Thanksgiving, Huge Surprise, A 16 Year Old, Swimming, Lots'a Lattes

Days in the Life...

Monday morning Mom headed out early to get all the grocery shopping done for our Thanksgiving week celebration with all of her side of the family. At both Costco and Win-co she had to do two trips through the store because she could only fit so much in the cart. When she got home the car was overflowing and it was all hands on deck to get it unloaded and put away.

Chloe had 30 pans of cinnamon rolls to bake in order to fill all the orders people had placed for the week. Mom picked up over 100 lbs of basic supplies for her like flour, sugar, milk, etc while she was out.

Dad was finishing up stuff for work to be able to take time off later in the week and the rest of us had our own things to finish up. The littles got to take the week off of school.

In the evening the first group of family arrived for the week. It was so good to get to hug Aunt Amy, Uncle JC, Rowan (2 almost 3), and Eli (almost 1), from DC.


Tuesday was Christian's 16th birthday! Mom and Dad took him to Seven Mile Cafe for breakfast and picked up a few more grocery items, including Blue Bell Ice Cream for dessert later.

I watched Kate and Blaire for just a couple of hours that morning and then got to go home and visit with Aunt Amy and celebrate the fact that Christian and Chloe both get to go to Summit Ministries next summer like I did!

Blaire just crosses her ankles and hangs out.

In the evening Nana, Grandfather, and the others came over to have pizza and ice cream for dinner in honor of Christian's birthday. Our little cousins had to go to bed soon after dinner, but the rest of us finished the evening by watching "Parental Guidance". 

Wednesday we all worked together to finish last preparations around the house and such. 

I've been using my bullet journal to take notes on this 

personal development book. Essentialism.

In the afternoon Uncle Adam, Aunt Lini, Geneva (7), Charissa (6), and Sierra (5) arrived from South Texas. Our cat, Coal, ran for the hills when the storm of little girls came running. (Coal was a Christmas gift several years ago. I named him. He is black. We got him for Christmas. See what I did there?)

It was a beautiful day outside and the kids were out there having a blast for hours, while everyone else got settled and began visiting. 

Chloe baked cinnamon rolls all day Monday through Wednesday and by Wednesday evening they were ready for pick up and delivery. I went with her for one of her last deliveries and it was so beautiful to watch the sunset while we drove through the country. Texas is so pretty, y'all. 

That evening we visited with Aunt Amy and Uncle JC, who were staying at our house for the night. Uncle Adam and his family stayed next door with Nana and Grandfather, other family stayed at a hotel, and Chloe and Christian, who gave up their rooms, slept in a camper that we borrowed from friends. 

Thursday morning Thanksgiving day arrived!

Everyone at our house was awake (ish) somewhat early since Rowan and Eli are early birds. Breakfast was cinnamon rolls (we finally got to eat some after getting to smell them for three days!!!), eggs, fruit, granola, and yogurt. Everyone ate at the house they slept in.

About 8:30 Aunt Lauren and Uncle Phil finally arrived as the last family members yet to make an appearance that week and with them was the surprise! Nana's brother and his wife came all the way from Florida to surprise her for her 70th birthday which we were also celebrating that week. It was so fun to get to see her face when they got out of the car. We were all on the driveway waiting for them and then Nana finally made it outside having to be dragged away from the kitchen.

After lots of hugs and smiles out on the driveway, everyone made their way inside to get coffee and settle down to watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I got to ensure my title as favorite oldest niece by making Uncle Adam a salted caramel latte. Not that my title was in jeopardy or anything, of course.

Enjoying the songs sung by people none of us had ever heard of. 

Everyone all together again.

Baby Eli got lots of snuggles.

Gabe with his marshmallows...and a splash of hot chocolate.

We had snack-y foods out for lunch that could be gotten whenever people were hungry. After the parade, Uncle Adam, Christian, and I teamed up against Chloe, Ava and Uncle JC to play Taboo. It's amazing what you can learn about people while playing that game...

The little girl cousins really enjoyed playing outside with Mia all weekend and Rowan followed Mia around everyone his mommy would let him. 

We ate our big Thanksgiving dinner about 5:00 pm. Everyone had a part of the meal they were responsible to prepare so it wasn't a big task for any one person. And with everyone working together, cleaning up took no time at all either!

The 30+ year old crowd sat in the dinning room and the rest of us were in the breakfast room, there was no way for all 24 of us to be at the same table. *wink* 

In the evening some watched football. Sorry, I have no idea who was playing. And some watched the new "Anne of Green Gables". We decided it was pretty well done, but it felt both extremely rushed and really drawn out at the same time. Nothing can really replace the original in our minds. 

Friday morning all the ladies headed to Denton to visit over coffee at Starbucks and then do a little shopping, while the men took all the kids to the park with a picnic lunch. Chloe had some college deadlines to work on and enjoyed the quiet house. 

Dancing to Justin Timberlake. 

Once we finished shopping, all the ladies met with everyone else at the park to eat before going home for some rest time. 

Late afternoon everyone congregated in the living room to play Uncle Phil's awesome game show! Since we were celebrating Nana's 70th birthday all the items in the game were things that were created or used or whatever else, during her lifetime. We split into two teams straight down the middle of the room and the competitive child Christian kept score, because, you know, that's important... 

After that Grandfather set us up with a crossword puzzle. The guys went to one room and the girls to the other and we saw who could get the most words right in the given amount of time. It was very close, but the girls won. Naturally. 

Dinner was two different kinds of chili. 

Cousin fun.

Chloe and Christian held down the fort at our house with all the kids and "Ratatouille" while the adults went next door to visit after dinner. 

Saturday morning my friend Emily came out to take pictures for us for a couple of hours. She did a beautiful job and we got lots of sweet pictures of different family groups and all of us together, etc. 

More football was watched in the afternoon and I got to enjoy the role of barista and make I don't even know how many lattes at peoples' request. 

Later in the afternoon Uncle Phil divided us into two teams to do an outdoors scavenger hunt. We had to take pictures of all kinds of things from people locked in the chicken coop, to someone doing something that looks dangerous, to something dead, to the attack of the tree people, and everyone's least favorite, putting everyone's feet in the pool. *Que a lot of screaming* 

Viewing the pictures from the two teams.

I had to leave after that to go to church early to sing and the rest of my family joined me in time for the service. 

Sunday was very quiet. Uncle Adam and his family were on their way home and everyone else had their own plans. 

We made our brunch meal and had a restful afternoon. 

We visited with Uncle Tom and Aunt Wanda before dinner and told them goodbye since their flight was early the next morning. 

That night we watched our first Christmas movie for the year, "Christmas Wish". 

The Herd: Quoted 

"I didn't choose to be so popular, it just happened!" -Mia in reference to her great popularity with all her little cousins.

Dog Attack, Tiny Group, "Boy Away"

Days in the Life...

Monday mid October November (What was I saying?! Obviously I am not paying attention to the passing of the months very well...) was a pretty full, normal first day of the week. In the morning Dad and I took our family vehicle in to be checked and I babysat in the evening.


Tuesday I watched Kate and Blaire.

A typical day at their house goes something like this.

I arrive at 6:00 am and, once both their parents leave, settle on the couch to nap until one or both girls wake up. Some days they wake up before 7:00, but usually they make it to 7:30. One morning we all slept until 8:30 which was awesome!

When they wake up I change them both and get Kate into her highchair. She is usually a little weepy and wants to know why mommy can't hold her, but she perks up pretty quickly and is her normal happy self. Blaire is always super smiley when she wakes up.

Kate likes to eat breakfast for a long time...like an hour. But she can feed herself so while she eats I am able to give Blaire her bottle and sometimes get my own food. However, if I'm going to eat something, Kate will want to eat it too.

Blaire is usually ready for a nap around the time Kate is done eating. If I've still not gotten to eat (or make coffee) then I will have Kate sit on her little potty and watch a kid's show for a few minutes.

This particular day while Blaire slept Kate sat at the table with me and colored while I ate and had my Bible time.

Whenever Blaire wakes up Kate usually is happy to play with her dolls while I feed her sister. She loves to talk to me and make faces at Blaire. 

No, Blaire does not hold her own bottles, 

she only got to for this picture.

Kate is ready for lunch around 11:00 and Blaire is typically very content to sit in her bouncy seat during that time. After lunch we all clean up the house a little and then both girls take a nap. In an ideal world they would fall asleep at the same time and wake up at the same time, but that rarely ever happens. Most days I can get their naps to overlap at least for 30 minutes or so, though. That way I get to eat. 

After they nap they are both hungry again and ready to play some more. What happens in the afternoon changes most everyday and depends on how they are doing. 

Around 4:00 Kate has dinner and then after a little more play time and another tidying of the house, she gets a bath. Sometimes Blaire will sleep and I can bathe Kate with two hands, but usually I get to hold Blaire while I take care of Kate. Blaire's fussy time is in the evening, as is typical for most babies, so she doesn't nap super well or like to be set down somewhere. 

Once Kate is all dry and dressed in fresh pajamas, I change Blaire into a fresh sleeper (aka, one that is not saturated with the day's spit-up). Then we just hang out, read books, snuggle, and wait for their daddy to get home at 5:35. 

I also get to monitor their two indoor dogs; make sure they have food and water, put them outside, keep them off the furniture, put them up during the girls' naps...

It's always a long day, but I seriously love my job so much!

At home that day I think everyone else had a pretty quiet day. 

Gabe went to gym and Dad and Christian spent the evening running errands and reviewing Christian's school stuff. 

When I got home I caught up with the others. Mom and the little girls had been at a friend's house for a little bit. We all had a yummy dinner made by Chloe and then watched "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken". 

Wednesday it was sunny and warm. (Welcome to Texas in November!) I took Ava to gym class and then later Ava and Gabe to the park to meet up with friends before engagement group in the evening. (Mia had a slight fever and so missed both activities.)

Mom was kind of dragging a little that day and Chloe was hard at work on class deadlines and I think cinnamon roll baking. 

While the kids were at their friends' house playing outside a big dog came running up to Ava barking. It scared Ava so she started running which made it chase her. Their friend runs inside screaming that Ava is "being attacked by a dog". Her parents come flying out of the house yelling for Ava who is in a ball in the bottom of the ditch where she had tripped while running. Brave Gabe was standing between her and the barking dog holding his arms out and telling it to go away. 

The poor adults thought Ava had been bitten and their child's summons had scared them big time. 

When they all arrived for small group we got to hear the kids' version of the "attack" and the parents' version of the "dog that chased Ava, but never actually hurt her". 

Ava was just fine, don't worry. 

Group was good. Several people couldn't come, but we still had a special time. 

Thursday I babysat in the morning and then had a couple of hours at home before going to worship/Bible study in the afternoon. 

Gabe went to gym and I had dinner with a lady from church. 

Waiting at a coffee shop between things and trying to journal.

Remember that post months ago where I started it out by saying that I was 10 days behind in my journal and feeling sooooooo behind? I wish I was only 10 days behind right now.....

Friday I watched Kate and Blaire again and then got to be home for family movie night. I think we split up to watch multiple things. 

Saturday we all got up in time to go to Gabe's practice gymnastics meet. It was a chilly morning! Earlier in the week it was in the 80's and that morning it was in the 30's.

Mom and I made salted carmel mocha lattes that morning to take with us. We decided we really don't need Starbucks anymore.

The meet started at 8:30. It was just the boys at Gabe's gym, so it was nice and small. All the families of the boys got to be in the gym and walk to each station with the boys to watch the different events.

Gramma, Grandpa, and Brennen came to watch a little bit later in the morning.

Christian and I waiting outside for them.

Our eyes were watering so badly from the sunshine and cold.

Parallel bars.

Rings. 

He HELD this position for several SECONDS!!

High bar.

Floor.

Gabe also did the mushroom (beginner pommel horse) and vault. He did really, really well in everything! I'd never gotten to see him do tricks outside of our home and I was SO impressed!! Gabe is SO strong and is easily one of the strongest/skilled in his level. 

The meet lasted until about 11:30. Then we all went to lunch at Chuy's. 

Mom and I both had separate errands to run, but the others all headed home after lunch. Once she finished, Mom went home and I headed to church. 

I got to church at 2:00 to be helpful with the Operation Christmas Child Box packing party. 

Of course I held a baby the entire time I was packing boxes. *wink*

The growing stack.

Many hands. 

After all the boxes were packed those of us on the worship team had to start rehearsal and then begin house of prayer. Everyone else came in time for the service. 

After the church service was our Thanksgiving meal as a church family. We stayed late and got to visit and help clean up afterwards. 

It was a long day, but a really fun one. 

Sunday morning we invited Nana and Grandfather to join us for brunch so they would hear about Gabe's tournament and see the super impressive videos Dad got of each event. 

In the afternoon several of us took naps. We had some recovering to do from the previous day.

That Moment When...

The friends that live 5 miles away call saying their kids are at home with the babysitter sitting in the dark because the power has been out for an hour and they have no flashlights and could you go get them.


The Herd: Quoted 

"You get to have birthday number 20 in Maui next year, Lydia!" -Christian
"What? Really? I'm going to be 20?!?" -Me in real shock.
"Did you forget that that's what comes after 19 or something? This shouldn't be a surprise..."
 -Dad

"Shhhh...that was the first meal I ate today..." -Dad to me talking about dinner.
"Dad!" -Me
"Well, I wasn't hungry..." -Dad looking through the refrigerator.
"Mmhmm..." -Me
"And I'm not really even hungry now." -Dad
"Which means you need to eat something, given your track record, my track record...you know..." -Me

"What? They aren't coming either?! This isn't small group, this is tiny group." -Gabe when only 20 something people came to engagement/small group.

"What did you put in there, 'Boy Away'?" -Gabe making a disgusted face as he smells the oil diffuser.

The Wise Words of Mia, Still No Feeling, Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs

Days in the Life...

Monday I had still not heard from any of the establishments I had submitted job applications to. However, while Mom was at the dentist, the woman who cleaned her teeth asked for a nanny/mother's helper recommendation, so she gave her my number.

Another mom in the area needed help organizing after having moved recently. So I was over at their house for several hours.

In the afternoon Mom and I had a spontaneous tea and visit session to go with the dreary weather outside and our dragging energy.


Tuesday I babysat for the lady from the dentist in the morning.

Gabe had gymnastics. Dad and Christian took him and then went to the library to visit about Christian's school and such. Then they had dinner out and brought Gabe home.

Meanwhile us girls at home had cinnamon rolls and watched "Two Weeks With Love".


Wednesday I watched Kate and Blaire.

Kate was a bit emotional all day, but still so sweet with her sister.

This is her "no-afternoon-nap" face. 

Back at home everyone else got to get up for breakfast and witness a huge chicken massacre. They literally watched two large dogs walk into our pasture, tear in to the chicken coop, and kill 6 chickens, including all of our roosters. By the time they realized what was happening it was too late. I heard there was screaming and yelling and arm-waving and running, but the dogs had already done the damage and were running off with their freshly killed breakfast. 

Then there were tears. Chloe had raised two chicks and gotten them to where they would eat from her hand and perch on her shoulder and head. *Shutters* Both of them were killed. *Tears* 

I got to hear the story via text and then again when I got home. 

Thursday morning I went back to help with organizing and such and then had my worship Bible study in the afternoon. 

Gabe went to gym and the girls went to play at a friends house. 

Christian is joining Debate Club again, so Chloe took him to that. This year he will be competing in Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD). Lincoln-Douglas is a value debate and is also much shorter than Team Policy (TP), which is what he and Chloe did together last year. It requires quick thinking and lots of logic. 

When I got home the others were getting ready to go to dinner with the friends who had Ava and Mia over. It was fun to visit while we waited half of forever for our super yummy food to arrive. Mom left from there to pick up Gabe and Chloe and Christian came home around 9:00. 

Friday was a gorgeous morning.

Yes, I have a lot of books, notebooks, and planners. 

Yes, I use them all daily.

So that week was the week of dogs. We had the two the killed the chickens and then another dog showed up on Wednesday (I think) and stuck around our house until Saturday morning when we finally figured out who it belonged to. Thankfully this other dog was much nicer and actually played really nicely with the kids who all begged to keep it. All except Mia who has only one fear, a fear of dogs. I feel like there was another dog(s) that showed up, but I can't remember. 

I babysit for the same lady I helped on Tuesday. This time I took her baby on a 45 minute walk, which ended up being a bad idea... I decided to go on a huge loop around the neighborhood and about half-way the baby decided he was done. He cried until I picked him up, but he weighs 20 lbs so trying to carry him, push the stroller, and walk didn't work. So...I won't do that again. I got a great workout, though! 

Friday night is family movie night whenever we are all home. Usually we stay together, but this time we split up and some watched "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" and others watched "Love Begins." 

Saturday Chloe and Christian began preparing for our Thanksgiving week celebration with family by cleaning their rooms really well. 

I left for church around noon to attend a worship-workshop all afternoon and then be there for normal worship stuff for the services. All of it was really good. Everyone else met me there later.

Sunday was super restful and laid back for all of us. 

A week later I still had no feeling in my two fingers after play the guitar. No, I did not play it again all week, just that one time. 

In the evening we had our FPU class.

That Moment When...

You drop the dryer lint catcher and all the lint goes everywhere.

You are left to babysit and the mom never told you the name of her baby. 

You finally find a monogramed baby blanket!

The Herd: Quoted 

"I've just been really trying to work against being prideful. Like, when people tell me something good that I do or give me praise, I want to go to tell other people what they said, but then I'm like, 'No, that's prideful.'" -Mia

"If you are talking to a guy and it's not going so well, but you really like him and maybe want to marry him, just make your hair fall over your face a little and then the guy will put it off your face and everything will start going great." -Mia

"Yeah, but when I get up early then Mia gets up and she is so loud." -Ava

"I'm not loud!" -Mia

"Well, you talk a lot." -Ava

"That's because after being asleep so long all my words have piled up and I have to tell them all to someone! They just keep coming out and you have to let them out because they stick to ya like laugh-y taffy!" -Mia 

"Chloe said they now have a coffee, tea, and hot chocolate bar set up at debate." -Me

"Well I guess that means you will be going next week." -Mom

"Yup!" -Me 

Wing Spreading, No Cops, Job Search, No Feeling in Fingers

Days in the Life...

Monday morning (the end of October) I got super serious about my job search and left to go reapply at Hobby Lobby, and then apply at Mardel's as well. The managers were rather difficult to read. I couldn't tell if it had been a good thing for me to follow up again or not.

After that I sat in Starbucks with a pumpkin spice latte and read a personal development book for a bit.

At home I applied online at Old Navy and also sent in an inquiry to a coffeeshop. Having done all I could think to do, I got to sit back and pray that God would open up a job wherever He wanted me to be and in that I had peace. 

I think everyone else had a pretty normal day at home. 

We do not celebrate Halloween, so that evening we watched some "Shark Tank" and then Chloe and I stayed up late talking and rolling on the floor laughing hysterically. 

Also, Christian wanted me to mention that he and I arm-wrestled and he was able to beat my left arm. I still got him down with my right arm, but it was a challenge. My days are numbered, he has told me, and I think I agree.  

Tuesday we had little miss Sofia for the day. She arrived at 6:15 and was super quiet! Naps are not her thing so I was grateful to have some help from the littles whenever they were not doing school. 

While Gabe was at gym Ava and Mia went to play with friends. 

After Sofia left I headed out to go babysit other babies until late that night. It was a long day, but all the kids were good and I didn't get too worn out. Actually, maybe I did... 

Wednesday I slept in I helped the kids with math because Mom was somewhere else...maybe at Bible study...something like that. 

I also took Ava and Mia to their gymnastics class. Usually Chloe takes them, but she had several college deadlines and cinnamon rolls to make. 

At home I took a nap for the second day in a row. So, yeah, I was worn out... 

That night we were all home so we had dinner and then watched "Love Takes Wing." 

Thursday Sofia arrived dark and early for the day again. 

Mom reading aloud to the kids during school time.

Once the littles were done with school they were extremely helpful with keeping little miss entertained which was wonderful! 

Several days that week Christian and Nana spent a lot of time together working on a personality thingy and talking through what Christian wants to work towards. It was super helpful for him and Mom and Dad, and he and Nana enjoyed their time together. 

Gabe had gym as usual that afternoon/evening. 

Mia and I played ERS and she did a good job holding her own. 

Friday wasn't that exciting during the day except that everyone had a pretty constant stream of activity and things not going exactly to plan...!

In the evening we all gathered with Dad's side of the family to celebrate Grandpa's birthday. The cousins were so excited to play that they almost missed dinner! 

I left from there to go to Bible study.

Saturday Grandfather and Christian were up and out before dawn to go hunting for a bit, opening day of deer season. 

They were out for a few hours, but didn't see anything worth shooting. Plus they both had plans for the rest of the day so neither of them really wanted to get something and then have to cancel their other plans to clean it and process it and whatever else you have to do with a dead deer. They enjoyed their time together, though. 

Once they got back Christian rushed to get ready to leave with Chloe and me. We drove all the way to Weatherford, which takes forever and a half to get to, to spend the day with Micah's family. I actually really enjoyed the drive, even though Chloe played Country music the entire drive. *wink, wink* 

About halfway there aka in the middle of nowhere I realized drinking a quart of water and a cup of coffee before we left was a terrible idea. 

Once we got there we enjoyed visiting the rest of the morning and then going to Chick-fil-a for lunch. Guess who picked the lunch spot?

We made a couple of other stops, including a Christmas craft fair thing and a basketball game.

Then we drove to church in time for me to sing for house of prayer and the service. 

Mom and Ava had left for a special girls' weekend in Denton and Dad wasn't feeling well, so no one else came to church with us. 

Sunday we made brunch and then watched "The Passion Live" from last year's Easter special. I hadn't ever gotten to see it and it was really good! 

We had a super laid back day. In between resting we watched movies and other recorded tv shows. We also had ice cream and cake, because, you know, it needed to be eaten... 

I also played Christian's guitar for a bit. I taught myself two chords, but I had to trade all feeling in two of my fingers to get that knowledge. 

It was a great day.

The Herd: Quoted 

"I want to go by myself too so I can spread my wings without bumping into someone I already know." -Chloe

"What's the speed limit here? I haven't seen any signs!" -Me to Chloe in the middle of nowhere.
"I have no idea, but probably about 65 or 70. Since there are no cops you're good, though." -Chloe

Bad Burn, Passing Out, Cheerio Dance, Seven Year Old Wisdom, And Guilt Appreciated

Days in the Life...

Monday morning I woke up to someone crying very hard. Once I realized I wasn't dreaming I got downstairs super fast, half asleep, wondering who had died. Thankfully, nobody had, but Mom had badly burned her hand.

Dad and Ava had gotten to her first, so it was already in a bowl of cool water and Dad was looking up what to do. I started rubbing Mom's back and supporting her arm while praying.

After about two minutes I started not feeling good and realized I was about to pass out. Ava took my place and I crawled to the couch to lay down before I fell down.

I don't know if I got up too fast, or was dehydrated, or if hearing Dad read the burn descriptions made me sick. It was bad, though,

So, rewind 15 minutes. Mom got up and went to the kitchen to make herself tea. She thought there was water already in the kettle, so she turned the kettle on. When she went to pour the water, she realized there wasn't any and so naturally began filling the HOT kettle with water.

Obviously, that didn't go well.

The steam hit the back of her hand right away and burned it. She put it under the cool water right away and Ava was already awake doing school. Pretty quickly, though, Mom said she needed Dad and that's when I woke up to sobbing.

Mom was so frustrated at herself and kept saying, "It was my fault, I hadn't had coffee, yet."

The others gradually began appearing. Mom was still crying softly and Dad was deciding that they needed to go to the doctor. Nana came over to see and agreed as did one of our neighbors who is a burn nurse.

So Mom and Dad left around 8:30 and the rest of us moved on with our morning.

I put dinner in the crockpot and then exercised. Yeah, so lifting weights was a bad idea...

It wasn't until noon that I finally started feeling like I could do stuff without becoming very lightheaded. Weight lifting was definitely a bad idea. I still have no idea what was going on with me that day.

The kids played outside and Mia decided to take out the driveway with her face.

Over the course of the week 

it started looking a lot worse than this. 

Mom and Dad got back around lunch time with heavy-duty pain medication and burn cream and bandages. It was a second degree burn so I will not be sharing any pictures as they make me woozy. And surely I'm not the only one who has trouble with injuries. 

As long as Mom kept her hand in water she could tolerate the pain. She stayed in bed and rested while we all continued with our day and checked on her every so often. 

I ran some errands for Dad and then laid down for a few minutes before going to babysit for the small group. 

Tuesday Mom stayed in bed, but didn't need to have her hand in water all the time. The medication made her feel not very good, but she was a trooper. 

I took Christian and Ava to their orthodontist appointment and Gabe and Mia did what school they could on their own. 

In the evening I babysat Sofia, and Gabe had gym. Chloe did a good job taking care of the kids and making dinner while we were gone. 

Wednesday I spent the morning having coffee and then lunch with a friend and then went to get Ava and Mia from gymnastics and run a few errands for Dad. 

At home Chloe had been baking cinnamon rolls and the house smelled amazing!! She is selling pans to earn money for her car and college classes. 

I made some banana bread and learned I should probably wear an apron. 

Exhibit A.

Dad picked up dinner for us and we had a movie/tv night to end the day.

Thursday Mom was finally starting to feel some better, but her hand looked awful. 

The morning sky was so beautiful!

I had my worship time and Bible study in the afternoon and came home to make dinner. Gabe went to gym.

Burrito casserole.

Friday was another sweet day with my favorite little girls. Blaire woke up a little early, so she and I sat on the porch, her all wrapped up, and me with my coffee, to enjoy the morning. Kate woke up happy as could be a little later. 

I then began the day officially with a bang... Aka, I bang my head into a cabinet while trying to grab one of the dogs. And yes, I had a bruise for the rest of the day. 

She looks chunky in pictures,

but she is actually super tiny. 

Happy Kate.

Her faces are the cutest!

So are her's. *heart eyes*

Yes, that would be Kate dancing in the midst 

of the cheerios she dumped all over the floor.

It was a long day, but I loved every minute of it. Well, almost every minute.

At home we had our family movie night and watched "Love Takes Wing" (I think). 

Saturday was full! We slept in as usual, but then everyone had things to do. Mom was well enough to go have breakfast with a friend, Dad worked outside, Christian went target shooting with Grandfather, the littles played, and Chloe did stuff...

I had my Bible time and then took my car to get an oil change. Then I got gas and came home to wash it with Christian's help. He had just finished washing one of our other cars, so it was perfect timing. 

"...since the creation His invisible attributes are seen..."

After all that we started cleaning up for church. Rebecca and Micah then came over to hang out before we left and then went to church with us. 

I was asked to sing during house of prayer and for worship during church. The service was very sweet and finished with the entire body joining hands to pray all together. 

Jake was going to met us at church, but got held up and arrived at the end of the service. 

We all visited for a while and then all the little kids went outside with us to learn swing dancing. It was SO fun to teach them! 

Mom, Dad, and the littles went home after a bit as Dad was starting to not feel well, but the rest of us went to get dinner at Rosa's. Somehow our two groups ended up at different Rosa's 15 minutes apart and we had to go ahead and eat where we ended up. We had to laugh that our communication had been so bad and that our plans had not worked the way we thought they would at all. It was still a good night, though. 

Sunday was very restful and laid back, with FPU class in the evening. 

That Moment When...

Christian buys an entire pan of cinnamon rolls from Chloe for himself.


The Herd: Quoted 

"You look really pretty today, like always." -Mia

"Well, thank you." -Me

"I think you are exactly how you are supposed to be, all pretty and creative and stuff, just like I always wanted to be." -Mia 

"That's because God made me that way." -Me

"Yeah, I know. And I think I'm going to stop trying to be like other people and just be who God made me to be too." -Mia

"Do y'all want some of my cinnamon rolls? I feel bad eating them in front of y'all." -Christian
"Well thank you, we appreciate your guilt." -Chloe