rrrrRRRRAAAAAAaaarrrr!

Retrospect

This post really isn't about that picture. It just happens to be the girls' portrait for this year, so I thought I'd post it. They're up the tree in our front yard, and you can't tell it from this picture, but A is scared to DEAth up there.



Anyway. It's been about 2 months since I posted, and I thought it was about time I either put something out here, or close up shop.

So, what have I been doing that I haven't been able/wanted to post for the last couple of months? Well, I/We

• recouped from a hurt back (2 weeks)
• had weekend guests
• went through the sudden death of a close friend
• had more weekend guests
• had my nephews over while my niece was born
• had a funeral
• and more weekend guests
• had another funeral
• had a visit from my dad
• did the decorating for a wedding
• and then went to the wedding
• had another visit from my dad
• had Thanksgiving with one side of the family
• had Thanksgiving on a different day with another part of the family

and homeschooled, cleaned house, used up almost every bit of our groceries, then finally go to go shopping (it took 7 hours...gaaaaaaaah), and we just enjoyed one of the first Saturday/Sundays where we didn't have one single thing going on. I wish I could have a week of days with nothing going on, where I can wear my stretchy pants and a big sweatshirt and laze around all day. It seems like the pace of our lives has increased 10-fold since the move, and I am looking forward to it slowing down for a while (though I am not guaranteed that it will!). We are planning to have a big family breakfast with my husband's family at the end of the month, so we are painting some walls, and hanging pictures, hanging curtains (funny how doing that makes a house feel like a home!), and trying to figure out from whom to borrow all the serving pieces I'm going to need for the breakfast (big on food and family).

So, that's been my life in a nutshell...and when I type it all out, it doesn't seem like much, but it sure felt like a lot and it definitely used up a lot time.

Pictures

Hey, it's a gorgeous day! What should we do?

Oh, I know - let's thrust the kids up the tree and take their yearly portrait!

Now that everybody's in the tree, could we get the picture taken please?

Panda, the camera's that way...

A's still not looking too sure about this...

but about 90 pictures later (I so like digital cameras!)....

That's great! Let's call it a day!

Now, to just get them printed off....

Rainbow Cake

Not one of the birthday girls, but enjoying a candle nonetheless.

And I forgot to mention one of the big activities we did during September. We went to the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Reveal in a nearby town. And we discovered why they cheer so enthusiastically at when the family finally arrives - it's because everyone's been standing there in the blazing sun for at least 5 hours because the reveal happened 2 hours later than the latest time they said it would happen because the director didn't like how the sun was shining on things (only we didn't find this out until we got home all scorched and lobstery) and they're cheering because they're JUST SO GLAD IT'S FINALLY OVER..! (Ask me how I know this. My skin is tan now but only on the side that was facing the sun for 5 hours.) We're looking forward to seeing if we made it on TV. :)

September in a nutshell

I'm noticing a trend on my blog. If I remember correctly, the past few years have shown that I don't blog during September. I don't know what it is about September - the start of school, the wrap up of other summer things, whatever - but I just can't seem to get it together to blog during that month.

So here I am, once again recapping all that went on in September.

We went to a concert in the park - the Writer's favorite group, downhere, was playing. I have to admit, they have really good lyrics. And it was fun. :) The park was in a town about an hour from here. We made a day of it, and even the baby had a good time (well, she never fussed, anyway!).

Our houseguests moved out. They were nice to have around, but it has been nice learning to live in this house by ourselves.

We started school. C is in 2nd/3rd grade, A is somewhere between K and 1st. Homeschooling is always interesting, especially when your "curriculum" consists of hand-me-downs and photocopies from other people, or whatever you can dredge up free online. *sigh* That, and my kids don't fall into a clear cut grade level. Half the stuff they say is for 6-year-olds is too easy for A, and it's the same for C. I am putting together my yearly list of "wants" and hopefully we'll have it all in time to finish it by the beginning of next summer.

We threw our first house party. It was a potluck and a lot of people came. I've HEARD everyone had a good time. Being hostess, I feel like I really didn't get to talk to many people, but I sincerely hope everyone went home well-fed!

We went to one, *1* homeschool co-op school session at our church. I'm trying to fit that in, but I'm not being very successful at the moment. The girls *LOVED* it, so I'm hoping we'll be able to go every week.

And then last weekend, I baked for all day Friday for the Saturday bake sale, baked all day Saturday for the baby shower we threw my sister on Sunday, and put together a beauty of a birthday cake for C & A on Monday (rainbow! 6 colors! in layers! and fully frosted and decorated!). Normally, they each get their own cake on their birthdays (C on the 4th, A on the 5th), but I was EXHAUSTED from the previous 3 days, so we worked together to create one really nice cake. And they totally love it. Thrilled to pieces with it. I thought they'd be disappointed at having to share a cake, but they couldn't be happier about it. I'm not sure they'll let me do it again next year....but at least they're happy this year!

So. We've been busy. And when my back stops killing me (who knew bending to pick up a bar of soap could result in such pain and immobility?! I'm way too young for this kind of nonsense!!), I'll crawl upstairs and upload the pictures from my computer and post a few. Maybe. I'd really like to show off that rainbow cake. :)

And we're walking...

First Piggies