Frankin Foot Walks Again!

Can you believe This?

My baby has deck screws in her leg!

The two longs ones are into her growth plate. The dark part behind the screw is the only part of her bones that are not complete. The plate has 8 screws in it and is much larger than we thought. The plate is on the outside of her ankle.

The little mushroom looking piece was put into the bone where it split and the two broken bones are growing around it and it will strengthen the bone from now on.



Here is a picture of our babies first step!

We are so proud!

Actually she is doing everything the doctor told her to do and is healing much faster than we were originally told. She will begin transitioning to walking without the boot this week and should be out of it in a week or two. She doesn't have to wear it at night anymore. She over did it a bit today and it turned blue a bit, so she is under daddy orders to take it easy and slowly transition back.

Amy was so proud that she baked her a cake.

The Weekend

I have decided that weekends are just not long enough. There just isn't enough time to get everything completed.

Friday night, the girls and I had a date with our favorite man! Greg took us to Backyard Burger to have dinner and then we cruised the aisles at Hobby Lobby looking for stuff. I bought lots of beads to make more beaded nativity ornaments. I have been using the Mill Hill beads but they are hard to find here and have to be ordered. So I have found an alternative on the jewelry making aisle that do great! So I have made the big switch. A plus to this is they frequently go on sale for 1/2 price, which is great.

Will and James went to the movies and drove through Mickey D's. afterwards. Then they all watched a Blockbuster movie here at home. We really live in the fast lane! Betcha didn't know the fast lane ran right through Mississippi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday morning, we all piled in the car and made a trip to Dunkin Donuts again. The kids got the chocolate donut with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles. This was Amy's favorite. She kept telling me it wasn't too icky sweet (but ya can't believe Amy since she is a chocoholic). So, Katie gave me a bite of hers and Amy was right. Actually, it was a really good donut. My favorite is the apple and spice donut. It is filled with apple pie filling...really yummy.

We went and bought a bunch of pool chemicals. This supply should last us about 3/4 of the way through the summer. We also hit Home Depot and bought a book about building an outdoor kitchen. I don't know how elaborate we will get with this, it may just be countertops around our grills. But we are adding on to our decking so we need to decide what we are doing before we start.

2 of our new favorite tv shows are "Boy Meets Grill" and "Throwdown" both hosted by Bobby Flay. Greg is getting lots of pointers and tips and new ideas to try. A throwdown we watched yesterday was country fried steak and he challenged Paula Deen. Now that was a hoot! Of course watching these does make us hungry!

We got the corn and some more peppers planted and put cages around our tomatoes. The garden is thriving and we are looking to fresh produce.

Time to go eat lunch! Have a happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grill Pictures

I got fancy this weekend.

Bar B Que shrimp.

Donna says I can do them again.

The veggies are egg plant, bell pepper, and onions. I have some TJ's Bar B Que sause in the skillet getting warm. That is our favorite sause right now from Trader Joes. It's really good and organic.

I brushed it on the shirmp and stirred them with some of the onions and bell pepper, kind of stir fry on the grill in my new basket. That's right, we went to Bass Pro Shop and dropped some stimulus money on Bar B Que supplies and goodies. Stuff like a jalipino rack. And a rib rack. And some dipping spoons. Oh and a steak hook. All kind of goodies to cook with. We went to the store looking for some fish to grill, but the didn't have what I wanted (trout or redfish) so we went with the shrimp. Donnas said "Yumm."

Here are the ribs from 2 weeks ago. I am looking forward to doing them again. Check out that smoke ring. Man that looks good. I'm wanting some ribs right now just blogging about them.

We got some more peppers today for the garden and got them in the dirt. Amy and Will hit the pool again. I got in and sat on the steps and got wet, but stopped there. It is still cold. We found some stuff that is an invisible blanket. Some kind of chemical that makes the water warm by keeping the heat in at night. Gonna try it out to see if it gets warmer.

Have a great day in church tomorrow!

Yahtzee & No School Friday

Ahhhhh, its no school Friday today! Gotta love it!

After the cleaning chores were done, the kids and I sat down to a rousing, rip roaring game of Yahtzee. We tweaked the original game a little and played Triple Yahtzee. Do you remember that? They used to make triple yahtzee score cards and you simultaneously played 3 rows. My Dad and I used to play this. They don't make the triple cards anymore, so we just made our own.

There are advantages to playing the triple game...every roll can count in one of three columns. You have lots of chances for the major point rolls...3/4 of a kind, full house, small/large straight. And YAHTZEE! Pretty cool, Will and I both got 2 yahtzees!

Disadvantage is, it takes a long time to play.

About half way through the game Amy said "hey, this is math!" Well, yeah! But its fun math!

Watch out for cheating though...one of my darlings (who shall remain nameless) will write down whatever in any spot. If this person rolls a handful of junk, they will write it down anywhere on the score card whether it goes there or not. Ummmm, NO, this does not work. Ya still have to be vigilant even in Yahtzee.

At the end of the game, when all the columns are added up, then you add the 3 columns together to get the winner. Today, the winner was................drumroll please.............................ME. Of course the fact that I have been playing yahtzee for at least 30 years probably has more to do with me winning than any skill.

It was a fun hour and yes, it was Math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More signs of Spring/Summer

Ahhhhhh, the weather is getting warmer and we all want to be outside.

Here are some more signs of warmer weather...

1. Greg is barbequing alot. We have 2 grills and a smoker and they are working. I've already typed about how awesome the ribs were but last weekend he smoked a pork shoulder that was the best I have ever had! It was wonderful! That was dinner on Sat. night, lunch on Sunday and lunch on Monday. The rest was split up into 2 freezer packages for dinners later on. Super yummy! Last night he cooked pork chops (can ya tell we are on a pork kick?). So yummy! The grocery store has had some good "managers specials" on meat and we were able to stock up.

2. The garden is green and growing. Our corn stalks are about 3 inches tall. We have basil and bell peppers coming up. 2 tomato plants were planted in containers and they are thriving. The 2 square foot garden boxes of green beans are loaded with plants mostly about 6 inches tall. the blueberry bushes are growing and we have lots of little berries on them.

3. We bought 12 pounds of strawberries the other day to make into jelly. By the way, 12 lbs. of berries will make about 42 half pint jars of jelly. Will claims that will only last him a month. The berries are cleaned and pureed and frozen waiting for our canner to be delivered. Greg ordered us a pressure canner and it was shipped yesterday. We won't need to use the pressure for the jelly just a water bath to can it, but we will need the pressure canner for the green beans and squash and stuff like that. I would like to try making our own salsa and sweet pickle relish. We will have to see how ambitious we get. Our next preserving class is in 2 weeks and its on canning.

4. We are nearing the end of some of our school books. Katie will finish Algebra 2 today!!!!! Her average for the class is 96! Very good! She is going to do economics next and then Geometry in the fall. Amy and Will will be starting Pre-Algebra in the fall. We are investing in the Teaching Textbooks curriculum for all 3 kids. They can teach and explain everything and keep up with the grades...I will supply good lighting, a computer, notebooks, scratch paper and plenty of sharpened pencils. Yesterday was sign up for fall co-op classes for the next school year. Amy and Will are taking Physical Science and Beautiful Feet Geography. Katie will be taking Exploring American History. Hers will count for 3 grades since it covers history, bible and literature. We will be stimulating the Homeschool curriculum economy with our tax refund check when it comes.

5. Amy asks everyday to go swimming. She and Will went last Sat. and loved it. Granny bought Will a floating pool basketball game and they had fun with that. Today it looks like rain so I think swimming is out till the weekend.

6. The farm stands are opening in the area with some great produce. Also, the wheat order form came so we have to figure out what we will need for the next year...the order is once a year.
More economy stimulating going on.

Miss Katie will go back to the dr. on Tuesday, next week. We will go to the hospital first for x-rays and then to the surgeon. She has been exercising her foot everynight. She can move it up and down, sideways, and a slight circular rotation. Hopefully this progress will be enough so that we don't have to do rehab.

Thats all for now! Hope everyone has a great Spring Day! Gotta go do laundry!!!!!!

Friday Fill In Withdrawals

I guess my sis is really really tired. She left us all wanting some fill ins. Rest up Bri!

The Confederate Memorial Day Weekend is apon us. Everyone stand up, put your hand across your heart, Face South and sing Dixie!

Come on, like you mean it! Samantha, I can't hear you. Sing it girl friend!

Ok, now on to the bar b que plans for the weekend. Today, we set up the smoker. pictures were taken, they will come later. We smoked a shoulder and a ham. The ham was already cooked, I just threw it in to give it some smoke flavor. Left it on too long, and now it tastes like bar b que. I hate that (he he). The shoulder is going for a four hour ride in the hickory apple juice smoke. I put my fish cooker on as low as I could get it. The smoker fit perfectly right on top of it. Threw some hickory chunks in. Put a cup of apple juice in a pan under the meat and went to smokin'. After 3 hours I turned the gas off and now the chunks of hickory are still smoking away and going from char to ash. I am leaving the shoulder right where it is. I never turned it or nothing. I did prepare it yesterday with a dry rub and some garlic juice in a zip lock bag in the fridge. But that was all. We are trying the keep it simple recipe.

I will let you know how it turned out. If my fingers aren't too sticky!

Today is the first day of summer. Amy and Will christened the pool for the year. It is too cold for those of us with brains and responsibilities to get it. I put my feet in till the blood quit flowing.

Hey, GREAT NEWS. There is a dunkin donut open in Pearl now. WE Have ARIVED!!!! I do like the dd coffee. Today we all had breakfast for $9. That was a treat! It costs $25 for us all to go to waffle house. $40 to go to Craker Barrel. (mom's fave)

We got two of our garden boxes filled in with dirt. I got japalino's in one of them. Eddie and I are going to smoke some cheese filled fresh japalinos this summer. Maybe use some gouda cheese and some pecan wood for the smoke. Are you kidding me. That would make you stand up and cry for momma!

Donna got two of her tomoatoes planted. Will Amy and I got two leland cypress planted outside of our fence. We are preparing our yard to keep our nosey neihbors at bay. Donna wants to wrap the entire yard in them. Works for me.

You all have a great weekend! Remember Robert E. Lee and General Thomas Jackson! I am sure that we are related to both of them somehow! Just has to be. O' I wish I was in the land of cotton. Ol' times there are not forgotten. Look Away! Look Away! Look Away! Dixie Land!

Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful spring day in Mississippi. The sun is shining, slight breeze blowing and the temp is 73 degrees.

Our Monday wash is hanging on the clothesline. The warm weather and breeze can dry it for us today. School was mostly finished by noon. Lunch was yummy peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches on homemade bread.

Katie, Amy and I took a jelly making class on Friday at our county extension office and we made the strawberry jelly. I really like this jelly and I do not like strawberries! Go figure. We also made Hot Pepper Jelly. Both were easy to make and delicious to eat. Since it is now strawberry season, I see more jelly in our immediate future.

Greg has decided to be an expert Rib cooker (or smoker). Saturday, he cooked us ribs for dinner and they were wonderfully yummy. I am not sure how he can improve on his first try, but as long as he cooks the dinner, I won't argue. Last night, he grilled hamburgers for us.

Over the weekend we also went and bought some more plants for the "homestead". We bought another blueberry bush to got with the 3 we already planted. All 4 are full of berries (can you say blueberry jelly and blueberry muffins?). We bought a hydrangea for the front courtyard. 3 Big Boy Tomato plants and 3 cherry tomato plants. 3 jalapeno pepper plants. The green beans are popping up from the seeds I planted. Last week, Amy and I planted squash, corn, sunflower, tomato, oregano, nasturtium, okra and thyme seeds. Greg built us 2 more "square foot gardening boxes" to expand our garden. Katie and Amy's peach trees have 2 peaches on them. They are thrilled. My roses are blooming and our little butterfly flowers have bloomed (can't remember their name). So far, it looks like everything we planted or transplanted last year has come back. I don't know about the impatiens yet cause its too early for them. I thought my wisteria was history, but it is now bushy and has little tendrils looking for a hold on our back fence. I would love for the fence to be covered with the wisteria vine.

Have a great week!

Easter

Easter Sunday was so special. We had yummy cinnamon rolls and orange rolls for breakfast...the birthday girl got up and cooked for us. After breakfast we went to church with Mom. I got to see some "gals" that I grew up with and hadn't seen for years.

Then home to Mom's for Easter lunch with family. Yummy ham, potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs, pineapple casserole & rolls. That Sister Schubert can really cook and freeze some bread...she has contributed to many of our holiday dinners.

Next was the huge Easter Egg hunt. Our hunters this year were Will, Amy, Ben, Bethany, and Bobby. The hiders were me, Greg, Katie, Brenda, and Billy. It takes about 15 minutes for 5 kids to find over 200 eggs. Moms lawn service will find the eggs that the kids left behind. Katie decorated her air cast with lollipops for the kids to "find". It looked like a lollipop tree at the fair.

We had a great day, ate way too much food and candy.

But, all the food, family time and fun is not the real reason for the day.

I am so thankful and grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for his sacrifice for us. Because of his love for us, we can have eternal life with him.

Amy is 13

Happy #13 Amy Lynn! Amy is very enthusiastic about pretty much everything. Her passion for life is exhausting to her Mom! She loves ballet, American Girl dolls and clothes, Build a Bear stuffed animals, jumping on the trampoline, swimming, cooking and crafts. She loves playing with her cousins. Shopping with Granny is definately a favorite activity. She is my most excited child every Christmas. She is a chocoholic, the only chocolate she turns down has nuts in it.

Since we were in GA for Easter and Amy's birthday, she got to use the official birthday candle...see how short it is? We lit the candle, quickly sang the birthday song and she blew it out...its gotta last many more birthdays.

Her "cake" we found on the Pillsbury website. It was so easy to make. I love it when something we try turns out like the original picture. The base is a sugar cookie. After you bake it, you top with marshmellows, m & m's and pastel jelly beans. Personally, I would leave off the jelly beans next time and add extra m & m's (jelly beans are pretty chewy).

See what Amy got for her birthday! Just what every 13 year old needs.....NOT. this is my cousins car and all the kids took a turn "driving".

Fun at Granny's

OK, it is now late Saturday afternoon and since Wed. I have managed to go to JoAnn's 3 times. Yep, I've had my fix now. I really need a JoAnn's in Miss. but there isn't one. Its very sad.

Wed. night after Mom's birthday dinner, Ben, Bethany and Bobby spent the night with us. I had really forgotten what goofy conversations you can have with a 3 year old. Here are 2 of them.

Bobby: What is wrong with Katie
Me: She hurt her foot
Bobby: You mean her ankle
Me: Yes
Bobby: Let's just cut off her leg and then her foot won't hurt anymore (guess this was logical to him)

Katie went to the "indoor plumbing room"
Bobby: Where is she going
Me: to the bathroom
Bobby: Why did she close the door
Me: For privacy
Bobby: Is she going p---
Me: I don't know, she wants privacy
Bobby: Well, I don't want to see her p---
Me: She doesn't want you in there
Bobby: I only look at my p--- Then he went into a dialogue about colors.
Me: Lets change the subject.

We played outside for awhile and then Brenda came to get them. Will went home with them to spend the night and play with Ben.

Amy went to her friend Katie's house to spend then night with her and with MacKenzie (her very best GA friends since they were all 3 years old) Those nutty girls stayed up till after 5 am. And then only slept for about 3 hours. Ahhhhhh, to be young again!

After we picked up Amy and Will, we went to Mall of GA. The wheel chair came in very handy cause that place is huge. By the time we ate lunch at Chick Fil A, I was on sensory overload. The food court was soooooo loud. We were all ready to leave.

Greg and I had a date last night and went to Red Robin to eat. We had never been there before so it was a good place to try. Greg loved the onion rings, they were his favorite part of the dinner. We personally think that the burgers are better at Backyard Burger. The prices were pretty steep for us too. The 5 of us ate at Backyard Burger for $28, the 2 of us ate at Red Robin for $23. Don't think we will be repeating that anytime soon. There is another place here in GA that we like to eat a burger...5 Guys Burgers and Fries. Yummy! Don't remember the prices to compare, but they cook an awesome burger.

We are going to Mom's church in the morning for Easter service. This is the church I grew up in. Then my family will come over for a big Ham dinner and easter egg hunt.

I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Resurrection Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GA for spring break visit

Tuesday morning, Katie and I were at the surgeon's office bright and early...9AM, for staple removal. The dr's assistant (David) removed the 21 staples. The staples coming out didn't hurt but him touching the bruising on her foot and ankle did. The prognosis now is that the foot still cannot touch the ground for the next 4 weeks. Then more x-rays and a visit to the surgeon again. Then limited foot use for 6 weeks after that and then more x-rays and another dr. visit. After that, she may be able to walk with full weight on her foot.

She can remove the air cast a couple of times a day and exercise her foot and wiggle her toes. But then it goes back on.

Since we have about 10 weeks of not using the foot, we decided to invest in a wheel chair. She can walk great with the crutches, but not for very far. Instead of running in and out of a store and looking for their wheel chairs, we bought one at Harbor Freight (They sell almost everything). Katie thanked Dad for buying her one and she and Amy took off when we got to JoAnn's to do their own shopping and looking.

Yep, I've been to JoAnn's once (yesterday) and I am going back today. Yesterday, we bought the girls stuff for their quilting class and I bought some material to learn how to hand quilt also. Today, I am going back to get some stuff for the girls that I saw yesterday and want to put up for Christmas. I really like the fact that JoAnn's is 5 minutes away from Mom's house.

Last night we went out to eat with my sis and her family and my cousin Buzz for Mom's 70th birthday. We went to Macaroni Grill and had a yummy dinner. Mom got serenaded in Italian for her birthday dessert. Then back to the house for cake. Ben, Bethany and Bobby spent the night over here, to play with Will, Amy and Katie.

Gotta go...time to go to JoAnn's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fixing the Economy

I got an email with the following article....this guy in Florida has figured it out!

Subject: Recession Cure!

This was an article from the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper.

The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the

Economy?" I think this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President,

Patriotic retirement:

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force - Pay them

$1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment

fixed.

2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto

Industry fixed.

3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis

fixed. It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. - If more money is needed, have everyone on Capitol Hill pay their

taxes...

Sounds like it would work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The weekend

Boy, Friday was a long time ago...

Saturday, Greg and I and the kiddies ran some errands and ate lunch at Backyard Burger, super yummy. I went to Penneys and exchanged a shirt. We went to Lowe's and bought 2 leyland cypress trees and 2 peach trees and a bunch of mulch. The peach trees are planted but the cypress are going to live in their plastic buckets till we get back from Georgia. I also planted 2 of my square foot gardening containers with green beans. We went to Hobby Lobby and bought some stuff and then went home to work outside.

Sunday was our morning to bring breakfast to Sunday School and then Greg did the power point for the 2nd service. He and I went back to Penneys and I got a skirt and top (for Easter) and 2 pairs of capri pants....yeah, Mom has something new to wear. Last night we ate popcorn shrimp (Seapak frozen shrimp), tater tots and cole slaw. (Hey Sabrina, take your moms dressing for the broccoli salad and put it over the bagged cole slaw and let it sit an hour or so, that is very yummy. Close to KFC) We were all set to watch Amazing Race when what to our wondering eyes should appear, the country music awards. So we ended up watching food network challenges and Iron Chef. So cakes and chocolate, did make for some sweet dreams.

This morning started the girls new Quilting Class with our 4H group. I think there were 9 girls. they all had fun and really got some work done. They are hand quilting a small piece (maybe 14" x 18") to make either a doll quilt or something similar. Then they are making a pillow top from fabric yo yo's. We had been taking a sewing class from another lady but her classes were more off then on. She has since moved to help her daughter and we now have 3 unfinished projects and no directions for finishing them. That was very frustrating. Anyway, they have a different class now and hopefully will be great. The new girl wants them to work and accomplish stuff, not get discouraged and want to give up. When you only have a class once a month, it takes forever for a project to be completed.

Tomorrow will be a very busy day....9 am will find Katie and I at the dr. for staple removal. 1:30 will find Greg and I at the dr. for him to have a small mole removed. Then the 5 of us are hitting the road and driving to GA. Mom's birthday is Wed. and Amy's is Easter Sunday. We will get to visit friends, go to JoAnns, see family, go to JoAnn's, celebrate Easter, and go to JoAnn's (got alot of coupons).

We are almost packed. Well, the kids are packed and I am not. Gotta get the laundry done first!

Something that amazed me

Let me start this post by saying...I love to go out to eat. I like to go to a restaurant, be seated, have someone wait on me, serve me dinner and then clean up. I just get to sit there and eat and enjoy the company (preferrably my dear hubbie).

But I overheard something the other night that amazed me...I was sitting outside the youth room at the church waiting on the kids. A man and a lady were talking about dinner at home and eating out. In the conversation the guy said, that at his house they went out to eat 3-4 times a week, every week. It was cheaper to go out to eat than to buy everything and cook and eat at home...WHAT? And the lady agreed with him and said thats what they did at her house too. It is so much cheaper to eat at home than out. His wife and her husband have been deceived about the price of groceries, if they are buying those fabrications of the truth. When I was telling Greg about the conversation his comments were...if they have to go buy the stove and pots and pans and every spice before they can even begin, then yeah, its cheaper to go out to eat.

He has decided to keep up with how many folks we feed at each meal for the next month. Whether at home or out to eat and compare. Now, since we have a grocery budget and a going out to eat budget, this should be relatively simple.

Last night, I fixed spaghetti and garlic bread and iced tea. It cost about $7 for this dinner, this includes the cost of my organic tomato sauce and organic Trader Joes spaghetti noodles. We fed the 5 of us plus Allen and a friend of his. So, about $1 a person. I also had 4 lunch size containers of leftovers to freeze and Greg took spaghetti and garlic bread for lunch today. Compare that to a spaghetti dinner out...at least $8 per person and add the cost of the tea. Which is cheaper?

I was just amazed at the justification of going out to eat. I don't need an excuse to go and I don't need to make excuses about why we go out to eat. Everyone is different and every household operates differently. Reading some blogs, I know some people never go out to eat. That is not for me. And many people go out many times a week, haven't figured out how they can afford that every month. Especially for a family.

To me, eating out frequently makes a whole lot more sense for a single person or a single-again person (I really hate that W---w word). Making an entire balanced meal everynight for just one person would make me want to eat out more often. Yes, it would be cheaper to eat at home, but if you are in that situation, you just may need to be around people. It can be lonely to sit at home by yourself, night after night.

I love to cook and feed my family. I am one of those weird folks, who likes to grocery shop. I love finding bargains and stretching the food budget. I like knowing that the food my family eats is nutritious and yummy. I like teaching my children how to cook. I love to try new recipes (especially if they turn out really good). I love to open my cabinets, freezer and refrigerator and seeing them full of great ingredients for our meals.

On the other hand, I love to go out. My favorite meal to eat out is breakfast. Super yummy! IHOP & Cracker Barrel are my breakfast restaurants of choice (as long as the eggs aren't runny). Unfortunately (or fortunately), neither are close to our house. So, going there is a real treat!

OK, enough rambling about food...I am getting hungry!

I saw Greg has been playing with the blog...did you notice the Countdown to Retirement box. Do ya think he is getting excited?

Nurses and life

Amy and Will are good nurses for Katie. They fetch whatever she needs: pillows, tylenol, iced tea or whatever. Amy follows her back and forth to the "indoor plumbing room". They are happy to give up piano or guitar practice so that they don't disturb her (ok, it probably wouldn't bother her but they did it anyway). Will is helping Amy and I clean the kitchen after dinner everyday. they are really stepping up to the plate and being helpers for Greg and I.

We are continuing school to keep up with our routine. However, I have noticed my oldest pupil sleeping through some of her classes. She is so far ahead in school that a few naps won't hurt and she did just have surgery 5 days ago. Its pretty funny to walk in and see her flaked out. Hershey loves having a sofa mate all the time.

Greg put a ceiling fan up in the "sewing room" which is Katie's temp bedroom. We have been wanting one for a couple of years and this was the perfect time. He also put up a new shower head in our bathroom with a hand held attachment. These things are great for Katie and we all get to enjoy them too!'

Tomorrow we are going to debate class. Her topic is "are inflatables dangerous?". Great topic and very timely. She and I came up with it sitting in the hospital. Yesterday, we had fun with the pros and cons. On Thursday, we have another dr.s appt. Time to clean the leg again. Friday is the last science class for all 3 kiddies. So it will be a busy couple of days.

Totally different subject.....Greg got us pool chemicals and now its not green anymore. Yeah!!! It looks pretty good. We are ready for homeschool PE class. And just lazying around and having races....they will probably all beat me this year. But a mama's gotta try.

Another version of "The Story"

OK, my mom knows the REAL story. Never mind that she was 400 miles away, she is a granny and she knows.....

Katie was ballet dancing and a jealous Tonya Harding took out her ankle with a hockey stick. Tonya took up ballet when she was thrown out of ice skating.

Mom doesn't believe that Juan Valdez came into the house because Hershey would have killed him...ok, maybe not killed but barked herself hoarse and nipped at his ankles.

We decided to get out of the house and go eat lunch at our favorite Mexican Rest. today. The lunch was awesome. Katie got in the place ok and enjoyed lunch. Amy and Will got to the car and opened the doors for us. I closely followed Katie out to the car. We don't know what happened but when she got to the car, she lost her balance, we both screamed and I managed to keep her from hitting the ground. Greg was paying and heard us scream and ran out the door (dropping his wallet), and we got her in the car. Neither of us has a clue what happened, we were right at the open door. I guess she just twisted and lost her balance. and yes, he did get his wallet back.

The excitement in the parking lot convinced her to go home and take a pain pill. Learning how to drive a motorized wheel chair at Kroger will wait for another day!

BEFORE and AFTER (the real story!)

Yea, we are having 5 minutes of fun now!!!

That wasn't the real story!

Here's what really happened:

Juan Valdez, the leader of the Columbian Coffee Cartel ambushed Katie and kidnapped her for using Community Coffee. As he was speeding away with the coffee and Katie, she reached into the front seat of the Ford SUV and grabbed the steering wheel away from the coffee henchmen and caused the vehicle to rotate and spin in a tremendous crash up over the guardrail and down the side of the interstate. As the SUV came to a halt on its side, Katie began smelling gas, the car kind, not the pull my finger kind. She knew she had to extract herself quickly, but her ankle had caught in the car seat strap. (Juan may be the unscrupulous leader of an international coffee cartel, but he still has to take the kids to daycare!). Anyway, in her effort to get away from the dripping gasoline and the crumbled SUV, she realized her ankle had broken in the SUV crash and rollover. Unfortunately for Juan, he did not survive the crash and abduction.

Trimalleoler Fracture (Mandatdonlukgood)

This is a picture of the big scar in the making. The other side of Katie's leg looks like this, only half as long. The Doctor's name for the fracture is Trimalleoler. The latin is mandatdonlukgood.

It is also known as a Harvey Fracture. Katie was well taken care of at the doctor's and surgeons. Now we just wait for her to heal. I know our regular readers (all 4 of you) have already heard what happened. Let me tell you the real story.

It started last Thursday as I was out of town. You may not know that I've started drinking coffee for breakfast. My sister swears it gets her thru the day without having to hit the rum, so I thought I would give it a try. We picked Community Coffee with Chickory, the New Orleans Blend. That was the start of Katie's troubles. She was preparing the coffee in the maker on Thursday so I could have it ready the next time I wanted some. As she was counting the tablespoons of the New Orleans blend a treible crash starteled her. It was Juan Valdez breaking in thru the garage. He snatched the coffee from her. In his effort to get away, he didn't notice that Katie's shoe string got snared in his lead for the donkey. Well what a sight they must have made gallopping on a donkey down Thorngate with stolen coffee and Katie hopping behind trying to free herself. Well, they made it to the stop sign, and the donkey lurched to a halt. (it was a God fearing legalistic donkey. Juan could have learned a thing or two from his donkey). Anyway, Katie gave one last tremendous thrust pirroette (ballet move) and kicked Juan in the back of the head and killed him deader than Memphis' chances to win a national championship. Unfortunately, she sustained a trimalleoler fracture in her effort to escape the clutches of Juan Valdez and his legalistic donkey. The good news is she was able to rescue my coffee. The bad news is Juan's wife, Juanitta is sueing Katie for causing the death of her husband.

Field Trip & Dr. Diagnosis

Our field trip on Thursday was to a place called "Pump It Up". Basically it is a huge building filled with lots of inflatables. We all met at 9 to go in together (to get the discount). I took 3 pictures of the kids going down the giant slide. As I was taking the 4th picture of some friends...Amy came to get me and tell me Katie had been hurt. She jumped down in an inflatable and her right foot gave way under her. In Katie's own words....hit hurts, and I heard it snap. OK, I am not a doctor but I could diagnose this. And her ankle was swelling alot by then. One of the moms with our group was a nurse and she said get her to the doctor. Within 5 minutes, we were headed out the door with lots of help. And lots of pictures (we suspect this will end up in the yearbook). Amy and Will stayed to play with their friends and another mom brought them home.

Greg was about an hour away at a management training seminar for the state and we couldn't get him on the phone. As I was going to our dr.'s office, Katie texted him from my phone. We got to the dr. (Praise the Lord for good friends that are also your family dr.), I went in the back door to hunt for one of my favorite nurses to help me get Katie in. We got her to the room and the dr.'s first words out of his mouth were "this does not look good". Well, ok maybe I could be a dr. I figured that out. My other favorite nurse came to get her for x-rays. We got her there on a rolling office chair. The x-rays showed 3 or 4 breaks. The small bone that runs between her knee and ankle is broken in 2 places. The impact also broke the edge of the growth plate off the other side of the ankle. The dr. sent us to an orthopedic surgeon right away. As we were driving there, Greg called. He had not gotten the text. I told him everything that was going on and he decided to leave the seminar and drive home (yeah, Daddy!). The surgeon decided to take care of this asap. So our next stop was the hospital.

Greg got there in time to go through admissions with us and wait for the surgery. They did not find anything new when they did more x-rays or the surgery. They put 4 screws and a plate on her ankle to help with the healing. We got her back in the room about 2 hours after she left us. She did great with the hospital recovery and drank a coke and then later ate some Teddy Grahams. So she was really glad to get the IV out of her hand.

When we got home, dinner was waiting on us. Thanks to one of the homeschool moms in our group (she was the nurse that told me to get Katie to the dr.). She cooked lots of food which fed the 5 of us plus Allen, James and Andy. Amy and Will got the sewing stuff put up and then the big boys moved a bed downstairs for Katie. She cannot put any weight on her foot for the next 6 weeks. Then she will have physical therapy. It is a plus that she is a dancer (ballet) and it will be a form of therapy for her. However, I am not thinking she will be able to be in the recital in 10 or so weeks. Our family doctor said it was the worst break he has seen in his office. The surgeon said this is extremely unusual in someone her age. He also said she has very good muscle tone and strong bones. All of the staff were very nice and explained everything to us and to Katie before they did anything.

Side note: when we got to the hospital there was a little, elderly lady sitting in a wheel chair close to Katie. She kept trying to get Katies attention (she could not speak coherently). Finally the little lady lifted her hands toward heaven and closed her eyes. We are sure she was praying for Katie. I had been getting many phone calls from the homeschool group and Greg and when I could I went over to the little lady. I never could figure out what she said but I told her Katie was 16 and fell and broke her ankle. Then they came and took us to admissions.

In the midst of all this, the roofer called checking to see if the ins. had sent us the rest of the roof payment. I told him what was going on and that I would call him tomorrow. He is coming in a few minutes and asked if he could pray for Katie when he got here.

How awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is on many prayer lists in several states and we are so thankful for our Christian friends!

Laundry Soap

We made our first batch of laundry soap on Feb. 3 and we ran out today (March 25). We have done 136 loads of laundry (probably a few more than that, the boys weren't as diligent as marking the sheet). So that mean is cost us..................drumroll........................ .0057 cents per load to wash clothes. Thats 1/2 of a penny. Really cheap and it cleaned the clothes well too!!!!!

Actually, given the change I collected after Waiter Boy did his laundry. It cost us nothing per load except for the water.

I found a homemade fabric softener also that we have been using. Its not as cheap per load but its about 1/4 of the price of the cheapest, on sale, with coupons Downey that I have ever bought.

The Fed Ex man delivered my new clothesline yesterday. So once the pollen and the rain are over, we will be regularly hanging our clothes up outside. It really helps keep the heat down in the house in the Miss. summer not to run the clothes dryer all day.

Lots of things I would rather spend money on....we need to buy pool chemicals...don't know any homemade recipes for that item.

Christmas

See the side bar...275 days till Christmas...are you ready? Do you know who you need to buy or make gifts for? Do you have a budget or a Christmas Savings Plan? Do you already have any gifts purchased for Christmas 2009? If so, don't forget where you stash your gifts.

We shop all year long. We have purchased gifts for 5 nephews and 2 neices (and I know where they are). We know what we are doing for all the grandparents and aunts and uncles.

I don't have a clue what I am doing for Greg. And we have no idea what we are doing for our 7 blessings. We will have to wait on the kids till closer to the season...they have been known to change their minds. Katie and Amy always want a bag full of girlie stuff: nail polish, bubble bath, scented bath gel and lotion, cutesy pens and pencils, note pads, etc. So I look for these all year long.

I have also figured out what I am giving my neices and nephews for their birthdays for the rest of the year.

Have you panicked yet? You really don't need to. I usually plan for the next Christmas on Dec. 26, but thats just me. I don't like leaving things till the last minute. And I would much rather spend December decorating gingerbread houses or watching Christmas videos with my kids than shopping and standing in line for the month. Not to mention being involved with our church's Christmas program.

I love the holidays and everything about them...music, decorations, lights, cards, food, movies, and my snowman sweaters! And all our children are here to visit.

Our Weekend

Oh my! We had a very busy weekend! Saturday morning started out at Chick Fil A - chicken biscuits, hash browns and sweet tea! So yummy! Then we hit Lowe's. Well, I guess we didn't really hit it...we pulled our van into the parking lot, parked in a space and then walked into the garden department. Whoo Hoo, spring is here. There were sooooo many flowers and trees and stuff to look at. Katie and Amy picked out peach trees and we are going to go back and get a couple and see how they do. I picked out some Leeland Cypress trees to plant on the street side of our backyard fence, to block more of the pool view from the street. We will be purchasing these in the next month. We bought some paving cement blocks to build a driveway in our side yard for the RV. And we bought some mulch for the corner flower bed by the street.

Greg, Will, and James started working on the paving stones. I got busy on the weeding the flower bed (more weeds than flowers when I started). Katie and Amy worked on 2 other flower beds. The boys had to make another run to Lowe's to buy the rest of the blocks and more mulch. They dug blocks of sod up to place the blocks in the yard. The sod blocks went to bald spots in the yard.

By the end of Saturday (actually the end of our energy), the corner flower bed was completely weeded. I layed newspaper down before we put the mulch out, hopefully this will cut down on some of the weeds. The girls helped alot with this. My bender-overer (back and legs) decided I had done enough. I scooped mulch into their buckets and they spread it for me. We still ran out of mulch, but what is done looks great!

Sunday, we were bums and skipped church. We called in all the troops (James, Allen and Andy) to help with the rest of the paving blocks. Greg got the yard cut and I weed whacked. It looks so good. Now the neighbors can't give directions to their house by saying, turn at the corner by the house with the weed in the yard!!!!!!

The pool is full of little pollen pod thingies that have fallen from the trees. So, we have got to get it cleaned up. I've swept it a couple of times but it is time for some chemical intervention. water is really not supposed to be that color.

To completely change the subject...
I got an invitation to join AARP today. It quite distresses me to know that in 6 months, I am eligible to join. Donna, you are going to turn 50 this year, what are you going to do next....I am going to Disney World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! About 16 days after my birthday. Mom is going to be 70 in a couple of weeks and she is going to Disney with us. We are celebrating at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Maybe we will find her a King Charming. I've already got my Prince!

What a week!

Ever had one of those weeks. You know, when Friday gets finished about all you have strength left to do is blend your favorite adult beverage and collapse on the sofa. Monday was the day we found an error in our computer programming that worked out fine, but could have just as easily worked out with several of us looking for new income opportunities. Tuesday, while completely minding my own business some #@$%&* jerk couldn't understand that you stay in line on the interstate when you are merging with oncoming traffic, you don't pass then get pissed when the safe driver doesn't get out of your way. She didn't know how to drive, but she did know how to complain to my boss. (The dangers of putting your business on the side of your truck!) I suppose the real blessing is that I just shook my head at her and said bless her heart instead of using one of the few sign language symbols that I know. Wednesday and Thursday were used up sitting in a conference gaining vast sums of somewhat useless knowledge, but hey, I did make it to 100% of the event. The hardest part was walking by the brownies with chocolate icing during the breaks because I am sticking to my portion control life change. The worst part was I saved room for a small brownie on the last day and wouldn't you know it, they showed up with fresh cut veggies and lite ranch. ARGH! Now Friday has arrived. It started with a visit to the Doc and a scheduled MRI for next week. I am afraid my career opportunities in Major League Baseball are almost finished. It only hurts when I move my arm.

Here's hoping your week was better! and to the lady in the little brown car, you can kiss my .......

IRS

I read this letter to IRS this morning. Think it'll work for this guy? What a great imagination!!!


Dear IRS,

I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay taxes owed April 15, but all is not lost. I have paid these taxes: accounts receivable tax, building permit tax, CDL tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, dog license tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, gasoline tax, hunting license tax, fishing licence tax, waterfowl stamp tax, inheritance tax, inventory tax, liquor tax, luxury tax, medicare tax, city, school and county property tax (up 33 percent last 4 years), real estate tax, social security tax, road usage tax, toll road tax, state and city sales tax, recreational vehicle tax, state franchise tax, state unemployment tax, telephone federal excise tax, telephone federal state and local surcharge tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, utility tax, vehicle licence registration tax, capital gains tax, lease severance tax, oil and gas assessment tax, Colorado property tax, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico sales tax, and many more that I can't recall but I have run out of space and money. When you do not receive my check April 15, just know that it is an honest mistake. Please treat me the same way you treated Congressmen Charles Rangle, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and ex-Congressman Tom Dashelle and, of course, your boss Timothy Geithner. No penalties and no interest. P.S. I will make at least a partial payment as soon as I get my stimulus check.

Ed Barnett
Wichita Falls

Getting a New Roof

We now have a new roof. It is completely done. Hershey (our vicious guard dog) can now rest easy. She has been in a panic for days. People in and out of the yard and shingles flying off the roof. When we took her out on the leash she had 2 choices... 1. bark and act tough for the workmen 2. go to the bathroom and then bark and act tough. Potty usually won.

When the workers were on the back side of the house, they tossed the shingles over the side. Unfortunately, they tossed them onto my clothes line which is now mangled and un-useable. So, the roofing company is buying me a new clothes line. I am very thankful that no shingles landed on my blueberry bushes. When they were starting to work on the cabana roof, I went out and talked to the foreman and showed them where to toss the shingles. And they listened!

I am very thankful that it is finished. Greg missed the whole thing. He will be back tomorrow night.

The kids went to a "Hunters Safety Course" at the County Extension Office. The class lasted from 8am - 4:30pm. They all passed and will get the safety card. Which means Will can now do the Archery for 4H and compete when he is ready. Katie and Amy went along for the ride and they are certified too. None of us hunt but we do have some guns so the safety class was a good thing...and it was free (gotta love that).

When I picked them up, I got to talk to the Home Economist for the county and reminded her that I wanted to know about the next food preservation classes. I have been telling her since Sept. that I wanted to do this. Just so happens, she planned classes and set dates last week and we are signed up now. Amy, Katie and I are going to learn how to make jelly, can food and freeze food. We will have a class each month...April, May and June. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are limiting the class to 8 people and we are #'s 4, 5, and 6. Good thing I remembered to bug her, I mean ask again! Now, if the weather will just even out so we can plant the garden.

Tomorrow morning we are going to enjoy the peace and quiet with no roofers banging overhead. After lunch we are hitting the stores again. Borders is having a Teacher Appreciation Sale and giving a good discount. We love books and are excited about going to check out everything.

Greg will be home tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Granny

Granny is here...let the spoiling begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mom got here yesterday afternoon for a "spring break" visit with us. Greg had to go to Atlanta for some work meetings, so she is here to keep us company and help us get into trouble while he is gone. We spent the day going to Belks, Penneys, Shoe store, Hobby Lobby, and Target. She bought the kiddos clothes for their birthdays (yeah for Grannies). Katie and Amy look gorgeous in their new dresses (and way too grown up). There are lots of cute dresses in the stores and they had fun trying on different stuff. Katie tried on one dress that was black (think cocktail type dress) and she was so beautiful in it but this was definately not a church dress...its still at Penneys. Amy's first dress she tried on was the one we bought. I am really having a hard time with my almost 13 year old looking so old. Will got some new shorts and new swim trunks (both of which he really needed). Having 4 older brothers, he is blessed with lots of hand me downs but now he is taller than 2 of them so that doesn't work real well. He has handed down some of his clothes and loves to say "oh, that was mine, but now its too short for me"!!!!!!

Hobby Lobby was fun. We all had 40% off coupons so everyone picked out their item and we all got in different lines. I bought my neice a Christmas gift to add to my stash. Now, I have to remember to write down what I bought and remember where I put it!!!! We are trying to spread out our gift buying since we have 7 kids and 7 neices and nephews to buy for. Then onto Target for some dull stuff like wipes and scotch guard.

Afterwards, we went to Cheddars and ate dinner. Allen (#4 son) was our waiter. The food is so yummy and the portions are huge (Amy and Granny shared a dinner and Katie and I shared a dinner). Andy and James came after work and met us for dinner.

Then onto the homeschool Mom's meeting for me tonight. The kids babysat for Granny to keep her out of trouble. Its a hard job but somebody has got to do it!

Oh, this morning we were jolted awake by the sound of footsteps on our roof...we are getting a new roof. It is hard to sleep while folks are banging around over your head. Praise the Lord, that our homeowners cov. is paying for the roof (we have hail damage from all the heavy wind and tornados in the area in the last year.)

So we ran away from home and found excuses to be gone all day. Don't know where we are going tomorrow but we will come up with something!

Goodnight all!

Free Tomato Seeds

Go to "www.helpgrowyourownsoup.com" and click on the red barn. This is a Campbells Soup website, you can click on the spade to donate seeds to FFA and then request a pack for seeds for your own home...all for free! There is a limit of one seed pack per household. You can go back everyday and click on the spade for the donation seeds.

I have never grown tomato plants from a seed, but for FREE I am willing to try.

Schooling your Children

This week Greg and I were listening to "talk radio". This radio station was interviewing the State School Superintendent. This man is the highest paid school super. in the country. Our state is ranked 49th for reading and math literacy for elementary grades and ranked 50th for reading and math literacy for 8th grade. Now remember, he is paid the most and the state is ranked at the bottom of the ladder. The interview was about accepting "stimulus package money" for Charter Schools. The super. has said that he hasn't seen any reports that charter schools work so he is not interested in them. Could a charter school be any worse than the 49th or 50th ranking...could we get any worse? OK, I guess we could be 50th for both. Then he went on to say that "he would be for anything that worked" (direct quote). Yeah, right, uh huh!

As parents in the United States, we have the right to educate our children however we choose. We can send them to public schools and there are some great teachers in the school system. I think the kids that do the best in the public schools are the average to above average learners. they fit in and go with the flow. We can send them to a private school, many advantages here...smaller classes, not as many politics as public school, and depending on the school-a Christian based education. Charter schools-I don't know alot about this, but from the interview I think this would be under the same policies and rules as the public school, but there must be some advantage to a charter school. Or Homeschool-every advantage here. No one will love, care for your children like you will. Parents have a very vested interest in their own children succeeding and learning.

I truly believe that it is up to each parent to decide what is best for their own children. I am very thankful that we live in a country where we have these choices available. What is best for my family, may not be best for your family. And your choice, may not be best for my family. There are pluses and minuses for each of the diffent schooling opportunities.

Battleship Park in Mobile

This was a fun outing. When we arrived and saw the school buses full of kids we were just a bit worried. It is definately no fun "touring" with unruly children, but we managed to avoid them. We did the battleship first, when we saw they were starting with the submarine (yeah). It was cool to wander all over this ship and explore. Thanks to a helpful worker who was cleaning on the ship, we found out how to climb up under and into one of the big guns on the deck....this was great. All 5 of us climbed up in the "control room" behind the big guns to look at the instruments, sit in the firing seats, and imagine the tremendous noise they must have experienced when the guns fired. (see the picture to the left of the 3 guns) We climbed and climbed many stairs to the different levels of the decks....narrow, shallow, steep stairs. And once you get up there...you have to climb back down. Funny, the doorways and stairs don't look that small and steep when you watch NCIS or JAG on tv.

When we saw the school group approaching the battleship, we quickly decided to go to the submarine. Greg opted not to go into the submarine, but the kids and I went anyway. Talk about tiny doorways and getting over the thresholds between each section. I had to have some kid help getting my leg over the threshold a couple of times. My goodness what close quarters, there was definately no place for a sailor to go if he needed to be alone and collect his thoughts. Everthing was compact and close together, you didn't have to worry about packing too much...there is no place to put it. They did try out a bunk and declared they weren't too uncomfortable. I cannot imagine being in the sub and knowing I was fathoms under the sea, especially if someone was firing torpedoes at us and trying to destroy us. Did they "standard issue" valium for these guys?

It was a fun field trip for all of us!

Will's Birthday

Happy Birthday to Will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our youngest son is now 15 years old. Getting to know Will these last 3 1/2 years (since Greg and I have been married) has been so much fun. Will has the biggest brown eyes and incredibly long eyelashes. He has been blessed with a "heart of gold" and the amazing ability to make friends with anyone. In a typical teenage boy fashion, he can out-eat any of us and not gain an ounce. I have been through this phenomenon with James and Allen and it still astounds me. He is still getting taller and taller and has passed James and Andy in height. I think his goal is to pass Allen but he has got a number of inches to go to accomplish that goal. He likes to help in the kitchen and loves to help Dad with anything. He is a wonderful, Christian young man and we are so proud of all that he is!

He started celebrating his birthday on Saturday when Dad took us out to eat a yummy seafood dinner. Monday (his real birthday) started with a yummy egg and bacon breakfast in the RV in Gulf Shores. Then we went to Battleship Park in Mobile to tour the battleship and submarine. Dinner was at home...Dad made chicken and vegie stir fry for us to chow down on. (The kids have told Greg that stir-fry is his "specialty dish", just in case Greg is ever on H's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsey) He wants apple crisp for his birthday dessert and its coming on Sat. when we have a cookout.

Redneck Riviera

Somebody put this anchor in our way!

If my sister can go on a cruise, then I can afford a weekend get away on the Riviera, The Redneck Riviera. We took a trip to LA! Lower Alabama for the uninitiated.

It is the beach within reach. We have always wanted to go to spring break, so here we are. It is Will's birthday weekend. We are celebrating with tours of Fort Morgan, a civil war fort guarding Mobile Bay. We took a long walk on the beach, looking for shells, and trying to avoid the jelly fish washed up on the shore. The waves were kickin' but we were chickin' to get in them cause it is still the first part of March and the water is COLD! We found a good oyster bar for dinner, and now it is back to the RV for a good long rest. Tomorrow is Bellengrath Gardens, and Monday is the USS Alabama.

Happy Birthday Katie Lynn

Happy Birthday Miss Katie Lynn (yeah, I know her middle name is not officially Lynn but she inherited it since its mine and Amy's middle name)

Katie is a very diligent homeschool student. She knows what to do and gets it done...and makes great grades in the process. She loves to cook and be creative in the kitchen. Reading, arts and crafts, and music are among her favorite things. She has beautiful curly hair and big brown eyes. She is a beautiful, Christian young lady and I am proud to call her my daughter.

Check out the pictures. My favorite is the blue tongue picture. She picked out the cupcakes with the tongue=staining icing.

We started out the day with opening some birthday envelopes from parents and grandparents and a cutesy flowered nightshirt from Aunt Brenda. Then we went shopping. New sandals and a new shirt were found. Then on to CiCi's pizza for lunch. Afterwards, we walked around our new JC Penney's that just opened yesterday. Last night was Tossed Salad with Popcorn Chicken and cheddar garlic biscuits (think Red Lobster biscuits). Then more gifts and those yummy cupcakes.

It was very cold here yesterday, with wind and misty nastiness. This morning we woke up and found out is snowed last night. It was just a dusting here but then I talked to my mom this afternoon and she had 2-3 inches on the ground! Where is that pesky groundhog when you want to wring his neck?

Cool Internet Finds

I have been diligently cruising the internet looking for sites to print grocery coupons and freebies.


Here is a site that I just found for freebies for your birthday...
http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/default.aspx

You can google "free grocery coupons" and all kinds of sites come up. I have also gone on websites of companies that I buy their products regularly and signed up for their newsletters and gotten free coupons. Proctor and Gamble, Hunts Ketchup, Dove, Suave, Horizon Organics, Del Monte vegies, etc.

One caution about taking these coupons to Kroger (at least my Kroger), they will only accept 1 internet coupon per item category...you can't buy 2 cans of vegies and use 2 internet coupons...only 1 per shopping trip. And they will double coupons up to 60 cents. I have found some Cottonelle toilet tissue coupons for .50 and Kroger regularly has the 4 pack for .99. So the t. paper is free when all is said and done...I am giving these to the boys for the trailer. As long as I can find the coupons, they will get free toilet paper.

You can also go on the Kroger website and register your shoppers card and get coupons directly downloaded to your card. Quite by accident, I found out that you can use the coupon on your card AND a paper coupon for the same item. That makes this stuff really cheap!!!!!

He is 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My, my, how time flies when you are having fun. My 2nd born son is 20 years old. He came into this world amid much excitement and fear (emergency c section) and it has been like that for 20 years. Allen is Mr. Invincible, he has great car cleaning skills, he likes to dye his hair and spike it with hair gel, he has an awesome work ethic, and he is very, very independent. He is a super waiter at Cheddars. Life is not dull with Allen around.

Birthday Traditions for our Family...

1. This would be the birthday hat...everyone has to wear the designated hat when they open gifts. This year it is Greg's official Cheese Head hat from Green Bay, Wisconsin or as Greg would say "The frozen tundra". When we were in Wisconsin last year, we drove an hour from where we were staying to Green Bay to purchase this official, lovely, orange, rubber hat.

2. We have a birthday candle that is lit for every birthday. Given the size of our family and the future potential for spouses and grandchildren, our candle is a big, 3 wick candle. This tradition was started by my Mom and Dad many years ago. Our candle was a gold taper and is about 2 inches tall now...it gets lit and we have to blow quick. But that candle has been around since before grandchildren (the oldest is 25). Actually, since its harvest gold, it may be from the 70's.

3. The birthday person picks the dinner and dessert for the day. Allen's choice was grilled hamburgers, french fries, baked beans and homemade oreo ice cream. For some odd reason, he thought he should be able to stick his face in the dish of ice cream...kind of reminiscent of his first birthday...but he didn't.

4. This doesn't apply to him anymore but the birthday kid doesn't have to do schoolwork on their birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it falls on a weekend, they get Monday off. Of course, we all benefit when it is my birthday cause we all get the day off! Ah, the joys of homeschooling!

Happy Birthday Al Pal!!!!!

Spring...coming and going

Spring is here and then it isn't and then it is and then its gone again. This weather is going to have everyone sick.

Amy had to go to the dr. for her crud and wound up with 3 prescriptions. I think she is doing a little bit better now. She missed ballet, youth group, science co-op and sunday school this week. I wasn't really too worried about her spreading her germs as everyone else sharing with her and her weakened immune system. And truthfully, her cough sounds awful.

We had a low key weekend and stayed home. Greg got the kitchen counters completely finished and he taught our Sunday School class this morning, which I missed cause I was home with Amy. We have also started walking and took a long walk on Saturday.

We have 2 birthdays to celebrate this week...Allen will be 20 on Monday the 23rd. He won't be a teenager anymore! And Miss Katie will be 16 on Saturday the 28th. Yikes, they are all getting old. They both picked their birthday dinners for me to fix...Al wants grilled hamburgers, baked beans,and french fries. Katie wants tossed salad with popcorn chicken. Easy, easy, easy.

Will did his first archery class on Friday. I took lots of pictures but they are still on the camera. He did pretty well for the first time. There are about 6 or 7 boys in the class and 2 leaders.

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring in Mississippi...

Daffodils, Tulip Poplar, Dogwood, camelias and dandelions are blooming!

Weeds are growing and blooming profusely in the yards we pass on our walks! Lots and lots of weeds (we could consider it ground cover, this explanation works for me in July and August when its 100+ outside).

Greg can ride in his convertible with the top down.

Local guys are setting up their stands to sell honey! Yummy! We use honey to make bread and muffins and local honey is supposed to be good for allergy symptoms.

The kids can jump on their trampoline!

We are nearing the end of some of our school books. Since we school year round, that means we will be buying new books for some subjects soon.

The funky weather means that its warm for a couple of days and then cools off again...right now we are in the warm days and under thunderstorm warnings.

The crud is going around through church, dance and the homeschool group. Katie and Amy both got it. Katie's is on the way out the door and Amy's is holding on and causing misery.

Update on detergent and moving

OK, here is an update on the homemade laundry detergent. I took the cost of making the detergent (.76) and divided it by how many loads we have done so far...36, so that makes the cost .0217 per load. Thats all of our household laundry plus the dirties that James, Allen and Andy have washed here. And the bucket is still half full. The boys are notorious for leaving change in their pockets and washing it, sometimes they remember to get it and sometimes they don't. I have told them all that if it is left, I consider it my tip for providing the washer, dryer, water, detergent, etc. Last week Allen left about $1.75 in quarters, dimes and pennies...its mine now! So that really makes the cost of the detergent $0 and I made money on the deal! As Rob would say...SWEET!!!!!
I do return paper money, but that doesn't get washed real often.

The boys have been moving this weekend. Andy went and got his belongings from college and moved into James' spare bedroom at his trailer. Then Allen decided he would move down there too and take the living room. So the 3 of them are now living about 30 minutes away from our home. Since we own the trailer, the rent is very reasonable...ok, its cheap. And splitting the utilities 3 ways makes this a very affordable option for all 3 of them. Hopefully, this will allow each of them to straighten out and get control of their finances and be able to save some money for their future needs. James and Andy are on early morning work schedules and then they get off mid afternoon. Allen goes to work mid afternoon and gets off about midnight.

Time for our Monday sewing class!

Spring Fever

Its official...I've got spring fever. This weekend, the weather was gorgeous. Temps in the 60's and 70's during the day. Friday night, the kiddies were invited to a birthday party complete with a bonfire and lots of pizza. Greg and I went on a date and ate a yummy Steak dinner at O'Charleys. Saturday, Greg and I went to the farm stand in Tiki Town and they got in some blueberry bushes. We bought 3 of them! As we were driving to Lowe's, I saw a guy set up on the side of the road selling honey. So, we stopped and I bought some yummy, local honey. We use honey as the sweetener in our homemade bread, pizza crusts and some of our muffins. Then it was on to Lowe's for soil, cow manure and mulch. We got home and unloaded everything and worked in the front yard. Greg washed his car and the kiddies rode their bikes. Dinner was salad with popcorn chicken on top. I am really ready for my own fresh tomatoes on a salad.

Sunday morning was Sunday School and Church. Lunch was leftovers from all the homecooked dinners last week. We all watched one of Greg's new DVD's he got for his birthday about Stonewall Jackson. Then we all went outside again. Greg got my blueberry bushes planted and the mulch spread. The boys got a stump up that I have wanted removed for about a year. James has been trying to do it by himself and wasn't quite strong enough. With Will, Andy and Allen lending their muscles...its now gone. We ended the afternoon with a fire in our firepit, roasting marshmallows and making somores. Dinner was grilled hot dogs and italian sausages and baked beans. The only thing that would have made this any better was if Rob had been here too! And yes, Amy is already asking when it will be warm enough to swim. She wanted to put her feet in the pool yesterday. But it didn't happen!

Its supposed to be in the 70's this week and start raining later today...so we are going on our walk before doing school!

Field Trip

Today the kids and I went on a field trip to the Nissan Plant in Canton, MS. They don't do alot of tours and ours was scheduled through a friend of a friend deal. This plant has been burned by another "christian" homeschool group and wasn't real thrilled about setting one up for another group. the other group just never showed up for their scheduled tour and never called with any explanations. So, we were up against the reputation of a different group.

We were all there in plenty of time for the tour to start exactly on time (we were all fearful of casting a bad light on all homeschoolers, so we weren't going to be late). Our tour started with 2 short films about the plant and the painting process...they don't let you in the painting area. then we were equipped with safety glasses and headphones and boarded the trams. The tram drivers were great at explaining everything we were seeing and what all the workers were doing. Most of the assembly line workers stopped their jobs and turned and waved to all of us. We waved our way through that huge plant. It really felt like we were in a parade, we just needed candy to toss to the workers!

This plant manufactures 5 different vehicles including the Altima and the Titan Truck. The process from stamped autobody parts to finished vehicle takes about 16 hours. We saw most of the steps being done. One of the most fascinating was watching a cab and a truck bed being joined together.

After the tour, it was back to the meeting room for questions and answers. W had 2 tour group guides and they told us that we were one of the best behaved groups that had come to Nissan. Way to go kids. Our group was about 50 people and the kids were ages 10 - 18.

No pictures because recording devices of any kind were prohibited. And they didn't give any free samples...not even a voucher toward a new car! Does that sound fair? Doesn't good behavior count for anything?

Dr. Adrian Rogers

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by
legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government
cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from
somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have
to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the
other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else
is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of
any nation.
You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~

AMEN!

Laundry Detergent

A big expense at our house is laundry detergent. For 3 years we used the Tide HE detergent. Last spring I read in the "Urban Homemaker" catalog about their very concentrated powder detergent and I ordered it. It has actually worked great. I spent $22 for a box of detergent and it lasted for 6 months. That was a huge savings from the Tide. I only had to use a teaspoon per load. And yes, it cleaned the clothes well. Then, I read on different blogs and saw on different tv shows about people making their own detergent. So, last week we gave this a try.

Here is our recipe...

1 bar Ivory soap
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing soda
1/2 cup Borax


Grate soap and put in saucepan. Add 6 cups water and heat till the soap melts. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into a 3-4 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Then add 2 additional gallons of water and stir. Let the soap sit for 24 hours to gel. You use 1/2 cup per load.

We have modified this in that we use 1/4 cup per load and it works great.

I got this recipe from www.thefamilyhomestead.com.

My cost for this batch of laundry detergent is...
.21 borax
.22 washing soda
.33 ivory soap
?? 2 gallons + 10 cups of water

Thats .76 for a big bucket of laundry detergent. We are keeping track of how many loads of laundry we get out of this bucket to figure our cost per load.

I had read on several blogs about getting buckets from bakeries or grocery stores. I asked at Kroger in the bakery and they gave me a bucket that icing came in, for free. It did take 2 trips to Kroger for the bucket, but I am at Kroger once or twice per week so I didn't make a special trip.

The kids enjoyed helping. I took pictures and helped stir. We will do this again! I will be able to get 18 more 1/2 cups of borax and 13 more batches of washing soda from the boxes I bought last week.

E Book Offering from Living on a Dime

http://www.livingonadime.com/ebooks/valentinespr.htmlite

Follow the link above to get the Living on a Dime ebook for Valentines for free. She usually has some really neat frugal ideas about everyday life and special occasions.