Ready to Go??

Ethan is ready to go camping. After this Summer we filled up our US map. We are leaving in November for Tennessee & Georgia

Lola

Here some pictures for my totally cool super model sis who is Lola's mother. I am taking good care of your baby!


Oh no, is that a threat to Lola, Run don't let her put you on a leash.

Our Dream Home~~Goes to the Dogs

Our Alabama farm house on 20 acres, 2800sq

feet Nice large front porch and rear porch off the master suite. The back of the property has a creek running through it. It is dripping crown molding, high ceilings, and hard wood floors. You walk out your front door and down a short country driveway to the local country store, or antique shop that sells fresh bread. All this paradise for 259,000 which is high for the market, so you could probably get it for closer to 200,000. Well we were almost convinced that this was our escape. I mean the home is 3 minutes from the lake and my mom's cabin.




So, anyway we viewed the house with our realtor. Mike talked to the next acre over neighbor, and we were pretty certain we were moving to the deep south. Well on our way home Sunday as we were leaving we decided to ride by one more time, and we chose to ride down to our third would be neighbors house. It is about 2 acres down from the house and guess what ran out of the yard to greet us? Three big pit bulls, and a puppy. Yes, well that clinched it for me. We would be moving to the country so that my kids could never go outside unless armed. Of course there are no leash laws in the Alabama country, much less fence laws. So this is not the home for us. =(

Confessions Of A Homeschooling Mother Part 2

Ok, we are off the house selling/hunting for the time being. I cannot walk and chew bubblegum at this moment, so schooling Maddy 4th grade, taking care of Ethan, and the drama queen (Livvy) while keeping my home show perfect is not in the cards. We have not finished a complete week of school yet this school year. I have painted my bathroom a yucky shade of coffee and that will soon be remedied. I have painted the school room, the trim around the house, and I have the front porch, flower boxes and back porch ceiling to be painted. I have organized closets and arranged furniture, hung curtains and am in the process of peeling off wallpaper. Yes, this is why I have not been posting picturesof what we are eating for dinner. I guess I could just take a picture of Tony's Pizza and that would cover most days. So, the moral of this confession is that Monday morning we are hitting the books full swing, and no more house selling projects~~~for now. PS... I tried to tell Maddy that I would fail her this year and we could play all year and pick up fourth grade next year. She was not buying it....

Naptime

Here are some pictures of what I found during "Nap Time" today.

Metal Mouth

Before

After

Things I Heard Today

Olivia: Mom, I locked the door (bathroom) on purpose..
Me: On purpose?
Olivia: I can't unlock it... distressed I did it on purpose.
Maddy: You mean on accident, Olivia
Olivia: No, I did it on purpose, I didn't mean to
Maddy: No, that is an accident
Olivia: Yelling, no I did it on purpose...
Both: MOM...

Desperate Preschoolers

Ok, so they are probably not desperate however we have been having preschool drama for over a week. It is all revolving around my friends' son, Joe.

Joe is apparently a hot commodity at preschool. (And you were worried about socialization Tiff?) All the girls want to play with him. He on the other hand is way too cool, and wants to play with his new school friends. Well Olivia wants to play with Sarah, another friend, but Sarah wants to be Joe's special friend. Well Joe only wants to play with Sarah away from school. Olivia has been coming home and asking me to pleease call Sarah's mom and tell her to play with Olivia and not Joe! So you see the issue, Sarah wants to play with Joe, Olivia wants to play with Sarah, and Joe doesn't want to play with either of them. As I am driving home Olivia constantly asks if I can drop her off at Sarah's house and pick her up after dinner. I am completely cool with that, however I don't know what Caryn might have to say about it...Hmmm? Maybe she can just move in... Well Friday and today Olivia has been very happy and has not asked me to call Sarah's mom, so I asked her about Joe & Sarah, that's right I wanted to know what was happening in this weeks episode of Desperate Preschoolers. Well Joe and Sarah broke up according to Olivia, and now Olivia and Sarah are best friends again (at least for today). Yes I had to keep a straight face as she told me this. Oh and where did Livvy come up with they broke up?? Too funny. So Joe's mommy please try and keep your studmuffin boy from breaking all the girls hearts on the playground, if you can't manage that just tell him to stay away from Sarah

or else

I Finished My Christmas Quilt Today!!!

Ok, Just kidding. If Debi H hadn't held me up with her square it would be done ;0)

I had fun last night, it was so worth all the cussing, I mean aggravation to have such beautiful squares. Thank you so much Steph and Michelle you all are great. Whenever I look at my Christmas blocks, I mean quilt I will fondly remember all you ladies.

**disclaimer** For those of you who do not know me, this is NOT my quilt. This is a picture from about.com Christmas quilting is the topic. Please no plagiarising lectures...

A Woody!!

There's No Place Like Home..There's No Place Like Home...

Well I am back, and per request I am checking back in. I am super busy sewing away on my last 8 squares. More to come soon....

I am leaving and Never coming back.......

until Sunday afternoon that is... I am driving my supermodel sis to Alabama tomorrow and leaving her there all by herself..~tear~ My amazing husband is keeping all of our children (all three of them) while I send Lyns off. So if you see my crew out and about this weekend show them some grace. I am entirely expecting no hair brushing, teeth cleaning or bathing will be going on. As he likes to let them dress themselves they may also look like street children, but I am totally sure they will be having fun with their dad! All that counts is everyone is still alive and well when I get home. I am not sure if Olivia will be wearing panties this weekend..hmmm..I better make sure I dress her tonight for preschool in the AM. We have so far worn panties every day to school this year. Go Livvy!

See you all in a couple days. Please pray for travel safety for us and for my sweet husband as he cares for the kids.

Confessions of A Homeschooling Mom Part 1

I have a feeling there will be many chapters to this topic theme over the year. The beginning of a school year usually is filled with excitement. New crisp books to read, clean sheets of paper and sharp pencils. I usually diligently outline our lessons and plan library trips and corresponding activities for our school week. Well not this year. I wake up dreaming of jumping in our RV and touring civil war museums and battlefields instread of reading about them. I long for the excitement and adventure of the open road, and three screaming kids in the backseat. Am I procrastinating jumping back into our school work full force, it is possible, I have been known for it. Have I not found our groove yet from being back? I feel like I am spinning in circles. We do our obligatory school work, boy does that sound exciting? I am already planning our next summers trip to Yellowstone, and we have barely been home a month. Am I crazy to contemplate selling our home and travelling? Right now I should be cooking dinner, I mean ordering take out, remember the oven is dead=) but I am dreaming about campfires and smores. Help, I have contracted wanderlust.

Going Away Party

My parents had a going away party for my sis, Lyndsay on Sunday. Yes, I totally did not want to reward her bad choice in leaving us, but as her loving sis I attended, and brought buffalo chicken dip to boot! My blog is a kind of present for Lyndsay. It is a way she can keep up with the kids and what's going on at home, yes and to know what's for dinner each night! I am really going to miss her, even though she is totally spoiled and a brat we all love her. And now I am crying... and Mike is loading up the Uhaul?? Mike, stop packing up our stuff, Lyndsay is moving to Alabama not us!!...............Well here you go sis, enjoy the pics

I am halfway there, maybe

Yeah I am half way through our vacation pictures to be posted. I only have Lancaster, Valley Forge, Philadelphia, Plymouth, Salem, Boston, Bar Harbor, Lubec, and Niagara to go!!!! So stay tuned!

Mount Vernon, VA

This was one of my favorite places we visited. I felt the walking audio tour was amazing. The films and Imax movies were the best (I am a discovery History channel junkie) . It was hot but a nice breeze came off the Potomac, so it was somwhat bearable. The museum at the end was AMAZING. It was a chance to walk through Washington's life. It had movies and interactive displays for the children. There was one IMAX movie that was so cool. The cannons would fire and your seats would shake and smoke would billow. In the winter during the movie fake bubble snow would fall. I can truly say that for Maddy & I it clarified and brought to life our American History studies. It has been so neat to hear Maddy talk about the American Revolution and our Founding Fathers. This trip has definitely changed my mind about learning and teaching. I really believe that a hands on real life experience coupled with book learning is the way for us. Now where this takes us in the future we will see.....




We rented headsets as a self guided walking tour. The kids had a tour given by George Washington's cat.

Olivia always makes friends where ever we go.
Did I mention that it was hot?

Olivia found a ladybug in the grass and wanted to take it back home for Ms Shawnee (her preschool teacher). Ms Shawnee loves ladybugs hence her aka name Ms Ladybug

I finally convinced her to let it stay with it's mommy
We were sitting on Washington's back porch, chills anyone???
Ethan had fun too.....Hey where's my headset?????

Dinner

I know everyone is dieing to know what the Freeman's have been having for dinner. Sadly our oven died on Sunday, and since we had takeout Friday & Saturday I had no idea that we would be eating out all week. I suppose I could take pictures of the takeout food, or cook on the stove, nahhh....Our new oven should arrive on Monday, so soon I will have to cook again. For now I am on a cooking holiday. On a side note, who knew ovens were so expensive =)

Night Tour of DC

Myself and the girls took a night tour of the monuments in DC. Mike stayed at the camper with Ethan and we set out for the tour pick up site at the campground. We took a tour bus to The Jefferson, Lincoln, & Vietnam memorial. It was alot cooler and we were able to enjoy walking around the capitol.

Vietnam Memorial, the girls were able to rub a pencil aon paper across the names. Maddy was struck by the reflection of yourself as you read the names.

The Vietnam Nurses Memorial was across the park and amazing. My pics didn't turn out because of the darkness.

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC

We visited Arlington and went on the trolley tour. Our tour guide was excellent with all the history of who's buried here, and how Arlington became our National Cemetery. The moral of the story is pay your taxes if you don't want your land confiscated! I guess the Civil War had a little to do with it also...






Where are we going?? Did I mention it was really really hot? I think Olivia told me that only about 150 million times. You wouldn't think we are from Florida....she acted like she had never been through a summer.. Hang on Olivia we are only one more stop until cooler weather kicks in...



This was the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier



This was Olivia's interpretation of the changing of the guard