Flat Stanley Comes to Visit

Several years ago, the girls and I read the book “Flat Stanley”.   Then we decided to make our own “Flat Stella” and mail her out.  She had a lovely tour or the United States and South Africa as well.  This past week we had a visit from “Flat Stanley” during Olivia’s birthday party.

Suddenly, across the room Stella and Stanley's eyes met, and it was love at first sight.

They shared a root beer float.

Of course, sweets for his sweet was in order.

Of course, now Stanley has moved on, and left poor Stella with only memories and a few photos….

Brrrrrr at the Beach!

The last few days, we've been at the beach on vacation.  Saturday was warm and nice.  Sunday morning was ok....mid-morning the temps dropped, the rain and winds set in and we spent the rest of our 4 day trip looking for warm clothes and indoor acitivities.

Lindsey loved the sand...running in it, digging in it...but not sitting in it. 

Olivia loved everything about the trip!  She loves the water, and the change in scenery.  Although, by the look of this picture, photos aren't a big hit with her.

Flat Stella arrived home from Alaska last week.  So we took her to the beach, thinking she'd get to warm up after her trip up north.  I'm pretty certain she didn't warm up a great deal...and we almost lost her to a big wind gust.

Next week, Stella will be heading out to Ontario or Pennsylvania; I'm not sure which yet.  We'll be starting back to school (abbreviated summer version).  We'll be starting on our new curriculum, and incorporating an exciting new (new to me) spelling program as well.   So check back soon to see what we're learning and how!

This Too Shall Pass….Soon I Hope!

We've been dealing with various illnesses here since the week before Thanksgiving.  Quite honestly, I"m just tired of it all.  I've faired well through it all, because after all mom doesn't get sick right?!   Yeah so...woke up this morning with double pinkeye, a sore throat, bad cough, fever and chills.  But really, I'm fine...really.

So even though I'm in misery, my big concern is Olivia...she's had a bad cough and on again off again fever for 2 weeks.  Today she's super lethargic...ok she's only been awake for 30 minutes the entire day.  We have a doctors appointment for her at 2:15...I pray its not pneumonia.   Lindsey has an appointment with the ENT today about her latest round of tonsil issues.  It is going to be a long day.

On a positive note, the husband has finally agreed that the dog has got to go.  Thank God!!  Of course now we have my family and his family both wanting the dog...which will be good that the girls can at least see the dog on occasion.  But how do you decide which side of the family gets custody of the dog??  The sister-in-law wants to keep it as an indoor dog, which considering her size is good.  However, considering the fact that she refused to be house trained doesn't bode well for the house she rents.  My brother wants to keep the dog as an outdoor dog....but his outdoor dogs have all the comforts of home, heated dog boxes, water warmers on their water bowls and well....they don't ruin anyones carpet now do they?

We are planning to start our new school year this month.  This of course will depend on how well I can get and keep everyone.  Although, I do feel that a lot of the illnesses are dog related.  She arrived shortly before the plague hit.  So once she's gone, hopefully we'll see a vast improvement in health issues.

Flat Stella arrived back on U.S. soil recently.  She'd journeyed to South Africa, I can't wait for her to get home with her photos, I'm sure it was a wonderful trip.

So...thats about all the news I have for now. 

Random Thoughts

If all goes according to schedule, we'll be finishing up this school year on February 12.  We'll work on some reinforcement techniques for  a few weeks and then dive headlong into first grade.   I've purchased the Cantering the Country program...Olivia loves history, so I figured we could study the U.S. one state at a time and stop to focuse on major historical events as we go...this is the plan at least.  Lindsey will be starting her K4 program (even thought she won't be 4 until September).  She's super bright and I don't think she'll have any problems at all with the worload.  However, if I'm wrong we'll just stop and wait a few months.

We found out that Lindsey (3) has to have her tonsils and adenoids removed.  They were hoping to do it this week or next, but the huge adenoids have started pushing  fluid into the ears and now we're battling a double ear infection.  So....back on antibiotics for another 10 days, then return to the ENT and see if she's ok.   Poor thing, since Thanksgiving she's been on meds every 2 -3 weeks.   I'd say we should definitely meet our insurance deductible this year.

The dog is still here.  I still don't like the dog.   I've had some moments of intense fellowship with her...she's coming over to my way of thinking...or at least she's feigning compliance.  She still won't come when called, gets us up at least 2 times per night and still nips at Olivias feet (mostly when wearing her slippers).   She made the mistake of nipping at me last week, quickly found that this was not one of her better decisions and is far more docile now.   When company comes she gets way too excited...not sure how to break her of this either.  Not that we get a ton of company, but still.

Flat Stella is MIA.  I sent her out on a tour of the south.  The first hostess didn't let me know she'd gotten her for over a month, then said she mailed her to her next destination...she never arrived.  So sadly, I'm figuring that hostess #1 lost her and just didn't want to own up to it.  SO....I've made 2 clones this last week.  1 was sent back to the south to finish her schedule with the remaining 4 hostesses.   The other was sent to FL; she'll be heading to South Africa in a week with the hostess there.   Unfortunately, my enthusiasm with the clones wasn't as grand as the original.  We made her only 1 dress, glued it to her and sent her out.   The original had an entire wardrobe that could be attached with velcro, and changed at will for the various climates.  I truly hope that one shows back up...but its been 2 months and I'm certain she's a lost cause.

Enough rambling.   I have a huge list of things to do today....and blogging wasn't on the list.  Although, I'll now add it to the list, so I can check it off.  I'm funny like that.

Meet the Girls, and Stella

Here are my gorgeous children. Olivia is 5 and Lindsey is 3. The short gal in the middle is Stella, technically she's a newborn. We read the book "Flat Stanley" at the beginning of our school year. I suggested that we could make our own flat someone. Soooooo....several prototypes later and we had our nameless flat someone.

After MUCH deliberation between the girls and I (ok, I was the moderator); we settled on the name "Flat Stella". We've worked hard to make her comfortable on her travels. She has a lovely felt coat/boots/hat set for the colder climates. We created a black/white evening gown for a formal tea she was invited to. She has several outfits, her own passport and accessories.

So far, Stella has traveled to Disney in Florida, Michigan, Vermont and Maine. When she returns from this portion of her trip, she'll be heading out to tour the southern states. She'll have stops in Kentucky, Georgia, Louisianna and Texas. We currently have scheduled her to visit Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Colorado, Ontario and South Africa!

Oh to be thin and mailable!