This Week At Home, 2012, Number 23

Little notes written to remember these precious days...

Dorothy can sleep ANYWHERE! 

Monday...
Laundry catch up day, among other tasks that need tended to today.  Grace and Trevor were invited to play at a friends house and then ended up staying most of the day.  I am still not feeling the best, but able to carry on. 


Tuesday...
The perfect day presented itself to us, and I knew just what we had to do, go to the prairie!   The temperature was in the low 80's with a nice breeze and not too much humidity.  We passed a pleasant morning and early afternoon.  Our membership expires this week, so going was important.  It may be a little while before we get to go again. 

Wednesday...
Today is 7th Grade Fun Day at church for Grace, all day. I'm not all sure what they have planned, but I hear it is to build friendships, so sounds good to me! Turns out she wanted to stay the whole day, so we picked her up at 8PM!  While Grace was at Fun Day, my mom picked me up and we went to visit our recently transplanted from AZ grandparents.  They now live nearby!  Mom and I wanted to help set up their kitchen, which did not take too long, so we also went grocery shopping together.  The boys, meanwhile, entertained themselves quite nicely.  Mom dropped me back home in time for me to make dinner and afterwards Jeff take Ryan to meet up with Grace at youth group.  Jeff and Trevor went to practice tennis.  I had a quiet few moments to myself.  :-)


Thursday...
Our busy day of the week!  Grace and I got our hair trimmed. Nothing special, so no photos, just a trim.  We came back, picked up the boys and went to the library.  On the way home, we stopped at our bakery for bread.  After lunch, we ladies headed out for grocery shopping.  We only went to one store.  We came back put things away and had time to rest before making dinner.  After dinner, Trevor had choir rehearsal as they sing this weekend.  While he was at rehearsal, Jeff and I went to Costco.  We got back to drop off the food and put it away, then out again to get Trevor.  He was treated to a Popsicle and then to a water balloon toss with his choir friends. 

Friday...
Because I had been feeling kind of poorly for the last couple weeks, I decided to go see my doctor.  Turns out I've not been eating enough, so I am hypoglycemic and just need to eat more and not go as long as I was in between meals and at night. 

Jeff had taken the day off, so he and the boys went to the water park while us girls enjoyed a quiet afternoon of reading and baking. 

In the evening, we enjoyed watching Deep Space Nine, after dinner. 

That's our week!
~Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Prairie Time

It's a New Week!

After a busy weekend, and a warm night for sleeping last night, I am waking up a little slowly this morning, wishing for some coffee that cannot be!  We kept busy this weekend, but not terribly. It actually helped me to keep going. 

Saturday highlights:

• Early morning family tennis practice
  
• A trip through the car wash
• Picking up Ryan from his youth group sleep over
• Attending a family high school graduation open house
• Coming home to grill out 
• Watching Bat Man on MeTV

Sunday highlights: 

• Worship was one of the most precious times.  We thanked God for 27 years of faithfulness to our church.   
• Packed up snacks and headed to a state park pool in the country.
• Found the pool to be not over crowded, even on this 90 degree day.  
• Being in the park, seeing beautiful rolling rills on the way, all soothing to my soul. 
• Came home to grilled leftovers
• Watched Deep Space Nine 

Now, I just need to gear up for a busy week of friends, swimming, helping family, and what not. 

This Week At Home, 2012, Number 22

Monday...
I woke up from a fitful night of sleep, knowing this was going to be a tough week, as  I am feeling weak, nauseated and wiped out!  However, I am so thankful that this is going to be a low key week.  So, I will press on.  Only things accomplished today:  spelling, lots of reading, a little math, dishes, laundry, and dinner.  I finished a great book, The Girl of the Woods by Grace Livingston Hill.  I enjoy Grace Livingston Hill's fiction.  She always weaves the Gospel message into the plot. I recently read her book, Exit Betty.  Her language may be more simple in nature, but the stories are sweet!  They would be great for the girl who is 12+ . 

Tuesday...
I don't have much of an appetite or much energy.  It's another great day to read.  Grace takes care of our little friend this afternoon.  I spent a lot of time reading, Aunt Jane's Hero by Elizabeth Prentiss.  This book was her marriage manual and if you have not read anything by this wonderful author, you must!  I also loved Stepping Heavenward. She writes a sermon delivered through her fictional tales.  It makes me very sad that my library does not have a single one of her books!  Thankfully, I can read many for free via Google Books. 


Wednesday...
Each day I feel a little better, although my appetite is gone and I am still nauseated and weak.  I slept a little better, too, which is a blessing.  Today, Grace had a play date in the afternoon.  I also went to get some bird seed.  We did spelling, math and lots of reading.  I finished Aunt Jane's Hero.  Ryan and Grace had youth group this evening.  Jeff took Trevor to play tennis after a quick trip to Trader Joe's. 

Costco frozen yogurt! 

Thursday...
Still nauseated, but I decided to just press on through it.  Thankfully, I am able to keep going today, because we needed some food.  We hit the library, bakery, and Costco.  The kids and I got our first prizes for the summer reading program.  I received a fine reduction coupon.  Trevor got a couple coupons and a water squirt thingy.  Grace got a water bottle and a little furry friend.  Ryan did not get anything, yet.  He's waiting.  This evening, we all went to the tennis courts for an hour. 

A tree I love near the tennis courts. 

Friday...
Finally not nauseated!  But not hungry either.  It's a wide open day, too!  I think we will wrap up our spelling for the week and then work on the house a little.  I want to pick out another book to read, too.  Reading this week has kept my mind off my things, which was very helpful.  Ryan gets to go to a sleep over tonight with his small group from church, their last blast. 

This weekend is going to be nice.  We have an open house to attend.  Church is having a dedication for the new building. 

I hope you have a great weekend! 
~Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Girl

Weekend Fun, At Home

Saturday morning, I found a sturdy kitchen cart at a garage sale!  It was only $10!  Now, more than one person will be able to work in the kitchen at a time, as we had so little space to work at the counters.  This may help my efforts to teach Grace to cook, as it was so hard to be in a tight space before.  My kitchen is finally functional. 

We also spread 8 yards of mulch, weeded, mowed, and cleaned off the deck on Saturday.  It's looking so good around here! 

Another blessing.... the range arrived Saturday evening at 9:45PM!  They had some truck problems.  I am just so glad for that ordeal to be over!!!  I made pizza for dinner today.  I also made my baby boy (Trevor) some boiled eggs that he's been craving!  I think a cake is in order sometime this week! 

Today, Sunday, has been a low key day.  We went to the second service, which means our aching muscles could sleep in a little. Church was great as usual.  We studied Psalm 10.  This afternoon, Trevor had choir practice,  and this evening, Ryan went to senior high youth group.  *gulp*  Now we are going to watch an episode of Deep Space Nine and then be off to bed.

Good night!
~Jenn

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 21

Little notes, I write in order to remember each precious day...

Monday...

Today is Memorial Day.  It's easy to forget this day and push through.  I am so thankful to all the friends and family who have sacrificed to serve in one way or the other.  I think of my grandpa, gone now almost two years.  He served in WWII.  I miss his stories of those times he spoke of with fondness.  Yes, fondness, as he was stationed on a boat as a radio operator and did not see action, thank God!

Monday found us at the lake, hot and tired, so we ate a hearty breakfast, packed up and made the long drive home.  I do not take for granted the safety we traveled in.  I prayed for mercy and was granted that request.  I do not take for granted our protection this weekend.  So much could have gone wrong.  On the way up alone there were two close calls!  The weather was harsh and I was ill.  I could have been a lot worse.  I could go on and on!

Inside the camper, one night. 

Tuesday...

The guy was supposed to come back and paint today, but so far he is a no show.  This means I will have another day without a working stove.  *sigh*  If my dear mother had not brought us a home baked pizza yesterday, we'd have starved.  OK, not really, but it was that or another round of turkey sandwiches!  (Thanks, Mom!)

We have started another week of summer enrichment.  The kids seem OK with our plan.  Jeff made us a check off form which is pretty handy to have.

Tonight we'll have leftover (that was frozen) BBQ chicken for sandwiches, green beans, and strawberries.

Swimming at Nana's last week. 

Wednesday...

See how well the new matches the old? 

Stressful morning, until I realized I had the power to make it less crazy! I was worried that the men would not come back to paint today, thus making a longer wait for the stove.  I also knew I needed to get food, take a couple DVDs back to the library to avoid fines, and we were out of bread.  I could not do all the running around I needed to do and wait for the guys.  *Grr*  Thankfully, they came before lunch.  They painted the cabinets and I was amazed at how the paint matches the old.  We ate a quick bread less lunch, then dashed off to the library to also sign up for the summer reading program.  While there, we walked right into their free milkshake program!  Yay!  The kids got to make and drink their own.  On the way home, we stopped at Great Harvest and the kids got big slices of free cinnamon raisin bread!  We got home in time to regroup before the exciting, surprise visit from Grandpa and Grandma occurred.  Grandpa brought his bee suit and the boys got to try it out with the smoker.  Fun stuff!  After they left, I grilled burgers and brats.  Jeff got home, we ate and then the two of us went grocery shopping so that I'd be free to wait around on Thursday for the electrician and mulch.  Whew!

Grandpa suits Ryan up.

Live long and keep bees!

Every 10 year old boy's dream!

Free! 

Banana milkshakes are yummy!

Thursday...

Got up to a lovely cooler morning, so we had oatmeal and then got busy weeding.  I learn a lot of lessons from weeding.  

• If I avoid weeding all spring, it is much harder and I feel super guilty until it is done, so why do I wait until the end of May?  
• Taking care of what God has provided is right and good.  
• Weed killer spray is not really evil, if used sparingly!  
• Take ibuprofen and allergy meds before and then take a shower right after! 
• It never takes as long as I imagine it will take!  

Sometime today a big truck will bring 8 yards of mulch to spread this weekend, so I wanted the beds to be ready.  Despite someone taking time to line them with weed paper in the years past, weeds prevail.  *sigh*

Also, the electrician is coming this morning.  Yay!  If only he can complete his work in one day and then if only the stove is in stock and able to be delivered quickly!  If only!  (Not getting my hopes up, so the slow cooker will be filled with pasta sauce for tonight.) 

Friday...

Getting the house in order for small group before 10AM  is my top priority this morning.  AT 10, Mom comes to take us with her to  see Grandma today, which will make for a full day, but a satisfying one!  The weekend will be one spent dealing with this...

We got one small bed done before it rained yesterday.  I am glad that the weekend is supposed to be cooler.

And the new range is to be delivered Saturday as well.  (Pizza!)
Have a great weekend!
~Jenn