Some Sunday!

October 11, 2015 | Stacy

Three months of the year Nigel ushers each Sunday.
About 4 times a year Marie and Tabitha sing on the Praise Team.
On random days throughout the year, Stewart sings with the choir.
On OCCASION the choir sings WITH the Praise Team.

Somehow. SOMEHOW. It came to be that all four of them would be participating this Sunday.

Our row was EMPTY until sermon time. But in the best possible way.

It was nothing but a FLUKE that my girls weren’t wearing pink, or orange, or floral! The fact that they blended in was just cool. The music was what stood out. And it was delightful.

Because four of them were dressed up, I thought to throw the little girls in matchy dresses and threw my camera in the car. As we left the church and walked to the grassy area, I decided to do the photos on the bench that was placed to remember Pastor Jeff. I first just intended to grab some shots of the kids, but ended up calling over a friend to have him take some of the whole family. I don’t know if we will do Christmas cards this year, but if we do – act surprised!

If the dog ate the homework,

October 5, 2015 | Stacy

the cat just took the textbook hostage.

Stewart's new wheels.

October 4, 2015 | Stacy

He’s been saving money his whole life.
He and dad shopped around, including a drive to Syracuse a month ago.
This one came from a local Craigslist posting. A fellow 15-year old was selling it.
It needs a little work, but was priced just right.

Stewart’s new wheels.

October 4, 2015February 3, 2019 | Stacy

Selfies

October 1, 2015 | Stacy

the girls and I went to what we thought was a play about Helen Keller. It turned out to be some whacked-out, talk-to-the-fourth-wall, workshop, ballet thing. Confused? So were we. But we did get a fun photo before it started.

As the little girls were at Nan’s and she was happy to feed them, and the boys were at home with left over pizza, I took the girls to Subway for lunch.

They took this selfie a little less seriously.

I love that I have the privilege of doing life, every day with my kids.
I love that Subway was an unusual experience.
I love that Tabitha shared her cookies with Marie.
I don’t love weird plays that don’t deliver…

That’s a wrap.

September 26, 2015 | Stacy

It was SUCH a good year for swimming; but as September wore on we had no choice but to close the pool.
The boys and John then sealed the deck for the first time.
I dare say it looks as nice now as it does while in use!

The homeschool room(s)

September 21, 2015 | Stacy

I remember when I was one of the new homeschool moms having conversations with other new homeschool moms. Many talked about setting up a room of their house as a homeschool room. We never had the luxury of doing that. Some rearranged bedrooms, and others transformed dining rooms. We just piled up the school buckets in the dining room and had at it.
Now – some TEN years into our homeschool journey and I am tickled to report that we don’t have a homeschool room. We have a homeschool house.
Johanna worked on her workbook in her bedroom, while Katriel played nearby.

I found Stewart reading under the bunk bed (the sun was shining under the far end illuminating the pages of his book.) And I caught the rare moment Nigel was actually sitting at his table and not doing his work on the floor!

Marie utilized the dining room table. While Tab reclined in the basement.

I can’t remember now which one I called in to work with me at the table in my bedroom. I love all the industry and how we enjoy every bit of the space God has given us.

Movie moments

September 20, 2015 | Stacy

I did not get very many hours at work for the month of September. It ended up making for some fun (but – gulp – expensive) weekends.
After my dinner with Marie at Red Lobster, we headed home to watch the movie Cinderella with the family. We let the little girls stay up to watch it, and Katriel even dressed for the occasion.

The movie didn’t end until almost 10! I can’t believe they little girlies managed to stay awake for the whole thing. But it was such a lovely movie, I don’t blame them for working hard at it.

The next night, the boys, Kelly, and I went to Tinseltown to see Everest in 3D. I’m not super big on 3D but I figured a mountain climbing movie was a lot safer than, say, a dinosaur movie. This movie was pretty good, if you didn’t mind the lack of a feel-good ending.

And it did feel good to get out with my fellas. Can you see us?

Hard news and endless shrimp…

September 18, 2015 | Stacy

You may remember Marie broke her toe on June 8th in Oregon.
And you may remember we had it diagnosed on July 30th.
You may remember that she has been out of her freshman modified soccer season.
Well, today was follow-up day with the orthopedic PA. At first glance at the first XRay it looked completely healed, BUT another view showed there was still a part of the fracture that had yet to heal. On one hand I was overjoyed to hear that FINALLY some healing had taken place. BUT it was devastating to my darling Marie. She was composed as we finished up the visit, but her very real disappointment manifested itself in the car and made for some of the most gut-wrenching driving I’ve endured in a few years.
Good conversation. Reminders of God’s goodness. Remembering that she and I still had our evening date to look forward to.
I treated her to Red Lobster’s Endless Shrimp.

A lobster pizza appetizer.