Since dad didn't have to leave as early today as we thought he would , they pulled out the paintball guns & had a blast!

Now does that look like a happy group or what....give them weapons & they come alive!

he was helping ...and he was enjoying helping her...how many times does a big brother REALLY help his little sister and NOT complain about it...huh...really

she's getting the hang of it

now stay out of this one's way//she has has great aim...I wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley..

she even has the shaking to get the balls into the hopper down to an art.

well, dad has to play too...

that is just gross..green paint...yucko

The chickens will probably never lay eggs again after all the ruckus they made with those paintball guns.

See we have a roof frame!!!!!....hopefully at chistmas we will have a REAL roof...the trusses are next on the to do list!!...we are thinking painting of it red & white!

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We really have enjoyed Rex being in our family...see, isn't he cute

he is a very busy dog & it takes alot to keep him occupied......he is very active...he likes to play ball, play chase, dig HOLES

the only thing you could see sticking up out of the ground was his itty bitty tail..of course I wasn't fast enough with the camera to get that...

of course though Rex swears up & down that HE didn't dig that hole...no way not lil ole' innocent ME...

we were just playing...

~yeah right~

Does my cuteness make up for the hole in your lovely grassy area?

See how cute I am up here on D's bed....I love this bed...

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I have washed them in tomato sauce(didn't have juice)

I have washed them in vinegar

I have washed them in dog shampoo 

they still STINK

my gosh the pain one skunk can cause....

my house will never be the same again

3 of our 4 dogs decided to play with the little skunky....guess who WON...

I'll give you a hint..............it wasn't the dogs....

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I just got off the phone with my wonderful hubby...he should be where he has to park his truck but about 5ish this evening.

I had called him earlier this morning to see how he was progressing...not as well as he had expected, he had reefer trouble...oh well that is part of the job. So as soon as he gets close I will go pick him up ...then he will be home for 2 days.

When I spoke to him yesterday I asked if there was a specific reason the paycheck was so low this week....he was, well miles have not been good...we had a discussion about this..things are getting TIGHT...even with gas going down, things are tight...groceries are NOT going down , in fact they are still rising....yesterday a 10lb bag of sugar was almost $7 after you include tax on it(we have to pay taxes on our groceries here in OK)....can you believe that.... I about fainted...

so when I spoke to him a few minutes ago, he had talked to his driver manager...he said that the ports are not moving, all the freezers are stocked full, and food is not moving...

the dm said EVERYONE is complaining...miles are low...expect it to get worse...ppl are NOT buying ...

so that brings me to a conversation I had with a friend yesterday...we were discussing prices, & Christmas...she made the comment that they were not having christmas exchanges this year & she has already told her kids that they can't afford it.....I have hinted as much to my kids too...and they know $ is tight...but I have good kids..they understand....but I would feel horrible not getting them ANYTHING...

so as I was taking my son into town today to go paint balling for the last time this year(he is paying for it...thank goodness he has a part time job) we were noticing the car lots....ummm....okay I have NEVER seen any car lots that full ...ALL of them were cram packed....if Toyota had anymore they would have to park them in the pond in front of their car lot..eek

so yes times may be getting rough, but at least it is good to know that I'm not alone...I was really beginning to feel like we were the only ones in our area being affected...most of the people around us all seem to still be blowing & going & making money...

We do not fit into that category...we are eating LOTS of beans:)

But...on the bright side...I have a wonderful husband who works really hard to proved for our family and 3 kids who are understanding and helpful...and a glorious God who provides for all of our needs.

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I've been watching the ads coming out for Black Friday...ummm.....WHAT are these stores thinking???

Am I the ONLY one not interested in the Wii or a coffee maker?? Come on, get real stores, I want good deals on things I can use...not something that is going to collect dust...oh & the coffee pot...I already have one...and a much better one than the ones you people have on sale. 

I'd rather see dish soap on sale .....ok not like I'm gonna give dish soap to my 16 year old for Christmas, but I sure don't have the money to give him a Wii, nor do I want to give him a Wii....now do I.....and at least the dish soap I could use!!!

My girls are not interested in a Hannah Montana Hoodie....nor do we want all these Blu-Ray discs, heck I don't even know anyone who OWNS a blue ray player...do you?....give us regular ole dvds...heck I was happy with vhs tapes...I still have MANY of them....I'm so tired of being forced to buy things I don't want...oh & don't even get me started on the tv change over thing in Feb.....so we will go back to the stone ages & bang rocks together for entertainment....WORKS FOR ME.....hey, I like listening to the radio...and it is FREE!!!!!

Okay, so I kinda got a little off track...my point is the stores could use to put somethings on sale that the regular everyday Joe(the plumber..ha ha ...just kidding) would want and use...and stop trying to throw things at us that we DON'T want.

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Well thanks to T   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tess/    I have a new recipe in my house that my kids LOVE...

I have always made green beans & potatoes ...done it for years...

BUT......now.....

• sausage, cut up
• potatoes, cut up
• a can of green beans(I like french style...just cause I like it better)
• water, enough to cover everything

then let it cook....walla....one pot wonder!!!

we had rolls to go with it ....YUMMY....absolutely YUMMY

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Well so much for hanging laundry outside today....it's raining.....so the dryer is drying...sigh

On the to do list for the day:

• clean house
• school work
• piano lessons
• stop for milk on the way home from piano lessons
• menu(well listing of what we have to eat in the house & figuing out how to make it last hopefully for 2 weeks) with the exception of milk , fresh fruit..etc.
• tend animals whenever it stops raining
• organize the pantry

I have a goal...

 I'm trying to spend as little as possible for the next 2 weeks..I have got to get a little money put away...our saving account  is gone, natta, capoot...I have property taxes coming due soon & house insurance just around the corner too...gotta save, save, save.......and then there is Christmas....lets not even talk about Christmas...sigh

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I found out  Thursday that hubb was bringing a load an hour South of us, but he was not counting on getting here until early morning...well, he got loaded early & was able to make it here LAST NIGHT...so he got to spend the night here with us last night. We had pizza($5 pizza hut pizzas) and watched Journey to the Center of the Earth (the new one with Brenden Fraisier)...is was a nice surprise.  the kids were supposed to go to bible study, but as soon as I found out he was on his way I said bible study is not happening. The kids were thrilled, so was I and so was hubb....and oh how I love netflix...that is the cheapest way to GO for movies!!

So I sent my guys off to work together this morning...hubb dropped D. off at work on his way to unload....and then I went to the grocery store & spent a few bucks on groceries. Hubb is reloading in the same place he is dropping & then on his way to Houston. But he is due back home next weekend for the weekend off!

The guys are planning on paintballing Saturday with friends, and the girls are singing at the church they have choir at on Sunday morning..so next weekend will be a full weekend....I do hope the weather is pretty next weekend also, hubb would like to get started on the roof of the chicken coop....we really need to get that done.

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Yes, the colors are pretty.

Yes ,the weather is nicer.

Yes, we don't have to run the heater\AC all the time.

Yes, I can sit & enjoy the sun, scenery on the porch without freezing or burning up.

BUT

THE ALLERGIES ARE HORRIBLE!!!!!!!

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I was very saddened to awake to that map...I knew Obama had won before I went to bed last night...but the sight of that map this morning is just ...just ...depressing...

I will be keeping our country and the direction of our country in my prayers. I really do not think the college kids who where not raised in Christain homes have any idea what they have done. All we can do now is pray that congress doesn't give the votes he needs to complete his plans.

this is a depressing day...

I wonder what Sarah Palin is thinking this morning...

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We went fishing the last time dad was home....can you guess who caught the most?

the first fish of the day..big brother was helping her get it off the hook

then a horrible thing happened...she caught ANOTHER one...BUT

before I could get the pic the fish lept off the hook & back into the water..but I promise ALL saw she did catch the second fish!

now it is big sis's turn to catch one..not that you can see it very well in this pic...but there is a TINY little fish on that line...

back to little sis's turn

and another...can ya tell dad is getting a little miffed back there...he hasn't caught ANYTHING..of course neither has big brother nor myself...

So Sarah was the big winner in the fishing department that day...then we had hamburgers\hotdogs & smores...was a fun evening had by all of us...can't wait for next time!

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Certain people in this house are WAY to easily amused....

see what I mean..

I was making mac & cheese for Pete's sake...and they run & get the camera....oohh...ahhh....BRAINS, they say...

how close up can we get & the pic still be in focus....

shaking my head...yes my little people are easily amused... 

See it really was mac & cheese!

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I was filling out a questionaire...it asked my age group...now normally on these things I'm grouped in like 25-40 ish group....but being grouped all the way up to the 54 year olds...ugh....that made me feel ...well......feel.....OLD.........who comes up with these things...i'm not OLD...I'm just ...old....according to my kids...but hey 30 something is not OLD...

My oldest 2 kiddos are going to 7-up club tomorrow night...I need to bring a sweet & a savory snack...hmmm...what to bring, what to bring...and it must be something that is already in the house..because the paycheck...was...well lets just say...it ain't pretty.....the sweet no biggie...the savory, that is a bit harder....any ideas?

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• One spice box cake mix
• A small can of pumpkin...not the huge one but the regular size
• 1/4 cup of water

Mix it all up & bake as you would on the back of the cake box...muffins\cup cakes are the best!

It will be very thick...it is supposed to be....you will love it if you like pumpkin...I promise!!

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My dogs are such wimps...

Every morning we let them out to go potty...we have a Corgi mix, a Jack Russell Terrier, & 2 Chihuahuas....so the chis are not very found of the cold weather AT ALL.

The last few mornings we have let them out...VERY shortly later they are whining an awful, pitiful, really pitiful whine at the back door ....if I could understand them I swear they were crying PLEEEEESE let us back in, it is coooold out here....we promise we won't  potty on ANYTHING....just let us back in the warm house.....and I haven't even turned the heater on yet...trying hard to keep that electric bill down as long as possible ya know.....& there are lots of blankets in the house...the kids can always wrap up in another blanket.

We bought the last few little parts for the dog pen yesterday..yippee....D plans on finishing it today...so maybe this afternoon I can kick the bigger 2 who prefer going out & playing ...OUT....I would never kick them out in the cold..unless they WANTED to be out....and sometimes they do, they have fur...they like running & playing outside.

Don't get me wrong I love the doggies....but 4 under my feet ALL DAY LONG...gets to be too much espically when they are running & playing while I'm cooking dinner...or when you are trying to fold laundry & they run across that nicely folded stack of towels...grrr....sometimes it is nice to say GO OUTSIDE......SO trixie & rex...go OUTSIDE and take your chase game with you...geeze give that dog a water bottle & he is SO happy....

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It has been a VERY stressful week for us around here...and I'm afraid it isn't ending anyway soon....a very long story short..hubb had an accident in the big truck, truck was totaled...3 vehicles in the accident.. another accident a minute behind his accident & 2 vehicles in that one....no one seriously hurt.

Hubb did receive a careless operation ticket...even though 2 witnesses plus the cop all said the accident was unavoidable...but you know the trucker always gets a ticket......so we are in limbo around here...still don't know if he will have a job once he gets back to AR. ...don't know how bad this will hurt his driving record.....we think we should try to fight the ticket ...oh it is just a HUGE MESS...please keep us in your prayers..we like this job, we'd like to stay with this trucking company.

So since this happend school has kinda been on the back burner this week, yes we have done school, but we haven't done anything hard or new..kwim...it was an easy week....and somehow tomorrow we really need to get back in there & hit the books, but my heart is just not in it....i will have to make myself be into it so the kids will be.

So I have not spent any $ that hasn't been absolutely necessary...who knows by the end of the week if we will have a job....I hate this...it is so scary...I just keep praying & I'm trying really hard to not worry but it is really hard.

We on another subject, the weather is beginning to be MUCH more Fall like ...the cold fronts have begun...the Northern winds are definately showing their ugly faces in the mornings...last Friday as I was in the bathroom getting ready to leave for the day I felt this BBRRRR...apparently as the kids when out to feed the animals the door didn't catch & the cold wind was making its presence know IN THE HOUSE...bbrrrr.

Co-op is going well for the most part...but the spring co-op will be slightly different..we are going to change to every other week instead of weekly....me thinks me gonna like this!!!! And we will begin at 8:30..ending at 1:30 instead of 2:00...me REALLY thinks me likes that!!!

I am extremely happy to have my WORKING computer back....wow...you really don't know how much you depend on it until it is gone.

It seems so much later than it is tonight...feels like it is 10:30 not 8:30....time changes in 2 weeks right? yep i think so...that will be so much fun...NOT...I'll be 2 months trying to get adjusted to that..

well I'm off to fold & put away Mt. Neverest...

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Well, do ya'll know what happens when your computer dies????? you can't blog with a dead computer...hope to be back up & blogging in a few days.

Hope everyone  hasn't all left me...I didn't stop blogging by choice....trust me my entire household has been going through computer withdrawals....ugh..

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• the coffee table has been cleaned off & moved back in front of the couch
• the kitchen table is CLEANED OFF
• the school "spot" where we keep everyday school stuff is cleaned up
• the stove is sparkling
• the kitchen counter is all cleaned
• the coffe pot got a good scrubbing
• so did the toaster
• both bathrooms got top to bottom cleaning
• the floors are all vacuumed...twice
• the kitchen floor has been swept..twice
• all the laundry is caught up...washed, dryed AND put away
• I'm sure I'm forgetting something...we have really cleaned today

D worked outside while the girls & I cleaned

• he got trashed burned
• he got the boys hot wire repaired
• he worked on the riding mower
• he worked on the dog pen..he is at a stand still until we get a gate there
• he cleaned old hay from the goat pens & right now is streading it around the trees in the orchard....I told him when done to come in & clean up...that is enough for one day

Oh an I fixed lunch (chili dogs ) and I fixed a nice dinner too....hamburger patties(seasoned with bell pepper & herb rub) sour cream & chives mashed potatoes & steamed veggies....and the kitchen is all cleaned up & ready for tomorrow!!!!

so what now????

I'm going to go sit at the kitchen table ..the CLEAN kitchen table & work on our new chore schedule...the house is clean ..I want to keep it that way!

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I'm not going ANYWHERE today~~~

I love days I get to stay home all day...and according to the weather channel..the weather is going to be beautiful today...so we are burning trash this morning.  We'll get the trash started when we go out to feed animals, then come back in & start on school.

We hit a small snag on D. being able to get the panels done on the chicken coop.......we ran out of oxygen...eek...so now we have to wait until hubb comes home again..that is ok there are plenty of other projects to be worked on around here...like the DOG PEN.

I love the Fall....the weather starts cooling off, the leaves change...the air is just so...nice...and you don't have to run the air conditioner all the time.I love opening the windows & getting a breeze through the house....not to mention saving me money on the electric bill.

We have coop tomorrow...and afterwards we are going swimming...can't wait!!

I bought the book Managers of their homes http://www.titus2.com/ 

Yesterday while D was at guitar lessons & the girls were at choir I sat in the car making a list of all the chores I could think of that we do around here...I divided them into daily , weekly & monthly....today I'm going to take the daily & divide them into morning & evening chores & divy them out to the kids & myself...then make up a new chore chart....the kids & I had this discussion...yes, they do help around here...that is NOT my point..my kids are VERY helpful...but I feel like a broken record(yes I remember those) always telling them to do this, do that....so the thought went through my head....you people can all READ....I'm putting the chore lists back up on the wall, that way all I have to do is point!  We have done the schedule thing before, but now I'm making it MUCH more detailed. I would love to see the Maxwell's book managers of their chores...but not sure I want to pay for it....I'm being VERY frugal these days...I have no choice but to be frugil....money is very tight.

STARBUCKS...our Starbucks is offically CLOSED...sniff, sniff...not that I went all that often, but just knowing that I could made me feel better..kwim..I so enjoyed startbucks & it took us so long to get one...then they went & closed it ..it wasn't even open a full year...a sad sad day ...:(

So you know hslda sent out this message about starbucks offering a free coffee on Monday...not happening in my world...and I was so ready for my free coffee...sniff, sniff

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