And We Have Hair Do's!!!!

You know how there are some little girls that look so cute on Sunday (or any) mornings? Their hair is perfectly done with just the cutest styles? Well, I missed the mommy gene that gives me the natural ability to do my little girls' hair. Frankly, I really can't do my own;). I was afraid that it would take for ever and would just lead to huge fights but I was tired of them always looking like little ragamuffins.

So you can imagine how excited I was to find a website that could walk me through step by step a cute hairstyle for my girls! Babes in Hairland had this cute up do so I collected my water bottle, comb, and rubber bands and then set to it!




As you can tell, I did both of them basically the same. It isn't quite a cute as the website's but the girls' are cute so that works. It is also so much better than how their hair is normally done;). I have yet to try any of their other hairstyles (like even a French Braid) but I am going to bask in this one just a little longer! It is the little things, right?

Be a World Changing Family!

Today at MOPS we had an awesome speaker who spoke on being a world changing family. Shelley was awesome. Not only did she talk about some great ways to change the world with our kids (Operation Christmas Child, making sandwiches to give to the homeless, etc) she also brought treats!!! She made the adorable cookies herself!!!

But is it hard to be a world changing family, especially with younger kids? I don't think so. The focus is to teach them to be generous and to care for others starting at a young age. The best way I can see to change the world is to show it God's love. So start involving your kids (or start serving someone yourself) in showing love to others and that alone will change the world.

I think of the joy my kiddos have gotten putting change in the Salvation Army buckets. Or helping me take food to a family with a sick mom or a family that just had a baby. I love the idea of just making bagged lunches and handing them out to people who need them. I don't know where you live but around here we seem to have people begging on every corner. You can also do canned food drives, collect change for your local Pregnancy Care Center or just about anything. Just do something no matter how small.

It isn't hard but it is intentional.

That was a word that Shelley used a lot, intentional. This doesn't just happen but you have to do it. Shelley had a great idea we might start doing. She has a friend that takes all of her kids' artwork down to the convalescent home. I might have to start doing that. Between church and what the kids just make at home, we are swimming in the stuff. To think it might brighten someone else's day and not have to go in the recycle bin (at least so soon) makes me happy.

So what do you do with you kids to make them World Changers?

Pray for Shelley and her family! They are a world changing family in a big way. They have sold their house and will be moving their family down to Colombia to preach God's Word. They are not already in the ministry (her hubby is a teacher) and their kids are young (4 girls ages 10-6). So this isn't convenient but they were called by the Lord. So I ask you all to keep them in your prayers!

Updated: I was asked why I would consider this a WFMW. I can say that for many years I was looking for ways to help my kids serve others. I think there are some really good ideas on how to get your kids active in showing generosity and love to others!

Home Hilarity

Since we are now living without the satellite we are exploring our many free online options. We have recently discovered that all of Scarecrow and Mrs. King is online over at Slashcontrol.com. Scarecrow and Mrs. King was a favorite of mine as a kid and a teenager. I had a little thing for Scarecrow. The funny part is I always wanted to be Laura Ingalls and marry Scarecrow. Then Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) married Scarecrow (Bruce Boxleitner). But I digress...

To start with it isn't as dorky to watch as I was afraid it was going to be. And the kids love it. We are about 7 episodes into the series right now. At the end of the last episode Scarecrow got shot. We decided that we were going to watch another episode during dinner. NerdPie express how she hoped he was going to be all healed by this next episode. To which NerdDad said how he was sure that Scarecrow would be fine...he heals quick, like Wolverine.

It really tickled me (yes, I am a dork). But it tickled me even more that the kids didn't even blink at the statement because they knew exactly what NerdDad meant by that;).

First Impressions

So I was talking to a woman from church about some service stuff and right before we were done she said she had something kind of funny to tell me. OK, I like funny;). She recalled bringing a meal out to my family after a surgery (or baby) and that was the first time we really had a discussion. She had seen me at women's ministry things and checking in my kids on Sunday at church but hadn't really talked to me. At that point she said she thought I was bubbly, friendly and a bit airheaded. When she brought out the meal we were talking about Bible Studies and the book Bad Girls of the Bible came up. I had said it was a good book but not really deep enough for a study. For me it was bathroom reading. I lent her the book and she went on a trip. She said that she poured over the book and thought it was way to deep for bathroom reading and then realized I couldn't be a ditz. So at this point in the conversation I am laughing. Then it gets better. I was meeting her for a quick exchange of stuff at church on my way to my Precept study and quickly met her husband (again). She said that she later asked him what he thought of me. He described me as cute, bubbly and kind of ditzy or airheaded. She said she then went on to tell him how wrong he was;).

I have to say I am a bit shocked. 15 years ago this would have really bothered me because I was so afraid of not being taken seriously but now I don't know what to think. Objectively, I do not think I am an airhead and I don't really feel the need to defend myself too much (did I mention that I was have a discussion about whether or not studying end time prophecy has a needed place in your spiritual health?;). But this is a new one for me. There have been many phrases used to describe me but ditzy? airhead?

I remember my husband saying that I came off very serious the first time I met him (at a Bible Study in college and I was wearing nylons and a skirt after work;) and at the same meeting scared and intimidated a man who later was our best man and a dear friend of mine. My best friend met me quickly in a computer lab in college and thought I was quiet (man, was she wrong;).

But what does it mean or matter? I can't really control what you think in that 30 second exchange? I can try and put my best foot forward but beyond that? When I met this woman's husband I didn't say anything stupid or factually wrong. I shook his hand and looked him dead in the eye. I also had been talking to people and was in a rush to exchange material, both physical and informationally, and then get to the study I was already running late for. So there wasn't really anything different to do. Maybe I should have talked about the speed of light, programming or calculus... No, that would have just come off as pompous or rude. Better a ditz;).

So you, my readers, what was your first impression of me? Either in real life or just from my blogs? I am curious!

Wordless Wednesday: Shake It!

This is how we roll in the NerdFam... Throw that tutu on over your rugged jeans and shake it to the music!

I Can't Believe We Did But We Did It and It's Done!

Yes, I am channeling a little My fair Lady;). But to the point!

We love tv over here. When NerdDad and I got married money was tight but we always found a way to pay for cable. It was a priority right behind tithing, rent and power;). It was right after the then slow internet. Then we grew up to the Dish. And 2, yes 2 tivo's. But it has hit us lately that most of what we really want to watch, and not all the mindless drivel that we often watch, was actually free on the internet. So we cancelled the satellite dish.

Yes, we don't even get local channels right now. I am still in shock. We cancelled Monday morning after we saw the second half of the Doctor Who special (can't watch BBC online in America). I am still adjusting because Food Network doesn't really have anything online and that is disappointing. We are planning on getting an antenna and digital converter box for the tivo so we can record things like Jeopardy so that will change. But over all we are doing pretty good and still watching a ton of tv;).

Resolved: That I am a Better Me in 2010

That encapsulates all my resolutions for the new year. I want to be a better version of me as a person, mother, wife, friend, in ministry and as a blogger. Now of course I have some steps and goals to help make all of that happen both just for life and for blogging(at least a little).

So let us look at the life goals first:

- Spend more time with God: both in Bible study and just in prayer.

- Spend more time teaching my kids Bible and about God.

- Organize my house, which means get rid of a lot of clutter!

- Keep track of Birthdays and send cards! (virtual or paper)

- Do more crafts and projects with my kids.

- Do more freezer cooking

- Pray more for others!

- Plant a garden and herbs

- Prioritize my life and stop getting caught up on things that don't matter.

Blogging Steps (Some are personal but make me a better blogger)

-Take time to read books again!!!

- Catch up and stay caught up on politics!

- Post to each blog at least 5 times a week

- Utilize Social Media

- Double Twitter followers and Subscribers

- Do more political and homeschool blogging (like I used to)

Lesson from a Tree

This year was a crazy Christmas. I am once again recovering from surgery. As far as the surgical sight (versus any problems from having the tube down my throat) this is my worst recovery so far. Which has had a large effect on our Christmas because I couldn't do many things that I normally do for Christmas. I couldn't do all the baking, decorating, and going (Christmas Eve service, Christmas Tree Lane, etc) that I usually do. Of course I had big guilt and stress about the idea of ruining the family's Christmas.

Well, this year's Christmas tree is going to serve as part of a reminder to just let go! Do you notice that there are only decorations about 2/3 the way up? Because that is as far as the tallest kid could reach. That is right, my kids decorated the tree all by themselves. And they loved it! NerdDad and I sat watching as they put them all up. No the decorations aren't even but who cares!

Make sure you pop over to my food blog and see the results of my similar gingerbread lesson;). The gingerbread solution is going to be repeated every year!

God's Grace and His Miracle

My baby girl could have died today or been seriously injured. I am blogging about it because God completely spared her from any harm and I need to share to give Him glory. (This may read a little rambly, I am on pain meds)

For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook you already know that we took the crib out of NerdPud's room on Christmas so we could move the kitchen set into her room. Now she sleeps in her big girl toddler bed. Which also means that she can get up during naptime to play. Since it is all so new we haven't really stepped in to stop her yet.

Now in her room she also has a large dresser. It is more than 6 feet long and, at most, 4 feet tall. Out of 4 kids, we have had 1 ever start to climb on his dresser so given its shortness (and wideness) we didn't worry about tethering her dresser to the wall. That could have been a fatal mistake.

So NerdDad put down all the kids for naps/rest time today and came downstairs. We heard them all playing, mostly quietly. Then all of a sudden I hear a large bang. I started sprinting up the stairs and she started to cry. NerdPud had managed to pull the dresser down on her self. I ran in her room to find her body covered with the dresser and her head and shoulders free. It seemed a bit propped up on the end she was at and I just slid her right out without resistance or anything.

The dresser just didn't fall in that area all the way down. At first we thought it had landed on her bed, but it hadn't. It may have been supported by the drawer but the dresser wasn't designed that way. The drawer didn't actually come out of the dresser so there is no logical way it should have been propped up. It was as if she truly had the hedge of protection around her just like I always pray for.

My baby girl came out of the whole thing without even a scratch!!!! No bruises, no bumps, nothing. As I was carrying her downstairs I asked a couple times if she had an owwie. She kept saying yes and when I asked where she kept saying on her drawers. There is no reason for this but God. I praise Him and thank Him for keeping my baby safe.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you out in Bloggy land! I pray peace and joy on your families! Now chill out and enjoy life!

Aloha Friday

For a little holiday Friday fun here is my Aloha Friday question....

So what is your favorite family Christmas tradition?

My Guilt, My Fear

I knew that I would probably have some pretty bright kids. I am blessed with a husband who is absolutely brilliant so the chances of smart kids were good. But what I didn't expect was the guilt in the face of their brilliance.

NerdBug (8) and NerdPie (6) were pretty bright. NerdBug didn't really read early but once he did the kid started eating books. He is a year ahead in math and overall pretty bright. NerdPie started doing 25 piece puzzles at like 14 months old, she read in kindergarten, and is ahead at math too. So, while I know my kids are above grade level, I have been afraid that I am not educating them up to their total potential. I should be doing more with them but life always seems to get in the way. I have Latin to do with the oldest that I can't make time for. I am not diligent on the history. They could be speaking foreign languages, doing physics, who knows what. So if I was guilty and afraid before.....

NerdDad started going through a great book series with Nerdling in the this last month. Here is what my 4 year old (he won't be 4 1/2 until the end of January) read last night all by himself:

Mike has a hen. The hen is black. It is a fine hen. The hen is lost. Mike is sad. Is the hen in the nest? It is not in the nest.

The word egg is what stumped him. I am in so much trouble.....

What if I don't equip them well enough? Their intellect and brilliance is a gift, what if I am squandering it? What could they do if they had a better mom? In all seriousness, I am not wondering about sending them to public school. I know that a teacher in a class of 30 couldn't take as far as I am now. But, there is always a but, is it as far as I could take them?

Uh, Mommy Guilt exponentiated.

Girly First Attempts

We tried to curl the NerdPie's hair recently. I got her hair up and that went fine. The problem arose a few hours after she went to bed. Apparently they were keeping her up so we had to take them out. I didn't have the heart to tell her that beauty is pain;). Maybe we will try again when she is older.

Junk Food Worse than Heroin?

Scripps Research Institute has come out with a study that looks at the addictive nature of junk food. Apparently these rats were so addicted that they were willing to take a shock in order to get the beloved junk food. They are trying to prove that the junk food is just as bad as drugs.

As a fat girl I don't know what all to think. On one hand I can totally agree because I don't know why my logic doesn't control my intake better. But on the other hand I can't say that I really cut a lot of slack for addicts so why should I be able to use it as an excuse because if you have a problem you should get help. The one thing that I get out of it that makes me feel better is that changing food choices is hard. Not due to my weak will but it really is hard.

So what do you think? Is the fact it may be addictive give us an excuse? Should junk food be illegal like the drugs? What?

(HT: Grist)

Tackle It Tuesday: Pantry Clear Out!

You know those things you never get around to? You know, the ones that drive you crazy but you just don't seem to make time for? My pantry is one of those things. Well, Sunday while I was running a couple of errands NerdDad started clearing it out. I finally finished it Monday afternoon;). It is amazing the amount of junk I have in that pantry. The blue bins hold baking. decorating and freezer packaging for food. Then there is all the food, oy! I was amazed how much I actually had to throw out. I have been very convicted to cook out of my pantry and freezer for the next few weeks/months (my freezer is just as bad;).

But at least for today I will feel good that the pantry is finally done. I will feel guilty about the rest tomorrow!

Go check out some more projects at Tackle It Tuesday!

Wordless Wednesday: Fair Memory

These are the tickets I won for tonight's concert. We didn't get to use them. We also had matching tickets to the fair, which we used. It was raining so hard they called off the concert. But they didn't call it off until NerdDad and I had been at the fair for a few hours, in the flooding rain;). That is the $3 ring I picked up in the gem and mineral display. After the concert was called off we went to dinner and saw Surrogates in the theater (which we rarely ever do).

I will keep both of these forever but not really for all the fun (though I had fun;). But to remind how wonderful my husband is. My husband doesn't really care for either fairs nor concerts. And that is in the best of weather;). But he went with me because he loves me. He also got soaked because he loves me;). And walked around for a couple of hours because he loves me.

I love him too!

Sweet Art!

My sweet friends surprised me with a little party and a dim sum dinner! When I got home I had this wonderful surprise waiting for from my hubby and kids. Isn't is great? And yes, those are Starbucks cards in the heart!

Where is the NerdMom

Sorry I have been so absent lately. I went back up to Stanford last week for another procedure. That makes 4 since April. So in the wake of that chaos and all the things I have to do to prep for the fall, specifically for MOPs, the blogs have suffered. Between the pain meds and the feeling icky, sometimes my thought process isn't conducive to actually writing anything but I am slowly getting back so stay tuned for more postings. NerdDad has marked over 250 things in the Google Reader and I am sure some of them will rock and make it to the blog;).

First Tooth!

We are so excited when our kids get their first tooth. Who would have thought after we waited for it to arrive we would be so excited to see it leave? NerdPie lost her first tooth last night eating pizza. She was so funny because she gave a shriek, said she lost her tooth, handed it to me and then took another bite of pizza. Kids are funny;). Now we are waiting for the one right next to it to fall out. It is just barely hanging in there.

Magic Marker Monday: VBS Art

One of the big events for the NerdFamily kids in the summer is always VBS. The kids get to go and be loud for a week. They hear about God, play until they drop, sing and dance. Also they get to do lots and lots of crafts. These are but a few of the many crafts that were brought home VBS week.

Wordless Wednesday: Home Away From Home

So this is where I have been taking all my vacations lately;).

Magic Marker Monday: Custom Art

Aren't these great? My 3 older children (8, 6, 4) did these while I was out of town last week. My friend Bethany is a preschool teacher and has no fear of messy crafts. She went and got canvases and let them loose. I am so impressed with how great they turned out! I am thinking about putting them up in the playroom. So the breakdown by artist..Far left is NerdPie (6), middle is NerdBug (8) and far right is Nerdling (almost 4).

Go check out other masterpieces!

Fingerprint Friday: I Am Not an Only

I am blessed by having some wonderful friends but, even in the midst of that love you can still feel alone. I'm not the girliest girl and I don't always express emotions the way others think I should. So some assume that I don't have emotions or get frustrated with me. I was reminded by a good friend (thanks Katie) that I am not an only. I never thought I was alone because God is always with me but I felt like I was the only. The only person who responds to challenge this way. The only who can be mournful of a situation at home but completely ok with it out because I feel I must be. The only one who feels that to dwell in sadness is the mistake, but it isn't a denial of the problems or issues just becaue I can funtion happily. I forgot that the Lord has blessed me with some friends who not only accept supressed, uptight me but also are like me. It is very comforting in the chaos we are going through right now. It is great to see yet another Fingerprint of God when we need it so much!

Me and my babbling self are off to bed. Go check out some other fingerprints at Pampering Beki.

Fingerprint Friday: My Girls

My Girls. They just had birthdays last week, yes both of them. NerdPie turned 6 and NerdPud turned 2. I started thinking about having girls. See, I always wanted 4 kids but I thought it would be safer to have 4 boys. I mean I am a tomboy (still) and well, moms and daughters. Need I really say more? My mom did quite a job on me and I was petrified how I would screw up my girls. My mom and I always had this weird co-dependent relationship where she defined all I was and all I was worth. I remember when I was pregnant with NerdPie going to the Women's Retreat. Donna Partow was talking about the difference between first and second generation Christians and just over all being a Christian woman. I had a good cry but then this piece came over me about having my first girl.
Then NerdPie was born. Both my girls have been absolutely beautiful since birth. They both have joy but NerdPie has always had this lightness and joy about her. My first stepfather (mom's 2nd husband) has always said how much she reminds him of me when I was little. Well, that really hit me one day.

See by the time I was 6 I was on my 3rd dad and he wasn't all that keen on me. I didn't grow up knowing my birth father and by the time I was in 3rd grade my first stepfather was out of my life. So I always wondered what was wrong with me that not one of my fathers either loved me or loved me enough to be around. Add to that my mother has choosen to be out of my life since I have become an adult. I always have had this cloud weigh over me wondering how bad of a person I must be that my own mother doesn't even love/like me. I figured I walked out of my childhood, teen years and even college without parental love because that must be my punishment becuase I was bad and not worthy of love. Logically I knew that the chaos in my life wasn't all about me but that didn't heal my heart. I knew God loved me but I didn't emotionally understand why or how other than because He said. And that God keeps His end of the bargain. So I felt loved by God as almost an obligation.

So one day when she was probably 2(ish) I was looking at my sweet NerdPie dancing around a room. I saw all her innocence and beauty. What I saw most was her joy. A carefree joy I don't ever remember having. I saw her giggling and reaching for me. And it hit me. God (in my heart) asked what she could do to make me turn my back and heart on her. Of course we say no but then I really thought about it. Is there anything she could ever do that would make me turn away? How about when she is an adult and crying for me? Could I walk away? My answer was of course no, never. So what ever has gone on in these other adults that enable them to walk away from me couldn't have had anything to do with that joyful little girl that I was. Then God took it a step further, that is how He still sees me. As a sweet child who is headstrong at times but His, so of course He loves me. No matter how I stomp my foot at Him or no matter how many times He has to discipline me.

And my girls? They have given me a huge piece of myself that I lost so young due to life. The joy to dance, the joy to both want to paint my toenails and dig my toes in the dirt. They also have given me a value. The value of how God sees me, a child who is loved. A child who was treated poorly but didn't deserve it.

A footnote: My first stepfather and I reunited after my first child was born. He had been kicked out of my life when I was a kid but now we have a relationship of sorts. When NerdPie was about 6 months old my birth father found me. And then right before NerdPud's birth we finally saw each other for the first time since I was 2. We now talk once every week or 2 and are well on our way to a pretty decent relationship. My mother still doesn't want into my life because I bring her to much pain. Only time will tell what God will choose to do in that relationship. But my heart still misses her but I don't need her in order to feel whole. God meets that need.

Go over to Pampering Beki to see some more Fingerprints.

Wordless Wednesday: First Comic

It probably isn't surprising that NerdPie got her first good comic book for her birthday!

Fingerprint Friday

My life is crazy right now. I just had a crazy surgical procedure to kill some blood veins and I am having issues (I am fine just hurting and bleeding a little) but that makes for a difficult time. Most of that difficulty is the fact that I am a homeschooling mother of 4 kids all under 8 years old. The reason I mention homeschooling is that they are always home;). So now you are wondering where I am seeing God's Fingerprint since all I am doing is complaining, right?

Well, I don't just see God's Fingerprints right now but also His grace and spirit through my husband. Not only did he take me to this procedure at Stanford (3 hours away), he also was willing to pay for a hotel both the night before and the night of so I didn't have to travel right after. But all that was the easy part because then we came home;). Due to my procedure I can't stay on my feet very long without being in quite a bit of pain. So that means I am not a lot of help around the house. He has stepped in and takes care of everyone including me, the kids and the house. He has cooked every meal, washed laundry, chased kids, done dishes and even takes care of my wounds. He even has paid for childcare 2 morings this week. Did I mention that this is only 1 of a series? His care and spirit through it all has made me love and admire him even more.

But he is getting annoyed. There is 1 issue in particular that is driving him a bit nuts. He feels that I don't take care of myself enough. I try to do more than I should and ignore all the pain clues and common sense I should have. All I need to do is keep an eye on the kids during the few times I am alone with them and not try to get "things" done. He said that he takes better care of me that I do. It hit me today how much that in and of itself represents God's attitude toward us. NerdDad just wants me to accept the gift of care that he is giving me and to believe that he means it. He tells me to rest and not worry about the house but I find it hard to accept. It overwhelms me that he can care for me so deeply to the point that the rest falls away to him. I am truly blessed.

That is how God cares for us. We have been offered salvation and all we have to do is accept it. Salvation that will take care of our every eternal need. We can't earn it, we can't deserve it. The Father offered it to us soley based upon the fact that He loves us and wants to care for us. We just have to accept and let Him!

(This is part of Fingerprint Friday)

For Today (4/27/9)

Outside my window the sun is shining.
I am thinking of all the blogging I need to catch up on.
I am thankful for being home again.
From the learning rooms, it is time to start something new but I don't know what yet!
From the kitchen I am going to cook copious amounts of bacon and some beer bread.
I am wearing capris and a t-shirt.
I am going grocery shopping with the kiddos.
I am reading Side Yard Superhero.
I am hoping to have a great week and get back into Stanford soon.
Around the house there is laundry and lots to clean.
One of my favorite things chocolate!
A few plans for the rest of the week: Women's Ministry meeting and the kids' Choir concert.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...see the little red spot? That is where they went in to look at my veins. Not bad, eh?
Go read some more Women's Daybooks!

For Today (4/20/9)...

Outside my window the sun is starting to beat down.
I am thinking of all I have to do.
I am thankful for my family.
From the learning rooms we will be working on the NerdPie's reading.
From the kitchen I am going to make cookies today.
I am wearing capris and a t-shirt.
I am going to get some blood taken.
I am reading the Side-yard Superhero
Around the house I hope to work on cleaning my pantry out.
One of my favorite things is watching my kids laugh.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Going to Stanford for a little look-see at some blood veins.
Here is picture thought I am sharing of my trip to Stanford. This was taken right outside the hospital last time I went.

Go check out more of these types of entries over at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

The First One is......

The NerdPie is the first nerdling to get glasses!

Video Fun

NerdDad found this at Neatorama and I just thought it was great! It answers the question of what do the kids do all that time they are playing.

Do I have a life? At 98 I assume not.

They say if you've seen over 85 films (or 85 of these particular films, anyway,) you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account, paste this as a note. I will declare that if you have seen at least half of it and then stopped it because it stunk counts!

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
() Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
() Airplane
Total: 3

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) Anchorman
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
() White Noise
(x) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 10

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
() Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10

() Harry Potter 1
() Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 13

(x) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
() Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 18

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
() Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
(x) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG
Total so far: 23

(x) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 27

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
(x) Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
(x) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 32

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
(x) Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 37

() Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
() Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George
Total so far: 41

() Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds (the ORIGINAL version)
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 44

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
() Calendar Girls
(x) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 54

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday (the original version)
() Reign of Fire
(x) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
(x) Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 68

() Swimfan
(x) Miracle on 34th street – ORGINAL VERSION, BLACK AND WHITE
(x) Old School
() The Notebook
(x) K-Pax
(x) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 73

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 78

() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
(x) Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 81

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
() Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 83

() High Tension
() Club Dread
(x) Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(x) 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 87

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
(x) Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes – ORIGINAL VERSION
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 90

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 95

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Grand Total: 98

Frustration

When you blog you have to be conscious of the feelings of those you write about but sometimes there is no winning. Sometimes the line between "their business" and you life seems to be very blurred and hard to discern. This is what happened to me back in June of this year. I wrote a little piece about my NerdPie and how she saw the marriage situation with my parents (many parents). Well, my mom thinks I told everyone that she wasn't married when I was born (which wasn't the case, my mom and dad were married). Well, I don't think that I left everyone with that impression. I thought I had made it clear that they were married but it wasn't really the focus of my story. But here is a couple of pieces of the post:

I don't know how many of you know but I have 3 dads. My mom has been married 3 times so like many others of my generation this leads to many parents;).

and

But when I tell her my parents were married, she says they couldn't be because they aren't married to each other;).

I apologized to her but she said that I was sharing her business (so just imagine how happy she will be with this post). Well, while I see the point I think that it is my business too. I wasn't focusing on her but on the issues I have to deal with concerning my family and my kids. And frankly it was a cute story (and that was the point;). I wasn't commenting on the right or wrongness of the situation but I mentioned it to set up the hilarity of the moment.

I guess I find it very frustrating because this is my life story now. Yes, other people framed it and defined it but now it is mine. This is where I came from and it defines various components of me. Where do those in our past loose their claim to our present? (BTW, I wasn't rude or disrespectful of the situation, just stating how it is).

I Am Totally Stealing That!

My kids have always wanted to do a pinata but we don't have any trees in our yard. So we haven't. Well, NerdDad and I are laptopping it and watching 17 Kids and Counting and now we know how we are going to do pinatas. The Duggars were hanging them down over the second floor banister. We are so going to do that!

And She's Back, Somewhat....

I am home and quasi alert;).The surgery was more extensive than I expected in some ways so it is going to take me a little longer to get over it. I don't know if I am loopier than I am with just a normal c-section or if I am usually still in the hospital and don't notice. But either way I am not comfortable but I will live.

Back to our normally scheduled programs;).

NerdMom Out!

I am sure that you notice that the words hysteria and hysterectomy have the same basic root: hister. That is because the Greeks believed that a woman's uterus would come lose and meander through her body, landing on her brain making her crazy. (a little something I picked up in a Women in Church History seminar class)

This is what I am thinking of as I leave to go to the hospital to be liberated of my uterus. This isn't a big deal because I was done with it anyway but it does mean I won't be posting for a few days.

See you when I get back!

Now What Have I Done?

I joined FaceBook. I know, when do I have time? I dunno. I think I swallowed the pill or something;). But I think I am going to join Twitter next week;). So if you are on FaceBook add me!

Aloha Friday:Homemade Halloween

Ok, I admit it. My kids are going to look shabby for Halloween. Their costumes are totally homemade/kid style. So here is my question:

Is it better to have an original homemade costume (that may be shabby) or to look polished for Halloween?

Finally, Me First!

You think by staying at home you would get to experience all your baby's firsts. Well, it doesn't always work that way. With kid #3, his first steps were in Sunday School. They all said Dad first and so on. So with the NerdPud I wasn't surprised when I was out to lunch on a Saturday and missed her first steps. She said Dad first (and often). Well, I finally got a big first. Yesterday I was sitting on the couch playing with the NerdPud and I said, "I love you" and she said it too! I was and am stoked;).

But now I have to think about how quickly my last baby is growing up;).

New Baby

Yes, you read right. I am getting a new baby! Go check it out. I am so excited. I will post more when she arrives.

And we have Pee in the Toilet!!!!!

If you are asking, "Where else would it go?" You obviously don't have kids. We just had our first successful toilet peeing by the Nerdling. (Yes, I know he is 3, don't harsh me;) I am very excited because he has been waking up dry for weeks but wouldn't pee on the toilet. He has always been willing to sit on the toilet just nothing other than gas has ever come out. I think he isn't sure how to make it work but now that we had some success maybe he can repeat it. For a reward he got to wear a pullup, eat a gummy bear, and to call NerdDad at work.

It would be great to only have 1 kid in diapers.....

Wordless Wednesday: Could She Really

The other night NerdDad came downstairs after putting the kids to bed with a wondrous yet mystifying tale. Nerdling has a kitchen set in his room that all the kids play with around bedtime. So NerdDad returns to Nerdling's room where he had left the NerdPud (now 13 months old) and it appears she was feeding Skeebo with the spoon. NerdDad he saw her go from her mouth to Skeebo's mouth 3 or 4 times. So what she was feeding Skeebo, EWWW. But could she really have been trying to feed him? Could she really understand? Children, they are a mystery.

Kiddie Cuteness

So we were having a Target outing today (check out their school stuff for a buck) and I had the most interesting conversation with the NerdPie. Someone in Target asked me if I was done having kids at 4 and I said yes. So the NerdPie asked why we weren't going to have any more and why did we have 4 kids. I said because our family is just how God wants it. She wanted to know if we wanted the baby that died (miscarriage) too. I said of course but God made it the way He wanted and that we would see the baby again in heaven. She wanted to know if it would stay so small or if it would grow so we could see it. I told her that we would get new bodies in heaven. She was concerned and asked if we would still have eyes and be able to see. NerdBug said that we would still be able to see but we wouldn't have to throw up anymore. NerdPie was relieved;).

Wordless Wednesday: NerdPie

The 10th was the NerdPie's birthday and these were one of her gifts. I can't believe that she is already 5 years old. Aren't these just adorable?

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I don't know how many of you know but I have 3 dads. My mom has been married 3 times so like many others of my generation this leads to many parents;).

So, my kids realized that I had many sets of parents and at one point they wanted to know when they were going to add another dad to their collection. Well, we convinced them that that would never happen. A year or so passes. Then my kids realized that my birth father lives in Texas. NerdPie then assumes that my mom lives with him (since they don't see her very much). I explained that they aren't married to each other but are married (Grandma x is married to Grandpa y and Grandpa a is married to Grandma b). They seem to get it.

Until....
We were meeting the missionaries that (at that point) were considering moving into the extra house. NerdPie says out of nowhere, "My mom's mom and dad weren't married when she was born". I just don't know what to say other than we are trying to explain my life;). But when I tell her my parents were married, she says they couldn't be because they aren't married to each other;).

We will work on it without making it seem as something we think should happen. Oy! Thanks Mom and Dad.

I have made a realization!

I don't really share anything going on in my own life. I know, it seems odd that I have a blog and don't talk about anything in my life but a little about my kids. I realized this because we have many things going on around here and none of it is here. So I am going to try to rectify that in the future. I will start now!

This weekend I graduated from a 2 year program in Women's Ministries. It 6 classes over 2 years with homework and projects. When you think about only 6 classes in 2 years it doesn't sound that impressive but when they started listing off the 10 books, 20 papers and projects we had done, it sounded much more impressive;). It has been a couple of crazy years. We have moved, not sold our other house, had a baby and NerdDad has changed jobs. I know this program equipped me but more than anything I am just glad that I got through it all and finished! So now, according to my certificate, I am a Women's Ministry Specialist;).

Should I be all a Twitter?

So everyone seems to be on Twitter. A couple of the bloggers I read have recently begun it (Randy and Shannon). On one hand it just seems a bit silly but at the same time it is interesting to see what everyone else is doing. I have many people ask what I do all day (or how I actually get life done) with 4 kids and homeschooling and church and blogging. So the real question is, if I Twitter will anyone (or you) read it?

Tell me what ya'all think.


Technorati Tags: Twitter

Exciting New Addition to the NerdFamily!

The Nerd Family got a Wii! I was out a Costco and had an opportunity to get the last one they had. This (other than the normal computer desires) was the only thing NerdDad had wanted for Christmas and Valentine's Day. Now we couldn't find one or justify the expense for those holidays but... Obviously I seized this opportunity when it appeared. The Wii is so much fun, we love it. Something we didn't know that is cool is that you can play Gamecube games also! What I don't know is if there is an adapter to play GameBoy games. So any of you know? If so leave me the details.

Step Off Freak Show

So today I was out shopping with the Nerdlings running errands as we have a habit of doing. I had the NerdPud forward facing in my wrap and the other 3 kids walking. As we got a cart this older woman walked up to us. She started talking about how cute my kids were and started touching all of them, the older ones on the head and the baby's arm's, head and hands.

Back to the story in a minute but, what is up with all the touching? As I tell my kids, keep your hands to yourself people. I have no idea who you are and where your hands have been but I can tell you that my baby's hands are probably going in her mouth. So keep your cooties to yourself!

Back to the story: So she goes on about how cute and wonderful they are and then she says that NerdBug (6 year old) must not be one of my gang. I say of course he is mine, then she points out that he has brown eyes. I just say that his eyes are like his dad's while the rest are like mine. She went on to say about her grandkids all being older (17 and 20). Then she reiterates how cute they are. Then she says that she just came from the library where she saw a woman with 4 boys and a baby girl, with one of the boys holding the baby. So she said that she asked if she could hold this baby and the mom was shocked and said "No Way!". She asked if I could believe that the mom said no. I said yes and nothing else while silently thanking the Lord that I chose to put NerdPud in the wrap instead of the basket. The lady went on to say how she told that woman that if she was afraid of germs that the library was the wrong place to go. I politely smiled and said if she missed holding babies that Valley Children's Hospital was always looking for people. I then went into the store where she followed me around the produce department. Luckily that was all I was getting.

I was so shocked. There is no way I would let some stranger somewhere hold my kid of any age much less a baby. Am I just paranoid? I just can't imagine. So now I have vented and I am off to make a bottle for the baby.

Stores That Suck

So I have been doing a little online shopping lately and have had some not-so-good experiences with at least one being my own fault because I should have known better. So I am sharing so a)I can vent and b)you out there in the blogosphere can be warned.

First up is Walmart. I was looking to buy a specific stroller for the NerdPud, Jeep All-Weather Umbrella Stroller - Ice Pink. I looked around and the cheapest brick and mortar was Walmart. Well, none of them actually had it so I decided to order it. Now I should have gotten it from Amazon (since it was $2 bucks cheaper). I assumed that Amazon was going to charge shipping and handling but come to find out (at least now) that would have been free. So I decided to do Walmart's Site to Store. I have used this a Best Buy and it is always faster since you are going distributing center to store. The website said 7-10 days but usually those are worst case scenarios. Well, apparently it takes a Walmart truck 9 days to drive what takes the rest of us less than an hour and half. According to their website my order was on a truck to be delivered at the local store on 4/27 and it didn't get delivered until 5/5. That was for a trip from Porterville to Sanger. When I called the Sanger store to ask if they had it (you actually have to wait for the system to email you before you can get your package) I was told that they couldn't help me and couldn't give me any other number where I could get help or information. I will never use the Site to Store again if I have any other option.

The second store is Drugstore.com. I shop there regularly to get NerdDad's lactose intolerance pills. While I am there I always see what else they have on sale in order to get the free shipping. So I found this great deal (Buy 1 Get 1 Free) on a Clairol temporary hair coloring product. So I put them in my shopping cart and had to get up and do some things. You know how it goes, dinner and bedtime for the kids, but that is the beauty of online shopping. Well, I come back to finish my order and my cart has been changed. They were now (versus before when I checked) charging me for each hair coloring kit. So I drop them out of my cart and went back to the coupon page. Well apparently while I had gotten up the coupon expired (I assume). There was nothing about expirations on the page at all and I had no warning. I would have finished shopping earlier if I had been given any warning. So I dropped all the hair coloring and the conditioner that I had added. I ordered only the medication I needed. I am extremely annoyed!

Technorati Tags: drugstore.com, walmart.com

I want my Tax Stimulus!

So we all want to know when we are getting our tax stimulus package, right? Well if you go over to the IRS they have a chart of when you should get your money. These are for people who had their taxes processed by April 15th. It is broken up between direct deposit and checks in the mail.

Technorati Tags: irs

Argh!!!

So I went to a wonderful women's retreat in the Monterey area last weekend (as evidenced by previous picture). While there I got a lovely sunburn on my shoulder, chest and the part in my hair. Now by head is peeling and it looks horrible. Ug.

The NerdMom is Sick

It is official, I am sick. I went to the doctor and my ear infection is still around or has returned. I also have bronchitis and I walked out with 5 prescriptions. I am fun to be around right now.....

A Baby is Born!

My best friend Sara had her baby this week. Elijah is a cutie and big. He was born at 9 lbs and 8 oz! Joleen has posted some great pictures.

Urban Myth: Don't Flash Your Headlights

So I received this in the email today:

DON'T FLASH HEADLIGHTS AT ANY CAR WITH NO LIGHTS ON!!Police officers working with the DARE program have issued this Warning: If you are driving after dark and see an on-coming car with no headlights on, DO NOT FLASH YOUR LIGHTS AT THEM! This is a common "Bloods" member "initiation game" that goes like this: The new gang member under initiation drives along with no headlights, and the first car to flash their headlights at him is now his "target." He is now required to turn around and chase and spot that car, then shoot and kill every individual in the vehicle in order to complete his initiation requirements. Police Departments across the nation are being warned. Their intent is to have all the new bloods nationwide drive around on Friday
and Saturday nights with their headlights off. In order to be accepted into the gang,
they have to shoot and kill all individuals in the first auto that does a courtesy flash to warn them that their lights are off. Make sure you share this information with all the drivers in your family! Please forward this message to all your friends and family members to inform them about this initiation ritual. They are also known to drive with high beams on and will do the same as indicated above.

So the first thing I did was go to Snopes. And there it was as an urban legend that has been recycled since 1993 in print. Apparently it was existed in story since the early '80s.

Whenever you get shocking emails, especially those that are "warnings", you have to question them. If something like this was true, you would probably already know it. If not something like this would make news agencies the nation wide. So when you get something shocking, just go check it out before you forward it around the world.

Snopes points out that sometimes these are given more credence due to WHO forwards them. By the time the sender has debunked it, it has been passed on a few times with their names on it. So take the time and research before your reputation takes a hit.



Technorati Tags: Urban Legends, Don't Flash Headlights

You Know You Are Sick When

You know you are sick when you go to the doctor and end up with 3 prescriptions and 2 other drugs in trial size. I have a double ear infection, the start of an eye infection and we don't know what else. It is sad when the doctor says we won't know if I have bronchitis or a sinus infection until the other things are cleared up. On the up side, it took all this illness to get me down;). I must be tough! So you will understand why blogging has been, and might continue to be, slow.

Action Over Words

I just want to brag about one of my friends at Bible Study named Carol. She had heard about Berkley and the ill treatment of the Marine recruiters there. She felt that they needed encouragement so she got the phone number of the Berkley Marine Recruitment office and called them. She just wanted to reassure them that this is the fringe and not the majority of Americans. She told the young man that answered the phone that the publics views doesn't affect the positive feelings we have for the men in uniform. Bravo Carol for not just talking about this issue (as I am doing now;) but actually taking a step to affirm the strength of these young men!

All About NerdMom

Recently it has come to my attention that I have real life people (that I know) who still don't have any idea of who I am. Also it has come to my attention that many of you don't know about my other blogs. So let us start at the beginning. My real name is Jackie Cromwell and ions ago was Jackie Little. I go to New Covenant Community Church in Fresno Ca.

Now the other blogs... Remember the are all having giveaways also!
NerdFamily Food
NerdFamily Things
Making Money, Keeping Money

Separately, here is my Cast of Characters:
NerdDad: My wonderful and loving husband
NerdBug: My eldest boy, who is now 6 years old
NerdPie: My sparkling little 4 year old girl
Nerdling: My cute 2 year old boy who is built like a linebacker
NerdPud: My 7 month old little girl. She is the Pud (short for Pudding) because she is the last course.

WFMW: Life & Focus Help

Yes, this is the secret, a notebook. I keep it around the house and in my purse. Then when a thought comes to me (about anything) I jot it down. This helps to make sure things aren't missed (by forgetting it later) and helps me to focus on what I am doing. I don't need to try to hold on to things while I am trying to do my Bible Study, play with my kids or out shopping. I have a spot for things to tell my husband, things to buy, things to study, etc. It has been a huge blessing! Try it and let me know what you think.

I Guess I Got What I Want and Deserve

So Friday we had a typical laid back day. We got up and did all out normal breakfast, chores, etc. Then we read Chapter 5 in Story of the World which is on the first unifying ruler in the Sumer area in Mesopotamia (Argon). With in the chapter it briefly introduced the concept of Military Dictatorship, which is how Argon ruled his new country. They loosely go this concept and I told them we could talk about it later.

So we all go get on shoes and go to Costco so we can take advantage of getting in early (with our Executive Membership). One of the nice things about going at this time is there is almost no one there and the kids get cookies. So we eat our cookies and are cruising the aisles and NerdBug brings up Military Dictatorship. So we start talking about it. NerdPie then asks if Argon is still there as a country. Then are there still Military Dictatorships? As we are walking through the store I see people staring. Then the Nerdling (2 1/2) starts saying, rather loudly (but not yelling), military dictatorship over and over. People were staring and not in a good way. So I try to change the subject to the alphabet and songs, didn't work. Then 1 couple says quietly, "Do you homeschool?" To which I say yes and keep walking. Then another woman that I had seen in a couple of aisles asks also. I say yes. Then she engages me in a conversation about what are we studying and other such details. She is looking for supplemental materials for her very bright kids that are in public school.

All I could think through the whole trip is, "Couldn't you guys keep you nerdiness at home?" Then it hit me, this is what I always wanted and how I raised them to be. Sure, we are a little different but should them wanting knowledge that seems to be above them really be a bad thing? I helped make them this way. That is the joy of homeschool, you sometimes get just what you really want;).

(Now, in telling part of this story at my Growing Kids God's Way Class tonight I was told I am definitely living up to my blog name;)

Costco Gas

Well, here is just a quick post post for anyone in the Fresno area. Gas at the Clovis Costco was only $2.99 a gallon about 10am this morning! If you have time and are in the area, Go Fill Up! Who knows how long such a good deal will be going. It is the first time I have seen it under $3 in a while.

Technorati Tags: Fresno,, gasoline,, Costco

My Daughter the Songtress

So after dinner tonight NerdPie (my 4 year old little girl) tells me she has a song for me. She claims that she and her doll made this up for me.

"No matter where I go,
No matter where I am,
You'll always be my mama,
even when I'm dead"

While it was cute, I am mildly disturbed;).

Martha's vs Homeschool Mom's Way

Now that Christmas is over and I am dealing with the trauma of everything not being all pulled together and neat. I needed a little pick me up! I found this over at Ann Zeise's humor page. Thanks Ann!

Martha's vs Homeschool Mom's Way

Martha's way #1: Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake; you are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway.

Martha's way #2: Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Buy the precooked kind you nuke in the microwave for 30 seconds. The hard part is getting them out of the plastic bag.

Martha's way #3: To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix and keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

Martha's way #4: To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Who cares if they crack, aren't you going to take the shells off anyway?

Martha's way #5: To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Sleep with the lemons in between the mattress and box springs.

Martha's way #6: To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Eat at Chili's every night and avoid cooking.

Martha's way #7: Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Feed your garbage disposal and there won't be any leftovers.

Martha's way #8: When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Go to the bakery. They'll even decorate it for you.

Martha's way #9: If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up"

Homeschool Mom's Way: If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too damn bad. My motto: I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes.

Martha's way #10: Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Celery? Never heard of the stuff.

Martha's way #11: Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

Homeschool Mom's Way: The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust and so I don't do it.

Martha's way #12: Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Brown sugar is supposed to be "soft"?

Martha's way #13: When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Homeschool Mom's Way: The only kind of corn I buy comes in a can.

Martha's way #14: To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Eat, cook, or use the egg anyway. If you feel bad later, you will know it wasn't fresh.

Martha's way #15: Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Martha, dear, the only reason this works is because you can't rub a lime on your forehead without getting lime juice in your eye, and then the problem isn't the headache anymore, it is because you are now blind.

Martha's way #16: Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Leftover wine?

Martha's way #17: If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Go ask the very cute neighbor to do it.

Martha's way #18: Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

Homeschool Mom's Way: Mashed potatoes will now be replacing the anti-bacterial soap in the handy dispenser next to my sink.

Martha's way #19: Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer.

§ Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.

§ Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

§ Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

§ Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Homeschool Mom's Way: Put your jewelry, vases, and thermos in the toilet. Add some Alka-Seltzer and you have solved a whole bunch of problems at once.

Wordless Wednesday: Holiday Joy

Aren't these the cutest? My friend who was babysitting my kids did these with them. The reindeer face is made from a tracing of their feet and the antlers from their hands. This is the sweetest!

Two Different Versions! Two Different Morals!

I got this from my friend Heather. Normally, I don't encourage such thing but I really liked this one.

OLD VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building
his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and
plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

---------------------------------------------------------------------


MODERN VERSION:

The ant works ha rd in the withering heat all summer long,
building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances
and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and
demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well-fed while
others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the
shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable
home with a table filled with food. Americans are stunned by the sharp
contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor
grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and
everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green."

Jesse Jackson stages a demon stration in front of the ant's house
where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.'
Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's
sake.

Nancy Pelosi & John Kerry explain in an interview with Larry King
that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and
both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair
share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper
Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs
and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is
confiscated by the government.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation
suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges
that Bill Clint on appointed from a list of
single-parent welfare recipients.

The ant loses the case.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last
bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which
just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because
he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the
house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who
terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote

Music Choice and Devo 2.0

So a new thing on TIVO is Music Choice. You can choose specific videos and download them onto the Tivo. I have been surprised of the amount of Christian videos and very happy about it. But NerdDad and I also saw Whip it! by Devo 2.0 and had to give it a go. While it isn't THAT bad, it is pretty corny. NerDad said that they must be rolling over in their graves. When I said I didn't think they were dead yet, he said they were probably dieing of embarrassment;). View it for yourself and tell me what you think!

Aloha Friday Question

So An Island Life has Aloha Friday. To play you post a question and people answer it for you in the comments. So here it goes.......

What is your favorite junk tv show (ie no learning shows)?

Kids and Truth: Sometimes You Want Them to Lie;)

On Thursdays I drive by CSUFresno on my way to get on the freeway after Bible Study and we drive by the horses and cows. The kids look forward to it every week. Well, this week the horses were out but only one cow was. The kids wanted to know where the rest of the cows were and I said that they probably took them inside to milk them. Then, NerdPie wanted to know why they needed to do it inside and I said that they hooked them up to a machine to milk them.

Well, as of a couple of days ago I have begun to supplement the baby with a bottle after nursing her. So NerdPie came down from her nap and saw me giving the baby her bottle. So NerdPie looks at my breast pump that was on a table and says, "We need to start milking to get milk for the bottle". While it was a completely true statement, did she have to say it;). I quickly told her we call it pumping for a mommie not milking.

I have only one other thing to say, MOOOOOOOOOO!

And Here is His Queen!

Since my husband and my best friend did this, I had too. The results are not shocking.

So who is next?

Happy Happies for Everyone!

First I want to wish my darling husband a Happy 11th Anniversary. It was been a wonderful and crazy 11 years. I love you more than you can imagine.

Next, I want to wish Sara a Happy Birthday. Go over and wish her a Happy Birthday too. She is very big on Birthdays;).

It Would be Funny if it Wasn't Me!

So we have had a couple of crazy things happen amid our chaos. So while NerdDad was in the hospital I needed a new book of checks. I came home one night from the hospital and dug around in a box in the office and found a partial book of checks. I proceeded to write a whole bunch of checks. Normally, I write 2 checks a week. On this week I paid all the odds and ends that were left over from when I had the baby. I think I wrote 12 checks that week. Well, I get a call from a friend I wrote a check to and she said the account was closed. I then looked at the book of checks and it was off an account that had been closed for 4 years. I had the same check design and the same printer, I just hadn't looked at the bank. Do you know how dumb I feel. I go on to tell me best friend, Sara. Her response? What is very sad for NerdMom is very funny for Sara;).

So skip to tonight. Here is a little fact, washer machines shimmie when they are washing and the front loaders are the worst. NerdDad starts a load and comes back downstairs. Then we hear this bang. Not only had our Costco sized detergent fallen, the cap had broke off and poured soap all over the floor. Oy! You just have to take a step back and chuckle or it will kill you.

ColorQuiz

NerdMom took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Needs a peaceful environment. Wants release from s..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

You have to read the crazy results I got. I don't know if I agree but it is interesting! I am interested to see how many of you would agree with its synopsis. Go take one yourself. If you do just let me know in the comments!

(HT: Two Blonde Boys)

Drama Update

Well, NerdDad's surgery/recovery was a little more complicated than predicted. He developed pancreatitis and was in the hospital until Sunday. He is home now and doing better but is still having pain. The whole process has been a bit frustrating. Every day the surgeon said maybe he would come home the next day while the nurses seemed much more concerned. It is still better than it could have been. I have recently heard about someone who was in the hospital for a month with pancreatitis so I guess 4 days was nothing.

So we are recovery...slowly. I will be very happy when NerdDad is back to his old self. I once again am grateful that I am not a single parent;). Oh, let me once more brag about my baby! She was at the hospital every day and we even spent the night!

NerdFamily Drama

Well, after I got a stomach bug we assumed that is what NerdDad had when he started puking. We were wrong. This morning NerdDad was having so much pain we went to the ER. He had Gall stones. I say had because he had surgery to get rid of his gall bladder. So after a long day at the hospital I am home and NerdDad is recovering at the hospital. The plan is for him to come home tomorrow. Oh by the way, I have the best 8 week old ever! She had been with me the whole time. We were there from 11am until 9pm and there was minimal crying. How many babies do you know who could do that?

WFMW: Parenting Advice

The Works For Me Wednesday subject this week is Parenting Advice. While of course I have lots of advice I had to figure out the most poignant and needed piece. The most important thing is to pray but the next part is to invest in your marriage. Remember, while the world seems to revolve around you blessed little rugrats, you and your husband were a family all on your own. This means always show a unified front. And yes, if you are picking sides it is always Mom and Dad against the kids. Studies show that kids are more secure if their parents have a strong marriage. Ways to do this...

Have a daily conference time with your spouse. Mine and NerdDad's is after he gets home and changes. Then while we put the finishing touches on dinner we talk. Kids have to entertain themselves or play in their rooms. This isn't a time for deep relationship issues but just updating each other on the goings on in life. It doesn't just have to be about the kids. This is often when we talk about news from our friends, who won the board game at DH's work at lunch, or headlines in the news. Another thing is follow through on punishing kids for going behind a parents back. You know, kid asks one parent and that parent says no so they go in the other room and ask the other. Also respect your spouse and demand that your kids do too. There have been times when a child will talk back to one of us. Often the other parent will step in and make it clear it isn't acceptable to treat their parent that way. Also, if something is important to your spouse but not you, make it important any way. This is a great way to teach your kids to respect a parent. An example, I have a friend who doesn't mind if her kids go from project to project, leaving things out, as long as they clean up once a day. That drives her husband up the wall. So she has made it clear that the kids need to clean up after they finish each thing.

Remember your spouse is the only person you can count on in this adventure of raising kids. Also, when the kids grow up and leave (which they will someday) you are going to be all alone again so build, build, build.

Dumb Statements

File this one under things not to say to your husband. While watching this week's Dr. Who NerdDad asked why William Shakespeare is always played by a guy who looks like Kenneth Branagh. To which I responded, "Because he is hot". I might want to reintroduce my brain to the filter;). In reality we had a good laugh and I turned bright red.

I Need Your Help!

Now I have 4 kids and I am out of Nerd nicknames. So I am polling all of you to get some suggestions. I have names for the older 2 but not the younger 2. So here is what I have and their descriptions.
NerdBug is the oldest, he is 6.
NerdPie is next and she just turned 4.
#3 is an energetic 2 year old boy.
#4 is a cute newborn girl.

I am looking for long term nicknames so if you have any suggestions please leave me a comment.

Long Time, No Blog

Yes, I realize it has been a very long time since I have blogged regularly. I apologize to my readers (if I have any left;). Life has been very crazy around here for a while. We have moved in the last 8 months, I was pregnant, still trying to sell the old house, on bedrest for 6 weeks and just had a little baby girl by C-section. So there is my sob story;).
Life here is starting to calm down a little bit so I am going to try to recommit to the blog! So hopefully there will be many blog posts to come soon.