The POOL

We decided the kids would receive a pool for their birthdays this year.  They will each still receive a gift on the actual day, but this it the BIG one, if you know what I mean.

Last year, Angelina on down enjoyed the smaller 10’x3’ pool so much.  They were in it nearly every day.  Dash, however, didn’t enjoy it so much!  At over 6’, a 3’ deep pool doesn’t do a whole lot and then he takes up quite a bit of the diameter.  So, after much research and reading of reviews, we invested in an 18’x48” pool with sand filter and saltwater pump (self-chlorinator).  The following pics show our day-long site prep and set-up that began a couple days after Achievement Days ended..

Using the scraper to take off the grass and first layer of soil

More scraping, but shovels also used to take out some of the dirt on the south side to make it more level.

First couple loads of sand dumped in the area.  This was recommended to help in leveling and protecting the pool base.

Checking for levelness.  They did pretty good.  The south side is still a couple inches high, but it’ll work for this year.  We can improve on it for next year.  The sand area is lined with old bullet pavers.  Obviously this will be the ‘permanent’ site for the pool each summer.

Laying out the pool itself.

Putting the framework in the liner.

Checking all the connections and finishing up the framing.

And, it’s up!

Add a few inches of water, then the crew went in to smooth out any missed wrinkles in the liner.  We’ll be more diligent on this next year, too.

It took about a day to fill, but the kids were enjoying the water when it was only half full.  It was hot…and they deemed it necessary!  Louis’ pool is in the foreground.  However, he enjoys being in the big pool with a lifejacket & floating tube.

The second or third day we noticed the pool turning a little green.  Eric did a bit of research online, as did Dash, and learned more about our set-up.  They double checked everything and realized a filter was clogged with calcium.  After soaking the filter in vinegar and replacing it, the pool cleared overnight.  We chose to fill the pool with deep well water (no cost to us, as there would be with rural water), so I’m assuming we’ll have to clean this filter often during the first month or so of use.  Dash had to clean it again a couple days later. 

The hot weather has made the pool water quite warm; at least, the kids aren’t complaining.  They even went in the pool today and it was cool, cloudy and slightly windy.  They said the water felt warm.

So far, an excellent investment.

Truth in Advertising??

My kids determined that I NEEDED a SodaStream for my Birthday and Christmas.  So, they pooled their finances to  purchase this amazing (more so in their eyes) for me.  They did ask me and I agreed that they could give me this gift, but I didn’t have time to really look into it and do any research.  It has truly been a learning experience for them however, and that has been more of a gift/lesson for them. 

First, Dash insisted that ordering from the SodaStream website was the absolutely best deal because they could order extra flavors, samples and an additional CO2 pack.  However, he forgot to calculate shipping.  In reality, Amazon would have been the better option because of super saver shipping, which would have resulted in no shipping charges.

Second, my kids (especially, Dash) know that I cannot stand the taste of artificial sweeteners, nor do I consider them a healthy alternative to cane or beet sugar.  Unbeknownst to me, ALL the regular flavors use sucralose for sweetening.  To his defense, the product descriptions say ‘all natural’.  But, I don’t consider sucralose a natural sweetener!  I can taste it and it’s awful.  After my first small glass, I wouldn’t consider drinking any more.  I had grave reservations about letting my kids drink any, but relented.  I did toss the flavor that is compared to Red Bull and all the diet flavors.  Thank goodness they were just small sample packs.  But, what do I do with all the full size flavors?

Third, the kids had assumed this would be a huge money saver because I’d ‘for sure’ like Dr. Pete better than my sugar filled Dr. Pepper.  After trying the others, I didn’t have the heart to tell them I wouldn’t be trying Dr. Pete with it’s sucralose sweetener.  Now, there are naturally (cane sugar) sweetened flavors, but most of them cost twice as much as the same amount of regular flavor and make half as many liters.  Definitely not as cost effective as the kids had dreamed. 

This won’t replace Dr. Pepper for me.  Now, I truly would like to cut back or cut completely my Dr. Pepper habit because the waistline is affected.  It’s an extra and isn’t necessary… it’s an indulgence.

We occasionally buy rootbeer for making rootbeer floats as a treat.  Eric and I enjoy Colorado Bulldogs, which use about 12oz of cola (usually Coke) for two drinks.  We make these maybe twice a month.  It can’t be returned, so I’ll be checking out the Sparkling Naturals flavors at some point.

Package in the Mail!

Who doesn't like packages??  Mail delivery is one of my favorite times of the day.

Anyway, I ordered a few books from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts last week.  A couple were for Advent ... I know it's early, but I won't be doing much after baby arrives.  Better to be prepared.

I also ordered a couple workbooks for Graham.  He's really into cutting and pasting, so I know he'll enjoy these two Kumon books.  In fact, just this moring he came up to me and announced, "I'm bigger.  And now that I'm bigger I should be in school."  *it might not have been quite worded that way ... my memory is fuzzy ...  but that is what he implied*  At any rate, he's always asking me for something to do.  I've been ill-prepared lately, so this is my attempt at planning a little bit more for him.

The book shown below will be a Christmas gift for one God-daughter and for Angelina.  The kids and I have enjoyed all the books written by Jennie Bishop, and I assume this one will be no exception.  The hardcover edition even includes an audio CD.

My last purchase was "30 Ways in 30 Days to Save Your Family" by Rebecca Hagelin.  I'm cannot remember what about the book caught my attention while filling my order, but you have to admit the title is catchy.  I'm sure I felt like we needed saving!!  My reading is somewhat stalled right now, so it might be a while before I post anything about the book's content. 

Flower Press

As a girl, I was always enthralled with my Grandma Eva's flower press. I remember picking flowers for her to press, but I really do not remember what she did with them. Maybe she put them in a favorite book ...

Anyway, I came across a flower press kit at Garden Expressions and thought it would make for a great gift for my God-daughter whose 9th birthday is in August and a cute 4-H project for my 9yo daughter. The top two kits, fronted by yellow, are the kits for the girls. Each kit includes a decent sized press (I think they're 6x9 inches), instructions, blotting paper, cardboard, wildflower seeds, blank stationary, glue, scissors, and flower suggestions and pictures. It was very reasonably priced, IMHO.

The flower presses are so different from the one I remember. These presses are held together with velcro bands! Much easier for children ... and adults to cinch up.


Since I was already ordering, I couldn't resist getting a kit for myself. The photo at right shows the contents of my kit. Although slightly more in cost, it will be a treat I'll enjoy for years. This kit contains many of the same supplies: instructions, stationary, contact paper, seed packet, flower examples & ideas, extra blotting paper, cardboard and a flower press.



The flower press, up close. Among the decorated styles to choose from, I liked this one best. I have a flower in the press already ... I'll show it later!

Nice surprise

Yesterday, my hubby came home with a bouquet of Gerbera daisies and my favorite candy bar.

Gerbera's are one of my favorites, but I admit to having many favorite flowers! Since Gerbera's do so well in containers, they'll most likely be some of the first flowers I buy this year. Not a whole lot of ground around our home that I can actually 'plant' because we have a lot of dirt work to do yet. And, since yesterday was a dreary, cloudy, rainy day, hubby thought we could both use some color and a treat.

I have a feeling he ate his treat on the way home from town!

Too Much Stuff - Part 2

Now that the toy supply is manageable, how do I determine what to let into the house from now on?

I am a work in progress and admit to not having complete control over this aspect of our household for many reasons. I would sometimes like to say "No more gifts, please." But, that's not really practical. Accepting gifts can be an act of humility; accepting the charitable actions of others is a good lesson for kids, too. In our house, receiving a gift means a Thank You note must be written - also a good lesson in manners and social graces. So, while these ideas aren't necessarily solutions, they are ideas that can help.

1. Our first defense is to give gift suggestions that are consumable or needed (clothes, art supplies, educational gifts, etc.) Thankfully, our relatives ask for gift suggestions most of the time and I can guide them toward fulfilling needs instead of wants.

2. A factor I consider, now that we've moved, is what will happen to the item if I no longer need it or if it breaks. I don't have easy access to recycling and our garbage is not picked up at the curb! Plastic, metal and glass don't easily burn or break down and must be taken to a pile on the edge of a field. Not very eco-conscious, in my opinion. It's at least something to think about, even if you can discard items easily by putting them on the curb.

3. Birthday parties. Friend birthday parties in particular are usually the source of small and mostly useless gadgets that add to the clutter in our homes. This is one of the main reasons I haven't done friend parties. Not the best reason, but it has been my way. In the past couple years, a really neat phenomenon has caught on within our homeschool group. The moms have continued to host parties, but ask that the guests bring as a gift a monetary donation that can then be donated. I absolutely love this idea! Some past recipients have been Saint Gianna's Maternity Home and a local family whose daughter was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. I am planning to change my stance on friend birthday's in April for Dash's 12th birthday.

4. Gifts that you 'Do'. By this I mean, ask for a gift of time. Grandparents are precious; so are aunts and uncles. Their time is even more valuable. Some of the best gifts my kids have received have been time with aunts, uncles and grandparents. The time spent together may have been at Chuckie Cheese or Space Aliens or just baking cookies, but it always created a beautiful memory. Instead of material gifts, ask relatives to give time . . . and then actually plan it! Yes, it may take more work to coordinate schedules, but it is worth that time and more.

5. For gift giving and suggestions, I tend to stick to the toys groups already in the house (Part 1 lists toys that are used most often in our home). That doesn't mean we don't purchase 'hot' toys every now and then, but Thomas the Train and Duplo Legos are stand-bys and they fit with what we already own and enjoy.