Third Annual No School For Homeschoolers Day

Every year on the first day of public school I like to take my kids out to do something fun. We celebrate the flexibility of homeschooling. My kids learn again to appreciate the fact that they are not stuck behind a desk all day long. Most of the time we have other homeschooling friends join us. It's a lot of fun.

This year we went to Chuck E. Cheese. I have been reluctant to go there. My memories of Chuck E. Cheese were of loud, chaotic, madness. It was so not that today. The music was a little loud and annoying, but the lights were nice and bright. I had a clear view of the door from our table. It was pretty empty (school being in session and all) and honestly compared to other places I have gone with the same atmosphere the prices (with coupon) were not all that outrageous.

We will probably do it again.

Altogether we had twelve kids, four moms, two dads and a GG (great grandma). Another dad joined us just for lunch before he had to go back to work.

Like a dolt I forgot my camera so you will just have to believe that we had a good time!

I'm looking forward to some more fun outings with these moms and kids.

Do you do anything special to celebrate homeschooling?

Be Blessed!

When daddy is home we...

take impromptu trips to the zoo!
This giraffe walked right up to us.. until he figured out we weren't going to pay to feed him. So he stormed off. Ok, not really but it sounded good.

Adrian, asked me to take this picture with him and Jonathan. After 30 minutes of trying to get them up there both boys were like, "Hot, sweaty, are we done?" Cute pic, huh?

This is my girly girl. LOL Seriously. But today she had the urge to climb and swing. See daddy's strong arms in the background ready to catch?

Yes, my children, please dip your fingers into the dirty water. I will take the picture to remind me of you after you catch swine flu.

Just stand still! I don't care if you smile! This is the entrance to the new Asian garden. It was really quiet lovely.

Come on, I have this new camera and I must take pictures. This is the third attempt with this picture. This is by the lotus pond. Then you cross The Bridge of the Weeping Tree (or something like that) and leave the Lotus behind to venture onto the Koi pond. Thrilling.

I cracked up when I looked at this picture. Can you see the pained expression on Tamara's face? You would never know it was overcast by the squints and glares I was getting.

Mom, why are you taking pictures of flowers? Hush, it's my camera! I thought these hydrangeas were pretty and they made me think of my sister in law who loves hydrangeas. Plus, they did not squint, glare, move, or complain when I took the picture.

Blurry, but oh so worth it. I love the look of pure delight. Apparently she did not know I was taking the picture. Thus the smile.

My spider monkey. He wanted me to take a picture of him and I Am Speed (Lightening McQueen) in the spider web. "Ha, Ha, that's punny, mommy!"

Can you tell they are holding hands? Ha, Ha, caught ya! You do love each other. The other picture I had was too blurry. And check out those clouds. It was still to be another hour and a half before it rained. Although the lightening crackling above us made us move pretty quickly towards the parking lot.

More pretty flowers that preened and curtsied as I took their picture. Thank you flowers for allowing me to play with my camera today.

As we left the zoo I had to snap this picture. Still no rain, but we half expected to see our first funnel cloud. Look at the sun trying to break through though. I thought it was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

Be Blessed!

Someday...

I have decided! One day I will look out my window and see trees that look like this! I will know what a crisp Autumn day feels like, smells like, looks like.

I will don my long sleeve orange shirt, my brown corduroy skirt, my brown tights and brown walking boots and listen to the leaves crunch beneath my feet. At night my children and I will snuggle under quilts (homemade of course) in front of the fire and eat popcorn while daddy reads to us or we just reminisce about the day.

Someday...

When Christmas comes around I will look at my window and see this! I will ponder the beauty as I heat up the hot chocolate. I will listen to my family laughing around the puzzle or board game for the evening. We will share hot chocolate and cookies before bed, while laughing over the day that was.

During the day we will sled down the hill (ok they will.. Im a big chicken). I will clap my gloved hands and shout with joy and glee as they tumble over into the soft snow. I will be in a sweater. OH! I can't wait to wear sweaters. I love sweaters. (Hand knit of course!) We will stomp back into the house. As the older children get the younger children undressed, I will make some more hot chocolate. We will have soup that has simmered all morning and sandwhiches for lunch.

Someday....

A girl who has lived her whole love in FL can dream can't she? ;)

Be Blessed!

She comes back with this??

Ok so I have been away for over a week and I come back with this! I had to laugh at it though because it is so true. I still think about all my old boyfriends all the time. Not in a bad way, just sentimental like.

I have watched all the Jane Austen movies I can online on Netflix this week and put the ones I could not on my que. I'm just in one of those old fashioned romance type moods. LOL

Your Love Life is Like Casablanca

"Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time." For you, love is never finished. If you've loved someone once, you'll always love them. You're an old fashioned romantic... even if your relationships don't end up as romantic as you'd like. Your love style: Traditional and understated Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Complicated and ambiguous

What Movie Is Your Love Life Like?

TAG

Since I cant get on my computer and I miss you all so very much ;) I thought I would finally do this tag, my friend Leigh asked me to do.

What I was doing 10 years ago:
Lets see I was 19. I'd graduated from highschool a year before. I was doing pretty much nothing. I was working for a small insurance firm during the day and hanging out with my friends chasing boys on the weekends. Productive, huh? The good news is I would meet my future husband in about 11 months.

Five things on my To Do List today:
1. Get through the day. I am having some stomache issues today so this is a big one! ;)
2. Get some homeschooling done.
3. Work some more on a family/hospitality meal table message I am giving to our ladies group next Friday.
4. Wash Adrian's t-ball uniform
5. Go to Adrian's t-ball game.

Snacks I enjoy:
We are not big snackers around here. I am learning to enjoy raw/fresh fruits and veggies more.

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
First I would help my church get some land and build a building where the a/c worked all the time. *Sigh*
I would buy the land we want and build the houses for us, our parents, and our hospitality cottages.
I would so adopt more kids.
I might buy our local Christian station so I did not have to listen to the beg-a-thon anymore. :)

Five places I have lived:
In my parent's house
In my first apartment with my new husband
In my first house with my husband
In the same city, in the same state the whole time....

Five jobs I have had:
Receptionist at H&R Block
Mail clerk and then operator for a small insurance company
Mail clerk for another small insurance company
Packaging clerk and then Client Services assistant for a payroll company
The best job of all: Full time wife, mommy and homeschooler!!

If you want to participate either do so in the comments or on your own blog. :)

Sweetness

Im in sugar shock from the sweetness of this website. I have always enjoyed the Gooseberry Patch stuff, BUT now Im in LOVE! I want everything on this website... EVERYTHING. ;)

Check it out and please add me to your Christmas list!

Gooseberry Patch

Happy Valentines Day

This is the valentines card I "made" to take to our mom's homeschool group Valentines tea last week. Not very creative but it got the job done! LOL.

Hope you all had a great Valentine's day with your family.

Be Blessed!

Teacher Application

A friend just sent me this in an email. Hmmmm....


Teacher Applicant
After being interviewed
By the school administration,
The eager teaching prospect
Said: "Let me see
If I've got this right.
You want me to go into that room with all those kids,
And
Fill their every waking moment with a love for learning,
And
I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and
Even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases,
Check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and
Raise their self esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote,
How to balance a checkbook,
And
How to apply for a job.
I am to check their heads for lice, maintain
A safe environment,
Recognize
Signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams,
Even those who don't come to school regularly or
Complete any of their assignments.
Plus,
I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps
Get an equal education
Regardless
Of the extent of their mental
Or physical handicap.
I am to communicate regularly with the parents
By letter, telephone,
Newsletter and report card.
All of this I am to do
With just
A piece of chalk,
A computer,
A few books,
A bulletin board,
A big smile
AND
On a starting salary
That qualifies my family
For food stamps!
You want me
To do all of this
And
Then you tell me...
I CAN'T PRAY?"

Little Boys

A friend just sent me this email and I laughed out loud. Little boys are so much fun!

Things we can learn from little boys:

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.

11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12. Super glue is forever.

13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15. VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.

21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

A new blog I found...and a contest!

Intrigued? Did I even try to spell that correctly?
I found a new blog from a lovely lady that posts regularly on my favorite message board. She has a lovely blog also which I expected from her posts over there. She is very wise and I have already learned a few things from her.
She is having a 100th post contest. If you are interested go over to her blog and see what it is all about. However since you heard it from me you MUST tell her that I sent you, this is so I can enter into the contest. It will be fun...come on. :)

Be Blessed!

PS I really do like her blog, I dont want anyone to think I am only doing this for the contest. I spent a lot of time reading through her past entries. I would never link to a blog I did not save in my favorites and check often.

Im in tears....

This was so funny! I got it off of the MIH site. Dont know who wrote it or were it came from, but man is this funny...




To All Our Family and Friends.
Just a note to let you know we are hoping to see you Thanksgiving Day

But.... Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving.

I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart
won't be coming, I've made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be
lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it was decided
that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming lunch sacks do not have
the desired welcoming effect.

Once inside, our guests will note that the entry hall is not decorate
with the swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make.
Instead, I've gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in
colorful autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.

The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy
china,or crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and
everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using
the plastic Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.

Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I
promised. Instead we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration
hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me
it is a turkey.

We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you
while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I
have made regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please
remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon
discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.

As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of
tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a
recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a
frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.

We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the
start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method.
We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm
sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the
spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a
separate room. Next door.

Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey
in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening
at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private
ceremony. I stress "private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances,
enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to
check on my progress. I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed.
It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that
"passing the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean
your sister in the head with warm tasty bread.

Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and
especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the
giblet gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce. If a young diner
questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce, plead
ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains everything.

Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice
between 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the
traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small
fingerprints. You will still have a choice; take it or leave it.

I hope you aren't too disappointed that Martha Stewart will not be
dining with us this Thanksgiving and... She probably won't come next year
either

Whats In A Name and It Might Be a Boy

Well A's mom told our worker that she is having a little boy and she wants hubby and I to pick out a name for him. Allow me to be transparent for a moment. Im so in love with this maybe fictional little guy that every time I think about him my heart pounds and I get tears in my eyes. I pray all the time that God will keep my baby safe and healthy. Im trying to hold on to that last shred of reality that says dont believe anything until you have him in your arms. I know if there is no baby that God has another one waiting for us somewhere but this little guy has wormed his way into my heart. When I look at my sweet blond haired, blue eyed two year old I think about what his little brother might look like. For those who dont know me personally trust me when I say that A is one cute little bugger. He has dimples and a smile and a personality and he is just one special little guy. Will his brother be like him? So goes our life! :)

Im going to reveal some names to you all today. I have kept them hidden but now with adoptions right around the corner I have been busy with a project. We are going to be changing our girls middle names and A's middle name too. Plus I have been looking at baby names. We want names that mean something. If our daughters or sons asked us why they were given the names they have I can tell them the meaning of the name their mothers gave them and then the meaning of the name I gave them. I will be telling you first names and then moving on with what some of the names I have found for a middle name and thier meaning. Now some of these names are funny. I liked the meaning a lot but will not be using them. I have a dear sweet hubby who will veto half to all of the names so dont fear when you see them. Ok here we go. Let me know what you think.

For the eight year old.
Her name is Karly which means "little, womanly" as best as I can find out. They did not have a meaning for that actual name that I could find but this was from a name Karly is derived from.
For a middle name I thought about who she is. God is important to her and I think she is very close to becoming a believer. She is also full of love and very lovable. Here are some middle names.
Christiana - "Christian"
Amanda- "Love, Worthy of Love, Precious thing"
Janisa - "Funny, loveable, hyper child" This made me laugh because she is all of these!
Liese- "Beloved by God"
Tesia - "loved by God"
Vevina - "Sweet Lady"

For the five year old.
Her name is Kelsie. The best meaning I could find was "beautiful Island". Searching for hers was a lot like Karly's because they did not have an actual meaning for her name just some different versions and what that meant and were derived from. She is my beautiful, graceful, peaceful, quiet child. Here are some middle names.
Keely- "beautiful and graceful"
Kisalyn- "Beautiful bearer of Christ"
Serena - "Peaceful one, Calm"
Anika -" Very beautiful, graceful"
Annabelle/a - "grace and Beauty"
Charrise - "grace, beauty, kindness"
Nina- "grace"
Roseanne- "graceful lamb"
Seanna- "God's Grace"
Christine - "Christ bearer"

For the four year old.
Her name is Tamara. Her name means "palm tree, spice" :(. I think we should change her first name!!! LOL She has the face and smile of an angel. She is just as sweet and as loveable as the day is long! Some middle names for her.
Parisa - "angelic face" this is my personal favorite because it fits her so well but never fear hubby vetoed this one in his sleep. LOL
Angelica - "Angelic"
Angelina- "Little Angel"
Evangeline- "Like an angel"
Neria - "Lamp of God, angel" I love this one too but its such an odd name!

For the two year old.
His name is Adrian. It means rich, wealthy, dark one. He is obsitinate, ornery, strong willed....beautiful, loving, sweet, handsome, charming....
Middle names.
I found one right away and knew it was for my little boy.
Charles - "Manly, strong" I have to run it by hubby but I think this will be his new middle name.

For our baby, Lord willing.
My personal favorite
Jonathon - "Gift of God"
David -"Beloved One"

Caleb- "Bold"
Michael- "Who is Like God"

Paul- "Little One"
Christopher- "Christ Bearer"

Well there you have it. You know who KA, KE, T, and A are. C is still a mystery because he is going home soon. Please let me know what you think of the names. Tell me your favorites. Make fun of the ones you dont like...with taste please.
Happy Sunday!

2 Things

I got this from Wandaring Homemaker...she is always tagging me with silly stuff..but she knows I love her! :) Anyone else can copy and paste this over to thier blog leave me a note telling me you did it!

2 names you go by
1. Julie
2. Juicy (Given to me 8 years ago by a 2 year old who could not seem to say my name. Now her and her siblings still call me Juicy)

2 parts of your heritage
1. Godly
2. English

2 things that scare you
1. Being Buried Alive
2. Being eaten by rats... (I saw this on without a trace the other night and now I keep thinking about it!)

2 of your everyday essentials
1. Bible Time
2. "I love you" from hubby

2 things you are wearing right now
1. Long burgandy colored skirt
2. burgandy and green striped sweater shirt

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
1. Casting Crowns
2. Mercy Me

2 favorite songs (at the moment)
1. Who Am I?
2. Never Been More Homesick Than Now (I dont know the name but that sounds right!)

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
1. Laughter
2. Communication(Praise God, I have them both! )

2 truths
1. Jesus in the only Way to Heaven
2. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
1. Sense of Humor
2. Faithfullness

2 of your favorite hobbies
1. Sewing
2. Reading

2 things you want really badly
1. Have a big house with lots o land
2. To be organized

2 places you want to go on vacation
1. New England area
2. Lancaster, Pennsylvania

2 things you want to do before you die (Lord willing)
1. See our children busy serving for God' s kingdom
2. See all of our children saved

2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick
1. I talk a lot!
2. I love pretty things and (dh says I have a lot of shoes)

2 things you are thinking about now
1. Thanksgiving
2. A new baby

2 stores you shop at
1. Publix
2. Sams

2 people to tag:
1. Allison
2. Jessica

Win this!

Click the link above and be registered to win. When you register I will get an automatic entry. Challies has this every month I think. I always see it on Amy's blog and register through her.
Where it asks you to enter a referral code enter 111210.

Thanks!

Is this a real peanuts character?

I dont remember this guy! Anyway..cute quiz.




You are Franklin!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I Forgot Some Cool Websites.

For all of you hungry people out there I found this website called Hungry Girl. Its so great. She gives the lowdown on a lot of products!

Also dont know if you read about this..but here is a link to my hero! When I grow up I want to be just like her...I have a good start at 5 right?

My Summer Ride

Thanks Allison for this cute quiz. I do think if I was single and money were not a big deal I would like one of these. I think they are cute.
Oh we are back to boot camp today so I will post a little later.

Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro. You love your summers to be full of style and sun!

What's Your Summer Ride?

This is cute...

See what Brandy did to me now???? I have no one to tag..sigh..if you want to do this on your blog ANYONE send me a link and I will post it. Its actually kind of cute and funny!

1. Search your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (this is meant to say something about you).
4. Post that sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
6. Tag five people to do the same.

Here is the fifth sentence from my 23rd blog post.

Dated 7/7/2005
Titled The Simple Life (My post on being Amish!)
"They hold marriage and family in such high regard."

Now I must go to sleep. We had fun in Tampa this weekend our goddaughter is absolutly beautiful!

Python eats gator!

Not for the faint of heart...but quiet interesting if you ask me!
Python eats gator

Also here is orca cam..I think I like wild cam better but orca cam you get to see some neat fish.. :)

I am eating lunch right now so I get to surf for a few minutes.. the kitchen is coming along nicely.. :)

Glad to see you guys having fun!

This is the most action my blog has seen...does anyone know what happened to my sidebar?!?!? Its gone and I dont know why..
Anyways.. I have to know who anonymous is in the country quiz. I love the fact that they are Texas! Thats the funniest thing..even I, no great student at geography (or spelling!) thought this was priceless. So I have an idea who it is but please email me if you dont want to say on the blog. That is so funny! :)

There is actually a state quiz but I was embarassed to be Rhode Island so I did not post it! :)