Kudzu Korner

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ~Phil 4:10-14

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wordless Wednesday (11/19)

Posted in Kudzu Life

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Remembering Joshua

Posted in Kudzu Life
Two years ago today, our sweet Joshua was born still. Today, we remember a son that God blessed us with, even if it was for a short time.

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Sunday, November 16, 2008

Happy First Birthday, Kelsie!

Posted in Kudzu Babies
We had a pretty low-key day. We went to church and then came home and took a really good family nap. We all needed it! After dinner I tried to snap a few pictures of the birthday girl, but getting her to stay put in adequate lighting proved a challenge. As you can see from the pictures, I got creative.

Here she is as a ONE year old!

And we didn't have a cake, because her birthday party is next weekend with her brother, Sean.
So, she had her first ginger snap as a substitute.

Notice Andrew's hands holding her back? She REALLY wanted that candle!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KELSIE!!!

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Friday, October 31, 2008

Smashing Pumpkins

Posted in Kudzu Life
Today, we went on field trip! The university has an annual "Pumpkin Drop" and we made a day of it. Andrew had a vacation day today and we arrived just in time for the first pumpkins to go flying. I hadn't been since I was a student (was that really 15 years ago?) and it was a lot of fun. I wish I could describe the "thud" they made and you knew that the pumpkin hadn't made it. It reminded me of shows like CSI or Law and Order where they add those wonderful sound effect for a thud to the head. (gross)

Here is a full shot of the engineering building...that platform at the top was the launch pad.

One of the first packages ready to go...

Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!

This one's parachute opened nicely!

The judges checking to make sure there are no cracks!

WE HAVE A PUMPKIN!!

I didn't get this one coming down,
but it was the first one that went over by a group of area homeschool kids.
It was very colorful!

The judge was REALLY checking it over for any splits...

WE HAVE A PUMPKIN!!!
(Check out the floatie inner tube! Creative kids!)

This one used a sheet as a parachute and the box had a pillow attached to the bottom.

Another great chute!

This one flew beautifully...

...but it was disqualified because it went out of bounds...

way out of bounds....

and got a couple people in the crowd as well...

We left about halfway through the hundred and thirty some drops.
These were the survivors at that point.

And, just because she's so stinkin' cute!
My Kelsie...

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Monday, October 27, 2008

The Mommy Wars

Posted in Kudzu Life
No, I don't mean the Good Mommy versus Bad Mommy debates that you can find on Dr. Phil and Oprah. I mean the growing debate among my three oldest children.

Christopher is now 7 1/2 years old. Sometime after 7, it becomes clear that calling your parents "mommy" or "daddy" is uncool. For homeschooling kids, you can maybe put off the urge to shorten their title until about 7 1/2. But, should you be a boy, and join Cub Scouts, forget it. That extra syllable is just too much. Of course, after watching "mom" pout over her new name, it's okay to decide "I'll call you Mommy at home, but at scouts you are MOM."

Agreed.

Now, throw a couple more kids who MUST do what their older brother does and the Mommy wars have started. For now, the votes are tied...but it could sway at any moment.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Redistributing the Wealth

Posted in Kudzu Ramblings
I don't normally forward emails. I don't normally post political things on my blog. Sometimes though, somethings are too funny not to share.

I have NO CLUE who originally wrote this...it's an email forward.

---

Redistribution of wealth

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign the read, 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a 'Obama 08' tie, again I laughed -- just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need -- the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed the money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application. OR IS IT REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WEALTH IS A GREAT IDEA?

I can't stop laughing. TOO FUNNY!
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Friday, October 24, 2008

Happy Birthday Erin!

Posted in Kudzu Kids
Wednesday was my sweet girl's 6th birthday. I have no idea where the last 6 years have gone. It seems like just yesterday when the nurses were telling me that I wasn't really in labor and they were probably going to send me home...taking a nap for a half hour and waking up screaming...only to deliver her 2 1/2 hours later.

I've been going through old pictures on the computer...trying to come up with some way to organize them. (ha!) and have found some of my favorites. In honor of her birthday, I thought I'd share.

October 22, 2002 - In the hospital, just a few hours old.

Just a week old.
Christopher would come in every morning and
peek into her bassinet to make sure she was still there.

2 months old at Christmas.
My mom had a stuffed santa thing hanging from
the ceiling and Erin thought it was hysterical.

Around 7 or 8 months old.
This picture kills me. LOOK AT THOSE THIGHS!
I love it!

And one with mommy!

2 years old.
She loved this jumper.

Let's GOooooooooooooooo Mountaineers!!

Her 3rd birthday.
At least she has her priorities straight.

3 years old.

4 years old.
Lovin' on MaMaw.

And now...6 years old!!
Isn't she beautiful??

Happy 6th Birthday, Erin Grace!!!

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Sunday, October 19, 2008

Meet Cooper

Posted in Kudzu Life
My mom is here visiting for the weekend and brought her new little Yorkie with her. Cooper is as sweet as he can be and LOVES to play. The kids are eating that up! I have to post this. It's huge, I know, but you're going to laugh. It's too funny!

Cooper and our exersaucer...

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Psalm 1

Posted in Kudzu Academy
Memory Work: For the first 6 weeks of school the kids memorized one verse of Psalm 1 each week. Then all together...

Here is their "final project" for Psalm 1.

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Misc stuff

Posted in Kudzu Life
Wow. As much as I'm on the computer you'd think I'd update more here. Time has a way of getting away from me these days. I'm not sticking to my schedule and it shows!

Misc rambling #1: Update on me. A couple people have sent a few messages asking about my weight loss. It's going well. As I sit here reading Tereza's blog about coconut covered chocolate cakes (yum!), I am down 92 lbs from when Kelsie was born. I'm hoping to reach 100 lbs GONE by the time her first birthday rolls around next month. I just need to get back on track with my exercising and paying attention to what I'm eating more. I get relaxed and will go a few weeks ignoring it and then I'm surprised when the scale doesn't go down. I need a big sign that says "DUH!" to hang in my bathroom.

Misc rambling #2: School. It's going well. We've slowed down some and it's mostly my fault. I have a very pretty schedule and I like to ignore it a lot. We're still getting things done, just not as much each day as I want to. I'm praying for discipline (for me) in this area and I know the kids will follow along when that happens. Christopher's reading is progressing in leaps and bounds. I'd like to convince myself that eventually he'll love to read like his momma, but I'll settle for the ability. Erin, on the other hand, is a sponge. She's progressing through 1st grade language arts and reading like it's nobody's business. I've caught her a few times helping Christopher figure out a word too. She's going to pass him up...soon. Sean's working on his blends and has mastered /ck/ - /sh/ - /ow/ - /ee/ - /nd/ and a few others I can't think of right now. He wants to do math now too. So I have to find something fun for him that keeps him interested. He can spell his name now when you ask and is started to write his letters, but that's a long road yet.

Misc rambling #3: Birthdays. Oh boy. This is the time of year when fun abounds! Erin has a birthday this month (along with her Nannie and Mamaw) and she'll be having her horse themed party in a couple of weeks. Kelsie and Sean have birthdays coming up too. Kelsie is just before Thanksgiving and Sean is just after, so we're going to combine them for a party this year. Sean's wanting an Elmo party and Kelsie could care less, so she's getting Sesame Street too. We usually do a smaller party in the fall than we do in the early summer for Christopher, but I think I'm going to try and do up Erin's party a little this year too. Not a lot of people, but LOTS of fun!

Misc rambling #4: Andrew. I tell you what. I am so blessed. Andrew is one of the most hard working dedicated men I can imagine. He pours himself into work and then comes home and pours into me and the kids until he collapses into bed every night. There are lots of things in my life I may not have done right, but convincing that man he needed me was the best move I ever made. Fortunately for me, he agreed with me! Funny thing is, I was sneaky...the truth is I need him more than he'll ever know.

Misc rambling #5: Outside activities. Here I thought I'd have this spare time on my hands by not participating in the MOPS steering team this year. Boy was I wrong. Christopher has joined cub scouts and is really enjoying it. Last week his pack spent their meeting picking up trash along the rail/trail and you know what he said to me when he got home..."Mom, I never thought trash could be fun." Really? Figure out how to make it fun at home, because we've certainly got enough of it. And don't tell me I have to invite your cub scout pack here to clean it up. There's only so much embarassment a mom is willing to take. He's been selling BoyScout popcorn as well and I'm rather impressed with him. I hated fundraisers when I was a kid. My ability to sell things consisted of sending the form with my mom to work and MAYBE asking my dad to buy something. There were plenty of times that I didn't even bother with that. He seems to like it though, so I'll give him that. Last week, he was even in the local Buckwheat Festival parade. I'll try to get some pictures up of that soon! He had a blast! And, it didn't hurt his momma's heart ONE BIT that as he passed us in the parade he was blowing kisses to his mom. Nope. Didn't even get one tear...nope...sure didn't.

Misc rambling #6: Garden. I don't know if I'll be able to make anything of it or not, but I'm planning a small garden for next year. Our land if really a lot of rock, so I'm going to try and do one small raised bed garden and see what happens. This is going to be a LONG learning process I'm sure. I'm not a person with a green thumb at all, and I tend to kill things that are supposed to be green. SO...my goal is to try. I can do that, right? Of course, the deer and rabbits and squirrels and foxes and any other animal I can think of will be trying as well. Adding a fence to my list of supplies....

Misc rambling #7: Prayers. For those of you that don't mind joining me in prayer. I have two ladies that could really use it right now. Teresa and Julie are both heavy on my heart today. Teresa and I have been friends for 8 years now and I've never even met her face to face. I love her like a sister and she's going through a really rough time. Prayers for her health and recovery from surgery are much appreciated. Julie is a local friend and a pastor's wife. She and her husband are having a baby and they could use some prayers as well. Thank you prayer friends. I appreciate it.

Okay, I think that's enough rambling for now. I need to get a grocery list finished and get a shower while the babies are down and I can. Hope everyone is having a blessed day!

~Michele
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About Me

I am a mom to five wonderful blessings--Christopher (7), Erin (6), Sean (3), ^Joshua Michael^ stillborn (11/18/06) and Kelsie (11 months). I have been married 13 years to the love of my life, who is also the most amazing man on earth!