Fire Station Field Trip

October is Fire Safety Month so it seemed fitting for our homeschool group to take a trip to the Blountstown Fire Station! We had been there a few years ago, but the kids always enjoy it and the fire station got some new things since then! One of them being a new truck, designed by Fire Chief Ben Hall! :)
This is Fire Chief Hall showing the kids all the clothes firemen wear and the purpose of each piece...
demonstrating the air mask...

Emblem on the side of the new truck...

The whole group of kids....I think there were 11 families represented here...

Each of the kids got a turn spraying water from a small hose...


A pretty morning glory vine in a tree across the street...

It was good to be reminded the importance of fire safety again!!

After the field trip, we ate lunch at Sam Atkins park...and the kids had fun playing some kickball! It was a cold dreary day and most of us didn't have jackets along and were getting quite chilly, so we left for the Park Church, and started the paper mache class a little early. They glued another layer of paper on their projects and will start painting this week!! :)

Friday was Tamara's paper mache class, and Danny's carpentry class. The Carpentry class got canceled because of so many who were sick, so we all went and experienced paper mache!! :) I think it could get addicting! Danny started on a fort and Tamara is making a house....the start of a village?? Since this was just a "visit" for Danny, Tamara will bring his project home this week and we will finish it here at home.

The older kids...

...some creativity flowing here....

Almost got the fort wrapped in paper...

Dylan and Jedd

These are some of the finished products that Mrs. Danley's (their teacher) mother made...amazing!
~Nemo and a doll cradle~
Bert? Ernie? I always get these guys mixed up!! :P

Friday evening I was in my bedroom and heard Tamara pretending with her stuffed animals. I realized that I rarely take pics of the kids doing "everyday" things...usually just special events, so I grabbed my camera...she was dressing up her stuffed animals in doll clothes. I thought it was cute...her favorite Webkinz horse had socks on all 4 feet and her lab puppy was sporting a matching outfit and hat! :) She was having fun!!

Meanwhile...Dan and Danny were outside putting new tires on Danny's bike. The old ones were dry rotting and we are trying to prepare for our church's annual bike hike coming up in November. :)

When all the small jobs were accomplished, we played a game of Apples to Apples Jr. ;) One of our favorite family games!! :)

Saturday morning Dan and Danny went and helped Keith and Sarah Yoder pack up the moving trailer and they left for MI later in the day!! :( We will miss them very much!!
While they were gone, Tamara and I went to a few yard sales...something I haven't done for a LONG time! We had success...found 2 sales that had boys clothes Danny's size and got him some NICE jeans for $1 a pair!! :) And a few shirts for $.25-$.50 each!!
After lunch, we headed out to Panama City. We sold our elliptical trainer to a guy out that way who didn't have a way to come pick it up and since we had planned to be out that way anyhow, we delivered it to him! :) Then we stopped at Hobby Lobby. I needed paints for Danny to finish his fort. :) After that we went to Pier Park and spent the rest of the day window shopping (including a few small purchases!!) and ate supper at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries...good food, but way overrated and EXPENSIVE!!!! :O Then we took in a 3-D show of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs :) After the movie, Dan and the kids hit Starbucks and we sat outside at a picnic table and enjoyed watching people...I wished SO MANY times for my camera that night....Pier Park is a cool place...not your normal shopping center. Maybe next time....

Disappointments....

Well, Tamara and I are at home!! :( I struggled all day yesterday about what to do. We were supposed to leave at 2 AM this morning, but as of yesterday afternoon, Tamara still had fever. And for the past 3 days I had "come-n-go" nausea. I figured it was just the stress of her being sick and me not knowing what to do. (I don't like to be the one to make decisions!! :P) So last night after supper, Dan and I sat down and talked about it and prayed....I prayed that God would give me a clear answer whether or not we should stay home. I also talked to the two other ladies who were going, too, and they both thought I shouldn't let a fever get in the way of going. And that was Dan's thought's too!!
So at 9:00 I went to bed, but I tossed and turned and my stomach was also tossing and turning!! I thought it was just because I hadn't eaten much all day and it WAS growling, but it was also making other noises! :( Finally at 11:30, I could take it no more...I had to do the dirty deed!! :P I fell asleep then and woke up with the alarm at 1 AM. But I knew there was no way I was going to go on this trip. I felt shaky and nauseous again! So I called Emma and told her not to come pick me up.
Fell back asleep again and woke with the 5:30 alarm for Dan. I got up and went and broke the news to Tamara...she didn't seem to mind too much. Then I crawled back in bed...although I seemed to be feeling better. Dan told me just to go back to sleep. Since I had the coffee all set up for him the night before and he had lunch money, I didn't need to do anything for him. Before he left he told me that Tamara was awake, so she came back and crawled into bed with me and we slept till 8:30.
After we got up, we talked about the disappointment of not being able to go and both had to shed a few tears when we saw our packed bags sitting by the door, waiting to go! It was kind of tough unpacking them, but Tamara was so upbeat and kept reminding me it's not the end of the world!! :)
So, I prayed for a clear answer and I don't think it could have been much clearer, but now that I am feeling better, I want to ask WHY?? This was a perfect opportunity to visit my family....a perfect time to spend some mother/daughter time....a perfect time for Dan to have some "me" time and peace and quiet to do schoolwork....a perfect weekend for him and Danny to have "guy time".....
....I thought!!?? So why did God answer in that way?? I guess I may never know...maybe He wanted to teach us all something?? I don't know, but am thankful I have a Father who know's what is best for me!!


So I am still thinking the guys can have their "guy time" on Saturday and Tamara and I can have some mother/daughter time...shopping maybe?? :) But I want to still give Dan the opportunity to have some peace and quiet to study in tonight....anyone have an idea what the kids and I can do?? I am determined to make the best of this disappointment!!

Wishing you a sunshiny day wherever you are and whatever your circumstances are!! :)

Farewell....

Last evening the Lewis' hosted a Farewell Fellowship for Keith & Sarah...our dear friends who are moving to MI this weekend.

The ones we will miss. Their son Logan was elsewhere....

Snack time....finger foods and drinks.

Got a few pics of some of the people who were there....
Martha Byler, Glennys Shank, and Ruth Drawbond...oh, and there is Logan sitting on his Grandma's lap hiding behind Ruth! :P :)

Mariann Riley, Carol Yoder, and Emma Bontrager

Ivan and Lonnie (brothers) looking at a book Miss Dana made for Nehemiah's first birthday with pictures of them in it :)


Hannah, Emily, Beth and Susan... :) :)

Dan and Ben discussing prison work...

And there's Mary Vance!! :) Capturing the moments.... ;)

A table of wonderful ladies! :) "Do YOU eat Sweetened Condensed Milk out of a can??" ;)

We will miss you, Keith & Sarah and Logan and baby-to-be!! :( Wishing you God's best blessings for your family!!


Well, tomorrow morning at 2 AM is departure time for the trip to MO. We are busy washing and packing and cleaning....and praying that we feel okay and to know if we need to stay home or not!! :( Tamara seems to be back to normal, but then she says, Mom, my belly hurts....so right away I panic...is she getting a case of the pukes, or is it just that she is hungry or just has gas pains?? And then my belly starts to hurt...is it just sympathy pains for her...or worrying about going and then being sick on the trip....AAAHHHH!!! So if you would, pray for peace and a for sure knowledge by tonight what we should do...if we are going to be sick, let us start now, rather than later and if we are going to be okay....give me peace about it!! :) Thanks!! :)

Saturday was a beautiful day for Emily's bi-annual yard sale!! It did get hot around noon, but the morning was lovely and the people were OUT!! :) This was the best sale yet!! :) What I didn't sell, I sent to the local thrift store, except for a few items I thought I could sell on Ebay! (Whenever I find the time for that!!)

Saturday afternoon was the 20th Anniversary of the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement in Blountstown. The paper advertised starting at 3 but that was about all the info it gave. The Smith's told us they were serving supper, so we figured we'd go for supper and stay for the "entertainment". Well, when we got there at 5 they were cleaning up the supper and everything was shutting down...we were slightly disappointed...we had missed the mass choir and all that good stuff! :(
BUT, we still had a little fun outside the country store!

Dan and Leah played a game of checkers....
Danny bought a spear with the money he made at the yard sale! Look out!! :O

David became his first victim!! :O

More ponderings...

What can I say? We have crazy friends!! LOL!!


We went over to Dave and Jill's then for popcorn and a movie which turned in to popcorn and football!! :P LOL!! But I got to help Jill with some computer stuff and got to see some of her new decorating she did in their house....it was all good!! :)

On Sunday I found out some ladies and girls from church were going out to MO to visit a couple who moved away from here about a year ago...they had extra room yet, so I guess Tamara and I will go along with them to see my brother Lynn and his family!! :) AND, we will get to see my nephew Kendon and his wife since they are in the states right now. :)

Whether we actually go or not will depend on how we are feeling. Tamara started complaining of a sore throat last night and this morning had swollen glands in her neck...till noon she was cold and felt like she had a fever. Our only thermometer, an ear therm. we had since Danny was a baby was showing normal temps, but I think it is goofy! She sure felt warm to me!! So I've been keeping her on Tylenol Cold & Fever and hope she has a restful night. Her throat sounded so thick when she went to bed, so I rubbed her down with Vicks, which she does not like! :(
I felt a little "queasy" all day too...didn't feel hungry, so I'm not sure if I have a touch of something too!?? We will see what tomorrow brings...pray that I know whether or not to take her to the Dr. Hopefully it is just a 24 hour thing that others from church seem to have!??

~~Fall~~

Yay!! Fall is here...maybe not to stay, but it's still here for a few days!!
My favorite Fall things....
*Ag Days *Burning leaves *Church Bike Hike *Cool evening walks *Brisk air coming in the windows *hanging wash out *Goat Day *Mums and Pumpkin decor *Burning Candles *Hay rides :)

Last night for supper the kids and I made kabobs...marinaded chicken, squash, mushrooms and pineapples!! :P They turned out yummy! I think this will be a weekly menu item till it gets too cold to grill...but even then, what are jackets for?? :)

Danny had the camera so the following pics are compliments of him!!
I had a yellow mum in a planter since last Fall and it kind of died on me, but every now and then it would shoot out a few green leaves. Well, a few weeks back I saw it was getting buds, so I took real good care of it and it is blooming and looks great. It only took up half of the planter, so I bought another mum to plant in with it. :) I'd like to get a red one yet...and maybe a few decorative pumpkins?? I love Fall decor but with money being a little tighter, I don't think I'll do too much this year! I'll just enjoy every one else's!! :)

Kabob's grilling...and oh, they smelled so good!! :)

The evening sun shining through the trees. (ok, I took this one) The leaves on the only tree on our property (one in pic) are slowly turning brown and falling off. It never did turn pretty colors in the fall! Someday I wish for a Japanese Maple in my yard again, like we had in PA. Such a pretty tree from Spring to Fall.

Mocha...our playful pup. We have been letting him off the chain more lately. Our goal is to have him trained to obey so he can always be off the chain. He is too much of a wanderer yet and he barks at and chases after people who are walking by or come to the house. Although he wouldn't hurt anyone, it still isn't nice if people are uncertain....

I am immensely enjoying sitting here at my desk at 2 in the afternoon and feeling a cool breeze blowing through my house!! :) BUT, I should not sit here much longer!
On Saturday a fellow homeschooling Mom is having her bi-annual yard sale and I am taking A LOT of stuff!! I still have A LOT of stuff to mark and get together! I feel like I have been on a mission of organizing our house for the last few years and it is taking FOREVER!! BUT, I am seeing a difference, slowly but surely!! Just seems like everywhere I look there is clutter crying out for me to deal with it!! LOL!! One day my house will be dwindled down to the bare necessities and I will have more time to spend doing things I enjoy instead of constantly cleaning, putting away, etc. I wonder, if I'd turn my computer off for a week, how much I could get done?? BUT, I am selling some things online, so I need to be checking that periodically. So tell me, would it be better just to "get rid of" stuff and not worry about those couple dollars I could make by selling it, or is the extra $$$ worth the effort...sometimes I wonder if I don't just make myself busier by selling online...then I have to take the time to package and ship it, too!! Aaahhh!!!
And life goes on...and I must get to work....

Happy, Blessed Fall to each one of you!! :)

Marianna Re-enactment

Saturday morning Dan went to help mow grass for a couple from church who have health issues and were not able to mow for awhile. So, I took the kids to Marianna to watch a Reenactment of the Battle of Marianna back in 1864, during the Civil War. It was very interesting!!

In front of the church that was burned in the war...this was the actual battle grounds. The church has been rebuilt and they held a memorial service in there earlier in the day...

While walking down the street to where the battle was going to take place, I heard someone call out my name...it was one of my former S.S. girls, Ashleigh Mount. Her and her parents do reenactments in the Fall in different areas.
Ashleigh is the one to the left of the kids...
It was a HOT day for a parade, but that is how it started out...
~The Band~

Riders...

And the battle begins....heard a lot of talk about those Yankees going back to where they came from...I'm glad that for the most part, people are more receptive to Yankees living in the south these days!! :) :) :)

Here come the blue-coats!! (Union Army)


The Confederate Army surrenders....

This lady came looking for her 2 nephews. One was in the Confederate Army, the other had joined the Union...she hadn't heard from them and was worried!! ;)

Gunfire in the streets...

Uh-Oh!! Looks like someone's in trouble!!

A dead man laying right by the sidewalk....check out the chicken legs. Think that was his lunch or what was left of his arm?? :)

Another round of shots...

As we were walking to our vehicle, we could still hear gunfire in the streets down the block. It echoed loudly through the alleys. We talked about how it would have been scary if this was for real, and what it would have been like to be a little kid hiding out during this time.... I think we'll be doing some more research on the Civil War in the near future!! :)