Well…due to my utter frustration with Word Press I was forced to find another domain for some of my blogging.  After a year of many time consuming efforts, I have given up just short of paying a real computer geek to just ”fix-it” for me.  Apparently, Word Press is pretty picky and glitchy with some of it’s coding, so posting various media can be a REAL headache.  So, this site will be used for just homeschooling and the new for EVERYTHING else!  I will try and notify often of updates and changes  and hope that you enjoy the fresh feel of the other location. 

 

Please visit the all new “Flibberty-Jibbitz” @  http://yahbless.blogspot.com/.  You can also hit the link button on the right side bar.   ~ Alice

 

Sharing a few pregnancy portrait photos taken recently. I began doing this with my first child 10 years ago, never considering that I might actually have 4 more to do! As you can imagine my wall is pretty full with large framed photos of me and my belly. I do get a chuckle hearing the children talk about THEIR photo, which makes me glad that I made the effort to do this for each of them. I hope they will always know how special they are to me no matter how many photographs they have.

Here is a sneak preview… I downloaded more as a music montage at the link below. Enjoy the show!

Photo Montage:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=d7e08115563f4bef62c986&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Well, the count down is on…and not exactly sure what week I am, thinking somewhere around 38ish weeks. Actually, my midwife is going by two due dates, March 9th and the 16th…so here’s hoping the first one is the right one! Course I don’t want to rush the little guy as we all want him WELL done! I’m feeling pretty good and still recieve comments about “not looking swollen” or “ready to pop” yet. Actually, this time around even though I haven’t felt the best being pregnant I believe I have looked better than my others (well except for the first maybe). Not sure of the difference, just know I take better care of myself and possibly those “boy” hormones affect things for the better. Plus, there’s about 3 years difference between this pregnancy and my last which is the longest span of time for me, giving more time to replenish nutrient stores, etc. I was also in really good shape prior to pregnancy which ALWAYS helps. My iron stores have been low the past few weeks which is normal at this stage and my midwife put me on chlorella and a more comprehensive iron supplement. I knew something was up because I CRAVED ice and wanted to huff frankinsence and roman chamomile oils all the time. The chlorella tastes really good and I would drink the entire bottle if I knew it wouldn’t wreck my intestines. Something I know my body is needing. I tried green superfoods and whole food supplements but my stomach just couldn’t tolerate the fiber. So, I’ve been very picky about my food items. Supplements such as fish oil, transdermal magnesium, vitamin D and E, and iodine are all my system can tolerate. I started on probiotics but had to switch to drinking kefir because they were just too strong. Trying to listen to my body and consume what it seems to handle best nutritionally…(oh yes, even that organic Green and Black dark chocolate bar is fair game!).

Ironically, you’d think I’d be a pro at baby prep by now being that it’s #5, but I still experience the same apprehensions, anxiety and feelings of being UNprepared expecting to be taken off guard in the middle of the night with a dirty bath tub and no diapers bought. Thankfully, my wonderful husband took the kids away recently so that I could “nest” alone and take care of much needing organizing, errand running…and of course lunch dates/visits with friends with whom I never get to chat without interruptions. My to-do list seemed monumental at the time leaving me thinking how unrealistic I was being, kidding my self that all would actually be finished prior to labor. Yet, little-by-little items are being crossed off and I now find myself at the very bottom AND an end in sight.

Ta Da! I am proud to say that the following are ready:

A stock pile of chlorine free baby diapers bought (may do cloth later, still debating)

Newborn and 0-3 sleepers, outfits, socks, hats washed and put away (boys are so much less complicated with clothes!)

Blankets, burp clothes bedding…ready!

Home birth kit bought per recommendation of midwife

Pregnancy portraits taken…have done this with ALL children

Several homemade dinners fixed and frozen

Freezer stockpiled with easy lunch items

Snacks and treats saved for kids

Labor electrolyte drinks, chlorine ball for tub, herbal sitz bath spray, nursing pads…all the usuals

House somewhat clean (figure I’ll do that REALLY close to the time)

Girls room and closet organized

Carseat cover washed and installed in van

Ceremonial arrangements ready for circumcision on 8th day

Newborn photographer ready

Homeschool at a place where we can stop and break

Not an exhaustive list, but the “biggies” that certainly give more peace of mind. Now only to get my room organized, bathroom cleaned, wall paint touched up in house, spinach planted in garden….AND then come on little one!

While not big on subdivision living, for our area and having an acre with woods, creek and cul-de-sac has got us pretty spoiled. UNfortunately, we also live in a protected wet lands and flood plain, which is usually not a problem EXCEPT for when the 100 year flood hits…or more realistically the every 3-5 year flood. Every time this happens the children are a little older and have new responses to the weather. This time it was freaks of panic watching their toys float away while frantically hurrying to “save” them. Fortunately, we always manage to find them down stream tangled up in the briers after the flooding subsides. Still, it’s funny to see them running from window to window reporting on what just floated by.

Sandbox trying to sneak away…

A little perspective…the creek has definitely overrun it’s banks. The once moved toys have since moved down stream.

Clarity is fuzzy because of the downpour, but the water is up to the hammock and our heavy picnic table overturned.

The not so fun part is clean up afterwards, but hopefully we’ll find some interesting creatures unearthed from their underground homes.

In our efforts to try and avoid any artificial sweeteners, one item that is almost impossible to find (unless it’s at the health food store) is gum made with plain sugar…and not with oodles of ingredients that are synthetic chemicals.  My oldest daughter LOVES gum but we have banned any conventional gum products and relegate her indulgence to a health food store brand called SPRY.  Yes, it is more expensive AND it looses it’s taste quicker than most gum, but it gives us peace of mind that at least she’s consuming a sweetener that won’t potentially cause brain tumors later.  After all, she has a life time of gum chewing ahead of her so if we can eliminate as much of the toxic chemicals now, hopefully she’ll have a better health outcome in the future.

Came across this recipe for homemade gum, but have yet to try it.  Sounds intriguing, possibly cheaper and hopefully worth our while to make on a regular basis.  I’ll be sure to post the results later!  One thing I want to try is to substitute a natural sugar such as xylitol or stevia in place of regular sugar as it’s better for oral health AND use essential oils in place of flavoring.  I’m sure some experimenting will be needed before perfecting THE kid-friendly recipe…stayed tuned more updates on gum making!

http://www.leeners.com/candy-bubblegum-recipe.html

Making Bubble Gum

This is our recipe for making bubble gum.  It will yeild 20-30 pieces of gum. Making gum is a great activity for scout meetings and birthday parties.  The guests get to take home their own delicious creation! 

The Bubble Gum Recipe

• 1/3 cup gum base
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 Tablespoon corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• 1/4 teaspoon citric acid 
• 5-7 drops flavoring
• Microwave safe or heat resistant dish. 
• Wax Paper or Ziploc Bag 

1. Place the Gum Base, Citric Acid, Corn Syrup and Glycerin into one of the disposable microwave dishes or a microwave safe or heat resistant bowl.

Microwave Method:  (ask an adult to help) 

1. Heat the ingredients on high for 30 seconds.  Remove from the microwave and stir.  If it has not melted, place it back in the oven and heat for 10 more seconds.  Stir it again and repeat heating until the gum base is gooey. (continue with no. 2 below)

Stove top Method: (ask an adult to help) 

1. Place ingredients in a heat resistant dish that will fit in a sauce pan of boiling water.  Cover the pan and bring the water to a boil.  Turn the heat down so the water is at a simmer.  Heat the gum base until it becomes gooey. This can take up to 10 minutes.  Be sure not to let the water boil dry.
2. Add flavoring and optional food color to the melted gum base and stir well. *If you have fresh mint or other leaves from a garden that you wish to use for flavor: Put them through a food processor or muddle them. You may still have to boost the flavor a bit with spearmint oil.  You may have to use quite a lot of leaves to get enough flavor and then the gum may not mix as well due to the added moisture. 
3. Measure out 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar and set it aside for later.  Carefully place about one half of remaining powdered sugar onto your work surface. Make a well in the middle of the pile.

1. Pour the melted gum base mixture into the well.  The gum base may still be hot but it will cool quickly.
2. Dip your fingers in the powdered sugar and begin kneading the gum base and sugar together.  Work it as if you are kneading bread dough.  Add more of the powdered sugar when the dough gets sticky.  Continue adding sugar until you have smooth, stiff dough.  You must knead the gum dough until all the sugar is worked in.  This will take at least 15 minutes.  Kneading too little will cause the gum to break up when chewed. You will be done kneading when the gum is smooth and you can roll it in your hands.
3. Now it’s time to roll out your bubble gum and cut it into pieces.  Roll gum into a one-half inch diameter rope and then cut individual pieces about one half inch long.  Using scissors will make this easy.  If you like your gum in sticks, use a rolling pin dusted with powdered sugar to roll the gum out and then cut into strips with your scissors.
4. Dust all of the gum pieces with the remaining powdered sugar, and enjoy!  Your bubble gum should be stored in a zip lock bag.  You can also wrap individual pieces in wax paper to share!