What Happened to the Garden?

I got an email today from one of my wonderful blogger mom friends asking about how our garden had turned out as I hadn't mentioned anything about it.
I think I hadn't mentioned it because it didn't turn out nearly as well as we had hoped, but we did get some things out of it.
Here is what happened -
First we had everything growing beautifully and when we went to start transplanting them outside we had a downpour for 3 days and most of the seedlings did not make it. Then we got them up and going again on the back porch this time and we had another wash out that lost about 2/3 of the plants. When I finally got a dry enough day to transplant we realized that all the sticks had gotten mixed up and we really weren't sure what some of the things were, so we just guessed and put them in the ground. We knew that we had cucumbers, carrots, peas, squash, lettuce and watermelon once they started growing a bit more and things looked good once they got in the ground. Then came more torrential rain! It was the long leaf variety so the weight of them with all the rain water made them topple over. They were growing so well too! We had lettuce coming out our ears.
The cucumbers and the squash have not produced anything. Don't know why they had huge flowers blooming, but their is no sign of squash forming. Some say we did not water them enough, but I don't know how we could have watered them more.
Here is a picture of the beans KM got out of the garden today and the mini carrots that she pulled up because she did not believe me when I said that they really were carrots growing under there!
We have been discussing our plans for next years garden and the big thing we will be doing is RESEARCH!
We really kinda just went at it this year with very little information or guidance at all, so I guess with that in mind we did really well.

A Wonderful Week In Review!

We had a very busy week and I apologize for not posting much, but her is a recap:

Monday

Math in the morning right after breakfast, then we headed out for the last "Monday Funday" class until the fall! KM really enjoyed the music class she took. She diligently practiced her recorder and has gotten pretty good at it! I feel so lucky to have found this wonderful group of families to be involved with!

In the afternoon we trekked to the indoor gym to spend the afternoon with DD and SR since she had a half-day from school! We were SOOOOO exhausted (DD and I that is), but we had some really good laughs and the kids had fun.

Then we headed home to pack the car and get ready for 2 field trips on Tuesday!

Tuesday

We spent the day on 2 field trips that were organized by the FRC!

In the morning we went to the Orchard House where we were taken back in time to meet Louisa May Alcott's family! KM really enjoyed the layout of this tour. They split the kids up into three groups and then they went through stations. For the first station we went into the study and played a very interesting board game. At the second station the kids got to collaborate on a story. The third station was KM's favorite. The kids each got a bag with an object in it. They were not allowed to look into the bag but had to feel the object and try to draw what they thought it was. The kids all did a really good job! (there are no pics as we were not allowed to use cameras in the orchard house) ~ I also learned something that made me love Louisa May Alcott even more - she was a pioneer in American fantasy fiction. Of course I had to get the collection of her fairy tales and fantasy stories! Can't wait to read it with KM & SC!!!

In the afternoon we went to Walden Pond where we had a picnic and went on a guided tour to learn about Henry David Thoreau. The guide there was incredible! He did a great job engaging the children and keeping their attentions. He was also very patient with there questions and was honest when he didn't know the answer to one question.

KM with her friend and the life sized statue of Thoreau! She was amazed that such a "studious" man was so short~
As we walked along the path the erosion was at eye level and was making such intriguing shots!

The day was perfectly clear and just the right breeze ~ the only down side were the SWARMS of midges!

On the ride home KM began complaining about her feet hurting, so I decided to stop at Olympia Sports. We are going to be doing weekly hikes and I couldn't remember when she had gotten a new pair last so I figured we should have her measured. Well come to find out the sneakers she was wearing were a size and a half too small!!! How was I suppose to know! The girl at the store said that so many kids come in and are in a totally different size then their parents thought they were. Anyway of course she is in the funny size ~ 4 in girls, but 6 in womans ~ and they don't have ANYTHING in this size! Luckily Kohl's was right next door, so we go in there and take a look around. It took us nearly an hour to find a pair that she liked that they had in her size. Isn't that always the way. The size you need is the same as everyone else that week!

Wednesday

We had a busy day of recouping from field trip prep! Lots of chores to be done ~ baking, dishes, laundry, vacuuming, pretty much everything - but it was so nice out!

KM did her math, it was funny because she was thinking that since she didn't do work on Tuesday she was going to have double to do - she didn't realize I planned around it!

We got an unexpected visit from MC and SC, what a great distraction they are sometimes! SC is always so confused when her mom brings her over as her dad is the one who drops her off in the mornings. She watches MC constantly to see what is going on and where she is. So we ended up out in the sun with all the animals! Dogs chasing kids and cats chasing snakes! Yes, one of the cats caught a snake! Luckily I got him to drop it before it did any damage, KM was NOT happy with Oreo!

After SC and MC left we decided to bring the laptop outside to study the results of the French and Indian War! I love wireless!

Thursday

It was SOOOOOO gorgeous out! We did math first thing to get it over with and get outside!

After lunch it was so warm out we decided to take our books outside and started reading Johnny Tremain while SC took a nap in the sun!

Off to Chorus and Yoga in the afternoon!

Friday

We started the day off with a slight problem KM wanted pancakes, SC wanted her bottle ~ so we compromised! KM gave her the bottle while I made the pancakes.

Science Unit Studies seem to be the way to go lately...she is not liking the "boring" time4learning science lessons. She likes everything else on that site, but for some reason doesn't like the science ones. I broke down and got the Efantasmic package and we are really liking it. It is unique I think because it covers so much and can be converted for the different age levels.

Lunch early and off to volunteer at the library! She really enjoys working with the librarian and helping the younger kids doing the crafts. SC loves the music in between the stories!

Quick trip to the health food store to grab some ear candles, we will be trying them this weekend and it will be interesting to see how they work!

Then we headed home to take a geometry test! She was very nervous, but she got a B+!

Well that was our wonderful week in review!

Did you do anything interesting this week?

I hope you at least got to enjoy the weather a bit!

NO MEDS!!!

So it has been nearly a month since KM was taken off of all her asthma and allergy medications by her specialist.I had asked him to reevaluate her since she was showing no symptoms at all since she was taken out of PS. He is such a great doctor, he called today to check in and see if she was doing alright and still not on any medications. She has continued to show no signs of even the slightest sniffle! Yippee!!!
He said he wasn't surprised and had been seeing more and more children that appear to be allergic to the strong cleaning chemicals used in most households, daycares and schools. I had been questioning for a while what the cause of her asthma could be. KM was diagnosed at 3 after a very difficult winter of three bouts of bronchitis and two cases of pneumonia. KM nursed til she was 2 1/2 and had never even had a cold! Just before she turned 3 she had started preschool and it was all down hill from there. She had all sorts of testing done and they had said she was allergic to a wide array of weeds, molds, dusts and pollens. I was adamant with her doctors that I only wanted her on medications that she HAD to be on. So every so often we would try to ween her off different ones. The thing that really confused me was that most people with allergies have it the worst in the spring and summer when all the trees are pollinating and blooming, however KM would go off her medications in late May and would not need anything including her emergency inhaler all summer. Usually near the end of September, early October she would start to get sniffly and we would get her right back on her meds to avoid any real problems with bronchitis again. I never understood how this could be caused by seasonal allergies when she didn't have the symptoms at the peak season.
A light went off this winter. KM was sick one time before she was taken out of school and then wasn't the least bit stuffy for the rest of the winter. We use almost all organic cleaners, except for laundry, dish and dishwasher detergent. So I asked the doctor if he thought it could have anything to do with the cleaners. He said she was a prime example of what a lot of respitory specialists are beginning to notice more and more. There is no test to prove that this is the case as who wants to be tested to check if you are allergic to breathing in bleach or other harmful chemicals. However the pattern is the same in all these kids, they started to get sick in mid-fall when the teachers start closing the windows in the classrooms and using more and more disinfectants to prevent the spread of germs and illness. They are on meds and/or dealing with severe illnesses all winter and through the start of spring, until it gets warm enough to open those windows again and let the fresh air in. Seems a bit coincidental to me!
It is one less thing to drive me crazy though - having to remember to have her take the meds, calling in refills in time, but not too early and remembering to pick them up and the thought of putting all those chemicals in to KM. I am also wondering if this is part of the change in her attitude and attention span that I have seen as well.
Just thought I would spread a bit of awareness and share a happy triumph!

Update of Happenings

Sorry I have been so quiet for a few days! It has been busy, busy, busy around here. I had SC at the end of last week which still throws me off a bit. Not that it is bad it is just different and she is changing soooo much soooo fast. She started pulling herself up a bit now. She may start cruising at any time now. She is eating EVERYTHING and wants to eat anything someone else is. It really is fun to have a baby around again a few days a week.
I took a Reiki I class on Saturday and it was fantastic! I am sooo glad I finally did it. I learned a tremendous amount and so many things make so much more sense now.
KM started her music class with the co-op group and really liked it. It was a bit of a challenge getting out this morning with SC and all the STUFF, but we made it. KM also had her audition for the solo in the chorus this afternoon, we will hear more about that later in the week.
Other than those few tidbits things are going pretty steady. Getting in the groove and riding the wave.
We are excited about trying our first Unit Study next week using Charlotte's Web. It is a different approach and I figured we would throw it in to the mix and see what happens. If it works out well we may do more of them, there are sooo many online for inexpensive prices that they seem like such a great way to break up some of the monotony.
Hope everyone has a great week!