On Wednesday it was 60 + degrees

We live in a crazy state.
I could go many directions with this, couldn't I?--psycolgical, physical, emotional, etc......  but,
I'm just meaning the weather today.

On Wednesday, it was over 60 degrees and beautiful.
Today we are getting this. (Post edit--ok, they changed the link to a different news story.  Just think ice.  Then snow.)

If my computer would let me, I would show you Wednesday vs. today pictures.
But, it's having issues, so you'll just have use your imagination.
Think beautiful in January. The news kept calling it the January thaw.  Blue sky, pretty cloulds, light jackets.
Now think cold.  Think ice storm.  Think snowing now on top of the ice. Think slick.
The news said the January thaw is over.
The snow is coming down real pretty and all my people are home safe-so I am in a good place, but holy camoley, the weather here is crazy.

I asked my friend, a native Oklahoman, "What is up with this weather?"
She said, "It's Oklahoma."

We live in a crazy state.

Sunday School

picture from here

Today we went to church at a hotel.

Weird, I know.

And no, we haven't changed religions or anything like that-we had stake conference in a ballroom. A very large ballroom.

I've only set foot in our stake building once since moving to this area.  I can't remember why.  It's being remodeled currently, which causes some excitement in meeting locations.  What I don't get is that when we first moved here, one of the first meetings we attended was stake conference and it was at that same hotel, and I am pretty sure the building wasn't being remodeled at that time.

Anyway. 

In case this whole "stake" business is a bit confusing, here's a little info:  in the church we attend, the congregation you attend with depends on geographical boundaries.  That congregation is called a ward.  Many wards make up a stake.  So the stake meeting is a pretty big meeting with a lot of people attending. It happens twice a year in place of regular Sunday worship.  If you'd like to know what congregation you'd be in, click here.

There were a lot of talks, some very sweet musical numbers, and some very entertaining moments near the end when someone's dear little one pulled a fire alarm.

The speaker during the fire alarm's talk had the most impact on me. This one's one I need to use - daily.

So we'll keep this Sunday School session short by just getting to the point.

Overcome the spirit of contention with love.

The Facts of Life

You take the good, you take the bad,

you take them both and there you have

The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

There's a time you got to go and show

You're growin' now you know about

The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

When the world never seems

to be livin up to your dreams

And suddenly you're finding out

the Facts of Life are all about you, you.

It takes a lot to get 'em right

When you're learning the Facts of Life. (learning the Facts of Life)

Learning the Facts of Life (learning the Facts of Life)

Learning the Facts of Life.

Lyrics and credits found here. 

Thank you miss s for giving me the knowledge that sites like that exist.

Anyone out there besides me re-living the learning of the facts?

Math facts, that is.

We've got to know our facts, just makes life that much better.

12 X 12 = ?

We've been using a wonderful tool.  It's free.  Free is usually good.  This one's good.

Here's the link: Free Math Worksheets. They cover so many math procedures for young and old.

This is our routine for memorizing the facts:

I write out the facts on a 3x5 card.

I ask the child the facts (pretest) to see what they already know.

The child (who is able to read) then gets the card to use to do some self talk. This means tell him/herself the facts over and over. 

I also ask them to take a picture of each fact and stick it in their brain.

I ask the facts again-if they know them all, move on to the quiz sheet-if not, note the facts not known, write them at the top of a paper and have the child copy at least 10 times while saying the fact out loud. Ask him/her to take more pictures for their brain.

Now, go print out a fact sheet-there are even answer sheets on there-if help is needed.

Sometimes we just do the sheet.

Sometimes we do it "timed."

I just love saying, "ready begin."

And starting the timer.

Such power.

So this system has worked for us these past few weeks with one of my people.

It 's worked better for some kids than others.

I haven't always done it this way. 

All people learn differently, figure out what works for yours.

I think I am done with the disclaimers now.

12 X 12 = 144

Now quick, what's 12 X 9=?

(And, if you recognized the lyrics at the beginning of this post, how funny is that?  Were you a fan or Jo or Blair? --or George Clooney?)

108.

The Dog (part 1)

It's probably time that I introduce you to the dog.
Here's the dog:

.

She's pretty, don't you think?

She's a pretty big pain in the neck, is what I think.

Do you see how cut she is?  And she never goes to the gym.  Not fair.

Her hobbies include:  mrs. wrestling, bush destroying and chewing up toys.

Oh, and barking and attacking her pack mates (aka my children) and pooping.

(As you can probably infer, she is an outside dog.)

Breed: ?.

She came out of the woods last May.  Our neighbor rescued her.  She was 15 pounds, bone thin and covered with fleas and ticks. 

That afternoon our neighbor introduced the dog to the family. (He'd taken her to the vet.  She was cleaned up and so cute.)

Our hearts fell for her.  Well, almost all of our hearts.  Mine did-and a few of the children's. 

You see, a few weeks before we met, one of miss s's friend's cat had kittens.

Oh, kittens.

I love kittens. I love cats.

My mr, "No animals in the house."

No kittens.

So our hearts were tender and when we met that cute little puppy, who just oozed "will you be my friendness," we fell.

And then we learned that dogs have personalities.

Sunday School

picture from here

So, I have spent most of my adult church life with kids. I've had a few stints in adult classes, but "primarily," I've been working with the kids. The children's class I taught last year had the same message in almost every single lesson. It is a very important message.
I'm meeting with the grownups presently (have been for a few weeks) and guess what the message was in our meetings today?

The same one.

The wording was a little different, but it's the same message.

Maybe you've heard it, maybe you'll know it. Maybe you've heard it, but don't know it.  Maybe you've never heard it.
I want to share it with you.

We have a Heavenly Father (aka God), who loves us very much & wants us to return to him after this earth life.

If you'd like to know more about Heavenly Father & life after life, you're welcome to ask me a question. You could also click here.

Friday Night Up "Date" ;)

Miss h is out with a friend.
Miss s is at All State Choir,
We will go to her concert tomorrow at 2pm.
Little mr. b got beat in Wii boxing by a girl.
Little mr. j tried to beat up miss h because she said something about little mr. b losing to a girl.
Little mr. j can spell our last name (it's short) and knows the sounds & code (letters) to go with them for m, n, d, & t --kind of.
Little mr. b's friend is coming over tomorrow to play video games and help him move up some levels in Lego Indiana Jones.
Perhaps they will practice boxing.
When miss s has called to check in, she sounded oh so very happy.
Miss h is out with a friend -- on Friday. ;)
I think she is oh so very happy.

Oh, and I wrestled the dog.

Go to bed sleepyhead

 picture found here

I found the best way to get my sweet teenage girls to go bed earlier last night.
Their routine is to take their showers at night and then go to bed.
The boys also take their baths at night.
And I like to run the dishwasher when it's full-usually at night.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to figure this one out.

The girls don't like to run out of hot water.
Who does?
So I said, "The dishwasher will turn on at exactly X o'clock.  It uses a lot of hot water.  You might want to think about that."

We all got to bed so much earlier.

Scratch

When the floorman says that it is ok to put furniture down on freshly finished wood floor after 24 hours, do not believe him.

"You can't see in here, it's dark outside." ~little mr. b~The Blinds Lesson

picture found here

This just in:
Little mr. b doesn't shut the blinds when changing into his pjs.
He was sent outside by the other parent in this house, who then started undressing in front of said window.
Little mr. b ran inside.
Now he knows that it is wise to shut the blinds.
Goodnight.

Good thing my mr. dressed in layers today.

Footprints and Facebook

picture (and an article) from here

Once upon a time, there was a brand new wood floor with footprints.
Many times those prints were scrubbed and rubbed and polished.
They stayed and stayed.

Once upon a time, there was a woman who was getting frustrated.
She scrubbed and rubbed and polished.
They stayed and stayed.

Once upon a time, there was magnifying glass.
The woman, the magnifying glass, the prints, and sense of touch
all met up.

Once upon a time, there were footprints in the finish.
Builder's warranty.
Get out of the house.

And that gets us to the place where we are now. 
(I mean the "proverbial" place, because the literal place is now at home.)
Finally, I can get to the computer because certain people in my family have been a little too creative & hogging this machine during our little "vacation ."

Not that I mind, but oh what they are putting me through.
Two people in my family are pressuring me to join facebook (not to mention some of you outsiders!).

I am "the woman who won't join Facebook."

I have a lot of reasons why.

And-I am afraid that their antics might look like a ploy to get you over here to read this blog.  I promise that's not the case although it is wonderful to have you here & I hope you come back again.

And-I confess that it's a treat to hear about who's finding out about this. They are really tempting me to find and talk to old friends.

And- it is funny to listen to my mr. giggle like a little girl while he works his devious plan with miss s.

Lesson:  when doing a final walk through for a new home, bring a magnifying glass and be very, very picky.

Some of what I've learned this past week of Christmas

Christmas Day

1.  Counting blessings during a Christmas Eve blizzard is a great way to spend time.
2.  I do not know how to deal with a salt cured whole ham.  Tried. Efforts need improvement.
3.  Waking up on a bright, sunny Christmas morning & loving on the family is awesome. 
4.  A few days after the storm, the teens want OUT!
5.  When homebound, a lot of work can be done.
6.  Eventually, the roads will clear, but the drifts and ice in the driveway will take work.
7.  Visitors are a welcome distraction.
8.  A week like this deserves some celebrating--guess what we did?  Went ice skating. 

How's that for following the theme?