Only once every four years!

Well, it only happens every four years!

What?

The summer Olympics and celebrating two special birthdays!

Mary Alice's 4th birthday AND Marigny Caroline B. was born on 08-08-08!! ("Mallie" as her parents are calling her...or "the unsinkable Mallie Brown" as Uncle Ricci is already calling her!)

Isn't she gorgeous?!?

So Friday afternoon we headed off to the hospital to meet the adorable new one, and then the girls and I got busy planning our fun evening to celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympics' Opening Ceremonies in Beijing! We had some dear friends over (that are also nuts for watching the Olympics like we do), and it was a fun evening! We bought the fellas some Tsingtao beer...tastes a lot like Blue Moon to me! Tressie pulled out her panda bears (even her panda bear soap!); we bought some Chinese to-go boxes to box up some of our Amaretto butter cookies (recipe's below...oooh, they're so good!) for party favors; and the girls dressed up in the beautiful dresses that Aunt Jan & Uncle Eddie brought them back as a gift from their trip to China.

We enjoyed a dinner of Mandarin Chicken (recipe's also below...a good recipe cooked in the crock-pot for a busy day!), white rice, green beans with toasted almonds, and a spinach/mandarin orange/almond salad....and of course fortune (I mean, blessing) cookies! Oh yeah...on their way home from work, the sweet fellas picked us up some yummy eggrolls, crab rangoons, etc. We cracked up about their hitting a Chinese restaurant on their way home, but ooh, it was all so good!
Dinner was yummy, and Eric set up the DVD projector, so we all sat in awe of the opening ceremonies....wasn't it incredible? And we also took turns playing this fun game to see every one's geographical knowledge....um, now y'all know why I'm home-schooling...so that I can re-learn what I supposedly learned way-back-when! It is a fun game to do, if you have a minute!

Mandarin Chicken

(This is a really great crock-pot recipe that I originally found in a Kraft magazine, but I may have adapted it somewhat!)

1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup orange marmalade
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. grated ginger
6-8 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

Stir barbecue sauce and flour in small bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add all remaining ingredients except chicken; mix well.
Pour sauce mixture evenly over chicken in slow cooker. (Do not stir.) Cover with lid.
Cook on LOW for 3 to 5 hours. Serve chicken topped with the sauce.

Amaretto Butter Cookies

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. white sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. amaretto
White sugar to dip cookies

Beat together butter and sugar until creamy in large bowl.
Add flour, salt and almond extract, stir well.
Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pinch about 1 tablespoon of dough and roll in 1 inch ball.
Flatten in crisscross pattern using fork dipped in sugar.
Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove while warm dip into white sugar.
Cool.

Speaking of cooling, the weather outside has been so wonderful! It does feel like Fall is around the corner (although the weatherman says this won't last!), so Saturday was the most wonderful day to celebrate our dear friends Mike and Bridget's little girl's 4th birthday! She is so precious, and that party was quite a party! They served the yummiest bbq, slaw, baked beans, cake and ice-cream, and then the gifts...I've never seen so many gifts! What a fun day it was!

Here comes Autumn!

Well, the new school year has me even more eager for the smell of Autumn in the air! And it's almost here! I'll wait a couple more weeks before I start nagging Ricci to get out my Fall decorations, but I did succomb to the self-imposed peer pressure today when I lit my Autumn Wreath candle that Jen gave me last year for a hostess gift!
Thanks again, Jen! It smells sooo good!

Update on "Being worn out!"

Thanks to those for the sweet calls and checking on us!

As for now, no news is good news!

After having taken Tress to the pediatrician on Monday, we had to have Dr. Phil (close friend of ours) drop by and make a house-call on little A...thank you, Dr. Phil! For on Tuesday night when we were finishing up devotions with the girls, Annie grabbed her chest and started saying she was having chest pains! So for quite a while that evening her heartbeat was very irregular, and thankfully Dr. Phil correctly said that we could spend the night at home instead of the ER, and when we took her in the next morning, the irregular heartbeats did still show up on her EKG. And interestingly, mom told me that it was when I was going into 3rd grade that my irregular heartbeats began...isn't that interesting?!? So we're keeping an eye on her and trying to keep her calm...now that's a feat! ;) But please keep praying with us that we'll know how to take the utmost care for her! She's such an active child [;)] that it's often difficult to know when it's a chest pain that deserves medical attention or if it's just 'normal.'

So after spending Wednesday morning at the hospital, we met up with Efrem to take him out to lunch for his birthday...then over to Wally World; then on Thursday we took Craig to lunch then over to Wally World; we were in there for four hours...and through a terrible storm which took out the electricity three different times...now that was a trip to write home about! And I've learned that it's more helpful to them if we just work on their shopping list, not mine; so by Friday, sweet Eric took the afternoon off to assist me in our 'back to school' shopping, and there we were....back at Wally World! Then Target, Office Depot, Walgreens, etc.!

Then on Saturday morning, we took the girls to the annual library party (I just LOVE those goodie bags!), and although it was a hot day, it was fun! Then Sams and back home to work on getting ready for another school year!

Enjoying a quick popsicle with the Chans and the Steves!

Isn't this Sam the cutest thing?!?

So today we begin a new week! I'm almost scared to look into the sales ads to see what other great stuff is out there, but here are a few of my favorite finds: the 'buy one, get two' Mirado Black Warrior pencils from Walgreens, my new Sharpie pens (love'em!), my new book easel, and our new book case from Target! Oh, and our new artist Sketch books for our nature studies!

The family room is looking better too...I still have a few more things that I would like to finish up to make it 'perfect' for us, but I just love the way it's lookin' already! (You know...that feeling you get inside when you've moved furniture around?!?)

I'm really looking forward to getting everything else set up, but here's a quick peak at my new organizing method...an individual cube for artist/composer, history, literature, nature study, and one still to fill! Then the girls each have a cubby for their individual books! (Organizing gives me such a thrill!)

We (at least momma and daddy!) are soooo looking forward to more structure with the day-to-day 'back to school' lifestyle!

What on earth?!?

What on earth?!?

Obama has taken the American flag off of the tail of his 757 which he is using to campaign in Jordan...yes, you read that correctly! What other American president looks for votes in Europe?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70236
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/20/obamas-757-is-back-in-service/
I REALLY hope that I get to hear an explanation for this one! If this is a sign to come...I'm a little unnerved!

Before

After

We are so worn out!

We're dropping like flies over here! The girls are just exhausted from staying up too late and doing a little too much; and for a couple of days Tressie has been complaining about her ears' hurting her (I've made her an appt. with the pediatrician, but as far as I can remember, she has never had an ear infection, but I know that her daddy had several when he was a child); and my pleurisy is acting up again...momma can't do too much when she can't breathe well! And poor Eric's just worn out!

Thankfully, supper's already made, so I don't have to think about that! I try to always prepare more food than we need on Sundays when we have friends over for dinner...just so that I don't have to think about supper on Monday nights, for Mondays are our detox days (we're in detox from having our daddy stay at home with us for the weekend as well as fun doing this and that!)

After we return from the pediatrician's office and the library, it's back to getting the house ready for another school year's kick-off! Woohoo! (There's nothing else better than the smell of a fresh, new notebook!) I'll start my 39th load of laundry, and then continue trying to implement the best new set-up for our family/home-school room. This year I've decided to put a round dining table and an extra bookcase at the end of the family room. And then when we're not snuggled together on the sofa by the fireplace, we can be using this new area for games, artwork, puzzles, etc!

Hopefully, we can pull ourselves back together quickly so Momma can begin getting the 'new' room ready, for we're looking forward to crackin' open some of these new books that we've bought!

Free "Paper Sloyd" book!

Who doesn't remember creating 'cootie catchers' in elementary school?!? Wasn't that fun?!?

Well, I just learned about a much more sophisticated (ooh-la-la!) way to teach the art of paper folding, i.e. encouraging a little added touch of industrial/technical education.

I have just been introduced to a really great new site...Homeschool Freebie. And this morning when I checked the site, today's (July 23rd) download is "Paper Sloyd" by Ednah Anne Rich (in the form of a PDF ebook)! All you have to do is click here and "save as" to your computer!

In addition to finding this great book (very beautifully done in the early 1900's), there are a lot of other great books that one can download (in a PDF file) for free!

This will be a site that I'll begin checking often! For any that know me, know that when one calls something a type of 'craft' project, my blood pressure immediately starts to rise...for this is an area which I lack (not in creativity but patience!), for too many bits of paper and chaos can cause me to flip out! Yes, a little OCD comes into play!

But after saying a prayer today for patience and grace, we are going to enjoy reading "Paper Sloyd" as we embrace the art of paper folding!

Spending the day at Antiques Roadshow!

OH, what a fun day we had at the Antiques Roadshow! From now on, whenever I'll think of the show, I'll think of how much fun we had and just how well organized they are!

Craig and I got up at the crack of dawn, drove over to our friend's home to get our tickets (that Dan and Paula so graciously gave to us! THANK YOU!) and drove to the convention center to begin looking for a parking spot! Well, we pulled into the parking garage that wasn't full yet, parked, got our things out, and walked right in! It was as easy as that!

We never really had the opportunity to even sit down in the camping chairs that I brought for the two of us! The area was so well organized that when we walked inside, they glanced at our tickets and put us in the 8:00 row, which was the earliest time-slot. We realized that our tickets must have been specially marked since they were given to our friend by one of the producers, for everyone else's tickets were marked for a specific time (8:00, 9:00, 10:00,...), and everyone was placed in the appropriate roped-off line...which all moved rather quickly! It was so much fun to watch what everyone else had brought, how they had wrapped it to protect it, and how they were delivering it (wagon, wheelbarrow, rolling chair, etc.)! Then once we got to the top of that line, we were told to shut off all cell phones and to put away all cameras as we were escorted into another area. All of the action...as well as the appraisers... are inside an inner circle, so each person is personally escorted to the particular line which is right on the outside of the "inner circle." So for example, one is escorted to the 'rugs & textiles' line (or a line for toys, metal works, clocks, books & manuscripts, etc.), and then one waits until it is their turn to step inside the "inner circle" where the appraisers are, and they literally spend less than 2 minutes with each person per item. So the entire process happened quite quickly, and there was never an opportunity to set our things down and/or relax, for again...each line moved rather quickly!

It was so well-organized that they spun us in, and they spun us out!

And before we knew it, we knew exactly what we were 'worth'! My great-grandmother's wedding purse was appraised at $50 due to its worn condition; yet I did learn something new...I have always been told that the fabric that has always been with the purse was the lining of the purse; however, it is actually the hat band that my great-grandfather wore at their wedding....so that information makes my item priceless!

And Eric's Shakespearean book that I took for him wasn't even valued....

[Cue Debbie Downer's "Wa Wa Waaaa!"]

Urghhh...the appraiser told us that Shakespeare's books are published second-only to the Bible; so simply because of supply and demand, Shakespearean books aren't as valuable as people often think that they are! And the fact that this book once belonged to Massachusetts's attorney general in the mid 1800's wasn't important at all. I just hated coming home to tell Eric this! Oh, well, something new was learned!

And Craig's great-grandmother's crewel handiwork was valued at $450-$600! Of course, it's also priceless to her and her family!

So let me ask...what would you have taken?!?

So after we finished, we set up our chairs and enjoyed some people-watching, but the temperature was so low in that huge arena that we just couldn't stay seated for too long. We could only stand the cold for about an hour or so; then we walked around some more and entered Craig into a 'video-diary-confession' (that's only what I jokingly call it!); she went into a 'room' and stated her name, city, and a brief description about what she had brought to the show. She did an excellent job, and it was so much fun watching her and seeing and hearing the joy in her face and voice. Hopefully, they'll place her video on the TV show (to be aired in Spring 2009) or on their website...wouldn't that be great?!?

Later that evening, Eric and I and the girls had a very special dinner with two very lovely people! If they aren't perfect for one another, then knock me over now! The evening was such a sweet, sweet time! It has been sooo amazing to watch God's hand in both of their lives! And we can't wait to see Him continue to reveal His plan to them both!

"Today on Antiques Roadshow, we'll have...!"

Life here is so busy, yet God still gives us those little surprises! Well, I think this is a huge one...today, I'm off to the Antiques Roadshow! I can't believe it, but late last night, our friend Dan called and offered us two tickets to the show, which is here in town! He said that his wife remembered my saying how much I would have liked to have been able to go, and I don't even remember speaking to her about it! (Urghh...that thyroid of mine! Man, am I glad that Paula can remember things!) But the Lord (and Paula!) knew how much I wanted to get a sneak-peak inside!

Well, Dan was given these tickets by an old friend of his from high-school, which is now one of the Antique Roadshow's producers! And Dan said that his only motive was just being able to catch up with his friend, and he did that last night at a special party, so he gave us his tickets!
Eric really wanted to go, but he has a lot of work to do today from home, so he EVER-SO-SWEETLY has offered to stay at home with the girls (oooh, I'm praying that they'll stay busy and quiet so he can get his work done!), and I'm taking Miss Craig with me...she's one of my 'bestest' friends, who is 85, and Antiques Roadshow is just about all she talks about (even when the show isn't in town!), so I called and offered to take her...I thought she was go to have a heart attack from her shock and excitement! The only thing....she wants to get there before the doors open! Aghhh!

I'm taking my great-great grandmother's wedding purse and an old Shakespearean book of Eric's! I'll post the details and the rest of the story, when I get a chance! (I sure hope that my things DON'T get me on TV!)

Happy Birthday!

Here's to two of my favorite boys...

Happy Birthday, Ricci!
Happy Birthday, Drewby!

I love you both tons and bunches!!!

Cow Appreciation Day at Chicka-flicka!

Where else can one walk into a restaurant dressed like a ...well, a cow...and be rewarded with an indulgent meal (fried in peanut oil, none the less!) for free?!?

Chicka-flicka, of course! Oooh, it's so good!

Once the girls awoke, I told them that it was "Cow Appreciation Day" at Chick-fil-A, and it was all over! Two of them were begging to go, so the 'younger two' immediately got dressed up in their cow-chic attire! And the eldest...well, we're entering that pre-teen stage where we'd like to do it, but we're not sure that we'll feel comfortable doing it!

Annie, of course, wanted to dress in her horse costume (we explained that wouldn't pass!), so she then brought me some cow-print pants and a plain white t-shirt which we drew some black spots on it with a black sharpie...that seemed to work well! And Tressie put on a cute Dalmatian outfit; and Macy and I cut out white spots to put onto our black t-shirts (which neither of us put on once we arrived at the restaurant!), and the girls and I went through our things to design us some fine cow-attire with some of Aunt May's and Aunt Carolyn's older jewelry! I thought we looked pretty good...very haute couture! Enough spots to pass, yet not too many to completely embarrass ourselves!

Yes, this is a day when the fine line gets blurred of "fashion before function"!

30-day challenge to "Pray for Your Husband!"

This past June's calendar was absolutely chaotic, and July hasn't seemed to be much slower! So I haven't had much time to settle down and blog about much; however, I did think that this was 'blog-worthy'!

I can't remember exactly who sent this website to me, but I did sign up to take the 30 day "Pray for your husband" challenge, and I did find it to be really encouraging and inspiring! There is also a 30-day challenge to "Pray for your pastor/pastor's wife" as well as a 30-day TV-free challenge...um, we're still enjoying our heavily discounted tivo...so I'm not quite ready to take that challenge!

If you're interested in participating, it's super easy...they'll either send you a daily email or you may print out the daily challenges! I really enjoyed them, and I think you will too!

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenge/

June's out! July's in!

My 'baby' is now officially 9 1/2! We're getting too close to double-digits!!! Aghh!

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Angel Wings!
Mommy and Daddy love you dearly and are sooo proud of you!

As well as my disbelief in Mae-Mae's age, I also can't believe that the summer is already more than half over! Where has time gone?!?

And as busy as June was for our family, July doesn't look much more promising for lazy days of summer! Before I knew it, we were planning our annual Pops in the Park holiday concert with friends and packing up for getting 'just the right spot' to set up our elaborate table of yummy food! (Yes, I packed everything but the kitchen sink...and my camera, so when I get photos from Kendall, I'll be sure to post them!)

Update: here are Kendall's photos!

It was a lovely Thursday evening spent with close friends, and it was also fun to run into friends that we haven't seen in a long time! And the fireworks were spectacular as always!

On the 4th of July, we thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely day with our little family, playing in the garden and running around town. We did have plans to make it out to the Dubles for their annual picnic, but we never made it...oops! That evening the Stephens, Rob & RC joined us for a little party over on the bluff to watch some fun fireworks and hear Jen Daniels play, whom our family dearly loves!

Then Saturday morning, I was awakened by a terrible realization that the pain that I had been having for a couple of days when I'd try to take a deep breath...that pain wasn't going to go away! So after trying to decide what to do, RC came and picked up the girls so Eric could take me to the hospital. Yes, they asked, "This has been going on how long and you're just now coming in here?" Well, we learned that it was just pleurisy, and I was able to go back home with some lovely horse pills (strong ibuprofen!) and some pain killer, which I still haven't taken, for you won't see me for several days! So that evening, my more-than-precious husband took care of me and the house, for the next morning we had extremely important social matters!

After church we had the pleasure of spending time with the Witchers and the Newtons, two of the sweetest families who are also getting to know one another. (E'hem) Knowing that we had had a long week (and rough evening), RC brought the yummiest blackberry and peach cobbler...and me a bunch of gorgeous roses! So sweet! And the Witchers surprised the girls with individually wrapped gifts...and one for me as well. They are all so incredibly precious! No wonder where Rob learned the gift of 'not coming to one's home empty handed'! It was like Christmas! Lunch was so delicious (and I can say so myself, for Eric did most of the work!); it's one of our favorite meals to serve...Ricci grilled the mustard-glazed pork tenderloin, and we served it with roasted potatoes with rosemary, steamed broccoli, and our usual bleu cheese mixed baby green salad; then RC, Macy, and Tress served the cobbler and ice-cream, and I was able to use my new Irish coffee mugs! Oh, it was such a fun afternoon!

So now if I can just get a deep breath, for it appears that not only June but also July's off to a bang!

Fun spending time w/ friends, new and old alike!

This past Saturday was a dear day for our good friend, RC, so she and I enjoyed getting out to spend "just you and me time" with one another! We did quite a bit of shopping, had a yummy lunch at Panera (I had their Baked Potato Soup and Strawberry Poppyseed Salad....it's made with fresh strawberries and blueberries, pineapple, Mandarin oranges, pecans and fat-free poppyseed dressing! I can't wait to re-create it here at home!), and then we went to see the movie, BabyMama, which I had been wanting to see for quite some time! It's hysterical! Yes, the humor at times would be slightly off-color for mixed company, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the many previews hadn't shown all of the hysterical parts in the film, as I was afraid would have happened!

Then after the movie, we did a little more shopping, and then we went home to rest before regrouping together with the guys for a rematch of MadGab. Of course, Eric and I gave it our best, but we still 'let them win' in light of being gracious hosts! But before we 'let them win' we had homemade pizzas, and while we were cleaning up after dinner, I just had to run and grab the camera when I saw Rob sitting with the girls as they had convinced him to read them 'just one more' story! It was so sweet!

Aside from his allowing them to hang out the side windows of his Beemer (hairbows flappin' in the wind and all!), the girls love him dearly!

Then on Sunday we had some new friends over for dinner! But first, a little back-story....last Sunday at church, we sat behind the cutest family! Their 2nd to youngest son, Calvin, kept peeking around to give me a face that would melt my heart...and those huge, brown eyes! As if they weren't enough to melt a girl's heart...his older brother and sister have them too! Then baby Silas...he's too cute for his own good...but with huge, blue eyes! So as soon as church was finished, we introduced ourselves to them...only to learn that we had met them before! So this week we gladly had them come over to eat after church! And all I have to say is that those kids are just as beautiful and well-mannered on the inside as they are on the outside! It's been a treat to get to know them once more! Their kiddos each have us wrapped around their little fingers already!

Summer means Vacation Bible School!

Oh, how much fun Vacation Bible School is! The girls absolutely love it, and I've had the nice opportunities to accomplish some errands, do some shopping, have coffee (or my new summer favorite, which is a Starbucks' Iced Caffè Mocha w/ soy! Thanks, RC and Kristin!) with friends, visit friends or even a shopping spree with my hubby! The first day I will admit that I was a little 'off my game' while I was out running errands alone...every time I would walk back to the car, I would naturally hit the 'unlock' button and then proceed to hit the button to open the sliding door for the girls....then I'd remember that they weren't with me! Habit, I guess! But I have really been surprised at how focused I have been while out running errands/shopping! Instead of going to Sams every other week to get this and that (which I forgot from the previous shopping trip), I think we're set for at least a month!

And in the evenings we've also had the fun of enjoying a second VBS with friends of ours from our 'other' church (as the girls call it). It was open to the community, so it was great to see old/new friends all come together for a nice evening of story-telling, good food, music and fun! Cricket-spittin', Peanut-butter Moonpies (yeah...they're new!), and all!

Of course, "it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt"...I mean, ill. We seem to be taking turns sharing a lovely little summer-time cold/allergy that's not enough to cause any alarm but enough to take the joy out of one's evening at a time....one person at a time. Tressie's over it; Macy's in the midst of it; and (if I were a bettin' lady, then) I'd bet that Annie's about to come down with it! For yesterday when we were dropping Macy off at a swimming birthday party, Annie began to let her spirits sink when she began thinking three things:

1. she wanted to go to the party as well
2. she hasn't been able to gather enough snow to build a really big snowman, and....
3. she fears that she'll never-ever have the opportunity to ride a real lion!

All in all, it's been an extremely busy yet enjoyable week...and it's not over yet! Eric and I (along with about ten other couples) are hosting some close friends' surprise 49th wedding anniversary! Congrats, Booie and Cici!

My baby's birthday....she's 5 & 1/2!!!

I can't believe it, but my baby is now 5 1/2! I know that's crazy-talk, but it's true!

And yes...we do celebrate half birthdays! With multiple December birthdays being tossed at us right in the height of all the Christmas hype, several years ago we began the tradition of celebrating one's 1/2 birthday! Yes, we do get strange looks when the honoree tells the waiter/ess that it's their 1/2 birthday, but then they look at us again and say, "I wish I could do that!" And once again this year, T-Fran was delivered a lovely dessert for her and her sisters when RC and I took them out to celebrate!

It does seem like she was just born yesterday, but then again...I can't remember life without her! She does seem all grown up now...I don't have to buckle her into her carseat or cut up her food for her or help her get dressed! She just loves to play dress-up, have tea parties, help me entertain...and most importantly she loves to help me keep house! Her dreams and aspirations (in her words today!) are to become:

1. a wife


2. a momma


3. a hair dresser and.....


4. a giraffe-walker!

Could there be a cuter list?!? We are so immensely proud of you, sweet T-Fran!

Happy Anniversary, Ricci!

It's been a wonderful wedding anniversary already! Ricci and I have been married for twelve years now...and each year seems to be only be getting better and better!

Earlier this week, one of our dearest friends, RC, knew that it was getting close to our wedding anniversary, so she told me that she wanted to watch the girls to allow Eric and I to go out alone together. I told her that would be wonderful, but this week we were being so rushed to do this and that. Then we received a phone call that my Aunt Rachel had passed away. So we cancelled most of our weekend plans, thinking that we would travel to LA (lower Alabama) to attend the wake and funeral. Then after we sat down and really forced ourselves to make a decision, we decided that it would wiser to stay at home now and travel down there when there would be fewer people around the rest of the family....so we stayed here. Then sweet, dear RC called to ask what we had decided to do, and when I told her that we were going to stay at home, she said that she was coming to get the girls and have dinner with them. What a wonderful, thoughtful friend she is!

So when I told Eric, he made us some reservations, came home early, brought me some beautiful flowers, and we headed out to dinner to Canyon Grill. Once we were seated, we immediately cracked open one of 'my' favorite bottles of wine from our favorite winery that mom and dad left with us as a hostess gift last weekend....oooh, thanks again! Then as we were enjoying our rajas, french bread and wine while awaiting our supper, we had to laugh out loud when some of our best friends were seated next to us! Of course, we got our 'usuals'...my chicken with capers (extra capers), garlic green beans and yellow squash...and Eric's grilled chicken with roasted red-pepper sauce, grilled portobello mushrooms and fried okra. Then our favorite dessert...apple-pecan bread pudding with a yummy bourbon sauce. Oooh...it's all so good!

After a while, Kendall & Shelley and Eric & I grew tired of communicating from table to table, so we ended up sitting together and began planning the rest of our evening! So after making plans to get two of our other good friends to join us (who brought our girls with them), we were off to the world's largest single screen outdoor theater!

It was such a wonderful evening...the drive winding down the mountain gave us a glimpse here and there of a spectacular sunset, and the weather was magnificent with a gentle breeze that often brought a slight chill! It was a perfect June evening! Now this was the first time that I can ever recall having gone to a drive-in movie (Momma, you can correct me, if I'm wrong!), but we had a blast...and I was probably too excited to even 'get' the whole movie (which was Get Smart). But we pulled out camping chairs, set out some blankets on the ground for the girls, turned on the car radios, and had a blast! I can not wait to go back again!

It's official; I'm now a "Postie"!

After submitting my blog with PayPerPost once before, my blog was turned down...wahhh... for I was hoping for the opportunity to be paid to blog. So after taking a good amount of time (along with lots of Ricci's help!) I made the recommended corrections, and guess what?!? My blog was finally approved! So now I'm a 'postie'! Woohoo!

I was shocked when Eric told me that there was an opportunity out there like this...an opportunity to get paid for blogging! In addition to stories about our everyday life (stories that I want to remember), I'll include a few product reviews on different companies, websites and services. I'm really looking forward to this new relationship/job role, and I eagerly await the new income that I will use to purchase my new dream camera....for more photos/blog postings! And just to let you know... my blog will not become a place where I will pursue blog marketing full time or turn it into a billboard...it's just something new that I'm going to try!

It's been so much fun to receive postings from friends (new and old alike) from around the globe that have enjoyed hearing what/how we've been doing. I clearly remember the first time that I 'witnessed' someone communicate via computer with a friend on the other side of the world! Of course, this was in college in the early 90's, and my best friend, Charissa, and I were dumb-founded that that was possible, and now here she and I are...she's in Australia, and I'm here; so other than a rare phone call between the two of us, we communicate mainly by the Internet! (Hey, Chrissy!)

Sooo...here's to you, me and my new adventure! And uh, hopefully, my new camera fund!

A fun Father's Day weekend!

I just love my parents so...and I'm ever-so-thankful that my husband feels the same for them; and my entire family loves him just the same! So back in May, we began asking them to come up here for their 2nd annual Father's day weekend! When they agreed that they would come, I warned them that I was writing them onto our calendar with Sharpie (and not pencil!), so when daddy had some oral surgery done, I told mom to finish packing his bags and get him on up here! Of course, we all felt horribly that dad didn't feel well, but we still had a great time laughing and just spending time with one another! One reason why he went ahead and came on up was because I told him that he wasn't able to see the Indiana Jones movie without me (to this day, I've never been to an Indiana Jones movie without him, and I told him that I didn't plan on starting now!), and he wanted to see it, so he just had to come on up here!

They arrived late on Thursday evening, and I did meet the poor guy as he was getting out of his car with a green-tea strawberry smoothie, and after a short visit, a quick bite to eat, we all went to bed...for we had a busy weekend ahead! After a leisurely breakfast, the fellas (and Annie) went out to the property while us gals went shopping and out to lunch at Taco Roc. After we all returned home, (poor dad!) we had him back up and out the door (pain meds and all), for that was the only evening that we would be able to go and see our movie! So after getting the girls settled, the two couples went off for a quick bite to eat at Sugar's (I really wanted Dad to try the grilled okra and the south-of-seoul slaw) before going to the movie theatre! We so enjoy each other's company, so there's no surprise that all of our laughter had my jaw aching too!

Saturday morning, we enjoyed another leisurely breakfast, and RC came over to help mom and I make some plum jelly...that was a lot of fun; we felt so domestic! Then the girls all ran off to an estate sale, which we then had to call the guys over to join us! There were some great things there, and as the sky dropped a few raindrops, the owners began to drop some prices! Woohoo! We bought quite a few treasures before heading over to a used book sale that I had wanted to be sure to get to do! Well, we arrived there late (no big surprise there!), so once again the prices were dropping drastically! So once again...we got some real deals! Since we were all a little hungry, we all drove over to Taco Roc again...and Jesús, the owner, greeted us and even took his time to go and get some tamarind for us to try (the ripened fruit is really good to eat...but I really don't care for the drink!); then the guys went off in one direction while the girls went and got some last minute things for our Father's day dinner the following day! Once we returned home, we made some more plum jelly and also some orange hummus (for Uncle Eddie for Father's day!), and once the fellas came home (I know this is awful, but...!) we dragged Dad back out the door to go and have supper with Aunt Jan and Uncle Eddie! It was great to see them (it's been almost two months since we've seen them)!

The next morning, Mimi and the girls and I served a really yummy breakfast (if I do say so myself! for the daddies out on the front porch. We gave them their gifts, and then we had to hurry to make it to church on time! Miss Craig and Rob came over for Sunday dinner, then we did spend a little time resting before heading back out the door for evening worship. Afterward, RC came over and hung out with us gals while the fellas hung out on the porch with Jason, who brought over a big spread of hors d'oeuvres and different samplings of scotch.

I hated to see the weekend come to an end; we all did! We had a great time...just spending time with one another! Perhaps I can convince daddy that he never even came...since he was having to take some pain killers for his pain...then perhaps they'll come back sooner than later! Yep...I think I'm going to at least try it!

June is for daylillies, weddings, and fun!

I just love that God gave us different seasons to enjoy (He must have known that we'd grumble even more if we had to live with the same temp/light every, single day!), and along with these seasons I love the different blooming cycles of different plants, trees, flowers,...! April brings us an amazing show with the azaleas, and in May I love to see the Roses of Sharon come alive while in June the daylillies give their daily spectacular displays of color!

The beautiful daylillies that are seen on every corner and in every yard are one of my reminders of the week of our wedding in June of 1996! And this June it was such a joy to be a part of another special wedding, the marriage of Tom and Ivey! After many prayers for Ivey's perfect match, she lolled in fove with her prandsom hince! There were lovely bridal showers, and then the day finally arrived!

The day of the rehearsal arrived, and it was such a joy to get dressed up to join the two lovely families that were happily merging together! What a perfect evening it was for the outdoor rehearsal dinner, and if the toasts didn't have us crying from laughing then we were crying for joy!

Dr. Phil and Tressie taking a spin on the dance-floor!

With twenty flower girls and two adorable ring bearers, the wedding was more than special! What an honor to have that many little girls' looking up to dear Ivey...the children were from Ivey's Sunday School class, Tom's family, and our gals.

A fun slideshow!

Although that weekend will also always be synonymous with the word "heat wave," that day could not have been more lovely! The reception was held at the bride's family's home, and it was hotter than hot, but it was unbelievably wonderful! There was a 21-piece orchestra, lots of dancing, such great food, and we all indulged ourselves in more than enough sweet tea (I did accidentally gulp down a glass of champagne...oops! Oh, well...it was too hot to matter!)

Thank you, Tom & Ivey, for allowing us to be such a special part of such a glorious day! Ivey, God has truly blessed you with the desires of your heart; Tom is just what you ordered [;)]! And Tom...take care of our girl! We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your family! Thanks for such a wonderful day!

Caughtcha!

Caughtcha, you little booger!

Yep, I think you're pretty cute, but get off'a there!

This little fella has mastered the art of climbing up the side of the house, hopping on the screen and having his way with my bird-feeder...yeah, it's a "bird" feeder! The girls and I have to regularly go out and 'vasoline' down the poles that have our feeders on them, so that the chipmunks and squirrels will not take away all of the 'bird'seed! I have to admit that it's pretty funny to watch them go about their normal routine of hopping onto the pole and then being shocked when they slide back down it...they'll immediately show a look of disgust as they try to wipe their little paws off in the grass. It's pretty hard not to laugh at them!

Happy Father's Day!

Well, it's once again Father's Day, a day that we set aside to honor our earthly fathers who have gone before us, reared us, and taught us well. Just the same as last year, I have the most amazing father, and I'm so thankful that he loves his two sons-in-laws as if they're his own as well; I'll adore him forever!

So once again this year Vision Forum emailed an encouragement to their subscribers for us to love our Heavenly Father by honoring our earthly fathers, and below I'm giving you the link for the poem that they sent once again this year...I just love it so!

The Patriarch by Douglas W. Phillips

Then a friend sent me this poem, which is likewise just as good.

The Bridge Builder by Will A. Dromgoole

I'd love to read this to my daddy on Father's Day, but I can already see the look on his face when I would keep reading aloud, "old man; his gray old head; etc.," [;)]! I do think this is a wonderful poem; it's so exemplary of the covenantal family....God's rich blessings upon generations of obedient, faithful followers of Him.

Until today, I don't believe this poet's name (Will A. Dromgoole [1860-1934]) was familiar to me, but after doing a little research on her, I think I would have loved to have met this Will Allen Dromgoole, a female from Murfreesboro, TN.

Here are a few links for info. on her:

http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=D053 (this is a really great site for those living in this area!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Allen_Dromgoole
http://www.geocities.com/ourmelungeons/wad.html

Two things one can't live without...friends and flowers!

After a long week/end, I decided that my thyroid levels must be out-of-whack once more, for I could barely get out of bed, and I rested for most of the day on Sunday! Perhaps, we're just doing too much these days, but we surely can't stop now! Ivey's wedding is next week!

So after doing this and that during the day, I ran over to return some borrowed gardening tools to a good friend of mine (who sent them back home with me....she's so generous!), and that sweet thing sent me home with three huge bucketfuls of luscious, green perennials! She divided her Black-eyed Susans, Obedience Plant (just lovely when in bloom!), and a new aster that I've never had, Stokesia Aster! Of course, Eric new that he was in for another little project, when I pulled into the driveway and asked to borrow a shovel! (We're going to be such a great older couple [as if we aren't now!], for we do love to garden together!) I was really eager about getting my new gifts into the ground as soon as possible, so we did, and they love their new home!

Thanks, Elaine, from the bottom of my heart! I will always cherish our friendship as well as these lovely perennials!

"The Mole" is back!!

I can't wait...The Mole is back! It's been so long since it aired, so probably no one remembers the show (or even watched it!) but Eric and me!

It's hard to believe that the first two editions of The Mole (hosted by Anderson Cooper, who was great...for no one can read him!) were aired 2001 and 2002...that seems so long ago...but my favorite seasons were the Celebrity Mole's (hosted by Ahmad Rashad, who was also great, for he shows his emotions on his sleeve!) in 2003 and 2004.

With a slight concern of recommending anything these days, I recommend this show, for it's somewhat a blend of Amazing Race (with the different missions and locations) and Survivor (with the social aspects and competitions)! For some reason, it's going to be aired pretty late (10:00)...perhaps that what's concerning me...for I remember thinking of it as a family show!), so we'll more than likely watch it at that time for the first episode...then perhaps tivo the later episodes to watch on our own time...and/or let the kids watch it as well, edited if need be.

I REALLY hope that this show lives up to its great past!

Our newest, little neighbor!

We met our newest, little neighbor today! We have had several baby birds born in/around the house, and lately we've noticed more movement/sounds in a shrub which is right up against the side of our porch where we spend many hours. So I can only assume that there has been a particular bird that has been getting used to our voices and being around us.

And this afternoon while we were outside visiting with a friend, Rena Carolyn, who came by to pick something up, Annie was out playing in the yard and came face to face with this little fella who then flew down and settled onto the chair next to us. After a while, this little fella/o allowed Tressie to pet her, and it took just a few minutes more before we were all holding her...and of course, Macy was naming her...uh, no, we're not keeping it!

Then after quite some time, we can only assume that it was his brothers and sisters that were hollering at him to "quit talking to strangers"... s/he flew off with them!

We just love watching/feeding the birds around us! Nature study up close and personal is so much more memorable; isn't it?!?

Whew! I think they flew the coop!

For a month or so, we've been battling territory over our back porch/storage area which has had a Carolina wren (or two...it's very difficult to tell the difference in a male/female wren) telling us that it was her territory...uh, I don't think so!

Of course, there are things out there that we need daily...my front porch broom, the girls' pencil sharpener, some of Eric's tools, lots of gardening, and lots of other things that we need on a daily basis, but for now this area has been off-limits for us...unless we want to go up against the wrath of this little lady!

Then one day this week she was gone...gone to get some food for her five, little, cute, fuzzy biddies that she had left behind...who were all hopping up and down on the window sills awaiting their momma and daddy to bring them back something to eat! Aghh...now that would total SEVEN birds! And that chirping is really a precious sound, but they are so loud!

We have enjoyed watching them flitting around, sitting atop one another, and even getting the strength to fly up to the next window pane...but now they can't live there forever! So we've tried to figure out what the best thing to do would be. Each day, we'd say, "That's it...today's their last day!" Then the next day, we'd feel badly and say it again! Then yesterday we decided we'd firmly give them "one more day" in the home that they've grown to love...then that's it...they're outta here!

So this morning, we awoke to find that they're gone! Woohoo! I do hope that they've moved on to greener pastures...and not just on a daily field trip!

I can completely understand why they would want to live in our "territory," for we provide our avian friends food, water, but not shelter! And at this time of year there is a tree that we hate that they love...a mulberry tree that is producing and dropping tons of mulberries! We just have to laugh about it to keep from cryin'...the berries are everywhere, and if we're not dodging them to keep from stepping on them, then we're dodging them to keep from being hit when they're falling. The birds love them, of course! And it is music to my ears to hear them singin' away! So for now, our everyday visitors of wrens, sparrows, finches, chickadees, doves, blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers and flickers are more than satisfied, for our home is evidently their home as well! As long as they stay outside where they belong...the more the merrier!

A quiet but fun Memorial day!

Time is certainly fa-lying! Where does it go? The older I seem to get... the faster time seems to pick up speed! So when Memorial Day sneaked up on us (granted...it was early this year), we were more than content to choose to stay at home and finish up projects that need it! So on the Wednesday prior to the 3-day weekend, we started in on our dear daddy to "Please stay at home on Friday too!" So on Thursday night, when he came home from work, we happily began our four-day weekend! And Friday was spent having a leisurely lunch (at our favorite Mexican restaurant!), running errands around town, and doing a little shopping that we don't normally have the time to do. Then after 'sleeping in' on Saturday, we completed quite a few projects around the house...what a treat to mark those off the checklist(s)! And Sunday was church and a lovely bridal shower for my dear friend Ivey, who's getting married in a couple of Saturdays....can't wait for the big day, Ivey!
Then our most coveted day of all...our official holiday, Memorial Day! Another quiet day at home to continue wrapping up our projects...then our good friends, the Newtons, invited us out for some yummy barbecue and a movie! So we finished up our Cinderella Monday, got dressed up and hit the town!
Thanks so much again, Dr. Phil and Rena Carolyn, for such a lovely evening!

Our Northern Flicker is back!

Our family recently spotted a Northern Flicker enjoying a feast of ants (Please...help yourself...it's an 'all you can eat' buffet!) in our side yard! We have seen her several times, but we're still not sure where she's living...but we do find her fascinating! And I'm personally thankful when she comes around when we're working on our nature study! I'm so thankful that God's creation is so full of creatures of varying sizes, colors, habits, sounds, etc.!

Some new books!

Today the girls and I went to a used curriculum/book sale...my first ever...and it was a lot of fun! Earlier this month I reserved a table for my girlfriend Betsy and me, and this morning I called Bets to chick'n out since I wasn't feeling very well, but she convinced me to go...and I'm so glad that she did! Thanks, Bets!

We set up our table (she had five crates of books to sell, and I had one itty-bitty basket!), and she ran off to shop around a little while I stayed and got our kids set-up watching a DVD on the laptop...then we switched; I walked around a little and did some shopping while she stayed with the kiddos!

All in all, it was a great experience...I purchased some REALLY great new books, and she and I sold a few things as well! Bets sold much more than I did...I sold all of a quarter's worth. Yes, that's right...$.25! But I'm very satisfied with my earnings, for this was the first time I had ever been to a used curriculum/book sale, so I had no idea of what to expect! It was wonderful!

First of all, it was great running into friends that I haven't seen in a while, and it was great shopping around in a comfortable atmosphere...a lot of the homeschooling kids had little sales tables set up...it was so cute! And I have to say how proud of Macy I am...she found several books and things that she wanted...and she became quite the bargainer! She paid 'full-price' ($.50) for a hard-back book of Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (one of her favorite books that her Aunt Jan gave her for Christmas in paperback...she evidently needs two copies!), and then she paid $5 for two hard-back Nancy Drew's priced at $3/piece; and she was thrilled when my friend Jackie sold her a set of red-rhinestoned stapler and computer mouse...these were the first things that she spotted and "had to have" when she first stepped into the doors earlier that afternoon! And Jackie sweetly sold them to her for $2 when they had been priced at $3 or $4! Thanks again, Jackie! Macy thought she would use the stapler herself and save the computer mouse to give to Mimi for her birthday present (hope Mimi doesn't read this...or if she does, I hope she forgets!)


So the books that I purchased were:

• Meet the Great Composers: Short Sessions on the Lives, Times and Music of the Great Composers by June Montgomery and Maurice Hinson (with CD!)


• How to Use Child-Size Masterpieces for Art Appreciation by Aline D. Wolf (along with post card sized reproductions!)


• The World of Plants by Debbie and Richard Lawrence (This book will be great for learning more about plants and also very helpful with our nature journals, for the book is filled with wonderful diagrams and sketches of the different parts of a plant!)


• and last but not least...the lesson manual for Hillyer's A Child's History of the World. (We have the textbook, and before this afternoon, I didn't even know that a lesson manual or a workbook existed...woohoo!)

Fossils, milkin' goats, and plastic surgery!

Yesterday proved to be a long, long day! It was a wonderful one...filled with wonder in God's creation as well as amazement in God's protection and healing.

Our homeschool group went on a fieldtrip to our good friends' home, the Colemans, who live on the side of the mountain. (When one is given directions to their home for the first time, one is warned about the first steep hill in their driveway...then, they are warned about the second hill, which is steeper! 'How they ever built their beautiful home' and 'how they paved the drive going up to it' is beyond me!)

We spent a wonderful afternoon hunting for fossils, which their oldest son described to us in his presentation.

After we hunted fossils, many of us ended up in the barn checking out the Coleman's animals...we were all in awe! The baby goats were just too cute...and we all were able to take a turn milking one of the momma goats...one of my life dreams! (I can check that one off of my list! It was so much fun! When I was a little girl, one of my all-time-favorite books was about a young girl and her kid-goat! She loved him so and took him every where, so ever since then I've been in love with them as well!) And of course, Annie enjoyed milking them just as much as I did!

After we enjoyed playing with the animals in their beautiful barn (their entire property is beautiful!), we all went inside and washed up for some yummy snacks. While everyone was enjoying visiting and eating with one another, the children continued to play...and one of us had a little mishap...poor Bennett S. fell while running down the driveway...he took a really bad fall. So badly that his momma had to rush him to the ER. The poor guy was terribly frightened (we all were!), but I found it amazing the way God had everything in place...everyone came together so quickly... got Betsy's car ready, her children farmed out to others, her hubby on the phone to meet her at the hospital, and they were gone! It was just so wonderful to see everyone come together so orderly to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time...and I especially found it inspiring to hear the little children praying for him. It shows the fruits of their little spirits...real faith in our great God!

After everything settled down, some stayed to continue visiting and playing, and I began to pack up our things...we had Betsy's youngest with us (such a treat for us!), and while I was packing everything in the car, I misplaced my keys (urgh!), so I continued packing up and also looking everywhere for my keys! 'All the while' the car doors were open, and the lights were evidently also on, so my battery went dead! Aghhh! I didn't need this! But my dad would be soooo proud of me! With all of the commotion going on, I asked Macy to check in the trunk for the jumper cables, and I went and asked my girlfriend if I could jump off her car...and I did it! 'Almost' completely by myself! I'm embarrassed to say that i couldn't get the hood opened, so the Coleman's oldest son helped me with that, and together we got my car back up'n'running!

Thankfully, it was time for Ricci to come home from work, so he arrived at home shortly after we did. And later that evening while Bennett was in surgery with a plastic surgeon (his wonderful dad was with him at the hospital), Betsy came by to get Isaac, and she stayed for a while during their oldest son's baseball game; we gave her something to drink and some dark chocolate, and she had a chance to unwind! It was good to be able to see her relaxed!

Whew...what a day!

Sale at Bath & Body Works!

Woohoo! Bath & Body Works is having a sale on their soaps (5 for $10!), and after this last shopping trip there, I just have to "write home about it!"

Yesterday morning, I was just getting ready to walk out the door to run errands (and getting soap at B&B was on my 'to do' list!) I received an email from B&B letting me know that their soaps were on sale...and they have some really great new scents too! So... it's worth mentioning that in my wallet I've had a little conglomeration of different discount cards and/or coupons for Bath & Body Works, and I was able to use one of my discount cards (save $10 when spending $30) and even had another one to give to the lady that was shopping beside me (although I was a cheerful giver then, I wish now that I hadn't done that! Urgh...for some reason I have a neon sign on my forehead that people see; they speak to me and tell me their life story [they do it to my sister too!], and before I know it I'm giving away my stuff! But I know she was appreciative, and I've already asked God to replace it!)

Soooo I bought 15 soaps for $21.85...that's $1.46 per bottle of soap!

Woohoo...that made my day!

Worms in the foyer!

Tonight as I prepared to go up to bed, I walked past a little table that I have in our foyer, and lo and behold...there were worms on it! Ick! First I have to explain that I spent the better part of the afternoon in our front flower bed weeding. And every time I would unearth a worm, Annie would want me to announce, "Worm alert! Worm alert!" And she would come running to collect it. Yes, my children have inherited my collecting genes (hmmm...wonder where I got that?!?), so they each have their own little collections...Macy collects rocks; Annie collects bottle caps; and Tressie collects wine corks, and no, we do not drink too much! But we do like to celebrate!

So after seeing her collection growing, before I knew it Annie ran inside to get an empty "container" in which she could put her new 'pets.' She returned with an empty box from her Strawberry Shortcake bandaids...of course, she had that saved somewhere! (Did I also mention that we love to recycle? This container was a no.5, so it wasn't with the no. 1's or 2's! She must have had it hidden somewhere else safe!) And when she brought it outside, she ever-so-proudly announced, "Momma, look! I put the word 'Bate' on there, and aren't you proud of me? I remembered to put an 'e' on the end of the word to make the 'a' have a long sound!"

Of course, I was so proud of her! Who would have the heart to have her spell that word any differently? It was so cute that I just had to take a picture of it!

And after seeing my sweet gals asleep, who could get upset over their having left their little "collection" of worms on the table in the foyer?!?
And the other cute, little thing that I saw on the table next to her 'bate' was her beautiful flowers that she had 'collected' at the flower/garden nursery. (I tell ya...these gals will collect anything, and at this stage it's still pretty cute!) Earlier today we went to 'The Barn.' The girls love to ride in the little, red wagons and occasionally stop to pick up flowering stems that have fallen off of a plant so that they can create beautiful bouquets. (Of course, they always ask the check-out guy/gal if they can keep them!) So Annie came home with quite a little collection of flowers for Mommy, and she had arranged them in her little water cups (which the girls also have to get at the Barn) and displayed them on the table as well!

What fun days these are! I really miss the days when I had to buckle them into their car seats and do more for them, but I'm so much enjoying watching them grow up into beautiful, little ladies! So for now, I gladly encourage their precious, childhood spirit which allows them to find the joy and fascination in so many little things!

Wrapping up this school year but not this year's education!

It is the end of a school year (assuming the 9 month-time-period of an educational "school year"), and I have been experiencing the typical "anxiety" that I generally get at this time of the year. You know...the time when friends and family begin asking you, "So when will you be finished with school?"

I never know how to answer these well-wishers, for my first instinct is to please them and say, "In two more weeks!" Then my second instinct is to use a quote from Charlotte Mason, "Education Is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life." Then my third instinct (which is the one that I'll most likely respond to you, if you ask!) will be to tell you a combination of the first two instinctive answers. Or I could just say, "We've decided to school year-round!" (And the latter doesn't sound like too bad of an idea!)

At this time of year, I always have the moments/days/weeks of anxiety wondering, "Where one earth did the school year go? Have I done enough? Do they know enough? Did we use our time wisely? Am I pushing them too much? Am I not pushing them enough? Are they up to the state's standards (uh, yes!)? Are they up to my standards? Are they up to God's standards?"

Yes, at this time of year, I'm anxious for the school year to end; it's because I'm already excited about the beginning of the next school year! A fresh, new start! And (as soon as we order new books) the girls are as well! So the truthful answer is...we will still continue to read many books throughout the year and continue on with an informal, impromptu way! We'll be spending more time outside just playing; we'll continue our reading selections; we'll eliminate time spent in workbooks (which will have been completed!); and we'll be beginning our planning for the next "school" year! And you know that I'll take many new and improved methods along with me as we plan to begin the upcoming school year!

Speaking of next school year's "new and improved" momma-teacher, I have a new idea that has just hit me...some of the gals in my AO homeschool group have been discussing our "books of centuries." Some do them, and some do not. As for us...we each have a 3-ring notebook which we can keep entries of information on different people, places and things that we have learned from our rich history.

For those that do not know what a Book of Centuries is...it is a personal book that one keeps their collection of important, historical facts from creation to the present. For example, one could have their youngest child draw/color a sheet on Benjamin Franklin while their oldest child writes an essay or narration on the details of Franklin's life. This method would continue all the way up unto the present...I love this, for this allows my girls (and me!) to make a connection with our history, and Lord-willingly the girls' books will last them a long life-time, and they will be able to look back at how their hand-writing and knowledge, etc. has grown throughout the years! As they grow older, they will of course learn new things about the life of Benjamin Franklin (for example), so they will have a constant place to store their gathered information! Of course, mine will not have my early-childhood handwriting in it, but I will be able to also see the timeline of history in relation to my life...it's all very exciting to me...this is one reason why I love homeschooling...so that I might learn/re-learn along with our children!

Anyway, here is my new idea that has just opened up a whole new world to me....we have our beautiful notebooks (four, if you include mine!) and have even ashamedly called them our Book(s) of Centuries...knowing that we haven't been doing much with them! (This is due to my perfectionist side taking over...if it can't be done perfectly, then lets not do/look at them at all!)

Well, my "new and improved" plan is to begin keeping a string hung to use as a hanging timeline where we can write down all of the important, historical facts that we learn onto 3x5 index cards which we can paper clip to the string...and then when time permits, we can go back and take them off of the string and insert the information (plus more for fluff!) into our Books of Centuries! Plus, when we revisit the information that we've put on our index cards, it will serve us as a memory refresher course! I'm so excited to implement this new idea!

So until we "wrap up" this school year and "begin" the next one, I'll just continue praying my way through the anxieties of "Have I done enough?" As for now, I think we have! Or at least, I'll rest assured as a Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler thinking, "Well, fiddle-dee-dee! Tomorrow is another day" to continue seeking sanctification!

A Quote worth re-saying!

"What is worth beginning is worth finishing,

and what is worth doing is worth doing well."

Charlotte Mason (1842-1923)

Happy cinco de mayo!

Today is the day that marks the anniversary of our life here on earth without our dear Alal. It's still so hard to believe! It was two years ago today that I had everything prepared for a 'cinco de mayo' party (using her recipes!) and then received the phone call that she had passed away. That day Mom and Aunt Jan convinced me to go on with our party arrangements, so we did; thus, we've begun a tradition...and this weekend has been the third cinco de mayo that we've prepared only some of her amazing recipes...her spinach enchiladas (always a HUGE hit!) and her yummy 7-layer dip!

So Saturday night, Kendall and I (along with our wonderful husbands, Eric and Shelley!) had a "tres de mayo" at their home...it was a lot of fun! We sent out our invitations and began cooking. She and I both love to entertain, so the evening really came together quite easily! After lots of yummy appetizers, we enjoyed Alal's spinach enchiladas, black beans with green onions and lots of lime, and spanish rice. We followed that with a simple dish of vanilla ice cream and toasted coconut and/or spanish peanuts for toppings. It was all so good! After dinner, my girlfriend Maria and her son taught us some latin dances (they're cuban... with lots of moves!), and the two of them along with Rena Carolyn put us all to shame...whew...they're all good dancers! Kendall, Macy, and I danced a little and then did a special judging of a "Dancing with the Bizarres" competition. As soon as Annie heard we were about to judge, she ran and grabbed something for a microphone, stood up on a step and announced, "Will the judges please reveal their scores?!?" It was absolutely hysterical!

And this morning our good friends the Caballeros invited us to go to a new restaurant with them to celebrate cinco de mayo. They're from Columbia and have told us of this great, new place here in town. We're really looking forward to experiencing it...so far they've only described it as "really authentic" and "a hole in the wall"! Can't wait to try it...some of the best unknown restaurants are "holes in the walls"!

Now if I can only get a video of Tressie doing the macarena for you!

Emergency Chocolate!

This is a photo of the most wonderful bar of chocolate I've ever been given...well, I'll forgive Laura for its being milk chocolate...the sentiment is what makes it so special...so special that I can't even eat it!

Laura gave it to me the morning we took Annie to the hospital for her medical tests, and it really made me smile! Thanks, Laura! It reads...

For immediate relief of: Chocolate Cravings, Love Sickness, Exam Pressure, Mild Anxiety and Extreme Hunger.
Directions for use: Tear open wrapper, break off desired dosage, and consume. Alternatively massage into the affected area. Repeat dosage as required until finished. If symptoms persist, consult your local confectioner.

Boiled Peanuts and Foggy Pearls!

We've had a wonderful week....Meems and P-Daddy came through town twice, so we were able to visit with them while they were here! The last evening that they were here, my sweet daddy told us to invite Efrem to join us for dinner, and after I insisted that I just prepare dinner here at home, Dad went and picked up Efrem for a fun, enjoyable evening here at home. We enjoyed a wonderful meal (Eric prepared Mimi and Pawpaw's favorite...pan-seared tilapia with capers and a lemon wine sauce...it's really good! Macy made her famous dill cole-slaw, and I prepared mashed red-potatoes, a really good spring mixed salad with cranberries, mandarin oranges, bleu cheese and toasted/candied pecans), and then after dessert Dad and Annie drove Efrem back home, while the rest of us went for a little walk. We absolutely love having them here, for they are so easy to entertain. They always bring us really great goodies...like Mimi's special pumpkin bread for (one of her two) favorite son-in-laws, wine from our favorite vineyard, boiled peanuts from our favorite L.A. road-side stand (can you tell that I had a well-rounded childhood?) The girls put on little shows for them, scratch Pawpaw's back, get up early to visit with them...Annie rushes downstairs to "beat everyone else" so that she can have "just Mimi and her time" before the sun comes up, and Macy and Tressie usually snuggle up with Pawpaw while he reads to them one fairy tale after another! We'll have big breakfasts, and then decide what we'll do for the day! Generally, Mimi and the girls and I will go one direction while the fellas take off to either Northern Tool & Supply, Harbor Freight Tools or Sears. Then we'll meet back up with one another before heading back home....then on the tragic day that they leave, we all tear up. We love them so much and always hate to see them leave!

Thank you Mimi and Pawpaw for loving us the way that you do!

We love you too!

This last time when they left, we received a phone call from Aunt Jan and Uncle Eddie, who were traveling to Sewanee, and they wanted to see if we wanted to join them for a birthday dinner for Aunt Jan at Pearl's [Foggy Mountain Cafe]...uhhh, yeah! Reservations were at 5:30, so we had to get ourselves into high gear! So our sadness over Mimi and Pawpaw quickly turned to excitement to see Uncle Eddie and Aunt Jan while celebrating her birthday...woohoo...along with a strong desire for tasting really great food and wine! Eric and I enjoyed sea scallops with a port wine & pomegranate glaze, couscous and sauteed Napa cabbage (oh, I am craving more now!); the girls enjoyed chicken fingers (which we all agreed tasted just like Mother Simpson's...so good!) with white cheddar cheese grits; Uncle Eddie enjoyed the special, which was tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes and somethin' else...after tasting the wasabi mashed potatoes my thoughts disappeared; and the birthday girl enjoyed roasted chicken with Basmati rice and fresh English peas. For dessert (it doesn't matter where we are eating...), all Tressie has to do is give Uncle Eddie one look (and mind you...when he's around, she right there...I'm not sure if she's wrapped around his finger, or if she has him wrapped around her little finger!), for he will order her the moon! Eric and Eddie (and Tressie) enjoyed their bread puddings with a rich bourbon glaze while Macy, Annie and I took care of a triple-chocolate mousse, and the birthday girl enjoyed her favorite...a vanilla bean Crème Brûlée...oooh, it's all sooo good!

After enjoying such a wonderful dinner, Macy and I just had to take a ride in Uncle Eddie's new hybrid SUV, so we drove out to their "home away from home" and visited with them some out there. Of course, the girls feel right at home out there...we re-make friends with Prince Snarles (or Buddy as they call their sweet, darlin' and snarlin' yellow lab), and then the girls run to their favorite 'spots.' Annie always snuggles up on the big sofa and checks out the "Where's Waldo" books while Macy and Tressie race to call shot-gun and get up on the big comfy bed in "their" room....it doesn't take long to see why they like it so much...there's a huge TV at the end of the bed, and Uncle Eddie always finds something wonderful for them to watch! That evening, the waterfall was running so loudly, so the rest of us hung out on their sunroom, enjoyed good coffee, talked about "this and that" (eh'hem) and laughed 'til we could laugh no more. We always have such a great time going up there, and it's always hard to leave!

Thank you, Aunt Jan and Uncle Eddie, for such a wonderful evening!

We love you tons and bunches!

"Remember the rule...no tattle-taling!"

Sitting downstairs, I hear the girls quiet play turn into something more. Then I hear Tressie say these words... "Remember the rule...no tattle-taling!" followed by a quick, deliberate walk across the upstairs floor...down the stairs...and right up to me, "Momma, Annie's coming downstairs to tattletale on me!"

"Um...what are you doing, little missy?"

Now tell me that you could look at her in the eye and give her words of wisdom without cracking a smile!