Yesterday was the 7th anniversary of the day Paul and I were married, 10 total years together. We were married on a beautiful autumn day in Tennessee in a little chapel high up in the mountains. All of our family and friends were there to see us start our new life and husband and wife. Marring Paul was the best decision of my life, he's a wonderful man and a great daddy! And there is evidence of this :) Yesterday morning in my inbox I received an anniversary present from Paul, my computer techy, website building, very thought, and creative husband. Yes, I received my own URL and website. He's so tricky the way he can file things I say I want away and make them happen for such wonderful surprises.
So....introducing http://asimplekindoflife.net Please remark your bookmarks and you can find me there now :)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I'm doing it so you should too!
http://www.paperbackswap.com
swap books for free! ok, you have to pay postage but you get a credit for every book you mail out. one book equals one credit. simple huh? start by listing 9 and get 3 free credits. plus you can print media mail postage right from the site. it really couldn't be any easier. the only problem, more people need to participate. especially if your going to list homeschool books! so come and play!
swap books for free! ok, you have to pay postage but you get a credit for every book you mail out. one book equals one credit. simple huh? start by listing 9 and get 3 free credits. plus you can print media mail postage right from the site. it really couldn't be any easier. the only problem, more people need to participate. especially if your going to list homeschool books! so come and play!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Pudding video
Here is the video that goes along with the pudding face picture. Skye is having a snack while Carter and his friend are playing in the other room. Skye is practicing her favorite words including Buba (her word for Carter). Enjoy :)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Bookshelves
I read about this idea and loved it. Paul and I completed the project this weekend. I love it! As you can see we are studying steam engines this week though FIAR Mike Mulligan.
Looks great Paul, thank you!
Let it be known!
That today, October 17th 2007 at 5:17 am, my inbox is EMPTY for the first time in over 3 months!
Gmail says
Gmail says
No new mail!. Whew, what a relief!!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Mall (rants and raves)
I took the kids to the mall for the first time in forever yesterday.
THE GOOD
People were NICE, actually NICE! The lady at Lush (yes, there is now a Lust @ 12 oaks) gave me a TON of samples!
The nice guy at TCYB gave the kids two toppings on their yogurt for the price of one.
The new wing, is BEAUTIFUL.
The spot they moved the kids area has only one opening and the alluring escalator is sort of hidden (major bonus).
THE BAD
My favorite yogurt place (upstairs Macy's) is under remodel, don't know if it'll be the same when it reopens.
When did the food court become such a market place? I was just trying to get to the bathroom and I was assaulted with free samples and come eat here :) Yeeesh!
The new kids area is far away from the bathroom, not a good thing when you have kids!
All in all, a good day at the mall. Exhausting, but good!
THE GOOD
People were NICE, actually NICE! The lady at Lush (yes, there is now a Lust @ 12 oaks) gave me a TON of samples!
The nice guy at TCYB gave the kids two toppings on their yogurt for the price of one.
The new wing, is BEAUTIFUL.
The spot they moved the kids area has only one opening and the alluring escalator is sort of hidden (major bonus).
THE BAD
My favorite yogurt place (upstairs Macy's) is under remodel, don't know if it'll be the same when it reopens.
When did the food court become such a market place? I was just trying to get to the bathroom and I was assaulted with free samples and come eat here :) Yeeesh!
The new kids area is far away from the bathroom, not a good thing when you have kids!
All in all, a good day at the mall. Exhausting, but good!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
This is our second week using the Five in a Row curriculum. The basic idea is you read the book, everday, then take your lessons from the book. I am LOVING this curriculum, it's been a great jumping off point for homeschooling! This week we read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World The premise of the story is what happens if you want to make an apple pie and the market is closed? You'd have to travel the world to gather the ingredients. Italy for wheat, France for eggs, Sri Lanka for cinnamon, England for a cow (milk then butter), Jamaica for sugar cane, seawater for salt and Vermont for apples. Here is how our week went.
Monday; First I asked Carter how he thinks we make an apple pie. Here is what he said; Cut the apples. Dough, sugar and flour. Roll the dough. Put it in a bowl pan. Add the apples. Bake for 15 hours. Put in on a plate and eat it while it's warm.
Then we read the book. Later we did a connect the dots that made an apple.
Tuesday. We read the book, then.... we went to a preschool co-op with many other children at my friends house. There we sliced apples, grated cinnamon, ground wheat, made butter and finally but it all together for apple pies! The kids each got their own and one for the adults too!
Wednesday. We read the book, then.. We did math! We read 10 Apples up on Top by Dr. Seuss. Apple patterns, but apples in baskets. And in the morning we went on a field trip to a cider mill!
Thursday. We read the book, then... Vocabulary. I let Carter trace the words, then we talked about the definition. Paul had the great idea to use our vocab words whenever possible during the next week or so it will become part of Carter's everyday speech. The words were; superb, locate, elegant, native, coax and ingredients.
Friday. We read the book, then... On the last day I like to let Carter help me 'read' as much as possible. Then we did a storyline activity and put up our story disc on the map.
What a great week! Looking forward to
Mike Mulligan next!
Apple Patterns
Apple Baskets
The Pies!
Carter and his pie
Monday; First I asked Carter how he thinks we make an apple pie. Here is what he said; Cut the apples. Dough, sugar and flour. Roll the dough. Put it in a bowl pan. Add the apples. Bake for 15 hours. Put in on a plate and eat it while it's warm.
Then we read the book. Later we did a connect the dots that made an apple.
Tuesday. We read the book, then.... we went to a preschool co-op with many other children at my friends house. There we sliced apples, grated cinnamon, ground wheat, made butter and finally but it all together for apple pies! The kids each got their own and one for the adults too!
Wednesday. We read the book, then.. We did math! We read 10 Apples up on Top by Dr. Seuss. Apple patterns, but apples in baskets. And in the morning we went on a field trip to a cider mill!
Thursday. We read the book, then... Vocabulary. I let Carter trace the words, then we talked about the definition. Paul had the great idea to use our vocab words whenever possible during the next week or so it will become part of Carter's everyday speech. The words were; superb, locate, elegant, native, coax and ingredients.
Friday. We read the book, then... On the last day I like to let Carter help me 'read' as much as possible. Then we did a storyline activity and put up our story disc on the map.
What a great week! Looking forward to
Mike Mulligan next!
Apple Patterns
Apple Baskets
The Pies!
Carter and his pie
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Nature Bangles
I read about this idea in several places so I'm not going to site one source. The idea is you either use double sided tape or (like we did) make a tape bracelet with the sticky on the outside. Then simply walk and collect anything you'd like! We also brought along a bigger bag to put big stuff in. Simple, and fun!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Neighborhood kids :)
I must have overpaid a couple of neighborhood kids last year for raking my leaves. Now anytime there are more than 5 leaves on the lawn or more than an inch of snow they are knocking on my door. They must see me as their sugar mama ;) HA HA, oh well!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Artificial Food Additives May Increase Hyperactivity in Children
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562631?src=mp
September 10, 2007 — Artificial food color and additives commonly found in children's food increase the mean level of hyperactivity in children aged 3 years and 8 to 9 years, according to the results of a community-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study published online September 6 in The Lancet.
"Artificial food colours and other food additives (AFCA) have long been suggested to affect behaviour in children," write Donna McCann, PhD, from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, and colleagues. "Despite the failure of early studies to identify the range of proposed adverse affects, a recent meta-analysis of double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials has shown a significant effect of AFCA on the behaviour of children with ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder]. The possible benefit in a reduction in the level of hyperactivity of the general population by the removal of AFCA from the diet is less well established."
The investigators randomized 153 three-year-old and 144 eight- to nine-year-old children to receive a challenge drink containing sodium benzoate and 1 of 2 artificial-food-color-and-additive mixes (A or B) or a placebo mix. The primary outcome measure was a global hyperactivity aggregate, derived from aggregated z scores of observed behaviors and teacher and parent ratings, as well as from a computerized test of attention for 8- to 9-year-old children.
For reasons not related to childhood behavior, 16 three-year-old children and 14 eight- to nine-year-old children dropped out of the study. Compared with placebo, mix A, but not mix B, had a significantly adverse effect on the global hyperactivity aggregate for all 3-year-old children (effect size, 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 - 0.39; P = .044). When the analysis was restricted only to those 3-year-old children who consumed more than 85% of juice and had no missing data, the findings were similar (effect size, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.05 - 0.60; P = .02).
For 8- to 9-year-old children who consumed at least 85% of drinks and had no missing data, there were significantly adverse effects compared with placebo for either mix A (effect size, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 - 0.23; P = .023) or mix B (effect size, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07 - 0.28; P = .001).
"Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population," the authors write. "We recorded substantial individual differences in the response of children to the additives. For both age groups, no significant effect of social and demographic factors was seen on the initial level of GHA [global hyperactivity aggregate] or in the moderation of the challenge effects."
Study limitations include inability to determine specific compounds in the mix that are harmful and lack of control over when the challenges are ingested in relation to the timing of measures of hyperactivity.
"Although the use of artificial colouring in food manufacture might seem superfluous, the same cannot be said for sodium benzoate, which has an important preservative function," the authors conclude. "The implications of these results for the regulation of food additive use could be substantial."
The Food Standards Agency funded this study. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Lancet. Published online September 6, 2007.
Clinical Context
According to the authors of the current study, artificial food colors and additives have been shown to affect behavior in children, with an increase in overactive, impulsive, and inattentive behavior, (ie, hyperactivity, similar to that seen in children with ADHD). A recent meta-analysis showed a significant effect of artificial food color and additives on the behavior of children with ADHD, with an effect size of 0.21 to 0.28.
This is a community-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject, crossover, food challenge study designed to examine the effect of 2 types of artificial food color and additive preparations (representing typical consumption of sweets or candies) on 3- and 8- to 9-year-old children.
Study Highlights
Included were 3-year-old children from nurseries, preschool groups, and play groups and schoolchildren aged 8 to 9 years from 1 city in England.
Teachers completed a baseline hyperactivity questionnaire for all children.
Dieticians completed a food intake report based on 24-hour recall to assess the amount of food consumed with food additives and coloring.
3 drink mixes were used to represent typical daily sweet intakes for children in this area.
Mix A for the 3-year-old children included 20 mg of artificial food colorings (sunset yellow, 5 mg; carmoisine, 2.5 mg; tartrazine, 7.5 mg; and ponceau 4R, 5 mg) and 45 mg of sodium benzoate.
Mix B contained 30 mg of artificial food colorings and 45 mg of sodium benzoate.
For 9-year-old children, the total amount of artificial coloring was multiplied by 1.25 to reflect higher intakes by children in this age group, but 45 mg of sodium benzoate was used for mixes A and B.
Doses for mix A were similar to those in two 56-g bags of sweets and, for mix B, 4 bags of sweets daily.
Children were randomized to 1 of 6 sequences for 6 weeks of mix A, mix B, or placebo.
Children spent a week consuming their typical diet followed by a washout period of 6 weeks.
During this 6-week period, children consumed the challenge mix and mixed fruit juices at home, provided in identical sealed bottles.
A separate masked test in young adults showed that the 3 drinks could not be differentiated by taste or appearance.
Parents completed a daily diary of juice mix consumption.
A global hyperactivity aggregate (with higher score representing more hyperactivity) was calculated, based on 3 measures in 3-year-old children and 4 measures in 8- to 9-year-old children.
The 3 measures used for both age groups were ADHD rating scale IV (for teachers), Weiss-Perry-Peters hyperactivity scale for parents, and the classroom observation code used by trained observers.
A fourth measure for 8- to 9-year-old children only was the Conners continuous performance test II using 4 scores and visual stimuli of 14-minutes' duration to assess hyperactivity.
The global hyperactivity aggregate was a composite of the tests used with baseline score standardized as 0.
85% of children were white, 33% to 43% of parents had lower occupations, and 82% were married or cohabiting.
3-year-old children (n = 136):
Mean age was 43.5 months, half were boys, 10% did not complete the study, and 93% consumed more than 85% of drinks.
76% had complete global hyperactivity aggregate data.
The effect of mix A was significant for increasing global hyperactivity aggregate score (P = .044), whereas mix B did not increase scores.
The effect of mix B was highly variable, with substantial individual differences.
The effect size was 0.20 for mix A.
8- to 9-year-old children (n = 119):
Mean age was 106.3 months, half were boys, 10% did not complete the study, and 75% consumed 85% or more of the drinks during the challenge weeks.
The effects of mixes A and B on global hyperactivity aggregate score were significantly greater than that of placebo for complete case groups (P = .023 and
P = .001, respectively).
The effect size was 0.12 for mix A and 0.17 for mix B.
Pearls for Practice
Consumption of a low-dose mix of artificial food color and additives is associated with increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old children.
Consumption of 2 different doses of artificial food color and additives is associated with increased hyperactivity in 8- to 9-year-old children.
Medscape Medical News 2007. ©2007 Medscape
September 10, 2007 — Artificial food color and additives commonly found in children's food increase the mean level of hyperactivity in children aged 3 years and 8 to 9 years, according to the results of a community-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge study published online September 6 in The Lancet.
"Artificial food colours and other food additives (AFCA) have long been suggested to affect behaviour in children," write Donna McCann, PhD, from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, and colleagues. "Despite the failure of early studies to identify the range of proposed adverse affects, a recent meta-analysis of double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials has shown a significant effect of AFCA on the behaviour of children with ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder]. The possible benefit in a reduction in the level of hyperactivity of the general population by the removal of AFCA from the diet is less well established."
The investigators randomized 153 three-year-old and 144 eight- to nine-year-old children to receive a challenge drink containing sodium benzoate and 1 of 2 artificial-food-color-and-additive mixes (A or B) or a placebo mix. The primary outcome measure was a global hyperactivity aggregate, derived from aggregated z scores of observed behaviors and teacher and parent ratings, as well as from a computerized test of attention for 8- to 9-year-old children.
For reasons not related to childhood behavior, 16 three-year-old children and 14 eight- to nine-year-old children dropped out of the study. Compared with placebo, mix A, but not mix B, had a significantly adverse effect on the global hyperactivity aggregate for all 3-year-old children (effect size, 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 - 0.39; P = .044). When the analysis was restricted only to those 3-year-old children who consumed more than 85% of juice and had no missing data, the findings were similar (effect size, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.05 - 0.60; P = .02).
For 8- to 9-year-old children who consumed at least 85% of drinks and had no missing data, there were significantly adverse effects compared with placebo for either mix A (effect size, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 - 0.23; P = .023) or mix B (effect size, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07 - 0.28; P = .001).
"Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population," the authors write. "We recorded substantial individual differences in the response of children to the additives. For both age groups, no significant effect of social and demographic factors was seen on the initial level of GHA [global hyperactivity aggregate] or in the moderation of the challenge effects."
Study limitations include inability to determine specific compounds in the mix that are harmful and lack of control over when the challenges are ingested in relation to the timing of measures of hyperactivity.
"Although the use of artificial colouring in food manufacture might seem superfluous, the same cannot be said for sodium benzoate, which has an important preservative function," the authors conclude. "The implications of these results for the regulation of food additive use could be substantial."
The Food Standards Agency funded this study. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Lancet. Published online September 6, 2007.
Clinical Context
According to the authors of the current study, artificial food colors and additives have been shown to affect behavior in children, with an increase in overactive, impulsive, and inattentive behavior, (ie, hyperactivity, similar to that seen in children with ADHD). A recent meta-analysis showed a significant effect of artificial food color and additives on the behavior of children with ADHD, with an effect size of 0.21 to 0.28.
This is a community-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject, crossover, food challenge study designed to examine the effect of 2 types of artificial food color and additive preparations (representing typical consumption of sweets or candies) on 3- and 8- to 9-year-old children.
Study Highlights
Included were 3-year-old children from nurseries, preschool groups, and play groups and schoolchildren aged 8 to 9 years from 1 city in England.
Teachers completed a baseline hyperactivity questionnaire for all children.
Dieticians completed a food intake report based on 24-hour recall to assess the amount of food consumed with food additives and coloring.
3 drink mixes were used to represent typical daily sweet intakes for children in this area.
Mix A for the 3-year-old children included 20 mg of artificial food colorings (sunset yellow, 5 mg; carmoisine, 2.5 mg; tartrazine, 7.5 mg; and ponceau 4R, 5 mg) and 45 mg of sodium benzoate.
Mix B contained 30 mg of artificial food colorings and 45 mg of sodium benzoate.
For 9-year-old children, the total amount of artificial coloring was multiplied by 1.25 to reflect higher intakes by children in this age group, but 45 mg of sodium benzoate was used for mixes A and B.
Doses for mix A were similar to those in two 56-g bags of sweets and, for mix B, 4 bags of sweets daily.
Children were randomized to 1 of 6 sequences for 6 weeks of mix A, mix B, or placebo.
Children spent a week consuming their typical diet followed by a washout period of 6 weeks.
During this 6-week period, children consumed the challenge mix and mixed fruit juices at home, provided in identical sealed bottles.
A separate masked test in young adults showed that the 3 drinks could not be differentiated by taste or appearance.
Parents completed a daily diary of juice mix consumption.
A global hyperactivity aggregate (with higher score representing more hyperactivity) was calculated, based on 3 measures in 3-year-old children and 4 measures in 8- to 9-year-old children.
The 3 measures used for both age groups were ADHD rating scale IV (for teachers), Weiss-Perry-Peters hyperactivity scale for parents, and the classroom observation code used by trained observers.
A fourth measure for 8- to 9-year-old children only was the Conners continuous performance test II using 4 scores and visual stimuli of 14-minutes' duration to assess hyperactivity.
The global hyperactivity aggregate was a composite of the tests used with baseline score standardized as 0.
85% of children were white, 33% to 43% of parents had lower occupations, and 82% were married or cohabiting.
3-year-old children (n = 136):
Mean age was 43.5 months, half were boys, 10% did not complete the study, and 93% consumed more than 85% of drinks.
76% had complete global hyperactivity aggregate data.
The effect of mix A was significant for increasing global hyperactivity aggregate score (P = .044), whereas mix B did not increase scores.
The effect of mix B was highly variable, with substantial individual differences.
The effect size was 0.20 for mix A.
8- to 9-year-old children (n = 119):
Mean age was 106.3 months, half were boys, 10% did not complete the study, and 75% consumed 85% or more of the drinks during the challenge weeks.
The effects of mixes A and B on global hyperactivity aggregate score were significantly greater than that of placebo for complete case groups (P = .023 and
P = .001, respectively).
The effect size was 0.12 for mix A and 0.17 for mix B.
Pearls for Practice
Consumption of a low-dose mix of artificial food color and additives is associated with increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old children.
Consumption of 2 different doses of artificial food color and additives is associated with increased hyperactivity in 8- to 9-year-old children.
Medscape Medical News 2007. ©2007 Medscape
Monday, September 17, 2007
Why I gave up the Emmy's.
This is the first year in I don't know how many years that I have not watched the Emmy awards. And no it's not because I didn't know they were on. And no it's not because I don't own a tv. And no It's not because I'm not an award show junkie, well, I was.
Excess. It's too much excess. Gift bags for presenters that near $10,000, attendees wearing Millions of dollars worth of jewelry, the party's, the food, the clothing.... All this so they can applaud for each other for DOING THEIR JOB! All this while some kid (lots of kids actually) was going to bed hungry. All this while another family is loosing their home to foreclosure. All this while America's best are overseas fighting in a war and dying and not having the proper equipment. But I'm sure it's all Bush's fault. And trust me,I'm no Bush fan.
How about instead of a night of excess these fine actors these actors donate their time, money, and resources to something that ISN'T ALL ABOUT THEM! How about the give that cute little golden statue to the fine citizens of America that work their asses off to provide for their families? How about giving it to someone who is living real drama, not just playing it on TV?
I might just throw my TV out the window. Seriously.
Excess. It's too much excess. Gift bags for presenters that near $10,000, attendees wearing Millions of dollars worth of jewelry, the party's, the food, the clothing.... All this so they can applaud for each other for DOING THEIR JOB! All this while some kid (lots of kids actually) was going to bed hungry. All this while another family is loosing their home to foreclosure. All this while America's best are overseas fighting in a war and dying and not having the proper equipment. But I'm sure it's all Bush's fault. And trust me,I'm no Bush fan.
How about instead of a night of excess these fine actors these actors donate their time, money, and resources to something that ISN'T ALL ABOUT THEM! How about the give that cute little golden statue to the fine citizens of America that work their asses off to provide for their families? How about giving it to someone who is living real drama, not just playing it on TV?
I might just throw my TV out the window. Seriously.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Painting clothespins
We painted clothespins the other day for our art area above the children's desk (see Homeschooling blog for photos). They turned out really great and not too too messy!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A story, by Carter
A big crazy chicken who is following a path to a river and the path breaks and the chicken falls in the water.
Volcanoes
Carter has been quite interested in volcanoes for awhile now. We've read books, talked about them, watched videos on youtube (what a great educations tool, who knew?), and finally made our own! Thanks for my friend Sally for her creativity in the design (are you there Sally?).
This is a disposable plastic wear, upside down, hole cut out of center, film canister placed inside. Covered in play dough (we save it and reuse it every time), then you know the trick....baking soda, colored vingear....the MAGIC happens and volcanoes erupt!!
Fun, fun, fun!
This is a disposable plastic wear, upside down, hole cut out of center, film canister placed inside. Covered in play dough (we save it and reuse it every time), then you know the trick....baking soda, colored vingear....the MAGIC happens and volcanoes erupt!!
Fun, fun, fun!
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