TAILGATING PARTY...

no, you know we're not into sports that much! This is what the performing arts kids do at EMHS, after 4-5 days of tryouts for the talent show! They tailgate while waiting for THE LIST of acts that get into the show. My senior came in this afternoon, raided the refrigerator and freezer for hotdogs, buns, and condiments for the L-O-N-G W-A-I-T! I'm sure a real fire would've been quickly extinguished by the administration, but these kids are resourceful. They got an extension cord and grilled their dogs on a George Foreman grill! Their patience was rewarded when the teachers finally posted the big news on the door for all to see!

ADDED BONUS: thanks for the George Foreman grill, IPOD, and IPOD tuner left by kids in my son's car...better claim 'em quick!

6 AM BASKETBALL PRACTICE...

Really? REALLY. That's what happens when you have 8 teams in one school all wanting to have gym time...we'll see how much these 8th grade boys really like basketball....

NOT WINNING ANY CONTESTS WITH THESE...

My tomatoes that I planted way back in June are finally producing! They aren't very pretty, I admit. But if you take a knife and cut off the worm holes and splits, believe it or not, you will have at least half a good tomato! It reminds me of how God sees me. He overlooks the bad stuff, and sees something good there. "MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART." I SAMUEL 16:7 I hope we all are looking past appearances and seeing people's hearts.

My sister-in-law is rubbing off on me, I guess. That's a good thing! When she started blogging, she decided if she was going to spend the time doing it, she would share her faith. She writes about daily life with four kids and ALWAYS finds a spiritual connection. She also maintains a recipe blog with her mother and sister. Check out her "Shine Like Stars" blog!

HALLOWEEN TEENAGER-STYLE...

My Indian boy actually would pose for me outside with our ghostie! No trick-or-treating for him this year, he went to 2 parties...
























and here's my 6 ft. Simba...yes, he really did wear that! He borrowed it (maybe from a toddler?) and wore it to the church's fall festival and to school on Halloween! He went to a party with friends on Halloween and was a deejay. Didn't really get any good pics of that one, tho...


























and my college girl was thrilled to get to go to a local home with her friends and carve pumpkins...hers is the fancy one...she should major in pumpkin carving, I think!

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...