Sweet Sixteen

When I turned 16 we went on a family picnic.

I loved it.

Do you remember your 16th birthday

and what you did to celebrate?

 Turning 16 is now considered a highly monumental birthday
and as such it is usually celebrated in some type of unique way. 
Is it that way where you live? 

It seems to me this is something "new"
with this generation of teens - especially with girls.

Princess will turn 16 during Thanksgiving week.

We are having her party Dec. 4.

Her "party" IS her birthday gift.

We are having a "Crazy Dinner".
Afterwards the kids will be picked up
by a Hummer Limo
and taken to look at Christmas Lights.
They'll come back here for birthday cake.
Party over.

Have you every been to a "Crazy Dinner"?

I've been to several and they have ALL
been great fun.
Here's how it goes -

The guests are seated at the table and given a menu.
The menu makes no sense at all.
They are told to "order" their menu courses
by marking on the menu.
Husband and I will be their waiters.

CRAZY MENU
1.  Eve's Revenge
2.  Kiss
3.  Fool's Gold
4.  Pillow
5.  Roadway
6.  Ouchy Wah Wah!
7.  Sesame Street Fame
8.  Ski Slope
9.  Pirate's Friend
10. Ski Pole
11. Sweetheart's Delight
12. Two fer' One
13. "L 7"
14. Pardner's Home
15. Koala Bear
16. Hot Air.

How would you divide your meal into 4 courses?
What would you choose? (4 items for each course)
The courses are served invidually.
You are served.  You eat.
Those items are removed, then you are served
the next course, and so on.

How did you do with your ordering?

Here's the code for the menu:

1.   Eve's Revenge (applesauce)
2.   Kiss (spoon)
3.   Fool's Gold  (corn)
4.   Pillow  (dinner roll w/butter)
5.   Roadway (fork)
6.   Ouchy Wah Wah!  (mashed potatoes)
7.   Sesame Street Fame (fried chicken)
8.   Ski Slope  (ice cream)
9.   Pirate's Friend  (knife)
10.  Ski Pole (toothpick)
11.  Sweetheart's Delight  (dinner mints)
12.  Two fer' One (mac & cheese)
13. "L 7"  (napkin)
14.  Pardner's Home (salad w/Ranch dressing)
15.  Koala Bear  (Coke)
16.  Hot Air  (straw)

Sometimes people have to eat corn with a toothpick.
Sometimes they are served ice cream first,
alongside the mac & cheese.
It turns out quite CRAZY & funny!

The good news is the Hummer we've arranged
for only seats 9 people - Princess and 8 guests.
We figure 9 people are probably all the
diners husband and I will be able to serve
adequately.

I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm always looking for party ideas
so wanted to share this with you.

Homeschool. This is how we roll.

When people hear that we "Homeschool" they usually have lots of questions.
I get that.  We had lots of questions before we began, too.
Heck, we STILL have lots of questions, as this is our first year to do this.
Princess is a 15 yr old Sophomore who LOVES being homeschooled.

This is how a typical M-F day goes at our house.

Princess begins class no later than 9:00 am.
Uniform code is usually pajamas.

This is our School Hutch.
This is where all the supplies, ie
books, assignments, microscope, pens/pencils
are stored. 
I write her assignments out (at least a month)
in advance.  Each day she looks into her Folder and
finds her assignments.

When she has finished her work (usually around 1:00)
she is to clear the study area
placing all books & such back into
the school hutch.  Finished work is placed under
the paper weight and left at the end of the table.
At some point in the evening I grade her work
and discuss it if necessary.

Princess is only taking 5 subjects this year,
as we are just "learning" how to do this.
(Biology, Algebra 2, Spanish 2, Us History,
English 2)  Next year she will take
7 classes since we are short one class this year.
Her school day will be longer then.

That's it for us.
Is this what you expected from a "homeschooled" day?
Got Questions?  Opinions?

If you homeschool I would love to know what a typical
day is for you and yours.

Ouchy-Wah-Wah!

Look what we allowed.

Youngest DD has been wanting a "nose stud"
and my husband & I finally gave her the OK.
She is 15 (16 in Nov).

Would you allow this?

Please come back to visit me.

I have been AWOL.
Please forgive me and come back
to visit sometime.
Midst all the busy-ness I had
decided to forego my Blog.
But, no-can-do,
I miss you too much.
So please give me another chance.
Pretty please.
I crave   need my Followers
and I miss you terribly.

I've been away on my annual
Girl's Get-a-way Trip.
This year we went to Captiva Island, Fl.
Here are some of my fav take-away memories -

The molestation of John Wayne.

Teeny Tiny size 2 (we hate her) wants to eat
the biggest burger on the menu.

The restaurant was on Periwinkle Street.

You just had to "be there" to truly
enjoy this moment.

Lush!

I'd like to say I PARASAILED!
but actually it was two others in our group.

Pajama Party.



Even a little bit of time for R & R.

I am 61 years old and my advice to you is

"Never Stop Being Silly"

Find time to laugh.

Cultivate friendships.
Do it today.

All these friends are friends I have made online.
Amazing!

Today's the DAY!!

Today's the day!
I've got my plane ticket in hand.
And even though I woke up with a swollen,
MEGA ITCHY EYE
AND
even though my trusted beautician scalped  me gave me a
"less than perfect" haircut yesterday
I am packed and good-to-go.

Once a year I meet up with a group of wonderful,
fun-loving, silly, girlfriends

that I met online 6 years ago
through iVillage.

This year there will be 11 of us.
We come from Louisiana, Texas, Delaware,
Georgia, South Dakota, California, and Illinois.



We're headed to a Florida Beach for a week
of "15-yr-old-slumber-party-fun".
Woo Hoo!
(in the past we have met in:
Chicago, Minesotta (Malls of America)
Savannah, GA and San Antonio, TX)


I'll see you soon
Carolyn, Shari, Melissa, Donna,
Daisy, Ellen, Jocelyn, Kathy
Pam, and Shirley.

I'm just sayin'. . .
You  never know where and when
you're gonna make a great friend.
And.YES.I.will.return.with photos.

Maybe someday some of we Bloggers
will meet face-to-face.
Wouldn't that be fun?

I'm all "words"

I haven't Blogged in quite a while.
You have missed me,
haven't you?  LOL

I' d like to say I've been soooo busy with homeschooling
that my time has been sucked dry...

OR
 that with all the teenage drama
in our house I simply have no blogging breath
left in this tired Mom's body. . .
BUT
the truth is -

I GOT THIS
for my birthday (mid august)



and
I CAN'T STOP PLAYING
THIS GAME.

I think my family is planning
an intervention.

Prejudice?

Got any prejudicial blood
in "them thar" veins?

Are you equally drawn to a slim person as to one who is over-weight?

Got any really good friends who are a different color than you are?

Whom would you choose to hang out with?  A cute, young woman who was a bit on the boring side...
                       OR
an older woman who was funny and interesting.

When going to a movie would you be as inclined to invite a friend who is in a wheelchair as to a friend who is not in a wheelchair?

Do you prefer that your friends have the same religious beliefs as you do?
Could you be an equally good friend with
An Atheist?
A Muslim?
A Baptist?

Do most of your friends have the same amount of education?

Got any friends who have a lot MORE money or a lot LESS money than you?

It seems to me that we are all drawn to people who are much like we are.
"Same drawn to same".
I'm not sure why it is.
Maybe is has something to do with
our personal "Comfort Zone".
Perhaps it's simply a matter of convenience.
Is it possible it has absolutely nothing
to do with being prejudice? Or does it?

What do you think?

No need for any embarassement
as I accept anonymous comments too.

Do you trust this chick?

Is this chick to be trusted?

Are you still eating these?
Just askin'.

EGG RECALL LIST

Bouxdy got mail!

Boudxy got mail!
Grandma (in Okla) sent him a "care package"
full of treats & toys.
He loved all the loot
and we all had a good laugh
at his silly behavior as he nosed
through the package.

Look at my "find"!

I found this pretty little chest/armoirre at the Goodwill
in Tulsa!  $50 bucks and it was mine!
(our dining room is not LEMON yellow -
don't know why it photographs that way)

I had actually planned to paint it black

then give it a light sanding on the edges. . .

(I love that finish)

However,

after a little of this,

I decided it should

keep it's original wood tone.

Sooooo, I don't get to show you my

crafty refinishing skills...

but I do get to tell you how
happy I am
that all our homeschool books/papers are hidden

away in my "find".

Yes.I.Am.

This is on a shirt a Friend gave me for my Birthday.
It pretty much says it all.
Perhaps I should update my profile to say this. 
Ya think?

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes
you posted for me.  I've been smiling for 24 hours
straight - my husband is beginning to wonder
what I've been up to. 

"Yaw'll are the Best"!
(said with my best Southern twang )

Today is MY BIRTHDAY!

"TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY"

Today, as I lick cake frosting from my upper lip

I'm thinking about my Mom.

She was 20 when I was born; Dad was 29.

They lived in a tiny 3rd story apartment

which had no a/c (no one did in those times).

Mom says they had one tiny fan,

the size of a dinner plate.

Can you imagine?

There she was, pregnant through

the HEAT of an Oklahoma summer,

living with one tiny fan.
(Can we even imagine the heat

of a 3rd story apt with no a/c????)

Then there was me.

Mom said she would set the fan to blow
over a block of ice, pointed directly at
me.  I received what cool (?) air was
to be found, along with all the love
as she and Dad nurtured their first born.

God bless you Mom.
You were "tough stuff", and still are.
Thanks for all the sacrifices you have
made for me through the years.

"I love you!"
And I appreciate you more
with each passing year.

Those were the days my friend,

We visited family in Tulsa this weekend.

These are our 3 granddolls and our youngest daughter.

I loved seeing them together doin' what girls do.

Lots of giggling, laughing and loud music.

Do you remember your Slumber Party days?
Dancing to the music in shortie pajamas. . .
Hearing the latest gossip. . .
Complaining about teachers. . .
Eating French Onion Dip w/Chips and
drinking Dr. Pepper with a lemon slice. . .

Got special Slumber Party memories of your own?

I just had to ask. . .

Do you shop online?

I love an occasional shopping day with a friend.
BUT, I've noticed lately, when there is something
I want and I really want to compare prices
I head for the computer.



And then there's the thrill of finding that UPS
box on my front porch.
Love that!




Last week I received a set of sheets I had
ordered from Overstock.com.
Great deal and Great product.





This week I ordered bras,
which I can only find online,
as I am allergic to certain fabrics.
YES.  It was difficult taking this
self photo, but I managed.
This is my Blog so I can exagerate/lie
if I want to.



Hubby has ordered a microscope needed
for homeschooling daughter.

Times.
They are a changing.

I'm just curious and wondering if you are
seeing a change in your shopping habits.
Please fill out the nifty little Poll above this post
and we'll see what the tally is.
And you know I love your comments too!!

I had a Dream

"On my honor I do pledge that what you

are about to read is the truth, the whole

truth, and nothing but the truth".

I had a dream last night.

It went like this -

I was with a group of friends discussing

what we usually ate for lunch. 

I admitted to "not always making wise food choices".

They were shocked and said they only

ate salads or fruit dipped into yogurt...

Even in my dream I felt the squeeze of
clothes that have recently become tight

ashamed. . .

I vowed right then that I would begin to

take a dance class to rid myself of some

unwanted poundage.  Then I began to

fret about having to squeeze into dance

clothes for the class.

Next I was in a dressing room squeezing,

huffing & puffing, trying to force

my body into said dance clothes.  Finally

I got the nerve to waddle into the classroom where my peers awaited

They began to laugh and point,  making fun of me.

"What?", I asked.

"What is it?"

They pointed to my feet which

were squeezed into dance shoes.

I was wearing short ankle hose

with the shoes.

AND

stuffed inside the ankle hose

surrounding my ankles were

SLICED PEACHES!!

*That's my dream!*

You KNOW I couldn't make this stuff up.

So Doctor,
what do you make of my dream??

Sh! Don't Ask. Don't Tell.

I had totally no expectations when
we went to see this movie.
There were four of us,
a 15 yr old and 3 adults;
I thought it would be suitable
viewing for the different ages.
It was.
It was also a very good movie.

"Don't ask.  Don't tell."
That's the best way to see this movie.
The least you know about it
the more you will enjoy watching
it unfold.
Trust me on this one.

This is a good movie for
ages 8 and older, IMO.