It’s been awhile since I felt the need to make some sort of “form” or checklist for my family…but today that need…or desire…arose!! This is what I came up with….

Thirteen words I like to say!

Papadakis
Mogadishu
Cantankerous
Norepinephrin
Onomatopoeia
Qatar
Jejunal
Laryngoscope
Patootie
Lederhosen
Sheesh
Hyperbole
Machu Pichu

See more TT participants over at the TT Hub

Here’s a “softie” that I’m working on for Jake. It’s his original design from one of his drawings. I need to add the features…but I need to find the drawing first!! Oops!!

Here’s the start of a 9-Patch quilt for Gus’ Gang. I just love working with the charm packs….I think this is a Moda charm pack.

In an attempt to entertain myself I have decided to do some Random Blogging…in a new way for me. I’m going to surf to every seventh blog and link to it…Here goes!

1. I’m not even going to link this one because I really don’t think it is an active blog since there is only one post and it is dated for Dec 25 2007…sigh. Let’s go again!

2. Not going to link this one either. It’s a blog set up for a Global Communications class…for the students to introduce themselves to each other. If you are in the class then I assume you already have the link! Onward!

3. Mala Goes USA Nice blog…you may need your favorite translator for this one. Be sure to scroll down to see the slide show. I couldn’t find a place to leave a comment sooooo….on we go!

4. I Will Not Eat The Darkness First, I was kind of freaked out…but then as I browsed through the posts I felt the need to “bookmark” and return later when I have time to really read this blog. Lots of information about Mental Disorders…very informative. Let’s march on…

5. American Taino Here’s the tagline…”American Taíno provides information, analysis and commentary from a U.S. Latino perspective.” Interesting blog…. Just two more stops….

6. 365 in 2007 Neat site! I really wanted to attempt this but I forgot!! I think I’ll add this gal to my sidebar because I want to go back and see her daily photos. One more stop…

7. Joe Larkins “Rantings and musings of a former tv newsman…” Be sure to scroll down and read the post about “cliches”…I enjoyed it!

And now my little random tour of Blogville has come to an end. Did I enjoy the journey? Well, yes…I did! I may have to take another little tour next Monday evening…..

Holly over at Keeper of the Home as tagged me…

1. ONE HOMESCHOOL BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED
I’m going to have to choose the one Holly chose…Homeschooling For Eternity by Skeet Savage.

2. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT
Donna Young Org.

3. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT
Konos….great curriculum but not for someone who wants to do the whole book!! A close second would be that book that everyone loves: Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

4. ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST (This) YEAR
Ambleside Online and The Home Educator’s Tutor oh…but that’s two..

5. ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR
Alpha Omega SOS (for Language Arts and maybe Bible)

6. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
I would love to have all the missionary books by YWAM

7. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED
hmmm…not sure about this one….

8. ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOG YOU ENJOY READING
Rainbow Resource

9. ONE WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY
Ambleside Online

10. TAG OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS

Bearingfruit, sforrester, and YOU! Just be sure to come back and let me know you haev posted your answers so I can come visit!!

Holly over at Keeper of the Home as tagged me…

1. ONE HOMESCHOOL BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED
I’m going to have to choose the one Holly chose…Homeschooling For Eternity by Skeet Savage.

2. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT
Donna Young Org.

3. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHT
Konos….great curriculum but not for someone who wants to do the whole book!! A close second would be that book that everyone loves: Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons.

4. ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST (This) YEAR
Ambleside Online and The Home Educator’s Tutor oh…but that’s two..

5. ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEAR
Alpha Omega SOS (for Language Arts and maybe Bible)

6. ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
I would love to have all the missionary books by YWAM

7. ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED
hmmm…not sure about this one….

8. ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOG YOU ENJOY READING
Rainbow Resource

9. ONE WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY
Ambleside Online

10. TAG OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS

Bearingfruit, sforrester, and YOU! Just be sure to come back and let me know you haev posted your answers so I can come visit!!

Here’s the Low-Fat Potato Soup I made last week. It was very tasty and made just enough for each of us to have one serving…this is a good thing because my original potato soup recipe ended up being enough for us to eat on for days. Now with some recipes that’s good but not with high-fat and high-carb potato soup!! So, this is a great alternative for us. I served the soup with a salad.

• Monday: Meatball Subs, Roasted Potatoes and Salad

• Tuesday: Pot Roast

• Wednesday: Clean Out the Fridge Night

• Thursday: Spaghetti Pie and Salad Thanks Heather!

• Friday: Birthday Dinner Out

• Saturday: Low-Fat Chicken Marsala Another MPM participant had this on her list but I can’t remember who she was…..if I could remember I would link her! If it was YOU…let me know so I can do just that!!

• Sunday: Snack Platter with Brownies

Check out all the other “plans” for the week over at Laura’s!!

Monday: Jambalaya and Salad
Tuesday: Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas
Wednesday: Clean Out the Fridge Night
Thursday: Potato Soup and Salad
Friday: Breakfast for Dinner: Egg-white Omelette with Turkey Bacon and Fruit
Saturday: BBQ Sandwiches with Baked Fries and Fat-Free Brownies
Sunday: Jake’s Choice

See other Menu Plans over at Laura’s!!

This past week was a good one!!

I hosted my first Rudolph Club at my house. The “real” Rudolph Club is an online e-mail loop that you can read about here. I took this idea and built on it a bit and decided to invite some friends over on the 25th for fellowship and crafting. I told the ladies to bring their own projects…whether it be something they are making for themselves or for a gift. I am going to be working on Christmas gifts during these meetings so, that at the end of the year, I will have presents ready to go! Three ladies attended and we will be meeting again next month on the 25th…or around that date!

Because I hosted the Rudolph Club, my house is fairly clean!!

I registered for the online Pharmacy Tech course at ETSU.

Pete and I have been attending a parenting video seminar at our pastor’s house on Wednesday nights. It is very interesting and makes a lot of sense. I have enjoyed the videos and the fellowship…

oh…this is a bad thing…I have a cutaneous papilloma on my waist and it is really bothering me…I guess things could be worse! Aren’t you glad that I shared that lovely info with you! lol!!

Visit Judi over at Mommy of Two to see more “Weekend Reflections“

Today we celebrate the life of our 5th child…Henry Larsen Doriot…fondly known as “Gus”. Gus was only here with us for a short time…16 months to be exact. Gus was awaiting a liver/ small bowel transplant but his body could just not hold out for a donor. Today would have been his second birthday. We are sad that we are not celebrating with him today but we rejoice that he is taking part in daily celebrations in Heaven!

Gus was profoundly and bilaterally deaf due to the extreme high doses of antibiotics he received early in his life. It was next to impossible to keep hearing aids in this kid’s ears! He would have gone on to get a cochlear implant if he had survived.

Gus loved to watch Signing Time videos. Here he is sitting in his bumbo practicing his “signs”…or maybe he’s just trying to pluck out his hearing aid!

The little “punk” signed “daddy” first…not “mommy”. I will be talking to him about this when I see him!!

He had many “girlfriends”. Here’s Courtney his Personal Trainer…
and Laura, his Synagis Shot Girl…Synagis is a med to help prevent RSV or to lessen it’s attack….too bad those gazillion dollar shots didn’t really help Gus. He contracted RSV in the hospital and that is what led to his major pulmonary bleeds. PLEASE, wash your hands! lol!!

And now, the beloved Nurse Janice from the 2nd Floor. The love was deep, folks!!

Gus often had to get blood transfusions….blood was fondly renamed “red soldiers”. Here is a picture of the soldiers marching…

When he wasn’t busy getting his “red soldiers” he would be out roaming the halls with his brothers and sister…in his “Gus Bus”!

When Gus was at home, his sister would take him around the house for a “tour”. He was so small that he was able to fit in her doll stroller with no problem.

He loved to fly. We flew to Pittsburgh several times to see his transplant team. We would often get bumped up to first class because Gus was such a flirt!! This is on one of the flights.

He even liked to “fly” in the pre-surgery area. In this picture, Gus is waiting to go in to surgery to have his central line replaced. Look at that cute little hospital gown…awwww…cute! We had so much fun with him!

At the beginning of March ‘06, Gus cut two teeth and we could not control the bleeding. We ended up moving back into the Ronald McDonald House so that he could await “the call” to fly to Pittsburgh for a transplant. This was before he was intubated.

Here I am with Gus right before he leaves us to go Home. We are on the edge of eternity in this picture! Gus died on May 31, 2006. He was among his entire family and his favorite nurses and Chaplain Sandy. A great peace filled the room as he left. I thank God that he allowed me to be Gus’ mommy. It was such an honor to take care of this precious child. I look forward to our reunion!!

Henry Larsen Doriot
“Gus”
January 18, 2005–May 31, 2006

Please consider organ donation. There are a lot of children who die on the waiting list because parents do not donate their child’s organs. Organ donation is something you should decide before you are in the situation where you need to decide quickly. It is not something that is easily talked about but let me reassure you that talking about it doesn’t kill you or your child!

We have decided to create two quilts to send to Blankets of Love in memory of Gus and Sam. Both of their birthdays are in January. This evening we started making the strips out of my scrap pile. We are going to be making “chinese coin” quilts and binding them in black. Here’s some of our strips….

Everything was going well until Pete decided that he needed to show the kids how he could throw a cheeto up in the air and then catch it in his mouth….because, you know, that’s very important when you are putting together a quilt! Jake snapped this picture just at the right time…see the little cheeto up near the ceiling?? I think we’ll be able to get these sent out by the end of the month if I can keep our house “cheeto-free” lol!!

I tried this recipe this evening and it was pretty good. Not “crab legs dipped in drawn butter” good but “better than rice cakes” good! I served a salad with the enchiladas. I’m not sure about the rest of my family but I am stuffed. We have a BIG problem with salad dressing…as in we use too much! I have started measuring out the dressing and tossing each salad individually and then taking it to the table. Tonight, I cut the dressing in half and no one complained!! In all honesty, I couldn’t really tell…in fact I think my salad tasted better than ever! lol!!

Low-Fat Chicken Enchiladas
Enjoy!

Thirteen Things That Make a Salad Yummy!

inspired by the crappy salad that I had with my Valentine dinner. I am quite the salad snob!!

1. Real lettuce like field greens…not iceberg…ack! Leaf lettuces are great too. Just make sure that you de-spine the leaves. Leaf-spine salad…yuck!!
2. Red onions…more than one ring and sliced very thin
3. Tomatoes…small grape tomatoes cut into halves not one slice of a roma
4. Cucumbers…where were my cukes? I like them sliced thinly…skin off or on…
5. Black olives…two whole ones are nice!
6. Hard-boiled eggs….cut in circles, chopped..heck, throw the whole egg in ’cause I love ‘em!
7. Real bacon…just a smidge
8. Blue cheese dressing…never, ever Ranch…ack!
9. Banana pepper…just one on the side
10. Sunflower seeds…just a few
11. Mushrooms…really all you have to do is serve me a big ol’ bowl of mushrooms and a side of dressing and I’ll forget about all the other stuff above!
12. Broccoli…very small florets
13. Avocado…not found on a lot of salads but a real treat when it is!

This past week was a good one!!

I hosted my first Rudolph Club at my house. The “real” Rudolph Club is an online e-mail loop that you can read about here. I took this idea and built on it a bit and decided to invite some friends over on the 25th for fellowship and crafting. I told the ladies to bring their own projects…whether it be something they are making for themselves or for a gift. I am going to be working on Christmas gifts during these meetings so, that at the end of the year, I will have presents ready to go! Three ladies attended and we will be meeting again next month on the 25th…or around that date!

Because I hosted the Rudolph Club, my house is fairly clean!!

I registered for the online Pharmacy Tech course at ETSU.

Pete and I have been attending a parenting video seminar at our pastor’s house on Wednesday nights. It is very interesting and makes a lot of sense. I have enjoyed the videos and the fellowship…

oh…this is a bad thing…I have a cutaneous papilloma on my waist and it is really bothering me…I guess things could be worse! Aren’t you glad that I shared that lovely info with you! lol!!

Visit Judi over at Mommy of Two to see more “Weekend Reflections“

School started late today so we had to skip our read aloud time. We focused on catching up on some things that we were falling behind in…like science and history. Pete fixed us a nice lunch of Chicken and Rice…wasn’t that nice?! That rhymed….

Nik:
Grammar: adverbs
Science: tools that astronomers use, astrolabe
History: different regions of the US
Math: ratios

Jake:
Grammar: adverbs and note-taking
Science: fertilization of flowering plants
History: The Constitution, Bill of Rights,George Washington and his cabinet… we tried a new way of taking notes today and I think it really helped Jake retain a lot of this info!
Math: review

Belle:
Grammar: letter Y and Z, wrote short sentences
History/Geo: Australia and Antarctica
Copywork: a line from the “Field Daisy”
Math: line addition and number words

Gee, when I write it all down, it doesn’t seem like much!! It sure did feel like a lot! lol!!

Yipee!! We started school on time this morning!! During breakfast we talked about I John 3:18…”Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions in truth.” Pete had to go take a entrance exam for nursing school in the afternoon…he passed and was allowed entrance! lol!!

QOTD: Life is an adventure in forgiveness. ~Norman Cousins
WOTD: flummery
TDIH: the euro debuts

Read alouds: Twelfth Night from this book, Saint Ursula Reading 3 from this book, and various poems from this book.

DS1:
Bible: Elisha
LA: self-test, copywork from the poem “Mischief “by Jane Taylor, 3 new words from SAT list, adverb review
Math: reviewed percentages to decimals to fractions, self test 2
History: self-test 1
Science: Isaac Newton, measuring the sky
Art: freewriting using a Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes
Music: listened to Handel

DS2:
Bible: telling the truth
LA: note-taking, cursive “Pp”, copy work from “To a Lady” by Anna Laetitia Barbauld, spelling w/s
Math: fractions review
History: Articles of Confederation, discussed report to be done
Science: flower dissections
Art: freewriting using Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes
Music: listened to Handel

DD1:
Bible: discussed how the earth is full of God’s glory
LA: line leader letters, matching big letters w/ little letters, copywork from “The Field Daisy“, listened to “The Tortoise and the Hare“, practiced writing “Ww”
Science: read One Bean by Anne Rockwell
History: read about Africa
Art: freewriting using a Hogarth painting, cool and warm landscapes
Music: listened to Handel

DD1 came to me today talking about our dog eating the “chanticleer” that is supposed to go into her new dollhouse. DS2 comes in and says “Did you see that chanticleer? It is so cool!”….What???!! There’s a rooster in the dollhouse? Nope…that would be a “chandelier” in the new dollhouse…and yes, the dog did chew it up! lol!!

I personally think this “chanticleer” is really neat! One day I’m going to have an all pink room!!

We had an abbreviated school day…slept in and then had company in the afternoon. At breakfast we had a mini-lesson about Zacchaeus. In the evening we meet up with our friend Crazy Tanya and her daughter…who is making this really cool scarf out of eyelash yarn….and had 1/2 price appetizers at Applebee’s.

QOTD: They can conquer who believe they can. ~ Virgil
WOTD: hootenanny
TDIH: 1521 Martin Luther Excommunicated
Read aloud time: Reading 2 of Saint Ursula from this book, All’s Well That Ends Well from this book, and several poems from this book.

DS!:
Bible: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa and Nadab
LA: reviewed abbreviations, adverbs, copywork from “Why the Bear is Stumpy-Tailed“, QOTD in cursive
Math: decimals to fractions
History: Early US
Reading: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum

DS2:
Bible: Living happily with others
LA: Unit Test, cursive “Oo”, copywork from “The Sheep and Pig Who Set Up Housekeeping“, spelling exercises and adverbs
History: American Revolution Test..unit test

DD1:
Bible: Who’s in Charge?
LA: reviewed vowels, copywork from “The Young Minnow Who Would Not Eat When He Should“, read aloud was The Lion and the Mouse
Science: Plants and their parts
History/Geo: Europe

To help DS2 prepare for his American Revolution test, we played our game we created called “Revolution”. It is basically a trivia game…there is no strategy involved…just have to know the answers! LOL!! We will be adding questions to the game as we work through our history lessons. I guess the name of the game will change as we progress…hmmm…hadn’t thought about that! lol!!

The “Common Sense” cards are the questions. You move around the board and gather things to give to Gen. George Washington. Each item is assigned a value. The winner is the person with the most valuable “pile”…we are still making some changes to the rules….overall though, we have fun play the game!

School started late today so we had to skip our read aloud time. We focused on catching up on some things that we were falling behind in…like science and history. Pete fixed us a nice lunch of Chicken and Rice…wasn’t that nice?! That rhymed….

Nik:
Grammar: adverbs
Science: tools that astronomers use, astrolabe
History: different regions of the US
Math: ratios

Jake:
Grammar: adverbs and note-taking
Science: fertilization of flowering plants
History: The Constitution, Bill of Rights,George Washington and his cabinet… we tried a new way of taking notes today and I think it really helped Jake retain a lot of this info!
Math: review

Belle:
Grammar: letter Y and Z, wrote short sentences
History/Geo: Australia and Antarctica
Copywork: a line from the “Field Daisy”
Math: line addition and number words

Gee, when I write it all down, it doesn’t seem like much!! It sure did feel like a lot! lol!!

Visit other WW over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Samuel Finn Doriot

January 9, 2004
19 weeks gestational age–cord accident

Butterfly

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment
it’s glory and beauty belong to our world.
But then it flies on again
And though we wish it could have stayed
We feel so lucky to have seen it.

Author Unknown

Samuel Finn Doriot

January 9, 2004
19 weeks gestational age–cord accident

Butterfly

A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment
it’s glory and beauty belong to our world.
But then it flies on again
And though we wish it could have stayed
We feel so lucky to have seen it.

Author Unknown

This day, six years ago, we were welcoming our sweet little girl into the world. Pete, my mother and I had left for the hospital early in the morning because it had started to snow…I was scheduled to be induced first thing that morning. Dr. Pelletier was the on-call doctor…he’s our favorite. By the time we got to the hospital there was about an inch of snow on the gorund. We all couldn’t wait to see her!!
I was in labor for about 5 hours. Labor was a breeze, really it was! I slept through most of it!! Of course it helped that I had quite a bit of Stadol on board! lol!! My mom stayed with me while Pete ran to the bank…we had to call him back though because I wanted my epidural and I wanted him there…to feel my pain! lol!!
Around noon, our sweet pea was born weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces. She came quickly with no complications. She was beautiful and small (my boys were whoppers!) and cuddly…I just thought she was wonderful!!

Now, she is six and she is is such a sweetie!!

She is very focused:
learning how to draw up meds

She is very helpful:
making laundry detergent

She is great at math:

She is a Daughter of the King:

She is a great nurse!:

You may not want to let her brush your hair!:

She is very dramatic:

She drinks out of the milk jug!:

She sticks by you through the thick and thin:

And these are just a few of the reasons why I think she is just GRAND!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA!!!!!!

This day, six years ago, we were welcoming our sweet little girl into the world. Pete, my mother and I had left for the hospital early in the morning because it had started to snow…I was scheduled to be induced first thing that morning. Dr. Pelletier was the on-call doctor…he’s our favorite. By the time we got to the hospital there was about an inch of snow on the gorund. We all couldn’t wait to see her!!
I was in labor for about 5 hours. Labor was a breeze, really it was! I slept through most of it!! Of course it helped that I had quite a bit of Stadol on board! lol!! My mom stayed with me while Pete ran to the bank…we had to call him back though because I wanted my epidural and I wanted him there…to feel my pain! lol!!
Around noon, our sweet pea was born weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces. She came quickly with no complications. She was beautiful and small (my boys were whoppers!) and cuddly…I just thought she was wonderful!!

Now, she is six and she is is such a sweetie!!

She is very focused:
learning how to draw up meds

She is very helpful:
making laundry detergent

She is great at math:

She is a Daughter of the King:

She is a great nurse!:

You may not want to let her brush your hair!:

She is very dramatic:

She drinks out of the milk jug!:

She sticks by you through the thick and thin:

And these are just a few of the reasons why I think she is just GRAND!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA!!!!!!

my good friend Sonya over at The Sugartree Adventures. I’m thrilled that she has decided to start blogging with us!! WooHoo!!

Here is a photo of the flowers that DS2 and I dissected this afternoon. I just love my scalpel…it came from one of Gus’ central line repair kits from the hospital!!