"A room without books is like a body without a soul"-Cicero

And to that end B, R & I have put together a list of our favorite books. Today we will start with our top 100kidlet book choices.
Littles

1. The Pokey Little Puppy-Lowery*
2. Henry & Mudge-Rylant*
3. Angus & the Ducks-Flack*
4. Carl-Day
5. Chicken Soup w/ Rice-Sendak*
6. Clem the Clumsy Camel-Mueller*
7. Bisquit-Capucilli*
8. Poppleton-Rylant*
9. If you give a Mouse a Cookie-Numeroff*
10. Very Grouchy Ladybug-Carle*
11. James Harriet's Treasury for Children-Harriet*
12. Corduroy-Freeman*
13. Curious George-H.A.Rey*
14. Good Night Moon-Brown*
15. House that Jack Built-Frasconi*
16. Petunia-Duvolsin*
17. Richard Scarry's Treasury-Scarry*
18. Story of Babar-Brunhoff*
19. Very Hungry Caterpillar-Carle*
20. Little Engine that Could-Piper*
21. Make Way for Ducklings-McCloskey*
22. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom-Martin*
23. Harry the Dirty Dog-Zien*
24. Where the Wild Things Are-Sendak*
25. Mr. Putter & Tabby-
    
26. Owl at Home-Lobel*
27. George and Martha-Marshall (the Hippo's)*
    
28. Guess How Much I Love You-McBratney*
29. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel-Burton*
30. Thomas the Tank Engine-Brosnan*
31. Velveteen Rabbit-Williams*
32. Frog & Toad-Lobel*
33. Capyboppy-Pleet*
34. Berenstain Bears-Berenstain*
35. Floss
36. Amelia Bedelia-Parish*
37. Blueberries for Sal-McCloskey*
38. Emil the Eagle-LaFleur*
39. Little Bear-Minorik*
40. Newt-Novak*
41. Mouse Soup-Lobel*
42. Clifford the Big Red Dog-Bridwell*
43. Flip-Dennis*
44. Arthur-Heban (the monkey)*
    
45. Arthur-Brown (the aardvark)*
46. Chilly Billy-Mayle*
47. Nate the Great-*
    
48. Key to the Treasure-Parish*
49. The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy-Thayer*
50. Tough Enough's Indians-Carroll*
51. The King with Six Freinds-Williams*
52. Little Polar Bear, Take Me Home!-deBeer*
53. The Sailor Dog-Brown*
54. Tikki Tikki Tembo-Mosel*
55. Tacky the Penguin-Lester*
56. Owly-Thaler*
57. Lester & Clyde-Reece
58. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble-Steig*
59. Flip the Dolphin-Kassian*
60. Daniels Duck-Bulla*
61. Tim the Mouse-Lloyd*
62. The Biggest Bear-Ward*
63. Bo the Famous Retriever-Simmons
    
64. Granny and the Desperados-Parish
65. Runaway Bunny-Brown*
66. Roxaboxen-McLerran*
67. Baker Baker Cookie Maker-Hayward*
68. What a Teddy Bear Needs-Kaye*
69. Meet Trouble-Hood*
70. Dandelion-Freeman*
71. Magic Fish-Littledale*
72. Time of Wonder-McCloskey*
73. Grasshopper on the Road-Lobel*
74. Encyclopedia Brown-*
    
75. Benjy and the Barking Dog-Graham*
76. The Golden Key-MacDonald*
    
77. A Dog Named Grizzly Bear-Boring*
78. Inch by Inch-Lionni*
79. What was That!-Matthews*
80. Frances-Hoban*
81. Lentil-McCloskey*
82. Rikki Tikki Tavy-Kipling*
    
83. Winnie the Pooh-Milne*
    
84. The Secret Moose-Rogers*
85. Selfish Giant-Wilde*
86. Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit-Potter*
    
87. Wizzers Bad Day-Kassirer*
88. There's an Owl in the Shower-George*
    
89. Farfalina & Marcel-Keller*
90. Richard Brown & the Dragon-Bright*
    
91. Sleepy Little Lion-Brown*
92. A bear Called Paddington-Bond*
    
93. Billy & Blaze-Anderson
    
94. Wild Fox-Mason*
95. Stickeen-Muir*
96. How it was with Dooms-Hopcraft*
97. Bunnicula-Howe*
98. The Snuggle Bunny-Jewell*
99. Sammy Dog Detective-Bare*
100. Benvenuto-Reit*

And the Beat Goes On.....

Here are our top 100 Book Choices for the next stage in reading, the thicker chapter book.

Middles

1. Homer price-McCloskey*
   
2. Silversheene King of Sled Dogs-Hawkes*
3. Mary Poppins-Travers*
   
4. Incredible Journey-Burnford*
5. Old Yeller-Gibson
   
6. Place of the Lions-Campbell*
7. Great Quarterback Switch-Christopher*
   
8. Detectives in Togas-Winterfeld*
   
9. Little Pear-Lattimore*
10. My Side of the Mountains-George*
11. Lassie-Knight*
    
12. Gone Away Lake-Enright*
13. Mouse & the Motorcycle-Cleary*
14. The Moffats-Estes*
15. Half Magic-Eager*
    
16. The Dog Who Wouldn't Be-Mowat*
17. My Fathers Dragon-Gannett*
18. Trolley Car Family-Clymer*
19. Penderwicks-Birdsall*
20. Old Mother West Wind-Burgess*
21. Stone Fox-Gardiner*
    
22. Wonder Book- Hawthorne*
23. The Defender-Kalashnikoff*
    
24. Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH-O'Brien*
    
25. The Hardy Boys-Dixon*
26. Tale of Despereaux-Dicamillo*
    
27. Superfudge-Blume*
28. Adam of the Road-Gray*
29. Ragweed-Avi*
30. At the Back of the North Wind-MacDonald*
31. Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates-Dodge*
32. Black Ships Before Troy-Sutcliff*
33. The Enormous Egg-Butterworth
    
34. Wishbones Classic-Mattern*
    
35. Absolutely Lucy-Cooper*
    
36. Black Stallion-Farley*
37. The Wolfling-North*
    
38. Black Beauty-Sewell*
39. Ribsy-Cleary*
40. Book of Three-Alexander*
41. Rabbit Hill-Lawson*
    
42. Borrowers-Norton*
43. I Freddy-Reiche*
    
44. Brighty of the Grand Canyon-Henry
45. Where the Red Fern Grows-Rawls*
46. Bronze Bow-Speare*
47. Wharton & the Castaways-Erickson
48. Trailblazers-Jackson
49. Henry Reed Inc.-Robertson*
    
50. Charlotte's Web-White*
51. Twenty One Balloons-DuBois*
52. Cheaper by the Dozen-Gillberth*
53. Mr Poppers Penguins-Atwater*
    
54. Trumpet of the Swan-White*
55. The Good Dog-Avi*
    
56. Swallows and the Amazons-Ransome
57. Cricket in Time Square-Seldon*
58. Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow-French
59. Rangers Apprentice-Flanagan*
60. Staurt Little-White*
61. Door in the Wall-de Angeli*
62. Story of Dr. Dolittle-Lofting
63. Star in the Storm-Harlow*
    
64. Smokey the Cowhorse-James*
65. Toby Tyler-Otis*
    
66. King of Squaw Mountain-Borland*
67. Kavik the Wolf Dog-Morey*
    
68. Fantastic Mr. Fox-Dahl*
69. A Family of Foxes-dillon*
70. Silver Chief-OBrien*
71. The Midnight Fox-Byars*
72. Five Children & It-Nesbit*
73. Never Cry wolf-Mowat*
74. Sign of the Beaver-Speare*
75. Tiger on the Mountain-Arora*
76. Five Little Peppers & how They Grew-Sidney*
77. Whittington-Armstrong*
78. Shadrack-deJong
79. Coyote Summer-Wallace*
    
80. Follow My Leader-Garfield*
81. Freddy the Pig-Brooks*
    
82. Boxcar Children-Warner*
    
83. The Haymeadow-Paulson*
84. Gentle Ben-Morey
85. Farmer Boy-Wilder
    
86. Rescuers-Sharp
87. Peter Pan-Barrie
    
88. Ginger Pie-Estes
89. Pinocchio-Collodi
    
90. Rascal-North
91. Sugar Creek Gang-Hutches
    
92. Downriver-Hobbs
93. Seven Sleepers-Morris
    
94. Brady-Fritz
95. The Samuari's tale-Haugaard
    
96. White Serpent Castle-Namioka
    
97. Lad, A Dog-Terhune
    
98. Eragon-Paolini
99. Shiloh-Naylor
    
100. Phantom Tollbooth-Juster

Last, but certainly not least

Our top 100 picks for the big guys..............
Colossal

1. Gulliver's Travels-Swift*
2. Summer of the Monkeys-Rawls*
3. Don Quixote-Cervantes*
4. The Mark of the Original Zorro-McCulley*
5. Arabian Nights-*
6. Tom Sawyer-Twain*
7. Sir Gawain & the Green Night-Tolkien*
8. Hittite Warrior-Williamson*
9. Saga of the Volsungs-Byock*
10. The light & the Glory-Marshall*
11. Beowulf-Heaney*
12. A Night to Remember-Lord*
13. Song of Roland-Sayers*
14. Seabisuit-Hillenbrand*
15. Canterbury Tales-Chaucer*
16. Till We Have Faces-Lewis*
17. Odyssey of Homer-Lattimore*
18. Pride & Prejudice-Austen*
19. Chronicles of Narnia-Lewis*
20. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea-Verne*
21. A Walk to Remember-Sparks*
22. Iliad of Homer-Lattimore*
23. Eagle of the Ninth-Sutcliff*
    
24. The Yearling-Rawlings*
25. A Christmas Carol-Dickens*
26. Watership Down-Adams*
27. A Ring of Endless Light-L'Engle*
28. Shaking the Nickel Bush-Moody
    
29. Uncle Toms Cabin-Stowe*
30. The Hiding Place-ten Boom*
31. Last of the Mohicans-Cooper
32. Freckles-Potter*
33. Kidnapped-Stevenson*
34. Wizard of Oz-Baum*
35. The Ides of April-Ray*
36. Heidi-Spyri
37. Within the Palace Gates-Siviter*
38. Proud Taste of Scarlet & Miniver-Konigsburg*
39. All Creatures Great & Small-Herriot*
40. Animal farm-Orwell*
41. David Copperfield-Dickens*
42. Emma-Austen
43. Gone with the Wind-Mitchell*
44. Good Earth-Buck
45. Grapes of Wrath-Steinbeck*
46. House of Seven Gables-Hawthorne
47. On Walden Pond-Thoreau*
48. Scarlet letter-Hawthrone
49. Three Musketeers-Dumas*
50. Rob Roy-Scott
51. Pilgrims Progress-Bunyan*
52. Oliver Twist-Dickens*
53. Kenilworth-Scott
54. Count of Monte Cristo-Dumas
55. Wolves of Willoughby Chase-Aiken
56. White Fang-London
57. Two Years Before the Mast-Dana*
58. Silver Chalice-Costain
59. Scarlet Pimpernel-Orczy
60. Red Badge of Courage-Crane*
61. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm-Wiggen
62. Trumpeter of Krakow-Kelly*
63. Big Red-Kjelgaard*
64. Captians Courageous-Kipling*
65. Redwall-Jacques*
66. Wind in the Willow-Grahame*
67. Call of the Wild-London*
68. Twice Freed-St John*
69. Dragon Slayer-Sutcliff
70. Banner in the Sky-Ullman*
71. In Freedoms Cause-Henty*
72. A Wrinkle in Time-L'Engle*
73. Secret Garden-Burnett
74. Jungle Book-Kipling
75. Kim- Kipling*
76. Jo's Boys-Alcott*
77. A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court-Twain*
78. Little Men-Alcott*
79. Cat of Bubastes-Henty
80. Merry Adventures of Robinhood-Pyle*
81. The Kings Fifth-Odell*
82. Mara, Daughter of the Nile-McGraw
83. National Velvet-Begnold
84. Alice in Wonderland-Carroll*
85. Little Britches-Moody
86. Otto of the Silver Hand-Pyle
87. Penrod-Tarkington
88. Prince & Pauper-Twain
89. Swiss Family Robinson-Wyss
90. Treasure Island-Stevenson*
91. Against the World, the Odyssey of Athanasius-Corey*
92. Dragon & the Raven-Henty*
93. Fountain of Life-Martin*
94. Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day-Odell*
95. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Twain*
96. A King Without a Shadow-Sproul
97. Winning His Spurs-Henty*
98. Deer Slayer-Cooper*
99. Ivanhoe-Scott*
100. The Writings on the Hearth-Harnett*

.....and more about me.............

This questionnaire was handed to me at church at the beginning of the month.

Ten questions to ask at the start of the new year.

Once when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God told them.
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause & think about the direction of their lives. It's easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going & where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? See people through his eyes, not my sometimes cynical eyes.
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Have mercy on my sister.....& my heart.
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Spent time individually with each guy.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Consistently reading God's word...alone.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Surfing the web...set a timer.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Be true to God.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Chloe, Jacob, Dante & Eric's new bundle.
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? Work on building up our immune systems so we aren't continually sick.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Write down thoughts as they pop up to trigger my memory. Create a prayer board.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? Making good memories with my family. Building a legacy.

In Addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways". Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

1. What's the most important decision you need to make this year? To have the surgery or let it go..
2. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area.My curriculum choices, release.
3. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year? Overcome my fears
4. What habit would you most like to establish this year? Exercising (daily)
5. Who do you most want to encourage this year? My sons**shoot for the stars**
6. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it? Hire an employee for VCC, buy a house & buy a car...discuss, seek wise counsel, save money, evaluate cause & effect.
7. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? Buy a new laptop & a computerized transcript program
8. What's one way you could be a blessing to others this year? Let them know...use words
9. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren? Study my children & minister to their specific needs. Use Gods words to guide my steps.
10. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you want to seek most earnestly this year? Oh, I have a huge list, much too long. There are too many great books, I won't commit to just one. I do have a list though.
11. What thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year? The way our relationship with Bonner & Hannah went down. We will pray for them.
12. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year? That he preform a miracle of fertility for Jeff & I.
13. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?Patience with teenagers. Talk to others, read inspiring books & bite my tongue.
14. What's the most important trip you want to make this year? The (CHEA) Long Beach Homeschoool Convention to be inspired & rejuvenated for this journey
15. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?To sand & refinish furniture without Jeffs help.
16. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year? Consistent Hospitality
17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year? Invest in lectures on tape/CD & educational DVD's to insure school time takes place.
18. What one biblical doctrine do you want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it? The problem with astrology & the gospel in the stars. I will confirm my faith & gain depth of wisdom.
19. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? They would say I could do whatever I put my mind to & they would be right. I will take the plunge.
20. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year? Pet safety and quality products(An outdoor dog kennel/run with a top & an outdoor bunny play yard.
21. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?Conquer my fears. I will exhale & jump in.

Life on our Roller Coaster

• Saturday B&R spent the day working at Camp Haze & then B had music ministry practice & R had sound/recording system work at the church
  
• Sunday First came sunday school & morning service where B&R had their church equipment/music moments. All the guys got hair cuts. We bought a 20 gallon ice chest (to fill with groceries) & went to dinner with Mike & Angela. (we also made a pit stop @ their house).
• Monday night B&R spent time at Yosemite Fitness with Austin & Aubrey. They had a great time on the rock climbing walls! They also enjoyed learning new games at their house later that evening. Jeff & I were at a Homeschool meeting
  
• Tuesday was the 1st Chitudo night in the new building.
• Wednesday we stayed home (yeah for movie night!)
• Thursday was the 2nd Homeschool meeting we attended for the week. B&R caught up on more movies.
  
• Friday B&R went to the bookstore, out to lunch, Ice skating, out to dinner & dance lessons. I went to the 3rd (and I think last, at least for a while) homeschool meeting.

Chaffee Zoo

B&R attended the Chaffee Zoo Young Naturalist Winter Camp over Christmas break. This gave them a chance to get more intimate knowledge about exotic animals. It was an opportunity to gain hands on Zoo Keeper skills. The camp also gave them an inside view to the happenings at our local Zoo. They enjoyed the behind-the-scene tour aspect as well. I am still hearing stories about the "characters"they met. They went on a guided tour of the Zoo, which gave them lots of information on specific critters such as names & personalities etc....They both had a lot of fun, even though there was mucking involved.

Here are two fun facts for you.

Ricky thought it was funny that one of the Elephants doesn't like people with curly hair. She won't let them come near her. Apparently one lady endeavored to conquer this . She ended up wearing a hat (hiding her hair) & the elephant excepted the situation.

For some crazy reason Billy called his belly button a Motmot when he was a baby. No, we could never figure out why. B&R discovered an exotic bird at the zoo called..yep, you guessed it, a Motmot, who knew? Billy managed to get a picture with his cell phone.

"If you think EDUCATION is expensive, try IGNORANCE"-unknown

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire"-William Yates

Tagged By A Teeny

• Where is your cell phone?Hmmm, I know I should care...
• Your hair?Recently cut three inches off
• Your favorite thing?Laughter
• Your dream last night?Talking to Bethany at Grandma's house
• Your favorite drink?Cherry Pepsi
• Your goal?To conquer my fears
• The room your in?J's office
• Where do you want to be in six years?Where you can't cook an egg on the sidewalk in August
• Where were you last night?At a homeschool meeting
• What your not?Selfish
• Muffins?Ohh! Mimi's cafe, any of them!
• One of your wish list items?A house in the shade
• Where you grew up?The Valley
• The last thing you did?Make dinner
• What are you wearing?My comfys
• Your TV?Longs for an armoire to hide in
• Your computer?Needs to be replaced (I'm using J's)
• Your life?I'm a daughter of THE King
• Your mood?Enjoying the silence (the guys are at Chitudo)
• Missing someone?Always
• Your car?Window shopping
• Something your not wearing?Makeup
• Favorite store?Does Amazon count?
• Your summer?Road trippin'
• Your favorite color?Yellow
• Last time you laughed?Today
• Last time you cried?Today
• If you could snap your fingers where would you be?Maine
• What's your favorite season?Winter
• What's your favorite flower?Daisies
• Silver or Gold?Depends on the outfit
• What's your middle name?Anne (with an "e")
• Have you ever been out of California?Yes
• If so where?Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Mexico, Texas etc....
• Where were you born?Memphis Tenn.

Seven Things About Me

Seven Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. Conquer My Fears
2. Lose Weight
3. Go On A Cruise To Alaska
4. Own & Regularly Use A Boat
5. Live in New England...At The Very Least In July & August
6. Go On A Road Trip Across America (A Few Times)
7. Meet My Great Grandbabies

Seven Of My Favorite Foods

1. Bean & Cheese Burritos
2. Cobb Salad
3. Pilaf
4. Avocado on Ritz Crackers
   
5. Broccoli Salad
6. Biscuits & Milk Gravy
7. Cranberry & Almond Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Seven Things I Cannot Do

1. Support Abortion
2. Support Gay Marriage
3. Engage With A Big Portion Of My Family
4. Pretend I Don't Want More Children
5. Enjoy Really Hot Weather
6. Swim In The Tundra
7. Point A Can Of Spray Paint Into My Eyes (In Memory of Renee)

Seven Things I Hate To Do

1. Wash Dishes
2. Vacuum
3. Correct & File School Papers
4. Be The Mom & Not The Friend
5. Spend Money On Boring Things (Like Cars, Bills Etc...)
6. Be Around Arrogant & Or Mean Spirited People
7. Buy Groceries For Feeding TWO Adolescent Boys

Seven Movies I Watch Over & Over

1. The Sound Of Music
2. Anne Of Green Gables
3. Sarah Plain & Tall
4. Its A Wonderful Life
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
6. You've Got Mail
7. Fools Rush In

Seven Things I Love To Do

1. Read By The Fire Sipping Bengal Spice Tea
2. Laugh With My Family & Friends
   
3. Be A Mom
4. Share My Life With My Husband
5. Homeschool My Sons
6. Adventure With My Family
7. Decorate & Organize

Seven Songs I Listen To Over & Over Again

1. Gratitude-Nichole Nordeman
2. In Christ Alone-Newsboys
3. Legacy-Nichole Nordeman
4. Sweet Pea-Amos Lee
5. Give Me Your Eyes-Brandon Heath
6. You Are The Sun-Sara Groves
7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow-Jason Castro

Back to Reality

The Christmas season brought many fun times for the boys. They went to a Laser Quest/pizza party with CHEFA. A luncheon & cookie exchange ( we made peanut butter chocolate chip) with MATCH. And walked down Candy Cane Lane, gift exchange & spaghetti dinner with BEST. Remembering this was just with the school groups.
We enjoyed a walk down Christmas Tree Lane & the goodies afterward with the Lim family. going to Tamarack Snow Park & a Christmas dinner/gift exchange with the Shugert family. As well as making Gingerbread houses with the Cunning kiddos. All of these familys are very dear to us.

Then there was the family celebrations full of wonderful traditions.

Becky likes to give out PJ's on Christmas Eve. She also has specific things that go in stockings & a method to her gift giving. She makes a great meal, we look forward to it every year. This year Jeff (Sr) threw in a very nice surprise. Jeff's family comes down from Berkley each year. This year they saved us from our coffee woes. (More on that later)
My Mom has her traditions as well. One thing she like to do is buy a silly gift for the men-folk. This years "toy" was Nerf guns. Yes, each adult male got one. As they were opening their gifts...the war began. This year the kids & Moms got the goofy gift as well. By the time everyone had their guns we took the party outside & it continued until Jim brought the compressor out. Yep. An air compressor. Which was used to blow up balloons, that were strategically set up in the yard to be shot at with 6 shooters. A boys heaven! I didn't feel good (sick yet again) & little Dante didn't get a gun....so I gladly released mine.
We have traditions in our little foursome. We have our celebration on Christmas Eve eating cinnamon rolls, from The Cinnamon Roll Shop for breakfast while we watch the boys open their gifts. Several years back we started a "Manbox" for B&R. Every Christmas we buy a tool for the box. Buy the time they leave home they should be pretty well set. We then pack into the car & head to the snow park.

Next came New Years Eve. Jeff & I believe you should spend the closing off the year & the fresh start (new beginning) with those who are most important to you. And so each year we close out the rest of the world to focus on Jeff, Charity, Billy & Ricky. The phone is turned off & the fun begins. We eat junk food. We play new games that each Grandma buys every Christmas. We watch new movies. We save fireworks from the 4th of July & set them off. We have party poppers, silly string & noise makers that we go crazy with as we watch the ball drop in New York via the T.V. We toast our families happiness & love.

A lot happened this season that was wonderful & somethings that I could have done without. I was disappointed in not seeing my sister & my Jacki. yet very glad to have dinner with my brother. One thing I am very grateful for was the ability to have some rest. The boys went on sleep overs, went to movies & had friends over as well. But we had a lot of reading, watching new movies & sleeping in. However now its back to reality. Its time to hit the books in our little school.