Project 365-Week 34

A week of new beginnings and transitions. A week of watching one head off to middle school and one start kindergarten. A week of laughing and marveling at how very blessed I am!

Sunday

It was group night tonight. Every year before school starts we always have an ice cream sundae night and then pray over all of the kids before sending them off to school. This year it happened to fall on a regular meeting night so I wanted to add something fun for our whole group to do together. We ate (as always) and then before praying for the kids we played "Minute to Win It". Have you seen the show on NBC? It is really fun and uses common items from around the house for games.

Some of the kids playing "Hanky Pannky". You have to pull all of the kleenex out of a box using only 1 hand in 60 seconds.



The living room was covered in tissue! No one did it, but they all had fun throwing them on me when it was done!

Here are some brave contestants playing "Penny Hose". In this game you place a penny in the bottom of each leg of pantyhose. Without using your body, other hand or any object to help, you have to wiggle your hands down to retrieve the pennies.



There was some success at this game.

Another game was "Noodling Around". In this one you place a piece of uncooked spaghetti in your mouth. You then have to pick up 6 uncooked penne noodles from around the table.



Rick was close and gave strategic pointers to players who followed.



Michelle almost had it and she is pregnant to boot!!

It was a really fun evening!

Monday

Grammie wanted to go do something with the kids one more time before school started, so off to miniature golf we went. Anything is fun if it with Grammie!



Resting in the gazebo while we let faster players play through.

Tuesday

The morning glories are really abundant. Here's the top of the fence.



I love how low maintenance these are!! Even I haven't killed them!!

Wednesday

First day of school for Ethan and Bryce. (Ella had orientation today, with her first day tomorrow)

Ethan before the bus picked him up at 7:35.



I'd say he looks pretty excited about 2nd grade!

Bryce before the bus came for Jr. High at 8:45.



Looking handsome and cool!

Thursday

Today was Ella's first day and she was so excited!! We have 1/2 day kdg, so I take her at 11:50 and the the bus brings her home at 2:30. Here she is before.



In the outfit she chose because it was "special and just right!"

Here she is when she got out of the van.



I would say she was ready. No looking back, just took off running and waving! That's a good thing!!

And here she is after she got home.



She is literally jumping up and down telling me about everything at school. Yes kindergarten, I think you and Ella will get along just fine!

Friday

Do you have any odd animal eating stories? Reese gave me one tonight. I found him in the backyard with this.



This WAS a Vanilla Coke Zero can. He took it from a recycle container on the back porch and took off. I of course couldn't get it from him and he wasn't dropping it for anything. This is all I could find of it. I don't know if he ate the rest or what. Help....my dog is crazy!!

Saturday

Ever had burgers that look like this?



Kevin and I were treated to 5 Guys Burgers tonight. Y.U.M!! Not something I would eat everyday but if you're craving a great burger, this would be a great place to get one!

That's a look at the week here. And for those of you wondering, Kyla doesn't start pre-school until the week after Labor Day, so her pics will be coming. Hope you have had a great week full of laughter and blessings too!!

Project 365-Week 33

This was it. The final full week of summer vacation. We made the most of it with some fun and some preparation for the new school year. Here's a peek.

Sunday

This afternoon I took the girls to an art fair in Chesterton. We went to visit our special friend, Al of Clement Clayworks. He and his wife are potters and I met them several years ago at another art fair. I loved their things so much that I actually had them make me a 12 piece place setting. I love my pottery!! Anyway, 2 of my bowls had been broken and needed replacing. While there, the girls tried their hands at some art too!



Painting "kitty masks". They had a lot of fun and Mr. Al even gave them each their very own pottery mug to take home!

Monday

Today was a very special day!! Ella and Kyla have both been talking quite a bit about cutting their hair. I figured it was their choice and if they didn't like it, it would grow back. So here they are before.





And after...



13" off of Ella and 10" off of Kyla!



Kyla looking gorgeous!



Ella so pretty and grown up!
Now we just have to decide where to donate the pony tails. Locks of Love or Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Any suggestions?

Tuesday

Worked on the calendar today. Not exactly a fun task but necessary to keep an active family of 6 organized.



And for those of you who are noticing the colored Sharpie's. Yes, I color code my calendar! Each person has a color, with black being used for something that involves is all. Type A?...Perhaps a little!!

Wednesday

Today I took Bryce to the middle school to check out his locker and take a look around. There will be a formal walk through on Monday evening.



He whipped his combination around like a pro and had that locker opened in no time! I know he will do well, but am still praying God's protection over him as he enters this next stage of life!

Thursday

Today was our end of summer annual tradition trip. For the past 4 years, before school starts, we take a day trip to Michigan's Adventure. It is a very nice amusement/water park about 2 1/2 hours from our house. We had a great time riding rides and playing in the water.



The kids enjoying the water!

Friday

Today Ethan and Ella got to find out who they would have as a teacher this year. We stopped in the kindergarten wing first. Look who found her name on the list!



She found her seat too!



Ella will be in Mrs. Curry's afternoon kindergarten class! She is so excited!! How can my little girl be ready for kindergarten?!!

Ethan also found his class and seat!



Ethan will be in Mrs. Rice's 2nd grade class! He also is excited!

Saturday

Today I threw the kids for a loop! It was lunch time and I was asking what people wanted. Ethan said, "I wish we could have ice cream for lunch!" I said, "Ok, what kind do you want?" You should have seen their faces!! They didn't believe me. Bryce actually thought I was being mean and trying to trick them. HA! Joke is on them, I was serious.



The lunch of champions on the last Saturday before school starts!

Hope you have had a great week and maybe some ice cream too!!

Project 365-Week 32

I can tell summer is winding down because the schedule is filling up! It has been a fun and productive week. Here's a glimpse.

Sunday

Small group tonight, complete with dessert selections.



Everyone said they were yummy. I was a good girl and didn't have any.

Monday

Since we went to Kevin's reunion last week, I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to do some more reuniting. (is that a word?) So here was my reunion shot.



Oh Jillian, I have missed you so. With the stress of the job loss and the crazy schedule, I stopped doing this. Oh has my body paid for it. So today we reunited and it felt so good. (no, that's a song, not how I really felt!) Anyway, back to the grind with Jillian.

Tuesday

Kyla loves to take pictures and took this one today.



Reese actually was still enough for a picture. That's amazing!

A good friend called us for an impromptu swim. Of course I didn't take a picture of them in the water, but here's the aftermath.



Wednesday

They're back!



More toadstools. (and one crazy brown running furry thing in the background!)

Thursday

This morning Ella woke up with her eye like this.



She had gotten mosquito bites on the bridge of her nose and her eyebrow yesterday. We were giving her Benadryl, but the swelling wasn't going down. Ended up going to the doctor who told us to continue with the Benadryl regimen and ice if needed and that it would take a few days to pass.

Good thing she was well enough to do this.



My sweet friend Anita and I were meeting regarding Bible study and she invited the kids to come swim in her pool.



Ethan going off a diving board for the first time ever. Let's just say if you needed to find him after that, he was always going off. LOVED it!!



Kyla in the shallow end!

And of course you have to have some lounging time too!



See how swollen her poor eye is? Anyway, I wish all meetings were like this! Thank you to Miss Anita and her wonderful daughters for a fun afternoon!!

Friday



We had "A" spend the night and then took all the kids to lunch and miniature golfing. I love free coupons and easy fun!!



I also received this from a friend today. Do you know what it is?



Maybe now?



It is called a green tint patty pan summer squash. Isn't it a fun shape? It tasted good too!

Saturday

Today I spent the bulk of my day at a retreat for small group leaders. This is where it was held.



It is on lovely grounds and is just exquisite inside! It used to be a professional baseball players home. There were a lot of these on the grounds too.



I love Brown Eyed Susans. (yes, I know they are called Black Eyed Susans, but I have a friend named Susan with brown eyes, so for the past 15 years they have been Brown Eyed Susans)

There you have it. A fun filled, busy week! Hope you have had a great one!!

Project 365-Week 31

Summer is winding down quickly. We had a good week and did some fun things. Here is a look.

Sunday

Every summer our worship team heads to the lake home of our team patriarch. The Murphy's are very gracious hosts and this year, they kindly let us bring 3 of our 4 kids because we couldn't find a sitter. Much water fun was had.



Paddle boats with A and two other sweet team members.



Ella riding off on the jet ski with me. It was a fun afternoon!

And this picture is for The Bug. The Murphy's had this on their doorstep and I thought Martha the goose should see it.



Monday

Ethan's room needed some serious cleaning. Should have taken a before shot, but I forgot. Here is all the trash I took out.



And here's the completed project.



Much better!!

Tuesday

Working on finishing up curriculum for our women's studies this fall. Had a great meeting with one of my leaders and thrilled to have another special one on board!



I am very excited about what God has in store for this "semester"!!

Wednesday

Got these books today...



A lot of great info and fun projects/experiments. I think we'll have some fun!

Thursday

Kyla wanted to get some new play dough so we picked up a 4 pack today.



There is just something about new play dough, the smell and the feel! What I didn't expect was to find this.



They were all playing, NICELY and it occupied them for quite a while! (Ella was spending the night at A's, so she wasn't home) The boys were pretending they were on the Food Network and making different recipes! I think this was a great $1.87 spent!!!

Friday

Have you had these before?



They are good and in the acceptable range for a sugary treat. I usually just have them plain. Someone else however used them in a different way.



As straws first and then ate them. And yes, that is 3 of them and all 3 were used as a straw at the same time. Any guesses as to who did this?

Saturday

Tonight Kevin and I went to this.



It was Kevin's 20th high school reunion. This was the first one we attended. It was nice to see some people and we'll go to mine next year.

Hope you had a great week and that you are enjoying your summer as it winds down!!