I won an award!

A BiG THANK YOU to Eudea Mamia at Life Liberty & The Pursuit for giving me my 1st award!

Yeah me! - OK I watch/over hear to much Disney with my kids.

"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

Now it says to pass this on to eight, I think I only follow eight at this point( there are at least that many more that I'm trying to start following) but I do want to share. I think all of the blogs have something to offer, they do for me anyway.

I will pass it on to a few that were the 1st blogs they caught my interest helped me laugh during some very difficult days, gave me insight, information, & resources to help me with homeschooling "stuff" (you name it ) all when I needed it.

#1 Heidi at Mt Hope Chronicles -

#2 Country Girl - Dreams of Country Girl

#3 Edie - Life In Grace

And of course EM at Life Liberty & the Pursuit

I enjoy my visits with them each day the laughs, even insight & information that I gain is so valuable on so many different levels. A thank you for each of them.

The List

Heidi over at Mt Hope Chronicles submitted her list that she got from Prairie Chick's blog & invited others to play along. Feel free to do the same. It's fun to look at such list & think about all you've done & things that you still want to do or that maybe you hadn't thought of. If you do one as well let me know so I can come check it out.

Enjoy

Blue - been there done that
Yellow - Want to do that, go there
White - Haven't done or have an interest in

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (school band - clarinet)
4. Visited Hawaii*
5. Watched a meteor shower*
6. Given more than you can afford to charity*
7. Been to Disneyland/world*
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (maybe)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (I don't think I have)
15. Adopted a child (I've thought of it - we'll see)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (we didn't do very well)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort* (it doesn't snow enough for this one)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (I'd die.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice*
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person*
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (I think I was 5 - it was watercolor)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (if the opportunity came along I might?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China*
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (not sure about this one??)
59. Visited Russia*
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching*
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma* (I need to!)
65. Gone sky diving -nope
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp*
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter*
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (I don't think I have)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (maybe it's a idea that keeps coming to me - my dad is a writer & has written several books - I had my 1st magazine article published this past Dec)
81. Visited the Vatican*
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible* (want to)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89 Saved someone's life ( I guess -I kept several kids from getting kidnapped)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (i don't think I have- ??)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (not other than elderly grandparents)
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (is there anyone who hasn't?!)

GIVE ME A "B"

Here's my alphabet challenge!

On Thursday Eudea Mamia over at Life Liberty & the Pursuit Submitted her alphabet challenge & offered it up to us as well. So I asked for my letter.

I got the letter B - I first I thought this would be hard & with Lsquare beside me watching the BCS game. He was very quick with the 1st 2 I then came up with 3 & 4 then he added #5. After that he then lost interest & when I read him my list he seem to disapprove of #12. Plus he said

"I thought that you only had to do 10."

Well I wasn't sure I'd keep any of his & I had thought of others & couldn't decide. Plus since I'm so competitive I might want extra credit.

So if I must go with only 10 you can omit #1, #2, #5 & #12 - Then that would give me 10.

There is no real order to these - just how they came up.

# 1 Booze - Does this really need any explaining (I use this to include good wine as well as hard liquor - a margarita needs to have booze)

#2 Boobs - because I didn't have to pay for mine. No offence to anyone who has store bought ones, half or more of my friends have & I love my friends just the same -

** Please remember these were contributed by Lsquare - I'll leave it at that**

#3 Babies after a bath - Oh that smell - I miss it. I get that stinky sweaty boy smell now.


#4 Ballet lessons - Lulu loves to dance & to see her be able to do something that looks like something is breathtaking & I love the enjoyment in her face.


#5 Baseball - Braves Baseball - The only professional sport that I will go to willingly & even suggest that we go. (college football is my other favorite sport)


#6 Boys - They sure do love their mama's & give great hugs.


#7 Books - A little general, but I love to read to my kids. To find books for me or them that takes us into someone else world, to see what they see, to feel what they feel. To learn or see things from a different perspective is great.


#8 Bedtime - To put those sweet babies to bed & then do something for me - maybe even go to bed HA! - It is nice to tell them good night & feel like that I now can do for me maybe, that's usually when I catch up on my favorite blogs.


#9 Beach - again does this one need explaining - I could learn to live with almost nothing if it meant my home would be at the beach. I know to live at a beach might change it but I hope not. I really am able to recharge my batteries at the beach. I just love it.


#10 Birthday cake- I am a birthday cake snob. I love a really good birthday cake & would order one just to get to eat a piece. ( I haven't but that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it) I do not pass on birthday cake ever.


#11 Brunch - I love to go to brunch - love, love , love it.


# 12 Big butts - no I don't love these but after all the birthday cake, brunch & booze , while at the beach (sitting on my butt) - I'll have to learn to love the one I will for sure have.


#13 - Blogging of course


The best for last

#14 Believing - as my faith grows & deepens - I am thankful for my belief in God & that I have it to keep me grounded & to remind myself to be thankful for how blessed I am.

There is my list

Happy 9th Birthday Gman

He had 1 request - The World of Coke

So we went - we really had a wonderful time
Seeing all of the memorabilia was interesting

The tasting room - some were very interesting.

Then we headed to Centennial Olympic Park
A tribute to the 100 anniversary of the Modern day Olympics

Playing in the Olympic Rings Fountain

They decided to "surf" on this ????

His pick for diner the original Varsity

This was our stop for dessert

Krispy Kreme - hot from the fryer & a coating of sugar

When the HOT sign is on you can't resist!

He had a blast & we all really enjoyed the day.

I had surgery!

Here are my X-ray's

Meet my DOC
My nurse

I'm in the OR

(like my pj's - I mean the surgical screen)

As you can tell I'm kidding. But I did fall & hurt my ankle

on Gmans new scooter. It hurt, it still does.

So they decided to put me in the hospital & operate on me.

Yikes! I had a an IV and everything (all made from paper)

They checked my heart & blood pressure. We've been around

sick people & hospitals to much in 08.
Hopefully I'll have a speedy recovery since I had such great care.

As Seen On TV

I'm not sure about anyone else, but my kids watch way to much TV. I've heard about time limits & after our break for the holidays & some interesting comments from my kids & knowing that they need to be spending more time reading & playing real games, I will make some changes for the new year. (don't you love run on sentences - hope my dad the writer isn't reading this)

But I want to share some of the comments.

Lulu - really wants a snuggie - you know that blanket with arms. She has asked us several times over the last few weeks to order her one. She's quick to let us know that we'd get two of them & that they come with 2 of the light things, so how could we not want to order one.

Gman - wants a big city slider. He can quote the commercial word for word. He too has let it be know how much he wants one. I told my DH that next year we will just shop at the As Seen on TV store in the mall & be done.

But to go with the too much TV. They can recite TV shows as they watch them. This has got to stop. But dad loves the TV & doesn't help matters. After being at work all day this is his escape I guess. He can't stand quiet. He's a 3rd & youngest child & grew up with a mom & 2 older sisters -ALL BIG TALKERS- they never stop & his wife isn't much better. So he's used to noise & to have the TV off is to quiet for him.

So while I may have a battle to fight, it must be fought.

While we're on it does anyone know anyone who knows someone that knows Billy Mays from all those TV commercials, I think if I have him tape all of Gman's lessons we will get somewhere & fast. He will go into Billy Mays mode & do his commercials so if I can get Mr Mays to do grammer rules & spelling words, we'll soar. Gman is a verbal learner esp in spelling. He just has to hear it a few times & ususally has it. (it just getting him to to it)

Wish me luck!

The Day After

A little good clean fun?

I always encourage brotherly/sisterly love!

Who's going to come away with the title?
-What a way to spend the day after Christmas-
The day after the celebration of the birth of Christ
& with all the new toys to play with this is
what they do/how they entertain themselves

This is what Simon did while the fight went on just

4 or 5 feet away & never moved.

He'd looked at them like what are they doing now?

Lulu makes a fashion statement. Now isn't that the

best bowling outfit ever!

We met up with friends that were in town for the holidays

& did a little cosmic bowling.

Gman got a strike.
I had hurt my foot just before leaving

( on Gmans new Scooter that SANTA brought)

& still beat all of them. Ha!

Christmas Day

I took this right after Santa came, with only the

tree lights on. My tree looks much better than it appears in

these pic's.But my flash is too bright or something

& I can't seem to over ride it or anything HELP!

BeforeDuring
After Isn't this sweet - he told her that she couldn't ride her new scooter until she had her helmet on & correctly Watch out - he's armed - not sure about dangerous.

Lulu got a nerf maverick to defend herself with but Gman took that one over as well.

Simon found time for a nap

Off to bed -until the dishwasher is done- I am.

Not to bad considering that we had about 20 people here

Holiday Favorites - Part II (before Christmas)

A little more village
Leo the elf stopped by & made a few messes
& entertained Gman & Lulu.
He was a lot of fun, even if I had to clean up "his" messes

An afternoon decorating Christmas cookies with friends

Does this look like fun?
It really was & not that big of a mess.
Even with 12 or 13 kids armed with frosting & sprinkles
Some of the finished products

Holiday Favorites - Part I (before Christmas)

We hosted our 8th White Elephant with friends

A Charlie Brown Christmas a must in this house.

It's a law I think? Made by ME of course.
A shot of the window seat & bookcases in the kitchen
Gman wanted us to put the village up this year
(we hadn't in 4 yrs-with all the moves -Lulu didn't know what it was)
We had over 20 houses in 4 locations Mantle in the den & Simon of course

Gingerbread house 2008

Our 1st ever we see how much we improve as the years go by

Has anyone seen a front tooth?

It was loose for weeks & was beginning to give her some pain.

I was afraid that we'd have to go to the Dr to have it pulled.

But finally we got it out & now she looks SO much older, I hate it!

I'm loosing my babies! boo hoo! Why do they have to grow up SO fast

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

One of the things about home schooling that I'm enjoying, is taking

them on projects with my woman's club group. We went a few weeks

ago to the assisted living home & decorated the doors for the

residents. I like being able to expose them to so much.

They are impersonating a set of Caroler dolls in the lobby