determined

There's lots on my agenda today.  Tonight's the third Monday meal at church and I have brownies, a cake, 4 dozen rolls and a cheesy potato casserole to make.  This morning, I got up after I just couldn't take it anymore.  Daisy whined for an hour and I was determined that I was not going to give in to this morning ritual that starts right after Handsome Husband leaves.  She was not going to control me.  There are days when I wish we had no animals.  Whatsoever.  I'm feeling grumpy from head to toe.

More homeschool books should arrive today and I'm praying that they all get here before our actual start date which is currently unknown.  I thought maybe we could start when public school started here but, I'm not sure that it's possible to start without your books and such.  Looking like it'll be after Labor Day which makes me a little frantic because that just seems like centuries away and not "normal".

I like normal.  I like boring.  I like routine.  Have I ever mentioned that?  Yes, I live a fantastic mundane life.  No worries.  I like it that way.  So, when the rest of the world is starting school towards the end of August, I want to too.  I'll get over it, sooner or later.  I do worry though, that our children will hate homeschool. With a passion.  And I worry that I will hate homeschool.  With a passion.  

Worries aside, I am determined that we will not hate homeschool.  Determined.

ya thunk i'd up & left, did ya?

Not knowing I needed, and would, I took the summer off from blogging.  A hiatus of sorts.  Time to wade through heavy issues like homeschooling, a month of "vacation", blogger photo issues (which seem to be resolved, praise GOD!) and an unexpected trip back.  We've spent lots of time in the pool, on bikes and with friends.  It's all coming to a close as I make final decisions on homeschooling curricula and the littles spend their last week and a half surrounding themselves with their bestest of besties.  (At least those here in IL.)

With that being said, I'll try to pack in as many photos as possible because you know how I love a photo-filled post.  wink wink.

So, when I mentioned homeschool did you shake your head in disbelief?  I've ridden a roller coaster of emotions for the last 3 months - complete terror, peace, and brain-riddling confusion.  I've always said I wasn't the homeschooling type but, to sacrifice for the greater good, I. AM. HOMESCHOOLING.  There, I said it!  It's been the range of curricula that has sent my head spinning.  So much to choose from, so many different avenues.

Ever watch "Children of the Corn"?  Sorry, I had to.

Don't try that at home!  Ya can't tell dangerous non-helmet wearin' boys nothin'!

After visiting with a friend and seeing her homeschooling "library", hearing her homeschooling stories and encouragement I felt better.  She's seen it all and done it all.  Well, almost!  Friend gave me direction and the kids were able to look through and get a feel for the materials they had to choose from.  Yes, homeschool is about choice.  A blessing and a curse if you ask me...because I'm indecisive.

I learned some things, Miss K is happiest with classical style learning...here's the lesson; the work; do it.  She's very independent and creative.  I can't wait to see how this year goes for her.  The man, oh the man.  I worry about this guy.  He's bull-headed and he's going through a whining phase.  Did I mention he's got me wrapped around his finger?  It's true.  He's the one I might lose sleep over.  Such is life.

So, I never finished our Summer Tour series.  I have more pictures (not as many as I wish I had) but I'll get to it.  Slowly but surely.  Just a little caught up in the thick of things right now.  Who ever said "summer is for relaxing" was crazy!  Our summer has been a flurry of kids in and out of the house; up and down the roads we go, burnin' rubber; trying lots of new recipes; soaking up rays by the pool and finding inexpensive summer fun.  It's been good, it's been fun but, I'll be glad when we find our groove and settle in to a new routine.

We were sooooo excited to host some visitors last week.  Some our best friends from home were here. And although their stay was way too short and hindered by an out-of-the-blue migraine, we made the best of it.  Kids romped all over the yard and into the cornfields.  (Yes, a lecture followed on how unsafe that is.  Luckily, bigger kids teamed up and looked out for the littles and everyone came home safely.)  We ate like kings and queens, making a breakfast feast of homemade waffles with caramel syrup and local maple syrup, sausage, breafas luvin' muffins, and tons of fruit.  Poor Thelma could barely eat due to her aching head but, we ended on a high note Wednesday night with Uncle T's famous ribs.  The next day, we followed them south to the third leg of their trip.  That's where we had the opportunity to take the girls and do a little before school shopping at the outlet mall.  Woohoo, yay for a girls day and the perfect way to end our time together!

No, the man did not go shopping!  He seems to be somewhat of a mama's boy and he wanted to ride with the girls, while Thelma drove her car with the rest of the boys.

Fall promises more visitors and we're gearing up for them as well.  Lord I pray, by then, we'll have a routine down and they'll all get to see more of the kids since they won't be "away" at school.  There's also an opportunity to help out with the ladies retreat back home.  Miss Debbie and I laughed about my title of "emeritus" to their creative group since moving.  That's OK, I'm excited to get to work on their project soon.

Alright, it's late and I just wanted to pop in, say I'm still here and I'll see ya around.

Miss Dais and Max-a-Poo

We sure have had a crazy time here this past week.  Crazy Daisy's in heat.  Mr. Max-a-Poo's driving us batty.  Needless to say, it's been a fun couple weeks.  (dripping with sarcasm)  So, in appreciation of their "better" days, I'll share an excursion in the yard from a couple weeks ago.

Have you ever tried to sneak up on a dog?

 

 

Well, it's impossible.

 

Miss Dais with her perky little ears.

"Is that a shock collar?"  We get this question all the time.  No, it's a tracking collar.  Dais is a Walker coonhound and she likes to run.  I mean RUN! 

While I was away in Kentucky, Handsome Husband let her out after breakfast one morning and she wouldn't come back before he left for work.  So she was stuck outside all day.  When he got home, he looked at the GPS and she'd run 22 miles!  Twenty. two. miles. I say.

They've ruined our yard digging for ground squirrels.  They're checking one of their holes here.  Evidently, there was some action that we weren't aware of.

 

Happy Friday friends!

 

 

 

not even that

It takes God all of 0.2 seconds to make me realize that this life is not about me.  Yep, read that again.  It's not. about. me.  On Friday, I posted this.  And it was real to me.  I'd felt so agitated and worked up lately that I could barely contain myself and so then, I'd decided to put it out there.  to share it.  and God said, "Hey!  Hey you there!  Life is good!  It's always good."  And overnight, literally, I felt brand new.  Sunday, not knowing a thing about my strife, Steve drove that point home for added measure.

Though there are days when I grow weary, weak, breathless, forgetful, God's timing is always perfect.

"Every scar tells a story.  Scars are the stories of our lives." Jesus scars tell the story of his love. for me. for you. for mankind.

Isaiah 41:10 ~ "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. –Max Lucado 

I spent Spring Break with my children.  I had big plans for our week but, those plans quickly faded away and other things fell into their places.  We hosted friends and played inside until the middle of the week or so when the weather changed its tune.  The kids went out to play two square, swung on tire swings, played in the sand box, hid in the barns and wagon, and rode bikes and the four-wheeler.

I spent the weekend with my incredible husband.  He plowed our garden and then came down with some nasty little cold bug.  So we watched movies and I waited on him, making tea with lemon and honey and cinnamon, hot apple cider and whatever else he called for.  He's quite self-sufficient though so most of what he needed, he didn't ask for.  He simply got up and got it himself, despite me asking numerous times, "Do you want this?  Do you want that?"

After church on Sunday, we had friends over for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon outside until they left just before dinnertime.  She and I sat in lawn chairs talking about life.  The men and children shooting bows and BB guns and playing in the yard.  The dogs exploring. 

All around me, God's wonder shows itself.  Spring is a glorious time for rebirth, to renew and rejoice.  Yep, you can bet I'm basking it.



you would've been proud

I got up early this morning, 5:20 to be exact.  You would've been proud.  I showered and got ready, made lunches, woke up babies and shoveled the sidewalk.  I put Max's collar on and he knew as soon as I'd picked it up and he heard the tags jingle that he was goin' somewhere!

 

Miss K began getting ready, she knew she was under pressure this morning.  I assured her things would be fine, even if they missed the bus, I would be back in time to give them a ride to school.  No need to panic.  I gave her deadlines...7:00am - finish breakfast, get shoes on, brush teeth, gather back pack; 7:20 - 10 minutes til take off, post up, watch for the bus.  Then, I took off.

 

Good news.  I made it safely to the vet with one Mr. Puppy in tow.  I'm not sure how many inches of snow we got last night (plenty to go 'round, that's for sure) and snow continued to fall as we drove, but the roads were good.
 
Bad news.  We arrived and they gave me an estimate of $150- $300.  Then, the lady came back with a second estimate stating his "simple surgery" would be $300-$500 because he was over 5 years old.  You've got to be kidding me!  I gasped, told her how outrageous that was and that my husband would flip out!  It was true, you would.  I didn't raise my voice and I wasn't angry, only in shock.  I think she took it a little personal because she began explaining to me that she hadn't been there for a couple days and she'd added a couple things just to make sure this estimate was "in the ballpark".  She told me she would talk with the doctor and call me before they started anything.  You would've been proud.
 
As soon as I left and got on the road, I checked the time.  It was 8 o'clock on the east coast and Dr. Byrd would be in.  He'd be able to give me some advice and tell me if this whole scheme was crazy or not.  I gave him a call.  He was in surgery, so I ended up leaving a message.  I traveled home and made it back before the bus came.  I hadn't had any breakfast so I was in a frenzy.  It threw my whole morning off. 
 
In the meantime, the kids left for school and I ate a bowl of Fruit Loops while I turned on the TV to watch the news and see how much snow we'd actually gotten.  I watched the weather three times and never heard nor saw an amount.  I was completely distracted.  I gave up.  I went about the morning, fumbling and stumbling over normal tasks until the phone rang.  It was Dr. Byrd and I was never so glad to hear his voice.  I explained the situation and he gave me a couple scenarios and treatment options, the best he could do for an over-the-phone analysis.  Bottom line, this procedure seemed a little lot unnecessary.  I was prepared to do battle with Mr. Vet.  You would've been proud.

Dr. B asked how I liked the prairie state and I won't lie, I grumbled.  He bragged, telling me it was sunny and 65 was to be the high there today.  It just  wasn't fair, you being in the land of sun and humidity, Dr. B livin' it up in the big V-A, and me?  Stuck in the cornfields surrounded by the dreary snow!  That's where!  But who said life was fair?

In the meantime, the vet calls back.  "Good news", he says.  "No surgery!  Just 3 more weeks of antibiotics."  I'll take it!  All is well again.  I picked up our happy little camper and he was so excited to see me, all snorty and wiggling.  He said hello to the receptionist and a very unhappy kitty.  I paid the bill and we made our way to the truck.  Yes, I took your truck, just like you said.  And, I'd thrown a jacket in the backseat before we left!  Two points!  I was on an adrenalin rush and so I'd donned a hoodie and jeans with boots.  You would've been proud.

We arrived home safely and I fed Mr. Poodley.  (He hadn't eaten since yesterday morning - doctor's request.)  Once he was finished, I let Daisy out and she checked him over, sniffing and wagging her tail.  They were happy to be reunited and he soon zonked out in the kitchen on his bed.  So much excitement for one morning!  He didn't even move for pictures.

 

snow?

Here it is, just the end of October.  Dragging myself up the steps this morning, I heard the weatherman say, "Tomorrow, we'll have rain with a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon."  Are you kidding me?  I'm not ready yet!

Every time I go to Wal-Mart, the jumbo can of hot chocolate is not out yet.  You know, the one that makes 6,857 cups of cocoa?  Almost literally.  I've not seen hide nor hair of it and I've been keepin my eye out.  We get one, or two, every winter and it sees us through all the cold mornings and late night sleigh-riding.  This can't be happening!

Rest assured I've got some ol' favorites to rely on.  Cinnamon Plum.  African Honeybush, Mandarin and Orange.  I do love them, we all do and so, we'll survive. 

But really? 

Snow already?

Say it ain't so?

my sleeping bully

Caught my sweet boy nappin' this mornin' before we left for school.

So I took the liberty of snappin' a few.

And woke him up.

But, not for long.

In seconds, he was out again.

Can I just tell you, I love that face.

just a regular day

In an effort to do more photographing.

I attempted to journal our day.

Nothing grand, just a regular day.

Despite being home with a fever,

he had some good times with Max.

  

Couldn't pass up the 68 degree weather!

Love to know what's manifesting all the smiles and giggles.

 Some of us could've used a nap.

It's a weakness, can't ever resist a chicken bum.

Makes me want to grab some fluffy feathers.

A warm spring-like day wouldn't be complete without tree climbin' .

Then, C made Upside Down Apple Pie.
He's the best!
(Although, his baking was motivated by his own hankering for apple pie,
all the love was pointed in my direction.)
Thanks!

Too bad it's going upside down.

Mmmmmmm, still looks just as lovely.

recent past and run of the mill

I took these photos back in December, when C was servicing his cousin's kids' four wheelers but, somehow, they never managed to make it here.  I wanted to share them anyway, now's as good a time as any.

So, now, before you gasp because these children have no helmets, let me do a little splainin', Lucy...I glanced this through the window and then went out, hoping to catch a few photos.  I didn't agree with the situation but, the man's machine had the governor turned as low as it would go.  So, I thought, OK, maybe a short ride.  He managed, afterall, to fall off after going over a little bump in the yard.  Lesson learned - Evil Knievel is the one who needs the safety equipment at all times.  Yes, this then, scared the pants off of me and my heart rose to my lips and sank to my stomach, all at the same time.  I was mad as a hornet  because I hadn't put a stop to these shenanigans sooner.  Needless to say, the four-wheeders, as he calls them, were put away until the cousins came to pick them up.

Same day, different subject. 


This is a man with a fan club here, folks.   He is the most loved dog in the world.  Yet, feared the most by the ones who do not know him.  They should be fearful of the small one, seriously.

Fierce looking, isn't he?  Or sleepy?



Don't be fooled, this big lush of an American Bulldog is THE biggest baby in the world!  He is our 75-lb. wanna be lap dog.  Known as "K's dog", he and the man grew up together as babies - their birthdays being a month apart, and still enjoy their excursions together.  He endured the man's biting phase and lived to tell about it.  No joke.  He was bitten on the ear. the tail.  and his paws.  and never so much as winced.  He is everyone's best friend.

He even lets the rat terrier boss him around sometimes. 

So, there you have it. 

An uneventful weekend. 

No photos. 

I spent most of it cleaning, cooking, sewing the Valentine tic-tac-toe games, and relaxing.  Last night, C streamed ARN - The Knight Templar through the Wii.  And, despite it being a foreign film, I'm not a fan of most foreign films, it was rated 4 out of 5 stars and was surprisingly good!

Have a fantastic week!