Halloween

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Halloween. I look forward to celebrating with my kids. Some people really think about the background and where Halloween got started and just can't get past it. I vaguely know a little, but I don't think about it much. I feel like since I have a pure heart in it all and don't celebrate this holiday in a way that is offensive to the Lord, we can enjoy it as a family without feeling guilty.

We are having a party here tonight. Between our family, my sister's family, my parents and Lauren, and one other family, we will have 25 people here! So fun!!! Yesterday I got the house all cleaned up and got everything ready for the party. I moved the table into the kitchen. Now we have room in the dining room to play "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin" and just a lot of room for everyone to sit.

So this morning, when the kids got up, they came down as I was making cupcakes and were so excited, like it's Christmas- "HAPPY HALLOWEEN MOMMY" is what they said as they hugged me. It just makes me laugh. I am a kid at heart and enjoy this as much as they do. I'll take any reason to party or celebrate something!

The other exciting part of today is that as soon as we all get dressed, we are going to my mom's a pick her up and then meet my dad and my sister's family at the "pumpkin patch." OK, this is really nothing like a pumpkin patch- it's a parking lot that sells a few pumpkins. But, inside, there are Christmas trees all over the place decorated in different styles. It's so fun wallking down the aisles and seeing them all. Growing up, this IS what we called the pumpkin patch. As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago, we went to a REAL one and had the hay ride, picked pumpkins, stuffed a scarecrow, etc. But Lauren wasn't able to go. So the other day she said, "On Friday we're going to the Pumpkin Patch." I asked her which one and she said "The good one!" Ha ha. To us, it's the good one because it's the tradition. We love it (Valley View Farms, for those who live in MD who are wondering)!

After we're done, it will be time for the party. Oh, I love a day like today. The house is all clean, we can leave, do some fun things, and come back to a clean house, and LOTS of people! What more is there in life???

To my Facebook friends

So all of you on Facebook, let me ask you this: Is it not hard enough to think of a daily status, let alone having to think of an entire post for the blog??? I have troubles. I think it's much easier to write a one liner than to write an entire post. Is my life REALLY that boring???

I have been so busy lately! It's like time is flying by faster than it ever has in my whole life. I guess that's good- it's been good stuff at least. I love my Bible studies, teaching the kids, keeping up on the house, cooking meals, all that stuff- I have very good days usually. I am just that kind of person. I just feel bad because I think there has to be more I could be doing. There are times in my day/week that I try to come up with something fun. I'm not bored, but I think I fear being bored, so I make sure every moment is filled up with something. This week I am going to focus more on serving others- and having my kids join in. I would like to take a meal to a neighbor (or two or three) in the next few weeks. I'd like to write letters to Scott's grandpa, and to my grandma. You know, stuff like that. If you have any other great ideas, let me know. It's hard to come up with things for myself, let alone myself and FIVE little kids!

Hope you all are doing well! I haven't talked with a lot of you in a while, and I do think about you, even though I don't always get that email out, or even that quick note on Facebook. Let me know what you've been up to. I'll look forward to hearing from you...and maybe seeing some of you soon!

Feeling out of control

As much as I enjoyed last week- all the running and eating out and all that, after a while you just feel out of control and need to get back into some sort of routine. Plus, it gets so expensive! :) But, I feel good about my shopping trips and how I think everyone is set for fall and winter, and that is quite the accomplishment. It takes a long time to organize 5 kids' clothes from season to season. I go into it thinking it will be a quick, easy, and fun job. I figure I'll just put some clothes in a tote and pull out the news ones- that's all there is to it. But, then once I get started, I realize that Jill is the last girl in the family. I need to put her clothes that are too small into a different tote and label it. The same goes with Riley. And, now that I think about it, I do that for Max as well- so they will be ready for Riley in a couple years when he is ready to wear them. So anyway, I did get it all done last week, I got the house all in order, and now I am ready to kind of start the month. I mapped out all the days we are doing school this month and it comes down to just 15 days. I have a lot to fit into those days, but that is the beauty of homeschooling. We can work at our own pace and if we need to take more time, that is an option. That's the reason I started school in August. There are times, or weeks, that come up and you just don't get any school done, and that's ok. We are already a month ahead, so there is no rush.

All that to say, today feels good. I am ready to be in control again of my routine, and I feel organized to do it. Hope your day goes well too!

When the cat's away, the mice will play

Scott and Paige are in Oregon this week. I was dreading it before they left. I was actually ok that Scott was going, but I was really sad about Paige. Scott can handle himself because he's an adult, but what if little Paigy girl misses her mommy? The anticipation was the worst. Once they left, and I shed my few tears, things were fine. It was then that the mice began to play! :)

I have actually had a really great week so far. Monday afternoon and evening was spent shopping and eating and having fun with my sister, Lauren. I had some jeans to return and then was able to find a pair that fit better. That is a good feeling! Then I went to Weight Watchers and was down 2 pounds on their scale from last week. Another great feeling! I celebrated by taking the family to Texas Roadhouse! ha ha

Tuesday was Bible study, then lunch with my mom and sister. I got some school done with the kids, cleaned the house a bit, and then enjoyed a great thunder and lightening storm. The kids' swimming lessons were cancelled, but that was ok because that meant Paige didn't miss two lessons, just one.

Wednesday was also a fun day. I picked up Lauren and we went to this park that has the old Enchanted Forest things (what do you call them?) and a petting zoo and all that. Max and Meredith had school (which was right down the road from there) and Lauren and I took Jill and Riley shopping...another pair of jeans to return. When we picked the kids up from school, we headed down near our church and looked in Kohl's and then ate at Chipotle. Yum! Then it was time for choir rehearsal. Fun day!

Now it's Thursday already and I don't know what I am going to do yet. I need to do some school and clean up our living room and do some laundry. And they do have swimming lessons tonight. But other than that, the possibilities are endless! :) I am still trying to find some winter clothes for the kids, so I might hit a thrift shop I heard about, or I could take the kids to Chuck E Cheese's (because it's been since Labor Day that we've been there and I'm going through withdrawal). Who knows? But, the mice are playing and it's actually turned out to be a fun week!