Moms on retreat....part 1

This is it....the big weekend away for Julie and I! For our birthday in June, we both asked for and were graciously given a weekend away. So, here we are in Dallas for a weekend full of laughs, fun restaurants (with no chicken nuggets or corn dogs allowed!), movies and LONG conversations. We landed in D/FW this afternoon, got to the hotel, worked out....

See we really worked out....we didn't just pose for the camera!!!

And since we worked out....it was off to The Cheesecake Factory! Oh, yeah!

I even broke from the standard and tried something very new....ahi tuna tartar. NEVER have had this. I know people who really like ahi tuna so I thought I'd give it a try. I mean I figured it wouldn't get much better than at Cheesecake Factory.

Know what, it was good! It didn't taste too fishy at all. So there, I did it. Raw fish.

I also have never had these....avacado egg rolls. They were also very yummy.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for some more talking and hanging in jammies!

I "heart" Josiah!...a short but sweet!

Josiah and I were working on school his afternoon. We'd been working ALL DAY LONG because he's having to do two days of work because tomorrow I'm headed off to Dallas to spend the weekend with Julie. We'll be leaving the house in the late morning, so I don't want to leave much, if any, schoolwork undone until tomorrow. Anyway, we were doing some math and he looked over at me and smiled and said "Do you see hearts in my eyes when I look at you since I love you so much?"

Melted heart...I love that boy!!

A day of feasting...

Jeffrey's been studying medieval times the last couple of weeks in history. This week, one of the activites he was suppsed to do was to plan and give a medieval feast. We did it on a pretty small scale, but it was still lots of fun! Welcome to our feast....



First, step over the guard dog! :-)

Receive salt as a gift to those attending the feast.

Let the host wash your hands. (The boys really liked this part!)

The first part of the meal was apples covered with cinnamon and sugar served on "trenchers". Trenchers were essentially very stale biscuits that served as plates. Jeffrey made the trenchers three days before the feast, so yep they were really stale. Mission accomplished! :-)

Between courses the guests were supposed to entertain the crowd. Here's Jeremy playing a medieval tune on his saxophone.

And Jackson singing along, like he always does when Jeremy plays his saxophone. Too bad this one's not a video. It's hilarious to hear him "sing" along!

Next was turkey and cheese, again served on the trencher.

Before the next course, Jonathan read a poem out of "Lord of the Rings".

Ok, vanilla pudding for the last course. I didn't make them eat this one on the trencher. Actually, I certainly would have, I just didn't think of it in time!

And then at the end of the meal, the guests are supposed to eat the trencher. YUCK! I made everyone take a bite, but didn't make anyone eat the whole thing. Disgusting!

Well, these guys like the trenchers!

That's pretty medieval, right! Except I guess back then, these guys would have been living in the house with us. Oh, well, times change!

New kids on the block..um,I mean flock

Ok, call us crazy, but we couldn't turn down an opportunity to add 2 new hens to the farmily when a friend from Michael's work wanted to GIVE them to us! Her husband had actually been in the paper a week or so ago in a story about people keeping hens in their backyard in the city. Michael just commented to her about the newspaper article, and the next thing he knew, she was offering us her two hens. She said she thought they were mean and didn't want them anymore. So, we said "Sure!!" We'd been wanting to add some hens to see if that helped our roosters be a little less aggressive with the hens we have. We'll have to see how that works out! But for now, welcome Rhodie (Rhodelia is her long name) and Ruthie. They look quite a bit like Roadrunners, which is why their names start w/ "R". The first day, we kept them in the coop while the old gang looked on and walked around looking at them and clucking like crazy!

Ruthie, left and Rhodie, Right

I think they are really wondering what on earth they got into!!!!

They pretty much stick together and have learned to stay away from the roosters. Goldie likes having someone she can boss around, since she's been a loner away from the rest of the flock for a long time (at least since Hawkeye and Squanto have plucked all the feathers off of her back). It will be fun to see how the flock comes together in the next couple of weeks. Admittedly, they're not as pretty/cute as our old gang, but we'll see if they improve w/ age! :-) Either way, it's fun to have more hens around! And more eggs later will be awesome, too!!

Dagerath Academy High School opens

Monday was a big day for Dagerath Academy! Dagerath Academy officially opened it's high school branch and welcomed two new honor students! :-) And DA Middle school welcomed Jeffrey into its honors program! As in previous year, the first day of school started w/ "sticky stuff" for breakfast served on china w/ crystal....

I mean, gotta make it a big deal, right!!!

Here's the boys with the principal!

And their teacher...

This year's curriculum will be a little different because we'll be doing Classical Conversations for all of Jonathan and Jeremy's subjects (except math) and about 1/2 of Jeffrey and Josiah's. They will all go to class on Mondays (Jonathan and Jeremy started last Monday) and then do homework for the rest of the week that is assigned. We've not ever done anything like this before; but after the first week last week, Jonathan and Jeremy said they really enjoyed it. But man, the homework load is seriously more than we've ever done. Welcome to high school!!!

Tomorrow morning is the first morning we all go. So at about 7:15 am we'll head out with lunch boxes in hand and smiles on our faces! FUN FUN FUN!!!

Ankle update...

Good news! After visiting the orthopedic dr. yesterday, it seems that Jeremy won't be out for the entire season. He estimates 2 weeks in the cast, 2 weeks in a boot and then he ought to be ready to play. He said these types of injuries heal quickly! Yeah!! Stay tuned!

Oh, give me a break!

In what certainly wins the award for Biggest Bummer of the Season, Jeremy found out today that his ankle is broken and football is a no-go for this year!!! Joint boo-hoo everyone! Jeremy (along with Jonathan) has been running, doing sit ups, pull ups, push ups...all kinds of "ups" this summer to be ready for what promised to be a fabulous season for the FEAST Patriots middle school team. In fact, through a set of God-ordained circumstances (and not all happy ones!), Michael is even the head coach for the year. He was pumped about J&J and several of their really big and fast friends dominating the gridiron this fall. But all that changed when Jeremy was at practice on Tuesday afternoon. He was warming up, running backward and twisted his ankle. One of the dad's who is helping to coach has a background in sports medicine (OK, how awesome is that!! We'd prayed for coaches to come alongside Michael to help, and God provided not only a coach but one w/ that kind of background!!). He took Jeremy aside, iced his ankle, wrapped it up, and gave him very specific instructions on what to do over the next couple of days. We followed them to a "T", but still the swelling didn't go down in his foot. It looked horrible! Like a diabetic foot or pre-eclamsic 9month pregnant lady foot. Jeremy thought it looked cool....I thought it looked very problematic. So, Michael and I decided last night that we'd take him in to the doctor today. As God would have it, we got a flyer in the mail yesterday about a new urgent care facility that opened in Castroville that has x-ray capabilites. So, (after we spent 2 hours at the orthodontist for a regular visit) we went there. It was great. We had NO wait (shocker!) and the doctor was very funny and very helpful! It was a great experience, except for the horrible news.

The doctor put a splint on it, gave Jeremy some crutches and referred us to a pediatric orthopedic dr. that we're going to see tomorrow. The break is on the growth plate in his ankle, so there is a possiblity that he may have to have surgery to put a pin in to repair the bone so the growth isn't affected on that ankle. We're praying that won't be necessary!! We'll take a cast at this point! Actually, we'll just pray for a miracle and that his foot is completely healed all the way, even tonight!! :-)

Jeremy's taking it like a trooper....surprise, surprise! He's really bummed about not playing football this year, because he's already said that he doesn't think he wants to play JV next year. He was very excited about being the big kid on the team this year! We'll see what great things God has planned for him this fall!

Our new home security system....Texas style...

Yep...that's it! We're exercising our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. While it's still legal (!), Michael bought a .38 pistol. He's been thinking about it for a while, and he finally bit the bullet (if you will) and bought one a couple of weeks ago. We took it out last week for a little target practice.

Michael took the first shot.

Boom! Right in the middle of the pot! Pretty impressive!

OK, admittedly, THIS made me a little nervous! But Michael wants the boys to know how to correctly handle a REAL gun. Here's Josiah taking a shot. Man, that gun is LOUD!!

Jeffrey taking a shot.

Followed by Jeremy, who got pretty close to the pot.

And Jonathan giving it a try.

Then, of course, I HAD to give it a try. I can honestly say I don't know that I have ever fired a gun that didn't shoot lasers, water, or nerf darts. It was certainly different! But look.....

I hit the pot!!! I was the only one after Michael who did! Not bad for a first-timer. (And hopefully a last-timer!) I can't think of any situation that I would want to be in that would require me to shoot that thing!

And yes, the gun is stored up and away, unloaded in a place that the boys DON'T know about!

Jeremy's in...

the driver's seat. Just like we KNEW he would be. It didn't take long after Jonathan's turn behind the wheel for Jeremy to figure it was worth a try. Last Sunday morning, he asked Michael if he could drive down to get the paper. He did a great job!



Ready to roll!

On the road..

And coming back up the driveway. BTW, Michael's front plate was already crooked....it wasn't Jeremy's fault! :-)

Turns out....he LIKED it, surprise surprise! There will be more in the future. The very near future, I'm sure!

It's my 200th post!

Can't believe I've posted on this blog 200 times! Or that there are people care about 200 things that are going on with our family! Thanks for reading! I've read on some other blogs where the authors post 100 things about themselves so you can get to know them even more. So, just for fun, and to celebrate blog post #200, here's 200 things about me.



1. My name is Jennie, not Jennifer.

2. My middle name is Elaine.

3. I don't know where Elaine comes from.

4. I was pretty old before I knew how to spell Elaine.

5. My maiden name is Moore.

6. Which is much easier to spell than Dagerath.

7. When I first met Michael, I thought his last name was Daggerrat.

8. And I thought that was too wierd.

9. And I was sure I would NEVER be Mrs. Michael Daggerrat.

10. But here I am 19 years later, Mrs. Michael Dagerath.

11. I love being Mrs. Michael Dagerath!

12. I am so much happier now than 19 years ago.

13. I wouldn't want to redo being a "newlywed".

14. I was WAY too independent and feministic.

15. That didn't serve me or my marriage very well!

16. I have a twin sister, Julie.

17. She's two minutes older than me.

18. My mom didn't know she was having twins, until I was born.

19. Julie and I hardly EVER fought or got cross with one another.

20. That set up a very unrealistic expectation for dealing with other people later in life! :-)

21. I've had to learn how to resolve conflict.

22. THE HARD WAY!

23. It took me years of learning how to do that..

24. After years of doing it wrongly!

25. I was 20 when I got married.

26. I'm glad I wasn't any older.

27. I was still in college when I got married.

28. I spent two years at A&M as a General Studies major.

29. I knew even then that I would want to do Speech Therapy.

30. My aunt, Thanne, was the first speech therapist I ever knew.

31. I thought she was awesome!

32. I still do!

33. My sister and our friend, Lance, used to "play" speech therapy.

34. We had no idea what we were doing!

35. I volunteered at a rehab center in the speech therapy department during the summer of my Freshman year at A&M.

36. It was then that I realized that I really enjoyed it.

37. I finished my bachelor's degree at University of Houston.

38. I was named "Outstanding Undergraduate Student" in the Communication Disorders Dept. my Senior year.

39. I finished my master's degree at U of H as well.

40. I got pregnant w/ Jonathan and Jeremy the month after I graduated.

41. We didn't plan it that way.

42. I had wanted to get pregnant much sooner.

43. But the Lord knew, and it was perfect timing!!

44. If I had a baby eariler, I'm sure I never would have finished school.

45. Michael promised my dad that I would finish school when I got married.

46. When Jonathan and Jeremy were 1, I went to work part time in speech therapy.

47. I worked at a private practice and in a school.

48. I really enjoyed it, especially working with hearing impaired children.

49. I learned sign language "on the job"!

50. I really missed my boys when I was working.

51. When Jonathan and Jeremy were three, Jeffrey was born.

52. At home, with a midwife.

53. I was SURE I would never have another baby in a hosptial!

54. I loved having a baby at home!!

55. I love being pregnant!

56. I love even being in labor.

57. It is the single most empowering thing I have ever done.

58. I would love to have more children.

59. Like maybe 10 or 11.

60. I don't see that happening at this point in my life! :-)

61. I think having babies around is great.

62. I think having teenagers around is great!

63. I think having teenagers around at the same time as babies would be a whole different ballgame!

64. I DID have another baby (Josiah) in the hospital. See #53

65. God has worked so many things in my life to keep me humble.

66. I learned about homeopathic medicine when Jonathan and Jeremy were about a year old.

67. I really enjoy learning about natural medicine and natural things.

68. It has helped keep us healthy for many years.

69. I enjoy natural foods.

70. I have a high "taste tolerance" for natural foods.

71. Even with that, pumpkin seed pancakes don't taste good!

71. Learned that the HARD WAY!

72. On a yeast free diet that we went on to try and clear up Josiah's eczema.

73. I still enjoy way too much junk food.

74. I wish I translated my knowledge of things into an excecution of those same things.

75. In lots of areas of my life!

76. Especially foods.

77. I like music.

78. I play the piano and the clairnet.

79. I really like singing as well.

80. I never sang solo in front of people until I was in my 20s.

81. My mom is an excellent singer.

82. I have never had any formal voice training.

83. Sometimes I wish I had.

84. I auditioned to travel with the Continental Singers,

85. but wasn't selected.

86. I really liked singing on worship teams at church.

87. I don't at our current church (sing on the worship team)

88. Because I'd rather spend an evening hanging out with my family than at worship team practice.

89. I sing alto/harmony.

90. In church choir in college we had to memorize the "Hallelujah Chorus".

91. I can still sing the alto part.

92. I grew up in a Methodist church.

93. Went to a Baptist church in high school and college.

94. Learned a lot about the Bible there.

95. Went to non-traditional Baptist churches in my early marriage years.

96. Learned alot about a "love relationship" with Jesus there.

97. Learned that you need BOTH!

98. Now wish I could be a part of a church that is "family integrated"

99. So that our family could actually worship with and relate to other whole families as a way of life

100. I'm starting my 10th year homeschooling.

101. I didn't start my marriage thinking I'd be a homeschool mom.

102. I went to a homeschool meeting (Abeka) at our pastor's house years before we had children.

103. I am sure I am living the life I was created to live!

104. I LOVE homeschooling!

105. I love to talk to people about homeschooling.

106. And homebirth/natural birth

107. And natural foods

108. And alternative medicine.

109. But I usually don't bring it up on my own. Because I don't like pushy people!

110. I'm not crazy about Veggietales.

111. But my boys all like them, so I tolerate it.

112. I have a list of things that I want to do before I die.

113. I haven't crossed anything off that list in a while. I need to get busy.

114. One of them was to become an aerobics instructor. Back in the day! :-)

115. I don't see that one happening.

116. I do generally enjoy exercising.

117. I'm currently on week 8 of P90X.

118. One of my resolutions this year is to finish P90X.

119. I'm excellent at planning.

120. Not nearly as excellent at execution, see #74.

121. I would like to memorize 5 chapters of the Bible before the end of the year.

122. I need to get busy on that one as well.

123. I really like reading books.

124. I enjoy Janette Oke's books.

125. I think I've read them all.

126. I also really like Beverly Lewis.

127. I think the Amish community is fascinating.

128. Also the Jewish community.

129. I think I could not be Amish.

130. But maybe Mennonite.

131. I think wearing make up is overrated!

132. Which is crazy because for several years, I was a BeautiControl Image consultant.

133. I'm slowly but surely turning into a long-haired.

134. Skirt-wearing

135. Makeupless

136. Natural food eating

137. homeschool mom

138. I don't see myself ever giving up shaving my legs or armpits

139. Like a true hippie!

140. I'm a short step away from becoming a vegetarian

141. Or maybe even vegan

142. Or maybe even a raw foods vegan

143. But I still like too much junk food, see #73

144. And Chick-Fil-A

145. Especially sweet tea at CFA

146. In high school, the band ate SO MANY times in malls at Chick-fil-A that I was sure I would never step foot in there again.

147. I would not want to redo high school!

148. Except the part where I met Michael!

149. I've only been on a date with about 5 guys ever.

150. I've only kissed two boys, ever.

151. I'm married to one of them!

152. I wish I had only kissed Michael, ever.

153. We're holding THAT standard up for our boys (Only kiss the girl you're going to married)

154. In high school, I was part of a group that other people called "The God Squad".

155. They meant for that to be mean, but I thought it was a compliment!

156. I'm so glad to be homeschooling my boys in high school.

157. I know I can't always shelter them from everything, but I can shelter them now from some things!

158. I love to bake things.

159. I wish I knew how to bake a great loaf of bread.

160. I got a grain mill for my birthday.

161. Now that I can grind my own grain, I hope to learn how to make a great loaf of bread.

162. I'm the official pie maker at Thanksgiving.

163. Or Christmas or anytime a pie "needs" to be made.

164. For Michael's 30th birthday I gave him a punchcard for 30 homemade pies.

165. He went through it fast!

166. I wish I knew 19 years ago what I know now about couponing and saving money

167. And about A LOT of other things!!!! See #12, 13

168. I love couponing.

169. I have a hard time making myself stop spending money, when I can save so much!

170. I'm given to extremes.

171. Raw, organic vegan or McDonalds and oreos

172. I am both of those!

173. I'm married to a great balancer.

174. I've learned (the hard way) to appreciate his balancing and not take it personally

175. I wish I had someone telling me those things in the first few years of my marriage.

176. I want to be in relationship with young ladies to share those things with them, if they want to hear it.

177. I love living in the country.

178. I love having chickens.

179. I would love to have a larger garden.

180. And know more what to do with it.

181. I think there was really something to family community from the early days of America.

182. Grandparents, moms, aunts, all teaching how to do those sorts of things.

183. Now we have the internet...way more information....much less relating.

184. And Facebook! I'm on Facebook.

185. I think Green & Black's Organic dark chocolate is awesome!

186. And Panera's Cinnamon Crunch bagels.

187. And Jamba Juice

188. And homemade hamburgers

189. And chocolate sheet cake.

190. It's lunchtime....can you tell I'm hungry!

191. I'm very excited about the boys starting Classical Conversations

192. I've enjoyed not having to be lots of places for FEAST sports this spring and summer

193. But I'm excited about football starting up again

194. This year, I'm the "head coach's wife"

195. Just like my mom was for so many years!

196. I think my mom is wonderful!

197. My dad is one of the most amazing men I've ever met.

198. I've really never had a time when I didn't appreciate them...

199. But I realize how great they both are more every day!

200. I love blogging.



There you go! You made it to the end! Thanks for reading my ramblings. It's been an interesting ride on my "trains of thought" during this blog! Thanks for being faithful to read the blog!

We interrupt this school day for a STINKY situation....

First of all, be thankful that there is no "scratch and sniff" option on Blogger, otherwise I'd be tempted to add it just to give you a whiff of what we were up against on Monday. Well, it didn't start on Monday. Last Sunday I noticed a wierd stink in the laundry room and asked my men to investigate. Turns out under our fridge was ***DISGUSTING DETAIL ALERT!!!***a dead baby mouse. Thankfully, I was in the back curling my hair and never had to see the thing. Again, another moment when I'm thankful beyond words to have a great husband and a house full of boys!! I thought the solution was resolved, but Monday morning, a horrible horrible smell was back in full force in the laundry room. I had the boys look under the washer and dryer, but they didn't see anything right off. I think they were quite disappointed that there was a much bigger dead mouse or snake or something lurking under the washer and dryer.



My plan was to stick like glue to our schedule for the morning to get all of our schoolwork and jobs done around the house. But I just COULDN'T do it. The stink was debilitating. I couldn't concentrate! So, I asked Jonathan and Jeremy to move the washer and dryer away from the wall to see what we could see. My plan was to have Jeffrey and Josiah just continue on with their schoolwork. Yeah, right. Like they're going to sit and do math and handwriting while large appliances are moved around, flashlights and tools are pulled out. So it was all hands on deck for the investgation!

Notice the bandanas and kleenex up the nose on all of us. It was really the only way we could stay in the room. It was a wonder that our eyes didn't water so much the we couldn't see! After a little investigating, we discovered the the stink was coming from the drain in the floor under the washing machine. Jonathan went outside to where the drain empties from the house.

Then Jonathan and Jeremy rigged up a way to stick the water hose up through the dryer vent and down the drain inside to wash all the junk (and again they were hoping for something dead!) outside. It was quite an ingenious system really.

Here's Jeffrey putting the hose in the drain inside.

Then they rigged up a "saxophone swab"-inspired rig with a plumbing snake, coat hanger and an old rag, to "swab" the inside of the pipe in case there was something there that the water wasn't getting out.

Then we followed up with baking soda and vinegar...

Here's the fizzy coming out the drain. There was actually quite a bit more "gunk" that came out before this picture was snapped.

We rinsed it out again w/ water. Then another soda/vinegar and more water. I mopped the floor w/ bleach and water and the boys moved the washer and dryer back. And guess what....no more stink! We never saw anything obviously dead come out, but there was certainly something rotten or moldy or dead or SOMETHING! But, oh happy day, we don't smell it now! And it hasn't come back!

It was one of THOSE nights!

Last Friday night, on the spur of the moment, Michael and I decided to go out to the movies to see the new GI Joe movie. After he got home from work, Michael was looking on the internet and watching the trailer of the movie. We joked about going to see it and then telling the boys if they could or not. Jonathan said "You guys go out, we'll babysit". Well, as staunch "matinee-ers" (or cheapsakes, as the case may be!) we shutter at the thought of what it would cost to go see a movie on a Friday night. I mean WHO pays $9 a ticket to see a movie???!! But then, I remembered I had two free movie tickets, AND a coupon for a free small coupon. So, after checking w/ Jonathan and Jeremy and confirming that they wanted to babysit, we headed out. The boys were really WANTING to babysit. Does that mean they were wanting $$$$?? I'm sure that was certainly a factor, but Jonathan said that he really likes babysitting. So, we took off. The movie was fine...actually the movie reminded me that I almost NEVER go see those kinds of movies. Lots of cars blowing up, turning over, buildings blowing up, shooting, etc. And MAN was it loud! I told Michael on the way home that it was too much visually. Too much stuff going on. Turns out, that's the part the he loved! I'll take the "chick flicks" everytime....

Anyway, while we were at the movies, Michael got a call from the boys asking (ready for this??) where the new box of dishwasher soap was so they could run the dishwasher before bed. So sweet! I mean it's what we do every evening....close the chicken coop, feed the cats, get the coffee ready for the morning, start the dishwasher...I just didn't know how much the boys saw or noticed about that. We were talking on the way home (which was about an hour later than planned b/c Michael lost his phone in the movie theatre and we had to deal w/ all of that) about how great the boys are. Then, when we got home everyone was asleep in bed, the house was picked up and this note was on the microwave...

It reads "Night mom and dad. love you. J4 PS We did a devotional". Is that the absolute sweetest!! They did a devotional, like we do almost every night when we're together. They did it WITHOUT Michael and I!! I tell you, some days I just about burst w/ pride in those boys! This was one of THOSE nights!