*Creepily-Crawls in with a Gollum-like look on her face:*

"Hellooo My Preciouses...What a Fine Loverly Day We Has Todays..."

..Didn't that just give you the absolute jitters?? And did you get the hint?

;)

In other words--IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!! Drum Roll: DadadadadadadaDUUUM!

I have just watched 'The Lord of the Rings' for the FIRST TIME!!!!! (everyone faints in wonder)

Isn't that just amazing?? Yep, I had never seen it before that time. And confession: I didn't watch all of the trilogy. I only watched the last one!

But, shhh! I'll get around to the rest one of these days. But, it was awesome, very "fake-bloodyish" ifya know what I mean, but very cool. GO LOTR!

Okay, so on to the rest of my post.

Andthere's alot of spaces in this one--forgive me.

Sooo...last Friday, I took the leap and got--A HAIRCUT!! Shorter than normal--I will post a picture of "before" and "after," if I can find some. Second, we have two new members of the family, our kittens, Tigger and Roo (if you've heard of Winnie the Pooh, you know all about that coolishy stuff). They are very adorable, and we actually just found them two weeks ago! Well, we found Tigger two weeks ago, in our woodpile. He was mewing and meowing for two nights, and finally my lil sis caught 'im, and all was well. Then, a week later, Tigger's little sister showed up, meowing, too. So now we're stuck with both of the kwewt lil fluff-balls. =D and here's the pictures:

...This is "Roo" in her little home sweet home.

...This is my friend Sarah and I on the bus, heading to an XC meet. You can sorta see my old hair length...and sorry it so bright...=)

...and here's me and "Tigger" with my new haircut. Like it? :)

Hmmmm...school. It'sgoing purty well, I have ALOT to do with the curriculum we're using, and it's verra time consuming. But I'm living through it all. =) We had a Cross Country Meet yesterday; it was a race in a park near here. It was nice that we only had to ride 1/2 hour to get there--sometimes it's a two hour bus ride or more! =) Very looong, but fun. Is anyone else out there doing a running sport ever, or even heard of Cross Country (XC)?? Alot of people haven't. Comment and tell me what sports you do, are interested in, or just practice with your family!

Also: the Bible Bee! It was this month...for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a big competition where you memorize a WHOLE lot of BibleVerses and knowledge questions and things like that, and then you go and compete with other people. I was going to do it, but I signed up late, and I fell behind in the memorizing. =( So, I didn't do it, but my good friend Raquel did, and she got FIRST for her area! That was so neat. Also, Zel (dreamwalker) did it to...I don't know how she did, but I'm sure wooonderfully! And it's a treasure just to have all of tha scripture stored in you mind and heart.

Oh--look at that time! I simply must run, dearies. ;) Have a wooonderful weekend!

God Bless,

Ariel~*~*

P.S. (I was awarded by TheReadingMaid!! Here is her beauooooteeeful award:)

..And I shall award:

~Christine (ChristineDaae)

~Becca (BeccaTheGreat)

~Jessica (peculiartreasures)

~Katy (aliveagain13) 

Thanks, Grace! <3

Okay, WOW have I been neglecting my blog. This is bad...and I even re-did my template! So i decided that, in honor of the new look, I would do the good and surprising thing and....TADA!! UPDATE MY BLOG!!!

So how do you like it? I know, I know....my old template that Arwen made me was prettier....and I really did love that one! (Thanks, Arwen!). But, I was inspired to use the Little House On The Prairie theme when I saw a picture by Renee Graff (the illustrater of these little kid Little House books, I think....), and I REALLY wanted to use it! So, thus became my template. And that sentence doesn't sound right---but isn't that a never-ending problem? =)

Soooo.......school. Yup, we're back on schedule. And I'm a high-school gal this year. Yahoo. And of course, the only thing different is that I have WAY more school---which I don't mind...that much.  But ALSO, Cross Country Running has started...three weeks ago, I think. My sister and I are doing that...it's fun! our second meet is on Monday...please pray that we will all do our best! This meet does no sound like it's going to be fun...one word: HILLS. Doesn't that just make you think the very best about this race? Ugg....but it'll still be fun. I hope.

Anyways...I can't believe Summer is already gone. But thankfully, the sun has not decided to go away yet here; it is around 88 degrees! Yay.....I love the heat MUCH better than cold, gloomy days. Which makes me wonder why I'm inside on the computer blogging when I could be outside enjoying a sunny saturday morning. I'll never figure myself out. One of these days I'm going to wake up to find myself missing, and then I'll never find myself again. Which TOTALLY did not make sense...I'm sorry. I'm in a terribly random and brisk mood today (do random and brisk moods go together?), so don't be alarmed if I say something totally off-focus and out-of-the-ordinary, which doesn't make sense in the LEAST. 

"HELP ME, LORD CHANCELLOR!"

o_O

=I

Like that.

Ohhh........(I am groaning, if you didn't know) I feel so absolutley HORRIBLE!!!! I haven't responded to all of my comments...I TRIED VALIANTLY, really I did!!! I apologize sincerely.....*sobs her heart out* To make up for that, I have made myself a solution (spelling??). If you could call it that. It is a pledge of honor and trusting guidance which I have endevoured to say every time I recieve a loverly comment, so that I will be SURE to respond immidiatly to each and every one:

I PLEDGE, RIGHT NOW, TO FULLY AND COMPLTELEY CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE THE COMMENT, TRAVEL ACROSS THE LANDS TO THIS SPECIAL PERSON'S BLOG, READ THEIR ENTRY, AND RESPOND TO THEIR COMMENT, IN THE NAME OF ALL COMMENTS IN GENERAL.

Pretty severe, huh?

Okay...well, I would like to make this a long entry, but I am afraid the sun is calling. Have a loverly rest of the weekend!

Lovingly,

Ariel~*~*

P.S. (Oh....and I made a new blog button! Isn't it cute? If you want it, just comment or PM me!)

P.P.S. (I also want to say CONGRATUALTIONS!!! to my 2ooth commentor, godzwilla. Here is your award, Willow!)

Hola Friendly Beasts!

And you must exuse that vile talk and name-calling....I just had to get my bottled-up feelings of too much absence from the blogging world away......not that it has hurt me. =)

So where shall I begin? This may be a long entry...BEWARE!!!

First of all, three weeks ago this past Saturday, my grandpa passed away. =( It was a sad time....we all knew he was going down hill, but all the same it was sudden and devestating. It will never be the same without him. The funeral was on Saturday, and my sister Olivia and I sang the song, "I Can only Imagine" for it. It was a beastly hot day, and a little warm up there. My grandpa always loved it when his grandkids sang/performed or anything, so it was a nice thing that we got to do! Here is a picture...I'm hidden behind the piani, so you can barely see me:

....and here's a picture of Olivia, my brother Mark, and I before the funeral, taken at our grandma's house:

....So after that BUSY week, we just were watering ALOT (it has been hot....111 degrees today!!), swimming, and all that fun summer stuff. Then this past week, we have been at the beach...Cannon Beach. I was HOPING I would meet up with Emily (godslilcountrygirl) there; she said earlier that she and her family would be there in July. Unfortunatley, we didn't.....oh well. So, we were there for a week. It was actually very COOL there......63-65 degrees each day!! The hottest was yesterday, at 72. that was  a BIT disappointing, as we had been looking forward to hot days by the sea shore. =) It was only a dream....alas. But it was sunny alot, with only a little fog. Hurray for the sun! We went "Boogie Boarding" a couple times, and swimming and jumping in the waves...and alot of walks, runs, etc. It was a fun time! I will upload pictures to this post as soon as I download them to the computer...and here they are, actually!

..Me and my sis Olivia, at the beach (it is dark, as ye can tell)!

Annie, me littlest sis

...And a S'More; I know....the lighting makes it look kind of gross =P

..One of the breakfast's we had made at the cabin; again, it looks a little weird...

..And lastly, a sunset!

Again, I am terribly sorry that I haven't replied to everyone's comments; I don't know why I can't keep up! This is horrible!!! I am definitly keeping up with this post....please don't shy away from commenting!!! I looove your coments, and PROMISE to do my best to repond!! Love ya'll!!

Okay, a few more things. I would LOVE to make a blog button for you, if you would like. I recently...sort of--re-discovered how to make them...and now I LOVE to do it!! They aren't animated, or anything fancy. But if you would like one, please let me know by comments or PMs! =) Some samples are in the last entry.....they are choices I made for Christine (ChristineDaae).

Well, I am off now...again. I hope to recieve some comments, and thank you, everyone! I love having you all as my friends....please forgive me if I don't always respond to your comments and/or look at your blogs! I will try better in the future. Well, au'revoir....and have a delicious, scrumptiously wonderful rest-of-summer!

P.S. (I also want to say, "HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY!!" To Grace (Gottaluvbooks). Lawf ya, Grace!!)

P.P.S. (Oh--one more thing: Katy (aliveagain13) requested a blog button from me, and I have completed it! Here it is, Katy! Thanks so much for asking me to doit! If you want it any different, just leave a comment...and I'll re-do it and send you the code!)

or....

Okay, you can still go to the partee down there....but for now , I wanted to add some things:

Christine, HERE are your blog buttons...sorry I didn't get them up sooner. =) Just comment below and tell me which one you prefer, and I'll PM you it, along with directions on how to use it.

So there you go, Chrisitne!

Guess what everyone??? I

IT'S LAURA'S (nachoaveragegirl) BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! Wahooo!!!! *grins and pulls out a HUGE cake and everyone from HSB pops out from behind curtains and tackle Laura in a big group hug*

Stop by and wish her a happy birthday @ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/nachoaveragegirl

In the meantime, you all are invited to her birthday party, to be hosted right now, right here! Everything's prepared..

I have the cake right here...hope you like chocolate!

...And here's your birthday present. I wasn't sure what yuo liked, so I just got you this:

And look who I got to play the serenading music?

...Of course, I wasn't sure if you liked them, but they do play pretty music and have beautiful vioces...and so I thought I'd invite them anyways. *grins*

Well, Laura, on to the games. With your new present, I thought that this might be fun:

...But when that gets a little too rowdy, we can do this:

..And to top the party off, I got this movie to watch:

Well, Laura, I hope you have enjoyed your party. I'll give you a reciept incase you want to return the present. Have a wonderful day!! *hugs Laura and puts a pretty princess crown on her head*

God Bless you in this coming year! Now can everyone sing with me?

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YE, I AM FILLED WITH ZEST! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WE LAWF YA...

AND YOU ART THE BEST!"

God Bless,

Ariel~*~*

It has been AGES, I know, since I updated...and I'm sorry about that. But all's well that ends well, is what I always say. And confession: I really have never understood that saying. Shh! =)

Anyways. I am very nearly ALMOST done with school. It is actually vera like summer already now I know, I know, it IS Summer...but I can never really and TRULY believe that until all my school's done. But, it was sooo warm a couple of days ago! We and some friends went hiking at Eagle Creek, and maze of trails that wind up and up and up...and lead to gorgeous sparkling waterfalls that are deliciously cold and deep. It was a treat, also, that we got to stop at Wendy's* for a meal. We don't "eat out" that often!

Also, I am VERY sorry that I didn't reply to everyone's comments on the last entry. I just sometimes cannot keep up! I am dreadfully woe-begone...PLEASE forgive me, all who did not get an answer. I will try my best this time!

This past week my sister Olivia and I have been helping at a Vacation Bible School down the road. And guess what the cute widdle theme is? *DRUM ROLL*

"THE GREAT DINOSAR ADVENTURE...THE TREASURE HUNT BEGINS!!"

Woot woot!! it's so cute and such a tiny little church and such kyewte widdle tiny pre-schoolers we get to help. I am stuck in the craft department; I am not particularily known as a "crafty" person, so that was funny. But I am having fun, all the same! *grins* My favorite little tikes are a cutie names Silas ("And such a cute name, too!" You all gasp), and another name Molly. And I know this is stupid to be relating THAT to you, but...I cannot help myself!! I am totally partial to young children and babies...forgive me if this is getting boring.

Ugg. Another space. How come this entry thingy always jumps down like two spaces and hardly ever does what I want??? And terrible run-on sentence. But again, I can't help myself.....Oh dear--I must run. Here are some pictures to keep ya'll company while I'm gone...they're of Father's Day, and a few other things.....

God bless ye all this coming Summer, and may His light always shine through ye!

Oh....and I made a blog button! It's on the sidebar (finally), but here's whot it looks like iffin ya want it. Just PM me fer the code!!

MY BLOG LINK:

In Christ,

These past days? Very busy.

First things first, though. For those of you who so kindly offered to help me with my template problem, thank you SO very much. But, I am happy to say, that is already getting fixed. Arwen, the dear darling, has been toiling over it for FOREVER, which is vera sweet of her. So for the moment, that is covered, but thanks anyways!!

And so, I will tell you about today, and what normally is an average school day for me. At the brink of 6:30, my dear sistah Olivia and I (by the way, if you click on that link...just to warn you, she doesn't have any friends and NEVER updates her blog; she doesn't really have time to...) get up and wash up, take a shower, and read our Bibles. At present, I am memorizing 250+ Bible Verses for a national Bible Bee competition. Any of you out there doing that? =) Anyways, After that we come downstairs and practice our instruments for a good half-hour (I play piano, and Livee plays guitar). The other kids do that as well, though not quite as promtly (hehehe). Then (sorry if this is boring but hey....what can I say? I enjoy reading things like this about people I have never met...do ya'll?), we have a small brekky (breakfast, if you don't get my perfect English), and family devotions. And by 8:00, school begins. After the morning lessons, we have lunch at 12:00, and take our baby doggy on a lil walk through the fields and meadows, chasing butterflies and......anyways. We then begin our afternoon school, and that goes until about 4:00. Then, my sis and I go on a 3 mile run (we're training for fall XC running), and garden or take care of the animals. We then help Mom get ready for dinner, and if it's the Summer we play catch or basketball (I may also join Spring Softball, if I can). So, that's about it. In  the late evenings, we read, write, or e-mail (or blog). And then, the cycle begins again!!

I can't wait for Summer...how about ya'll? Forgive my use of "YA'LL," Lilly, but I've been using it my whole life, even though I'm not Southern. So, so, so....SUMMER!! Swimming!!  THE BEACH!! Oh, and get this. Emily (godslilcountrygirl) and her family are going to be at Cannon Beach (a beach that is near our home) MAYBE the same time we are going to be there!!! A family that we know has a cabin up there, so we go every Summer and they let us use it. Anyways, it would be SUPER cool if Emily and us could meet up! Answer me this in your comment...how many of you have actually MET someone from HSB?? Please let me know...that's sooo cool!

Okay, so that was long. Here's some awards I recieved.

TWO from Taylor (thanks, moiy favorite pirate freend)!!!!!

...and she made it!! Aint it purty?? =)

And one from Larau!! P.S.( Please pray for her brother Noah...he is vera sick)

...An' this time oiy will not be awarding anyone. Sorry! =)

Oiy got to go now...time for the dinner part av the "routine!!" And why this weird font?? Oh weel....

 Love in Christ,

Ariel

Hayloooo moiy friends!!!!

And once again I come before you with a template problem. A big one. I tried to contact my template maker, Arwen, but I guess she's out of town or something...I don't know. Anyways, the problem is this, and please leave a comment if you can help in any way....I would GREATLY appriciate it:

Some of you have sent me your blog buttons. And maybe you have noticed I have only used some of them....that is NOT intentional, believe me! I have been TRYING and TRYING to put all of your loverly buttons on here, but every time I do.............THIS WHOLE ENTRY PLACE MOVES DOWN. So I can only use the SMALLER blog buttons, because otherwise there's no room and everything just sorta slides down the screen. =P And...yeah, so it's kind of hard to explain. But, if you have any experiance in templates at all and know what the problem might be, pleaseleave a comment or PM me, and maybe I can send my template to you??!! Thanks SOOO much! =)

And now, for the tag, which Laura kindly tagged me with. *Shuffles around Laura's blog looking for it*