myladybug3

Dear Friends and Family,

So what does the word "hack" really mean? Some circles might say this is altering without permission. But what if it is in the best interest of the community? Is it justifiable? I'm not sure...but we'll find out. I spent a few minutes working on gaining access to my dear spouse's Blog site with the total intent of clicking the presumed check-box that would open the Blog up to the community again. Keep in mind...I have never posted on a Blog before...and generally have mixed feelings about the whole idea. It is for sure one thing that in 5-years from now people will be laughing about..."ha ha...do you remember blogging? That is so old-school." I can hear it now... and I will quietly roll my eyes and keep my mouth shut. This activity right along with text-messaging will likely be pitched in the virtual dumpster for something greater and flashier to come along. It seems to be the way our modern society works. But...with a little foresight, some common sense, a little grounding, and the ability to not get swept away in the latest, greatest thing, it is clear to see what the fate of these things will be. Not to say that a blog doesn't have some meaningful purpose...it can be very good for the mind to communicate some thoughts and perhaps tell the world something that you wouldn't otherwise be able to do. What is the sore spot about the blogging world is those that use this medium for self-promotion. Ahh, it makes me think about all the examples in history where pride has gotten in the way of things...this very thing has caused the greatest civilizations in history to fall to pieces. I could go on and on about this...but I'll keep my rambling to a minimum....take home message: pride is not an enduring quality.

Okay...so where was I. Yes...of course - hacking (not in terms of smokers lung or bronchitis mind you). Do I feel a little bit bad about posting a blog to l.a.c even though I'm not l.a.c.? Well yes - could be interpreted as insulting or dishonest, certainly. But I can only hope that l.a.c. will be of forgiving nature and know this was only done for the benefit of the community. Because after all...if we aren't open, sharing, and loving with all, it is no longer a community.

All the best, wishing you peace and joy in your daily life. --l.a.c.'s loving husband. :-)

ms. ellie has the uncanny ability to come up with some CRAZY names for her baby-doll sister. i fear that she has gained this not-so-great talent from me...but i limit my name-calling to a few per person. ellie has come up with a whole slew of names for one little sister! what is even more amazing is that sophie actually responds to her sister when being called one of the dozens of names! for example, lately she refers to sophie as "paper." but she says it like "paaaapppuuurrrr!" very funny. sophie walks in a room and ellie says, "here comes paaaapppuuuurrr." other favorites: soda-pop or soda-poppie; icecream sandwich; princess so-so; stink-stink; baby (pronounced "babeeeee"). slowly, sophie is recovering from an old-time favorite: pepperoni. this was actually borrowed from dear cousin dylan. when ellie is feeling silly she will call sophie her little peanut butter or macaroni. when ellie is feeling not-so happy, she refers to sophie as her bad sister. uggghh. not good. sophie is often called so-so by all of us, but ellie adds a twist of so-so-soda-poppie. ellie's favorite line in the book, cat in the hat: "and so, so, so...here is another good trick that i know..." yes, big sister has all sorts of tricks.

two princesses. it's hard to be a princess with knots in our hair. we gained this most undesirable trait from our mommy. she gets knots in her hair all of the time. when we wake up we look like wild knot-haired princesses! grandma gave us a good book to help explain how this phenomena could possibly happen. it's called, "the knot fairy," by bobbie hinman.

you see, there is a little fairy who "carries a lantern and a little blue book. she's in her pajamas. come! let's take a look...when evening comes and you turn off the light...it's time to climb into bed for the night. your teeth are sparkling. your hair is brushed. and all through the house is a quiet hushhhhhhhhhhh. but while you're sleeping, here's a funny thing...a tiny fairy with purple wings...flies into your room and heads for your bed. she flaps her wings and lands right on your head! now here's a secret that i will share...she just likes to tangle your hair! she ties little knots, one after another, then flitters away to your sister or brother [and mother]. and when she's all through, as quiet as a mouse...she flaps her wings and leaves your house. she visits most all little boys and girls...whether their hair is straight or full of curls. so, if your hair goes this way and that...and you're thinking of hiding it under a hat...just look in the mirror and shout with glee, IT LOOKS LIKE THE KNOT FAIRY VISITED ME!"

thank you grandma! we love you!

artist's with knots...

i feel a great deal of sadness tonight. but i also know that there is much to be happy about too. dear PRESIDENT GORDON B. HINCKLEY passed away this day, leaving to be with his eternal companion FOREVER. i will miss the smile and his wise words...how fortunate to have listened to his voice; seen the strength in his eyes; and felt the spirit when he spoke. i love this man -- our prophet and leader of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

president hinckley writes, "love is like the polar star. in a changing world, it is a constant. it is something that, when sincere, never moves. it is the very essence of the teachings of christ. it is the security of the home. it is the safeguard of community life. it is a beacon of hope in a world of distress.

as we look across the broad spectrum of humanity and see the masses who walk in hunger and poverty and who suffer the constant afflictions of disease and misery, let us be generous with our substance to assist.

let love become the lodestar of our lives in reaching out to those who need our strength. there are many among us who live in pain -- emotional and spiritual pain as well as physical hardship. there are many who walk in frightening circumstances, fearful and unable to cope alone. it was said of the savior that he "went about doing good" (acts 10:38). he is the supreme model for each of us.

such are the injunctions -- these and many more -- to reach out to those in distress with a measure of the love epitomized by the life and works of the savior.

admittedly, it is not always easy to follow the polar star of love. it requires a discipline almost beyond the power of many to observe. i think it is the most difficult and also the most important of all commandments. but out of its observance come a remarkable discipline and a refining influence that are wonderful to experience."

(standing for something, gordon b. hinckley)

this snow is amazing! we are enjoying the beauty and stillness of this white sabbath day. the following post looks more like spring, than winter...but we will go for it anyways.


(here we are at howard amon this week...beautiful, but COLD!)

i am finally posting some interesting information, that can be found on many websites -- but one of my favorites is gaiamliving.com! gaiam has also teamed up with the mayo clinic to provide information about healthy living and creating a healthy lifestyle. the site covers a variety of topics, including sleep, exercise, food preparation, purchase of green products, and conservation for REAL people. because most of us live and give and depend on the economy, it's nice to do it in a way that leaves as little impact as possible. i know that conservation feels like a good fit for me, socially, spiritually, and economically.


"when you buy a product made from recovered content, you also create a demand for recycled-content goods. this helps ensure that similar products will continue to be created and won't end up in a landfill. you help "close the loop." for example, if every household in the u.s. replaced just one 175-sheet box of virgin-fiber facial tissues with 100% recycled tissues, we would save 163,000 trees; one roll of toilet paper = 423,900 trees; and one roll of paper towels = 544,000 trees!"

isn't that incredible! i know that we use a lot of paper towels in our household and there are definite steps that can be taken to use recycled paper for the same purposes. by buying less unnecessary "stuff" and focusing on what is most important (like purchasing recycled products that may cost a little more than the run-of-the-mill product), we can feel good about the chemicals and products that we bring in our homes and expose our families to.

so what about reduce, reuse, recycle? jack johnson sings a great tune about this very topic. curious george likes to discuss the importance of recycling in his books and cartoons. kermit the frog and miss piggy give great tips in "ready, set, recycle!" let's review a few lines from this most precious book:

one sunny spring day kermit went over to piggy's house. as he walked up the driveway, he saw something that looked like a huge pile of clothes come out he door.
"piggy, is that you?" kermit called. "what are you doing?"
"it's spring cleaning time, silly," piggy answered. "i'm throwing out all this old stuff i don't need anymore."
"but you wore that dress just last week, " said kermit. "what's wrong with it?"
"this old thing?" replied piggy. "it's out of style."
"what will happen to all these things?" kermit asked.
"why, kermit," piggy replied, "the sanitation workers will take them away." "and then what?" asked kermit.
piggy thought a moment. "i don't know," she finally replied.
"piggy," said kermit, "you and i had better take a trip."
"wonderful!" said piggy excitedly, "to paris perhaps?"
"no," kermit replied. "to the garbage dump. there's something you need to see."
so the two of them climbed into kermit's car and headed off. soon kermit found himself behind a garbage truck.
"see?" said kermit. "you're not the only one who's doing spring cleaning."
"hmmm, " said piggy. "people certainly do put out a lot of trash."
kermit followed the garbage truck all the way to the dump.
"oh, no!" cried piggy, looking at the mountains of garbage. "where did they come from?"
"from you, me, and all the other people who throw out garbage every day," kermit replied sadly.
"this is terrible," piggy groaned. "what can we do?"
"we can learn to reuse things instead of throwing them out," kermit answered.
"you mean i have to keep my old dresses?" piggy asked.
"no," kermit said with a smile. "but maybe you can find a way to reuse them. and what you can't reuse, you can recycle. that's when you make new things out of old ones."
"reuse and recylce? piggy repeated. "sounds like work."
"not once you get used to it," said kermit. "you'll see."

this book holds a special place in my heart because we actually found it on the $.25 table at goodwill! what a find. ms. ellie loves reading this book and it has helped in the teaching process.
on the last page of the book there are four tips for children:

kermit says: be green like me!
1. give your old toys to a younger brother, sister, cousin, or friend.
2. trade toys with your friends.
3. donate your toys and clothes to a favorite charity.
4. take good care of your belongings! it's easier to recycle items that are in good condition.

we are amazed at how much "stuff" we recycle on a weekly basis. our large garbage container is usually 1/4 full when garbage day comes around. we have six containers in our garbage for each material (paper, newspaper, aluminum, plastic, glass, cardboard/plastic bags), which needs to be emptied about every two weeks. holidays present unique challenges: lots of boxes, wrapping paper, etc.! recycling the big cardboard boxes is a good start for every household - instead of placing boxes at the curb on garbage day. we are constantly trying to find ways to do better and it is most amazing to watch children absorb the idea of recycling. our hope is that our children will never know anything different and continue to contribute in their own little ways.



("giggling and trying to catch my breath!")

today i had the privilege of spending a few hours with a young 92-year-old woman living independently in her own home. i was sent to her to offer service, compassion, and resource. instead, she gave me an experience that i will always treasure. i love spending time with those who have lived fully and positively -- sharing laughter and hard times, with tears to shed. she told me about her marriage of 74 years. some years were good and some not-so-good. he worked hard to support his family and she worked hard to support him. she would row her little boat on the columbia - "it builds strong arms, you know?" she buried two of her six children, but speaks of them like they are still here today. during our visit, the outside temperature was around 25 degrees. she explained that the cold helps her remember bundling her children up for bed...sleeping all in one bed together. "it's about the memories, you know?" as we spoke in her family room, the sun began to set and she spoke of the many fine sunsets outside this same window. memories of sharing those moments with her husband (who passed away a short time ago). she enjoys the quiet moments that seem lost somehow. i ask what she does with her days and evenings. she tells me that time does not have to be filled with tasks, instead it should be felt and enjoyed. she giggled and said that she watches the birds out her window. she watches her dog chase the birds out her window. and then she fills up the bird feeders so she can keep watching the birds out her window. taking short walks outside is a joy. her children call often and visit when they can. she tells of a sweet gift that her son recently sent her -- so excited to share with me, she points to the fridge. it is a magnet with her name on it. she calls it a treasure. "why?" i ask. "because he was thinking of me."

everyone around me has something to teach me. sometimes i am amazed at how much everyone knows! i love to learn from those of ALL ages. my daughters teach me more lessons in a day than i could ever begin to teach them. my husband teaches me by example, imparticularly patience, happiness, and love. my parents teach me the principal of hard work and importance of family time/play time! my grandma teaches me to love unconditionally and focus on the strengths we possess. my in-laws teach me about nature's beauty and the importance of knowledge. my extended family demonstrates strength and the power of forgiveness. my friends teach me to be a better friend and share who i am with them. my work challenges me to serve others and share real emotion in difficult situations. my faith gives me purpose -- my mission statement in life -- knowledge that my Heavenly Father and my Savior love me for who i am. i just had to share this.

(photos taken at shadowbrook restaurant near santa cruz, ca earlier this month...blooming beauty in the winter!)

two princesses wondering from place to place. lately one has been dressing up the other. sometimes it is tolerated, other times it is not. there are a few daily functions that are difficult to complete when dressed up like a princess. the problem: how to convince them to remove the dress during these difficult moments. snow boots go well with pink princess dresses. "do princesses wear hiking boots?" - yes they do. in the car we often listen to "princess music." mommy and daddy are usually not allowed to sing to these catchy tunes because we don't sound like princesses. mommy = queen and daddy = king. the two kitties = jesters. we like to read "fancy nancy" because she has princess dresses. pink and purple are the favorite colors. when we play tea party, mommy uses the blue dishes, daddy uses the green dishes, princess pink uses the pink dishes, and so-so uses the purple dishes. no trading or borrowing. we like the jester kitties to wear bead necklaces and cover their furry bodies with pink blankies. they love it.

so today we received a TRACE of snow in the tri-cities, which is something to be excited about, for sure. however, a nice crisp day in the wasatch mountains, surrounded by DEEP snow, beams of sunlight, and majestic peaks sounds like the ideal way to spend MONDAY. back in "the day", this is where i would have spent my free-time. let's go!

our head chef created a lovely dinner for the DINNER GROUP on thursday. she really did a great job with these vegetarian dishes. we were keeping it healthy until we came across a recipe for pull a-part rolls...then the "healthy" part was gone. we continue to enjoy a variety of dishes each week. our dinner group has been going strong for over TWO YEARS. i know that i am a happier mommy for it...and a happier wife, friend, neighbor, daughter, etc. (especially since i work on thursday's, often unable to help with the cooking...).

Main course: Ginger Stir-fry


Side: Couscous Salad


Dessert: Pull A-parts


now...what to cook for the weekend?

pornography and the sexual exploitation of children is a global PROBLEM....starting right here in our community. we know this and we worry about this. one person is making a difference already and she wants your help. i want to help by trying to learn more about the problem and how to go about PROTECTING and PREVENTING exposure...


"In this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference. You can become involved and speak with a strong voice for that which is right." ~Gordon B. Hinkley


"Today we live in a world where almost everyone agrees that anyone below 18 years old is a child and has the right to special care and protection." - UNICEF

"The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified human rights agreement in the world. It details your rights and how they should be applied in its 54 articles, plus two optional extras (or 'protocols').

Although the Convention has 54 articles in all, it is guided by four fundamental principles:

• Non-discrimination (2): you should neither benefit nor suffer because of your race, colour, gender, language, religion, national, social or ethnic origin, or because of any political or other opinion; because of your caste, property or birth status; or because you are disabled.
• The best interests of the child (3): laws and actions affecting children should put your best interests first and benefit you in the best possible way.
• Survival, development and protection (6): the authorities in your country must protect you and help ensure your full development — physical, spiritual, moral and social.
• Participation (12): you have a right to have your say in decisions that affect you, and to have you opinions taken into account.

Adults need information, education and training too! But the media often fail to cover this issue at all. If they do, they tend to treat it in a thoughtless, over-simple and sensational way, as if it were a crime/sex thriller, or a glamorous and profitable option. News stories may portray exploiters simply as 'evil' criminals, which makes people think commercial sexual exploitation has nothing to do with them. And they often portray children as helpless victims, whereas in fact lots of children actively help themselves and others. Even worse, some media reports blame the children who are abused or exploited. There is never any excuse or justification for this.

The issue of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and the physical and psychological damage it has on children, needs to be brought out into the open. Only then will everyone start to see how important it is to respect children's rights and act accordingly, rejecting all violence against children.

But this is not just the media's job. Governments, social workers, teachers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), parents, guardians, religious leaders and all members of the community need to work together to publicize the terrible reality and change attitudes. And everyone working with children needs to be trained to understand this issue, so that they can take action quickly and sensitively." - UNICEF

with that being said, we must act in the best interest of our children. let's rid our homes of inappropriate television programming, movies, video games, magazines, and other commercial propaganda that is harmful to the welfare of our CHILDREN (and our families). it's good for the children and good for the adults too. children absorb what we do -- they learn from those they are around and they mimic like no other. frightening. let's speak up and let our voices be heard. even if it is just two of us, it will help in some way...most importantly, with ourselves and our families. contact school officials, state representatives, and federal leaders about our ideas. a grass-roots effort can change an industry. today i will continue to leave my television OFF and encourage "childhood" to prevail. today i will write one letter of recommendation to this representative (especially because he is on the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee).

**all artistic work by princess pink

sometimes i feel overwhelmed by INFORMATION. i can't keep up. so, the last few days we have been enjoying some quiet time: reading, walking/hiking, and relaxing. today i came across these words of wisdom, which made me smile:

TOO MUCH NEWS

I've noticed that the more news I hear the more I tend to worry. Really, it's hard to keep up with what we're supposed to be worrying about. Should we worry about the plain-vanilla flu or Bird flu? Should we worry about a Recession, a Depression, a global financial meltdown? Is there a child predator in our neighborhood or a crazed kidnapper lurking in our city? Is that pain in my side some rare disease? Perhaps the one I saw advertised on TV just last night. Perhaps I should ask my doctor...

Or perhaps, I should remind myself that statistically our children have never been safer, we have never been healthier and our nation has never been wealthier {depending how you look at it}. So perhaps what I should do is turn off the tv, shut down the computer, ignore the alarmist headlines and do what I can: Go for a hike, buckle up, buckle up my children, eat well...most of the time, lend a helping hand, get some sleep, express gratitude. Perhaps then I'll see that we are, in fact, doing just fine.

~Missy Park
__________________________________________________________________________

"I'm coming Mom..."

The good life!

2 mountain princesses

"Warm water makes me happy..."

"Let's just sit..." Okay, good idea.

we are all "social workers" -- working to create a better social environment for ourselves and our loved ones -- in one way or another. some of us have special causes that we put much energy in to, while others focus on career or make "family" a career. there are little things we can do every single day to make this world a more enjoyable place and a safer place for ourselves and others. let's review (this was created by Members of SCW Community):

probably. in the past i have NOT had too many great things to say about the world of blogging. first of all, after viewing a number of blogs i have found that many are simply not my style: self-centered, a "look at me" medium; a bragging mechanism; a way to SELL products; and often allowing false presentation to take place, never truly knowing the person behind the words and photos. some blogs are quite funny, whether they are meant to be funny, i am not sure?

{enter, positive thoughts} however, from a strengths perspective, blogging has a time and a place. let's make a list of a few good reasons to create a blog...

1. discussion for REAL social and green issues!!
2. family blogs definitely have a special purpose, as so many families live away from one another. families often share photos, words, video, etc.
3. blogging, like journaling, can be self-healing and therapeutic. what a great way to create a support group (or cheerleading squad) to help through a difficult circumstance or situation. this reason really impresses me.
4. blogging can be a way of gaining much needed confidence about self and others. some TRULY talented and unique individuals have taken time to contribute and share their knowledge, in the form of a blog. some individuals receive a great deal of feedback from their readers, which has got to brighten the day and encourage self value - right?
5. blogs are a great opportunity to WRITE -- sharpen the writing skills and learn how to better construct written narrative. a good, creative release of energy.
6. blogs can be used to share powerful messages that are meant to bring enlightenment and happiness, as encouraged by Elder M. Russell Ballard :

"Now, to you who are graduating today...may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites, including Newsroom at LDS.org, and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church, and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel."

starting a blog was somewhat of a "dare"...but it is also giving me something i did not expect: REFLECTION. no, really. for example, i miss my family every single day that i am away from them. telephone calls are a very-frequent occurrence, but being able to share some deeper ideas/thoughts feels like a good thing right now. i am PATIENTLY waiting for a few KEY individuals to begin a similar medium so that we can share more, more, and more. i am certainly able to share on a different level by writing/typing, than i am when i am trying to desperately get through a phone call without so-so and ellie needing something immediately. so, i am using reasons #1, #2, #5, and #6. i read a few blogs that offer reason #4 and some of my blog entries may fall into #3. that covers it.

The capacity to be puzzled is … the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.--Eric Fromm ("The Creative Attitude" in Creativity and It Cultivation ed. by Anderson)

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.--Edward de Bono

over the holidays we worked on this most unusual and difficult puzzle! a great masterpiece!
o

one of my new year's resolutions for 2008 (and beyond) involves incorporating an "act of thankfulness" each and every day. i often challenge myself to send out a personal note to a friend, family member, or acquaintance on a daily basis, but i have made it a resolution to express my gratitude through written message or act of service. this is truly a most pleasurable activity that i will never grow tired of! while i am not the craftiest person in the world, i do love to write and i really love to write on beautiful paper. however -- is this a green act? i am torn. first of all, there is nothing better (to me) than a beautifully handwritten letter, complete with postage, weather marks, and creases from someone who cares enough to send ME the very best. i save these letters and feel like i have a little piece of each person who sends them out. it is a simple act, but often involves many resources that could be spared. perhaps it would be easier to send out an email, which never turns in to paper; does not demand usage of precious oil while being transported to and fro; an inexpensive alternative to stamp & stationary buying; and saves time for all of the dedicated usps employees. i am attempting to use my stationary-stash before purchasing anything new (a most difficult task for me). as of right now, i do not include email as part of this resolution, but i am considering it as i PONDER and DEBATE this issue within myself. so, i have consulted with the experts: http://www.nrdc.org/greenliving/

from what i can find, e-cards and email are probably the greenest way to go. i still have some thinking to do on this matter.

three years ago i found this editorial in our local newspaper (around this time of the year), which i promptly cut out and re-read often (around this time of the year!):

In the age of e-mails and text messages, sending a thank you note has become a lost art. Thank you notes require note cards, envelopes and postage - all of which are a rarity these days. So why are fewer and fewer people sending thank you notes? Is it because we're not grateful? Possibly, but not necessarily. Is it because of our harried lifestyle? No, that's a crutch. Is it because we are lazy? Yes, that's probably it. Although the etiquette gurus vary on small nuances of thank yous, all agree that notes should be sent quickly. So if you haven't sent any Christmas thank you notes, now is the time (well, it's actually a little past time, but it's not too late). Expressing gratitude makes us a more gracious people. It forces us to recognize the thoughtfulness of those around us. And they're not just for Christmas, birthdays and weddings. It's appropriate to send thank notes throughout the year for kindness expressed and help given. Certainly Grandma would like to know that you received and appreciated her gift card at Christmas. But even more so, she would like to know that you appreciate her -- whatever the reason."

a few years ago i picked up this book: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Thank-You-Crafting-Gratitude/dp/158270077X
an excellent read for crafting notes for all occasions. i am especially fond of section #7, entitled, "Training and Education: How to Get Children to Write Thank-You Notes." according to the book, some e-cards are okay: better than nothing for sure!

so now i need to teach these two about this dying art and hope that they are as passionate as i am. in the mean time, i have the privilege of sending out thank yous from them too -- using monogrammed stationary, cute little photos included, or a special piece of art from the eldest! some day they will tell their mom to STOP putting words in their mouths!

here's to my first GREEN entry! a picture is worth a MILLION words.

when i talk about leading a socially responsible existence, it includes sharing ideas and allowing others to inspire me. these things are true:
1. the older i am, the less i know.
2. sometimes i over think and drag my feet.
3. not today.

i am excited to share some thoughts/values/ideals that i am attempting to incorporate into my little family (hoping to positively influence the sweet spirits that grace my home). we try to live SIMPLE - be HUMBLE - and enjoy QUIET moments. in order to make this happen, we attempt to parallel our lives to that which is NATURAL. we value all that our HEAVENLY FATHER has given us, including the earth and the creations therein. healthy living includes honest living. my plan is to be honest and share what evokes real emotions. i am not here to impress. rather, my entries may be more of a therapeutic tool as i attempt to make sense of my LIFE.

i love lists, and this is mainly how i function on a daily basis. what can i do tomorrow to make my home a greener and healthier place for the residents scampering about? here are a few for me:

1. unplug chargers and appliances when not in use - including the computer!
2. time to empty the mixed paper recycling bin (very full!)
3. return children's dvd to the library (i am so glad we didn't purchase this one! renting is free and then i can take it back, never to re-enter my home again!)
4. leave the television off and spend at least one hour reading with the girls
5. enjoy some time outside, along the river. the equation is as follows: gained energy for myself + exhaustion for the children = a happy night's sleep!
6. remember to take my reusable cloth bags to the grocery store for a few needed items (WINCO gives $.10 credit per bag that you bring along with you!)
7. clean out the fridge and let ella take the unwanted plastic, glass, and aluminum containers to their appropriate recycle bins.

that ought to keep us busy! for more green ideas, check out these links: http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/greenyc/greenyc.shtml
http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6621067&nav=menu99_8_14