So I Was Just Thinking

...or in our case Trunk or Treat. We will be going to church tonight to participate in Trunk or Treat. For years our church and others like ours rejected the holiday of Halloween because of its pagan background. Recently (within the past 5 or more years) or church has begun offering an alternative to trick or treating by providing games inside the fellowship hall and bounce houses in the parking lot during the day. Our pastor and his "crew" came to realize that they missing out on a real opportunity to minister to the people surrounding our church and the rest of the community by doing a daytime event. This is where the beginning of Trunk or Treat came to be. So many people come to our event that we usually run out of candy. We have gathered almost double the candy this year, but expect to run out again. Last year we set up our truck for this event and had a really good time. We will be going this year but without the trunk. Caitlin wanted a special candy bag so we gathered t...

I came into my house after enjoying a pleasant fall outing with the kids and my mother. I looked at the living room and told the kids there was no way the t.v. or computer was coming on until the living room was tidy. There was lots of whining and complaining from the littlest until I told him that whatever I picked up was going in the trash even if it was treasure. Caitlin cleaned the dining/homework/craft table off then began picking up all the things her brother dropped on the floor. (Believe me you don't want to know.) I wandered over to the living room side of the room and found James still sitting there so I began picking up cars and tracks. This was followed by a scream and a little boy hurriedly picking up his toys. The other thing that James does is hide wrappers and toys and books under the two arm chairs. I told him it was his responsibility to clean up his mess. He refused so I told him the same thing as before. Only this time I said he had to decide which was trash an...

...of the science project. Caitlin and her friend have had no luck with their science project and tonight was the coup de grace . I asked Caitlin to bring her project in from outside because it was supposed to get really cold and I didn't want the sprouts to die. She did and I told her, "Put it on top of the fridge so the dog doesn't eat it." She did. Then I asked her to make her brother some hot chocolate. She did. The she went to get the milk out the fridge. That's where the crash comes in. And the aftermath. I think this project is kaput.

My house is getting set for Halloween. It actually started the process by itself yesterday. I was on my way to the car when I noticed this: Does anyone know what kind of spider it is?? (Click on the photo for a larger view.) It is way up on the roof line out of my reach. Usually when Halloween comes around I use whole pumpkins. No Jack O'Lanterns. No mess. Here is what they usually look like: This year James learned about Jack O'Lanterns and wanted to cut up the pumpkins. The problem with pumpkins is they are kind of icky inside. I am well known for not liking anything messy. Well pumpkins definitely qualify as MESSY! The things I do for my son. But the end results were worth it! James designed the traditional pumpkin. Caitlin drew the cat pumpkin. That was a hard one to do. The cat pumpkin is much larger than James' pumpkin therefor much thicker. The good thing about the larger one was it was dryer and easier to clean out than the little one which was stringy, wet and sl...

Mmmm. Juicy! Originally uploaded by MommyVictory Just thought these grapes were too pretty to pass up taking a shot of them. Just another post for Macro Monday . Stop on over there and check out everyone else's work. Happy Monday...even though it is almost over here.

*Sigh* Report cards are finished...for the most part. I have done my part and they are on my appraiser's desk waiting approval. Hopefully, he pushes them through with few comments. It was a very busy week here in Victoryland. Friday, Football Friday Night Lights for the 8th graders. Gary takes all of us to one of our last outings as a four member family. Saturday, dance practice for Caitlin's solo. Gary is still here to watch James. Thank goodness for small favors. Gary and I pack feverishly all the things he wants to have with him while he stays at the executive apartment in KC. Sunday, we say goodbye and I stay home from church. We meet mom for lunch and plan for her Tuesday departure to visit one of my dad's sisters in Connecticut. Monday, I am slated for jury duty but am exempt. I am worried that my exemption letter didn't make it there on time so I call them at 8:44 - one minute before I am supposed to be there to verify my exemption. I am cleared. There also is da...

...even when they are. This guy Blaine Hogan is something else! You have to see this and tell me that it doesn't make you smile. HAPPY FRIDAY DANCE PARTY INTERNET MASH-UP from blaine hogan on Vimeo . It all started here...Yep... even more smiles. Happy Friday Dance Party #1 from blaine hogan on Vimeo . We should all feel so free to dance like this no matter what. In the morning, I turn on my play list and make James breakfast. While he is eating I dance around the house. I wouldn't mind showing you the dancing...it's the messy house I don't want to share on the internet. :-) So tomorrow morning (or this morning if you are early morning blog reader) while waiting for your eggs to boil or your coffee/tea to brew, break out the tunes and have a little or a lotta fun. I will. PS - Please, go on over and share some love with this Blaine here or here where I found the videos.

Today is reading buddy day where my class meets with a second grade group of students to read or do other activities. I have been buddies with this class's teacher for awhile now and it has worked famously. This year is different because the ability of the class I am teaching. Her class is actually more advanced than my fourth graders. So we are always looking for something creative to do that they all can do. Today we are writing poetry. It is a fill in the blank type of thing and fun to do. It's designed to be about yourself, but I thought it would be fun to do something with a fall theme. Here is my example for the I Am poems. I AM A JACK’O’LANTERN I am round and funny. I wonder what will happen to me after Halloween. I hear werewolves howling. I see goblins running from door to door. I want to be able to run with them. I am a Jack’o’lantern I pretend that I am someone important. I feel like I could rule the world. I touch the hearts of people with my funny face. I worry th...

I usually do things just in time. It's the procrastinator in me. Been that way since 3rd or 4th grade, maybe even 2nd. Yesterday, I was the queen of procrastination and had to pay for it. My husband had this dresser(a found object): It had a nice shape, but it was definitely worse for wear. I had always had it in my mind that it should be painted. I never mentioned it because I am a starter not a finisher and I didn't want to be sans dresser. Since he was moving, however, I thought it was the perfect time to fix it up. I asked him to move it to the back yard or garage (he suffers from procrastinationitis too) and he never did, until this week when I was busy with school and such. Saturday, I finally made it to the Home Depot, but when I got home I got distracted and forgot until Sunday. It was now or never since the movers were coming the next day. I had him drag it out on the driveway and I got to work. Sorry there is no after... It was still drying and now it is on a truck to...

A BOAT CROSSING THE OCEAN

Many have accompanied me on my journey through Norway. Thanks for keeping me company. I am beginning a new journey...a manifold journey. My husband's job has relocated him starting next week to Missouri. I will be tackling "single" parenting again for the third time. We will follow him in June. I am also working on living more healthily. This will hopefully alleviate some stress from said move and single parenting. My first step is to join a website called Spark People . I think I am going to like it because it appeals to my techno side. I am also trying my hand at journaling about my journey...you will find that over here: My Life On Track. It is mostly for my personal growth, but if anyone can benefit from my trials and success, you are welcome to come along.

Well, I thought I would do this just once since I see Rieni do it every Monday. Lisa invites everyone to submit their macros via her Mr. Linky. These were taken at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls.

Today we took our third trip to Sweet Berry Farm . We love going there for strawberries in the spring and to take pictures around the pumpkins and gourds in the fall . This year we made our trip early enough to get to see everything fresh and bright and picture worthy. On the tractor ride. A rare group photo - of course my eyes had to be closed. We wandered around through the different types of pumpkins. This variety is called "Cinderella" Lumina These are actually gourds, Apple Gourds to be precise. These are called "Lunch Lady." Click to enlarge these and you will see why they are called Peanuts. The closest are called "Knuckleheads" and the gray ones are "Jarrahdale." Who knew there were so many? Taking goofy pictures is always at the top of our list. So is wandering through the different "corn" field mazes (it isn't really corn.) Trying to capture the sun through the stalks. (Picnik'ed) James got to ring the bell when they ...

I just realized how much time I waste on Facebook when I could be crafting or blogging or reading or exercising. Does that mean I am going to change? Who knows, but I thought it was time for some of my random thoughts to hit the blog page. Other than the computer, what else has been taking up my time? Let see: School started over a month ago. We are well into the swing of things. There are still some school provided programs not in place yet, but I make do with what I have. My students are sweet, generally well behaved kids. It takes many of them much longer to learn things than the kids I taught last year. I am learning how to help them. When they make certain mistakes in math, it makes my head swirl because it is so beyond me how you couldn't get it after a week of daily tutoring and a week of lessons and teacher's aide coming around to help them individually whenever they are stuck. My coworker said, "You must have asked God to give you patience." I must have. C...