Weekend stuff

Remember last weekend when I said I had accomplished nothing on my list?   Well, this weekend the same list was still hanging around, plus a few things had been added.  I was much more productive this time and still managed to throw in a little time with the kids. 

Evelyn has had an amazing time at Disney world.  She face timed us this evening and was so excited about all the stuff she got to see and do!  She flies home tomorrow.  Kind of sounds like the weather might be getting a little funky and they are wrapping up their trip just in time! 

I am thankful that the girls have a grandma Rachel who will take them to do this sort of stuff.  All the life experiences they can cram into one childhood is amazing.  And time spent with loved ones is never a waste of time or energy.  

Maude's chewing did not seem to affect this little mulberry "Eric" tree.  It is sprouting new leaves, and seems to be thriving.  I am thankful that it appears to be happy!  And Jim got it staked down so that the goats don't get ahold of it for a little snack.  The hardest part about growing anything around here is keeping the dang goats away from it!

Harper and I gave both Maude and Zoe baths.  I am pretty sure the stain in the bathtub won't be coming off ever!  Those two dogs were absolutely disgusting!  And smelly.  And if I was being honest, the bath didn't really help with the smell all that much, but they do look less dirty!  :)  

Saturday afternoon, Jim and I decided to run out to Manhattan to see Preston and Sunny.  We then found out that Cameron was spending some time down there as well, and they had attended the game.  So we said we would come and take everyone out for dinner.  We hadn't had a chance to see Preston and Sunny's new apartment yet.  The apartment is nice, has great views and seems to be a good set up, close to campus.  But I did tell Jim on the way home, the apartment made me feel really old!  It is above a bar, in Aggieville.  You have to climb a flight of stairs just to get inside.  The apartment doesn't have its own parking, so Preston has his car parked 3 blocks away in a friend's yard.  The balcony overlooks Varsity Donuts - a food truck that is only open from 9-2:30 am.  The whole time I was there I was thinking "that is going to be hard to get groceries home, that is a hard thing for parking and being close enough to be very convenient, that is a lot of noise, and people" and as I left I thought when I was 21, it would have been an awesome place to live, but now?  Now I am just too old.  All I could see was the inconvenience of it, and the noise, and the people.  Guess old age sets in when we aren't looking.  This morning, on the bus, I overheard a girl telling one of the boys "stop acting like a crusty, ancient rachedy old man and start enjoying life more!"  Guess I should take some advice!  

I did enjoy spending some time with Sunny and Preston and Cameron.  We had a nice dinner together, and it was good to catch up.  It was also nice to have some time with Jim, as it seems like we have been running in a lot of circles lately, and have been a little preoccupied with other things lately.  And I will always love Manhattan.  It is good for my soul to go there once in a while.  The last month has been hard.  Like really hard.  I needed a moment to sort my brain out a little bit.  

The girls helped me clean up the house, I worked on the laundry and then we got the rest of the Halloween decorations set up.  I also got into the pool (the water was very COLD, and dirty!).  I managed to get most of the leaves out, and the bottom swept, and then Jim and the kids helped me get the cover on for winter.  I still need to winterize the filtration system, but at least leaves are not accumulating in the water now.  I always hate closing down the pool.  I feel sad about summer ending, I feel sad about not having a place to just float freely and collect my thoughts, and I miss the exercise that I actually enjoy doing.  But, in the last month, I have not really had time to maintain it, and I know the weather is not going to continue to be as warm as it has been.  It was time.  Sad time, but still time.   Cameron was home for Sunday dinner, and between him, Jim, and all 5 girls, we got it done!

This photo is actually from last weekend, but I love the relationship these 2 girls have.  Last night, Evelyn face timed us from Disney World.  Wrenley grabbed the phone and was chatting with Evie.  All of the sudden, out of nowhere I hear Evelyn asking "mom?  Mom? Why is it so dark? Mom?  Why can't I see you anymore?  MOM?  MOMMMM!!"  Wrenley had the phone, and had tossed it onto the floor to move onto other things!  Enough phone time for her I guess!  

What other things were catching her attention?  My new gate ghosts of course!  They are really awesome!  And I got them on a clearance sale last year - so they were also very cheap! 

They are so cute!  I love them!   Spooky season set up is coming right along!  

I am glad that the weekend allowed for some catching up, and some down time.  I think it was needed to keep me going.  I anticipate this being a bit of a wild upcoming week.  Hoping to be wrong is a little bit strange, but that's where I am at!  

 

Additionally…

This girl is off with grandma Rachel for a weekend at Disney world.  I can’t wait to hear all about her adventures. And if it’s anything like last time, she will tell me every detail.  Have fun girls!  

Jim attended a water operator training conference the last couple of days in Fort Scott.  He was busy and not here to stifle my crafting vibes so I decided  it was a good time to bust out some ghost craft supplies.  Unfortunately, since we have had the ac off, the humidity is making it where they aren’t drying very fast.  After pics later.  The girls and I also broke out the Halloween decorations. I’m not done yet, but they gave up already!   For some reason they think ALL the decorations aren’t needed.   They are killing my Halloween vibes.  

Wrenley was with Madison and the boys today when they brought the high school kids over to undecorate the town from last week’s homecoming activities.  Always a good day when you get a Wren hug.  

Volt (Colin and Spencer’s dog) had acl repair surgery.  He is confused and sad but came through the surgery ok.  Colin said they have to keep him still and not let him run or jump for weeks.  They had to put cardboard over the low windows so he can’t see the people and other dogs outside.  Poor boy!  Hopefully in a few weeks he will be good as new!  Side note - they had the surgery at the vet clinic where my cousin Jessi is a vet.  She works with Spencer’s cousin (or uncle?).  

The weekend is upon us.  I want it. I was ready for a weekend on Monday!  

 

 

Official photos

Colin and Spencer got their wedding photos back.  I am not sure how much time I spent on here talking about their wedding, but it was a beautiful day, and I was very happy to be a part of it.  They did an amazing job planning and laying out exactly what they wanted, and making it all come together.  It was just such a great day.  I could never say enough.  
And I absolutely love weddings.  I have said before, and I will say again - taking a chance on blind faith in love is a very amazing thing.  Saying to the world that you want to tie your lives together, and be together forever is a pretty bold commitment.  Yes, marriage is hard.  Yes, there are many days when I think geeezh I married my polar opposite and now I am stuck here trying to convince him that I am always right.  (kidding Jim - only kidding).  The thing that always happens to me though, is that at the end of the day, I love my husband.  I am thankful for the multitude of blessings that marriage has meant to me, and as a result, I want that for other people as well.  Also, I see the way my son looks at this woman, and I have known from the first time I met her that he was crazy about her.  And she is good for him too.  I am incredibly blessed to have Spencer as my daughter.  I hope they will have a lifetime of happiness, supporting each other and live in an abundance of love.  

Also, Spencer was an amazingly beautiful bride!

Not that Colin is a sack of taters.  He looked very handsome!

This cracked me up - because Cameron doesn't drink.  At all.  What the heck is he doing?  :)  

All my kids in one location also makes me pretty happy!

And Evelyn looked pretty sweet!

Also, I was overly impressed perhaps, but there were 2 outstanding things at this wedding.  Things that need mentioned just because.  First - the photographer.  She was awesome.  She was sweet, stayed with Spencer and Colin the entire day.  She took hundreds (maybe even thousands) of photos.  She was there for the getting dressed, and she did not leave until the party was over and they had their sparkler walk out.  She photographed everything, and yet it was not intrusive.  She did all the obligatory group shots, and she did a bunch of amazing candid shots.  I am just blown away by how much she did, how long she stuck around and how great the photos are!  

And the person who baked the wedding cake- also phenomenal.  I hate wedding cake.  I hate it.  It is always dry, always tastes like a box, and is always boring.  Not this time - Spencer told me before the wedding to be sure to try her cakes.  And I am so glad I did!  They had German chocolate, carrot, wedding white, and salted caramel.  This cake was to die for.  The cupcakes that went with the cake were to die for.  The flavors were amazing and fresh and delicious.  I don't know who the person is, but seriously, the best cake at a wedding I have ever had!  

 

time marches on

 

Life has been a little off for a while now.  I haven't been home much, haven't been on my routine and my schedule for quite some time.  Which is why I have continued to try to have Sunday dinner every week.  A little piece of 'normal' and a little time with my best girls.  Evie face timed me on Sunday to tell me that she was making cupcakes for me to have one with her at Sunday dinner.  They were the most beautiful, colorful cupcakes ever!  Also might have broken a record for the most sprinkles ever put on a single cupcake - but man they were pretty! 

Cameron celebrated $1 corndog day at Sonic - later telling me that they didn't settle well and he might be getting old.  

I got a huge kick out of Evelyn's outfit for "biker day" during homecoming week.  She colored herself some really amazing tattoos!  

This dog - is seriously the funniest, most weird personality dog I have ever been around.  She is a spaz.  She does everything on her own agenda and time.  If you think she is going to hurry, you are wrong.  If you think she can be motivated by food, you are right, but again, only if she wants to, and only on her own time.  

As I mentioned, I have been feeling a little off.  I know part of it is emotional.  I know part of it will never go away.  But also, in the last 6 weeks we have gone on vacation, had a wedding, did a fair, started back to school, had a family member in the hospital, and then pass away.  No wonder I feel so out of it.  But also through everything I have been thinking about family and how important it is to stay connected.  My grandpa was right when he said if you don't have family, you don't have anything.  I am extremely blessed in that department.  The same people who actually care about your birthday, or making sure you have Christmas dinner are also the people who will help you when you are down.  They are who will make sure your stuff is handled when you are gone, and will carry on your memory and make sure you aren't forgotten.  What an amazing gift. 

And who doesn't want this guy to carry on your memory?  I mean look at him.  He is willing to give a wet willy to a statue.  Tell me he won't do the job justice.