A Last Day of November Daybook

We're in the eye of the storm here at the end of November.  Made it through Kaelyn's, my niece's, and my nephew's birthdays plus Thanksgiving.  There's a little lull here since we don't go to my parent's to celebrate their anniversary anymore, which is today.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!  Next up, my father-in-law's birthday, my mom's birthday, Jesus' birthday, New Years, and Kevin's birthday rounding it out.  Whew!  Just typing it out makes me tired.  So I thought I'd do a daybook to catch up on things because I don't know when I'll be able to just unwind a bit for it.  

Outside my window...
It's dark, cold, and the moon is so bright.  This full moon is making people crazy, yo.

I am thankful for...
answered prayers including receiving the grant from the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society for chemo treatments.  It did come through!  Good news feels good.

I am thinking about...
lots of things.  I know that's vague, but we would be here all day if I were to go into everything.  

In the SchoolRoom...
we're getting back into the swing of things.  We just started full force back today, and it went well.  We're going to have a couple weeks of full force before we relax for Christmas.  We normally take all of December off and do "Christmas school" but we took November off instead it seems.  It feels good to be getting back to a normalcy.

From the kitchen...
ummmm...we just got back to that too.  :/  It's a process.  

I am creating...
a cross-stitch that was for Kaelyn's birthday but is now pushing Christmas.  Hopefully I'll get it done.  

I am working on...
a plan for Advent.  I store this daybook answer from another blogger.  I think I'm going to go the route of Jotham's Journey.  I got the book a while ago but never read it.  I think the kids are in a good place for it.

I am reading...
things for my Carmel Aspriancy.  It's A LOT of reading.  I love it!

I am praying for...
family.

I am hearing...
The Muppets Christmas with John Denver.  The kids play it ALL THE TIME.  I am also hearing Rory singing all sorts of things... even rapping.

Around the house...
eh.  It's slow going.  I cleaned and rearranged the kids' room.  I need to tackle downstairs.  I'm going to make that our "school" space now that Marley is close to going without naps.  I'm picturing a couch surrounded by books.  I don't know if this will interfere with Kevin's office or not.  I just want to walk into the front door of my house and have it feel homey...not 4 kids live here.

One of my favorite things...
my new Scentsy warmer.  It's red and lovely.  I need some different scents for it, but it's doing it's job for now.  I'm addicted.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
getting a tree.  We have a pre-lit, artificial, pathetic tree from Walmart.  This year we decided to do the drastic opposite and go cut a tree down.  I can't believe I'm typing that because I really don't like the idea of cutting a tree down and then tossing it after using it.  I'm not a tree hugger per say, but maybe a tree liker.  Kids trump everything though, so we're going to cut a tree down tomorrow.  I say we but really mean Kevin.  Don't worry.  I'll make sure I have my camera charged and ready for you all.  Then it's off to Rory's first basketball scrimmage.  I don't know that I'm cut out to be a sideline parent.  I'm already nervous.

A picture thought...

Here's hoping this will solve the Logan climbing up into Rory's bed issue.  Now he'll just have to roll over.  :)

Kaelyn's Birthday Wrap Up

Well, Kaelyn is 18.  It's all said and done.  So far I haven't seen much of a change.  Tell me if you notice anything.

We did the traditional streamer doorway.

She tried to be sneaky and go under.

I messed up on the green "P" and I was NOT happy.  Oh well.

This was a cookie cake.  I thought it was good and my mom liked it.  That's about it.  Kevin will say something about the icing...just warning you.  Now onto Nana and Papa's.

It was a busy weekend.  Lots of fun and good times.  And just to update you, she has not ordered anything off TV yet.  :( 

 
 

Happy Birthday, Kaelyn!!!

Kaelyn turns 18 tomorrow.  EIGHTEEN!  Kaelyn and I were talking about it the other day about how we'll feel about our age difference when she's older.  For instance, when she's 30 and I'm 47, that will be weird.  The same is true with 40 and 57.  I told her that I would be able to watch her kids when she has them because I'll still have some of my own.  She gasped and said that she wouldn't be having kids for a LOOOOOOOOONG time.  :)  That's my girl!  I heard reviews of my daddy's reminiscing stories for his birthday blog and was asked to stick with the acrostics.  I feel like I should just cut and paste them because those things are HARD.  I'm noticing that I don't have any baby pictures of Kaelyn in this computer.  :(  

K- KINDRED  Kaelyn and I have been getting along swimmingly this past little bit.  I hesitate to say that because I'll probably want to rip her eyes out tomorrow.  She loaded emoticons onto my phone.  We have been texting back and forth some hilarious conversations.  I saw a quote that said, "I wonder why I'm not a comedian."  Kaelyn and I both feel that way.  :)  We are kindred spirits....for now.
A- ADULT  She is an adult now whether I like it or not.  Kaelyn first talked to me a couple of years ago about what she was most excited to do when she turned 18.  Wanna know?  She wants to order something from the TV.  All those infomercials that say you must be 18 or older to order.  She wants to, but she's worried they won't ask how old she is.  Yep, this is Kaelyn in a nutshell.  I wonder what she'll order.  
E- EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH  Kaelyn will be the first to tell you that her boss loves her.  Some how she got a great work ethic.  I don't know where that's from!  She is the lone worker because she actually respects her boss and tries to follow the rules.  It's good she can do that at work.  
L- LACKADAISICAL  Since Kaelyn doesn't have a "P" in her name, I have to use this instead of procrastinator.  She is a last minute Lucy Bucy if I've ever met one...not that I know where she gets this from either.  It's an early morning hours, pounding out papers, and getting assignments done by the skin of her nose.  I feel bad for her because I know what that's like, but it works for her.  She'll change it if she needs to.
Y- YAMMERING  She's a shy sort if you're meeting her for the first time, but watch out once she gets comfortable!  She can talk an ear off or two.  She comes by it honestly, but she is more entertaining than most talkers.  I'll give her that!
N- NATURAL  The last word I would ever use to describe Kaelyn is fake.  She is natural and real.  She might put on an act when she first meets you, since she seems shy, but that all changes.  She tells it like it is whether you like it or not.  She knows what she wants (most of the time) and doesn't care if you don't agree.  The running theme is I have no idea where she gets this from.  It's shocking at times, but it's always, what you see is what you get.

Happy Birthday, Kaelyn.  You are a wonderful daughter and even though we can fight like champs, I love you with all my heart.  Thank you for being a great daughter for 18 years.  I look forward to many more years to come of laughter, tears, and fist bumps.

For real tho.

Happy Thanksgiving

I already did my grateful blog for this week.  I wanted to pop in and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I will be traveling to my parents then back here to my in-laws.  It's a lot and getting to be too much.  Then again, it beats having to do all this cooking myself.  If we ever move, we'll be having frozen pizzas on Thanksgiving.  Actually, I could probably do all the sides, but after my chicken incident, I don't see myself doing a turkey.  So here's to Thanksgiving!  Gobble til you wobble!

Things I Love...A.K.A Grateful

I love...
that my kids say "St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please look around.  Something is lost and can't be found" when they lose something.  So far he has found everything we've been looking for except for Kevin's sunglasses that fell into the water at the beach.  I guess the tide is too strong sometimes.

I love...
that we have some friends that our kids are GOOD friends with.  They're like family.  It's nice having people in your life that know your parenting and know your kids that aren't your family.  It reminds me of a scrapbook sort of...

I love...
my husband.  He does so much grunt work that I don't want to.  He does it without being asked even though he hates doing some of the stuff too.  He doesn't complain, and he doesn't ever make me feel like I don't do my share even though I know I don't.  I don't deserve him.

I love...
new adventures.  Growing, learning, stepping outside your comfort zone.  

I love...
feeling prepared for something that you're not normally prepared for.  I have a home school review tomorrow.  Feel me?

I love...
that this week does not feel like Thanksgiving AT ALL.  I was trying to meal plan earlier today and said we should grill out on Thursday because it's going to be a bit warmer.  I didn't even realize.

I love...
having a freezer stocked full of meat.  Thanks, mommy!

I love...
that we might have found something that works with Rory's GI issues.

 What's something you love?  I'll leave you with a picture because why break tradition?

Field Trip Fun

We went to a glass blowing factory back in October for a field trip.  My friend suggested it.  They had already been a couple of times, so I trusted her judgement.  I made sure the WHOLE family could go.  It was great!  The guy running it was very patient with the kids and adults.  ;)  There were cool things to see and do, AND I got pictures and videos.  Let's roll!

Uh, Marley?  Pay attention!

I didn't get a picture of the marble Kevin made.  :(  I'm not posting any pictures of me because a) I didn't take any and b) I made a Christmas present for someone that reads this.  We will definitely be going back to this place.  If it wasn't so far away, I'd get the kids classes here too.  Look it up if you're ever in the area...McFadden Art Glass.