Welcome 2010

Well, it has been quite a while. I can't even imagine trying to catch up.

I have started a different New Year's Challenge that I have never started before. I mean - heck yes, I would like to loose weight, get more organized, budget better, all of that. Who knows, perhaps I am working on that too, but for the next three months - the challenge that I am going to try is

Reading the Bible in 90 Days

They have an official Bible in 90 Days Bible, but I am using E's old one and am following the reading schedule they set up - reading schedule

Who knows - perhaps taking the time to do this, I may find my other priorities fall into place a little easier

french websites - placemarker

Phonetic
http://phonetique.free.fr/alpha.htm
Numbers
http://lexiquefle.free.fr/numero.swf
http://www.pepit.be/exercices/primaire2/mathematique/divers01/LIRNBR03.html
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jeux.lulu/html/tableM/tableM1A.htm
Clock
http://profvirtuel.free.fr/elementaire/maths%20interactif/presentheure.htm
Grammar and verbs
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit11/u11_situation_a03.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit11/u11_grammaire_a01.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit11/u11_grammaire_a02.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit11/u11_grammaire_a03.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit9/u09_grammaire_a02.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit9/u09_grammaire_a04.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit10/u10_grammaire_a01.html
http://www.cengagelearning.com.au/secondary/Lote/tapis-volant/studentbook1/unit13/u13_grammaire_a01.html
Divers vocabulary
http://fslactivities.ca/quiz/parts/index.html
http://www.ortholud.com/vocabulaire/tableau/o.php
Story telling
http://www.racontine.com/page_les_racontines.html
Reading and comprehension
http://www.tfo.org/education/eleves/mathadores/
http://pujol.club.fr/exercices/ratus_exercices/phrases/lecture_phrases.html

For Hunter eventually
http://www.duplaisiralire.com/persos/kimi.htm

January 16, 2009

Even kids can see and need and work to fill it.

Girl Scout Troop 10652 from Normandale Elementary in Edina delivered over 75 Pajama's and handmade blankets to People Serving People, but this was more than just collecting a few PJ's and dropping them off....

When troop 10652 planned their community service drive they had some goals in mind:

1. Girls would understand a need
   
   • They wanted to help children.
   • They wanted to know how the economy was affecting girls in their own community.
   • The statistics from a Star Tribune article this fall was really shocking to them - Minneapolis estimates that about 5,500 of its 35,000 students -- about one out of six -- are homeless or lack permanent housing at some point during the school year ( Star Tribune 9/8/2008
     
2. Girls would know who the children are who would benefit
   
   • They do not know them specifically, but they did know they were trying to reach homeless children in the Mpls Public School district.
     
3. Girls would fulfill a need
   
   • PJ's -- there that many are long johns that can be worn under clothing
   • Expanded into books for a children's library
   • Expanded into homemade blankets from troop 12226
     
4. Girls would involve more than just their own troop.
   
   • They invited other troops at their school to participate, at least 4-5 troops at Normandale participated.
     
5. Girls would understand the organization that they were donating to.
   
   • Girls watched a video at People Serving People which explained the organization and why volunteering is so important.
   • They toured the facility and were able to ask questions
   • They were excited to see that People Serving People offers a Girl Scout Troop every week.
     
6. Girls would actively participate
   
   • Many did chores around the house to earn money for the PJ's
   • Many went through their own library and donated books.
   • When the girls delivered the PJ's and books, they spent time organizing the children's library
   • They spent time at the facility.
     

People Serving People Statistics is largest and most comprehensive, family-focused shelter in Minnesota. 60% of their guests are children under the age of 18 and the average age of a guest is just 7 years old. Approximately 300 guests are sheltered each night and 30 days is the average stay for a guest. 35 school buses arrive twice a day to take children to their hometown schools across the county. 2,000 children are provided child care and attend developmental programs annually. 700 tutoring sessions are given to children annually.

In the picture from back to front Isabella O., Brianna L., Sophia S, Maggie S and in front Holly L. (troop members not pictured Isabel A, Isabelle J, Margie J, Zelda K., Megan L, Erin M, Elizabeth O, Eleanor S, Zoë V

Respectfully Submitted by
Linda Lutgen
Troop 10652

The 4 generation coat.

This coat is actually H3's great grandmothers. It started out as an adult coat and over time, was adjusted for her great Aunt. After time it was cut down to be a smaller coat. Then it was worn by her 2nd cousin. Her great grandma's only comment was that it didn't look like she wore it a lot. I was like - uhhh she only wears it on special occasions - there is no way I am going to be responsible for it getting chocolate milk all over it!

Pinewood Derby

Getting ready... looking at all the tiger scout cars.... H2's is the spiderman one in the center.

I love this one - You can see H2 then H1 and H3 all watching. I really liked how all the kids could watch up close and how H1 and H3 were there for H2.



Tiger scouts after the races. A few are not pictured as they were not in the best mood after the races. All the thoughts of the kids getting a trophy. These kids get it when their car didn't win - there were definitely some upset kids. But most were just happy to try it the first time.


I wish I would have gotten this the first time around. H2 was #2 for the tigers and had a better speed. These results are the grand finals for the whole pack.


This was the hardest shot to get H2 did not want to sit for it AT ALL!

Holy Questions... literally

So... as we are snuggled in reading Little House in the big woods, the question comes up -

What is a sabbath day? Why can Laura not play?

So... I was trying to explain the concept of the sabbath to Holly and Hunter - then I had to explain why people didn't do work, which meant going over creation, and resting on the 7th day, then to Moses, then to the 10 commandments, then to Moses' bring the people out of Egypt, then to finally explaining the keeping the Sabbath day holy is a commandment, then I started getting into the old testament vs the new as I was going to get into - the fact that Jesus doesn't say the same things about the Sabbath as what is said in the old testament.... I was going to get into the fact that keeping the sabbath day holy can mean lots of things.... then Holly hits me with a huge one.

Well, mom who is Jesus anyway - I mean he was a guy - just a guy. So we went BACK over that... then she goes

Who is God? Can I see him, touch him, where is he? Up there?

What happens when we die, how can a talk to God if my body is in the ground.

How can I see him if my brain stays behind? You need your brain to see.

How can I be happy without my brain, without my heart? So.... after some talk....


Mom, what is my soul?

Holy Questions I tell you.... I am blown away....

I feel like I am between two worlds.... Facebook and blogger. But in many way blogger is for me - facebook is for others.

Here is my annual Christmas letter

As I sat to write our annual letter I struggled... Looking back, there didn't seem to be a 2008 defining moment. A defining trip* A defining* well, anything. I was a little perplexed. I felt like we were busy, constantly. So where were the big moments with the trumpets blazing*. Where were the pictures of the beautiful ocean waters? The serene valleys? The mountains climbed? The summits reached? Did a year go by and we have nothing to say?

They are there. Oh yes, they are there. In all the little things. Our ocean waters, may have been lakes, pools and the occasional long bath, but they were there. Many days and nights were spent in serene valleys*. making a sand castle, taking a bike ride, playing in the sun in our own back yard, snuggled in bed reading stories, in quiet contemplation around campfires. Mountains were climbed * with cheers for every goal attempted and yes, some were made. A lesson on skates without falling, Knowing that if you do fall, you can get up again, the perfect cartwheel, the exhilaration of skiing down a hill. There were other valleys too; the not so serene ones that don*t seem to have a place in an annual letter and yet, without those valleys, perhaps the mountains would not seem so grand. The summits wouldn*t be reached with such joy! Learning to read! Learning that so much of life is not in our control, but we can control how we handle what we are given. Knowing who to call when you think the day could not get any darker and being that person for someone else. Being able to honestly say *I understand*.

So, perhaps our card doesn*t have any amazing pictures. Just us. What I hope you see are the smiles of kids who know that that their parents think that each one of them is a precious gift from God. Every day that we get up to play, learn or just enjoy life is a defining moment. Moments that I am honored and blessed to be a part of.

It's been a while

A few new pics of the kids:

God keeping me humble

I have always said that God gave me H3 to keep me humble. Just when I think I know what I am doing parenting wise - he throws me a curve ball.

I have over the last few weeks read about kids having a hard time transitioning to preschool. H3 has always loved school, going new places, transitioned into the non parenting time of the class smoothly (I mean I am sure there was a day and here and there that were hard) but 95% of the time - she has loved it. I just didn't relate.

I also teach this age swimming, so I often have had to gently remove a screaming child from a parent's arms. I would be gentle and firm with them and they enjoy the class and learn to swim. For some, it takes 2 weeks, others, it takes 12 - you never know. I always tell parents to trust me. That I will get them if it is bad.

But how sensitive am I really being? I didn't really relate to the hard transitions.

Now, H3 is having an awful time at preschool. Do I keep bringing her and get her past the transition? If I follow what I preach in swimming, I would be loving and help her get past this and do it in such a way that would foster her confidence. Or do I just pull her? Last Wed was bad, I didn't take her on Friday, Monday I had a personal meeting with her teacher, it went OK when I left, and today (Wed) it was really hard.

The only other place she didn't like (in her short life) was the Y childcare, and so I did my best to not take her there, respecting her. It seemed to me that if she made adjustments elsewhere, I shouldn't upset the balance. Am I disrespecting her by trying to see if she can do this? Is this a phase? If so, is there a good reason for it?

Now she is struggling to leave me at other "normal times".

I was wondering if this was impacting other times I am leaving her. But, I know right before school started, I had a babysitter twice (which is something we NEVER do - seriously - I had this girl come last August when DH was at the bridge 24/7 - other than that - I never used her). She really struggled with that. We were at my parents in mid August and she was really REALLY attached to me.

So is this just a phase? Is it just coinciding with the advent of a new school year? H1 and H2 are gone... I am busier? I go back to work (granted one day a week - and it is timed exactly when she is at school- so she would have to be somewhere anyway).

Now, this three time preschool mom, a "preschool age teacher",(that would be ME) - doesn't know what to do.

1st Day of School

3rd grade
1st grade
Preschool - (starts Friday)
The bus stop minus one kindergartener and an extra Hannah

All the kids.

Just need to share a siggy

Wow my baby is three today

When does times move like this? When you are not watching.

H2

His first "real" baseball picture.

Hannah finally gets pumping

What plant is this? #2

Looks suspiciously like tree leaves....
BUT.... see all the little flowers?

This is a patch over in our neighbor's lawn.

Virginia Creeper

and the answer to what is the plant #1?
Is Virginia Creeper.

Needless to say - it has already been all pulled

Whoo hooo

I am back in alignment and WOW oh WOW am I sore. My muscles have no idea what the heck they are doing. I have some new stretches and back to my old exercises of the ball press and hand stretch.
I had a pretty icky day yesterday, turns out my sacrum had started to twist the other way.
The Chiro explained that I was twisted for so long that after the left side went back into place, the other side, (clearly the right) that had worked so long to compensate kind of "takes a break" and wow oh wow does it hurt.
Simple stretch. Stand with feet shoulder width apart, one leg in front of the other. Both feet must be facing forward. Bring front leg into a bend, then pull pelvis up and in, being careful not to push your back out. Stretch into front leg, only until you feel the front of the thigh muscle tighten.

H2's first game

I have to tell you - I totally expected dropped balls, wild swings...

Not a lot of that at all, but a serious amount of really good plays. I so wish I could have caught a picture of Hunter stretching to catch a ball at 1st base and keeping his foot on the base at the same time. It was not something I would expect a six year old to do. I was really surprised.

When I asked him about it, "Wow I didn't even know you knew how to do that!"

He responds, very matter of fact, "Oh you must have missed that part of practice."

Duck in a tree

Seriously - two houses down.....
The kids have checked on it every morning and night, but tonight we got home too late, hopefully she and her NINE eggs are still ok

weekend Fun

OK - my three favorite pics of each kid from this weekend.

I love this picture!!!

This one too - but I need to lighten it up
And this one is just great too!
The obligartory 4th of July parade. OF course you have to love these.
now just some fun ones - we found a new free little pool over by my MILs house.

some from at Aunt Susie's campground (which is actually the first campground H1 ever camped at - but that was back when they weren't all seasonals)