Howdy,
I'm still working on how to add pictures on our different computer, so I'm going to skip working on how to add pictures (which I did the last time I was going to update but didn't totally figure it out) and just update.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!! We had a Delicious Thanksgiving Feast! We are all appropriately stuffed. :-) We really enjoyed going to our first Wed. night pre-Thanksgiving church service. We learned about the first Thanksgiving Day during David's term as King. It was very interesting. The kids had fun getting a chance to use the mike and say what they were thankful for.

Last Saturday and Sunday we celebrated my Dad's 60th Birthday!! My brother was here from North Carolina. It was soooo fun to see him and visit. Saturday night the grownups went out to eat. It was a blast to get to visit without being interrupted by wonderful children. We had a delicious meal at Russels and got to finish sentences and hear the end of everyone else's. It was wonderful to be together!

Sunday everyone met at Papa and Gramma's house and we had pizza and cake and showered Papa with some presents. The cousins got to enjoy each other's company and we left the house tired but happy. :-) Papa is still celebrating with friends and his side of the family this week. I think he will remember his 60th. Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!

The weeks have been flying by with school. We are trying to stay up to date and eventually catch up a little from our time off in October. We were just going to take one day off for Thanksgiving, but it just didn't seem fair to do school on Friday. It would make it feel not like a holiday at all. I guess if we have to do school a little later in the summer, that will be better than no day off now. .....we'll see :-) This week I met with our school consultant and we discussed the upcoming months of school. It was great to hear that things are going ok despite our break and to problem solve some missing areas. I'm looking forward to small changes and continued progress.

Yesterday we met with a family who had us over to make gingerbread houses. I was flabbergasted by the amount of work she had went through to prepare the houses. She was working on her 6th batch of gingerbread when we arrived. She had printed out patterns online and then been cutting and preparing for a couple days. Wow!! We helped mix up some frosting and then set out candies we both had. Her husband set up an extra table in their dining room and we set up all the kids at their spots. Duke and Dessert had one, Drum and Dime had one, Dot and Deer had one, her daughter had one, and her two boys had one. WOW!! All different types of houses! The kids had an absolute BLAST decorating. They all did beautiful creations. I feel so blessed by this family. We finished the evening watching some of Ken Davis' comedy acts on a DVD. We will be returning on Saturday to put the houses together. Thanks! I will do the best I can to get pictures of the finished results online.

Yesterday, we were given an enormous gift. A VAN!! It is awesome with two side doors, a CD and tape player, etc. We feel so grateful and overwhelmed by such a gift. Thanks, Dad & Mom!
Our one van died, and we were down to one vehicle. We were doing fine with one car but when Dunk goes back to work it will be soooooo great to have two again. Plus, now he has a work van if he chooses to do furnace repair work. (that is after we get it fixed up) (I hit a deer again and we went over a center curb in Princeton that put a hole in the oil pan) The deer was the third one in three years - one every fall. We were teasing that the next time I head out in the evening and the kids ask where I'm going, Dunk will say I'm going hunting. I really, really hope though, that I don't hit a deer with the new van. I'm not too proud to drive a run down vehicle. I'm just thankful for wheels. But I really enjoy the look of the new van. :-)

Dot is begging and begging to go shopping this weekend. I've told her we will see. Not that crazy about shopping with all the rush. Is cute though to see her grow-up and think about and look forward to "shopping". I don't mind. She's been a delightful teenager so far and I am so thankful for her. Well, anyways, most of the time. :-)

Well, I don't think I've blogged but instead written a mini-book! God's blessings as you prepare for His Birthday!!

News and Ramblings

Howdy! I hope everyone is enjoying the continuing colors of fall. It is amazing to me to watch the scenery change from the greens, yellows, and reds to the deepening hues of yellows, oranges and browns. I hear we are getting snow this week. My children are eagerly anticipating it. :-)

Dunk is continuing to check on jobs. We have some options but are waiting for some answers. We will update as soon as options become reality. :-)

The kids are starting preparations for the Christmas program at church. No major parts this year but Dime, Deer, and Duke will be singing in it. Dot and Drum are too old this year. Funny to say that at thier age. :-)

We are getting back into the swing of things with school. We had a session of colds in the family but everyone is coming back on the mend and looking forward to the coming week. Well, Daisy is anyway. :-)

Currently reading Apollyon by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Wow is this series fantastic. Is so interesting to hear in story form about the Tribulation period. It definitely keeps me up at night. :-) I definitely do not plan to be there!!