Hockey Parents

 Garrett's team played 3 hockey games this past weekend.  There were two on Saturday.

The coaches have made some changes to several things this year.  One is the boys are not allowed to leave between games.  Food, snacks and drinks are provided for the guys.  This helps the coaches know they boys are eating the right foods in order to play another game.

Since the boys can't leave, the team manager decided that we should stay as well and cook out in the parking lot.  We have several families that live 1 hour away from the rink so they would be stay around anyway.  What a great time we had hanging out with the other parents.

We pretty much took over the back parking lot.  Each of us brought our own meat but shared

the sides to go with our meal.  I think this may be a new tradition that is understood for each home game.

The weather is beautiful.  Outside is the place to be.  

Who know maybe a fire pit and figuring out how to make a coffee pot work at the cook out

may be in our future

Aw Shuck Corn Maze Trip

We decided it was time for a field trip.  The weather has been so beautiful.  Time to be outside.

Other friends from our co-op were heading to the Aw Shuck Corn Maze.

Seth, Ella and I headed out to meet our friends

I remembered to have a mom in the picture taken.

She wanted to biggest pumpkin but thought this one was too heavy.

The silo slide was a big hit. 

The farm provided many play areas for the kiddos.  The swing was a favorite of Ella.

Not only were we able to roam with some free time, the ladies guided us through several areas

to teach us about living long ago on a farm.  We are inside an old train.

A row of hay bales provides great fun.  Not sure how many times she covered the bales.

Aw Shucks enabled us to be outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Good Morning

When I wake up in the morning, I usually open all the blinds then take the dog out for her morning break.  As I was walking and walking waiting for her to do her business (getting impatient, of course), this is what God allowed me to see.  

I don't usually see too many sunrises.  But on this morning, God showed off.  The sun had actually been up for a few minutes but not above the neighbors trees.  

I stop and focus on the rays that are beaming from the sides.  I can't help to think of God's arm reaching out to let me know "I've got this.  You don't have to worry.  I LOVE YOU."

As I rush inside to dump the dog and grab my camera, I am reminded to slow down, take note and watch what happens without YOU doing anything. 

"I've got this"  

More beams 

More glory

More splendor

"And God said, 'Let there be light.'  And there was light. 

And God saw that the light was good."

"Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his glory is above earth and heaven"

Psalm 148:13

 

Showing Off

 I wanted to share some photos of nature that I have been taking.  Mrs. Carman at coop reminds us weekly that God's way of telling us He loves us is through His creation.  I am amazing at the things I see when I stop, take time out of my busy, crazy running as SEE IT.

 Sunsets in the fall are spectacular  

Jeff and I were coming home one afternoon. Garrett calls to let us know that the power had been flickering at our house.  As we headed towards home, we could see why. . .

 When I posted this picture on twitter, my friend replied back "Looks like a storm tracker picture"  HA  It really does.  Thankfully it was not a tornado.

 Both of these pictures were taken out by Noni's pool.  She doesn't an amazing job with flowers, greenery, and surrounding the pool with plants that attract butterflies.

As we move into Fall, I want to remember the glories of summer.

  As each season brings about its own splendor, I am reminded that God Loves Me.

Trader Joe's Tour

We have or I have really tried to eat healthier at our house.  I am making almost everything from scratch.  I would like for all the skin, allergy, asthma goo that we have going on to disappear.  Not sure that is possible but watching what comes into our home through the pantry is on my mind.

I signed us up for a tour of Trader Joe's.  I officially have never shopped at the store.  I have only been in a store once but didn't buy anything.  We signed up to tour with about 15 or so other homeschoolers but we were the only ones to show up that day.

Lucky us.  We had a grand tour and goodie bags to take home.  We tried things that maybe we would not have tried before the tour.  We touched a little on organic vs. non-organic.  Since I usually don't ask opinions of what to cook, I thought this would give the boys a better look at labels, packaging, other name brands and stuff to try.

Now I only have one regret.  The closest Trader Joe's is 30 minutes away from me.  Sigh.  Since this store is only 5 minutes from Jeff's office, he may become our new shopper.

If you haven't tried a Trader Joe's, it worth the trip.  Very friendly, helpful staff that really cares about the customer.
ps the gummy bears are the best.

Highlights from the Kiddos

 Thankfully Garrett is becoming our tech guy.  I had tried to download song for the Christmas program to my computer, make a file for them in iTunes, and proceed to load onto Ella's iPad.  Without much success, I gave up.  Several days later, Garrett agrees to help me with the task.  Thankfully he made it work

Maybe a career is ahead

Seth has begun to love hot sauce, hot food, Texas Pete.  My on my.  Really???  He is kin to his daddy.  

The Chick-Fil-A calendar coupon was a free Spicy Chicken Sandwich

 This is his first time eating the Spicy Sandwich.  He loves it.  Now he has a new item to order.

(what is it with this cheesy photo pose)

Meme surprised Ella with new clothes.  The glowing orange shirt was one that came in the pile.  How did she get so big?  This shirt is in the big girl section.  Her pose tells her excitement of the new shirt.

All the little personalities we have at our house.

Checkup without TEARS

I have to post since this is our first checkup since she was a baby without TEARS

Not sure what it is but she usually is on my lap, hiding her face and crying.  I mean crying so hard she can hardly catch her breath.

This is the first time she sat on the table, dressed in the gown and talked to the doctor.

I was so proud of her.

Another reason I feel this was a great checkup:

no shots

no blood drawn

no peeing in the cup

The doctor was great to just let this be:

listen to your heart

check ears

check eyes

push on her belly

check her spine 

and the best part

knee reflex

Ella Michele, we are very proud of you for being such a great patient today at the doctor.

 

New Year

    "I remember the little ones you use to be, 

the little ones who gave me fits,

 who reduced me to tears, 

who drove me to my knees." -Rachael Carman  

As I look from 5 years ago when we started this journey to now, 

I am overflowing with tears.  Some days have felt like years.

But the years are beginning to look like days.  

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Ps. 118:24

 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you;

I will help you;

I will uphold you

with my righteous right hand."

Is 41:10

 

I want to hold tight to them but I want to allow them to soar.

I want to cry tears of sadness for where has the time gone, 

but jump for joy for the plans God has for them

I want to guide them, but I know God has gone before me to prepare their place.

I want to stop time, but love spending days with them, seeing them grow.

I want to protect them, but I know I have to let them try and fail.

I want to do it for them, but I know letting them do it, gives them a story to tell.

Our house is beginning to be side by side.  

We not longer have little people but people who want our distance between to be alittle wider.

My oh my, our sweet precious children that God has entrusted us to;

to be your mom and dad.

Let our home and family be a testimony as we continue on to 

trust and obey.

Top picture:  new classes at church

Bottom picture:  first day of co-op

 

 

Random Photos of the Weddines

We began school about 3 weeks ago.  Since we have started, there has been no sit down blog time.  I've caught things in pictures but we have been fast forward it seems.  

Here is a wrap up

Very Random - this is your warning.

 Ella has new roller blades.  My kiddos have grown up skating in the garage.  Every afternoon is spend outside this time of year. 

 Someone asked me the other day the difference in their ages.  I just laughed.  Well, it looks like more years than it really is.  My heart sings when they help each other.  Both are doing a history project with flood water.

 Since the beginning of August, Garrett has been on a workout program from his hockey coaches.  How did he get to here.  Workouts-muscles(trying to pop out), and cut off sleeves.  My momma brain still looks at him like a 4 yo.

Garrett and dad picking during the draft for fantasy football.  Love football season. 

 The cheese grater for supper.  Thanks G for lending those muscles for the cause.  The kitchen can be a workout - chopping, grating, cutting, lifting, washing. 

 Who's hand are these?  My cousin gave Ella some fake nails for her birthday.  Too funny.  She took them right off after I took the picture.  She couldn't figure out how to do anything with them on her fingers.

 This shirt has a story.  Garrett had a Gear Party.  The boys received all their goodies for the hockey season.  This shirt was given to all the players.  I think they missed Garrett's size.  Ella is happy though.

 Our sweet doggie loves to warm by the oven.  The warm air blows out the top of the oven.  She lands here pretty often.

 Enjoying on of our last swims at Noni's.  She has a purple butterfly bush that attracts the biggest butterflies ever.  Love this picture.  This reminds me of our new life we have in Christ.  God is good.

Seth is trying a spicy chicken sandwich for the first time.  He is beginning to eat like his dad.  The hotter the better.  Anything is good with Texas Pete.  I have to step away when the Pete comes out.  

August has been thankfully a little slower than July but wait until September.  Everyone's schedule kicks in and Jeff is out of town 3 times in September. On  another note, I am already making Christmas list.  Embrace the days because time flies when we are having fun.