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. 

Wordless Wednesday

I hate to paint

This last week here in Jersey, we have had these wonderful thunder storms for days.  As we haven't had enough rain lately, we are all thankful for every drop that came down.

And since we were kind of "stuck" inside, I decided it was time to paint the hallway going up to the kids' bedrooms.

Its been white this whole time, and as my culture demands,  it was driving me CRAZY.

So I painted the bottom part a color that won't show the dirt that comes with having kids.

 Then I realized I didn't want to put a border on because they are a pain to take off, and I didn't want to do the wood thing because, well, I just didn't, and so I told the kids an idea I had, gave them paint, and told them to have at it. 

This is the result.

I have to say, its cuter then I thought it was going to be.  And its fun.  And colorful.  And the kids are so proud of themselves.  Well, at least Chloe & Samuel.  Lance didn't participate, he was working.  And when John called me to ask something, then asked what we were all doing, he was a bit concerned when I told him all the colors we were using.  He couldn't wrap his head around 6 different colors.  He was almost afraid to come home.

He likes it too!!

And so, as much as I hate to paint, and I REALLY HATE TO PAINT, I am always glad with the final results. 

So tomorrow I am going to paint the landing. 

Ugh.

story people

When my sister first moved back to the east coast from California, we went out to her new house, and after spending the whole day unpacking and trying to organize (we were not done, just done for the day) we decided to go out to the mall. 

Well, her mall is not just any mall, its the King of Prussia mall, which means that sometimes, we have to get in the car to go to the other side of the mall because its WAY too big.  Let me just interject myself and add that this mall is all but 5 MINUTES from her house. 

There is a point to this story.

Other then the fact that we went to the mall.

Because if that was the only point to the story, I need to get a life.

I may need to get a life anyway, but thats another story.

Okay, back to the original point to this story.

There was the cutest little store there, that I ended up staying in for a  l-o-n-g time, for I discovered something that I had never seen before. I discovered that artwork of Brian Andreas.

I instantly feel in love with it, for it was unusual, and intriguing, and thought provoking, and you couldn't leave it until you saw every print and read every word.  At least twice.  And I picked the one I was going to buy when I had the extra $30 to buy one.

But....

And then I forgot about him.  

Until we went on vacation 11 years later.

For we went into the cutest little shop in Hyannis, and they had a Brian Andreas corner!! Instantly, I ran to it, and went through all of his prints again.

At least twice.  

And shared my favorites with Chloe.

Here is a pictures of one that we all agreed was a great one.

So I thought I would share.  For all of you who have never heard of him.   And maybe you, too, will enjoy his complex simplicity, his unusual outlook, but his thought provoking comments.

Back to Life

Its been so lovely-ish not having any "responsibilities".  I mean other then laundry, cooking cleaning, gardening & grocery shopping.  You know, the basic mom stuff.

But now, its back to work.  Today, I start getting the plan mapped out and organized for next school year.  4th grade is my absolute FAVORITE!!!!  And I am so blessed to be doing it again.

And back to getting those 13 MORE documents for the adoption.  Just when we thought we were done.  HAHA .  Nope.   But its all good, and all worth it.  We keep getting these children for us to look at, but not able to pick yet because we are not doing with everything.  How frustrating is that? VERY.  I am not rightly sure why they send us these pictures, but we do get to pray for those babies and their future families.

And of course, back to vet appointments, orthodontist, dentist, doctors,  the summer painting projects, house projects, and well, life.

But its good! 

And I am thankful.

So, how exhausting is vacation??  LOL.  But totally worth it.

We rented a house in Hyannis, and it was in just the right spot.It was a house down and cross the street to the bay & shore.

The water was ridiculously warm, but we are not complaining.

Hoops in the bay, JKF memorial beach behind him.

John & Samuel building ....something.

Of course we had to go see the Hyannis METS!!  Both Chloe & Samuel wore all their Mets stuff.  And we had great seats.  For $2.  Its was a great game, and I can't wait a few years to see some of these guys in the Majors.

Taking a train ride to see all of Cape Cod.  I think if we rode our bikes we would have done it faster, but it was fun, none the less.

Chloe & I sent the guys deep sea fishing for the day, so we could go shopping. 

Here is Hoops, with one of his contributions to dinner.

JFK museum

Back to deep sea fishing, though the picture is a set-up, I think its hilarious!!

On the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.  I could move there tomorrow.

It was wicked windy.

PS we passed the Hannah Boyden, which is the sister boat the Andrea Gail.  If you have read the book or have seen the movie "The Perfect Storm" you know what I mean.

We rented mopeds to scoot around Martha's Vineyard.  Way cool!!

Hoops has Samuel, if you look behind them, you can see Josiah and Chloe bringing up the back.

You may not know, but Oaks Bluff in MV is a Methodist Campground.  

And look at the sermon schedule!!!! Indeed....... What Would Jesus Buy?????

When the Methodist first got there for the tent revivals, they set up tents for living in, then they built gingerbread houses.  Very cute.
  

The sign to the campground and the gingerbread houses.

The lighthouse at Edgartown.  I love Edgartown, its just what you imagine a New England little town to be, breath taking, charming with its lovely homes and narrow streets.

Jumping off the bridge.  Which unlike NJ, was not illegal.  Right to left, Josiah, Chloe, Hoops, John who eventually jumped, but not without panicking just slightly, and if you look on the bottom of the bridge, Samuel, who jumped a split second after the gang.  As you can see, I took the picture.  I am no fool.  In fact, so as not to be encouraged onto the bridge ( as if that would work) I didn't even have a bathing suit on.  

Looking for shrimp .

Clamming on the bay.

Finding clams.

This is the pathway we had to take to get from our house to the shore.  It was so cool. This is the last time we took it because we were on our way home the next day.

We are back home, and thankful to have gone, and thankful to be back.

We went to this little Baptist church while we were there.  I think there were about 25 people including the 6 of us, but it was one of the bets sermons I have heard.  One I needed to hear.  Basically, his message was,  If you want to be like Jesus, get your face on the ground, for the Glory of God is found when you are on the ground, not lifted up.  Which is why Jesus washed the feet. Okay, so he said it much better, but it has stayed with me.  So, off to get on the ground.