Sunday favs

Anyone who knows me knows I love Sunday.  It’s my favorite day.  Since Andrew joined our family and instituted weekly Sunday dinner, I like it even more!  I wish the big boys lived a little closer and could join us more often.  We usually eat and then play a game or 2.   My kids may or may not be allowed to play spoons ever again though.  They are dangerously competitive.  It’s one thing if you tackle your sister.  It’s another thing if you tackle your sister while holding spoons!  Someone could lose an eye! 

We also love having missy Lou around.  She makes us all laugh and keeps us all on our toes. Yesterday she was “racing” everyone.  She keeps learning more stuff every day.  It is so much fun watching her grow up.  And her aunties love her.  I love watching them with her.  We are thankful that she is here with us.  

Love me a break

I try to make dental appointments and that sort of thing when the kids are off on breaks as much as I can.  They hate this.  After all, who wants to get dental work done when you could be vegging out?!?!   We recently found out that all of the dental work we have had done in the last 10 or so years was not done very well.  Sub-grade plastic fillings and poorly done drilling are among the things we have found so far. We have switched to a new dentist.  I have a tremendous amount of guilt over this.  After all, I have religiously taken the kids to the dentist.  To find out that they were all in pain, all had bad fillings, broken teeth, and several other problems makes me feel bad. Quincy recently thanked me, she said she can actually chew without pain now.  When you think you are doing the right thing, it is hard to swallow that you failed.  Saige had to have 2 baby teeth pulled and a replacement filling, Harper got a replacement filling.  We are getting close to having them back to in good shape.  Never again will I not check things closer.  It also shows how my kids just don’t complain much.  Quincy had a broken tooth, several bad fillings and a cracked tooth and never really said much to me about it.  Until it was fixed.  

I am rarely home when Jim is getting ready in the morning.  Apparently though, he has this tradition of sharing his breakfast with a bunch of critters.  They literally line up and he feeds them.   He is the most soft hearted man I know.  It also kind of cracks me up.  If the parrot stopped biting him, he would probably share his breakfast with him as well!  This is the man who has never been the one to decide to bring these animals home. He just quietly makes them into his pets. Ollie was also sharing the breakfast but moved before I got the camera aimed.   Now I know why we go through so much breakfast food!  I was also amused because Tuesday morning, Jim announced he was getting in the shower.  Evelyn perked right up and said gummies?   Jim then proceeded to give her a gummy vitamin c.  Also apparently a morning ritual around here.   

We had time for manis and pedis.  We had time for some baking.  We found out that we have the premium movie channels for the weekend, so we have had movie dates. We may have even taken naps.  It has been delightful.  

Tomorrow is the last day of the break.  Tomorrow is the first day of advent.  I am never ready.  Ever.  But I guess I better put on my big girl pants and embrace the season.  

Thanksgiving

We had a small but nice Thanksgiving around here.  Saige painted me a very nice turkey.  Colin had to work today, so he and Spencer stayed in Wichita.  Lauren spent the day with her family.  We missed them, but were happy we got to see them all last Sunday.  All the other kids were here for a traditional turkey feast and animated conversations.   

Since Andrew’s family was having lunch, we had dinner.  This is the first time we have done dinner, and Preston found waiting to eat the rolls to be awfully difficult.   We told him he had to wait for Evie!   The minute she walked through the door, he snagged a roll!  

We had a zoom thanksgiving with Jim’s side of the family. We may not have all been together but I am still thankful for all that we do have.  

Healthy family, happy, successful kids, a loving husband, a warm house and a turkey on the table.  Life is good.  I thank God for watching over us this year.  It has been a year that I hear a lot of “2020 sucks,” and I can’t disagree.  However, we have also spent more time together, had a lot of good heartfelt conversations, learned to use technology to keep in contact, done some projects that we put off, acquired a few new hobbies, and managed to find blessings in the small things. I can’t say it is a complete failure.  

Remote- day 1

With Covid cases soaring in our county, the kid’s school went remote.  Really, they have several teachers out, one in ICU, and very few subs, they really didn’t have much of a choice.  I believe I will be driving the bus next week though, as they still have to offer in-person school for special needs kids.  For this week, though we aren’t driving or going in.   The kids were not excited about this at all.  They hated remote school last spring.  They like going to school for the most part.  I was sort of laughing to Jim, when I was a kid if someone had said I could stay home for 2 weeks, I would have been happy.  Heck, even this time last year, our own kids would have been happy.  But after last year, they were sad.  Harper even said she hoped that Thanksgiving break did not end up like spring break did last year!  While I understand their sadness, I really feel like it is a good decision. 

When I got home at noon from work, I was told that their homeschool teacher, Carlos made things go smoothly today.  Preston was done except for his PE requirement of doing push-ups and sit ups.  Quincy was done except for reading something, Saige was completely done, and Harper only had an art assignment left.  I am proud of them for jumping in and getting their work done.  We had the conversations about just doing their best, and I would help when I got home.   Cameron said he helped Saige a little bit with her math, but other than that they did it all by themselves.  

Evelyn was so happy when we got home from work and they were here!   Usually we have to go through the whole list.  Saige??? Saige is at school.   Bubba??  Bubba is at school.  Today she just clapped and was so happy!   Sort of made me feel like chopped liver!   

Langsgiving

Pretty much my entire life, we have had Langsgiving the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Usually it is an affair with all of my cousins, aunts and uncles.  My grandma started this when I was a kid so that we could all be together for one day, and it allowed her children a way to go to their in-laws for Thanksgiving.  I love this tradition and am happy that I can carry it on.  Last year we had about 50 people here. This year though, covid made it unsafe.  We decided to skip it.  This was the day though, that all of our kids could be together.   And so we had an extremely scaled down version.  I  am so thankful that we could be together and spend a day celebrating our family.  

Our incredibly competitive kids even played a kick ball game and there was no bloodshed.  I’m so proud!  

It was a day that I felt incredibly blessed.  One of the teachers at the kids school, one who Quincy absolutely loves is very sick with Covid.  They were deciding about putting her on a ventilator today. I pray she will make a full recovery.  This is not what should be happening during the holidays. I pray also that our family will all stay safe.   I know that the country is growing weary, but we need to stay strong until a vaccine is available.  

Jim’s birthday

Today is Jim’s double nickel birthday.  He got a haircut by Quincy - because he is brave.  He  made me laugh with his request of grilled cheese for dinner.  Harper made him a cake.  Colin and Spencer took him to lunch and then hung out with us.  He says it was a good day.  Jim is steadfast, sweet and loves dorky humor.  We love him, and are lucky that he is ours.  Happy birthday Jim!  

Good news and catching up.

Quincy passed her driving test today and officially has her farm permit!   She was a nervous mess, but she did it!   I am thankful for Jim, who took off work, took her driving around for a while, and then took her to the DMV.  Only 2 more kids to go through this process with!  Of course, with Preston already driving to school, she doesn’t really need to drive.  But sometimes the real victory is just in knowing that you can.  

Last spring, Preston needed a project in his shop class.  I talked him into building us a new dining room table. The table we have is bar height and I hate it!   He agreed, and got started on the bottom....and then covid hit.  His teacher let him keep the table in the shop so he could finish it this year.  Today he sent me these pictures. It is everything I wanted and turned out so beautiful!   It just needs varnish and then we can bring it home!  I have huge plans for redoing our dining room!   I just have to figure out the right ways to get Jim excited about my plans.  I’m sure once I tell him all my visions he will jump up and down with excitement!  

This evening, we had our last RE class for a few weeks.  I am both relieved because I have been worried about someone getting sick due to it being difficult to social distance in rooms that were not set up for it, and sad.   I like this group of kids, and I will miss doing all of the holiday stuff with them.  We did send some activities home, but is just isn’t the same thing.  This year is definitely a year for disappointments.  

This week Preston and Quincy started winter sports.  Preston is trying out for the basketball team.  Quincy has joined the women’s wrestling team.  I have no idea how long it will last, if they will end up with actual opponents, or if it is even remotely a good idea.   I have a feeling it will be short lived and then cancelled.  

We are also excited about Cameron moving home for a few weeks while KSU is on remote.  I doubt he is as excited as we are!   We haven’t seen much of him this semester because he has been very cautious.  We have missed him. Lauren too, hoping we can all catch up over the holidays. (The extremely scaled down holidays).  

Saige is 9!

Today is Saige’s 9th birthday.  She had bigger plans than the pandemic would allow, but still had a great day I think!   She got to have one friend spend the night.  They had a good time being goofy.  They stayed up late, watched videos, laughed, ate, and giggled.  

Today, we made a little stop at Michael’s, for craft supplies and at the pet store for a few new fish.  These are some of our favorite places.  

Saige is a fierce defender of correctness, loves dogs, is the world’s pickiest eater, loves school and learning, loves to do crafts and make slime, and is a little bit of a drama llama.  

Happy birthday Saige!  We love you!