LOOK WHO IS 20!!

Happy Birthday Baby girl!!

20 years ago, you came to this world, and I knew the moment you were placed in your daddy's  arms, you were going to be spoiled rotten.  And you were/are.  lol.  Even so, one would never know it by the way you live your life.

Though you are a young woman, you are okay when people think you are all of 15 years old.  I think its that joy of life/innocent living/lacking the need to impress anyone in the superficial way. 

And we pray for you as you are starting a different path in life.

I have heard over and over, when your kids up and become adults, its hard to let go.   Specially your girls. How can that be?  I mean, wasn't it our job to teach you how to fly?  To try to make you decent, holy and joy-filled human beings?

They are right. 

Its HARD. 

I love watching you become the young woman you are trying to be.  But it is a bitter sweet time in life. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy 20th Birthday baby girl.  We pray for many, many more years in HIM.....

Wordless Wednesday

4-Hing and stuff

How much do I love the 4-H Fair??  LOADS!!  We go every year, usually at least 2x.  Yes we see the same animals, and usually the same people, and shamefully sometimes ask the same questions, but that doesn't stop us from doing it again.

But this year we took Shelby with us.  We didn't take the beagles because they would up and have a heart attack from all the excitement, all the new smells, all the animals, all the food. That or they would howl the whole time.  Neither scenario appealed to anyone, so we just took Shelby-girl.

The science tent.  Samuel's favorite subject is history, but science comes a close second. Real close.  Here he is trying to make life size bubbles.

And what testosterone filled body wouldn't love to have one of these things in their possession? Even if its just to garden?

Second family picture in 2 years!!  We are never together, or if we are, we forget to just take one.  Chloe still has her apron on.  She made my birthday meal.  I turned 41 ,Thursday.  John looks like he has red hair!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHA.  I shouldn't laugh, but I did.

Jersey Shore.   The color of the water was amazing for Jersey, but it was shoulder to shoulder people.   Definitely not New England. lol.

Well, we have 1 more week till school officially begins.  This week we are going to the Met, Flemington, starting Mock Trial, probably the shore one more time, and then taking a nap.  Oh, and doing laundry.  

I took the challenge.  Go check it out!!

School, and.....

2 weeks and 3 days until school!!

I have thought about starting early, but then I realized that I have the lesson plans laid out already, and the date on the first day's lesson is September 2.  lol.  

And not that I am the type of person that needs to stick to the plan religiously, but it makes me wonder..." Whats the hurry??" 

What is the hurry indeed?  2 more weeks of enjoying the simplicity of summer.  2 more weeks of  late night reading because I don't have to be up at 6:30 am.  I can push it to 7:30.  2 more weeks of middle of the day shopping guilt free.  2 more weeks of unscheduled field trips. 2 more weeks of last minute house painting/repairing/cleaning out/organizing.

Yes, we will start September 2. 

And random....... believe it of not, we are getting a rabbit.  No its not enough that we have 3 dogs and 2 cats.  Samuel has always asked for a rabbit.  I always said no because I am not going to pay for a rabbit hutch, and chances of John ever building one were, well, none.  

Then one day, while dropping off something at Josiah's house, guess what was on their neighbor's front lawn?  

Go ahead.  Guess.

A rabbit hutch.  

With a big old sign in the front of it saying FREE.  Chloe got all excited, we went to go check it out, and it was in great shape.  

Of course.

And this week was our 4H fair.  .

So....sometimes I wish I had that sweet baby girl RIGHT NOW to keep my arms and mind occupied, so maybe then I wouldn't give in to these ideas so easily.  When its 4 against 1...and that 1 DOES end up seeing that cute little animal face....

Yeah, I will put up pictures of the new "family member" when he arrives.  For now, I will paint the hutch in purples and greens, to match our house.  :)  

John doesn't get that.  

But he is a guy.

100 Things

100 things about me?? Is that possible??

Well, here it goes.

1. I love classical music.

2. And country music.

3. I was born in El Salvador.

4. But came to America when I was 7.

5. And when my family came over, you couldn't find another hispanic for towns around.

6. So it took me 6 months to learn English fluently.

7. I love to cook, but I have to follow recipes.

8. My kitchen is WAY too small.

9. I have 2 beagles.

10. I love beagles, even when they howl.

11. I got married at 17.

12. I've been married for over 23 years.

13. And its because of my amazing Jesus.

14. I never went to college.

15. I don't regret that decision.

16. I don't have any brothers.

17. I am always wondering why God decided to create frogs and toads.

18. And mushrooms.

19. I read every night anywhere from 1/2 hour to 2 hours.

20. I listen to talk radio all the time.

21. My favorite color is green.

22. I love football. 

23. Both college and pro.

24. I refuse to allow video games in my house.

25. My favorite board game is Trivial Pursuit.

26. Though I am quite proficient at swimming, I don't like the pool/lake/ocean.

27. I was the first person to get a varsity letter in my high school as a freshman.

28.  It was for swimming.

28. Only kidding, it was for field hockey.

29. I find ironing is very relaxing, so I iron everything.

30. I have a beautiful ironing board.

31. I have never been south of Washington DC.

32. I have lived in Jersey all my American life.

33. I had a 3 hour labor with my first child, a 20 minute labor with my second, and a 2 hour labor with my third.

34.  I consider the adoption process like a pregnancy, and so far, its the worst.

35. We are adopting a precious little girl from China.

36. And I can't wait to discover and see who she is.

37. I am a part of the library's adult reading club. Sad, but true.

38. I love to go to the movies, though I hardly ever do.

39. Though I took 10 years of classical piano, I don't know how to read music very well. ( at all)

40. But I remember how to play some.

41. I want to move to Texas.

42. I am in the ever pursuit to get organized.  But so far, it has eluded me.

43. I love going to museums.

44. Fiddler on the Roof is my all time favorite Broadway show.

45. My knees are shot.  From hockey injuries.

46. I have had arthritis in my body since I was 18.

47. I have this ridiculous need to feed anyone who walks through my door. No matter what time it is.

48. I am constantly changing the colors of my front porch.

49. I think grammar is fascinating.

50. Though I enjoy contemporary worship, hymns are near and dear to my heart.

51. I first got bifocals when I was 21.

52. Now I wear bifocal contacts.  They are FABULOUS.

53. I light candles all the time.

54.  Except in the summer.

55. I enjoy driving.  I could drive for hours.  If gas wasn't so expensive.

56. I have never had a dishwasher.  To this day.

57. I want a moped. 

58. I love my truck.

59. I wish we lived out in the country.

60. I have been homeschooling for 18 years.  And I probably have at least another 15 years to go......

61.  My favorite movie is The Mission, though Steel Magnolias runs a close second.

62. I saw the play Steel Magnolias and liked the movie better.

63. I have never had a manicure, though my friend drags me out once a year for a pedicure.

64. My toe nails are always painted though. Always a bright pink/orange/red. Like a true hispanic.

65. I have been to the Statue of Liberty WAY too many times.

66. I like going to Six Flags because I can get cotton candy.

67.  But I am terrified of roller coasters.

68. We (John & I ) stayed with an Amish family once.

69. I love Vera Bradleys.

70. I am a night owl.  Contrary to my husband.

71. I don't drink coffee.  Ever.

72. I could spend hours at William-Sonoma.  And not buy anything.

73. I used to compete in *twirling* .  I earned 278 first place medals.  Don't ask.

74. To this day, if I am carrying any stick-like thing, I find myself twirling without thinking; to my embarrassment.

75. I think my husband has the most beautiful eyes.

76. And that he is terribly handsome.

77. I got 2 speeding tickets when I was 19.  The same week. And now, I am the slowest driver in America (according to my children).

78. I think missions is the heart beat of any church.  If there is no missions, there is no heart.

79. I have a Facebook, it is a photobucket so my daughter can see everything here.

80. I have NFL films of games to carry me through the spring & summer.

81.  I have too many/not enough shoes.

82. I vacuum at least once a day.

83. I am highly competitive.

84. I am not a cat person, even though we have 2.

85. Autumn is my favorite season. 

86. I make lists for everything and have then all over the place.

87. My basic philosophy is: If Costco or Target don't have it, I don't need it.

 

88. I love to people watch.

89. I almost always forget to put the little makeup I own, on.  Much to my mom's frustration.

90. I love colors. Bright and festive ones.

91. Though I still speak Spanish to my parents, I never taught my children.

92. And there is not a day that goes by that I don't hear a lecture from somebody or another about that.

93. I have been to California 9 or 10 times. 

94.  And New England, more times then I could count.

95. I love going out to breakfast with my mom.

96. Going for walks is the best.

97. I have yet to find what I need at a garage sale.

98. I can eat seafood anytime of the week. 

99. I have some pretty awesome kids.

100.  I sure do Love my Jesus.