Busy, busy, busy...I don't think I will be able to catch up on all the things we have been doing. I will just have to add photos as I can.
I think this blog entry may appear as a group of random thoughts to elaborate on more later.
Do you ever just leave your kids in the yard to play all by themselves? Do you secretly watch from the window? I was cleaning the house while the boys were playing in the yard. There are four windows along that side of the house all looking into the yard from a different room so I could watch them from whatever room I was in. I left the windows open so I could hear them. The boys didn't communicate verbally @ all. They were laughing and giggling together and they followed each other and played together and they even disagreed-all in silence. We have a couple of the big battery operated plastic jeeps for the girls (2 small ones for the boys too but they prefer the larger ones.) There are all kind of movable parts on the jeeps, phones, windshields, the bar across the back with the non working lights attached. The windshield was up. Apparently, as they were driving, Luke felt it needed to be down, so he leaned forward and pushed it down. This displeased Ezra, he reached up and put the windshield back in place. Luke placed the windshield down, Ezra returned it to its upright position, Luke put it down again. This went on and on. The boys left it alone for a bit and then one of the boys moved the windshield and the silent disagreement continued. After this Luke and Ezra decided they didn't want to play together any more and they put the length of the yard between them. I went to put clothes in the dryer. When I peered out the window again in a few minutes both boys were playing in some water they discovered in a pail. I spoke to them through the slightly open blinds in my best motherly voice, "please stop playing in that water and go play with your jeeps." Luke looked right @ the window I was standing @ and then turned and walked away from the water. Ezra also looked directly @ the window I was standing @, he didn't see me and he continued to play in the water. I asked him about 3 times to play with something else. Ezra knew I was @ the window but I feel like he thought I didn't really see him. I walked to the front of the house, peered through blinds in another room, Ezra's playing in the water. I went outside, once he sees me he leaves the pail of water.
I am aware this does not make for riveting blog reading but these are memories for me. It was a bit of study for me about twins and communication. It was also a bit of psychology for me, observing the children's behavior when they believe they are alone. I am trying to find more peace in everyday life. Our family has chosen to participate in a learning co-op in the coming months. There is a great deal of work in trying to contribute to a leaning co-op. I am trying to let Mady make choices for herself. I am trying to help provide opportunities for Mady to participate in learning activities she feels she is interested in. I am also trying to give myself an education I would not have appreciated as a child but feel I am interested in now, as a, dare I name it? Adult!
One of the things that has caught my interest lately is a book titled "The Fourth Turning" authored by William Strauss and Neil Howe. I have not read it yet but I have read about it and read about the meaning of the fourth turning. This little search led me back to more classics.
Is anyone else captivated by the way history repeats itself? Do other people sit around and wonder when our next crisis will happen? What will the crisis be? Will our country, population, society, triumph or will we fall like the Roman Empire? Do other people ponder the fact that we are all connected? Every person all over the globe is connected, not just to each other now, but to past and future generations? Yes, other people do ponder these things. Other people have had these same thoughts before me and still others will have them after me. Now to expose my children to past events which have shaped our lives and continue to document how the things we, as a family, are doing now to effect future generations.
Did you ever see a picture of a relative framed in you grandparents house and wonder, who is that? Obviously it is someone important and close to your grandparents, but you don't know who. Now, I am beginning to think it doesn't matter so much if you know who that nameless relative in the photo is as long as one can appreciate the fact that whatever this relative did here on earth, they are a part of who you are, genetically as well as, psychologically, socially and so on.
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Phthalate free home made lotion
In light of all the recent updated studies on phthalates in, oh EVERYTHING here is a homemade recipe for skin lotion that is very cheap and easy to whip up.
To begin, for a lotion base all you need is water, oil and an emulsifier. An emulsifier is simply an ingredient that blends the water and oil together. Here is the base that I begin with to make my lotion:
* ½ cup distilled water* ½ cup oil (I usually use olive, almond, macadamia nut, or grape seed)* 1 TBS liquid lecithin
You can experiment from here by adding essential oils, combining other oils; you can steep beneficial herbs into your water before you add your oil, etc. . .
For more visit here.
To begin, for a lotion base all you need is water, oil and an emulsifier. An emulsifier is simply an ingredient that blends the water and oil together. Here is the base that I begin with to make my lotion:
* ½ cup distilled water* ½ cup oil (I usually use olive, almond, macadamia nut, or grape seed)* 1 TBS liquid lecithin
You can experiment from here by adding essential oils, combining other oils; you can steep beneficial herbs into your water before you add your oil, etc. . .
For more visit here.
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Story of Stuff
I know some people who laugh every time I mention that I clean my house with vinegar, baking soda, OxyClean, and water. We have been trying to live a cleaner, more natural lifestyle for a bit, it was easy for me to find these natural solutions to cleaning without chemicals on the web.
OxyBoost/OxyClean
Today after we returned home from our group trip to a small ballet production of "The Grump" based roughly on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, I began reading again. Tonight I was reading some of our group posts and found The Story of Stuff. I wanted to share it in case some of you haven't seen it or read any of the information anywhere else. I know I am really preaching to the choir here since I am sure anyone reading this blog is into some kind of natural living. People amaze me. Every time I try to enlighten someone with a suggestion about simple cheap ways to go green, I get shut down. I would think that if for no other reason than saving money people would want to @ least try to use something besides chemicals to clean their homes.
The Story of Stuff
Chemicals in your Home
OxyBoost/OxyClean
Today after we returned home from our group trip to a small ballet production of "The Grump" based roughly on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, I began reading again. Tonight I was reading some of our group posts and found The Story of Stuff. I wanted to share it in case some of you haven't seen it or read any of the information anywhere else. I know I am really preaching to the choir here since I am sure anyone reading this blog is into some kind of natural living. People amaze me. Every time I try to enlighten someone with a suggestion about simple cheap ways to go green, I get shut down. I would think that if for no other reason than saving money people would want to @ least try to use something besides chemicals to clean their homes.
The Story of Stuff
Chemicals in your Home
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A Sabbatical
What is a sabbatical? A year of rest.
My mom and I were speaking about what I am actually doing with the kids...as far as school is concerned. I was trying to convey to her I believe once you take a person (a child for instance) from a familiar environment (school for example), they need time to adjust, time to remember who they are, time to enjoy participating in activities instead of just rushing to and from activities because that is what you are "suppose" to do. I have been home for about a year now. I feel I am only beginning to feel like myself. There are many things I want to do, I just don't have the time! I am not certain how long it will take Mady to feel like she doesn't want to go back to the daily sit @ your desk and do busy work schedule. I am trying to have her involved with as many children her age or close to her age as possible. She thrives on being sociable. She feels like she doesn't have any friends. I don't see how, she is constantly on the go. I think she is somehow feeling pressure from my parents. My mom is forever asking her what she is learning. I believe children are naturally curious. I also believe public schools stifle curiosity. Some people that have not researched the public school system may believe me to sound like a loon or someone with a conspiracy theory for everything. While it is true, I despise the mainstream, I do not despise it because it is mainstream. I despise it for the kind of people we have allowed it to turn us into. No matter how much I talk with my family about how Wal Mart has run all the caring Mom & Pop shops out of business and how all they care about is the bottom line, all my family can see is Wal Mart has the cheapest prices. I say, @ what cost? Does anyone read labels? Maybe purchasing from the local Farmers Market costs a few cents more, but @ least one can speak with the farmers right there and find out what is on the veg one is purchasing. One also knows that since it is a local Farm Market, the veg is local and it didn't travel across the world and use who knows how much fuel and then pass through who knows how many hands or what kind of poison or disease it is riddled with. When you purchase something locally you become familiar with the farmers and if you do have a problem @ least one may go back to the source for help and answers.
My dad may not agree with everything I say about the public school system or Wal Mart but he agrees with me about moving out to no-whereville and growing or raising and hunting food yourself. This would eliminate reliance on the national corpocracy.
What does all this have to do with a sabbatical you ask? These are only a few things I have read about in my year of personal study. I am on the verge of discovering a career that will allow me to maintain the home life we are growing to love as well as earn some money to help support our beautiful family.
One year can change a person. I wonder where I will be in ONE more year?
My mom and I were speaking about what I am actually doing with the kids...as far as school is concerned. I was trying to convey to her I believe once you take a person (a child for instance) from a familiar environment (school for example), they need time to adjust, time to remember who they are, time to enjoy participating in activities instead of just rushing to and from activities because that is what you are "suppose" to do. I have been home for about a year now. I feel I am only beginning to feel like myself. There are many things I want to do, I just don't have the time! I am not certain how long it will take Mady to feel like she doesn't want to go back to the daily sit @ your desk and do busy work schedule. I am trying to have her involved with as many children her age or close to her age as possible. She thrives on being sociable. She feels like she doesn't have any friends. I don't see how, she is constantly on the go. I think she is somehow feeling pressure from my parents. My mom is forever asking her what she is learning. I believe children are naturally curious. I also believe public schools stifle curiosity. Some people that have not researched the public school system may believe me to sound like a loon or someone with a conspiracy theory for everything. While it is true, I despise the mainstream, I do not despise it because it is mainstream. I despise it for the kind of people we have allowed it to turn us into. No matter how much I talk with my family about how Wal Mart has run all the caring Mom & Pop shops out of business and how all they care about is the bottom line, all my family can see is Wal Mart has the cheapest prices. I say, @ what cost? Does anyone read labels? Maybe purchasing from the local Farmers Market costs a few cents more, but @ least one can speak with the farmers right there and find out what is on the veg one is purchasing. One also knows that since it is a local Farm Market, the veg is local and it didn't travel across the world and use who knows how much fuel and then pass through who knows how many hands or what kind of poison or disease it is riddled with. When you purchase something locally you become familiar with the farmers and if you do have a problem @ least one may go back to the source for help and answers.
My dad may not agree with everything I say about the public school system or Wal Mart but he agrees with me about moving out to no-whereville and growing or raising and hunting food yourself. This would eliminate reliance on the national corpocracy.
What does all this have to do with a sabbatical you ask? These are only a few things I have read about in my year of personal study. I am on the verge of discovering a career that will allow me to maintain the home life we are growing to love as well as earn some money to help support our beautiful family.
One year can change a person. I wonder where I will be in ONE more year?
A little on child development
"Observe your grandson's spontaneous play. This will give you the best clues to the developmental tasks that are important for him to learn next. Children tend to be most excited about skills they are on the brink of mastering. If you try to engage him in an activity that is beneath his developmental level, he will quickly get bored. If you try to interest him in something that he is not yet ready for, he will become upset. (Note: babies don't tend to cry when they fail, but rather when the activity isn't at the right developmental level). Our task is to find that zone of moderate challenge -- where learning is fun. Provide situations where he can teach himself through playful exploration. Forced teaching hinders development. These principles apply equally to "gifted," "average," and "special-needs" children."
Entire Article by Dr. Greene
Dr Greene
On his quest to educate and inspire parents about their children, Dr. Alan Greene has become one of the world's most trusted and beloved pediatricians. His acclaimed book, From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004), is an inspiring resource for parents around the world. It's no wonder that Intel named him the Children's Health Hero of the Internet. A practicing pediatrician and father of four, Dr. Greene has devoted himself to freely giving real answers to parents' real questions -- from questions about those all too common childhood conditions to those that address the most rare childhood illnesses. His answers combine cutting edge science, practical wisdom, warm empathy, and a deep respect for parents, children, and the environment. He is also an electrifying public speaker, and has become a go-to expert in children's health. He has personally touched many during his talks in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Dr. Greene is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California at San Francisco. Upon completion of his pediatric residency program at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Northern California he served as Chief Resident. He entered primary care pediatrics in January 1993. In 1995, he launched DrGreene.com, cited by the AMA as the first physician Web site on the Internet. His award-winning site receives over 50 million hits a month from parents, concerned family members, students, and healthcare professionals. In addition to being the founder of DrGreene.com, he is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., a leading publisher of interactive health information. He also teaches medical students and pediatric residents at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and is an Attending Physician at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. He is the President of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and helped URAC develop its standards for eHealth accreditation. He serves on the board of directors of The Organic Center.
Dr. Greene is the Pediatric Expert for Yahoo!, Rob Reiner’s ParentsAction.org, and NPR’s The People’s Pharmacy. He is the author of From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004), The Parent's Complete Guide to Ear Infections (People's Medical Society, 1997), and a co-author of The A.D.A.M. Illustrated Family Health Guide (A.D.A.M., Inc., 2004). He is the medical expert for three additional books, The Parent's Soup A-to-Z Guide to Your New Baby, (Contemporary Books, 1998) The Parent's Soup A-to-Z Guide to Your Toddler, (Contemporary Books, 1999), The Mother of All Baby Books, (Hungry Minds, Inc., 2002).
Dr. Greene is a frequent keynote speaker at important events such as the first Green Power Baby Shower, held in Hollywood, the first European Internet health conference, held in Maastricht, and the first International eHealth Association Conference, held in Jeddah. Dr. Greene also appears frequently on TV, radio, websites, and in newspapers and magazines around the world, including such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Parenting, Parent, Child, Baby Talk, Working Mother, Better Home's & Gardens, and Reader's Digest.
Dr. Greene was named a "Community Hero" for his heroism during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and selected to carry the Olympic Torch in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Torch Relay.
He loves to think about challenging ideas, he collects encyclopedias, and he wears green socks.
Entire Article by Dr. Greene
Dr Greene
On his quest to educate and inspire parents about their children, Dr. Alan Greene has become one of the world's most trusted and beloved pediatricians. His acclaimed book, From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004), is an inspiring resource for parents around the world. It's no wonder that Intel named him the Children's Health Hero of the Internet. A practicing pediatrician and father of four, Dr. Greene has devoted himself to freely giving real answers to parents' real questions -- from questions about those all too common childhood conditions to those that address the most rare childhood illnesses. His answers combine cutting edge science, practical wisdom, warm empathy, and a deep respect for parents, children, and the environment. He is also an electrifying public speaker, and has become a go-to expert in children's health. He has personally touched many during his talks in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Dr. Greene is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California at San Francisco. Upon completion of his pediatric residency program at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Northern California he served as Chief Resident. He entered primary care pediatrics in January 1993. In 1995, he launched DrGreene.com, cited by the AMA as the first physician Web site on the Internet. His award-winning site receives over 50 million hits a month from parents, concerned family members, students, and healthcare professionals. In addition to being the founder of DrGreene.com, he is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., a leading publisher of interactive health information. He also teaches medical students and pediatric residents at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and is an Attending Physician at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. He is the President of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and helped URAC develop its standards for eHealth accreditation. He serves on the board of directors of The Organic Center.
Dr. Greene is the Pediatric Expert for Yahoo!, Rob Reiner’s ParentsAction.org, and NPR’s The People’s Pharmacy. He is the author of From First Kicks to First Steps (McGraw-Hill, 2004), The Parent's Complete Guide to Ear Infections (People's Medical Society, 1997), and a co-author of The A.D.A.M. Illustrated Family Health Guide (A.D.A.M., Inc., 2004). He is the medical expert for three additional books, The Parent's Soup A-to-Z Guide to Your New Baby, (Contemporary Books, 1998) The Parent's Soup A-to-Z Guide to Your Toddler, (Contemporary Books, 1999), The Mother of All Baby Books, (Hungry Minds, Inc., 2002).
Dr. Greene is a frequent keynote speaker at important events such as the first Green Power Baby Shower, held in Hollywood, the first European Internet health conference, held in Maastricht, and the first International eHealth Association Conference, held in Jeddah. Dr. Greene also appears frequently on TV, radio, websites, and in newspapers and magazines around the world, including such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Parenting, Parent, Child, Baby Talk, Working Mother, Better Home's & Gardens, and Reader's Digest.
Dr. Greene was named a "Community Hero" for his heroism during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and selected to carry the Olympic Torch in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Torch Relay.
He loves to think about challenging ideas, he collects encyclopedias, and he wears green socks.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Fabulous 50's Band
Today I took Mady and the boys to ride horses with a friend while Niki played @ Nenaw's house. Everyone had a good time. The boys were able to explore a new place while Mady rode the horse, and everyone knows it is always fun @ Nenaw's! Mady and her friend had so much fun they decided they didn't want it to end & have moved the party to our house tonight.
Tonight was also 3rd Friday so we went to watch the Fabulous 50's Band play @ the 21st Century Club here in town. The girls like to dance while the band plays. This was a special event though since it was a benefit to help a fellow musician with some unforeseen life changing events. The building was packed front to back and the band put on a performance worthy of a small town newspaper review! They collected a good deal of money for the family and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Tomorrow the we will be preparing my moms lasagna recipe for her birthday dinner on Sunday while the girls go to the circus with Pam. To top off the day all the girls in the family are going to meet our Aunt Heidi for the first time! Then Mady has requested that I drop her off @ her friends house after all that! Isn't life sweet? I know, the last few posts I have been sniveling about problems posting pictures to the web, man if that is all I have to worry about, life is grand!
I suppose it is high time I posted some of the research I have read about unschooling so anyone reading this blog doesn't think I am completely off my rocker! I will gather up some while I wait for one of the boys to tire of watching me type and post it tomorrow...if I find the time! I feel so fortunate to have such a close family who are interested in celebrating life together.
I also need to post some of Mady's art work. I want to gather up several pieces and show her progress. I always thought art was a natural talent, but apparently if you like to draw enough and are willing to learn technique, anyone can draw and move on to create their own pieces. She is truly loving her art class. I hope she will continue to follow her passions all her life. On to the research!
Tonight was also 3rd Friday so we went to watch the Fabulous 50's Band play @ the 21st Century Club here in town. The girls like to dance while the band plays. This was a special event though since it was a benefit to help a fellow musician with some unforeseen life changing events. The building was packed front to back and the band put on a performance worthy of a small town newspaper review! They collected a good deal of money for the family and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Tomorrow the we will be preparing my moms lasagna recipe for her birthday dinner on Sunday while the girls go to the circus with Pam. To top off the day all the girls in the family are going to meet our Aunt Heidi for the first time! Then Mady has requested that I drop her off @ her friends house after all that! Isn't life sweet? I know, the last few posts I have been sniveling about problems posting pictures to the web, man if that is all I have to worry about, life is grand!
I suppose it is high time I posted some of the research I have read about unschooling so anyone reading this blog doesn't think I am completely off my rocker! I will gather up some while I wait for one of the boys to tire of watching me type and post it tomorrow...if I find the time! I feel so fortunate to have such a close family who are interested in celebrating life together.
I also need to post some of Mady's art work. I want to gather up several pieces and show her progress. I always thought art was a natural talent, but apparently if you like to draw enough and are willing to learn technique, anyone can draw and move on to create their own pieces. She is truly loving her art class. I hope she will continue to follow her passions all her life. On to the research!
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