I really love when these old treasures pop up on facebook or emails.  This is our family.  I am on the far right and next to me is my baby sister LoriAnne, who is really only a year younger, so not so young any more.  Then on the left is my older sister Lee Anne, Who is older, but smaller topping the scales at 4feet 8 inches.  Above her is Kathy, She is the eldest.  Kathy is the only one who lives near enough for me to visit.  Which I really need to do more often.  In the middle of all of us is my beautiful mommy.  She is so lovely.  I guess it might be said that we have some good looking genes.

we the sixties.  Mom is so hip.  Apparently we are getting ready to make dinner.  I see a pot in the forground.  We add my brother James(Chip)  What a great smile.

Mom was always great about trying to dress us all the same.  We had boing boing curls and were ready for what ever was coming,  That is an amazing fiet considering she was a single parent.  She did a great job.

Now we add Darius.  Henry, the shadow in the middle was our step father.  He was an interesting man.  MP, Cop, Security.  He loved fishing and playing chess.  Darius was his only child.  and the baby of the family.

Here is one of the only times we saw my fathers parents.  I have been told forever that I look like my grandmother.  I can see it a bit.  I also wondered how Jason got so big,  I think he got it from grandpa.  and Austin got his name. 

This is my beloved brother.  I love him.  and I love his family.  He is a great guy.  Pensive at times.  He is always watching.  Quiet, and highly gifted in carpentry.  I wish we lived closer so we could spend time together, I hear he has a great sense of humor.  My brother is a man of God.  I can see it in his eyes, and in his life.  I am so proud to be his big sister.  God has done amazing things in and through this man. 

This is my moms parents.  Frank, and Pearl.  They actually were not married at this time, so this  is a rare picture.  My mother looks like my grandmother, and my Oldest sister looks like them both.  I am glad I have this picture to share with my children and grandchildren.

 

Family is so important.  I have been blessed with a big family.  Lots of history.  I am also blessed with a new family.  A family that will spend eternity with me.  Jesus died for us so that we could be adopted into his family.  This is the biggest blessing of all. 

I really love it when the whole family gets together to hang out, and eat, and play together. 

All the beautiful faces, and the silly little firsts , like Beckets first Mcdonalds hamburger.

Abby always taking pictures, and making sure she is in front of the camera.  She is such a ham. 

Mandy all grown and married.  She is doing so well, adjusting to a new husband, and home.  She makes me proud, working at being a Godly young wife, and taking on a new job.  I am glad she is surrounded by wonderful friends, and a family that loves her very much.

Shane is in the zone.  He loves a good meal.  I enjoy watching him.  He is so funny.  What a blessing God has given us.  Our house is filled with laughter, and a kid with a heart of gold.

Jason waited a long time to get a Niece or Nephew.  He loves Beckett, and Beckett loves Jason. 

Victoria is a great mother. Along with her desire to please God, and be a Godly wife.  She also took on Beckett.  He is now walking, and moving around pretty fast.  Tori is chasing him, and waiting for son number two, who will arrive in May.  I can't wait to meet him.

Noah, what can I say, there is not much of him, but he is a live wire.  I love when he comes to play with me. 

Eating together as a family is so much fun.  I don't think we get through a meal without someone blowing milk out their noses.  Always a good time.

This is Hammy.  Te Patriarch of the family.  He is so serious most of the time.  But when he relaxes he can let what little hair he has, down.  I love that mug for sure.

Work

SHHHHH!!!!  I am at work right now.  Along with Homeschooling,Cakedecorating, Cleaning Dr. offices Managing my home, and gardening.  I work in a Chiropractors office.  This week I am working more than normal.  I put in 7-12 hours a week.  This week it is 27 hours.  Spring break for NM students, means vacation for the regular workers (I'm irregular).  I am still Home schooling this week as we have had multiple breaks this year.  Today I work until noon, then I am going to go and play with my kids.  We need another break.  Have a great spring like day.  It is so beautiful here.

Spring

Spring is coming.  New beginnings, bring thoughts of what is important.  What this year will yield.  I get concerned about the lack of grass growing in my back yard. The hard dry soil that struggles to produce. Whether I am giving my kids a good education, or if we can take breaks to work in the yard.  And yet , even though I worry about things that really dont matter.  God in all his glory.  Helps his creation pop through the ground without any help from me.  It doesn't matter that we have gotten almost no rain or snow this winter.  His beautiful creation continues to amaze me.  Only God could create something so beautiful.The flowers come up through the dry soil.The birds begin to sing. Life is all around me.  I talked to my mom yesterday.  She lives in Halafax Nova Scotia.  The crocus, and daffodils are popping through the snow up there.  It doesn't matter if it is Canada, or New Mexico,  God is still at work.  Bringing new life and beauty.So I figure if God is at work making my yard look better.  I can get to work too.  The kids and I turned over the soil, and raked up the last of last falls leaves.  We are trimming the trees, and planting grass seed.  We will give God a hand and plant more flowers, and a garden.  But it is still not quite warm enough for us to get too much work done,  The day we got started,  we got snow.  The coats are still hanging in the foyer. Still not warm enough to put them away.  We are just getting ready for the new season, but Our Lord is alreadyworking.   I love to look out the windows when it is snowing and  see the flowers, watch the trees bud, and wait anxiously for spring to really get moving.  I am very blessed to have my children at my side to plant the garden.  To have a yard to plant it in.  To have a Father who loves me so much He would bring me beauty on a cold and windy day.

I am a Nomad.

I have written before that I am a nomad.  I like change.  Yet, I married a man that prefers roots.  Deep roots.  I don't think we will be exploring new places to live any time soon.  I believe this may be the reason I move things around in my house so much.  Anyone who knows me knows that if you visit my home more than twice a year, you will walk into a totally different scene every time.  This time it came with an addition.  The kids wanted a ping pong table for their combined birthday present.  I could have done the simple thing and put it in addition on the back of the house. (this week that room is my cake studio/schoolroom.) But, why not move the dining room out there.  I can watch the birds and be a part of the outdoors while I eat.  It made total sense to me.  I put the Family Room in the Dining Room.  It's a bigger room anyways. We need more room for family.  It is always growing. Now the Family Room is the Game room.  and it attaches to the family room .  So we have a huge family/game room.  Does it sound like I am justifying my decissions?  It works great, It's perfect.  THIS WEEK ...  On the up side, for all of you who like things to stay the same.  You know ( every thing in it's place and a place for everything)  The kitchen is still in the same place. 

Whine

Does that look like the face of a Whiner to you?????

Do you think I should have a little cheese with my whine?  Sorry all, I just needed to vent, and maybe get some advise in the process.

I've got the Home Schooling Blues.

Well, the wedding is over.  It has been one week, and Amanda and Eric, are now doing laundry at my house.  That's ok, it gives us time with them.  Eric helped me hang a cowboy hat rack above our doorway.  It is nice having a new son-in-law.  So The party is over, as it were.  Life should be back to normal, but what is normal.  May I share something with you?  It's retorical, I know.  I fully intend to tell you whether or not you wanted to hear it.  I am afraid my kids are not going to get much of an education from me.  We are always on again, off again.  I know, some of you are thinking they are getting an education.  Just a different kind of education.  I am not quite sure that will get them the credits they will need to get into college.  All my children can cook.  They can prepare meals I could not prepare until I was in my twenties.  They can do laundry, garden, and laugh out loud.  We sometimes hit the books. We have tried Saxon math, Abeka math, Teaching Textbooks, and our own variety this year.  THIS YEAR, mind you.  It isn't that I can't decide, they are struggling, and I am trying to find what works for each of them.  We may have found it, but they are now behind a year.  That is only math.  History and Science are optional.  RIGHT???  Like I said on again, off again.  We tried living science, that was too sporatic.  We tried Apologia, I love this one, but I can't afford one for each level.  So we tried Abeka for the younger ones, and Apologia for my ninth grader.  They whined that they missed working together.  I did too.  So We are back to combining the older two in Apologia, and Abeka for the younger one.  It is March, and I am just now figuring this out.  History is a whole other story.  I love Whole Books.  We love biographies.  However, we are not consistant enough.  They love when I read them to them.  But, when it comes to them reading them.  It takes forever for them to finish them.  We write reports, when we remember.  So I guess I need more structure.  I pulled out OLD FAITHFUL.  What allows us to work together?  Covers History, Science, Bible, and Language?  What is hands on, and a boatload of fun?  KONO'S  Fun times ahead.  I have the High School Ancient History, well most of it anyways.  I think I recall that the last time we did KONO's It was a lot of work.  And, if I recall, most of that work was for me.  I am not liking the sound of that.  Does that make me lazy.  I have spelling power, a library of classic literature, and biography's.  I have Science, and lots of Total Language Plus.  I am a mess.  I want them to have a good education.  I just can't stick to anything.  It has been a tough year.  OK the last 3 years have been tough.  My daughter had a baby in November.  So, I had to go to Montana to be with that new baby.  that took three weeks.  Then the Holidays.  Well who doesn't need a break then.  Then my other daughter was getting married.  So lots of breaks to run errands, and arrange things.  Then my dad died.  So out to California I go.  Then the wedding, and lots of guests.  OK, We have to break for that.  Right?  Now I am going to Texas.  I need a vacation.  Only two days.  We can cram the week into three days.  I NEED HELP!!!!!!   Am I ruining these kids????  I keep thinking they would be better off in public school.  Then I come to my senses.  I know of other programs for homeschoolers.  Can't afford them.  I have to get it together.  I am always organizing, always trying to find what works best, What works for each of them.  And Me.  Why oh Why can't I stick to something.  This is just like my Diets.  I have every diet book known to man.  Exercise tapes, you name it.  And yet... I am not 125 lbs.  What should I do???

Wedding days

First we had the Bachorlorrette party. And that was fun.Boy do we look tired.The girls found their earings that night.I love my girls.  Mandy told me not to post this picture.  Oh well.Time for baths and showers.lets do our hair and makeupWait baby shotsRehersal The dadsSpecial guestsFamilyMy childrenmy boysWe did it.BrothersThe ToastThe cakeThe messDancing

Time for the Honeymoon.

and This is the cake I made for my baby girl.