Bump into Jehovah

Belle: I bet it's hard for Jehovah at the meetings....people probably bump into him a lot, because he's invisible.

Our life update

I missed relaying a few things-My mom's little brother did end up dying, fall 2013. It was sad... but he is no longer in pain, and misery. He was depressed and sad most of his whole life, ever since his father died when he was 6 years old. Neither of my uncles ever recovered from his death. So at least they are out of that misery.

On happy news, two of my siblings have married. Mark, my older brother, married Cheyenne the spring before last 2014. And just last month, my little Sister Amber, married Anthony. Both lovely inlaws to have. Anthony and Amber both graduated Law school last summer in 2014. Very proud of both of them and wish them much love and happiness the rest of their lives together. Lela and Belle were Amber's flower girls, RJ and my nephew Seamus were her ring bearers, poor Seamus fell and broke his leg though so he had to be pulled down the isle in a wagon. My sister in law Megan and I were the co-Maids of Honor, and the rest of our sisters were brides maids.

School has started this year for us. We started last week, and are into our second week. This is our first year completely on our own with homeschooling. The first three years we used a local virtual school. It was nice and offered a lot of extras, and a lot of nice free field trips. But, it was time to go out on our own. We are having a great time.

Last year, I developed my own Bible curricula for elementary school children, and a fruitage of the spirit curricula as well as a Memorial reading program. We used it all last year, and are using part two this year, the children do so well with it, and like doing it as too!

Lela is in third grade this year, doing so much, including we added in music and latin this year, and art too! Belle and RJ are doing K and PreK along with her. They are doing really really well. Belle does really well with Math, and RJ loves the counting bears.

Next week is going to be a TON of field trips, there's the State Fair, then the Zoofari with the homeschool co-op, then the Pumpkin Patch with other homeschooling Witnesses, and then a Free Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, that has a ton of free art and crafts for children to participate in.

And most exciting, a sister only a block away has began to homeschool this year. And the children are loving that, they get to see her much more often now. We also have found another witness family further away but still close enough to get together and that's been extra fun too.

I've also discovered homeschool conventions and learned so much at them! Not to mention this years Regional Convention was awesome!! Loving all the new releases.

My tomatoes wasn't too productive this year, but got a ton of chives, and lettuce, and especially mint!

No One Gonna Marry You

Belle: RJ, you have to share. Or no one is going to marry you.

Yes, I'm sure all 3 year old boys are worried about some one going to marry them. lol

Belle's Lessons....

Belle's lesson of the day... don't sit on chairs hanging on a display rack in the store...

1) display rack to the head... blood every where.

2) ER visit.

3) 72 hour concussion watch in action...

Burnt Hotdogs

Today at QT, conversation with Belle and RJ.

RJ: I want a hot dog. (they sell them in QT)

Me: No, not today.

Belle: (gets on her toy phone) Hello, yes we would like a hot dog, burned, and so hot it never cools down, cause that's the way RJ likes it.

RJ: Nooooooo, no I don't like it that way!!!

Belle: *click* sorry RJ, I already ordered it.

RJ: Noooo, no I don't want a burnt hot dog.

Belle: Sorry, she's already making it.

RJ: But, I don't want it that way!

Funniest car conversation

Today at QT, convo with Belle and RJ. 

RJ: I want a hot dog. (they sell them in QT)

Me: No, not today. 

Belle: (gets on her toy phone) Hello, yes we would like a hot dog, burned, and so hot it never cools down, cause that's the way RJ likes it. 

RJ: Nooooooo, no I don't like it that way!!!

Belle: *click* sorry RJ, I already ordered it. 

RJ: Noooo, no I don't want a burnt hot dog. 

Belle: Sorry, she's already making it. 

RJ: But, I don't want it that way!

Friday night, date night

Went to Dempsy's tonight. The burgers were aight... the truffle fries left a lot to be desired... we waited quite a while, and in my opinion they looked awesome, but were cold, and not that great. The truffle cream on the other hand was really really good as was the garlic aioli. I loved the sweet potato fries, they were actually perfection. Over all though, I'm still a bionic burger fan when it comes to fries. I must say with the amounts you got though the prices weren't bad, not bad at all. The staff though in my opinion were a little lax, hard to get their attention in such a tiny place, when we needed them. And it did seem like we waited a long time for not that many people there. I most likely will give them another chance, quite frankly the sweet potato fries are the cheapest I have ever seen and done perfectly. I do want to try the duck fat fries... hopefully they will be hot and not cold and hard like the truffle fries. And we only had the sliders, again they were fine... not the best. (bionic burgers meat is yummy! lol haha). I want to try the strawberry marmalade, see what I think, and a few of their specialty burgers or shakes.

Other then that we also hit the ice cream place in front of Dempsy's and that place was yummy! HUGE scoop of ice cream, and was really really good. I had the Bunny Tracks and it was amazing. I tried a sample of the Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream, I'm not sure if the fudge really came from there or not... but I have had Mackinac Fudge in Mackinac and to me what ever was there didn't compare to the fudge I actually had in Mackinac. Oh well the bunny tracks was amazing! The huge malt ball on top, was also a nice touch and yummy! However, so far the best ice cream I have had around here was at the Cocoa Dolce, that ice cream is HUMONGOUS took me like a hour (not even joking) to finish my one scoop from them. It was melting all over the place, and I was trying to give it away! For sure one scoop is a sharing scoop from them! lol And I'm kind of hooked on Rockin' Rico's mudslide snow balls right now too!

Mediterranean Delight

Tried Tahini's tonight in Delano. Loved it! Best gyro meat we've ever had. You don't get as much as Le Monde's. But, it is super moist and very very yummy! The hummus was really good. The baba ganoush fresher then any where else. (although I'll admit I do like Le Monde's baba ganoush the very best). Vince really liked the roasted potatoes. I want to try the soup and salad next. And they were great about giving samples of things before ordering as well. After our dining disaster at Meddy's last year, I was very happy with Tahini's. Unlike Meddy's the workers knew about all the food they served and were eager to help you make a selection and give you generous samples too.

I also tried the dessert, it was good, but the only thing I probably will not order again, Zaytun makes the same thing much better. quite honestly it's hard to beat Zaytun on any dessert though. :) I like Kabab's desserts but again Zaytun has it down. The other Mediterranean places severely lack in their dessert dept, especially Le Monde's store bought desserts. But, their biscuits make up for it! lol ;) But, any who, Zaytun makes a Kunafa that is sooo creamy it's like something between eating french toast and creme brulee. Tahini's Kunafa was a little over cooked, and lacked in the creaminess after having Zaytun's heavenly take on it.

Case of Sumac

So 12 pints strawberry jam, 1 pint mulberry jam, and one case of poison sumac! Might be done for the year. lol

Everyone loves Kitty Cats!

Belle: Mama can we have some kitty cats?

Me: *slightly concerned cause I could tell in her voice she was inferring to eat* erm, um, what...um do you mean?

 Belle: you, know, kitty cats... chocolate?

Me:*oooooh, she means kit kats!!!!* uh, no...

Planting, planting, and more planting

My hands feel like they are going to fall off.... planting only half of all the clearance plants, flowers, and veggies, I bought....I need a rototiller!

Rocket Doll

Heard in my house today-

Belle: Lela, help me find my barbie's head.

Lela: If you wouldn't play rocket doll with your barbie, we wouldn't have to find your dolls head.

Belle: You play rocket doll too!!!

Lela: Yeah but I don't throw them as hard as you.

Um... yeah such delicate flowers I am raising.....

Favorite Bible Character

The children's part on their favorite Bible Character, on youtube!

Favorite Bible Character