F is for Finished

FINISHED with the letter F. Well I'll still use it in words that require it, but it won't be so demanding and need to be the FOCUS anymore. FEBRUARY is over and with it the F is for's. It was a FUN challenge but enough is enough. On to March... don't worry.. no I'm not starting up M is for!

FEBRUARY was a FULL month. The office that has been the bane of my existence no matter where I've lived and especially since we moved into this house has FINALLY FOUND it's way to the top of my to do list and I love how it is taking shape. I likely wasn't ready to tackle it to this extreme before now and so I don't berate for not having it done earlier. (They say the kitchen is the hub of a home... but I think my office is in a very close second) Now I will enjoy the FOCUS, FREEDOM and joy that it will continue to give me.

We're taking FEBRUARY out partying. Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet, Daddy's birthday and a dentist appointment , Piano and FLUTE lessons (I know something doesn't FIT there) will keep us hopping all day this last day of FEBRUARY, but that just means we're having FUN.

FAREWELL FEBRUARY... till 2012!

Bring it on March!

F is for Fondant

FONDANT?? Are you kidding me? Thanks a lot Paige. The Blue and Gold Banquet asked that each scout bring a decorated cake for a cake auction. Why do I listen to my sister? WHY? I was content with bringing three simple FROSTED cakes. I might even encourage them to draw something on the top with another colour of FROSTING or use some action figures to create some scene. Then she had to tell me and the kids about the show, 'Cake Boss'. Yes we netflixed it and watched almost two entire seasons. We weren't any FURTHER ahead in our cake project. But now, the boys wanted to make FANTASTIC cakes.

FANTASTIC, shaped and 3-D model type cakes. And now they're using terms like; FONDANT, modeling chocolate, piping, tiers, layers and anything is possible.

While I'm pleased that they believe in themselves, I'd like to point out that I don't own a bakery with multiple chefs and decorators, nor do I have endless decorating tools and equipment at my disposal. And don't get me started at the time constraints! Mondays are notoriously busy days around the Noble household!

So between Piano and FLUTE lessons this morning I threw cake mixes together (not even a cake from scratch which I would prefer) and before I left for the Dentist at 11 am, I had 4 round cakes cooling on the counter... one shaped into a bear (Miles choice). I left Caleb in charge of baking the square cake.

Once home I delved into cake mode.  From 2:00 until 5:00 I worked with the boys on cakes.  It was fun figuring out the details.  I'm definitely not 'cake boss' material but I could be persuaded to tackle another fun cake again... in a year maybe!

Cooper showed up at 4:00 with his cake.  Channa had baked a chocolate cake with jelly and chocolate chip center.  No decorating though.  We called Cooper into the kitchen and we fixed that little hiccup in a hurry!

Oh yeah... but it's Patrick's birthday and Sarah wanted to make a cake for him.... ironically with four cakes on the counter, she felt the need for yet another!  She begrudgingly agreed to celebrate Daddy's birthday tomorrow... when we might actually see him and oh... when we weren't as sick of cake!

They turned out cute and I snapped a pic of Caleb's just as the lucky winner was leaving the banquet with it.  Each of their cakes was purchased so we did not bring them home.  I did bid and win on my neighbour's son's cake though... so we aren't cake less!  whew!

F is for Florescent

FLORESCENT bulbs for energy efficiency. How can I put this delicately? For an item intended to be an improvement over regular light bulbs from the past century I think FURTHER improvement is needed. Why?

Well let me educate on a FEW things I've recently learned! (the difficult way)

• One of the new energy efficient bulbs costs as much to buy as would 25 of the old type of a similar wattage.
• They need to warm up. When FIRST turned on, they will not be at their brightest.
• In my experience, (now perhaps this has no bearing), their claim to last 7 times longer is bogus. I.. We(Patrick does the actual changing) have changed the new bulbs at least as FREQUENTLY if not more so than the other bulbs! So in regards to $$ savings over time... (I'm rolling my eyes)
• Is anyone other than my all knowing, paranoid sister Channa aware that they contain Mercury vapor? I didn't think so. Why? Who cares? So...  I know, my thoughts exactly until yesterday!

We arrived at church after waking Whittaker from his nap and dressing him and rushing him to the car. He thanked us for all the hustling by throwing up all over himself and the pew before the meeting ever started! I handed the bag, the keys and the baby to Patrick and said, “Go home”. Perhaps that was where I went wrong. I should have remembered the last week when I returned to FIND him inside the dishwasher!

As church ended, and I thought I'd been busy, I began to learn of the escapades that had occurred at home. FATHER and son escapades with dish soap, FLORESCENT bulbs, blood, baths, and three changes of clothes.

Apparently his FIRST mistake was going to the bathroom without locking Whittaker up. When he came out of the bathroom he FOUND a happy lad under the kitchen sink squirting dish soap all over the FLOOR. Second outfit change. (FIRST was after the throwing up!)

While Patrick cleaned up the soap, Whittaker amused himself. He discovered a box of FLORESCENT bulbs that were waiting to be put up in the dining room. The shattered remains of the light bulb were still on the dining room FLOOR when I returned home.

The blood from the FINGER cut was on the FLOOR, the bathroom door, the side of the tub, the bath mat, the bathroom cupboard and his clothes. A bath, some band-aids and third outfit change.

They sat together and watched a movie after that!

I returned home. Tied the baby up in a chair with a snack, swept up the broken bulb and checked out the FINGER. I was going to grab the vacuum to be sure all the glass shards were gone when, Channa called next. She insisted we call poison control because of the mercury.

After the call, we opened the doors for ventilation, albeit a bit late. We then wiped up the FLOOR area where the broken bulb had been with wet wipes to collect any dust particles that might be there. We threw away the broom and dustpan. It's the mercury vapor and dust that is the concern.

• Apparently, never use a broom or vacuum to clean up a broken florescent bulb. Always double bag any shards or glass remnants (yup, I FAIL at hazmat cleanup). Leave the double bagged bulb outside in a ventilated area 48 hours before placing in a garbage receptacle. (oops again... I had dumped them into the outside can loose!)
• FINALLY.. Never leave the bulbs in a location that a baby could possibly reach them while FATHER is cleaning up the last disaster!

So, I'm convinced that I don't need to switch to these mercury FILLED headache bulbs!

Oh.. and since the next day is Patrick's birthday and we're stumped for Daddy gifts, I'll be picking up a new broom and dustpan for Daddy!

He'll love it... I just know it!

F is for Family

FAMILY.. the people you've known your whole life, who are there for you in thick and thin whether you have common interests, activities together or not. They are the ones who don't care if your FASHIONABE or FRUMPY, if you FIT in to a certain crowd or not. Sure there are rivalries, there are misunderstandings and FRUSTRATIONS, but when it really comes down to it there is a bond that pulls FAMILY from every corner of the earth together for the purpose of uniting and lifting one another.

FAMILY is what this life is all about. FAMILY is the most perfect FORUM for learning interpersonal relationship skills with people who love you unconditionally when you FLUNK out and when you FLY ahead as well.

I FIND my interests expand because of my FAMILY... I would likely not delve into the realm of VW vehicles, old growth trees, classic cars or LP's, I might not care two hoots about how statistical analysis of FOCUS groups affects politics, consumerism or FUNDING, I likely wouldn't give Yoga a second try, or ever bother with visiting beaches, artistic understanding wouldn't be messed with, and I certainly wouldn't know the difference between breeds of ducks or goats if it weren't for my large and varied FAMILY.

I likely would ignore my mother's ramblings about old dead people if FAMILY didn't have such a pull and a FASCINATION knowing that somehow I belong to these stories from FAMILY history and genealogy.

FAMILY is worth FIGHTING for.

F is for Fickle

F is for Fickle

Since acquiring the third kitty it has been an adventure coming up with just the perfect name. The other kitties names came to us FAIRLY quickly. This kitty may be confused now since we've tried on a new name every 2-3 weeks since October.

I was pushing for a name that was influenced by her origins. I offered 'FIRE house kitty' and 'Smoky'.

I was shot down. I suggested, 'FUEGO'... but it was too similar to 'FIGARO', which is already taken by... well by FIGARO.

Her colouring was lovely and she seemed very dainty, so we tried Lady FLAME, but again it didn't stick. I wasn't too concerned about a unique name since I didn't think we would be keeping her. So we questioned Cooper and Derek for ideas. They came up with 'Galaxy'. We tried it for a couple weeks but somehow it wasn't a keeper either.

Throughout the next two months we tried;

Patches, Ventana, Miss Kitty, Gepetto, Tigris, Galaxy, Energy, Cecily, Fire house kitty,Third cat

Typically I referred to her as 'the new kitty'.

FINALLY, she must have been fed up with us. She let us know what her name was once and for all!

Her name is FUEGA del Puerta... but we call her 'Puerta for short.

The FIRST time she leapt up on the door to request to be let back in, we all jumped out of our skin. Not anymore... it's becoming so natural that we just let her in and go back about our business...

Visitors are still startled.

F is for being Forthright and Frank

FAITHFUL attendance at church with us over the years has been Cooper's not so FAVOURITE activity.  He has resigned himself to the way things are though.  He has even learned to enjoy parts of the meetings.  Of course Sacrament meeting took a long time to warm up to.  He had to learn to sit quietly for an hour.  If you know Cooper, you know that quiet isn't his strong suit!  Now that he can read, the meeting is much more bearable for him.  He simply reads a book or a magazine and then suddenly it's over.  Of course he also loves to comment to me on everything he reads so we're still working on whispering reverently.  One thing I can always count on from Cooper is his complete and FORTHRIGHT honesty! 

A while ago, his primary teachers came to me to tell me that he had decided to 'run away' from this stinking church.  When I spoke with him by the doors to see if I could convince him to stay until we were all ready to leave he let me know that, 'it wouldn't be so bad, but this church won't let him have a turn.'  He's also FICKLE.  After I convinced him to give the class another chance, he came up to me after class and said that, 'it was the best time ever!  They even played a game and I won!'

Last week, Cooper sat next to me in church.  He tapped me on the arm to get my attention, then he pointed to Whittaker and said, "Look, he's asleep.  He's so bored too!"

F is for Forty somethin'

FORTIES seems to be the new FANGLED an d'etre (age to be) these days... I mean everyone is getting into it... FIRST my sister had a big 'turning FORTY bash in Vegas', now two of my brother in laws are having birthdays today.  And guess what?  They're FORTY and  FORTY-SIX!! And if that's not bad enough... my own husband thinks that next week we're going to let him tell people that he's FORTY-ONE!  Whatever!  Like I'm married to an old man! psahw... I mean I'm only 26!...  yes.. I'll end there and share a lovely little poem that I FOUND to cheer them up!

He's older than the oldest man

that anyone has ever known.  

He's older than the internet,

he's older than the telephone.

He's older than the printed word, 

the ancient Greeks, the dodo bird.

He's older than the pyramids,

and prehistoric hominids.

He's older than the dinosaurs,

the earth, the sun, the moon and stars.

He's old as mud, he's old as dust,

he's wrinkled up and turned to rust.

He's musty, crusty, stinky, dirty.

Simply put, he's turning forty!

~Ancient by Kenn Nesbitt

 

F is for Furniture

FURNITURE assembly to be precise. 

We've been working on some long awaited projects around here.  It's a good thing we've lots of assistants, I'm not sure Patrick would be as efficient without them!  They test every stage of the project, move small parts around to keep things confusing interesting and they always lend a hand so that he won't have to be unduly strained.  It's just their way of making sure Daddy knows how much he is appreciated for his skills.   

Who wouldn't love all this help?

I don't think the involvement of the assistants had anything to do with the discovery that one of the shelves in the center of the new office desk was installed upside down, rendering attaching the desk portion impossible and requiring starting over almost from the beginning.  No, I'm sure without any help Daddy could have made that mistake on his own. 

F is for Father in charge

FATHER is in charge so that I can attend a ladies brunch.

When I returned home after a lovely brunch, the house was quiet, the lights were out, the kitchen was clean and then, I heard a sound.  It was the sound of a happy little monkey.  This is where I FOUND the little monkey.

 He does love to help with the dishwasher... and I'm glad it was empty at the time.  He has been known to take clean dishes from the cupboard and load them. 

The monkey made his own sound effects!

And where was the FATHER?

I FOUND him in the living room studying his eyelids with a book FALLEN to his chest and the rest of his body covered in puppets and other Whittaker toys.

F is for Fastest Skater on Ice

FASTEST in the world.  Yes I know just a week or so ago I mentioned that Miles thought he was pretty FAST on the ice himself. 

image captured from The Local - a Swedish website

We attended the international speed skating event the FOLLOWING week and were witnesses as Martina Sablikova, the current World Record holder broke her own record for the FASTEST skater!  And she was FAST!

F is for Fundraiser

FUNDRAISER without any pushy sales required... except the professional salesman who came downstairs to take advantage of the FUNDRAISER that is!

President's day at RC Willey, and the scout pack that the boys participate in ... the second scout pack... was having a FUNDRAISER, handing out hot dogs and drinks for RC Willey.  In return RC Willey will cut a cheque to the pack for $200.00 smackers!

What did we have to do?  Technically not much!  The three cub scouts, Miles, Duncan and Cooper and I were assigned to the tables.  We hung back in the corners and waited for a table to empty and then ... yes I'm afraid the eager cub scouts pounced on the opportunity to spray and wipe down the table for the next customer.  Sometimes cutting right in FRONT of the people with their hands FULL of hot dogs and drinks just trying to sit down. 

 

We spent over two hours wiping tables.  I had the added pleasure of keeping tabs on the FOUNTAIN drink dispenser as it often sprayed onto the FLOOR and required a little mopping detail. 

Half way through our shift, Miles and Cooper received a promotion.  A lady with quite a FEW kids snagged a table by putting her sleeping infant in car seat under the table and asked, "I know you are trustworthy boys because I see that you are Cub Scouts, so could I ask you to do a FAVOUR for me?  Please watch my baby until I return from the hot dog counter."  (the counter was maybe 10 FEET away)  They took their new responsibilities very seriously and waved me over to get me to go wipe tables while they were busy. 

 

 Caleb being an Eagle Scout was put to work in the kitchen handing out the hot dogs.  I'm not sure if the rank had anything to do with his kitchen position or the FACT that he was tall enough to reach the little window.   From time to time I tried to catch his attention and remind him to give 'service with a smile' and not look like he was sick of hot dogs as he offered people, "one or two hot dogs?"

When the shift was FINALLY over, the boys snagged their own table and enjoyed some FINE hot dogs and drinks of their own!  Cooper commented,"It's a pretty thrifty idea for a lunch for these people."

With all the tables taken a single gentlemen approached the table of hot dog eating cub scouts and asked to join their table.  He had no idea what he was getting himself into.  Cooper talked his ear off!  They discussed it all.  Cooper warned him that he was going to tell him some sad news.  He shared that his Grandpa had FOUGHT in the war and not died, but that last year he did die, without a war, just with a sickness.  This man had also served in the army and listened intently as Cooper spoke.  They talked about how nice it is to get to know Grandpa's.  They both apparently were egg lovers and discussed different ways of preparing eggs at length.  The tried to guess each others age and then birthdays, then Cooper FELT he knew him well enough to tell him about the time in the desert when the FAMILY went camping and his sister had wandered off and was missing for many hours.  He was very FRIGHTENED about that, but she's just at home today cause she isn't a scout like him, not cause she is still lost, the grown ups did FIND her.  It was a good twenty minutes before they bid FAREWELL and Cooper thanked him for the lovely conversation.  

When we were leaving and I was pulling out of the parking lot, I asked the boys if they had enjoyed the activity. 
Cooper said, "It was a great activity for everyone, we had a good time and the people enjoyed a FINE meal."
Miles said, "It got kinda warm in the hot dog room and I think I drank too much root beer, but I would like to do it again if they ask us to."
Duncan said, "It was different than I thought, cause I thought we'd be walking around the store with trays of hot dogs handing them out to people while they looked at the FURNITURE.  This was a better plan.  I didn't even touch anybody's hot dogs at all!"

Caleb stayed behind to help with the clean up and he came home with another scout. 

F is for Feline

for FINDING A FREE FELINE.  Not that I've ever paid for a FELINE.  Some thought there... some pay thousands for a Canine but FELINES are being given away for FREE.

I digress.

Allow me to rewind time to a much more FRANTIC time in my life.  October 2010.  There was a lot going on.  Duncan and Cooper were excited to be old enough to be involved FINALLY in scouts.  Only 7 years old, they couldn't be in the nearby, neighbourhood pack since they don't officially accept scouts until they are 8, but a local group not too FAR away did accept 7 year olds and the boys were learning the Cub scout oath, promise and motto in no time.  Tiger cubs for just under a month and we learned that this pack participated in FIELD trips!  Even more exciting!

Backing up a little more, (background information is helpful in understanding the next bit of events!)

Ever since the untimely demise of the Connolly's dog 'Vegas', Kenzie has been asking about getting a new dog.  They did have one for almost a year, 'Bumper', but she was sort of on loan for an undetermined amount of time, until they discovered that her temperament was such that she just couldn't be kept around the kids any longer.  So they were dogless.  Murphy, Channa's cat for many years, ran away after a FLEA treatment in the middle of a very cold winter storm and although they searched diligently for many weeks, he was never FOUND.  They aren't completely petless though.  They do have three chinchillas in a cage downstairs.  The dust from the cage that they need for their FUR, gives Cooper breathing issues.  They also aren't exactly kid FRIENDLY animals.  So the requests for pets began to increase.  Mackenzie began researching and campaigning for a dog, but the boys were leaning towards a cat.  More so Derek than Cooper.  Channa gave in with some conditions.  Kenzie could have a dog when she could prove herself responsible by keeping her room tidy and being on top of her chores.  Derek could have a cat when he stopped biting his nails.  Cooper was no longer interested in a pet of his own.


Back to the FIELD trips.

So one of the FIRST of many FIELD trips for the scouts was to the FIRE station.  A FEW years ago, Channa and I had taken the kids to a FIRE station for a tour and after walking in and introducing ourselves, we promptly had to leave because an alarm sounded and all the FIRE FIGHTERS left.  The scout FIRE station outing had the same result only the alarm thankfully didn't sound until we were saying our Thank you's and our good byes.  So at the conclusion of our tour, we watched as they loaded up and pulled away with their lights FLASHING and the sirens blaring.  (I think they rig it so that the tours never last too long!)

The FIELD trip was FUN, the boys enjoyed checking out the truck, trying on the heavy clothes, trying to lift some of the heavy equipment, and Cooper even demonstrated, Stop, Drop and Roll. 

As the trucks pulled away, the Cubmaster grouped everyone together to make announcements regarding the upcoming pack meeting and other items on the agenda after which she added... "And if anyone is interested in an adorable kitten that scared me out of my wits when I got in my car after work, I have her in my car in a box."

I was herding my FOUR scouts back to the van so that we could return home to our regularly scheduled mayhem.  Cooper began rambling about the FIRE station and the FUN and isn't that interesting about the cat in her car in a box.  Then as FAR as I knew out of the blue, he asked, "Do you think we could look at the cat in the car in a box?"

'Oh... well.. I suppose so, but I cautioned all the boys... I'm not interested in another cat... we already have 2!!'

So we took a peek.  She was a sweet looking kitten... aren't they all?  Cooper kept chattering away about cats and kittens and FACTS that he knew... I wasn't exactly paying attention.  He became insistent however that I listen when he said, "Hey, I have an idea!  Derek is wanting a cat and he can have one if he stops biting his nails and I think he's doing a pretty good job at trying to remember, maybe this could be his cat?  But my mum wants a cat named 'bear' that we saw at the pet shelter and that would be her cat."

My head was spinning.  Conversing with Cooper changed to a quick call to Channa, which confirmed that yes, she wanted a cat named, 'bear' and yes Derek wants a cat and can have one when he stops biting his nails, but, she said, 'He's not even close to stopping yet.'

Oh.  More conversing with Cooper and I somehow agreed to take the kitten home with us since the Cubmaster was simply taking it to the shelter if no one wanted it.  I could certainly take it to the shelter in a FEW days should it not work out for Derek.  So we sneaked into the house with the kitten in the box.

The rest of the evening was shot... completely devoted to the kitten and deciding how to introduce her to FIGARO and Moppet, where she would sleep and how to FEED her. Derek was excited about meeting her and knew that in order for him to take her home he had to stop nailbiting.  Cooper, excited to take the kitten home as well, offered to help him remember not to bite. 

The FOLLOWING weeks would make be reconsider my sanity completely.  She took FOREVER (3 weeks) to litter box train, she loved to scratch the FURNITURE, she was skittish and extremely FRISKY, and she didn't get along with the other cats at all.  I had given it my best and had come to the conclusion, after I learned that Channa had returned to the shelter and picked up her FAT cat, 'bear', and that Derek was now helping to care for 'bear' and was no where near stopping his nail biting habit, that the kitten should go.  I discussed it with the older kids, with Grandma and Patrick and all were prepared to send her packing when the FOLLOWING note was delivered to me....

And that is how we became a FAMILY with three cats.

F is for Frugal

FRUGAL, cheap, stretching the pennies, whatever you call it, I took it to a whole new level!

Patrick has been attempting to be more domestic in his endeavors to help out around the house.  This is encouraged.  He ought to stick to cleaning up after meals and tidying the house... until his cooking skills improve.  Albeit he did try to cook what we wanted him to cook.  Had he simply made bacon and eggs, which is what he would have preferred, he wouldn't have FOUND himself in the predicament that he was in.  He attempted to make.... Cream of Wheat. 

It so happens that my children would choose Cream of Wheat over oatmeal any day... except the other day, when Daddy made it.  The rubber goo that glopped from the pot was picked at gingerly at best.  He had made a FULL pot though... so there were plenty left over. 

Yes, I could have sent it straight out to the chickens but it seemed wrong to have an almost FULL pot of breakfast go to waste. 

I googled, what to do with left over Cream of Wheat?'.  I knew that I could make some muffins, bread or pancakes from leftover oatmeal, but I'd never really had any leftover Cream of Wheat.   I discovered that there was a recipe for FRIED Cream of Wheat patties.  Way easy too.  Add a pinch of salt and enough FLOUR so that you can mold the patties without them sticking to your hands.  Then fry in veggie oil on medium heat until golden.  Top with either syrup, jam, FRUIT or butter, sour cream and gravy.  We opted for some FRUIT and icing sugar. 

They were tasty.  Seconds were requested!  I suppose Patrick can keep on cooking... apparently I can FIX anything... in the kitchen... with Google... and icing sugar. 

F is for Front Tooth

FRONT tooth that is slowly dying!  Derek has been struggling with a tooth problem for a FEW years.  For some reason he insists on FALLING and always bumping the same tooth.  He has FALLEN enough FINALLY that the tooth is simply turning gray.  He is FIVE years old, so the Dentist recommends leaving it in place until the new one pushes it out.  Simpler than pulling it out and then making a FALSE one to hold the spot until the new one arrives! 

The 

The extra redness around his lips has nothing to do with the problem tooth... and lots to do with his lunch that day! As you can see by the smiling, happy go lucky FACE, he isn't FAZED by the graying tooth.

F is for Fast on his Feet

FAST on his FEET!  Well.... when he uses his special walker that is.  In FACT, he was getting speeds so FAST that we had to weight the walker down so he didn't crash and hurt himself.  He did take a FEW small tumbles at FIRST, but after the weights and many laps up and down the hallways, he has FIGURED out not only how to control his speed but to maneuver well also.

He likely won't need his walker much longer.  He hasn't attempted any FURTHER steps without his walker since last week.  He may be enjoying his new mobility a tad too much!

F is for Fungus

FUNGUS among us!  Yes you read that correctly.  Sarah has been wanting to make these really yummy wraps for lunch.  I suggested that we have sauteed mushrooms in them for some bulk and extra tastiness.  She adamantly refused!  I bought the mushrooms anyway! 

We had to wait a FEW days before we could have the wraps because we were sprouting the alfalfa.  The night before we determined the alfalfa sprouts would be ready I had a lot of things to do and places to be so I had Patrick make the Spaghetti.  When I came home the house smelled wonderful and the sauce was filled with surprises... one of which was mushrooms! 

I accused Sarah of sabotaging my efforts for a mushroom wrap by telling Daddy that they weren't spoken for.  Both Sarah and Daddy looked at me FUNNY and we all enjoyed the spaghetti. 

This week when we went to the grocery store, I picked up another bunch of mushrooms.  This time I hid them deep in the FRIDGE so I would get to enjoy my mushroom FILLED wrap!  We are still waiting for the sprouts to be ready... maybe Thursday. 

Tonight as I picked up boys for scouts and was rearranging the seats in the van so they wouldn't have to sit on baby seats, I noticed a shiny looking container under Whittaker's seat.  FURTHER investigation revealed, a 10 day old unrefrigerated package of mushrooms.  No wonder I thought Whittaker's diaper had leaked in his seat.  When I brought them in the house to dump them in the chickens' compost I mentioned to Sarah and Patrick that I didn't understand how there could be mushrooms out in the van rotting when we ate them in the spaghetti.  Again they looked at me like I had FUNGUS for brains. 

"We used the dried mushrooms from the storage room."

So I had never brought them in.  I'd been FANTASIZING about a sauteed mushroom wrap that I thwarted for myself!  I hope the chickens enjoy the FUNGUS!

F is for Freaking out!

FREAKING out was what Whittaker did today!  It was supposed to be an exciting day.  Today he was officially old enough to go to nursery.  He'd been sick earlier in the month so I worried he wouldn't be well enough, but he cleared up and was ready and raring to go.  OK, so maybe his parents were.  We had rather hoped he'd be walking instead of just attempting steps but, no go.  Oh well... toys for two hours with a snack time and singing... beats walking the halls and pathetic naps in Sunday school. 

Instead of being excited... he FREAKED.  It started before we even left home for church though.  So it likely wasn't the nursery experience.  In FACT I was baffled as to his behaviour.  Certainly he has FUSSED before, but this was definitely different.  He wouldn't even allow me to hold him without squirming and screaming.  I thought perhaps he was extra tired since he had woken earlier than normal...(4:30am instead of 6:00)... but he had gone back to sleep after 7 until 9:30. 

I began to think back on the morning.  Had he FALLEN?  no.  Had he skipped breakfast with the strange wake up routine?  No, he had his banana and his cream of wheat like normal.  Oh... that's when I realized.  FIRST thing this morning he had been out of his rice milk and we gave him half a bottle of regular milk.  He hasn't had any regular milk since early December.  We have seen improvement in the congestion department and so we never went back to milk, but he was doing well with a little cheese and sometimes some yoghurt.  I really didn't think a little milk would upset him so much. 

Now I FELT awful.  He must have a terrible tummy ache.  Once we made it to church he didn't even make it through the opening song before he was thrashing again.  I ducked out and attempted twice to come back but then FINALLY just gave up.  My new goal was to try to help him get to sleep.  That would certainly help him.  But for a solid hour I struggled with him.  I walked the halls, I offered him his bottle (rice milk now!), snacks, toys, to be allowed to crawl, but he wanted nothing.  I ended up in the mother's room which was thankfully empty and just rocked him and rocked him.  He was dozing, but it would only last maybe 30 seconds before he'd FLAIL wildly again.  I was listening to the speakers and knew that I needed to get to Primary even though I really had no idea what to do with my FRANTIC child.

I ran into my FRIEND in the hall who also happens to be the nursery leader and she offered to take him for me.  I cautioned her, he really isn't himself today, so I'll hurry with what I have to do in Primary and then I'll come check on him.  I FULLY expected I'd be relieving her when I came to the nursery only 10 minutes later. 

I was correct that he had not settled down. 


I sat down on the FLOOR in the nursery with him and racked my brain.  What could be making him act like this.  I decided to check his diaper, perhaps the milk had given him a tummy ache and it was too snug FITTING, or he had gas, or was constipated... I just didn't know.  I removed his shoes and socks and was about to undo his pants when he reached for some toys and took off happily to go play.


??  I was completely bewildered.  Night and day different kid.  His diaper was FINE.  I remained in nursery another 10 minutes and discussed this odd behaviour with the ladies in there and since obviously he was content to be there, I returned to Primary.  They assured me they would send for me if he needed me again. 

An hour and a half went by and I came to collect my boy from the nursery.  He was happy as a lark, they had talked about birds in their lesson and he had a little coloring booklet of a bird that he was excited to look at.  He had also been a FAN of snack time, crackers, his FAVOURITE.  I gathered up my things and the other kids and proceeded to put his hat and socks and shoes on so we could go to the car, and he began to FREAK out all over again.

Lesson learned....

FAT FEET can not be comfortably kept in small shoes without a FREAK out of grand proportions!  I think we'll work on new sign language words.. shoes and ouch!

Next week... FORGET cute outfits with darling little shoes, he will be barefoot!

F is for Fizz

FIZZ in a bottle of homemade root beer that is!  We received a home brewing kit for Root Beer as a gift for Christmas.  After many 'can we do it now?' requests, we dove into the project! 

 FIRST step; listening to all the instructions. 

 (Some FOUND the instructions to be boring and were no longer invited to participate!)

 Step two; stir for FIVE minutes.  (the time that lapsed between step one and step two was well over 3 hours... as soon as we read the instructions we knew we wouldn't have enough time to FINISH the project before we had to be somewhere... so we left everything sitting in limbo while we took care of other business and when we returned ... much later... we resumed!)

Step three; FILL the provided bottles with the homemade goodness and then put them in the cold storage room for up to three days while everyone dreamed about Root Beer FLOATS!

OK, so there were many other steps, like sanitizing, and measuring and pouring but really they weren't important to the memory!  Besides if you were to tackle the project, you could read the instructions for yourself!

Step FOUR;  Tasting!  The best part!  So it was a little, teeny, tiny bit FIZZY and a whole lot of yummy!  We made FOUR bottles with our FIRST batch and enjoyed a taste test with the FIRST bottle and FLOATS with the rest!   We will definitely be making FUTURE batches!

F is for Figure Skating

FIGURE SKATING!  or more realistically... FALLING on our FANNIES with style!
The kids school hosted a Valentines skating party.  After making valentines cards for children at Primary Children's Hospital they all donned skates and headed out on the ice.

I think it's been over three years since we attempted ice skating last.  Our swimming membership also allows for two free skate sessions a month but we haven't taken advantage of the ice.  Today was a good test run.

Whittaker FOUND it rather relaxing.

Duncan FELT secure with his double bladed skates and his special walker...
I insisted after the most painstakingly slow lap that he try it without the walker.

He was pleased with himself and we gave the walker away.  He did an entire lap without any extra assistance and was pooped... but pleased.

Sarah was nervous.  She spied a FIGURE skater doing twirls and was amazed.  She loved how graceful it looked and then decided to give it a try.  Her nervousness returned tenfold once she stepped on the ice.  She took pointers from one of the skating helpers and kept her arms out for balance and tried to relax her knees.  She was very afraid of FALLING.  She made it around the rink once without incident but confidence was still lacking.

Then she FELL... on her FANNY.  She wanted to quit right there!  I insisted she at least get back up.

She completed the lap and then rested before attempting another lap before she FALLING again.  She did improve but the nerves simply get the better of her.  Later... when we were safely home, she was telling Caleb about the skating with comments like, "It was so FANTASTIC.. you just glide!"  (I don't understand her!)

Miles.  He was not nervous.  I don't think he gets nervous.  (Do not confuse his look of concentration for nerves!)  He attacks everything with the same attitude and FINESSE.. or lack thereof.

When he FIRST learned to ride a bike I thought he'd be dead by the end of the day.  We were teaching Sarah to ride without training wheels at the local school parking lot.  (summertime.. it was big and empty.)  He hopped on and took off... no lessons on braking yet and so he turned right out onto the street, down the center, with oncoming traffic!  I've never FELT so helpless!

Swimming lessons were much the same.  He dove right in and with all FOUR limbs thrashing made it to the other side.  FORM is not his FORTE!  After three months of lessons he has mastered the skills but I'm pretty sure the lifeguards are a little on edge as they watch his thrashing method of crashing through the water. 

Running to a FRIENDS house has earned him the title of 'Kamikaze Miles'.  I've had to console myself with the FACT that he now at least runs along the side of the road and not down the center.

It should not have surprised me when today he put on a pair of blades and started to RUN!!!  on the ice; and he never looked back!

What really got us was how many times he lapped us!  Watch what took place in a matter of 10 seconds!

Start the count down... 1

We're at about 5 here...

Don't worry... this didn't slow him down any.. 6...

Sarah is in shock that she is still standing.... 7...

8.. 9...and

10!  See ya guys...

The disbelief in his wake....

When I told Miles that I had tickets to the speed skating competition next week he replied,
"Do you really think I'm FAST enough?!" 
umm... they're tickets to watch... not to compete. 
I'm looking FORWARD to seeing his FACE when he sees how FAST ... FAST is! 

F is for FATIGUE

Whittaker has been FIGHTING his bedtime again.  He is exhausted and I know it, so I don't give into his pleading cries for 'up'.  However, once his body FINALLY gives in and shuts down for the night, I FIND him in some strange positions and have to readjust him for some proper slumber!

F is for Fertility

FERTILITY in chicken eggs that is!

Each spring since we ventured into chicken FARMING, we've acquired new chicks.  Typically this occurs at Easter time and we struggle with how to house the stinky little poop squirters until they are old enough to live outdoors and until it is warm enough to allow them to live outdoors.  Then we struggle with the introduction of the young whipper snappers into the established FLOCK of hens.  

We are taking a new approach this year.  A more natural method you might say.  FIRST, however we had to know if we were dealing with FERTILE eggs or if we needed to introduce a little masculine presence to the pecking order.  So we decided to have eggs for lunch and begin the science experiment.  We studied online what we should look for in the egg to know if they were FERTILE.  We read three different books about chickens and egg hatching from the library.  We FELT confident that we could proceed.  We cracked open ten different eggs.  We studied them carefully and we all came to the consensus that 9 out of 10 eggs were....

FERTILE!

whew!  Step one is complete.

Step two may be more complicated... we have to establish which eggs come from which hens!  That way we can encourage broody behaviour in the correct lady.  This part may take us a few weeks.  We have started early.   It is only  FEBRUARY after all and we don't want chicks until the end of April!

F is for First Footsteps

FIRST FOOTSTEPS!  Yes he has taken a step.  FINALLY... and for Bailey's Birthday to Boot!

He can stand unaided for a FULL 10 seconds as well!!

I think he's pretty excited about Bailey's 23rd Birthday Bash and wanted to prove he was grown up enough to go!  We'll be having cake today for sure!

Happy Birthday Bailey from the youngest cousin to the oldest!

F is for Frosty mornings

...FROSTY mornings!  Each morning as I wake to go pick up Caleb from Seminary, I long for a garage.  I wasn't built for scraping windshields with my lack of height and arm length.  Nor do I care for the temperatures.  I've never done the warm up the car trick... issues with leaving keys in an idling car, idling exhaust fumes into the environment, having to remember to go out even earlier to start the car.

Some mornings I've discovered to my delight that the windshield is completely clear.  Then as we load into the car and pull out of the driveway, suddenly a light frost appears on the windshield and I have to pull over and start the scraping procedure anyway.  It's made for a real life lesson in dew point and sunrises and condensation and in always knowing where ones gloves are!

As I've researched methods to cease needing to scrape, I came across an article that has solidified for me that I don't need to allow Caleb to start the van when he leaves so that it's ready when we need to leave to pick him up... Not a FAN of that plan for the 45 minutes of idling and sitting prey to theft....  Now I can know that idling is actually harmful.  Whew.. good thing I was too nutty to try it to begin with.  


Although you might think it’s easier on your car to let it sit and gently warm up, doing so is a bad idea for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it does indeed waste gas.
The vast majority of cars on the road today use electronic fuel injection. When your car’s engine is cold, the computer tells the fuel injectors to stay open longer, allowing more fuel into the engine to help it run cold. As the engine warms up, the injectors let in less fuel and everything returns to normal, so to speak. 
The problem is, letting your car sit and idle is the slowest way to bring it up to operating temperature because it’s generally sitting in your drive at just above idle speed. And this method to warm up also invites other problems. Remember that modern cars are equipped with a multitude of devices to help them run clean, including a catalytic converter (sometimes three of them), a device in the exhaust system that works to burn off unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream. A cold engine emits a far higher percentage of unburned hydrocarbons than a warm engine. Unfortunately, the average catalytic converter can’t process 100 percent of unburned hydrocarbons even in the best of times. Importantly, the catalytic converter needs high exhaust temperatures to work properly. Throw in a cold engine emitting a high percentage of unburned hydrocarbons, repeat several hundred times, and you can end up with what’s called a “plugged” converter. In a nutshell, the converter becomes overwhelmed and literally ceases to function. This won’t happen all at once but over time, the end effect is the same: poor mileage and significantly dirtier exhaust.
The best bet? Even when it’s 10 degrees F outside, start your car, let it run for 30 to 60 seconds to get all the fluids moving, then drive off gently. Your engine will warm up faster, your exhaust system will get up to temperature faster so the catalytic converter can do its thing, and you’ll use less fuel. Which is what you wanted all along anyhow, right?
If it's below zero outside, it would be a good idea to give the engine five minutes or a little less before you drive off into the frozen wilderness!

 — Richard Backus, editor in chief,  Gas Engine  and Motorcycles Classics  magazines

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/car-engine-warm-up.aspx#ixzz1D2LagdYA

I suppose I could throw a towel or some cardboard on the windshield tonight and see if that helps tomorrow morning... or perhaps, just perhaps an invigorating windshield scraping is just what is intended in the early morning to get the body moving.  If it were too easy, I might not be awake enough to drive!

F is for Flu

...FLU!  Over Christmas break, we all managed to have a touch of a nasty cold.  It lingered too long.  Once we had all officially gotten over the aches and congestion and were FEELING ourselves again, the FLU arrived.  Whittaker began.  So tough to watch while he aches and doesn't understand why I don't make it go away.  He's never been very snugly though, and I took FULL advantage of his cuddliness.  We even pulled out the record player and listened to old records of Sesame Street, complete with tiger hunts and Grover taking a walking tour of our bodies.  We got groovy with Bert, doin' the pigeon..  We listened to Peter and the Wolf and Hansel and Gretel.  We took a trip to Agapeland and learned many lessons about patience and love and kindness from the music machine.  It was FUN to take a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Unfortunately it isn't a 24 hour bug... more like a FIVE - ten day deal. 


Next to succumb to the FLU was Daddy.  He did not become more snugly, nor did he listen to old records.  He took medicine and went to bed early and then kept working.  By the weekend he was worse... so he took more medicine and went to bed lots and read a book in between.

Sarah's approach was to read lots of books on the couch wrapped in many blankets.  Then she read through cook books and made a long list of baking she wants to do when she's up to eating again.   She won't admit it, but she also napped a FAIR bit.


Duncan was quite content to admit to napping.  He is also a snugly sick kid and also a bit of a sad to be ill type.  He stayed in his pajamas for days on end.  In moments of perkiness he wanted to play on the computer or race cars in the hallway.  These activities always led to another naptime. 

Miles has been my other sickly child.  No matter what was going around, he always caught it and made it worse.  Some kids would catch a cold, he'd catch pneumonia or bronchitis!   However he's starting to show signs that he's growing out of that.  Whew!  This round, he's been sluggish but not nearly as bad as some.  He FOUND that staying in his pajamas all day made him FEEL better as well as drinking lots of juice.  He lost his voice but not his sense of humor.  I must FIND the cartoon strip he drew of everyone being sick and the one he drew of a stick boy making FUN of the sick stick boy.  He may have been in his pajamas but he wasn't in bed... I was FOREVER reminding him that he was sick and needed to rest. 


Caleb doesn't get sick.  He just doesn't.  Instead, his body reacted to all this illness with a bout of Bell's Palsy.  Eye drops and a pirates eye patch, plenty of naps, but he kept his regular schedule of school and activities. He also was invaluable as a nurse's aid, and as a FILL-IN sandwich cook when disaster struck.....

and

I also succumbed to the illness.  I believe in plenty of rest, plenty of FLUIDS and listening to your body.  This was what I was spouting to everyone all week...

...I have trouble taking my own advice.  Unfortunately, I wasn't sick after everyone else, I was sick right along with them, so when Whittaker threw up on me.... when the diarrhea run down his leg....  when he wouldn't stop FUSSING because he was hungry but he turned away from everything we offered him.... when each of the kids took their turn whining that they were tired of being sick.... 

...I just whined right along with them.  We completely sacked out on the FLOOR in the living room with the FIRE roaring and the FURNACE turned up.  We were all still complaining about being cold though, wrapped in our blankets.  I read stories out loud, while Whittaker crawled all over us, and kept dozing off mid-sentence which really irked those who were still awake and listening.  We opened a can of pears and had toast for a snack.  Or we just didn't FEEL like eating at all.  We sipped lots of hot lemon and honey tea and we demolished more than one jumbo package of tissues!  (We're all amazed at how much mucous the body can produce)   And since it appears I'm making a lot of confessions these days..... we ate ice cream for no reason at all at 10 o'clock in the morning! (probably thought I was going to say that we played  FRONTIERVILLE!  ok so we may have a little...)

This weekend with every bit of energy that I could muster I did laundry... an important thing to keep up with during illness.  There is just something about clean linens and, ok Duncan begged me.  He claims he wasn't getting out of his pajamas because he didn't have any pants, not because he was sick!

A new week!   While we may be in slow motion, we have decreed that we are FINISHED with the FLU!  We just hope that the FLU is FINALLY FINISHED with us!

F is for Food

...FOOD!  While it is the bane of my existence when I'm not organized because I FEEL as though I never leave the kitchen and I'm always eating, this month the kids and I have worked on 7 days of FOOD.  FEBRUARY is the only month divisible by 7 without any leftover days, so we will repeat our menu FOUR times.  A plan, a menu, a grocery list.  It's healthy, it's diverse and it's simple.  We're all looking FORWARD to meal times and to having some more time for other things for a change!
Breakfasts have always been simple for us.. We alternate between three, oatmeal, cream of wheat and cold cereal.
Lunches have FOUR options.  Burritos, Sandwiches or Wraps, Baked Potatoes with toppings, and Eggs (any way we FEEL like them)
Our Suppers are where we get crazy... seven different Suppers!  But we also looked at our days of the week and created meals that would work well on the nights that we have busy and meals that suit the nights that we don't have plans.
Our Mondays FIND us at Piano lessons, FLUTE lessons, Duncan's scouts and FHE.(FAMILY night) so we have Spaghetti planned.

Tuesdays FREQUENTLY have Whittaker's physical and speech therapy sessions which can cut into cooking time.  Miles and I have scouts at 6:30.  So it's Pizza night! We're eager to try new pizza recipes.

Wednesday is nutty!  (Except for Duncan... he's never nutty!)  Music class for Whittaker, Activity days for Sarah, Caleb has scouts/Young men's, and then he and Daddy have Volleyball.  Sarah and I like to have the little boys in bed early and look FORWARD to Girl's night, so we have a crockpot soup planned for easy supper and quick clean up!

Thursdays are the best day of the week right now..  It changes but currently our Thursday's aren't spoken for so, it's our comfort food night.  No one has to be anywhere, so we refer to it as meat night.  We can have a roast or pork chops or chicken meal.  Once stuffed, I'm sure we'll all just enjoy relaxing on our night at home!

FRIDAYS are also looked forward to.  Caleb is up before the FELINES are FINISHED with their midnight FROLICKING, and is off to the temple from 4-noon.  FRIENDS are out of school early and so the kids often want to play.  It's also get ready for the weekend day... prepare for daddy projects and primary responsibilities, errands, and shopping.  So we have breakfast for dinner.  Since we love breakfast FARE but don't have time for big morning meals, we've allotted them as dinner.  Waffles, pancakes, FRENCH toast, crepes, quiche... we're having FUN!  Afterwards it's FAMILY activity... either a movie or game usually.  (often it's FRIEND time too)

Saturdays are packed with FUN.  Caleb has basketball, we all go swimming and there's always work tasks to be done at home.  So our new FAVOURITE meal is served up.  Lemon pepper FISH with plenty of veggies!  Just typing that makes me look FORWARD to Saturday night!

Sundays have become bizarre with church from 1-4pm.  So it's chili day.  The crockpot saves the day again.  it's also a good decision to have it after church to keep any FLATULENCE issues from creeping into our church. 

There... don't know why I just typed up our menu...

F is for Focus

...FOCUS! That is the goal for this month.  Stay FOCUSED!  The acronym, F.O.C.U.S., is FABULOUS.  It is FOLLOW one course until successful.  This will be helpful for the sidetracked types (ME).  I have way too many projects on the go.  Always.  And this typically results in nothing actually being accomplished.  I've had an old German proverb on a post it note over my desk for years, 'He who starts much accomplishes little'.  It hasn't helped much obviously.  So I'm being realistic.  In order to complete a project it must be the only one that I'm working on.  One course.  Then when, successful, I can begin another.  So for the first two days of February I've been boxing up my unfinished projects that hang around my house screaming at me to FINISH them.  One place for projects and only one project on the go at a time should help in keeping the house under control as well.  And hey, if the house is under control, I should have more time for the projects... Don't you love living in theory? 

F is for Famous People

...FAMOUS PEOPLE!

We have started a new unit of study in our schooling.  I came up with the idea from our interest in two things that weren't so educationally minded.  ergh... I have to confess to the other now also!  So if becoming addicted to FACEBOOKS' FRONTIERVILLE wasn't bad enough, we discovered that an old TV series that I remembered watching many moons ago, was available to watch instantly on Netflix.  The show happened to also be centered in the old wild west FRONTIER life.  It's called, Young Riders.  It's about the pony express and the time leading up to the civil war, and has characters such as Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok and Jesse James.  How could my boys not find all this FASCINATING?  So after a couple of weeks of FALLING from grace, in regards to any semblance of routine and allowing games and episode after episode... late nights because I was often willing to give into pleas of 'just one more tonight?'.  I've decided that we better learn some FACTS to make all this FUN pay off.

A trip to the library garnered many books on the FAMOUS people of the old wild west.  More than the kids even were introduced to in the show and game... Abraham Lincoln, Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley, Jim Bridger, Billy the Kid, George Washington Carver, Elizabeth Blackwell, and others.  FEBRUARY will be book report on biographies month around here!  We've already FINISHED our FIRST book about Hickok, one about Johnny Appleseed, one about Lord Baden-Powell and one about Margaret and H.A.Rey (the author and illustrator of Curious George) and they have been most enlightening.  We've had discussions about gossip and legends and legacies.  I'm starting to think January might not have been too wasted after all!  (Although it sure is tempting when I'm outside to just want to click on a weed or a tree or a pile of rocks in the wrong place and move it with the touch of a FINGER. )

F is for Feelings of Failure

...FEELINGS OF FAILURE!  Even with every FEELING from A to Z, I refuse to give in to FEELINGS of FAILURE.  Instead I prefer to FOCUS on the FUTURE.  What can I do to improve?  I will admit to FALLING for FACEBOOK's FRONTIERVILLE.  I can't believe that I FELL, let alone that I will admit to it!  YIKES!!!  It started so innocently.  I was just trying to keep the peace during a very stressful Christmas break and details of why so stressful aside, FRONTIERVILLE was the right solution for the time.   I've always struggled with the use and point of FACEBOOK to begin with ... rather impersonal and silly.. I much prefer a long winded blog format!!!  But....  The kids played.  I played.  Then we played some more.  When the ten days that we needed to play for came to an end.... we FACED that we had a problem.  We thought we could just stop.  We thought we had FORTITUDE and strength of character and self discipline.

We do not.

If you aren't FAMILIAR with the game, the  premise is that you are building a town in the old wild west.  You visit your neighbours each day and help them out, sometimes you harvest a crop, other times you chop down a tree, and sometimes you send them FOOD.

I knew it was at it's worst when we were sitting in Sacrament meeting at church and we were listening to a wonderful talk by the relief society president about charity and service, and when she mentioned visiting neighbours and how some have served others by chopping down an old tree, and others with meals... well.. Miles whispered to me.. I think she plays FRONTIERVILLE. 

That moment should have been enough for me to ban the game FOREVER!  But it didn't.  It did however make me insist that they earn time to play by doing their chores and responsibilities FIRST.  So we created the NobleWorld game, very similarly based on the FRONTIERVILLE game.  So now we play it all the time in real life.  If they want anything, they have to check their status jar to see if they have enough points to pay for the; playdate; baking cookies; computer time; swimming outing.... etc.

So to all those out there.... don't start!  And for what it's worth... it's not just me... it looks like I'm playing constantly but really there are FIVE people on the same account playing throughout the day!... I realize that actually sounds worse now that I type it.  We're still working on it.  I will promise this though... We won't be starting ANY other games!! 

Success is not FINAL, FAILURE is not FATAL: it is the courage to continue that counts. ~ Winston Churchill

F is for a Frenzy of Feelings

...FRENZY of FEELINGS!  I've run the gamut of feelings from overwhelmed, to apathetic, to exhausted, to giddy, to spiteful and just about everything in between.  It's been a while since I've blogged... so just in case anyone wondered... YES, I still have that blog thing!  (Paige asks everyday!)  I choose to be FLATTERED, that it is missed rather than FRUSTRATED, that it is seriously lacking.

FEELINGS seem to run simultaneously alongside decisions in my world.  Big and small choices cause angst. Should I purge something on my quest for organization?
Should I start Duncan in Piano?
Should I put the kids in a regualr school?
Should I revamp the office?
Should I worry about Whittaker's constant ailing and congestion, or just trust that it will be one of those things he grows out of?
Should I be more involved in scouts or leave things as they are?
Should we sell everything we own and move to Borneo?
Should I cut my hair?
Should I study piano?
Should I join the gardening co-op?
Should I paint the boys room?
Should we vacation all summer or choose one big trip and call it good?
Should I move Whittaker in with the big boys yet?
Should we buy a new back door, upstairs windows?
Should I write out a to do list that would be daunting and long?
Should I make dinner or just wait until every is starving and tell them to have whatever they can FIND?

and the list goes on...

And then the list changes to,

How should I ....  for almost each of the should questions.  

Some of the decisions are simpler and the FEELINGS don't weigh heavily upon me... but others are difficult to make and then stick to and the FEELINGS are much more intense and exhausting.  The one thing I have learned though is that once a decision is made and carried out.... The most wonderful FEELING, is that of FREEDOM.  I never realized before that I was a prisoner of indecision!  I have very FEW regrets in regards to previously made decisions.  Either my excessive research and deliberation has been wise or, I'm pretty dang good at this choosing game!  So... I hope with that in mind... I can FREE myself from FURTHER angst, and allow more peaceful decision making to be the hallmark of my FUTURE!