Homeschool Sushi Rolls

I have found a great homeschool group in my city.  I won't publicize them in case they want to stay medium-sized, but would be happy to publicize them if they want me to and will email anyone info about them if they would like from the Comments section.  Anyway, they have 4 co-op sessions a year where a parent offers a class on anything and in return their kids can take as many classes as they want.  Some of the classes cost money, like this one was $5 per kid, but they got to take home a bamboo mat and spoon plus the ingredients were amazing (salmon, avocado, mango, cream cheese, cucumber, etc.).

Pokemon Puzzle and Pokemon T-shirt

I found this Pokemon puzzle at a thrift store for one fat buck.  It's 200 pieces, and Michael and Aron sat and worked on it together for some great father/son time.  Of course, the next morning, Eva tore it all apart while I was eating my bon bons and watching my soap operas in the tub (don't tell my husband!), so it's a good thing they took a picture of it!  Below is a picture of Joel with his Pokemon T-shirt on ... he'd just made himself a smoothie and was quite proud of himself!

Amazon has some great Pokémon puzzles. Check them out!

They also have T-shirts!

*Full disclosure: I might get a few cents if you purchase something on Amazon using the links in this post.

Stuff My Dad Says

My dad says, "Heard the starving artists were due to come back to town to sell paintings. I'm taking them down some canned goods and boxes of cereal. Don't give them cash! They'll only spend it on paint and canvas!"

Home Fire Drills

I know it's important to have working smoke detectors in your home, but we'd never had a fire drill until Joel's Cub Scout book made it a priority.  So recently when my niece was over, she directed the boys in a fire drill.  The main message was to STAY LOW ... and have a meeting place at a tree out front!

2010 Census

Yes, I filled out my census.

Then a few weeks later at 5:45 p.m. on a week night, I got a call from the Census People.  The chick started spouting off all kinds of sections and codes and crap that let me know she was allowed to be calling me.  Still, how do I know it was really the Census People?

So let’s assume it was really them.  She wants to take 10 minutes of my time to ask more questions about my household.  I asked her why.  She spouted off more sections and codes instead of just saying something like, “Well, some people are randomly chosen to be asked more questions.”

So I said, “You have my census in front of you?”

She said she did.

I said, “Then you know that I have 5 kids and that you are calling at dinnertime.  I don’t have 10 minutes for you.”

I hung up as she was saying something about needing to set up an appointment to talk with me.  I found out someone I know had the same issue once and the Census People showed up at his house with a badge and everything.

1. Why can’t they randomly choose someone else instead of wasting time tracking down those who don’t want to answer their dang questions?
2. If I’m home during the day with just my kids, you can bet your butt I will not be answering the door to a Census Person.  Except these days my kids are always playing outside and I’m out watching them quite often and the Census Person will probably corner me.  Darnit.