Our week began with family worship and then a run to take Theo back to meet his Dad. If we both drive an hour we can meet in the middle and it's not too bad!
Love having a vehicle big enough to safely add extra kiddos!
After we dropped off Theo, our crew had a little crash on the drive home.
The University baseball team was playing across the street when we got home, so I popped this crew a big bowl of popcorn, cut them some apples, and added in some homemade protein balls so they could watch the games with full bellies.
While I was keeping on eye on my baseball spectators, Mike and I cleaned out the garage and Evie "helped" and played with Mia in the back yard. Our friends, Landon and Madi, came and watched the baseball game, too, and after awhile we got out the popsicles to share.
The weather was just so beautiful that we opted for supper outdoors, which you know is always my favorite. I worked up a big batch of breakfast burrito mix, so that I could get some back in the freezer for Mike's breakfasts, so that's what we had for supper. {Four dozen eggs scrambled with cheese and a bit of nutritional yeast (cheers to health), a pound of sausage, bits and ends of bacon cut up, and 6 potatoes diced. Yes, there were leftovers!}
I blew out the garage as we were cleaning it, which always sparks the interest of my helpers. Zayden offered to rid the back cement of it's leaves for me after supper.
Monday we didn't have any plans beyond school and it was another beautiful day. We logged six hours outdoors each day Sunday and Monday in an effort to soak in as much as we could. The kids went in and out, doing some school on the back patio and some in the house, before we closed all the books and went out to play.
{lunch-time!}
We finished reading The Trumpet of the Swan before I released the crew into the wild. Though lovely, it was quite windy, which made being still feel like more of a challenge.
{Mia art}
Natalee and I spent the evening at her swim awards banquet. Mike served this crew supper outside, while she and I had pizza with the swim team.
Natalee received the Tough as Nails award and her coach spoke such edifying words of encouragement over her.
Tuesday was a rainy, dreary, gray day. We got up and moving, did our group geography, and then the youngest four and I went to mom's group while Natalee opted to stay home this time. The kids worked on their scheduled school when we got back, and then we had a simple night at home. Zayden came out after being put to bed and asked Dad to pull his wiggly tooth (teeth wiggle best when you're laying down at night, don't they?) and out it came!
Wednesday was still dreary and gray but Mia had gymnastics so out the door we went.
Evalynn started asking to do 'nastics several weeks ago and one day I told her off-handedly "you can't do gymnastics if you wear diapers." This week she remembered that and tried to go out with Mia because "she was wearing undies and goes in the potty." Hmmmmm. Reminder to not speak without intent to this kid. There's only one month left of this term so, while my brain was thinking more this fall, trying it out for a month might actually be good. The class has openings and the teacher invited her to try it out next week. Stay tuned...
A cold dreary day called for some chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, and asparagus for supper. Xavier and I tried our hand at a new recipe for sourdough discard biscuits and they were delicious. Everyone loved them.
Natalee was craving a chocolate pie so she made one up for dessert. We had full bellies by the end of the night, for sure!
We are enjoying our nightly routine of devotions and watching the World Watch news together. Even Evie can find a way to be still - using Daddy as a pillow helps.
Thursday brought thick snowflakes blowing all around and us wishing for Sunday's temperatures back. I was very grateful we'd been diligent about using those beautiful days to their fullest.
Some of us struggled to get up with a third gray day in a row...
Daddy surprised us by leaving boughten breakfast sandwiches, hash brown patties and a "fancy" coffee for Mommy on the table before he left for work. Everyone appreciated his gesture of love, especially the ones who don't love oatmeal (Thursdays are oatmeal days).
So proud of this first grader. We tried some allergy meds for him to help with his seasonal allergies and it did not go well, so he's just struggled a bit of late. We're grateful to see his sweet, ornery, naturally scattered personality come back out and are praying for a different answer for his allergy struggles.
Natalee had hippotherapy, so we got out in the blowing swirling snow (it was above freezing so the roads were fine) to take her. Lil sis couldn't hang on the way home.
Friday morning Mike went in late so I could take Ameliya to the doctor. She's just been.....off....for the last couple of months. There's several things that seem small that are starting to feel significant. Doubling that with the fact that this has been going on for a couple of months just made me feel like it was time to get her checked. She had some bloodwork done, and the specific things we checked for came back okay....so we're watching, praying, keeping our eyes open, brainstorming, and keeping in contact with her doc. I realize that's all vague....but when I can't quite make sense of it myself it's hard to put into the words. The doc thought perhaps the things that are troubling her could even be "long covid" or the leave over from some sort of virus.
Dad subbing in for school while Mia and I were out.
When we got home I made the kids some protein milkshakes. One way I deal with anxiety is with food....but I didn't have a shake this time and instead made myself some sensible eggs. #growth
School got finished up by early afternoon and then we curled up and watched a Little House episode and read some of our read aloud together.
Mail call....the unitard felt necessary for the tiny to-be gymnast. Yes?
Everyone laid down for an afternoon nap on this very windy day, since we had big plans Friday night.
A concert!
The Christian band, Unspoken, was in the neighboring town, and the church we worship at, Two Timbers, treated any members who wished to go to tickets! Our family and 7 others from the church were able to go and it was a great night.
The comedian was funny and a bright unexpected treat.
The opener, Ben Fuller, did a great job performing.
And Unspoken was fantastic.
A two year old at a concert? She had a great time! Our youngest two were getting a little sleepy by the end but they hung in there. It was a fun family night! Thank you, Two Timbers, and thank you to the Pella Opera House for working so hard to get Christian entertainment to the area.
Saturday was a lazy morning and then some house cleaning.
The boys got hair cuts, Jace came to play, I did a Wal-Mart run (and had to actually go in the store - sigh), and then it was bedtime.
Another week gone by and March is almost gone!
