I know, amazing that I can write about anything other than the cats. (I am sure there will be plenty to write about soon)

My daughter is studying American History, from the Pilgrims to the Revolutionary War, this year. So, they had a ‘colonial feast’ yesterday. The children got to pick recipes, which of course us parents got to prepare (with a little help from said child).

My daughter and I picked out the recipe together and I thought little about what we had picked, other than; I knew she didn’t care for it, and I knew how to cook it (or so I thought). We picked “Winter Squash” aka Acorn Squash. I have always cooked it the way my Mom cooked it (see I did learn something) but I had to follow the directions…(note to self, read the directions before agreeing to make something for the kids for school).

I have always cooked the Acorn Squash by cutting it in half, clean out the seeds, put it upside down in boiling water in the oven at 350 for 40-50 minutes, turn it over, put brown sugar, butter, a little salt and pepper and put back in the oven untill melted. Easy right? I know the directions by heart, as I make it a couple times a year.

The recipe from school was not as easy. First we had to wash and peel (not as easy as it sounds) the squash. Cut in half, and clean out the seeds, and cube. Place in layers in a pan, dotting each layer with butter and brown sugar, at the end add 1/4 cup of water and bake at 375 for 60 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking. It looks easy and if Acorn Squash came with no skin, it would have been. It took us about 20 minutes to peel the squash, the rest was pretty easy…and tasted good, but I can get the same result by cutting the squash in half and making it my way.

The other part of their ‘project’ was to wear appropriate garb to the school yesterday. So I gave my daughter a dress that I had made for myself when she was little, she had a shawl, but…we also needed a bonnet. I spent Sunday making bonnets. After hunting down an appropiate pattern and making one, we discovered that it was to small for her head. So I made the needed alterations and created a second bonnet. It came out pretty good too. I understand that the day went well, the food was good, and the kids were able to get a ‘taste’ of colonial cooking.

So, when my daughter came home, I wanted to take a picture of my daughter dressed up…

She forgot the bonnet at school…that is a picture that I will have to take another time…

Tags: Thanksgiving, Education, School, Family

I just had a ’sweet’ evening.

My daughter goes to an activity on Wednesday evenings, with the Young Women from church. This evening we met at her leaders house, and we made candy. The group was only 3 girls this evening, and I was able to help out, as it was a small group. It was nice to be a part of this activity. My daughter is such a great kid, I am glad that I have had this chance to work with her. We made a couple different things. Taffy, peanutbutter cups, ‘Cathedral Windows’ and fudge.

The kids went out for a little bit to collect candy this evening. They had a good time but came home because they were cold. We then carved my sons pumpkin, I had avoided putting the pumpkin outside becuase of the kids in the area. But we were able to enjoy it this evening

On Tuesday, my kids had a day off from school (one of 4 this week and next), and we went to the local Science Center where they were displaying Prehistoric Sea Monsters…

So, here are my kids (and my daughters best friend), in front of the Megalodon Jaws

Thank you all for your comments. I will tell him of all the people that are praying for him. I know it helps him to feel strong and I believe that the prayers will aid in his recovery. I should fairwarn everyone, I post plenty of updates, when it comes to things like my Dads condition. I am a person who find comfort in talking about things to others and this is one of those things. I think I told about 10 people at church tonight, including the Bishop.

OK, now for the update…

My Dad has an apointment tomorrow, for all the tests that are needed for the surgery.
Tuesday he will undergo the operation if all is well.

My dad is still incredibly positive, and looking forward to the next year. I am pleased that he still has the fighting spirit. He has taken great care of himself the last 20 years or so. He gave up smoking and doesnt drink, he loves to ride his bike and go skiing. He goes for walks almost daily and is in great physical shape, asside from the cancer.

I don’t know what if anything that they will be able to do in a year, or whether that will be an option. For now, I am praying. I will be fasting and praying this Sunday for my father, which is something that I believe will help. I will post more news as it happens.

OK, most of the family knows what is going on, but for the rest and for my friends online…here goes.

Last year, in July, my father was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma(please be warned, there are graphic surgical pictures at the bottom of this site. There is quite a bit of info before that though). His is a primary tumor and of the four different types his is the most agressive. Once discovered they immediately operated and removed as much as they could safely remove. He then underwent radiation and chemo. He was being checked periodically and things ’seemed’ to be ok. A couple weeks ago, as I understand it, my dad started having headaches again. He contacted his doctor and had another MRI. The results came back and I have found out today that the cancer is infact back, and the tumor is larger than the previous one. He will undergo another surgery in the next week or so, but this is just a temporary fix as the tumor will grow back.

So, that is that for now, I hope to find out when the surgery will occur, and the outlook from there soon. Prayers are gladly accepted and appreciated, this has been a horrible month and it doesnt seem to be getting any better.

This past weekend my guys went camping. The took a few photos, so I decided to post them.

*sigh*

This has started out and is going to be a sad week. I mentioned earlier that a friend of mine lost her daughter last week. Well, this week will be the funeral. I have started working on the angel, and I am bringing dinner to my friends family today. Wednesday is the viewing (wake) and Thursday the funeral. I have been asked to sing in the choir, which means I will be sobbing through the whole song… I just wish there were some way to help my freind out.

This week will have some good times. Wednesday, I will be teaching a friend from church how to crochet, and Friday, my daughters uncle will be driving up for a visit. Friday night into Saturday is also the Father & son church campout, which will be my sons first campout. He is so excited.

I dont know how much I will be posting this week. But I will do my best.

This past week has been extremely difficult for me. I have had to deal with some difficulties that at times seem/are out of my control. I wrote a note this evening, to the people at the management company about what has been going on…so, just because I really just need to get this out and get over it…

On Monday afternoon, about 5pm, or so, three young ladies (one from #,# , and the last unknown at this time) were on the playground doing their homework and talking. At times their conversation became rather loud and many swears were spoken. At one point one of the young ladies yells over to one of the 5 year olds “…Are you a faggot?”, “…Are you a lesbian?” (The boy child’s name is left out)

I was very upset about this, and asked that the young ladies “please, not talk like that in front of the children” At that point the girls got rather obnoxious and loud, swearing and said that if I had a problem, maybe I should talk with their parents. They went to get one of the parents, but I was informed by one of the young ladies that her mother was not home.

The parent came out and proceeded to berate me. I tried to explain to her what it was that I talked to the children about. But she would not hear anything I said to her. I tried to get out of the conversation and let the whole thing drop. I was not that fortunate. About 20 minutes later the other two mothers arrived. I was accused of everything from taking the knob off the faucet to being “spawn of the devil” The knob off the faucet was due to the person who lives in the apartment right next to the faucet, and his not liking his doorway sprayed with water, which several of the children have done at one time or another. She also blamed my son, for all that was wrong on the playground. My son is almost never out alone and unsupervised. Often times his sister or father is with him and he is well behaved. In the instances where my son has not been well behaved, we have punished him by removing him from the playground. One parent, lets her little kids (hers aged 5 and her friends children who she is watching, aged 1-4) out without any supervision. The yard is often filled with litter (as it is now) and they don’t pick up their toys or have consideration for other people’s things.

This past 5 days, my children have had to be restricted from the yard in order to not be around the children swearing, and other children who are unsupervised. I have given up on asking the children in question, to stop. My children, along with the children from at least 3 other apartments, are not allowed outside with those children. My upstairs neighbor and I garden, and neither one of us wants to be outside where we have to listen to the swearing.

Earlier this spring, a note was sent around by management, reminding us to remember that the common areas were for all to use and that we should remember to be polite to others around us…this included the music that is often blasted, by these same three girls.

I am not sure if anything can be done at this point, or if it will even matter. I have been accused of being a racist (as two of the three are not white)…and many other things. I like where I live, but would like to let my children out to play. This note is being sent just to apprise you of the situation at this apartment complex and that there is a problem.

Ok, hopefully after I give this to the lady in the office, I can let go of the thing that is eating me up…

Food holds no appeal for me, now. I am completely not hungry. I tried eating today and was able to get a couple bites of chicken and a spoon full of potato, and some applesauce. It seems that applesauce is the only thing I can eat. I will have to call the Doctor about this…

My son had orientation today for school. He got to ride the bus, which he will not be doing but it was part of the program. He had a snack, and got to see his classroom and where he will sit. He went on the bus last school year when he went to preschool (Special Ed.), but he was only gone for a couple hours. Now he will be gone for most of the day, it will take me a while to get used to this.

Oh well…that is all for the news of the day…of yesturday