Blogging Sabbatical???

It seems, without even officially planning it, that I have been on Sabbatical. And in some ways that has been VERY good(more on that later). I have missed it, but before our trip I was spending way too much time not only on my own blog...but also visiting each of your blogs. In the middle of all that, I realized I was missing out on my own life while I was enjoying yours.
That is one reason why Twitter(I'm LaughingMomma if you twitter too!!!) works well for me. I am able to capture some great family moments and times of reflection without having to immerse myself in the blog world. It of course didn't help that we had our big trip/adventure right in the middle of it all, and now summer is upon us and my baby niece Presley is about to make her grand entrance very soon, all of which have been occupying my time away from the blogosphere.
Here is a quick update on all things ALOL:
Big Daddy is going to be the BIG 40 in just a few weeks. I had a surprise party for his 35th, and I think this year we will just do a family dinner. He wants, of all things, an old fashioned ice cream maker. I am usually "anti" appliance when it comes to gift giving...after all I was the recipient of a new stove one year for Christmas....and that did go over so well. But that is a whole other post.
The Beez is READING!!!! WOO WHOO!!! All of you who homeschool can probably understand the frustration of striking out when it comes to reading. It usually starts off great with them getting short sounds and reading every three letter word around. Then when you throw them a curve ball with long sounds, multiple rules, and special sounds and they just give up. I am pleased to say that we have rounded the bases and she is now reading everything with great success.
Snake is back to his old self. Which is such a good thing. While we were on our trip
it seemed like every time we had to get on to one of the kids...it was Snake. But once we got back on Mississippi soil he was back to his flying under the radar self. On a positive "note" he has started tinkering on the piano, so we decided to start him taking lessons with my Grammy. I'll keep you posted on his progress
Crack is in the tail end of baseball. Its been a good year but admittedly, I am counting down to the final game on opening day. I love watching my kids play sports...I just hate the time it keeps us away from home. Crack also moves up to the Youth this summer, which is good in that He and Snake will be separate. But that also means that we will have twice as many activities on our calendar.
As for me, well I am just ready to grab a book and hit the pool and the lake. That is the best thing about all the kids swimming....I can actually relax instead of having to "play" the entire time. So leave me a comment with your summer reading suggestions...cause I am definitely in the market for a summer reading list.

It's Good to be Back Friends

It would be impossible to to recap our last month in just one post, so I won't even try. But I will say that our long awaited vacation was no vacation, but really a 17 day long field trip. We saw just about every monument, memorial, and museum in DC and of course hit all the big spots in NY too. We had a lovely time visiting with my Dad and his fiance Ann while in NY and then with good friends Brian and Lauri while in DC.

The trip was more than I could have imagined if I had not put all the hard work into the thing in the first place. So instead, it was everything I imagined and more. the kids were, as a whole, super troopers. The Beez only complained once about all the walking...and truthfully it was the same time we were all complaining. Walking the Mall in DC-twice- before lunch on the hottest day of the year, with hungry kids was one of the few lapses in parental judgement we made...but in the end it was all good.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved NY. I especially loved Tarrytown, where my Dad and Ann live. It was not only beautiful, but cozy as well, something I thought impossible in NY. I also loved riding the Metro. Goodness, I could get use to that. And the view along the Hudson was something to behold.

As for DC, is was breathtaking. Big Daddy and I are already planning a return trip without the kiddos. the history and beauty of our blessed country was a treat in and of itself. The Smithsonian Museums left me wanting for more and yet completely satisfied as well.

I have so much more to share, and I hope to do so soon. thank you for checking in with us and I hope to catch up on your blogs as well very soon.

P.S. Cracks surgery went perfect. he has the best looking broken nose I have ever seen...you wouldn't know it if I didn't point it out to you.

Best to you and yours!!!

Jedi's, tree limbs, and baseball

I have been working on a post all week long, but with family visiting and trying to get school completed before our vacation it has been difficult to find the time.

But...... then we had drama last night and into today and I couldn't NOT share it with you all.

Last night as small group came to an end, Snake comes rushing into the house yelling, "Hurry, he's hurt!!!"

As we make our way to the front yard, sure enough, Crack is laid out in the front yard face down. He is scream-crying...you know sobbing and screaming at the same time, making no sense at all. We finally got out of him that Snake had busted him in the face with a TREE BRANCH.

After getting him to his feet we see that he took it right across the bridge of the nose, but that the skin was not broken and he wasn't bleeding.

We made it into the house just as the bleeding started from inside his nose, and then I feared the worst...it was broken.

After a call in to our Ped she assured me that we could wait till morning to be seen, so we iced it, gave him some Tylenol and went to bed.

Now, honestly, when I saw it this morning I thought, 'boy am I glad I didn't take him to the ER last night' because it really didn't look that bad. I mean, for taking a tree limb to the face, it was only slightly swollen, and barely bruised. If you didn't know him you might not even notice anything at all. But, I still wanted to get it checked out so we headed to the Ped this afternoon.

The Xray confirmed the break, and our PED consulted with the other Drs on duty and determined that the break was not that worrisome, but that a possible deviated septum (sp?) was more alarming. After all FOUR doctors on site poked around it was decided that we see a specialist.

Lucky for us, we were able to see the same Doctor that had put tubes in Snakes ears years ago. This man is a hoot!!!! Loud, rowdy, country, and spot on when it comes to ENT cases.

We were sent right over and when he came in he immediately was more concerned with the break than with the deviated septum. He said it looked a "little smushed" so he ordered a CT of Cracks head....and it came back that the poor boy's nose is broken in 5 places!!!!

For fear of messy healing we are headed to surgery next week, just before we leave on vacation. My careful planning of the days leading up to our departure have just been kicked in the teeth and I am now scrambling to make adjustments.

The two best parts of the story I saved for last. Big Daddy is not happy with Snake for breaking his brothers nose and last night(even before we confirmed the break) he decided to give Snake an ear full. I kid you not it started like this:

Big Daddy: "Snake, you are NOT a Jedi. You do NOT have special powers. You can NOT stop objects with a force field......"

I completely lost it. I had tears in my eyes...mainly because Big Daddy was being spot on serious. He was not kidding. He really felt like Snake needed to be made aware of his human limitations. It was HILARIOUS!!!!

Then at the doctors office, after we scheduled the surgery, I asked the doctor about baseball. He said, "oh, ya by the time you guys are back from your trip he will be as good as new."

I replied "oh, OK, that is great, but I was kind of referring to our 6pm game TONIGHT."

He laughed and said, "of course he can play ball. What's he gonna do? break his nose again? Anything he does between now and surgery, I can fix....so let him play ball."

And so we did. Crack caught all 6 innings and had three hits to boot.

Reflections of 36

In celebration of my recent birthday I thought I would share 36 things I know for sure. Although they are in no order of importance, I can assure you that these are merely truth from my vantage point....36 years in the making.

1. Every year has been better than the one before...without exception.



2. Nothing beats In-N-Out Burger....nothing.



3. I love the quiet of the early morning, but I will forever be a night owl.



4. Thankfully the Lord doesn't care that I can NOT carry a tune...He accepts my worship no different than Chris Tomlin or Michael W Smith.



5. I heart feeding people, actually cooking for them, it brings me joy.



6. T.V. is highly over rated.



7. When your Beloved loves your body, it is easier for you to love it.



8. Homeschooling is worth every hair I've pulled out.



9. Having a great and satisfying relationship with 5 of my sisters, doesn't make up for the awful relationship(really lack of any relationship ) with my the other one.



10. Big Daddy's easiest ticket to lovin....it's a tie between emptying the dishwasher and rubbing my back.



11. Three isn't such a bad number.



12. I'd rather have $60 bucks to live on for a week and have every bill paid, than to have money in the bank and have creditors calling.



13. I enjoy being a Jack of all trades, and a master at none, although in my youth it aggravted me to no end.



14. I am blessed to stay home and never take it for granted. I jokingly tell BD when he calls that I am busy 'living the life of luxury' that his hard work affords me. But really, I am only half joking.



15. While I appreciate modern media I do not and will not EVER regret NOT allowing our kids to have a cell phone or a Facebook acount.



16. RE: #13...if I am a master of anything it is cake...I can make a cake that will make you wish you never had the first bite...and cupcakes too. I can make people who HATE cake not only love it but fight over it. Yes, it is that good.



17. I am "that Mom" at the ball field who cheers so loud you don't want to sit by me. But, in my defense, I am also cheering on behalf of "that other Mom" who sits in the stands talking on her cell phone or reading a book. I cheer for every kid....loudly.



18. A beautifully remodeled kitchen gets just as messy as the old, outdated one....but I still wouldn't want my old one back.



19. There is great freedom in throwing things out.



20. Gardening speaks to me. And I speak back.



21. One of my proudest "Mom" moments is when I witness my chidren being a good friend to someone else.



22. Big Daddy completes me...and he did even before Jerry Maguire.



23. Nothing beats having family in my backyard.



24. I love that Bid Daddy brings me coffee on Sunday mornings when I am getting ready....even though I usually don't drink it till I get in the car.



25. When no one is home and I am folding laundry or cleaning up, iCarly keeps me company.



26. Never underestimate the power of a good hair day. It can change your perspective



27. I could live life as a Hermit and be happy. I love being home that much.

Note to Big Daddy

Dear Big Daddy,

Here is a review of your weekend activities:

Cleaning out my car...loved it!!!!

Mowing the grass....loved it!!!!!

Sleeping in with you Saturday morning....loved it!!!!

You washing ALL the dirty laundry....hated it!!!!!

Note for further weekend help....feel free to lend a helping hand whenever you feel like it. UNLESS, of course you ever feel like washing clothes again. There is no greater defeat for a Monday morning than a bedroom floor covered in CLEAN laundry.

While I appreciate "the Love", I can name a hundred other ways that wouldn't stress me out all day Monday.

Love you,

Hot Momma

Finally Truth

In an effort to NOT have every area of our life out there on the Internet I have been amiss in telling you that Big Daddy has been gone for THREE weeks!!!! I know, three weeks is a long time, but the Lord was faithful. He not only timed this trip perfectly as to not interfere with our upcoming NY/DC trip, but also provided it as a way for us to save some extra money for the trip as well.

While Big Daddy was gone, I was busy, like I shared with Spring Cleaning!!!! And let me just say, that Spring has officially Sprung!!!! It has been so nice to live without all that clutter and to have a place for everything and everything in its place. The other bonus, and hence another reason I have been absent from blogging, is that with the house in tip top order, I have had time to catch up on some reading.

The kids and I also did a whole week of immersion study, which basically meant that we set aside our normal studies in Math, Lang, Science and History, and focused on a few specific areas of study instead.

The holocaust was one of them. We will be visiting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum while in DC, and I did NOT want to just show up and my kids have no idea what it was all about, and then be both shocked and confused. Our time studying the holocaust, was breathtaking. Literally, it took my breath away both with its horror and with its hope.

We read many first hand accounts, watched The Hiding Place, and entered into great discussion about what happened, why it happened, and how it should alter our world view.

I was so pleased with all of the kids....and I felt like each one, on their own level, really gained a sense of the scope of the tragedy.

I have also been busy with choosing our curriculum for next year. Homeschooling is an evolving learning experience for all involved, and I go to great lengths to tweak our learning environment every year. This year is no different, and I am once again taking stock at what really worked for us and what needs to be altered.

One thing that we won't be changing is Math-U-See....we love MUS and I can with great certainty say that this will be our math text of choice for the years to come. It definitely took time to adjust because it is NOT like anything we had ever used prior, but the adjustment was well worth it and we are now converts.

Along with all of that I have also been busy planning our upcoming NY/DC trip. Our house is busting with excitement. The Beez spends hours looking at her American Girl catalogue trying to decide which one she wants...which changes daily as well as every time we read one of the books...I feel she is going to break the bank...but for a five year old, American Girl is probably going to trump any museum or memorial, and I am okay with that.

The boys are excited about the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center site, and Mount Vernon. All in all, I think it will be the perfect family vacation. Big Daddy wants to eat at some great hole in the wall diners with humongous hamburgers...seriously folks, like 3, 5, 8 & 15 POUNDERS!!!! And, me, well I am looking forward to the Statue of Liberty and a Broadway show.

Anyway, so there you have it...Big Daddy gone for three weeks, spring cleaning, reading, vacation planning and gardening.

What have you been up to?

Manna for the today...

Thank you Lord for giving me just enough for today...so that I would not waste your gift in the storehouses of my own grip. Thank you for the freedom that comes with trusting you daily and not just in the BIG picture of my life.

Oh, that I would trust you even more....