October Daybook

Outside my window...
It's sunny and warming up to the high 60's.  Today is Halloween.  

Giving thanks...
for the many blessings we take advantage of: shelter, food, clothing, family...

In the schoolroom...
we are just finishing up the first quarter at our co-op.  I think everyone is holding their own so far with their schoolwork.  Math is getting done, and that's all I care about right now.

From the kitchen...
my awesome husband has been doing most of the cooking lately.  He makes dishes for me to eat and then adds in things for the kids too.  

I am creating...
a community of my own.  

I don't ever want to forget...
the normal times when the whole family is together and interacting well.  They seem like normal times because nothing out of the ordinary is happening, but I'm beginning to realize something extraordinary is happening.


I am working on...
finding another job.  It has to happen.

I am reading...
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Fr. Jacques Pierre, and some others.

I am praying...
for wants and needs.

I am hearing...
the dishwasher.  All the kids are on their electronics in prep for not being on them later.

Around the house...
I have plans.  Things are being gathered, dispersed, and rearranged.  I'm trying to haul it out faster than they can bring it in. 

One of my favorite things...
being in the moment.  I'm getting a lot better at it, and they're right!  It's great when you can do it!

A few plans for this week...
trick or treating, Mass, Mass, and meeting Adam's mother.  :O

Some pics for you...

 Kaelyn and Adam took the littles to the Pumpkin Patch.  They had a great time!

 Who wouldn't want to be a wolf?  

This guy right here.

 83!

 Bangs!

 Cow costume fun!

 

 Shenanigans!

Happy Halloween!

 






 




  

Happy Birthday, Marsbars!

Mars has hit the double digits.  We were supposed to spend her birthday at the beach, but they had an onset of jellyfish lice.  Then we were supposed to go to Hershey Park, but it was supposed to be the hottest day of the week.  Where did we end up?  Ikea.  She loves playing in all the small furnished spaces and eating there, even though she never eats the food.  We went to Mass in the morning, then Ikea, and then went to Nana and Papa's for her birthday celebration.  She requested a Chick-Fil-A nugget platter for her dinner.  We were supposed to get her a desk and chair from Ikea, but she started arguing over whether she would let Logan use it.  Since it would be in their room, we decided that a joint desk gift for both her and Logan would be the way to go instead.  She did end up receiving almost everything she asked for.  The things she didn't get, she's buying with the money she got instead.  For the record, she wanted a thousand squishes and stuffed animals, which is why she didn't get everything she wanted.  Our house is only so big.  
She also had her first real birthday party.  Three of her friends came over for a day of fun.  They talked through  watched The Greatest Showman, had pizza and went swimming.  Afterwards, they opened gifts and had cake.  They all had a great time.  Her friends were excited because two of them had never been to our house since we live so far away from everyone else.  It was a great time by all.  Roll cam!

  Starting the morning off with the birthday streamers.

 Birthday party fun.  Thanks to Logan for taking one for the team and swimming with all those girls!

Her friend got her one of these craft pillow where you poke the fabric into the hole and it stays there.  It's hard to explain, but her friend got her a cupcake, and Nana and Papa got her a unicorn.  

 Nana and Papa got her a unicorn cake.  These are her new outfits down to the boots from them too.  Daddy decided to bomb one of the pictures.

 At Grandma and Gecko's she requested a yellow cake, chocolate icing (just like her daddy, and sprinkles.  Grandma got her gymnastics lessons and leotards.  She's already started classes and is doing really well!  She also received some squishies, trinkets, and unicorns.  All in all, I think she had a fabulous time turning ten.  Welcome to the double digits, Mars!

 

Little Flowers Camp

I had the privilege of taking Rory and Marley to Little Flowers camp again this year.  It was Rory's first year, and I was hoping she would be assigned as a camp counselor/helper, but instead they put her in a group.  I think that was best because that gave her the opportunity to experience what it's supposed to be like first.

I think Mars liked having her sister there.  They were in different groups, and Rory had girls her age in her group.  I stuck with Marley.  Rory made fast friends with everyone, of course.  Mars seems to take some time to warm up to people, and normally makes friends at the end of an event.  The last day of the camp, she was running around playing with all her new friends.  Here are some pics of the weekend.

 This was our room.  Our friends that told us about camp, and that we joined last year, went this year too.  We all roomed together.  Rory is on the top middle bunk, but all you can see are her feet.  I think this was a better room than last year.

 Everyone's favorite part was the lake, except for some parents like me.  It's hot and buggy. 

 Canoeing

 Campfiring

 The girls asked to go get Ramen Noodles late one night because they were hungry.  Their dad taught them to eat them dry, so I figured they were just going to get two packets.  After they were gone a while, I went to find them since it was late.  I found them in the cafeteria lodge with a mom making them hot Ramen Noodles in the microwave!  It was 10p! 

 On the last day of camp, everyone is expected to clean up their cabins before leaving.  We were bustling about when I heard screams and saw a group of people staring at the floor.  This huge wolf spider, with her sac of eggs, was on the floor.  She had been in a box that someone moved and climbed ONTO THAT PERSON.  Lord, thank you for not making me that person!  I cannot even imagine.  We put her outside, but all she really wanted was her box.  She wouldn't get out of it, which made me kind of sad for her that we were evicting her.  

A great time was had by all.  The girls are looking forward to next year, and Rory has been invited back as a counselor next year.  :)

Seester Good-bye

I forgot to post the goodbye from seester and family.  This was the last bye before they left the next day.  :(  At least we left laughing!

SEEESTER!

It's July which means it's time for my seester to visit.  They were only here for a short bit, but we packed as much in there as possible.  I'll roll pics and explain on the way.  

Some snapchats to kick it off.  I love that she got my parents to join in!

We had the pool up again, and Kaelyn and Adam graced us with their company.  Rory was in and out of the pool during these pics.  She forgot her bathing suit, but it was Ninang to the rescue with some shorts and a shirt for her to wear.

The 4th of July is Drake's birthday, so we had fireworks.  :) We also had local fireworks that we watched after putting off a few of our own.  

After Drake's birthday was Logan's.

We went for a day trip to the beach and met up with seester.  It was NOT a good beach day, but that didn't stop the kids from going in.  Drake and Dayce tried going in for a little bit, but they didn't last long.  It was freezing.  My crazies, however, stayed in for a while.  Mars came out to play with Drake.  He kept trying to go back in, but it was just too cold each time.  Mine had gotten used to it.  Well, most of mine at least.

Kaelyn slept.  She had been to a concert the night before, so she was catching up on some zzzzs.

After the beach was the pool.  Rory didn't swim.  And Kaelyn?

Still sleeping

We hit the boardwalk for some dinner and shopping.  

Then it was Dale's birthday.  Since they're all so close together, we just do one birthday at my parents.  

Then it was the whole family together for photos.  Thanks to Adam who took the picture for us.  One serious - One silly