I'm Back...sort of

My computer is revived, mostly. I can get email, send email, blog and google. I can't print or scan because somewhere in all this computer disk crap there is the printer CD which I cannot locate as yet. Oh well. In the meantime Tucker has it up enough that I am not lost in etherspace.

I do have a request for friends and family. While I love to get those cute messages with dozens of pictures attached, I will no longer be opening them. PLEASE don't send me anything but regular emails. My poor little machine just went through 2 months of deadness while we tried every way possible to get the ooky virus removed.I don't know where we got it, possibly an internet site (probably) or possibly in an attachment. We finally had to just wipe the whole thing and start again. I'm not letting friends of boys use my computer any longer and I'm not opening mass mailings with attachments. It may not make a bit of difference in the long run, but at least I feel like I'm doing everything I can to keep it working!!

So, at least I can read all of your blogs! That is the good news; think I'll go check them all out right now! Hugs.

In case you've missed me...

My computer is having huge issues still and again. Now that we supposedly got our viruses cleaned it won't open my desktop at all. I've just turned it off and set it in the middle of Rockwell. Hopefully someone will run it over and then it will decide to straighten up. Or Tucker will come over and figure it out, or I'll just keep grabbing Patterson's laptop whenever he isn't home. I love technology.

The Graduations just keep coming!

 Don't they look cute in all their garb! Traditional church Graduation breakfast and they were all there! I was really excited to show them all off.
  Big sister giving little brother some sound advice? Sure! Is he getting it? Sure...
  Streamers because caps can't be thrown. At least they get to throw something
 

And of course there was cake, of course there was!!!

Now that the Dust has Settled

 Pictures with the horse, necessary of course
 Have we ever seen Pete quite this animated and happy???
  Another horse, of course, of course. And after all the parading, and tassel moving, etc., here is the perfect spot to relax!
 

It has been a very busy May!!! Here are some highlights. They look very pleased with themselves, don't they!! And they should be. We are proud and glad we had such a reason to celebrate!!

Elizabeth's Recital

Singing with her Dad!!
A beautiful dress on a beautiful girl!


Mom's traditional lipstick kiss!

More Spring!

The kids at Montessori planted Daffodil bulbs last fall. They are beautiful and the children are extremely proud as you can tell from this picture!!

 

 

You are welcome

I know that those of you who look at my blog daily (and don't you all!!!) are tired of having to avert your eyes from the poor little mousling "sleeping". So here are some pictures of my beautimous garden. It's spring!! Finally!!!

Presents for Papa!!

We've had one lone mousling left after the filling of the sheetrock holes under the sink and dishwasher. Bigglesworth has been stalking it for about a week. This morning he left Ethan this wonderful gift right on his pillow!!!

 

What's that I hear? Could it be a mousie?? Are you hiding little mousie?? Oh, I see, you are taking a small nap! What a pleasant place to nap, right on Papa's pillow! And how convenient for me! YUM. Always wash after mousing and clean under your claws......What's that?

 

Here's our boy, new haircut and braces!!

If you ever want to feel really brilliant...

just hang out with me. I'm the one that just went into the laundry room to move the clean clothes from the washer to the dryer. Opened the just finished washer to find... NO CLOTHES. Yes, I have a VERY CLEAN washing machine.

Is It A Good Idea To Microwave Marshmallow Peeps?

Peeps!! Of course it is a good idea! It's what Easter is all about!

Yesterday Dr. Seuss, Today Eric Carle

I've been playing and playing today!! Doing some cards for a swap "In the Style of Eric Carle". I LOVE his books and have been wanting to do some collages like his. Last Saturday at Connie's we made tons of paste paper for cutting up to collage so today I cut and glued to my heart's content. I'll be picking matt medium out from under my fingernails for the rest of the weekend, but who cares!!!!

A happy week

 
We celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday on Monday (yes, his birthday was Sunday, but as my Montessori kiddos will tell you, "we don't come to school on Sunday" so we celebrated on Monday! We had jello with red and blue fishes in it and read multiple silly, rhyming worded books! I created these Artist Trading Cards in honor of the day!

President's Day

Here is the how I spent the best part of my day off! Playing with paper, drinking tea, eating Girl Scout Cookies (I love this time of year).
As you may know, or maybe not, I have given up reading fiction for Lent. On days like today when I am home alone all day it is very difficult to stick to no novels. I made it through another day though! I spent some time reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" and worked a bit on my lesson for Sunday's JYF. I practiced my violin twice (I needed that) and I made art!

If you want to see other cards I've made recently you can go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/upwiththesun/

Be the Change this Season

Just a reminder of why I don't watch TV

I just happened to have the TV on earlier this morning to see what the weather would grace us with today...it got left on and I just now walked past. This is what I heard...."Oh, Martha, I just have to say how much I adore you! You are just like the big sister in my head!!" Spoken with all the emotion of a screaming rock star fan. Pu-lease. I won't go into what I think of Martha, but I'm thinking my decision to avoid TV and particularly daytime TV was a wise one. Just sayin'.

Is it Spring yet???

Reasons to love winter during an Oklahoma Snow Storm

You don't have to worry about wearing blush cause the very cold wind and snow blowing will make your cheeks pink.

If you are into blue lipgloss see above and substitute, your lips blue.

You might as well sleep right through the time it takes to comb your hair. Yours will look just like everyone else's when you step outside. Also, if you prefer the standing up on top of your head hard gel look you just need to stand and try to get your car door open and viola!

You will build up very strong muscles in your arms first by trying to force the frozen car door open and then trying to hold on to the door so it doesn't blow clear off the vehicle.

Your leg muscles will get their workout today by pushing the full grocery cart through the 4 inch snow drifts from the door of the store to your car.

You will make the grocery sacker very happy by saying "No, thanks, I don't need help to the car."

For once no one will make fun of your footwear when you arrive in very warm moon boots.

When you've done all your chores, not slid off the road or run over any pedestrians blowing into your path, you can go home and feel perfectly entitled to a hot cup of tea and a good book. I'm headed there now.

No, I did not see Naked Cowboy

 

But I did see this.

Fine Time in NYC!!

I obviously was very tired when I was trying to figure out how to put these pictures on the blog so they are in fairly random order. The Statue of Liberty was the last night in New York. Our group was treated to a lovely dinner cruise on the Spirit of New Jersey. And for those of you who know me too well, I took Dramamine before boarding the bus to take us to the pier. I stood out on the deck and took the pictures. She is a beauty, especially at night!
These are the "girls" on the trip, most of us anyway. In front in Mrs. Hulsey, the choir director. She turned 60 on Concert Day. Great birthday!
In the Newark airport waiting for our flight home. As you can tell they did very little sleeping on the trip. Too much to see and do.
I watched the sun set from the plane as we few home. We were above the clouds and it was really beautiful.

Times Square, a wonderful, youthful musical and the chance for the boys to meet and visit with great, friendly actors at the stage door. Can't ask for much better than that!

Carnegie Hall. An awesome concert hall. The look on the kid's faces, when they came on stage to a full house, all the way up to the third balcony, was priceless. The concert was professional and beautifully performed. Great work kiddos! They did get a picture taken outside by a "real" photographer, but it is copywrited and I'm being good! We had an awesome trip and I have a feeling there is more NYC in our futures! Three days at home and then off to the mountains. More about that later!

Just one more week!!!

Next week at this time we'll be in New York! We'll see Spamalot, take a tour and a cruise in the harbor. The kids will sing at Carnegie Hall and the adults will be so proud. Here is something else I hope I see while I'm in NYC...and I hope there are no children around when I see him!!