Scarborough Faire

Our homeschool co-op drama group performed at Scarborough Faire today and they won 1st place! Their play was a 10 minute version of Julius Casear. KJ played the part of Brutus. The video was too big so I uploaded it in two parts.

Here are Portia and Brutus.


This was the award ceremony.

one more baptism pic

I forgot to post this earlier. My brother and sister and their families came down for KJ's baptism. This group plus KJ's stepmom's family made for a large group.

KJ drumming for talent show

Last night, our homeschool co-op had an open house. We started with a talent show where KJ performed a drum solo. I forgot my camera, but his dad got it on tape. (Thanks Kevin!) You can view it here. The kids also got to display some of the work they had done this year. After the talent show, we had a break to view their work and have finger food, before getting to see the drama group's play, Julius Caesar in 10 minutes. They will be competing this Tuesday at Scarborough Faire so I'll tape it then.

By the way, KJ got baptised this evening at his dad's church.

Newest family member

Today, KJ and I had our final day of co-op for this school year. The drama group practiced the entire time since their competition is next Tuesday. I stayed outside to visit and help watch the younger kids. When one of the other moms showed up carrying a basket holding two puppies, I groaned inwardly. There is a reason I can not go to the animal shelter... I can't stand the thought of a homeless animal! The mom had adopted the momma dog from the animal shelter and the nursing puppies came along with her. Now that the pups were weaned, they needed a good home. One of the pups was very active, while the other preferred to snuggle, be held, and sleep. Guess which one I could not resist? David was in town so I called him to come check out the pup in person. (knowing full well he could not resist such a sweet face) The pics aren't great as I won't get my Photoshop back until my computer returns.

Meet Sam, our newest family member. He is 7 weeks old. (His eyes aren't blue. It's just the flash.)


Sam likes David, and David likes Sam.


Sam likes to sleep.


alot


He gets VERY relaxed.

Look what I got!

Karisma thinks I need a hug. She is right. Thanks Karisma.

Things are getting somewhat back to normal around here. I worked at the zoo most of the day on Saturday for the Earth Day celebration. I was in charge of the silent auction where I ended up buying a painting done by a turtle, and a purse done by LaFou, the education alligator. I found my camera cord so I'll take and upload pics later today.

How to lose 20 lbs.

Mom #1 wants to know how I lost 20 lbs. I should mention that I have 25 more to go.

1. Keep a headache diary and realize that eating chocolate gives you massive, writhing on the bed in pain, migraines. Once your brain makes this connection, the thought of eating chocolate will make you nauseous. You'll lose about 6 pounds just from cutting out chocolate. Then you'll finally realize just how MUCH chocolate you used to eat.

2. Work spring break camp at the zoo. The exercise will cause you to lose about 3 more pounds.

3. Now, that you've lost a little weight, your blood pressure will get too low, especially at night. While you are screwing around with your blood pressure medicine, you will mess up so badly trying to keep it and your caffeine consumption (Dr. Pepper) balanced, that you are nearly fainting at night. In desperation, cut out all caffeine which cuts out your daily Dr. Pepper's. You'll lose about 4 more pounds. On the positive side, you can also cut your blood pressure medicine dosage in half.

4. Read Feast Without Yeast and start eating healthy. You'll lose about 4 more pounds.

5. Have a family catastrophe that will cause you so much stress that you are sick to your stomach and can't eat for a few days. You'll lose a couple of more pounds.

6. Eat whatever the hell you want, because the ongoing stress will just keep pulling the weight off.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I used to always use my memory card in a slot on my computer. My current computer doesn't have the slot and I can't seem to locate my camera cord to upload. KJ did get his hair cut and re-dyed black, but the blue highlights didn't really take. Things are back to a normal routine around here, for the most part. KJ's co-op drama group is gearing up for their performance, so the parents are frantically helping with costumes.

I have deleted an earlier post. I will no longer be able to discuss that situation, so this blog will be returning to its regularly scheduled programming of inane subject material. Watch for pictures tomorrow as KJ will be getting his hair cut (finally), re-dyed black, and blue highlights added. I figure his head will look like a giant bruise. He went camping with his dad last weekend. His dad planned on them sleeping on an air mattress in the back of the pickup. KJ replied, "I'm a mountain man and a boy scout. All I need is my sleeping bag on the ground." I bought him a cot anyway.

Thank you

Thank you everybody for your supportive comments and emails. I really appreciate them.

KJ made it back

KJ made it back from his camping trip in one piece. He had a wonderful time and wants to go with this group again. He is at his dad's for the weekend, but I thought I would go ahead and post a few of his pictures. (He took 167!) Maybe I'll convince him to do a guest blog about the trip when he returns. FYI - all pics are bigger if you click on them.

This is the Mountain Men bus. It has no heat or a/c. Several of the bus seats have been turned so they face it each other with a small table in between. Each boy had to put his gear in a 38 qt. plastic container. The bus has racks above the seats that are designed to hold that size container. Each boy was also assigned a duffle bag for his sleeping bag, pillow, and coat.




This is where the duffle bags and cots were stored. KJ called it the lounge area since the boys would just lay back on top of the bags and nap.


Also in the bus is the head of a jackalope. KJ was excited to show me this picture and wanted to know if I had ever seen one before. "Ummm, you DO know that they aren't real, right?"
"No, Mom. I pulled on the horns and they are really attached." I explained how they were popular novelty items years ago.


He still didn't believe me and directed me to this picture.

The part I circled in red is a jackalope hunting license.

This dog, Brady, has gone on every trek and expedition since he was 7 months old. He is the Fort Smith Mountain Men dog.


He and KJ got along well.


The first day they drove to Balmorhea State Park. (395 miles) I'm not sure if this is there or on the way.




They spent the night and messed around there until after lunch, when they headed on over to Fort Davis State Park. (32 miles) They set up camp and hiked a little.

They had tents, but never used them.

They spent the night there, hiked up a mountain, and went to the McDonald Observatory that evening.

I can't believe how BLUE the sky is.

This is from the top of the mountain, I think. KJ is on the far left.


They went to a star party here. KJ saw and visited with the Education Curator from the zoo. She was vacationing in the area too.


After spending a second night, they headed out to Stillwell Ranch, just outside Big Bend. (93 miles) On the way, they saw some bald eagles who had a nest with babies.


On their first day there, they hiked Dog Canyon.


Big Bend has lots of cacti.


On their second day, they had a longer hike along the Rio Grande. The river is down in the ravine.


See, there it is. It's hard to imagine illegals scaling those cliffs to cross the border.


Well, maybe they could cross here. It looks doable if you were determined.


Now THIS would be an easy place to cross. Is that a tiny building on the other side?


Yep, it sure is.


Hope you didn't buy anything, KJ.


I know these next pics are in Big Bend, but I'm not sure where.




This is an adobe building. KJ is on the far right.




After their second night at Stillwell Ranch, they drove to Wolf Mountain Scout Ranch. (332 miles), where they had a final campfire and spent the night. The next morning, they got to shoot black powder rifles before returning to Georgetown. (66 miles)

KJ learned a ton including how to do a little cooking.

Misc. tidbits

My cough kept getting worse despite all my home remedies. When I couldn't catch my breath and was wheezy, I finally broke down and went to the doctor. She said it was bronchitis. I have some meds plus I'm still drinking honey in warm water so maybe I'll get better soon.

This afternoon, I noticed that someone had beat me to the punch and cleared out the dead leaves and plants from part of the front flower bed. I was wondering who when I noticed that a couple of chickens were steadily making their way along the other half, scratching all the dead stuff out in their quest for worms and bugs. They are doing an awesome job!

David discovered an easier way to get the chickens to go back in the coop. We usually just herd them in, but there is always that ONE chicken who is nearly impossible to catch. Anyway, today he made a sound like a hawk. The chickens froze and then ALL of them made a mad dash for the safety of the coop.

We go pick KJ up tomorrow. I'm sure he'll have lots to say about the trip.

Update:

I talked to KJ's doctor and he has an epididymis cyst and some blood in his urine. If the pain persists (it has gotten much better), he will need to see a urologist. She does want to repeat his urine test when he gets back though.

Catch-up time

Wow, working 40 hours a week away from the house sure put a damper on my regularly scheduled activities like blogging, housework, reading blogs, cleaning Fred's tank, and Toontown. For those of you who don't remember, I was working Zoo Camp last week. I was actually getting paid to do that so I kind of had to be there everyday, as opposed to just picking and choosing as a volunteer. Anyway, great fun was had by all including KJ who helped out Mon., Wed., and Fri. Tuesday was co-op followed by hanging out with his girlfriend and Thursday, he went to Six Flags with his dad.

Speaking of KJ, he is having a medical issue so please send him some positive energy or pray. I'll update more after I talk to the doctor today. Meanwhile, KJ is on a camping trip in West Texas and Big Bend with the Fort Smith Mountain Men. Actually, let me consult his itinerary...today they are at Fort Davis State Park. They will hike into Fort Davis and tonight, visit the McDonald Observatory for a star party.

David and I have both come down with either a chest cold or horrible allergies. We're both blowing out snot or coughing up snot. Oh, get this. I was perfectly healthy Mon. - Wed. On Thursday morning, I rolled over in bed and snot ran out my nose. That's a wonderful wake-up call. My eyes were puffy and my nose was pouring. I did not blow dry my hair and since the wind was blowing hard, you can imagine what it eventually looked like. I was at camp leading the darling children in a wonderful learning experience (in between sneezes). We had just left the Butterfly Garden and were going into the Ranch House so I could do an animal presentation on the Burmese Python. The Education Coordinator and some guy with a camera were already in the Ranch House. Camera guy asks me to "put this on before you get the snake out," and hands me a wireless mike. Ummm, why? For the "Back to the Wild" show on the city cable channel. What??!! The Education Curator and Coordinator FORGOT to tell me that the city's cable channel would be filming that day. I looked like death warmed over. Oh well, it won't air until November and hopefully I will have forgotten all about it by then.

Misc. ramblings

My baby is growing up. *sigh* I ordered his drivers-ed package from the state. It should be here a few weeks before KJ turns 15, so he'll have the book knowledge to get his learner's permit right after his birthday. We're also going through the paperwork for KJ to start the high school dual credit program at the community college this fall. He still has to take some tests in April, but he should be fine there. I feel like this is the beginning of the end of homeschooling. He's only going to take 1 class in the fall and spring so he'll still have some other work to do. The following year, however, KJ will most likely just take college classes.

Next week is our last week of school before two weeks of vacation. The week of the 10th, KJ and I will be working Spring Break Camp at the zoo. Then KJ will leave on a camping trip the 15th and return the 21st. He is going to Big Bend with this group.

David has taken to cooking supper like a professional chef. I have never eaten so good, AND I'm still losing weight!

I've been busy

Texas votes next week so I've been busy.



On another note, my sister, Staci, sent me some pictures of Emily at preschool. She is soooo cute. David says she will be just like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.

Fred's new tank

I got a belated Valentine's present yesterday, a new tank for Fred! No longer must he live in a Rubbermaid container with a chicken wire top.


He now has a 40 gallon tank to swim around. Unlike the Rubbermaid container, it is clear so we can actually see Fred.


He still has his favorite hiding log,


and his favorite basking platform.


He even got another basking spot.


You can't tell from the picture, but he still has heat lamp and UVB light. He is one happy turtle (with a happy mama).

KJ has drummed for years and started lessons this past Fall. Two weeks ago, he started drumming with the youth band at his church. Last night was his second time and he did pretty well.

A few pics from David's science class

David taught his first physics class at co-op today. It went really well! The middle age group had no teacher so they joined David's class with the older group. There were about 12-13 kids, but I'm too lazy to blur their faces right now.

meme

Doc said that if you're on her blogroll and haven't done this meme, then to consider yourself tagged. I'm on her blogroll and haven't done it so I guess that includes me.

Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
Open the book to page 123.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post the next three sentences.
Tag five people and ask them to do the same.

I'm sitting near a bookshelf so the closest book is one I read a long time ago. It's What My Cat Has Taught Me About Life.

5th sentence on page 123: "When guests are present, the conventions of politeness are extra important."

Next three: "To enhance her coif-fur for company, Cleo situates herself in the middle of activity and engages in a thorough washing. With an occasional upward glance she seems to say, 'Do make yourself comfortable.' Cleo's decorum is more than an outward show."

Since I think that everybody in blogdom has already done this, I'm tagging people without blogs.
My mom, Debbie, Kerrie-Ann, Kathy P., and Laura

You can leave your answers in the comments.

It's been a fairly uneventful week here. KJ is grounded again, but aside from that, uneventful. If the child lives to be 15, it will be a miracle. He is having some problems with making good choices, being responsible, and impulse control. WHY, he thought it would be a good idea to take a picture of himself flipping off the camera and post it on his Myspace.....I don't know. Today, KJ's psychologist told David (I was working later than normal.) that we might want to consider medicating KJ. There is a reason he said this to David and not to me. I've done the Ritalin route and we are not going down that road again. I used to have KJ on three supplements that really helped his ADD. Over time, we dropped back to just Cod Liver Oil, but KJ hasn't been taking it as regularly as he should. We're starting all of them back DAILY.

Misc. other news:

Fred has been growing fast and already needs a bigger tank.

KJ will be playing the part of Brutus in Julius Caesar for his drama class. It is a 10 minute modified production for a competition at Scarborough Faire.

KJ either broke or badly sprained his toe. It swelled up and turned lots of colors. It has kept him from fencing this week.

David will be teaching physics class at co-op for the next three weeks.