Thursday, November 30, 2017

I am tired -- I think it is a good kind of tired.

Our house looks pretty festive. This is fun!
Willem thinks our elf, Hans Peter, will be arriving tomorrow~

I forgot to check for eggs today - I hope they will not freeze tonight.

I taught kinder today and it was a FUN class! The things they say! I love it. Hazel joined me for lunch! She ate her cup of noodles, I ate my Healthy Choice and we chatted.

Both big boys had basketball practice tonight. The roads were icy on our way home.

Our dryer is broke again. ugh. We just had it repaired in August --
Tomorrow the repairman will come out! YAY! Easy fix I hope.

And this weekend will be FILLED with basketball! 7 games between Merit and Will.

A few pics from Thanksgiving Day...






Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Certainly one of my favorite days of the year









Memories made! Oren was not running away from pictures and we found the perfect tree for the shop! And a slightly bigger, even more perfect tree for the house! 










These 4! What fun! 

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Dreaming of Christmas, the concern of over scheduling, the beauty of a LONG weekend

I am at a tricky place in my adult life, working at not being over scheduled. Merit and Willem have busy schedules. Hazel has one activity per week other than school and that is Awana. I love it that she can go to learn about Jesus on a Tuesday night surrounded by terrific leaders and fun kids. She loves the occasional art opportunity and horseback riding too.  Oren is just along for the ride, he is loving pre-school for which I am so grateful.

Yesterday I picked up $100 worth of Krispy Kreme's at the HS before Merit's practice. This is a basketball fundraiser.What made the most sense was that I would deliver them during his practice except that I want HIM working and delivering. Then I get a text from Missy Lopez saying they would like a box of donuts (a sweet message when I knew we had extra!) So I headed to her house after David's party - I got to hug her and touch base and I drove away thankful for community ----

We had some extra boxes which was perfect because my friend Bethany was throwing a surprise party for her hubby, our friend, David - so the remainder of the donuts were quickly consumed at his party! (Which was wonderful by the way and he was completely surprised!)

And no, I wasn't the only one busy - Merit had a three hour basketball practice, also jobs at home. Willem had a game!

Vance made a big pot of spaghetti and cooked it on the wood stove in the shop last night and we enjoyed the Apple Cup.

Hazel needs to see the audiologist again. Will and I are do for an eye exam. Willem is a straight A student with very little homework so I think it is time we added something to his plate. Is that crazy? He and I think piano lessons may be in order.

I love substitute teaching, but too much of that and I fall a bit behind. I was busy this month preparing for the vintage and craft sale in Royal City. I think I have enough left to do another sale, especially if I work on cards and gift tags here and there but I wonder if that will be too much. Praying over that.

And one of my FAVORITE outings this time of year is going to cut our Chistmas tree! I can hardly wait!! Willem always wears a "Christmas shirt" - I bought one last year for him a size too big hoping he could wear it again this year. I am not sure he can. That kid is growing quickly too.

I am looking through my bins of Christmas stuff considering what will go where.

A long weekend maybe gives us a little time to prioritize. A time to pause and also be thankful. Our Thanksgiving was good. A nice group out at Vance's dads, delicious food with cousin fun too. I missed my siblings in a big way, but it was good to know they were all together! Lesha and Rob hosted.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

I met a girl

My mind keeps going back to a girl.
A girl in a class I subbed in last week.
She said some rude things. She was tattled on, complained about - she seemed to be an instigator. One girl said "all of these things that are being said about 'S' are true. She has been like this since kindergarten." I watched her work and stall. A mad look on her face most of the time. She threw her color sheet, printed on card stock away, the kids said she could not grab another without permission, which she did.
I approached her and asked about throwing the first color sheet away and why she grabbed a second without permission. She was mad because the picture was detailed and she only two or three colored pencils. Many other children had a nice pack of 12 or 24. She looked at me like she was about to yell or cry. I starred into her face and felt sad for her. I felt thankful she has the teacher she has (because I was subbing for a caring teacher and lady), but sad that the girl seemed to have such a weight on her shoulders and such an attitude about her.
I watched her walk home from school the next day.
I reminded myself we don't know about the homes in which they are walking to. We don't know if someone is there when they get home or if no one is there.
From 9-3:30 these children are at a safe school where adults, and some children, care about their needs and their learning.
I felt sad because I hate to see a child with a poor colored pencil collection and little zest for learning, I promised myself two things. 1) I will buy her a pack of colored pencils 2) I will pray for her

I watch these kids and they teach me so much. They teach me as much, or more, than I teach them.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Feeling Thankful, Basketball




I LOVE basketball!!!

5 things I am thankful for today:
Our kids hard work and determination, in school and in sports
FAMILY
Teaching - I got to substitute in 3rd grade Monday and loved it. One of my favorite grades!
Weather and roads that make all of this night driving less stressful. Tonight Hazel had Awana, Merit had basketball and Will did too. Will's practice didn't end till 9. Good driving conditions are great. I got a little worried when our first snow came so early this fall. 
Good books


Monday, November 20, 2017

Kitten Love

Getting healthier by the day!! 
Lots of TLC over here!! 
Just a bad cold is what they had. This season has been terrible for cat illnesses! 
They are loving our shop, the warmth of our new wood stove and lots of cuddles.

We have never had foster kitties for so long! They are loveable.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Tuesday Morning Update


 More pictures from the little snow we got a week ago.

Today is sunshining and beautiful!
We had a fun Saturday of basketball in Royal City! Between games we ate at a Mexican restaurant that is so yummy. We have memories of eating there years ago when we would watch Carly and Kelcy play in Royal! Matt and Brenda came to support Will too. I hope to upload those pics today.
Conference weeks so the next four days are half days.  Except for Merit who has to go all day with basketball try outs after.
Please whisper a prayer for Merit he is a little overwhelmed with the anticipated schedule of basketball, homework, driver's ed... I think he is likely to make the team, he is pretty good. He may choose not to play. We just want him to make the right decision.




 Our foster kitties are doing pretty well!


Thursday, November 9, 2017

Life -- this week

Thursday was a day for celebration, for thanksgiving and for reflection. But really aren't all days?

Thursday, summed up;
Vance got the big boys off to school at 7:30. Oren and I got Hazel to school at 9. Oren and I picked up Merit at 9:45, his lunch break. Okay, is it odd that his lunch is at 9:45?? While playing football, I picked him up from practice at 5:30. He was so hungry. Lunch at 9:45, then a whole lot of school and two hours of football practice. I packed granola bars, power bars, an apple... they were inhaled. We walked in the door and he asked "what's for dinner?" - I love having a growing teenage boy in the house. He stays fit while eating two portions of dinner, so many fruits and vegetables I can't keep them "in stock" and enough power bars, yogurt and granola bars to feed a small army.

Okay, I got off the subject. I picked Merit up at 9:45. We headed to the Department of Licensing in an effort to get his driver's permit. For those of you with a 14 or 15 year old, getting a Driver's permit is NO easy task. The young adult or child (depending on the moment) HAS to be registered for Driver's Ed. But they cannot get it till 10 days before their first Driver's Ed class. We were missing a piece of information so we had to go back at 3:45. But first, I had to get Oren off to pre-school. I then wanted to get home to mounds  mountains of laundry. But the Animal Shelter requested I get the foster kitties to the vet. So, I spent over an hour at the vet trying to figure out what we have going on with the three most adorable, friendly foster kittens you could ever meet. The vet doesn't think it is anything serious, just a bad cold.

Oren got in trouble for gurgling his water at pre-school. "In trouble" = someone kindly shook their head no. Listening to him tell the story is pretty cute.

I am so thankful to report Merit DID get his permit.
He drove us home from town. I did not stop smiling. He did not stop smiling.
I stepped out of my comfort zone and had two days of teaching P.E. this week at a school I have never subbed at before.
Piles of school work, clothes and blankets are everywhere.
Snow gear already out.
I am preparing for a big vintage craft show.
Kids are doing great in school, earning good grades.
I watched an incredible assembly today honoring our veterans. Listening to patriotic music makes me teary. I am so thankful for our veterans.






Monday, November 6, 2017

Snow Much Fun




Our Sunday snow was prettier than what our Monday snow is today. Today it is just sort of a slushy mess. So I will say I am glad we had yesterday to enjoy it.
Oren has been playing all day, digging out toys. Pretending his "Little People" are Uncle Matt and Aunt B.
He says "Grandma gave these toys to me, but where was Papa?" He tries to keep track of everything! Adie visited in August, but without Stan and then they both came this fall. Oren asks why Papa stayed back, what they are doing today etc. And there have been lots of stories coming from Oren today beginning with "When I was a kid..."
He misses the big kids while they are at school, but we try to have our own fun. Tomorrow his morning is with Miles and the afternoon at his pre-school while I teach P.E.! :-)

Sunday, November 5, 2017

The snow came early...

We were wearing shorts two weeks ago.We were tubing the creek and kayaking 5 weeks ago and now the SNOW is here ALREADY! Each year the first snowfall brings such excitement! This year is a bit different. I have two children who are very excited, Oren and Willem. Hazel got excited once she got her gear on. Merit remembers how short summer was because we had to make up snow days! --- I guess we should just ENJOY it. It is Sunday. We get to play in it, sled, have snow ball fights, cruise around in the Can Am, drink hot tea... and we have a cozy fire inside! In the cabin AND in the house!





Thursday, November 2, 2017

Some of my favorite things



Some of my favorite things; 
Ladybugs and wood piles


Oren's Olaf costume had gotten dirty while stacking wood, so we had to quickly throw that in the wash and we went for a little adventure while it washed and dried so that it would be ready for trick or treating.

I love the friendship these two share.
I know this is my second time posting this but it is too cute not to share again.

And a few other favorite things
TEACHING
it stretches me and tires me out but I do love it
applesauce in the crock pot
FALL WEEKENDS
Oren's stories about pre-school
Hazel's help in the classrooms when I sub (she is my lunch date too)

oh and I am letting myself dream just a bit about 
CHRISTMAS baking and cards
about wrapping
and about getting our Christmas tree






Halloween Fun!













HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPJ!!!

THIS KID IS THE BEST!!! PRAYIING BLESSINGS OVER YOU OREN! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!