Rainy Sunday Afternoon

Rainy Sundays are perhaps the best days.

Sunday is our down day, the only day Steve doesn't work so we most often can be found sitting on the sofa.

Rainy is great because it keeps us locked up inside; and when you're a family of home bodies, this is good.

Today I sent Nik to the neighbors birthday party. Not sure who else out there drops kids at parties, but we do. Not because we don't like parties but more because we like being home. Vaughan and three of his friends are sitting at the dining table playing Heroscape, Justin is borrowing my men's pin stripe button down and fedora while waiting to be picked up for some time with his friends, Sarah (not my daughter-in-law) naps on the sofa next to me while Aubry sleeps, Steve watches netflix and I google all things San Francisco.

This last week I simplified my closet, I organized and got rid of.

This week I hope to dig out my kitchen cabinets, clean and simplify.

Outside the house I'd like to plant something, anything. 

It'd be nice to get some dirt under my nails. Realistically this won't happen.

Speaking of outside this is a great picture Vaughan texted me of our cats.

I have so been enjoying Wendy's Lookbook and copying her cute outfits. Recently I paired my Vera capri's, a pink tank, white summer blazer and brown wedge sandals-- all inspired by this video, last outfit featured so you can skip to the end if you want to see the cuteness. The good news is my white blazer and pink tank came from our churches annual free clothing drive!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YyotjnSgTQA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>iframe>

Hoping for another lazy, yet productive week ahead.

We will beach it, if the weather dries up,

visit our local children's museum,

get serious about the kitchen cabinets,

spend time with a friend

and begin a summer Bible study.

So what does your week hold?

It's Just Busy Around Here, Even When It's Not

We've been busy.

I had two recent court dates regarding the kids, basically when the state removes children they set a hearing 5-6 months out to check on the kids and their placement.

It was pretty identical for both the cases we are involved in.

The judge said things will remain as they are.

I am back in court later this month and things could change for the older kids, but really I am unsure; our farthest our court date is in August so mentally I am preparing to have the older kids until then.

So we remain at a household of 9.

For now.

One of the biggest changes in my life right now is that fact that at court this week the judge ruled that the older two kids can now go to their maternal grandparents unsupervised.... meaning the slow wean out of our house has begun. 

They have spent the last 2 evenings there, getting dropped off shortly before bedtime.

So far so good.

Things have been quieter, today I sat on the floor playing with Aubry and panicked at one point, "Where are the other kids!?" For a second I thought I had forgotten to get them at school.

LOL

Well here are some pictures -- Aubs sleeping with her dolly.

Not an uncommon sight. Sarah, Nik, Lexi, Illana, Aubry and I all hanging out!

I got a date night with Steve and Justin a few weeks back- so much fun to enjoy them both. 

Justin purchased this lobster shirt- he has quite the style in clothing.

Lexi and I snuck out for a girls night and saw Mirror Mirror. We liked it and it was nice seeing a movie where nothing got blown up or shot up!

Illana is a drawing fool!! She loves to pick up anything she can write with and write, write, write.

 We sure are busy around here.

Wrestling Spanos style.
We just can't help it, it's our love language I guess.

Aubry reminds me a lot of Justin, always wanting to be held and loved on; the back sling is the easiest for when I am doing housework and a sling is great for out and about.

Illana got into the pantry one afternoon, Kix cereal and white chocolate chips, boy oh boy did she ever eat those chocolate chips!!

So that's been some of our day to day,
I also did some catching up on friends blogs, have been working on the front patio area and can't wait to start some new projects with pallets!!
Happy day!

Lately

Just thought I'd drop a quick note with some pictures as to what's been going on lately.

I've been reminded that my family and my home are my priorities and my ministry, having teenagers in the house seems to require a different kind of focus on the home front than any other stage in life.

Some days it has taken all I have in me to love and be kind, I feel as though the enemy is touching up the paint that he has painted on my back and my rooftop; knowing that the battle is already won by the blood of Christ I press on doing my best to be joyful and kind and loving.

Now on with the pictures...

the Tuesday women's group I belong to has come to an end for the summer, here is a glimpse at what my living room has looked like on Tuesdays, this photo is missing Theresa :(

Justin had is final piano recital at school, we went out after to celebrate with ice cream! His girlfriend Inez was with us, so I think this is her official introduction on my blog, welcome Inez.
Vaughan passed the College placement test, actually has a different name now but the long and short of it is that he will start taking classes at the local college as well as the high school next year- so proud of you Vaughan.
Illana is growing, she is amazing. The combination of baby and teenager in the house is nice- her laughter, her screeches as she realizes she has a voice and her smile can turn any mood around and really just slow down my day when I take time to sit with her.
I mean how sweet is this?
So that is the news around this place lately.

We have several trips this summer, 6 out of state trips as a family combined!

One of which includes my trip to Alaska to visit my cousin!!!

I'll try to post more and if you're still reading then thanks :)

Happy 2011- That Types Up Weird

*updated at bottom
I will be back- I promise!
Happy New Year to all,
I've just been spending less and less time around the computer, I wish that meant I was spending more and more time organizing and cleaning my house- but it doesn't.

Actually I'm not sure what I've been doing??

So perhaps I will go over all I've been up to.

I have watched a few movies and television shows on netflix, had an "inner-fit" that had my mind fighting against itself, luckily I won;
I attended an anniversary dinner and a candlelight memorial service for a friend of Justin's who died last Thursday.
We threw our annual New Year's Party, I took a long walk on the beach and held Illana not nearly as much as I wanted to.
I've also fooled around with a new look for this here blog.
So I guess I've been busy.

I've also been thinking, I know, scary; but I've been mulling over lots these last few days...
about dead fish,
one legged birds,
being obedient,
loving my husband,
living in an open field,
my household responsibilities,
managing my home,
studying the Bible,
serving the youth,
why people choose suicide
and most recently I've been thinking about where on my bosy I can wax next.
Yes, for Christmas I got a professional waxing system and let me tell you the pain of waxing your upper lip has nothing on waxing your own inner thigh.
Nuff said.
Good night.

So I got around to a new blog look, what do you think?
I still have some linking and tweaking to do so be patient, drop me some feedback- good and bad- and stop back by.

Struggles Are Good

Haven't has much time to sit at the real computer so this blog text will have to do. I have never been in such a lengthy struggle in my faith. Won't really go into detail just struggling with all that God is and says He is and then how that plays out in my life. Sometimes getting my way is the worst thing for me. Every time things go God's way it's the best thing for me, discerning between the two is hard sometimes.
Currently my heart is breaking.
Breaking for family members,
for the poor and needy,
for my children,
my Hottie,
my heart breaks for my own lack of faithfulness to my Savior, my God, my King.

"The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the broken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

Random Post with Links to My Other Blogs

Wow, it's Tuesday already, where did the days go?

Funny thing is I haven't been too busy.
I have been spending more time at home focusing on Justin's studies and the dishes and laundry and even a little fit one sfternoon- oops.

I have also been avoiding a much needed office organize and my Christmas boxes are still in the attic.

Steve is doing much better, his back still aches but it's an ache that's been around since pre-accident. He goes back to the dr next week.

Well not much to say, I've posted on my kitchen and gardening blogs today and have been working on the tangible side of Vintage Sheet here at home.

Hopefully I'll have some Christmas pics to post soon- not sure why the lack of Christmas excitement this year?!
Have a great day!

Day Off

Being a mom is hard work.
The monotonous day-in, day-out mixed with the lively ever changing life with other people, for me teenagers! Not that I don't love them, I do; it's just some days I want need a break.

So that's what I did today.
I was exhausted anyway and took a 1-hour morning nap and then again the the early afternoon a 2-hour nap. The other time I was a wake, I just laid around.

I did get up to cook and do dishes, we do have to eat.

I even took the night off from youth group.
I don't like to do that, but some days I need a break for all things teen.

Now a little office work, then...
early
to
bed!

For Today

1. Homeschool math

2. Make list then grocery shop

3. Work at my j.o.b./meet with boss

4. Cut out fabric for hand embroidery baby projects

5. Wash outside of windows on front of the house

6. Locate sticks for fall decor, or have J do

7. Vacuum: living, dining, kitchen, boysroom

8. Have J mow lawn

Gay Fay

It's been a whole week of rain.

Monday afternoon at 2:30 we watch the clouds begin to change to the famous north-west movement that comes with a hurricane/tropical storm.

Shortly after it started to rain and really has stopped since.

Well the eye did sit over use for Wednesday so it was dry for a period of time.

Since the storm brings wind and rain and not any thunder and lightning going out in it isn't all that bad. I mean you'll get soaked in 5 seconds flat and you'll watch out for flying debry but we've hung out in this storm and had a good time. I do live with teenagers who are invincible, in case you were wondering. Yesterday the boys went to a friends and spent a bunch of time in the pool- raining and an overflowing pool! Sounds like fun.

On Wednesday morning we visited the beach and after 15 minutes we were drenched to the bone. See:


Lots of rain means a rising swamp and frogs galore!

Cats are a must when living near the woods/fields/swamp

The problem with this storm and picture taking is I can't go out into the storm and take any! I did snap these of the known "damage" around our place.

Steve and I were sitting on the back porch when we heard the crack, crack, bang of this tree falling. I immediately jumped up and ran to the Lego room to see if Justin was OK and then I headed for the best look out over the woods. As I looked out the boys window I saw this:
We knew the tree could go and we're thrilled to see that when God brought it down yesterday it landed perfectly in the side yard.
Another view:

I just kept saying "Thank You Lord" and we were simply amazed and thrilled that there was no damage, it was as if God sent His angels themselves to cut the tree and they laid it perfect. I imagined what that was like in the spiritual realm. I've been around many a tree cutting and know when the placement of the fall must be just so there's a "holding of breath" feeling in the air. I'm sure Steve's angel was cutting and my angel most likely was on the back porch with me not wanting to watch!

Within 5 minutes I headed back out on the back porch to see this:


Yep, that's the trampoline from the front yard (hey we're Greek front yard entertaining is what it's about)! Seems like in all our preparedness, or lack of, we forgot to flip the trampoline over and 50+mph wind gusts showed us why we should have.

So for now that's our Tropical Storm story. We're staying inside or on the back porch, except for a few outside walk arounds. My tomato plants are surviving, except they are blown, along with their "cages" at a 45 degree angle. I keep going out and straightening them but again wind gusts don't care what I want.

Steve had yesterday off! Not from the paper, that bad boy must be delivered everyday. He actually said it was a cool adventure when he was delivering, with both front windows open, during the rainiest/windiest part of the storm. Now the car smells a bit funky and I'm considering a dehumidifier for in there.
Speaking of cars, the van has some mysterious leak as well. Water finds it's way onto the floor of the passenger side? Anyone run into this before? Oh the things a tropical storm will do, the things it'll do.

So this morning I am the lone one awake, school was canceled again and Steve has the day off again! The swamp is rising and the rain is still coming, by tonight it should be done.
I think.
I haven't watched the news or checked the radar yet today so who knows. Although looking at the cloud rotation we're on the back side of this gay event.
Fay has been the most unpredictable, strangest storm I've ever seem.
When I can I'll pull video up so you can see and hear what's it like around here. Oh who am I kidding when Vaughan wakes up I'll have him do it. Have I mentioned everyone needs a teenage boy around? They do.
Until then: Life is Good.
~Michelle

PS for the record the first day of school was Monday, then 4 days off and back again this coming Monday. I usually start my home school 1 week after the public school, which would have been this Monday.
Hmmm.. should I start or wait another week? What would you do if you were me?

Perspective

I constantly have to check myself and CHaNGe MY PeRSPeCTiVE!!!
This is hard sometimes.
Do you have any idea what it's like to have made like every possible mistake out there?
Praise the Lord for His grace!

Takes me to this verse:

But he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Cor. 12:9

I ask you... what does it mean to boast in one's weaknesses?

~Michelle

Welcome to my home.

Lightsaber fight anyone?



~Michelle

In An Attempt of a Healthier Diet

...I'm making these on Thursday!


CHOCOLATE COVERED RITZ

1 inch sq. paraffin wax
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
Ritz crackers
Peanut butter

Spread peanut butter on Ritz crackers.
Melt the square of wax in a double boiler.
Add chocolate chips and melt until cream.
Drop crackers, peanut butter side down, into chocolate.
Use a fork to turn cracker over and slide it up the side of the pan to let extra chocolate run off.
Lay on wax paper and put in a cool place to harden. Store in cool dry place.

...and I'll mopping my floors!
~Michelle

Day ? See, I've Forgot Already.

So the daily blogging thing didn't even make it a week! I shall press on.

My dad came into town yesterday and I rode with Steve all day, my day off, doing deliveries and then a meeting last night - blogging didn't make the cut.

Now today my oldest is 14-years-old and I have nothing fabulous to write. I'm happy that he and his brother, and my dad, all went out and about with my mom tonight and then to stay the night, all but my dad. So I'm happy to be kid free!! Is that a good b-day letter? Love you V.

School was great this week! We covered a lot of our magnet unit and will finish it up next week. Then, I'm not sure what we'll do. Right now I'm checking out doing some sort of unit on the Prophets of the Bible. I read in this book that studying the prophets in teen years is a good thing; although I don't remember why. I tell ya the mind's the first thing to go, hehe! We'll at least start by reading about them in the Bible.

Other subjects: math and science went well. Grammar and Greek/Latin were a blast! Yes, we started back to Greek/Latin; Rummy Roots makes it easy and I like this; only I need to come up with a creative way to teach it!

Well Steve's home so I gotta run.

C-ya
~Michelle
V in the Last few years
At his best friends




With his cat G





My little man in the kitchen!




Schooling outside - experiment time!


He and I- 2 years ago:





He and I- 6 months ago.

Randomness from the Kitchen

If you're familiar with FlyLady then you know about her routines.
So, just for the record here's my after-school routine:

I ask myself 2 questions.
1. What's for dinner?
2. What activities do we have tonight?

These two questions really make a difference. Knowing that we have to be at Scouts or Youth Group helps out! It eliminates me coming home from work and thinking, what the heck are we gonna eat- I'm starving!

I also find if I can prepare a few meals ahead it helps. I like to have food preped and ready to be put in the oven or grill when I get home. I also like to double a lunch meal so it'll make my lunch hour tomorrow smoother.

For instance right now, I'm making little smokies for lunch- doubled the sauce and will add 2nd bag of lil smokies AFTER the boys have polished off the 1st bag - viola I now have lunch for tomorrow.

I'm also cooking dinner - a turkey breast. I was impressed with the way the boys finished off the turkey this year - we literally ate all the meat! We boiled the turkey bones to get ALL the meat, made it into a gravy and they ate the heck out of it! We got 2 meals out of it! Anyway while I'm doing that I've got chicken marinating in bbq sauce for tomorrow.

This also forces my family to eat heathly and at home, plus it helps me out when I return from work- if "Mum ain't happy, nobody happy!"

Day #4

My plan was to check in each day with a recap.

Today, I'm exhausted.
I dropped the boys off at Boy Scouts, shot home and am typing this before cleaning, yuck! The bad part about working is that when I leave, 3 other people don't. That means a clean house when I leave is often notthat when I return.

So I need to do a quick clean up before heading back to Scouts for the pick up and I may be crazy but I'm going to see what positions need filling in our Scout Troop. I figure I'm not out enough nights of the week!!

And praise the Lord! We've been praying for Vaughan to bring up his math grade, and after his test today - he did!! He has an "A"!! I'm so proud of both my boys.

Day #3, Monday, November 26

So today went well. As all first days do.

We woke and got started on school. Both boys did well with the 5 minute freewrite, they actually went for 10 minutes. We had a bump in the schedule when family stopped by on their way out of town headed back to NH.

We began our magnet unit today and had fun doing some levitation tricks using latch magnets; I also received a bunch of writing resources today! I can't wait to go through and see what we can use. God provides the perfect materials at just the right time, every time!

I loved working in the afternoon! I'm still having issues with transitions, not sure why? but the afternoon work hours were much nicer. Of course we're back down to 1 vehicle so the car pooling was interesting.

I look forward to tomorrow!

~Cold Hands
Warm Heart
Michelle

Tip of the day: Teach children to do their own laundry as soon as possible.

All This and A Bag of Popcorn Too!

Had a busy day today.

We've had a busy life these last few weeks. Surprisingly enough it hasn't been wearing on me, or my kids or hubs. I've asked them.

It's God.

Life has been so unpredictable lately. It's been busy. It's been full of change.

Perhaps it's everything happening at once and nothing has hit home yet. I just don't think so. It's God. When I got offered my new job I had been praying about it for months ahead of time. I had gotten a heads up that the position was being created and my name had come up. I didn't say anything - to anyone, not even Steve. I simply prayed that if this were the job God had for me, I knew it was headed that way, me working outside the home, and I asked the Lord that if this was where He wanted me that He would bring it to me and that it would met a few requirements that I wasn't willing to budge on.

It did!

So the addition of my job is covered by God. We're also back into having some issues with our new business. Our area/county isn't real helpful for small business. They have been making it hard for us. Looks like we have a few things that need more attention than we want to give to them but what do we do but handle it. With God.

So my busy week last week and my busy Monday today have gone quite well and I give all the praise and glory to God. He is so good. I spent much of my life doing things my way in my time that it's somewhat relaxing and peaceful to wait on the Lord and on His timing.

Frustrating, unpleasant. Yes, but worth it.

So in closing I just gotta let ya know what my day consisted of.

6:20am woke up feeling cranky and wanting to snap at everyone, I keep my mouth shut.
coffee, clean kitchen (busy Sun nite too), start laundry, get Steve off to work

8:00am kids arrive
8:30am run to drop physical form off at dr. office- sing several songs at the top of my lungs on the way and back, "This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made..." and "Rise and sine and give God the glory, glory, rise and shine and give God the glory, glory..."

8:45am run to Publix for some movie snacks for boys- popcorn is BOGO!!
9:15am 1 more boy shows up, start Lord of the Rings Fest 2007! - Fellowship of the Ring
watch TV for 3 hours and didn't finish movie

12 noon- make lunch, send one boy home
12:30pm pack all 5 boys up, take Steve his lunch and head to work
1-3 work while kids play in gym
3:15pm arrive at dr. office to find out a simple form will now cost me more headache than I want. Have I ever told you I'm not a dr. fan?

4:15pm arrive home with 5 hungry boys who pig out on ice cream
prepare for Bible study while boys skateboard and then watch TV- feed Early Bird decent food/fruit to hold him over through football practice tonight

4:30pm start dinner, something from my mom that only needs to be heated up
5:00pm 3 more boys leave
5:15pm make 2 hot dogs for Night Owl
5:30pm leave to take Steve dinner and head to football practice
5:45pm realize we forgot physical form, head back home
5:55pm just in the nick of time we made practice, I handed in form only to find out homeschool children are still considered to be on academic probation, so I fill out a form stating he's top in his class *smile*

6:05pm leave for Bible study that I should have at at 6pm to set-up etc. I hope I don't miss the babysitters!

6:15pm arrive and no I didn't miss the babysitters!!
6:30-8:30pm Bible Study, what a great night on patience- good stuff
9:00pm get kids to bed
9:30pm finish up laundry, fold and put away 3 loads, talk with Steve
10:30pm now- blog and get ready to hit the hay!

Wow! I did do alot! And if you read all that- wow- don't you have something better to do? hehe
Goodnight all.

-Michelle
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Lovin' Every Minute of It!

Currently we have about 3 dozen tennis balls on the back porch, spray painted, lined-up. Several other dozen await at a friends.

Our house, this Thursday tennis ball war.
Ahhh, life with boys!

-Michelle
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A Day in the Life

*and yes it's my fav Beatles tune

Summer's going good, this week. While today I am writing about the good days, know there are bad ones too! We rely on God on those days *smile*

Anyway, this going good. Today we had to go do Early Bird's lawn account. He has 3 lawns that he mows, and being 13, mom is the driver and the fill in! So the the oldest boy i watch mowed for him. First I dropped him at the lawn, showed him what to do and then took the other 3 to the park. We played, mainly in the shade, after all it was 9:30am and 83 degrees!

40 minutes later we did a drive-by too check on him before "pokin' around" the Goodwill. Each kid had a quarter and Night Owl also had $2 and bought a box of legos; the red lego box, valued at $9.99 or more!! Boy do we know a Lego deal when we see one!

Went back to the lawn where I did my usual weedwacking and edging. We hauled it back to the house where we showered and had lunch before I headed to my 2nd day on my new job! I spent 2 hours there and then came home.

Now the children are gone and it's just my fam!

God has blessed me with such a peace I can't explain it. Don't get me wrong at times I look around that the storm around me and panic, my self is strong- God is stronger! and that Rocks my friends! That's real power and strength!

On a lighter note, some other fun summer facts are:

-i'm seriously thinking about getting 6 Rhode Island Reds, that chickens for all ya'll city slickers- eggs to eat and sell
-we catch an average of 2-5 grasshoppers a day
-we catch an average of at least 1 other bug a day
- we store these creatures in an old peanut butter jar, the first pb jar used up this summer!
-i had the chance to make a pit stop, long weekend that is, in my hometown in new england. it had been 2 years and it was strange being a stranger in my own hometown- a small town of around 6,500 people.
-we're going to be having our annual Lord of the Rings Fest- a week dedicated to watching all of the Lord of the Rings movies back to back ALL. WEEK. LONG. Fun, lots of fun- so to my runaway child, yes you know who you are- the only other one of my type i'll claim, anyway you are welcome to come- i hope you do. sniff, sniff
- we have not given our kittens away, yet? any takers?
-if last year was a summer of knowledge, this summer is the summer of videography. They play outside great still, trampoline the best thing for active children, but when they're in it's either PS2, computer, DS, movie editing, movie producing

Just another recap of my day,

-Michelle
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Short and Sweet

In the car today:

Me: "He created the animals and then needed someone to watch over them, He created man."

Night Owl: "Yeh and then He saw that man needed someone to watch over him, He created women."

Me: "Amen to that!"

-Michelle
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