Should I start a sister blog for all the political stuff, or just post what I want to here?

I know what I think, I'm just curious about y'all!

Let me know in the comments.

Labels: Misc.

Baby X used sign language! He says "more" using signs now.

He has also discovered how to use the sink stopper. He has combined this knowledge with the ability to drag chairs in to the bathroom and turn on the faucet. My bathroom floor is very clean now.

The spin cycle on the washer went out. While it was full of sleeping bags, which are difficult to wring out with one person.

Went to husband dear's Christmas party, which was a catered buffet style holiday dinner. Oh, my goodness! When did I get so picky? The cranberry sauce was out of a can, the stuffing was from a box, and the dessert were those creme puff that you can buy frozen and thaw. The mashed potatoes were made with margarine, not butter, and the rolls came from a bag. I never would have noticed before, and I always just thought I didn't have a sensitive palate. I guess it turns out that I just ate so much fake food I couldn't taste real food! Once you have real cranberry relish there's no going back, even though I adored canned cranberry sauce growing up.

I'm going to return my Sam's Club membership. We've been members for years and years, but since moving to TX, they just don't have good deals. I go *maybe* every two months, and the only thing I really buy is butter and yeast. And butter went up, it's now $2.25 per pound at Sam's. I can match that with coupons and loss leaders.

I've been to four different Sam's in Houston, and NONE of them carry things that were staples for me to pick up at other stores - Healthy Harvest pasta, bread flour in bulk, cornstarch in bulk, olives, and ZipFizz drink powder. I saw 1 lb. bags of yeast at the grocery store for a nickel more than I pay at Sam's. Supposedly, you get a full refund of your membership price if you cancel. We'll see!

Labels: Family Life, Misc.

We live in a rental. Our door has two large glass panels in it, which I HATE because, IMO, it's not safe. How hard is it to smash the glass and flip the knob?

Today, my 10 year old son picked the lock on the front door. He's been at it over and over again, convincing my 4 year old to lock him out. She thinks it's great fun.

I think we're going to have to get a security chain, despite our security deposit!

Labels: Misc., R, V

I don't have much to say - yet.

Scratch that. I have lots to say, but I'm not confident I know what I'm talking about yet!

I'm mad that these big businesses take horribly bad risks to make a buck, and when their business model doesn't pan out, WE bail them out. Make no mistake - a government bailout is US. Was there any discussion? A vote by our representatives? Whose fiat declared American tax dollars would pay these debts?

I'm mad that several thousand gallons of gas were released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve on news that Ike might damage refining capacity. That's our little oil nest egg - and we blew it on the first bump in the road. And we'll have to import more oil to restock.

I'm more than a little ticked that the "news" magazines will find out what Lindsay Lohan and Matt Damon think about the candidates and broadcast them far and wide. Could they find anyone who knows less about the issues? It's pretty clear they are just broadcasting ad hominem attacks by proxy - letting the actors say what the Obama campaign and MSM can't. I wish they would have just found some people at the post office or the grocery store and asked them - an actual conversation, not a three second news blip. Yo! Campbell! I'm available for phone interviews!

And, I'm looking for bean recipes that don't have tomatoes as an ingredient. Tried and true tasty recipes. And trying to figure out how to bake without butter or eggs. Any help my readers can provide is much appreciated!

I have quite a stock of beans, all types, about 8 lbs. of cooked beef roast, carrots, onions, garlic, and potatoes. BIL can't eat tomaters, though, and all my recipes have red sauce!

So, I'll be back later.

Labels: cooking, Family Life, Misc., politics

Many people have wondered about my name, since I live in Houston.

I grew up in Colorado, although I wasn't born there. I went to elementary school there. I had middle school bullies there. Graduated high school there. First kiss, first date, first driver's license - all in Colorado. I met my husband there, got married in Denver, and birthed four babies... all in the Mile High City.

Thus, the name. That, and when I started blogging I was totally going to have an awesome site like A to Z Homeschool, but chock full of all things Denver. So my name had to be branded.

I may live in Houston, but my heart is in Denver.

Why Milehimama, and not MileHighMama? I'm simply unnaturally prejudiced against silent letters, I guess.

I even cut my brownies into the shape of the state, and make sure my muffins come out of the oven with peaked cones. That's how much I love Colorado.

Colorado is a great state. You can't sell cars on Sunday. You can't put your sofa on the porch. You can't cause light pollution with your porch light. And they eat every part of the animal. Ever hear of Rocky Mountain Oysters?

Every year, the Columbus day parade is a MAJOR event, complete with protests. Cinco de Mayo shuts down half the city. We have a state dinosaur, people!

Colorado is also infested with aliens.



Who left their mother ship in a Woody Allen movie.



What's not to love?

My heart will always be a mile high.

Labels: Friday Fun, Misc.

Please keep Heather and her family in her prayers.

For Heather, to be anxious for nothing.

For her daughter, to get well soon.

For the other children, that they won't be too lonely.

May God fill you with His grace.

***ADDED***
Please also remember my father in your prayers.

The doctors changed their mind on the diagnosis, after reviewing all of the data.

Labels: Family Life, Misc.

We're expecting Eduoardo tonight/tomorrow, and I was browsing the list of official closures for Houston.

I came across this one:

Kandiland Day School of Friendswood

Would you send your kid to a school called Kandiland? How are their spelling scores?

....and then this tidbit:

Victoria Osteen pre-trial and jury selection

Victoria Osteen is the wife of Joel Osteen, and co-pastor of the largest church in America. They aren't overtly Christian, at least not in the media, although they do have a show on the Trinity Broadcast Network. Wonder what's going on there?

***UPDATE*** Apparently Victoria behaved badly on an airline flight, and abused/maligned a flight attendant. Joel Osteen paid a $3000 fine, but the airline attendant is suing. The fact that the Osteens preach a Wealth gospel, and practice what they preach supposedly has nothing to do with the lawsuit...

**UPDATE 2 *** The flight attendant is suing for damages, because Osteen is a preacher, claiming the incident has damaged her faith in God and therefore she should be compensated.

Only in America.

'K. Nuf gossip.


and then this:

Opening night for "Tuna Does Vegas" at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House has been postponed

...which might not actually be a bad thing!

Labels: Misc.

I have recently discovered interlibrary loan. Our library is fabulous - they make everything so easy and have a friendly, helpful staff.

Yesterday I had to pick up some books they were holding for me, and thought I'd order a couple that are on a reading list of Pioneer kids books (BTW - looking for suggestions, 1840-1875 frontier life, grade 1-4!).

A young man was being helped by the poor librarian at the next desk. I felt so bad for her.

Young Man: I want to read a book.

Librarian: Okay, what are you interested in?

Young Man: Nothing really, I just felt like reading a book.

Librarian: What kind of book?

Young Man: Well, I'm going to college next month so I thought I should maybe read a book?

Librarian: Uh, well, I have the recommended reading lists for 12th graders? Would you like to look at that?

Young Man: Okay. (Look at list). Are any of these good?

Librarian: Well, they are all literature recommended by colleges and high school teachers. What are you studying in college? Maybe I can help you.

Young Man: Don't know yet. I think I'll just look around for a book.

Well, he certainly came to the right place, I suppose! I think I should have warned him to skip Thomas Hardy if he's not used to actually reading books. I wonder what he chose?

Labels: education, Misc.

Aquinas and More Catholic boostore is hiring in the Colorado Springs area. I thought I'd post because I have a lot of mah peeps still reading in Colorful Colorado.

Did you know there was a whole website of Catholic job opportunities? I didn't!

On the same topic, John needs a job (H/T Charming the Birds from the Trees)

Labels: Catholic, Misc.

This one's for you, Mom!

Seven Places to Stay in Dubai

Labels: Misc.

Wow! We had a fabulous weekend. We went to Bee City, with petting zoo, on Friday, and a homeschool mom that I hadn't met came as well. She lives two hours away, and was planning to get a motel with her children and spend some time in Charleston on Saturday. We invited her for dinner, and then to spend the night. Somehow we just instantly clicked! It was great to have a sleepover.

Saturday we headed to the Southeast Wildlife Expo and had a good time. They also had a petting zoo with a baby zebra (couldn't pet him).

I think I went to too many petting zoos. I dreamed we had a pet cow who was attacking our pet rabbits. I kept throwing cupfuls of food pellets at him, but he wouldn't let the poor bunny go. Then I woke up and spent some time pondering why llamas have such large lower teeth and smaller upper teeth. Yes, too many petting zoos for me!

Sunday, we went to Grandpa's house and I finally met some more of husband dear's extended family. We've been married ten years and I've only met his parents, his brother, and his sister. His uncle lives one state over and stopped in for a visit - and we found out that he has a cousin who works in our town and lives less than an hour up the road from us! I might have to plan a reunion.

Barbara over at Mommylife is running a great series on Montessori at home and toddlers. Check it out if you have a chance!

If your kids are rude, check out The Goops. It's a vintage children's book on manners, being posted online by Lisa from Are We There Yet, another Colorado homeschool mama blog. It's too cute!

I've also been reading The Full Table. Monica from Shine Again has been posting recipes.

Can you tell we've had a busy weekend?? I'm sending you everywhere else on the net for good blog posts!

Labels: Misc.

I just discovered that my Spam filter has been eating my e-mails. If you've sent me something in the last couple of days that I *should* have responded to, but didn't, please resend it! I get 3000 spams a day on average, so even though I have been manually checking it I may have missed some.

Thanks.

Labels: Misc.

I am seizing the day today!

First, I took a shower and the children were not asleep. I did get them a babysitter though.

Then, I saw this at the Nesthaus, Mrs. Wilt of the Sparrow's Nest's store. I asked a question and bought it all in the span of five minutes.

This is huge. I'm a procastinator and a ditherer, especially if it involves internet purchasing! Generally I think about possibly purchasing something for days, weeks, and months. Let's just say I love e-stores that remember my cart.

I even parted my hair differently today! Whoo-hoo! What's next, snowboarding?

Labels: Misc.

But I have to put it out there.

I am a Catholic. My husband is not. He was saved in a Southern Baptist church, felt at home in the Calvary Chapel movement, and is "non-denominational".

Now, my question. Can someone please explain to me this "Accept Christ as your Personal Lord and Saviour, and then Once Saved you will Always Be Saved" business? I truly cannot wrap my mind around it. It seems to fly in the face of Scripture after Scripture.

I just would like someone to explain it without simply repeating the same tired verses because they don't prove anything to me. And yes, I've read Charles Stanley's "Eternal Security". John 3:16 is not a proof text for this doctrine. I've also e-mailed pastors and commented on minister's blogs. I have yet to receive a response from them, however.

I would at least like to understand what it's all about.

BTW: Catholics believe we are saved by grace, through a living faith evidenced by works. We do not believe you can earn your way to Heaven by being good. So please don't email me a list of verses about how you need Jesus to be saved. I know that already. I'm looking for an apologia of the eternal security belief. Use any mainstream translation of the Bible - NIV, KJV, etc. I won't accept the New World Translation, though!

Labels: Catholic, Misc.

Don't forget to stop by and congratulate Birdie on her 9 lb. 3 oz (!) boy!

Labels: Misc.

This is the real ADHD me, ya'll! I tend to hop about various topics, starting rabbit trails but never finishing them letting others come to their own conclusions.

Well, my article on why we don't celebrate Halloween is popular! It's nice to know that I'm not the only nut out there (LOL).

Babara at Mommylife started a good discussion about large families, and if they are held to a higher standard.

She also has a callout for any family with a newborn Downs Syndrome baby. A movie filming for Lifetime network is trying to cast a Downs child under eight pounds. They are filming in Canada, and did not find a single baby in the entire country under the age of four months. In America, of children thought to have Downs Syndrome only 1 out of 10 will survive to be born (elective abortion kills the other 90%). Looks like they have the same problem up north, as well. I simply will never understand why we as a nation insist on killing the only segment of our population who is consistently joyful, full of unconditional love, and law-abiding. Can we really complain about violence when we murder the most gentle ones among us?

Passing this along on the Pro-Life topic: Why Oppose Abortion? The author puts forth the argument that he's not sure when life begins, and that's why he's prolife.

My sister was inspired by my free lapbooks post to write a Wikipedia article. She's looking for pics to post, so if you've got a great one, put it up there! Anyone can edit Wikipedia as well, so feel free to add your thoughts and observations (I bet you could make it a school lesson too).
She's the red head in the picture. I'm the bald fat one.

And finally, for your amusement, How to Make a Box from a sheet of paper. Last week I made donut muffins for our priest and put them in one of these. The muffins whip up really fast, which was great since I had to make two batches due to little munchers. They were a tad dry, though.

Labels: cooking, education, Misc., Prolife

Well, Google thinks I'm the #5 best hit for the words "LDS Homeschool mom blog".

Sorry, folks, if you are looking for LDS info. You won't find that here. But I am a homeschool mom with a blog and an apparent bee in my bonnet for politics this week.

I'm sure that will change next week, as there was a big sale on hamburger ($1.20 a pound!) so I'm investigating every. single. possible. way to cook it. And inexplicably avocados are going for a quarter so I'm trying to figure out what to do with those. Stay tuned for guacamole burger recipes or green salisbury steaks or Avocado Spaghetti.... okay, you see why I have to search the Net. I can't do it on my own!

Labels: Misc.

Sorry folks, I had to enable comment moderation. I've resisted for over a year, because, frankly, it annoys me.

I often read other's blogs while nursing,and squinting at some random letters trying to ascertain if it's a capital C or an O, and then hunting and pecking with one finger gets old fast.

However, the spammers are being quite active on several old posts, so I'm going to see if moderation doesn't get rid of them. Does anyone know how to do word verificationin Haloscan, instead of moderation? The spam is really weird, in that it is just a string of keywords with no links.

Labels: Misc.