Jacob sick, Cleaning, and Cardinals

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you had a good week. Here fall and winter temperatures have taken residence. I have had to scrape frost off my van windows the last 3 mornings. It was 26 degrees when I took the kids to school this morning! Ugh. I have a feeling that this is going to be a long winter as I am already cold! Oh well, that is what sweaters and blankets are for.

The last couple of days I have spent the majority of the day home as Jacob is home sick from school. He has been achy and has had a low grade fever the last 2 days-- usually between 99.5 and 100. I have the start of a runny nose and hoping it is just the cold weather. 

With Jacob being home, I have had to call off work. It is what it is. That is one thing about being a substitute. I would rather call off for a  4 hour shift than have Bill take the day off from his regular job. I have tried to make use of my time here at home. I have the last load of laundry in the washer as I type. I made an apple pie this morning. I did some digital organization on my google photos and Shutterfly accounts. 

I have also done some organizing this week as well. I redid our coat closet to make room for winter boots and made sure everyone had coats and gloves, etc. that fit. 

I also deep cleaned the front porch. My niece and nephew were over on Tuesday as they didn't have school and my nephew helped sweep all the bird seed off the porch. I took down all of my porch decor (tablecloth on table, table decor, chair cushions, etc.) and stored them away. I also stacked the chairs up and it looks bare out there now. We have had a lovely bird visitor this past week though. There is a cardinal pair that seems to enjoy the cleaned porch and refilled bird feeder as the female has been quite vocal out there all week. It is lovely to hear and see. 

So even though I didn't have a super productive "work" week, I did get some work done at home and that means that hopefully tonight I can just relax with the kids. I do know that I am not cooking tonight. I told the kids that I would order Domino's pizza as they sent me a coupon for a free medium pizza! 

How's your day going?  

Wordless Wednesday: Fall

 

Have a great Fall day! 

Trick or Treating, a concert, and "St. Dymphna"

Happy Monday everyone! To all my religious readers who celebrate, Happy All-Saints Day! And HAPPY NOVEMBER!! How was your Halloween weekend? Did you partake in tricks or treats or both? 

We had a super busy weekend. Saturday morning the boys had Upwards basketball evaluations for the upcoming season. They are super excited as the season was cancelled last year due to COVID. Saturday evening, Bill and I divided and conquered. 

I took the boys trick or treating here in our town. My dad brought Lacie and Ethan over to trick or treat with us and they had fun. We walked almost 2.5 miles and the kids got a ton of candy and even got $0.50 each in their treat baskets/bags. After my dad left, I ordered pizza from Dominos for the boys and we watched Space Jam as we were eating. 

While we were out trick or treating, Bill was taking Rebecca to her very first concert. They went to see Twenty One Pilots at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Rebecca had a blast and said that she is now more than ever convinced that she wants to do something with music in her future! They were out late and didn't get home until close to 1AM. 

On Sunday, the boys and I went to PSR and church, while I let the concert goers sleep. We just puttered around the house on Sunday. Doing some laundry, watching football and taking a nap or two. We did take a family walk as well to get some fresh air. The trees around her have finally turned colors and they are gorgeous, even on a cloudy day like yesterday! 

Sunday night, Rebecca got to dress up in costume as she had youth group at our church. They invited the kids to come dressed up as their favorite saint and bonus points if they could depict how they were martyred. Well, Rebecca went as Saint Dymphna. Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of mental illness and anxiety. Rebecca put together her own costume, complete with a bloody necklace that she made out of hot glue and wax paper. She crocheted the crown, used a bed sheet as the cape, and wore a dress we had gotten from Goodwill for $2.49. She also made the sword out of an old cardboard box and duct tape. 

Today, I didn't get called in to work. I have 2 days scheduled for later this week. So I am taking the opportunity to get some cleaning done. I deep cleaned both bathrooms, swept our bedroom and the steps going upstairs, started laundry, menu planned and went grocery shopping, paid bills, balanced checkbook, and now am taking a moment to type up this post before I have to start school pickups. It has been a productive day so far. 

What about you? What's on tap for this week? I hope whatever you have going on, you have a great week!   

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?