10-2 so far...

Well, it's been dramatic, the kids hate the new 4-hour break right in the middle of the day and I don't like it, and then there's a second one from 6-8 while Matt is home and that one sucks, too.  BUT...the more bored they get staring at the clock, the more they wander off outside or pull out building stuff or science stuff or want to sit on the big bed and talk or read with me.  It's working, it's just painfully slow to change those habits.  

10-10-10

10 Great Things About Today

I have my very own 10-year-old.

We ate spring rolls for breakfast.

 We are going to the library this afternoon, even though I still have 3 unread books.

It is not cold outdoors, but not hot enough to need to run the AC.
Curt agreed to stay on in Evanon.

I am going to spend the afternoon with Matt and we are going to eat pizza.
Everyone in the house is healthy, their worst ailment is occasional 'boredom'.
There is a hammock in my bedroom.
The Volvo has new tires.
Our high speed internet is working great and has no daily usage limits.

Friday

What a great week, our trip came off without a hitch, the kids were good at Karen's and we started our new routine of staying off our computers for 6 hours a day.  Sad to have to set limits, but we were going a little overboard with high speed and whole days were going by where we met for assignments in the morning and again for dinner at night.  It's so nice outside right now, it seemed a real waste of good weather.  We can go back to being pod people in the winter.  

Matt got a flat Wednesday, a nail went through the tread on the side and out through the sidewall.  No way to safely patch that.  He already had a tire that needed to be replaced due to uneven wear from a bad...something bracket.  We got the bracket replaced, but the tire was still worn.  So, 2 new tires, $200.  That was not so great, now that I think about it.

Yesterday, Heather came and hung out most of the day.  That was great to just chat away, we used to get together every week for...years.  Then our group grew and I love that, having so many like-minded people and friends for the kids and folks to hang out with and learn with, it's great.  But, I do miss my just-Heather time now and then.  I was glad it worked out. 

Today I was showing the kids how to check and refill all the fluids in the van and quizzing them on the major parts of the engine-Jake thought everything was the transmission-and Ben was leaning down to look at the belt for damage and wear and said, "Hey, there's a hole!"  Sure enough, he had found a big hole in the vacuum line!  OMG!  It was on a hose that was pleated and there was a tear halfway around the thing, up underneath, in between a pleat.  I NEVER saw it.  As soon as I get that replaced, THAT should fix the engine light!  Eep!  Vacuum leak! 

Today is National Pierogie Day, Matt picked up several boxes of Mrs. T's cheddar and potato pierogies.  We have not had them in years because it's pasta wrapped around mashed potatoes and cheese.  Not exactly the best for you thing ever.  I cooked up 2 boxes with garlic and butter and diced onion in the big wok.  SO freaking good, I could have eaten a dozen, but stopped at 4.  *sigh*

I DID do the kettlebell today.  20 minutes of sweating and cursing the perky chic who is NOT sweating or cursing.  No one should be able to film a 60 minute workout video and not be nearly dead at the end.  It's in 3 segments, so I do one every other day, 20 minutes is my upper limit and since we bought a 5-pound kettlebell, to keep form, I sometimes have to switch to it before the end.  I can sling around the 10 pounder, but pay for it the next day via my back.  No good.  I sweat SO much, then shower off and feel like I can jump over the van for a couple hours, it's the best thing I do for myself in a day.

Our weekend is shaping up well, if a little snug on the budget thanks to the unplanned tire repair.  Tomorrow we are staying home (LOL!) and Sunday is a long hike in H'ville and a geocache mixer at a pizza place that afternoon and library run after lunch.  Next week, we will be...sticking close to home again.  I don't mind a bit, the kids are in a good mood, the weather is great, we'll have library books...; ) 

Day One...

We started a new thing today called 'from 10-2, no electronics'.

I said they could work on school stuff, go outside, eat, clean, read, play-anything but sit in front of a screen.

Jake pitched a small fit and accused me of micromanaging his life.  hahahaha!

Then, he proceeded to rebel via interpretive dance. 

For nearly 20 minutes. 
 

 After that small drama was over, we cleaned up and finished the laundry, had lunch and then went outside for a while.

Jake decided to make pokeberry ink:

By 1:45, I was caving, I hope tomorrow will be easier.

the week so far

 

First, Ben became a little obsessed with his coins and dumped them ALL out on MY floor and proceeded to spend several days sorting and lining them up by date, usually hanging out of the hammock like the dad in Honey I Shrunk the Kids doing the backyard sweep.
He found a 1940 penny and climbed up in bed with me (it was early in the morning) and shoved it in my face.  "Have you EVER seen ANYTHING THIS OLD?"
Uh, the house was built in 1932, so...yes, right behind your head.  Sorry kid.

Friday was UFO (UnFinished Object) night for us moms!

Suzette had put off making these paper Muppets far too long!
She is thrilled to be let loose with paper and glue dots.
P.S.  I am not getting one.

Fall food!

Check out the meeting space we have now!  Oo-la-la!

Today we went to Karen's for lunch!

The girls hung out and chatted.
Everyone but Chandler played, "When I was in public school" and there were tales of running in extreme cold weather for P.E., mean kids and so on but the most heart-wrenching tale came from Kei, who once was told she would fail P.E. if she did not stop putting feathers on her gym shoes.

O-o, here she comes!
Watch out boy, she'll chew you up!
Whoa-oo, here she comes!
She's a man eater!

And finally, the piggers made short work of the grass today, but REALLY.  This is why they are called PIGS.  All of the grass poking up through the bottom of the cage and what is Mochii doing?  Shoving her head through the slats for the same grass an inch further out.  See Oly peeking out of the pigloo?  hehehe, I love the pigs.

the weekend approacheth

I am so freaking excited about this weekend!  Woot!

Okay, so far I have our reservations made and confirmed, I have fresh bags of food to put in the hoppers for all 3 sets of critters, I had the van checked out this morning and other than the check engine light being back on, it looks to be in good shape.  I have parts ordered to come in next week and a guy lined up to replace the timing belt, spark plugs and wires and I am still debating on the water pump-do it now while he's in there and there's no extra labor charge or wait for it to actually go out?  It's a $150 part.  

That SHOULD fix the engine light, it's a fuel mixture issue and not a mechanical issue.  I have called around not just locally and everyone I explained the problem/diagnosis code to said it was fine to drive for now.  The 'worst case' I have heard is that over a period of a couple years, the catalytic converter would need to be replaced because of the fuel mixture being off.  It has not even affected the gas mileage, I can't find anyone to get excited about a small vacuum leak, so I am slowly calming down about it.  Though I admit, seeing that awful orange light on all the time does a number on my tummy.  : (  I don't want anything wrong with Nettlevan!  I love her.

I have Friday all planned out, Karen is on board, I have everything all worked out in my head.  Eep!  Lots of running around to do that day and still lots to get taken care of beforehand!  I need to air out the camper and get her all cleaned up today, that sun and cool air is inspiring!

We should be eating brick oven pizza for lunch on Saturday and stocking up on herbed flatbread for hiking at our favorite little bakery.  *sigh*  I can hardly wait!

 

Waxed