7 Quick Takes - 5

--- 1 ---

Ever heard of "Life of Fred"?? This is a math textbook series that a wonderful retired math teacher wrote to answer those questions of "Why are we learning this?" and "Why do we have to know this stuff?" He wrote a story about Fred and each piece of mathematics first happens in Fred's life and he has to learn to use it because he needs it. Then the reader is encouraged to try. I ordered the first four texts in the elementary series, Apples, Butterflies, Cats and Dogs and I also ordered "Fractions" and "Decimals and Percents" the first books that are used after the elementary series. I believe that Dr. Stanley Schmidt is writing another group of four math books for the elementary level and I plan to add the to our collection. AND Calculus, Trig - higher level maths to the end of the collection. We are excited to learn all about math through Fred's life!!

--- 2 ---

I liked this picture of the four treekids, so I thought I would share. It was taken back in August at Jellystone Park.

--- 3 ---

Back in 2006, we lived in Tennessee and Geemah and Grampa came for a visit. We were contemplating various fun things to go and do. There was a fireworks display going on by the river. We contemplated going. BUT, we had other things to do, too. SO, I told Geemah to not tell the kids what the possible plans were or there would be disappointment if we chose other things! So, that was teh day that she coined "OOooo Aaaaaah Adventure" for what we were going to do for fun. The kids eventually turned it into an "Ooooo Aaaaah 'Venture" and it has stuck. Any time we head out to do something fun, someone says we are going on an Ooooo Aaaaaah 'Venture! Well, imagine our surprise when we were headed one day to Science Museum of Oklahoma and at the stoplight saw this sign!!

We were definitely heading in the right direction!!

--- 4 ---

In San Antonio in early October, we got convinced by 4 kids that we should ride a night time carriage.

It was fun. We learned some interesting stuff about San Antonio on our travels around town.

--- 5 ---

I just liked this photo in Oklahoma.

If I recall correctly, it was taken in Perry, Oklahoma.

--- 6 ---

Someone in our house LOVES football!

I think he loves it more than Pops loves football!!

Even when stripping down for a bath... still has to have his beloved football! Yes, he even sleeps with this little yellow Subway football! Security blanket?? No thanks... football, please!

--- 7 ---

I am planning to write throughout November for NaNoWriMo. What's that, you ask?? It is National Novel Writing Month!! Apparently the idea is to write write write. It may not be a GREAT novel, but it will be a novel non-the-less. Here's my one hang up. Plot. I don't really have one. The guy who started NaNoWriMo wrote a book, "No Plot, No Problem!" I am really concerned about that and will be hunting for that book! I kind of have an idea... but need some additional ideas anyway! Would you drop an idea into the comments - I'll let you know if I use your idea, AND if when I make millions from the book deal, I will give you a cut for your idea. Thanks!! But, this is a notice that I will busily be writing for that ... and maybe NOT for this blog so much!!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Sleep Comes Easy

Feeling a LOT like this...

Things about half way done, but too tired to finish.

Wanted to Buy: Time, Energy, Youth for 30-something

Sleuthing

I sort of crack up when I load the pictures on a camera into iPhoto on my computer. Every once in a while I find a SURPRISE!!! Well, it was just my luck... it was surprise time!

Someone had been playing with money. This person may or may not have take the photos. There is only one of the treekids who would actually HAVE in her possession this many coins - and know where to find them! So, we'll take this as clue number one. Branch is the only one who would have this many coins, well, and be able to find them!

BUT, the photographer actually took many pictures of these stacks of coins. This behavior is not necessarily indicative of Branch's personality.

AH!!! Another CLUE! "The Lighthouse Mermaid" and Disney Princesses... only one person I can think of who would photograph those pretty ditties!

And I am RIGHT! Blossom... taking pictures and including herself - just to leave her true mark. There were MANY photographs... all worth a good chuckle. I can tell that she was also very close to the mirror, as well... she has to get right in there and touch it all up - even better if she recently used some lotion!! Wooo Hooo! So glad that she wanted to clean that off when I handed ehr the bottle of cleaner and a rag!! Always a treat to see what is on the camera...

Intentions

Before we left Oklahoma, I found some pictures that I snapped along our journey from Oklahoma to Kansas back in August. I thought it was fun, and I intended to share that with you once we got settled...

BUT - last night on our journey from Kansas into Nebraska we got the opportunity to see something quite amazing - and we would have all missed it if it weren't for our night sky loving Bud.

We were almost to the Nebraska border when Bud said, "Hey, mom! What are those lights over there? LOOK!" So, I looked and saw the light glow of a distant town. I tried to get him to buy in to my comment. It was a NO GO. "NO!!!" he complained. "LOOK! Up there!! I think it is the Aurora Borealis!!!! You know, the Northern Lights!"

You would not believe the excitement oozing form this kid! So, I got on the walkie talkie up to Pops and said, "Bud thinks he sees some lights." Pops responded "Yea, there's a car up ahead and he can probably see the headlights."

Oh, the groans from the back seat!! "Tell dad it is the Northern Lights!!" Okey dokey... "Pops, he says it is the Northern Lights." Pops responded, "Where?" Bud did some figuring and said, "Uh, at 2 o'clock!!!"

We all saw it... and Pops hit the breaks and pulled the truck and trailer to the side of the road and turned off his lights. We were in DARK DARK DARKland Kansas and up in the sky, all the treekids stood on the side of the road with Pops and watched our own free light show! (I stayed in the car and hit the hazards whenever a car/semi was approaching!) We have never seen anything like that at all! Pops had seem some green northern lights a long time ago... but this RED changing swirls in the sky as we were just about to hit the Nebraska border?? TOO COOL!!!

I only had a little point and shoot camera on me, so this photo probably would have been better if I had my nice dSLR - but, it is what it is and for us... a GREAT memory!!

GO BIG RED!

Comment Love

So, I am curious... I wonder what the general consensus is about leaving comments and responding to comments.

When I go blog-hopping, I log in and comment with my email address attached to my account where I can, or leave all the appropriate info where I can't just log in. I have often received emails back from the blog owner either responding to my comment or question or just thanking me for stopping by.

SO, when someone comments and they have a blog that I can find by clicking on their name, I often go visit the commenter and often thank them for stopping by... in a comment on one of their posts. If they have an email attached to their account/comment, I might send an email with a response. And some bloggers leave a response in their own comments for each commenter.

I wonder what to do!! I love having comments, but I don't know the best way to respond! What do you think??

7 Quick Takes - 4

--- 1 ---

On Sunday afternoon we will be leaving Stillwater, OK. We will be making a quick stop in eastern Kansas. At the end of August, we were at a Jellystone Park outside of Kansas City. The treekids all had so much fun playing and doing activities and hanging out with Yogi Bear. If some other possibilities don't pan out, we'll be considering visiting Yogi again, if they have room!!

Let's just say that Bump was a little LOT afraid of this character just like he is around any of these ginormous cartoon characters!! Who dreamt up putting people in big costumes for children? All of my kids have been terrified by them. Sheesh... and all in the name of FUN!!!

--- 2 ---

The tree kids saw this bug, a katydid, on the wheel of our trailer! They were so excited and wanted a picture to share this "leaf bug" with the world.

--- 3 ---

We are potty training. Did you notice in yesterday's photos of Bump? He really likes his "Buzz & Woo Underoos"! He is rockin' the potty end of things. Other numbers are better left... uh, not so much in the potty chair, still. He gets so excited about making a deposit and we get all excited and clap and give high fives. But, when he NEEDS to go he doesn't want to sit there for his other number. I have tried bribes - chocolate, and the irony is not lost on me, but it isn't working. Any ideas? I think that once he does it a couple times, he will see how easy that is... or that is my hope!! Oh, well... we're getting there - someday!

--- 4 ---

This past summer when we were in St. Louis, I thought it would be fun to try to hunt down the house that my family lived in when I was about Bud's age. So, after some googlemaps and mapquest help, I found my way to a neighborhood that looked SO different than I remembered it. When we lived there it was a new neighborhood with a dinky trees in front yards. AMAZING what about 25 years will do for a tree!!

So, "Hi, old house! You were a fun place to live where we had to hit our TV with a wooden spoon to turn it on; the wooden spoon rested on top of the TV as if it were a bowl of potpourri! You were a fun place to learn about a vacuum seal forming between pan and pan lid and the pork chops left between. Ah, and a place to see first hand what happens to a mother when she doesn't get her normal routine of caffeinated coffee (yikes, do not deprive a caffeine addicted mother... ever!).

--- 5 ---

The other thing learned at that old house: the meaning of "NO SOLICITORS." I was selling fruitcake for a school fundraiser. I was trolling the neighborhood for fruitcake purchasers. My very shy self knocked on EVERY door up and down our street and the street behind us. While I was waiting for someone to answer my knock, I saw the sign and sounded it out carefully so that I could ask my mom about the word when I got home. The lady of the house smiled at me and told me that she did not need a fruitcake this year. She was very kind, thankfully! I had to go find that house! It, too, grew itself a great big tree! (And the "No Solicitors" sign is still on the storm door!)

--- 6 ---

When we were in San Antonio earlier this month, we visited The Basilica of the National Shrine of The Little Flower. It was October 1st and they were having quite a celebration! We met two lovely ladies who took our picture and walked with us to the church hall while we waited for our taxi to pick us up. Right as we were about to leave a Mariachi band entered the hall and the kids were super excited and then, crushed to have to leave. Although, riding in a taxi was a BIG treat that they thought was so cool!

I couldn't get over how elaborate their alter was! All the details... beautiful.

--- 7 ---

When in San Anotnio, we Remembered the Alamo and went for a visit. We also visited the IMAX and watched a movie about The Battle at the Alamo. WOW! I recommend seeing that! That was very informative and the treekids liked the HUGE screen - up close and in the middle! Bump even watched the whole time (with a bag of popcorn to keep his hands a little busy) and loved seeing the horses on the screen.

That's all for me... for more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Kids in the Digital Age

I walked away from my perch with my "big" camera to take pictures of Blossom riding her bike on Monday. When I stepped away, someone picked up the little Flip Video Camera
that we have and when I turned to see, he smiled "cheese" at me!

As I walked closer, he did a little tap dance thing (that told me he was NOT ready to give up the little treasure, yet!) and smiled an impish grin...

I sat in a squat to be closer to his level for a picture and he showed me a bit of monkey see, monkey do!

I laughed a little watching our Bump... what a treat he is! He of course had no idea that he was so funny over this.

And went after me with his camera again! But, it strangely was not making any pictures on his screen. Hmmm soon enough he will find all the appropriate buttons to get it up and working.

But, for now, he'll just be my sweet little baby who is growing up WAY TOO QUICKLY!

Neigh he he he

We had a great time when my mom and dad were here! I was able to get a few videos and thought this was great fun. I would share a video of Geemah with the treekids, but she kept putting her hand in front of the camera. She was all "done up" and everything. Rats!! Maybe next time she will smile and kiss one of those grandbabies of hers instead!! :)

Finding her Balance

Being 6 really IS so much fun!! Blossom has been wanting to ride without training wheels for several months, now. She has tried and tried, but is very afraid of falling and getting hurt. She does NOT do blood on scraped up knees or elbows, so... fear was winning. Sunday afternoon, she said she really wished she could ride her bike and the training wheels just kept slipping and when you depend on them, if they slip you just go down! So, I took them off! I lowered the seat as low as it would go and told her to just get around by pushing her feet on the ground for a while. (Yes, I did try holding on to the back of the seat and running a bit, but she pedals so darn fast that I can't keep up! So, scoot she did!) The pedals were getting in the way, so I unscrewed them from the connection. So, she scooted around and loved it. Monday morning, with new resolve, she and Branch reattached the pedals. Blossom got on and could make her way and stay up right for about 2 or 3 go rounds of her feet. But, with some serious cheerleading, she realized that she really was riding, but putting her feet down when she got scared! So... she grit her teeth and away she went... serpentine style at first!

And then... the inevitable. A big spill.

I was worried a little about how she would react...

Her determination was so strong that she did the exactly best thing to do... If you fall off, get back on and try again!!

It was rough, all those starts and stops...

But, it wasn't long before she REALLY got it and kept going!!

Of course, once that happened... she was off and riding all over the RV park and having the greatest time. Achievement!!

And now she rides like the wind... and it has only been 18 hours since her feet went around without the training wheels!!!

The Garden in The Desert

The Oklahoma State University Botanical Garden is divided into many different gardens to wander through and explore. There is a Sensory Garden, a Fairy Forest, a zen/Asian Garden, a chicken coup moat (weird sounding... but that is what one of the volunteers called it... will have to go back to get more photos to explain!!), some other ones and this one... a desert.

As soon as we saw the wonderful plant life in this desert garden, I knew that I had to slow down and stretch myself and find the beauty in the succulents. My friend, Michelle, who I met in a playgroup when our now 10 year olds were barely 2, has a succulent grower/collector in her home. In fact, it is that little boy that I keep in my mind as a toddler (until that rouse was befuddled this past spring when we got together again and I saw his all grown up 10 year old boy self. But, I digress.) who is the master of succulents in their home - lots and lots of varieties. Not just one or two plants, mind you. They are lovingly cared for and arranged throughout the house.

So, when I see various cacti now, I have to stop and observe. I feel like I have to get a little closer and see it better, nearer the end of my nose. So, I did!! Here is what I saw in the garden in the desert. I hope that Michelle's li'l big guy likes what I found!!

Funny how this one has thorns that sort of look soft... but it IS deceiving!! (Trust me.)

This one has these spikey bits, but they are not so very sharp.

This looked like a GINORMOUS variety of the cactus leaves that you can purchase in the produce department at the grocery market.

It was fun to look just a little bit longer at something I might have otherwise glazed over. Tipping my hat to the succulent grower in Lincoln, NE!!

Wonderful... Magical... Fun in a Botanical Garden!

We visited this botanical garden, supported by Oklahoma State University with Geemah and Grampa this past week. We also visited this garden back when it was hotter than hades down here. There is a section of the garden that the treekids call the Fairy Forest. It is a cute little area and I took lots of photos back when it was hot... this time around, not so many.

Here is a little walk through the area.

Beautiful, don't you think??? WAIT! What's that ... over there, across the sea lawn?

A fun little quiet space to play and explore. I'll bet we go back a time or two... or three!