School Lunch

As we talk about our day at dinner time, one of the questions I always ask the kids is "what was for lunch today?"

It's a good way to see what they are eating or not eating ;)

I have had a few issues with the public school lunch system in the past. Many times as my kids were and currently are, in sixth grade...I have heard stories of the kitchen running out of food...small, different lunches being served instead etc. (but, we are charged the same amount in our accout.) I hate it when they are last for lunch.

I know, as a parent, it is my responsiblitily to keep money in their lunch account. The system is that...if you run out of money in your account, you get this little fake lunch and a warning. I believe they do this for two days. Kenna has told me stories of sharing her lunch with a friend who didn't have lunch money etc. (I guess I am grateful, however, that she at least would get's a pb & j out of graham crackers !?!)

Well, my dear son forgot to tell me he needed more lunch money. He usually is pretty good about it but forgot. I believe it had been two days. He was told he didn't have any money and couldn't get lunch. As this story unfolded after my daily question..(see beginning of my rant, lol) my heart broke. Thinking of my 15 year old son, standing in the lunch line and ready for lunch.... then have to leave with nothing...well, I can't explain how horrible I felt. You know us as women, any opportunity to torture our selves with guilt - we're first in line - ha ha. But to have that happen, or to know Kenna get's this little fake icky lunch when I think she is getting a full hot lunch..is just upsetting. I know they cannot give free lunches but isn't there a better way? I am going to choose a day to check their accounts more regularly and I am just as much at fault. I just wish it could be handled differently.

"No child left behind"....hmmmmm............................unless they are hungry?

Compassion

Early Saturday morning, the kids and I went for a walk to the ponds by our home with a bag full of apples and bread.

We go enough that we know the black and white geese will be the first to honk at our arrival

and we have a little white duck the kids called "crook wing" as he has a large feather that sticks out of his left wing but he seems to get along fine.

It was cold but it was a beautiful morning.

As the ducks started coming out of the pond - we noticed one brown duck limping and could hardly walk on his leg. Our hearts absolutely broke watching this beautiful sweet creature suffer and try to catch up with the others to get some bread.

The kids started getting closer to give him a chance at some bread. I walked up to him and bent down and he took the bread from my hand. I notice that he had fishing line and a lure wound around his mouth and leg. Instantly we wanted to lessen his suffering. Matt ran home for our cell phone and scissors. Kenna kept the other ducks fed and we tried to keep our little duck out of the water until we could offer some help.

Matt grabbed a neighbor for a ride back and he and I caught the little duck and cut him free.

His leg will probably never work properly as the line seemed to have been there a long time but he happily jumped in the water with a full belly and free of the line around his mouth and legs.

My children both came right home and wrote in their journals and they just emulated happiness as they had helped one of God's creatures. I am very thankful for such an opportunity and I love that they have both been blessed with the gift of compassion.

This little experience made me think of a talk I recently read by President Monson....

"Children have the capacity for compassion. They have no fear to express their genuine feelings...

I reflect on the Savior’s capacity for compassion. “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you. …
“… And he did heal them every one. …

What power, what tenderness, what compassion did our Master and Exemplar thus demonstrate! We, too, can bless if we will but follow His noble example. Opportunities are everywhere. Needed are eyes to see the pitiable plight and ears to hear the silent pleadings of a broken heart. Yes, and a soul filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye or voice to ear but, in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart." May 1991 Ensign

Well, I do believe I have my topic for FHE tomorrow night!!!!

Matt's room

These are the BEFORE pics of Matt's room after we removed the wallpaper.

Yeah!!! Finally done - here is a peek......

Matt loves history so we did a history theme..

We found these great books at Costco...

Matt got this great world Map for his birthday and the clocks

are set on times around the world...London, New York and here..

we will soon have vinyl lettering to label the times..

Matt's prized posession..lol...his Chuck Norris poster from his

little sis at Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Matt..sorry it took so long!!

Wallpaper Project #3

Our third project of wallpaper removal has left us with a little surprise.

Here are a few wallpaper horror stories from earlier last year:

http://steinerstory.blogspot.com/2008/09/curse-of-wallpaper.html

It looks like I didn't post about Matt's room - yikes. Probably too painful to put into words, ha ha.

It was a job - take my word for it. Top to bottom vinyl wallpaper..that wanted to stay to the wall at all costs.

On to our newest project. Kristen's room. Which used to be Matt's room with the lovely tool wallpaper..... ok when your six but probably not 15 ;0)

Behind door number three - or should I say - drywall??????

(We had our guesses - ooohh I hated to be right.)

Mold - mildew - fungi - "any of similar coatings or discolorations, caused by fungi, as that which appears on fabrics, paper, leather, etc., when exposed to moisture."

Water damage - water - wet - yuck!

Happy new year!! When does that tax refund come???????

Christmas Pics

The kids all received USU sweatshirts this Christmas and - you can tell by the smiles - they were a huge hit!