Fancy Nancy

Yesterday was dress like your favorite book character for school.  At the last minute before bed, we tried hard to find something for Fancy Nancy.  (2nd kid problems-Caroline's red ribbon outfits were planned the week before and we had everything we needed...not the same for poor Mags!)  Any way, she was thrilled and we are thankful for our sweet neighbor Megan who helped us tie it together with the tights!
 

A sweet treat!

Last June we said see you real soon to my BFF Heather and her family.  They were heading across the big water for a 3 year placement.  Imagine my surprise when I found out they would be coming home for a few months while her hubby did some training in the states.  With the craziness of trying to get school going and the lovely quarantine thanks to 'Rona' I wasn't sure if we would be able to see each other before they left.  I am SO VERY THANKFUL that we were able to see each other yesterday. We met for lunch at a local park.  Our kids played so well together and had a blast!  I am so thankful for my lifelong BFF!  We are total opposites in EVERY way but I couldn't imagine my life without her.  35 years and counting...praying we get 35 years plus more together!!

 

Drive Thru Trick or Treat

 This year the church at our school hosted a drive thru trick or treat.  We stayed in our cars and drove in a line to different cars.  We only had one little treater this year as our other kiddo was at youth group.  Maggie told her she would get her at least one piece of candy since she didn't go.  (And she actually gave her a bag full of candy!)

Crazy Day at School

Today was crazy hair, sock and clothes day at school.  As crazy as our girl is, she didn't want any part of crazy day.  I am always surprised by this...Caroline and I managed to talk her into just a little crazy.  Once we started working on it, she got a little excited!  This is about as crazy as it got. 
 

When I have kids...

Each girl had their part in helping clean the kitchen on Saturday.  As I was washing dishes I heard the following conversation.

• Maggie: When I grow up and have kids, I am going to teach them how to pick up after themselves so I don't have to do this.
• Caroline: That's what Momma is trying to teach you and it isn't working!

Halloween Cookies

It is so easy for me to be 'task' oriented on a free day.  I had big plans for us yesterday.  Andy had a Presbytery meeting and it was just the girls and I.  I desperately wanted to get our house in order...I just knew that we would work hard and have a spic and span clean house when Andy arrived.  Well several things happened and the day turned sour pretty quickly.  I knew the housework wasn't going to get done so we focused on what we could do...then we decided to have a little fun making sugar cookies.  We soon realized that we only have a pumpkin cookie cutter for fall.  The girls had the great idea that they would use the gingerbread cookie cutter and make 'costumes' for them.  The funny part in all of this...the kitchen was the one place that got truly cleaned and then we messed it up a few hours later! (Side note: The kitchen is my go to clean place...everything has a place and it's the easiest for me to straighten)  My icing was a little too thin and therefore didn't stay in place well...oh well...the girls had fun...and for that I am truly thankful!

 

Silly time

Those who know me well, KNOW that I am NOT a night owl.  I am 100% an early bird and have always been that way.  Need me to do something, I can wake up at 4 am and be ready to go.  Need me after 8 PM and I'm Oscar the Grouch!  These two seem to come alive at bedtime.  Especially Caroline.  I KNOW that I best soak up the time with her because there will come a time when she doesn't have anything to say...so I'm trying really hard to listen...to be in the moment and not think about sleep, vegging out or enjoying 'my time.'  I will say that one night this week she was driving me crazy...I told her I would get even the next morning and I did!  It was sweet revenge.  I walked in her room singing, turned on the light and 'snuggle' right up to her, tickling her and removing the covers.  She said "You win, now get out!"  :-)  It was great! But guess what, that very night, she came back for more!

 

Friday Night Fun

After a few hiccups last week with the projector, we wanted to give it another try this week.  We thought we had the issue solved with the cord we purchased...but it wasn't that easy.  I'm thankful for a technological hubby who keeps plugin along until he figures it out.  We planned to start the movie at 6:30 but realized that 6:45 or 7 would have been better.  The kids played for about 15 minutes and then we started it.  The evening light quickly adjusted...by 7 it was completely dark.  I made these fun little baskets for each of the kids.  They seemed pretty excited!  It was a fun night, already thinking about our next movie! 

 

A new normal...

After a super crazy start to the school year, this week has seemed semi normal.  It's the first time I realized that I leave work, without a kid, and have a few hours to myself before I pick up kids.  This is the first time in 10 years that I haven't had a kid with me when I'm off work.  It seems a little strange.  Monday I came home and spent about 30 minutes power cleaning the house,  (of course you can't tell it now.) ran to the grocery store for a few quick items and then went to carline for a few quiet minutes.  It's a strange place to be...to realize that you don't have little, little ones anymore...that that season of life is closed.  There is a sense of grieving...but there is also a sense of sweetness too.  

Earlier this week, I made plans with my friend Lia.  We met a local trail and walked for about an hour.  I could totally do this with a kid in tow but this was an hour of uninterrupted conversation.  Where I actually got to focus on what was being said.  I also didn't have to worry about asking Andy to 'watch' the kids while I took time for myself.  Again, it's hard to explain but it's been really sweet so far.  

Here's to a new normal...
 

Class Pumpkin

 Maggie's sweet teacher returns from Maternity Leave next week.  We are super excited to begin our time with her.  However, we LOVE the assist in the classroom who has been serving as the teacher during this time.  Mrs. H emailed me and asked if I could help with the class pumpkin.  Of course, I was super happy to help.  Well one thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was paining a pumpkin to look like a basketball.  Thankfully Caroline offered to help.  Here is the final product...I hope they like it.  Craftiness isn't my thing but I think we did a great job.

A Sweet Moment

Poor Maggie has always struggled with night terrors.  In the beginning they really freaked Andy and I out.  If you have had any experience with night terrors you know, it truly is frightening.  We didn't know what we were dealing with at first.  Maggie would scream like she was in horrible pain and yet we couldn't wake or help her shake it.  We mentioned it to a friend who said "Yes our oldest had it.  But the worse thing you can do is try to wake them...you actually just need to soothe them because they can't 'wake' from the dream."  Well that was a life changer.  When she has an episode, we simply go in, pat her back and say "Mommy's here...you are ok" on repeat until she slowly calms down.

She had an episode this morning as I was about to get in the shower.  I walked in and spoke softly "you are ok.  Momma's here...I love you."  I repeated this several times.  Immediately the cries became a whimper and then nothing.  I thought how powerful that my simple words can bring such comfort.  And then I had a God moment.  How often do we cry out when our world is in disarray...when we can't seem to break the cycle of worry or defeat.  And our sweet Heavenly father comes in, wraps his arms around us and says "Rita, it's ok.  I'm here...I love you...it's ok."  And slowly we feel that comfort...we surrender and can rest fully in Him.  What a sweet blessing!

First Grade is hard work

 We left Maggie reading for maybe 5 minutes.  It got quiet, I walked back in and found this.  Bless her heart, first grade is hard work.  I removed the book, she rolled over and got cozy.  I told her goodnight and she whispered "night...love you."  It was so sweet!

12 year well visit

Today Caroline had her 12 year old well visit.  Sadly I totally forgot to take a picture of our girl.  She did great.  I am trying really hard to let her answer the questions during the appointment.  Dr. E praised her for her "domestic" education and training.  (cooking, cleaning, preparing grocery list for meals, etc.)  She is super pumped that she only lacks 3 inches of being as tall as I am...I am not so sure I'm excited about that... :-)

Her stats

• Height: 63" 5 ft 3' (87)
• Weight: 102 lbs (68%)
• BMI: 50%

Trying to find a school routine...

Well folks, we are half way though October and our family just hasn't seemed to find a school routine.  With every day being different, the girls being on 2 different schedules (start and end time an hour apart) and throwing a COVID isolation/quarantine in there, we are struggling!  Maggie's teacher sent me an email today stating that Maggie missed every.single.spelling word this week and that she would like to retest her on Wednesday.  I responded that it was TOTALLY my fault.  I haven't made spelling a part of our weekly routine because...well...who...has...a...routine...these...days...She was super sweet and totally understanding and extended grace to us.  

We took a small dry erase board and some dry erase markers to carline and worked on it while we waited on Caroline.  Maggie did great!  Let's hope she does well on her test on Wednesday!

 

A flashback to my childhood

Growing up, we had these awesome cast iron corn ear pans for cornbread.  My mom and dad didn't use these every time we had cornbread but when they did, it was a fun treat.  Today we had soup for lunch and I thought I would use these pans.  My girls say it's the first time we've used them...maybe so.  Any way they thought it was great!  I love fun little treats like this that remind me of my childhood.

 

A Sweet Saturday

What a sweet Saturday.  I am so thankful that we had a normal Saturday at home.  Perspective is a funny thing...a week ago we couldn't go anywhere and I was tired of staying home.  Today we had freedom to go and all I wanted to do was relax at home!  We did some cleaning early so we could enjoy the day.  Maggie begged Caroline to go outside and help her rake a leaf pile to play in.  Well that lasted about 5 minutes and Maggie was done.  But they managed to regroup and rake a pretty decent pile for the first pile of the year.  It also saved Andy from having to do yardwork today!

We call these our "green hands."  These were Mema's and we think of them every time we use them!!

After lunch we decided to take advantage of the nice day and hang out outside.  We also thought it would be a great idea to complete some school work.  Both girls are working to complete make up work from school.  We spent 2 hours doing school work and playing...I attempted an outside nap but as you might imagine that didn't go so well...

We ended the day with a fire, s'mores and "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown."  The fire and s'mores were great, the movie hit a few snags.  Our computer wasn't wanting to connect to iTunes and we were missing a cable we needed to play the movie from our phone.  However, my dear sweet technological husband found it on YouTube.  It wasn't the greatest and we could barely hear it but we had fun.  We enjoyed the time together.  

Teaching Charlie Brown new tricks

Today was an absolutely beautiful afternoon.  We spent almost 3 hours outside enjoying the cooler, less humid temperatures.  With Caroline now in middle school, she gets out an hour and 15 minutes after Maggie.  Technically I set aside 2 hours for carline.  It really eats up our afternoon.  By the time we get home, it's time to look at homework, unpack bookbag and lunch boxes and start working on dinner.  We still aren't into a routine and I honestly am not a fan of this new schedule...but oh well.  We will figure it out eventually.

The girls didn't have school today, which meant we had the afternoon free. After lunch we went out.  It always surprises me how the day will go.  Sometimes the girls want nothing to do with each other and are bored.  Other days they could play and laugh together for hours.  Today was one of those days.  They went from one thing to the next and it was so sweet to watch.  They decided to raise the balance beam to teach Charlie Brown a few tricks.  Maggie thought she should practice some of her Little Gym moves.  

They worked together.  Maggie held Charlie until Caroline was ready.  I never got a great picture of Charlie jumping the balance beam but he did really well.  He was very much motivated by the treats. 

I need some sort of 'lounger' for the back porch but I'm just not sure what...until then I will continue to use chairs to prop myself up. :-)  Thank you Lord for the gift of another day!  It's funny.  After a week back at work/school, all I want to do is sit on the porch or on the couch and do nothing...last week when all we could do was stay at home, I was ready to GO...anywhere!  Funny how perspective really does change everything!

 

Who knew today was Boss Appreciation Day?

 I forget every single year that there is a special day for 'boss appreciation day."  Today is the day and several of my staff members treated me to my favorites.  I think they know me well...they know the way to my heart is through my stomach!  I am a blessed lady!