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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Catch Up Time !

Good morning all! Sorry there was no post for Monday's Website of the Week. We have been super busy around here. We spent last week enjoying all the free stuff in our area. It was very nice! We played mini golf, went to the aquarium and some other neat stuff too. School is finished for us for the year. I just have to get grades turned in and stuff filed away. Tman officially becomes a high schooler this year so congrats Tman! We will be having a little celebration for him when we return from vacation. My BIL and his family hired Toodles to pet sit for them while they are on vacation this week. They have invited our whole family to come and enjoy a little mini vacation at their house and go swimming. We look forward to this relaxing time together (thanks BIL and SIL). When we return from Georgia we will be home for a few days. Just long enough really to prepare for our annual family camping trip with my parents. I enjoy this so much! We never went camping as a family when I was young. I started camping in my teen years . So this is nice to get away with my parents, hopefully my Brotherman can come this year too. My parents share their campsite with us so no out of pocket expense for us. So God has really blessed us during Toodle's layoff. We were worried we wouldn't be able to "get away" this year. The lightning bugs will be synchronizing next week in the Cove . It is something to see! We watched it for the first time last year and it took my breath away. If you live near the Smokies you should head to Cades Cove Friday and Saturday of next week to catch the show.
Toodles is still among the ranks of the unemployed. We never thought it would be this long . But God has a plan and knows what He is doing so we will wait. Even though things are kinda tight and we will have to do some rearranging in some areas, I know we will be ok. Of course now I feel really bad about complaining last year that Toodles was working too much and that we never got to see him. This time together as a family has been awesome though. We needed it. So thank you Lord!
Pray for us as we will be doing some traveling.Take care and have a great time over the next couple of weeks. I will try to post while I am at my BIL house so that I can do Blog of the Week. Blessings! ~ Nikki
Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. I never did get those Spring pictures posted on my picture blog and here it is almost summer. But I will get to it!
Goofing off in the flash room at Ripley's BION.
Mini golfing... one of our fave pastimes.
Family portrait in the mirror maze. That was cool.
Hanging out in the Lethal Weapons exhibit at the Ripley's aquarium.

Leopard shark

Crown of thorns starfish
The jellies!

The octopus. Sorry about the flash. I had to turn it on. You couldn't see him without it.


I had to rescue this little fella. He was learning to fly at the same time a baby cardinal was learning. He ended up in the wrong side of the yard and a fight ensued between the parents of both birds and both babies were being attacked. So I moved him to the back yard where his sibling was waiting. Everything calmed down then and both babies were fine.

The sibling.

The baby cardinal.

My parent's blubirds. They have been tenants for several years.

The babies!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Sevier County Days...Free Admission

I almost forgot to post about this.
All Ripleys attractions in Sevier County are free til Thursday for those who live in or work in Sevier County. Just have id or check stub and a can of food for each person. All proceeds benefit Sevier County Food Ministry.

This includes:
Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripleys House of Mirrors
Old MacDonalds Mini Golf
Davey Crokett Mini Golf
Ripleys Believe It Or Not

Blessings! ~ Nikki

Monday, May 18, 2009

Website of the Week 5-18-2009

This weeks website is full of great things to print. It is especially wonderful for someone with kids who are learning to read. Check it out and let me know what you think (that is a pitiful beg for a comment)
Carl's Corner

Also in more news. I went back to the doctor today because I had no relief for my ear and I still can't hear well from it. She gave me another round of antibiotics (stronger) and some steroids which are supposed to help the fluid drain off (yeah). If there are no changes by Thursday then its off to see a specialist. So keep praying about that if you don't mind and keep my Momma, Daddy and my Brother in your prayers PLEASE!
Blessings ~ Nikki

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Blog of the Week 5-15-09

OK nature lovers, this week's blog is for you. My friend Shirley at My Thr33 Sons made an amazing discovery with her boys the other day. They found a Mourning Cloak caterpillar. They put in in a jar and yesterday they made a great video of it making its chrysalis. You have to check it out ! It is awesome! Blessing! ~ Nikki

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sharing a post.

Our newer computer is working again! Praise The Lord! I prayed and prayed and felt led to try it again and it has been doing great. I wanted to give that praise report and to share a post with you that I added to my Homesteader blog. There are some pics of our garden in there and even our resident nuthatch. Stop by and say hello. Still no progress with my ear. If anything it seems worse so of course that means I will be going back to the Dr. to find out what is going on. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks and God Bless! ~ Nikki
 POST:
My Garden Blog

Monday, May 11, 2009

Website of the Week 5-11-2009

Hey everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day . Today I would like to remind you that Currclick is still offering some great Mother's Day freebies. You can get to the site through the button on my right sidebar. Today's website is
Activity Village

They have everything from coloring pages to printable maps. Be sure to check it out ! ~ Blessings! ~ Nikki

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Blogs and Websites

While I am able to get online I thought I would add several blogs and websites for every one to check out since I haven't posted any lately (sorry :) ) Be sure to check these out and let me know if you like them . (Seriously, is anyone reading my poor neglected blog lately?)

Blogs
Gin at Doe Hill Homeschool ~ Stop by and let her know you will be praying for her Dad!
Sonia at My Homeschool Treasure Trove ~ Be sure to join her yahoo group for some great printables!

Websites
 OK , it is Spring and of course that means Spring thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes. Check out these websites if you want to learn about tornadoes.
Dan's Wild Weather Page

Purdue University has some info about tornadoes too.

NOAA offers some coloring books to print.

Discovery has some neat interactive things to try.

Laptop Giveaway

5 Minutes For Mom is having some great Mother's Day giveaways and can you believe it ... they are giving away a Toshiba laptop! I so hope i win this! Our newer computer went down last week and we are having to use our old (clearly unstable) one which may let you online and then again may not (not much posting because of this ).  It would be so awesome to have a new laptop. I can't keep the other computer on long enough to get my files and stuff off of it and we can't afford to have Vista reloaded ( the computer tech guy said we now have a windows software corruption) *sigh*. Anyway you have to check out this and all the other great giveaways they are having. You will find the link at the top of my blog. Blessings! ~ Nikki