Friday Favorites: 4th of July

We had a fairly easy week this week - a nice change from being so busy last month. Monday, I went to visit Mikenna and Daniel a bit before they went to my mom's house for a sleepover. 

Tuesday, we stayed home all day - that's a definite favorite! 

Wednesday, we met Mikaela and the kids at lunch for pizza - another favorite, especially for Zeke and Zoey. We also went to the store and got everything we needed for the Fourth. Daniel came home with us for a few hours to play. 

Thursday, we went down to our pond and grilled burgers, sausage, and hot dogs. I also had chips, baked beans, a fruit tray with pineapple, oranges, apples, grapes, and strawberries. I made cookies, too - peanut butter cookies with a Hershey kiss on top and some red, white, and blue sugar cookies. 

We invited our friends and neighbors, Kasey and Matt, with their three kids; my sister, Ashlie, and three of her kids; my brother-in-law and his wife, Cole and Abby, with their two kids; Mikaela and her two kids; my parents; and Mercie's boyfriend and his dad. Almost everyone swam in the pond, including me! (Zoey hated the pond, so my mom sat with her and Mikenna in the shade.) We had a blast - and I got sunburned! We stayed in the water close to three hours. It was 95 degrees and HOT. I'm so thankful for friends and family that I enjoy spending time with. It was my favorite part of the week, and one of my top days of the year so far.

Friday Favorites

Titus went back to work with Rod this week. If you don't know, my husband works for the pipeline. We used to travel with him, but the past six years we have stayed home. He's been blessed to be on a job for three years that's only four hours from home. He gets to come home on the weekends! He is the assistant superintendent, so he is able to bring a kid with him certain times. Titus got to go this time! I’m glad for the time they’ll get to spend together one-on-one. 

He’s goofing off in the truck with the radio. 

We made a library trip this week, and I bought library bags for Zeke and Zoey. They're in the middle of the summer reading program, and we haven't made a single event yet! Zeke is filling in his reading log quickly, though. 

Isn't this the cutest design?

I've been reading books by Terri Blackstone and am hooked. She's a Christian writer and her books are all full of suspense and clean romance! I have been flying through them! The Newpointe 911 series is the best - and it takes place in Louisiana (as do most of her books, since she's from Mississippi). If you're looking for a good read, look her up. 

We had Children in Action Wednesday night at church, and only three kids showed up (plus Zoey). The summer slump is real, folks! We had a great lesson anyway, and Mercie dressed up like Moses and told the story to the kids. They enjoyed that! I really hope our numbers get back to normal soon, but even if we just have one child show up, I still think it's worth having.

Thursday, Mercie and I took Zeke and Zoey to Monroe where our mall and shopping stores are before his speech therapy session. It’s an hour drive each way to speech each week, and the mall is only about twenty minutes further. We did some shopping and ate in the mall. It was a fun day! It’s always good to spend some with her! 

Considering how busy my month has been so far, we had a nice and easy week this week! How was your week?

Friday Favorites: Not Such a Great Week

This week wasn't the best week we've had in a while. I decided to wean Zoey last Friday, and I can happily say that she is totally weaned now. She still asks to nurse, but she is asking a lot less than she was at first. I've had some pain and soreness, but I think it's getting better now.

We did have some days with sunny weather.

Zoey also got sick on Sunday - and she's still not quite 100%. She's been whiny off and on all week, due to the sickness and the weaning. This wasn't the best time to wean, but I didn't realize she was going to get sick. I took her to the doctor on Monday, but it's just a virus. All of her flu and covid tests came back negative, and her ears looked good.

She put her stickers on her shirt.

Zeke got sick on Wednesday night with fever and a sore throat. His throat was red with white bumps - just like it did when he got strep throat. However, he had his tonsils taken out in August exactly for this reason. He got strep throat at least once a month. I took him to the doctor, and while his rapid strep test was negative, the doctor said it looks just like strep throat to him, and his lymph nodes were really swollen (also happened when he got strep). Evidently some people will still get strep throat after a tonsillectomy. Ugh! 

I called out letters for him to find on the posters.

Titus's baseball game was canceled Monday due to rain, and we got more rain all throughout the week. Today we have had some bad weather already with more to come this afternoon, so his practice was canceled today too. 

My week wasn't the greatest, but I think it's important to always remember the good things that did happen. So here are some of the highlights:

Zeke and I did get his schoolwork done this week, and he made this adorable kangaroo pencil holder!

Zoey and I did not get any tot school done this week, but we did sit on the porch and play with play-dough a few times. She loves play-dough, but she still wants to eat it! I'm ready for her to quit tasting it every time I let her play with it.

We did start Treehouse Nature study Spring, and Zeke really liked dissecting a bean seed. 

The boys and I spent Thursday afternoon picking up the yard and doing some things that needed done. 

My mom came and sat with Zeke and Zoey on Wednesday so I could go to town alone. I enjoyed being able to run errands in peace! I went to the library by myself, too. That was nice!

Maybe next week will be a little more productive, and I hope both the little ones will feel much better. How was your week?

Friday Favorites: March Begins

I'm linking up with Friday Favorites, sharing some of my favorite moments from the week. 

Titus had another baseball game on Monday night! He was only on the roster for the first game this week, so we were home by 8:30 instead of 10:30. I was thankful for that because I was pretty exhausted. 

I watched Daniel and Mikenna on Wednesday so Mikaela could go to her hair appointment. My mom came and helped - a 5-month-old, 17-month-old, 3-year-old, and 5-year-old can be a bit much! We had a great time, though, and Mikaela loved how her hair turned out. I should have taken a picture.

Zoey has been taking long naps for the past week or so - like two-hour naps! This is such a change from her usual catnapping, but I am so excited for it. I can get a lot done in two hours, including resting, if she will keep up this marvelous trend.

Mercie had to make a plant-cell cake for school this week with a partner, and I think it turned out pretty cute. 

Eli left on Thursday, flying out to Nicaragua! He is getting married on Saturday. He will be staying for three months before flying home for a week and then back to Nicaragua for another three months. I'm going to really miss him, but I am really excited for him and this new chapter of his life. 

- Eli and Gendeling -

I've been cross-stitching a picture that I designed. It's 12 blocks that each have a symbol for that month in the box. I think it's going to look really nice when it's finished and framed. It's going to be a 3 by 4 grid. I'm working on March now, and it's turning out so cute! Any guesses what March’s symbol is? 

I changed my nail wraps to a pretty pink color, but I'm about ready to change them again. 

We've had a mix of weather this week - sunny, windy, rainy, stormy, cool, warm...no wonder we're all suffering with sinus issues! I always love the view from my back porch, seeing the cows and horses. Sometimes they come right up to the fence, and we can watch the little calves play.

What was your favorite moment from the week?

Friday Favorites

I'm linking up here with my Friday Favorites! Here are a few of my favorite moments from the week.

I love this maxi skirt that I wore to church on Sunday paired with a cardigan! Eli snapped this picture while I was cooking for the evening service. 

I love my new garden flag! I still had my “Oh Holy Night” flag in the garden, so I found one that will work for spring! I’m ready to start working around the yard and puttering in my flower beds. 

I bought the kids a small Valentine gift - a bucket full of candy and a tube of M&Ms. Daniel, Mikenna, Zeke, and Zoey got Valentine-themed board books. It's always good to add to our holiday-themed book selections!

I made Rod a heart shaped cake for Valentines, like I used to do! We didn’t exchange gifts, but I got him a card and he wrote me a sweet little note. After 20 years of marriage, we don’t have to buy gifts for each other - it’s all the little things, every day, throughout the year, that mean the most! 

- Not the prettiest cake, but it tasted yummy -

I love this picture I snapped of Zoey at church Sunday morning. This little tulip dress is so adorable! Zeke said she looked like a cupcake in it!

This shape horse that Zeke made for homeschool this week turned out so cute! I love all of the embellishments he added. 

I applied some new nail wraps Thursday since mine were Valentine-themed. I love, love, love the way these turned out! They’re my favorite so far. 

I got to babysit my grandson one day this week. I'm so glad they're back home! Mikaela, Mikenna, and Daniel even spent the night with us one night this week. Even though Zeke, Zoey, and Daniel can get a little rowdy and argue and fight some, they always have a blast.

Titus had a Hit a Thon for a fundraiser for Jr High Baseball. He wasn’t hitting as well as he normally does, but he did still hit a few pretty good ones - his longest hit was 270 feet. I didn’t get a picture of him at the Hit a Thon, but here is a picture of his with his new Marucci bat. He loves it! It was fun to surprise him with it on Tuesday. 

How was your week?