Our Local Light Up

Hannah sang with her theatre's Performance Troupe for our local light up last night.  They did a great job, they did 4 songs and they were all fun.  I have some video I will share later but my video of Hannah's duet/solo song is awful.  So, if you'd like to see it, go to Winchester Academy, my friend Julie's blog.  She's got the video posted there. Her background will look familiar because I copied it.  :0) 

Call Me a Copycat

If you are also a reader of Julie's blog then this new background will be familiar to you. I usually try not to copy my friends' blog designs but I fell in love with this background and just had to have it. It doesn't so much go with my normal love of all things tacky but it gives me warm fuzzies and warm fuzzies are very important.
We are off in just a little while for our local Light Up--Hannah is in it with her theatre company and even has a short solo. I'm sure I'll be adding the video to the blog later tonight or tomorrow. I'm going to go make us some hot chocolate to take tonight, it's going to be chilly out there!

Embracing my Inner Tacky

Let's face it--I like tacky.  I like tacky clothes and tacky decor.  I just do.  I embrace it because of it's quirkiness and uniqueness, not because I think it looks fashionable or cool.  I've decided to embrace this characteristic and not try so hard to contain it.  The main reason that I live in a t-shirt and jeans (or jean shorts) is because I don't know how to dress fashionably--no clue.  I do know how to dress tacky though--just ask my sister!  Today I'm embracing my inner tacky and wearing what I want to do--tan cords, red and white striped long sleeve tee, Christmas Snoopy t-shirt, and Christmas socks.  I am also going all out tacky with my decorating this year.  If I like it I'm doing it even if it is tacky.  It all started with this tablecloth...I'll post a pic later.  I actually don't have that many decorations so it probably won't be too crazy but I am limiting myself to one room so we'll see...if you need to re-gift a tacky Christmas decoration that you were given as a gift last year you know where to send it!

Happy Thanksgiving Day

We were going to go camping and eat Thanksgiving in a restaurant this year but changed our minds and I'm glad we did! I cooked a whole Thanksgiving feast and had such a good time doing it. It was a blessing to spend this day at home with just us. We have never done that in all our 14 years of marriage.


Here are the kids waiting for time to eat. I love when they all sit on the couch and read together! Tomorrow I will be up and out of the house very early. I'm taking Hannah with me this year for the first time. I won't be able to do my "Blitz it Baby" plan because even if I do get all of the shopping done I won't get it all wrapped and shipped in the next couple of days. Also, since I'll have Hannah with me I won't be doing all my shopping at once but I do plan to get a major chunk of it done tomorrow. Black Friday is truly my favorite day to shop!! After we get home from shopping tomorrow we are going to work together to completely clean the whole house. Then on Saturday we can decorate!
I hope ya'll had a blessed Thanksgiving day!
Peace out!

Family Pictures by Snapshots of Grace

We had a photo shoot with Amy the other evening and the pictures came out beautifully!! These are just a few of my favorites!

My Sister

Based on my sister's (Ingle Nook) comments lately you might get the impression that she is rude and negative (your image of her might be like the one above). But in reality, she's just a normal little sister trying to harass her big sister. She is really a nice, fun, caring sister. Really she is. So much so that I've decided to write an acrostic poem about her. Here goes--

C for Crazy funny (she makes me laugh like nobody else!)
H for Hartsy Fartsy (she is very artistic and makes posters like nobody's business)
E for Elephantlike (she has a great memory)
R for Reminiscenter (we like to play "remember when...")
Y for Younger than me by 17 months
L for Looney Tunes

FREE photo stuff!

It's 1 am and I really need to go to bed but not before telling you about some awesome free photo stuff!  If you go to Freebies4Moms there are two promotions that will both be ending soon.  The first is for 50 free photo cards.  Initially the cards and shipping were both free but so many people were ordering that they decided to charge about $4 for shipping.  And, if you order 60 cards they are still free but $6 to ship.  Photo cards are something that I've never bought because I just can't afford them.  I can afford $6 though.  They are super easy to make--just follow the link on the blog above and get started.  The second promotion is a $50 value but comes with a risk.  The Bonnie Hunt show is giving away 25,000 photo books from a site called Photoworks.  The catch is that you don't know if the quota of 25,000 has been met until you've made your book and are checking out.  I believe the promotion just started today and with it being a holiday week I'm assuming it will take a few days for 25,000 to be ordered.  I spent about 4 hours tonight working on mine--not four hours making the book itself but 4 hours including the time it took me to sort through 4 months of pictures!  I ordered it though and the coupon code worked so I should receive my completely free photo book in about 10 days.  I heard about this one on the Freebies site as well.  See the sidebar for "Free photo book."  

Okay, it's off to bed.  Just one problem--it's been so long since dinner that I'm starving...

Sunday Night

Here's Joe with some of his fellow teammates after his last game. They had doughnuts and got a Little League dog tag necklace thingy. He loved it and wore it all day. Grace had a good last game and a fun team party. Little Ms. Social felt a little sad saying goodbye to new friends not knowing when or if she'd ever see them again. She gave everyone a hug. I don't think she enjoyed softball itself nearly as much as she enjoyed being on a team. I'll have pictures later when Lisa e-mails me some. Hint, hint...
The baby shower went wonderfully! A big thank you to Julie for making my 15 pounds of taco meat and saving me from some of the stress of the day. Joel and Amanda had a great time, we had a good crowd and I think everyone had a lot of fun. I wish I had more pictures to share but again, I'm waiting on someone else to e-mail some to me. I was pretty lazy about taking my own pictures yesterday which is unusual for me but quite freeing.
And now, you see below what awaits me...mess, mess, mess. This is what happens when we have the crazy weekend that we've had. My whole house resembles this little glimpse of our school area. I am seriously considering taking the week off of school to reclaim my clean and tidy house. We only really had two days anyway. I've been so busy and distracted the last two months and gone so many evenings that my house has literally been maintained by my three children. I have done lots of dishes, cooked lots of meals, and done lots of laundry but I haven't done much if any cleaning other than that. This house needs a good Momma Cleaning. I am also feeling the itch to clean out and get rid of stuff. I recently got some books from a friend and truly have no bookcase space. Even with a floor to ceiling bookcase on one wall of Hannah's room and multiple bookcases in the other rooms of the house. One of the good things about living in a small house is that you really can't keep everything or have that much stuff so with Christmas coming it's time to make way for new stuff. Well, I'm off to get started. I had a long nap late this afternoon so I will probably be burning the midnight oil anyway.

This is the Day...

...that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it (even if it is non-stop busy and it's only 7 am and you are ready for it be over).  

Grace and Joe each have a game today.  Their last games of the season, can I get a big ol' woohoodiddydoodoo (did you notice that I said, "doodoo" haha, good old third grade potty humor kicking in)?  It's been a great season but I'm over it and have been for a few weeks.  So, I will be spending the first half of my day warming a bleacher or two and cheering on my kiddos.  I'll probably be exchanging my phone number and e-mail address with a few people.  Yes, I've done it again--gone and made some new friends.  How could I not though?  I've spent a lot of time with these people!  

After the fun at the ballfield we'll be going out for Grace's team party and then home to cook up about 20 pounds of taco meat and then back out the door for the big shower that I've been planning for months.  I've got a great team of people helping so it's not like this is "my" deal or anything.  I've just been in charge of delegating and then checking to make sure everyone is doing what they said they'd do.  It's sure to be a fun time and I know Amanda and Joel (Hannah's theatre directors) will be blessed!

Tomorrow I crash but not until after church...

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Happy Saturday!

Christmas--Stop the Insanity!

I've decided to head into the holiday season a little- actually a lot different than I ever have.  I usually dive into the holiday season a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving with lists a mile long.  I am determined to make sure (come he$% or high water) that MY kids will know the "reason for the season."  I'm determined to do any and every Christmas activity that my town and the three towns around me offer.  I am determined to send a Christmas card to every person I know.  I am determined to decorate my house and the kids' rooms.  I am determined to read Christmas books, draw Christmas pictures, make Christmas cookies, do Christmas crafts, make a Christmas lapbook.  I am determined to find the right gift for everyone.  And the list goes on and on.  As you can imagine our Christmas season is always packed full to the brim and my kids and husband get the joy of spending this time with a frazzled crazy lady.  Frazzled and crazy but determined that we WILL have fun, and this WILL be special and you WILL comply and be happy or I'll kill you.  All this is said and done in the most tender and gentle love.  Because I am a sweet, humble, and meek Christian lady spreading the love of Jesus and after all that IS the "reason for the season," right?

Soooo.....coming out of a very busy couple of months and after nearly making my own self nuts last year I've decided to change up how I celebrate the holiday season this year.  For one thing--I will not spend weeks and weeks making gift lists and checking them twice and picking up one thing here and there.  Nope, I'm doing what I will call "Blitz it Baby!"  I will pick a day or two days and do it all.  Decide what to get, where to get it and then go and get it all and come home and wrap it all and pack up what needs to be packed up and get it shipped the next day.  Until then I will not allow my brain or little notebook to be clogged with thinking about what to get who.  On "Blitz it Baby" day I will meet with Ollie and we will hash out a list and off I'll go.  I'm also going to go easy on the decorating.  Last year as I fumbled with lights and a tree in the kids' rooms and spent a good couple of hours decorating just in their rooms, I couldn't help but think they would have rather had a happy mom who had time to play Skip-Bo.  I'm not going to plan some elaborate Advent thing so that my kids "get" Christmas.  I'm not knocking elaborate Advent things--I've done something wonderful every year (love the Jesse tree) and don't regret it I just know that it's not a good idea for us this year because I cannot do it patiently or joyfully.  I'm going to show them by my actions and tell them by my words what Christmas is all about. I'm determined not to pack this next month with so much extra stuff that I miss out on the "reason for the season."   Now, Thanksgiving is next week so it's time to put these thoughts and plans into action....

Random Pictures

I love Joe's face in this picture--blurry but funny!

Autumn Lapbook

We finally put the finishing touches on the Autumn lapbooks. I added pictures from our "field trip" to Georgia. I think they turned out really well, I love a good lapbook! This one is Joe's but the girls' are almost the same.

Emptying My Brain for Your Reading Enjoyment

• There is a 10 year old little girl in Hannah's theatre reading "Twilight."  Seriously.  If you've read the book you know that it is absolutely not appropriate for a child to read.  I did hear from a softball mom that they have a "Twilight" book club at one of the local elementary schools so I guess it is not uncommon for ten year olds to be reading this book but still.  That's just wrong.  
• This is the last week for baseball and softball, can I get a woohoo!!!  I can't wait to have my normal life back.  For a couple of months at least.  I think Joe will be playing again and the season starts mid-January.  Grace has opted to not play again for now.
• I am loving the book I'm reading, "The Thirteenth Tale," it's wonderful, I highly recommend it!
• Last call for Chick-fil-a calendars--I've sold a ton but still have lots more to sell if anyone local wants one or two or ten.  They are $6 a piece and have more than $25 worth of coupons for free food.  If you are a regular Chick-fil-a goer you may as well buy one and support Hannah's theatre company and get free food.  It only makes sense.  
• I spent almost 4 hours the other night prepping, "Life in Plymouth Colony" for Grace and Joe.  That means we can fly through it this week and next and maybe even finish before Thanksgiving.  
• I haven't eaten meat in a few weeks and see no real difference in my arthritis so although I'm limiting my meat intake considerably I'm no longer a vegetarian.  
• Grace got the game ball last week for "most improved player."  She was pretty excited!  I was a bad mom and didn't take a picture.  
• I've decided not to get a head start on Christmas this year.  I'm going to wait until after Thanksgiving to even think about it.  I'm thinking I may even wait until after Hannah and Joe do "Suessical, Jr." the first weekend of December.  Maybe our Christmas cards will be the last to arrive instead of one of the first this year.  I'm determined not to stress out over Christmas this year and not to do too much.  I'd rather enjoy the holiday season.  
• Okay, the dishes are calling my name...
  

By the Way...

The book I used to do the Native Americans study is up for sale for a whopping $6.  That's about half price from what I paid new.  Anyone want it?  "Life in Plymouth Colony" will be available in a couple of weeks for $6 as well.

History Pockets "Native Americans"

We wrapped up our unit study on Native Americans today. This has been such a great study. I absolutely love Evan Moor's History Pockets. I have had this one for about 4 years and finally got around to actually using it and I'm so glad I did. Grace and Joe have enjoyed learning about Native Americans and there similarities and differences. This study had one "pocket" for each of 8 tribes. Each pocket consisted of a short reading, three vocabulary words to add to the picture dictionary, a "stamp" to put on the map, and a craft or two. We combined this with lots of reading of our own of fiction and non-fiction books about Native Americans. We still have a lot of good books to read and will continue to read even though we've finished this part. I am most excited about two "Dear America" books I found on Julie's shelf yesterday. Tomorrow we start another History Pocket, "Life in Plymouth Colony." I figure our study of this time period in US history will take us through until Christmas break. Right now we are reading aloud "Stories of the Pilgrims" and then we'll start in on the Dear America books. Any other pilgrim and indian read aloud suggestions? So--here are some pictures of this project. Grace and Joe both did this but I've only included pictures of Grace's. I didn't think you'd really want to see two pictures of everything. The rest of the pockets each focused on a different tribe.
This was the first pocket and we added to it each time we did a new tribe. We added three words to the Picture Dictionary and a stamp to the map and filled out the chart. The chart had columns for clothing, food, and shelter.

Just Another Manic Monday

Good morning friends! I'm tired and not so ready to start this week but it's here anyway. Last week really wore me out with just too much going on. This week is more normal which means that it is still busy but doable. Just two more weeks of ball season...I think we're going to make it. I've now made some friends there and will actually miss my time hanging out and chatting and watching the games. I have a few random things so bullet points are in order...

• I went to a health seminar thingy yesterday afternoon and am really hopeful again that I can fight my arthritis and just improve my overall health. It won't be easy but I feel hopeful again.
  
• Update on my 40 days of change--I've done MUCH better about computer time. Moving my laptop to a less comfortable, more out of the way spot was a great thing. I've ended those late night, surf sessions so I've gotten to bed earlier and done more reading. As far as eating--well, let's just say I'm still working on that. Cutting out meat and dairy has been easier than expected but it's the sugar that's still getting me. I need to cut out all three if I want to get better. I'm actually suspecting that the meat isn't that big of a deal but I need to test it a little longer to be sure. So, pray for me to stay away from the sugar. Unfortunately, it's all in my house still from Halloween and just last week I got some of those break and bake cookies--they were on sale and a friend gave me coupons so they were super cheap.
  
• I read "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks this weekend. I love his books. He can really tell a great story. That is the first whole book I've read in over two weeks. I think that's a record for me but the weekend before I spent most of my free time working a wonderful puzzle. I also read my way halfway through the Hobbit for bookclub. I can't decide if I want to finish that one or not. I liked it better than I thought I would but it's still not my type of book.

• I went to Target yesterday and saw all the wonderful holiday things that I don't have. I don't shop much because it makes me want stuff. If I stay out of the stores I don't know what I don't have. Yesterday I saw that I don't have some great holiday dish towels, Christmas mugs, some really cute winter clothes for the girls, and much more. I am reminded though of all that I do have--all that I need!!
  
• I used to love to cross stitch. I started in 7th grade when I took a class at school and always had a project going until the year Grace was born. Well, I'm taking up needle and thread again to make a Christmas present. I bought my supplies yesterday and I can't wait to get started. I hope I can get it done. I have two more weeks of bleacher sitting and I should be able to do it there. I also have lots of Tuesday afternoon park sitting as well.
  

Well, I'm off to get this party started--breakfast, chores, laundry, school, school, more school, rest, dinner, game, bed, rinse and repeat!!
Peace out!!

Learning About the Seminole Indians

Grace and Joe are in the middle of a great unit study on Native Americans, I plan to post lots of pictures when we are done next week. Anyway, I signed up for this field trip two months ago not realizing that we would be doing this study at this time. It could not have been more perfect! We had a "pocket" on the Seminoles that we did the day before this field trip and so we already had some knowledge of the Seminoles to now build upon. Our group traveled to five different stations and the first was Patchwork. This nice lady taught us about the patchwork clothes that the Seminoles made and wore.




This lady shared some of the Seminole legends and had some great animal skins to go along with her stories.

Then we learned about clans and each kid was put in a clan. Hannah, Jake, and Tyler were in the bear clan. Joe, Katherine, and Evan were in the Otter clan. Grace was in the Snake clan but I didn't get a picture. We learned a lot of interesting things about the clans from our teacher who is a Native American himself.


Then we got to make pottery and learn how they made and used pottery.
And finally to the "kitchen" where we got to taste some corn mush--not the right now but I don't remember what she called it.
The field trip was wonderful and I'd love to go back for a tour through the Indian village. That was the afternoon session and we weren't able to stay for it.