On our first day of Christmas vacation...

we slept the morning away!  And then did some laundry and general pick-up!  There is lots of nose sniffling and coughing.  We are hoping to be feeling better very soon!

Ornaments for the tree

 Teddy got a trumpet.  Alisa got a clarinet.  Ashlynn got a flute.  And a special memory...a likeness of our Chevy.

Black Friday Fun!

 When we made the plans and bought the tickets online in the morning...it wasn't raining!  Oh well!  We found a Walmart in Toledo and bought a couple more umbrellas and met a special friend at the Toledo Zoo for the Christmas light display.

 Fun with Miss Angie and Mr. Bryan!

 We saw Santa!  We talked and laughed and walked.  We watched a boa consume a rabbit.  We enjoyed the antics of the monkeys.

 And we laughed when Teddy gave Miss Angie instructions for taking our picture..."Just hold the button down!"  And we ended up with a burst of 10 pictures.  Junior high boys are not helpful...but they amuse themselves!

Hooray for a Chik-Fil-A supper!  What a fun and impromptu afternoon/evening!  Thank you for sharing your time with us!

Donuts with Dad

 100% participation from the Dads (and a Grandpa for a Dad)!  What a fun and fast 30 minutes during morning drop-off!  Ted made the coffee for us.  We had donuts.  The Kinders said a verse, sang two songs, and said a neat poem.

 It was a simple thing that turned out to be a big blessing!   As we talked about inviting Moms to come for a visit...one of the girls said, "I know, Marshmallows with Mom!"  and another piped up, "How about Milkshakes with Mom!"  I love how they were attempting to think of a M treat!

Actually...milkshakes would be fun!  Hmmmm.

In the thick of it!

It hit me this weekend...next week is Thanksgiving week!  How quickly the days go by!  So many events make up each day...and my head is spinning.  We are learning all sorts of things in K5.  This is one of our latest projects...and they are each different and cute!  We are looking forward to Donuts with Dad on Friday and the Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday...

                                      and then...December hits!  Already working on ideas for that too!

Thankful thoughts...

God always has our good in mind.  I am thankful for that reminder as I sit in my chair feeling miserable with no voice.  He has a way of making us slow down and rest...instead of pushing through to whatever is next on our "to do" list.  He has met every need along life's way...and even some wants too!  I love the coziness and warmth that the fireplace brings to our home.

We have a kiddo on a college trip!

 Is this really happening?!  Last night, a group from school headed south to Florida to visit PCC.  They drove all night and stopped for breakfast in Alabama.  An activity stop and then the remainder of the drive to Florida.

Ashlynn was really excited for this trip.  "I get to go to Florida!"  I'm hoping and praying that she enjoys the time away and her eyes will be opened to all the possibilities that await...around the next bend...with the concept of college!  For a second...my heart squeezed up into my throat and my eyes teared over...oh. my. the years are going by faster than I realized!

More pictures from Junior Convention

Teddy sang with the small ensemble...2nd place.  He preached on Being Content...even in loss and used Job as his example...2nd place.

 He ran the obstacle course.  Caden and Teddy and two other buddies also played in the 3 on 3 basketball game and won 1st place.  Ted and I enjoyed watching all the students participate in a wide variety of events.  It was a beautiful, gray, fall day in the mid-north of Michigan!

 All done...ready to load up the bus after awards

Dad trying hard to be...and stay taller than Teddy!  He is growing up so quickly...and this Dad is pretty proud of his son.

Special memories of our fuzzy friend came...

 Alisha designed a blanket.

 Ashlynn designed a pillow case.

 I'm not sure about the kiddos or Ted...but I got a little teary eyed when I opened the package!

 Teddy designed a throw pillow cover for his bed.

Some nights...it is really quiet without the jingle of a collar, bark for a treat, and the tapping of little feet across the kitchen floor.  Lollie and Caden are coming to stay with us for a couple days...so we will enjoy some doggie kisses...from Lollie, of course!

Helping at our Trunk or Treat

 Meet the Friendly Hunters...

 who love their Dunkin Donut coffee!

 We had a great turn out!  We had to move it inside due to rainy and windy weather.

The kiddos helped in the teen area...western was the theme.

Our Harvest Day

 Making our pumpkin chunkin' pumpkins for a game...gotta love the dollar stores that have orange washcloths!

 Dressed up as the farmer's wife...who spent the morning with some other farmers, animals, fruits, vegetables, a bat, a zebra, and water (little boy dressed in all blue).

 Reading the Pumpkin Parable and singing This Little Light of Mine and saying our verse John 1:1-5.

 Games...

 Relays...

 Races...

 Treats...

 Giggles...

Candy corn counting...
It was a fun and busy day!

A day with our kiddo at Junior Convention

This kiddo's last year at Junior Convention!  We both took the day off to go and support him.

 We took off and hit our favorite donut shop...which was just a half hour away from where we needed to be!  We watched the temperature drop almost 10 degrees after storm front moved across the state as we headed north.  As we drove and talked...my voice started to disappear a little at a time.

 Another welcoming challenge to each of the students...to soar and be what God wants you to be!  Today is a day that you once again spread your wings to fly.