YIKES!!!

I just noticed that its been a while since I wrote something....

Well, college is over for all the kids here.  Samuel has not much to go!!  (YAY ME!)  ( him, too!)  Siena has once again gotten a perfect 4.0.  We are still waiting to hear for Chloë & Lance.

And......drumroll please........

I AM NOT FREEZING ANYMORE!!!!!   Okay, so I am still cold, but not freezing!!   I wish I could put a little jumping, rejoicing happy face in here.  Oh well, just imagine it.

The flowers have been planted, and hopefull we will have a riot of colors in front of our house this year.  It will look so pretty.  John said he is going to go pick out the hanging flower basket from the garden center this weekend.  Believe it or not, he is better at it hen I am.    I need to take a picture one of these days.

So, I told Chloë when she comes back from Texas, she & I are going to make a stone patio in the back yard!!  Totally can't wait!!!  She has 2 weeks in between coming home & starting work at camp.  I think 2 weeks should do it. I am going to the library and see if I can get some books on how to do it. lol

Well, off to water the gardens.  ~mad

As you may or may not know, we have 3 college students living in our home. 2 are our own, and Siena.  Well, they have about a week and a half left of school, and our home is a stress factory. 

Last night I started making muffins at 11pm.  The girls were working on papers & studying.  I thought maybe a midnight snack would help.  It did.  Then I went to bed.  I woke up at about 2am and I still heard voices.  Both girls are doing well in school.  Siena has a 4.0 and Chloe has a 3.85.  Both are determined to stay that way or do better. 

My son , on the other hand, was out with friends.  Yes, this is his 3rd year of college, and he feels no need to kill his social life.  Granted he was at a Bible study...still, I doubt the girls will be like that 2 years from now.  Thinking about it, he was always like that. He has a 3.something.  (changes every semester, but stays at 3.?)

At one point last night, I was sitting outside on our front porch.  We live on a dead end street, and there is no traffic during normal times, so at night, its real quiet.  I have decorated our front porch to be "another room".  It is painted purple and green, has a bench, but also a table for tea cups, flowers, curtains, and my all time favorite, windchimes.  3 of them.  People have commentedhow inviting it is to walk up to our home.  THATS THE POINT! lol. Come on in.... Anyway, the point is, we have no leaves on our trees yet, and I was able to enjoy the stars.  At one point we will have leaves, and that too will be pretty, but for now, enjoying the stars while wrapped in a blanket at night in the cool of spring, well, God is good.

I CAN'T BELIVE ITS APRIL!!

Have I told yous all that we are a little bit behind in school???  Sheesh.  Its time to just buck up and catch up.

But on a better note, Easter this year was once again, glorious.  This is at  church the day before Easter. We put his cross craft on top on the computer screen.  Its pretty.

Easter candy hunt, at my parents,after our Easter meal, but before dessert!!  It was so cold, it was snowing!!!   And I have to say, we no longer put the candy in those platic eggs.  We just chuck them out the door.  Okay, not chuck, but just no longer use eggs. 

Chloë decided this year she is no longer too cool to go get some candy.  She figured she really has no one to impress, and candy to gain. PS  Are the shoes great or what??  Yes her foot is STILL broken.

John giving Samuel some "hints"

And of course, PEEPS!!!  My personal favorites.  I am forced to share them, the kids give me a pathetic look when I don;t.

Well, our state made the news. I never quite ever thought this was exciting, because if you make the news, then usually something bad happened.

We had a bank robbery at our bank.  Evidently, an FBI agent was trailing the robbers before they go there, having robbed 2 banks already, there was a stand off, and he got killed.  They closed the highway, and theres a lock down at the business & area preschools.  They closed down my daughter's college, which is about 5 minutes from the bank. They got 2 of the suspects, but one of the robbers escaped, and is on the loose.  Since there was a shoot out, he is considered armed & dangerous.  It is a very rural area, so its tough.  YES there are many rural areas in NJ.  

Poor man.  Doing the righ thing, and dying in the process.  We have been praying for his family.  If you think of it, pray for them also.

So, the education fair was fun last week.  I got a picture. All the other pictures came out awful.  But here you can see his castle at least.   Our robotics team showed us a demo. They came in 3rd place and now they are going to nationals in , ummm, Georgia?  Or was it TN?

Anyway, funny story.  The other day, I left Samuel at the diningroom table doing his school work.  No big deal, its happened before.  When I came back to the room a few minutes later, he was no where to be found.   I found him in theother room doing this:

 He had taken his pants, and was hanging himself off the door knob.  I quietly got my camera, took a picture, and left.  Later I asked him why he was hanging off the door knob.  He looked at me with a straight face, as though I was sooo daft not to know.  He said.  " I was floating, trying to be like an austronaut."  

Okay.

And in my last post I put in some pictures of our beagles.  Well here is our Leonberger, Shelby.  We got her from the rescue.  She had been abused, and she was only 5 months old when we got her!!  How can anyone abuse a puppy??!?!?!  

Well, abused dogs will do one of 2 things. They will turn on you and be nasty, or they will be totally passive. Shelby is a puff.  She is a sweet dog, but looks ferocious.  When people come to the house,they are always a little nevous when they see her, because she looks like she could take off your left arm.  But then you realize she is just a moving rug.  Just lying where ever she drops.  And if you should go near her, she lifts her paws up in the air, hoping such a move will inspire you to rub her belly.  Thats her life in a nut shell.

This picture was taken last week.  Ugh.  BUT!! It was in the low 70s yesterday!!  YES!! 70s!!!! Most of the snow and ice melted.  ::sigh of relief:::  And somehow, she got that piece of firewood out there.  Probably to make the beagles jealous, since they can't move that thing. lol. 

Yup.  Its been a good week.

Life is interesting with 2 beagles.  Granted we also have a Leonberger, she is nothing like the beagles.

We have learned to put any type of food far from reach.  They will snag your breakfast or lunch in the blink of an eye if you get up to get something.  Unless you push your plate forward.

Yet, at the same time, I love our beagles.  They are worth those noses that gets them in trouble all the time. 

Here they are, Trouble & trouble Jr, also known as Reilly & Daisy.  Reilly is the bigger one with the bone.

So, we are having our co-op's Education Fair this week.  Samuel has been studying the middle ages.  We are almost done building a castle made out of our vaccum box.  And he has a battle scene done.  He will also display a chess set, and a time line made out of a sword.  Which is real cool!  I will post pictures when everything is done and on display.   He loves this time of the year.  He can't wait to show off his stuff. 

Last year he had the coolest dinosaur display.  He & John made this scenery our of plywood, plaster and gel that looks like water when it dries!  All his dinosaurs were on display, and allow me to say, it took more then 1/2 a "church" table.  We are talking alot of dinos here.

Well, off to Spanish class.  I teach homeschool high school kids Spanish 1 & 2.  Maybe I shouldn't say this, but this is by far my favorite group of kids. Ever!  Chloë says I say this every year. lol.  You all have a good one!  ~mad

I can't complain (yes I can) but really, here I was praying that the weatherman was off his rocker, and there would be no snow today.  I mean, 2 days ago it got to the 70s!!   Well, God heard me.

We didn't have snow.

We had an ice storm instead.

No.  Ice storms don't keep us Northern fools inside.  We are entirely too brave (thick headed) for such a thought.  We just figure a normal 10 minute ride will now take 2 hours.  But dog-gone-it, if we need to go to the bank, we will go to the bank.

No silly ice will stop us.

Hopefully.

Though I saw some pretty nasty accidents out there.

No, I will not miss this if we should move. (please Lord??)  7 inches of ice.  So much for going to the St Paddy's Day parade in NYC tomorrow. 

Bummer

Its suppose to snow tomorrow.  

So, I was going through some pictures, and I found these.  My sister wanted to take her kids to the Met, in NYC because they have never been. 

 Yes, tragic, yet true. 

So she asked if I would take them.  Like she had to ask.  I will go to a museum using any excuse I can get away with.  Sheesh.  Anyway, this is Samuel (my son) and Stephen (her son) having a blast at the knights, armor & gun area.

We spent about an hour just "admiring" everything in this hall.

Then her daughter Elizabeth wanted to go see that paintings.  They have the most beautiful paitings at the Met. duh. You can be there for days and still not get your fill.   Well, we were in the process of getting our fill, when I turned around to check on the boys, and this is what I saw.

  Boys.....

But we did eventually find a painting that they were able to get into.

Like I said.......boys.

AND, in honor of Opening Day being all of 15 days away (as my daughter has told me 3847 times today)

Shea Stadium

Chloë broke her foot in ballet class.

Being a dance major with a broken foot kind of doesn't work.......

my poor baby girl.

So, there are so many things I can say about the word amazing.

All which pretty much have to do with God.

The whole family went to go see Amazing Grace last night.  It was a good movie.  Samuel was a little lost, but we had the Radio Theater version, which he had listened to quite a bit beofre last night, so that helped in not getting totally lost.  I think the thick accent is what did him in.

It was snowing something grand on the way home from the theater. Actually it was snowing on the way  there.  But the drive home, in the dark with the snow falling in big chunky flakes was just the prettiest thing ever.   I have to admit, that is one of my favorite times.  But.  Let me also say, snow is beautiful for about a day.  Then you have the shoveling, the constant mud and wetness whenever you go out; and come in.  It gets dirty and tedious to have to deal with.  And of course, cold.   No, I will not miss snow that much when we move.  But I will enjoy that first day it falls while we are still here.

  Lent is tomorrow!!!!  

 I have yet to decide what I am giving up.  Chloë is giving up her iPod, Facebook, eating in between meals, and sweets.  She is always so good about it too.  Samuel is giving up Adventures in Odessy.  We have a million cds, and he loves them.  He is also giving up sweets.   I have been praying about what to give up.  I haven't decided yet, and I only have 4 more hours to go!!  Every year, Lance says he isn't going to do it, but he does at the last minute.  John doesn't observe it.   We are not Catholic, but I grew up Catholic, and this was a good habit I continued.

One year, we decided we were going to give up tv for Lent.  Then it turned to 6 months.  Then we gave the tv away and didn't own one for 11 years. lol.  We just one about 3 years ago again.  But we hardly ever watch it.  Except for football games.  We used to go to my parents on Sundays and watch the games.  I am seriously considering getting rid of it again. 

So, can I say, I am delighted with my chidren?  I am!!  John and Samuel are redoing the tile in the bath tub.  Its so precious to see John teaching his son. 

Chloë & I went to WalMart to look for something random, and left with patterns & material for spring dresses and skirts for her.  I need to get started on them, and she is learning to sew, so this is good! 

Well, on that note, I am going to clean up the kitchen & pull my sewing machine out!  You all have a beautiful day!  ~madeleine

UGH.  Its suppose to snow tonight into tomorrow.  I am running out of food, so I should go shopping tonight.  In all honesty, I need to get out of this house.   I am going a little stir crazy.   so, my choices are go a little looney, or feel the hammer on my joints thing.  Today, I am opting for the hammer.

3 DAYS UNTIL SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!!!  I love football.  Thats All that needs to be said about that.

During the off season, I watch my DVDs of games until preseason.   Speaking of football, I bought the Facing The Giants movie.  It is an evangelical movie that combines our Precious Lord, His Salvation, and living for Him.  And FOOTBALL!!  It was good.

Did I mention I love football?

Both my best friends couldn't pick out a football from a soccer ball. I have always wondered how on earth we became such great friends.  They don;t even bother calling when there is a game on.  

Once we went to a marrige weekend conference.  The guy giving the talk admonished the men to turn the game off and listen to your wife.  I looked at the love of my life, and I said " You turn the game off, you better run."  I didn't realize I said that loud enough for most of the couples around me to hear, until they were all cracking up.    Now mind you I wouldn't do much of anything if he did, just letting him know, thats not a good plan.   Yeah.   I love football.

3 more days!    

Its official.

I'm ready to move.

Okay, I have been ready for about 3 years now, but now......I AM READY!!

I am praying for the grace to keep living here for how ever long God desires, but, boy the winters hurt.  I went to the doctor's yesterday.  Again. I have to go to a rheumatic specialist.  And my Reynauds Phenom. is keeping me inside more then usual.  Kind feels like someone took a hammer to me fingers & toes.  And me knees. Forget about it.  My regular arthrits is acting up, and not leaving.

Okay I am going to stop complaining now.  Grace.  I need Your grace Precious Lord.

On another note, John & I went out to the Bonefish Grill for our anniversary.  It was DELICIOUS!!  I don't like scallops too much, but the way they prepared these, I could eat a ton.  I asked John what scallops look like in the sea.  He had no idea.  Maybe we shouldn't find out.   I love sea food, and they were good at preparing it.  Since I was born in El Salvador, and my dad is a sportsman fisherman, I eat anything out of the water.  Grew up that way.  Glad for it too.  Good eating!

Samuel needs help with practicing piano.  Be holy!  ~madeleine

Today is our 22nd anniversay. 

Twenty two years ago this day, at the "ripe, wise age" of 17, I married the love of my life.   I was a high school senior, he was a 19 year old in college.  We were not Christians at the time, and we had no idea what we were getting into. 

We thought we did. 

 We were wrong. 

It took Jesus Himself to show us how to survive this beautiful thing called marrige, and make it holy and precious.  Thank You Jesus that You came into our lives quick-like!  We barely made it into the second year without You.

Last night John & I played this game.  We went to bed late because neither of us would give up.  There is too much competition running through these veins of ours. lol.  I won.   I have a feeling there is going to be another game-challenge in the very near future. 

I love my life.  I love my husband.  No one makes me more happy, and to tell the truth, no one makes me more crazy mad.  But I love him. 

Happy Anniversary my love. 

I'm trying to understand what on earth happened over here.  Why did the "new improvements" become so difficult? And confusing?  My old pastor used to say, "Don't fix it if it ain't broke".  I didn't think this place was broke.

Moving on, life has been beautiful around here. Not to say it has been easy or care free.  Far from that!!   Our Christmas was lovely.  It is now my time of hibernation.  I tend to stay indoors most of the time now.  Its cold.  Samuel started skiing, and he has taken to it so quickly, its scary.  The first lesson he took was to show him how to balance, stop, ski.  About 1/2 way through the lesson, I went out to watch him, he was FLYING down the mountain!! Scaring his mother 1/2 to death.

Yup.  He is loving it.  And I am cold. 

Lance started his spring semester, He was going to Rutgers, but has been feeling like he should go to a Christian college.  He applied to the one here in NJ, got accepted and started last week.   Chloe starts on Monday.  She is excited to get back and start dancing again.  OH!  She had a performance back in the end of December and it was so beautiful.  It was breath taking.  She did a beautiful job.  Here she is back stage.

Well, its Saturday, and I need to clean my house.  You all have a good weekend.   GO PATS!

Oh WOW!!  I'm back!! 

So much has happened, I can't even start. 

I guess I'm happy to be back.   I've missed this place & all of yous. 

I have to start by saying that our 22nd anniversary is in 3 days! (the 23rd) We aren't doing anything special-like, just quietly celebrating the blessing.  And being thankful for it.

It is 11:33pm and I need to get to bed.  Catch up will come......

~mad

I walked into the livingroom, and Samuel was practicing his piano.  I realized for the first time his feet don't even touch the ground.  Priceless.

So, we have been going to the same Christmas tree farm for about 15 years now.  This guy has seen our kids grow up.  Every year, he catches up on life, and as Chloë puts it, he has grown all our last Christmas trees. 

This year's search was a cross between hyterical, and wanting to lock the kids up for about 10 years. I had the "bright idea" to take our annual picture while tree hunting.  Bad idea.  I did get some shots that were...interesting, though.

This GORGEOUS St. Bernard was there, and she walked past the kids as I took the picture.  Thats why they are all looking away. lol.

Samuel took a picture of  John & me.

  This is a good picture of the boys, except its just the boys.  Can't send this one out.

By the way, this is probably the smallest tree we have ever picked.  One year, it was so tall, the top of the tree was bent at the top.  We have 9' ceilings.  Yeah.  You really don't have a good concept of how big the tree is when you have the great outdoors to compare it to, and we always forget the measuring stick at the entrance.  After 15 years you would think we had it to a science.  Nope.  Not us.

So anyway, this place we go to, its a little over an hour from our house.  I keep telling John we should find a closer place, but when push comes to shove, we can't help but go back.  It just seems wrong to do or go anyplace else.  If and when we move, we will need to find a new traditional place. 

 So, in order to get to the farm, we have to cross the only covered bridge in NJ.  For the first time, I took a picture of the kids on it this year.  John was having a cow because people come whipping around, and he was afraid that the kids would get run over.  The only thing is, that NO ONE is driving around here.  Its out in the sticks.  I mean 3-people-live-in-this-town type sticks, and it was so cold, everyone was inside by the fireplace.

We had a good time inspite of ourselves.  The day before we had our Ladies' Christmas Fellowship.  Its a whole lot of fun.  My mom didn't come with me this year because she had to go to a Bar Mitzvah.  Bummer.  But Chloë bought Siena & Rachel.  I need to download those pictures.  Maybe for the next post.  Now to go vacuum & get the living room ready for the tree......

Yesterday was John's birthday. 

Of course we had as much of the family over as possible.  It ended up being just 12 of us.  But it was still a joy anyway. 

I got pictures of him with the kids.  Here is Chloë, after being at the at the dance studio rehearsing for 4 hours.

And Lance.  Who was pointing at himself and John, thinking I couldn't figure out who I was suppose to be taking a picture of and asking to hurry up already because he wanted cake.

And Samuel.  His carbon copy.  With tanner skin.

We didn't put all the needed candles.  The cake wasn't big anough.  I saw this card in the store, which was hilarious.  It said " Dad, this year we won't put all the candles on your cake."  Then you opned up the card and it said " We'll just light the lawn on fire"  We didn't buy it, but it was a little funny.

He got his mountain bike, which he has been asking for for a long time.  He was quite happy.

Happy Birthday, my Dear Love.  May God bless you richly with many many more!!!