ONE WEEK TO GO...

Till our school year starts!

Where did the summer go?

When I was in school, I remember starting AFTER Labor Day.

Well, I guess the upside to starting early, is ending earlier next year.

So, now I will have a Freshman, an 8th, 5th, 3rd, and 2nd grader! Wha????

I can't believe this is our 9th year of homeschooling!

I told my eldest that this is when it "counts." Not that it didn't count before, but high school is no joke. I know I will have to stay on top of him to make sure he stays on track.

The one thing (which was the most important) that I failed to do last year was have a devotion with them in the morning. This way, our day starts off right, and it's not as chaotic during the day. Not that it won't ever be, but at least our hearts will be in the right place (especially me). It's not enough for me to have my alone time with the Lord, but we all need to be in one accord.

One thing my oldest daughter requested was that we do more field trips. I'm glad our church has a homeschool group, and they plan trips throughout the year. But, of course, we won't be limited to just that.

All the new curriculum is organized, and the kids dread hearing me say, "We're staring school in one week!"

So, have your kids started school already?

SCRIPTURE SUNDAY

On Sundays, I decided I would share a scripture(s). I pray that it will be a blessing to whoever reads it.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."-Hebrews 13:8

FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK

I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to sign in to MckLinky so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

1973

Here's another one of my sister and I (me being on the left). I was four, and she was six years old, and were still living in Moffett Field on the Navy Base.

I'm sure my dad loved the face I was making, and there goes my sister with another peace sign!

Oh..and you gotta love my mom's Dr. Scholl's shoes! It's funny because a few years ago, I had about three pairs of the same shoe! Totally uncomfortable, by the way!

I'm also linking up with Amanda @Parenting by Dummies since we have similar Friday meme's! You will enjoy her blog, and also love seeing pictures of her beautiful kids! You can also link up on her blog too! So, I encourage you to go, and make new bloggy friends!

NOTE TO SELF...

No more buying plain white t-shirts for the boys!

This "was" brand new just the other day.

WORDFUL WEDNESDAY

My son, Eli, loves to paint, draw, and build anything and everything. Literally!

So, while dad was working on a project outside, it was the perfect opportunity for him to build something too.

He wanted to make a birdhouse. Of course, my husband cut the pieces for him, but he basically did everything else himself.

I can already tell that when he gets older, he is going to either be an architect or an inventor!

Before the paint...


And after!


Be sure to visit 7 Clown Circus for Wordful Wednesday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Not today, but yesterday I turned 41! And believe me, being over 40 is so overrated! They say that 40 is the new 20! But, I say it's all in the attitude! Plus, my kids keep me feeling young (or so I tell myself).

I'm not a big birthday celebration type person. I don't like all the attention on me. I don't like to "plan" things for myself, so whatever happens, happens, and I'm totally, 100% fine with that! Seriously!

But, I was so blessed, and everything I did was spur of the moment. Well, except for breakfast. That WAS planned! Our church is having another fun week for the kids, so that gives us moms a chance to have some "me" time. A bunch of us planned on having breakfast together, and it was a great time of fellowship!

One of my friends offered to watch my kids so that way my husband and I could plan on doing something by ourselves. Of course, I took her up on her offer!

It was such a relaxing night, and we actually got to talk without being interrupted! And surprisingly, our conversation wasn't all about the kids!

We had Mexican food (and I didn't take pictures because I already have the same food on my blog), and afterward we headed over to Yogurtland for dessert!

Let me just say that it was SO NICE to take my time in there to decide what I wanted! I didn't have to help anyone else, or keep an eye on everyone.

This was so yummy! And no, those are not croutons, those are cheesecake bites! Mmm! Oh, and there are also mini brownies and crushed up butterfinger candy in there too!

After we got the yogurt, we headed over to my friends, and they surprised me with a cake that they baked! We hung out there for awhile, came home, and the kids crashed! We all had a long day, but a blessed one at that!!!

God is good!

SUSHI LOVERS!!

After church yesterday, we decided to go get some sushi!

This is a popular place that our friends go to because it is all fresh, and you also have the choice to get the "ALL YOU CAN EAT" sushi! It's totally worth it because just three orders alone equals the same price as the "all you can eat" option. It's really neat how you order it because you just mark which ones you want on the menu and they make it right then!

For the kids we got them their teriyaki & beef dishes, but for us, we got all varieties of sushi. I can't even remember the names of them, but just take my word for it that they were all delicious!!!

Doesn't that look awesome?

The kids loved it!

They combined all of our orders on these huge platters. I wish I could tell you the names of each individual one, but I forget. But, they all had crab in them, and some were deep friend in a tempura batter. The ones on the foil had melted cheese on it, and those were awesome! It also had a little spice to it!

Here was the other platter! You're probably wondering, "What is all that on the top left?" I think it was called something like "The Lion King Roll." But, what that is, is tempura batter with a sauce drizzled over it, and underneath are the crab rolls. Out of all the sushi we had, that was the best one! On the bottom are beef rolls, which were really good too, and the ones on the right had soft shell crab in it.

Here's a close up!


Mmmm..mmm..love that avocado!!!!


And here were some happy kids!

SCRIPTURE SUNDAY

On Sundays, I decided I would share a scripture(s). I pray that it will be a blessing to whoever reads it.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."-Hebrews 10:24-25