Top Three. by Berkley Illustrations.

I may add Winnie Cooper as a close runner up,

but this is pretty much perfect.

I love you, Berkley Illustrations.

Find their Top Three print here.

{image found here}

tickets are on sale!!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

at Fandango

It's officially summer, which officially means one thing:

Unplugged.

We unplugged everything.

The announcement went well:

{We're re-doing our living room, hence the naked-ness of the room.

Just so you're not wondering why we're living in a bare brown box.}

It's an experiment. A Social Study on Exploration. Conan and I noticed things felt off with our kids; they were too connected with technology and not enough with each other. They were missing things as they really are. Their actions and interactions had one end result...screens. Creativity was lacking and authentic leisure was obsolete. So we unplugged.

Back to literature, music, arts, sports, imagination, developing skills and talents...exploring.

Once they get the work done, they can choose to explore whatever they want, as long as it's safe, affordable, and within the confines of gospel teachings. We will help them explore whatever they want. Explore a good story, history, a person. Explore drawing, glue, clay, woodwork. Explore the ocean, space, Africa. Explore our neighborhood, the dirt, the dishwasher, cooking, golf, instruments, massage therapy...Whatever! They seemed pretty excited once we presented it that way.

We asked them each what their hypothesis's on the experiment are...mostly they said they were going to die. But slowly they've started to talk about being better friends, having quieter moments, and more fun. Sigh.

Conan and I are hoping that by disconnecting they will re-connect with what's real and important. With each other, with us, with themselves, and most importantly with their Father in Heaven. That life saving relationship comes in the still moments when they can think, feel and listen. we need more of those.

So far so good. It's only been two days with just a couple minor meltdowns from Mickey Mouse detox, but we've already noticed a difference.

In the last two days we've gone to the gym, made green chips, made playdough, went to the park, played with playdough, made more playdough, cleaned up the playdough, made cookies, played Blockus, vacuumed dried playdough, explored the woods, made plans to build a dog house (for the dog we don't have), had piano lessons, dance parties; and they've played ninja, who can throw the ball against the wall the hardest, super hero doctors, and I think there was some cowboy mermaids in there too.

Homemade Playdough:

It's now memorized.

2 cups flour

2 cups water

1 cup salt

2 Tbsp oil

1 Tbsp cream of tartar

Stir in a big pot over low heat for around 10 minutes, until it pulls away from sides of pan and isn't sticky anymore. Let it cool and add food coloring. If it's sticky when you take it out of the pan, nuke it for 20 seconds and the moisture will absorb.

I've scoured homeschool websites and kid's crafts ideas to keep the little kids busy, but I'd love suggestions and ideas, if you've got any. It's a new way of thinking and planning and executing for me, not just the kids. It's kind of exhausting, but the way it should be.

Kacie says, "Mom, is the compooter plugged up?"

"Yes, honey, it's unplugged."

"Is the Wii plugged up?"

"Yes, sweetheart, so is the Wii."

"Is the music plugged up?"

"No, we can listen to all the music we want."

"Okay. Let's dance to Super Mario."

Life is good.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

for my sister Cassy, who couldn't come because she's having a baby, and who had to have counseling when Dumbledore died. She's totally a wizard.

and for my other sister Corrie. Who loves it when I post hilarious pictures of her face.

I posted all the pictures here, so you can zoom in and stare a long time, Cassy.

And I made a movie here, because it's so much better with music.

Love, your muggle sister.

hello hermione's hair.

it seems Hermione grew up.

when did this happen?

She's beautiful.

but I'm not ready for this.

I suppose I should embrace the hair,

but it all just screams YOU'RE OLD.

Me. I'm old.

entering the unknown.

oldness.

teenagers.

cell phone bills.

attitudes.

forgetfulness.

who we talkin' about?

metabolism.

all because Hermione cut her hair.

rubbish.

everything I know i learned from the Huxtables.

We watch the Cosby Show every day after school and this episode came on yesterday.

I cried a little.

my kids are wizards.

I'm such a proud muggle.

Works of her. Of course.

Festivities will include but are not limited to:

The Sorting, Basic Magic 101:Wand Safety, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Quidditch practice, and of course, an endless feast in the Great Hall.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

golden snitch shirt.

So easy!

• Iron pieces of blue and yellow fabric to some Wonder Under, following Wonder Under instructions.
• Draw the shapes of the snitch and its wings onto the paper backing.
• Cut them out.
• Peel off the paper backing and iron the shapes onto your shirt, following the Wonder Under instructions.
• Now sew around the edges of your snitch with a straight stitch.
• Put some Fray Check right on your stitches so it doesn't fray too much in the wash (this step is optional).

Happy Harry Potter Weekend!

I can't stop singing Heal the World.

hermione.

for dani.

who believes she is hermione grangier stuck in muggle-dom.

I'd like to buy the world a Fit...

'nuf said.

isabelle.

I used to sneak into the basement and steal fabric from the big box to make bags for my bears and girlie trinkets. Now it's electronics. Isabelle gets a cozy little home for her new Nintendo DS and portable DVD player. With pockets just the right size to hold Nintendogs. So fun.

holiday hangover.

Today was spent unpacking, snacking, wiping, boxing, hanging, washing, wiping, sweeping, sleeping, picniking, and more wiping. Not leaving nearly enough time to spend with my welcome back to blogLand post, blogging about Christmas bloggy stuff. YOu know, cute pictures of kids in new pajamas ripping off fancy wrap, the menu for our Christmas morning feast and a half, what I got, what they got, what we'll be returning...you know, the uje.

It's dangerously close to dinner time to start deep descriptions; and I'm oh so sarcastically anxious to finish off my day with some cooking, sweeping, eating, wiping, and wiping.

So here's the quick rundown...no pictures, too tired. LIke 5:00 am too tired. We had Cookie Crisp for b-fast. Got a wii, and we're doing lots of this.


My wii age is way too high to be comfortable.

Tomorrow I do some jump-jacking, push-upping, stair-running, snack-avoiding; life-saving stuff.





And I'll blog.
It's good to be home.

what are you making for dinner? quick, gimme something.

If you're interested...

I like npr. Sometimes I learn something.

I heard bits and pieces of Fresh Air while taking Kacie to the doctor today. Listen to this interview with Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, on a speech his dad gave the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. It was sobering.

If you're interested.

don't talk back to darth vader

And we laughed...

Corrie and I found this Star Wars summary after watching the cutest rendition of Hey Jude, on Alice's blog...Thanks Ali....sooo funny.

Awesome. More Awesome.

I'm sorry. I have to. I loved it.





while i'm at it...i love this one, too. David Cook isn't necessarily my favorite, but these are definitely my favorite songs from this season. Probably because I had a childhood crush on Lionel Richie, and Michael Jackson. I used to set up a tent in my bedroom with my comforter and pillows, and listen to hello and dancing on the ceiling, and sing human nature to my Michael poster, while sporting my silver glove.

I'm giving away how big of a dork i really am.

Howls Moving Castle

My kids are watching this movie . I am really loving it. It is an incredibly creative, very sweet, quirky, japanese animated love story. Just beautiful animation. Danis says, "This movie must have caffiene, 'cause i can't stop watching it."


Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war.