Monday, October 26, 2026

Just like that.


I have been struggling to believe how fast time is flying by these days.  Just like that - Clayton is 16 years old!  His birthday was yesterday.  We gave him some money for his birthday and he was excited to go spend it.  He wanted to go to Academy to get bullets but told me if that is what he got, he wouldn't tell me because I don't understand guns and why he likes shooting stuff.  He does make me laugh.  He reminds me so much of Eric, with his funny stories and his roll with the punches attitude.  I love that about him.  But I also love how he gets so excited about certain things and when he is excited, he learns everything he can about it.  He knows so many facts about cow breeds, and is trying to learn about judging and showing.  He is a literal encyclopedia sometimes.  

And this cutie pie turned 10 months old!  He also started walking - Colin facetimed us so we could watch him taking 6 or 8 steps at a time.  Little turkey!  
And do you see his cute outfit?  I got it on a clearance sale - he looks adorable!  I love little flannel shirts.  And this little boy!


And his parents too!  Spencer wasn't feeling well over the weekend.  I hope she is back up and all better!  She has a birthday this week, no fun being down on your special day!

The girls went to trunk or treat on Sunday.  The city of Carbondale has a big Halloween "thing" with costume contests and candy and all the things.  It looks like they had fun.  



I didn't go over, because I met up with Grace and had lunch.  We were enjoying ourselves enough that somehow 5 hours went by and it seemed like a few minutes.  We hit a new thrift store that they opened in Lawrence.  I was not impressed with the prices.  We went to Home Goods (a treat for me because nobody I go shopping with likes that store - Spencer introduced me to it several years ago and I love it).  I didn't need anything, we were just window shopping yesterday.....until I found this turkey platter.  Several years ago (like probably 25) I was shopping and found a glass turkey platter on a clearance table for like 2 bucks.  For several years, it was lost (after we moved and I somehow put it in the hall closet).  Last year, after stuffing ourselves with turkey, Madison was washing it, and it got broken.  She felt terrible, but truly, it was not a big deal.  I was not attached to it.  But when I saw this turkey platter, and it was plastic, I had to grab it.  Nobody will be breaking it!  It just made me laugh.  Our Thanksgiving dinner shall be served in style - unless we can't afford the turkey!

The last one to teach driving skills to.  The lasts probably should make me sad, but this is one that I can't wait to check off the list.  She drove us home from church yesterday.  She was a little heavy on the gas, a lot heavy on the brakes, and her turns will need to be polished up a lot, but we did make it in one piece!  We shall get there I think!  (Driver's Ed and Driving School people, you have my undying and utmost respect).  

As I got up yesterday morning, the sky was filled with those cotton candy clouds, and it was chilly, still and quiet.  Moments like that make all the junk of the world fall aside, and I need that sometimes.  

I mentioned that Tatum had to work in Baldwin Saturday morning.  She was helping out with a race that the Baldwin Park and Rec was hosting.  What I didn't say was that she had to dress as a pig and cheer on the racers as they went up some large hill.  This is so awesome!  I just love this!


There is just never enough little man photos.  Love you Easton!

This week is filled to the brim with stuff we are finishing up before the weather gets too cold.  I have a list.  I am sure that it will all be ok eventually, but the list is long and I am not looking forward to doing some of the things on there.  Oh well, such is life right?  

 




Sunday, October 25, 2026

Party nite

It’s no secret that Halloween is my favorite.  I like to have a little night with the kids away from the actual holiday so we have time to eat the crazy Halloween foods, make some crafts, carve pumpkins and just hang out.  Truly one of my favorite things in life.  Last night, we had all the things.  And Rosie even got to come!  She had fun playing with Maude, but Maude was a little too inclusive and poor Rosie left wet and smelly from Maude licking and rolling around with the puppy!  I think they had fun though!  

Daisy and Okive also got to come and have a few extra snacks.  

If you carve pumpkins, you gotta take off your Halloween costume.  And then feed the chickens the pumpkin guts.  It’s good that we live in the country I think.  


Caramel apples are pretty good - and extremely messy! 

 


Tatum had to work in Baldwin in the morning, so Cameron came to visit early.  Since they had other plans and didn’t stay for the festivities, I had to send their prize cups home!  



I bought this little white tree several years ago. I have had fun decorating it for each season.  My level for entertaining myself is pretty low.  

Madison keeps sending me all these cute Halloween treat ideas.  The Frankenstein pretzels turned out cute.

The witches cauldrons - fail. But tasted good!

Gummy eyeballs and fangs were a hit

Bloody syringes were also a hit - and we were all amazed at Wrenley’s shot taking skills!  

Wrenley is Doc McStuffins this year, she got right into her costume! 


Evie is the bride of Dracula. Love it!  


Wrenley made a ghost cake with a little help from her mom.  


Return of feet loaf. 

These ghost pigs in a blanket are cute.  

Gg made ham and cheese pies. They are adorable! 

And mummy dogs - always awesome! 

But the prize for the most popular goes to GG for the spider eggs.  They were gone!  I think it is hilarious how the little girls love deviled eggs and potato salad. Not sure many kids are quite as excited by those types of foods. 


A few crafts were attempted. 


And some carving was done. 






Harper ended up breaking her pumpkin but it’ll still work! 

Evelyn worked really hard and carved her own this year.  She did great! 

Halloween happiness In a series of photos.  A truly great night! 

Friday, October 23, 2026

Day off=pumpkin patch day

The kids had yesterday and today off school for parent teacher conferences. Did I attend conferences?  Well…..no.  I don’t really see any reason to - the girls are on the honor roll, and I am at the school all the time.  If they had something to tell me, they could.  Harper and Saige aren’t really into breaking rules or causing drama.   Skip.  Bad mom?  Maybe. But I digress. 
Madison wanted to take the girls to the pumpkin patch.  We decided to meet them when I got off work.  We had lunch at McDonald’s, and then hit the patch.  

I will forever be a fan of fall, pumpkin patches, Halloween and days spent with people I love.  
Add in that I really like the Schaake family, and that’s just a bonus.  It was good to catch up with them - a once a year tradition where I get to see their kids and now grandkids helping out!  










I did send this photo to Cameron.   When my kids were small, I always took them to the patch.  We never had a surplus of money, and the pumpkins are sold by the pound, so my rule was you could get what ever you could carry back.  Usually that resulted in moderately small pumpkins - genius parenting hack right?  Cameron thinks that you should always have to carry your own pumpkin and he was indignant about the cheating, using a wagon!


Wrenley must have picked out 200 pumpkins before she finally found one she liked.  We were sort of late and they were pretty picked over and quite a few broken or rotten ones.  She was yelling YUCK a whole lot!  










We had a lot of fun. I enjoyed time with the girls (all of them). Frozen apple cider was amazing and we even managed to go on an absolutely gorgeous day!  



Harper Saige and I went in to hit up a couple of thrift stores, the spirit of Halloween store, dollar tree for craft supplies, and got some groceries.  It was a long afternoon! 


Cameron sent me this photo. He took Tatum out for “fancy dinner….not Wendy’s” last night to celebrate her successful run in the half marathon last weekend.  It cracked me up - I mean what could possibly be fancier than Wendy’s? 

Yesterday, I started to dig sweet potatoes.  I will admit I was disappointed in the size of them.  Although some of the plants got damaged last weekend in the cold, most of the vines are still green, so I decided to leave the rest and hope they grow a little more.  I am happy that there are sweet potatoes out there, just wish they were bigger!  

We are looking forward to a fun weekend.  I have big ideas.  We shall see if I can make my Pinterest board come to fruition!