Tuesday's Night at the Quinn Home

Tuesday's night dinner was prepared by Brenda and Emily. We knew we had a crazy evening, so early in the day Brenda cooked up a couple of huge slices of country ham. We are now having to hide anything cooked or thawing out - Princess, the cat formally known as Prince - will eat through any type of covering to get to meat!!! So we hid the cooked ham in the microwave until dinner was ready. Later in the afternoon, Brenda cooked up 2 dozen scrambled eggs to go with the ham. That was dinner - no grits, no biscuits - that's all we had time for!! (Emily did make some brownies for dessert though~~~~)

Artie got home just in time to take Bobby to gymnastics. I took Stephen to his first wrestling practice - it was a blast. We usually don't like to have so many nights during the week where we are out of the house - but this is the first time the twins have been involved in any outside activities and we didn't want to make them do the same thing when their personalities and interests are so different. So we all rushed home, met up and carved the pumpkin (nothing like waiting til the last minute). Artie wanted me to take a picture of our Quinn pumpkin (it looks like one of our kids) - and I reminded him of the camera situation. I told him he could just go ahead and forfeit the contest and buy the camera and he said he would wait!! He's so sure he's gonna win. So, in the midst of the craziness last night - we missed the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!!! Will my little kids ever recover? My older children never had such abuse!!!

Last Night's Dinner

Artie is getting on to me about my blog. We were talking last night about how far I've come with my cooking since we got married but still, if I lost my cookbook - it would be like starting from scratch for me. Everything is in there. I don't keep lots of cookbooks, if I cook it and we like it - it goes in my cookbook - that way I can always find the recipe I'm looking for.

Slowly I'm gonna try and transfer the whole thing to my blog. I am gonna try and just list my meals each night or the previous nights (many times my plans change by dinner time) and add in recipes when I have them.

Last night we had a picnic ham (Brenda baked) with pasta & broccoli and then also cheddar and garlic mashed potatoes (Emily cooked both of these). Both the starches were free from past triple sales at Harris Teeter - I don't just buy mixes like that - but if they are free.... :-) We also had some big and little biscuits to eat out ham in. The ham is wonderful. It is one of my best finds in the meat section. I always buy one when they go on sale for $.99/lb. All you have to do is trim it up and then bake in tinfoil for a couple of hours. Of course in our crazy house - all the sharp knives have disappeared and I had to run down to Dollar General and pick up a new knife so Artie could carve the ham!!!

(Artie and I are having a race to see who can lose 30 lbs first. If I win I get a new camera - so maybe I can get some pictures following the later posts on our dinners)

Brenda is working in the kitchen a lot this year in school. Right now on top of her cooking, she is learning how to clean out the frig. She is cleaning out a main shelf and a door shelf each day so it's not too overwhelming for her. Hopefully the top will still be clean by the time she gets to the bottom - but you never know here. She is doing so great with her cooking.

Brenda has also made an inventory of all the food in both freezers, the pantry, the hutch and the food cabinets. When she is done cleaning the frig - she will do one there too. Later we will work on learning how to make the menus using the food already in the house.

Beverly Lewis

I just finished the best book today. I love Beverly Lewis' writings. I have been reading The Post Card for what seems like months. I don't have near the time to read since school has started. Beverly never seems to disappoint!!! The Postcard is about a Amish lady and the "healing arts" of the Amish. Can't tell more than that - you'll have to read the book. This book was as great as all the others I've read. I'm hoping to get The Crossroad next - if it's in at the library.

Mother Daughter Retreat

Well, we are in the midst of planning and packing for our Mother/Daughter retreat. It seems like such a simple thing - we are leaving Friday afternoon and returning on Saturday night, but with six children at home - many plans must be made. I think... Artie is going to be able to get off work early to get home and stay with Terry and Emily and then be here when the twins get home from school, but we won't know until late in the day tomorrow. We do have back up plans at least!!! :-) There are meals to still be bought and ready for the family left behind, clothes to be washed and packed, plus the normal homework, dinner preparations, and clothing issues for tomorrow!!! :-) I am looking forward to a fun retreat with Brenda. It will be nice to get away for a while. I am hoping for a nice soak in the hotel bathtub. I'm gonna take some bubble bath. :-)

Watch out NASCAR - here comes the QUINN's

Artie and Troy are going to their first NASCAR race tonight. Artie ws so excited!!! Troy just wanted to drive to Charlotte!! (He got his driver's permit about a month ago)

Here's a little blurb about it from the Lowe's Motor Speedway website....


Bank of America 500 event details!

A death-defying automobile stunt, a concert by three of country music's fastest rising stars and a more fan-friendly format for driver introductions will be among the highlights of pre-race festivities for the Bank of America 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race Saturday night, Oct. 13, at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

While towing a camper trailer behind a 1979 Buick, veteran stuntman Chris "Crash" Morena will launch from a 40-foot steel ramp and attempt to sail 150 feet through the air before crashing into a collection of parked cars.

Coordinated by legendary stuntman Brian Carson, a Hollywood pyrotechnic team plans to detonate an explosive blast in the recreational vehicle while Morena is in mid-flight. A series of pyrotechnic blasts will also go off around the landing area.

"We've jumped a motorhome, a school bus and even a garbage truck, but this will be the first time we have attempted a jump involving a trailer," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, the president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "We always try to give the fans something to make them say 'I can't believe they did that,' and this stunt will do just that."

The pre-race concert, produced by CMT, will include performances by Brent Keith, Carter's Chord and Flynnville Train. It will take place on two stages positioned near the start/finish line.
Keith first garnered national attention on "Nashville Star," a television talent competition, and was then selected to perform the title track for "Dale," the feature film documenting the life of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

Carter's Chord and Flynnville Train are up-and-coming groups that have been signed by Show Dog Nashville, the independent record label established by recording star Toby Keith. Carter's Chord features the singing and songwriting sisters Becky, Emily and Joanna Roberts who perform a unique brand of country blues infused with sibling harmonies. Flynnville Train is a five-piece band, led by vocalist Brian Flynn, which draws on country, hard rock and blues inspirations.

For the first time, driver introductions for the Bank of America 500 will be brought closer to the fans. Each of the 43 race cars will be paraded onto the speedway's frontstretch and the drivers will be introduced while standing beside their cars. After each driver is introduced, he will be paraded around the 1.5-mile track in the back of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck.
The Bank of America 500 pre-race show, which starts at 5:40 p.m., will also include a Toyota Tundra Monster Truck, the fire-breathing antics of Robosaurus and the Oregon Aero SkyDancer skywriting team.

Whiskey Falls, another up-and-coming country music act whose self-titled debut album was released in September, will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner."

A Little Princess

Well the play - The Little Princess - was wonderful!!! Both girls were surprised at how much better they thought the book was than the actual play. :-)

We were happy to find out that Brenda's friend - Briana - from our old church - was in the play. She was the beggar girl. It was good to see her - and her mama - Kathy - and brother and adorable sister!!

After the play, we ended our day in Spartanburg with a trip to the world famous - Beacon Restaurant!! It was so good!!!
Emily and I had chili cheeseburgers and lemonade and Brenda had a club sandwich and Beacon tea.
Of course, we brought Artie home a double cheese burger and fries!!! :-)

A Day of Reading

IMG_0150
Originally uploaded by kinmokusei

We are having a whole day of reading today. Tomorrow we are going to see the play - The Little Princess. Today we must finish the book. Emily and I have four chapters to read today (we just finished the first of the four) and Brenda has six to finish!! It's cold here this morning. We are snuggled up under the covers reading - Emily and I in my bed and Brenda in hers. We are looking so forward to seeing the play tomorrow. It should be such fun. I am loving the book. Somehow, growing up I missed the book and whole story. Oh, if we all could behave like little Sara does in the midst of our trials!!! ;-)

I bought the coolest CD last night!!! Emily has been reading and memorizing poems from Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses. I found a CD that has 16 of his poems set to music. They sound beautiful!!! I just know she will love it.



Here's the review from Amazon...



Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com



As a young Scotsman, the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson suffered a childhood of illness and frailty. As a result, Stevenson developed a rich inner life as well as an author's keen sense of observation. Much of A Child's Garden of Verses comes from this period of relative infirmity. And on A Child's Garden of Songs we most agreeably find these same charmingly insightful words set to music, sung and played by a cast of singers and musicians in fashions that range from whimsical ("Auntie's Skirts") to magical ("From a Railway Carriage") to wistful ("To Any Reader"). Written expressly for children, these poems breathe life into new worlds born of a love for language. Coupled with fine arrangements on Celtic pipes and strings, this is a fertile garden of enrichment for the whole family. --Paige La Grone



From Parents' Choice®Robert Louis Stevenson's children's poetry, timeless verses that so vividly describe the world of a child's imagination, are set to music by musician/producer Ted Jacobs with a Celtic flavor and lullaby rhythms. The poems about early summer bedtime, the wind and rain, playing pirate, shadow play and dreamy times are brought gently to life by child and adult singers. A 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Winner. (Lynne Heffley, Parents' Choice®)






Emily has already gotten some fun school things this week. First, she has been studying about our state bird - the Carolina Wren - in her reading from the first story in the Burgess Bird Book. We've done a lot of fun things besides just reading the story. We've looked the Wren up online and found one building her nest and another one feeding her babies. We've colored a picture of one (Terry too) and learned their sound. We put up a new bird feeder and listened and found them singing in our backyard. Then Emily got a stuffed Wren that makes the tea-kettle sound when you squeeze it.






She also got some material with the Carolina Wren and the state flower - yellow jasmine - on it. We haven't decide what she is gonna do with it yet. We'll have to talk with Granny - our sewing teacher - first; maybe a tote of some kind.

Quiet at the Quinn Home

It's quiet at the Quinn Home today. Well, as quiet as it can be with four little one running wildly!!! :-) Troy and Brenda are at the Fall Retreat with the church (they will be home tomorrow) and Artie is taking a well deserved nap!! Quiet time is such a rare thing to me now days, I almost don't know what to do with myself!!! No worries, I will work it out!! :-) I so miss having Daria and now Gwyn here with me. I often wonder why God sends my friends off to serve Him in other countries??? :-)

We've have a nice day here today. It's been terrible muggy, but thankfully not too hot. The leaves are starting to show signs of changing soon, several are flying around in the air.

Stephen and Terry went and got haircuts and I finally got Stephen signed up for wrestling!! :-) Finally I have a son who wants to wrestle!!! This is my favorite sport by far!! I'm hoping Troy might try out for the High School team, but I really don't think he's interested. He too caught up in ROTC. Stephen asked me today if he kept wrestling until he grew up if he could wrestle on TV (something he's not even allowed to watch - which is funny to me - cause it was my favorite show growing up - but the didn't have all the filth on it like they do now!!) Oh, for the good old days with Ric Flair wrestling Dusty Rhodes!! :-) I know good little Christian, homeschooling mamas aren't suppose to like wrestling, but that's the way I was raised!! :-) I use to watch it with my grandmother. My great-grandfather use to sit his chair right in front of the TV and then get so upset, he would turn his chair over jumping up. The doctor told him not to watch it any more - it wasn't good for his health!!!

So, enough of my silly post today. The littles are watching An American Tail for the first time. I will probably work in my bedroom tonight. It has been very neglected lately since school started.

My Favorite New Thing

I have a new favorite thing!!!

YouTube!!!!

It's so great. I've listened to my old favorite music.

Here's a list of my old music... :-)

Donny Osmond - Puppy Love - the Donny Osmond now

Puppy Love 1972 - Donny O - the Donny Osmond then (Brenda thinks this is hilarious!!!) Zac Efron has nothing on him!!! :-)

Westlife - "Seasons In The Sun" - not Terry Jacks, but pretty good

Bo Donaldson - Billy Don't Be A Hero

Donna Fargo - Funny Face 1982

Donna Fargo - Happiest Girl In The Whole USA3 - All time favorite!!!

Sonny and Cher - I Got You Babe 1965

1940's Hollywood Pop - Jimmy Wakely

I'm Leaving It All Up To You - Donnie and Marie (Allison Peeler and I use to sing this on her front porch all the time. She wanted to change her name to Marie!!) :-)

ClassicTVBlog- Donny & Marie Sing Country & Rock n Roll

Shaun Cassidy--DaDoRonRon--&--RokNRo ll #1A

tammy wynette stand by your man

SONNY & CHER - THE BEAT GOES ON

Robert John "Sad Eyes" (1979 - #1 hit)

I have some more play lists, but this is the funniest one!!! I have some good Sandi Patti, Mylon LeFever, the Carpenters, REO Speedwagon, Third Day, Kelly and Artie songs...

Just my music. Everyone else doesn't quiet appreciate it as much as I do!!! :-)

Emily's Poetry Recitation

Happy Thought
Originally uploaded by Cunning Stunt

Happy Thought

The world is so full of a number of things,
I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

September 11th

On September 11, 2007, Troy's 15th birthday, he dressed up in his ROTC uniform for the first time and walked out the door to participate in a 9/11 remembrance service at school. It sure was hard as a mama to watch him walk out knowing that is all he ever wants to do. The ROTC cadets stood at attention for 45 minutes holding the 9/11 signs while the other students arrived at school. It was such an honor for Troy to get to be a part.

Troy is in the middle line, the last tallest in his row.

ROTC Summer Boot Camp

Here is Troy at his ROTC Summer Boot Camp. They had a one day boot camp and learned different turns and commands before school started. The top picture is inside the common's area of the high school.

Troy's in the black and white shirts and that is his friend, Cricket beside him in the bottom picture.

October in the Quinn Home

Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight has the best post on October Activities...

http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun_and_candlelight/2007/08/themes-and-plan.html#comment-80266367

Here are some of our families favorite October Activities:

1st - My Mimi's birthday - she will be a beautiful 83 this year

Our favorite snacks:
apples
grapes
carrots and dip
caramel apples
hot apple cider
pop corn

I am hoping to try:
a pomegranate
pop corn balls
pumpkin muffins

11Th - our anniversary - 16 years this year!!!

27Th - my daddy's birthday - 61!!!

Our church's Fall Fun Festival - they usually have a rock wall to climb, giant slides, obstacle course, sticky wall (Brenda had to cut her hair out last time - it was complete stuck!!!), ball pit bungee run and a moon walk. It's lots' of fun

Picking apples
Gathering pecans
Going to the pumpkin patch
Carving pumpkins
Dressing up for trick or treating

We are planning on reading about:
fall
leaves
apples
football
pumpkins

Favorite Dinners:
Vegetable Soup
Salmon Stew
Chili
Baked potato bar
Potato soup
Spaghetti

Favorite Desserts:
Pecan squares
Pumpkin cookies