Fireworks.

We set off a few fireworks on the fourth of July, but it was so very dry outside, that we were afraid we might set something on fire.  We did a few, then watered down the lawn with the hose, just to make sure there wasn't a fire.  It was a very small celebration.  Then tonight, since it had been raining all day, my husband decided to set off a few more.  He started with a particularly loud one and we heard our neighbor's son's voice through the trees (we couldn't see him) say "What was that?"  and I yelled back "Fireworks" to which he said "Awesome."

It was pretty cute.

Freckles does not like them and is hiding under my chair right now, terrified, poor thing.

Happy fourth of July.

To everyone, even if you don't celebrate a particular holiday today.  I'm celebrating by working.  :-)

I'm very glad.

That we have a light week this week.  We don't really have anything going on.  We need to focus on getting our house together, getting our summer chores done, getting our exercise program started and having a fun summer.  I'm so glad we don't have a party or baby shower any of the days this week after attending a party, a baby shower and then a party slash baby shower this weekend.  I don't know why those things seem to pile up like that, everything in one weekend, then nothing for a while, then 3 or 4 things, then nothing.  I guess that's actually a good thing.  Now we should be free to do our own thing until Father's Day weekend and I hope we accomplish a lot although now it's storming and that tends to make me not want to do anything.  :-P

Memorial Day.

I hope that you are having a wonderful memorial day, celebrating your freedom today.

Happy Mother's Day.

I'm really glad.

That Easter is over.  I was dreading singing in the cantata/concert so much but I did it.  It's over.  It was really difficult, standing up and singing for so long.  I was tired all day yesterday but so relieved.  Every now and then I'd do a little dance to celebrate.  I was giddy with relief.  I did mess up several times during the concert, but when there are 21 other people singing, hopefully, the mistakes of one are not noticeable.

We did all the usual Easter things yesterday afternoon, 2 dinners, an egg hunt.    It was fun and I am tired and glad for a normal day. 

HAPPY EASTER!

To all my blog peeps!

Counting Down the Days till Summer.

We have 28 more days of school to do this year. We are way ahead of our usual schedule, even with taking a spring break. The reason is, I think, that because the kids are so independent with their studies, they do them even when I'm gone someplace and so we don't miss as many days. Now that it's started getting warm, I hope it goes ahead and warms right on up because our pool is up and I want to get in it, but I want the water temperature to be at least 80. Right now it's in the mid 70s with a solar cover. Too cold. I am planning on focusing on losing some more weight and getting in better shape as part of my post-Easter resolution so I want to be able to get in the pool and exercise. I think I might have to make my post-Easter resolution a 2 or 3 days after Easter resolution since I anticipate receiving some chocolate bunnies and stuff and will need to get them eaten before I start on any diets. :-)

April Fool's Day!

I had fun with April Fool's today. I put balloons in shoes, balloons in backpacks, a slinky in the dishwasher and jello in the tea. We took one of our fake spills to church and sprung the joke on 5 or 6 unsuspecting people. It was great fun, for me anyway. I'm not sure the 2 people who tried to pour half congealed jello/tea enjoyed it. :-P

Pre-Easter Thoughts.

When did Star wars become part of our Easter tradition?

Is a Cadbury egg for breakfast pretty much the same as a regular egg?  I'm pretty sure it is.

We still have our let it snow wreath on the front door.  I noticed it last night and was going to take it down but my youngest said, "No, leave it up.  I'm dreaming of a white Easter."

Happy Valentines Day!

We have our homeschool Valentine's party next week, because we like to buy our candy and treats after the prices have been reduced.  :-)  We also had our Halloween party a week after Halloween.  It was a scheduling difficulty at first, and then we realized the advantages.  Today, there's quite a bit of celebrating going on in our house and I'm pretty sure that we're all getting fatter by the minute.  Next week, we'd really better start on those New Year's Resolutions.  My husband went to the grocery on the way home from work and got everyone their favorite stuff, fruit pot pies, chocolate covered strawberries, Dove chocolate and Cheetos.  Better than flowers, if you ask me.  :-)

So many adorable valentines printables all over the web, so if you haven't gotten anything for your honeys, here are some from Pinterest. 

Fun Valentines Stuff

I was looking at Amanda Bennett's post on her Unit Studies page on Facebook and she listed this site, Technology Rocks which has all kinds of fun Valentine activities to do with your kids.  I love the heart shaped paragraph and I think I might write some personalized paragraphs to my family with it.  :-)

How cute is that?!

Merry Christmas?

We are going to another Christmas party today.  My youngest son wanted to keep our tree up until now, but I just couldn't stand having the living room crowded up any longer, so we took it down last week.  It feels weird, going to a Christmas party today, but I don't mind eating and socializing, so that's okay.  It's a really pretty day.  The kids might even get to venture outside during the party.  We're taking the game we got for Christmas, Curses, so that should be fun.  I tried very hard to think of something I could cook that would fit the criteria that my husband said we'd bring, sandwiches and a salad or a dessert, that my son could eat, being gluten free and dairy free.  I decided to make peanut butter fudge for the dessert and take a ham I bought at the grocery the other day, a loaf of regular bread and have my son bring his own gluten free bread.  I'm also gluten free, but I don't each much bread, so I don't need to bring bread for me.  It's too expensive.   I'll just roll my ham up in a lettuce leaf.

Holiday fun.

Just for fun, Google "Let It Snow", "Christmas Lights", "Hanukkah" or "Santa Claus".  Other fun ones are "Do a Barrel Roll" and "Askew".    Also, just for fun, visit the Snowflake Bentley site and look at close up pictures of real snowflakes like the one above.  These are very cool.   Also, if you didn't get enough video games for Christmas, go to Amazon and download this one for free and while you're there, you can take a look at the 25 days of free Mp3s that they've done for Christmas this year.  I got some that I liked and some I deleted after downloading. 

We're just lazing it up this week, although yesterday my daughter and I suddenly got an overwhelming urge to, as she says, "do something useful" so briefly, we worked on the house and then went back to our busy schedule of board games, video games, eating junk food and watching movies.  When the book I ordered for myself for Christmas comes I'm just going to sit down and read it ... with no guilt for the messy house. 

Wow.

Christmas was nice, but I am tired now.  We had a really good time.  The funnest/funniest part of the weekend was playing a game called Curses.  It was hilarious both times we played it.  I mean, laugh till you cry hilarious.  Everyone seemed mostly pleased with their Christmas presents so my crazy shopping seems worthwhile.  I am so glad that shopping is over (all except the gift card spending) and I'm kind of glad to be back into my routine.  I will be absolutely thrilled to get the Christmas tree down because my husband and kids decided it should go in a different place this year, even if that meant moving the couch into the middle of the floor and walking around it for 30 days.  It has driven me crazy this whole Christmas season. 

The kids have not started their routine back yet.  We let them sleep in today and they will have all day screen time if they want it (the youngest will).  We will try and play all of our new board games some time this week and I guess we'll start them back to school next week.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Lights Under Louisville, Louisville Mega Cavern

We had to wait for a long time, but it was pretty cool.  We went underground into this old limestone mine that is now a storage facility to see Lights Under Louisville.  I think it was worth the wait, but I don't know that I'd want to do it again.  Maybe.