I am "Pretty Crispy"

Are you crunchy?

Take the test and find out!

Do you have homebirths? 15 points for “yes” (unassisted) 10 points for “yes” (with a midwife in attendance) 5 points for alternative birthing center 2 points for “thinking about/would like homebirth” 0 for “no” (wouldn’t consider it).

Will you circumcise future sons? 5 points for “no” -5 points for “yes”.

Do you use cloth diapers? 20 point if you do Elimination Communication (no diapers) 15 points if “yes” (wash and make your own) 10 points if “yes” (wash your own) 5 points if “yes” (diaper service) 2 points if “thinking about it” 0 points if “no” (wouldn’t consider it).

Do you observe your fertility signals using Natural Family Planning/Fertility Awareness and use that for birth control/trying to conceive? 10 points for “yes” (observe and use for birth control/ttc) or you use ecological breastfeeding/lactational amnorrhea 5 points for “yes” (observe for trying to conceive) 2 points “thinking about it” 0 points for “no” (wouldn’t consider it).

Do you breastfeed exclusively for the first 6+ months? 10 points if “yes” 5 points for “no” (use occasional bottles of expressed breastmilk) 2 points for “no” (use occasional bottles of formula) 0 for “no” (don’t breastfeed by choice). -

Do you co-sleep/family bed? 10 points for “yes” (all night every night) 5 points for “yes” (part/all of most nights) 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no”.

Do you use a sling/soft carrier? 5 points for “yes” 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no” (wouldn’t consider it). -

Do you believe in/practice child-led weaning (even if that means breastfeeding for several years)? 15 points for “yes” (complete child-led weaning) 10 points for “yes” (up to 3 years) 5 points for “yes” (up to 2 years) 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no” (you’ll wean the baby at 1 year or earlier).

Do you tandem nurse/nurse during your pregnancy? 10 points for “yes” (nurse during pgcy and tandem nurse) 5 points for “yes” (nurse during pgcy, but wean before birth) 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no”(wouldn’t consider it).

Do you eat organic/whole/natural foods and limit your meat? 15 points for “yes” (grow own/buy organic, shop only at health food store, grind own wheat, vegetarian, etc.) 10 points for “yes” (grow some of own food, buy organic, use whole wheat flour, bake own bread, eat some meat occasionally) 5 points for “yes” (try to buy natural, whole grain foods, etc.) 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no” (wouldn’t consider it). -

Do you use herbal/homeopathic remedies? 10 points if “yes” (very rarely see a regular doctor) 5 points if “yes” (but use a doctor occasionally) 2 points if “thinking about it” (see a doc for now) 0 points for “no” (wouldn’t consider it).

Do you homeschool? 10 points if “yes” (currently homeschool) 5 points for “yes” (will homeschool) 2 points for “thinking about it” 0 points for “no” (wouldn’t consider it). -

What's your take on childhood vaccinations? 15 points for no vaccines 10 for delayed, selective vaccination 5 points for selective, on schedule vaccination 2 points for thinking about not vaccinating 0 points for vaxing on schedule.

Would you/have you ever breastfeed/fed someone else's baby or have someone else bf your child? 10 points if yes (have or someone has bf your baby) 5 points if yes (would) 2 points if maybe 0 if no (wouldn't consider it).

Do you use cloth/re-usable products for mom? 10 points if yes (make own) 5 points if yes (buy own) 2 points if thinking about it 0 points if no.

Ratings 120 – 140 Super Nutty, Ultra-Crunchy Granola Earth Mama 90 – 119 Mmm! Love that whole-grain crunch! 60 – 89 Pretty Crispy 20 – 59 Sprinkled with Granola 5 – 19 Instant Oatmeal 0 - 4 Jell-O

I saw this at Heaven Not Harvard .

Kids' Bed Side Art

The kids, especially Zack, have been taping signs and art work up all over the house. Its pretty cute how they have taken it upon themselves to personalize our home. One concentrated area is at the head of their beds. Jason recently got them new battery powered night lights that they have stuck on the wall by their beds. I thought I'd take a picture of what they've got going on there.

Zack has his night light, a print out of his friends John Paul and Joseph, and the word of the month (December) "AROMA".


Vincent has his night light adorned with "Incredibles" stickers, a sun he drew, a prayer Zachary wrote to God to make his brother never sick again, the "love's" picture Zachary made for his brother, a self portrait of Vincent and spiky hair, and a note written by Vincent that reads "im5". Yes, you are five!

I got the funny guy!

Who You Should Vote For

Ron Paul: 50% Fred Thompson: 44% Mike Huckabee: 44% John McCain: 38% Mitt Romney: 38% Mike Gravel: 31% Rudy Giuliani: 31% Barack Obama: 25% Hillary Clinton: 25% John Edwards: 25% Dennis Kucinich: 19% Who you agree with on the war in Iraq: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Who you agree with on the economy: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, and Fred Thompson Who you agree with on health care: Mike Gravel, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson Who you agree with on taxes: Mike Gravel and Mike Huckabee Who you agree with on abortion: Mike Huckabee, John McCain, and Mitt Romney Who you agree with on gay rights: Ron Paul, Fred Thompson, and John McCain

Who Should You Vote For?

Our 14th Anniversary!

How Hippie Am I?

You're Not Exactly a Hippie...

While you're not a hippie, you've got the spirit of one. Like most hippies, you have deep beliefs and unusual interests. You may not buy into hippie fashions, music, or heavy drug use. But at heart, you are a free spirit and suspicious of the status quo.

Are You a Hippie?

Happy 2008!

Homemade Gifts

Here is a sampling of the homemade gifts we made this year. This is the first year I had the boys make something for their grandparents. Three years ago my mom and I started a new tradition of making each other an ornament or some other type of Christmas decoration instead of buying gifts.

Here are Zack and Vincent working hard on the faux stained glass window candles. We took jars I had been saving (and a few I quickly emptied and sacrificed the contents and scrubbed off labels); squares of tissue paper; and good old Elmer's glue. They made 7 of these, I was a real slave driver!

Here the boys painted ornaments... with good intentions on actually finishing and tying strings on them and giving them as gifts... but they didn't quite make it that far. Maybe we'll at least get them packed away for next year's tree.






Here are the pillows I made for my mom's gift this year. They were my first attempt at making quilting squares. Imperfections abound but I do admit, I rather enjoyed creating them and look forward to making time for one square at a time and perhaps someday I'll have enough for a blanket!



This is the ornament mom made for me this year. The photo does not do it justice. This is a cross stitch creation with wonderful detail. The santa has a traditional face, a pom pom on his hat, there are glittery threads and glass beads, for extra bling! A bell inside gives it that extra special touch. Thank you mom!


Here is an ornament she gave me the first year we started this tradition. She painted the frame and cross stitched the picture. So cute and I love having a LARGE ornament on my tree.


Here is the gift I made her last year. Its a painted ceramic snow man plate. I broke down and did it at the mud mill as I was rapidly running out of time to get a homemade gift done for her. Last year I promised myself that I would not give homemade gifts unless I had them done by Thanksgiving. And this year I did just that, I didn't give any because I didn't have them done! (With the exception of my mom's pillows). I do have a plan for Christmas 2008 and will try my hardest to get them done asap.

Christmas Photos

Here are some photos from our Christmas weekend.

The boys in front of St. Christopher's parish tree.

The goof balls outside before Christmas Eve Mass began.

Gifts from St. Nick.

Zack got a rake from Vincent.

Vincent got a drum set from St. Nick!

Jason opening Ratatouille from Vincent.

Great uncle Fernando stopped by for a spell.

Gramma Cathy playing Lincoln Logs with Zachary.

Nicene Blues

Check out this new website!

www.lovetobecatholic.com

Last night Zack and Vincent were in the First Annual Our Lady of Perpetual Help Homeschool Christmas Program. (long name!) It was a fun and delightful evening. Enjoy the pics and the video. Vincent is in the red vest and Zack is third to Vincent's right.

Vincent before the performance

Zack before the performance

Preschool/Kindergarten/1st grade group

All the kids that participated