Posted in Random Ramblings

It is really hard to believe that a new year has begun.  I know that I haven't really blogged much lately.   We have been so busy at my house that the New Year almost came in unnoticed.   As many of you know, my parents have been living with us since my dad returned from Charlotte in September after having open heart surgery.   We have really enjoyed having them here.    The kids love being able to see their Granny & Pappy every day.   A couple of weeks ago they found the perfect place to live, only 1/2 the distance from us as their old house.  (That makes a huge difference when one lives in a tourist town.)  Anyway, they moved into their new house on New Year's Eve.  I am sure they are excited about starting a new year in their new house. 

We have been rearranging our house.  When we started homeschooling we bought the girls bunk beds so they could share a room and made one room into our schoolroom.  Well, the girls are getting older and wanting to have their own rooms back.  UGH!  I guess I can most definately understand that, especially since they spend so much time together.  It will be nice for them to have their 'own space'.   So, we decided to move the schoolroom into the family room... (thus getting rid of the family room) and moving the TV into the living room.  (The living room was just a quiet sitting room.)  So I have been moving books, bookshelves, furniture and papers (a.k.a. JUNK). 

Since we are going through all this trouble to move stuff, we are making the most of it and having a HUGE CLEANING OUT!!!  How did we get so much STUFF?   I am really proud of the girls.  They are really getting rid of stuff they no longer use.  When they get into their own rooms they will be empty.   LOL  What a great way to start the new year, fresh with a clean slate room. 

BTW, the school room is looking GREAT!  I love having more room.  I will post pics when I get it finished...hopefully that will be before 2009!   I didn't think I was going to like it, but I truly do.  A plus is that the fireplace is in there... so we will stay nice and cozy warm this winter.

In other news, I don't think that I blogged about this.  We had to have our sweet precious beagle, Cokey, put to sleep Dec. 7.   She was in congestive heart failure.  It was such a difficult thing to do.  My dh and I got her on our 1st wedding anniversary.  She was almost 14 years old.  I can count on one hand how many times I have seen my dh cry in the last 15 years I've known him.  This was one of them.  Of course, the kids were heartbroken.    To help with the blow... we got an inside cat.  (We don't have much luck with outside cats.)  Anyway, his name is Buddy.   He is really sweet, and good natured with the kids.  He doesn't fuss too much when they  Jacob drags him, swings him and throws him around the house.  The only thing is that Buddy has lost about six of his lives for pooping on  the carpet.  YUCK!!!  I just can't stand that.   He knows where his litter box is.   If he does it again, he will be definately be outside, or lose his remaining three lives. 

Finally, what do you think of my new look?  I was so tired of looking at my other template.  I designed this a few weeks ago but was waiting until the "official" start of winter to change it.  I haven't had time to update it until today.   Let me know what you think.. 

Well, I guess I better get back to cleaning.  'til next time...