Recently Sophie, our “teacher of wisdom”, hit the DOUBLE DIGITS.  Drum roll please…………….

Tradition #1–On the actual day of their birthday they open a special “Double Digits Box” from Uncle C-Dub and Aunt Emi.  It’s loaded with double yummies.  Like double stuff oreos, double mint gum, double sided markers, –you name it, if it is double it is in that box!

Tradition #2– Nauna & Nat take the kids on a special day when they hit the double digits.  Sophie chose to celebrate her special outing when her Aunt Emi and new little cousin, Hudson, were in town.  This made the day DOUBLE great.

Sophie’s new goat (that she got from Dad and Mom for her birthday) went into labor just days before the special outing…..and you know what she had…twins!! Twin girls–of course!!!  Double the delight. Can you guess what she named one of them….Oreo The other- Truffle.  ”Midwife Sophie” helped deliver them at 2:00 AM!!!

The day of her outing, Sophie went to The Butterfly Museum and the Yanke Candle Factory.  If you are EVER near by you MUST MUST MUST visit the Butterfly Museum (Magic Wings Emporeum). It was the most spectacular event- awe inspiring.  The picture tell the story.

Another boredom buster…..

Dandelion Jelly

It tastes just like honey, really it does.  Now I know there a just a few “bee lovers” reading this blog entry, so I challenge you to make some and do a taste test for yourself!  Let us know your thoughts.  As for us, non-bee loving folk, we think it tastes like honey!

Directions for fun:

Set children loose in dandelion infested lawn (free from little doggie piles )  Arm them with clean buckets and instruct them to attack all dandelions in sight.  Grabbing only the “head” and pluck with all your might!  Fill buckets.  Return home.

Ok, Now take them inside and cut off the little stems.  We just held on to the pedals and snipped off the stem that holds them together.  Place all the pedals in a large pot, add 5 cups boiling water. Cover and let “steep” (to make dandelion tea) over night.  Overnight is good because then it is stronger. Extra tea can be used as….tea! Just add sugar and serve over ice.

The next day, drain the tea .  We put a large coffee filter in our pasta strainer.  Discard the pedals, keep the tea. You need 3 cups of tea in the end. Proceed to making the jelly by combining tea, with 5 cups sugar, 2 Tbsp lemon juice (don’t skip this or your pectin wont work- pectin needs acid to set up), 1 box powdered pectin.  Now I doubled this recipe.  I made one big pot of tea, but then divided it to make the jelly in two batches.  For some strange reason every time I try to double jelly recipes they don’t set-up as well. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Put into jars, process ten minutes in boiling water canner.  Or stick it in your fridge and pass it out as a fun gift.

Two things.  First, I found the recipe on www.simplycanning.com  they have tons of great ideas for summer fun.  Second, although they are not pictured here, the boys did participate. They ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and collected some dandelions along the way

Some days need a little spice…..fun spice.  Around here when the temperature rises our children begin to melt!  They loose all ability to enjoy things and begin to moan… “It’s hot and sticky”

After a good dousing with the hose or sprinkler, comes CREATIVITY to the rescue!!!

Could they be octopus? A squid? Tails of some odd creature? How did they get there? How did she do that? Oh, I love to watch their wheels churn.  In the end, I finally told them how it was done. Easy peasy FUN!

Here’s the creativity secret………….drum roll please……………….

spaghetti stuck through a hot dog! Not rocket science, but brilliant (I found the idea on line) Boil and enjoy.  No need for butter, the hot dog “juice” takes are of that. Adults beware- the pasta tastes like a hot dog too!!!  See my one step tutorial below

Reliving our chicken days & expanding!!!

We always loved our chicken, but there were a few too many for our management and they were a little too close to our house.  It’s been a while now, and we just couldn’t live without them.  So for Sam & Josiah’s Birthday (they turned 9) we got them chickens again.  This time only 7 chickens and they are in a covered mobile coop that the boys can tote around so we never have to clean up chicken poo.  (I particularly love that part  )  The boys were SOOOOOO excited to have THEIR OWN chickens that they can take care of.  It is the perfect set up for them to independantly care for them.  (Did I mention how much I love mobile coops?)   They got to build the coop over a weekend with their Daddy.   Hammer and nails, staple gun and drill– wahooo!

Then, for Sophie’s Birthday (she turned 10) we surprised her with goats!  Oh, yes goats.  We went to visit a goat farm intending to bring home two cute goats.  Someday we would let them get pregnant, do the kidding things, etc, etc.  But then we met “Honey”…..ahhhhh “Honey”  she was sweet (ha ha) and the kids LOVED her. So Miss Becky (the owner) said she was willing to sell us Honey, even thought she wasn’t originally for sale! Miss Becky said she trusted Sophie to take extra great care of them.  Extra bonus-  she (Honey) was pregnant!  Oh yes, my firends, a pregenant goat!  and…..Martin-style!!! She’s pregant with multiples!!!!! And we aren’t exactly sure how many…..oh the suspence!

Ok- just look at that pregnant mama in that pix!!!  Zoweee  She is soooo preganat that she likes to lay down while eating!

So yes, we are crazy……we are crazy about our kids and we are crazy enough to get them chickens and goats to build character in them. (and, yes in case you try to mention–we are aware that there are other ways to build character….but this is FUN) They will learn diligence, gentleness, alertness, responsibility, initiative, and much more.  Hey, and they still got a special birthday dinner too- cake and all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM, JOSIAH, & SOPHIE!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have an immense love for systems, not because I am organized, but because it helps me to be organized!  I have sent copies of this planner I use to many people and figured it was about time to post it for all to enjoy.

It is a monthly planning template to use with each Wisdom Book.  It notes when I lay out each section of the Wisdom Book, when I use journal pages that are in the WB, as well as journal pages I have modified to use with kids who have different learning abilities. (see link to your right listed under recommended resources  or click here:

http://martinpalooza.com/2010/09/29/wb-journaling-page-links-2/

This way each month looks the same in our house.  I know what to expect and so do the kids.  It reduces my stress level because it is all planned out..ahhhhhh I love that.  That way, on days I am tired or very “full” I don’t end up skimping on rich, wonderful learning.  It blesses my kids no matter the day and in turn that blesses me.

Enjoy!

Much Love,

Jill