Three beautiful things...

OK, I wasn't going to post another blog today, because I wanted to make sure everyone saw my precious girl on her birthday...so if you missed that one go to it next :)

But, Smallworld had to go and post her three beautiful things, causing me to think, and then want to post my own....here they are...

1. My Elisa's birthday and the look on her face with each gift...she got an extra gift because one of her gifts was this sweet bunny we got at Build A Bear...but with the whole lice thing, she can't have any animals, and I didn't want to give her that from C and B and then say, "sorry, that's all you got, now she goes away for a few weeks." So, she got a little extra!

2. Caleb making a banner and taping it to one of his chairs so she would have a special "birthday seat" where she could open her presents...he is very creative and wrote "yah! you're 5! Happy Birthday!"

3.Hearing Bekah in the bathroom say,"I Love you, E" and Elisa saying it back....they are dear, dear sisters....especially since Elisa got the Pet Shop Bekah has "always wanted"...Bekah said "oh, you will share with big sister, right?"

Baby girl....

Look who I was blessed with five years ago today!!!

Elisa was our surprise baby. Not because we didn't want three, we just wanted a third a year or two later...Caleb was 3 1/2 and Bekah was 1 1/2 when she was born.

To say that first year was hectic, stressful, sleep deprived, would be an understatement. But, look what I got in return!! This little girl brightens my life, and all those she meets. She is precious.

I have actually dreaded today for awhile because she is, well 5 now...and my youngest...but this morning I heard her little feet running to my room and I couldn't wait to see her and wish her a happy birthday. I said "is that my 5 year old?" And her face lit up. She melts my heart.

The first thing she wanted to do was work on....school. It's Saturday, but she says it is her birthday and she pulled out he Explode the Code 1 book, and went to work...she is also very funny..and loves to learn....

Festivities won't be too grand today, what with the lice and all...but we will enjoy her as a family...play games, read books, watch movies...whatever she wants to do...we did pick out funfetti brownies for dessert....

I love this little girl, and I am so happy to have had these 5 years with her,even if they flew by....and I can't wait for the next 5, and the next....

Happy Birthday, Baby girl!!! (She did tell me I could still call her that...)

Ewwww....

*update*

just found first bug in Bekah's hair...now going real crazy here.....

So, a few weeks ago, my kids took part in a play for church called "Kids Under Construction." It was so sweet, and so special, and all were very touched at our church. The kids all wore overalls, or overall dresses, in my girls case, and I braided the girls hair in Laura Ingalls braids. Elisa complained from the beginning that her hair was too tight and that it itched.



And itch she did. Through the whole play. She would do her hand motions with one hand, and itch with the other. Everyone said how cute she was, but it bothered me that, after all the practices she was up there scratching...she was cute, though, scratches and all...anyway, I turned to my friend , Tamara, who was sitting next to me and I said "you probably think she has lice....she doesn't"

Guess where this is going?
The scratching continued, and I asked my mom about it. Her advice was that Elisa probably has a dry scalp....

What are we in denial here?
So, tonight Mike helped her wash her hair, making sure it was clean. But, when I brushed it out, it was still dirty...and then when it was dry, I saw it...a bug...a brown bug (lice is white, right?) Nope, not if they have been there LONG ENOUGH...

So tonight I spent 3 hours pulling what had to have been over 70 (ugh) eggs out of my precious girls hair until 12:30 a.m.....tomorrow, more laundry and the bagging up of pillows and stuffed animals....

Ewwww...my head itches....

Glimpses of Fall in Tennessee...

Yah! My computer is working downstairs again...so now I get to post pictures of what has been going on around here this fall.... September is the beginning of our Scout "year"...Here is my Bear and my Tenderfoot...

Here are the Tenderfoot girls helping to decorate our church...

We went to the Oak Ridge Playhouse to see The Velveteen Rabbit...Caleb had to bring Little Joe, of course!

Bekah learned how to ride a bike without her training wheels...

We finally have a house with trees, so lots of leaves for great pictures in the fall...and for Caleb to have to rake...

Need I say anything? Fun night...great movie...

And, of course Halloween where I had a knight, Pocahontas (historical figure, not Disney Princess, and Cinderella....you know, Disney Princess)

The kids with the awesome trick or treat bags I made that day out of tank tops...very cute...

And...Mike and I as a Catholic School couple....I found my 8th grade uniform that afternoon..and well...instant costume!! Unfortunately, it didn't fit as well as it had 20 years ago....

Homeschool Memoirs #12: Let's Play a Game!

This week at Homeschool Memoirs:

Homeschool Memoirs #12: Let’s Play A Game!Homeschoolers are very resourceful people. They use what they have and use them to their best ability. I know in our home many times people ask us how we use this or that for learning, and we are happy to explain it’s value. I think the main thing that a lot of people miss is that life is learning, and you must use everything in your home for learning otherwise you won’t fully be prepared.


I love to play games. We played games growing up, and I have very fond memories of playing cards and Yahtzee with my Grandma. While we don't play as much as I would like...we do love games in the Williams house....Here are some of our favorites...

Go fish...we play the traditional game, we play with states and their capitals, with colors, shapes, and with Dora the Explorer...

Memory...same thing....we do this with whatever kind of card we have to match...

Great States, Jr....This one is a great way to explore and learn about the country...

Battleship...Caleb and I love this game. I love strategy games, and he does too...and has smoked me a few times at it...but the girls enjoy this too...

We also have pizza games for fractions, games with making shapes into a picture....and, of course, the High School Musical games, which you know, teach, ummm memory skills when learning songs and dance moves....

Yahtzee is a favorite around here too, though we haven't moved past the Disney game...I will have to get out five dice and teach them the real way to play....

And, of course, we love Candyland, and Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, and Disney princess...

Thirteen years...

Thirteen years ago today, I married my best friend. Today we celebrated by going to vote together, and then a trip to Cades Cove with Mike's mom and her husband, who have been visiting all week, and finally our annual trip to the Melting Pot (alone) for dinner....

I am stuffed, and ate a lot of that sugar I said I gave up a year ago, and now await the election results.

But, all that aside, I have to say, I love you, my Mikie. I am so thankful to have you in my life. You make me laugh, you are a great dad and a wonderful husband, and I enjoy being with you and being married to you....

Happy Anniversary!!!

Aren't we cute?!!

Election Day....

Happy election day! I just got back from voting with Mike, the first time we got to go together. And it's our anniversary..how romantic.

Now, I am not real political, but I do believe people should exercise their right to vote...even if they don't agree with how the votes are counted. I was in line behind my friend, Alina, who became a citizen last year. This was her first time to vote. What a privilege we have in this country.

So...If you haven't already...get out and VOTE!!!