A busted radiator hose, the ultimate Thankful Thursday, and cock-a-doodle-doo

I'll begin with the continuing saga of the van and our anniversary. Remember how the police rang our doorbell at 2:30 on Wednesday (maybe it was to prepare us for the roosters, but I'll get to that later). Well maybe if they hadn't told us, our battery may have been dead in the van in the morning, and I'd have taken the much more reliable CRV to take the kids to get their Christmas picture taken. But alas, the battery was alive and well, so we headed out of town to get the kids pictures taken. First off what self respecting homeschooler brings her kids to get their pictures taken on the day before Thanksgiving, when all of the "building school" kids are there...but again I digress. Anyway we made it through the madhouse of the portrait place and got about half-way home when smoke started pouring out of the hood at an alarming rate, and the temperature gauge soared past the H!! I panicked, pulled over and called my husband to rescue me and the kids. Thankfully, he was able to come to our aid with a roll of duct tape and a big bottle of antifreeze. It was a frigthening ride back home (and we had to pull over and re-tape a few times), but we made it to the garage safely.


We had a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving with my parents, some friends of theirs, way too much yummy food, and a few lively games of "oh crap".



Sadly, by the time someone got around to taking a picture of the turkey, this is what it looked like...


My parents live on a quiet street in a nice beach community. A few weeks ago the man across the street rescued two roosters who were going to be killed (although I'm sure he eats chicken). When my parents first told me this, my response was, "Oh you mean chickens, like for eggs?" No just two LOUD roosters. Now these two roosters have the run of the quaint beach street and cock-a-doodle-doo-ed their heads off to wake us up the last two mornings long before the sun rose-- just after 5am this morning! I am really tired today!

14 years ago today...

I married my best friend! Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow!

So here it is our anniversary and I'm blogging at 3am...why? Because 30 minutes ago our doorbell rang. It was a police officer saying there have been kids opening car doors and stealing stuff and our van overhead light was on and the glove compartment was open. Mike went out and checked and it doesn't look like anything was taken. I guess no one wanted any kids' meal toys, crumpled up paper, stepped on books and scripts, jackets, shoes, or trash! Actually I don't think anyone even tried, Madi went out to get something out of the car last night and she must've left the light on. The glove compartment opens on its own because the car is a 1995 and falling apart little by little.

That's why I am up and blogging in the middle of the night. If you're up and reading this in the middle of the night, or even in the middle of the day when you're supposed to be doing something else...you might want to go to my friend's blog and read about what great friends we are blessed with.

I'm realizing that I need to explain things to my kids more than I do. I've noticed lately situations where I didn't tell them what was going on just because I thought they should know. I probably do this with everyone and not just my kids. For example on Friday evening the kids had an extra hour of Theatre to practice for up coming "performace troupe" events. When Mike and I got there to pick them up, Jake was just milling around the Theatre ( I don't usually use that word "milling", but it seemed to fit here.). He didn't realize that he was supposed to be learning the songs and dances too because I don't think I even told him specifially what was going to take place. Then yesterday I read the beautiful thing that OBM wrote about Madi and her friends to Madi and later she said something about what was written on "Mom's blog"...I just read it to her, I never told her who wrote it. I need to stop assuming people know what I'm talking about (or not talking about as the case may be).

Well now it's 3:30 and I'm still awake. Mike was sneezing and blowing his nose a ton last night and Jonathan has gone from blowing his nose every second to coughing...tis that time of year!

The kids are getting a Christmas picture taken tomorrow, and our Christmas cards arrived yesterday. In about 4 days I've gone from being way behind on Christmas to being (dare I say it?) a little ahead of the game.

Have you noticed I'm using words and phrases that I don't usually use? I guess that's what happens when you blog in the middle of the night.

OK, I guess I couldn't wait!!

For Today...November 24th

Outside my window...it is another beautiful Florida morning!

I am thinking...I want to put a Christmas background on my blog, but I'm trying to wait until after Thanksgiving (we cleaned up and "set the stage" for Christmas decorations in the house, but they probably won't be out until Friday).

From the learning rooms...Jonathan's supposed to finish his math book this week (we'll see...), Thanksgiving stuff, and we're thinking about a Victorian/Turn of the Century lapbook.

I am thankful for...sooo many things, we are blessed!

From the kitchen...ribs in the crockpot last night, I'm not sure about today. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house, I'm making bread, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin chocolate chip cheesecake (and cookies for the crazies who don't think they'll like pumpkin chocolate chip cheesecake).

I am wearing...White silky jammies (why was it in the summer I was always dressed and now I always have my jammies on?--Actually I know why, it's because in the summer I was driving the kids all over the place in the mornings to Theatre, kidscollege etc...now we're "just home")

I am reading...Summer of the Swans--after reading Bridge to Terabithia last week I checked out a bunch of Newberry Medal books at the library (for myself).

I am hoping and praying...that things start looking up for my brother and his family, they still can't get in their house after the tear-gas incident from 2 weeks ago!

I am creating...boxes of Christmas presents to be shipped, and a creative Christmas letter is in the planning stages, it is hard this year because I feel like I blog a Christmas letter almost everyday!

I am hearing...Jonathan on his computer next to me and Madi and Jake eating breakfast downstairs.

Around the house...already washed and hung out Jake's pee-soaked bedding (that's going to have to stop!!). Cleaned off the bookshelf and hutch to make room for Christmas.

One of my favorite things...Disney passes...we're probably going today just because we can.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Our 14th Anniversary on Wednesday, Thanksgiving at Meme and Grampa Carlie's, and probably shopping and getting our tree on Friday!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...Jake always "licks his chops" and when it gets cooler outside this is what he looks like...




It's really not hard to do the daybook simply go here.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia was tonight. Madi played 6 year old MayBelle. She had to be an annoying little sister, and she was great!! She continues to amaze me with her talent. She and the rest of the cast, performed this show after only 5 rehersals. Not to mention, she is still working on Annie which will be performed in mid December. Oh, and she had a part to play in the "little kids'" show this afternoon, and there will be a lot of "performance troupe" events coming up including her solo "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". I've been giving her a break from math for the last month...I don't know how she does it all!!

Nature Center Field Trip

We're making up for no school yesterday. Jake did his schoolwork early this morning and Jonathan and Madi are doing theirs now. In addition to that we had a very informative trip to the Nature Center today. The topic was spiders and we saw some spiders and played two different games about spiders. Because nature is unpredictable we also saw many other things like...I was trying hard to remember the names of everything I think this is called creeping aster.


We saw tons of these walking sticks. They are also called devil riders, they spray acid to protect themselves.


A red shouldered hawk...


Beauty berries...

This is called salt bush or "Florida snow" and something else more technical too, but those were the names I remembered.


Spanish needles...


AND.......

Catch up pictures

Dot and Paul came down for a few days about two weeks ago. They are coming back on Christmas Day, we are all happy about that!





Look what the sun can do! Florida sun is strong that's why I've had 3 different skin cancers removed !



The daughters from the mother-daughter book club. We just finished reading the Witch of Blackbird Pond, now we are going to do Tuck Everlasting.


On Saturday night the boys were at a sleepover and Mike and I took Madi on a special date to the Melting Pot. We had a gift certificate from American Express points.



Sunday at Disney...






The hot air balloons that we saw the other day...

No school today...

...it's just not happening. Yesterday was an extememly full, fun day and sadly I took no pictures. We had a great Catholic book study meeting with great discussions and neat crafts for the kids and I am very frustrated that I took no pictures. This blogging obsession has almost gotten to the point where I feel like if I have no pictures it didn't really happen. I also sometimes feel like as soon as an event is over I better blog about it or I feel like I'm hiding something. It's a sickness, right? I think I am definitely addicted. Speaking of sickness I just found out someone who was at the meeting has strep throat which is stressing me a little because Madi has Bridge to Terabithia this weekend. I've swallowed a hundred times since hearing that trying to make sure my throat is OK.

Yesterday continued with a two part Mom's night (Thai food--[I also found out someone who was there may have gotten food poisoning---news travels fast on the internet!!]-- then dessert at my house until all hours of the night) in honor of a dear friend who is moving away! This Mom was one of my first friends here and we have a long history together. It just won't be the same without her and her family!! I took no pictures of that either. We did have four hot air balloons out our front window yesterday in the small amount of time we were home, and Madi did get some pictures of those, but I'm too tired to put them on the computer right now.

So anyway, no school today. Madi did babysit this morning and we did some art, so the morning wasn't a total loss. Jake's school work is on the table all ready for him, but I'm pretty sure we won't get any farther than that. This afternoon Madi and I are going to a presentation on Laura Ingalls Wilder and then all three kids will have 3 hours of Theatre, so we certainly aren't taking a "day off", but as all of you homeschoolers know it is getting to be that time of year where if we give up on our curriculum now, it'll be mid-January before we look at it again...it's a slippery slope! I'm going to try to hang on a little longer.

And just to throw in a little humor that I know at least a few of you will appreciate...Jake was coloring with colored pencils earlier and he was reading the colors as he was choosing his pencils, then he said, "Speaking of light brown, I have to go poop!"

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY November 17th...

Outside my window...It is clear and chilly. I had to help Mike move cars around when he left this morning and there was actual ice on my windshield. It's weird though because there wasn't frost anywhere else.

I am thinking...UGH Monday morning! I usually like Mondays, but I'm tired and slow this morning because the weekend was so full...and the week will be too!

I am thankful for...the amazing community of friends that we have.

From the learning rooms...Busy week ahead,Catholic book study/ Saint study today, Nature center field trip Wednesday, I'm not sure how this will affect our actual "curriculum schoolwork", but there is sure to be a lot of learning going on.

From the kitchen...When I'm done here I need to quickly make "pumpkin stuff" for two different events today, I already made brownies last night (if you'll be at either of those events you're in for these yummy treats). As far meals go, I'm not so sure. We do have lots of food in the house, just not much time home to prepare it. (we saved $85 at Publix on Saturday...spending $117...Mike is the KING of grocery shopping!)

I am wearing...jammies, socks and my bathrobe.

I am creating...desserts.

I am going...crazy...wanna come?

I am reading...Bridge to Terabithia...Madi will be MayBelle in a one night only performance of it on Saturday.

I am hoping...the week is not as crazy busy as it is shaping up to be.

I am hearing...from Madi's room--I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas which she will be singing at the big light up event in two weeks. From Jonathan's room--zradio, yet Jonathan is in my room watching TV. Jake's still asleep.

Around the house...we weren't here much this weekend, might not be home much all week.

One of my favorite things...the Christmas Season which is fast approaching and new peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes from Chick-fil-a.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I'm just going to take each day as it comes...they are all going to be very full days. Mike is going to be out of town for a few days which I hate, but so many husbands lately are going (or living) much farther away for much longer periods of time, so I'm not going to complain (not to those Moms anyway!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Math with M and Ms!


You, too, can participate in the Simple Woman's daybook by going here.

Spa night

Madi and the other "T&T" girls earned their AWANA sleepover from memorizing a set amount of Bible verses. It was a spa night, and it was last night. I helped out for a little while and gave a bunch of foot massages. You can tell a lot about a girl by her feet. The night included...

A fancy dinner...

Footsoaking...

Hairdressing...

A little modeling...

Cucumbers on the eyes...

Now a "sleep mask" craft...



If you look back to August, you'll see many of these same girls doing the same thing. It seems like the girls get a lot more "spa treatment" than the Moms...what's wrong with that picture??!