Halloween 2021

 One of my favorite posts every year is this one - a look back at all of the Halloween costumes.  I have a sneaking suspicion that this might by the last year for this post as my kids are aging out of Halloween.  Actually, as you will notice when we get to this years photo . .. only one kid dressed up this year as the older one deemed himself "too old".  Actually, he deemed himself too old last year but I told him "too bad, you have to do it one more year for me because I am not ready for you to be done" HA!  He appeased me and still had fun but said never again!!! 

Josh 2009

Josh 2010

Nate 2010

Josh 2011

Nate 2011

Josh 2012

Nate 2012

Josh 2013

Nate 2013

Nate and Josh 2014

Josh 2015

Nate 2015

Josh 2016

Nate 2016

Nate and Josh 2017

Nate and Josh 2018

Josh and Nate 2019

Nate (costume #1) 2020

Nate (costume #2) 2020

Josh 2020

Nate 2021

Weekly Song - Weary Traveler (Lyric Video) - Jordan St. Cyr

This song spoke to me this past week.  We all have weary times - sometimes its an hour after a busy day or a week . .. or  a month . . or a season.  Even in the weary days, we have a hope in heaven and home that is waiting for us when we love and trust Jesus.  

2021 Weekly Photos #33

 I finally had a chance to upload photos from my phone and camera to not only do my weekly post but also to share photos from the trip Darry and I took a month ago!  But first . . .here's a quick look back at our week 

Saturday - We celebrated Josh's birthday, which was on Friday,  He had a friend stay the night on Friday - they had pizza and stayed up all night!).  Josh wanted the family celebration separate so we did!! 

Josh wanted Darryl's grilled hamburgers and fruit salad so that is what we got ! (and the burgers were amazing!!) 

Then it was time for the traditional balloon popping!  They get their age in money but they have to work for it by popping balloons.  It is always fun to see what creative ways they come up with to pop them all! 

And then time for gifts!! 

"If I fits, I sits" 

My mom made Josh a new quilt to use on his bed.  It is all cats :-) 

His gift from Darryl's Mom and Step-Dad (money!)

He cake of choice was carrot cake.  I usually make one but I saw this one at Meijer and it looked too good to pass up.  (It was very tasty!)  And that's  A LOT of candles HA! 

Sunday was our normal day - church, football, and then youthgroup. 

Monday and Tuesday were normal school days - school, music lessons and the such.  

Wednesday - Darryl was home from work unexpectedly so after a morning of school we carved pumpkins!  This is the first time in years we haven't done it the day before Halloween and when we were really tired after a long day HA!  It was actually fun to carve them in the afternoon :-)  

Thursday - Another "normal" school day but I did get a photo of our pumpkins all lit up! 

(Notice Dash in the background? HA!) 

Friday - We attended our Homeschool Co-op and Nate had Tak Kwon Do.  Then we enjoyed a quiet evening at home.  

One of Nate's classes (his favorite) is Grateful Hearts.  They learn about a lot of community service and community servants.  Today the local police spoke to the class and then showed them their vehicle. 

Nate also has gym class - another favorite. 

Josh and Nate both take an outer space class.  They do a lot of different projects in this class making it a lot of fun. 

So, that was our week!  

Weekly Menu

 I actually followed my menu this past week!  The more detailed I plan, the better I am at following it PLUS by planning for the month I've found it easier to stick to the plan because I see what is coming up later in the month.  I've also worked at actually reading what I have planned instead of guessing and then forgetting something!  Anyway, that was an anything but thrilling conversation so I will just jump right to the plan. 

Also, things are slowing down around here a little so I'm hoping to maybe get back into some more creative blogging in the coming months. 

Friday - Today is actually Josh's birthday.  He has invited a friend over for an all nighter so it's Pizza for dinner and Ice Cream with the toppings for dessert.  

Saturday - Tonight we will actually celebrate as a family - Josh's request is Burgers on the grill, Fruit Salad and Carrot Cake for Dessert.  We will open gifts and do all of our fun traditions too. 

Sunday - Chicken Wings, Chili Cheese Dip and leftover fruit salad from Saturday :-) 

Monday - Mississippi Crack Roast, Noodles, and Green Beans

Tuesday - Fajitas in the Crock pot with salad and chips and salsa    

Wednesday - Leftovers :-)  Josh has youth group so he eats there.  I keep it simple for the rest of us. 

Thursday - We are eating at my mom's tonight.  She's making Darryl her famous ham and bean soup (which I do NOT like) HA!  She throws canned chicken noodle soup in the microwave for Josh and I (I'm giving her a hard time - she gets my favorite soup too!) 

Sorry this is late - I had it written but didn't set it up to post :-)  Which was fine because it changed today (Saturday) anyway!  

Weekly Worship -- "I Don't Want To Miss It" | Ellie Holcomb | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

I love this song.  It's upbeat and fun and I love the fact that it references Zacchaeus!  

It's this part of the chorus -- I mean how often do we think about the fact that Zacchaeus crawled up in that sycamore tree because he didn't want to miss a thing!!:   

And I don’t want to miss it I don’t want to miss a thing So I climbed up in a sycamore tree ‘Cause I don’t want to miss one thing

I

Weekly Photos 2021 #32

 We had a semi-normal week finally!  It's been a little busy/crazy/hectic since mid-August and this is the first week that felt, well, normal.  We were even able to get through almost all of my planned school lessons this week which is a great thing!  

We had a lot of normal things - music lessons, Youth Group, AWANA, and Friday School!  I didn't take many photos but thankfully I do have some to share from our day at Friday School this week. 

A game of Uno after lunch!  We all enjoy lunch at the end of our campus day and, when done eating, the kids play games until it's time to go.  

Our morning opening.  

This is Nate's favorite class - Grateful Hearts.  This particular week, this Veteran came in to talk to the class.  He taught them the importance of the flag.  This 100% fills Nate bucket when it comes to classes! 

If you look at the right hand side of the photo you will see Josh (and his blue sweatshirt!).  This is his knitting class.  Yes, knitting and he actually enjoys it!  

A week ago, Nate tested for his red belt.  Now, as he started to learn the form for this new belt he also gets to learn to use the sticks too!  He is excited about this new form!  

So, that's the basics from our week! 

Weekly Menu

 I feel like we have been running a crazy race since the middle of August and it is just now starting to slow down.  That means super limited time to blog, upload photos, and be creative.  Next week is our last week with "extra" stuff for awhile so hopefully I can get a little more time to get caught up some things (Like sharing our vacation!)  This past week is the first week that we've had some semblance of a routine for school and we still have one more week of running club.  THEN we can really buckle down and accomplish all we need to each day.  

With holidays coming and a trip for a wedding in the plans we are also cutting back on the "splurges" such as the weekly Friday night take out night and/or Sunday Night pizza.  Those nights were great fun but also hitting the pocket book a little more than we like so we are going back to those early "COVID" days of eating at home HA!  

I actually pulled up my menus from last year at this time and used those for some inspiration for the coming week (and future weeks!) 

Friday - So after what I said above, we are still getting dinner out - Taco Bell with a goal to keep under $20.00 :-) 

Saturday - Dinner at my mom's (finally!)  It's been a few weeks due to vacation and just being so busy last week! 

Sunday - We are going to live dangerously (HA!) and attend a pot luck at our church.  I'm planning to take Taco Salad and Veggie Wraps.

Monday - Soup, Ham and Rolls

Tuesday - Dr. Pepper Pork Chops in the Crock, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Wednesday - Stuffed Shells, salad and Garlic Bread

Thursday - Roasted Pork Loin, Baked Potatoes, and a salad