Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day oftentimes seems under rated.  I mean you hear all about Mother's Day, but not so much for the dads.  While my hubby (favorite daddy) will not be receiving a golf putter or a necktie for Father's Day, we will give him a handmade card, a homecooked meal, maybe even a massage! 

As you can see, Shayla loves her Daddy!  And he adores the ground she walks on! 

Happy Father's Day!

What plans do you have for Father's Day?

More Family Pictures

My oldest daughter, Cassandra, came home this weekend to hit community yard sales to look for some baby things.  We had a wonderful time, despite the hot, humid weather, the violent storms, and not scoring much at the sales.  Since she doesn't know the gender of the baby, it's hard to pick up much.

I wasn't the only one that enjoyed the visit.

Can you Feed Your Family for $25 Per Person a Week

All You is at it again this year.  They are hosting a contest to see if you can feed your family for $25 per person a week.  The winner will receive $1000 grocery card.  Who couldn't use that!

Do I honestly think I have a shot at this?  Personally, I don't know if I will be successful at this or not.   So many of our allergy foods are so expensive.  On the positive side,

• we do have a large stockpile of food that I bought at bargain prices to be used
•  we do cook from scratch
• we will be getting lots of fresh produce from the garden soon.  (This is what probably kills my food budget.  We love raw, fresh fruits and veggies - not frozen or canned.)
• It is summer, we don't tend to sit around and eat as much - too hot.  And we're too busy!
• Morgan spends alot of summer vacation with family.  A teenager eats way more than the rest of us.  Also, we will not have to feed her friends and boyfriend while she is not here!

I am going to attempt this challenge.  Thankfully, it is in the summer when schoolwork is not as structured.  I plan on getting the whole family in on this challenge.

It's a win-win situation.  Even if I am not successful at feeding my family for $25 per person, I will be paying more attention to my menus and budget.  It's bound to bring our food budget down for at least a month.

Are you entering the challenge?  What's your strategy?

Spring Photos

Anyone who knows me, knows another one of my passions is photography.  I'm not the greatest, but I'm always trying. 

I convinced the girls to come outside for some spring pictures.  Actually, the picture session was brought on by Shayla who was whining to her dad that she does not have school pictures like the other girls.  Umm, the Walmart Photo Studio incident is still fresh in my mind from my last attempt at someone else photographing my little sweetie. 

Not bad for an amatuer.  Huh? 

I'm always searching out new poses and backdrops for photos.  Now if I could just find the time to add them to the scrapbooks.

Another Life Phase

I was feeling old enough when my baby turned 9 years old.  And my husband and kids have had much fun lately cracking jokes about all the gray hairs I am getting.  (I kid you not, it's like they've just come out overnight!)

Then I start feeling old again when I realize that Shayla just finished 2nd grade.  And Morgan will be finishing 10th.  That's only two more years that I possibly have with her home. 

Around the end of summer, I always feel old again with Cassandra's birthday (she'll soon be 23).  The girls going back to a higher grade of school, oh, and my birthday.  All within a matter of days. 

Cassandra recently told me the good news that she is expecting.  I'm going to be a grandma!  Wow!  That sounds funny!

Ok, I can handle this!  This is great news!  Now to come up with a hip name for grandma, because after all, I'm not so old, right?

Grandma?  No.  That's my mom and MIL's names.  Granny?  No.  Makes me think of Beverly Hillbillies.  Nanna?  No.  Makes me think of a babysitter.  MaMa.  No.  Just don't like it. 

When discussing this with some friends, Linda came up with the perfect "hip" grandma name:

G-Ma 

I hurried to tell my daughter of this name, because I wanted to claim it before one of the other parents/grandparents did.  Between the both of them they have a large family. 

Cassandra said, "Ok, mom, we'll save that name for you." 

Michael said, "Sounds weird."  (Michael thinks everything we do is weird, so it must be a good fit.)

Now that that announcement has been made, I think I'll go back to counting my new gray hairs.  LOL!

Happy Birthday, Shayla!

Wow, where has time gone!  The baby of the family recently turned 9!  That means she's half-way to adulthood already! 

*Note to self:  Make more time for family fun!  Before they all grow up and move out of the nest.

Make a wish!

Shopping is a Gas!!!

I really did not know what to call this post.  I hope no one gets offended at our family's humor, (or bad manners) but it's just one of those quirky things. . .

Our family has always found humor in gas.  You know, of the bodily function type.

One of the most prized stocking stuffers I bought for all my kids this year, (yes, even the grown ones)
was an electronic fart sound gadget. 

Since then, we have worn out two of these lovely gadgets. And Cassandra and her husband Michael put their keys on theirs and put it into her purse.  It, um, went off often, in public.


With that being said. . .

My husband and girls are very tolerant of my frequent coupon shopping at multiple stores.  In fact, sometimes they are big helps.  Occasionally, however, when we go into big stores, you know the ones, with grocery stores and toy departments.  Hubby and girls ditch the coupon shopping and head for the electronics and toys. 

Recently I was looking for a gallon of paint and I heard a sound from several aisles away.  It was one of those sounds every mother dreads hearing.  When I heard the sound, I knew it was my brood at work. 

My husband had found a self inflating whoopie cushion.  He was secretly making, um, the sounds that whoopie cushions make.  And he used Shayla as a disguise.  Shameless, isn't it!  You see, Shayla likes to "ride the cart" in the front.  He puts the whoopie cushion in the open, but empty child seat, covering it with his hand.  Then they go around a group of people and let one go.  All over the store!  The funny thing is that they keep moving, not slowing down to see the response.  Both of them have an uncanny ability to keep a straight face through the whole ordeal.  Me, I start off with a nervous laugh, then it turns into an uncontrollable laughter.  You know the kind, tears running down the cheeks, gasping for air, but gasping too hard for air, and it turns into a snort.

This is especially popular with teenage kids.  My husband had several teenaged girls chasing us around the store, laughing and pointing.  Later, their boyfriends also joined them in the chase. 

Guess you kind of have to be there.  Maybe someday I'll capture one of their escapades on video.

In the meantime, I think I'll forego the help I get by taking them with me and shop alone!

Have you seen or done anything funny lately?  If so, please share, we all need a laugh!

Sweet 16

Morgan turned sweet 16 in January.  I am so proud of the young lady she has become.  She is very mature beyond her years.  Occasionally, she does get hormonal, but for the most part she has always been the perfect child.  (My mom calls this the Typical Middle Child Syndrome.)


Here she is modeling her birthday gift.  A varsity jacket.  I can hardly believe she's this grown up!  Just two more short years and my middle child will be an adult!

Isn't she a cutie!

Sorry, Morgan, there are no car keys in the pockets!

The back is kind of, well, empty right now.  This spring she will be presented with her first varsity letter. 

Morgan is used to her birthday celebration not being a big deal in our house.  Her birthday falls immediately following Christmas.  In fact, the decorations are usually not put away, yet! 

I learned early on to buy her birthday gifts at the same time as Christmas gifts because many stores sell out of items and don't restock before her birthday.  This year was no exception.  Despite the fact that I placed the order for this jacket weeks in advance, it was still not ready for several days past her birthday. 

Bad mom award, again!

You would think that after 16 years of practice, I would have it together, but does anyone have any pointers for planning birthdays around Christmas time?   

What are the Youth Thinking These Days?

My husband proudly showed his 20 year-old nephew his new NRA membership card.  We joined the NRA for the first time this year because of concerns of our liberties being taken away.

Bryan, his nephew, is an avid sportsman and hunter.  He's had the hunter in him most of his life.  As a boy, he would set traps and catch squirrels, 'coons, and yes, an occasional cat.  He would take our now 15 year-old dog out to the wood and just wait for her to chase something - even something as small as a mouse or snake would have this boy moving wood piles.  He was on a mission!  

Somethings will never change.  Although Duchess (our dog), is too old to do much hunting now, Bryan still loves the outdoors and to hunt.  He has gotten three deer this season. 

Back to my story, with this background in the Great Outdoors, as well as being a frequent shopper of the local hunting/fishing store, Bryan, looks at the NRA card and says,

"Is that to get cheap coffee or what?"

He was confusing the card with a Golden Buckeye card!  You know the card that senior citizens use to get discounts on food and services.  The look on Dale's face when Bryan asked this?  PRICELESS! 

After we all had a good laugh, my husband and I were saddened because this young man seriously did not know what the NRA is.   Much less anything about amendments and rights.   Needless to say, Aunt Calina put on her teacher's hat late in the day to give a brief lesson in history, but it's scary to think how many other young people are out there like that.

Does anyone know of some good, quick sites that that I might use to teach him.  He is very ADHD and his learning style is definately hands-on.  Although he does like most You Tubes?

Autism and the God Connection

*Disclaimer:  Do not read this post if you are closed or even narrow minded. 
Autism and the God Connection:  Redefining the Autistic Experience Through Extraordinary Accounts of Spiritual Giftedness by William Stillman.

I must admit, I did not go to the library in search of this book.  The title seemed to jump out at me when I saw it.  Why? 

From an early age my husband and I noticed differences in our youngest child, Shayla.  We used to say she had an old soul.  She seemed so careful, so wise beyond her years.  She would stand on the sidelines and watch children of her age fall and make mistakes.  Many would say that is because of her perfectionist quality or anxieties, or whatever, but we saw something different.  Words can't describe what we saw in her, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Shayla was the earliest of my three girls to talk.  At 10 weeks old she said, "Good, good girl."  This was something we said frequently to her.  She quickly went through the Mama/Dada stage and by age two was carrying on an adult-like conversation with anyone.  Not like a typical two year old.  Her words were clear, they were said with purpose and could easily be understood by anyone who heard her.

Until one day, between the ages of 2 and 3, she declared, "I don't like people."  She has not spoken in public since.  Obviously, at age two, we didn't know the impact of this statement.  I can't recall any one event that would make her not like people. 

Around this same time, Shayla used to tell us a story about her having a brother in Florida.  Now I know many children have imaginary people in their lifetimes, but this was different.  She had so many details and the details were the same each time.  Not only that, but where on earth did she get the vocabulary that she used?

Shayla claims that she had a brother in Florida, his name is Paul Curtison.  He had a wife named Rosa.  Paul was a sailor that sailed the seven seas.  He fell overboard during a storm and drowned. 

Scary, huh? 

She also used to say that she sat with a man and watched different people and she chose us to be her parents.  Thinking this was just typical toddler talk, I played along and asked why.  She said, "Because I knew you were the right ones, you would understand me." 

Other times she told my older two girls that she was already in her mommy's body, but she let them go first because mommy wasn't ready for her yet.

Sound like a Stephen King movie?  Nope.  This really happened.

At this stage in her life, we did attend church, but were not what I would call a true Christian.  We did not live the life outside the walls of the church.  Not that we were really bad, but we did not teach our children about God and we did not read the Bible regularly.  Sometimes we read a Bible storybook to the children, but not often.  Back in those days, I was lucky to get a shower!  My time was spent homeschooling my two older children and running from one doctor to another, trying to get help for my baby.

As a baby, Shayla would come to life in the church.  During songtime she would stand straight up on my lap and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  She didn't know the words, but she was singing nonetheless.  She truly loved this time, and would fuss if you tried to take her away from it.  Let me rephrase that, it doesn't show the significance.  She threw a terrible fit! 

At that time, the church we were attending was in turmoil, many members left, including us, in search of a more holier church.  We went to another church.  I thought it would be a perfect match since many there were homeschoolers that I knew.  Unfortunately, we didn't attend here long.  They did not embrace Shayla's form of worship.  We were told that she was being disruptive and pastor prefers that children be in the nursery so parents can worship.

Excuse me?!? I won't go there today, I'll save that for another soapbox.

Now you see why the title of the book got my attention.  There are other people like us?  Do all people with autism know God in a more personal way than any of us "normal functioning" people could ever imagine? 

In this book, Mr. Stillman refers to these people as enlightened and gives several stories throughout time of children that seem to have a personal relationship with God, our creator.

Although I was definately drawn into the book because of the name, I found it hard it to be rather dull.  It was slow moving and repetitive.   I was unable to finish the entire book, but may try reading it again at a later time. 

*Interestingly, Shayla has not told anymore of these tales since around the age of five.  This was also the time I started her on the GF/CF diet.  So could the gluten or casein peptides have contributed to this.  Many believe that the peptides cause changes in the opiate receptors, causing hallucinations in ASD children. 

*One more note to add, when Shayla attended preschool at age five, I confided these things with a Lisa, an aquaintenance, who had a boy that was similar in behavior as Shayla.  She told me that she and her husband also described their son as 'an old soul.'  Time and time again he told the same story about how he used to live in Russia. 

So, there's another glimpse from my life - unbelieveable, I know.  That's why I haven't opened up much about our personal life.  In my profile, I describe our family as quirky and dysfunctional.  See what I mean . .

Does anyone else have a similar experience?  Oh please share, and don't make me feel like I'm the only one!

Prepare and Pray

I'm so excited to get this!  I have seen this curriculum being used by several other homeschoolers.  It looks like such practical, but fun skills to teach and learn. 

There was finally a little extra in the budget to make this purchase.  Yay!  I can't wait till it gets here.  I'm excited to see that the accompanying books are sold on Amazon.  I can use my Swagbucks to pay for those. 

I hope to incorporate this into our family time, so that my public schooled daughter, Morgan,  can also enjoy the practical lessons.

Now, has anyone else used Prepare and Pray?  Blessed Assurance?  What do you think of these programs?  Did you do it as part of your daily schoolwork or someother way?  Are there sites that show visual ideas for the lessons?  (I forgot where I seen the lessons originally).  :(   

Brain Lock - OCD

After we received the diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for Shayla, I wanted to learn more about it, as well as, get treatment ideas that we could do with her at home.

I picked up Brain Lock:  Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior by Jeffrey M. Schwartz, MD at the library.

Reading this book made me a little uncomfortable.  Why?  Well, I learned that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.  In fact, maybe Shayla's behavior was either genetic or learned from US! 

Here are the areas that convicted me and made me feel uncomfortable:

List making is a sign of OCD.

What!?!  I need to make lists!  Grocery lists, to do lists (today, in a month, in a year, and someday), meal planning lists, homeschool plans, homeschool curriculum I want to try, websites to check out.  So organization is OCD!  Ok, I'll try to live more spontaneously.

Hoarding stuff is a sign of OCD.

Honestly, I'm not hoarding anything!  I just haven't found the time to declutter.  So like many with the New Year I am starting off on a decluttering frenzy!  Hopefully, the habit continues from here on out.

Seriously, after reading this and then watching some show on tv about hoarding.  I've decided that I need to make time to purge items we no longer need.  I am trying to include Shayla in on this because I think she needs to see that there doesn't need to be an emotional attachment to every object we own, but it's been hard.  I tend to sneak her items in the donate or trash boxes without her knowledge.  She just sees the boxes go.

When doing this, I explain that when we have less stuff, we have more time for fun.  I don't have to move it or clean it.  We have more time to go outside and play. 

Shameless, but it works!

I hope to be able to post my progress to keep me accountable to MYSELF. 

Is decluttering one of your  New Year resolutions?  Have you started?  Do you have any tips to share? 

Another Perspective on Speaking

I've been reading Proverbs lately.  I love to read the wisdom in these chapters.  If it were written today it would probably be called, The Dummies Guide to Living Right.

Anyway, I'm always concerned about my daughter not speaking in public.  It's not that she can't - she won't!  Proverbs 10:19 jumped out at me.  It's from the Good News Bible for Children - Today's English Version.

The more you talk the more likely you are to sin.  If you are wise, you will keep quiet.  Proverbs 10:19

How many times have I been told and told my other two girls, (who are chatty things) if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it!  Or, God gave you two ears and only one mouth.  That means you're supposed to listen more than talk!

Who's teaching who here? Maybe I'm the one who's being taught by a little girl that doesn't want to speak.   I have definately stuck my foot in my mouth because of things I've said!  I think I need to learn to be quiet more!

Happy Birthday, Cassandra!

Happy Belated Birthday, that is.

Cassandra Nicole

August 20, 1987

10 lbs. 2 oz. - 22"

My oldest daughter turned 22 years old this past Thursday!

She is turning into such a fine young lady.

When a child becomes an adult and moves out on their own for the first time, it is a different season. Suddenly you become more like friends than mother/daughter. The teenage rebellion years are gone and replaced with several phone calls a day, seeking wisdom or just calling - because.

Junior Naturalist

We attend many programs at our local state park. I don't know why we didn't do this before. Shayla loves to be rewarded for her accomplishments. When she learned that she could earn a free junior naturalist tshirt by attending nature programs, she was ecstatic!





Me? Not so much!





She only had to attend 15 per summer - 1 hour each programs, including visiting the nature center, fishing, hiking, Nature Detectives and Wild Week programs. ONLY 15! UGH! Where was I going to find 15 hours!?! I took her to the camp store and bought her a state park t-shirt. It was cute. That's a good alternative. Right? Wrong!


But Mom, I want the green t-shirt, the junior naturalist one. You can't buy it - you have to earn it!




Guess I failed again as a mother!


We talked with the naturalist and she gave Shayla credit for the two Wild Week programs she had attended, they were worth 8 of the 15 hours! Then she had record of several nature center visits. So we already had 11 hours!






After attending 2 Nature Detective programs and working 2 hours at the Nature Center - painstakingly carrying water, changing the water in the fish tank, and feeding all the animals.





Yes, even the ones that eat live worms and mice!






The hard work paid off, she got her "free" t-shirt! She is so proud of this shirt!








It wasn't too hard to accomplish, especially since we had already unknowingly completed half of the required time. We also used the time spent at the state park to work on several of her outdoor themed Brownie scout badges!


For her next reward, she is going to start working for a hat, then the bag. Only 30 more hours before the summer is over. Yeah, right, like that's going to happen!

Please Be Patient With Me. . .

I'm sorry I have neglected this blog over the summer. Things have been moving around here faster than I can keep up!


Now, I know everyone has hectic lives, but I'm whining so loudly because summer is usually a much slower season for us, than during the school year.


Our family has a half-acre size garden. I have canned 52 quarts of green beans in only two pickings! Before that there were the pints of peas.


For the first time this year I am using a pressure canner to can. How I love this thing! I'm looking forward to canning some meats, homemade soups, and anything else I can think of. (If I ever have a few spare moments). Anyone have any ideas?


We have decided to try to do a fall planting on some things. I would like to put back more peas.


On the rare occasion that we're not weeding, picking, washing, prepping and canning all that wonderful organic produce, Morgan and I painted her room and decorated it to any teen girls liking. We still have a few finishing touches, but I will post more on that later.


My oldest daughter made it up for several days for a visit. It was so much fun! Well, maybe not for Morgan. Cassandra has been out on her own for several years, when she returns home, Morgan finds it hard to return to being the middle child again. After all, most of the time, she is the oldest now.


Our family has had more than our share of appointments this summer. Shayla went to a special hearing and balance disorder doctor. I wish this doc could have been her pediatrician. She did everything he wanted her to do - except for talk. We were finally able to get a correct diagnosis for her: hyperacusis with unknown origins. If you want to learn more about what this diagnosis is, click on the link. Yeah, we kind of already knew this. Basically, it's a fancy way of saying she over-hears everything. But, we did learn that she has no hearing loss. We were concerned because she has reverted back to frequently covering her ears in public settings again.


The girls also had eye and dental appointments. Morgan, my child that eats way more junk food than I would like had no cavities, Shayla, my child that religiously brushes her teeth (and I help), and has never had a soda pop, sugary cereal, a piece of pie, and eats a very healthy diet, had 4 cavities. WHERE'S THE JUSTICE THERE?


She has already had two filled and did fine. The next two will be done the end of the week.


Morgan had drivers education this year. She is doing her hours with her instructor this week. Oh, but we still have to find the time to drive 48-1/2 more hours with her before she can get her license! Ugh! That's hard to do because it has to be a time when it's only her and a parent in the car.


Morgan has also started fall sports. Cheerleading practices 2 evenings a week and Saturday and marching band starts next week. There goes my computer time for the next few weeks.


Shayla and I were able to attend all the summer reading programs at our library. She even got her weekly prizes. It was more fun for her this year because she read some of the books herself.


We also attended 2 sessions of Wild Week at our local State Park. I love the nature programs they put on. They always include a lot of hands-on things to play and crafts to do, pertaining to the lesson. Shayla was motivated to earn a Junior State Park Naturalist tshirt. To earn the tshirt, we have to spend a total of 15 hours at the park doing various activities. She has earned 12 hours to-date. If we attend Nature Detectives each Saturday for the rest of August, she will earn her free tshirt!


The girls got their Girl Scout projects judged last week. Their troop painted and decorated little wooden birdhouses for our fair booth.

At fair judging, the judge was very understanding of Shayla's unique disabilities and I was so grateful that she judged her project based on her capabilities, not on the apperance of the birdhouse. At the interview, Shayla was enthusiastic. She made eye contact and was friendly. She would quickly nod her head appropriately. The interviewer knew us from nature programs at the park and asked mostly yes and no questions. Shayla received an A grade on her project, Morgan received a B grade.


Ready for fair. Check!


Oh, and this week is our VBS. We are doing Rome: Paul and the Underground Church program. Let's just say that Michelle and her kids have done an awesome job of painting scenes and making props to make this the best VBS yet. I hope to share photos later!


And another thing I'm doing is working on lesson plans. I decided to write much of my own curriculum using library books and internet sites and combining many of the various homeschool books I already had on hand. I am one of those rare homeschoolers that write them for an entire year. If I don't get to it in the summer, there's not a slower season! I need to get going on that! I wanted to start slowly next week. Nothing like a little pressure there!


So, since I'm out of the loop, what has everyone else been up to this summer?

Debt Free Living

Several years ago, our family became debt-free. What a blessing that has been in these troubling times.


There are many people that will tell you their way to get out of debt. Usually they want to sell you the latest, greatest product. I'm not saying that their products are bad, but most of becoming debt free is common sense and for Christians it it Biblical.

• All debts must be repaid Psalm 37:21 says: “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” The conclusion from this verse is obvious: if you borrow money, you have no alternative but to repay all amounts borrowed. If you do not, by definition you are what the Bible calls “wicked.”
• Rom. 13:8: "Owe no man any thing."
• Proverbs 22:7 says: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Folks, there is no easy way! We attacked our debt much like you would eat an elephant, one bite at a time. Take a good look at wants and needs. What do you really need? Can you cut back in anyway?

I like Dave Ramsey. I like his "gazelle intesity" and "debt snowball" approach to paying off debt. Did you catch his Town Hall Meeting this past spring. Most of it was just plain common sense. I did not agree with him in several areas. For example, he thought that if you were unemployed, you should be spending your time volunteering. IMHO, that's not the best advice. Personally, I believe there are some things you should do before you volunteer your time. First off, get on your knees and ask God to open your eyes to where you can trim your budget. Then, listen. You might be surprised where He'll lead you!

Next, get online and find like-minded individuals or forums.

• Waste Nothing Group - Just as the name says, they help you find uses for things that you can use again. This is good for the budget and environment.
• Radical Debt Elimination Group - Click on the yahoo link to join from this page. This forum is a valuable tool to ask questions and encouragement on your road to becoming debt free. Sometimes other members challenge your thinking about what is a want vs. a need. For example there was a long thread on family wipes. In case you don't know what a family wipe is, it..um..is a different idea of toilet paper. 'Nuff said. Google it if you want more info.
• Dollar Stretcher - Has a treasure trove of information.

I'm sure there are many other sites. Educate yourself and your family. After this step...Then by all means volunteer, it's a great social networking tool. But, on the other hand, if you live in a rural area, and have to drive to volunteer. It doesn't make sense to me to drain your expenses even more by running the roads unnecessarily. Sorry if you disagree, but to me it's common sense. It takes money from the unemployment benefits budget (which is already smaller). It takes money for gas, wear and tear and upkeep on the vehicle, and insurance.

Perhaps you could sell that vehicle to apply toward your debt!

I'm not bashing Dave Ramsey, in fact, those were the only areas we disagree on.

I like Crown Financial Ministries, too. They have the envelope system. Basically, you create a budget and put cash in the envelopes. When the money is gone, you stop spending.

I like this approach, but don't do the envelopes system because I like the perks from using our debit card.

Radical Debt Elimination is the story of the Boynton's. It has encouraging stuff to read. This family with 9 - yes 9 children is debt-free.

Living on a Dime has a lot of ideas in their achives.

We used all these sites as tools. I don't want to be associated as a Dave Ramsey follower or a Crown Ministry follower, or whatever the latest fad is. I am a follower of Jesus and I believe that as Christians we are called upon to radically, live like no others in all areas of our lives - including financially.

Do you know of any other good debt-free or frugal websites or blogs. Or do you have any other good stuff to add about Christian finances? Please share.

The Next Jurassic Park Actress

On a recent trip to the zoo, Morgan was hanging out of, I mean, hanging out with the prehistoric animals. . .

Morgan is such a funny kid. Last week after she finished her last driver's ed class, I asked her,

"Who's the momma? I got you to driver's ed classes and worked on painting and organizing some of your room today."

Morgan replies, "It'll buy you a nice nursing home."

Not to be outwitted by a 15-year old, my comeback, "Make sure it's a gluten-free one."

HA! HA!

Mis-Matched Socks

Call me old-fashioned, but I must say, I don't understand, nor appreciate the one of the new fashion trends in today's pre-teen and teen girls clothing.





Unmatched Socks!


Recently we went shopping at the mall and my girls each picked a pack of socks. My girls love new socks, but that's a whole new topic.


Anyway, we get them home and there were 3 socks in the pack. Not 3 pairs. Three individual socks. Each one sporting a different design than the others. One striped, one polka dotted and the other with a monkey on it.


Of course Morgan knew that there were only 3 individual socks. She failed to point that out to me though, because everyone knows you buy socks in pairs, right? In fact, when I got home and discovered that each girl only had 3 socks, I vaguely remembered a conversation I had with Morgan. She told me not to throw away both socks from a set because only one had a hole in it.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I still like those. Besides everyone wears unmatched socks."

I didn't fully grasp the meaning. I thought she had another sock to match that one sock or that she meant that people didn't match the color of their socks with their outfits anymore.

Ugh! Excuse me! As a consumer I am mad that the newest trend in girls clothes not only makes them look stupid for wearing them, but me for buying them.


My girls, they think they are cool! Me, I would like to hide when they so proudly wear them with their summer crocs and sandals. If someone comments on their mismatched socks, I will probably proclaim my girls to be rebelling, making a statement, finally making choices about their own dress, expressing their creativity, or they must have been in a freak accident that makes them suffer from color blindness, or they had to wear these sock combinations because they were too lazy to do their own laundry.


Have you ever fallen for false advertising or misrepresentation of a product? Please share your stories.

Summer Fun Activities

So far this summer has been kind of a disappointment. It definately has not went as I planned. We haven't been able to do anything spur of the moment. Morgan has had driver's education for 4 hours a day 3 days a week.

Despite this schedule, we have found the time to continue to attend Crocodile Rock Children's Church.

The snack looked so cute, I took a picture of it!

Gametime!

As you can see, we've had a lot of fun!

Nature Detectives at the local state park. The topic was bugs. Because June is the month of graduations and baby showers, we've only gotten to attend one.

She made the dragonfly at Nature Detectives and the butterfly at Crocodile Dock.

We've also attended two programs at a library:

The Spoon Man. He puts on a fun musical show and shares how his daughter was cured of cancer at St. Jude's Hospital.

Harpbeat

This was perfect timing. We were just working on/finishing up our Brownie badges for music, countries and cultures. Donna introduces geography, foreign language, and music instruments from around the world.

*We were debating on whether or not to attend this show since we've been so busy lately. I googled the performer before attending the show. Shayla did better with her behaviors because of the familiarity factor. On the Harpbeat website we were even able to listen to clips of the CD we bought at the show!

*Another thing we've been doing is attending the evening shows when possible. This is because it is not nearly as crowded as the afternoon session. Local daycares usually pack the place in the afternoon - the noise and confusion level is high.

And a few visits to the playground.



What fun things are you spending your time doing with your families?