Things I Learned Over Spring Break

Spring Break is over as of tomorrow at the Vikings Hus. And, to be honest, I'm torn.

First, I learned things about our time management.

The ADD-er in me like the external structure Flicka's school day imposes on me. We *must* get up and be out of the house by 7:30am so much more is accomplished in the AM hours. This is one thing I noticed as I let our natural clocks take over and let the Vikings stay up 'til 9 or 9:30pm (and on one particular night 10pm) which resulted in all of us waking up between 8-9am the next morning. LOL

On the other hand, as an ADD-er, I *really* stink at sticking to a schedule and I feel extended and heightened anxiety keeping us on one. So, I admit that I love breaking from the structure and enjoying the freedom that comes with my impulsive decisions. LOL

However, I did find that the Vikings are probably not sleeping enough. Prior to vacation, the kids generally go to bed between 8-8:30 and get up between 6:45-7am, resulting in about 10-11 hours of sleep. But, when I let them stay up late and sleep in, they slept 12 hours.

Since they are resisting bedtime after the time change and the extended daylight and have long since dropped an afternoon nap, I'm at somewhat of an impasse. Our evening activities often go 'til 8pm so making their bedtime earlier isn't a realistic option. Dropping their activities altogether means no midweek church and no swim lessons. Hmmm - a momma dilemma.

Secondly, being off school also brought back the desire to homeschool. Yes, homeschool, even with said problems with schedules, structures, and such (see above LOL). While Flicka is doing well, she is the only girl remaining in her kindergarten class and there are resulting concerns as well as focusing on more of a Bible-based education.

Third, I've discovered my daughter has some *seriously* crazy planning abilities. LOL Before vacation began, I made a grid of sorts of our week off and started plugging in activities scheduled over those days. Then, we brainstormed a list of additional possibilities and tried to see if we could fit some of them in. Flicka THRIVED on knowing exactly what we were doing each day and the next. Each night ended with the question "so what's on the schedule for tomorrow, Mom?"

And, while I spent most of the week pleading with DaHubby to take a break from his studies to take the Vikings for an hour or two due to some awful demonstrations of sibling big time wrestling rivalry and flagrant disobedience, I know I also will miss having both Vikings with me over the next few weeks 'til Flicka's graduation in June...that is if I survive DaHubby's finals week and graduation May 2nd!

Favorite Dave Ramsey Quotes of 2009

"Too much drama-like a bunch of 13-year-old girls running the planet!" - Dave Ramsey on the negative hype about the current recession

"Work is a surefire money-making scheme."

"If you want something you've never had, you'll have to do something you've never done." (I think this is one of DaHubby's current favorites)

"You wanna blow money? Put it in a 'blow' category in your budget. But at least admit it on paper!"

"Success is a pile of failure that you are standing on."

"Poor is a state of mind. Broke is, 'I'm just passing through.'" (My current favorite)

"Pray like it all depends on God, but work like it all depends on you."

"Broke people giving financial advice is like a shop teacher with missing fingers."

"You can't work three hours a week and make $100,000. Get rich quick doesn't work. Crock pot mentality always defeats microwave mentality!"

"Not until the pain of the same is greater than the pain of change will you embrace change."

Hat tip to daveramsey.com.

Yooper fun? LOL

What Yoopers do for fun when there's not enough snow in the Lower Peninsula! LOL

Block Party Success

With about a 33% turnout for the first mini-block party in 8 years on this street (and the first since DaHubby and I arrived in 2005), I'm declaring it a success! I also have two new friends on Facebook - two of my neighbors! LOL

Some meet-and-greet at the beginning...


In the shade with my house in the background...

The dinner spread...

Thanks to everyone who pitched in - especially those that brought the tables and chairs and everyone's AWESOME food!

Thank you Dr. Peet and family for hanging out with us (one of the doctor's offices on the corner) as well as some neighbors on the street where our block ends.

And, we will be visiting one neighbor where she works (the children's section of the public library the next town north os us) probably sometime before school starts!

In 12 Minutes

In the twelve minute drive from our home to dance camp this morning, I was asked ALL of the following...

Mom, where does weather come from?

Mom, where does rain come from?

Where do garbage trucks go after they pick up our junk?

What's recycling?

Why does a bee sting hurt?

Then, why does a mosquito bite itch?

Mom, what do bees eat?

What do butterflies eat?

*sigh* Who would've thunk I would need an advanced degree in meteorology, ecology, environmental sciences, and entomology to drive from one end of town to the other? LOL

The Vikings do Rich Mullins

Viking Ingenuity - updated

This down the street...


...has inspired *this* in my driveway! LOL


No signs. No money. But, plenty of hope. :) Wonder how long she'll sit there? LOL


Anyone need broken trucks and old clothes pins? *wink*

Later...
Flicka's figured out she needs signs plus she wants to sell all her "art work" that I save. So, I'm off to help with signs.

I'm just hoping our city's inspector doesn't see her and give us a ticket for not having a permit for a garage sale! LOL

Family Gardening Day - part one

Today was DaHubby's last final for winter semester! And, on Tuesday it's our eighth wedding anniversary. So, initially, I had planned a small, short, surprise getaway to local hotel with water park. But, when I called and they wanted $190 for the room, I could hear Dave Ramsey gettin' hysterical in my ear all the way from Tennessee! LOL

So, we decided to spend some of the money to spruce up and prep the backyard for some "stay-cation" time instead. One project per Viking - and today's was a surprise for Pojke: a sand table! I found the plans in the July/Aug 2005 copy of Family Fun magazine (I can't find an online link however). We made a few modifications and, following a trip to Lowes, construction began!

Twenty feet of 1.5 inch PVC, some "elbows", some "tees", some PVC glue, a concrete mixing tub, and some sand are all we needed.

It's tab A into slot B, dear! *wink*

It's starting to take form - corners, a couple legs...


Nearly done! Just needing the underneath support pieces...

Flicka planning Vanna with the finished project


And, there are advantages to marrying an engineer! LOL The two small pieces in DaHubby's hands are *the ONLY scrap* left over! And, you should SEE the plans for Flicka's project tomorrow! LOL
Pojke giving it a try for the first time! And, a completely random side note...that arbor (now painted white) in the background? It was built by DaHubby...the month before our wedding! LOL We were married under it!
Stay tuned for part two - hopefully tomorrow!

And, we have BABIES!

Went out to begin our family gardening day and (appropriately) found three of these new little ones to join us!
Happy birthday little ones! We hope your new brother/sister joins you tonight!

Happy Earth Day

What a lovely coincidence - look what we found today!

Happy Earth Day!

Wordless Wednesday - in motion

She's gonna support us in our old age with her bowling! LOL

You can see more WW here or here.

Shhhh...a boobytrap! *tee, hee*

And, when Flicka opens her door in the morning...an avalanche of balloons for the girl's actual birthday!

Vikings Do "Dirty Jobs"

And, to think...I AM the one who majored in TV and radio production at Michigan State! LOL Must be in the genes! LOL

Flicka does TobyMac

I think we're in trouble...REAL trouble! *wink*

Don't know how I missed this...

...because I read Carolyn Hax every day that she appears in our local paper. All I can think of is that this appeared on a day our paper doesn't' publish her. LOL

Carolyn: My best friend has a child. Her: Exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group...OK. I've done Internet searches; I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please, no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners...I do all those things, too, and I don't do them every day. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day, and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail?

I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events), and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy — not a bad thing at all — but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth?
Is this a contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids, and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.

— Tacoma, Wash.

Tacoma: Relax and enjoy. You're funny. Or you're lying about having friends with kids. Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them. Internet searches?

I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand — while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom friends are either lying or competing with you — is disingenuous indeed.

So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries and questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.

It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.

It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.

It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family members and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting the constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything — language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity, empathy. Everything.

It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy — and then when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, you wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend — a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends or marvel at how much more productively she uses her time.

Either make a sincere effort to understand, or keep your snit to yourself.

(Cut and pasted without permission)

In One Word

Saw this done by a buddy of mine of Facebook. Looked like a challenge - especially for a chatterbox like myself! LOL

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It's not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to tag the person you received it from!

1. Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your significant other? studying
3. Your hair? ponied
4. Your mother? vacationing
5. Your father? hermitting
6. Your favorite thing? DaHubby
7. Your dream last night? unremembered
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? righteousness
10. What room you are in? living
11. Your hobby? technology
12. Your fear? alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? DEBTFREE
14. Where were you last night? bowling
16. Muffins? scones!
17. Wish list item? unsure
18. Where you grew up? Michigan
19. Last thing you did? cooked
20. What are you wearing? PJ’s
21. Your TV? silent
22. Your pets? none
23. Friends? blessed
24. Your life? blessed
25. Your mood? PMS-y
26. Missing some one? Lisa
27. Car? Goldilocks
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Your favorite store? Borders
30. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
35. Who will resend this? unknown
36. One place that I go to over and over? Aldi’s
37. One person who emails me regularly? Jamie
38. My favorite place to eat? Cozumel
39. Why you participated in this survey? challenge
40. What are you doing tonight? *snicker*

Can't make this one up!

The Vikings are not really up on their bloggy alter egos. While both know that they're Daddy's little "Svenska Pojke" and Svenska Flicka", that's about as far as their awareness goes. So, imagine my surprise to here them singing this Veggie Tales song while playing this morning:

"We're Vikings!"

We're Vikings, what do you know, the terrors of the sea
We're Vikings, where ever we go, pillaging happily
We're Vikings, let there be no ambiguity
Cause who doesn't like a pile of loot?
Some gold, some jewels, and a shiny suit?
And a giant screen TV to boot?
A Viking's life for me!
Yo ho!

Flicka leads this duet and she's missing the "terrors" and "pillaging" but it's hysterical nonetheless!

Viking deconstruction/re-construction part 4

Well, UPS (bless their little brown hearts) just delivered my first *real* winter boots. Ugly as sin (LOL) but warm up to -40 degrees! And, even approved by DaHubby- Mr. Yooper man!

Here's Flicka playing Vanna:

But, what is making the Vikings even MORE happy? The BOXES and the butcher-paper packing material! LOL

Not sure what these will be turned into since we already have a train, a Polly house, dog houses, and a bed for Flicka's lovie.

Finally, some sibling peace...

...but how can they be comfortable?
and how long will it last? LOL

And, while the pie is baking...

...I got the Vikings involved in a little dessert craft! LOL Using this recipe as our starting point, Flicka and Pojke put together lil pilgrim hats using striped shortbread cookies, Reese's mini-cups, and Starburst "licorice" in red, orange, and yellow cut in squares (couldn't find inexpensive, fine-point frosting nor Chiklets or any other square small candy).