Go Team USA!!

I love the Olympics!  It's a great chance to display our patriotism and pride. No matter how many medals the USA olympians win, it is great to watch them give their all.  I'm also looking forward to seeing more of London (and venues in other locations).  
 
Our family celebrated the tonight's Opening Ceremonies with a traditional English meal of Cornish Pasties and trifle--yummy!  I keep running into the kitchen during commercial breaks to do cleanup...I might have used every pot, pan, and knife in the making of this celebratory meal....

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies?  One word...WOW!  I don't know how Danny Boyle (director) managed to cram so many elements into one show but it was certainly entertaining (and mystifying at times).

Later Days!
Kelly


P.S.  I'm loving the surprise appearances by James Bond and Mr. Bean.  Can't wait to see who's next!  And how 'bout the Queen's entrance?!?!

Quote Sources

I know my faithful readers are dying of suspense wanting to know where the quotes in my last post came from. Here we go:
1. Castle (crime dramady)
2. Phineas and Ferb (silly/smart cartoon)
3. Person of Interest (crime/vigilante genre)
4. The West Wing (political dramady...sadly, no longer in production)
5. Lost (sci-fi drama...no longer on tv but lives on in DVD & Netflix incarnations.)

Did anyone know ANY of these? Any fans of these shows? Hello...is anyone out there?

Later Days!
Kelly

Quotes

E. and I are trying something new...I have a book of blog ideas and we're trying a sampling of them.  She posted 5 of her favorite quotes so I'm gonna do the same.  Let me know if you recognize the sources....

1. "Don't confuse me with your reasonableness!"
2. "That was...como se dice?...awkward."
3. "Should we call for backup?"  "You ARE my backup."
4. "Just sit there in your wrongness and be wrong!"
5. "Was he talking about what I think he was talking about?"  "If you mean time-travelling bunnies, then yes."

Hmmm....I might need to upgrade my tv viewing selections.  I'll let you know where these quotes came from in my next post.

Later Days!
Kelly

Check out E's quotes on her new blog at:  http://www.amazinglife4jesus.blogspot.com/

6 Random Facts For Saturday

1. Just finished giving both boys haircuts out on the porch...with all that brown and red hair it looked like a calico kitten! :)

2. The girls and I went to town to look at swimsuits once again...nothing makes you feel worse about yourself than swimsuit shopping.

3. Bees and bulls are attracted to the color red*

4. Coffee fixes everything**

5.  These facts are getting progressively more and more random...true story***

6.  Eldest is trying to modify her swimsuit to make it more modest (though it is already very modest)...she says she wishes she could modify herself (don't we ALL wish we could do that!)

 7.  There shouldn't be a 7th


* & *** contributed by K.
** contributed by E.

5-31-12 Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
* A neatly manicured lawn & beautiful flowers

I am thinking...
* Life is good.

I am thankful...
* That I got to go to the movies with my hubby--we saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

In the kitchen..
* Not much :)

I am wearing...
* comfy clothes--I exercised and took a shower & it's time to relax

I am creating...
* ??

I am going...
*Summer Plans & Projects

I am wondering...
* Whether my plans and projects will actually happen

I am reading...
* Cookbooks--I really need to work on my culinary skills!

I am hoping...
* To use the summer break to get more organized, get the house decluttered, lose weight, and make a perfect schedule...you know, just low-key stuff :)

I am looking forward to...
* The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel coming out on DVD!

I am learning...
* ???

Around the house...
* Laundry...alot of laundry

I am pondering...
* Ways to trim our expenses and save money

A favorite quote for today...
* "It will be alright in the end....if it isn't alright, then it is not yet the end." (See above movie)

One of my favorite things...
* Sunny days

A few plans for the rest of the week:
* Overseeing the kids' schoolwork, laundry, celebrating my big brother's birthday!

A peek into my day...
* No peeking! :)

To view more blogger Daybooks follow this link: 
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Graduation!

Whew! We're just now catching our breath from celebrating E's graduation and my 43rd birthday.

 The graduation was a lovely, personal, and worshipful celebration! My cousin's eldest child was also graduating from homeschool and we decided to combine the service...mainly because neither of the graduates wanted to be the sole focus of attention! We were able to make it truly special by using songs picked by the graduates, slideshows of their childhoods, and a time of prayer with their families and friends gathered around them. Afterward, we had a nice reception with good food and displays of the graduates' achievements, interests, and scrapbooks. I think we set the bar pretty high for all subsequent homeschool graduations! LOL!

 My birthday, while not as spectacular, was a perfect celebration for me. I enjoyed time with my family, good food, gifts :), a long bath, and some Ben & Jerry's New York Double Fudge Chunk ice cream. Let's do it all again next year!!!

 Later Days! Kelly

K's Birthday!

Happy 11th Birthday to K! We actually celebrated several times, so that all family members could participate :). Not surprisingly, that suited the birthday girl just fine. She got some books (including a new Bible), dvds, an ITunes card, $$$, and a beautiful Rapunzel doll. We had a great time with the grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins! Oooh, we also celebrated by going to Starbucks with friends...a new tradition is born! Later Days! Kelly

Birthday Shoutout

First, the birthdays I haven't posted about...Feb. 15 our youngest turned 6. I can't believe my baby is SIX!





Next, Eldest turned 18 on April 6! I can't believe my baby is EIGHTEEN! There's a rumor going around that she's an adult now, but I don't know where she got that idea. The batteries on my camera were dead that day (figures, huh?) so I don't have any great pics to show until I transfer them from my phone but here are some random pics of E.



Now, on to the upcoming birthdays...my sister-in-law Michelle's birthday is coming up on Monday and here's a pic of her and my big brother and their kids (from a couple of years ago).



Last, but not least, our lovely K. is turning 11 on Tuesday! Hopefully, I'll upload some pics from our celebration but here's one to tide my faithful readers (grandparents) over.


Later Days!
Kelly

Pics of the Graduate

Today I went for a walk down memory lane, looking for photos to use for my daughter's graduation slide show. I had a fun time reliving beach trips and birthdays :). Here's just a few to whet your appetite...sorry, no baby pics yet (but they're coming).





Later Days!
Kelly

P.S. Did I make the deadline, Mimi?

Long time no see....

Whew. It's been a long time since I updated the blog, huh?

Between moving back to my hometown, diving into ministry at a new church, homeschooling, childrens' birthdays, and planning our eldest child's high school graduation (!), I've been preoccupied. Oh, and this crew STILL wants to eat regularly and have clean clothes to wear!

This graduation thing is proving to be a little stressful. I guess I didn't fully appreciate the fact that someone has to plan and execute a ceremony like this and, since I'm a homeschooler, that means ME. We've got the cap and gown and diploma and are waiting on the invitations to come back from the printers. Since we're having a double-graduation with a cousin, we're trying to map out details so that both graduates have a meaningful, memorable celebration. Ideas, anyone?

In other, less self-centered news...is anyone else addicted to Pinterest? Great recipes and ideas abound. I just found a blog with great recipes via Pinterest: richestoragsbydori.blogspot.com and I'm excited to try some of them!

Later Days!
Kelly

Settling In

Things are starting to come together at the new house. It feels more like home when you hang pictures on the walls, doesn't it?

After spending waaay to much time on Pinterest looking at photos of beautiful homes, I was feeling kind of crafty so I hunted up some black paint and started updating some accessories. Micah contributed to our home decor by painting a picture frame :).

Stop by sometime if you want to check it out (Yes, I'm talking to YOU). How long does, "We just moved," work as an excuse for a messy house?

Later Days!
Kelly

Party Time!

Happy 16th Birthday to my wonderful niece Anna Beth! How well I remember her impatience to make her debut in this world. She made her mark then & is still making it today. Love you, AB!

What a blessing to be able to celebrate special occasions with family. Anna Beth and several other members of the family have been a little under the weather lately, so it's great that everyone was well enough to party.

In fact, the party is still going on, but it moved to our house. AB's younger sis, Molly, came back to our house to have a sleepover w/ K. Make that a no-sleep-til-it's-over. Wii, Netflix, & popcorn, anyone?

Later Days!
Kelly

P.S. Congrats to Molly for overcoming her fear of cats!

New Leap of Faith

Since almost all of my readers are relatives of mine, you all probably already know that we've moved Back Home!! We're settling into a new house, a new ministry, and a new routine...one which includes making up for lost time with the grandparents :). Never fear, we're still planning to go to the library on Tuesdays so the world will keep rockin' on!

Our move is a blessing in so many ways BUT there are friends that we already miss. One such special friend, who has been a little sis to me and a big sis to E., is Leanne M. She's been a godly influence and a listening ear to us so many times. We've enjoyed our coffee talks...sometimes silly & sometimes serious...always comforting, knowing that we have a true friend who "has our backs".

Here is Leanne with her adorable new friend, Biscuit!

She and her husband Wes have been through severe trials during the time we've known them, but they are terrific examples of steadfast faith. We appreciate the time we had to serve God alongside them.


We love you guys!!

Later Days,
Kelly

Pittypat

Let me introduce you to a special friend of ours. Pat has been a friend and fellow-laborer (as Apostle Paul would say) during the three years we've been re-located to the Midlands. She's rejoiced with us in good times and mourned with us in difficult ones. She's near and dear to my heart for many reasons but one of the most important is that she has been a loving, patient mentor to our oldest child.

E. had the opportunity to work with "Pittypat" at the church office, worship with her, socialize with her (see, homeschoolers DO socialize), and talk about Pat's adorable grandson :). Through it all, E. had the opportunity to see that Pat's godly character is the real deal, inside the church and out.

Pat took E. to lunch today and then blessed her with a beautiful quilt that she made...one that not only is a piece of art, but also reflects E.'s personality...her love of God...and coffee.

So, though she's probably going to be embarrassed if she reads this shoutout, I just had to say WE LOVE YOU, PAT!

Later Days!
Kelly