Fall is here, fall is here!!!

I love this time of year.
 It's been cool in the mornings

 but still in the 80's during the day.

But today, the high is in the 60's and the low tonight is in the low 40's.

I have all the windows open. 
The windows with an inch of dirt in the area between the window and the screen and the thick layer of dust on the blinds...but that is for another day, I had to pretend it wasn't there today.  I had to enjoy the fall day.

 

I went to breakfast with friends this morning when it was cool and beautiful out minus the always present gusting winds...

Then I ran many errands since I worked last weekend.

 

Speaking of last weekend...

I am working a private duty job and there is a family member there that is, how should I say this, odd, wacky, different...

I really thought nothing surprised me anymore.

But last weekend. 

I was surprised.

Surprised when the family member walked into my patients room carrying a cat.

a DEAD cat. 

yep...there I was just working away and I look up and there is someone with a dead cat carrying it like a baby, having it say goodbye to the patient before they buried it.  A more than 24 hr dead cat.

Craziest thing ever.

And as hard as I tried I couldn't sneak a picture of it. 

 

This seemed to set the tone for my week...

There were kids with crazy complaints, rock in an ear, and a little drama at the school.  But no dead cats...

 

And tell me all parents get texts like this.  Please.  So much for not texting during school.

 

My poor deadly sick kid just has the common cold I believe.  We opted to wait on the Dr after I could see her throat in person.

 

She is at the Corn Maize as we speak in the wind and cool weather even though I reminded her she was 'deadly' sick...
And the oldest is headed to the drive in to freeze tonight. 

Enjoy the fall weekend!

I've got nothing

So, a month later I've found my way back to blog...
There have been a few things keeping from it.
The main one is I never get to use my laptop.  Both girls use it for school so much that I never get a turn.  It's time for more than one computer in the house I believe.
Not that I've had pressing things I need to discuss.
Nope.  Nothing.

Mike is busy reffing football while stilllll looking for job.
The girls are busy with the usual school, work, friends, etc.
I'm still working an extra job.
And we are enjoying some fall weather off and on.  60's a few days last week, 90's again this week.  But, it's coming, I know it is.
I have the fall decorations out.
High school football

 I made homemade pumpkin creamer.
I pulled out some crocheting (which my kids say makes me a granny untill they want something)

That means it has to be coming right?

Firsts

 

I was the first one gone this morning. 

I got to school early and was ready for all the craziness of the first morning at my school. 

That was a first.

But I missed dropping a kid off a school.

Because now they go the same High School. 

Just one year of togetherness. 

One year of Katie driving her to school (and some friends that tagged along). 

I texted Katie to see if she had seen Kellie during the day.  The answer, "yea, I had lunch with her".  It made me tear up. 

A year of them in the same school for some reason makes my heart happy. 

They fuss about the "first day of schoool" picture every year but I made them promise to let dad take one.  I can't believe they even smiled.

 

 

 

When I asked Kellie if she was excited or scared she said "NO... it's just another day of school" and when I asked Katie if she was excited it's her senior year she said "NO...I'm just ready for it to be over..."

Well, I was scared and excited for them.  And as I could have predicted, Kellie had "just another day at school".  She is so easy going it was just no big deal to her.  And Katie called me as soon as she got out to talk a little more about where she wants to go to college.   She is really ready for it to be over.


A first day of high school and a first day of the last year of high school.
 I think I'm really not that crazy about either of those.
It's going too fast.
That thought or sentence is really NOT a first...
But it sure is fun.

A month later...

The summer has sped by slowly this year.
I have enjoyed all the days we had at home doing nothing.
Family time has been the highlight of my summer. 
Mike is still without a job.  And just when I got a little panicky about money God handed me a little part time job where I am getting to do the type of nursing care that I haven't done in years and I am really enjoying it. 
But summer is coming to an end and school starts for me next week. 
Here is a quick summery of the last few weeks....
Right before starting the new job I got to get away with good friends.  It was exactly what I needed.

Is there anything better than girlfriend time in the mountains?

We spent a lot of time out on the deck enjoying the cool weather.

There were rain storms that sounded beautiful on the metal roof.

We worked on our Project life books

and I fed the deer everything I could find.

I am so thankful for a wonderful friend with a beautiful house she was kind

enough to share.

 

I came home and started the new job that came with a friend

he loves to come inside and take a nap in the cool air

 

 

I took Katie to have her Sr. cap and gown pictures made

I didn't even cry.

 

The last week has been such a blur because I worked so much .

I was enjoying a night off and cooking dinner when

I made a little slip with my new chefs knife.

It is as sharp as they advertised

luckily I just missed some important things in there

and a few stitches later...

I think I'll be using the  dishwasher for that knife from now on....

 

 

Tomorrow my baby will be 14.  14.  That isn't even any sort of a little kid anymore and I really don't like that.  Not one bit.

She is however, a really great teenager (so far)!

We went to dinner tonight so tomorrow she can spend the evening with the important people.  Her friends. 

I may hate she is not my baby anymore but I sure do love the girl she has turned into. 
That is, when she'll hang out with me!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl!!! 

 I love love love you.

 

 

 

 

Growing

Katie just spent a week in Colo. working a camp.  She came even more in love with her youth group and with Jesus. 
The conversations we've had and the things I've seen her step up to do are really impressing me.
I knew it was there, just glad to see maturity and her love of Christ so outwardly right now.
Unfortunately, with that comes some disappointment for her in some friends.
I swear life was easier before texting. 
If half of their relationship wasn't fostered through texting I think there would be a lot less drama and worry.

 

I'm so glad she spent some time in such a pretty place

with a great group of kids

Not much is happening here.  Mike not having a job yet is slowing down my usual summer activities but a whole summer of family time has been a nice treat. 

My favorite thing of the week is Banana Macaroon Granola. 

 

Vanilla yogurt, a little spoonful of Lemon Curd and some granola has been the breakfast of choice lately.

 

 

 

It's an illness

I tried something new this week...
I signed up for and picked up a "bountiful basket".  A food co op.  I stood in line in the heat with about 100 other people for my basket.

A friend went too and she is going out of town this week so  she brought me her pineapple and some ginger.  So my illness took over and I had to make something completely non healthy with it.

Pineapple Ginger Jelly

It is sooo good

I will be making more of this

 

I think I will check out the local farm with a stand that sells the produce tomorrow... I'll see what they have there I can make jelly out of...

 

 

Katie left for a "staffing" camp to work for the week.

  She was very surprised that there was no A/C in the building where they are staying in Colo. 

 Of course I looked it up and the low last night was going to be 56... think she will survive.

 



We missed the fireworks?

This having the summer off, as good as it is, I completely loose track of days... 

especially when Kellie is gone and I'm hanging out by myself most of the time

 

 

 

Just FYI...

On Tuesday Jennifer and Kellie came home

 

I think her sister even missed her...

 

she had a great time but the majority of pictures Jennifer sent me looked like this.  She should be all caught up on her rest

On the way home they stopped and bought sparklers because my kids are sheltered and have never done any fireworks...(because I am a fun sucker I believe is how they described me)

On the 4th we went to a movie

 

and we went to lunch where Katie works

look at the nice girl waiting on us

now look at the angry girl waiting on her sister

we headed out to watch fireworks... we sat just down the street from where we usually watch them

There were tons of other people around us

 

luckily there were a few fireworks around us

But.  We waited and waited for the big show.  Waited till everyone started leaving.  Apparently moving just down the street wasn't a good idea. 

We never saw the fireworks

But someone bought sparklers

and saved the day

 

 

I think she's having too much fun to miss me...

Kellie has been begging to "live with Jennifer" for the summer. 
We decided just a week would be better.
She is off living with the best cousin in the world and since they are two peas in a pod I can't wait to hear the stories.
But....it's much quieter than normal here.  I'm used to having her around.  Running errands with me.  Fussing about what I cooked or didn't cook.  Trying to kiss her and her refusing.  Basically, I just miss the 13 year old who lives here and it happened faster than I thought it would.
The 17 year old is around some but the last couple of nights she has had plans and I'm quickly seeing that life after my kids leave home might be very boring. 
I do not care about watching the NBA draft. 
I don't want to watch another episode of Jeopardy.
He doesn't want to do any projects like painting.

I think I'm going to have to adopt some more kids.
Soon.

Back to Kellie...
She was excited to fly alone.  Until the day before and she started getting nervous which surprised me... she's brave usually.

They let me walk her back to the gate and she was glad

boarding, finally a smile

Jennifer wanted to embarrass her

and it looks like there has been some fun

 

 

 and a lot of sleeping going on...

 

 

 

Back in Lubbock we are enjoying record high temps

 

 

and that calls for some cold beverages with friends

 

 

lip gloss melts at this temp....

 

and even dogs need ice cream

 

lazy mornings

 

and some time in the redneck pool, you don't want to see that picture...

 

But most of all we're missing

 

 

 

 

hurry home Kellie and Jennifer