Finally Riding

It has taken a long time but Piper is finally riding a two wheel bike. She is so thrilled. She has watched everybody else on their bike riding up and down the street and she has wanted her training wheels off for a long time. Andrew took them off and she is finally riding without them and she literally spent the entire day, except to eat, riding. She is riding a very small bike that she feels safe on and can catch herself very easily. She could ride a bigger one - she just likes to be able to easily put her feet down on the ground. Everyone went out to watch and encourage today and Piper rode so much and was so tired that she fell asleep while she was eating dinner. 

Friday was our cooking day and we didn't actually cook. We made smoothies which were part of the cooking class. The kids loved them -- the second best thing we have made. 

Sewing Class Again

Bethany and Tess had their second sewing class today and they made another pillow case. This time they made a Christmas one. Tess made hers for Sarah and Bethany made hers for me. They both really love this class. Their next class is in two weeks and then they are making Christmas placemats. 

I took this picture of Bethany with hers and didn't even pay any attention to the fact she had dirt all over her face - she had been playing in the backyard. 

Autumn

On the first day of autumn we had our usual pumpkin muffins to celebrate. Then the kids painted the acorns that Joey brought over to us - he has huge oak trees and tons of acorns and we have very few. He knows we like to paint them. The amazing thing is that he also knows we especially love the ones that have the caps on them so he literally took all of the acorns without caps and glued a cap on every single one of them for us. I couldn't believe he did that but he did -- two small buckets of them. So, we had a lot of pretty acorns for the kids to paint. They love to paint them and then we put them in a jar to decorate a little for fall -- a fun and easy fall activity. 

Meant to get a picture of them in the jar but forgot. They look pretty even though there are some that may have a little bit of several colors of paint on them - messy painters. 

S'mores and More

Wednesday evening was an evening that my oldest daughter, Meredith, had been planning without our knowledge for quite awhile. She wanted all the family to go to her house and have an evening of s'mores and fun together. She was pretty determined that this would be attended by all family that was near enough to come. She let us know we needed to make a way to come, and not change our minds, as this was important to her. So, everyone opened up their schedule so they could be at Meredith's house around 6:00 Wednesday night. I thought she was a little over stressed and letting this night together cause a little more anxiety than it needed to, but I knew she wanted it to be special. Well, it ended up being more special than any of us imagined it would. Instead of trying to write all about it I will just put up my daughter, Katie's, Facebook page.

Katie has always said she didn't want a wedding. She has been engaged since last Christmas. We have asked her over and over about getting married -- when and where. She has insisted she did NOT want a wedding and just wanted to go to the courthouse. She just doesn't like a lot of attention on herself.  I think she has been telling us since she was about 13 years old that she would not have a wedding. I had come to the point that I knew she actually meant it. 

But, my oldest daughter managed to talk her into getting married quietly in her backyard -- with just family there. After several days of trying to convince her, Katie agreed. None of us knew. We were totally surprised but very happy for Katie and Ben. Katie looked so happy and it was a lovely evening. So, we all went to eat s'mores and actually ended up attending a wedding. 

We are all so happy for Katie and Ben -- and thrilled we all got to be at the wedding she didn't plan to have. 

MIM

Sarah, Caroline, Claire and Bella are all back at dance this fall. Sarah and Caroline spent the entire summer talking about when dance would start back up. I kind of liked having that break, but they did not. So, last Monday was the first day back and they were all so excited. We are back in the routine and Mondays are dance days again. 

Bella ready to go in her new tap shoes - we added tap to her company class this fall and she does enjoy it. 

Berry Fruit Pizza

Yesterday we did our cooking class again. I am thinking we will do it every Friday this fall. We made Berry Fruit Pizza and it was a hit with every kid except Sarah - who wouldn't even taste it. But, she is like that. They all said it was delicious and gave it a 10 out of 10. Bethany said she didn't think we would make anything else this fall that would be nearly as good. 

It was simple to make and had bananas, peaches, strawberries and blackberries on it. It actually looked really pretty before we put it in the oven. 

Moments to Remember

This afternoon I sat in a rocking chair with my grandson in my arms and watched Bethany for at least thirty minutes sewing something. She quietly sewed and sewed and I rocked and rocked. It was one of those moments to remember - my grandson in my arms and my daughter sitting quietly in front of me so happy and serene. This girl is so dear to my heart. 

I almost missed getting this picture of her as my camera was in another room and things started to get busy, but I handed my grandson off and snapped it before this picture of this moment was lost forever. 

Sewing

Bethany has loved to hand sew things for a long time. She got a book on sewing for Christmas this past year and has spent many hours looking through it and sewing things from the book. She has asked several times to take a sewing class and I finally looked to see what I could find. She wanted a class that taught sewing by hand and not a machine. But, I only found one of those and it was full. So, I asked if she wanted to try a class that used sewing machines and she decided she would give it a try. She was actually worried that she was going to get her finger caught under the needle and sew her finger, though I told her multiple times that wasn't going to happen. So, she went to the class a little uncertain if she would like it. 

 Bethany and Tess were both signed up, and today was their first day of class. It was actually a private session with just the two of them so they could get the attention they needed to get started. They both had picked out fall fabric to make pillow cases and were pretty excited. The class was wonderful and they both had such a good time. Bethany was so excited that she literally beamed. She loved the entire class and said at least ten times to the instructor how much she loved sewing. I don't think I have ever seen her enjoy something so much. They both made pillow cases and were thrilled with them. They are going back in two weeks to make a Christmas pillow case - Bethany said she is making one for me and Tess is making one for Sarah. 

They both are so excited about sewing now and can't wait to go get new fabric. Bethany said she will still like sewing by hand but thinks that she may like using a sewing machine better - though we don't have one as I don't sew. So, now she is talking about getting a sewing machine. 

Bethany came home and got out her sewing book and made an apron. Right now this is her favorite thing to do. 

Getting Started

We were a little later than usual starting school this year. So, Monday is actually our first full day. But, on Friday we did do some cooking from an online curriculum that I printed and will use this year. I think we are going to enjoy using this and it was free. The first thing we made was Apple Crisp and it was very simple to make so all the kids could help. We had to buy four different kinds of apples and try all of them to taste the differences and then each child had to choose their favorite. Red Delicious won for all of the kids. 

While we cooked, Zola took Luke upstairs and let him nap on her bed. And she didn't leave him for one minute, but sat at the foot of her bed and simply watched him sleep. 

That's Just The Way He Is

Yesterday was not my best day. Nothing terrible - just stressful and tiring. My son, Joey, texted me and asked how I was and I told him I was fine, but it had not been a great day. He assured me that the next day would be better and told me to get some hot chocolate, put on a sweater and sit on the front porch and I would feel better. We only talked a few more minutes before we both had things to do. Later that evening after my grandkids had left and most of my kids were in bed I went upstairs and put on my pjs - ready to relax a little. I came downstairs and there was Joey. He had brought me milk, hot cocoa mix and some candy. Told me to have some cocoa and relax a little. He had only been off his chemo five days and he brought me something to help me relax and have a nice evening. 

After he left I texted my oldest daughter and told her what he had done and she said she wasn't surprised as in her words - "That's just the way he is." And it is. 

Joey and his little girl, Madelyn. Please continue to pray for him. 

Asher

Yesterday we made ice cream sundaes instead of cooking out like we usually do. It was so easy that I think we may do this more often and the kids loved doing it. I took lots of pictures and was going to post some tonight, but I just haven't gone through all of them yet. So, I thought I would just post this one picture of my grandson, Asher. He ran to see the ducks and I ran after him and got a couple of pictures and thought this one was cute. He was really interested in them but did keep his distance. 

We are now getting ready to start school. I am not ready but the kids are -- and that won't really last. Funny how excited they are to start and how quickly it wears off. But, I was the same way when I was a kid. So, I guess it is goodbye summer.

Chemo Week Over

Thanks to everyone that prayed for my son, Joey. He finished his chemo yesterday and is really tired but says he doesn't feel too bad. He hasn't been able to eat much and has nausea from the chemo, but still says he is ok and glad this week is over. We are all glad he has finished another round and only has one more to go. Please continue to pray for him and that his tumor will shrink or remain stable. 

Had to post this of Bella - she is such a smiley little girl - and such a blessing to our family.