10 Things That Bring a Smile to My Face:

1. Jeff's face
2. A hug from a child
3. The warmth of the hot water bottle on my cold toes
4. Sitting in the sun reading a book
5. Ice cream
6. Phone calls from my Mom and Dad
7. Vacation days
8. Dinner or lunch or breakfast eaten out at a restaurant
9. Fillet Mignon dinner with asparagus and soft rolls--white or wheat
10. Flower gardens

These are some of my favorite things.

Take the Quiz here!

Wow! I always did relate to her. Take the quiz. It's fun.

Then be sure you take the time to read a Jane Austen book and watch a movie--or 2 or 3 or 4 of each.

If you are looking for some other good "girlie" reads try these:
A Lantern In Her Hand or Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich
A Girl of the Limberlost or Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter
My Antonia or O Pioneers by Willa Cather

Have a great one. You know I will.
Stacie

We went up the canyon for our last day of vacation and took our anual fall photos of the boys. I thought I'd share a picture taken in the boys' favorite spot. They set it up and just smiled so nicely. Perhaps I am biased, but they are the best looking bunch of boys I've ever seen.

For most of the photo shoot Joseph refused to look at the camera, Matthew wanted to stick out his tongue making faces, and Ben was happy. Joshua provided a new camera for the photo shoot this year. Hopefully the quality of the pics will be better with the higher pixels. Chris was my right hand man never once having to be asked to chase after little JoJo. And lastly Nathan just happy to be and experience what we are doing.

We had a lovely week of vacation. I didn't get the skirts or pants finished up, but I did tie up some loose ends and prepare for Matt's baptism. Cousin play day was on Thursday. Thanks to the cousins who came. We love playing during our bi-monthly get togethers. Kari and I perused the bead catalog and should be ready to put in the bead order soon. I finished three more bracelets and a necklace. Tae and Trevor spent the night, and Tae made three bracelets herself. I'd say the week was wonderful.

May Heaven's Blessing be upon all of you this coming week. Thanks to all who came to the baptism service and luncheon. We'll post an update on that event next.

Ooops! Hit the wrong button.

As for the teacher, I would like to take a moment to brag on myself.

1. I cut the extra length off of 6 pair of pants and 3 skirts this past week.
2. Hemmed 2 of the skirts.
3. Got all of the clothes in the house and in storage cleaned out and restored by size. Then I put them all away.
4. I posted a menu for the month for all three meals each day. This is the most wonderful thing I have done in a long time.
5. I finished reading My Antonia.
6. Made it through the hard part of chapter 2 in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I had to write about my funeral, stating what I hoped people would say about me after I was gone. This was a very eye opening experience. This exercise coinsides with the habit "Begin with the end in mind." Now do you see the point of the exercise? It wigged me out at first, but then I really enjoyed it.
7. I made 3 new bracelets this week. Since school began I've made 6 bracelets, 1 pair of earrings, and a necklace.

Now off to prepare for the new week. I plan to finish the rest of the pants and skirt, adding 3 dresses.

Things are going well. We are accomplishing much. Here are the highlights for the past few weeks:

1. Ben is sailing through his reading lessons with great speed and precision.
2. Ben is the best. He gets up, gets his chart, and gets right to work. His doesn't stop, usually, until he has everything checked off. You see, he gets to watch T.V. when all the boxes have a check in them.
3. Ben can count to 21 without missing any numbers now. He can count all the numbers from 1 to 100 with the hundred chart by himself as well. He is very proud, and so is his mom.
4. Matthew is now bored with reading lessons. There is a magical point at which a child surpasses the book. Ah, but mommy is making him continue to the end for his own good.
5. Nathan's handwriting is absolutely lovely. I'd even venture to say "near perfect" cursive.
6. Christopher loves Band and Seminary. It looks like he is right on track to upgrade into symphonic band second semester.
7. Josh has an "A" in each of his college classes, and has repeatedly pointed out to his mom how grateful he is for the schooling she "MADE" him do. He feels very prepared for his courses. he tutors some of the kids in the college algebra course and loves it.