Happy 7th Birthday Horatio

How did Horatio find his way to our home?

I saw an ad for Horatio (originally named Squeeker) who as a kitten was dropped off on the door step at a Bird Rescue with his litter mate sister. She quickly found a home, 'squeeker' did not, as he was COVERED in fleas, ear mites, barely clinging to life. They got the Fleas and the Mites cleared up, but even then they could not get the little guy to eat, he had only loose stools, the vets could not find the problem... Finally he was eating, stool issue cleared up , but no real reason found... at almost a year old an ad is put out for his adoption, for a "Free Kitty"

I respond to the ad, I inquire about his vaccinations and if he is neutered, they tell me that they have a mobile vet clinic coming to check on their birds in the coming days & that if I send them $$$ they can have it done for when I pick him up. I send the $$$, everything is taken care of, 1 week later, I drive an hour and a half out to pick the kitty up. I walk in and they have him in a dog cage... (odd) I think he is the cutest kitty ever I put him in the cat carrier and I take him home. While watching TV that night... Horatio got his name, who was already relaxing on my lap.

Horatio got his regal name because his Mommy LOVES CSI - & his namesake the character Horatio Caine on CSI Miami a Red Headed 'Cool Cat' just he is, thus he was named - 'Horatio'.

Horatio has striking green eyes, he has a bold swagger to his step, he knows he's 1 awesome kitty. He's loveable, while being petted, he grunts & he will even lightly pet your face just as you pet his (weird I know, he does not extend his claws or anything, he just pats your face tenderly, it will melt your heart), Meal time he stands on the food bin and looks at you, I could go on, he is such a character. 
I am so thankful that he has come to stay with us.

Happy 7th Birthday Horatio, we have enjoyed the last 6 years of warm snuggles and cuddles.  You are quite a character and we love sharing a home with you.  *muah!*

Static Electricity

Sitting down to begin our learning day handing out our cursive handwriting worksheets as we typically begin our day.  I observe my daughter as she rubs her balloon on her head that she got the previous day from our Oberweis Dairy Factory Tour trip and sticks it to the wall.

It's little things like this that quickly decide part of days lesson plans.  I quickly printed out worksheets, informational handouts, and we discussed Static Electricity along with plans for some hands on Static Fun. 

We even watched a video by a "Science Guy" I once enjoyed as a child.  That the kids thoroughly enjoyed.

This is one of the many reasons I love Homeschooling.  My daughter has no idea that her simple action sparked and idea and set course for the bulk of our day.  They learned so much and had so much fun in the process.

Pinewood Derby Cars

Complete the day before the race ;)  We had these 'mostly done' for weeks now... all they needed was a clear coat and wheels put on (eyes, which are also weights... put on the snail).  Time gets the best of all of us.  If only there were more hours in the day to accomplish all one would like to get done.  As one can see I could not even make it 'half way' though the year 'this' year with my 365 photo project as I did last year... I suppose I have extra on my plate this year, although one would think it would create 'more' to photograph.  In reality gives me less time for little things like that and in the end, I 'really' don't use my computer more than I have to.  All this plus the ups and downs of looking for a new home, bleh.

Ah well I still enjoy sharing "more than just popping up a photo on Facebook" I like to put more behind it than just that some times so a blog is more fitting for some things for me I suppose... I don't know if I even care if anyone reads what I type out, its just my blatheings then "hey look at this!"

Anywho, I am pretty excited for the boys and their first Pinewood Derby tomorrow.  They are pretty competitive... oh boy.  Let's see how this goes. ;)

There certainly will not be any like these there, that I am sure of.

2013, Day 19

Looking at probable new rental homes for yourself after living in your current rental house for 6 years can be fun, scary and something I had not expected "inspiring".

Today we went to look at a prospective new dwelling to accommodate our fun crew.  It was an interesting house that certainly had its charm but was not well suited for our 'type' of family.

However it did inspire me with many ideas for when we DO move things I would add to my 'new home' that this home did have that I could easily add to any home. 

Such as a 'Metal Dinner Bell affixed outside the back door with a Squirrel on top... I need one with a squirrel just like that one, it was fantastic', 'a wooden plank and rope tree swing, it was charming and fun for the kids', 'colorful and fantastic porcelain door knobs on the kitchen cabinets'. 

So this house we looked at may not have been a 'fit', but it filled me with great ideas for when we do move forward.

2013, Day 18

The kids love to make creatures out of super fuzzy pipe cleaners.  They even have products out there called 'Fazoodles' that are basically over priced pipe cleaners in a box, only they come with shoes and eyes to put on the pipe cleaners.  My kids can make so many fun things with a box of googly eyes and pipe cleaners.  I've even impressed the kids with my pipe cleaner skills ;) 

A Bouquet of Pipe Cleaners.

2013, Day 17

Words you would never think to hear in a house "Stop the arguing or the Chess Set will be put away!" 

Or... maybe your 9 year olds pretend to be Super Heros or Monsters, as we are getting ready for bed, the arguing over the game continues and then morphs into them pretending who is what Chess piece and who has more power and strategically moving though the room. 

Takes a special kind of awesome to hang with my kids ;)

2013, Day 16

Maxamus... the epitome of lazy cats.  He will lay like a bump on the floor all day.  He will 'oooze' in the direction of food and water now and then.  Cringe once he has the energy to hurl himself onto your lap, it will take your breath away.  Little paws... big kitty... it kinda hurts ;)  Ok, he is just going to lay down you figure.  No no... he intends to walk around on you for awhile, fluffing you abit, laying down, getting up, laying down... *sigh*

LOVE you Max Kitty... You are one handsome boy *muah!*

2013, Day 15

Around 10 or 11am each day my kids are looking for a snack, rather than reaching for sugar filled fruit snacks or unnaturally colored fish shaped crackers I try to keep that snack relatively healthy.  I'm not perfect, I do like items of convenience but I do my research so that I can do my best when I can.

Snack of the day POPCORN!

DID YOU KNOW...

Popcorn is of one of the healthier snacks.  Polyphenols are the reason why.
Polyphenols are a type of chemical found in plant foods that help neutralize free radicals, those nasty little baddies that damage your cells and contribute to rapid aging. Popcorn has one of the highest levels of polyphenols of any plant food – including most fruit!

According to Joe Vinson, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton:

"Popcorn has more antioxidants in total than other snack foods that you can consume and it also has quite a bit of fiber.”

The healthiest popcorn is made yourself the old fashioned way: on the stove-top or with a popcorn maker.   Popcorn is so inexpensive, our favorite olive oil & rosemary stove-top popcorn.  The healthiest being popped up in coconut oil sprinkled lightly with sea salt.

Popcorn, a snack you can feel good about!

2013, Day 14

Since the dawn of "i" things never really "bought into the fad".  To me they seemed like over priced merchandise that less expensive products could do just as easily.  Perhaps these 'status symbols' made some feel good about themselves, but not me.

OK, fast forward to current day and my looking deeper into the situation and my needing a tablet for both personal and homeschool use.  I initially purchased  an android based Asus Transformer what I spec'd out to be pretty top of the line tablet.  It worked out pretty well for 'my' needs.  Getting down to what I needed for my children app wise as 'filler' work apps, lets just say what is offered for IOS is superior.  I 'returned' my tablet and got the most current version of the IPad.  The apps are fantastic, it is a beautiful machine.  If I have to pick, I will say the "dual stereo speakers were fantastic on the one I returned as opposed to the single one on the IPad 4) and the lack of memory card slot is a bummer.  However I am hooked on my product even with its over inflated price and lack of features. 

I think its mind control... I am a loyal customer.  ;)

2013, Day 13

Brrrr... From Pleasant temperatures to iced over cars and roads.  Each year many Chicagoland folks "hope" somehow Winter will *forget* about us.  All 'seems' to go well, until about February we will become a beautiful Winter Wonderland, everyone complains about the hows and whys "rinse wash and repeat... next winter" I will include myself in this crowd ;)  Looking at the weeks forecast however it looks like we will be cold, warming back up no snow.  I will take frigid cold for a few days, so long as it keeps the snow away. :)

I really like icicles I think they are beautiful, especially when they hang from anything that lights up.

Bundle up Chicagoland!

2013, Day 12

Saturday mornings I like to cook breakfast with my kids.  Our favorite making muffins.  We look at what we have on hand and figure out what recipe we can create.  Generally it our old standby "Peanut Butter Banana Vegan Muffins" Today we wanted to make use of the Quick Oats and make something interesting with those.  Although Banana still made its way into these muffins as well.

I found this recipe online at allrecipies.com however I generally like to change things up abit to my liking.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/banana-oat-muffins/

Banana Oat Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled 1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil ( I substituted Natural Applesauce )
1 cup mashed bananas ( I used 3 mashed bananas )

( I also added 1 tsp cinnamon, looking at the batter it seemed to need "something", I imagine nuts or chocolate chips would be fantastic too, they were VERY moist and dense, maybe overly?  I think using both bananas and applesauce is overboard for "moist" cake... I think if I were to revisit these I would use the oil instead ) 

combine, bake @ 400 F for 18-20 minutes (mine took 18m)

Saturday Breakfast Banana Oat Muffins

 

2013, Day 11

Homeschooling since October has been fun, challenging and rewarding.  I have seen my children blossom academically and open up doors they never even knew where there.  I believe they take in, learn and enjoy their schooling much more at home as it is done in a more relaxed atmosphere.  I could go on about how successful this has been for us, how a "one size fits all" approach to schooling did not work out for "our" family.  That curriculum created for each of my children to help them to excel in both of their strengths and weaknesses.  To help them to study further in their interests now rather than later.

My daughter is very interested in the Sciences.  The more disgusting, the better. 
Friday's we generally do a Science Experiment. 

This one out of her "Disgusting Science" Kit she got for Christmas.

Today we made "Snot"

Science Fact:

• Your nose is lined with a mucus membrane that makes mucus.  Mucus is the scientific term for snot.
• Its stickiness helps trap dust and dirt particles in the air your breathe.  Without mucus, your lungs would eventually get clogged with dust and lots of dirty gunk.  YUCK!
• Mucus is made of water and mucin.  Mucin is a branched polysaccharide.  (long chains of sugar mulecules) 

2013, Day 10

We enjoy visiting our local All Animal Expo http://www.allanimalexpo.com/ which happens twice a month.  We do not go that often, or we would end with all sorts of strange pets for sure ;)
We do however visit the Expo when I am running low on food for our pet Corn Snake.  We make a day of it and enjoy going table to table viewing the animals.

Last November while picking up more mice I stumbled upon this 'hairless creature' long story short... we ended up with a Hairless Guinea Pig aka "Skinny Pig" who coincidentally later grew hair (I later found out that 'type' of Skinny Pig is known as a Werewolf Skinny Pig, as he matures he will lose his hair again 'maybe'... leave it to us to find such a wonderfully strange specimen)  A few weeks later we got him a hairless friend (who stayed that way, as he should) ;)  ... all this because we were picking up frozen dinner for another pet.  LOL  What can I say we are spontaneous.

The kids LOVE caring for Hamlet and Mozzie. We have a play space for just kids and guinea pigs that takes up a good portion of our living room!  They are well loved.
I had no clue the pure volume of veggies these lil' piggies would go through.  Time to start a garden in the spring for sure ;)

Move aside Zhu Zhu Pets... Hamlet and Mozzie have taken over.

2013, Day 9

We ran an errand to pick up some food for our kitties which usually takes longer than it should as the kids need to observe and name every animal in the store.  This time they had rescue kittens in the store (oh dear) we had to pet, name and love on those.  Of course the children love to get chatty with the check out people too and when they get chatty back, they are thrilled.  A trip for picking up a bag of cat food and a few cans of cat food turns into a 1 hour journey. ;)

On the way home I hear shouting, "people on the lake, people on the lake!" *what?* Why yes... Near our local Walgreen's, which in the warmer months generally has a fountain in the center of it, had 2 men ice fishing on it.  (are there REALLY fish in this water?) none the less we parked and watched them for awhile, they drilled new holes and were content, sitting in a man made water hole on their buckets on the corner of a very busy intersection. 
I was thrilled to have my camera with me in my purse to capture them on the ice.

Suburban Ice Fishing.

2013, Day 8

I always get compliments on my DSLR camera strap, I have had it for years.  It has adorned quite a few cameras.  I enjoy using a 'designer' camera strap, over the regular one. 
It is like putting a nice dress on your camera I guess, or a nice tie on it if you are a dude ;)  Makes it more strapping.  Not that it matters, it does not shoot any better, it just makes it identifiably mine I suppose. 

I just had to give my new tiny camera the same treatment and dress her up.  I found someone that had a wonderful assortment on Etsy.  (link included incase you are in the market for a camera wristlet) http://www.etsy.com/shop/studioALX?section_id=7477109

All dressed up and everywhere to go.

2013, Day 7

My kids love their breakfast cereal, they would eat it for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner if I let them.  Their favorite being Frosted Flakes, they say it tastes like a "Glazed Doughnut in milk". 

Here's to you Breakfast Cereal!

2013, Day 6

Sundays are usually Grocery shopping days for us.  Something we all dread.  We decided to start our shopping day with filling up on a pancake breakfast.
During our meal the children were met with a delightful surprise of having a visit from the balloon animal lady.  She quickly crafted some squeaky critters.  2 of my children requested a Parrot, 1 a Kitty, 1 a light saber.  What a wonderful start to what would have otherwise been a rather boring day for the kids.

Balloon animal Pancake Breakfast.  

2013, Day 5

As a child I loved working with my Dad in his wood shop.  While he would work on his projects he would hand me a hammer, a bucket of nails and the box of scrap wood.  I made so many 'odd' creations out of those scraps.  So many memories.  I got to use the saw, the hammer, screw driver, they were wonderful times spent with my Father.  I look forward to working with him again in his wood shop as he gets close to retiring from his career. 

It was all these things I remembered as I entered the room where my boys were to get help in cutting out the shape of their pinewood derby cars.  The sights, the sounds the smells.  The boys had a great time designing their shapes and getting help cutting their design, filling in their weights. They had a blast. 

Tonight we got our sandpaper and paint to finish off our cars, once finished I am sure they will become a super proud photo of the day.

For now we have Pinewood Derby Cars in Progress...

2013, Day 4

YAY its Friday! Oh wait, I am a Mom. ;) 

I do however look forward to my Friday's because I get together with Friends and we do "Bad Horror Movie" Friday's.  It is something to look forward to each week.  It's a movie you do not necessarily have to pay attention to, you can chit chat, have fun, have munchies, and of course make fun of asaid movie each week.  It's a blast.

The picture today was inspired by Bad Movie Friday & one of my Son's helped me out by it, however will not look at the photo, its pretty creepy ;)

Here's to Bad Movie Friday

2013, Day 3

I have fond memories of family growing up.  Weekends at various Aunts houses for gatherings, picnics with Grandparents, Cousins.  It was all such a happy time.  It's those moments I look back on so fondly and try so desperately to fulfill for my children with what family I have here.  Looking back its not the vacations and theme parks that were memorable, it's the happy moments spent with family and just being together that really meant so much.  I know it means the same to my children as they always look so forward to visiting with their Grandparents, or vising with their Aunts and Uncles, Honorary family and as they say has become "The best day ever" just because they were together.

Today's picture is inspired by my Niece Kelly whom I cannot believe is already "Sweet 16".  We cannot celebrate with my out of state Sister and Family, so the kids put together some critters to celebrate with a vegan breakfast muffin left over from breakfast ;)

Happy Birthday Kelly!

2013, Day 2

As a child my parents home always had a keyboard or piano.  Oh how I enjoyed playing, Figuring out how to play different songs, eventually teaching myself through song books.  Piano was my introduction into the musical world.  After the piano I enjoyed the Guitar, I was not to bad at that either as a self taught musician.  I only wish I had kept with it.

With a home filled with children with that same excitement for music, art, and all things their Mother loved as a child, they play with that same piano every time they go to their Grandparents.  Grandma and Grandpa knew the perfect Christmas gift for them this year.  As we took down our Christmas tree today, we set up our new keyboard (which came with a *parents survival kit* of headphones) ;)

Although, I think I will enjoy this gift about as much as they will.

The Kuhrs are alive with the sound of music ;)

2013, Day 1

Happy New Year!  How was your New Years rung in?  Was it with family, friends, with your four legged friends?  Are you happy to bid adieu to 2012?

New Years are always met with new hope and new possibilities, resolutions of change and starting fresh.  Although this thinking can be used year round, always move forward.  We are always changing, adapting.  We just need to learn to let go of the bad, or negative elements as we do a year that has past and continue setting new and better goals for our selves.  You can achieve anything you set your mind to.

How did I ring in the New Year?  The husband and I watched a movie, and had some munchies, we forgot to open our champagne, we were mid movie when 12 rolled around.  It was a nice relaxing New Year.

Seems we shared the house with a few Party Animals...