More Christmas!

I'll just say it... it's impossible to NOT have the Christmas Spirit with Violet in the family.  She's two years old now and just fascinated with everything Christmas.  Except Santa Clause, who she's afraid of.  

She goes nuts whenever she sees a Christmas light.  No matter how many times we've driven by any particular house, she'll scream "Oh, Mama!  Christmas!  There's more Christmas!". Every time, and her level of enthusiasm has not lessened with time.  She's so joyful!  The same thing happens, but on a more down-to-earth level, when we see Christmas decorations in a store.  

A few weeks ago our church had it's Wednesday night service at the amphitheater at Lake Lanier Islands.  We did this last year, too, and the weather was so warm and muggy that we didn't need jackets. This year, it was COLD! Freezing!  Luckily Chris was smart enough to stop and buy blankets and chairs at Wal-Mart because I forgot to pack ours.  The boys ran off and sat with their friends during the service, so I don't have any picture of them.  Chris and I spent most of our time running around after Violet, but hey, we were at church together!

First taste of hot chocolate.  She's now a fan!

We wandered around during the music and found this.  She was in Heaven being this close to "Christmas"!

Here's a shot I took of the service, from the top of the seats.  Beautiful, and a sweet time, even if the weather was frigid!

After church was over, we drove through the Magical Night of Lights, or whatever they're calling it now.  The boys weren't that impressed but Violet sure was!

Memories!

Lately... What I've Read/Watched

The Way the Crow Flies by Anne-Marie MacDonald.  This book was good.  Forget that it took me almost two months to finish it... the fact that I renewed it from the library and then sweet-talked the librarian into checking it back in and then checking it back out to me again instead of sending it back to it's library home in south Georgia proves just how good this book is!  It's long.  Probably one of the reasons it took me so long to finish it.  It's a murder mystery, set in Canada just after the end of World War II.  That's the main plot, but oh my goodness at the many sub-plots.  For once, I actually figured out who the murderer was.  I have to say though, that some of the content was really difficult for me to read.  One of the sub-plots deals with child abuse by a teacher.  

When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury.  I know, I know, I've said that I was finished with Karen Kingsbury so many times.  I was over at my Granny's and noticed a copy of this novel on her table.  I read the back cover and decided to give it a whirl because it deals with a subject very near and dear to  my heart:  depression in Christian women.  The book was a typical Kingsbury, in my opinion.  I  pretty much knew what was going to happen before it happened.  Very predictable and cliche.  But, a good story. Also a very informative read for those who think that Christians shouldn't suffer from depression.  I could actually relate to the main character.  A lot!  More than I care to admit.  

Gilmore Girls.  Oh, how I love this show.  I was SO excited and was counting the days until it became available on Netflix.  It's just so good!  The first day that it appeared  on Netflix, I was having a bad day.  I remember thinking to myself, during one of Violet's temper tantrums in Target, "It's gonna be okay.  I'm gonna go to church tonight and then come home and watch Gilmore Girls.  Just hang on.".  Ha ha!  I watched the whole series really quickly and loved every minute.  I had forgotten how hard the last season was to watch, though.  It was torture watching Lorelei screw up her relationship with Luke over and over and over!  Still so good, though!

Parenthood. It's the farewell season and I'm so sad!  I love this show, too.  I have a weird obsession with Lauren Graham, I guess. One of my favorite parts about this season is texting my friend Joanne during each episode.  We watch it together and commentate... "Oh  no.  Zeke's gonna die in this episode!"  and "What in the world is Amber thinking?!?!"  and "No Joel!  Fight for Julia!".  Those sorts of things.  I'm gonna miss it when it's gone.  

American Horror Story:  Coven.  Not impressed.  Totally a waste of my time.  

The Walking Dead.  I finally jumped on this bandwagon and I'm officially obsessed.  I'm on Season 3 right now, on Netflix.  Trying to get caught up by February.  My family is so  happy!  

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving 2014 is in the books.  So much food!  We ate 5 Thanksgiving meals total.   Not all in the same day, thankfully, but I'm scared to step on the scale.  It was worth it, though.  We had a very nice holiday spent with our friends and family, counting our blessings.  

I didn't take many pictures, but here's a rundown of our many Thanksgivings, if you're interested!

1.  Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family.  This was held last Sunday at my parents' house.  We usually have this get-together at Granny's house, but we've outgrown her home!  All of us 4 cousins are either married of have a significant other, and 3 of us have kids.  So we upgraded to mom's house.  My contribution?  I went in with my sister and purchased the ham.

2.  Thanksgiving lunch at Chris' work on the Tuesday before Turkey Day.  A very nice time and lots of good conversation with our church family.  I was a little nerve-wracked at the idea of my kids eating in the office-  no one spilled anything on the carpet, though.  Ha!  And I had the best turkey I've ever eaten.  It was cooked in a crock pot.  I must get the recipe.  We brought cheesy mashed potatoes!

3.  Thanksgiving Day with The Shadburns at Chris' Granny's.  Again, a very nice time.  The kids all played with their cousins and we adults caught up with our family that we hadn't seen in awhile.  There's always lots of craziness going on over there.  The good kind, of course!

Goofy cousins.  Ha!

Violet finally warmed up to Cousin Terry.  She was scared of him but finally allowed him to hold her!  And Shaun is now the proud owner of that hairy hat.  Don't ask!

I'm thankful for him!

Oh, and I brought some chocolate pecan brownies to this meal.  Store-bought but still a big hit!

4.  Thanksgiving night with my mom's family. This was held at my "baby" cousin Lindsey's new home.  She was so gracious to open it up to our brood!  We spent lots of time admiring, laughing, catching up, and of course, eating.  I love my cousins!  I made mac and cheese in the crock pot.  My first time making this recipe and I just winged it.  It was good!  

5.  Friendsgiving at Elia's house.  My friend Elia decided to start a new tradition this year, and I'm so glad she did.  I had never heard of Friendsgiving before but it's a great idea!  Chris wasn't feeling well on Friday so he and Shaun stayed home.  Jordan, Violet, and I had a great time.  After we ate, the adults talked and the kids played.  Very relaxing and low key.

Jordan and Halle.  I hope they're friends forever!

For this last Thanksgiving meal, I brought fruit and a veggie tray.  

As I type this up, it hits me just how blessed we really are!

Christmas Tree 2014

Today, for the first time ever, we decorated our tree before Thanksgiving!

I know, I know.

I am a huge boycotter of all things Christmas before Thanksgiving.  But today, it just seemed right.  Chris was off.  We didn't have church.  So we just did it.  It was even my idea.  And I listened to Christmas music in the car.  What can I say?  I'm just feeling especially Christmassy this year.  

Even though we didn't get to go to a tree farm this year, I still took pictures!

I'm sure the employees at Lowe's thought we were the biggest dorks.  Ha!

These pictures remind me of The Brady Bunch... some of us are dressed for winter and some look like it's summer time outside. 

Chris remembered that we needed some new lights and a few more ornaments this year, so we went shopping first.  We each picked out a new ornament.  Violet picked a pretty pink purse.

She really liked it.  I thought we were going to have trouble actually getting it up on the tree, but we didn't.

We still need to get a new topper and a tree skirt.  I'll post a picture once the tree is completed.  In the meantime, just be assured that it's very pretty.  

I think we might have started a Smith Family Tradition this year.  

Halloween 2014

Better late than never, right?

Here are Jordan and Violet at our church's Fall Festival.

The fact that Violet is in this pig outfit is a Halloween miracle.  Ha!  She was so scared of it that she wouldn't even try it on.  My mom bought it for her weeks before Halloween and Violet loved it.  Then, all of a sudden, she was afraid of it.  I think she made an adorable pig.  Jordan wanted to be a football player.  Again.  

Here are all of the cousins before we went Trick-or-Treating.

Shaun wrestled back and forth about whether or not he was too old for Halloween.  He came through in the end, though.  And he even ran into some of his friends while we were out.  Jordan decided (about ten minutes before we left the house) that he didn't want to be a football player.  He constructed his own costume.  "J Man".  He's also wearing a cape and a jet pack that our talented friend Ginger made.  

We went with my sister and her kids to a nearby subdivision.  It was COLD!  But this subdivision was perfect for Trick-or-Treating.  No big crowds and lots of houses participated.  The police also kept the traffic very orderly.  

We will definitely go back next year!

We were all worried that Violet would be terrified of all the scary costumes, but after she caught on to the idea that she got candy at each house, she hardly noticed anything else.  

It was a nice night. 

Bedtime

Oh, I promised myself that I would blog more and I'm failing!

Since it's on my mind, I'm going to write about Violet's bedtime routine today.  

First of all, Vi loves animals.  She has a menagerie that she carries around with her.  Her favorites are:  Bun (The Velveteen Rabit), Monkey (a Build-A-Bear the boys made for her before she was even born), and Bear (I don't even really know where Bear came from).  There are more, but these three are her favorites.  

Violet is usually pretty good about going to sleep.  She's starting to give a little attitude, though.  Last night, for instance, it was time for bed and I asked if she was ready.  Her reply?  "No thanks.  I'm fine.)  I swear.  Sometimes she sounds like she's already a teenager.  

She doesn't usually put up a fuss.  We tell her it's time and she says, "My animals!" and begins to gather them up.  Last night, Shaun was nice enough to go out to the car and retrieve Bun for her.  Then, when all animals are accounted for, we kiss them all goodnight.  Yes, you read correctly.  I cannot really believe it myself.  I never thought I'd see the day when I would kiss stuffed animals goodnight.  I'm not the only one... the boys also participate.  So does Chris!  Like I said, I never thought I'd see the day.  

So, we all kiss whatever animals Vi is sleeping with and then I carry her to her room.  She still sleeps in a crib.  She's never tried to climb out.  If you've ever been around my daughter, you'll agree that this is a small miracle!  She lays down on her pillow that my Aunt Nancy made out of my Mamaw's old nightgowns, flanked on both sides by her buddies.  Then comes the covers.  Her favorite pink blanket comes first.  This used to be the only cover, but a few weeks ago Violet stated that she wanted two blankets, and more recently she needs three.  (I do go in and remove some of them after she falls asleep.)

I kiss everyone goodnight one more time.  Usually I'll say something like, "See you guys in the morning".  Don't judge!  And usually Violet and her friends go right to sleep.  

I took this picture a few weeks ago.  So sweet.

  

As you can see, only Bun and Monkey made the cut.  

I am just so glad she's mine. 

Boring!

I think it's safe to say that this blog of mine has officially become boring.  I've been so busy.  In my case, a busy life leads to a boring blog.  A whole month without a post?  Boring!  Not that my life or my posts are super exciting, but you know what I mean.  

I miss writing.  I want to do it more.  

So, here's an "update" post.  

We are currently enjoying the last few days of sports hiatus.  Football is over.  The 8U Junior Trojans didn't have the best year.  They were 2 and 6.  Most of the boys are looking forward to next year, though.  I know Jordan is.  He starts wrestling next week.  Something new.  His football coach, who just happens to be the wrestling coach, thinks it'll be good for him.  I admit that I'm a little apprehensive.  

School is going really well for both boys.  Shaun is at grade level for everything except math.  I'm so proud of him!  He works so hard and he's dealing with some issues that make schoolwork even harder for him.  And he still presses on.  He tries so hard.  And he's proud of himself, too.  He graduated from physical therapy yesterday.  Funny thing-  he's been working with the same therapist that he had when he was a baby.  She's the sweetest lady, it was great to get to know her again.  She said he's met all of his goals and that our time together is over for now.  It was a happy and a sad day!  Occupational therapy is going great, too.  He's learning a lot and gaining confidence.  

Jordan is loving his new school.  The "adjustment" period seems to be over and he's doing really well.  He loves his teacher.  She has that special way of tough-love about her.  She knows when to be stern and when to let the boys be boys.  Truly an answered prayer for Jordan's first teacher.

The boys are still singing in their church choirs.  Shaun is also learning how to run sound.  He's following in his dad's footsteps.  I love that Chris is teaching him to do this.  

Violet is scared.  Ha ha! She's scared of everything lately.  This includes loud noises, anything Halloween related (including her own cute pig costume), bugs, pulling the plug in the bathtub, etc, etc, etc.  When she's frightened, she'll quickly let everyone know by saying, "that scared me!".  This will pass and one day and we'll laugh about it when she's older.  Honestly, we're already laughing about it a little bit now. 

I'm still trying to lose weight.  Not seeing the scale move, but my clothes are loose and people are saying I'm smaller.  Frustrating, but at least I'm making some progress.  

Chris is still working hard.  He coached Jordan's football team and is training Shaun to run sound at church.  He's been getting more and more ministry opportunities.  Which is another reason our life is so busy!

More later.  For real.  

Cheat and a new workout.

So, today was Cheat Day.  Just one Cheat Day, instead of 3 or 4.  Or 5!  Jordan had a football game in Rabun County this morning.  We had breakfast on the road, or course, and lunch, since the gave was over at lunch time.  We ate at Zaxby's.  I had the Boneless Wings n Things Meal.  So tasty, but that one meal has more calories than I need in a whole day.  And I felt sluggish and just gross after I ate.  This is new, too.  Usually on a Cheat Day I don't feel guilty or anything except joy to be eating something delicious.  Today, I was already planning for tomorrow while I was eating.  

I tried something new, workout wise today.  The Lord has put several people in my life who are fitness experts.  I think I've written about my friend Jenn before, who gets paid to exercise in videos.  She has been a great help to me.  Last week my friend Cindy, who is also a professional trainer, offered her services at our co-op.  She offered to conduct an exercise class after co-op.  She did it outside, so we would be able to keep our eyes on the kids at the playground while we worked out.  I was SO excited about this. I looked forward to it all week.  And then.  We were rushed and I forgot my clothes.  Aaauughgh!  I can't believe I did that.  I was so sad.  But Cindy gave me some homework.  I thought it would be easy.  3 rounds each of 20 squats, 10 pushups, 20 lunges, and 10 tricept...whatever its called when you sit backwards on the stairs or a chair and use your arms to push yourself up.  Oh, and planking.

I thought, since I've been working out and all, that this would be simple.  Ha ha!  I did this workout today with the kids outside, and my legs are wobbly!  My stomach is aching from the planking and my arms are burning!  I love it.  This workout isn't meant to take then place of anything I'm doing at the gym. It's in addition to what I'm doing.  It's not supposed to take long.  Just 20 minutes or so.  Something to do quickly at home.  

I'm so thankful that God has placed these "experts" in my life.  Just confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. 

Fail!

It's Friday!  It's been a long week.  Really, a long few weeks.  I'm tired!  I feel like I've been going and going and going with not much sleep.  

  When I think back to Monday, it seems like a year has passed!  

Several times this week, during the course of my parenting, I've actually laughed at myself and thought, "FAIL!".  Its good to laugh at yourself every once in awhile.

For example, this morning.  Friday is co-op mornings and our "earliest" morning.  We have to be at church for classes at 8:45.  I actually thought it was 8:30, but I found out today that I have a few extra minutes.  Ha!  Anyway, usually Chris is home with us on Friday mornings.  He helps me get everyone ready and we drive to church in separate cars because he has to work and the kids and I have class until lunch time.  Today, though, he wasn't home.  He went to an FCA meeting in Hamilton Mill.  He had to leave so early, I didn't even wake up when he left.  We had a hectic morning, the kids and I.  We did make it school on time, but on the way I had a "FAIL" moment.  I looked in the rear-view mirror at my baby girl.  Eating Cheeze-its out of a baggy for breakfast because I didn't have time for cereal and milk before we left the house. Her jeans covered with "Monster High" stickers that were left over from a Happy Meal dinner two nights ago.  I do feel the need to point out that the jeans were clean.  The stickers were just left in the car after my offspring consumed Happy Meals for dinner after church on Wednesday night.  Yes, I gave them McDonald's.  I avoid that place like the plague, but I gave in on Wednesday night because I just didn't have anymore fight left in me.  And, for the record, my kids are all still alive after consuming said McDonald's food.  

So.  Strike 1:  Cheeze-its for breakfast.  Strike 2:  Monster High skeleton covered Levi's en route to our Christian co-op.  And 3:  Evidence of my kids eating a meal that probably isn't even considered food in other parts of the world.  FAIL.

I did feel guilty for a minute, but then snapped out of it and just laughed.  Keep on keeping on is what I whispered to myself, and  that's what I'll do.  

Did I mention that I'm glad it's Friday?

There were many, many other FAILS this week. Like, forgetting to pack Vi's extra clothes, then not noticing her taking the lid off of her drink in the car until it was way, way too late.  This resulted in a shopping trip and me changing my 2 year old's clothes in the mall parking lot.  And of course someone from church walked by right when she was naked.  FAIL.

And losing a battle of "Who Will Have the Last Word" with Shaun.  Oh, sometimes I think I'm just not cut out to parent a teenager.  Ha!

And not getting out of the car at Jordan's school so that he could play with his friends on the playground after carpool because I had just come from the gym and felt frumpy, sweaty, and fat.  FAIL!

This post is turning into a huge whine-fest, which isn't what I intended.  What I wanted to get across to you is the fact that we all have days, weeks, or even seasons when we feel like  we're not bringing our A Game.  And that's okay.  We're human after all.  

Keep on keeping on!

And, I miss writing here.  Hopefully I'll get to it more often. 

Awkward!

This post is actually from last Thursday.  I just now had time to finish it up.  

*****************


Yesterday was just an awkward day for me.  That's really the only word for it.  I felt so out of sorts and off balance all day, it was crazy.

First off yesterday morning, I woke up with one eye itchy and red.  An "allergy eye", if you will.  So, I put a few drops of Allergy Visine in just the red eye.  I've used those drops hundreds of times before, but never in just one eye.  I my eye felt better and I got ready for the day.  Chris led chapel at Jordan's new school that morning, so we all went to school together.  I waited around while we were waiting for chapel to start and Chris was getting ready.  I talked with some teachers, etc.  Chris got finished and came over to me.  He looked at me and did a double take, then said, "Woah.  What's wrong with our eye?"  He went on to tell me that one of my pupils was dilated.  Just one.  The one I put the drops in.  I asked if it was noticeable and he was like, "Um.  Yes."  So I went to the bathroom and sure enough, I looked like a freak! One pupil was HUGE and the other one was normal.  My eye felt fine, I just looked ridiculous.  I was sooooo embarrassed.  I don't even want to know what those teachers thought.  The eye was back to normal a little while later, but I don't think I'm going to use those drops anymore!

After chapel I went to Aldi.  Something strange happened there, too.  I just can't remember what it was!  And I came home without the 2 items I went in to get in the first place.  

When I was helping Shaun with his math, I kept telling him he was incorrect on one problem.  He was getting so frustrated and whining that he couldn't figure out what to do, and I was getting frustrated because I knew that HE knew how to do this math.  As it turned out, I was the one who was doing it wrong.  Augghgh!

We picked Jordan up from school and had an hour to kill before Shaun's therapy appointments so we went to McDonald's for ice cream.  I ran into the closed door on the way in. After we were inside, I sent the kids into the play ground area while I bought their cones.  I haven't eaten inside at a Mcdonalds in a really long time, and I kept trying to hand my card to the cashier for about 5 minutes before she finally made me realize that the card machine was right in front of me.  I finally brought the kids their ice-cream, got everyone settled, and then realized I had forgotten napkins.  So I sent Jordan to get some.  He came back and said, "I'm not going out there.  They look like drug dealers."  What?!?!?  How does he even know what a drug dealer looks like?  I went and got the napkins myself.  (And didn't see any drug deals going down.)

The kids finally started eating their ice cream and of course they started squabbling. And Violet sat her cone down near my elbow, so I sat my elbow in her ice-cream.  Then, she needed a diaper change.  I was packing up her things in the bathroom after we were finished and I looked up and she had taken all of the paper covers out of the changing station and was trying to flush them down the toilet.  

Do you see what I mean?  I was really struggling yesterday...everything took such an effort!

We made it to therapy and that actually went pretty well.  Violet entertained herself with her stickers and Jordan did his homework.  He also read a library book to me.  It was called Farty Marty.  Jordan loved it, but I don't think the elderly lady sitting next to us liked it all.  

After therapy, I went to the gym.  I got the kids all settled into their various areas, changed clothes, got on the treadmill and realized that I had forgotten my ear buds in the car.  Sigh.  I had also forgotten something else, something more important than ear buds.  After I showered and began to get dressed for church, I saw that I had also forgotten to pack clean undies.  

On the way to church we were all starving and I had some extra calories left for the day, so I stopped at Wendy's and got us something from the dollar menu.  Those Jr Cheeseburger Deluxes are soooo good. I took the first bite and squirted ketchup and mayonnaise all over my shirt.  

We made it to church and everything was running smoothly until a huge storm hit and we had to move all of the kids into the hallway.  One little guy thought they were going to play kickball.... poor guy!

It was still raining when church was over and Shaun was still over at North Campus with the youth, so I was in a hurry to get him.  I hurried Chris along so that he could help me walk to the car.  We f-i-n-a-l-l-y were on our way out, almost to the elevator, and I realized that I had left my purse on Chris' desk.  I guess I was too busy hurrying him along to remember my own things.  

When we got home, I just went to bed!  I was ready for the day to me over.  

First Week of "Real" School

Well, Jordan went to "real" school and we all survived the first week.  I say "real" school jokingly...I get so tired of people asking me when the kids are going to "real" school.  As opposed to being homeschooled.  Because, you know, homeschool isn't "real" school, apparently.  

The thing that's been really surprising to me is the amount of opposition we've seen from our homeschooling friends.  I've never been "against" public school...I just haven't liked it for our family.  And Jordan isn't even going to public school anyway, so I'm not sure what the problem is. I have too much to worry about to care very much what anyone thinks, thank goodness. 

So, last Tuesday was his first day.
He was a little excited.

  

He didn't want us to walk him in.  I fought him a little bit, but then decided to just let him have his way.  Keep in mind that this is a very, very small school.  Plus, a friend from church is a teacher there and she just happened to be manning the door at carpool drop off.  We all went together to see him off.  He got out of the car and walked in with his football friend.  We made sure he made it inside and then I cried a few tears as we drove off.  Nothing major, just a little bit of panic.  I wound up texting the football friend's mother to make sure Jordan made it into his classroom.  He did, and she even sent me this picture to prove it:

After we dropped him off, Chris went to work and Shaun, Violet, and I went home.  I was glued to my phone.  I have also never, ever, been more thankful for social media because they posted a picture on Facebook of Jordan's class and he looked so happy.  

The day dragged and dragged.  We all really missed Jordan!  Shaun didn't want to admit it.  Violet, on the other hand, became very excited when 12:30 rolled around and it was time to "go get her Jordan".  Ha ha!  

This is how Jordan felt at the end of his first day:

We're on our second week.  I'm still working on getting our schedule nailed down.  It's strange having to worry about alarm clocks and pickup times.  Having to BE somewhere at certain times.  I've had to adjust.  Jordan has, too.  His teacher has communicated with me that he's doing very well, but that everything is new to him.  That makes sense. He's used to being on his own schedule.  He is also used to me sitting beside him and keeping him on track with his work.  This has been the biggest challenge for him, I think. 

He came home on the first day bursting with little tidbits..."If we have to use the bathroom, we have to get the pass.  There's a bathroom PASS."  And, "At the end of the day we have 'silent 5' where we can't talk or make noise."  And, "Oh some boys got in trouble today.  They were goofing off during reading time.  And that was their recess!  They actually didn't get to go outside because they were goofing off!"

I love that he loves school.  He seems to really love his teacher, too, and he wants to please her. He didn't even mind doing the reading she assigned over the weekend.   

School tires him out.  Between school and football, he's more than ready for bed at 9:00 every night and he's ready to go again in the mornings.  That's a good sign.  I think we made the right choice!

School, teeth, etc.

Things are starting to get busy around our house.  School's about to start.  On Tuesday.  That's when Jordan's school starts, so Shaun and I will just start then, too.  

Shaun's busy with church stuff, choir, his volunteering, and fundraising for church camp.  Football is in full swing for Jordan. I'm trying to get everyone everywhere and still make it to the gym.  I'm tired, and school hasn't started yet!  

Jordan had open house at his new school last week.  He's a lot excited and a little nervous.  

He also doesn't want us to walk him in on the first day.  I say, "We'll see about that".

Shaun woke up yesterday with a swollen jaw.  He had his wisdom removed 5 weeks ago, so I don't really think it could be related to that.  I googled it...just swelling, no pain, hot to the touch... and I think he has an abscess.  Some further research on abscessed teeth put me in a panic and I called his dentist, who doesn't even have an after hours emergency answering service.  I then gave Shaun's oral surgeon a call, who does have an after-house emergency answering service.  The doctor called back in about five minutes, called in an antibiotic, and told me to make an appointment with the dentist tomorrow.  That's what we'll do.  Poor Shaun looks miserable.  I would never post a picture on here, but his cheek is so big.  He says he's not in any pain and he's had a good appetite all day, but he didn't want to go to church today.  I respected his wishes and left him home.  

Of course, we have to have some kind of issue for the first week of school!

Just Slightly Transparent

 A few months ago I decided that I was tired of being fat.  So tired, in fact, that I joined the YMCA.  I have never, ever done such a thing before.  Ever.  Last September I started walking at the track with my sister. I'm pretty sure that the last time I had exercised was back in high school when my PE teacher made me do it.  It's not my thing.  

But, I decided recently that being unhealthy is really the thing that's not my thing.  God didn't create me to be this way.  The Bible says that I am wonderfully made, but the truth of the matter is that I don't feel wonderful about the way I look.  I don't even feel okay about it.  At all.  

So, we joined the gym at the beginning of the summer.  I've been diligent and I'm seeing some results.  Not as quickly as I would like, but I'm making progress.  

Awhile back, I started another blog.  A weight loss blog.  It's honest, and it's private.  I made a deal with myself that I would open it up to the "public" when I hit a certain goal.  I have a long way to go before I hit that goal, but I am getting closer.  And I need some support.  I know lots of people who are losing weight, or attempting to do so.  So, here's what I decided.  If you'd like to read the other blog, send me your email address and I'll send you an invite.  I'm not trying to be cliquey or selective.  I need some camaraderie from people who are going through this with me and I'm just not ready to shout all of my struggles with weight from the rooftops.  Yet.  One day, when I have a weight loss success story to add to my testimony, I most definitely WILL shout it from the rooftops.  

So, this is my attempt to be slightly transparent.  Maybe someday soon I'll be transparent all the way.  :)

Squash!

I don't have a green thumb and I don't garden, but my family does.  This year, especially, they've been overrun with green beans and squash.  So they pass their bounty along to me.  I've been freezing the green beans because my mom's been passing along more than we can eat.  The other day she gave me a bucket of squash that needed to me cooked by the next day.  

Mostly, when I think of squash, I think of frying it.  I love fried squash.  So do my kids.  But that day I didn't have any corn meal or "frying" oil.  Only olive oil, which my Granny says is NOT suitable for squash frying.  

I decided to make a squash casserole instead.  "Casserole" might be stretching it...maybe "Super Easy Squash and Zucchini Rice Dish" would be a better description.  

I used:
1 box of brown rice, cooked.

zucchini and squash-  I don't remember how many I used.  A lot.  Maybe 8?

red onion- maybe 1/2 an onion

1 pack of frozen spinach, cooked and drained

sour cream

pack of ranch dip (I usually use onion powder to season, but I had some extra packs of dip and decided to go with it).

sharp cheddar cheese


I diced the squash, zucchini, and onion and cooked it with Pam until tender.

I mixed everything together in a bowl and then cooked it in a greased casserole dish.  My family devoured it.  Violet ate 4 helpings the first night, and everybody else ate at least two huge servings.  And they wanted it for lunch the next day.   

So easy, and I'm sure I won't be winning any awards for my cooking skills, but my kids ate their veggies and loved them!  I'll definitely be making this again. 

Shopping for School

School starts for Jordan in about 2 weeks.  2 weeks from this Tuesday, specifically.  He's very excited and so am I.  I've been a little sentimental since Spring.  During those rare, quiet moments when I'd be getting lunch ready and the boys would be sitting quietly at the table and the couch, working away, I'd think to myself, "Well, it won't be like this for much longer.  We won't have days like this anymore".  And get a little teary-eyed.  And then, like a snap, the tranquility would end and the fighting would begin and I'd think, "Yup.  Thank goodness it won't be like this for long!".

Ha ha!

In all seriousness, I will miss Jordan like crazy.  Not just him, but the idea of all of us being together.  I'm so happy for him, though.  God answered our prayers and he was accepted into his first choice of schools.  I heard there was only 1 spot open for 3rd grade, so we were all nervous.  I do worry about him adjusting to a "classroom".  I won't say a "typical classroom" because when we visited his soon-to-be class, it didn't seem like a typical classroom at all.  God bless Charlotte Mason and her techniques!  Still, there will be rules and schedules to follow, and Jordan's accustomed to kind of doing his own thing.  I think he'll manage and I also have high hopes that he will thrive in his new adventure. 

Now, on to the main point of this post:  shopping for school supplies.  One of the many things I love about homeschooling is that there is no mad rush to buy supplies.  We school year-round, so we always just replenished our supplies when we needed to.  No mad rush to fight the crowds at Target and Wal-Mart and Office Depot on the Tax Free Weekend.

Jordan's new teacher emailed her school supply list last week and I was pleasantly surprised.  Jordan has never been to school before, but Shaun was in public school for three years.  One of the things that stands out in my memory from his time there is the giant enormity of the back to school supply lists.  I mean, really.  So much stuff!  So expensive!  Thankfully, my mom always helped with our back-to-school shopping.  She helped me this year, too, even though our list wasn't nearly as extensive and long as I was anticipating.  

The kids and I went to Target yesterday and just got it all done.  I let Jordan pick out the things that mattered...his backpack (a Star Wars one that makes noise...really hope this won't be a problem, but it was the only way I could talk him out of the 40 dollar backpack that only cost 40 dollars because of the headphones that came with it), the color of his pencil box, etc.  Then I sent him to the toy aisle with Shaun so I could finish in peace.  Violet and I found everything on the list except for a Prang water color set (I had never heard of these and had to Google it!), a sketch pad, and a nice set of colored pencils.  We'll visit Michael's tomorrow and then the list will be complete.  

Even though the list was short and the Back-to-School aisle at Target wasn't crowded at all, I still felt that crazy rush...darting around trying to find everything on the list in the order in which it appeared to that I wouldn't forget anything.  Thank goodness I was only shopping for one.  I can't even imagine.  Shaun will need some supplies for co-op this year, but not until September.  We'll deal with that later!

All in all, shopping for school supplies was a pleasant experience.  Now let's just see how I hold up on the first day of school.  

The 4th of July. 10 Days Later.

I'm so behind!

We had a pretty good Fourth of July.

Chris went in to work in the morning, but the rest of us slept in. We just lazed around the house all day until 3:00.  Then it was time to cook out at my parents'.  

We had a feast.  Ribs, chicken with special sauce, fried squash, baked beans, green beans from the garden, cake.  Oh, and I contributed some slaw.  Homemade, not store-bought!  I got in big trouble with my mom at a cookout last year.  I went to get cabbage for slaw at the last minute and Kroger was fresh out.  I showed up with store-bought slaw and got a tongue lashing.  

Anyway, the family had a nice afternoon together.  The kids played and the adults talked.  

Later on that night, we went to see some fireworks at a small church near our house.  We've been going there for a few years now.  They put on a pretty impressive display, it's free, and we don't have to fight traffic.  We met up with my sister and her family and a few more friends.  I was sitting in my camping chair, watching my kids run around in a field, playing football with friends while watching fireworks and thought, "at times like this, I really like living in the country."  I guess my friend Kelli is a mind reader, because she looked at me and said the same thing.  Ha ha!   We entertain the idea of moving to Gainesville sometimes, but other times, I like being far out in North Hall.  I didn't take many pictures.  I mostly just soaked everything in.  We did take one of Violet in her 4th of July attire

and this one, the one good shot I could muster of the fireworks with my iPhone.

After the show was over, we hugged our friends goodbye and five minutes later we were back home.  

It was a good day. 

At the library.

I love the library. Always have, always will.  

I even joined the Adult Reading Program at our library.

I only wish that the prize at the end of the summer was a sleepover at the library the way it was when I was a kid.  That sleepover was one of the best nights of my life!

I used to love going to the library with my children, but that's over.  The oldest one sulks because he "only wants to read on his Kindle", the middle one whines to play Minecraft, and the little one... well.  She likes books.  A whole lot.  She loves going to the library and pulling all of those wonderful books off the shelves.  

Going to the library with my little darlings is not fun anymore.  

Lately I've been doing this:  googling books that kids (and teens and adults) like to read, reserving said books, waiting for my email confirming that our books are in, and finally going to the library.  I park by the door, leave the kids in the car, run in and get our books.  

Today, the whole family was together and some of our books came in.  So we all went on the way to the YMCA.  Chris stayed in the car but Jordan wanted to come in.  I knew that some of the kids' books were in.  I had reserved a few for myself, too, but I think they're in high demand.  I picked out a book to hold me over until the book I really want to read came in.  (Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, if you're interested.  I'm on a Gillian Flynn kick.  I just finished Dark Places.  Very scary.  But now I'm hooked.)

We ran into the boys' chorus instructor at the checkout desk and had a nice chat.  The mail man came in with his delivery while we were talking and the librarian had started to check in all of the reserved books that came in.  When we were finally ready to check out, I saw Gone Girl right on top of the pile.  I couldn't help it.  "Oh, is that for me??  I reserved that!" I shrieked at the librarian. I'm so glad that librarians like to read as much as I do.  She didn't even think my excitement was odd.  And, as it turned out, it was my copy of Gone Girl.  Going to read it now. 

And, for the record, I feel so guilty about not actually taking the kids into the library.  This has to change.  I want them to love it as much as I do.  

A new way to bake a potato.

I love baked potatoes.  Ever since I can remember.  I'll eat them with butter and sour cream, but they're even better with a little cheese, some green onion, even some broccoli.

A good baked potato is hard to accomplish, however, without heating up your whole entire kitchen.  In the summertime, anyway.  Microwaved baked potatoes are just not the same, and with temperatures near 90, I just didn't want to use the oven for hours.  I didn't want a baked potato that badly.

I found this recipe on the Crockin' Girls'  website.  I was skeptical.  So was Chris.  In fact, his very words were, "Huh.  I've never known anyone else to cook potatoes in the Crock Pot."  He doesn't like baked potatoes as much as I do.  

I followed the Crockin' Girls' directions exactly, and we came home from the YMCA and piano lessons, the house smelled heavenly.  I was so nervous that the potatoes wouldn't be cooked all the way through since I had bought the big baking potatoes.  I tentatively poked one with a fork and it was perfect.  I made up Violet's potato first... a little butter, some sour cream, cheese, and her favorite, broccoli.  I tasted it and almost fell over, it was so good. My potato was even better since I added some sautéed red onion to mine.  Oh, and salt, of course.   

Everybody loved their potatoes that night.  Even Chris.  There were hardly any leftovers.  

The calories weren't that bad and stuffed baked potatoes are so filling.  We had one extra potato, so I saved it for my lunch the next day.  Instead of heating it in the microwaved, I made a sort of twice-baked potato and heated it up in the oven.  It was as good, if not better, than the original!

I'll never make baked potatoes the "old way" again!

I was so thrilled with my discovery that I posted it on Facebook.  Most people that replied had never heard of such a thing.  I was still talking about our potatoes the next day, too, at my Granny's house.  She told me that she'd been cooking her baked potatoes in the Crock Pot for years.  Ha ha!  I wonder why she never felt led to share this little tidbit with me before?