This Week At Home, 2013, No. 35

I know I am off track on my numbering and posting, but I figured I'd better just jump in when I get a moment and today was that day!

Summer is trying its best to make its mark.  Lately, we have had record heat in the upper 90's!  That is just too hot for September.  This too shall pass.  I want to go to apple orchards, play disc golf, and once again ride in my un-airconditioned van without passing out!

We continue to wait on the home buying.  We do have reassurance that the people who want this house still want this house and are just waiting like us to get released from their current home.  It is a great opportunity to build up my patience muscles.  We continue to show the house, just in case, so keeping the house tidy is top priority.

Lessons are going well.  We have managed to do work each day.  We are even excelling, I would say.  I was proud of the youngest two, who have been doing a good job with their individual studies.  I am working on training them to be more independent, like their big brother.

The cats have been working on a peace treaty.  Dorothy has not granted Giles a full pardon for invading her space, but he can at least be in her presence for short periods of time if supervised.  She forgets her manners unless reminded.  I am very happy to have reached this stage.  I see progress!

Jeff loves his new job.  The hour and twenty minute commute in the hot van is worth it, says he.   I am very thankful for this, as I personally would have a problem with such a commute!

That about wraps up the status of my life, lessons, cleaning, keeping cool, and waiting.

Here are some pictures I took on my phone this week:

My big baby loves his momma time!  

Happy birthday, Mom! 

Been in a Whirlwind!

The past month has been quite busy around here, and then last week, we enjoyed having our daddy home for 10 days before he started his new job today.

As for our moving, we are getting closer to that goal.  We have a family who wants to rent this house.  Our landlord has approved them.  We are just waiting for a bank approval of the sale of their home.  As soon as that comes, we will put an offer on a house.  There are several that we like and that would work for us.  We are leaving that detail up to God.  Whichever house is still available after we get released from our lease, that will be the one for us.

We started school 2 weeks ago, as well.  We have done a decent job at keeping on task, despite all the distractions.  We are studying American History this year.  So far it feels very familiar since we studied world history, which includes a lot of American History, for the last 2 years.  For science, along with Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, we signed up for a free online co-op, which I am really impressed with.  Virtualhomeschoolgroup.com offers several at your own pace classes.

Between keeping the house show ready, looking for houses 45 minutes away, and keeping our lessons going, I have been kept away from this poor blog way too long.  I did manage to take some pictures along the way.  Here they are for your viewing pleasure.  (Ha!)

This Week At Home, 2013, No. 33

I am majorly distracted at the moment.  We are moving!  Don't know where or when, yet, but it is happening.   We are pre-approved for a home loan! We have a realtor!  This house is listed for rent!
For the next few weeks, I think I will just resort to photo journals here.  And, no, we have not started school.  I think that will have to wait until after Labor Day.  Yippee!

Pictures from our week, August 5th through 11th.

Trevor got new shoes. 

We also had to buy new tires and brakes for the van this week.  

Grace found this little guy and some friends munching away.

The weather was warm and muggy, but not terrible for August.  

Ryan gave us an outdoor concert. In fact, he is all about music these days.  Exciting!  

Had a great visit with Grandma.  She is doing so well.  

Ryan was motivated to sell some bricks to get a used guitar.  Still waiting to get the guitar, so in the mean time he is teaching himself piano.  

And lastly, what is a post without at least one more cute cat picture?   

~Jenn 

This Week At Home, 2013, NO. 32 Vacation Week

A week in pictures is in order, as pictures always tell the story best!  (And since I am too busy doing camp laundry at the moment.)

Our campsite.

Grace and Mom.

Dad and Trevor.

Lots of time to play.

Lots of time to bike.

A little cool to swim, but we didn't care!

Yikes, what a dreadful breakfast!

Roughing it?  LOL, not hardly! 

Wild turkeys roaming the campground.

Can just barely see the falls with all the leaves.

And yes, we let the oldest stay with his grandma, again.  Granddad was away on business, so it was a win-win for us all.  They enjoyed their special time together, and so did we! 

This Week At Home,2013, No. 31

Little notes written in order to remember each precious one with pictures from the birthday parties...

Monday, the 22nd...

Today was the last day in the 90's for awhile.  We found ourselves quite exhausted from our busy birthday weekend.  This was our last day of watching our neighbor dog, too.  She misses her people.  Trevor and I took her on a walk.  Otherwise today was typical, except for one thing, that being Jeff was offered a job an hour and fifteen minutes south of here.  He had already turned them down, but on Friday they asked him what would it take to get him.  Well, today he told them.

Tuesday, the 23rd...

What a day.  I took Ryan across town to his great grandparents' home so that he could help them back up their computer.  I then went back across town to meet a sweet friend for coffee.  We chatted for 2 hours, then I went back to pick up Ryan.  During this time, I get a text from Jeff saying the latest job offer was too good to pass up.  All sorts of emotions flooded my mind.  Was I prepared to move?   I picked up Ryan and then we went to a music store so he could try out electric guitars.  (He is saving for one.)  I was impressed with his knowledge of all the different types.  He tried several, even one that was $1000!  Thankfully, he knows that is a little out of his price range if he wants it by Christmas.  After the music store, we stoppedat Chick fil A, turning this into a nice mother/son date.  A quick stop at the pet store for food and then home.  Whew! Things are happening a little too fast for my liking.  I didn't sleep too well tonight.

Wednesday, the 24th...

Jeff accepts the job in Columbus, IN and gives his notice.  He also informs our landlord, not asking for an early out, but just letting him know. Our landlord comes back with surprising news, we can go when this house is leased again.  That is great news, but I was really thinking we'd stay through the school year.  Trying not to panic, we decide that actually we don't have to move all the way to Columbus, but we could move half way to Greenwood, IN, another very nice city.  Greenwood would allow us to commute to church in 30 minutes and he would have about a 40 minute commute to Columbus, plus houses are affordable in Greenwood.  So, we decided to go check out a park in Greenwood that has a disc golf course.  We also stopped at a music store so that Ryan could show Jeff his guitar ideas.  The park was fantastic, too.  On the way home, we drove around the area and liked what we saw.

Thursday, the 25th...

By the way, the weather has cooled off, making life a lot more pleasant. But, my head is spinning and I am trying not to freak out.  Moving is such an ordeal.  Not knowing when or where is trying on my nerves.  Today, Grace and I went to Target and then we went to Costco and Trader Joe in the evening.  Not too much to report on this day.

Friday, the 26th...

Boy, this cool air is really making the nights easier to sleep!  Today we will make a short trip to the library so that Trevor can collect his library reading program prizes.  And after that I will work in the garage for awhile, purging.  Otherwise it will be a quiet day, I hope!  It is tempting to want to go play disc golf tonight, if the forecasted rain holds off.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Jenn

This Week At Home, 2013, No. 30

Little notes written in order to remember these precious, fleeting days!  

Dorothy asleep is an angel.  

Let's begin with Sunday, July 13th...

After church, Trevor rode up all the way to Appleton, Wisconsin with his grandparents. It was his turn to accompany them on a business trip.  Yay for Trevor, boo for us.  The house is always so quiet when he is away.  I enjoyed texting with he and Mom occasionally to get reports of their progress.  The rest of this day was a blur.  I did not take good notes, obviously! VBS recovery was still necessary.

Trevor enjoying the hotel pool. 

Monday, July 14th...

Grandma came down to visit.  She took us to a noodle restaurant.  Then we took her to the library's DIY time for teens.  Ryan and Grace enjoyed making "Shrinky Dink" tangrams.  Then we went to a candy store.  Grace had earned a free slushy for the library reading program.  On the way home, we stopped to buy sweet corn and cherries.  How I love the produce this time of the year.  It was a hot day, the beginning of a heat wave.  We closed our windows and turned on the A/C.  It helps with the humidity, but doesn't do the greatest job cooling 2 of the 3 levels of this house.  We grilled hamburgers for dinner.

My precious boy, always wonderful! 

Tuesday, July 15th...

Grandma left early so she could go golfing.  Today was the first official day we were over 90 degrees.  It is so muggy.  We did not do too much today, other than the usual stuff that needs to get done.  I spent a lot of time catching up the laundry.  In the evening, I went to my bunco group and Trevor came home.  Hooray!  He had a really great time.

Our herb garden, a hot mess!  

Wednesday, July 16th...

Heatwave continued.  We wanted to go swimming, but those plans did not work out.  And, Trevor was tired from his travels, so a quiet day at home was in order.  Grace finished the library's voracious reader program, 5000 pages!  I spent some time working on our homeschool plans for the fall.  I also cleaned out the dresser in the learning room.  All the school supplies are in good order.

Mr. Cool  

Thursday, July 17th...

Still hot.  The weather people are promising us a cool down is coming.  Rain is also supposed to be on its way.  Today we started dog sitting for our neighbor.  Princess, is a sweet dog.  I feel sorry for her, because she likes to be with people and will be lonely for the next 5 days.  I would have Princess here at the house, but DOROTHY hates, hates, hates dogs.  She is a nutty nut.  Sigh.  Grace and I baked homemade cupcakes for her slumber party tomorrow.  Jeff and I went grocery shopping in the evening.

Dorothy awake is a handful!  

Friday, July 18th...

Today is all about getting ready for Grace's slumber party tonight.  4 girls will be joining us for food, fun, and not a lot of sleeping.  Grace's actual birthday is Sunday.  We will be having a family party for her then.  I cannot believe she is 14.  Trevor finished his summer reading program today.

So there is a quick look at our week.  Thanks for reading.
~Jenn

This Week At Home, 2013, No. 29 VBS Week

Because nothing else happened this week, I am just posting some random phone shots of our week of vacation Bible school.  Yeehaw!