Aaron, my baby :):)

Look how big (and handsome!) my baby is getting! The little (big?) smartie just got his first report card -- midterm was given out just over a month ago -- and the stinker received all A's again.

Is this the same boy who was struggling in comprehension last year? I think not. He has certainly found his niche now, hasn't he?

He is such the sensitive type, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings. Every night at the completion of his prayers, he always ask for forgiveness on things that he may have done to offend someone during the day. We could all use this ritual, at least I know I could.

His last football game is this weekend. His first handbell performance is on November 12th, and his choir group will be singing in this Sunday evening's service. If that isn't enough, he is participating in a bible drill competition this Saturday from 10:00 - 3:30, one of 8 children picked out of 25. My busy boy, that's for sure!

I'll post about my eldest son and brag on him in my next post. I also want to talk about an awesome invitation that DH received this week. :)

May you all have a good weekend. Our fall festival is this Saturday evening, so we'll be doing it in subsititution of Halloween's trick or treating. Be safe everyone!

I know I've been lackadaisical in posting lately, but its not for lack of desire to do so. My posting over the last two months has been very sporadic at best. I love blogging; I just don't have the time to do so on a regular basis. If you don't mind reading on a very irregular basis, then I'll continue to blog. :)

A ladies bible study is starting up this Friday evening (alternating Fridays). It's called Conversation Peace - The Power of Transformed Speech (note the spelling of Peace). It will take place in different homes every meeting. I'm excited to be able to start a regular bible study, although I do feel like that I'm really going to have to schedule some time to work on the workbook every week. A video will accompany the studies, and the hostess will just facilitate the study from the DVD.

Aaron has a football game on Saturday a.m. This will be his third to the last game played this season. He truly loves the sport, and has actually told me that next fall that he wants to play "tackle" football. Although this scares me a bit (Tanya - how do you as a mother to a boy that loves to play the game handle watching your baby get tackled?). I guess I do have a whole year to commisurate about it though, don't I?

At 5:00 on the same day, we'll be attending a "Low Country Boil" that our Sunday school class is putting together. If you haven't heard of one of these, it's where they boil together in a big broiler (outside) shrimp, corn, potatoes, and italian sausage. We usually chicken for the kids since most of them don't care for the combination of foods offered in the boil.

Between the church schedule this Sunday morning and evening, we are going to attempt to go to the fair. At least with limited time, we won't have to worry about spending the amount of money we normally do. Though I'm sure the boys will appreciate any time at all that they'll get to spend there.

That's all for now. Hope all is well with you guys!

Tag, you're it!

Thanks Tanya for tagging me. :)

GRUB-OLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Light Italian or Light Ranch

What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Chick-Fil-A

What is your favorite sit down restaurant? The Olive Garden, or Carraba's

On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?15 to 18%

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Chargrilled Chicken Salad from Chick-Fil-A (and this has been proven).

Name three foods you detest above all others? Anchovies, brussel sprouts, and collard greens

What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant? Chicken and Broccoli

What are your pizza toppings of choice? ham and mushroom

What do you like to put on your toast? I can't believe it's not butter and sugar free grape jelly - yummy! :)

What is your favorite type of gum? Stride, spearmint (new kind - it's good).

TECH-OLOGY
Number of contacts in your cell phone? 45

Number of contacts in your email address book? 150

What is your wallpaper on your computer? picture of the boys

What is your screensaver on your computer? Pictures of the kids/and me and DH

Are there naked pictures saved on your computer? no

How many land line phones do you have in your house? One

How many televisions are in your house? 4 (but 2 are for video games only!)

What kitchen appliance do you use the least? electric skillet

What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most? Easy listening mostly, or contemporary Christian.

How many sex toys do you own that require batteries? no comment

BI-OLOGY
What do you consider to be your best physical attribute? My smile.

Are you right handed or left handed? Right

Do you like your smile? yes, because people tell me a lot that I have a nice one. :)

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Do moles count?

Would you like to? no

Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom? No, that would be my husband.

Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? Definitely my sense of smell.I can smell EVERYTHING, just ask my husband.

When was the last time you had a cavity? Never (honest!)

What is the heaviest item you lift regularly? freeweights at the gym

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? No

MISC-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Absolutely not

If you could change your first name, what would you change it to? I have no idea

How do you express your artistic side? I don't think I have one of those ;)

What color do you think you look best in? royal blue or pink

How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison? not long at all

Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? I'm sure I have

If we weren't bound by society's conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at? Nope

How often do you go to church? 2 to 3 times a week.

Have you ever saved someone's life? no

Has someone ever saved yours? yes

DARE-OLOGY
For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.

Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? No

Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? No

Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000? nope

Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? no

Would you never blog again for $50,000? maybe

Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? No

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? No way! too chicken

Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000? No

Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000? No

Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? possibly

Now, I will tag Nino, Holly, and Kristin. :)

Remember Me?

I'm still around. No, I haven't given up on the ole blogging gig; I've just been enjoying the busyness that parenting brings.

Life in this household has definitely been busy, no doubt. Debate tournaments, book reports, projects, club meetings, football practices & games, and handbell practice schedules have all been keeping us moving constantly.

The first progress reports brought wonderful marks for both of the boys. Aaron made all A's (for the first time ever!), and Zack made 3 A's and 3 B's. With all that Zack had on his plate these first few weeks, I can't be too disappointed that he didn't receive all A's. As the year progresses, I know that he'll catch up with the schedules and will get most of those B's back up to A's. I'm not complaining at all that he got B's, but I know it's his desire (and mine) that he get A's as much as he can. With 2 -1/2 years left in high school (oh. my. God!), he knows that colleges will be looking at grades as well as SAT scores.

Aaron has been astonishing me more and more this year. His academics are finally beginning to shine. And, his teacher has emailed me on a weekly basis telling me how proud of him she is, how his maturity level has sky rocketed, even since the beginning of the school year.

I'm so darn proud of my boys, and that includes my husband. He has grown more spiritually these last few months than he has our entire marriage. He's always there reassuring me that no matter how bleak things appear, that things really will be ok. He makes me stronger every day.

Speaking of DH, the first official duties of his promotion will begin the week after next. He's already being compensated for the new title, now he'll have a chance to prove to them that the decision to promote him was indeed the best decision to make.

I hosted a ladies night in last weekend to more than a dozen friends from my Sunday school class. It was so refreshing to me. Zack was out of town at an overnight debate tournament, DH was out of town, and Aaron wanted to spend the night at his best friend's house, so I took advantage of an empty house and sent out a last minute invitation. I was pleasantly surprised to get such a great turnout. We talked about taking turns hosting a gathering on a monthly basis. Next month's plans are already underway, and I can hardly wait!

That's all for now from my neck of the woods. I hope everyone has a blessed week.

Making Changes

I've decided to change blog providers...no need in paying for something that I can have free of charge, right?

Anyway, you'll be seeing changes to this new site over the next few days and weeks to come as I learn how to get around in this new world.