Days Off

Gorgeous crisp sunny fall day

Kiddos off from school and at play

My house filled is with the aroma of home made cranberry sauce

Christmas music playing

Anticipation of time spent with friends and family

LOVE these days off!

Rainy Day Parade

Here is the pic of Chloe and I at the Parade. I'll post it for you now that you've seen the cut in person! Can't wait for tomorrow. These are SO yummy! (When you don't scald the yeast) Love the Pioneer Woman No Knead Rolls!!!!

Love You!

Feasting

I just love to see the joy in these kiddos. I had an absolutely crazy day yesterday trying to prepare for these little shindigs. You know when you have it planned out just so. You have it measured out so you can get everything done and still get some sleep. That just didn't quite work out for me yesterday. I was supposed to be making goodies for the two class feasts in the midst of my regular taxi, maid and chef duties. I got some roll dough mixed up just in time to leave and go pick up Chloe. I thought it would work out just perfectly. About an hour round trip picking her up and I could get home to roll out the rolls and get the second rise going before I had to get the other kiddos picked up. I'd get home with them, make dinner and head out to Trins basketball game. WELL....... I got home and there was no movement on the rolls. NONE. Just when I need it the least. I scalded the yeast and it hadn't risen, at all! Here is the enigma of the situation. I had to get dinner made, kids fed and dressed to get out the door. I was counting on the rolls being out of the way as I still had corn muffins and apple pie to make. Needless to say....it was a late night for this mamma. Here are the joyous results though. Aren't they just so cute eyes closed praying together! This is Chloe's bff, Jackson. Caleb's class was much more informal, but just as much fun!

Just Another Day

Nine Years
Just Another Day
Just Another Disappointment
Just Another Reminder of Tears and Pain
Another Year

The Cure

No, not the band, which I still love by the way. It's the cure for the drizzly, chilly day outside. A pretty cup, full of hot chocolate, topped off with yummy homemade marshmallows. Let it rain!

Rainy Salute

Isn't that the best looking little scout you've ever seen? I LOVE that smile. Caleb's Cub Scout Pack rode in the Veterans Day Parade this morning. He had a blast seeing all the soldiers, army equipment, hearing the bands and he even got to hold a machine gun with a soldier. Does it get any better than that? It did rain on us the entire parade but we sat bravely under our enormous black and white golf umbrella and watched and waved at the soldiers. We even got our picture taken for the paper. It will be such a fun memory for Chloe if it makes it into the paper. She had so much fun waving, smiling and saying hello to all that passed. She loved the bands, hated the exhaust and wanted to know who everyone was. It was so much fun despite the chilly wind and rain. I did get a fellow watcher to take a cute pic of us but until you get to see me in person, no dice sister. I love these old Private Ryan uniforms. Trin is up for her turn at mom and dad's, so we are back at home for the rest of the day to warm up and dry off. Some down time is so needed and great. Gonna keep plugging away at the stuff that needs done around here.

Hope you get to feeling better really quickly! Love you!

No School Zone

Monday morning and no school. We have the entire week off. Veterans day then school conferences, which I'm actually not dreading this year. I feel so accomplished today. My kiddos played the entire day with their neighborhood buddies and the rain held off so they could be outside. Bikes, blades, costumes.....! It was great. I never even made it out of my jammies today (embarrassing moment to follow! Trust me it's a good laugh). That said, I got more done today than most. I didn't have to go anywhere and didn't! I carried my coffee with me throughout the day and I just putted around my house, cleaning as I went along. In doing so, the house looks remarkably better. I didn't move any mountains but I did get some hard work done.

So we were just finishing up dinner. Veggie soup and grilled cheese, YUM! There is a knock at the door. As this happens at least twenty-five times a day I did not hesitate to stop the kids from running over to the door and answer it. Remember, I am in my jammies, no shower, no makeup. I am still sitting at the table and they turn to look at me as if to let me know it's not for them as it usually is. At this point I'm trapped. The door is open and I can see that the person standing there in the darkness of my porch can see me. I'm doomed to answer it. I make my way over to the door and standing there is a VERY good looking man that I have seen through the years in different places but have never met and do not really know. He's noticeable though! He immediately recognizes me, not sure how, and asks how we know each other. I'm standing there in my droopy jammies, dirty from cleaning, no makeup, messy short hair, thinking how badly I just want him to go away so I can crawl away in my embarrassment. All the while my kids decide to perform the normal, mom's distracted so we'll be craziness. Of course a major crash ensues and the howling begins. Can I possibly be any more mortified? Please go away. Please let me close the door. He was still trying to figure out how we know each other and telling me why he was standing at my door. Please go away. Please let me crawl under my bed and die! I did manage to get him away and console my little injured racer. Looked in the mirror by the door and just had to laugh and think how sorry I was that that poor, innocent, good looking man had to be witness to such a mess!

Tomorrow morning we are going to watch our bear scout march in the Veteran's Day Parade. Rain or shine I've got to get a pic of that little man in his uniform marching in the parade. From there we start the trading off of spending the night with grandma and grandpa. They have been SO excited for this break and for this their favorite treat. We still have to juggle a few basketball time slots, a birthday party, grocery shopping and church. We get so much more relaxing time though. LOVE IT!

Thanks for sharing today! I want details though. I love you!

Time and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

So it turns out you actually have to PAY the bills to have service. I've been without and have been longing to post and keep you up to date on what's happening in our lives. So much time has gone by that I'd have to write pages and pages to update you. I'll try to give you the abbreviated version of the last week or so. Trust me there has been a lot of the same old same old routine....school, groceries, laundry, practices.... you know.

Sat - Sun last week we had basketball game and then chores up at mom and dad's. (They were in ND for my uncles memorial service) Church then a long afternoon with my son getting his book report finished. We had one almost finished and had to start over with a new book. (Long story!)

Monday Running, school, practice. Didn't get much done at home. I did make some fun finger cookies for the kiddos lunch this week.

Tuesday Worked at the school all day! Made a great slow cooker brisket that the butcher told me about. SO easy and SOOOO delish. LOVE my slow cooker when I work at the school all day. Carved some fun pumpkins with the kiddos. They actually participated this year. No gagging involved at all. I did a really great spider web with clear marbles and big spiders that I saw in TOH and copied.

Wednesday Running, school, practice, church

Thursday Caleb and Chloe get haircuts. We made YUMMY toasted coconut marshmallows for the teachers Halloween treats.

Friday Finally got to wear the costumes! I did not get a single picture but it was just too crazy. I had such a full day and was not home at all. Harvest Carnival was really fun and I made my weight in balloon animals. I was sweating! We got home just in time to meet up with Caleb's BFF and trick or treat in the neighborhood.

Sat-Sun this weekend. My little hoopster played her heart out. She's doing SO well. That's her shooting a basket, and making it. Birthday part for Coco. We made her a doggie cake and celebrated! Took the kiddos up to spend the night at mom and dad's. Went to the OSU vs ASU game and got rained on but LOVE the game atmosphere and it turned out on the right side after an exciting game. Church yesterday and then back to work the nursery for evening service. Oh, Trinity got sick at mom and dad's, so she had to stay home and try to sleep it off.

Well, now that I have service again, you will certainly be hearing much more from me. Not sure what's up with the mixed up pics but, you get the idea.

LOVE YOU!

Chop Chop

So today I chopped off my locks. Shortest its ever been and I LOVE IT! I was unsure if I could pull off short hair, but I'm very happy with it. We'll see how it goes when I have to fix it myself. For today, I'm lovin' it!!! It's short, choppy and a bit edgy fabulous. Back to my natural dark brown too. Please do not expect me to take a pic of myself to show you. It's incentive to get together;-)