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It's official - the eldest is now a teenager! He has the musical tastes to prove it. Last night while I was driving home a song came on that wasn't of his preference. He said, "I'm surprised the radio isn't barfing by now."

What's wrong with Wang Chung?







Happy Birthday!

An Owl is a person in your neighborhood

We have some interesting neighbors.

At night, just as the sun is setting, this little guy likes to come out from the trees and hunt for bugs. We were lucky to snatch a few pics of him. Isn't he cute?

It was bound to happen eventually. It demands vacation time, overtime, medical benefits and a retirment plan. We will negotiate.

Louis XIV and those poor, unfortunate souls

We have decided to join Brenda's History Carnival on http://www.thetiethatbindsus.blogspot.com/. This is our very first linky party.

So, in history we are learning about Louis XIV, aka the "Sun King." He was known for his extravagance, his military skill and his oppression and persecution of the Huguenots, the French Protestants.

In 1685 he revoked the Edict of Nantes which gave political and religous protection to the Hugenots. From this point forward they were treated mercilessly:

They were forced to forsake Protestantism and convert to Catholicism:

Some fled their homes and headed to other countries like Sweden, Germany or Norway:

Some lost their lives:

Many Huguenots were experienced shipbuilders and artisans and their exodus had devastating effects on the French economy.

Louis XIV was a very wicked man. But he sure had a nice house:

Make a Smilebox postcard

Where have we been?

We had a great Christmas.

We baked cookies, we ate cookies, we ate our gingerbread house that fell apart.

We did crazy things:

All in all it was good.

Make a Smilebox photobook