Looking for Adventure

We set sail on the Norwegian Pearl on December 9! For the longest time we have been looking for an adventurous, NEW trip to take as a family. We were pretty much set on Disney, but we've done the Magic Kingdom before so when this cruise opportunity came our way, we moved quickly to reserve our 6 spots--no easy task we discovered; it takes two adjoining rooms to accommodate us. The kids can hardly wait, although Jacob was at first a bit hesitant about a new and unknown experience. However, once we told him about the 24-hour ice cream bar on the ship, he was sold! (We also had to promise him that he could have ice cream for breakfast one day!) I have to admit, I can hardly wait either. Having just come to the end of an official "no-school week" mainly due to the yuckies, we are in desperate need of adventure and relaxation. 'Tis a shame to only be a month into the school year with already one defunct week, but such is life.

Yesterday began for Audrey, Mark and me at 4:30 am. The Princess was burning up and THIRSTY! She asked for milk, which I know is not the best thing for a sore throat and fever. But she wanted milk and I wanted some sleep, so she got milk. She gulped it down very quickly and asked for more. Knowing his little girl, Mark voiced his worry that she drank it awfully fast but he said he would get her more anyway (he wanted some sleep too!). No sooner had he spoken when up it all came...all over our bed. So that was the end of that night with the exception of a few winks in a recliner and on an unmade bed.

Outside is Audrey's favorite place to be, and she wasted no time yesterday in making her request clear. Sick or not, she wanted to go out. She struggled with the closet door but managed to finally get her shoes. She brought them to me and then enlisted my help in getting her socks. And then out we went. I love to watch the older kids play with her as they are so good with her. Michael took her under his wing yesterday. He drove her around in the Escalade and then helped her on her tricycle. Tucking a mini football in the trike's basket, he explained in a sweet, sing-songy voice that he was going to take her to a football game. He carefully steered her over to the front porch and explained that they were going to "park" and then head to the game. After parking, he led her over to the "football field" where he tossed the football with her. In the meantime, Jacob was busy creating some sort of contraption with his bike, a wagon, and one of those rubber strappy things.

Alex made one appearance outside but only to tell Michael that she would pay him a penny to go down in the gully to get the basketball. I don't know what that was all about because she disappeared back in the house as soon as she had paid Michael for his services. She's quite the entrepreneur these days: She has a complete pricelist of services she can provide. I've explained that some of the items, such as cleaning her room, must to be done pro bono, but she'll weasel out a penny wherever she can.

Alex hasn't felt well for the last couple of days, but that hasn't stopped her work on her Art Show which took place last night at 7:00. The Box Office opened at 3:30 yesterday afternoon for Art Show tickets and at the bargain price of $.10 a ticket with a 50% discount for children ages 2 and under, she sold out quickly. It was quite a show with such pieces as "The Butterfly and the Color Storm," "Crayon Junction," "The Crucifixion," and "Bouquet of Flowers." My favorite was her watercolor entitled "Sunset on the Water." I inquired about purchasing this piece and was told it was $.05; however, I informed the artist that it was worth at least a quarter.

For a slow-moving, sometimes frustrating week, it has had its bright moments. And with a long weekend, perhaps everyone will recover and be ready for a new beginning in the Pierce world of academia. Since our cruise adventure will take us one day to Cozumel and another day to the Cayman Islands, I suppose I better get to planning some appropriate geography lessons to cover before we leave Miami's port.

The Doughnuts

Robert McCloskey is my current favorite kids' author. I find both his stories and illustrations endearing, sweet, and fun. In Blueberries for Sal, I love the contrast between Sal and her mother and between the Mother bear and her cub. I admire the human qualities the Mother duck in Make Way for Ducklings possesses, and I love to see her maternal instincts shine through as she cares for her new charges. The growing up experiences depicted in One Morning in Maine are delightful and poignant. And Lentil is just plain fun and presents all sorts of topics for teaching such as persevering and trying your best...and even a science project on lemons! But my all-time favorite McCloskey book has got to be Homer Price. Honestly, I didn't even know Homer Price was a McCloskey masterpiece until my mom handed me my childhood copy which she had brought back for me from Africa.

One of my favorite childhood memories is storytime with my mom. She had the Uncle Remus accent down and different voices for Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Before sitting down with Homer Price, my mom would always make a batch of her granola. Then I would munch on a bowl of the dry granola while we went adventuring with Homer. My favorite adventure by far was "The Doughnuts."

The kids and I have been sharing in Homer Price's adventures in Centerburg. Today was a sick day for us as both girls were a little under the weather, so we read "The Doughnuts." It sure was fun to read those words I've remembered all these years:

"...the rings of batter kept right on dropping into the hot fat, and an automatic gadget kept right on turning them over, and another automatic gadget kept right on giving them a little push, and the doughnuts kept right on rolliing down the little chute, just as regular as a clock can tick."

Although I should have used better judgment considering I have a sick baby, after our reading I decided we all ought to make doughnuts. Back in my Homer Price days there was a woman who lived on our mission compound whom I called "Aunt Jean." Aunt Jean made the most delicious doughnuts in the world, and sometimes I went down to her house to watch her. Well, I left the mission compound with a copy of her recipe, and while I've kept the recipe safe all these years, I've never tried it.

The kids were able to help out a bit during the mixing of the dough, and after the first rising, helped roll the dough out. Even the sick little princess helped, although she spent most of the time just watching from her chair, her forlorn little face in her blankie. I don't own a doughnut cutter, so we made due with a glass and a medicine cup for the hole.

Obviously, I did all of the frying, though not without worrying about someone getting hurt as I had a sick little baby clinging to my leg the whole time (like I said, I could have thought this through a little better and saved this project for a better day!).

But they were all fried and glazed...and of course tested. Since my hurried frying led to some very misshapen doughnuts, I don't think that, based on looks, The Pierce Doughnut Shop will be opening anytime soon. As far as taste goes, however, Dunkin Donuts--look out!

Mental Health Day

Have you ever had one of those days where, upon greeting the new morning, you just know you need to make the decision to abandon all that's on the calendar for the day and replace it with some quality down time? Well, today was that day for me, only the decision was made before the sun came up. I had a good visit with Dr. Quack yesterday, so I was actually sleeping really well...until 1:30 when the Princess awakened me. She has this idea in her pretty little head that she must sleep with her Dollhouse twin "babies", the "mommy", and the "daddy" and very often much of the furniture from the dollhouse. She obviously woke up and couldn't find one or both of her babies beside her (they're only about an inch tall, go figure!). She desperately wanted me to come to her aid, so I went up and helped my crazy little baby girl find her babies and settle back down. Then I tried to settle back down--something very difficult for me to do. So I began to plan tomorrow. The thought of a mental health day suddenly popped into my head when I pondered Alex who is just getting over a cold and could use a day off. So I turned my alarm clock off, finally drifted back to sleep, and didn't get out of bed until 7:30!

Alex didn't get up until almost 9:00 and seems to have slept the rest of her cold away (like her Daddy does). The Princess, however, woke up unusually and exceptionally grumpy, so I was very thankful for my decision to play hooky today. I've tried to plan some fun but lazy things to do today--some reading, games, and a movie. The rest will do us good as tonight is the first night for AWANA. We spent a good portion of yesterday on a wild goose chase trying to track down the books I need to use to teach AWANA tonight; finally got my hands on them at 7:30 last night. While I could blame someone else for not giving me the right materials in the first place, I can also blame myself for not looking at the materials until yesterday and then discovering something was amiss. So we drove to church and then got detoured to someone's house who wasn't home yet. Then to Dr. Quack's office. Then back home to wait until the lady with the books got home, then back way across town to finally pick them up. After all that work to get the books, everyone better be well tonight so I can make it to AWANA to teach this lesson!!

In the interim between now and AWANA, we'll squeeze in some playtime with a new board game I got (The Manners Game--wonder if they'll see through me on this one?) and also watch a movie. We're featuring Pippi Longstocking in the theater this afernoon, one of my favorite childhood characters. Alex is doing a book report on Pippi, so she gets tickled to see some of the antics from the book played out on the big screen.

Before we know it, our day of downtime will be over and a new day will dawn. I suppose it will be up for debate whether or not our mental health day has done me any good. I am looking forward to tomorrow, however, because we will be home all day--no appointments with Dr. Quack, no errands to run for the church, no planned outings, and with a full fridge and a planned menu--no trips to the grocery store. Thankfully, tomorrow it will be back to homeschooling instead of carschooling.

How a princess spends a mental health day.

Mother Nature and Pool Parties

"So, you're having a pool party, eh?" Mother Nature asks with a mischievous laugh and a twinkle in her eye. Weather-wise yesterday began beautifully. And I had a real sunny spot at church. I have mentioned that still, even 11 years away from my teaching days, I run into students. While parents don't have favorites, I'm here to tell you that teachers do. Chris was one of my favorites. Well, there he was at my church yesterday! All grown up, married, and working in youth ministry with our Youth Pastor! It was fun to see him.

The sun continued to shine yesterday right up until about an hour and a half before our small group was to arrive for a pool party. I looked at the weather radar after the storm began and wouldn't you know that not a speck of green or red covered the whole state except for one long band right over us!! Of course! It rained for a couple of hours and stayed gloomy the remainder of the day. When the guests arrived, the kids naturally cared little about the weather and enjoyed the pool in spite of it. We ended up having a great evening of food, fun, and fellowship. (Take that, Mother Nature!)

Today is supposed to bring another pool party, this one with my homeschool group. However, it's gloomy once more. Add that to the fact that I am not sleeping because of my back, and I think we're going to opt to spend an hour at my new Dr. Quack's office rather than at the pool. I'm guessing as soon as I make that call to cancel our RSVP at the pool party, Mother Nature will gently blow the clouds away. Just to tease me of course.

Just Our Goings-ON

We are smack dab in the middle of a very busy weekend. I'm in between cake fillings (making them, that is), and my hard-working husband is out cleaning up the backyard--"vacuuming" the patio to get rid of all of these mid-summer leaves that have fallen from thirsty trees; weeding the sandbox in which, if we had had the commonsensical forethought to line it with that black anti-weed liner stuff, we wouldn't be cultivating all kinds of vegetation in the kids' play area.

Mark has earned his keep the last couple of days. Today our church held their annual 5K run. It takes a lot of volunteers to make it run smoothly, however. Mark worked all day yesterday helping set up and then was there by 5:30 this morning. Countless others sacrificed even more hours to make it work, and I think everyone had a good time. I arrived with the kids around 7:30 (after suffering the wrath of the Princess who did NOT want to be dragged out of bed!). Following the grown-up race was a "Fun Run" for the kids: one lap around the parking lot. The young racers each got a t-shirt and a number. Missing was one shy young racer named Jacob. After the race, the kids enjoyed inflatables and a jumpy trampoline thing.

Since we returned home, Mark and I have been working to get things ready for tomorrow evening when we will host our Small Group for a social. Mark has already made up multiple pans of lasagna (I think each pan is a different kind--is he amazing or what?!), and I'm working on dessert. We'll be just 4 families but 16 kids. Yes, we're a fertile bunch!

In the midst of our preparations for tomorrow, we will sneak out for dinner to meet some friends whom we have not seen in some time. It's always fun to catch up with old friends, and this family is adding a new member in October, so that makes it extra special.

And then of course Monday it's back to school! You may think since I haven't posted any academia lately that my motivation and steam has petered out; however, we have kept things going despite some interruptions with chiropractors and such! Friday actually could have been a more productive day if I hadn't tarried with an art project. I brought out the watercolor paints, and it has been years since I have "played" with watercolors. The kids were done with their project in 5 or 10 minutes, but an hour later there I was still painting. Consequently, some of academia was missed on Friday! Obviously, my fault!

The kids did get a science project finished, however. We are studying the planets, and they made a notebook page that has the planets hanging in order from the page. The boys have taped theirs to their bunk bed, one from the ceiling and one from the bottom of the top bunk. Do you remember using mneumonics in school to remember things? I can't remember the one we learned for the planets (which would now be minus a p for Pluto and the U and the N would need to be transposed, so it probably wouldn't make sense anyway), so we made up a new one: My Very Energetic Mom Jumped Ship Under Neptune. Am I allowed to keep the word Neptune in there since Neptune is the actual answer? The other N I came up with was Nicaragua, and I thought Neptune was a bit easier to remember!

I would say that is our week in a nutshell, but since I have rambled on and on, I really didn't give a short version at all. But all the same, that is the news from our side of the world!

Instant Gratification

I did it. Today I did something I vowed I would never do again after my visit with Dr. Quack 11 years ago. But I simply couldn't live with this pain in my neck anymore (and, no, I'm not referring to my children or my husband!). And, as skeptical as I was (and still am to some degree), I really do feel better. I have gone this entire day without Tylenol or Advil, and I woke up this morning feeling surprisingly refreshed after my chiropractic adjustment yesterday.

The problem is that my treatment is not over, and this is where I get a little leary about the whole matter. The doctor told me I must come in, get this--THREE TIMES A WEEK! for the first couple of months. Not only would this be a financial drain even with just my co-pay if that is all my insurance requires, but where am I going to find an extra 6 hours a week to drive there, wait in the waiting room, wait in the exam room, be adjusted, wait for further instructions, and settle my bill?!? Not to mention the fact that dh is gone so often I would have the kids in tow more often than not. Wouldn't all of this stress add more stress to my already stressed out neck and shoulders?

I'm not sure this is all worth it. Of course, she claims that since the spinal cord is the central message center, chiropractic treatment will take care of a plethora of ailments such as my sinus problems and TMJ. Oh, to never take another Sudafed again or have to wear my Mike Tyson night guard. If these remedies could be absolutely not only promised but guaranteed, I would certainly consider it all worth the time and money.

On top of all of this, Mark has a pinched nerve, so he too has given in and, despite the fact that his skepticism about chiropractic medicine far surpasses mine, he went today. And he does feel better, but I'm sure you can guess how HE feels about going in three times a week (not that he physically can since he's not usually here).

So, with another appointment scheduled for the first of next week, I'm only left to wonder how it is in a world that moves at the speed of light these days, why can't all of my chiropractic problems just be fixed in one visit? Hey, I'd even very willingly do two. But then maybe the chiropractors wouldn't be able to stay in business, and they are after all the ones who are making me feel better!

Enough Visitors. Really.

This little guy whom we found enjoying the pool was admittedly very cute. But my first question was, "Where's his mama?" He arrived after a storm, so I'm not sure if he was blown in or came of his own volition, but there he was very competently swimming in our pool.

I grew up on the Dark Continent, so I've seen my share of snakes and even come face-to-face with a cobra, but I really don't like them in my backyard where my kids play! I guess this drought is driving them to the pool and to the dog's water dish. I was pleased to note this little guy was very bashful. Everytime I tried to photographically capture his lithe little reptilian frame from the front, he would dive way under and take off...fast! Mark caught him no problem with the net, though.

I think I found him on the internet under Brown Water Snake, a harmless snake common in this area and often confused with the poisonous Water Mocassin. In my online reading, I came across many authors who implored the readers to stop misunderstanding and mistreating our reptilian friends and killing them needlessly. You know what? They're snakes! I don't want them in my yard. I don't want them around my children. If it weren't for one very infamous snake and one very luscious garden...well, you know the story. And I'll tell you...as pertaining to this cute little guy, I was not very understanding and, upon my request, the Valiant Snakekiller mistreated him to his death.