Project 366: Week 36

September 4 - 10

Sunday: I didn't take a picture on Sunday, but this is from Saturday.  Patrick was playing with a ball almost as big as he is.  He loved throwing it and ten running after it.  I am thankful for soft balls!  This little guy loves to throw anything that is remotely round, so I am thankful for round objects that wouldn't break my windows! :)

Monday: I made some of Emeril's Beef Stroganoff!  It is so tasty, and it freezes well, so made enough of it to take on vacation. I am grateful that we have such variety in our food supply!  Imagine life with only one or two choices of food.  Many people in the world can't even imagine what we have.  God is good!

Tuesday: Patrick LOVES to help with the salad spinner.  Any time it comes out, he makes it known that he wants to help!  (This picture was taken on Monday.)  I am thankful for children who love to help even from an early age.

Wednesday: We gave the kids chex mud buddies for dessert.  Patrick loved it and made a glorious mess!  I am thankful for sweet treats to share with my children. 

Thursday: Even though it is a class day, it was very busy and I didn't get a picture.  I was running errands and children to and from the church all day in preparation for vacation. (This picture is of the binding for my Dr. Seuss Quilt that I took on Monday.)  I am grateful for Dr. Seuss and his wit!  I just love his books and really should read them more often to my kids.

Friday: Again, I didn't get a picture because of all the prep for vacation.  This picture was taken on Saturday while we were moving things up to our room.  I don't think the focus is write, but I love Patrick's smile!  Sometimes, seeing that little smile is enough to look past all the screaming fussing and crying.  The sun comes out even for a moment and gives me hope that we will move past the fussing.  I am thankful for this smile!  I need it!

Saturday: We took a quick walk on the beach after unpacking and dinner.  Even with all the seaweed in the water, it was still beautiful! I am thankful for vacation!  I am thankful to get a change of scenery and a chance to enjoy a different pace to our days. 

Project 366: Week 34

It has been so long since I posted and since I took these pictures, I don't remember what happened the week of August 21 - 27.  From my pictures, I only took two pictures this week!  Oh, well.  We started classes at the school, so it must have been a busy week.

Thursday:  The first day of classes for 4 kids.  This is Sophia's first year taking classes and she is really excited about it.  Mercy loves school days even though she only gets to play in the nursery.  I am thankful for the classes offered at our church and the teachers who offer their time and knowledge to help my children learn more!

Saturday:  Adrian made the kids eggs in toast.  The kids got to choose what cut out they wanted.  They really loved it! I am thankful for Adrian preparing Saturday morning breakfasts for the kids!

Project 366: Week 29

I spent more of this week sewing than was good for me and probably for my family!  I wanted to try to finish one of #MightyLuckQuiltingClub April challenge.  But we did other things this week, too.  This post is for July 17 - 23.

Sunday: Avalyn was disappointed that she didn't get to make a cake for Independence Day.  She also wanted to try a new technique, candy clay.  The whole cake was decorated while I was away, so was completely done without any assistance.  I am thankful for Avalyn's desire to create and try new things.

Monday: We have enjoyed cherries a couple of times this summer.  I am thankful for the varieties of food available so easily.  What a great blessing to get such opportunities to try such varied fruits and vegetables.

Tuesday: I started to put together the back for my Dr. Seuss quilt.  I haven't really been trying to take pictures, so I only may be taking one or two pictures a day!  I am thankful to have some time to sew!  I enjoy the creative outlet and I love making things that are pretty and useful.

Wednesday:  Keira and Sophia made a fort under a table.  Patrick decided to join them.  Just a moment before his little hand was reaching out from under the quilt  groping for the mac and cheese box.  He didn't really seem to care if he found it, though.  I am thankful for my kids' imaginations.  They love making and playing in forts.

Thursday: This crazy block is what I worked on most of the week!  The goal of the April challenge was to recreate a picture.  I chose a picture Adrian took of an orchid at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  I am thankful for the #MightyLucky quilting club challenge.  Each challenge has stretched my abilities and many of them have felt too difficult to even bother attempting.  Once I start on the challenge, I usually get excited about it and am glad for the new experience.

Friday:  The finished April Mighty Lucky challenge!  I really like this block!  It could be it's own mini quilt as it is 40 inches wide and 20 inches tall!  I am pleased with how it turned out.  I am thankful for God's beautiful creation!  I how that humans can never recreate his beauty and design, but I love trying to capture some essence of God's creation.

Saturday:  Kyle found instructions for making a bottle rocket.  He convinced Adrian to help him make it, and all the kids had a great time shooting it off!  I am thankful for the curiosity of this kid.  He loves to make things and discover how things work.

Project 366: Week 27

This was another busy week, but it was different and enjoyable.  With the holiday, we got to have extra fellowship at church and spend extra time as a family.  This post is for the week of July 3 - July 9.

Sunday:  Every first Sunday our church has a fellowship meal after the morning service.  Since I picked up a watermelon to take, Avalyn asked if I could make it into something interesting.  I decided on a ship, and I must say that it turned out really well!
As just a note for the record, many factors and people came together to organize and ice cream social at the church Sunday evening.  It was such a great time, that several people have asked that the church do it again!
I am thankful for times of fellowship with God's people.  I know that our Lord uses these times as a way to refresh us.

Monday:  Independence Day!  We decided to take the kids to Stars and Strikes since Adrian had the day off.  We all had a good time, especially Adrian who started his first game with FOUR Strikes!!!  I am thankful for times together as a family. 

Tuesday:  For some reason, I didn't take a picture on Tuesday.  I have no idea why, but here is a nice one from bowling yesterday.  I am thankful for times of rest in business.  July promised to be busy and I relished the days of quiet at home!

Wednesday:  We had a quiet day!  The kids and I spent the day reading, listening to Tom Sawyer, and working extreme Dot to Dots.  I am thankful for quiet activities that keep us all happy and occupied.  I would recommend extreme Dot to Dots to anyone who know their numbers because these are wonderful activities!  (My critical thinking classes will be seeing some of these!)

Thursday:  We took the kids to the pool and Kyle enjoyed playing with his ball in the pool.  I am thankful that my children are learning to swim.  Kyle and Sophia are both working timing their strokes and breathing.  Keira is working on holding her breath underwater.  Mercy is working on putting her face in the water.  

Friday:  We have been exchanging date nights with the Presleys since about October.  It has been a nice respite and great fun for the kids.  This month was our turn to watch the kids.  So we pulled out the board games and most of the kids settled into a game.  I am thankful that my children know their cousins and that they have some cousins their own age.  I am thankful that they are friends and enjoy being around each other.

Saturday:  We spent the evening at my parents' home with my brother's family and Megan's family.  Right before we left, one of their neighbors decided to shoot off some fireworks.  The kids enjoyed sitting to watching.  I am thankful for the generosity of my parents and the time spent with my extended family.

Project 366: Week 20

This is for the week of May 15 - 21.  Another week another doctor's appointment.  We are still trying to figure out why Avalyn is having difficulty breathing.  She went to the doctor on Monday, and the ER on Saturday.  With doctors and treatments and dishes and school, there hasn't been much time for anything else.  I am looking forward to school ending so that we can take a bit of a break.  I am hoping that the kids will be well enough to miss at least one week at a doctor's office!
(I know that what we are dealing with is nothing compared to other people.  And I know that we are right where the Lord wants us, so I am not really complaining about what is going on.  I am just busier than I would like to be.  I want to stay home and do nothing, but organize our school things and maybe paint something!  But I know that the Lord is in control and this is where he wants us, so I am trying to be satisfied right where I am.)

Sunday: We try to have a special dessert on the Lord's day.  Avalyn made macaroon tart shells and chocolate ganache.  These are very good and have almost no sugar in them!  I am thankful for children who love to cook and especially one that I can hand a recipe to and be confident that it will get made well.

Monday: Our dryer started making a loud noise when drying clothes Monday morning.  I had to stop the laundry and eventually took the wet clothes to my mom's house.  Adrian took the dryer apart and the kids collected all the money they found.  They found over $6!  Adrian couldn't find anything wrong with the dryer, so he put it back together and it worked!  Way to go, Adrian!  I am thankful for a handy husband!
While Adrian was taking apart the dryer, he put the drum in the family room.  The kids enjoyed climbing inside it.

Tuesday: My mom watched the kids for the evening so Adrian and I could go out for our anniversary.  We went to Macaroni Grill and Georgia Gun Club.  We enjoyed an adult conversation and shooting some different hand guns.  Georgia Gun Club was so much nicer than the other shooting range I have been to before!  I am thankful to have my parents close by so that they can be a part of my children's lives. 

Wednesday:  Keira's therapy was cancelled on Tuesday because of the weather.  The kids and I took her on Wednesday.  I got to watch her confidently lead and ride Buddy.  She also got to trot for us!  I am thankful for Jackie, Keira's instructor.  Keira has learned so much from him, and he is kind and thoughtful with her.

Thursday:  Patrick discovered that he can reach the water fountain switch!  He had so much fun turning it on and off!  I am thankful for the simple joys that he shows us every day.

Friday:  Mercy was tired at the dinner table, and couldn't keep her fingers out of her mouth.  She looked so sweet that I wanted a picture.  All she is missing is her "sucking blanket" which she does not suck, but sticks up her nose.  I am thankful for sleep!  We have been dealing with breathing difficulties in Kyle and Avalyn for over 2 months, so a full night's sleep has been elusive.

Saturday: Though the rain threatened and followed through, Dream Quest had their fun day.  We loved watching all the students show what they had learned during the year!  Keira rode in the last class so that she could ride on Buddy, the horse she has been working on for the last couple of months.  She had such a great time even though it rained during her time in the arena.  I am thankful for this form of therapy as it not only helps Keira learn and grow stronger, but it also makes her SO happy and gives her confidence in her abilities!
(I did have better pictures from the day, but I liked this one because you can see how Keira is working to direct Buddy to kick the ball.  The different students were taking turns playing "horse soccer.")

Snow in Georgia

My children are true southerners and call any little white precipitation, snow.  And it doesn't matter how much is on the ground, if even one flake sticks, they must go play in it!  (I do have a sense of how ridiculous this is, but my kids don't and who am I to try to deflate their happiness?)
So when we got snow on Friday night and into Saturday morning January 23, the kids insisted they play in it. 
We started the morning with cinnamon rolls.  It has been a tradition in my family to have cinnamon rolls whenever it snowed.  Since we saw a few flakes on Friday night, I got everything made to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

This is how the kids dress for playing in the snow.  Notice how white the yard is! That is what is called snow at our house! :)

There was enough snow to draw a picture on my wind shield!

End of the Year Photos

As we come to the end of the year and the photo challenge, I am happy that I did it.  I am secretly planning to continue, but without the pressure of telling everyone. :)  We will see how far I get since I fell into several slumps during this challenge.  I am happy to look back and see our activities and what I was interested in during the year.  I hope to continue to chronicle our family even if I don't complete another 365.
Here are some pictures that really didn't fit in any other post.

I overexposed Sophia while she was playing with the ribbon dancer.  I was really pleased with these two pictures because of her facial expressions.

Keira got new glasses.  Even though they look a little big in this picture, they fit her well.  We let her get a new pair of glasses because the eye doctor said that she could stop wearing her eye patch!  That was a great mile stone!

We let the kids open their stocks first thing on Christmas morning.  Even Patrick got in on the action!

The intelliglobe was a gift from the kids' great Aunts.  They LOVE it!  Kyle has learn a lot of geography since getting it, and Keira and Sophia have learned about different styles of music.

Oh December 29th, we had an appetizer dinner.   Avalyn and I chose the menu and we put together all sorts of things to sample and enjoy.

Patrick makes many cute faces.  He has started scrunching up his nose when he smiles!  I love it!

Another gift from the kids' great Aunts was a telescope.  It has rained a lot since Christmas, so we haven't gotten to use it much.  But on a clear night, Adrian took it out and set it up so the kids could get a chance to use it.  (I was really pleased with this picture because it was so dark outside I could barely see Adrian!  The camera saw him better than I did!)

Lollipops

One of the things the kids got in their stockings was a large lollipop each.  So Christmas night, we let them dig into them!  I love the colors in these suckers!

Sophia's Fifth Birthday

Sophia turned 5 on December 6!  (Yes, I'm a month late posting this, but the blog is a lower priority than my family. :)  She requested a treasure chest cake.  I am not sure what drove that decision except for Avalyn's love for pirates.  Over the years I have become better at decorating cakes, and I have become less perfectionistic about them.  The kids love them no matter what.

Sophia asked for LEGOs and a wallet.  She was very happy to get both!  The kids wanted to buy her gifts as well, so I took them to the DollarTree and they each bought Sophia a small gift.

The Ribbon Dancer was a big hit!