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Ishmaelism

Ishmael was telling some of his friends how much he likes broccoli. It's his favorite vegetable.

"I like to smoke my broccoli in a pot."

Steam, smoke...it's all the same right?

Keeping it Real

Kelsea doesn't think it's fair that I posted all those pics and didn't post any of myself. She took quite a few of me.

So, here I am. In all my stinky, been sitting in the rain, didn't have access to a shower...or a mirror, glory.

The Homestead Hoedown

It was wet and cold. But oh man! We had a blast!

This was the boys first camping experience. They enjoyed every minute of it.



Cub Scout City:



Our friend Mr. Pyle and Mr. Lugo conspired to wish someone special a happy birthday. They sang to her at breakfast. In front of everyone. She was so thrilled...



It rained almost all of Saturday. It was a fine misty rain, but it was still cold and wet.

I tried to keep the boys in their parkas. Jeremiah and Joshua had been having asthma flairs more frequently and I really didn't want sick kids on my hands. Needless to say, they didn't stay on long.





Pack 401



The kids learned a lot of fun new games...and songs...









Finally, the clouds parted, and we had a few minutes of relief from the rain. Really, just a few minutes.



All of the boys agree, their favorite part was shooting the bb guns.



This what Pack 401 does in their spare time:



(don't worry, we made them take it down, all we left behind were footprints)

S'more?



Kelsea is very good at telling campfire stories. She had quite an audience.



And we all took home some chest congestion from the rain.

What a Combination!

Need fresh brown eggs?

Need to have your dentures repaired?

How about a visit to your local Democratic Headquarters?

Here you can do it all in one tiny little building.



Now I really want to know. Y IS Kelly still missing? :(

The Republican Headquarters

A dear friend and I took the boys to the Republican Headquarters in Durham County. I wanted to get a sign and a bumper sticker in support of McCain/Palin. I also needed more information on some issues I was questioning.

The boys left with SO many questions. It was such a great opportunity to share the election and my concerns about it with them.





They also really enjoyed all their booty.



I didn't realize they were listening to what the grownups were saying. I was shocked by the questions they asked on the way home.

Happy Birthday!

She turned 14 this week. I can't believe my baby is growing up!



We celebrated her birthday a little early this year. We wanted to celebrate while Daddy was home with us.

She is such a wonderful daughter. She has such a creative spirit, always working on some new project. Her interests include: ballet, interior and fashion design, writing, beading, knitting, reading, drawing, and she's currently learning how to play guitar.

She and I have been volunteering with the boys Cub Scout pack. Surprisingly we have both been having fun! It's time well spent together. We are a team.

She is turning into such a lovely young woman.

Around Town

Andrew's odd. I always knew it. Still, it's nice to have affirmation from outside sources.

Cleaning Calumet

We are still getting alot of work done at the old house on Calumet. We are friends with our landlady and want to leave things in good shape.



Leon saved the old tires on the truck in case something happens to the new ones. It's less expensive that way. And they are going in storage so I have no complaints.

The furniture is all moved and gone so the boys were happy for somewhere to sit.

Ishmael was looking so grown up and manly here that I had to take a picture.



Silly boys.





We've been eating more McDonald's lately than I care to admit...

Get Well Soon Matthew!

My cute little nephew had surgery this week. He had his nevi mark, tonsils, and adenoids removed all at once. It seems like such a big surgery for such a little guy. He's doing remarkably well for it.



I asked him how he was doing. He says, "my throat hurts." He has such an adorable little voice. I love it!



He is such a cute kid! He reminds me so much of my little brother.

My Life in Mayberry

My new home feels very much like Mayberry. I LOVE IT!! I have discovered that I'm not a country girl at all! I'm a small town kind of gal, and proud of it!

There is only one minor inconvenience. I do not have a mail box at my new home (the post office doesn't deliver to my street at all). It's all good though, because I only live a block from the post office.

And the walk is rather nice.

When you leave my driveway you take a right.



Looking on the left hand side of the road you see the orthodontist's office. The side of it anyway. The people here seem very friendly. Which will come in handy if ever one of my kids needs their services.



We've arrived at the corner of Main and Mill St. We'll take a right, thankyouverymuch.



Here's the feed and seed. I'll be able to walk to get bunny food ;-) .



Mail? Really? I didn't even know anyone had our address yet. Mostly we've just received junk mail so far.



Leaving the post office.



I love my small town. I'll be taking more pics and blogging about it soon.

This week I was a Bear

A Bear Scout that is. My daughter and I rotate which cub scout we are with so we can stay on top of each den. She has been my right hand while my husband is OTR.

So as a Bear Scout we learned about healthy foods. It was fun! And man can those bears eat!









Here they are going to make trail mix. They learned what to pack and why. Did you know you should not put marshmallows in trail mix? I didn't.



Here they are trying different fruit. Joshua really liked the nectarines.

Fireman's Day Parade

Our firemen are all volunteer so they have an annual parade to raise money. Our Boy Scout Troop was invited to throw candy in the parade.



I was taking pictures so Kelsea was left holding the bags. Don't worry, she'll get over it soon.



Here she is trying to convince Ishmael it's his job to hold his own bag of candy. I don't think he bought it though.





This was just too cute!!!



I didn't know we had a Fire Queen...



Leon would have LOVED this part.



He would have loved the marching band too. He likes the drums.




Anyone with a bag of candy to throw, marched in this parade.



In fact you didn't even have to have any candy.





Lovely...



I liked this one. I want to visit their little store soon.



Here come the boys!!!



Jeremiah threw candy like nobody's business.







My fans came out to meet me as I marched in this parade.



This is what Boy Scouts look like when they've eaten about as much candy as they've thrown.





And my little buddy Joey assured me, he doesn't like candy AT ALL.



We all had a GREAT time!!! I'm looking forward to the next parade in November.