We're Done!!!!!! Summer Vacation is Here at Last!!

I know...I am slow with the blog this week LOL I kept thinking I would get my pictures of the stuff I am selling on ebay taken--and then I would only have to download my camera once *sigh* So now I play catch-up again!

Thursday was our LAST day of homeschool for the year! We made our deadline and finished everything that needed done at this moment. We still have a unit of Idaho state history and Stevie has a short 10-lesson Strategies for Success--but those are both easy! We finished our art, history and science (except for a bunch of experiments the kids are catching up with their dad--but that's fun!) I took a couple pictures of their OLS screen (online service) to show how they were DONE! It was a fun day--we spent almost the whole day doing art projects!

I did figure out how to keep Missy quiet while I was reading her art lessons outloud *grin*

After we finished the day, I surprised the kids and took them out for dinner to one of their FAVORITE restaurants (that I never go to because it is PRICEY!) They were THRILLED! They got the all-you-can-eat soup/salad/breadstick and kept our poor waiter very busy! Kimmy had a lot of fun making origami birds out of the big cloth napkins *sigh*

One last surprise for a great job on homeschool was that we ran to Gamestop and I let the kids each pick a new gameboy game! I told them I DID NOT WANT TO SEE THEM the next day and to play away! I am proud of how well they did on their homeschool and was very happy they obeyed me and let me have my OWN time!! I got stamp and read--and NOT DO HOMESCHOOL!!

I Think I Am Ready for Summer Vacation More Than My Kids!

I admit it...I AM SICK OF SCHOOL!! Ugh! We were SO behind in homeschool, we have not finished up our current school year yet (and the new one starts next month) Now, in the kids defense--they have completed an extra year of English this year--so two complete years in one in addition to everything else! (They were a year behind when we started with K12) Thanks to two moves (one of them losing internet access for almost 6 weeks), Mom's health problems, Dad's coming home from Korea and playing while he was home 3 times (before he deployed, mid-tour, and then before we moved to Texas) and everything else...It is amazing we are almost there! *smile* BUT...I AM STILL SICK OF SCHOOL! We are hoping (and praying) that FRIDAY will be our final day! The kids have worked like crazy to get to this point! Stevie has 9 more history, 9 more science and 6 art. Missy has 3 history, 4 science and 4 art. And then we are done, done, DONE! Okay...well until the new year loads on the 1st of August...but HEY! That's SIX days of summer vacation! Here are a couple fun pictures of the projects they have been working on (Stevie was doing a sewing project for art and Missy was learning about static electricity--isn't long hair fun??)

Handsome Reports In!

Steven got his messenger set up last night--he had forgotten his password to chat (We used to chat all the time when he was in Korea) so he was able to send me pictures from his TDY! I miss living in Maryland SO much! I wish I could have climbed in his suitcase and gone with him *grin* We lived there for 5 years--the longest we have lived in the past 20 years! I have a lot of great memories and lots great friends I wish I could see again *sigh* He has been visiting several of them while he has been there--I am very jealous! One person he definately has been to visit is his Grandpa Walter who lives in Annapolis. I wanted to share a few pictures that I thought were pretty neat.

This is Grandpa in front of his military awards! The big picture on the table is of the WWII Memorial.

This is Grandpa in front of Grandma Dorothy's grave. I was glad Steven was able to take him to visit it.

This is a picture of Steven with his Grandpa. Kimberly has many memories of staying with Grandma and Grandpa while Steven and I would volunteer in Anapolis at Green Street making visuals for the school I volunteered. It gave them time with their grandkids--and me time away

This is Sandy Point State Park. It is only about five miles from Grandpa's apartment. I LOVED going to this beach!! The bridge is the distance is BEAUTIFUL!! I used to make Steven drive me back and forth across it just for fun! This is the park I got the WORST sunburn I have EVER had in my life. We did our annual "School Sneak" (we play the first day public schoolers go to school) to the beach. I didn't do a good job on sunscreen and was LOBSTER RED for about 4 days. I spent all my time laying in the chair covered with a sheet only and a fan running on me trying to cool off my legs! I am MUCH better about sunscreen now! LOL!

This was one of my FAVORITE people at the school I volunteered at! (Yes, I volunteered at a school my HOMESCHOOLED daughter didn't go to *sigh* I fell in love with the people and kept going even when I pulled her out to homeschool! And it was an unbelieveable number of hours too--I just loved working for them! LOL) Mrs. G. was the 4th grade teacher and ALWAYS had a smile--I always wished I would have had her for a teacher myself! I would go visit her every time I went into the school because I loved her so much!

This is Dr. R. and her husband. She was SUCH a nice person too! We always worked together to put on a career day at the school. She cared SO much about the kids--they were very lucky to have her. One time after a career day, Dr. R and her husband took the kids and I out for a concert in the park--I thought that was so sweet! Another year we went to and Irish festival and watched "Riverdance-style" dancing--Kimberly spent hours pretending to be an Irish dancer *grin* (Not that Kimmy would remember doing that now--or at least admit to it!)

Anyways...so here I sit looking at pictures of MY friends...that my handsome gets to visit *sigh* but I am glad he can at least give me updates on everyone. I have been so awful over the years losing track of people. I made him promise to give everyone my current information so maybe we can do a better job of keeping in touch! I miss them all!! I keep asking if we could maybe go back *grin* Who knows with the Army??!!

A Picnic in the Park

Tonight I had the urge to get out of the house! We decided to take a picnic to the park. There is a beautiful pond with a fountain over where Kimberly will be attending college this fall. The kids had a blast feeding the ducks and the fish. There were even a couple turtles who came to snitch bread from the ducks--and would snap at them if they got in the way! It was a nice way to get out of the house and have a fun Family Home Evening! The only thing that would have made it better was if Handsome could have come with us *sigh* Maybe next week!






Missy had a lot of fun chasing bubbles. I had brought along my bottle of "stress bubbles" and was blowing bubbles for her to catch in the wind! Kimberly said I was cheating because the wind was blowing enough that I didn't even have to work *smile*

When the kids got home, they complained they were hot and sweaty so I suggested they run through the sprinklers! Obviously they took my suggestion! They didn't even take time to change into swimsuits--just jumped right in!

Step Away From the Ebay Mom...

LOL! Okay, maybe I went a little overboard this week while Steven has been TDY in DC *smile* Stevie went up to get the mail and this is what he came home with! I didn't realize how many packages would come on the SAME day! Good grief! Makes me look like a shop-a-holic doesn't it? I bet my mailman hates me!! And before you ask...yes...they are all stamps *sigh* Do I ever buy anything else? But they were SO cute in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep!!

How Far Can YOU Spit??

Summer...what can say summer more than watermelon? And what a better way to eat watermelon than having a seed-spitting contest! LOL! Usually I buy the seedless watermelons--I love not having to pick the seeds out--but I am cheap--the ones with seeds were on sale *smile* so I decided we would have a seed-spitting contest! We could not figure out how people make them go so far?? I tried to fool the kids by throwing my seed--but Kimmy caught me cheating *grin* It was a fun, sloppy, gooey summer activity!

Homesick for My Girls

Today is a weepy day I guess...I have just been homesick a lot...first for my family, then for my friends at our last base. I had the BEST Girl Scout Troop!!! We were small--we only had four girls...but we had SO much fun! I looked forward to their coming every week--it was never a chore--but a blessing for their enthusiasm and love. The parents were AWESOME! They were truly my best friends while we lived in Florida and even now two years after we have moved--I miss them every day! Anyways...I just wanted to share my absolute favorite photo of them! I need to frame it and put it on my wall to remind me of all the fun we had! I think I took over 1500 photos those 3 years I was their troop leader! Thank you Emily, Isabella, Jennifer, and Missy for your love and thank you Laura, Rhonda and Betsy for your friendship--I will never forget you!

Out-to-Eat-Hijinks!

I know this post is a few days late...but the pictures are too fun to not share! We decided to take the kids out for dinner before Steven left for DC this past weekend. After much discussion, and maybe a few arguments and tears (mostly on my part--because no one could commit to where they wanted to eat!) we made a "command decision" to go to Cove Rice. It's an all-you-can eat place about 10 minutes away that we all like. It's definitely not as yummy as our hometown favorite "The Great Wall" but it's pretty good *smile* The kids were SO excited this time to find chopsticks. Missy and Kimmy did pretty good. Stevie...well...check out the pictures and you will get the idea why we always get strange looks!

It was a fun night out! We had supper out, hit a couple goodwills (my kids LOVE to look for books) and played on the toy! Steven let the kids roast a few smores on the BBQ grill before bed *grin* and we got ready for Steven to leave WAY too early for my nightowl body! We are really missing him...but he'll be home in a couple weeks! (LOVE YOU HANDSOME!!! See you SOON!)

Food Storage Funny!

I have been trying to build up our food storage the past month. It is going SLOW at my $10 a week budget but I am slowly getting a few things ahead. We had quite a bit when we moved to Idaho while Steven was in Korea--but tight budgets and not getting things used before they expired kind of made me not want to work on it when we moved here. I just keep having the nagging feeling to do it again though...so trying again. *smile* Anyways...a friend sent this fun video today and it made me crack up! Remember to store what your kids will eat...Mine has macaroni and cheese, soup and chocolate!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If7YJ-oeSy8

I Figured Out How to Make Some Extra Money...

...I can become a counterfeiter *smile* (JUST KIDDING!!) Actually I thought this was an awesome site! It was shared with me this week and I played around on it for quite a while. You can add your picture to lots of different types of denominations--United States and other countries! The person who shared it used it to make chore rewards for her kids--I thought that was kinda cute. Anyways...Just thought I would share!

The website is: http://www.festisite.com/money/

Some Thread, a Patch and a Bottle of Bubble Bath

The toy is fixed!! Okay, I admit...it might not be the prettiest patching job--but it holds air--and that's what's important! (That and the fact that they refunded our money AND we got to keep the broken toy *grin*) Steven was able to fix the water slide for me--I know...I *should* know how to use my own sewing maching--but I don't and he does LOL!! He has always been the master patch sewer for scouts in our family! So with some heavy-duty thread, a nylon bag to use as patching material from the goodwill and the sewing machine...we have a toy again! (And he only sewed his thumb ONCE!)

Tonight was exceptionally warm still outside at about 8:00 p.m. so we decided to see if it would hold air *smile* It has been sitting for almost 10 days though and was covered in MUD! Steven got the car wash brush out and started cleaning away--but Heidi did what she does best--figured out how to make a game of it! With a bottle of bubble bath and 3 willing "scrub brushes" we got the toy sparkling clean! (The kids even got a bubble fight in--check out the last picture--those aren't clouds in the sky LOL)