It's Beginning To Look A LOT Like Christmas.





I woke up around 5 this morning. Couldn't sleep, that happens all the time with me. Decided to go ahead and roll out of bed even though I didn't turn in til 1:30. So, as I sit here with a nice hot cup of coffee, trying to decide what sounds good to eat for breakfast, I think I will reflect on the goings on at our house.

Our kids are really excited about the holidays. So much so, they have dug all the decorations out of the loft in the garage and have set up ONE of our Christmas trees. It is pictured in this entry. That leaves the other 4 to go! All but a few gifts have been purchased and now is the time that every evening a few of the kids will help me wrap up a few. I have a few homemade items to complete but they won't take me all that long.

We are counting down the days til Dave is off for the Winter Break at work......12 days of him being home!! I don't know who is more excited....ME or the kids!!

Thankful Every Day.







This Thursday our nation takes a day to gather with family and friends to commemorate a day of thanksgiving. As that day approches, I can't help but look around me and think of all the many blessings I am bestowed daily.

I live in a country that allows me to educate my children. For that I am truly thankful. I believe our children are the way they are because they were under our influence for the majority of their impressionable years. Some may feel that homeschooled children are VERY sheltered, and I am certain there are some that are. That is not the case with ours. They participate in activities that allow them to interact with other people. I'm not worried about their socialization.....trust me, they can hold their own!

I am so grateful for the wonderful man I am married to. I can say with all honesty, I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for him. He makes me wake up each day wanting to be a better person. If I can be half as selfless as he, I would consider that the greatest achievement of all. I thank God every day I didn't drop the Speech 101 class I was required to take in college. That is where I met him and now look at us......23 years later.

I am so blessed to have 8 BEAUTIFUL children who make me feel so proud that I can't help but wonder......"Is it possible to be this happy?"

Last but not least, I will leave you with some GORGEOUS pictures of the fine state of Kansas. Our son Robert took these pictures while on one of his long distance treks he enjoys on his mountain bike. The picture of the windmill is 4 miles from our home. The picture of the creek is 3 miles to the west of us.......Yep, that is the INFAMOUS Shoo Fly Creek. Now if anyone asks you can tell them you have seen it in all of it's glory!

Love knows no bounds.




Our family has been sick for the past two days. Non-stop puking.....YUK! I finally told everyone to just camp out in the TV room and we would have a SpongeBob Cartoon Extravaganza. So, everyone grabbed their pillows, blankets or sleeping bags and headed to the TV room. This was a brilliant thought on my part because I placed trash cans strategically around the room so if you were sick and couldn't make it to the bathroom, at least you hit the trashcan instead of my floor.

So, all was well, everyone has finally stopped puking but now they are exhausted. Anna was on the laying on the floor and started to cry. Nik asked her what was wrong and she said she had puke in her hair but didn't feel like washing it out. This is how you know your Big Brother loves you.....he sits on the floor and brushes the dried barf out of your hair.

Yep, those are my kids.

Woo Hoo.......We had soo much fun for Halloween! The kids and I all dressed up and it started out the wind was blowing but the wind finally died down and made for a really nice fall evening.

Let me list who is who in this photo:

Michael Meyers is our son Richie
The Witch in back is our daughterTalia
Mary Katherine Gallagher is our daughter Lilia
Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas is our daughter Anna
Morticia Aadams is our daughter Erika
The nun in front is our son Nikolaus
The Soldier with the orange pumpkin is our nephew Booker
The Soldier with the Superman candy holder is our nephew Jackson
I am the pirate in the back!!

So my cousin Jeannine showed up and here is a picture of us......she was the Queen of Hearts!

Too Much Fun!!