Atom Model

We are in Volume 5, Chapter 6 of Weaver.

Since this chapter is about Jesus' miracles, we are learning alot of science. :) 

We were talking about atoms, not to exciting for any of us, lol. The assignment was to make an atom model using colored marshmallows glued to paper but we had done something similar in the past and a cat had eaten the marshmallows! 
So ~ I looked for something different. :) 

I found this video on YouTube 

So using this video as our guide, the girls made their atom model.

Sis was NOT thrilled with the project, so at first Bug & her tried to work together. 
Of course that went over like a lead balloon! lol.

Here's Bug with her model.

 Hunny had lots of fun playing with the clay! 

 Sis and her model. 

 Hard at work...

 Hmmm, well ok, this no longer resembles the lithium atom! ROTFLOL! :) But she had fun at least!

Loving school time with my girls! 

My Favorite Movies

Wow! This was a hard one for me. 

We watch alot of movies since we don't have tv, but to come up with my absolute favorites?!? 

It was also hard because I tend to like actors - give me something with an actor I like in it and I am *usually* pretty happy. 

Patrick Swayze, Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, Kevin Costner, Robin Williams....well, my list could go on quite abit!  

I like historical films and alot of western or country style (hmm, go figure!), plus a wide variety of others. 

But here is a partial list that I was able to come up with...

The North and South

 Actually a tv miniseries, but I absolutely LOVE this! 

Of course, Patrick Swayze and the Civil War - what more could a girl ask for? 

Elf

Aside from the classic Christmas cartoons, this is my favorite holiday film.

Dances With Wolves

National Treasure

I have both 1 & 2 and these are watched ALOT, by all of us. 

Dirty Dancing

Pirates of the Carribbean

I know these haven't all gotten great ratings, but we all really like them. So far we have two of the series. 

Titanic 

Robin Hood

This is one I *HAVE* to be finding on dvd, my vhs copy is about worn out! lol. 

Beauty and the Beast 

 

The Family Man 

Fireproof 

 Night at the Museum

Again, both 1 and 2. 

So there you have it, a small sample of my favorite movies. 
A few honorable mentions ~ Felicity (American Girl), Dead Poets Society (LOVED this when I was in school), Young Guns (both 1 & 2), and another tv movie, A Smokey Mountain Christmas with Dolly Parton. 

Anxiety

Einstein was diagnosed with Anxiety in 2004. 

Honestly, it's always been referred to as simply anxiety, so in researching this, I assume it is Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 

You can read more at WebMD. 

Here are the symptoms we see:

*constant worry

*unrealistic view of problems

*restless or edgy

*irritability

*muscle tension

*sweating - now this is mostly seen when he "flips out", or rages - sweat POURS off him

*difficulty concentrating

*trouble sleeping

*easily startled

What causes anxiety in kids?

While some anxiety is normal in anyones life, the following can cause an anxiety disorder;

*brain chemistry - remember those neurotransmitters we talked about with ODD? 

*environmental factors - trauma, abuse, etc. Which, as you've learned, he's had plenty of. 

Treatment for anxiety includes medication and the Wellbutrin is also used for that. 

As of right now, this concludes Einsteins list of psychiatric diagnoses. He had a neuropsych evaluation yesterday so we'll learn in about a month the results of that. 

As you've learned, he is a complicated kid, and needless to say, very difficult to parent! 

I would appreciate your prayers. :) 

Be My Valentine Challenge

Here we are on week 2 of the "Be my Valentine Challenge". I had fun last week praising my husband on Facebook and face to face. :) I wrote a praise either on his wall or tagged him in a status daily. He hasn't commented on any of them though.....

 Oh well. 

This week's challenge is to get creative!

Here's what Courtney says ~  

This week's challenge is: be a little more creative with your praise. Surprise your husband with:
1. A love message on the mirror
2. A love message packed in his lunch
3. Use sidewalk chalk and write a love message on the driveway
4. Write a list of ten things you admire about him and then read them out loud to him.
5. Make a toast to him at dinner with friends. Or raise your glass at dinner and list the things you admire about your husband for your children to hear!
6. Buy or make your husband a trophy and engrave it with the words "The Best Husband in the World." (I found a cheap trophy at a party supplies store - the kids loved presenting it to daddy)
7. Write a poem - even if you can't write - it can be goofy. Include in it references to your favorite movies, restaurants, places to go and memories. He will enjoy the trip down memory lane and the laugh!
8- Blow up balloons and put a loving message in each one. Fill your bedroom with balloons as a surprise.
9- Take a roll of receipt tape and write a long message with the things you admire and respect about your husband - then roll it up and put it in a bottle for your husband to open and read. (I made many of these for my husband in college when we were dating long distance. I mailed them in packages.)
10. Get creative with your selflessness!

Hmmm... a few of these are automatically out for me. (like the sidewalk is buried under snow and ice, lol)

I'll have to think about this one a bit. 

I do my best thinking in the shower which is where I am headed next so I'm sure something fun and creative will come to me soon! 

What about you? What are some fun creative ways you have showered your man with praise?

http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2011/01/you-go-first-10-fun-ways-to-praise-your.html

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is Very dark, but it IS slightly warmer than the past few days.

I am thinking... How tired I am! It's been a very full day. Trying to scoot children off to bed, finish up my computer related activities and head to dreamland myself. 

I am thankful for... My dad. He's my go to guy for computer questions, lol. So helpful. 

From the learning rooms... Hunny is learning about sin and rules. She is working on addition and subtraction in math. The other girls are just getting started into a Chemistry focused chapter. Gym class restarted today. 

From the kitchen... Messy. We left at 7 am this morning and returned tonight at 7:45! Lunch pails still need put away and breakfast dishes still in the sink - where they will stay until tomorrow! lol. Please don't tell Flylady! 

I am wearing... Black fleece hoodie, pj pants, socks WITH slippers and covered with a blanket. 

I am creating... Office Space! I have made great headway with this area this week. Woohoo! I'm down to one small corner that needs to be gone through and then it's just finding boxes/totes to finish organizing everything. I'm excited to get that into an actual office. It'll be awhile yet though as once it's cleaned out, I'd like to rip the nasty carpet out (it's THE only remaining carpet from when we moved in here and smells) and discover the floor beneath. The office isn't big so we can always lay an area rug down once the yucky floor is out. 

I am going... To continue limiting my HFCS intake. I've done really well there. Now I'd like to be more diligent in my Flylady missions than I have been the past few months. 

I am reading... The BFG to the kids for school. Your Defiant Teen. Voyage of the Exiles. Will be starting Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado with Sis in lit class tomorrow.

I am hoping... For a great year with many wonderful things happening in our favor. 

I am hearing... Dogs pacing, furnace running, Cats meowing, Frontierville loading on the other computer....lol.

Around the house... Girls are upstairs, Einstein just went to his room. Good Ole Boy is sitting in the recliner checking out Craig's List on his phone...

One of my favorite things... Chatting with good friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week: School ,cleaning, finish going through office, lots of laundry, Bug has bell choir, Girls all going to Grandmas while we take Einstein back to the University for eye check up and a neuropsyc appointment, work, Sis wanted to get with a friend this weekend, the kids have a movie night at the ranch and church. Phew! It's a busy one! 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This is "goat". He sits on our bed, lol. 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

 

New Years Eve 2010

Typically we stay home for New Years Eve, 

attempt to play games, 

eat dog food 

and watch the ball drop. 

Nothing exciting, but it is our tradition. 

This year we were invited over to a friends house.

 

 The kids all had someone to play with or talk to 

and Good Ole Boy and I played Trivial Pursuit and Apples to Apples with the other parents. 

 

 

 He had to work New Years Day 

so we weren't planning on being out late 

but ended up staying until after 1! 

Oops! lol.

We had a great time welcoming in 2011. 

What did you do?

Things that make me happy

What makes me happy?

Many things do...

My husband

My babies

Well....babies of ANY kind

(except snakes and spiders!)

Butterfly kisses 

Time spent with my family

Warm, sunny days

Spring rains

The beach

Lighthouses

History

Hot cup of coffee and a steamy shower

Snuggling under blankets watching a movie

Walk through the woods

 Old Barns

Animals

Seeing God's awesomeness around me

A good book
Sunsets
and...
A clean house!

Movie Night - Grown ups

We had gotten Grown ups as a dinner time movie since the previews looked SO funny. 

While it WAS hilarious, I should have researched it a bit more. 

We still would have rented it, but it would have been for us and not the family.

Grown ups is about a group of friends that had played basketball together in school. Now years later, they have been brought back together and are meeting each others families and getting to know each other again. 

The problems I had with the movie was the sex talk mostly. There was minor nudity in a butt shot however that was not portrayed as sexual at all. 
I also wish I would have known about the tooth fairy scene as that produced a very upset girl. 
(especially since she lost a tooth the following day!)


I give it 4.5 stars for an adult movie and have to suggest that it's previewed first for your family.
For my kids, I'd rather they not view it again. 
For adults, that want a laugh, this is it.

~~~Country Girl~~~

Depression

Einstein was diagnosed with Depression in 2004.

WebMD  has information regarding childhood depression. 

I think he suffered with depression for years before the diagnoses, but given his circumstances, who wouldn't? Being in and out of counselors and Doctors, I am surprised it wasn't diagnosed sooner. 

Maybe everyone thought it normal for what he'd been through and would go away with time? 

Or maybe the symptoms were simply overlooked with all his other issues?

Symptoms we've seen of childhood depression

*irritability and anger

*feelings of sadness and hoplessness

*increased sensitivity to rejection  

*increased appetite

*sleeplessness

*vocal outbursts

*difficulty concentrating

*reduced ability to function

*feelings of worthlessness and guilt

*impaired thinking and concentration

*thoughts of death and suicide

Causes of childhood depression are similar to adult depression. For him, it was probably a combination of his stressful early home life which was chaotic, the abuse he had suffered, the abandonment he felt ALL combined with genetics - since he has a lot of depressed and suicidal family members. 

Treatment, like for adults is medication and therapy.

He has been on numerous medications, currently Welbutrin, to help with this.  

So, he was diagnosed at nine, he's now fifteen. 

He's still depressed.  

WebMD has information for adolescent depression as well.

Symptoms we see as a teen

*apathy

*complaints of pain - many are vague, his most frequent are lower back and hip area

*difficulty concentrating

*difficulty making decisions

*irresponsible behavior

*memory loss

*preoccupation with death and dying

*rebellious behavior

*anxiety or feelings of hopelessness

*staying awake at night

*drop in grades - he has recently gone from all A's and 1 B, to 1 D and all E's

His Doctor has just added an extra dose of Welbutrin to his regimen, and we are waiting to see if that proves helpful.

Be My Valentine Challenge

Courtney over at womenlivingwell

just posted this Be My Valentine marriage challenge. She says "There are 25 days until Valentine's Day so it's time to implement the 25 Day Praise Plan." 

Let's spend the next 25 days building our men up, showing them how much they are appreciated, loved and wanted.

Week 1 starts TODAY! Look for ways to praise your husband verbally. Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, tweet it - get praise out anyway you can! Try to mention something noteworthy he has done - in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine's Day arrives!

I'm proud of my man. I DO appreciate how hard he works and everything he does for our family. I'm going to make it a point to let the WORLD know about him this week! 

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It is dark, cold, and snowy. It has snowed since yesterday afternoon, we have gotten quite a bit and schools are closed for today. 

I am thinking... Of Good Ole Boy who is out in the weather attempting to get into town for work. 

I am thankful for...The girls' eye exams yesterday. Sis has improved and no longer needs to wear her glasses for reading. Hunny looks good - and NO signs of sublexation - yay! Bug is the only one whose eyes got worse but still only has a reading script. So thankful they have good vision! 

From the learning rooms... New chapter starts today! Weaver, vol 5 ch 6. We will be learning about miracles Jesus preformed while on earth. Looks like a fun chapter. 

Hunny is learning about our jobs. Yesterday we talked about how God gave Adam the job of naming and caring for all the creatures, and how we have jobs as well. She was funny though, asking her what her jobs were, she just kept insisting her only job was to suck her thumb! lol. She does have some simple chores and she is a huge helper. 

From the kitchen... Kitties are being ornery! I hear them knocking stuff over and lots of noise coming from the kitchen. Sigh. Not sure I want to go look....

I am wearing... P.j's, robe, slippers and extra blankie over me.

I am creating... Next years school list. Well, I'm starting to work on it at least.

I am going... To be a better me. :) Very proud of myself for sticking to my goal this past week. (I'm not so good at that) I want to be healthier and (obviously) lose weight but it's so hard for me. I decided Monday that I would simply start by trying to start cutting back on High Fructose Corn Syrup, which I consume in large amounts in my Coke. :( I LOVE Coke! (real Coke - I think Diet is gross) I drink coffee all morning and then Coke all afternoon. I don't like our water here, I think it's icky. BUT I am proud to announce that in the past week I have only had THREE, yes 3, Cokes ALL WEEK LONG! WooHoo! :) I have managed to drink our water and haven't even complained knowing that "tomorrow" I can have a Coke, lol.  I've told myself that I can have A (just 1) Coke every other day and that has been helpful. I find so often that I want to do something healthy but feel so deprived and I KNOW if I say I will STOP drinking Coke it won't work. AT ALL. It's been a good week and a great start! (And yesterday was Coke day, but we were so busy I didn't even get a glass!)

I am reading... Your Defiant Teen, The BFG to the girls in school - and they are LOVING it!, wrapping up Mere Christianity with Sis in literature, and will be starting Voyage of the Exiles by Patricia Hickman today. 

I am hoping... That things work out and Good Ole Boy and I can attend the FireProof small group that our church is having. I would LOVE to do this study with him, it was such a good movie.

I am hearing... Kitties, the radio is on in the kitchen and Hunny woke up EARLY and has Barbie's Thumbelina on - and I *think* is almost back asleep. (figures, as the other girls will be getting up soon, sigh)

Around the house... The coat rack broke in the mud room so the dining room table is laden with coats, hunting and snow gear. Sigh. Looks bad, but not much I can do until Good Ole Boy can fix that. 

Trying vinegar in the washing machine instead of fabric softener - will see how that works. Hopeful it helps with static as it's REALLY bad here! 

Made very small progress in the 'office' this past week, but did get a corner with the shop vac before it went all wonky and started blowing dust everywhere. Sigh. Another project for Good Ole Boy to examine... 

I DID get our bedroom clean though! :) And de-cobwebbed. Where DO they come from?! Only the top of his wardrobe left to de-clutter but that is difficult for me to reach so haven't worked up to that stretch yet.

One of my favorite things...Being cozy under blankets watching a movie with Good Ole Boy or the kids.

A few plans for the rest of the week: School, work, parent teacher conferences for Einstein, Sis will be going to watch her 'boyfriend' in his play downstate, Bug will be having a sleepover at her best friends for her b-day, Sis might be going to a friends this weekend too, and I need to tackle the three girls and see how their show clothes fit since rabbit shows will be coming up in just a few weeks. 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... 

 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

My Sibling

I only have one sibling, my brother.

My mom insists that I begged for a brother.....but I don't believe her! lol. :)

I remember a small handful of times that we would get along and play but mostly I remember being popped in the nose when mom would walk out to get the mail and then I'd be laying there with a bloody nose and I would be the one to get into trouble! Go figure.

It probably didn't help that he got the tall genes AND the blonde hair! 

Today, he is married and they are attending Bible College in preparation of becoming missionaries.
He is attempting to teach Sis Biblical Hebrew, which he loves, and is currently learning Biblical Greek and is getting his feet wet preaching. 
Since they are states away, we only see them about twice a year between semesters. 

Movie Night - Toy Story 3

We finally rented TS3. The kids had been wanting to see it since it came out. 

We had gotten Toy Story when Einstein was little and I was expecting Sis. So the kids have grown up with it. 

We have had many rounds of being into Woody and Buzz and have many of the toys around here.

This movie was pretty hard on mom. 

I am by nature an emotional and sentimental person, and honestly TS3 set off many waterworks for me. 

The story is that Andy is grown up and heading to college. He has to decide what to do with his childhood toys. In a mix up the toys wind up at a daycare and they have quite an adventure in getting home to Andy. 

It was very hard for me to watch Andy playing with his toys for the last time. 
I saw so much of my kids in this movie. 
They are growing so fast. 
There were flashbacks to Einstein running 'to infinity & beyond' with Buzz and Sis playing with Barbies and Bug begging for Woody for Christmas. 
Now, Sis, WAY past playing with toys on her own, rarely even plays with Hunny and her toys. 
It won't be long and she will be heading off as well. 

One of my favorite parts was when Buzz was in Spanish mode! 

I'll give it 5 stars...
But if you are a parent that has watched the other movies, make sure you have have kleenex!