Today I turn 44.  I’ve had a blessed life.  I was adopted and have a wonderful family.  I met my birth mom and dad about 5 years ago.  That has been so rich.  Both are Christians and wonderful people.  I have lots of family now. 
Family is cool, don’t you think?

My really cool husband is giving me a weekend away for my birthday.  I’m going to visit my mom and sister for the weekend.

Well it’s that time of year again at our house.  Our youngest son is playing flag football this year.  Look at this move.

And those of you who know about Fred the rather large cat.  Here are a few more photos of his rather large self.

or I guess you could call it Wordless Wednesday but I really don’t participate enough to call it that.  But since I’ve not much to say and a ton to do today here’s my big guy shooting hoops.  A sport he had sworn off until just this year.  Before now it’s been football or bust!

Now off to do a whole week of Bible Study which I haven’t touched since last week.  UGH

But first rats, rats and double rats.
I just deleted my post. 
UGH!
I just HATE IT when that happens.

Sometimes I wonder if what I’d had to say just wasn’t what God wanted you to hear.
Hmmmmm…..

Anywho…..

Saturday was spent exploring while Sunday was spent in the yard.  So here are some pictures from Saturday.  We ended up at a local park and big fields just lend themselves to football in our family.  Before long a pick-up game was in full swing.

Forever the coach…

Wonder what he’s thinking?
Dirty feet, green grass, sunshine on your head…..how does life get any better??

We love fashion in our house (not!).  My poor sister and nieces have to dress me.
Here’s a perfect example.  Flower flipflops, red velvet and leopard print pants!  Yea baby!!

One from Sunday…
Baby girl sharing a swing with her friend who spent the day with us.

And one from my photographer son!…..
Good job buddy.

This weekend we were blessed with 70 degree weather.  It was so nice to be outside just sitting in my chair watching the kids play.  That was, until my husband got these out….

(look those calves!)

Then a round of yard work ensued!  And I have the blisters to prove it.  Rocket Man kept telling me to put on gloves but they never work for me. 

I admit it was fun working beside him as the kids played and enjoyed the day.  We got some of the leaves that hide under the bushes all winter long dug out, some bushes trimmed and part of the leaves in the back yard up.  We live on a wooded lot so we have more leaves than we know what to do with every fall.

The kids made up all kinds of games on the skateboards.  Racing and riding on their rear ends,
Here’s one of my favorites from the day…
See those scabs on #3 son’s face?  That’s from flying down the driveway in a wagon this weekend!  Our kids are quite the dare devils!

And one of our oldest flying down the driveway…

And another…..

And another….
Here’s another of my favorites……there is something about the flip side of things….

Here’s one from the day the wagon accident happened…

And one of my "model worthy" son…

Or what about this pose??

I’ve got a lot more pictures to post tomorrow so "ta-ta" for now!

Sherie!

Feb. 2, 2009 – Frames

Posted by Florida5 (71.180.189.123)

I love the idea! I have never seen these before. My living room sure could use them. I have been looking for something to put above the tv. This might be the answer! Thanks for letting me enter the contest. I happened across your website when I was looking at "Lessons learned on the Farm". 🙂 Sherie

Congratulations Sherie!  Shoot me an email (julie.stew@yahoo.com) and I’ll notify the guys at Photojojo and let you know when to expect your frames!

We were hoping for just a little snow with the cold weather and the moisture heading towards upstate SC but alas…..NONE.  It’s so disappointing for the kids (and me). 
We’re visiting a homeschool group today called Classical Conversations.  Then off to Spanish and a DR appt.  Fun day, huh?  Did I mention it’s 30 degrees out?  COLD. 

I know, Janet, it’s like 20 below in WI!
How do people live there??

Have great day before humpday.
Back to school as normal here tomorrow.

The New Year brings two things for us. 
The New Year and my husband’s birthday.  He’s a New Year’s baby.  Our oldest son is a Christmas Baby and our second born missed Valentine’s Day by just hours! 

Last night I promised my son that we’d get into his YUCK canister.  I found this at Hobby Lobby and would recommend it to anyone.  What fun.  Last night we made YUCK (just one of the things you can do with it). 

We started by dumping a very small package of polymer crystals into this jar and adding warm water.  It was amazing to watch the crystals grow to over 150 times their weight within an hour.  (This is the stuff in disposable diapers are made of.)

By nine o’clock last night we had a jar full of these!  Mushy, gushy, slimy glory!  The kids loved it.  As we read about polymer not only did we find out that they are simple strands of molecules that expand when you add water but we also found out that drought-ridden countries are using them to mix in the soil to water crops.  Cool, huh??

On other notes, I’ve been playing with my latest toy……

A gift from my hubbie!
Sweet,huh? 
No more photo processing on my laptop.

Have a great day ya’ll!
IN HIM,

We arrived safely home today after visiting my mom and dad, my birth mom (yep, I was adopted) my step brother and sister.  It was a wonderful experience of gaining two brand new families when I found my birth parents.  My birth mom’s name is Janet and I have a sister Jill and a brother Jeff.  And my mom named me Julie!  It kinda trips me out that we are all four J’s. 

Do you pray for this power?…

               The next time you are tempted by the thought that the power you need is just not there, think of the creation and the power of God manifested in it…in the stars, in the lightning, in the earthquakes, in the hurricanes, in the tornadoes…and remember that that power, expecially the power of Christ raised from the dead, is God’s power for you to draw on to overcome the sin that remains.  

-Mark D. Futato

Creation: A Witness of the Wonder of God, 37.

Isn’t that wonderful?  Wow, talk about blown away with the power of the one who owns me, loves me and calls me his girl.
There was also listed on the website a link to the HUBBLESITE.
It’s amazing.  So take some time to go explore.
It’ll be worth your time!
Rest in Him today,

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!
…….from our clan to yours

The nasty stomach bug visited 2 days ago as baby girl woke me up around 5am saying her stomach hurt.  By 7am she was carrying around a trashcan where ever she went.  She felt bad when her tummy hurt and wouldn’t eat but in between she was almost her normal self.  It all ended around 3pm and she was sleeping soundly by 5pm.  We sat in the den together for a long time that afternoon and she fell asleep in my lap for the first time in a very long time.  Oh, to have a baby again!!!  Anyone have one they want me to babysit for a couple months?  As she began to feel better I snapped a couple of photos of her lying on the ottoman.  I love the afternoon light in that window.

Here she’s explaining to me where her "birus" is.  That’s the four year old pronunciation for virus.
I’m so glad her "birus" is gone. 
Wishing you a warm and cozy weekend.