- Another school morning here. I have basically started seeing exactly how late I can stay in bed each morning plus do all of my morning chores each day. Today I had 29 minutes to get ready, empty the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, take the dog out, brush her, and wake everyone up. I managed to get it all done, but it was probably cutting things a little close.
- I haven't been finishing too early lately, but this morning the girls and I even went through 4 bins of clothes that were in the attic. Unfortunately, most things they did not want anymore. I did find myself a few things that I decided that I just might can wear.
- Campbell and Graham went to work today, and they were very busy there. While they were working, I took two walks-one with Bentley and one without her. And then I started working on some of our summer school things.
- Soon it was time to head to church-first, my car had to go to the library. We left much earlier than usual because not only did I have to pick up books, but I also had to go inside! I pick up books most weeks from the box outside, but when I walked through the library, it made me want to just stop and browse-maybe I will some day this summer.
- After church tonight, everyone but Whitman went to ChickFilA. Graham had told me that he wasn't going to go, but I guess that he changed his mind. I came home and made myself some nachos before sitting on the couch for the rest of the evening.
April 23, 2025
April 22, 2025
- This morning I wasn't moving as quickly as yesterday, but we still started school almost on time. Keaton, Whitman, and I just have 2 library books that we are still reading-and we should finish them tomorrow-so that has given me encouragement to start on time and get our reading finished each morning lately.
- For some reason, I finished working with Campbell and Keaton earlier than usual. That was fine since I had some graduation things to do-addressing some announcements and picking out pictures for Anderson's senior table.
- Then Keaton and I waited on Robby to come home with our lunch. We split it and ate all of it. Then I went on a short walk with Bentley-we haven't walked in a few days, so it was no surprise when she refused to keep walking with me and stopped cutting our walk short.
- I worked with Whitman-we are reading a library book together which was due today. Usually I can recheck them out, but we have had this book for so long that I will have to take it into the library tomorrow. Hopefully, we will be able to finish it before too late in the summer.
- I took a shower and quickly dried my hair because I was running a bit late this evening. Around 4, Grannymom came over, and we headed to Arkadelphia with Graham and Keaton. We met up with Reagan at the Burger Barn-it was pretty good. Grannymom and I split a hamburger.
- Then we went to the auditorium to hear the Master' Singers. Robby has been wanting to go and hear them sing for a good while, and since it was at OBU which meant seeing Reagan we didn't pass this chance up. Graham and Keaton sat through about 15 minutes of the performance, and then they left to find Reagan again.
- When we it was over, we walked through campus and found the kids-the weather was perfect. Then we headed back home. The drove home didn't take too long at all since there was a little bit less traffic.
April 21, 2025
- I was pretty tired last night when I went to bed-even thought about skipping or just doing some school this morning. However, when I woke up, I felt like I had rested super well. I did my morning things, and then I went to wake up the children-they did not seem to be in as good of a mood as I was this morning though.
- I was able to wake them all up, and we started on school at the normal time-well, most every did. The college bound child slept half the morning away even though I would go upstairs and just stare at him sleeping until he would wake up and promise that he was about to get up. Thankfully, his first classes in the fall will not start until 9; however, that is not nearly late enough!
- Keaton and Campbell did their school pretty quickly while Whitman was finishing at 4 this afternoon. I'm not sure what all he did today, but school was not on his priority list. I will have to stay focused on keeping him on track tomorrow-though I get busy helping everyone else.
- Reagan and Odelia left to head back to school around 3:30. I think that they enjoyed the short little break from school-just 3 more weeks.
- I took Campbell to work today because Graham wasn't feeling too good at all, but he had to pick her up this afternoon because Anderson was already at work, and Robby and I were about to head to soccer practice.
- There wasn't a ton of kids at soccer tonight in Keaton and Whitman's team. They still had a lot of fun, and Anderson even helped-he was the goalie for a good part of the practice. After practice, Keaton and Whitman spent some of their Sonic gift card for a drink, and Robby picked up some Panda Express.
- Anderson came in just as the rest of us were finishing our suppers. Now most everyone has had their showers, and I have already read a little bit so I think I may try to make a second square for my blanket tonight.
April 20, 2025-Happy Easter!
- Once again on this Sunday morning, I was scrambling. I had plenty of time to get myself ready and do the last few chores before leaving for church. However, I forgot all about the kids' Easter baskets.
- Really, this year we have to use the term "baskets" very loosely. They didn't get baskets, but they did each get a case or two large packs for their favorite drinks-Reagan received vanilla coke, Anderson Red Bull, Graham had 12 sparkling strawberry waters, Keaton and Campbell both had packs of Alanis, Whitman had Cokes (though we later learned diet coke is his favorite-we can switch his out), Lena had Vitamin Water, and Odelia received light blue gatorades.
- All of these drinks had been stored in the back of the white van. It would have taken Robby and I a good while to move them all to the kitchen. He thought of using the wagon and hauling the drinks to the kitchen door.
- Most people were happy with their "baskets," but Graham's first response was "there's no breakfast?" The last few years, I would have some breakfast items in their baskets. Robby quickly went to work making pancakes so Graham, and everyone else, would have an Easter breakfast.
- We then headed on to church after we took a few family pictures. Everyone rode in the white van, and parking was a little tight so we ended up in the back of the parking lot. Church was good, and even though we visited for a while, the parking lot was still at a stand still when we walked to the car. We saw this so we visited some more in the parking lot before heading home.
- On the way home, Robby realized that there was no way that we could have lunch ready by 12 since it was 11:20ish, and we all had to go home and cook-plus Grannymom and Nonna had to then come to our house. He moved lunch to 12:45 which worked out perfectly.
- Grannymom, Nonna, Pops, Jason, Lily, Cash, and Ethan all came over with lots of food-it wasn't quite as much food as Thanksgiving, but we still had way more food than we could eat. Plus we had plenty of leftovers.
- After eating, it was time for the Easter egg hunt-my 6, Cash, Ethan, Odelia, and Lena-so it was quite a crowd. There were not a ton of eggs-but they were prizes. Some eggs had candy, but others had points so they could earn the first pick for a gift card. Plus the one who found the most purple eggs earned 15 dollars, and the one with the most yellow eggs got 10 dollars. It was fun to watch all the kids run around collecting eggs as quick as they could.
- When the came in, everyone sat down and worked on counting their points. In the end, everyone won at least a 10 dollar gift card so I think that they were all pleased. It was a pretty good Easter day-the kids were all downstairs for a long time visiting.
- Eventually, they all went upstairs, and Robby and I dozed for a minute. Then we had to wake up and start watching the weather since storms were brewing. We did make everyone come downstairs for a bit, but by the time they came downstairs the storm was past us.
- We then loaded up and left to go and eat at the Wilson's house. Shannon had a crew tonight so there was lots of food and desserts. We visited and the kids played games until way too late. We partied like it was not a school night-but school is tomorrow (though it is 11:30, and I'm still working on this blog.)
- When we got home, the kids who pulled into before us told us that the garage didn't seem to be working-Robby went to work on it thinking that the problem was what he had broken and fixed earlier. It didn't take long until he realized even though that was broken again, the bigger issue was the spring-it was also broken.
- Anderson was showering so just Graham and Robby lifted the garage while I moved the cars. It was like car Tetris outside-I had to move the minivan before I could move the big van then I had to move each of them again to get them out of the way so people could come and go tomorrow.
- Now the house is quiet, but Reagan has just made about 5 bags of popcorn so I have to assume it is quiet because people are all chewing!
April 19, 2025
- This morning started early with Robby, Whitman, Keaton, and I leaving early in the morning with Anderson. We left the house around 7:10 for our drive to Raymar. Anderson started getting things ready for the day, and after a bit Robby and I started to work on getting the concession stand ready.
- Whitman worked in the concession stand the most today, but he did get distracted by a kite today. That boy loves flying a kite at Raymar. He was able to get the kite in the sky a couple of times. Keaton, Graham, and Campbell reffed two games.
- Even though Anderson didn't ref any games today, he earned his money at Raymar. He spent a good bit of the day trying to break of disagreements on the field. It was quite a day at Raymar. Even Robby's game was contentious. The other coaches and a parent had been mouthy the entire game. Then I look up and see one of Robby's players and a player from the other team shoving each other. Refs' whistles started to blow, and Robby comes tearing across the field yelling at his player to get on the bench. The other coaches come on the field and start yelling at Robby while Anderson has already gotten to the field trying to calm them down-they weren't too friendly to him either.
- Robby was quick to say that he and his team were done. He then went on to make his team tell the other team good game, and then he clearly explained to his team how they were going to act, why they were going to act the right way, and reminded them all that it was just a game. As soon as he was done with his mini sermon, the other parent wanted to fuss at Robby. He quickly shut her down, and by this time the league director was there who soon had the fussing parent and both shoving kids bowing their head and praying. (Later in the day, Whitman asked who the league director was. We pointed out the man, and Whitman told us that he thought he was a body guard or a bouncer.)
- After coaching for about 15+ years, Robby is counting down the games this season, and he is hoping it is his last. Whitman could play one more year, so this may not be Robby's last time to coach. Either way, just as Robby told his team, it is just a game.
- Reagan, her friends, and Campbell did a little bit of shopping when they left Raymar. Keaton would have gone, but she had one more game to ref.
- When we left Raymar, Anderson and Graham went to someone's house to put down some mulch. Those boys worked for an hour and a half-and they made excellent money. They were pretty pleased when they came in. Anderson looked relatively clean while Graham was covered head to toe in dirt-Robby asked him if he had swam in the mulch. His clothes will probably have to be burned.
- Most everyone had showers and maybe even short naps. Then it was time to decorate eggs-since eggs are a bit pricey, we decorated sugar cookie eggs. I was able to take pictures so that made my heart happy.
- Robby came in with pizza which everyone ate, and then Reagan, her friends, and the big boys all left for pickleball. They are gone now, but I'm not too sure that I will be able to stay up until they come home because when supper was over, Robby and I worked for quite a while before we finally sat down.
April 18, 2025
- This has been a fun and busy day. Robby was awake and working in the kitchen before I even woke up. I thought that I would sleep in 30 minutes today and get up when he usually does, but he almost had made 2 peanut butter pies by the time that I stumbled out of the bedroom.
- I did go right to work on the house. I cleaned the last two bathrooms that needed cleaning and vacuumed-those two are probably some of my least favorite chores. But when I really think hard about it, I don't really have any chores that I like to do-maybe the dishwasher because it does take less than 5 minutes.
- Keaton and Campbell went to Nonna's house this morning to help her decorate the Easter bunny cake. Pops even picked up ChickFilA for them while they were there. Nonna and Pops brought them home and stayed and visited for a little bit. Pops helped me make my mashed potatoes which were actually had about 5 pounds of potatoes in them and 5 pounds of butter, sour cream, and cream cheese.
- I also made banana bread this morning plus I baked Easter egg shaped sugar cookies . We made sugar cookies a few times a year, but today just seemed to take my a while to roll them all out. I eventually realized that I usually have lots of help making the cookies, but I didn't ask anyone today.
- I worked on a carrot cake for Sunday-it needed two cups of grated carrots which is only about 4 carrots. Since I had a whole bag left over, I cut them all up to add to our supper.
- Reagan and her friends, Odelia and Lena, came around 2:30. They had a quiet afternoon and watched a movie. Robby worked in the yard, and I did a little bit of crocheting and reading. (My current book is long, and I've been pretty busy so I am afraid that it will be due before I finish it.)
- Soon it was near supper time. Graham got an invite to go and play basketball so he drove to Benton to play. But our supper folks started arriving-Grannymom and then Shannon and Brett. We all ate-salad, bread, carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, pork tenderloin, peanut butter pie, and brownies. Then even more guests arrived-Tony and then finally Ben and Layne.
- It was a fun evening (I could have really enjoyed it more if we didn't have to leave the house at 7:10 in the morning!) There was lots of visiting, lots of eating, and lots of laughing this evening so it was a great start to our weekend.
April 17, 2025
- Robby took Campbell and Keaton to work today. They had their class Easter egg hunts. I know that they enjoyed the day with having something different to do.
- Whitman and I started school first-he is feeling much better today. It is easy to tell when he feels good (healthy or even just in a good mood) because he is pretty chatty. And today he was pretty talkative. Plus when we were working in the yard, he really worked pretty hard today-spraying the fire and my benches that I painted orange and using the trimmers to trim some weeds.
- Graham had a speech to give today that he needed an audience for so Anderson, Whitman, and I listened to his speech-actually, the boys both played on their phones while I crocheted. You can't see me or Anderson not paying attention, but you can see Whitman playing his game.
- We started on yard work around noon today. Since it was just the boys and since we have done really well on the yard, there wasn't a whole lot to do. I did leave to pick up the girls, and once again I picked up Sonic as a treat.
- It was too long before everyone had to leave again-Anderson to work at Raymar, Campbell and Graham to work pictures at Raymar, and Keaton to help work pictures at Raymar (they asked her yesterday if she would help.) Robby and I left pretty soon after they did and hit up a few stores and just about filled up the suburban with groceries.
- We all made it home about the same time-some folks had pizza for supper while others had egg in the hole. Robby and I have already had our ice cream, and now I'm going to crochet for a few minutes.
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