Wordless Wednesday

Cabin Fever...already!

Yes, we have a dog. He is a good dog. He prefers to be outdoors, so this is close to torture for him. Being indoors, being bugged by toddlers, and being gated in the kitchen is not is his idea of fun. But, the sleet, snow, and hail are not good for him....So, for now, he will be indoors.

This is Mimi's current favorite toy. She seems to have a rotation of toys. Sometimes it is a baby while other times it is the chimp Diego, but for now it is Oinkers the Pig.

Mr. Oinkers getting royal treatment.

Moe tried to feed Oinkers some of his pop tart.

Have a great Tuesday! And if you have warm weather...don't rub it in tooo much! :)
~Karen

UPDATE:
Sharon, I have no shame...In answer to your question, which was clearly asked to embarrass me......the dog's name is
Rudy Toot Tootie Bob-a-Looty-Tootie Fruity!
Thanks for asking! :)

Art, Sleep, & Rules

This is Mimi's portrait of Barack Obama after she watched the inauguration. If you are wondering what that thing to the left of him is...well, it is a rock with a snail on it, of course!
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Moe sleeping...He told me he wasn't tired!
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House rules! Hope we can live by them! This was fun to make!

~Karen

Thanks!

American painter Jackson Pollack...or....

2 1/2 yr old toddler Moe????

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Look what Derek and Melissa made us!!!!!

Beautiful name puzzles!

AND....

A VERY fun felt board..where snowmen and elephants can unite!

Thank you very much! The kids love it all! :)

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On our fridge! Thank you President Obama for inspriring people to bring about change for the better.

Hope everyone has a great week!
~Karen

A Hero

I signed up to receive a monthly quote from Fred Rogers through Family Communications. Most of you know him as "Mister Rogers." Even on our worst days here, he manages to make me think about things differently...and that is a good thing.

"It's worth the struggle to discover who you really are and how you, in your own way, can put life together as something that means a lot to you. It's a miracle when you finally discover whom you're best equipped to serve -- and we're all equipped to serve in some way. " ~Fred Rogers

Recovering

We are getting better. I love how he hooks his finger around his nose while sucking his thumb. So sweet!

Such a sweet picture

When I see this picture I think of Monty Python and "bring out your dead" & "I'm not dead yet..I'm getting better." :)
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And good food can only help us heal!

Curried butternut squash.....Peel with a peeler, slice into 2' slices, then dice into chunks....Add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to your wok. Then throw in the squash and any other vegetables you can find! I like to add LOTS of curry powder....but, you can add any other kind of sauce or spices. Cook on medium heat. I like to see the squash turn a little brown and get softer. Then eat! YUMMERS!!!! :)

~Karen

Sickness: GO AWAY!

Pictures make me happy. They always have. I love the black and white feature on my camera. It is fun to play with.

Yesterday, Kevin said he needed a "flat bastard" for a project he was working on. I said "what is that?" There is actually a tool called a "flat bastard!" It even has it engraved on the backside. It made me laugh so hard!

Finally we are getting back into a routine. Kevin was off 5 days last week, and it was awesome. It was hard to see him go back to work Monday.

Now we all have a cold and are suffering together. I haven't done much in the way of crafting because of sickness....Hopefully it will be gone soon. I feel non-productive when I'm not working on something. I have ideas..just noooo energy!
Have a great weekend! ~Karen

Conversations with Mimi

Mimi: Mommy, how old will you be when I am 34?
Me: 64
Mimi: Wow. Dat's old. You will probably be dead.
Me: I hope not.
Mimi: How old will you be when I am 64?
Me: I will be 94 years old.
Mimi: Wow. Dat's weally old. You will definitely be dead by den(then).

Ugh. I hope she is wrong and I am around to see grandkids and great grandkids!

~Karen

Year in Review

Best things about 2008

• last year of the Bush reign of error & terror
• Obama was elected
• we ate lots of curried butternut squash
• learned to crochet
• found sortfloor.com...much to my husband's disgust....since we have NO room for more books
• learned to sew on my sewing machine...well, i am better than i was in '07
• learned the daily show is free to watch online here...same goes for Stephen Colbert
• made many new friends online and in the real world...
• had many fun play dates with a great group of mommas who totally shock and awe me with their friendship and parenting skills!
  
• gained confidence in my ability to homeschool

Worst Things

• our plum tree produced two plums....yep, two plums. and they weren't any good.
• the bobbin on my sewing machine is still a mystery to me...a mystery that can drive me to cuss like a sailor!
• the economy
• 401k and 529 reports so bad that we no longer open to see the loss
• it is official. i am old. another birthday passed, and i am 34.
• i started cutting my own hair...trust me...it isn't a good thing. now it is so bad i am embarrassed to go to a professional.

also, for the locals reading this...the north side orchard has a deer crossing sign that someone keeps vandalizing. some funny person keeps drawing a penis on the deer. and then after a day or so someone paints over the penis with orange paint....i was going to take a picture...but i wasn't fast enough. i will try to get one. it is worthy a post. trust me. very funny...

that's enough for now...i am tired. our neighborhood was in a celebratory mood last night. if i ever find who had the duck horn.......that thing was loud.