*Ahem* It hasn't really been since October, has it?!?!

Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

I LOVE this time of year. It's my favorite time of year... This is probably more fun than Christmas Day, because there's so much more done through the weeks leading up to Christmas Day!! :)

I can't make this a really informative post, because I already hear Eli up from his nap, and that means Abbey & Katie will be soon to follow, but I just wanted to say a quick "Hello" & "No, I haven't forgotten about blogging, or my new in-the-works blog." LOL We've got a new computer, and as soon as that's up & running, I'm sure you won't be able to get rid of me!! LOL :) Part of the blogging/facebooking problem for me has been a SSSLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW computer. I don't usually have time to wait on stuff to load...

OK, better go...

Love you all, and thinking of you!! :)

Pennsylvania in the Fall

We are visiting Steve's family this weekend, and WOW, I wish I could stay & watch the trees change into their full glory...it's already promising to be a beautiful fall up here. I LOVE AUTUMN!! :) And, this cooler weather is awesome, too :)

We're missing the Apple Butter Festival, though. That's mine & Steve's Autumn tradition. It's a VERY small festival, so you get the festival feel without the masses of people (like @ the Potato, Sauerkraut, and Strawberry Festivals!! LOL)

I've had plenty of time to do more lesson plans today :) Grandparents & Aunts are awesome :) Nice chunks of uninterrupted time during the day when I'm still awake & not ready to just flop into bed exhausted!! HA!! :) It's been really nice.

Tonight we get to have dinner with Aunt Marge & Uncle John. Steve & his Dad went to the shooting range (boys & their testosterone...whatever). Tomorrow we'll see the Barlett side of the family :) Probably in intervals :).

Monday we'll head home, and spend a few days learning up a storm!! Then, Friday I'm off to a Women's Retreat in Hillsboro, OH hosted by Mamie Johnson Ministries :)... Then, HOPEFULLY, things will kinda quiet down some...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I love this time of year, though. There's so much to contemplate about God in the natural changing landscapes He's provided for us to watch with wonder... He is really Good, you know :)

OK, better go. I think there's a line forming for the computer, and even as much lesson planning as I've gotten done, I still need to iron a few more things out.

SO, Happy Autumn & I'll see you next time...Hopefully with pictures!! :)

I've Added Another Blog to the Mommy Princess Series!

HAHAHA...Seriously, I have. It's called "The Scrappy Mommy Princess" and it will be linked to my facebook & etsy accounts. I want to start selling home-made/pre-made kits on etsy.com to help supplement our income, and connected to that, I want to have a blog with updates, and my scrapbooking philosophies for all to see & read & contemplate.

It's not all about the paper...it's ALL about the Love...that's the heart of my scrapbooking philosophy. As much fun as all the embelishments, patterned paper, different types of books & albums, and crazy awesome layouts, there's really only one reason we scrappers scrapbook...it's the love, man...

And, no, I haven't necessarily turned into a hippy!! LOL :)

Homeschooling's still going well. This week I haven't felt the greatest (gotta love TOM), so we've had a pretty lax schedule, but other than that, it's been going really well. We keep pluggin' along. I have to remember, too, it's not all about the clock. "Classroom" school, kids aren't sitting & studying & doing worksheets for a whole 7 hours...there are lots of transitions, and transitions may (or may not, I guess) take more time because of class volume...ANYWAY, just because we don't get everything done in my pre-ordained (HA!) schedule, doesn't mean we're not getting anything done!! :)

I'm singing (along with Jeff, our Worship Minister) @ Emmaus Women's Walk tomorrow. A new song called "Beautiful" by Kari Jobe...GORGEOUS!! I LOVE IT...Anyways, Jodi & Missy will know what I mean when I say "dying communion." That's when I'm singing...Here's the Youtube version...



That's what I'm leaving you with today...I can't top that!! :)

Love you all!! :)

Tomorrow is Jodi's Birthday!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Cousin!! :)

WOW, there's so much to share, I don't know where to start!!

I'm sick...that's not so much fun, and my left ear is clogged up & I can't hear things well, and my head is pounding...LOVELY!! LOL

I'm very excited about the upcoming Girl's Cruise (probably in May!!), and am starting to iron out the financial side of things...SO EXCITED!! :) The thought of that cruise will be so nice & encouraging throughout this winter, I'm sure!! :)

Homeschooling is going well :) Abbey's so smart & is just like a sponge. It's been such a blessing to watch her "get" things as we go. Still not using any particular curriculum, but we're doing well without it so far...Next year, though, probably won't be so easy without a curric, and I'd still like to get something for this year, too, as a guide/resource with planning lessons.

We have become regulars at the library, and more than just for Leapfrogs (the reading/craft program for 4&5s)!! :) We've been going for this & that... I'm so glad she loves books, and I love them, too.

Next month I hope to get together with the homeschool group that meets @ the library every month.

Lots going on, and so much more to tell, but that's all I have time for right now. I miss blogging on a regular basis... Facebook is fun, but there's something about having more characters that appeals to this chatter-box!! LOL :)

Love you all :)

I've Officially Won the Award for "Worst Haircut EVER" in the category, "Just Before Vacation"

That's what my facebook status was this past Tuesday night. Now, I have NOT had a haircut this bad EVER. I've said before that you can't really get it too short in the back for me, which is mostly true, but if the crown is too short, watch out!!

Not only was this haircut too short (mainly on one side of my head), it was awful all over. One side could've been "grin & bare it" too short, but the other side was "GET A HAT" too short. Not only was it too short, but some areas of my hair hadn't even been touched!! WEIRD!! Who does that? Who in their right mind would actually let someone walk out of their salon looking like that?!?!

Tammy from Great Clips, that's who.

So, I cried when I got home Tues. night. Then, after I showered & attempted to fix that mess, I cried even harder. Abbey came into the bathroom a couple times to check on me...I think she was scared to death, poor thing. And, Katie was here, too, and she steered clear of me.

So, I don't normally do this, but I was so frustrated, I called them back. I started crying while I was talking to the lady, and I know she felt bad because she said, "Oh, honey, come on in & we'll see what we can do to fix it." She made sure she told me when to come in before Tammy came in. Thank heavens!! But maybe she should've been there, to face the mess she'd made.

I really need a regular hair person. I miss having my own "hair lady/guy." The regularly scheduled apts. The ability to close my eyes & trust them to do whatever they want to my hair, without fear. Ahhhhh... Those were the days...

I have always had the attitude, "If I don't like it, don't worry. It'll grow back." But this was just too much, even for me!!

So, we're leaving for Myrtle Beach on Saturday, and I will be buying a sun hat as soon as we arrive!! :)