Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Ingredient Conversion Website

Ingredient Conversion Website

I found this site:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1734.asp
while making my Christmas cookie shopping list.

It was so nice to know how many cups of flour/sugar/etc., is in 1 lb. Made my shopping list making easier And the list is huge........but so is the cookie baking list

Just thought I'd share that ............. Happy baking

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Address

 When you are making out your Christmas card list this year,
please include the following:

A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D. C. 20307-5001

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Pumpkins

Some facts about pumpkins you probably didn't know:

  • Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
  • The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,689 pounds. It was grown by Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island and weighed at the Topsfield Fair GPC weigh-off in Topsfield, MA on September 29, 2007.
  • The top pumpkin production states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
  • In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
  • Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."
  • Using pumpkins as lanterns at Halloween is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by Irish immigrants. All Hallows Eve on October 31st marked the end of the old Celtic calendar year. On that night hollowed-out turnips, beets and rutabagas with a candle inside were placed on windowsills and porches to welcome home spirits of deceased ancestors and ward off evil spirits and a restless soul called "Stingy Jack."
Visit University of Illinois Pumpkins & More to learn more about pumpkin history and modern use.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Suture Removal

Also, you can always remove them yourself. I always do if there is no sign of infection or swelling and everything looks good and healed. There really is nothing to it.


Clean the sutures with alchohol.

Clean tweezers and tiny sewing scissors with alchohol.

Grip the knot of the suture with a pair of tweezers and gently lift it up from the skin.

Slide tip of one scissor blade beneath suture and clip only one side of suture as close to the skin.

Gently pull the snipped suture with the tweezers to pull it from under the skin and remove it.

Remove every other suture. If everything still looks good, go ahead and remove the rest. If there are three, I always remove the center one first.

Clean the area with alcohol again and then apply some vitamin E oil.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Burma shave

Subject: Burma Shave


Remember how great these were?

For those who never saw any of the
Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930's and '40's. Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields.
They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs,
about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet......and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.
Here are more of the actual signs:

DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW
OUT SO FAR
IT MAY GO HOME
IN ANOTHER CAR.
BURMA SHAVE

TRAINS DON'T WANDER
ALL OVER THE MAP
'CAUSE NOBODY SITS
IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP
Burma Shave

SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH
BY MISTAKE
SHE THOUGHT IT WAS
HER HUSBAND JAKE
Burma Shave

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IS NOT AMUSING

Burma Shave


BROTHER SPEEDER
LET'S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
GOOD MORNING, NURSE

Burma Shave

CAUTIOUS RIDER
TO HER RECKLESS DEAR
LET'S HAVE LESS BULL
AND A LITTLE MORE STEER
Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE SPOT

Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED TO A WARMER
HEMISPHERE
Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
BEAUTIFUL CAR
WASN'T IT?
Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU

Burma Shave

A GUY WHO DRIVES
A CAR WIDE OPEN
IS NOT THINKIN'
HE'S JUST HOPIN'
Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY

Burma
Shave

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
EYES ON THE ROAD
THAT'S THE SKILLFUL
DRIVER'S CODE
Burma Shave

THE ONE WHO DRIVES
WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING
DEPENDS ON YOU
TO DO HIS THINKING
Burma Shave

CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON WAS FULL
AND SO WAS HE.
Burma Shave

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW

Burma Shave
 
 



Do these bring back any old memories?
If not, you're merely a child.
If they do - then you're old as dirt...
LIKE ME!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Handy Tips

 
Subject: Handy Tips
Reheat Pizza 
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove.
Set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy.
No soggy micro pizza.


Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all
broken up. Add remainder of ingredients and reseal. Keep mashing it
up, mixing thoroughly. Cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into
egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it
With your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get
to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less
sugar/calo ries p er serving.

Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass.
The fibers catch ones you can't see!

Bike owner
If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture Inside
the handle bar before placing the grips on. If the bike is stolen and
later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof of who owns
the bike.

Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an
empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can
be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
 

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have
a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when
wearing panty hose. Place a pin in seam of slacks and the static is
gone.

Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with
hot wat er. Du mp out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add
your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes
right out.

Foggy Windshield
Do you hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it
in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the
eraser! It works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include
something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for
an hour or two. It unseals easily.

Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than
shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2' with
Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You
will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of co rnmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it
'home,' & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so,
especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about
pets or small children being harmed!


Take baby powder to the beach
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you?re
ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder
and the sand will slide right off your skin.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

What You Should Ask for situation when LD's involved


Important information you need to know before you choose a professional or other resources to help you or your child.
What You Should Know
Individuals with learning disabilities are bright and can achieve success in life provided they work with the appropriate professionals and resources that will meet their needs for academic, work, and social success. Ldyellowpages.org will help you find the appropriate professionals and resources.
Basic Information to Get You Started
  1. If you suspect a learning problem, get an evaluation. If it is for your child, start with your child's school. If it is for you, you will need to see a professional who is trained to diagnose learning disabilities. Here are some FAQs about evaluations and the questions you should ask when selecting a professional to do the evaluation.

  2. Once you have the diagnosis, the evaluator should make suggestions in his/her report for appropriate treatment and interventions. These recommendations determine the types of professionals and resources that you will need.

  3. Use the following guidelines to help you find the professionals and resources you need. Keep in mind that you should always ask about credentials and determine if the professional's license is up-to-date by asking the state licensing board for that profession.

    http://www.ldworldwide.org/yellowpages/before_search.htm source link
What to consider when choosing a professional:
What to Ask
  1. How long has this person been practicing in this field?
  2. What experience does this person have both professionally and personally?
    • Do they suffer from a disability?
    • Are they also a parent of a child with a disability?
  3. Does this professional belong to mental health or advocacy organizations that offer additional support and affiliations?
  4. Can this person relate to me, my child and the situation?
  5. Is this professional's style too aggressive or not aggressive enough? Based upon:
    • My personality
    • My child's personality
    • My school district and other attorneys
  6. Will this professional testify in court or at an impartial hearing? This is a very big concern because your case will ultimately come down to a battle of the experts. If you can't bring yours in to testify, you are starting out with two strikes against you.
Questions to Ask when selecting a professional to assess a learning disability:
  1. Which types of tests or measurements do you use?
  2. How long will an assessment take?
  3. How do you diagnose a learning disability? (The psychologist should utilize more than one method.)
  4. What does an assessment include (i.e., feedback session, consultation with professionals who work with my child)?
  5. Do you take insurance?
  6. If you confirm a diagnosis of a learning disability or another disability, would you be willing to write a letter to the school or speak to a school official?
  7. What age range do you assess?
  8. Are you familiar with the types of services provided at public schools for children with learning or behavioral difficulties?
  9. What other professionals if any will be involved in the assessment?
Questions to Ask when choosing a therapist:
Sometimes individuals with learning disabilities have emotional or behavioral issues that require treatment by a therapist. Therapy may be provided by a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, a licensed independent clinical social worker, or a licensed mental health counselor. Only a psychiatrist or a clinical specialist in psychiatric and mental health nursing is licensed to prescribe and monitor psychiatric medications.
What to Ask
  1. What are your credentials? Are you licensed or certified?
  2. What age ranges do you specialize in?
  3. What are your areas of expertise?
  4. Do you have experience dealing with the type of issues that my child or I have?
  5. What do your services cost?
  6. Do you accept my insurance?
  7. What information do you expect me to provide?
  8. Will you contact my child's school for information?
  9. If necessary, would you attend a meeting at my child's school?
  10. How much do you charge for an out-office-visit?
  11. How soon can you see me or my child?
  12. How do I prepare my child for his/her appointment with you?
Considerations in Selecting a Tutor:
A tutor can be an invaluable resource in helping your child gain new skills or maintain old ones. However, with the many tutoring options available, ranging from private tutors to tutoring centers, the process of choosing one can be daunting. The idea that a tutor should help your student become more independent, self-confident, and successful in school is obvious, but how can you tell whether a tutor can deliver? In order to help you narrow down the field and determine the answer to this critical question, you should ask the following questions.
What are the tutor's credentials?
In the field of medicine, a doctor without certification is unacceptable (and, in fact, not a doctor). The same should hold true for education - there is no reason to accept a tutor without certification. Someone who has studied education has knowledge of assessment, varied methods of teaching a skill, and, most importantly, experience.

How will the tutor know "where to start"?
The best teaching is diagnostic and prescriptive. In other words, it gauges what a student's areas of need are and develops lessons around those. The tutor should use a diagnostic test, existing testing, anecdotal information from you and your child, and his own observations to determine what type of support your child needs.

What methods or programs will the tutor use?
An effective tutor is trained in a variety of programs that correlate with existing research on best teaching practices. These programs are proven successful with students.

Is the tutoring one-to-one or in a small group?
Obviously, in a one-to-one setting, your child receives the most attention and the tutor gears all of his instruction toward him. However, small group (two to three children) tutoring may be effective if the children are working on the same objectives and are experiencing similar difficulties.

How will the tutor report progress?
Given the expectation of diagnostic and prescriptive teaching, your child should make noticeable progress after a month or less of tutoring. In order for you to maintain records and serve as an effective liaison between school and tutor, the tutor should give a written progress report monthly.

Can I observe?
You should be welcome to observe a tutoring session at any time. During the session, you should see the student engaged in relevant work. A lesson cycle generally includes time for the tutor to instruct, time for the student and tutor to practice together, and an opportunity for the student to practice skills independently.

Keeping the above questions in mind, begin your search by asking other parents for referrals. Set up interviews and have your child meet the prospective tutor for a few minutes at the interview. A strong personality match is a crucial element in the success of the tutoring experience.
Questions to Ask when choosing a school:
  1. What does your school specialize in?
  2. Are you accredited?
  3. What grades do you serve?
  4. Is your school residential, day or both?
  5. What is the teacher to student ratio?
  6. Does your school provide services that will address my child's needs and issues?
  7. Do you offer individual support?
  8. Do you offer auxiliary services, such as therapy, occupational or physical therapy, or language/speech therapy?
  9. Do you provide tutoring or a learning lab/resource room for extra academic help?
  10. Do you provide assistive or adaptive technology as needed?
  11. Do you offer sports and/or other extracurricular activities, such as clubs?
  12. Are foreign languages required? If so, what happens if my child is unable to learn a foreign language?
  13. How many of your students go on to higher education?
  14. Do you offer a post-graduate year or a transitional program?
  15. Do you have students who pursue other post-secondary options besides college?
  16. How do you help students and their families with the transition of leaving your school to pursue college, job, or other options?
  17. Is your school coed?
  18. If your school is all male or all female, are there opportunities for your students to socialize in a coed environment?
  19. Are parents allowed to visit at any time or only on designated days and times?
  20. How frequently do you communicate with parents? Do you encourage teacher/parent communication?
  21. Does your school have a religious affiliation?
  22. If so, do you accept students who are not of that faith?
  23. Do you provide transportation to churches or synagogues in your community for your students?
  24. Do you offer summer programs?
  25. Do you offer off-campus programs, such as trips overseas?
Questions to ask when choosing a camp:
  1. What does your camp specialize in?
  2. Is your camp overnight, day, or both?
  3. Is your camp coed?
  4. What ages do you serve?
  5. Is your camp accredited?
  6. Does your camp provide services that will address my child's needs and issues?
  7. Do you offer auxiliary services, such as tutoring or counseling?
  8. How does your camp handle medical issues and emergencies?
  9. Is there a medical person on the premises at all times?
  10. How do you handle homesickness?
  11. What activities are offered and are the counselors/instructors certified to supervise/teach them?
  12. If you offer swimming and/or boating activities are the counselors/instructors and life guards certified in life saving techniques?
  13. If you hire high school/college students, are they supervised by certified camp staff?
  14. What are your communication policies between your campers and their family members or friends? When can parents contact them? How often can they contact home? Are they allowed to call home, and if so how often? Do you allow email communication between campers and their family members or friends?
  15. Do you allow campers to bring any electronics, such as a cell phone, MP3 player, or digital camera?
  16. Do you have excursions away from the camp?
What to Consider when choosing a product:

  1. What are the success rates of this product?
  2. Does the product support the "best practices" approach for the treatment or accommodation of the disability?
  3. Does the product have scientific research backing it up - will it do what it says it will do based on valid, scientific research?
  4. What are the credentials of the company or person who developed the product? Are they respected in their field of expertise and the fields of learning disabilities, education, etc.?
  5. How is the product marketed? (If it is marketed mostly through testimonials, then buyers beware.)
  6. Do you know anyone who has used this product and if so, are they satisfied with it?
  7. Does your child's school use this product and if so, are they satisfied with it?

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Jesus Loves Me Senior Version

Subject:  Jesus Loves Me senior version

 Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going
> >> to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of it's senior
> >> pastors who had been retired many years...
> >>
> >> He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to
> >> ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome,
> >> introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose
> >> from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a
> >> sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind,
> >> he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and
> >> slowly he began to speak...
> >>
> >> "When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor
> >> asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50
> >> odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boil ed it
> >> down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and
> >> sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always
> >> rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed
> >> me...the only thing that would comfort was this verse..........
> >>
> >> "Jesus loves me this I know.
> >> For the Bible tells me so.
> >> Little ones to him belong,
> >> We are weak but he is strong.....
> >> Yes, Jesus loves me...
> >> The Bible tells me so."
> >>
> >> When he finished, the church was quiet.
> >>
> >> You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his
> >> chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
> >>
> >> A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that its was the adults who
> >> chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course)
> >> during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I
> >> could see they knew it the best."
> >>
> >> Senior version of Jesus Loves Me
> >> Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no hair at
> >> all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you
> >> others, check out this newest version of "Jesus Loves Me". It is quite
> >> cute, so read, sing and enjoy:"
> >>
> >>
> >> JESUS LOVES ME
> >>
> >> Jesus loves me, this I know,
> >> Though my hair is white as snow.
> >> Though my sight is growing dim,
> >> Still He bids me trust in Him.
> >>
> >> (CHORUS)
> >>
> >> YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
> >> YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
> >>
> >> Though my steps are oh, so slow,
> >> With my hand in His I'll go
> >> On through life, let come what may,
> >> He'll be there to lead the way.
> >>
> >> (CHORUS)
> >>
> >> T though I am no longer young,
> >> I have much which He's begun.
> >> Let me serve Christ with a smile,
> >> Go with others the extra mile.
> >>
> >>
> >> (CHORUS)
> >>
> >> When the nights are dark and long,
> >> In my heart He puts a song.
> >> Telling me in words so clear,
> >> "Have no fear, for I am near"
> >>
> >> (CHORUS)
> >>
> >> When my work on earth is done,
> >> And life's victories have been won.
> >> He will take me home above,
> >> Then I'll understand His love
> >>
> >> (CHORUS)
> >>
> >> I love Jesus, does He know?
> >> Have I ever told Him so?
> >> Jesus loves to hear me say,
> >> That I love Him every day.
> >>
 

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Thoughts of a Mom

Thoughts of a Mom

By Maureen K. Higgins

Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day.
I've looked for you on the Internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores.
I've become an expert at identifying you.
You are well worn.
You are stronger than you ever wanted to be.
Your words ring experience.
Experience you culled with your very heart and soul.
You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world.
You are my "sisters."

Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority, a very elite sorority.
We are special.
Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members.
Some of us were invited to join immediately.
Some not for months or even years.
Some of us even tried to refuse membership, but to no avail.

We were initiated in neurologist's offices and NICU units, in obstetrician's offices,
In emergency rooms, in hospital rooms and during ultrasounds.
We were initiated with somber telephone calls, consultations, evaluations, blood tests, X-rays, MRI films, and heart surgeries.

All of us have one thing in common.

One day things were fine.
We were pregnant, or we had just given birth, or we were nursing our newborn.
We were playing with our toddler.
Yes, one minute everything was fine.
Then, whether it happened in an instant, as it often does,
Or over the course of a few weeks or months, our entire lives changed.
Something wasn't quite right.
Then we found ourselves mothers of children with special needs.

We are united, we sisters,
regardless of the diversity of our children's special needs.
Some of our children undergo chemotherapy.
Some need respirators and ventilators.
Some are unable to talk, some are unable to walk.
Some live in a different world.


We do not discriminate against those mothers whose children's needs are not
As "special" as our child's.
We have mutual respect and empathy for all the women who walk in our shoes.

We are knowledgeable.
We have educated ourselves with whatever materials we could find.
We know "the" specialists in the field.
We know "the" neurologists, "the" hospitals, "the" wonder drugs, "the" treatments.
We know "the" tests that need to be done,
We know "the" degenerative and progressive diseases
And we hold our breath while our children are tested for them.
Without formal education, we could become board certified in
neurology, endocrinology, and psychiatry.

We have taken on our insurance companies to get what our children need to survive,

and to flourish.
We have prevailed upon the State to include augmentative
communication devices in special education classes
And mainstream schools for our children with cerebral palsy.
We have labored to prove to insurance companies the medical necessity of gait trainers
And other adaptive equipment for our children with spinal cord defects.
We have sued municipalities to have our children properly classified
So they could receive education and evaluation commensurate with their diagnosis.

We have learned to deal with the rest of the world,
Even if that means walking away from it.

We have tolerated scorn in supermarkets during "tantrums"
And gritted our teeth while discipline was advocated by the person
behind us on line.

We have tolerated inane suggestions and home remedies from well-
meaning strangers.

We have tolerated mothers of children without special needs,
Complaining about chicken pox and ear infections.

We have learned that many of our closest friends can't understand
what it's like

To be in our sorority,
And don't even want to try.

We have our own personal copies of Emily Perl Kingsley's "A Trip To Holland"

and Erma Bombeck's "The Special Mother."
We keep them by our bedside and read and reread them during our toughest hours.

We have coped with holidays.
We have found ways to get our physically handicapped children to the
neighbors' front doors on Halloween,
And we have found ways to help our deaf children form the words, "trick or treat."
We have accepted that our children with sensory dysfunction
Will never wear velvet or lace on Christmas.
We have painted a canvas of lights and a blazing Yule log with our

words for our blind children.
We have bought white chocolate bunnies for Easter.
And all the while, we have tried to create a festive atmosphere for the rest of our family.

We've gotten up every morning since our journey began wondering how
we'd make it through another day,
And gone to bed every evening not sure how we did it.

We've mourned the fact that we never got to relax and sip red wine in Italy.
We've mourned the fact that our trip to Holland has required much more
Baggage than we ever imagined when we first visited the travel agent.
And we've mourned because we left for the airport
Without most of the things we needed for the trip.

But we, sisters, we keep the faith always.
We never stop believing.
Our love for our special children and our belief in all that they
will achieve in life knows no bounds.
We dream of them scoring touchdowns and extra points and home runs.
We visualize them running sprints and marathons.
We dream of them planting vegetable seeds, riding horses and chopping down trees.
We hear their angelic voices singing Christmas carols.
We see their palettes smeared with watercolors,
And their fingers flying over ivory keys in a concert hall.
We are amazed at the grace of their pirouettes.
We never, ever stop believing in all they will accomplish
As they pass through this world.

But in the meantime, my sisters, the most important thing we do, is
hold tight to their little hands, as together,
We special mothers and our special children,
Reach for the stars.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Christmas School

This is the book we got... there are others out there but one thing I liked about this book is that you could either 1. make a craft (full details inside the book) or color the ornaments they have in the book and hang those (it is a cut/color/past/hang kind of thing) The crafts are easy though.
http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodd...6075&id=001906

We got the below book from the library last year and LOVED IT ... it is just a story but it goes through the Jesse Tree and the artwork is great
http://www.amazon.com/Jesse-Tree-Ger...e=UTF8&s=books

This came up on the above book's site... I have never read it but it looks good.
http://www.amazon.com/Good-King-Wenc...024130?ie=UTF8

You might also look up where some of the hymns came from... like Silent Night, O Holy Night... Might be an interesting study.

There is also a resource called Advent Foretold by Wanda Sanseri... I was just sent this link in one of the email groups. I have not done this but it looks interesting.

I also found this site that has more activities at the bottom of the page.
http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/advent.htm

I did a search on Google for celebrating the Advent.
 
Here's the link to the A Blessed Christmas homeschool curriculum:

http://www.easyfunschool.com/Blessed.pdf

Monday, January 22, 2007

Sick

Sick
By Shel Silverstein from his book Where the Sidewalk Ends


I cannot go to school today.”
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
“I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I’m going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox
And there’s one more – that’s seventeen,
And don’t you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue –
It might be instamatic flue.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I’m sure that my left leg is broke –
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button’s caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,
My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is – what?
What’s that? What’s that you say?
You say today is…Saturday?
G’bye, I’m going out to play!”