- Reagan and Graham went to their Bible study this morning across town. It started at 6:45-so they left bright and early. Then I think that both of them came back and took a nap. Graham slept until 10, but Reagan had to leave for her classes around 9:20ish.
- The rest of us did our reading this morning plus we knocked out quite a few library books. My current library book situation for the kids is a whole wooden crate full of them-that is just our read alouds plus Whitman has a box of books, Campbell and Keaton have some books for school, plus if you need any ACT book from the Central Arkansas Library System then come to my house because I have them all! (Not that they are going to make a world of difference, but maybe them just being here will help!)
- Campbell starts her official Christmas school tomorrow, and everyone else will begin theirs this next week or the next. I need to start my Christmas shopping sooner rather than later. We have ordered a lot of things lately, but they don't seem to be coming in as quick as I want. I would like to figure out everyone's presents so I can move on to doing some shopping for the kids' stockings.
- The girls went to help Nonna decorate her Christmas tree this afternoon. They went to town with their decorating and knocked it out in no time at all. After they had finished this, they did run to ChickFilA to celebrate the accomplishments.
- We are visiting ChickFilA quite a bit lately-the girls went there with Nonna. Reagan and Graham's Bible study was there this morning, and Reagan's Bible study was there last night. Maybe everyone is getting their fill of it.
- This afternoon I did some packing, and that was about it. We did star working on supper just as Reagan came in from work tonight. We didn't really have a plan since we had quite a few leftovers so it was on your own with a goal of cleaning out the fridge and pantry. We did finish off the pita bread, corn casserole, potato casserole, chicken, and a cheese ball. That is pretty good-and I am working diligently on finishing off the pecan pie. I really, really love pecan pie, and I guess I had forgotten how strongly I feel about it.
November 28, 2023
November 27, 2023
- Only one more real school day before we begin our Christmas school around here (except for Reagan and Anderson who have to finish their big kids classes first). Knowing that probably helped get everyone awake this morning.
- I started off by reading to everyone-we have a ton of library books to read each morning which I am trying to get through before Christmas. Keaton and Whitman do have a bit of a problem staying awake sometimes in the morning. Campbell is usually the only one who might be listening to everything I read, or she is staying awake by secretly playing on her phone while I'm not looking!
- Anderson and Reagan both have history paper due soon so that has occupied a lot of time today. Thankfully, those are almost done-almost a week early so that just leaves her one essay, one test, and one art project, and it leaves Anderson two tests.
- Speaking of Anderson-since his sprained ankle from last Saturday still hasn't completely healed, we went to the doctor today. I probably wouldn't have gone to our pediatrician if I had known that they no longer really have an xray person.
- So after seeing the doctor, we had to go to another place to get an xray of the ankle. The doctor doesn't think that it is broken or anything, but we did need to rule it out. However, he wondered if physical therapy might be needed; I guess we will know more tomorrow when we hear about the xray.
- While we were gone, Reagan and Anderson were at work and Robby and the other girls ran to do a few mystery shops. The girls loved having the opportunity to do mystery shops at Target-Robby even let them walk around some. Of course they found a few things-Campbell found candy for her stocking while Keaton found pajama pants for Christmas.
- And if you are counting, this left Whitman at home alone. He wasn't by himself for too long, and I don't think he really notice that he was alone at all. Anderson was quick to tell me that I would not have left him alone when he was just 10. I think that he is probably right!
- Reagan had Bible study tonight after work so she is just now walking in from that with her hands full of her super leftovers. Robby is watching football, and I am sure that Anderson is upstairs studying for his test!
- I am debating getting me some hot chocolate, but I am still warm from my tomato soup. It is fairly chilly in this house, so Robby did pull out the heater. Of course there has been a few squabbles about who is sitting closest to it today-Reagan and I were one of the ones squabbling about it today!
November 26, 2023
- Robby woke me up at 8:03 this morning and asked if I had set my alarm. I indeed did set my alarm when I woke up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom Unfortunately, I must have set my alarm for 7:45 pm and not am since it had not gone off yet.
- That was a little bit frustrating, but it doesn't really take us an hour to get ready. When we had tiny babies and had to give baths, feed baby food, and put chubby little legs into tights-then it took us way more than an hour.
- When we arrived at church, I had Whitman help me get the room ready for Sunday school. We had only 15ish first graders today so that was a manageable number. Afterwards, we all headed to big church-Whitman is the only one who sits with us anymore. The big boys usually come downstairs for church, but today they went upstairs with everyone else. (I do sometimes worry that some of my younger girls might be a bit chatty during church, but I figure there are enough other mothers up there that will take care of it and hopefully they have enough sense to do the right thing.)
- After church we went to Nonna and Pops' house for Sunday lunch. When we finished eating, the kids all helped bring in Nonna's Christmas things which I think the girls are going to help set up Tuesday.
- Reagan, Anderson, and Graham went to help clean and organize where Reagan works today. They are on a service team, and that is where they ended up today. It definitely helped Reagan out doing that though.
- The rest of us left Nonna's house and ran to Walmart to pick up an order. Then Robby and I had a nap. The big three made it home in time to be home for a few minutes before leaving again with Campbell and Keaton to go to Rock Creek for church tonight.
- We made spaghetti for Sunday night supper with the Wilsons tonight. We also heated up a pecan pie which was pretty good for sure. Robby wasn't crazy about either, but I really did like the pie-I don't know of any of the kids eat pecan pie though, and I sure don't need to eat all of the leftovers myself.
November 25, 2023
- I just told Robby that this day is kind of sad: our holiday weekend is now over. Oh, I know that we have Sunday left, but that does not really count. I again was the first one out of bed to work on that laundry and those dishes.
- After doing that, I moved on to getting something else ready for Sunday school tomorrow. We have much younger kids this year and many more kids this year, so winging it is not really possible this year-I have to be overplanned which is why I was adding to tomorrow's list of things to do in Sunday school.
- Robby and I watched a little bit of a football game before we moved outside to work in the yard. All three of the boys came out to help us. Graham did text the family group chat asking when they were to help. I just answered whenever they want so those two big boys came out fairly soon.
- We only worked for maybe an hour. Robby spent some more time out there watching his burn pile. When Graham and Anderson came in the house, Whitman saw them walk by with drinks in their hands-so Whitman came out to ask why they had drinks and if he could have one. Of course he could, as long as he worked for a few minutes which he did very willingly.
- After our yard work, I helped Reagan with a bit of school before Robby and I left to run some errands. One goal was to find Bentley dog food-her brand has been recalled, and we are getting low on what we have (made before the recall). We have used less expensive food before and could tell the different (probably too much detail for the blog), but we sure don't want to spend much more money than we already spend.
- Back at home, the boys and Robby started a project-installing their new monitors. They upgraded and are in full gaming mode. I took Campbell to a party with some church friends, and before I realized it, it was time for me to leave the house to go and pick her up again.
- Once we were home, there was some ice cream along with some more football watching downstairs and lots of gaming upstairs!
November 24, 2023
- Not a whole lot happened around here today. I guess in years past on Black Friday we have spent time decorating or shopping. We did do some shopping today, but most of that was online so Robby never had to leave the couch.
- I did have a list of things to do today, and I did mark most of them off of my list except for raking the leaves, but no one was too anxious to do that.
- I was actually up a good bit before everyone else stirred this morning. I did my morning things plus finished a book. The kids started stirring while I was working on Graham's math for next year. This is the first year that I have drastically changed things up for the kids in the middle of the year. New science for the big boys, different math for Graham, new English for the big boys, and a new math for Anderson. I want to change Keaton's English too but I bought the wrong book and am mad at myself so I'm not sure if I will try to buy the book again or not.
- We watched all of the losing Razorback teams on the tv today. I did take a short little nap during both games, but that didn't help the scores at all. Between the games I helped Reagan with her English essay-it is about Santa and I thought that it would be fun, but it isn't!
- During the middle of the football game, Keaton, Campbell, Anderson, Robby, and I ran a few errands. We walked around Sams and bought some spoons, then stopped by Grannymom's house quickly before returning something to Kohls. Then I returned something to Costco while the others picked up pizzas, and finally we went to Kroger to pick up an order.
- Everyone ate supper when we came home. Whitman had mail-2 junior ranger badges that we have worked on lately. And then for the rest of the evening, I don't think that too much will happen around here-at least I hope not.
November 23, 2023-Happy Thanksgiving
- This morning started with Robby and I awake and working while the precious little children who have taken to staying up super late snoozed in their beds. Even though they may have stayed up late last night, they didn't take too long to wake up.
- I was told that they all even made their beds-my day's requirement. I haven't been up there so I don't really know if they did this or not, but they were all dressed and happy when they came downstairs.
- Though I will say it is getting more and more difficult to get those little stinkers to work on their fruit turkeys. This is a tradition that I plan on continuing for a very long time, so they really will just have to get over it. I did get my turkeys and more importantly my pictures so all was good.
- Soon our family all started arriving and carrying in their food. All of my kitchen counters were full of food. We had a feast for sure. Afterwards we even managed some family photos-not every year do we remember to take pictures of everyone, but I am sure glad that we remembered today.
- Everyone stayed for quite a while visiting which I loved. Of course Thanksgiving is a little different these days that we don't really have the huge newspaper full of ads to look through because now we have been Black Friday shopping for weeks. The kids asked to go shopping tomorrow, and I just reminded them that they could look on amazon at any time of the day.
- After everyone left, we huddled around the tv on the couch to watch the Hogs game. This game didn't have the same results as last nights, but I slept through most of it!
- About 10 different kids have come downstairs and asked me what was for supper. This is definitely a make you own night, and that is what they have done-at least Whitman and Anderson. I think I am going to have some hot chocolate much later, but for now, it is football on tv and possibly a Hallmark movie.
November 22, 2023
- This was our first official Thanksgiving break from school, but a tiny bit of school did still happen this morning. Anderson did a little bit, and so did Graham. Reagan has an essay due early next week, and she and Anderson have a history paper due late next week so there is still quite a bit of school work that should happen this weekend. Maybe it will since we don't plan to leave the house to do any shopping nor do we have to put up the Christmas things.
- During this little school day, there has been lots of gaming happening around here. The big boys are always on their xboxes, but Robby spent a few hours the other day getting the Wii working again, and it has completely occupied Whitman along with Keaton and Campbell. Campbell even spent hours today playing games on the computer with her friends today. If people could go to college on gaming scholarships, my kids could definitely qualify.
- Graham and Reagan went to work this afternoon. I was gone when they left for work since I was out with Keaton, Anderson, and Whitman. Keaton wants a new Bible for Christmas so we went to the store to touch one before ordering it. Anderson and Whitman needed haircuts so that was the next stop. Then I had a few presents to drop off at Nonna's house so that was our final stop. My present buying needs to increase of the next few days because I am pretty far behind on things, but I have a few lists so I should be fine!
- When we came home, Robby and I soon left-we walked around Costco for a little bit. I tried to buy me some pants but decided that I didn't really like them when I came home. We also bought some other random things like white rice and supper for tonight.
- Then we went to Five Below because Whitman has asked for one specific type of candy for his Christmas stocking. And that silly type of candy was proving difficult to find. Thankfully, the Five Below lady got on her hands and knees and found the very last one on the shelf for me. I even hugged her-not really, but it would have made for a good Hallmark move scene.
- And yes, we did watch 2 Hallmark movies last night, but if these Hogs don't hurry up and win or lose this ballgame, then I may not get one in tonight.
- When we did get home from our shopping trip, we took Whitman and Keaton to Defy. Whitman usually doesn't care about going at all, but today he asked if maybe he could get another pass for next year. That won't happen since I don't think I can do that again without a little bit of a break-I feel like Defy is just one thing on my list that I can never check off-like the laundry or the dishes!
- For supper, we all sat down and had supper around the table. Then I used lots of child power to get this house ready for Thanksgiving-vacuuming, moving tables, baking cookies and fudge, and just some general cleaning. For the most part everyone was done in time to watch the Razorbacks....except Robby had to take me to Dollar General to buy some sour cream. I'm not sure what happened there-I knew we had enough, but now I am worried about the rest of my cooking-what else am I missing? We shall see tomorrow I guess!
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