I'LL HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS...

So I'm distracting myself from Halloween fun by concentrating on upcoming events! It's just kind of sad when you don't have any trick-or-treaters any more...I did invite myself to go walking through the neighborhood with my neighbor who moved here in the summer. She has two adorable little princesses, so I'll enjoy it through them!

I love planning parties and this year is no different! A group I meet with monthly always has a Christmas party, and we let the husbands come in December, so I'm looking at a party of 24. Wanted to do something different with our gift exchange, so after doing a little research on the internet, I came up with this GREEN CHRISTMAS IDEA: Everyone is given a holiday tin at the November meeting, and they have to bring their gift in it at the December party! Could be homebaked, or just a bought gift that fits in the tin. I even got some tins that are small for the people that like to give gift cards. So now, the task of finding 24 tins!!! Thought it'd be easy, but it was WORK! I didn't want to spend $24 on these, so I looked at all the thrift stores in town. After being at 3 stores, and getting only 2 tins, I was about to give up on the idea. But then I hit the jackpot at the old EARC behind Sherry's Drugstore. Yes, that smelly place! I bought 22 from them for $3.34!!!

So if you like this idea, go for it! Just don't look at the thrift stores around here for tins, I bought 'em all!

SOME COLLECTIONS AT OUR HOUSE...

Bottles - son #2


and this collection of son#1, in the garage, right about where he opens his car door...LOVELY, ISN'T IT?


I've been reading a lot about hoarding lately in the paper. People that just can not throw things away...and it's a sickness. Let's just say I'm trying not to get too excited about this new collection. But I am curious as to how large and nasty it will get before he does something about it!

I STILL GET LITTLE GIFTS FROM MY BOYS...

WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS...

Well, it really wasn't THAT bad, I guess. I just usually pride myself on being efficient. Makes me upset when I make a mistake money-wise or have to waste gas because of something I forgot or whatever. Don't know if you do this, but I have one day a week that I go to the grocery store and run other errands. I trained my family to ask if they need anything from the store to do so on Monday night or Tuesday morning. I may be a SAHM, but I am not your slave. Laundry is done on Mondays and Thursdays and if you can't get it to the laundry chute, it won't be done. If you need something from the store, you ask on Monday night or Tuesday morning, or wait until next week. I did this in the beginning to help myself, but I believe it's taught my family several things: PLAN AHEAD being the most important one. BE CONSIDERATE OF MOM'S TIME is also another lesson.

So, back to my original theme...I was pretty ticked at myself for leaving my wallet in my Grandmother's purse last Thursday. I put it in there because getting her into a store or restaurant is a slow process and I have to carry her purse (and drink sometimes) in addition to holding onto her. She lives an hour away, and I only go there about once a month because of gas costs and time, of course. Anyway, we made an event of retrieving the wallet. My understanding husband didn't even fuss about it. We ventured down south and went to the Warren Theatre in Moore for the first time. It was outstanding! (Can't say as much for the actual movie, though - "Where the Wild Things Are") I would recommend it for special occasions. Then we went on to Goldsby to eat at Libby's Cafe that is known for their catfish. The catfish was very good, the rest mediocre. Then on to the thriving metropolis of Slaughterville, Oklahoma to retrieve my wallet. We stayed and visited with Grandma for a little while. She gave each of the boys a container of Snack Pack pudding to eat. I had instructed them earlier to accept whatever she gives them!

Anyway, it didn't turn out to be such a waste of gas after all!

IF YOU CAN'T RUN, WELL...GO TAKE PICTURES!

After an excellent season, medaling in cross country competition 5 times, my youngest pulled his hamstring. He limped across the finish line, disappointed to place 8th when he could've placed 4th. The coach taped ice around him immediately after getting back to school and recommended we visit the trainer at the high school. I was glad we did; the trainer had a good knowledge of this type of runner's injury and made some practical suggestions for him. But I was especially pleased a week later when the season ending conference meet came up...he didn't fuss or complain about the injury, but wanted to go to the meet with the rest of the team and take pictures! Here's some of the "Mom approved" ones....
GROUP HUG!

RUN, GUYS, RUN!

ASHAMED...

Not the emotion I really like to talk about. But I want to be real. Last weekend was one of the most exciting I'd had in a long time. I totally relished in the fact that my son had the lead in the play, did a fabulous job, and I got to be a part of it in a small way, organizing meals all week for the cast and crew. Totally loved it that my daughter came home for her one day fall break and she was able to see the play too. Got to have a little birthday party for her - 10 days late, but we got to have one. I was on a total adrenaline rush for several days. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!

Then I was brought to my knees on Sunday. Wonder why I can't get that excited about the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, and the marvelous gift He's given me? Why don't I anticipate His return like I anticipated the play, the time spent with my daughter? I'm ASHAMED...

EASY BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE CREATIVELY-CHALLENGED MOM...

So I've made birthday cakes thru the years, and my kids loved them, but I never got to take that Wilton class I always said I was going to take. Now that my kids are 20, 18, and 14, I'm not sure if I'll ever take it....but here is an adorable EASY cake I found recently on Made by Melissa. Really fun and really cute! It was a big hit!

OKAY, I ADMIT LONG HAIR LOOKS GOOD ON YOU, SON...

When you're a Quaker in the 18th century! HEAR YE, HEAR YE, EMHS is now commencing THE CRUCIBLE! With performances to the public both Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m.!

STINKY PROPOSAL...

I'm talking about our cat, who has gotten sprayed by a skunk not once, but TWICE in the past week! I think the fact that she's a beautiful tuxedo kitty must be attracting some male skunk. Or maybe he's living under our shed and doesn't like being interrupted. I don't know which, but it's our first experience up close and personal with a skunk (not counting the baby one that swam in our pool until Animal Control came). My kids help tremendously - NOT - going around the house, complaining and turning on fans, while I gather her up in a bath towel, get into the shower with her, and douse her with a concoction of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and Dawn. I've got the scratches to prove it! Add the scratches to the rope burn on my ankle and my sore bum from Elizabeth's challenging Monday workout and I'm ready to go back to bed...

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU....

says the Lord...(Jeremiah 29:11) Maybe your summer went really well. You got some things accomplished or you had some fun with your kids, or you got to go on vacation. Maybe you didn't. My job as a Mom has been SUMMER PLANNER for as long as I can remember. I had some great plans for my kids this summer, and most of them failed. I was disappointed. Nothing really terrible happened, it was just that my plans were not God's. I let Him know about it, too. Other people knew about it. Then it finally hit me. I could gripe about it all summer, or just accept it. I cannot really control my children's activities and choices any more. They are grown up people (almost!). I have to tell you that I've struggled with the issue of making my kids work or making school their work as they grow older. Is summer a time to offer them enrichment or work experience? But that's a subject for another blog....So I'm still not sure what I've learned yet, but maybe it was just the simple lesson that I'm not in control of everything. A good lesson to learn - AGAIN.

My plan: For my 19 yr. old to WORK, to earn $ for her semester abroad next summer.

God's plan: She babysat for a few families, and did a LOT of hanging around the house.

Lessons learned: She got some life skills and great chillin time with our family. I realized I should enjoy it. She's going to be gone all next summer!!!

My plan: For my 17 yr. old to get some REAL WORK EXPERIENCE, because the last couple of summers he's spent at Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute and volunteering a little at Fine Arts Institute.

God's plan: He got caught throwing biscuit dough at cars with his buddies, went to Juvenile Court. He didn't get a job, so he took Government class in June (his idea) so he could fit Drama class in his schedule in the fall. He volunteered again at FAI and produced a neat video that is featured on their website.

Lessons learned: He learned a LOT from the court experience - thank goodness he was a juvenile! Never again, hopefully. So he took Government class, which actually cost us $$, but at least he wasn't playing video games all day. We told him if he couldn't find a paying job, he would do a volunteer job. They love him at FAI!

My plan: For my 13 yr. old to enjoy the summer. Be our #1 pool boy and lawn mower. Take a speedreading class to improve in reading.

God's plan: He did enjoy the summer, although he broke his left arm. It didn't handicap him though. He was able to care for the lawn and the pool. He did take the speed reading class and did well. Only to be told in September he was going to be put in a special class based on his April OCCT reading score!

Lessons learned: We learned how to use a Dry-Pro cast cover. Maybe he still needs to work on his reading skills...

My kids look at my blog, so I have to conclude with how much I LOVE them and want only the best for them. Somebody once said BEING A MOTHER IS THE TOUGHEST JOB YOU'LL EVER LOVE. They were right!