The Bethany Harty Blog

Hooah!

2008-10-02T12:19:00.001-05:00

Jacob's Persuasive Essay (I don't care if I spelled it wrong)

2008-02-21T15:07:00.002-06:00

When you go on vacation, do you like to buy toys? That’s what we do when we go to my grandma Lyn’s house. We also eat out a lot. Plus, we get to see our family. That’s always enjoyable.

There are some downsides to it as well. Usually, we don’t see them until the afternoon. Also there are no games. Finally, it takes a long time to fly there.

Grandma Lyn also buys us toys. Sometimes she lets us have 20$. We can acquire anything that is 20$ or less. We can get some really decent stuff, like one time I got a computer game.

It’s really exquisite to eat out. Our favorite is the golden coral. We also eat at McDonalds. Burger king also isn’t a bad choice.

The main reason is we have the chance to see family. We live extremely far away, so we don’t see them a lot. Papa Steve is pleasant and it’s always good to be around amusing people. Nicky and I are good friends.

These are some reasons why this would make a good vacation. You get toys and eat out. Also you see family. You can see this is a good vacation.

2008 Pinewood Derby

2008-02-20T23:56:00.003-06:00

Check out all the fun we had at our Pinewood Derby for Pack 782. Brent had to work, so he didn't get to see all the fun. But, being the sweet and loving wife I am, I made him a video to watch. And, now I"m sharing it with you all, so it's like you were there! But the nice 4 minutes version. If only all of life had the 4 minute version!

Joe Didn't Get The Message

2008-02-20T20:15:00.003-06:00

This picture was also taken in April of 07, but fit with my WordArt for tomorrow. Actually, when I was designing this WordArt, I had something much nicer in mind, but I couldn't find a picture of us all having fun in the kitchen. So I settled for Joe pouting at the table. Cute pic of Joe, eh?

Kit by RC Mama - Sweet Daiseys
WordArt by Me!

Fettuccine Alfredo VS. Jimmy

2008-02-20T19:54:00.003-06:00

These pictures were taken back in April of 07, and I must say, Jimmy hasn't changed that much. Still the same goofy kid. Still the maker of messes. Still can melt him mommy's heart!

Papers by Raspberry Roads Designs - Clovis the Clown
WordArt by ME!

Look How Cute He Was

2008-02-20T19:35:00.003-06:00

My how my baby has grown! Not such a little one anymore ; And as for this quote, it is totally true! Besides, if this is how babies sleep, I want no part in that!

Papers by Pineapple Plantation Designs
WordArt by ME!

Hod Rod Grandmas?

2008-02-17T20:26:00.003-06:00

So funny. The other day, I downloaded these papers from Raspberry Roads Design, and little did I know I'd get the chance to use it so sooon! My mom sent me these pictures of herself, Granny, and Chrissy on Dad's 3-wheelers after church. They weren't really riding them, just taking a photo op. Funny!

My Hat / My Underwear

2008-02-17T19:18:00.003-06:00

This is SO funny. It makes me laugh every time I see it. Grandma Lyn sent 2 new pairs of underwear for Joe, red and white NBA undies. Jimmy has decided that the red pair is his hat. Don't ask me why, I don't know. But, it's sure funny. What you are watching is Jimmy wearing Joe's undies, and Joe getting mad at him. HILARIOUS!

Just so you all know, these are brand new, never before worn. Not dirty underwear. Just thought I'd put that out there. Hehehe.

Crazy Kids!

2008-02-16T14:24:00.002-06:00

Eme's New Dress

2008-02-16T13:32:00.002-06:00

Thanks, Grandma Lyn, for the new dress. Eme LOVES it!

Papers by Raspberry Roads - Baileys Room
Embellishments by Ellie Lash - Love Actually
WordArt by ME!

Our Civil War Family

2008-02-15T23:51:00.004-06:00

I love Digiscrapping!

Be My Valentine Mini Kit by Michelle Yiap
WordArt by me

Mom Will Kick Their Butts

2008-02-15T20:38:00.004-06:00

Poor Joe. He couldn't find his coat, and had to wear his jean jacket, which we all know is not very warm. So, as an added layer, I made him put on his sisters' hoodie, which just happened to be pink. You'd have thought I'd asked him to eat glass!

He said that they big kids would make fun of him, and that he didn't want to go out. I called him close, and said "Joe, if they make fun of me, come get me, and I'll kick their butts". That was just the right thing to say. He LOVED it! The idea of Mom kicking the big kids butts was so funny, he went right outside to play in the snow.

Of course, the first thing the big kids did was, you guessed it, make fun of Joe. So, I yelled out the door "If you make fun of Joe, I'll kick you butts". They all thought it was hilarious, and laughed so hard, they forgot to make fun of Joe. Such silly kids! Such a silly mom :)

Take it or leave it!

2008-02-15T20:36:00.003-06:00

So sad, but this could be just about any night at the Harty house. Since starting homeschool, I've been so pooped in the evenings, that unless planned out before lunch, I don't feel like cooking. I need to get my menus going again. Then, I just take out what needs defrosted at b-fast, and already know what I'm cooking. I'll get right on that.....

Our Schoolroom

2008-02-15T15:10:00.003-06:00

I really do like my new classroom for the kids. It's a great setup, because there's a gate across the door, and the little kids can see what we're doing, but won't be able to trash the place. Yeah for baby gates :)

Jimmy in the Snow

2008-02-14T14:24:00.004-06:00

Here's a few pictures of Jimmy playing outside in the new snow. He had a lot of fun, but got cold. Hot chocolate is good for that!

Life is Full

2008-02-13T20:45:00.003-06:00

A BIG KISS from Joe and Jim

2008-02-11T21:25:00.000-06:00

Just for MOM

2008-02-10T14:48:00.001-06:00

Here's that WordArt you were asking about. Just click on it, and it will open up a fairly large .jpg. Right click to save, then you can print it out. It's saved in 8x10 format. Sorry it took so long, but I finally did it!

Thanks Heater Guys!

2008-02-09T15:25:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the heater guys, for bringing us chocolates when they were done fixing our heater. What a nice thing to do. The kids were so excited. We sat on the floor and divi'ed up the loot!

Thanks again, Heater Guys!

blogger is being dumb, and I couldn't get the rest of the photos uploaded, so I decided to post what I had. When it decided to play nicely with others, I'll put the rest of them on:)

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-09T13:47:00.000-06:00

So what do you think of my kids Valentine's this year. Aren't these cool? I just made them a 2x6 in Photoshop, then saved 3 of them on a 4x6, then sent them to Wal-mart. The kids really liked them. Happy Valentine's Day (a little early, but that's ok)

Spider Joe

2008-02-07T22:44:00.001-06:00

Thanks, Grandma Lyn, for this neat Spider-man undershirt. Joe hasn't taken it off since he got it. Of course, that might have more to do with the washing machine being broken than anything else! I'm pushing hard for the kids to check their close for "rewearability". Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do!

Fancy Sandwich Party

2008-02-07T22:34:00.001-06:00

I love how with children, you can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Take yesterday's lunch, for example. I didn't want to make anything for lunch that was gonna be too much work, but I knew that the kids were getting tired of Peanut Butter and Jelly. So, I made PBJ, Peanut Butter and Butter, Bologna, and Tuna sandwiches, cut them into triangles, arranged them each on their own plate, and put them on the kitchen table, at varying heights.

Then, I called them all in and told them that we were having "fancy sandwiches" for lunch. They were so excited. Hehehe. So funny.

The New School Room

2008-02-07T22:27:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you all know this, but we're temporarily in a Rental here in Ohio. It's a pretty small house, but TONS bigger than the Scout Cabin, so I can't complain. Anyway, it has a living room, and a smaller room off of the living room (maybe like a sitting room) that opens up to the kitchen, the stairs, and a small bedroom. Not much space, and a main thorough way in the house. That's where the school room was set up. Let me tell you, it was sure crowded. 1 table set up as a desk with stuff stacked way up high. 2 other smaller desks for 2 other kids. A microwave cart as a printer holder. 2 bookshelves side by side for supplies. And, we still had to walk through it, as it was our main "hallway".

So, one Saturday when Brent was busy working, I decided to rearrange the house. For anyone who knows me, I do this quite often. Funny, because it's so not in my personality type to like change. But hey, we all have our quirks. Anyway, I decided to move Jacob and Thomas upstairs with the other kids, and turn their room into a school room. The best part of it is, I can put up a baby gate, and keep Jimmy and Joe (mostly Jimmy) out! We moved a small love seat and bookshelf into the old school area, and have a nice sitting area.

It really works quite well this way. Now I just have to figure out a way to get all 5 kids to go to sleep in the same room at night....

.

The Saddest Face EVER!

2008-02-07T22:16:00.001-06:00

Poor Jacob. He hasn't been feeling right for a while now. One would think, from looking at this pic, that he was disappointed in his trophy. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Thursday and Friday of last week, he was sick. Puking in the toilet, can't stand up 'cause your head's swimming, fever and chills' sick. But, he was better on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I guess he was complaining of a sore throat, but it's cold season.

So Wednesday night rolls around, and we go to Church scouts (yes, there is a distinction). He starts feeling sick again. I know that Jacob is sick when his energy level drops to zero, he's cold (that's a big red flag, right there!), and all the color drains out of his face. He just kind of hung out on the side of our meeting, not having enough energy to participate.

This is him getting his trophy from the Pinewood Derby. They were a week late, but better late than never! Anyway, he didn't have a very fun meeting, with him being sick and all. Poor Jacob.

We found out that Maylee Brower had Strep Throat, and I started to wonder if maybe that's what my kids had. I say kids, because that same day, Emeline started to get sick. She started to complain about a sore throat, and started getting chills, and loss of energy. Great. 2 sick kids.

Luckily, Brent was home for the evening, and needed to prepare for his conference the next day. So I left Emeline home with him to relax, and we went to Scouts. If I had known that Jacob was going to be sick too, I'd have left him home with Dad and Eme. Oh well. Who knew?

So, today, I called and made an appointment for the kids at the doctor. The heater guys were here in the AM, and our appointment was at 2:30. Jackson is 45 mintues away, so it was a bit of a drive. We cleaned and tried to make the house presentable for the heater guys (I'm sure they didn't care, but I sure did), did a few hours of school, and headed out to the doctor.

After hearing the symptoms and examining the kids, he said that it sounded like a virus, and not strep, but that he'd go ahead and do the culture anyway. Good thing he did, cause they both tested positive. A mother's instincts are hardly ever wrong.

Then, off to Wal-mart we went. Jacob was so sick by this point, that he just wanted to sit on the bench at the pharmacy. Unfortunately, they said that there was 100 other prescriptions to be filled before mine. Crazy! So, we wandered around Wal-mart for an hour, finding lots of "necessities". Actually, we didn't do bad considering the amount of time we had there.

Then, on home, and quite relaxing time. With 2 sick kids, I decided to let them watch some TV before bed. We'll finish up school on Saturday. I love the flexibility of homeschool!

So, here's to my poor Jacob, and his saddest (and sickest) face ever. We love you, Jacob!

My New WordArt Site

2008-02-07T20:32:00.000-06:00

For those of you who were getting tired of all the WordArt, relief is in sight! Or would that be site? I made a new website for my WordArt, and will leave you all in peace here. I have a few new pics of the kids to put on, but I need to download them first. Homeschooling really does take a lot of time, did you know? Hehehe.

Anyway, check it out, and tell me what you think!

Jimmy, Then and Now

2008-02-06T22:45:00.001-06:00

So I saw this idea on someone else's site, and LOVED it. So, I had to borrow the idea. Isn't it cute!!!!

For Mom

2008-02-06T21:57:00.001-06:00

Families are forever is such a great "quote", I couldn't help but use it :) My mom requested the one about Christ, and who can say no to their mom? Certainly not me! So, here it is, Mom! Hope you like it :)

Blast from the Past

2008-02-06T20:53:00.001-06:00

Look how little these kids were! Spring time in Chicagoland! Notice the MUD! We used to get so mad that the utility trucks who would drive in "our" vacant lot next door, and mess up "our" mud. Didn't they realize how messy it makes "our" vacant lot look? The nerve!

Here's Eme and Joe discovering the joy of mud and dirt!

Valentines Day Words and Friendship Quote

2008-02-06T14:43:00.000-06:00

OK, Mom, I promise that I'll get some real pictures for you on here tonight. We have Scouts, and I promise that I'll take some real pictures for you then. For now, here's 3 more word arts. One is for Valentine's Day, one is I Am A Child of God, and the last is a nice quote on friendship. Enjoy!

Benjamin Franklin Quote

2008-02-06T10:32:00.001-06:00

Today in Jacob's history class, we were studying Benjamin Franklin. This was a quote from the book. I thought it was really good, so I decided to Word Art it. Hope you enjoy. Click below to download.! :)

The Six B's

2008-02-05T21:46:00.001-06:00

Here's another word art, this time, the 6's B's from President Hinckley. I just love these. Don't you? Just click on the image below to download.

Neat Quotes

2008-02-05T20:39:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd share a few neat quotes that I found and made into word art with you all. Don't know how many of you Digiscrap, but it's really quite a bit of fun. Anyway, enjoy.

Click on the image to download the file.

Tenacious J by Lauren Reid.
WordArt by ME!

This layout was done by Steph, and it's super cute! I love how the little guy is in black and white at the bottom. Great effect! Fantastic job!!!

An Afternoon At Home

2008-02-04T21:28:00.001-06:00

What a lovely afternoon at home. Who says you have to go "out" to have fun?

Joseph Guild

2008-02-03T14:24:00.001-06:00

So sweet!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2008-02-02T21:31:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday, Mom! I'm sure glad that you're my mom. But you're so much more than just that to me. I'm glad that we're such good friends, and we truly enjoy each others company. We like to talk on the phone together, even if we're not saying anything. Even if I'm just listening to you work, or you're just listening to me talk to the kids.

I like that we laugh at the same things, and that we get each others funny sense of humor. I like that you were home when I was little. I like that you always went out of your way to help me out when I was in school. Like bringing forgotten items to school, or driving me around places, or staying up late to help me with homework.

I like that you came and helped out when I had my babies. I like that you like to take us places, and have lots of fun. You really do like to have a good time. You're not a boring mom. You most definitely not!

I like how you are not afraid to share you testimony with anyone (and I really do mean anyone!). I like how you've started listening to Glenn Beck, and are so interested in politics right now. That's so good for you!

I like how you send the kids and I interesting things in the mail. You've always done that! Even at college, I can remember getting a box with the most random stuff in it from you. Life is always a surprise!

I like that you love your grandkids, and let them talk to you (or listen to you) on the phone. That's real love!

Thanks so much for being my Mom, and for most importantly, being my friend!

I love you, Mom

Happy Birthday

Eme and Jimmy

2008-02-02T20:38:00.001-06:00

Aren't they adorable?

Pack 30 Pinewood Derby

2008-02-01T15:38:00.001-06:00

Here's a few photos from our Pack Pinewood Derby. It was a lot of fun, considerening the amount of space we had to work with. Lots of bodies in a tiny room. Togetherness, right?

Thomas pulled off a win in the Wolf den, bringing home a trophy. Jacob got 2nd place in the Webelos, and Mom got a 2nd place in the open class - adult. Emeline got 1st place in the open class - youth, and Joe got 3rd place in the open class - youth.

Well done to everyone! The cars looked fabulous!

The Amazing Spiderman

2008-01-31T21:55:00.001-06:00

Thank you so much, Grandma Lyn, for sending new undies to the kids! They were all so excited to try them on, and show them off. But, only Jim and Joe got pictures taken. Pictures of spiderman undies on little kids is cool. Pictures of undies on big kids is just inappropriate!

Jim from October, 2007

2008-01-31T21:18:00.001-06:00

Isn't he just the cutest thing ever!

See the Resemblance?

2008-01-31T21:13:00.001-06:00

He already thinks he knows what he wants to be for Halloween this year!

For those of you out there who don't follow Harry Potter, this is Mad-Eye Moody, the auror. But surely all of you knew that :) Doesn't everyone love Harry Potter?

OHVA Winter Days

2008-01-31T21:07:00.001-06:00

What a fun time we had at the library today! This was one of the many "face to face" opportunities our school has to offer. Anyone in OHVA in the Chillicothe area was invited to come and participate in a fun get-together at the library. The kids played relay games, listened to stories, ate a snack, decorated cards for soldiers, made foam bead necklaces, played board games, and just had fun!

We were glad that our friends from church, the Tyres and the Stalcups were there! It's so nice having church friends be our school friends! Kids, moms, and babies all enjoyed themselves!!!

Jericho Returns Soon

2008-01-30T09:13:00.000-06:00

OK, my friends. One of my favorite shows is returning within days to CBS, and I can't help out the ratings by watching it. So, if you would please, tune in to Jericho on CBS and watch it for me. Well, watch it so that the ratings are bumped up, and they'll keep it on the air. I was so sad when they almost cancelled it last time. Thanks to all who sent NUTS to bring it back.

I watched the first 3 episodes of the new season online, and they're AWESOME! The sad thing is that now I have to wait at least 4 more weeks to see a new episode (see, there are downsides to watching things early online). Check out my sidebar about my TV shows to find the link to Watch Jericho, Season 2, the first 3 episodes. SO gooooooood!. Try it, I think you'll like it :)

The Coolest Pinewood Derby Car, EVER!

2008-01-30T06:39:00.001-06:00

All right, so I admit that if I have to explain what this car is, it looses a little bit of its "coolness". But, if you're a Doctor Who fan, you have to admit, this is an AWESOME car! I mean, come on! It's the Tardis!!!

BYU Remembers President Hinckley

2008-01-29T20:32:00.000-06:00

This was a very nice slide show. I loved seeing President Hinckley the times that he came to BYU that I was there. What an awesome man and prophet!

BYU Slide Show

Dear Heavenly Father....

2008-01-28T21:15:00.000-06:00

This has got to be one of my favorite pages. I know I'm wicked, but I couldn't help but snap this photo of Jimmy saying his prayers tonight. So cute!!!

Beloved Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97

2008-01-28T15:57:00.000-06:00

We sure loved President Hinckley. He was such a great man, and a great prophet. He was the prophet for all of my adult life. I still remember when he was called as a prophet when I was a freshman in college at BYU. He did such great work for the church and for the world. He truly loved us all. You will be missed, President Hinckley.

My Brown Eyed Kids

2008-01-27T18:10:00.001-06:00

Well, maybe it's because I have brown eyes, but I think that these two have the most beautiful brown eyes.....what do you think?!!!!

A Guide to Babies

2008-01-26T10:46:00.000-06:00

This was hysterical. You just HAVE to go and see it!

A Guide to Babies

It sure made me laugh.....

Happy Saturday!

2008-01-26T10:21:00.000-06:00

You know what I like the best about Saturday mornings? The fact that I have nothing that I'm supposed to be doing. I can sit around in my bathrobe all morning long if I want to. Or, I can shower and get ready for what the day holds. But I can choose! I love it.

So, this morning, I decided to do a bit of work in the certificates, and take a few pictures of the kids. They knew that to play on the computer, they first needed to do their chores. Each one of them came up to me and stated how their chores were SOOOO much harder than their siblings. Come on! How can that be true?

I think I may walk the kids down the the park today. It's crested 32 degrees, and we're dying to get out of the house. A brisk walk might do everyone some good! Hope all of your days are progressing as nicely!!!

Eme!

I had to put all the chairs away, because Jim was using them to do happy dances on the tables and counter tops. And trust me, you don't want a 2 year old boy doing that. They can get into all of sorts of trouble! So here he is, confined to eat on the floor!!!

Joe, standing on a stool, eating his cereal at the counter. He's posing nicely :)

And Jacob, not the happy camper. He would rather just play the games, not do the chores. I"m sure Grandma Lyn agrees with you :)

Here are Jim and Tom, playing racing horse. It may be kind of hard to tell from the picture, but they were having a lot of fun. Clever game, eh?

OK, here's the awards that I like so far. I made a little district logo, and you can see it in all of the pictures. I think that it works well with all of them, but maybe not so much the eagle award.

Eme's Artwork

2008-01-25T16:31:00.001-06:00

Isn't this a neat idea. A few lessons back, we learned about mixing colors (primary and secondary) and color tints (adding white) and shades (adding black). Tom was supposed to paint a piece of paper with mixed colors, and with shades and tints. Of course, Emeline and Joe wanted to join in the fun. The next lesson, we took the papers we had painted, and on it, drew the shape of a cat. Everyone liked Tom's design, so he volunteered to make everyone else a cat. Emeline used her painted paper, Tom drew on the cat, Eme cut it out, and she glued it onto a piece of cardstock. We decorated the cardstock so it looked like a rug. They cut out shapes of bright colored paper to decorate the rug (ok, some kids did this more than others).

Anyway, here's Eme's final product. Isn't it wonderful!!!!

Kallum Ford

2008-01-24T20:15:00.001-06:00

The District Executive the Brent works with in Chief Logan District, Melissa, had her baby back in December. Brent forwarded me some pictures of the little fellow today, and I set to work making a few pages for Melissa. So, Melissa, I hope you like them!

Awards for Pinewood Derby

2008-01-23T16:21:00.001-06:00

OK, I thought that this would be easy and simple, but can you believe that these took me 4 straight hours to do? I started at 1:30, and here it is, 5:30. No dinner. Kids downstairs playing computer. But don't they look nice! (And yes, I did still do school with the kids. Tom had assessments for almost all of his classes today, and got done at 11am, Eme at 1:30, and Jacob is self guided a lot)

Random Tests

2008-01-22T22:14:00.000-06:00

OK, so I saw this one coming....

78%

But, if you're reading this, then it's a good thing....right.....am I right?

$4590.00

That sure sounds like a lot. I wonder what other peoples dead bodies are worth??

$5625.00

Hmmmm....why is Brent's dead body worth more than mine? Rude!!!

I Scored a 73%!

Yes, I suck....I admit it. I'm not a speller!!!!

28% Geek

Ha! That's not too bad :)

13

This one was just sick and wrong. It made me feel bad to even think about fighting someone in between Joe and Eme's age!

And hey, click on this link, not the one below. Apparently it just takes you to a dating site. That's not good. You don't need a date, right?

33%

This one was just dumb.

29

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I only knew 29? I guess that is a lot of colors.

Hmmmm, I thought I would have scored higher on this one.....

37%

Well, that's something, right? I know more countries than colors. That must count for something....

And sadly, my quizzes are at an end. Wasn't that fun? No, well I had fun.... :)

Zombie Invasion (yeah, i don't know how to spell the other word)

2008-01-22T21:07:00.000-06:00

So, I was pretty impressed with my score. That's more than 1/2 of a chance of survival, and when you're dealing with zombies, hey, that's pretty good!

55%

And here's Brent's. Between the 2 of us, I think that we'd survive pretty good!

64%

My mom, not so much. But then, it could have been the peeing part!

45%

Joe and Eme

2008-01-22T16:08:00.001-06:00

I really liked this ready made page that I found. Here are a few pictures of Eme and Joe opening their presents in North Carolina. Don't they look happy!

We Love Eme!

2008-01-21T22:38:00.001-06:00

This was taken today, before we left for Wal-mart. Isn't she cute!

Joseph and Thomas, Brothers

2008-01-21T19:04:00.001-06:00

Elementary School in Jasper

2008-01-21T18:34:00.001-06:00

After our Wal-mart shopping day, we needed a break. So, the whole family went the the Elementary school in Jasper (about 10 minutes down the road) and played at the park. What fun we had. We'll definitely have to do that again!

The General's Birthday Party

2008-01-21T17:51:00.001-06:00

I know, this sounds like the title of a bad joke, but bear with me. Saturday was Robert E. Lee's 200ish birthday, and today was Stonewall Jackson's something-eth birthday, so of course, Brent wanted to celebrate. Well, I said that there would be no birthday party without cake! So, we settled for pie and ice cream. We sang Happy Birthday and Dixie. We are a reenacting family, true and true.

Cub Scout Promise

2008-01-21T16:54:00.001-06:00

These pictures are from our Cub Scout Pack Meeting for December. We had a pizza party and the boys received their Pinewood Derby Car kits as a Christmas present from the pack.

Joseph and Santa Claus

2008-01-20T14:04:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I spelled Claus wrong. I'll fix it later.

Park Fun

2008-01-19T22:06:00.001-06:00

Jimmy in a Fuzzy Hat

2008-01-19T19:15:00.000-06:00

Sorry Fan, I couldn't remember how to spell it. Touke?

Let It Snow

2008-01-19T18:57:00.000-06:00

Emeline

2008-01-19T13:05:00.000-06:00

After seeing Madi's BEAUTIFUL scrapbook page on her site, she inspired me to start scrap booking digitally again too! I realized, though, that the real Photoshop is needed, and not just the home edition. Brent has it on his computer, so I was able to make a neat page today. If I could make a few pages on Saturdays, that wouldn't be too bad. Too bad I don't have more time!!!

My Kid and his Messes

2008-01-18T19:37:00.001-06:00

I was talking to my Mom tonight about all of the stuff that Jimmy has dumped on the floor lately. It's a habit that I have yet to break him of. One of these days. They don't stay 2 forever, right? Please tell me I'm right!

Cake Mix

Ok, imagine a #10 can of cake mix. I know, it's big. Now, imagine a 2 year old with it. Unsupervized. I know. Big mess. Jimmy dumped it all over the living room floor. Nice Jimmy. Way to ruin the carpet in the rental. At least you could have taken it into the kitchen with the WOOD FLOORS. Oh well. Jacob vacuumed it up, and all was well.

Yeah, see this. This is what it was, but a HUGE can (like a coffee can)

Next, I'll spare you the nasty visual. Jimmy didn't have a diaper on, and he did his business on the living room carpet. Nasty. To make matters worse, he drove Mater through it. Super nasty. Then, he brought me the truck, and wanted me to clean it. Gross. I soaked it in super hot water with soap, scooped up the rest of the poop, sprayed it with cleaner, and rubbed it out. that was fun!

In comparison to the rest, this one isn't too bad. He dumped the last drink of my soda on the floor. On my white carpet in my bedroom. Did you know that Dr Pepper is redish? Well, you do now.

He hasn't done this one too much, since we stopped buying water bottles. But, historically, he likes to dump water all over the floor. Thanks, Jim.

And, peanut butter. Yesterday, I found him on the counter, with a knife and the peanut butter. He was trying to get it out without using his fingers, but it was still all over.....

Well, at least he wasn't this kid. Can you imagine having to clean this mess up? How would you even do this. Just to repeat, this was NOT JIM.

Doctor Who Deleted Scenes

2008-01-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

This is for Jacob and Thomas, who wanted to see the Doctor trying to figure out what to say when something cool happens. See, when the 1st of the new Doctors saw something cool, he's say "Fantastic", but the new Doctor said that the word didn't fit his teeth. Anyway, I found it for you, Jacob and Thomas, but here it is. Enjoy!

Love Ya, Mom!!!

2008-01-17T19:48:00.000-06:00

My mom is soooooo awesome, don't ya think!!!

Lost Teeth

2008-01-17T18:58:00.000-06:00

Eme has now lost both bottom teeth. Isn't she cute. And, the other picture is of Emeline and her picture from Literature. We're reading Peter Rabbit. She's really liking the story.

Our Evening with Doctor Who

2008-01-17T18:48:00.001-06:00

Here are my kids, watching some of their favorite TV, Doctor Who. If you haven't seen it, you should give it a try. Even Jimmy loves it.

Jimmy is TALKING

2008-01-17T18:46:00.000-06:00

You know, it amazes me how kids learn to talk. One day, nothing. Then, the next, BAM, they're talking. And lots of words too. Before my parent came to visit in November, Jimmy could say Mom, Dad, and juice. That was about it. Now, he's using sentences, and repeating everything we're saying. It's so cool. Check out this neat video that I got of Jimmy showing off his words!

Thomas' Reading Recital

2008-01-17T18:44:00.000-06:00

Here's Tom, reading a poem from his Literature studies. It's called Lincoln, and is about Abraham Lincoln. It was a nice poem, and Thomas did a good job reading it. Way to go, Thomas!

Jimmy at School

2008-01-14T17:33:00.000-06:00

Somehow, I doubt that this is where he belongs!

Zombo.com vs Kenya

2008-01-14T10:12:00.001-06:00

So, which do you like better?

www.zombo.com

http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/kenya/

While the kids are drawn to zombo.com, I kinda think the Kenya song is catchy. Of course, this is saying that you have to pick one :)

Harry Potter and the Chronicles of the Lord of the Golden Compass of the Jedi

2008-01-12T20:17:00.000-06:00

The Pacific Northwest According to Jeff Foxworthy

2008-01-12T08:30:00.001-06:00

I found this on my friend's blog, and thought it was hilarious! I must definitely be from the Pacific Northwest! Even if I don't live there now, it's still 'in my blood'!

1. You know the state flower (Mildew).

2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.

3. You use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.

4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.

5. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.

6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.

7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal.

8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted it is not a real mountain.

9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Veneto's.

10. You know the difference between chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon.

11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima, and Willamette.

12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.

13.You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food.

14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark... while only working 8-hour days.

15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.

16. You are not fazed by "Today's Forecast: Showers followed by rain" and "Tomorrow's Forecast: Rain followed by showers."

17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.

18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.

19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.

20. You notice that "the mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.

21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.

22. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.

23. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.

24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.

25. You buy new sunglasses every year because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.

26. You measure distance in hours.

27. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.

28. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.

29. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).

30. You actually understood these jokes and will probably forward them.

Season Poems / Stories

2008-01-10T10:58:00.000-06:00

Here are some poem written by Jacob Harty in Literature class. Good job, Jacob!

Summer

There we go to the pool.
Splash, like someone dropped a cannon ball.
Uh-oh! Something happened.
WATER FIGHT!!!
Splash! Look out, incoming water!

So close, almost hit me.
I'm going to end this with a cannon ball.
BOOM! Everyone gets splashed,
and I win!

Darn lunch time, but there's hambergers,
from the grill.
Pools fun but hamburgers win!
So long!

Autumn

In summer, the air feels like a volcano.
In fall, the leaves fly through a glade in the forest.

Winter

Winter is a ballerina.
It glides through the forest.
It flies on the yetties breath,
Over the trees
And spreads snow gracefully on the trees,
houses, and me.

Spring

In spring, the rain feels like
a thousand rampaging bees on the move.
It sounds like the thunder
of the oncoming storm.
The storms are like
the claw of the dragon,
tearing all in sight.

Spring

Spring is like a baby,
Tame and sweet.
Spring is like the princess,
Fair and just.
Spring is like a mother,
Gentle and loving.

This is Why We Left Chicago!!!!!

2008-01-08T19:03:00.001-06:00

Here we are at the park, on January 7th, barefoot and in shorts! It was about 73 degrees, and beautiful! Here in Southern Ohio, it's cold for a few days, then we get beautiful weather like this. Then, it cools off again, and then warms up again. I can handle a winter like this! Look at how much fun we had!!! After a long day at school, relaxing at the park was a great deal of fun!

After Church on Sunday

2008-01-08T18:57:00.001-06:00

After church this past Sunday, I let the kids watch a movie. They picked "Alvin and the Chipmunks". I started watching it with them, but lost interest, and went upstairs and watched "Celebrity Apprentice". Very good, by the way. I like Gene Simmons. But, before I left, I took pics of each of the kids. Very relaxed, wouldn't you say :)

Is that a carrot I see? NO FOOD ON THE CARPET!!!!!!

Video Game Mom

2008-01-08T18:53:00.000-06:00

See, I have been known to play video games. Sure, it was Tetris, and it was only for about 30 minutes, but I played! See.

Tin Man (2007)

2008-01-06T19:46:00.000-06:00

I was a little dubious when I first started this mini series. I must say, though, I was very pleased with it. I found it entertaining and exciting.

It is a take on the Wizard of Oz. But done the "SciFi" channel way. Still had Dorothy (DG), the Cowardly Lion (a caveman like seer), the Tin Man (a police man who was trapped in a tin suit of armor for years), and the Scarecrow (an adviser to the queen who had part of his brain removed). But the story was much more in-depth. I did like it!

I would definitely recommend it. It had some violence, but not more than I would approve of (I do like a little violence, if you don't know me well, big LOTR, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Pirates fan). It did have brief language. About 2 times, if I recall correctly, they said the "B" word. But, if any of you watch regular Prime Time television, for some reason, this is now acceptable. Beats my why. I still find it distasteful.

So, I'll give "Tin Man" a thumbs up, and would encourage you all to watch it if you get the chance. Below are the links to watch this mini series online.

Episode 1: Into the Storm Part 1
Episode 1: Into the Storm Part 2
Episode 1: Into the Storm Part 3
Episode 1: Into the Storm Part 4

Episode 2: Search for the Emerald Part 1
Episode 2: Search for the Emerald Part 2
Episode 2: Search for the Emerald Part 3

Episode 3: Conclusion Part 1
Episode 3: Conclusion Part 2
Episode 3: Conclusion Part 3

New Civil War Videos

2008-01-06T17:58:00.000-06:00

Here's my new civil war video for Dixie, Bonnie Blue Flag, and our trip to Boscobel, Wisconson. Do you like?

Dixie by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Picture taken at Naperville, Illinois (May 07) and
Heston Steam Museum, Indiana (June 07)

Bonnie Blue Flag by Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Pictures taken at Waconda, Illinois (July 07) and
Glenview, Illinois (July 07)

Pictures taken at Boscobel, Wisconson (August 07)

The Stalcup Skating Party

2008-01-04T18:16:00.000-06:00

What a fun time we had at the skating rink. Thanks so much, Ashlee, for inviting us to the party! We really had a great time :)

Eme and the girls

Jacob, taking a break. He had to come in his Scout clothes, cause Scouts started 30 minutes before the party ended. We were only a little late to Scouts :)

Joe, upset about his skates. His first pair was too slippery, and this new pair was too noisy. Poor Joe.

Isn't this cute! This is Kess Stalcap and Jimmy. Jimmy had a great time at the skating party. Thanks again, Stalcups!

Bathrobe Day

2008-01-03T20:06:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a day when you just stayed in your bathrobe (or jammies) all day long. It feels kinda nice every once in a while. I still cleaned the house. And schooled the kids. And did the stuff I normally do (except go outside). But, I was in my bathrobe and slippers all day long. Kinda nice, you know.

So the New Year is here, and I'm all ready for my New Year's Resolution. Brent doesn't really like them, but, well, I don't know. It just seems like a good starting point. A fresh year. Time to get rid of old habits, and to make new and good ones. I like it.

So anyway, I'm back on my diet again. I know, I talk about my "diet" all the time. I'm only slightly obsessed. And, since we got back from North Carolina, I was officially 34 lbs up from the time we decided to move to Ohio, I thought that it was well time to do something about it. My hips hurt all the time, and my energy is decreased. There's got to be a better way to deal with stress than stuffing my face :)

So, I started officially on Saturday, and here it is, Thursday night. I'd like to report that it's been easy, but let me tell you, it has not! Food is not an easy thing to wean yourself from. For all you video game junkies out there, you know when you play your favorite game too much, and you start seeing it in your sleep, and when you close your eyes (I've done that with tetris before). Well, that's how I am with food. Goodness!

Anyway, I'm proud to report that I have kept to my diet for the past 6 days, and am feeling a little bit better. The first 2 days were rough. It's not quite so bad now. I can actually go into the kitchen past 8pm, and not worry that I'm gonna break down the cupboard doors and grab the first item of food I see :)

I'm down almost to where I was before the North Carolina trip. The holidays are rough! But I just keep remembering how good it feels to fit back into the nice thin clothes, and keep focusing. I turned down Brownies and Ice Cream at a friends daughters birthday party yesterday, and if I can resist that, then I can resist the crappy food I have in my house, right?!!!

So anyway, enough about my New Years Resolutions, what about yours?

Misc Pictures from the Day We Left

2008-01-01T13:09:00.001-06:00

Aunt Eleanor came over an hour or so before we left for Ohio. She had presents for the kids and for us. Thanks so much Aunt Eleanor! We love you! And we'll miss our North Carolina Harty family. We had so much fun on our trip out there this year! From church on Sunday, to playing games, to newsletters, to cleaning churches, to shopping at Wal-mart, to playing with the neighbors, to visiting with family we haven't seen in 20 years, to laughing so hard it hurt, the trip was a huge SUCCESS!!!

The Harty kids with their $5 from Eleanor. Thanks!

Paul with his 'lovely' Santa from Eleanor. Each year, she works hard to find him a 'silly' Santa for his collection. He collects nice Santas, and Eleanor takes great joy in finding him one that almost fits his definition of 'nice', but not quite! Good job this year, Eleanor!

And here's Jimmy opening the present to the Harty (NC) family from Eleanor. It's a DVD, Young Frankenstein.

And here's Jimmy in the fuzzy furry hat. I think they called it a TOOK, but I can't quite remember if that is right or not. Isn't he adorable!

And here's a nice pic of Adrienne and I. Don't you just love the earrings and necklace that Eleanor gave to me! I do love jewelry!

Crocheting Fun

2008-01-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

Tracy, aren't you proud of me! Look how good I did! I made all of these hats for the kids while we were in North Carolina. I forgot how fun it is to crochet. I've been so busy the past month with home school, that I didn't have any time for me. I just sat around all week and hung out and crocheted. It was awesome! I'll definitely have to make time for this from now on!

Practicing with Make-Up

2008-01-01T13:01:00.001-06:00

Everyone should know how to put on make-up. It's definitely a skill (that some don't have). Eme was excited to practice. She started off with Grammy Harty. I showed her how to do it on one side, and Eme did the other side. Turned out quite nice. Then, we decided to do Eme's make-up. I knew there was a reason that we didn't let kids wear make-up until they were in the 7th grade. But doesn't she look cute!

Merry Christmas Morning

2008-01-01T12:44:00.001-06:00

Wow! Christmas morning was a great time! All the kids got a video and a pack of gum from Santa Claus! Thanks Santa! Then, we opened presents from Grammy and Grandpa Harty and Aunt Adrienne. You guys are awesome!

Joe got the Grinch from Santa, and a coloring set from Grammy, Grandpa, and Adrienne.

Eme got a baby doll with carrier from Grammy, Grandpa, and Adrienne.

The family got Disney's Scene It. Jimmy was impressed that Lightening McQueen (CARS) was on the front~

Jacob got a model plane from Grammy, Grandpa, and Adrienne.

Eme got a porcelain doll and Tom got glass horses from Grammy, Grandpa, and Adrienne.

Tom got Doctor DoLittle from Santa.

Jacob got Planet of the Apes from Santa.

I got Ella Enchanted from Santa. OK, it was for Brent too. Doesn't he look thrilled!

But he was happy about this! Aunt Madi, Uncle Joe, and Ella sent this to Brent and I. Well, he thinks it's just for him. I told him it was to share, but he didn't think so!

Eme got Black Beauty, and a horse calendar from Santa.

Thanks to Our Oregon Family!

2007-12-31T19:17:00.001-06:00

A few days before we left for North Carolina, we received a giant box of goodies from Mom. Inside, there were all sorts of treasures and presents! Things from Grandma Ida, Aunt Sue and Uncle Steve, Chrissy and AJ, and stuff from Madi, Joe, and Ella. Wow! You guys rock!

Here's Tom with his box. And no, it wasn't just a box that we gathered all of the presents into. That was the wrapping. I'm telling you, I kinda sucked this year on the "fancy" factor. Not so much of that going around. Oh well. Anyway, Tom (and all the kids) got money from Madi, Joe, and Ella, from Grandma Ida, from Aunt Sue, candy and gloves from AJ and Chrissy, and other assorted fun items from our Oregon Family. Thanks so much you guys!

This kite looked really cool, but they opened it up before I could stop them. I managed to save 4 kites though. We'll fly them on a nice sunny windy day. I'm looking forward to it. I do like kites! Don't you?

What would Christmas morning be without some sort of projectile launcher!

Eme and Joe had a lot of fun with the tea set. And, if you look on the couch, you can see the beautiful doll from Randolph, Brandy, and Fan. Isn't it beautiful. It's from Pottery Barn. Thanks guys!

Here's Jimmy with all of his treasures. The fun fruits were his favorite part. He ate them all within 5 minutes! Thanks Chrissy. And the binoculars were a big hit with Brent. He loved them. All the noise at random times. And the Flight of the Bumblebee song. Yeah, it was the highlight of his day.

Thanks Illinois Hartys!

2007-12-31T19:02:00.001-06:00

Thanks so much to Uncle Randolph, Aunt Brandy, Uncle Fan, and Uncle Josh for the great presents! There were so many, that we had to open them the day after we got to North Carolina. There simply wasn't room for presents under the tree and people. That was fine with us. We all like to open presents! You guys are awesome!

Jacob and his fancy Star Wars ship. Sorry boys, I don't know what it's called. Boy was he excited when he opened the package! Thanks Randolph, Brandy, and Fan.

Dad with is present from Uncle Josh. Star Wars rocks!

This is my movie from Uncle Josh. I liked this movie. Jim Carrey is awesome :) Thanks Josh!

Here's Brent with his present from Randolph, Brandy, and Fan. A big Star Wars ship. Excellent :)

Joe and his castle from Uncle Randolph, Aunt Brandy, and Uncle Fan. How did you know that we LOVE Imaginext? Thanks so much!

Jimmy and his new cash register from Randolph, Brandy, and Fan. Anything that makes noises and has hiding compartments is good in Jimmy's book!

Yeah, a food processor for me. I sure do love cooking. Thanks so much Randolph, Brandy, and Fan.

Eme and her pony from Uncle Josh. Such a pretty pony!

Tom and his large Star Wars ship from Uncle Randolph, Aunt Brandy, and Uncle Fan. Thanks you guys. You are awesome!

Thanks, Grandma Lyn and Papa Steve

2007-12-31T18:56:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Grandma Lyn and Papa Steve for these cool presents for Christmas. While they were visiting Ohio, Mom and I went to Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving, and found some great deals. Then, we hid them in plastic bags in the shed. If I were really good, I would have wrapped them in wrapping paper before giving them to the kids, but, well, OK, so I'm not really good. They got to open them in the same plastic bag they were hidden in. Oh well. It's the present, not the wrapping, right?

Tom and his remote control Jeep

Eme and her My Little Pony. It talks and takes a bottle. So cute.

Joe and his remote control truck. He sure thought he was a big kid!

Jacob and his remote control Jeep. He's been wanting one of these for quite a while now :)

Jimmy and his big dump truck. Every little boy needs one of these :)

The Flag Football Game

2007-12-27T12:37:00.001-06:00

So, for Christmas Day, there was a grand game of flag football. Wait, not in my family. That was the neighbors. But for some reason, Tom didn't get that message. Maybe he couldn't tell that it wasn't his family.

Anyway, he went up to them and asked to join in their game. They happily agreed. He was on the team with the mom and the dad. Poor mom and dad. Tom has skills, but not necessarily flag football skills. In fact, in one of the pictures, you can see him running all by himself, trying to make a touch down. Unfortunately, he's running the wrong direction. He didn't score, so no harm/no foul, but still. Poor Tom.

Brent promised to take him out and teach him the finer skills of flag football soon. Like which way to run. :)

Jim's New Hat

2007-12-27T12:33:00.001-06:00

Look what I made! First, I crocheted this lovely yellow hat. Yes, yellow. Lovely :) Next, I made the cream and blue. Much better. And they loved how it had ear coverings. Well, Joe didn't . The hat was supposed to be for him, but he freaked out when I brought it near him. Apparently, his ears are just fine the way they are, and don't need any coverings. Sorry Joe. My bad :)

The Fabulous Make-Over!

2007-12-27T12:28:00.001-06:00

Here's Grammy Harty and Eme, just after their make-over by me! Aren't they beautiful. Can you believe how old Eme looks! Golly :)

Merry Christmas from North Carolina

2007-12-26T11:12:00.000-06:00

Here's our family at church on Sunday, in the hall. Have you ever tried to get your picture taken in the hallway at church, right when classes were let out? No, well you should try it some time. Really, really, a great fun time :)

But really, it did turn out pretty good. Aren't we all cute and happy?

Merry Christmas

2007-12-21T09:23:00.001-06:00

Well, we're almost ready to leave for Christmas. We're heading out to North Carolina for the holidays, to visit Brent's family. It's always fun to visit Grammy and Grandpa Harty! The kids love them.

So, we decided to take today off from school (really we should have been off anyway) and pack and clean and get ready to go. We've worked from 8-10, and now we're taking a short rest. We still have to clean the kitchen, clean out the truck, and pack the grown-ups clothes.

Brent should be home around 3-4, and if we're ready, it should only take us about an hour to get out of here. It's a 7-8 hour drive, so we'll arrive really late. Last year, we stayed at Brent's Aunt Eleanor's house, but she's full of company this year, so we'll be in the pop-up trailer, or on the floor inside Paul and Carol's house. It's good to have options.

Anyway, I'll definitely take lots of pictures and put on lots of posts when we get back! Take care, you all, and have a wonderful Christmas!

Santa's Pants

2007-12-18T11:26:00.000-06:00

My sister sent us a Christmas box the other day, and in it was a new Christmas Outfit for Jim. She thought it could have been for Joe, but there's no way it would have fit Joe. He's just too bag. The pants fit Jim perfectly. The shirt, frankly, as a little tight, but will work for this Christmas. He's simply adorable in it.

Anyway, he thought that he was Santa. I don't know why. Maybe because it was the red velvet suspenders. Maybe it was the red and green plaid print on the pants. Maybe it was the bowtie. Whatever the reason, he thought he was Santa. His reaction was so precious, I had to get a video of the thing. Priceless

!

Things I've Said to Jimmy in the Past Few Days

2007-12-17T17:55:00.000-06:00

* Don't eat the glue stick!
* Eww, don't drink the paint water!
* Stop shaking the Christmas Tree!
* We don't lick people.
* Leave your diaper on!
* Don't touch the poop!
* How did you get poop on your ankle?
* Don't color on the walls!
* Don't dump the water on the floor!
* Stop eating the butter!
* Leave the dishwasher alone!

And, some of the nicer things.....

* Yes, Jimmy, I love you too.
* Again? Yes, we'll sing your favorite song again.
* More? Yes, you can have more water.
* Santa's pants? Yes, you're wearing Santa's pants.
* Yeah, you did it!
* Me? Yes, you can color with the other kids.

How Well Do You Know Me?

2007-12-16T15:49:00.000-06:00

Bethany Quiz

Yeah, I made one for both Thomas and Jacob, but I lost them. Eventually, they should email me something about them, and then I'll post them. They're kind of fun to see how well you know us all!

Weed Man

2007-12-14T17:55:00.000-06:00

You know what, it sounded more innocent and funny at the time. Tom was dressing up with the garland today, and calling himself Weed Man. I guess he thought my garland looked like a weed. I thought it was cute.

Then, as I was downloading these photos, I thought about another meaning for "Weed Man". Nice, my kid is calling himself "Weed Man", and doesn't even realize what he's saying. Of course, it took me 5 hours to figure out the double inendo too.