can't remember

I was up late lasy night.  Wasn't that tired.

I had a very lovely blog post planned out for you.

Now I don't remember.

It's the Little Things

Yesterday started off not so good.

I actually left the kids to do school on their own and went to a friends to vent.

I came home the kids had done the dishes, laundry was about done and their chores were done!

Gotta love that.  I am blessed.

Then this came in the mail.  It's from my grandma. 

 I had recently talked to her.  She and I share a love for gardens.  I told her that hydrangeas were one of my favorite flowers.  We really can't grow them here.  In here card she wrote of finding this card at the thrift store and thought of me, and some other nice things.  It really topped off my day.

 It's the little things...an upside down stamp means "I Love You".  (at least in our family)

  And Sealed With A Big Kiss.

Go and make someone's day!

Food and Stuff

My first try at Chicken Wellington (before the sauce). Yum.

I LOVE these.  That coming from a former non-tomato gal.  Fresh tomatoes sliced, a hint of olive oil, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese and parsley...YUM!

Here's what I do every two weeks.  I plan out our meals (dinner) for two weeks.

Helps SOOO much!  This binder has recipes from magazines, newspapers, etc.  I rotate what books to get my recipes from.  Keeps things exciting.

Wet & Jello

We have been getting rain...good rain.

The kids have been having fun riding in it.

Here's a cell we made in science.  The egg is the nucleus.

she won!

Last week both of the kids entered some art/photographing in the fair.

For J's (art) there was no line.  So in and out for him.

For C (photography)  we were in line for 1 1/2 hours!

It was worth the wait.  Her baseball photo won first place in the computer enhanced category!

Here's J's art.

Also, someone is coming tonight to buy a copy of C's sunflower photo.

Thanks for the suggestion on getting her into some competition.

life with teenagers

honestly, i don't feel old enough to have two teenagers.

but as i type i can't help but think of how our life is with teens.

take this little conversation from yesterday:

the kids were discussing the fair..."i don't want to throw up on the rides.", "i don't want to be on any rides with teenagers kissing.", "don't know what i am going to wear." and "what if i sweat." then proceeds on demonstrating many armpit moves.

the one who was worried about getting sick, didn't.  it was the other one.

and golly when we caught up with the kids two teens were very much attached (i will leave it at that).

our daughter drove to the fair and upon getting out son says "my pits are dripping."

mothering teens and toddlers are much alike.

pros:

you NEVER know what they are going to do/say next.

they grow and mature at such a fast pace.

some days you are all they need and know everything.

they are learning to be responsible (though the responsibility thing is much greater with teens.)

they look through the world through different eyes.

they want to do things for themselves (can be a con)

cons:

the emotions

the having to let go and let them fall and get up on their own while you watch.

the drama (sometimes)

their independence

the seeing your bad behavior/habits in them (that one is really evident as teens)

their loudness

the mess (but that goes with being a kid)

some days hubby and i are pulling out our hair, but most days we are laughing at (with) them or looking at each other with "what in the world?" looks.

I remember asking my MIL when do they "get it".  to which she quickly replied, "when they move out."

having teens also means i have no photos new to post only ones they took of themselves.

sure they may take forever in the bathroom grooming themselves, our nostrils are blown away with too much body spray and they have swapped out diapers for zit creams i do love having teenagers. 

one more funny quote from son:
while hearing a very deep voiced singer...

"he must have a very big johnny apple...seed hahaha"
he forgot what an adams apple was called.

Layouts

I have started making an album for the kids.

Reasons why I love them.

Here's the cover page for daughter.

 Reason no. 1.

 Reason no. 212 (the number just sounded good.)

 Cover for son.

 Reason no. 1.

credits here

classics

just to show you that not every dish/dessert i make turns out...

this was supposed to look like...

 ...this.  the brownies ended up in a heap of crumbles and the shortening in the creme was gross.

to show you what the kids did one time while i was reading literature or history.  maybe i can give them horticulture credits...i know that's pushing it.

tonight we go to the fair and cast our votes for our kids' art/photos.

blogger's block

do you ever sit at your blog and start typing then erase the whole thing?

i guess you'd say it's blogger's block and i have it.

can't figure out pintrest either.  can't make the photos i like from blogs go to my pintrest page.  probab;y a good thing.

anyway i do want one of these.  hubby may make one for me.

Passport to India

I am very excited about this news.

Last year through our Sonlight Cirriculum we watched a missionary video series on India.

I have had a burden for India and it's people, and this just furthered that burden.

(all photos are from the passport to india web site)

We followed Chris (the big American) through his travels in India. 

We saw their poverty in material things, and their richness in heart and smiles.

 We saw how they are starting schools and teaching children and adults about Jesus and His saving grace.

I loved it.  The kids loved it and hubby loved it.  (He had us wait until he got home to watch them.)

So, I couldn't be more thrilled to find out that they are doing this again this year!

You can go there yourself. http://mypassporttoindia.org/

Your heart will be changed.

a surprise blessing

A couple of Sundays ago we came home from church to find this on our door step.
YAY!

I called a friend whom I suspected to thank her.
She denied it all.
Anyway, I used it once and made the best cookies and cream ice cream.
Then it broke...which is still a mystery.
Anywhoo, the company Rival is sending me a new one!
Thank you helpful service lady.

If you have any favorite ice cream machine recipes (the ones that use no salt), send them my way!

RRRiiiinnnnnnggggg

Tomorrow we start school. 

8th and 10th grades!

So it's back to the board...

...the paperwork...

...hoping that the lights come on (stay on on some subjects).

Here's a brief line up:

*US history (i personally can't wait for this...my fave!)

Pre-algebra-son

Stewardship (math)-daughter

*Life Science (have all of the first supplies ready to go)

*Easy Grammar (yes, i wrote easy.  i need all of the help i can get.)

Typing-son

SAT spelling-daughter

sequential spelling-son (please let this spelling work. please!)

art-son

singing-daughter (an ongoing lesson)

*stands for both of the kids are taking that.

There is more, but I didn't want to bore you too bad.

So, if I don't answer your phone call (before 12ish MST), let you in my house or watch my hair before noon, you know why! (just threw the last one in, sort of!)

In other news:

Today I:

started laundry, grocery shopped (did good too!), sent off a package.

Today I still have:

bills with hubby tonight, laundry, finish putting away groceries, make history copies, make sure all of the kids' school things are ready to go, make bed....you get the idea.

Soooo, I need to get off and get busy!

Billy Graham in Quotes

By Franklin Graham
Published by Thomas Nelson

Billy Graham in quotes you say?  I will read almost anything by/about Billy Graham or his wife.  To have him in quotes is very handy.  The book is formatted in a very organized fashion.  These quotes are nicely put under categories for easy reference.  You could look up a number of topics to read what Mr. Graham thought.  Gleaning from his knowledge of the Bible, his life experience and heart for people was inspiring, convicting and good reminders. 

This was a book I would read a bit here and there, letting his words sink in.  It is a perfect coffee table book or bedside table for quick reference.  The cover is handsomely done as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Thursday in Arizona

***photo heavy post***  (I don't know why I am warning you.  I love posts that are photo happy.)

Here are a few pics from Thursday of our trip to Az.

We played disc (frisbee) golf.

Fun, but way too long. 

They expect want us to really throw that far and make it?!

A few ended up here.

Here's my mom...she takes her games seriously! heehee

The last one (actually, we only did half of the course.).  Everyone made it in!

We (C & Hubby) did a little of this.  See hubby waving!  He's so cute!

Some of this.

And this.  Son and I tied for last place.

It was a relaxing time.

growing pains

Yesterday I got a teeny bit emotional.  No tears or anything, close though.

Daughter sort of laughed at my drama.

The reason?

My babies are growing too fast!

Daughter drove her first highway driving to and from AZ.

In one week we will be starting our 8th and 10th grades.

After some demonstrations yesterday, son is shaving...like right now!

Where did they go?  My little babies?