My kids were having a discussion about a PBS kids show the other day.  I was only half listening until they started talking about how the show was about changing fairy tales to get a different outcome.  They seemed a little put out with the idea, so I asked them a few questions, then everyone chimed in with an opinion (of course). 

"They take perfectly good stories and change the endings!" 

 "Yeah! And the new endings don't even make sense!"

I asked for an example and was told that they took the story of the ant and the grasshopper and used some magic wand to change the words around so that the grasshopper now had plenty of food.  The kids were outraged.  After all they didn't change the fact that he wasn't working a lick!

So my question is:  If my kids get it, why can't the democrats?

• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Yesterday was not a productive day around here and we did nothing to remark on, so I will skip it in my photo journaling.  Today was much more interesting.

This morning we went to the free movie and saw "Jonah" (the Veggie Tale version).  Believe it or not it was the first time we had seen it and we all enjoyed it in spite of the rambunctious crowd.

Popcorn for breakfast.  Yum! 

 Just kidding!  We don't let Caroline have popcorn yet.  She is eating what we call "Baby Trail Mix"  consisting of cheerios, raisins, organic goldfish crackers and a few Kix thrown in for good measure!

Pretty soon afterwards, we headed to the horse barn for 13yo dd's riding lesson, and I got this great photo:

I love a good action shot!

• Comments (7) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Yesterday was a swimming day.  I took LOTS of pictures   I guess if I can't manage to blog with words, I can at least photo blog.

 See my 9yo dd's facial expression?  She is making an unkind remark to her little brother. 

 See her pained expression here?  That was her reaction to me saying I was going to take a picture of her everytime she made an unkind remark.  I guess she didn't want it recorded for posterity.

 And of course we had the mandatory cheerio and raisin break...with goggles.

Here is what I'm working on while they swim.  It is for a new baby at church.  We seem to have a lot of those .

• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Here are the token pictures.  Note to grandmothers:  I'm already doing better with the picture taking this week!  :D

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

This will be an oh-so-quick update while I wait for DH to come back down from tucking the kids in.  I wish I had time to load pictures.  I wish I had actually taken some pictures.  I think I got two on the day of the fourth.  Hmmmm.  I will have to be more diligent this week.  Maybe I will document our new summer routine with a picture post at the end of the week.  I'm sure my kids would LOVE  for me to carry the camera around, snapping their pictures all week

I have been having fun reading about everyone's Independence Day celebrations.  We went to a church picnic Friday morning.  Lots of good food, games, and uplifting conversations.

Then we took our last $29 of grocery money (we are on the cash only system) and had fun seeing how much junk food we could buy with it and coupons.  We saved $22 off a $56 bill, which still came to $34, but I "borrowed" $5 from my toiletries envelope--never made it to CVS this week anyhow.  We got all the fixin's for banana splits and some grilling meat and watermelon, which we took home and turned into a second feast.

We enjoyed the food while watching fireworks from our own backyard--my favorite way.  I was able to drag the rocking chair out for Caroline and I to sit and rock in, which was a good thing because the show was delayed until after 9:30.

And he's back--so I must go :D

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Okay...let's try this again.

I just can't seem to get back into the routine of blogging.  I've been catching snatches of time to read everyone else's entries, but they really have been snatches--no time to comment or write an entry of my own.  I'm not sure if I will manage to get back into the swing of things this time or not, but I'll try.

I wrote down this great summer schedule for the kids, which we have been diligently working to implement.  We are doing fairly well with it, but it keeps me a little busier than I thought--the follow thru part, that is.  I have to make sure they are actually doing what they are supposed to be doing, when they are supposed to be doing it.

I also planned our mornings to be spent AWAY from the house, which is unusual for us, but fun.  We are big time homebodies and not used to living in town, so I'm taking advantage of several opportunities for frugal fun close to home.  We are trying to get out the door every morning by 9 and back home by 12:30, so we are not out in the heat of the day and Caroline gets her nap time.

Mondays-- Swimming at our very generous friends' pool (they live around the corner)

Tuesdays--Park/Nature walk

Wednesday--Free movie

Thursday--Swimming

Friday--Library

We are using the after lunch time to do a little "maintenance schooling"--math practice, reading, and a unit study/lapbook about Ancient Rome.

I'm getting up every morning at 4:30 to have my Bible study time, so I can get to the gym by 5:30 for my workout.  I joined this crazy six week program where I have to work with a trainer two mornings a week.  She's a maniac.  I'm completely worthless by supper time.  This is week four, so it should be over soon.  I will probably still get up to exercise, but I will not be killing myself two mornings a week anymore.  She has pushed me to the point of throwing up twice!  (Sorry if that is too much information.)

John MacArthur's broadcast today was especially good and I'm convicted that the reason I'm probably not as joyful as God commands me to be is because I'm not really taking Him at His word about some things.  Hmmmm.  I could write a whole post on this, but I've gone on long enough already.  I will try to share more on that later.

I'll end with a Caroline funny, just because she is too entertaining to keep to ourselves:  She has started a new little game this week of making all of her stuffed animals talk to us.  She will hold them up in our faces and use funny little voices.  I "have" to greet each and every baby or teddy or duck that might have "slept" in the crib with her when I go in her room in the morning.

Well, she was playing with big brother's Legos this morning and discovered a Lego skeleton (ick!)  She brought him over to me, held him up to me and said in this really high pitched baby voice, "Mommy, Mommy, I sooooo hungry!"   LOL

I'm wondering what in the world God has in store for this little girl.  She is definitely not your typical one and a half year old!

• Comments (4) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

If anyone is still reading this, I thought I would "pop in" and say hello.   Daddy Hoss just went back to work yesterday and we started our summer school schedule.  I'm also doing a fitness challenge at the YMCA, which is using up any energy I might have left.

I had planned to post last night, since DH had duty and was sleeping on the ship.  I wanted to go around to everyone's blogs and leave comments telling you how much I've missed you.....

HOWEVER, when I sat down at the computer, I noticed the strange sound of water running.  Hmmmm.  I thought it might be raining and ran outside excitedly (it's extremely hot right now), but it was not rain.

ANOTHER broken pipe in the irrigation system.  ANOTHER frantic search for a flash light.  ANOTHER trip to the shut off valve.  ANOTHER night without water and reminding the kids not to flush the toilets until it becomes unbearable.

At least this time, I have my sweetie here to fix it.  I guess the laundry monster will have to wait.  AND it is a good excuse to feed the kids popcorn for lunch (free movie Tuesday, you know).

And I sure am glad the Y has showers, even if they are cold!

• Comments (2) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I'm waiting for the phone call to tell me Seth has arrived safely in Germany and Jim has duty and is sleeping on the ship, so I thought this would be a good time to update.

I'm a little sleep deprived, though, so I can't promise anything coherent.

Jim got in safely and we had a wonderful reunion.  That is the first time I have been part of the crowd meeting the ship, since in the past he has been flying an airplane off and we were able to meet him in the hangar.  MUCH smaller crowd.  There are 3000-5000 people on an aircraft carrier, so you can imagine how many people were waiting on the docks.  I wasn't sure how we were ever going to find each other in that sea of people, so we just picked a spot towards the front and waited for him to find us! 

You can't see the crowd of people in this picture because we are too far back, but if you look closely, you can see the two gang planks and the endless stream of white uniforms coming off down each one.  Lucky for us the officers' hats stand out.  That helped narrow it down a bit.

Parker is enjoying Daddy's lap.  The best seat in the house!  Aren't they cute?

Shelby had put off her birthday celebration so her Daddy could be a part of it.  Here was her exciting present.  She has been wanting this tea set from Vision Forum since before last Christmas.

Jojo blessed us with two beautiful new outfits from Hannah Andersson.  Here she is modeling them for us.  Shelby loves both outfits and I do too!  Definitely a good call, JoJo.

And here is Teenager.  The life of the party.  We are going to miss him!

In case any one is wondering....Caroline went right to Jim and latched on to him for dear life.  This is quite a switch from the other kids at that age.  They always needed a little time to warm up to him after he'd been away.  Unfortunately, she has turned on ME instead, as if I am to blame for her precious Daddy not being here.  How can this be fair????  She just about came unglued today when she realized he wasn't in the house AGAIN.  I have had to ban the word "Daddy" from being spoken in her presence until he comes home again tomorrow.  She has to be the quirkiest toddler ever..

• Comments (7) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

This is what has been sitting on my nightstand for the past five months.  Tomorrow I get the real thing!  Hooray!

Things that have happened since he left:

The Christmas trees are down (sigh of relief)

Caroline has started talking in complete sentences

A  13th, 16th, 39th,12th, and 9th birthday.

Valentine's Day

 Five teeth lost, including Parker's two front teeth

Gas has gone up about $2/gallon

Seth is moving to Germany to finish high school (he leaves this Thursday)

His little sister had nephew number two

Three grandma visits

One homeschool convention

An entire baseball season

And two quarters of school

Several scraped knees, a fat lip and one concussion

I'm sure there are many more,  (I know I've rearranged the furniture and all the spring flowers have bloomed and then lost their blooms) but these are the things that stand out in my mind.

There are plenty of things to be thankful for on this list.  God has been good to us, as He always is...

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation.  Psalm 68:5

 And now He is blessing us with another wonderful homecoming to celebrate.

• Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Shelby, my middle daughter turns 9 today.  Amazing that our little one has grown up so fast!

 

• Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link