Interview with OUR children

I was catching up on my fave photo blogger friend and loved how her kids answered ten simple questions. Since it was way late to wake any of them up to satisfy my desire to do the same, I decided I’d em them the questions right away and wait till am and ask them to check their ems. Yes, em, all our kids have gmail accounts. Even the 7 year old. I know, I know. That’s how they keep in touch with their dad when he is away. But after a few heart wrenching letters that went something like this:
Dearest daddy! Whin are you coming hom? I rilly mis you a hole lot! Mom is sad and she macks us klin ol the time and skool. Wel, she duz tak us playces a lot, but we klin a lot to. Plis, cum hom soon. Love, signed the 2 youngest.

we had to talk and redirect the em writing to more positive and more creative. It has been a huge blessing. Their writing has improved and they figured the spell check feature too!

SO, here are the answers of our 4 children ages 12, almost 13(b), 10, eleven in a few weeks(g), 9(g) and 7(g). They didn’t waste time in answering the questions. In fact, the oldest and youngest hit send just 5 min later after checking their mail and went on with their day! I wished they took a little longer to ponder the questions before they spewed the answers. But no nonsense here. No spiritual kind of thinking. Dry and to the point, unlike my friend’s kids. But oh well, time is short these days with dad home. We got to get packing to leave on a week long trip and they can feel my busyness. I marked 1 thru 4 according to the child number, not names.

What does mom always say to you
Clean your room
Clean up your room
Clean up your room (oh, boy, I can’t believe they don’t hear the I love you in between, LOL)
be a good kid and lisen to your mother (straight from my youngest em, why spell check? She is 7, you know?)

What makes mom happy
1. Clean rooms
2. Clean rooms
3. Clean rooms
4 being a great kid (you see a pattern here with the youngest?)


What makes mom sad
1. dirty rooms
2. when we don’t listen to her
3. When the rooms aren’t clean
4. being bad and mean and not greatful (I don’t mind being great though, OK?)

How does mom make you laugh

1 jokes different stuff
2 when she is really funny (like can we be more specific here?)
3 when she eats a sourhead her face turns red
4 something funny

How old is mom
1 35
2 34
3 35
4 not old only 35


6 How tall is mom

1 5.2
2 5.7 (thank you so much, honey, but I wish, it’s not in my genes, sigh)
3 5.2
4 as tall as Mihai (actually, the kid passed me by an inch and a half!!! He is only 12!)

7What does mom like to do

1 scrapbook
2 go to mom’s nite out

3 go out to eat with dad
4 eat chocklet and spend time with us ( I do the chocolate part at nite, kid and share the cheap stuff with you during the day, Oh, how did you know that anyway? I throw away the wrapper right off!)


8 What is mom's job?
1 take care of us
2 to take care of us
3 to homeschool us and to make sure we eat healthy so we have no zits
4 take care of us


9 What is mom's favorite food?
1 hot dogs (what a joker, that is on my least favorite food. Buddy! Oh, I didn’t see the smirk on your face when you typed that one! You got me!)
2 fish eggs (let me explain here, ok? It’s called caviar. It comes in red and black and it’s very expensive and last time I had some was last year and I took forever to eat it like once a week, OK? Favorite food!!! I tell ya, kids!)
3 borscht (beet soup, made it twice during our whole marriage. Yes, I love it but no one except dd1 and maybe hubby if it’s subzero temp outside will eat it)
4 grocamolle (that is quacamole)


10How do you know mom loves you
1 cuz she does
2 by Jesus ( sorry I can’t explain this one, beats me)
3 I know, cuz I am her favorite child (little stinker, acting like her aunt Market)
4 by doing good stuff to us

That was it, folks. While I was at it today I decided to work on a similar one for dad and when I get it all together, please, prepare yourself for some funny stuff. What a difference between the way they see mom and dad!!! Please, share your funnies! Kids are so much fun!

I am joining weight loss with Chasity-my 15lbs weight loss in 10 days.

This is all I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the last 2 days! Nothing else, well and some soup today (it shouldn't have been meat based, but I didn't have time to make mine veg based, so I just picked out the turkey from the carcasas and hoped I wouldn't die) finally and even a salad! No, I am not trying to make you feel sorry for me. In fact, I enjoyed every sip of the juice from the freshly squeezed oranges I brought from our trip Lousiana. My girls so thoughtfully brought in a huge glass and decorated with fresh wedges. Yes, I am on a diet, sort of! Actually, I am coming off a cleanse. Not as slowly as recommended but trying. Just read on if weight loss has a checkmark on your NY's resolution list.
Let me explain why I am blogging about it now, when it's all over. I didn't want to use my blog as a diary (besides being so busy with kids school before hubby arrived home and all school ceased for the holidays) and I really wanted to surprise my husband, who I thought was clueless about the cleanse. Oh well, he knew all along but never said a word of encouragement which I really needed!!!

My good friend Chasity has started WLW Weight loss Wednesday and I decided to let the cat out of the bag and add my experience for the last 2 weeks! Weight has always been a huge issue in my life as well. I have always been overweight, even if it was just 20lbs and to some of my friends that won't seem like a lot if they have 60 or more to lose, but it is for me, and for my 5.3 frame. The country I grew up is notoriosly infamous for numerous disease such as diabetes, HBP (stress mostly), arthritis, etc. I ate a lot of potatoes, cooked all sorts of way. Fried, boiled, baked, mashed, in soups and all over again. Tons of soup with tons of white bread. Black if it was available. Pasta, sausage. Whatever my parents could buy after standing in long lines in hope of getting some food they put on the table. I had also inherited my mother's body type and build and was storing it in places it wasn't flattering for a lady.

I have lost a ton of weight (by swimming 3 days a week and watching everything I ate) before I married but gained steadily with each pregnancy and kept 10lbs after each kid. I never got back to my pre-pregnacies weight. So, four kids later and 40 lbs heavier is keeping me ever more motivated to knock those ugly numbers down. With the holidays quickly approaching and 5lbs extra from a trip to see my husband in Panama (food galore all day, and not just any food-good fresh tropical fruit and all sorts of yummy food!). Anyway, upon my return and a step on the scale- I was desperate! I decided to help my weight loss goal for the NY with a drastic jumpstart-a cleanse. I have brought over 5lbs of fresh lemons from LA along the oranges and grapefruits that, if any left after 10 days, were supposed to help me ease me out of the lemonade cleanse. So, a few days later and mom's nite out beign my last day of yummy food I went cold turkey to the hot pepper lemonade! Actually, it involves a SWF (salt water flush, which I cannot stomach, so I drink laxative tea instead am and pm) first thing in the morning to top it all. I have done a Master Cleanse, aka The Lemonade Diet, this past spring. I loved it! I only lost 7lbs on my first cleanse but I was not disapointed because my main goal was to cleanse my body and I felt like for the first time it wasn't bad at all, not like some other people were suffering. No headaches, lots of energy, not much hunger. Didn't need to soak in the bathtub or call a friend or get on a forum for support. It was fine. Food taste different still but I haven't eaten much yet. Just the juice tasted different. I finally ate an orange today and after half I wasn't able to eat the other one. I was so full! I sure hope it shrunk my stomach!!! I needed it! I am a huge fan of FOOD! YOU?

This time I lost 15 lbs in the 10 days of drinking freshly squeezed lemonade sweetened with grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper for a full 10 days. Now, I am sure half of it will creep back up as soon as solids start filling my bowels but I am amazed at how much stuff I was still getting rid on day 10!!! No food for 10 days and still BM? See, I told you I didn't want to gross you out! I didn't want to blog about BMs. But, hey, what's a cleanse without BM's? I really feel that a weight loss is paramount with a thorough cleanse of the GI tract. My probiotics should be making it in before we leave for a vacation with my dh. If not I'll buy whatever I can get at the HF store. I didn't read that till day 8 and ordered then asap. I haven't taken any probiotics in a long time. I really haven't taken any vitamins either, felt like I was wasting my money even on expensive stuff for I knew my GI tract is pretty clogged to absorb even the most expensive supplements. I am excited to get back on track and cocntinue with the weight loss.

So, for now, I am working out almost 5 days a week doing cardio and weights. I worked out less during this cleanse mainly because I was busy with the kids, not because I was tired and hungry. I love Body Pump (only one instructor though who changes her music and the boring routine and makes it so much more fun), Everything goes on the track (combo of 30 sec cardio segments with weight stations on the track) and Turbo Jam. I love my gym and hope to enter this year's Scale Back Alabama. 3 of my teammates lost 10lbs last year. One gained two. So, we didn't qualify for the $1000 drawing for each teammember. But, we will try again this year. I need 2 more members since hubby won't be in the US to weigh in or weigh out!!!

Stay fit and healthy and enjoy your holidays! Enjoy every bite of every unhealthy food you put in your mouth! You won't get it later! Work out if you can and don't feel guilty! Just get back on track! Be blessed, Natalie

The meaning of electircity in our lives

Very profound title for my post, huh? It's late again and my promises of going to sleep earlier just don't seem to ... well, whatever. I only have 4 more nites before my reformer and curfew cop(my dh) comes home for 2 weeks. Then, bed time will be stricly enforced, no exceptions, means MEEEEEEEEEE. At least, I was able to get my forever-up-late 12 yo up to his room at 10 am. He is another major culprit in my stay up late addictions (excuses, excuses). He is a worse nite owl than I am! No matter what time I drag him out of bed, he swears he doesn't fall asleep before midnite, even if I confiscated all his reading material (please, don't get me started here! I haven't checked under his bed and the bathroom. He hides library books in all sort of places. I already supported the library twice in the last month by paying (a small, thanfully) fee for 2 books that are in the house but can't be located! So, anyway, cut off the lights, son! Mom! Please, I am not tired! Bad ogre mother, I tell ya!
Last nite we had a power outage for a long 15 minutes, no longer! Now, we are city folks, who aren't scared!!! We just grab the cell (if it's charged) and dial the power company! In this case, we dialed 411 and next step would have been 1-800-goog411 if no luck. We don't have candles in our house, ok? My dh hates candles. He is not romantic in this respect at all! Beats me! Is that a guy thing? But the guy thing -the modern inventions flashlights! Theo nly on we located didn't work no matter what batteries we stuck in it. So, we used our cell phones LCDs to fumble around the house!!! Of course, the kids huffed at having to go to sleep so early on a weekend and in a quickly cooling house (central air vs benefits of wood stove in the winter, aha!) and upset that the cute little Shirley Temple movie they were watching was so suddenly and rudely interrupted. I tell ya! I haven't seen a bunch of kids so upset about electricity! One realized we did just purchase a candle at Michael's just a few hours earlier. One single, lonely candle that I bought because it was so dirt cheap!!! Came in handy, just a bit later! A friend of mine just emed letting me know that they had a snowstor in LA!!! Out of all places! We just got back from there a week ago and indeed, it was colder than AL! But a snowstorm in HAmmond, LA! NO electricty for a couple of days! That's serious! It doesn't stop amazing me how dependent we become on electricty. But I ain't going Amish now, hear me, dh? LOL! Not after reading 5 books by Beverly Lewis! Enjoy your lights and the warmth electricity provides!

Pretty neat video-a must see for the whole family!

PLEASE, PAUSE OR STOP THE PLAYER ALL THE WAY ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BEFORE PLAYING THIS VIDEO. ENJOY!

I just had to share with y'all. This is just too cute to watch! People who have never eaten a BK whopper or a Big Mac and their first bites and reactions are just too precious! Well done movie! I told my son as we were watchig the video that I still remeber the first Big Mac I ate a few short months after we got married (it was in Moscow, Russia)! Actually, I ate 2 of them, same meal. I don't remember if I had a milkshake. I hope not! I stopped counting the calories at the second mac, I guess. I can't believe it! I loved them! I was 40lbs lighter and haven't had a kid yet! So, I could afford the calories (wish I could now) and I was hungry! I think hubby was very surprised! I wonder if he was worried about his choiceof wife that day! I havent' had a big mac since!I seem to always worry about the calories in them (and I assure you it's a lot!!!). Hmm, maybe I should try one every once in while? Enjoy!

$500 Walmart give away

Hey, I just entered a $500 Walmart give away. You can too. There is still time, but hurry up! Check it out at Centsiblesawyer.

Blessing our men and women in the military day!

Last nite I was blessed to make two cards at my friend and instructor with Stampin'up to use in the Mail for Heroes program. I was disapointed when I realized I didn't blog about it. I thought I did. I must have dreamt blogging about it. Isn't it aweful. But you know, I do my blogging late into the nite when the kids are all fast asleep. In fact, it's almost 1am and I can't get to bed cuz my 12 yo is still up flying (Flight simulator) and he is giving me a huge excuse to stay up (after we all woke up way late, the latest ever in our entire hs journey. Boy, will that change with dad coming home for 2 week, I miss you honey!)
Anyway, it was a totally free class and I even got to use a die-cut machine for the first time. My girls would have loved it! I made a silver looking dove and pinned it to one of the cards. I couldn't stay much longer for I was already gone the nite before. So, I had to limit myself to two cards. I was so inspired by the idea of sending cards to our military service men and women that I decided that we are going to make hand made (hand stamped) cards for an art day today-no book work!. They also had to me postmarked today! I just had to pull AAAAAAALLLLLLL my crafting supplies. They were dusting for too long. The girls had a ball. Ds whined a bit about not being a girl and having to do school instead. He was invited to make a card though. He declined. I am glad for there was no room on our kitchen table to fit another kid! The whole card making thing was a huge double blessing! I was able to get my supplies cleaned up and organized in between supervising the two youngest girls. SO, now if we have to move, that's one less thing I have to worry about. If you know me, when I move, I organize, get rid, sort and pack neatly. Well, all that takes time, if you know what I mean. Which you know. Sorting socks and clothes takes time. But to do so with everything one has in the house is like 100 times more time consuming. It was a perfect, rainy day for card making. I think the girls made a total of 8. I was able to get them all delivered to my friend who put them all together with a ton of other cards. When I got home I found the gorgeous card my dd1 made on the floor! I wish I never told her. She was in tears! But I think we can send it using a different process anyway! I have to dig out that link I remember seeing one day about sending a card to a soldier. We'll bless one brave man or woman! Be blessed, Natalie

I enter every giveaway I can find a minute to enter

I am cheap! Really cheap! So cheap that I enter every giveaway I have time to enter. I saw this on my friend Kentucky Mommy's blog and wanted to share. I love finding new blogs, new people! But how in the world do I keep up with their blog? I haven't gotten that part figred out. But I figure I can one day. If those busy moms can blog having 6 children under ages of 7 or so and still find time to blog and host giveaways I still have hope! Hope you win. Be blessed!

Holiday mail for the service men and women

I am so exicted about a free stamping class my friend is offering in a few days. We will be stamping cards for American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. You can do this great project with your kids. Please, read the guidelines for sending the cards here.
I was a bit bummed about some rules in the guidelines. But, I am very excited to make a few cards-such a small contribution!
On the home front we all got home safe a few hours ago after a long trip from LA. It was a very windy and chilly day. But we made it all safe, uneventfully with numerous bathroom breaks. Upon unloading the van, feeding the kids and checking the mail we ran to our friends to pick up our dog who was so excited I couldn't drive for she was licking me so crazily. Slobbered me all over but it was so good to see someone be so excited about us being back!!! Busy weekend ahead but being home feels so good!

Back to the US safely

It's way past midnite and it's my only quite time on line in a while! But, now that my suitcases caught up with me a day after my arrival and I got my sleeping pills (that's a story for another post for sure how I slept the first nite after a long day of travel) I took liberty to stay up a bit later! I know it's a lame excuse for someone who really loves catching up on friends' blogs then decides it's time to add something to her own! So, just 2 pics today of my sweet in-laws who watched the kids for a whole week!!!! THey are such a blessing! And of course a quick one of us the morning we said good bye to each other! But the amount of pics to go thru it not funny especially since I know we have to push school hard when we get back before dad comes back and another 2 week long vacation starts. WHo is going to do school when dad gets home. Math will get done, drilling by dad, etc. But I doubt anything else! So the pics will have to wait till after I get back home or till we are on vacation!
We had a great day today visiting the mother of a very good friend of hubby and I know we made her day. It is so hard to be living alone and not feel good! We also took pics that I hope to not delay in em her.
We are staying in LA another day vising friends before taking off HOME! The day after we get home we got to wrap some gifts and head on to my very good friend's Christmas Party! WOW! DO I have a busy weekend ahead of me! Then church Sunday and bonfire later in the nite!!! I got to get school and chore lists ready! I also haven't worked out in 2 days now! So, time for gym this busy weekend? I sure hope so!!! Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving in Panama-first time ever!

Well, here I am, in Panama! Finally! I never thought I'd be here again. After spending a month in August with all the kids it's so weird to be here just with my husband!I am by myself in a hotel room with www! After catching up with a few boggy friend, sending my kids Tday ecards, watching enough Spanish on TV, and catching up on my em I decided it's time to blog! Before my husband comes home from work and hogs the www code! There is no wi fi here and it's like $13 a day for www. I am even skipping lunch! LOL! I haven't been alone (without kids I mean) in such a long time that I am glued to the bed with my laptop.
I tried to write all my thoughts down yesterday but it was so crazily busy! Then, the curfew cop told me to sign out. It was like 10 pm. Ever since he left I haven't gone to bed before midnight! WOW! I actually couldn't sleep but didn't want to have the comp screen wake him up! So, I laid quietly and prayed till sleep came around midnight! LOL!

My trip was awesome! The drive to Baton Rouge was long and many bathroom stops for the girls. For about 15 min we were in very heavy rain and it was sort of scary. I really wished I made an effort to get my hubby's truck fixed (dead battery that wouldn't start, so a new one would have been needed but not much time). But we made it, strong crosswinds for an old van and all.
My very good friend in Baton Rouge offered to drive me in my van and come pick me up upon return. We made it just in time after a long heart to heart catch up talk with a great friend! So refreshing!
Upon weighing my check in suitcase I was unpleasantly surprised that it was showing 54 lbs. My son took care of the suitcase and was positive it was 46 lbs. There was no way over 50lbs in that suitcase-just clothes and a tripod, which was barely 5lbs!So, I spent a good 20 min rearranging clothes into my carry on to make it an exact 50.0 lbs to the surprise of the airline workers. Hubby suggested I ask for their most recent calibration certificate. I had no clue I could. I had another suitcase inside of it for my husband to use and was getting ready to split my suitcase into 2 when they told me it's going to be an extra $25 for an additional suitcase. I am going overseas! I traveled in August and we were allowed 2 each! Oh, no, m'am. It's changed since September! Well, it doesn't say so on their site! At least I had plenty of time. I made it to the gate in time for boarding to start but the flight was delayed. I was getting a bit nervous, to say the least! I only had a 45 min layover in Houston. I think I like flying out of Atlanta better. The airplane had more room and a movie was shown. Oh, well! I am grateful for clean airplanes and friendly service!
My seat was all the way in the last row and you know how it is when the seat belt off sign goes off and everyone gets up and starts getting off the place. Husband recommended I tell the flight attendant about my dilemma and she promised to make a PA asking passangers to let me off the plane first. Well, the person sitting next to me heard it and offered to bother his friend who was a whole lot closer in the front! I was elated. I was first off the plane and on my way over a mile to my next gate. I had 20 min to make it there! I was in tears by now for there was no way for me to run with a carry on fast enough! And all the wheels were going the opposite direction. 3 minutes into my crazy dash I get called to jump in and rushed to my gate by this funny man in one of those fast go carts (i got no clue what they are called). He drove me like crazy laughing and making jokes at people to get out of the way, on your left, on your right! I had no clue those things can be so easy to maneuvers! I made it on right in time for boarding my seats! As I stood in the corridor I called hubby to let him know I will indeed be coming and that I totally forgot that I had $1 in my wallet! One needs $5 for an entry visa at the customs and they do not take checks! As I was telling him that on the phone the gentleman in front offered me $5! I was beyond myself! I realized I can write him a check and he graciously refused! WOW! WOW! WOW! That's al I can say! God took care of all my needs! We took off to Panama 5 mins after I sat down! I finally took a deep breath and relaxed!
It is different to spend such a great holiday without our children. Panamanians do not celebrate Thanksgiving and with the torrential rains that have swept all the Caribbean shoreline and have caused major flooding our spirits are a bit further from thanksgiving. But we are together. We weren't looking forward to spending 3 days in this hotel room but every other location on the Pacific coast is booked now. Many people returned to their countries. Well, I can't return and I don't want to return. I am just starting to enjoy myself!
Yesterday after I ate lunch with my husband and coworkers I broke a nail and couldn't find any nail clippers (kids I know y'all took them out!) I decided it's time to pamper myself. Front desk gave me the number for the closes salon and I was there in a few minutes. For $19 I got a ped and man with design. I was so temped to get acrylic ones for it was unbelievably inexpensive compared to the US. That's about the only thing that's inexpensive in this country.
We do hope and pray that the weather clears up. Our plans for a second honeymoon on the Caribbean have been cancelled and we only have 3 days together off work. But we are together! And we are so grateful! Hope your Thanksgiving is great! Blessings, Natalie

Do flu shots work? Ask a vaccine manufacturer-interesting phone call!

I just got this is my mailbox from Dr.Mercola and just had to post it!

First sleepovers and tea party

Oh, what a day today! My son went to his first ever Bday party with a sleepover. He called me 3 times at least letting me know he might not stay for the sleepover and ended up coming home a bit before 2. He was just checking to make sure I don’t stay up waiting for him and leave him a key outside the house (we live in the city now and we lock our doors) In the meantime I let my girls' friend come over for the first sleepover ever! SO, my son's bedroom got occupied unbeknown to him. Was he surprised to walk in and see 4 girls spread out on his bedroom floor! LOL! I thought I warned him when he called but he didn’t think I was serious! He didn’t think I’d let these dainty people occupy his smelly cave! Well, they didn’t complain! They were so happy to have a larger room!So, after the girls had pizza for dinner ( I had made a pizza crust yesterday enough for only 4 peope, perfect!) and tea and hot chocolate served in china it was already 9pm. They girls watched a movie and I didn't even get to kiss them good-nite. They passed out while watching. SO, no whispering and giggling and the fun stuff. I didn't even hear them! What kind of sleepover is that anyway! LOL
So, I decided to use that quiet time and watching a Russian move a friend gave
me months ago. Well, it's 3 am and I am still up enjoying it so much and I am glad it's Sat tomorrow but I better get to bed. Oh, it's so good to hear Russian again. It's such a great historical movie and I just couldn’t stop. It’s a series and it just weaved the story so wonderfully!!! I stayed up till 4 am to wake up at 8 and run to the gym just to wake up . My same friend had a baby yesterday and I decided I'll watch as much of the movie so I can tell her tomorrow when I go visit her at the hospital and we reminiscence while I get to hold the newborn! I can't wait! Enjoy the party pics. The girls were really silly. We didn’t make it formal, for it was a spur of the moment thing. I didn’t plan anything because son got invited just a few short days before. So, please, forgive me for not fancy pics. They weren’t even trying to be lady like since no boys were around! LOL!

Fall pics

While watching the Russian movie (post below) I edited a few fall pics I took. I was too worried the leaves will all fall down before I have a chance to snap a few shots. The one with me of course wasn't taken by me. I have a few more of the girls but the tree in the background was so red it was hard to edit it in a hurry. Another day, or nite of editing, oh well. Enjoy!

10 things I will miss after I move, well 10 for now

I have really had a weepy kind of day today. I am really missing my husband. I don't think it kicked in till after the ball season was over. I stayed very busy bringing 4 kids to their practices. It kept my mind off. Now that my mind is occupied with other things in the pms like blogging and Waste book (as one of my very good bloggie friends called it today) I just realized how much I miss my husband who is still in Panama.
I cancelled an afternoon of spending time with a good friend who wanted to learn how to make a few of my recipes because I just couldn't deal with talking about moving and plastering a smile on my face. Though she is moving around the same time we are! But she is not sad about moving! She was here temprorary as well but she has a very extended family and roots where she is returning! I don't have the same roots! I do have part of my husband's family back to where we are moving, but not like hers. My hubby will also not be moving with us. He'll just be moving us and going back to work overseas. he is hoping to bring us with him. This time it's to Jamaica. But I don't want to go for just a few months. Panama was a fine and dandy month long visit, but I don't know if I really am ready in my heart to pack for a who knows how long this time visit. Please, pray for this decision. We want to know what to do.
We've been in this area almost 20 months now and have grown to really like it. I mean I know where places are, the best way to get to them, got friends and great hs support group with an em loop and all.
I was wondering today what will I miss the most when I leave this area? Now, it's way past midnite and it's not a good time to mop around but I fugured:it's already late!!! SO, I will attempt shortly.

1. My friends and my kids' friends. Friends at church. Just found one we really love!
2. Running out every other Sun am (well, in my car that is) to Panera bread to get a bakers dz (half asiago/half cinn crunch) bagels with cream cheese and be back in under 10 min. and grabbing the Sunday paper with the comics and all the coupons and stuff in my driveway. (see I got 2 in one here)

3. Running out (again, I could run to it but it would take just a bit longer) to Kroger to get a gal of milk (upon finding out some big kid drank the last 16 oz that were supposed to last the whole family for cereal for bfast) and a loaf of bread (cuz he ate that with the milk before bedtime, he is only 12 ya know!) and telling the kids to continue doing school like I am home and returning 20 min later to see them doing so and acting surprised: Oh, mom, you were faster than 20 min. There were no sales?
4. My gym, again, running distance
5. The movie theater, running again. Though we've only been 2 the whole time we lived here. I took the kids to watch Kung Fu panda after hubby left. And just watched Madagascar.
6. BAM, Hobby Lobby, Target all in one convenient location 5 miles away, 0.2 from I 85!
7.The mall, small, but again running distance.
8. Sam's -4 miles away, same deal with school-do not move if you want lunch that your brother so thoughtfully ate. Yes, I know, he didn't know I planned on using that for lunch.
9. Libraries- 2 great ones!
10. My russian friends whom I just met and who are planning a NY's celebration our style! I am feeling myself just starting to tear up here at number 10, so I will have to cut it out right here right now before I break down crying and my hubby thinks I am writing this blog directly for him. I am not, baby. I am just way emotional today and am glad I went on the airport (yes, we even have a small one here) field trip instead of dealing with "school" today. Will try to juice my future pilot for details of airport field trip as well as the gazillions of pics he took. I won't bore you with the unedited ones. I am really good at the delete button!

That's it for today (wow, it is early in the am, my hubby would be getting up in a few hours and I am still not in bed.) I wonder why he still calls us early and leaves us messages wondering why we are still sleeping! LOL! We've all been going to bed late here. I think we are in denial that there is a bed time since our curfew police is gone (dad).

Antioxidant Pomegranate Smoothie and Giveaway! One day! Hurry!

You've got to enter this quick giveaway before tomorrow, Nov 7 if you like Pomegrantes and/or Pom juice. Check them out at 5dollardinners.

Be blessed.
Natalie

Review and giveaway of a clickfree external HD One day left!

Just a short one tonite and it's not about Obama's victory.
It's about a giveaway for an ext HD. I always can use one. I hope I win. But you might too! So, head on to Mommies with cents and leave a comment. You get an extra point for blogging about it. How easy is that? But hurry, the drawing closes Fri, Nov 8. midnite!
Bless ya,
Natalie

ON a lighter note the day before the elections. I already mailed my absentee vote so I can laugh now and go to sleep before midnite hping that I won't dream of all the election talk. I totally relate to my friend who sent me this video put it:
" This election has dominated so much of our attention, I've started feeling like I could quote the speeches I hear in my sleep. Now I know why...."


http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch_synchronized_presidentia_9857.php

My photo homework-showing action with panning

My most favorite photo blogger Crazybusy always challenges me. She really rocks! You guys have to check her out! She has 6 wonderful children (a sweet new baby too!) and she has time to post great tutorial on photography. I am really blessed to have found her on HSB and I am very grateful for her. She is super busy homeschooling and keeping house, but yet, she manages to cut out time to educate moms like me who love photography. SO, I might be late in my assigments that she challenged us to in one of her photo posts, but I couldn't wait any more!

So, here is my assigment. I sure hope I showed action! Did I? They are really not very good shots of 2 of my girls. I couldn't get a good one of my 3rd one but by the time I pulled out my cam it was time to get dinner, so only 30 or so shots for me tonite, but I will get more, I promise Allysa). So, Allysa, please, feel free to comment. They are not the best shots but it sure was fun learning panning. I always have plenty of willing kids around and I will try again! And I've always wanted to try it. I learned about it in my photo class but never got to actually try it. Thanks so much for challenging and teaching us! Be blessed, my friend!

Dear Mr. Obama video

My dear hubby shared this video with me today! We discussed the Iraq war quite a bit lately and though we do have some differences in opinions on the war (he's been in Iraq 6 months) I still support what this man has to say. I couldn't believe the number of views this video got! Check it out for yourself! I just did and I was surprised that in a matter of 1 hour since I've hung up the phone talking to my husband there were over 200 views of this short clip. It's up to : Views: 12,010,167 as I am posting it right now. WOW! That speaks volumes!

The advantages of sharing with your children

I didn't want to totally make this wordless but with the amount of time I have these days I just about have to make it short.

Since my husband is working out of the country and all the children's bedrooms are on a different level than my bedroom I've asked my oldest daughter to join me. Our bedroom is long and narrow but there is plenty of room for a twin size bed. So, she's been keeping me company for many months now. When dad came home for a short visit she went upstairs to share a bed with her younger sisters. I have been really enjoying the ease of cleaning the girls' room. There is a huge difference. Two girls vs three in one room is a huge difference! I am not going to scare you with pics of their room, please, don't fret.

A few days ago I was feeling very feverish and couldn't get warm. My oldest came over and snuggled in our King size bed, mentioning that there is plenty of room for 3 more kids in there, the way we huddled together. SHe warmed me up so fast I couldn't believe it. It was so sweet of her to put her arms around me and hold me. I was ready to cry just remembering how harsh I was just the same day fussing at her to pick up her clothes off my bedroom floor. But it was all so sweet the way she was holding! This morning I walked into the bahtroom we are sharing and found the cutest little thing! That's my oldest daughter! Just like her! Creative, sweet little touch. I love her, even when she messes up MY bedroom.

Come what may-a must see! Help extend free screening

From the creators of Fireproof here is another jewel! I am so glad I learned about this from a friend, thank you , Barbara! BUt I am not sure if they will have the free screening on YouTube for much longer. I received the em today saying it's only a 3 day screening and today is the last day, but I do hope that enough copies were purchased to make the screening a few days longer! I just bought mine! SO, please, click on the link asap!
You can preview the movie on GodTube here. I only linked to one small part. You can watch the whole movie free! Please, feel free to visit the Advent Film Group to find out more. I learned so much about movie making by just browsing their site.! Share with your friends asap!
Blessings, Natalie

Today’s opinion cartoon in the Augusta Chronicle from Rich McKee

I am not on a comic strip roll lately, believe me. I am just swamped with life and not much time to post, thought I've posted more than even before in the last month. With the last softball games behind us yesterday (after I froze for 3 full hours at the ball park) and for 1 1/2 hours today at son's football game (last one for they lost) I can breathe now! I don't know what's wrong with AL weather! I was wearing shorts and Tshirts last year! I thought the problem was global warming!!! Not so here! We had 34 this am! Hubby is all snug in Panama. We all wished we were there with him right now. When we were there in August it was their winter time there. Summer is going to start in December. I am seriously praying about his job to be extended there! We sure don't want to freeze here if the winter is starting here so early and so cold! Brrrrr!

Keep praying for God's will in this election! Bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus!

A Halloween/election day funny

I thought about just linking this neat post on my blog from one of my most favorite bloggers Crazybusy, but decided to just copy and paste it. Too good to just mention it. Feel free to spread it around! This letter was written by a man in East Texas as an open letter toSenator Obama. He really does exist and says anyone can email hisletter around, just don't change it. If you know someone who holds tothe theory that the rich have life easy and need to be taxed moresend it to them. This man tells it like it is!*************

Mr. Obama,
Given the uproar about the simple question asked you by Joe theplumber, and the persecution that has been heaped on him because hedared to question you, I find myself motivated to say a few things toyou myself. While Joe aspires to start a business someday, I alreadyhave started not one, but 4 businesses. But first, let me introducemyself. You can call me "Cory the well driller". I am a 54 year oldhigh school graduate. I didn't go to college like you, I was too ready to go "conquer the world" when I finished high school. 25 yearsago at age 29, I started my own water well drilling business at atime when the economy here in East Texas was in a tailspin from thecrash of the early 80's oil boom. I didn't get any help from thegovernment, nor did I look for any. I borrowed what I could from mysister, my uncle, and even the pawn shop and managed to scrapetogether a homemade drill rig and a few tools to do my first job. Mybusinesses did not start as a result of privilege. They are theresult of my personal drive, personal ambition, self discipline, selfreliance, and a determination to treat my customers fairly. From thevery start my business provided one other (than myself) East Texan afull time job. I couldn't afford a backhoe the first few years(something every well drilling business had), so I and my helper hadto dig the mud pits that are necessary for each and every job withhand shovels. I had to use my 10 year old, 1/2 ton pickup truck formy water tank truck (normally a job for at least a 2 ton truck).A year and a half after I started the business, I scraped together a20% down payment to get a modest bank loan and bought a (28 year)old, worn out, slightly bigger drilling rig to allow me to drill thedeeper water wells in my area. I spent the next few years drillingwells with the rig while simultaneously rebuilding it between jobs.Through these years I never knew from one month to the next if Iwould have any work or be able to pay the bills. I got behind on myincome taxes one year, and spent the next two years paying that back(with penalty and interest) while keeping up with ongoing taxes. Igot behind on my water well supply bill 2 different years (way behindthe second time... $80,000.00), and spent over a year paying it back(each time) while continuing to pay for ongoing supplies C.O.D.. Ofcourse, the personal stress endured through these experiences andyears is hard to measure. I do have a stent in my heart now tomemorialize it all.I spent the next 10 years developing the reputation for being themost competent and most honest water well driller in East Texas. 2years along the way, I hired another full time employee for thedrilling business so that we could provide full time water well pumpservice as well as the well drilling. Also, 3 years along the path, Ibought a water well screen service machine from a friend, startingbusiness # 2. 5 years later I made a business loan for $100,000.00 tobuild a new, higher production, computer controlled screen servicemachine. I had designed the machine myself, and it didn't work outfor 3 years so I had to make the loan payments without the benefit ofany added income from the new machine. No government program wasthere to help me with the payments, or to help me sleep at night as Ilay awake wondering how I would solve my machine problems or pay mybills. Finally, after 3 years, I got the screen machine workingproperly, and that provided another full time job for an East Texanin the screen service business.2 years after that, I made another business loan, this time for$250,000.00, to buy another used drilling rig and all the supportequipment needed to run another, larger, drill rig. This providedanother 2 full time jobs for East Texans. Again, I spent a couple ofyears not knowing if I had made a smart move, or a move that wouldbankrupt me. For the third time in 13 years, I had placed everythingI owned on the line, risking everything, in order to build abusiness.A couple of years into this, I came up with a bright idea for a newkind of mud pump, a fundamentally necessary pump used on water welldrill rigs. I spent my entire life savings to date (just $30,000.00),building a prototype of the pump and took it to the national waterwell convention to show it off. Customers immediately started comingout of the woodworks to buy the pumps, but there was a problem. I haddepleted my assets making the prototype, and nobody would make me abusiness loan to start production of the new pumps. With severaldeposits for pump orders in hand, and nowhere to go, I finallystarted applying for as many credit card as I could find and tookcash withdrawals on these cards to the tune of over $150,000.00(including modest loans from my dear sister and brother), to get this3rd business going.Yes, once again, I had everything hanging over the line in an effortto start another business. I had never manufactured anything, and Ihad to design and bring into production a complex hydraulic machinefrom an untested prototype to a reliable production model (in sixmonths). How many nights I lay awake wondering if I had just made theparamount mistake of my life I cannot tell you, but there wereplenty. I managed to get the pumps into production, which immediatelycreated another 2 full time jobs in East Texas. Some of the models inthe first year suffered from quality issues due to the poorworkmanship of one of my key suppliers, so I and an employee (anotherEast Texan employed) had to drive across the country to repaircustomers' pumps, practically from coast to coast. I stood behind theproduct, and made payments to all the credit cards that had financedme (and my brother and sister). I spent the next 5 years improvingand refining the product, building a reputation for the pump and thecompany, working to get the pump into drill rig manufacturers'product lines, and paying back credit cards. During all this time Icontinued to manage a growing water well business that was nowoperating 3 drill rig crews, and 2 well service crews. Also, thescreen service business continued to grow. No government programswere there to help me, Mr. Obama, but that's ok, I didn't expect any,nor did I want any. I was too busy fighting to make success happen tosit around waiting for the government to help me.Now, we have been manufacturing the mud pumps for 7 years, mycombined businesses employ 32 full time employees, and distribute$5,000,000.00 annually through the local economy. Now, just 4 monthsago I borrowed $1,254,000.00, purchasing computer controlledmachining equipment to start my 4th business, a production machineshop. The machine shop will serve the mud pump company so that we canbetter manufacture our pumps that are being shipped worldwide. Ofcourse, the machine shop will also do work for outside companies aswell. This has already produced 2 more full time jobs, and 2 moreshould develop out of it in the next few months. This should workout, but if it doesn't it will be because you, and the otherprofessional politicians like yourself, will have destroyed ourcountrys' (and the world) economy with your meddling with mortgageloan programs through your liberal manipulation and intimidation ofloaning institutions to make sure that unqualified borrowers couldget mortgages. You see, at the very time when I couldn't get abusiness loan to get my mud pumps into production, you were workingwith Acorn and the Community Reinvestment Act programs to make surethat unqualified borrowers could buy homes with no down payment, andeven no credit or worse yet, bad credit. Even the infamous, liberal,Ninja loans (No Income, No Job or Assets). While these unqualifiedborrowers were enjoying unrealistically low interest rates, I waspaying 22% to 24% interest on the credit cards that I had used toprovide me the funds for the mud pump business that has created jobsfor more East Texans. It's funny, because after 25 years of turningalmost every dime of extra money back into my businesses to growthem, it has been only in the last two years that I have finally madeenough money to be able to put a little away for retirement, and nowthe value of that has dropped 40% because of the policies you andyour ilk have perpetrated on our country.You see, Mr. Obama, I'm the guy you intend to raise taxes on. I'm theguy who has spent 25 years toiling and sweating, fretting andfighting, stressing and risking, to build a business and get ahead.I'm the guy who has been on the very edge of bankruptcy more than adozen times over the last 25 years, and all the while creating moreand more jobs for East Texans who didn't want to take a risk, andwould not demand from themselves what I have demanded from myself.I'm the guy you characterize as "the Americans who can afford it themost" that you believe should be taxed more to provide incomeredistribution "to spread the wealth" to those who have never toiled,sweated, fretted, fought, stressed, or risked anything. You want tocharacterize me as someone who has enjoyed a life of privilege andwho needs to pay a higher percentage of my income than those who havebought into your entitlement culture. I resent you, Mr. Obama, as Iresent all who want to use class warfare as a tool to advance theirpolitical career. What's worse, each year more Americans buy intoyour liberal entitlement culture, and turn to the government fortheir hope of a better life instead of themselves. Liberals aresucceeding through more than 40 years of collaborative effort betweenthe predominant liberal media, and liberal indoctrination programs inthe public school systems across our land.What is so terribly sad about this is this. America was made great bypeople who embraced the one-time American culture of self reliance,self motivation, self determination, self discipline, personalbetterment, hard work, risk taking. A culture built around theconcept that success was in reach of every able bodied American whowould strive for it. Each year that less Americans embrace thatculture, we all descend together. We descend down the socialist paththat has brought country after country ultimately to bitter andunremarkable states. If you and your liberal comrades in the mediaand school systems would spend half as much effort cultivating aculture of can-do across America as you do cultivating yourentitlement culture, we could see Americans at large embracing theconviction that they can elevate themselves through personalbetterment, personal achievement, and self reliance. You see, whenpeople embrace such ideals, they act on them. When people act on suchideals, they succeed. All of America could find herself elevatinginstead of deteriorating. But that would eliminate the need forliberal politicians, wouldn't it, Mr. Obama? The country would notneed you if the country was convinced that problem solving was bestleft with individuals instead of the government. You and all yourliberal comrades have got a vested interested in creating a dependentclass in our country. It is the very business of liberals to createan ever expanding dependence on government. What's remarkable is thatyou, who have never produced a job in your life, are going to tax meto take more of my money and give it to people who wouldn't need mymoney if they would get off their entitlement mentality asses andapply themselves at work, demand more from themselves, and quitlooking to liberal politicians to raise their station in life.You see, I know because I've had them work for me before. Hundreds ofthem over these 25 years. People who simply will not show up to workon time. People who just will not work 5 days in a week, much less, 6days. People always looking for a way to put less effort out. Peoplewho actually tell me that they would do more if I just would firstpay them more. People who take off work to sit in government officesto apply to get free government handouts (gee, I wonder how thingswould have turned out for them if they had spent that time earningmoney and pleasing their employer?). You see, all of this comes fromyour entitlement mentality culture.Oh, I know you will say I am uncompassionate. Sorry, Mr. Obama, wrongagain. You see, I've seen what the average percentage of your incomehas been given to charities over the years of 2000 to 2004 (ignoringthe years you started running for office - can youpronounce "politically motivated"), you averaged less than 1%annually. And your running mate, Joe Biden, averaged less than ¼% ofhis annual income in charitable contributions over the last 10 years.Like so many liberals, the two of you want to give to the needy, justas long as it is someone else's money you are giving to them. I won'tsay what I have given to charities over the last 25 years, but thepercentage is several times more than you and Joe Biden. combined(don't you just hate google?). Tell me again how you feel my pain.In short, Mr. Obama, your political philosophies represent everythingthat is wrong with our country. You represent the culture ofgovernment dependence instead of self reliance; Entitlement mentalityinstead of personal achievement; Penalization of the successful toreward the unmotivated; Political correctness instead of openmindedness and open debate. If you are successful, you may presideover the final transformation of America from being the greatest andmost self-reliant culture on earth, to just another country ofwhiners and wimps, who sit around looking to the government to solvetheir problems. Like all of western Europe. All countries on thedecline. All countries that, because of liberal socialisticmentalities, have a little less to offer mankind every year.God help us...Cory Millerjust a ordinary, extraordinary American, the way a lot of Americansused to be.
P.S. Yes, Mr. Obama, I am a real American...
http://www.cmillerdrilling.com

Cash Giveaway from Buzzillions act now!

I didn't know about Buzzillions till today. I stumbled from blog to blog to get to this blogger who posted about a $25 cash giveaway just for cheking out this awesome product review site. I've always used Epinions or something similar ( I am sure there are better options by now but I hardly buy anything so I haven't researched anything in a long time). So, now that I want an iPod for my Bday (ok, hubby asked what I wanted so I blurted that one out but I am not sure what I really want and what color too!) I want to know what's the scoop on the best for the buck out there! I loved the site. It showed pros and cons and how many reviews for each. It's way cool! You've got to check it out. Even if you don't buy much it's so good to be able to research an item when the time comes to buy. So, anyway, Freebies 4 mom.com has an awesome $25 giveaway to a lucky winner. I benefited by learned about a great just- about- any- product on- the- planet review site in exchange for just 4 answers to 4 easy questions in her comments. All to help them improve their site! Wanted to share with you! Praying for victory!
Oh, yeah and if you settle on buying something, why not check out MYpoints. com. Make your purchase thru that site (they are continually adding vendors) and get points for your purchase? They match 4 points to the dollar on Overstock, 2 on Ebay and many more options. It's free and by the time you get about 2000 points you can redeem it for a gift card to the store of restaurant of your choice. It is totally free. Check them out. If you do like it and there is a place where they ask you how you heard about them, please, do mention my name, will ya? It is totally free, I promise. I have also been getting points slowly by clicking on their ems ( I created a junk email address just for my points) and get 5points for each em. There are some good offers sometimes that I do accept that add nice amount of points.
Be blessed!!
Natalie

Short but loud!

I just had a min to blog today. I saw the small strip on American Thinker's site and just had to post it. I sure hope we aren't headed that way! Pray, pray, pray! I grew up in a socialistic society for 21 years and I have nothing good to tell y'all.

Ball goes on

Life has been really busy around here as usual. I think I am ready for a break but there are a few more weeks to the ball season. So, I am trying to enjoy the last shots of the season. I lost some great pics due to a computer crash last week so I tried to make it up. These ones aren't near as good but they'll do. I only included our kids in the slideshow. I took pics of almost all the other girls on the team, but am not going to post them on my blog. Enjoy!

Busy last week that makes today feel even more lonely now

We drove dad to the airport yesterday. I didn't realize we can drive to Atlanta and back in under 3 hours! I was really impressed! No, I wasn't speeding (honey, you know I wouldn't do such a thing, ever! And no, I know, I never got caught but I have a precious cargo, yes and your truck too :)) but there was no construction as last time I drove all the kids and myself after traveling from Panama! It took us almost 3 hours just one way! We were so tired! The girls finally crashed in the back seat. It was so slow and the kids couldn't find the power cord to the DVD player (it was in the case the whole time, I told them to look! Do they ever hear anything?)

So, anyway, not much was said on the way to the airport yesterday. Most everybody was sort of quiet thinking their own thoughts. Dad played a few Beemer games (that's when kids keep their eyes peeled for BMW cars of all sorts and yell for what it's worth). Oldest dd was beating dad mercilessly over and over again, so he quit. She hasn't learned the art of.... well, never mind that one. I ended up getting through (on my cell) to an old friend in Ukraine (after trying to reach my dad 3 times without an answer) and the whole family was tortured for a good 2o min of Russian speech. Nothing really special to remember till the last kiss and the quick goodbyes. After our last parking ticket at dad's pick up we weren't gonna take no chances. Don't ever make an excuse of having to go to the bathroom when parked on the curve at passanger pick up at an airport! No matter if you just arrived there and have someone in the vehicle. If you are the designated driver and you have to go pee, hold it, lady! I don't care how many kids you've had and how many Keagels you've done to tone those loose muscles! It don't matter if you just stopped at a truck stop just 20 min before and that stupid cup of tea was just doing its work! I don't care! It just don't work! When in doubt that you aren't gonna make it and you'd rather let your husband wait with his luggage for a few min while you drive to short term parking, do it! The parking ticket wasn't too bad! The worst was that we couldn't pay it over the phone or on line within those 7 days, after which the fine doubled! We had to overnite it! Totally preposterous! 7 days! We got it Fri and were on the road the whole weekend! We were supposed to have had it in by next Fri-rain or shine! It wasn't registered in the system on line or the phone! So, nice welcome home, baby! All hubby said was: you really couldn't hold it? Well, NO! Or I wouldn't have done it!!! Only guys can hold it, like camels and water, you know. To top it all, all the girls had to go with me, so that took even a few min longer. But, none of that nonsense was gonna happen again, so we kissed dad bye and headed back home. No Buildabear, no nothing-straight good ole home. I don't care if I have a GPS and can go wherever in Atlanta and know exactly where I am at all times (well, sort of, honey if there is satellite reception, I am not poking at you either). I just wanted to leave Atlanta and just go home and cry into my lonely pillow. But, no, I didn't have time to cry. Upon arrival to the empty house, I was begged to leave the house and go to Kids Connection for that last hour it was open. I think we were all sort of a denial about coming home without dad. It was weird! No one wanted to go home after being gone for a long trip. I was wiped out but gave in, again. I was already there earlier in the day for a whole hour getting stuff at %50 off. When my friends spotted me there again they had a good laugh! So did I!

It's so good to have friends! I stopped and talked to at least 4 ladies there. My kids thought I was sort of dumb, talking to people instead of shopping. But I really realized how much of a social bug I am. I love people. I love visiting with people, talking! Who cares about stuff? Maybe my husband's absence really magnifies my need for socializing, I don't know. But it really struck me like a ton of kids running into me! I love living here! Even if those friends aren't close friends it is still so good to know them! I keep meeting new people every day. My post about the baby shower is living proof of that! I think I know half of my town now and I've only lived here for 1 y and 18 months. I have Chinese, Indian, Russian and Malaysian friends! God is soo good!

Wow! How I got off my topic-our trip. When we picked dad up at the airport we drove straight to Salem, NC where hubby's cousin was in the hospital. It was so good to see him and hug him and pray for him. It's been a really rough month for their family but he is slowly building his strength. Kids got to visit with their cousins (no pics since I left my CF card in the comp case in the card reader and was shocked to find an empty camera when I got to the park where I watched the kids for 2 hours, there is no emoticons to show my emotion here). But if I did, it might be lost right now in the comp crash for me to bemoan!!! I do have just a few pics of the next day's couple of hours we spent together! That's all the memories for now.

The week upon our return was nothing but a flurry of events. Docs appts for hubby, football and softball practices, games, etc. Son's only football game that he was so eager for dad to watch was rained out (we haven't had rain in months) and it was supposed to be rescheduled for the morning before we took dad to the airport-tight, huh? Well, it got rescheduled for this week. The kid is still getting over it I think.

So, now he is there, and we are here. Life goes on. Travel team for oldest dd looms on our horizon. Piano lessons, art lessons, drama and horse club. They help us stay busy and focused on something other than ourselves. If the local nursing home was a bit more cooperative we'd be there every week but they are just not interested, I don't know why. But we keep on keeping on and by the grace of Jesus we will make it just fine till dad comes home for another visit. Hope it's 2 weeks long, so we can really get to hug him and squeeze him.
Well, look here, I am on a roll blogging. I knew it was fun! But for me it was always funner to read other friends' blogs. They are so very profound and challenging. What am I doing typing away at a bit after midnite when I have so many classes to divide and school to plan for next week? I dunno, but i am signing off. My can't sleep kid ( have no clue what she drank before going to bed) looks like is done coloring so that means I can head on to my lonely bed. You haven't shed a tear yet? Oh, well, but can you say a prayer for us? We want a job where dad is with us, not accross the ocean. No webcams or Skypes would help. Nite!

On my first baby shower attendance, computer crashes, pictures's rescue and just plain old life

Unlike most of my very inspiring bloggers mine is a very sporadic and homely one. I totally love reading about p0litics and economics on my busy homeschool moms' blogs but I tend to stick with easy stuff. I am no fun, am I? Well, I feel not very fun right now! So, if you don't care for any serious topics, but want just some good old easy reading, read on!

I should be in bed resting before a new school week but instead I am attempting to recover pictures off my CF card and it's taking forever. I attempted to recover all the pics using my husband's laptop earlier in the evening but to no avail! So, I am using mine now, which after this past week's unloyalty to me (it crashed a few days after hubby came home for a week) and it's taking even longer and it's burning my lap. Don't even buy a Toshiba, please,even if it's so dirt cheap!!! IT's the only laptop that gets hot a few min after turning it on. Yes, I know about cooling pads. Toshiba must have created those too! For my husband's Dell is never ever close to being hot! I got a cooling pad and brought it back, it wasn't working.
So, that said I don't know if Macs are more loyal. My Toshiba was in close proximity to a pink Mac the very same nite before it's rude awakening, or should I say my rude awakening to it's unawakening. I don't know. It must have really had a crash on that pink gal! But, praise the Lord, who blessed my husband with lots of knowledge and wisdom and who spared me the embarassment, the expense and the time in attempting to fix it. He was able to recover my em program's eaddress book! I am super excited! That's over 150 em addresses, lists of friends, addresses, etc. So, now I am attemtping at finding sites by memory in hopes to build back my favorites list. Not that I used all those educational sites I've bookmarked, you know. But it gave me a piece of mind, sort of. You know, that one day I'll do this witht he kids or that. So, my faithful friends-got any cool sites you want me to put on my favs list, please, em them to me! I have a very hard time staring at my toolbar that is so bare. Educational sites, cool photobloggers's sites, digi scrapbooking, etc. I love it all!

But considering it all, I had a really productive day. After church I ran the kids home to drop them so I can go to a baby shower! My first baby shower ever! I attended a wedding shower earlier this year, my first one too! But the baby shower was ever so special to me. ( I joked about another baby just to have a shower since I never had one with any of the 4 kids. Are you all teary eyed yet? ) It was also so very special because Russian was the language spoken at the shower! WOW! It was so neat! I met a Russian friend here last year and today I met another 5 ladies! We had a ball! I even edited around 50 pics in 30 min and sent them the link to the album. I felt like a million bucks. Then I ran to work out at the gym! I really feel like I've accomplished a lot in just one day. I also had a kid to take to a BD party but he was picked up and dropped off (with a sprained ankle though) so that was a huge help! I was able to enjoy the shower without cutting it way short!
Well, i wish I could brag about a successful attempt at recovering some pics but it's still not going anywhere. I was hoping that by the time I was through with the blog something would be known. I hate being in limbo though. I don't have many pics I didn't back up, and I was showing my friend with the hot pink Mac those cute softball pics and I had wi-fi there and I could have just uploaded them to an album and there weren't edited and I am such a perfectionist! When will I ever learn? I could have edited them later!!! For anyone that is about to stop following my train of thought-I am trying to recover pics from a Compact Card from my camera (pics that have been deleted because they were on the comp which had a crush last week). yes, you can try to retrieve pics for free. I am using a FREE program called ZAR. A very dear photo friend told me about it when I had my previous attack of deleting some pics off my card accidentally. But, I've been using this card since January, sot, it's got more than a thousand pics, you know. It's taking a while, but I don't mind if there are results. I've successfully retrieved about 3 months ago every single photo I've taken on that card! Sweet, huh?

Ok, that's all for now. I really do want to blog about our week here with hubby but feel like a different post would be a whole lot more appropriate! Blessings!

My Panama adventure and 2008 in review photo books bragging

I blogged about my documented adventure in a 12X12 photobook I've created using Shutterfly ( I had a coupon, the photo books were 20% off and there was free s/h on it as well, so I did it!) on my HSB and tried desperately to link it to this blog but blogspot is showing that the book has been deleted for some dumb reason. So, please, head on to my HSB.

It is really hard to see the small captions even in the hard copy of the book. But that's the biggest font I was allowed to use. I should let Shutterfly know to change their font templates a big to larger for it is quite hard to read a story book with such tiny weeny fonts.

I also finished our 2008 in review book and blogspot is not allowing me to link the HTML here ( I don't know what the problem is for Homeschool Blogger is fine in displaying the book) either so please, click here. Enjoy!

My quick sports update

I've been so swamped with kids' games and practices that at the moment that's all I can blog about. There are the latest words most often used in our house:
jerseys, cleats, helmets, bats, shoulder pads, food, snacks, drinks, more food, more snacks and more drinks and we are hungry and when is big brother's game is over and do we have to go to sleep, we aren't tired but wired ...
Enjoy it for now. I got a Shuttefly free book I got a coupon expiring in a few days so I got to get to it pronto. Till then I wanted to get this out!
N

I do blog just on my first love blog-please, check me out here there before ditching me

Wow! I just added a site counter and was shocked that I got visitors in just a few days. Oh, my! How embarassing that my last post on this blog is in April. So, I better get some things clarified here now. Ok, that's enough playing around. I really do try to keep a blog going with 4 kids, a crazy lab and a husband who is working out of the country. I've created a blog with blogspot for the ease of adding widgets and the use of HTML. HSB's source is still a bit too daunting for me. I've tried numerous times to add somethign to my sidebar to no avail. So, I gave up. Other moms seemed to have kept on trucking, but I just gave up. I am hopeless with HTML for now.
So, that said- since I am a pic addict I love pics big and that's something HSB allows me and this one doesn't, well, not till I learn HTML or get a hold of a person who can help me make my template wider so I can post my slideshows and pics in XL, well, I'll settle for L. This blog's template doesn't allow me to diplay them big so I reversed back to my Homeschoolblooger and don't have time to learn where those dumb widgets, gadgets go in the whole blog's source. I just don't have that time. SO, if you are interested to see what happened to me since "Who's on first" please, visit my other blog that I have a hard time letting go of. Be blessed and thanks for visiting.

Who is on first?

Ok, life has been so crazy this week with a guitar recital for dd1 and a dress rehearsal for all 3 dds and sball and bball practices that it hasn't been too funny. Last nite before our dd's guitar recital we got to listen to the older speech class homeschool students. It perked us all up and when we came home later that evening all laughing our sides out every time someone mentioned the words WHO,What or WHY we had to find the original actors which came up with this hilarious presentation. It's so late now and I've already laughed so hard yesterday that today my facial muscles are still sore. SO, please, laugh this one for me tonite, will ya? Be blessed, relax and have a good laugh. You'll want to watch this one a few times. Need the kids babysat for a few minutes? This is your great chance! Great, clean fun! Our kids are planning on pairing up and performing this one themselves. I can't wait to see the outcome! If you know our kids you can imagine the combo! They know how to use the camcorder and all. We'd need to figure out how to upload their performances on my blog. Pray for a rainy week if you'd like to see this done faster! Ball games and practices take a lot of time! But it's just a season! Natalie

When it gets tough may we all remember this!

I just had to share this before crashing in bed. It's been such a busy week with sports and other activities and the next week doesn't look much easier. It's only the second week of ball season for our 2 oldest kiddos. We know it's only going to last a few more (more like 8 more) weeks and we can relax on the weekends (well,this one is an exception with a practice scheduled for SUn due to some tournament plus weather acting up Fri). But to find a piece of paper on my desk with this message was a totally awesome reminder. I couldn't get grumpy about whey the paper wasn't filed in the art file. How could I? I wasn't going to correct its spelling? Why should I? The message is what counts. Thank you AUtumn Joy for reminding us about the Joy of the LORD and who we owe our salvation. Hope you get blessed to. Out of hands of babes, I tell ya!
Oh, please click on the slideshow button to see the whole pic if part is not displaying properly. I am really not understanding what's going on with the pic today.

Spring is here , so is softball!

Ok, I had a few softball pics that didn't look like they needing a whole lot of editing so I decided to get them up asap. I know you all are waiting for wedding pics but I took those with no external flash and all on auto so not many good ones but hopefully I can edit some and get that project nailed down next week. Till then, spring is here! We got back from KY Sun and our oldest dd had her first Sball game the very next day and another one Wed. Talk about a crazy week of attempting to unpack, get meals and do school. Dearest oldest son's pics should be coming for his first game followed just a few short days later. I am hoping for an earlier game for better pics. It is really hard to take pics at nite in the field thru a dumb fence. Sorry about those interferrences. Enjoy! Natalie
PS for larger pics in a slideshow see my HSB post. I can't make it XL on blogger unless someone helps me fix my template a bit larger, I hate this narrowness. Anyone willing to help a friend? Do I have to get on a new learning curve to learn HTML?

A great testimony to a robber!

Wow! I am on a roll today posting. After a few weeks of blog withdrawals and a whole weekend of cleaning the house, unpacking (yes, I am still unpacking and we got home from a wedding 8 hrs away Sun) and cooking I finally got everyone to bed and should be headed that way myself. Tomorrow is Monday and school needs to be tackled. Sball and bball games, guitar recitals and practices, art and sewing classes are all back in swing and it's going to be a busy week. I wanted so very badly to upload a few wedding pics for all my dial up friends but I just didn't sit down much today. I had to post the bear video cuz it was hilarious and this one is absolutely a must see! An 80 year old lady witnessing to a man trying to rob her is awesome! Be blessed as I was. May we all be a testimony in every and any situation we find ourselves in. Share it with your friends, let your children watch it over and over again!!!

Hilarious!

Since I haven't had a free minute to edit the wedding pics (not as many as I wanted to take, thus not many to post as great pics-I shot them all on auto without an external flash) I figured I'd post this hilarious video my hubby forwarded this am. Maybe some of you already saw it somewhere. Too funny!

WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!

I hate that we lost the priviledge to use RS free on line this year. We didn't take full advantage of it for the past 2 years, in fact. When we moved to LA and lived there for just a short 5 months the Ascencion Parish Library allowed free access to patrons of the library to a database, which included RS. All languages. This year they disabled this feature. So, when I saw my friend blog about it I jumped hoping that we'd win a free copy. It is a pricey program. So, if you'd like to enter the drawing, please, read the instructions below.


Rosetta Stone has been the #1 foreign language curriculum among homeschoolers for a while -- next week they are unleashing a brand new curriculum, and you can WIN the *all new* Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3… FOR FREE!

This is a $219 program (and believe me it's worth every penny!) and the winner gets to pick from any of these 14 languages: Spanish (Spain or Latin America), English (American or British), Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Hebrew, or Russian.

This will also include a headset with microphone, and students will participate in lifelike conversations and actually produce language to advance through the program. Rosetta Stone still incorporates listening, reading and writing as well, in addition to speaking. Many homeschoolers requested grammar and vocabulary exercises, and with Rosetta Stone Homeschool Version 3, they're included! For parents, the new Parent Administrative Tools are integrated into the program and allow parents to easily enroll students in any of 12 predetermined lesson plans, monitor student progress, and view and print reports.



To win this most excellent program -- in the language of your choice -- copy these (blue) paragraphs and post it in (or as) your next blog post -- then to enter the contest, go to the original contest page HERE: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenIG/501132/ and leave a comment with the link showing where you blogged about it. And please make sure the link works to get back to the original contest page when you post it. And good luck! The winner will be picked randomly on March 26, and will be notified thru the link they left to their blog pg. And if you have more than one blog, you can post them and enter those separately for more chances to win. Yay for free stuff!

Spring is indeed here with a brand new, my very first slideshow on blogger.

One of my favorite bloggers Angel inspired me once again to open up my world to the spring fresh air. Thank you so much! You didn't worry about not having a current or edited pic, you just blogged it.
I have been so busy trying to catch up with school before we leave to KY for a wedding the week after the official spring break that I totally left all my spring pics on the back burner. I worried about how we are going to take 2 weeks off. But, no more worries. School will get done! We were all getting cranky and it is time to say ENOUGH! TImE for a break!
With first sball and bball practices starting this week I realized how much busier life will be in the next few weeks. It is always a challenge for me to get something planned after schooling and carpooling kids to their extracurricular activities. But, I am taking a break this week to regroup, rethink , replan, recoup, etc.
So, before it gets really busy and games start I am hoping to enjoy this week. First step is almost over with -post some pics and a long overdue blog. I'd love to make some handmade cards for an upcoming wedding and maybe even get the kids started on a lapbook of a country! Grand plans but it's all Lord willing.
So, here is a slideshow of spring pics I took a few weekends ago while biking at Calloway Gardens. I am infamous at procrastinating to edit and post pics. I have fun taking pics but do not care for editing too much. But I really tried hard on these pics but some of them are still very grainy, please, forgive me. I am in the process of learning all the ISO and noise and other photo terms.
Hope you enjoy the pics. I am learning new things every day!. I finally learned how to make thumbnails with a free download program called Easy thumbnails after wasting a few hours trying a useless, confusing program that came with my Canon. After 3 phone calls to my devoted and patient photographer friend Amanda (and a bike ride to get rid of my frustration) I was able to thumbnail a whole folder of pics in a matter of minutes. (thank you so very much, friend, for your patience with me while I persevred) Same for downloading them to Picasa and creating a slideshow! Easy with Picasa. She's been telling me about Picasa all along! But I didn't even have to download it on my comp. I just made a folder on line and embedded the code into the slideshow! How fun! Wow! That's what I call efficiency! Go thumbnails! No more long waiting for downloading them. No more huge pics sent to friends, no more embarassment! Hope you find the blogging and pic uploading easy! It paid off to persevere. I am wiped out but I feel like I;ve got something accomplished.


Blessings.