An Old Memory Served Like Sweet Tea

This was the riddle we got a few weeks back. Jon came home telling the kids and I he had a surprise for all of us. He was so sweet and fun to give us a riddle.

An old memory served like sweet tea.

What?

I even posted it on facebook to get help from my friends.

Friday when Jon got home we all piled in the van. . . here are the surprisees (well minus one, but I was taking the picture) Jon had also told us that I would probably like it most, then the girls, and Alec would probably like it, but would pretend like he doesn't.

Here is the surpriser.
I just love, love, love surprises. I actually thought it was in a totally different town. When Jon started heading south, I was totally clueless as to where we were going.

About 10 minutes away, Alec and I saw a billboard advertising.

An old memory - Disney World - we've been (I think??) 9 times.

Served like sweet tea - how is sweet tea served? Cold - cold as ice.

Disney on Ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was E-C-S-T-A-T-I-C!!!
This is a show we've all wanted to see for many years now, but just never wanted to spend the money.
It was fabulous.
You'd think our kids would be too old for it now, but they really enjoyed it.
The skaters were so.very.talented.




What a great time we had. I'm so very thankful for such a thoughtful, sweet, and fun husband. He gave us a night we will remember. . . Memories are precious. It's something that can't be taken away from you!

From Target Lady to Bag Lady

Well, this year Ash really wanted to take part in our traditional Black Friday shopping. After much persistence, I decided to give in. Not really, I love being with my kids, so I was delighted for Ash to join mom and I. Kris was out this year being that she's a little busy taking care of 2 babies.

Here's Ash's reaction when I told her she got to go.

Well, Hanna from the get-go said she wanted no part it in. She said she was exciting about having her Daddy all to herself. Thanksgiving Mom said something to Hanna about going. I looked at her little eyes, and she said she kinda wanted to go. Ash goes into tears, and there was drama (of course). Well, Hanna ended up going, and although I was somewhat discouraged because either way someone was mad/sad, Hanna was so gracious and sweet. She told me at least three times that night, "Thank you Mama for letting me go". She just kept hugging and hugging me. However, my heart was breaking for Ash who has had to wait for so long, so she and I took off Thanksgiving day to Old Navy, just to two of us.
I even let her sit in the front seat with me. She's tall enough and weighs enough, just not old enough yet. Ash was gracious and looked on the bright side of everything. She even said, "If I'm angry about Hanna going, then that is my fault for being angry. I just need to be by myself and get over it." Such a sweet girl. She and I had a lot of fun at Old Navy together just the two of us.

We get back to Mom's and Mom and I start pulling out the papers so we could get our game plan together.
Funny thing is. . . since being back from Guyana (yes I know I need to blog about it. . . .just how do you attempt to put something like that into words. . . I haven't gotten there yet), stuff just doesn't mean to me what it did in the past. There was definitely a difference in my heart this year Black Friday versus last years. There was definitely a difference in my spending as well.

You know what that meant? No game plan. I was just excited about spending time with my mom and my girls.

We all decided to curl up on the couch and watch "Elf".
Ash was going to make sure to get some good rest.
After all getting in the bed and getting some shut eye I hear what I think is a cell phone alarm go off. I jump out of bed, make up my bed (cause that's important to my Mom. . . very rarely do I make my bed at home), and then grab my cell phone to see what time it is - 12:42 a.m. WHAT??? We were getting up at 4:00. What in the world? That must have been a phone call! Who's calling mom at that time of night? Must've been Melissa? Why would she be calling? I started to pray for her. . . still didn't fall asleep. Shucks. So, I prayed more about whatever was on my heart. An hour later, I'm still awake. I realize my stomach is empty and grumbling, so I tell myself that if I go get a piece of cake, it will help me fall asleep. I checked on the girls. They were snoozing peacefully. I head to get my cake. Ahhhh! My belly feels full. I go lay down. THAT did the trick. 4:00 a.m. came and I was asleep when it got there. I got up, pulled my hair up, and put on some makeup 'cause I knew I'd be seeing people I know from high school (and I was right). Mom told me it was too bad I don't have natural beauty like she does. She didn't put on a lick of makeup.

Well, I had forgotten my coat, so Mom, being a Mom went and got me something to put on.

We were matching!!! I told her I looked like a bag lady and asked her what in the world possessed her to buy such an ugly shirt and 2 at that? They were given to her. Sheewwww! I was afraid I was going to have to call Stacy and Clinton on her.
Here we are outside of Lifeway.
We had such a fun day . . . full of laughter, Chick-fil-A, lots of coffee, McAlisters, and MEMORIES!!!! We even saw a Santa and I told Hanna and Ash to go and tell him he smelled like beef and cheese (Elf). They wouldn't dare. I almost did . . . hee!hee!

The girls were too pooped to pop and so were Mom and I. I'm so thankful I have a Mom and 2 girls who want to spend time with me and go shopping together. I love them all so much!

12 Things I Discovered/Rediscovered About Myself

1. I rediscovered I really do like the latest fashions. For about 2 plus years now, really since reading "Radical", followed by "Crazy Love", preparing for my first mission trip and going, I was so very convicted about excess. So, when I did need clothes I have shopped only at thrift stores. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I'ver never been a "brand-name" girl. I've always been a Bargain Betty even in my most fashionista of days. However, over the last 2+ years things like fashion haven't been as important to me. All that is good, very good. However, with the change of the seasons I went the other day to a few stores around town. There were lots of clearance sales and the clothing was oh, so, cute . . .and not dated. So, I splurged on my self a little bit. . . spending anywhere between $3 and $11. I got a skirt, a dress, and 5 shirts. I did feel a tinge of guilt.. . but I think that was from myself. . . which there are times when I have tendencies to walk in guilt. Now, if there was someone in my life who was in need and I went shopping rather than helping them out then there is something wrong with that. . . something terribly, terribly wrong with that. However, is there something wrong with me splurging on myself a little with clearance sales? Still trying to figure that one out. However, on a lighter and much less serious note. . I did discover/rediscover how much I really do like cute clothes and putting them on and feeling pretty. Very fun!

2. I discovered just how much I like nachos with cheese. I kept trying to demonstrate to Hanna how NOT to get it all over your face (which hers was covered). It was really just an attempt to get to eat more and more of the nachos.

3. I rediscovered just how much I LOVE watching this girl on the soccer field, how much I love being a soccer mom, how I love the fire Ash has in her. . .her tenacity, her grace, her encouraging her other team mates.

4. I discovered that Ash tilts her head to the side just like her mama when posing for a picture. 'Cept I tilt to the other side.

5. I discovered just I don't mind being apart of the "peanut gallery" and sitting with the opposing team. We got a MUCH BETTER VIEW of the field that way.

6. I discovered that at art and craft fairs that I don't buy anything because everything I see I say to myself (and sometimes out loud) "I can make that."

7. I rediscovered just how much I like chocolate chips. I used to keep a bag in teh pantry and I'd sneak 1, 2, or 30 to get my chocolate "fix" taken care of. I bought some chocolate chips for next week when we will have Faith's kids over for a few nights so the girls could make cookies. Confession - HALF the bag is gone because I rediscovered how yummy these morsels are. Gotta go and buy some more before Wednesday.

8. I rediscovered it's okay to give myself grace. This morning I was so sleepy while working. I worked for about 2 hours, and then at 7:00 a.m. crawled back into bed and slept until 9:15. I can probably count on one hand how many times my kids have gotten out of teh bed and found me still in it. It was absolutely lovely.

9. I discovered that reduced fat cinnamon rolls only have 130 calories WITH the icing. So, I treated myself to one for breakfast this morning.

10. I rediscovered just how much I do love small towns. In a perfect world my dream would be to be a teacher (probably high school 'cause I love teenagers) in a small town, my kids go to school, and us be super-involved in the school and community. . . especially high school football. Seeing the band and majorettes today at the parade took my mind back down memory lane. Oh, I'm actually one of those girls that loved high school. Granted, I made MANY mistakes, some I really wish I could get do-overs with. . . but, for the most part I really loved high school. However, I'm grateful to be at home and homeschooling my babies.

11. I discovered I could learn so much from my dog. He always greets you like he hasn't seen you in decades. He doesn't pout because we don't play with him enough, give him enough attention, or walk him enough. . . but boy when we do he is so giddy. We never get on his nerves and he loves being with us.

12. I rediscovered just how much I love outside, live bands playing oldies. We walked past one today and they were playing "China Grove". . . oh, oh, "China Grove". . . oh, how I just wanted to pull up a chair, hang out, and listen to the live music (nothing distasteful though - if "China Grove" is distasteful I didn't know it and I'm sorry. . . just remembering hearing it on 8-tracks when I was a kiddo).

Tuesdays with . . . .

Booher. I betcha thought I was going to say Granddaddy. Well, he and Gigi are out of town and Booher and I have been trying to get together to catch up with one another. So she joined us for lunch. We had a great time. . . never lacking for conversation. What a precious young woman of God she is!!! I'm so glad she's apart of my life and I love her dearly!

Welcome to Our School

I always start school on a Friday. It is a relatively "fun" day. . . well, if you are 7 and 10 it is fun, but if you are a 14-year-old boy it is lame. . . although that is a bad word in our house. He doesn't say it, but his attitude certainly reflects it. However, he does participate in my "fun day".

Every year we start out with a school supply scavenger hunt. I always try to make my clues rhyme, which really I crack myself up. . . I'm someone between a bad poet and a cornball.
Wanna know what I mean? Here's some of our clues.


Flying creatures big and small. We know that God made them all. Find me where you put the cords to charge things on which you can call.

Bright, dark colors oh how nice. . . find me where there is kept sugar and spice.

Reading, writing, and arithmetic, you do this well, and anything will stick. Find me in this room where friends abound, good food is found, and plates are sure to be licked.

Every year we buy plenty of these things galore. However, they will all be gone if you keep them on the floor. Cookie will chew them and they’ll be torn to shreds. Find them where Mom and Dad lay down their heads.


What, you say, we will use 150 of these? Oh, before our year has completed my dear, we will find in these we will have great need. Look for these from the source that we feed. -This clue really stumped the kids. Hanna said, "Where is it, Wal-mart?", to which I laughed out loud. Nope, it was packs of paper hidden in the refrigerator.

My sweet 5th grader in her chair she wakes up in every morning, hanging tightly onto her clues.
Here are their clues
Alec found one.
Hanna was so very excited.
Ash loved it too!
Cookie is so funny. . . when everyone starts running around the house he thinks we all want to play with him. He likes our scavenger hunt as well. . . ha!ha!
What a pretty girl. I love her pretty smile!
One of the many books we'll read this year.
We are using Sonlight for the first time, and so far I'm really loving it.
These two would stick their brains together to figure out the clues and their hidden corny meanings.
Remember when I said if you look in my pantry or my purse that it is a good idea of how my brain looks? See? P.S. That is not wine. That is Angela's "Master Tonic". I always feel such a need to tell everyone that :)
The fridge is really as bad as the pantry.
Next, we always fill out an "About me"- favorite color, food, restaurant, place to be, best friends, what I want to be when I grow up. I love looking over how their answers change and remain the same over the years.



Here is our book shelf of all of our history and literature books (oh yeah, and Alec's Spanish).
These are their folders where they each have their assignments. When work is completed, it goes into their folder. At the end of the day I check their work and go over with them their grades, what they have to redo, etc. If they have to redo problems, their first grade sticks. However, they have to correct what they missed.
Ash doing her Math.
Here is my sweet 3rd grader counting on her fingers.
Here's my 9th grader pouring over his studies. He's been really on top of things this year. He is still 14 and has an attitude at times, but he has really been motivated as far as school goes.
For lunch I did something different this year. I had this word scramble menu. The kiddos had to circle 3 things they wanted for lunch.
I had much more fun with this than they did.
I laughed so hard at them trying to figure out the words.
After all, when you have a mom who drinks "swamp water" (my drink featured on an earlier post from the weekend), hummus, and all kinds of gross food. . . you're liable to get anything in this house.

Alec ended up with this.
The girls joined forces and ended up with this.
A hot ham/turkey and cheese is one of my kiddos favorite foods. Alec was so mad (seriously) about what he ended up with. It was very over dramatic, and, if I'm completely honest I allowed his negative attitude affect me. Our house went from my laughing to me being silent (which my kids hate).
Later, however, Alec did "pipe" up and tell me that he enjoyed the day. Teenagers!!!!! So.very.emotional. His "emotional" just happens to be anger. He's a good boy and is obedient. . . just controlling those turbulent emotions is hard for him now.

All-in-all it was a good day. . . and, here, we go again. . . entering our 10th year of homeschooling. I can't believe I've hung in here this long. It truly is only by God's grace that I've been allowed to take this journey. I am grateful.

Here's a rundown of what we are using this year.

History/Literature/Geography/Bible - Sonlight

Grammar - Shurley

Math - Saxon

Science - Apologia