Happy Halloween from Mario and Luigi

         HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM MARIO AND LUIGI!! 

I HOPE YOUR DAY IS FULL OF MORE TREATS THAN TRICKS!! 

Pumpkin Carving 2021

 Happy Saturday everyone! Happy Day before Halloween! This week has been a blur. We have been busier than normal as I worked everyday but Thursday, the boys had a 3 day basketball camp Monday through Wednesday in the evening, evening choir practice for Jacob, counseling appointments, etc. and it has been a crazy week. Crazier than normal which is saying something. We did find an evening to have some family fun though. Thursday night we all carved our pumpkins for this year. We try to do this about a week before Halloween usually, but this year it was a couple days. Such is life. 

So I present our family Halloween Pumpkins for 2021: 

This year Bill did a Pac-man themed pumpkin.

 

I did a witch. 

Rebecca did a Snoopy themed pumpkin.

 

Jacob did a face. 

Benjamin ended up with circles.

 

All in all I think they turned out really cute. 

Tonight I took the boys trick or treating. Lacie and Ethan came over to come with us. Rebecca and Bill are at a concert tonight. I will share pictures tomorrow. Right now, the boys are counting their candy and we are waiting for pizza to be delivered. I let the boys pick and they chose Dominoes. Yummy cheesy bread coming my way! LOL 

Hope everyone had a great week! 

Apple Picking

Happy Monday everyone! Hope everyone had a good weekend! 

Saturday, we went apple picking as a family. This is a family tradition. Usually we go earlier in October but we just haven't had time. This past weekend was the last weekend for u-pick at our local orchards. In fact, we usually go to Legend Hills Orchard, but when we pulled in their sign said that U-pick was closed, even though online they said that that they were open. We decided to check out another orchard that is about 3 minutes away from that one and we lucked out. They were open! 

We ended up at Branstool Orchards and we ended up picking Evercrisp Apples for the first time. (Usually we get Golden Delicious and Gala.) We picked a little over 30 pounds and the kids had a blast. It was great weather. A little chilly, but the sun kept coming out and it was the perfect fall day! 

The kids enjoyed their activities that they had set up, including a "farm-style" basketball game, climbing tires, and props to take pictures on. 

We also enjoyed some apple cider donuts. Rebecca had a hot apple cider and the boys and I split an apple cider slushy. It was super yummy! 

After we left we decided to go get lunch out...something that we hardly ever do as a family. We went to Rooster's for some yummy wings. Unfortunately, just as we got to the restaurant, Jacob started not feeling well. He was clammy and felt like he had to throw up. He didn't but all he ate was his applesauce. We decided after lunch to just head home since he didn't feel good. I am convinced it was a reaction to his COVID shot the day before as he was fine yesterday. We just hung out at home the rest of the day and watched college football and really just relaxed. Bill and I both got a nap in which also never happens. We were going to carve pumpkins but we decided to wait until later this week when hopefully everyone is doing fine. 

Today, I have to work and maybe go to the store since I didn't make it yesterday. The boys have a basketball camp 3 nights this week so it will be another busy week to be had. Hope everyone has a good one! 

Becoming a Godmother again, broken phone, Nightmare Before Christmas, and a First vaccine

 Happy Sunday everyone! Today it is cold, chilly, rainy, drizzly and it finally feels like fall! I meant to post on Friday but just wasn't feeling it. Yesterday we spent the day having some family time apple picking (which I will share about tomorrow.) 

Last weekend on Saturday we ended up taking a walk on the bike path to enjoy the somewhat beautiful weather. It had been a while since I had been out to walk and man did it feel good! 

Ben also finished putting together his first lego creation that he made from a kit. He had bought a TIE fighter with some gift card money that he had and he put it together all on his on over the course of a couple days! He was so proud! 

This past Sunday I was in the process of becoming a Godmother once again. My nephew Ethan was baptized into the Catholic Church and my dad asked me to be his Godmother. That means that I am now the Godmother to all of my brother's children. It was a nice ceremony with our Deacon leading it. I even bought and wore a new dress for the occasion! (Usually I am in jeans and a nice shirt for church.) That evening we went out to my parents' house to celebrate with Rooster's wings for dinner. It was a great day! 

This past week was kind of weird. I didn't work on Monday as I had to have 3 fillings done at the dentist. Tuesday, I never got called in to work so Bill and I spent the day together getting some things done. We dropped a bag off to Goodwill, went to CVS, took a walk. The sun was out so it was a nice day to walk. 

The bad thing that happened was that I accidently dropped my cell phone and my keys in the parking lot at CVS and it shattered my phone screen! Thankfully, I came home and was looking online and discovered that I had enough reward points to have $100 off a new phone. So I ordered a new phone that was originally $250 on sale for $149 and so with tax paid $56 for my new phone! I will take it. It arrived on Thursday and I was able to get it activated and working. 

Wednesday I worked. 

Thursday and Friday I had to babysit my niece and nephew as their school district was off those days. Thursday I was able to get a quick decluttering project done... cleaning out my pots and pans cabinet and getting rid of extra plastic containers that I didn't have lids for or that were gross and stained. 

Friday night we watched "The Nightmare Before Christmas" which I had never seen. It was good, weird, but good.

Also on Friday Jacob got his first COVID vaccine shot. He had some mild reaction to it yesterday in having a slight fever, a little nausea and being really tired. He is fine this morning other than a headache. 

Yesterday, we went apple picking which I will write about tomorrow as this post is getting pretty long. 

How was your week? Anyone doing anything fun? What is your opinion of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" if you have seen it?   

Choir concerts and more from this week

Happy Friday night everyone! Hope everyone's had a good week. We have been busy around here (as usual 😂). Let's see what's been going on around here....

Monday was a super busy day. It was Jacob's official birthday! I took the kids to school, put a load of laundry in, and then went to work at a new to me school. This school reminded me of my old elementary school that I attended from 1st-5th grades. I worked on packing breakfast bags, wrapping cheeseburgers, and serving lunches! Then it was time to start school pickups. I picked up Jacob and Rebecca. Then picked up Benjamin while Jacob did his homework. Then took Jacob to his community choir practice. Picked him up. We went through McDonald's drive thru for dinner.

Came home, ate dinner, Jacob got ready for his first official 6th grade choir concert, and off we went for his choir concert. The 6th grade choir did really well and Jacob was super stoked for his concert.

After his concert, we stopped by Wendy's on the way home to get Frostys. We ended the day with the kids being able to talk to their Florida grandparents on the phone. I think Jacob had a really good day! 

Tuesday, I went to the grocery store. I then had an IEP meeting for Benjamin. There is a good possibility that this will be the last year that he will need to have speech therapy! Jacob was thrilled because his new tennis shoes that were a birthday gift from my sister and her girlfriend arrived in the mail. He picked them out himself! 

Wednesday, I worked at the high school washing, drying, bagging in individual bags, and snapping the bags closed for 10 cases of apples. There were almost 1,000 apples. It was crazy. My boss was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get it done in 3.5 hours. I don't want to see any 🍎 any time soon! LOL

Yesterday, we had a 504 meeting at the middle school for Jacob. This is for his vision issues. It was nice to meet his teachers and his guidance counselor. They all said what a nice kid Jacob is and how they enjoy having him in their classes. After that meeting, Bill came home to mow the grass and I attacked our game closet. The boys had made it a disaster. I sorted games and pieces, etc. I got a large pile of preschool games together for donations since I am not babysitting anymore and my kids are too old for them. It looks so much better in there now! 

Last night, we attended Rebecca's very first choir concert of her high school career. She is part of the women's chorus at the high school. They sounded absolutely wonderful! They ended their concert with a combined piece with the Chorale and the Women's Chorus. I am so excited to see what her high school music career is going to be like. 

Today, the kids had off school for a teacher in service day. Since I am a sub cook, I did not have to go in for the food service in service day. Instead, I took the kids to Walmart to spend their gift cards that Bill's parents had sent them. I also let the boys pick out Halloween costumes and I got them a couple of pairs of pants as our temperatures are supposed to be cooler starting tomorrow. Other than that I haven't really done much of anything today. 

This weekend, I need to get some cleaning done in the bathrooms. I actually have kept laundry caught up this week by washing a load before I leave in the morning and throwing it in the dryer when I get back home before I pick the kids up from school. Sunday, I have to attend my nephew's baptism. My dad asked me to be Ethan's Godmother and of course I said yes. So we will have that to celebrate! What are you guys up to this weekend? Any fun fall activities going on?