Who Do These Girls Think They Are?

Surprise teenage happening #343: While taking a group of 35 middle schoolers on a weekend retreat I jump into the 12-passenger van I'm driving to find this gender make-up:

My son,
his best friend
and...
8 girls!

Somehow, and I know I dwell on this all too much, but somehow I thought my children would remain babies forever!

Prayers needed.
~Michelle

...one more thing...

Sorry for the double post in like 20 minutes, but teenagers will do that to you.

Unexpected teenage stage #342: they walk around the house with ipod on, singing, I think that's what we'll call it, and looking at themselves in the mirror; have I not told the boy how handsome he is enough this week- now he's gotta look for himself every 5 minutes?

Lord help me!

~Michelle

Good News Internets!

You'll want to check back here next week. I'll be offering my vintage greeting cards for sale, just in time to get one for your sweetheart for Valentine's Day.

Pictures will be coming soon, I promise.

If you live local you can purchase my cards at the Garden Sanctuary on US 1; although not to brag too much, but, after dropping a "shipment" off yesterday I got news that only 1 card is left!

I'm so excited!

~Michelle

Our Crazy Unique Schedule

I've decided to feed my family lunch later in the afternoon.
I leave for work at 12:30 or 12:45.
I've begun to put dinner/lunch in the oven around that time.
Then my boys #1. don't have to cook and #2. they can enjoy a delicious home cooked, or the like, meal before heading out to all their activities, which by-the-way all happen around the dinner time hours, 5-7 or 8pm.
Yet another reason why I love homeschooling. This crazy schedule of ours works for our lives. Another reason why I am sad thinking of Vaughan going to public high school next year; I'll miss having him around. :-(
Oh, well life goes on around me, I might as well enjoy it!

So I'll be running, I've got rice on the stove!
~Michelle

Too Much Fun for One Women to Handle

One good thing about marrying the man of my youth is that not too much surprises me when we go out in public; at least when we're out at place like Disney where fun and silliness abound.
I'm often taken back to high school days when I get the boys (all 3 of them) out into crowded areas. The names have changed, and those of you who were around then know who you are, but the actions haven't. Little did I know God was preparing me for life with boys for many, many years.
Here's the evening in photos...
OK, so maybe the big mouth comes from mom???


Who would have know this simple hat Steve found on the Star Tours ride, would provide so much entertainment. Simple things for simple people.

What up G?

Why therapy is needed for this man. Poor horse.

My little rocker found this Disney version of a Slash hat.

~Michelle

Non-Blogger Posting and Homeschool Stuff

For the 4 people who read this blog. You can now post comments, I've disabled the blogger only option.

For my own Treehouse Schoolhouse link: A Wrinkle in Time study guide to check out, here.

I Could Change My Mind on This One, But I Doubt It!

I love being a mom!

Yes it can be tough sometimes, especially since the whole "girl" thing is beginning to come into play, but overall I just love having the privilege of being a mom.

I love taking the boys to their various activities, cheering them on, laughing, joking and having fun! I love seeing them smile and joke with their friends and seeing them shiver because it's too cold outside to be practicing. I love seeing them sweat and work hard - I just love watching them grow up. I remember when they were little and I'd call Steve or my mom or dad, or anyone who was at the house, to come and peek at them while they slept, or played legos. Not much has changed, if you come to visit most likely you'll find yourself sitting with us in the dojo, the practice fields or at Boy Scouts.

I love telling them to eat their veggies, to take their vitamins and the newest item: to eat their protein bars.

I love hearing them talking in bed way past bedtime and I love it when they hug me and hang on me.

It's such a privilege being a parent and I often wonder why the hospitals allowed Steve and I to leave the place with such little people; didn't they see we were, and still are, such a mess. Didn't someone catch on that we were clueless, that we were young and unsure of what we even were doing here on planet earth? Regardless of that I just love being a mom.

This afternoon we'll travel over to Disney's Hollywood Studios (MGM's new name) and get to play with them at the "Happiest Place on Earth". They'll totally cream me in the PT Cruiser game we'll play in the car on the way over. They'll humor me as I make them pose for a gazillion pictures while there and they'll remind me once again that being their mom is perhaps the greatest thing I'll ever get to do in my lifetime.

My heart breaks to think of them growing up and moving out, but those times are quickly approaching. If you know me then you know I have been preparing myself for the graduation and college drop off for a few years now; but until then I'm choosing each day to love being a mom. Choosing to enjoy my boys for who they are, stinky feet, muddy cleats and all!

I'm also considering that perhaps Disney is not the Happiest Place on Earth, but that perhaps the Happiest Place on Earth is right here at my very own house.

I love you boys.

~Mom

The Pictures Are Here

Finally Christmas pictures. Christmas Eve we had my sister-in-laws boys at the house while she did some last minute shopping.
My 2-year old nephew loves to follow Steve around everywhere. Here they are hauling in firewood from the backyard for our campfire.



And here's Olive the other reindeer, better known as Fluff.


Headed to Yiayia and Papous for Christmas Eve dinner

still driving there...

The kids


This year we made spanakopita for everyone! I even taught Steve to make his Yiayia's recipe, we made 3 batches!


This year I discovered I like egg nog, a lot, especially with some good Caribbean Rum, oh and the baklava rolls in the foreground were to die for, or at to rot all our teeth out with.

Everyone needs an uncle like him...


The tree at our house.


It was truly a merry time at our house once again.

Eating at Our House

It's not enough that I don't really like to cook, but now I have to write about it! What's wrong with me?!!

I do like to bake which is what promted this post.
Barb introduced me to this fake it, don't make it recipe site on PureSimple.com

Here's what I made today:

Banana Nut Bread ~ yum

The ingredients are simple and the taste great!

We ate 1 1/5 loaves already today. 4 boys will do that to food.

1 yellow cake mix

1 box Jell-O Banana Cream instant pudding and pie mix

2 ripe bananas, mashed

4 eggs

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped pecan (optional)

Mix all ingredients together.

Pour into 2 large loaf pans or 4 small ones.

Since we only have 3 small loaf pans I made 3 loaves and 4 muffins.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes

Ta-da!!

The finished product!

Eat plain, with butter or cream cheese!

~Michelle

Run, Forest, run!

Looks like he's runing a 5k in Feb., thanks Uncle Justin - it's gonna be fun!

Things I'll Never Know

Could someone please tell me why you would place your plate here?

Better Late Than Never

I can't believe the first full week of 2008 is almost over.
And I haven't even posted any pictures from our Christmas break, and a nice break it was. I had my first week off since I started work 6 months ago!

We found new hiking, and yes I mean hiking, trails and took advantage of them! I think Steve and I went 5 times in that week!

Day one was with the whole clan. Fluff immediately found this black snake and made one trek off the trail chasing something. He loved it! Freedom!



I wish I had pictures from the 2.5 miles hike to the overlook, there were hills and roots sticking out. If you're not familiar with Florida woods these two things are very, very rare! Along with rocks, but that's another post.

Here we all are at the overlook, one of 3 overlooks in the preserve.



The 1.35 miles back was pretty wide and straight, more typical of Florida woods.



The vegetation in this state never ceases to amaze me. I couldn't resist this photo. Some sort of palm I think.


Uncle Justin- do not read the following.
Yes, horse country, another little known fact about the Sunshine State


I have a bunch of photos still to post form Christmas, stay tuned.
~Michelle

I'm Excited!

I'm excited about an upcoming event we're putting on at our church.

It's and Etiquette Evening for our middle school girls and their moms. We're still in the planning stage, and if anyone read this blog I'd ask for ideas, books and tips.

I'm not sure if it's our area or if the issues we're dealing with are sweeping the nation, but middle schoolers have very little manners. My guess if they've just never been taught. Here's the scene last night in my 30 minutes of small group time with 9 6th graders. We're about 15 minutes through our discussion when one girl gets ups and begins to dance in the open area next to our table and then asks, "Want to see my backhandspring?" Another gets up to go to the bathroom and a third to use the lock on the outside of the bathroom door to lock the girl in. I ask them to sit down, they do, only to have another get up and do the same thing.

Earlier in the night, while our youth pastor was teaching, one of my girls is texting a friend and still another, from another grade level, is sitting talking with her back to the pastor.

Disrespect. Oh it drives us nuts.
The I remember where most of our kids are coming from. Homes where their parents leave for the weekend to be with boyfriends, homes where fighting and yelling and drug-addiction run rampid. Homes where Jesus has never been welcomed, except in many cases by these precious young middle schoolers.

They at the age of 12, 13, and 14 are the spiritual leaders of their home.

God brings them each week, cell phones, backhandsprings and all. He brings them and they ask questions, they begin to make changes in their music, in their dress, in their lifestyles. He brings them and they respond- and who am I to get frustrated and want to walk on when they act like, well middle schoolers?

So back to our Etiquette Evening. I'm so excited!! A group of us will meet at the end of this month to discuss the details and I can't wait! Knowledge is power and these girls need to be educated!

~Michelle

PS one of my girls who came as a 6th grader is not in the 8th grade. She's a short shorts wearer, a low cut you know what hanging out dresser. Last year when I touched on modesty most of the girls asked "what's modesty?" I explained and then began to call them out when they weren't modest. Anyway, last night at youth she wore an undershirt under a low cut shirt and informed me she doesn't wear her shorts anymore because they are too short! I had also been informed by a 3rd party that she was sitting with a group of Christians at lunch!! Oh thank You Jesus! She's hearing your voice. Continue to speak truth into her life and give her the strength to make decisions that line up with Your Word.

2008 is Here!

Happy New Year!

We had a great New Year's! We had some old friends over and sat around the campfire laughing and sharing stories!

New Year's Day we headed over to Steve's parents, Yiayia and Papou's for the annual dinner and traditional Greek "good luck coin" search.

It's when Yiayia makes a dish of cheese pita with a silver dollar hidden inside. Whoever gets it will have good luck for the year! This year my oldest son got it!! And I thought it was my year this year? Maybe next year!?

I got a chance to purchase all the fabric and paper or the newest project I'm working on: stationary! I plan to somehow attach my turkey redwork and other projects to make unique cards. I'll post pics when I complete one.

I've come up with some new years resolutions, actually some things about myself I know needs changing. I've sought God on this and just know He's in agreement. I'm also so thankful that I have Christ to do this thing called life with; sometimes I think about what it would be like without Him and it hurts, oh I desire to pray more and see my unsaved loved ones come to Christ this year. I'm excited to hear from God and grow in my faith in the upcoming year. I pray you all have a wonderful new year with the Lord as well.

Cold hands, Warm heart.
~Michelle