This week slipped by with very few photos.
Sunday we went to church and Sunday school and then had small groups that evening. Small groups are such a great way to begin a new week. We are so thankful for our group. Sunday afternoon Mia and I decorated for fall, ignoring the 90+ degree temperatures.
I'm not really a very good decorator, and our home boists more of a "lived in" look than "cute decor" but we make the effort to do the mantle each season and set out a few other things. Mia especially loves seasonal decorating.
Monday was Labor Day, which should have been a work holiday for Mike, but he ended up having to go in late afternoon. We didn't do a full day of school - we picked up some loose ends from the previous week and everyone did a Science lesson.
I turned sour milk (plus another fresh gallon) and drooping bananas into muffins and yogurt. Very thankful to have methods that help us reduce waste.
"drawing of mama" by Evie
Mia's bird in a tree.
Teaching science to the middle two scholars.
Tuesday Natalee had OT and PT. Usually these are first thing at 7:30, but this week they were pushed back and didn't start until after 9. That was fine, just made it a little harder to find our groove for the day. The roller is out of our dryer and while they said we can use it I'm trying to do so sparingly. This means making an effort to get a load or two out on the clotheslines first thing each morning.
We were home the remainder of the day Tuesday after Natalee's appointments. The network was down at campus again so we were without Mike.
Wednesday began bright and early with a wellness appointment for Evalynn and a check up for Ameliya at 7:30. Yawn. We stopped and got everyone a treat of donuts after the appointments - a thank you to the other 3 for doing a good job at home and a reward for the two that had gotten shots.
After donuts it was time to change for Evalynn and get her out to her gymnastics class. Zayden came along to watch this week. (She asked me to take her picture.)
I ran to the chiropractor after gymnastics and then took a quick walk when I got back. I was struggling feeling so sleepy and thought the walk would wake me up. We did lunch and school, and then I dozed off while grading papers and woke up fevered and chilled. Quick as a wink, the sickness the kids have been passing around hit me.
I messaged all my Cubbie leaders and let them know, called Mike home from work (where things were still a mess), and went to bed feeling guilty for missed commitments and putting more on Mike's plate.
Thursday I was weak as a baby kitten but my fever was gone. We canceled hippotherapy but Natalee did keep her afternoon zoom appointment. I felt a lot better as the day progressed except a cold seemed to settle in my head. Natalee had Bible study Thursday evening so I took the others to a park to play while she was there. The Fross crew met us and that was a treat for us.
Friday morning I had a doctor's appointment unrelated to the virus I'd fought. I stopped into Mike's office on my way home and chatted with him/left him the little van and talked to my folks who were headed out of town on vacation on my walk home. The big kids had science labs with their lab groups mid morning, so we all did a few things at the house and then loaded up and headed out. I got to help Natalee and the other two freshman work through their experiments while Xavier worked with his group and the little three played. I didn't think to take a photo of either group though.
Back home for lunch, and then we went to the skate park with friends for a couple of hours.
Mike worked late again Friday and I let the kids stay up late playing glow in the dark tag outside.
Saturday we had an early morning grocery pick up and Mike went to worship practice. I started a pasta salad and Evalynn and I made brownies for a bonfire at the Fross' later.
Not dye free. It's going to be okay.
She decided they needed sprinkles. Who am I to argue?
And then M&M's - placed on at a time. Evalynn was so excited to take her brownies to Jessica.
Zayden dedicated a lot of time to getting a letter and card ready for the mail for his BFF cousin Theo, who is having a tonsillectomy and adenoids removed this week.
I took a couple of Benadryl to clear the stuffiness in my head and they laid me out flat so I ended up napping Saturday afternoon for a couple hours. As I was getting up to get ready to go I realized Xavier was in bed. With a fever. Sigh. Back into my sweats. Mike offered to stay home and it was tempting, but he'd had a long week at work and I had gotten a couple of park playdates in so I told him to go on. He did send me a couple of updates and pictures though.
Evalynn found her Ashley at the party.
(Evie took a tumble at the park Thursday and has a bruise on her cheek.)
Xavier slept most of the evening and I read a book. I had showered and was in bed watching a movie by the time my crew got home. They were all very cheery with happy smiles and tales of what a fun night they'd had. I'm thankful for friendships.
