Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Birthday Season

Around here birthdays start in late September and end in mid-November (excepting Justin).


Ellie picked chocolate but with a crown shape.  She asked for raspberries to help decorate.



Katie chose a donut shaped cake this year with chocolate cake & icing with white chocolate ‘glaze’



Gabby chose a chocolate cake with a ketchup bottle decoration



Nate chose chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, stuffed with Reece’s Pieces







Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Favorites

I asked the kids which were their favorite ornaments, and here they are—in whatever order Blogger decided to upload them.

Cappuccino from 2021

Star fish angel 2018

Baking cupcakes 2021

Candy 2003

Reindeer Family 2013

Tool box 2021 & Tent (by Gam) 2021

Why is there a random baby in the ball? (It’s Katie in 2005) -Ellie


Monday, November 28, 2022

XXXII: Rough Ins Continue

Can lights

Electric rough in and the propane hookup for the range

Air return under the stairs

Communication panel…kind of funny as there isn’t wired internet or cable out there, but there may be some day

Stub ins for A/C and furnace (I think)

They drained the tubs now

Lucy was so confused!  Here she’s visiting Katie’s room.

Monday, November 21, 2022

XXXI: While we Wait

As we wait, and wait, and wait some more, I’ve been thinking about filling our new home.  Many of our furnishings will just go right in, but I’m debating painting a few pieces.

We’ll need a new bed for Gabby, since all the kids will get his or her own room.

Our current window treatments in the main part of the living space just won’t work due to different sizes and number of windows not to mention wall color.

I’m leaning towards these valances for the library, dining room, and living room:

With these shears:

Then the kitchen window:

I am having fits over curtains for my bedroom.  I adore the ones we’ve had for so many years.  I bought them for Katie’s nursery, but since we moved to Kansas, Justin and I have had them.  They are light and airy, but I lined then to make them a bit less transparent.  We’ll have three windows in our new room though, so the set of two won’t work.  I just haven’t found what I want yet, but am glad that Gabby wants them for her new room!

Monday, November 14, 2022

XXX: Ugh

To help us keep up with the build, about an hour away, we placed a trail camera.

We got occasional updates when the wind blew the tree it was on, showing the work being completed, and then twice daily at 6:18 am and pm.

I even caught my fellows cleaning up after the crew who left quite a mess after framing.

It was great, as the builder isn’t overly communicative.  Then two weeks ago, as we were heading off to church, our camera caught this photo:

Since then we’ve been riding in someone’s trunk, I think.

I miss my updates, but thankfully nothing was taken from the work site.

Sunday, November 13, 2022

13

 

Outdoor loving

Badge conquering

Perseverant —fire building without matches or lighter

Hardworking

Diligent

Tall—maybe his current favorite adjective for himself

Happy 13th!!

Monday, November 7, 2022

XXIX: Electrical Walk Through 10/25

 I was able to go and set where I wanted a few specific outlets—as many as I want, but there is an up charge for them, so I didn’t add too many.  We added one to each of two closets, one outside the garage, requested the kitchen outlets be close to the upper cabinets (so we can add under the cabinet lights if we wish; set where I wanted some can lights; chose where we wanted the lights for the staircase (where we don’t have to change them from the stairs (please!); picked the location of the electric panel; added a light to our pantry to make it easier to see; etc.

The HVAC team needs to go through next—hopefully soon!

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Struggling

These days I feel like I’m messing up all the things.

I can’t seem to keep up with it all.

I planned a field trip—set the time aside in the school schedules, got the kids ready to go, put the destination into my GPS and (thankfully) was alerted they were closed that day.  The next day, we tried again.  Made it there.  Walk up to buy tickets and find they are sold out.  Sat in the car and purchased online tickets to try a third time.  I’ll have to let you know if we actually make it through!

Then Ellie said she wanted to visit a pumpkin patch.  So on Halloween, I cut the school lists and planned to spend the afternoon at a local patch—they are closed on Mondays, so Sunday was their last day of the season.  😔

I’m behind on some of my grading, failing to hit the literature discussions on some our Mondays, and need to clean out my closet.  Ack!

We called off the second night of our AHG campout because we thought it was going to rain super hard, but it didn’t.

Someone stole our trail camera that keeps an eye on the new house.

Justin had to work late on Halloween.

And I found someone left laundry in the washer all weekend long, as I went to run my Monday washing.

Some days are like that, even in Australia.