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~1~

The weekend's move went well.  I didn't move, but my parents moved in with us (for those of you who don't know what's going on).  The transition has been pretty smooth.  I know my clutter is driving my parents crazy.  It is my goal to get through it all, but I can't devote days on end to it.  We've been doing "school lite" for the month of March.  I need to get them back on track.

~2~

I've been able to let go of a lot.  It's been hard for me.  I feel like I'm wasting so much good stuff.  Things that are still in good condition or working well.  But, I don't have that much room.  My mom has some great stuff from the kitchen so we are trying very hard to consolidate without stepping on toes.  So far, so good.  

I've emptied out many cabinets and drawers.  I need to go through a couple more cabinets for the bigger things.  And, the junk drawers.  I hate my drawers.  They're shallow and skinny.  It's annoying.  I'd rather have paid the extra money for better drawers.  I have granite countertops.  Replacing those cabinets aren't going to come cheap.  I have carpet to replace first though.  Five people at home for most of the day for weeks and months on end is hard on the carpet.  Oh, I digress.

~3~

We are having a mega garage sale next weekend.  Ben's in charge.  There are so many toys, yarn, books, clothes, and stuff to sell.  Anything we don't sell will go straight to a charity.  

~4~

We received the formal pictures we took at the ball last month.  I hate them.  The photographer decided he needed to make us look younger and wrinkle free.  I look plastic.  I found a picture of us taken at the last ball we attended 13 years ago.  I had more line then.  I'm going to call the photographer and complain.  I care not one whit about my lines.  Without them, I don't look natural.

~5~

There have been many times I've wished I didn't give up coffee for Lent.  I've been able to maintain so far.

~6~

Still no name for the photography.  It should be easy to come up with one but it's not.

~7~

My children are loving having their grandparents here.  Every morning they abandon me and run to my parents' room.  They just love it.  My parents are enjoying it too but the noise is something to get used to.  They are used to quiet mornings.  We are not quiet in the mornings.

My dad also takes the children out the play often in the front yard.  That way they've been able to ride their bikes and scooters.  I feel badly that I've never been able to do that for them.  Lucky for them they have their grandfather here.  

My mother has made many Korean dishes that they love.  They are loving it.  You would think I never fed them the way they've been eating these past few days.

Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.  Jennifer Fulwiler is also posting a great series of posts about the Our Father taken one word at a time.  

~1~

The remnants of my head cold have taken roost in my head.  I'm so stuffy it's like I have cotton stuffed in my ears.  I've been pretty miserable all week.  I hope I feel better soon.  I have a lot of work to do around the house.  And, it needs to be done by next Thursday night.  

~2~

Lent has started in earnest.  I'm proud of the things my children have given up.  Pumpkin has given up bedtime stories.  Sister has given up her night light.  Honey has given up…well, I don't know.  Brother has given up beef jerky.  Me?  I've given up Facebook, coffee and my yearly standby, chocolate.  

~3~

I know I should keep the things we gave up private, but there you go.  I've already missed my spiritual exercises already but I'm going to forge on ahead as if I haven't.  If I could just think past this stuffiness, I'd be so happy.

~4~

Honey was so lovely last week as a First Communicant.  She was so funny.  She does not like the taste of the communion host.  She was so proud of herself and so were we.  

~5~

I've been wanting to do more with photography.  I'm not a very good one, but I really want to learn how to take better photos and to edit them well.  I also want to start watermarking them, but need to come up with a name.  No luck coming up with one so far though.

~6~

A mom from our homeschooling group came over for Ditch and Stitch tonight with her almost 3 month old.  He was so cute!  I didn't get to hold him since I'm sick and I didn't want to get him sick.  I missed my dear friend tonight though.

~7~

See more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

~1~

I went to the first military ball in 13 years.  The last one was the Marine Corp Birthday Ball when Ben was attending the advanced course (Captain's course) at Quantico, VA.  Until now, I couldn't leave Brother with a babysitter.  His anxiety got the better of him and it'd take days to recover.  We've worked the last couple of years for him to be able to stay with a babysitter.  We use a lovely young lady from our parish and homeschool group.  Her mother is one of my best friends.  Pumpkin calls TheMadHatter her best friend.  It's really cute.

~2~

As most events like this go, the food was so-so.  The potatoes were too salty, the green beans over cooked and the salad was very wilted.  The beef was okay, but the chicken really did not taste good.  I made sure to sit where the chocolate cake was, but it was dry and crusty.  Yuck.  We had a good table.  The guys were very funny and reminded me of different friends of ours from Ben's Lieutenant days.  

~3~

If you've never been to a military ball, it's an experience.  They bring in the colors and it's completely silent.  The soldiers all stand at attention.  The best though is when the National Anthem is played.  It's quite a sight to watch, almost in unison, the soldiers bring their right arm up to a salute and hold it.  There's never an early end to the silence during the Anthem.  The salute stays until the last note is played.  Awesome.

And, as always, the Star Spangled Banner made me all teary-eyed.

~4~

I was stressed about the hair and the makeup, but I think I did okay.  My dear friend Danyell had given me quite the one-on-one lesson on applying it.  I think I did okay.  At least she said I did on Facebook.  I actually went out and bought some on my own.  Thank you, Danyell!

~5~

I must be getting old.  None of the music appealed to me.  At all.  And, it was too loud.  Much too loud.

~6~

The shoes went great with the dress, but the rhinestones kept snagging the dress.  It was uncomfortable.  I had to actually walk very slowly and not as stridently as I usually did.

~7~

And, now I leave you with a photo.  

Check out other Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.