Halloween Horrors

Pumpkins were mutilated, and guts were everywhere!

Aliens landed and creepy crawlies came out.

There was a Sumo Reaper/ Grim Sumo, and gangsta fairies.

But the scariest thing by far

was

the

Barbie's

who

lost

their

heads........

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Hope your Halloween was horribly fun!

Friday Fill-in #96

1. My favorite food seasoning is garlic.

2. Every so often, silence is music to my ears.

3. Lucky is the nickname of my son's first best friend when he was in school.

4. Being a good parent is something I take very seriously.

5. Many people are too fearful about the state of our nation, and what the election of either candidate will mean to our future.

6. Halloween candy was the last thing I bought at the store.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sharing some of my kids' Halloween booty. Tomorrow my plans include taking our foster cats in for a check-up and taking my son to the wonderful pottery studio where he just started learning last week, and Sunday, I want to take a nice family picture (or two) for my MIL's birthday gift!

A Dozen Years Ago...

...our family welcomed Angelica into our lives and the world. I was overjoyed to have another female in the house, someone with whom to share the special joys of being a girl. And oh what a girl she is! Angelica has been such a joy to be with as she grows. She has a wonderful sense of humor and a style that uniquely her own. I admire her ability to "cut to the chase" and read people's true intentions and emotions, despite what they may try to present to her. I admire her strength and her willingness to try new things, and to do things only when she feels ready. She does not allow herself to be pushed or persuaded into doing things. She uses her heart and mind to determine what is right for her and stays true to that, more so than many people I know!

I could go on and on listing all of Angelica's wonderful attributes and talents and abilities, but what I love most about her is that she is Angelica! There is no other like her, and I am so blessed to have her be a part of my life.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Friday Fill-in #95

1. Right now, I'm feeling very antsy and tired.

2. Feeling healthy is where I want to be.

3. How does one go to sleep and get up at the same time every day?

4. Very little keeps me on track.

5. Please don't send me any more bogus e-mails about the presidential candidates.

6. Gratitude and hugs fill me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to creating some Christmas cards. Tomorrow my plans include taking some pictures now that I have fresh camera batteries, and on Sunday I want to get some pumpkins for carving!

Friday Fill-in #93

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was.....Well, I couldn't really say it was one of the best movies I've ever seen, but I was quite pleasantly surprised by Transformers.

2. Guacamole is a recipe my DH recently made that was delicious!

3. It's time for pumpkins.

4. A pina colada flavored ice pop is quite refreshing.

5. If I never hear the word maverick again, it'll be too soon.

6. To one side of the curving road was a picturesque waterfront park, and on the other was a house on a hill that looks like a gingerbread house with all the white Christmas lights outlining it

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading some new library books, tomorrow my plans include browsing the local flea market and a multi-family yard sale, and Sunday, I want to enjoy some outdoor fun with my family!

My daughter (Angelica) finally started her own blog! She's 11 years old and wants to meet people to talk to so check out her blog!

http://www.Ienjoycheese.blogspot.com/

Things Are Looking Up

If you want good news for a change, my friend Gerri makes it very easy for you. All you have to do is view her Good News Network. It's all good, all the time! Gerri has been at this for 11 years now, and her commitment to focusing on the positive is stronger than ever. Just recently Gerri and her network were featured on a television show called American Crossroads. I highly recommend viewing the show, and also getting your "daily dose of news to enthuse" as Gerri says!

Daydream Believer, That's Me!

I saw this on Kelly's blog and decided to try it out.

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NBPC - The Daydreamer

Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

It's About Time...

...that I write about our Live and Learn experience this year. I'm just finding it so hard to put into words. The Live and Learn Conferences have been a part of our lives for the past six years, since we attended our first one in South Carolina. Ever since then, it has become something that our family looks forward to for the entire year. It becomes as anticipated, if not more so, than Christmas. We count down the months, the weeks, the days, until we are finally able to join with the most amazing people in celebrating our unique lifestyle.

Live and Learn has been first and foremost a celebration for us. Our decision to unschool has brought so much joy to our family, but that joy is unfortunately not shared with most of the people we are surrounded by daily. Much of our interactions with others become limited, because of their limited understanding of our choices. It's hard to celebrate your freedom with people who are still imprisoned by their choices, choices they may not even realize that they have to make. However, when we attend the Live and Learn Conferences, there is an overwhelming sense of understanding and acceptance that allows us all to freely celebrate our freedom! Our joy is shared by others who also seek to share the same joy!

A Live and Learn conference is peaceful, yet at times joyfully chaotic. It is calming, yet at the same time very invigorating. It is the comfort of the familiar, wonderfully mixed with the excitement of the new. It is reuniting with old friends and finding new ones. It is authentic, unpretentious, and defies complete description.

I think that I have been procrastinating writing about this year's conference, because it was the last Live and Learn conference, and I am not eager to close this chapter of our lives. I am eternally grateful to Kelly Lovejoy and her family, and all those who helped coordinate the conferences. The opportunities provided by Kelly's vision were unmeasurable. Yet, I am now provided with and opportunity to do what I can to ensure that the spirit of Live and Learn lives on by continuing to connect with other unschoolers in new ways. I am excited about continuing to develop the connections made at Live and Learn.

Knowing that there is no Live and Learn next year challenged me to go outside my comfort zone in a big way. I talked to more people this year than any year prior. I also made plans to get together with people on our own. Because the conference drew people from all over the country (and world!), this meant that we would have to do some significant travelling in order to maintain our connections. Well, I am happy to say that we already started!

Following the conference, we drove up north to visit family in several states. Then, on the way back down to Florida, we actually stopped and visited with friends in Virginia and Georgia. Gerri and her family were kind enough to let us stay at their beautiful lakefront home while we explored Washington D.C. We had a wonderful time at their house, and they made us feel so at home, as if we had been neighbors for many years. Our other stop was with Madeline and her lovely family. Once again, we were made to feel so at home and welcomed. A BIG THANK YOU to both families for being so gracious and helping to extend the "unschooling celebration" that was started by Live and Learn! I can't wait to get together again, and to share our home with you! I'm also looking forward to reuniting with other Live and Learn friends through visits and smaller unschooling gatherings that will allow us to continue to share our joyous freedom!

Here are a few pictures from Live and Learn and our post-conference travels. You can see more here.

Getting down at the Masquerade Ball.



The Karaoke stars sing "I Will Survive" and "I'm Walking on Sunshine"




Some of the beauty that surrounded us at the Blue Ridge Assembly.



Sunrise and flowers at Gerri's house.



Some of the talent show at Madeline's.