The Feast of the Archangels

Yesterday was the Feast of the Archangels.

St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael.

What did we do?

We began the day with Mass, Reconciliation, then breakfast at Mc Donalds, in celebration. The kids had various activities and parties to attend, we did odd jobs and closed the day by seeing the movie Rush Hour 3 in the early evening.

Pizza and then our traditional dessert for this feast - Devil's Food Cake. To remember that St Michael cast the devil into hell.

This year, the cake was made by Jonathon and friend. We and our visitors enjoyed the cake, a great way to remember this feast!

Oh, and my dh is home, after being away for September for work. He bought me a gift - a perpetual calendar, with the title above ~ You Say I'm a B#%h Like its a Bad Thing!

A motto for every day - today's is most applicable. Or so say my sons and dh .

I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning, just not as it applies to me.

Well, true, I guess. Except I am in housewifey mode lately. Even searched for my copy of Speed Cleaning, a book gift , given to me last year ( in jest? ). Found it hidden in the pantry..

I read the book, looking for ways to remove rust from our carpet - found you needed CLR. What the !!?? What is CLR?

The Glossary told me it stood for Calcium-Lime-Rust and could be purchased at the supermarket.

I bought it today and also ended up buying several other nifty cleaning things - who knew that the cleaning aisle in the supermarket could be fun to shop!

And, yes the CLR, removed the rust.

Happy Feast Day!

Educating the whole person

A quote from an interview with Sr Enrica Rosanna, the first woman Under-Secretary to a Vatican Congregation.

You can see the whole interview here.

Jonathon and I both picked up on this statement - an aha moment.

"..education is really the first step in vocational maturity...What is education? Helping someone constitute himself or herself as a person."

Our Lady of Walsingham

Feast day ~ September 24.

Years ago, before son number 7 was born, we met an elderly man at a Latin Mass. This gentleman came up to us after Mass and we struck up a conversation. He was from the UK and had a special devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham. And, later, shared extra information and books with us, about this Feast day and this shrine.

Today, we are adding to the notebooks of Our Lady, adding an entry about Our Lady of Walsingham.

A trip down memory lane.

I'd love to visit the shrine, one day...

Hopefully, today's work makes up for yesterday's hilarious reflections on St Vincent de Paul - our Saints book wrote, of this Saint, " When he grew up and became famous, he loved to tell people how he had taken care of his father's pigs. Because he was intelligent, his father sent him to school:...".

My kids laughed - what a great conversationalist ( Hi, I used to tend pigs!!) and , obviously, the smart kids went to school while the dumb kids were homeschooled! lol!

Now, I know this is a mis-reading of the text, but we couldn't help ourselves.

St Vincent de Paul, pray for us.

Journals

Cindy has a post on journals and beauty. She is dragging out her watercolour pencils, to use in her planner.

I have an occasional journal, a diary and a daily To Do list. Recently, I have written my daily To Do list in a notebook - a Barbie notebook. I have been writing in the book in bright coloured felt pens ( textas).

Cute. Fun. Brightens up the "have tos".

They say that tacky is the new black.

Definitely. For diaries and clothes ( you should see some of my clothes! lol! Like my Rolling Stones t shirt today...A present from my dh...)

In a house of mostly males, I need a little Barbie!

Today...

We had some discussion on priests and on vocations to the priesthood. I found this quote to share with the kids ~ "He who honours a priest, honours Christ, and he who insults a priest, insults Christ." St. John Chrysostom

Makes one think, right?

We also began a novena honouring St Therese of Lisieux - and searched online for a novena in honour of St Francis of Assisi.

What is a novena ? Nine days of devotion, to obtain special graces.

Well, we need all the prayers and graces we can get, so praying these novena prayers will be good for us!

The kids wrote in their journals, reflecting on the months of August and September. Thomas and Anthony did some drawing and cartooning, using a few of our how to books as guides. Alexander searched for songs on Youtube - someone complained , I sang "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and this inspired his music search!

My workout was dance aerobics - Donna Richardson and Motown songs. Now, I'd never choose to listen to Motown but I will workout and sing along with this video workout! Can you see my shimmying in my family room? lol!

Maths and Latin, Kumon work for me, university work for Jonathon, then off to the Kumon Centre for work.

And time for a Numbers TV show episode tonight - probability and predictions.

Just another boring but happy day in unschooling!

P.S. The Today in in the post title was Monday - but this post appears on Tuesday as I am up late, surfing the internet. Oh, dear. guess who'll be tired this Tuesday???

Our Lady and Notebooks

I have often toyed with the idea of keeping a notebook or lapbook or something similar, on the theme of Our Lady.

Adding to it throughout the liturgical year.

My thoughts never became action. That is, not until our little Catholic homeschool group met for the Feast of the Assumption. My turn to plan an activity.

We discussed the Assumption of Our Lady and prayed the Litany of Our Lady.. I gave each child a coloured file folder and some sheets to insert - the beginnings of the notebook.

The idea is to add some writing and/or artwork to the folder, throughout the year, as we celebrate the different Feasts of Our Lady.

Religion, Art, Reading, Writing, Discussion/Language Skills - and, perhaps, sometimes, Group or Collaborative Work.

And, most of all ~ a nice keepsake . As we learn about and honour the Blessed Mother.

On Wednesday, the boys added an entry to their notebooks - their choice, something on either the Holy Name of Mary or on Our Lady of Sorrows. We read and shared their entries.

Some entries are hand written and hand drawn, others are produced at the computer.

~ Ad Majorum Dei Gloriam ~

Jonathon at McDonalds...

...one of his three part time jobs.....Cute, huh?

More woodwork pics

Woodwork and technology, courtesy of Ikea!

Our homeschooling this week

Woodwork and technology - building our Ikea furniture. We purchased the furniture Saturday, had it delivered Sunday. My dh is away and when he gets home, he is going to get a shock at our house makeover!

Give a girl (well, a homeschool mum) and some kids a spanner... Add some Joan Jett, Blondie and Fleetwood Mac while you build - and, hey, we have a new sitting room and dining room!

Thomas has been in hospital and, after work last night, the other kids and I visited - we took crisps, soft drink and chocolate for a post-operation party! Now, where were the Margaritas and G&T's - thats right, at home!

And Anthony has been having geoboard fun. Very mathematical.

"Talking is most of our curriculum."

A great comment from e-friend Karen E.

A great comment that describes our homeschooling to a tee!

Bits of trivia

More family trivia? :-)

Thomas completed the Kumon English programme on Tuesday, the equivalent of year 12 English texts. He was on target for his personal goal of finishing the programme by the end of September - well, he was even earlier and beat his goal~!

I don't make my kids do Kumon - since I am a Supervisor they can do the programme for free. I let them make a choice as to whether to study through Kumon or not, or to do one subject or two...Thomas was doing both but is now doing just Maths, since he finished English. Jonathon and Alexnder have also finished the English progamme in previous years and Alexander has a target to complete the Maths programme...Anny is working on being an English completer, too!

And today was a sunny morning , so Alexander mowed the lawn and then we all went to a local art exhibition. Very interesting. I snapped a pic of three of the kids outside the Council Chambers, where the exhibition was held.

The Irony of Blogging

Why is it that when one blogs on a particular virtue, one finds that this virtue is harder to practice? That the day of blogging deteriorates.

You know, you blog on enjoying workouts then can't easily get out of bed the next day to start an early morning workout.

You blog on cool homeschooling activities and end up spending the day cleaning or watching movies.

Yesterday, I blogged on "Saying Yes." Something I was thinking about in response to a thread at the 4 Real Learning message boards.

And yesterday, I ended up being a b#%&* to my kids.

Seriously.

After a great morning of organizing bedrooms with the kids and doing some written work and spending time together - well, I yelled , when we were rushing to go to Catholic Homeschoolers and to pick up some Kumon folders on the way. We were late as usual!

I was stressed when the kids inadvertantly locked us out of the house - with the car keys inside, I was taking the kids on my way to drop off forms for WYD Homestay and to do a house inspection for this progamme. We had to break into the house! I yelled again. I had a lot of dropping off and picking up of kids to do, spent a a lot of time on the car....

The younger kids' silliness irked me. The 18 year old's grumpiness and complaining bugged me. The arguing 14 year old drove me mad ( okay, I know this is the Rhetoric stage but still!). The fidgeting at Mass last night made me want to scream - I kept thinking, is it okay to scream in Mass??

Dh is away and when he rang last night I really couldn't let off steam - I did not want to give him a litany of my woes - he needs to be concentrating on his course and not on my pettyness

Because that is what it was - pettyness. Getting cross over dumb things. Over little things.

I should have taken my own advice, smiled more, prayed more, said yes more.

Going to the St Anthony Mass helped. Talking to people at Catholic Homeschoolers and after Mass helped.

And I realize that I've had late nights, like last night, since I have work at home to do, and early mornings taking Jonathon to work to start at 6.00 a.m. And busy days. So, some sleep would not go astray, either!

Well, off to a busy day today ( Up at 5.30 a.m., Mass, I'm presenting at a Kumon Meeting, kids are shopping, J is working) and I'll workout this afternoon...before CAFE.

And I will be very careful about blogging from now on - it is almost prophetic, blog and share the good times and your day will fall apart! lol!

At least, blogging keeps one both humble and honest.

Are you Gonna Blog This???

Cindy talks about this comment in her recent post. After she completed a craft, one of her kids asked if a pic was going on the blog.

Of course!

We blog, therefore we are. :-)

I get the same comments. Every time we do something, make something, go somewhere, take a photo - someone asks -"Is this going on the blog?".

Even Fr. asked that last night - he made a comment, something like "forgetting that there were kids who didn't go to school, who were home during the day" ( forgetting we wonderful homeschoolers?? Huh!) .

Then Fr. laughed and said "This will probably go on the blog!".

Well, yes, it did. lol!

We blog our life - not everything but just what seems appropriate at the time.

The small details, the big concerns, our thoughts and opinions, the sharing of activities and ideas..parts of our lives...

Saying Yes?

Over at the 4Real Learning Forum there is a thread on "Saying yes to kids regularly."

Do you say yes more than no to your children? Or even to your dh?

I tend to have a "yes" personality -to automatically say yes more than no. Even - "Yes, I'll help out with the morning tea.." Why?

Partly because I have made an extra effort to be more positive in my life, given my own childhood and a bad bout of depression and health problems as an adult .

Partly because I am a natural "Pollyanna"!

Partly because I like to help others.

And partly because I have seen the positive atmosphere and relationships that arise when I am more open to my husband and children, to their needs, to saying yes.

Yes doesn't have to be an out and out, unqualified yes - although it is cool when that happens ~

"Yes, let's have lunch at Subway!"( to the kids)
"Yes, give your self tonight off, I won't do my Kumon stuff either, and we'll watch a movie together." ( to dh)

However, the more qualified yeses still work.

"Yes, we can go to the library - how about tomorrow (or how about pay day, when I have money for all the fines!)?"
"Yes, you can have a snack - let's try to choose something healthy. Yogurt or fruit or?"

With my husband -

"Yes, I really want to talk with you about this - but can we talk tonight after CAFE. I'm kinda busy getting ready right now?"

Will saying yes make me a doormat? I doubt that anyone who knows me in real life would call me a doormat! Or even naturally submissive!

St Paul writes about husbands loving their wives, and vice verse, and of dying to self. In Eph 5:21 to 33 he writes, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Submitting one to the other implies a positive relationship, a relationship where saying yes and encouraging another is the norm. And what husband would not desire to give his up his life ( wants?) for a wife who shows willingness to do the same?

Okay, but what about the kids? Won't saying yes more than no create selfish kids?

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.
This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalized and still others to hope for God's mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart. From a letter by Saint John Bosco

And from the Catholic Encyclopedia on St John Bosco and St Philip Neri ~ In his rules he wrote: "Frequent Confession, frequent Communion, daily Mass: these are the pillars which should sustain the whole edifice of education." .... He thoroughly believed in play as a means of arousing childish curiosity -- more than this, he places it among his first recommendations, and for the rest he adopted St. Philip Neri's words: "Do as you wish, I do not care so long as you do not sin."'

Saying yes can be a Catholic method of parenting. I have found that my children have learned to be less selfish and to die to self in the many times that I have had to say no, especially over big issues. They are also learning these qualities via our long discussions, especially after sharing books and movies and stories of the Saints; by example; by necessity within a large family; by the volunteer work we do as a family, both in our parish and in the homeschooling/wider community and by self denial throughout the liturgical year ( Advent and Lent penances, for example). So far, the older ones have grown to be young adults who do serve others. Mostly.

How does one say yes?

In this article on Saying yes, an unschooling mother shares how one can say yes in many forms ~
“Yes, we can do that in 15 minutes when I’m done with this. If you’d like to help, I can be done even sooner.”
“Yes, you can buy that. Let’s think up ways you could save up or earn the money.”
“Yes, we can do that tomorrow morning because right now I’m about to drop from exhaustion.”

Another mother describes her shift from "saying yes" to automatically saying no and then back again - I have five children ages 12 to 1, always homeschooled, and though we started off as unschoolers I drifted into requiring this and that over the years—very gentle & Charlotte Masonish, but still some requiring.
And we have mostly been happy but often been tense, and in the past few months I've been looking around and noticing that there really is a lot more tension here in my home than I had realized. I realized I am being more critical, a scolder, and this is so far from the picture I have always had of myself that it has been something of a shock. From Saying Yes Again

Can we say yes over everything? No, especially with children, there are big issues. Issues where a no, a discussion, rules are important. But it helps to

re-think our words every now and then- could we say yes more? Even a qualified yes?

Even in areas that seem to go against the mainstream?

Well, yes. In nutrition, for example...Agnès Lommez is not a homeschooling parent, but a French nutritionist/educator working on a government programme to combat growing obesity in France.She was quoted in Time May 23, 2005 as saying:
The trick is never to tell the children no. Kids can and should eat chips, just not every day.

Smile more. Say yes more - to ourselves, to our husbands, to our children. Save our nos for the biggies. Practice self denial in some areas and role model this for others....Hey, its worth a try~!

The Nativity of Our Lady

We went to Mass, and listened to an interesting reflection from one of the Friars, on Our Lady and on Mother Teresa's devotion to Our Lady.

The Sacrament of Reconcilation afterwards.

Breakfast ( late!) at The Coffee Club.

A yummy way to celebrate. Don't worry - I ate healthy - the lifestyle choice breakfast and decaf skim milk coffee.

And I decided to make a Rosary ring of cupcakes, as a birthday celebration for Our Lady today. With Anthony's help.

Plus - wait for it - the Master is back on Dr Who! We are watching the current Dr, third series,and last night's show was excellent. Humour. Intrigue. Great story line....I did a happy dance in the hall, to celebrate the Master's return. And texted older sons and other Dr Who fans. The Master is our all time favourite "baddie" - very urbane.

When Anthony ( youngest son) was two, we were watching a lot of old Dr Who episodes on VHS. Anthony loved to play Dr Who - he used to hide behind a curtain and creep out, saying "Master coming out!", trying to scare us.

Can't wait for next week's episode - this series is one of the best Dr Who series, imo. Riveting.

Thursday Pics.

One of the parents of two Kumon students, who attend my centre, gave me this gorgeous bouquet of flowers - with a super thank you card for my work with her children. It is the little things like this that make being a Kumon Education Supervisor a blast!

Then, after Kumon, on Thursday evening, I showed Alexander how to make an omelette - we made cheese omelettes for dinner. Here's one omelette , prior to serving - very tasty, even if I do say so msyelf.

In Which I Ramble About Our Week...

A random post, with random thoughts of our week so far... Very random!

1. The boys' Father's Day card for Gerry. Great advice, don't you think? ( The front says Go Ask Your Mother! Inside, the comment is -Happy Father's day to a Dad who always gave great advice!).

2. Had a lazy morning at home on Monday, I needed to rest because I had the flu. Went to work at Kumon, Anthony went to a friend's house, and the cold and flu tablets kicked in. Oh, and a friend commented on our Margarita Party - we had before pics but no after? Well, do you really want to see what homeschooling mothers look like after many margaritas??

3. Was woken up at 6. 30 am on Tuesday with an aggressive, yelling neighbour.Woah! Anthony and Thomas deliver the newspapers on Tuesday and their shipment of papers was delivered to the neighbour's driveway. He was ordering me to come down in my pjs and to look at the mess. As if! He was mad~! I refused but woke the kids and had them move the papers...I think this will be the last week of newspaper delivery, its not worth a repeat of this aggressive neighbour incident!

4.Jonathon and I helped a friend unpack from a recent move, a marriage split. Reminded us of our many moves!

(But no marriage splits..).

5. We spent some time discussing APEC and politics and demonstrations and security measures/terrorism. A great link for APEC educational resources.

6.We also read about Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, her feast day was Wednesday. We thought of eating Indian food on that day - but we had Indian on Father's Day and didn't want a repeat! Instead, Thomas made Beef in Red Wine - yum! Why is it that no one would eat my Crockpot Beef Casserole on Tuesday but everyone ate Thomas' Beef in Red Wine on Wednesday??

7. CAFE in our parish, on Wednesday night, was about the teaching authority of the Church, about the Papacy and building a culture of love and of Truth. A very lively discussion ensued, so we were home later than usual - but just in time to watch another espisode of the TV series Numbers. We discussed the Markov Principle .

8. We found Luke's name on Wikipedia. Luke is our eldest son...

9. I read a pamphlet by Anna Krohn, titled "The Feminine Genius", which quotes Woman by Edith Stein ( Bl. Teresa Benedicta). I like the writings of Edith Stein -and, like this quote, today ~
"But especially needed are faith in one's own being and courage regarding it, as well as faith in one's individual calling to definite personal activities and a ready willingness to follow this call."

10. We have shared some of Pope Benedict XVI's thoughts on finding God ~ the Pope explained how it is possible to see God.

'Before all, the Pontiff said, "the beauty of creation is one of the sources in which we can touch the beauty of God, we can see that the Creator exists and is good, that it is true what sacred Scripture says in the creation account."

Second, he explained, it is possible to perceive the divine presence "listening to the word of God in the great liturgical celebrations, in the great music of faith."

Benedict XVI then told the story of a woman who converted to Christianity after having listened to the music of Bach, Handel and Mozart.

Third, the Pope told the assembly of youth, one can discover God through "personal dialogue with Christ."

"He doesn't always respond, but there are moments in which he really responds," the Pontiff said.

A last way of discovering God, according to the Holy Father, is "friendship, companionship in the faith." ' ( VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 4, 2007 (Zenit.org).)

10. Alexander made a Banana cake, a first for him; and Jonathon helped out with Catechist classes at a local school with one of the Friars from our parish. He said the kids were naughty as!

Today is Kumon at the centre ( people from head office visiting!) and Kumon work at home for me , perhaps some Latin for the kids...We'll see.... Eggs for dinner...Gerry is back tomorrow evening and tomorrow is Homeschool Teen Group ( movies and lunch) and grocery shopping and odd jobs/work at home. I am doing a presentation at a Kumon meeting next week so will need to work on that on Friday...

Reading Meme

Dumb Ox Academy has an open invitation Reading Meme.

I love books and I love to hear about the books others are reading. So, please feel free to tag yourself and undertake this Reading Meme.

What are you reading right now?
Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI. Actually, Gerry and I are both reading so I will only get to catch up on this reading on weekend. Lots of good quotes, and ideas to ponder.
Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs - found this one on the bookshelf the other day. Thought I'd read all her books to date, but I hadn't. Forensic anthropology and a little detective story thrown in.
Northern Lights - Phillip Pullman. A science fiction/fantasy for older children. I just can't get into the story. It pauses. It fails to grip.
Weight Watchers magazines. Enough said.
Homeschooling With Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling. Suzie Andres. Perhaps the third time I've read this and am enjoying re-visiting her thoughts and arguments, her booklists.

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?
Definitely the new Kathy Reichs novel.
Mary Griffiths' latest book, Viral Homeschooling. I've pre-ordered it, a reflection on the homeschooling life.
I'm coveting L. L. Cool J.'s workout book.
And, really, who knows what will grab me, what someone will recommend, what book will call me?

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now?
None. Eew. I hate that sort of thing!

What’s the worst thing you were ever forced to read?
Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'urbervilles. Apologies to Hardy fans. I found the story depressing and the character of Tess irritating.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?
Not one book, but several - all by Rumer Godden. An Episode of Sparrows, In This House of Brede, Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy, Black Narcissus.Love the story telling, the spirituality, the way Godden's writing haunts me after reading..

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first name basis, don’t they?
In Adelaide and in Perth, yes. Here in Sydney - no, We hardly ever go, the selections are just not that great and the fines are too hefty. I'd rather buy the books!

Is there a book you absolutely love, but for some reason, people never think it sounds interesting, or maybe they read it and don’t like it at all?
Hmm. I don't think so. Although I am always surprised when people aren't enveloped by the homeschooling story of Better Than School by Nancy Wallace. Or when other Catholics find Black Narcissus to be too dark.

Do you read books while you eat? Of course! While you bathe? I have, on occasion...While you watch movies or TV? Definitely - why do only one thing at a time!! While you listen to music? All the time.While you’re on the computer? Occasionally - if I get enthralled while looking for a quote, or if a nearby book catches my eye.While you’re having sex? Umm. No. I am otherwise occupied... While you’re driving? I admit it - there have been a few times I've read a can't-put-it-down book while sitting in traffic jams.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits?
No, everyone knew I was a bookworm. Plain and simple.

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I was dying to finish it, to return it to its owner, to discuss the book with others!

Anyone else game to tag themselves?

Action photos from yesterday. :-)

Me, working out.

Gerry and Anny, playing shooting games ~ in the house!

Getting ready for a Mother's Margarita Party - at my house. A birthday party and temporary farewell for a friend....

Just the thing to make me forget that I have the flu!!

Two good posts on learning.

In the first, a parent discusses the fact that his daughter does not want to return to school - after only two days of kindergarten. He posts a reply from Fr. George Rutler ~

The only real university is the universe and a city its microcosm. That is why an expression like "New York University" is foolish. New York City is the university….Instead of school, children should spend some hours each day in hotel lobbies talking to the guests. They should spend time in restaurant kitchens and shops and garages of all kinds, learning from people who actually make the world work….One day spent roaming through a real classical church building would be the equivalent of one academic term in any of our schools, and a little time spent inconspicuously in a police station would be more informative than all the hours wasted on bogus social sciences. My Wife Takes a Rather Different View

The second post gives us a glimpse into the unschooling/homeschooling life of a mother of two ~

Sometimes I feel like a failure as a homeschooler. I'm not doing it right. Heck, I'm not sure I'm even doing it at all. We call ourselves homeschoolers because we have to account for the fact that our kids aren't enrolled in school. So homeschoolers we are, but it doesn't feel like homeschooling is what we do. We don't play at teaching and learning, we just do it. The way I homeschool feels like an extension of household management. I notice what my children need, try to predict what they might like, and I do my best to provide it for them. It's like running your kitchen -- you notice when you're running out of milk and buy more of it. You can also see what's been sitting on the pantry shelf for months and donate it to a shelter or throw it away. Maybe you look through a cookbook and decided to try a recipe that looks good. How hard is that? Keeping a well-stocked home library is easy for me and shopping for workbooks or other "educational materials" is, well, shopping, and I like to shop.
Autumnal Anxiety

Pretty much the way I homeschool - like I shop or cook
(and since I hardly cook, but do spend a lot of time with my kids and at the shops, - well, you get the idea! lol!).

A Rockin' Girl Blogger???

Maria nominated me for a Rockin' Girl Award. Thanks, Maria!

And I nominate Anna, Moonlight in Vermont and Jen and Theresa.

Enjoy their blogs!