Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Senior Pictures and College Acceptance



Senior Pictures
Friday we went to take Tabitha's senior pictures.  As usual I had put something off until the last possible minute, so the fact that these were done only 6 days before graduation means the were done early.  I picked here up early from school and we headed to the portrait studio.  After about two hours we had our pictures in hand,  Then headed out to Elk City where my sister lives.  She was doing all of the outdoor shots.  The day started of beautiful here in central Oklahoma but by the time we got to Elk City the wind was sweeping down the plains with much pleasure I believe.  It took a while but we got some really good shots.  I should have those tomorrow when my sister comes for graduation!



College Acceptance
As I said above, I picked Tabitha up from school early to take pictures.  I also felt she needed a bit of a breather.  She has been waiting to hear from college whether or not she had been accepted.  She attends a small, private school and the other two (yes, two) seniors had already heard.  This has been a little rough for her, but she had been handling it well.  We talked about her back up plans on the way to Elk City.  She had some good ones.  Well, little did we know that while we were gallivanting around Oklahoma taking pictures, her letter was being hand delivered to school.  Since she had left, they ended up mailing it.  That weekend while at church several people who would be the one who would know what the letter said asked if anything good or interesting happened during the week, to which I replied "No".  We didn't know about the letter until a little later.  We weren't told what it said, just that she had a letter.  Finally, 3:20 yesterday, we got our mail and there it was.  She's going to her college of choice!  No backup plans needed!                                        

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Olympic Day and Stereotypes

We spent today at a home school track meet in Midwest City.  I hate to make generalizations or perpetuate stereo-types, but I'm going to anyway, it was your typical home school group of people.  Now just to be fair, some of these stereotypes, we fit into.  For example, Biblical names for all of your children.  I have Tabitha, Nathanael, and Elijah.  There were actually several Elijah. and a whole host of other names.  Sarah, Leah, Rachel, Hannah for the girls.  Jacob, Caleb, Samson, all the gospel writers. So, we fit that one.  There were the girls in there long denim dresses because they don't wear pants or shorts for religious reasons.  We don't wear make up and we tend to have longer hair, but it's not usually to our waists.  We somewhat fit that one.  There were several families with 6+ children, we do not fit that one.  The one area we don't really fit in would be the lack of athletic ability.  Now, like all stereotypes, not all home schooled children lack this.  Some just haven't been exposed to it, but others really excel. 


The Duggar family-all 20 children are home schooled!

We are somewhere in the middle, leaning a little more toward the athletic side.  That is thanks to my husband.  I wish I could take credit for it, but alas, no.  I love sports and am fair to goodish at them, but he really excels at most anything he tries.  Now Elijah is still just 7 years-old and we aren't sure of his "gifts" as far as sports goes, but I'm afraid speed is not one of them.  He is my son after all and I sadly lack it as well.  He gave it his all though and did get a 5th place ribbon for the 100 yard dash.  He also had a great time and that is what I really wanted.  He didn't complain about losing even one bit.  He thought his fifth place ribbon was the greatest.  As long as he is having fun, being a good sport, and striving to do his best, that is good enough.


200 yard dash-Like his mom, he's bringing up the rear!  Sorry 'bout that buddy!

Oh, in case there was any doubt, homeschoolers are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.  I am one after all!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might...
Eccl 9:10
His memory verse from a few weeks ago.

Say Hello to My Little Friend!

We have a new pet! He is an African Pygmy Hedgehog. As of yet, still unnamed, but we are working on it. We have had them before, and in spite of their spines they make really great pets. http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/ has some good information about them. Where they come from (not just Africa) why they make great pets, and some of the more unusual habits of the hedgehog.


He will also be great to put in the garden on occasion. We will have to watch him so he doesn't escape, but they are insectivores and I think he will love it in the garden. Gardeners in Britain have known this for a long time. They often "keep" wild ones around by feeding them. This entices them to stay and they help keep the garden pest down! You get a cute pet and pest control all in one!

Here is a short excerpt from the website mentioned above:

It has been said that no other exotic animal has caught the attention of the public quite like the pet hedgehog has. Their spines, friendly and curious nature, as well as that ever-smiling expression have endeared them to millions of confessed hedgehog lovers around the globe.



Those in Britain, Europe and parts of Africa have long known about the hedgehogs’ charm. British author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter, although most famous for her story of Peter Rabbit, also wrote the wonderful tale of a hedgehog named "Mrs. Tiggy-winkle", a matronly washerwoman. A British wildlife hospital dedicated to rescuing sick and injured hedgehogs is even named after this delightful character.






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Thursday, May 13, 2010

Another Date Night

Well, we went Outback tonight.  It was nice to get out.  Another great date night thing-hitting Lowe's afterwards to get softener salt and grass seed!  See, you don't have to romantic things, just build something together.

It's late, I think I need to go to the bed.  It may just be the margarita talking though.

Monday, May 10, 2010

A Great Mother's Day

I hope every mom out there had a great day!  I did.  It wasn't spent at a nice restaurant or out doing some great ting together as a family.  What made it great was that my daughter took her little brother out to do Mother's Day shopping.  "So what?", you may be saying.  Well, she's 18 and he's 7.  He's 7 and quite a pest sometimes.  She's pretty impatient.  That doesn't usually go well together.  She took him anyway.  I think she may be beginning to realize that if she goes off to college, she won't have the time with him that she does now.  I also think he is becoming not such a pest.


Buckingham Palace

When the returned from shopping, she helped him with the gift he had gotten for me and she gave him a card to give me.  I have to say that there is almost nothing better as far as gifts go as one your young child has either made or picked out on their own.  Now gifts they pick out on their own are usually not all that useful or grand, but you know that love and thought were put into it.  This year was no exception.


Crab Piggy Bank

My card from Elijah

Tabitha's gift for me was a little more useful to me and no less thought out than the one Elijah got for me.  She knows I like to cook and that I like kitchen gadgets.  (She also like to use the gadgets she gets me!)  I'm not one of those moms, or wives that gets upset with household or practical gifts.  Yeah, I love a diamond ring as much as the next girl, but cool kitchen gadgets are just as great.  maybe next year someone will get me a dishwasher.  Not a mechanical one, I have one of those, I mean someone who will clean up after me, ooh and maybe even fold and put away the laundry.  I digress. 


Mother's Day gifts

The best gift was the time that my two kids spent together yesterday.  He was fairly good for her, she was not too gripey with him and I had a couple of hours of no one but me at the house.  It was nice.  So, I hope you had just as great of a Mother's Day!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

You Decide


So many of the people we know tell us how much our kids look like Jeff.  I for one, beg to differ.  Yes, there are definitely similarities.  How can there not be?  I mean, my aunt told us before we got married that we couldn't because we looked like brother and sister.  Some of our own sibling even resemble each other.  But I really think they look more like me than their dad.  I will give him the cheesy smile however!

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Monday, May 3, 2010

Little Girls

Well, she's not so little anymore.  As a matter of fact, in 23 days she will be graduating from high school.  I know people say it all of the time, but it really does seem like we just brought her home yesterday for the first time.  Now 21 years to the day after I graduated from high school, she will be doing the same thing.  Her life will be taking a much different path than mine.  She is awaiting to hear from college as to whether or not she's been accepted.  I was awaiting 7 p.m. the next evening because I was getting married.  We aren't sure what to plan for right now, the college she wants to go to, or the one she will settle for.  I was just planning on settling down.  Not that that really ever happened.  If you know Jeff, you know what I mean! 

21 years ago I did not see this day coming.  Now I all at once dread it and am very excited about it!  I hope to not bawl like a baby when the time comes.  She will be beautiful in her white dress and with her red roses ( I'm tearing up as I type this even, chances are not looking good for graduation night) walking down the aisle with her two, yes two, classmates. 

We had to get a new printer last night so I spent the evening scanning pictures of her from when she was little.  Digital cameras weren't availablewhen whe was little, at least not in our budget.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!