Saturday. Soccer. Sun.

Today started as usual, EARLY. I don't mind as I am usually up by 5 or 6. So I get a quiet hour before 7. 

I started in the kitchen at 7 with Dutch babies and JUST left it at 7pm. 

I had a turkey in Jana's freezer and decided to thaw that out the other day, which seemed a great idea at the time. So I baked a turkey, made 10 pints of green tomato salsa, and 20 quarts of Italian tomato sauce. While the turkey was roasting. 

Grampa took all the boys to Eli's soccer game. They lost 2-1. But that gave me a FREE hour! They picked up Michelle on the way home. We had lunch and the kids played games. 

Then Grampa took them all for a walk out back to the pond, so I could have a quick nap. I am a much happier person with a 20 minute siesta. I gave Michelle and Josiah the camera today. they did great. Josiah came back with pictures of 25 farm implements! They found another frog and a dragonfly. And of course pockets full of rocks. 

Jana and Danny came to dinner to help us eat the Turkey. The kids played and played out side. Then I grabbed them in one by one and sent them to shower! They are watching a Looney Tune and then off to bed! 

Ezra could NOT take his eyes off Grampa's mashed potatoes! 

It was a really good day. No homework to worry about, etc. Very fun just playing. Michelle made peanut butter cookies and played with Ezra. 

It's FRIDAY we get to stay up LATE!!! ????

It's Friday- all ready! Josiah said, "It's FRIDAY! we get to stay up LATE!" hmmm O.K. That's like 9:30, right? 

Michelle was off to the bus, in the dark again. She had no practice after school because they did so well at their game, coach gave them the day off. So she got to ride home on the bus for the first time. 

It is beginning to be VERY fall! 

Reminds me of the old days...

The boys left on the next shift. 

There was only ONE cow that was impressed with the favorite bus stop game, "kill each other with your backpack" 

In the afternoon we had a visit from our favorite 2 yr old and his mother. He had a fine time outside with Grampa, and found a beetle, grasshopper, bugs and a frog. They had snack time outside, with JANA?

Move over guys! 

We cleaned out the garden and dug the potatoes, picked squash, carrots, cabbage, and onions. Also finished up the tomatoes. Gramma will be busy tomorrow. 

Grasshopper Hunting

Dinner potatoes! 

The boys have spent the past 3 days counting my "money". Dividing it up into cups and labeling the $ in each cup. (this is a jar I put all my change in.)  They think it is a fortune and is is fun to listen to the ways that they think they can tap into this fortune. the most recent was Josiah, who thought since they had counted it all, we could divide it in half and I could KEEP half my money and the 4 of them could divide up the rest. That sounds fair. ???

It has been awesome to have my personal recycling facilitator on site. Saves me a lot of steps. 

After dinner I took Michelle to see a friend and the boys put together 2 United States puzzles. I found some stuff at the Thrift store that was new to them and seems to be working for some quiet entertainment. The price was right! 

I saw this in town today:

By the cemetery there USED to be these HUGE 80-100 ft fir trees. I drove in and did a double take because I thought it was giant cactus and I knew I was in the wrong state for that. They were cutting down all those HUGE trees behind the cemetery in the driveway to Lynden Meat. This guy was WAY up there! 

Happy Friday. Congrats on the two WINS Josh and Joel!! 

Thursday

They were all up early. I got Michelle up at 5:45 to be out at the bus, in the dark, at 6:30. The boys know NOT to put in an appearance till 7 am and all sleep with a clock. 

The early risers club. 

Their bus comes about 8. After yesterday at school, I wanted them to be ready and OUT there as she does not usually stop here ad is flying by the time she does go by. They were all out there waving their blue bus passes. 

Early release. The bus ride was not as long as it used to be! Only 30 minutes. 

Michelle got off the bus just as I was coming home from Bible Study. She finished her homework. The boys came and hour later. We ran Michelle in for practice and came back for a bit. Then all went to her came at 4. She got a hit, after the coach told her if she was going to swing, swing HARD! So she did and got a nice base hit. She stole 2nd and 3rd on an overthrow from the next batter and stole home on a wild pitch. She was out by inches. They won 13-2.  

The blog is doing it's own thing today, so all I can do is put the photos in a pile and use whatever font it decides I can.... BUT It's FRIDAY!!!!!

Michelle is #18 in the middle

The Fans!! It was hot so they were down to T shirts! 

Michelle did great. I was really proud of her and did my best to embarrass her with lots of pictures! 

Jordan went to football with Grampa. Then they were all home about 7:30 enough time for stories and ice cream. We had dinner in the car on the way to the game. They were all in bed by 8. we had a few too many "not listening" and "Gramma has had to say "STOP" WAY too many times today", events. Besides I was tired! HA HA HA

Michelle and I watched a "Chopped" and we were all in bed!!

Parents go to Vegas...

Josh and Joel have headed to Vegas for World Fastpitch something...They took the wives. I get the kids! SO I have my 4 oldest grandkids for 9 days. This post is mostly for their parents so they can see what is happening..or not. I am REALLY happy the parents got to get away, with each other.

I am NOT the photo taker that Karen and Christine are.

Wouldn't want anyone to starve... I appreciate all the food the girls sent! 

I picked the kids up at school at 3. Josiah and Eli came out with their bus notes ready to rumble. Eli said Jordan got called to the office. Ok. I go in the office and ask the gal if Jordan is there. "Maybe on the other side" she muttered with out looking up. Now I AM looking for a 7 yr old who has NOT showed up... So I go to "the other side"  look around for Jordan, not seeing him, I ask this gal if she has seen Jordan. "nope" was the reply, again, without looking up. Ok, no biggie, missing 7 yr old. I got outside. Jordan is clinging to Josiah and Eli, Saying "I RIDE HOME WITH GRAMMA! CAROL RINEHART!! and begins SPELLING my name to the gal who is attempting to shove him on bus 5 to ride home to Grammas house. (Which by the way, IS BUS 14, today!) My man Jordan KNOWS his numbers. Bus 14 is bus 5 today, due to breakdowns. So I round up the boys and make for the car, before the sheriff is called... I HAVE talked to the bus garage 3 times about the NEW pickups at my house... oh well.

We went to Karen's, had snacks and did homework for an hour. Changed Eli into his full soccer gear and headed to Bender by 4 for his practice. NOT a SOUL at Bender today. hmmm. Wait, wait. OK, safely assuming practice is cancelled, we head home!

The boys played lego's, and outside for a while and then did reading. Eli had forgotten his reading book and I did not have much appropriate for Jordans reading time, SO ELI read COHEN'S picture books to Jordan. They are both cracking up at Spot and Goodnight Moon. Then Eli had more time to go, so he read them BACKWARDS, which provided much more hilarity.

Grampa picked up Michelle, we had dinner and off to Church for Grampa, Eli and Josiah. Jordan got some quiet time.

Michelle helping with lunches. 

 I read to him and he was fast asleep by 8.

 Michelle went to bed at 8:30 and was asleep when the Awana crew rolled in at 8:35.

Michelle's instagram photo for the day. Ice Cream, of course! 

  I did dishes and laundry and filled out picture forms and gathered up Thursdays gear. Michelle had helped me make lunches earlier. They have early release today. I do not know if this means lunch at 9:30 or not, so lunch can become snack...

Eli informs me that tonight is PARENT night! I said, "WHEW, I am not the parent!". He said well and the person who takes care of you. I said, "WHEW, I am OFF the hook!".  I assured him grandparents were exempt and I have done LOTS of parent nights and I am well trained. And I just don't see myself dashing to 3 classrooms. AND it is WAY past my bedtime.

Luncehes, Bus passes, folders...

Jordans clothes. labeled with the days of the week! Love it, Karen! 

Backpacks and shoes of the day at the ready. 

Here we go...

Buntings for Tennessee in Memory of Carter

I have been sewing a few Angel Outfitters bereavement buntings, for babies born at 14-19 weeks gestation, too tiny and fragile for clothes or diapers. Two years ago (WHERE does time go?) I wrote about the quilts I made for our identical twin grandsons Carter and Cohen.

I had fabric leftover from those quilts. I kept bringing it down to cut into diapers or quilt pieces or buntings, but could never do it and set it aside. It reminded me too much of making those quilts and how things turned out and I wanted to keep it because it was for Carter. This month I brought it down again. I cut a large piece and put it in my dresser to keep. For me. I was ready to use the rest of the fabric and what better than these little buntings for other special angels and their families. These buntings give grieving families something special for their baby. Made just for them. 

Carter's quilt that he was buried in. 

It is and honor and very humbling  to be able to make these buntings for the tiny angels. It lets their families know that their baby was special, real and very important. Making these buntings helps me honor and remember Carter by giving to others. He is forever in my heart, forever loved, NEVER forgotten.

The card with Carters name on it that goes in every bunting.

Small bunting (14-16 weeks) with Carters fabric! 

60 buntings for Tennessee  

Read all about Angel Outfitters here.

And Teeny Tears here.