11/30/07

Ahhh... Friday. I was quite glad to see it arrive.

Here is my mantle. I love my mantle and all that it means. I'll show more shots of it later. Angels are on both sides "proclaiming" the birth of Christ. I love to look at it.

Last night the play was great but it went late! We didn't get out of there till after 11:00 and that is LATE for me to be out on a school night. lol I didn't get to sleep till almost midnight. The play was great and we enjoyed it, though. Let's just say I was running on my second wind today. I was actually not as tired as I thought I would be, but tonight I am just glad to be home.

I was supposed to have a photo shoot this afternoon but we had to cancel it because the "client's" daughter began throwing up last night. I don't think I wanted to capture THAT! We'll re-schedule for next week. I just hope it isn't going to be too cold.

I got home and crashed. The Christmas lights were on and the den was cozy and darker with only the lights from the Christmas decorations and one lamp. I decided it was a perfect opportunity to listen to my new CD NOEL by Josh Groban. Let's just say that is my new favorite Christmas CD. His voice just calms the spirit. I could have listened to it all night. Will probably listen to it again tomorrow. It gave me time to just soak in and enjoy the season.

We had a "picnic" in the den tonight. The fire was going, we watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and enjoyed our supper together, on the floor and then relaxing together in the chair and on the couch. I love those moments.

The kids just went to bed. They wanted to have a "sleepover" in Mikayla's room. Usually, they can't handle their talking and have to go their separate ways. We'll see how things go tonight. ;)

I think Steve and I are going to have some coffee in a little bit. I have lots I NEED to do around the house like folding clothes, cleaning up the kitchen, wrapping Christmas presents, etc... but by the time Friday rolls around I don't have the energy. Tomorrow will be the day I tackle that. I also have papers to grade this weekend and I could care less about grading them tonight. It will probably be tomorrow, too.

Have a blessed evening. Enjoy a cozy memory with your family. I know that fire surely does feel good tonight to me!

11/29/07

Christmas pictures at last! :) I had taken some of these last Friday night when we put up the decorations, but they didn't turn out like I wanted. I decided to "re-take" them last night. hee hee... I won't show them all today, as you know, but you'll see them sprinkled along. Here is the John Deere hat ornament I bought this year. It is so stinking cute. I couldn't resist it. AND... here is a picture of the fireplace and mantel. Love that fire blazing!

So, who out there still lets their children believe in Santa? We do. He is not the focus of our Christmas season but he is the added sparkle and fun of it all. I totally understand when people do not believe in him and choose to tell that to their children. I just don't agree with people who don't believe going around and spoiling it for those that still do. 'Nuff said...

The Lord has once again taken care of something I had prayed about the other day. He filled a need that I had in such a way it, once again, caused me to stand back in awe of Him. I continue to see how the Lord directs our paths and takes care of things even before we know we have a need. Thank you, Lord....

Not much today because I need to go "crash" before tonight. My brother and I are going to see My Fair Lady. I have to try to take a bit of a nap or I won't make it until 11:00!!! I must say I'll miss hanging out at home by the Christmas tree. :)

Enjoy the moments you spend with your family today!

11/28/07

This mandolin is my cousin's. She received it Thanksgiving Day from HER cousin who helped design it. The design was then sent to China where a man made them and her cousin gave her one of them! It is a beautiful mandolin and has mother of pearl and, I think, a type of oyster shell in the inlay parts. I took a lot of pictures of it but everyone was thinking I was a bit obsessive so I just stopped. lol I am thinking of doing a collage of the photographs and giving it to her at Christmas. We'll see if I actually get around to doing it, though. lol

My cousin and her family love music. Actually, all of us on Mom's side of the family love music but they LOVE it and can play pretty much anything. They started "picking" on Thanksgiving night and it was nice to sit around and let your toe tap. lol They love bluegrass and gospel. I just don't have that talent. I am doing good if I sing on key (Which is quite important to do right now seeing as I am responsible for teaching the students at school how to sing their songs for the play!) Being able to play a musical instrument would be a great feat! I am thinking Mikayla will play something one day. She has already said she would like to play the piano. I think that is great except for the fact that I have no idea where we would fit a piano in this house. lol

Today was a crazy day. I am glad to be home and I really hope Steve starts a fire for me. (lol) We'll see....

We are still having ants. They came back in the foyer, then we got rid of them there and they moved to between the kitchen and dining room. Today, I get home from school and they are in our bathroom again! I realize we live on "anthill" but I am TIRED OF THEM!!! We have them year round now... there is no "Summer ant problem" anymore. They are just plain annoying. We put out traps but we are thinking they aren't doing the trick. It states on the package that it kills them "in 24 hours"... I am glad I am not on their advertising committee because we would have a problem. lol Of course, I should hush and be thankful it isn't something worse. I could have hissing cockroaches or something like they have in Madagascar, Africa!!!

I have no papers to grade tonight which is GREAT! I worked like a mad woman during "free time" at school so I could finish them all. My school bag was much lighter for it.

Well, I need to go do some flashcards with the kiddos. Please continue to pray about Wesley's situation. The teacher's gave me back their reports today and they were what I figured they would be from school. We'll see what the doctor says and go from there. I'm just learning to give it to the Lord.

Have a wonderful evening. Go enjoy some Christmas lights. :)

11/27/07

It has been a few days... sorry. I had every intention of getting on here this past weekend but my time ran out on me. Now it is back to school and the busyness of that.

We had a good Thanksgiving. That night we went to my aunt's house and enjoyed a wonderful meal there. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Steve's Mom and her husband on Saturday. Unfortunately, Steve had to work and I took the kids to his Mom's. It was weird without him there and I know his Mom was sad about it, but at least we were able to go. We had a good time.

On Friday we went and bought our tree. We "cut one down" right from Lowe's Hardward Store. ha!! It is a beautiful tree, though, and very fresh. I just love this time of year. I hate the hustle and bustle we seem to get into, but love the smells and decorations. You know the ornament pictures are coming soon!!! The pictures today are from us decorating and then the tree itself. We got the "perfect" size for our den this year. Taller without being so large around the bottom. The kids had a blast finding their ornaments and they really did a great job putting them on the tree this year. They also helped me put up the manger scene in the dining room and other what nots we put around the house. I was very thankful for their help.

I took the kids Christmas pictures 82,156,774 times this weekend. They got to the point where they DREADED me coming with the camera. I think I finally got the "one" but I also think I was over-analyzing them!

I watched Wesley a lot over the break. I wanted to make sure my thoughts on him were what I truly were thinking or if I was "living a pipe dream" with his attention span. My Mommy instinct was right and the boy really is improving in those areas. I worked on telling him many things in a row to do and overall he did them. There were a few times he didn't quite catch them all, but I am 36 and still have issues with that if I don't write them down!! Anyway, what I am seeing is a little BOY who is still maturing and growing. I don't know what his teachers will put down on their rating scale but I know that home and school's rating scales have to be the same and I don't think that is going to happen. I was so proud of Wesley tonight on how he did his homework. He had to do 10 sentences with his Spelling words. He has progressively gotten better with that and tonight it was awesome. He only had to correct a few things with his spelling and it was neatly done. He then did flashcards and did an awesome job with them as well. I am just seeing so much growth and it makes me thankful to the Lord that He is showing me everything is going to be fine. I knew that... He just had to show me again.

Speaking of that, in the last week or so I have continued to see the Lord answer my prayers. They may have been prayers I have been praying for quite some time, but He has been revealing the answers to me. He never forgets us and it causes me to continue to be in awe of the great God we serve.

I have lots of papers to grade so I need to close for now. I am wrapped up in my heavy winter robe because my darling husband says it is too "hot" for him to build a fire tonight. I am not happy about that. lol Maybe tomorrow night he'll start one up for me. :)

Enjoy the cozy moments you are able to have during this Christmas season.

11/22/07

Yesterday, my friend and I shopped till we dropped... literally. We started around 10:30, went and ate some lunch first to get our "strength" and then didn't stop shopping till we closed down Target at 11:00. I am still pooped from it this morning!!! We did manage to get a lot of gifts and had great fun in the process.

I am feeling somewhat better today about Wesley's situation. I am still not looking forward to filling out everything and seeing what is going on but at the same time it isn't going to "hurt." I know God is in control and it will be alright. I appreciate my friends that commented back and told me they were praying. That meant a lot. (Thanks Sal and Glynis!!)

Today is Thanksgiving 2007. I continue to become more and more thankful as the Lord teaches me things. Here are some I have been "chewing" on these past few weeks.

1. My "first" family - I am blessed to still have a mother and father who love each other very much and set the example high at all times. I have a brother who is one of my best friends and gives so much of himself in planning things for me. I appreciate his wisdom and really DO learn from him. (Even though he tells me all of the time I get "glazed eyes" when he is trying to teach me something... lol)

2. My family now - Steve is so wonderful. I could not have asked for a better husband and best friend. He does so much for me that I can never thank him enough. I love him greatly. I also am thankful for the two crazy kids we have. Wesley brightens our days with silliness and laughter. He is very detailed and still loves his tractors! He is still more sensitive than Mikayla but is learning to use that in a way that pleases the Lord. Mikayla always wants to please and I see myself in her so many times as well. She can be very strong-willed at times, but I know where she gets that from! She makes me smile and I can see how the Lord is molding her and teaching her valuable things. Steve and I have a huge job in raising them and we take it seriously.

3. My friends - Where would I be without the love of my friends? I have so many, but there are those that are closer and dearer to my heart. I am thankful for the bond of friendship whether far away (Sal and Morgan) or right near my home, God has given me so much.

4. Home - Most people that know me know I am a big home-body. I love home and all that is in it. I also continue to learn that God has blessed me with what I have and I should be content. There are times in our lives where we look and see what other people have and we wonder why we aren't able to have as much. BUT... we DO have as much as others if our home is in Heaven. We have treasures awaiting us beyond measure. I have a very nice home with all that I need. I may not always get or have what I WANT but God knows that isn't always necessary anyway. I have so much more than many other people in this world. I have no right to complain but instead to count my blessings.

5. Finances - This one is the toughest for me sometimes. I am learning to fully give the Lord our "checkbook" each month to take care of all our needs. Some months I wonder how its all going to get paid or how a need is going to be met and God always provides. This kind of goes with the one above but I had to say I am blessed by the Lord that He is my Provider. He is just continuing to work on me so that I stay on my knees and depend on Him and not what is in the bank. That is humbling but brings joy when my trust is in Him.

6. Salvation - This is my most important but I didn't put these in any order. I think of what Christ did for me on the cross when He took my sins on His own body. The love that the Father has for us that He would send His own son. Could I have done that? As I have said so many times before, there is only one way to Heaven and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and knowing He took your sins with Him on the cross. It is a free gift. I am so thankful that as a Second grader on April 9, 1979 I chose to take that step. I am continually learning and growing in the Lord. The things He continues to show me and work with me on are things I wouldn't trade for anything. When I have been in a "valley of low" the Lord has taken me through it. When I have been high on a "mountaintop" the Lord has been there as well. The older I get the more I understand how the Bible talks about us becoming more like Christ. He molds us and changes us to be in His image. What a blessing to know I have a Lord and Savior that loves me that much.

7. Photography - I love taking pictures, as you all know. I am thankful for the ability and know it is not perfected but it gives me a way to view the world God has given to us. It seems I appreciate His Creation a lot more when I can get down and view it in detail without passing it by all of the time. I observe things a lot more than I used to do. Sunrises, sunsets, leaves changing, leaves budding, flowers blooming, flowers dying... all the processes of life. I am thankful for the "visual learner" that God created me to be.

8. The ability to teach - I know I cannot teach on my own... God gives me the strength I need each day and the wisdom to help my students. I am thankful for my profession and, even though some days I wish I could just be a stay at home mom, I know this is the plan God has for me and I will do the best I can with it. There is nothing like a child "getting it" when they have been working so hard to learn something. It is a huge responsibility and one I do not take lightly.

There are so many other things I know of for which I am thankful, but I know the day is going by and I haven't accomplished much. I need to go bake some Chocolate Chess pies... yes, I am baking today. ha! Mikayla will be helping me with it and I am sure it will be an adventure. Anything in the kitchen for me is an adventure! ha!! We are going to my aunt's house tonight to celebrate Thanksgiving. I know it will be a fun time of family get togetherness. (I just made up that last word...) :)

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Please take note and list out what God has blessed you with today. Every day should be Thanksgiving... praise and glory go to Him for all we have. May the Lord bless you and keep you... may His face shine upon you and give you peace...

11/20/07

These leaves were so pretty yesterday as the sun was shining through them. I focused on the ones in the middle. Love the sky peeking through.

I am now officially on a short vacation. I am thankful for the time off. I'll miss my students but am glad to be away from the hustle of school for a bit.

I had to take Wesley to the doctor today to see about getting him evaluated for inattention. His teacher feels we need to explore this as he still has some trouble. She said he is better than he was at the beginning of the school but if he needs help she would rather do it now than wait. She also said it isn't really bad, but felt we needed to start somewhere so we know what we are working with. Honestly, I still feel a lot of this is maturity, but I also know my son and know he has always been a bit of a "dreamer." He has improved so much in the last two years but as a teacher I understand where she is coming from and will do my part.

I must admit, though... I am having those "guilt" feelings again - - kind of like I had two years ago when I found out they had to repeat Kindergarten. Only, this time I know I have done all I can and it is just how the Lord made Wesley. I try to never compare my children because I know God gave them different talents, but sometimes I see what Mikayla does and can't help but see Wesley doesn't always do it like she does. BUT.. Wesley is so much more detailed and when he does something fully he does it well. Mikayla likes to rush sometimes and doesn't always get the job done nicely. She doesn't do that at school as much now as I see at home. Her drawers where she folds her clothes are something else. lol I also see, though, how much he has grown and improved in a lot of areas and wonder if it just hasn't "clicked" with him yet. Lots of people have told me that some boys don't "click" until the third or fourth grade. The teacher in me totally understands but that "Mommy Factor" is a killer. You can't think straight with that thrown in the mix. lol

This is where I am continuing to learn that I have to keep giving things to the Lord. This is not something I can control and I have to release it. I also know I was a lot like Wesley when I was his age. I just want to make sure conclusions are not jumped into hurriedly if there is something we can do to teach him how to stay on task. I don't like quick fixes when it comes to things of this nature.

Mikayla Girl is spending the night with her friend and when I called to make sure everyone got picked up, since I had to take Wesley to the doctor, the mother said they were having a blast. I was so glad she was enjoying herself. Wesley is missing her, though. I miss her, too. Steve is outside now throwing the football with Wesley. I think they played some basketball, too. (Speaking of basketball: Sal... you would have laughed at me trying to shoot some hoops the other day. We are enjoying the basketball goal...)

I think we are going to do something fun with Wesley tonight but I am not sure what. Please pray with me regarding Wesley. My Mother's heart only wants what is best for my little guy. Go kiss and love on your children and see them as the precious gifts that God has given to us.

11/19/07

Aaaahhh... the colors of fall. This weekend we really saw them "pop" around home. Our mountains had their peak a couple of weeks ago. This first picture is right around our house. I used to look on this scene each year without having to deal with houses. That is no more... This used to be one of our cow pastures. I was able to get between some houses to get this shot. It always reminds me of the mountains this time of year even though we don't live near them. The other picture is in our yard. Tried out a different angle just because I didn't want boring straight up and down. ha!! The last shot is of a tree growing beside the old barns. I thought it was pretty to have that color beside something that has now become run down. (I still love it, though, whether it is run down looking or not!!) The colors of the tree really popped.

I truly am amazed at the beauty of the leaves this year because they predicted it would be ugly since we are in a drought. Goes to show again that God is in control. The Bible says that the heavens declare the glory of God... right now I see that these beautiful colors on the trees show us that. Seasons are continual and have been since the Great Flood, and they are a constant reminder that God has not left us nor forsaken us. He can be seen EVERYWHERE.

I went outside this afternoon to photograph these leaf pictures. I didn't get any award-winning photographs but I at least got to go out and shoot. I haven't had a chance to really do that in the last couple of weeks and have missed that. These are just around home. There are BEAUTIFUL ones on the back drive at our school and I can never capture them because I get to school so early that it is too dark. I don't have many opportunities left to capture them!

We actually had rain today!! It was not forecasted... which I think is funny because it shows yet again that the meteorologists do not know what God has in store for a day. It was great to see. My only regret was that I couldn't curl up on the sofa with my kiddos or my book!

My friend Sal left me a comment and wanted to know about The Ten Tenors. (HEY SAL!!!) They were AWESOME. If you have never seen them in person and they come near you I HIGHLY recommend them. Our seats were in "PIT".... the ones right up next to the stage. Most people would think that is AWESOME but I hate the pit section. lol We were right next to the speaker... the LARGE speaker. The music was wonderful but the loudness was not. They sang some of the "fun parts from Opera songs" as they put it, some Bee Gee's, Simon and Garfunkel, some Queen... (which I found out later that the lead singer was not someone I would want to model my life after!!) and other songs they had written or had written for them. They also sang some songs from Australia, which is where they are from. All in all it was so great but I just wish we had sat further back so we could have heard each others conversation when we left. ha!! I truly would have loved to have listened to them longer, though.

Have you started listening to Christmas music yet? We have... been doing so for around 2 weeks now. We began with our "old faithful" of Patti Loveless "Blue Grass, White Snow". One of my friends at school gave me Josh Groban's new Christmas CD "Noel" and it is wonderful. I've been listening to that at school. I just love this time of year. Be looking for my ornament pictures soon. lol We're putting up the tree at the end of the week!!

I only have one day left to teach this week. I told myself this morning that since I only had 2 days this week I COULD do this. lol I don't have papers to grade tonight, the kids don't have homework and I don't know what to do with myself!! I guess that is why I wandered around the yard and all taking photographs. lol

Mikayla Girl is going to spend the night with a friend tomorrow night. She is still a bit uncertain about "leaving me" for some reason. She cried instead of got all excited. I love that she wants to stay with me but I also know she can't live her life in that way. I want her to go and have a great time with her friends. I know she'll be fine when she gets there and gets to playing. She seems fine now and I really hope she is excited about it. Wesley is still pretty much oblivious and doesn't worry about things like that. ha!!!

We are having some of my Mom's vegetable soup and homemade pimiento cheese tonight. YUMMY. I am thinking seriously about starting a fire in the wood stove. Steve is going to be late tonight and I know he would think the house is "fine" but I just love that thing. lol It will make it even more cozier with the fire going... and eating soup... and pimiento cheese. Maybe I'll even have a cup of coffee later. (My new past time...) I'll just miss having Steve around in the process. That is one sweet man... have I said that lately????

Well, I had better get to working on warming up the soup. May you see the beauty of the Lord in what you have around you. I try to find God's beauty every day. It isn't hard to find.

11/17/07

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing.... Everyone sing with me! We had Thanksgiving with Steve's Dad, his wife, brother, his sons and us today. We did it differently and had it at our house this year instead of going to the lake where his Dad lives. It turned out to be a great day and a lot of fun. Steve cooked a pig and it was delicious. In fact, Steve did most of all of the cooking! He started with the baked beans and his "secret sauce" on Thursday night when I was working on mashed potatoes for Wesley and Mikayla's Thanksgiving Feast at school. Then, last night he worked on a couple of more things while I was no good to him. lol Friday nights are not good nights for me to really do a lot of thinking and figuring out of things. I work better after sleeping enough and getting up fresh on Saturday mornings. ha!

My step mother-in-law had the privilege of walking in as I was working on cleaning up the kitchen counters and the dining room! Bless her heart, she helped me... I couldn't believe how NEAT my dining room is now! Steve kept saying over and over how he didn't think he would ever see the day he could actually EAT in the dining room again. Stinker. It feels SO GOOD to get rid of some clutter, though. I know I have to live with a lot more than I used to, but it doesn't mean I am overjoyed by it. lol

Anyway, Steve did an awesome job and he is "proud of that pig" in the picture. We sat around and talked and enjoyed the day. It truly was nice.

Yesterday, Wesley and Mikayla had their feast at school as mentioned earlier. They looked so cute.. Mikayla was an Indian and Wesley was a Pilgrim. It seems that the Indian was the "costume of choice" in their class but I was glad Wesley was a Pilgrim to add a little flavor to the tribe. :) I had my class covered for an hour so that I could go and participate without having to run up and down the hall. lol It was nice and I was able to be a "mom" but immediately had to go get back into teacher mode. Then, yesterday afternoon I did a "Mayflower Experience" with my class, only this time we called it the "MayFOWLER"... hee hee... The kids got to go in a cardboard box as if that were the hull of the Mayflower and experience tight quarters, eat stale bread and drink "stale" water. I then read to them some facts about living on board the Mayflower and we also did a math sheet and fun sheet to go along with it. All in all it was a good ending to the week.

We had a little bit of rain on Thursday and I was so thankful for it. It is interesting to note that Georgia received a good amount of rainfall after the Governor of Georgia proclaimed a prayer day. The ACLU and other types of people didn't like it but God showed his power once again and proved that HE is in control and when His people call His name He will answer them.

Speaking of God's power, I was reminded of it in my teaching this past week. Each year in our Bible lessons at school I teach the ten plagues God sent to Egypt when Pharoah would not let God's people go. I love reading those passages in scripture because it is evident time and time again how God leads and directs and shows HE is the One True God. On Thursday I taught about how God led His people through the Red Sea. It is interesting to see how God's people immediately started complaining when they saw the Egyptians coming because they had JUST seen God show His power TEN TIMES in the plagues that released them from Pharoah. Did they really forget so quickly? BUT, each time I teach that I am reminded that we are the same as they were. We see God's hand in one part of our lives but forget He is still there when tough times come again. He holds us up; He protects us; He loves us. I am so thankful I have Christ in my heart and He is my Savior. I know He will never leave me nor forsake me. I pray that those who are reading this know for sure that they have asked Christ to take away their sins and know He is in their heart... Just like the Isrealites only had one way to go through the Red Sea to get to safety, there is only one way to "eternal safety" in Heaven and that is through accepting Christ as your Savior.

Tonight Steve and I are going to see The Ten Tenors. I am quite excited about this "adventure" we will have. My brother was supposed to go with me, but he is still in Mexico so it became a date night for Steve and me!! :) (My brother is coming back tomorrow and I am GLAD! He has been gone for 16 days and I have missed him...) I am looking forward to a night full of great music!

Well, I am going to go "chill" a bit before we have to leave. Enjoy the day the Lord has made!

11/12/07

Here I am yet another week later... actually, over a week, huh?

My photograph today is in honor of the chili peppers I ate on Friday night in my Kung Pao Shrimp. :) (I took this photo at the Farmer's Market when we bought our pumpkins a few weeks ago.) I took one of my best friends out for her birthday and decided to try something I had never tried before... Let's just say the Kung Pao had some POW to it!! I couldn't believe I was eating it, but it was quite good. It definitely helped me breathe better. lol

It was great to go "out on the town" with just my friend. She and I had a wonderful time just being together and talking. And, oh how we talked... I didn't leave her house, after we were "kicked out" of Starbucks at 11:00, until after 1:00 am!!! I was such a party girl that night. (yeah, right...) We literally talked and talked and talked. It is great to be able to talk about God's goodness and how He carries us through trials and struggles. She and I had lots to say on that conversation. We can do nothing in and of ourselves... it is truly the Lord that guides us. Most of the time we don't even realize He is guiding us until we look back on it and can clearly see His hand in it all. What a comfort that is to me. Once I left her house, though, I was still wired and couldn't get to sleep till almost 2:30... I was no good by Saturday afternoon. lol

I have a new "thing" I seem to be enjoying this beginning of colder weather season... COFFEE. I have been moving more and more towards liking the stuff in the last couple of years. I have liked the iced cafe mochas for a while now, but the smell of coffee is so inviting to me now. lol I am so feeling like a grown up now. ha!! Steve bought us some coffee tonight at the grocery store and then I pulled out our little coffee maker that we used to use with Miss Pearl. (Made me miss her terribly... the smell and the sound of the coffee making brought back sweet memories of her watching Wesley and Mikayla. It also made me realize how quickly things have changed.) We made us up some coffee tonight and had a cup. It was quite nice. I made Steve build a fire tonight to get the chill off the inside of the house. He laughs at me since it isn't THAT cold, but, I can't help it... I surely am enjoying that fireplace again. I am going to have to take another photo of the woodstove, too. I can't seem to find where it is in all of my 3 billion pictures on this computer. I cleaned some out the other day. I remember seeing it... I hope I didn't toss it out with some I decided to delete!! No worries... just have to photograph it again. :)

I have been working on finding my dining room again. We have Steve's family coming over for Thanksgiving this Saturday and so we have to use it to eat! Let's just say it has been over a year since I have seen the bottom of that table. I still have lots to do to get it ready for Saturday. I was going to work on it a little more tonight but that didn't happen between supper, homework, etc.. Thankfully, I had no papers to grade tonight because I had some time to finish them at school, butI did want to work on some other things. I just now remembered I have washed a load of towels earlier when I got home and I have forgotten to put them in the dryer!! Some days I feel my head is in fifty different directions and none of them are going the same way!

Steve was off work today for Veteran's Day so he was able to come eat lunch with us. It was nice having him come... I always love to see him walk through my door. The kids were quite excited as well and had their little friends sit with us while we ate. It is funny getting to know the kids in their class.. especially for Steve since he hears about them but rarely sees them.

I cannot believe we are almost ready to start decorating for Christmas. I will be putting up a tree in a week and a half!!! I finished addressing all of my Christmas cards and just have to work on a photograph to put in them. We'll see if the kids cooperate. lol

Well, the decaf coffee didn't make me "wired" thank goodness, and my eyelids are starting to droop. I think it is time for this chickie to get some shut eye. :) Have a wonderful evening!

11/03/07

Oh, goodness... yes, I am still around. Life, y'all.... life.

The second week of the fair was just as awesome as the first weekend. I was going to post pictures and all of that good stuff but that never happened. School continues to be crazy, my house continues to look like a tornado hit it and I can't seem to keep up with the laundry these days. Ho hum...

Nothing major to report, I guess. If I had the time tonight I would probably talk about lots of things but I don't because my body is telling me it is time to go to bed. The time on my clock right now says it is around 10:00 but before I go to bed I have to turn back those clocks. I must say I enjoy this time change much more than the one in the spring.

We did Trick or Treat for the kids tonight since we couldn't do it Wednesday night because of things at church. We still had a good time and they loved dressing up. Here is the pic of all of us together. (Click on it to make it larger so you can really check out their outfits...lol) At first I wasn't going to let them dress up because I figured it would be silly when we couldn't do it on or before the actual Halloween day but when they both got pretty upset about it I came up with "Plan B." They had outfits put together quite quickly but they worked and it made them a memory. Wesley was a nerd and Mikayla was an Indian Princess. They both looked cute as a button. We got quite a few laughs from Wesley's end of it. I just marveled at the simple beauty of my daughter on her end...

I'll truly try to post more in the next couple of days. I am still here... grading papers and falling asleep while helping my children with their homework...