so confined by it that they can do nothing but spew hatred toward others. Jesus compares this to murder. But in the end, people do not ultimately control the power of life and death. Although I would still say that you'd be surprised what you can live through.
A final thought... There was also another very teachable line in the film. I absolutely loved the concept that doing the right thing is hard, because you often have to do it alone...
Lisa
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