Christmas Festivities this week

Last night we went up to Mom's ward christmas Party. They had a potluck dinner and then Kareoke. The kids and I sang "The Chimpmunk Song". They had a nativity program and then Santa showed up. Noah of coarse went and gave him his wish list. The girls at first were gung-ho but then chickend out. Then Amelia was standing with me holding 2 cookies in her hand. She had licked on one and taken a bite out of the other but decided that Santa needed a cookie so she hopped up on stage before I knew it and walked over and gave him a cookie and hopped right back down. That was as close as she wanted to get. Then as I was packing up our stuff to get ready to go home I turned around and She was up on his lap. I scrambled for my camera and got a good picture. Apparently she found some courage when no one was looking. Eve still was not going to be coersed into going. She likes santa from a distance. Ashley my sister sang a great version of "Rockin around the Christmas Tree" so there are some pics of her too. It was nice to see some familar friends and visit. We got home around 10 o'clock and all fell asleep in about 5 seconds.

















This was our Trip to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens' Galaxy of Lights. We did it for FHE. We really enjoyed the ride and time together. The kids LOVED the lights. We did have to pull off the driving "trail" and find a restroom for Eve. After that everyone else had to go so we had the potty break and then finished the drive through all the lights. Ethan got cranky by the end. It had been a long day. That was the same day of Noah's stitches. We will probably make this a family tradition. Going to see the lights that is...not Noah's lip escapade. : )Noah Also had a little Christmas program at school This past Thursday morning. Chris, Me and kids all went down to listen to the sing a long. It only lasted about 30 minutes but was cute.

Dec. 1st 2008 Amelia's Birthday

Amelia's 3rd Birthday started off with Decorations on her bedroom door. Chris put them up after he got home from work. Problem was She was asleep in my room so she didn't even come out of her own bedroom door to see them. But she noticed them later and they enjoyed walking through the streamers in the door way all day. Eve and Mia helped me make the cup cakes. I opted for cup cakes since we were having friends over for cake and ice cream. They always love to help me cook stuff and they got to lick the beaters too. Eve and Mia's friends Jayson and Shannon (and Parents) came over about 6 o'clock and we had cake and ice cream and opened presents. Amelia LOVED her chalkboard easle. Everyone had fun drawing on it. They all played with balloons and had fun and us adults visited. It was a nice evening. We love Amelia and are thankful she has been in our family for 3 whole years.

Noah's PE accident

As some of you know, Noah had an accident in PE at school this past Monday. He collided with another kid and busted his top lip. The school nurse called and said it was more than a cut and we needed to come and get him. Chris went and picked him up and took one look at in and said "yep, you need stitches" To which Noah started to cry. Up to this point he had not cried over the injury. We call my doctor and she worked him in as her last patient. He did really good. We tried to prepare him and warn him about the "numbing part". That that would actually hurt more than getting the stitches. He did cry while they stuck him with the needle 3 times and we had to hold him still. But after that he was great. The below pictures don't do it justice. It really was nasty looking, especially on the inside. And of coarse me being the morbid mother that I am I wanted to take pictures of it.

Surprise Party

We had a wonderful weekend surprising mom with a 50th Birthday Party. Holly, Aunt Peggy, and Grandma all were able to come into town and celebrate with us. We had a great time with great food and guests. Mom enjoyed it very much!!

Row Row Row your Boat

Just thought I would share a funny that Eve did last night. Heidi was here and Eve started singing

Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream...
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is down the drain.

Heidi and I busted up laughing. I still chuckly when I start thinking about it. It was sooo funny. We told her the correct words and she would repeat it back to us, but when she went on singing again by her self, she would say "life is down the drain." Poor kid, I hope that's not what she really thinks about life.

HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU?!?!

Last week we had to replace our washing machine. I went into the laundry room and there was water coming out from under the machine. So I went looking and found a used appliance store in Winchester,Tn where my parents live. I was able to get a used washer for $150. The one that just broke was used when we bought it 10 years ago and we paid $75. I thought with inflation and hopefully another 10 years of servic that 150 was a good deal. So we didn't do laundry for about a day and a half plus we had all the towels and anything else I could grab to clean up the flooded laundry room added to mounting laundry pile. A few days later I received our water bill in the mail which was double what is normally is so we knew we had a leak. I ended up digging up the back yard and found the culprit pipe that had been flooding the yard and $ 5 later it was fixed. But again the water was turned off to the house for a day and no laundry got done. The results are the above photo. They are all clean and I'm just about caught up. But I HATE folding clothes. Chris is usually my folder, but I don't think this pile can wait for him. I will have to bite the bullet and put on a good movie tonight and get to folding. It is amazing how quickly laundry piles up for a family of 6. I hope there is no laundry in the eternaties.

Family Fun Night (aka Trunk-or-Treat)

Here are some pictures of our Ward Fun Night. It was your typical trunk-or-treat. First we all ate dinner. They had some hot yummy soup and sadwiches. There were some outside activities and races for the kids then some inside crafts then the awaited trunk or treating. I decided I would spend just as much on BIG BAGS of candy as I would on some boxex Capri sun juices so I got those and some boxed rasins. I tried to do healthy instead of junk. It was hectic. But the kids had fun. It is definately not an adult activity, because all the adults do is run around making sure their kids are safe and not going crazy. Chris stayed home with Ethan.

Elders Quorum Skeet Shoot Activity

The 3rd year running, our Ward has had this EQ skeet shoot and cook out. What better fun can you have in the south than shooting your shot guns and grillin out!!! I didn't get any pictures of everyone shooting but there were a bunch. I did shoot 6 times and hit once. Chris didn't shoot any. We didn't bring any ammo so we didn't want to waste anyone elses. The kids had a BALL running around in the great out doors. Noah found another friend there that was about his age. (there were other non members that were co-workers from the host family) He had a great time running around and going down the river with his new friend. The girls had fun with the yard games. One game inparticular had a string with golf balls on either end. You stand back from this 3 rung frame and try to have the string catch on one of the rungs for points. Kind of a kids version of horse shoes. Amelia eventually just wanted to play with the balls and one of the pictures is of her with this big tangled mess of balls. She even had them stuffed down her shirt at one point. She really had fun with those balls. Chris played some volley ball. We ate yummy grilled chicken and bratts and headed home when it got dark. It was breezy and cool. A perfect family day.

Stand up for what's right!!

The following was from a friends Blog. Instead of trying to explain all about this I just pasted it to my blog. THIS MAKES ME SOOO MAD AND DISGUSTED. Parents Please beaware!!! You NEED to be involved and KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR CHILD'S CLASS ROOM.

My sister in Utah just went in and talked with her sons 6th grade teacher about a book that was being read and the teacher literally was stunned that she came in to talk about what the child was being taught at school. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A PARENT HAD QUESTIONED ANY MATERIAL AND WENT TO THE TEACHER ABOUT IT. To me that says none of the parents care or are checking. They think all is well. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS AND THE EVIL POWERS THAT BE ARE AFTER OUR CHILDREN.


(This book " KING AND KING" was read to a 2nd grader at school in Massachusetts.

Children's book portraying homosexual romance and marriage --
read to second-grade class by teacher.
At Estabrook Elementary School, Lexington, MA, March 24, 2006. The teacher had chosen the day's theme as "weddings" -- and this is the book she decided to read to the class. This book continues to be placed in elementary classrooms in Lexington and in others around the state.

"King and King" was read to second graders -- without any parental notification. As you can see, it's clearly written to normalize homosexual romance and "marriage" in the minds of very young children.

The Queen brought in several princesses from various places. The prince, of course, didn't like any of them. Then one princess brings her brother along. The book describes the prince's reaction to her brother: "At last, the prince felt a stir in his heart. It was love at first sight."

A few pages later the two princes are shown holding hands a their 'wedding'.

The book goes on to describe how they're not not just princes, but 'King and King."
Most upsetting to me, the last page shows a male-to-male kiss. Who cares there is a heart...EEWW! The message for kids here is pretty clear. . .


This book is published by Tricycle Press in San Francisco -- the same company that publishes "Who's in a Family", (click on title to learn more about this book and 2 others) the book about homosexual parents given to children in kindergarten!!
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is reproduced for non-profit educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

A friend emailed these links to me and I thought they were worth sharing...
The first link talks about the incident in Massachusetts.
Number 4 is from the UK urging the US not the make the same mistake they made.
1. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1352578267/bctid1784521903
2.http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1784553601
3.http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1784521903
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx-glEL5SHE


http://standformarriage.com/


So you can't pray or discuss religion in school but you can teach young children that homosexuality is ok WITHOUT parental consent! Shoot, they send a note home when they teach girls about menstruation and that IS natural. I feel religion and homosexuality are close enough topics to be left to the parents to teach - keep it out of schools!! Satan sure is a tricky fellow.)))

I will be checking Noah's school Library to see if they have it.

My 8 Things

8 Things I am Passionate About
1. My Testimony and keeping it strong
2. Chris
3. My Children
4. My Family (mom, dad, siblings)
5. music
6. Teaching the gospel to my children
7. Scrap booking
8.Gardening/Canning/Food storage

8 Things I want to do before I die
1. Visit the Sacred Grove in NY
2. Attend General Conference in SLC, UTAH
3. Go to the Holy Land, Greece, and Ireland
4. Go on a Cruise with Chris
5. Go see the Giant Redwood Trees in California
6. Take my family on a real family vacation
7. Fit back into size 12
8. Go back to college

8 Things I Say Often
1. Sit down and put your seat belt back on.
2. I love you.
3. Don't run in the house.
4. Do you want to stand in the corner?
5. How was your day?
6. You're so cute!
7. I need a Diet Coke.
8. Hello

8 Things that Attract me to a Friend
1. A Love for family and God
2. Honesty and Integrity
3. Similar Interests
4. Willing to give to the Friendship (not just one sided)
5. Sense of Humor
6. Can be spontaneous
7. Supportive
8. Easy to talk to and good listener

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over
1. I'm going Home (chris Daughtry)
2. Forever Young (Alphaville...it's "our song")
3. My kids singing (anything and everything)
4. Live Like You were Dying (Tim McGraw...I like the message)
5. I Believe in Christ (I could put many more hymns here also)
6. In the meantime (from the "women of Destiny 2 cd)
7. Joseph a Nashville Tribute to the prophet (the whole cd)
8. Trek a Nashville Tribute to the pioneers (the whole cd)

8 Things I've learned this Year
1.How to motivate,teach and talk to Noah better.
2. 2 kids in diapers at the same time is expensive
3. Potty training one of those kids is extremely gratifying
4. How to make applesauce and pear sauce
5. How to can jalapeno peppers
6. My new calling as RS 2nd councilor over Enrichment
7. A matter of a few degrees does make all the difference in the end.
8. Faith is better than Fear

8 Random Things About Me
1. I like talk radio
2. I teach piano lessons
3. I sang professionally for a short time (well almost professionally)
4. I like HGTV
5. I have 9 brothers and sisters
6. I make really really good home made bread
7. My favorite color is RED
8. I like American Idol

A Flower Among Weeds

I have to tell you about the picture for my new header that I took today. First off let me start by saying that our lawnmower has been broken and in the fix it shop for almost 2 weeks. (I called on it today and they said there were still 8 people in front of ours and will maybe be done Tuesday.) Yesterday morning or maybe it was Wednesday I looked out my kitchen window that is over my sink and out of the tall, tall grass was standing this lone flower. I've never seen any of these flowers in my yard before. I guess we've kept it cut often enough that it never showed up. But I thought it very profound to see this beautiful flower in the midst of all the weeds and couldn't resist the photo. I likened it to us and how we must be the flowers in the weeds sometimes. If our house is dirty and cluttered, kids with there grimmy hands and runny noses we need to take time to be the flower among the weeds. If we are out in the world with it's corruptions and vices we need to be the flower among the weeds. People will be drawn to us just as my eye was drawn to the flower instead of my knee high grass. The girls discovered it today and came running into the house. "mommy, mommy, come see the flower" Of coarse I knew it was there already but I let them ejoy the discovery and sharing it with me. I got some really pretty pictures of them too.

What we"ve Been Up to Lately

Yes, It is me. I know you all must be shocked that I'm actually updating my blog. Actually, no one will probably see this since it's been so long and you have all given up on checking here for any new info. I'm sorry for the delay. Time just seems to slip through my fingers and when I have a few minutes to my self to sit at the computer it is bed time and I'm to tired to mess with it. But today I had a Diet Coke and so am caffinated and still able to keep going. Noah had his Birthday on Sept. 12. He is 9 already. Where did my baby go. He is now on his way to becoming a young man now. We spent the night at Grandma Argo's (all except Chris)
We I made the cake and brought Ice cream for after dinner. The Aunties all got him a few goodies and the cake was yummy. Chocolate chocolate. Who wouldn't love that right.
On Saturday we hung out at the house and Mom and I hit some yard sales and did some running around in town. That evening I took the kids with all the Aunties (my sisters) and went to the Franklin County Fair. My kids had a blast on the rides and us big girls sang in a Franklin County's got Talent Contest. Heidi and I sang in the over 17 category and Emily and Ashley sang in the Jr's. Ashely took 3rd place and Heidi and I took 3rd place.
We each won $50 bucks. Of coarse Heidi and split it and $25 was exactly how much I had paid for the ride tickets for the kids. So I ended up breaking even. Not a bad Free night out with the kids. It was after 10 though by the time I got back to the Argo's to get Ethan and load up our remaining things.
Then on Sunday I turned my head and I felt like I was falling and never coming to a stop. The whole world was spinning and I was sick to my stomach from motion sickness. I was bothered by it all night. Chris took me to the Doctor on Monday (this past) and diagnosed me with VERTIGO brought on by a virus. By Thursday though my sinuses were so impacted and was having pressure behind my eyes and on my ears that I called back to the Doctors and they got me an antibiotic. I'm doing much better. I just cant bend over or sit or stand up to quickly or my head gets all swishy. Well, that pretty much brings you up to day from here. Enjoy the photos.

Noah's First day of 3rd Grade

School is back in session!!!! Noah started 3rd grade this year!! He is in Mrs. Holders Class at Highland Rim Elementry. So far so good. He just completed his first full week of classes. He also is a Bus rider this year. That has really been a help. Except the 2nd day he missed the morning bus, so we are still working on our timing in the mornings to get him down around the corner to the bus stop on time. Here are some pictures of his first day.