Back to history

I read some of Caitlyn's American Girl books. They were the ones on the Depression girl. I found it very interesting, so I picked up an adult book on the Depression. I'm learning quite a bit. It got me back into reading which is good. I realized that my grandfather was 5 years old when the stock market crashed. I wonder if he remembers anything. My grandma (on my dad's side) was 10 years old. I've got to talk to her.

I'm trying to get back into cooking and cleaning. I made a menu for the week and spent an hour cooking and chopping today. I wish cooking was simpler...I washed all the dishes too and cleaned the living room. I've got to get to everything else.

The kids begged their father to play Nintendo because they wanted to watch. Karen fell asleep on the couch. I think the rest of the kids will be sleeping downstairs too.

We had snow last night. The cat's bowls were iced this morning, so I set out yet another for food. It all melted already. Aaron reported unsafe driving conditions this morning. I'm glad I wasn't in the car with him. It sounded scary.

Eric is having trouble with allergies again. Zyrtec did nothing, so tonight I gave him Allegra. It worked last year. I am hoping it will work again. He's pretty miserable.

Three across

Mom is visiting. We went to meet her internet friend today. Mom had to drive her rental, so I thought we could save money by putting two kids in her car and three in Aaron's. I measured and did it. I think it is really cool. I love the radian!!! Before I put the seats back tonight I played around with them in the van.

1994 Ford Tempo



Side view of the car seats. Turboboosters (16 inches) on the outsides and the radian (13 inches at base) in the middle.


The inside view.




The seats we keep in the car as the spare boosters. Emily's old turbobooster and her old Graco Treasured Cargo. (That seat is just aweful in harnessed mode since the adjusters are in back. You have to uninstall the seat to adjust the harness.)



1997 Ford Aerostar, extended version.



Cosco high back booster (17.3 inches), rear-facing Evenflo Tribute (16.5 inches) and the radian.



Tribute forward facing.



The Cosco seat is a bit wide for us. It ended up in the middle row due to more space. I changed things around for every day. This is what I ended up with.

Went to the zoo

It was homeschool day at the zoo today, so we went. It was fun.

Karen's favorite animals were the giraffes. She has a stuffed giraffe and took it to bed with her tonight.

Eric most enjoyed the penguins and the train.

Caitlyn liked the zebras and penguins.

Emily liked the penguins.

I enjoyed showing the art to Emily. (The rest were bored.)

I was exhausted because I couldn't take a nap on the way home. After dinner I put on "The King and I" for everyone to watch. The kids have never seen it before. They've learned a lot today.

Child Restraint vs. None Comparison Photos

Here's the three age 5 and older getting into the car.

Dd age 8 years, 2 months, 49 inches tall, 16 inch torso, weighing 45 pounds.


Dd age 6 years, 7 months, 48 inches tall, 16 inch torso, weighing 47 pounds.


Ds age 5 years, 7 days, 43 inches tall, 15 inch torso, weighing 42 pounds.


Notice how the belt cuts into all three of their chins/faces? The younger two can't even sit all the way back and bend their knees. Under old Utah law all three of these kids could ride with just the adult belt. I know I do not be compelled by the law, but I know several people with kids skinnier and shorter than mine that will obey the bare minimum of the law. We shouldn't need it, but in order to keep people from serious injury and even death we need such laws.

Pulled in all directions

So Aaron is telecommuting. It is weird. He shuts himself in the office for four hour blocks and take away my computer accessability. I don't usually need the computer in those times, but sometimes I'm awaiting an email to tell me where to pick up some good free stuff.

I went to the relief society Enrichment night. It was announced that the world has 10 weeks left of wheat. The time of my procrastination now has to be over. I'm going over to Macey's tomorrow and see if I can buy 1,000 pounds of wheat. I wonder how much that would cost. I hope I can get a bag boy to help me. Or something. Dh wasn't worried when I came home with the announcement.

We made baby blankets. I made one and brought another home. I don't know when I'm going to find the time.

I split the recorder class into two. I did two classes today. The "practicing" class was pretty good. They are doing well. Caitlyn, the youngest kid is the top student. She plays better than any of the other students. She has a good sense of beat. Emily is starting to fall behind. I need to practice separately with her. The "non-practicing" class was a joke. Those kids missed a week and haven't practiced in two weeks. The 11 year old just needs practice, but has the maturity to excel if she worked a little at it. The 8 year old still hasn't the faintest idea what music is about. The 5 year old is just taking up space. I don't think she's learned a thing.

I talked with another homeschooling mom at enrichment night. She had some good ideas from a seminar. I now have more homeschooling stuff to work out, figure out what to do. I want to start P.E. I'm starting to worry about the kids' shapes. The are in front of the tv 80% less than the average kid, but they still don't get much exercise and neither do I. I don't know what to do. I can't afford sports and neither would it be fair to stick Emily on a team. (She'd be the girl watching butterflies during the game.)

We made 24 hour kits yesterday. Now I've got to move on to the 5 day kits. I don't know where to buy the supplies for the cheapest price.

I also should do family history work. I need to finish my baby quilt. I need to study Greek. I need to go pick up the Girl Scout cookies. Oh, I am a bit upset about that. Girl Scouts of Utah hired someone to be over the cookie pathways program. (The girls just sell cookies.) This lady decided to have all the cookies delivered to the Salt Lake office even though she could have attached our order to a troop in town. It is too late now. We have to go all the way to Salt Lake to get the cookies. They were in today and we had to make an appointment. Aaron was going to telecommute, so I set up 6:45pm. He could eat dinner, then go out there. Then he was told he needed to sign the paperwork, so he wouldn't be telecommuting, so I set him up at 5:30, stopping by after work. Then he got the go ahead to telecommute without paperwork. He didn't get off work till 5pm. So now the cookie lady says she's going to give the cookies away to someone else. I have to call her tomorrow. That would be so mean. I had already emailed her about how inconvenient this is for me. Tuesday is just not the day for me to be driving around. (Stress makes me ill and driving distances in the city stresses me out.) Anyway, I'm being crazy and stressing and ought to relax...

More Happy birthdays!

Aaron's birthday was a couple weeks ago. He won't take pictures...

We celebrated Eric's fifth birthday yesterday.



I got a picture of Ben walking. He was walking to me and falls down after two or three steps, so It is difficult to photograph. You can see Eric's gift in the picture. He got scriptures in a blue case.



We went to the thrift store a few days ago. My great bargains:

A nice, warm waterproof coat for Emily with hood and working zipper. There is a name in it- a kid in our stake. The father is a singer who just got into the Tabernacle choir.


Caitlyn wanted a pioneer dress. She also cries about not having dresses with long sleeves. Now she has one.



Here's the new cat who is still named, "Kitty".



She's a wonderful cat. We just need to teach her to sleep alone, eat two good sized meals, stay away from dh, stay off the table, and accustom herself to the outdoors. She is really sweet, lovable, affectionate, silly, and willing to let even Ben come at her to "pet" her. Oh, she could use a name other than "Kitty".