The post Thanksgiving update...

I do hope that you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day...with lots of turkey, pecan pie and wonderful traditions...all wrapped up in many many moments of Thanks to our Father who gave it all to us!!!! We had a day just like that and we made lots of wonderful memories that will last us a long long time!!

I have pictures from the day, but I will have to share them later as they aren't uploaded yet!!

For now I will share some memories from the last couple of weeks... Aly is here with me and she wants to help comment on the photos...so here goes! Oh...by the way...there are more photos and fun on the homeschool blog (link on the right sidebar)

A good friend stopped by with a gift of some yummy fruit and other goodies for us. The girls made short work of it all for lunch the next day!!

We made muffins for breakfast one morning only to discover... that if you tilt your head slightly to the left, you will meet our new friend...the blueberry Muffin Man!!!

Aly decided to write and illustrate a story..I'll let her explain it...

"Super Person" by Aly Swindler

A girl was walking one day...

BOO! Out of nowhere, a skeleton appeared and she screamed "HELP! HELP!"

Super Person appeared and said, "I'm coming!"

Super Person took care of that skeleton for the girl!

Super Person saved the day!! The End~

Could it be??? Daddy's Little Princesses???? Yep!!! It's them!!!

Ahhhhhhhhh...happiness!

Ahhhhhh...craziness!!

eyeball girls to the rescue!!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever" PS 107:1

in HIS Mighty Grip...

All the days ordained...

Well, it's coming down to the last few days of summer. Most everyone we know has already started school and we start on Monday. What happened???? I can't believe it is almost over!!

Here are a few pictures of us enjoying these last few days!

The precious baby doing the Chinese Squat . She took the cushion out of the chair for this one...not sure why as her little tushy is not resting on the cushion...just her feet.

A quick game of Hopscotch in the sweltering heat.

Did I say that it was HOT???

Oh...I forgot to tell you that it was HOT!!! Look at those red cheeks!!

We came right in, put on swim suits and retired to the pool for the rest of the afternoon!!

The perfect Play-Doh ice cream cone for those HOT days!!

I'm not sure what this is, but she surely is proud of it!! I just love that smile :-)

Yummy Yummy perfect pink ice cream Play-Doh!

Aly and her funny Play-Doh princess~

A leisurely breakfast~

Yum Yum...my favorite cereal!

Mamma, it's hard to smile with a mouthful of cereal!!

We can't forget to feed Moeshe!

Our playroom ALWAYS looks so nice and clean!!!

Um...maybe NOT!! LOL

Dinner at Ruby Tuesday's...We LOVE Ruby Tuesday's!! The girls ususally eat their weight in salad bar!!

Beware of Chinese Spider-Lili...one never knows where she will show up!!!

I am so thankful for these two amazing children! I pray that God will continue to bless their young lives and draw them closer to HIM. I am so thankful that David and I were given the privilege of walking this journey with them!

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be."

Psalms 139:16

In His Mighty Grip~

How to have a happy family

Start with one very excited Daddy

Chop up some yummy green peppers and other assorted goodies

Put it all in the blender with other assorted spices and such (I will NOT divulge the secret recipe so don't even go there!)

Let the 5 yr old shove some of it into the blender too!!

Do it over and over a few times.

Don't forget to let the 5 year old pulse the blender some!! This step is crucial as it goes far in keeping melt downs at bay!!

Dump each batch all together into a big bowl.


Let the 5 year old stir. She's good at it...been stirring salsa since she was knee high to a tomato plant!! I mean really folks...she drinks salsa with a straw...always has!!!

* Let me take a moment to go back in time... the year was 2006...the secret family salsa recipe was being created by one little peanut. (Yes, she actually suggested our secret ingredient!)

Here she is stirring a batch way back when...what, did you think I was making it up?

Well, SOMEBODY has to test this stuff!!!

*Okay...now back to our story....

Let the 3 yr old watch. This picture was followed by Lili saying, "Wow Dad...that sure is a LOT of Salsa!!" Just for the record...she's not so much into salsa as her sister. She will eat it, but she doesn't inhale it like Aly...just not her thing.

Put it all into containers and stick it in the fridge.

Add some yummy blue corn chips and THAT my friend is how you make Salsa...Swindler Style!!!

In HIS Mighty Grip~

The Simple Woman's Daybook- March 9, 2009 edition

For Today...

Outside my window... The light is just starting to peek out and it is 54 degrees. It is supposed to be a beautiful sunny day with a high of 74.


I am thinking... that I wish I hadn't woken up quite so early...the clock read 5:34!!

From the learning rooms... we have some science experiments and some copywork to do. We are also behind on our bible verses and need to review what we have done so far.


I am thankful for…the fact that my legs didn't hurt as much today as they usually do when I get up. Thats a good sign!!!

From the kitchen... I haven't the slightest idea...I'm still half asleep...anyone have any good vegetarian suggestions for dinner tonight?

I am wearing… my blue nightshirt


I am reading... some articles that I printed out a while back and never got around to reading. There are a BUNCH of them I am trying to weed through.


I am hoping... to not fall asleep today while doing something important since I woke up so early this morning!!!!


I am creating... a new life for my little family...one step at a time.

I am hearing... the hum of the air purifier across the room. I love the QUIET of this time of day!!! As I say that, I hear a bird starting it's morning serenade right outside the window.


Around the house... I ALWAYS have a project in the works...they just never seem to get finished. But today I need to try to get caught up on laundry!! I spent most of the weekend outside with the girls and didn't get it caught up on Saturday.

One of my favorite things... is quiet early mornings before everyone gets up. I have always enjoyed that time alone, but I don't get it too much anymore. I MUST start going to bed earlier so I can get up and have my alone time!!!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...it is a picture of my Dad's hand. I don't know why, but I just am drawn to this photo. His hands have seen so much and I took this picture not too long after my mother passed away. I guess it is just sentimental and I remember all the love in these hands over the years!!!

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."

1 Peter 4:8

Stop by The Simple Woman's Daybook for links to others and to start your own. Thanks for droping in today!