Our mobility

This is the van we are going to be getting around in safely, thanks to my very generous and loving Dad. We found this in Orem at minivansonly.com

Happenings

Jared will most likely blog about his experience with his injury, but as I mentioned to my Dad, it feels as though they are going as slow as molasses in winter. At least they approved his MRI, now if they'd only schedule it. I understand all the myriad of workers comp out there and the paperwork involved. I just can't stand to see Jared in pain, day after day with seemingly no end in site. It's very taxing. Both the Dr. and the PT believe Jared has a Meniscus tear.

School is much more tiring as a learning coach. Previously when school began, I could drop the kids off and have hours to work on either projects, chores, or errands. The teaching was (for the hours at school) 100% the responsibility of the public school system. (Other than a few volunteer hours some super Moms do). Now, I have much more responsibility. Blessing in disguise, Jared has helped sit by Duncan to make sure he stays on task, so I can work on laundry and such. It will be interesting when Lindsay begins preschool. To all those other Mom's out there, you're awesome, I don't know how you juggle the things you do... I seem to be lacking a lot. I do however still like K-12 better than public school. I wish they would integrate K-12 into the public school system, even if only as a trial run. Meaning that the students in a K-12 classroom would have each there own computer. I guess it would make the teachers feel MORE like babysitters.

Shifting gears, Ruby wanted to help with laundry today. She got up onto a step stool and hefted dirty laundry into the wash with me. And asked to help carry folded laundry up the stairs. She is so helpful (nearly 2 years old) very motherly too.

K-12

My eldest is now 9 years old. After a rough couple of years in a school system not built for his strengths or weakness'... And after the system not offering solutions and heading in the wrong direction; we flexed our parenting abilities and took the charge of doing all we could do. For this current school year he has been enrolled and accepted into K-12 / Utah Virtual Academy. He doesn't technically begin until this coming Monday the 23rd. However he was able to take his assessment exams today and navigate the site. It will be involved, it is full time school. But it is a much MUCH better fit for my son than I had even hoped for! I hope that this year will continue to improve and he will flourish in ways I know he can, and more.

If anyone has kids that get too bored and feel held back having to wait for a huge class in school, or that they are far too distracted by the throngs of children cramped into a classroom, if they have special needs, disorders or the like I would wholeheartedly recommend K-12. I had pulled my son out of school before the end of the year last school session, I had to do it all myself, homeschooling. I'm not that organized nor am I a trained teacher. It was really hard. K-12 is more of an online charter school. He has a teacher, he is more responsible for reading and completing the task at hand. They have everything organized for us. I'm here to help, when help is required. I'm lovin' it!

Projects and injuries

I'm at the final stretch for this etsy project I've been working on. It sounds as though I've been working on it forever. It feels that way sometimes too. In reality, I just recently had been given this particular project as an expansion to another already complete. It is a Mario banner of 21 Mario characters in felt fabric. I have all of the characters cut out and tacked down, I just need some finalization hand stitching and they'll be ready to go.

On that note, I have had a LONG etsy project that I'd figured I'd lost. I've had to put it off so many times. And that one is a complete "Clue" Chess set, or a chess set based off the movie Clue. I've worked on it multiple times and haven't been very happy with it. I'd recently got word from that client that she would like me to attempt to finish it for Christmas.

I have multiple crafting ideas floating around in my head and a few more obligations, I may be stretching the crafting patience of my family. Now to have a breather and try to organize my chaos.

Ah, as for the injury. That would be Jared. He had a work related accident and has torn his meniscus and has broken cartilage in his knee. Today was his first day of PT. He has two more to go this week and then they'll assess what's next and if he needs an MRI and possible surgery. I'm guessing he'll need both, let's hope that I am wrong!

Please bless the little black eyed girl...

Tonight I ran an errand. Our bank does not reside in our city, so I ventured out further to make a deposit. I got to get out and drive, by myself, and visit the craft store as well. This time I was not quite prepared for the happening that occurred. While I approached the ATM, which was inside a retail store, there was what appeared to be a couple right ahead of me. I politely stood back a few paces, waiting my turn. When they walked away and I took my place in front of the ATM, I noticed the screen said, "Would you like to make another transaction", WOW, I thought... Those kids must not know how to use the ATM. And I selected, "No". For them. Then, the ATM said, "Please take your card" as it spat it out at me, I grabbed it turned and saw that I could still see the couple that had been at the ATM before me. I ran (Literally) Catching up with them, I said, "HEY, You forgot your card!" They turned and the girl flatly said, "Thanks". three workers craned there heads to watch me run, it must have been quite the site. I walked back happy and with adrenaline slightly moving and figuratively patting myself on the back, thinking I'd done good. I finished my transaction and began to leave. Having had a few more moments to ponder upon what had taken place... Something didn't feel right. Something was wrong. I thought it could happen that someone could mistakenly leave there card behind. But having someone else stand right beside you and not having cleared out the transaction. Plus there was the way she said thank you. And there was one more thing. She had a huge glaring black eye. My mind raced with all the possibilities, the scenarios, the trouble. She may be in trouble. I didn't make it back to my car, I just had to tell someone. Maybe they could look at the tapes to make sure? I walked back to the two gentlemen sitting behind desks who'd both craned there heads around a beam to see that I handed back the card. I approached them and asked, "Do you remember what had happened a few minutes ago when I was in?" One man said, "You mean when you ran after that couple?" I said, "Yes." I then proceeded to tell them how I'd found the ATM and that it seemed odd and how she had a black eye. He then replied, "It's none of our business." I said, "I just had to tell someone to see if there was anything that can be checked into." "Nope, not our concern." I turned and walked to the car. I feel as though I failed. I hadn't reacted quick enough. I should have not been patting myself on the back for a job well done, but thinking, This isn't normal behavior and asked the girl if she was OKAY! I bawled. What if's popped up all over the place and I called home to tell Jared. I did offer a little prayer up, hoping that if she is lost or in danger, that she well be okay. I suppose it just goes to show you that it isn't always the initial "good deed", that presents itself. Remember to listen to that still small voice, and give it room to speak right away!

Summer dinner... for the kids.

Lindsay is down in St. George having fun. So, I decided to have fun with dinner for the rest of the kids. These hot dogs that Jared bought are about the size of Ruby's arm, they are HUGE!!! They are like eating two hot dogs in one (too much... and fun too) The eyes are cheetos. The poor quality of photo is because it's a snapshot from my phone and my camera taking a picture of my phone, it was faster don't ask.

Unexpected...

On the web the other day, I read an article about a giant prehistoric whale skull that had been discovered. The teeth were 15" long! I called Duncan over to the computer to show him. I grabbed a tape measure and we discovered his forearm from elbow to finger tips was exactly 15" I exclaimed, "Look how huge those teeth are!" He replied, "I wish we had one, we could put it under our pillow and then maybe the tooth-fairy would replace it with a gold bar!"