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!