Knocking out Chores Using Some Pre-Party Energy!

For the past two weeks I've had so much 'pre-party' energy, that I've painted and improved and vinyled and swept and cooked!

Grace was my helper when it came to painting the back porch, basement door, and shed entrances!

I found a hat for my costume, but it was blue, and when I attempted to dye it, the dye destroyed parts of the netting, so I had to find something else to use as a veil. = (

I recruited Billy to help me assemble the pergola that we were borrowing from Sarah.  Once we had it completely assembled, it would have been a beast to break back down and put into her truck, and Billy liked it well enough to want to keep it.  Since she was not quite ready to add it to her yard, it worked out perfectly, and we were able to buy it off of her!

With all the extra party food, I really needed room in the refrigerator, so I made some off-season St. Lucia cakes to get the jar of molasses off the shelf!  They were tasty, even in the middle of summer!

I attempted to replace Billy's grill cover last year, but neither replacement was as good as his original.  I bought some tape to repair the old one, and it did give us one more winter, but it was starting to come apart around the mesh, and the material was stiff and brittle, so it was time to replace it for full price.

But the new one is quite an improvement!

Over out time in this house, the upstairs sink has sunk just enough to separate from the paint.  I didn't care for the chipped paint look, and so I thought I'd try some of the stick on wall stickers from the dollar tree.

First, I bought some silver, to match the faucet, but It didn't look good at all!

The second was a mixture of silver and gold, and looks much better, and way better than the chipped paint too!

I repaired maps and scrubbed walls in the guest bathroom, washed rugs, scrubbed tubs, cleaned out the vacuum cleaner, dusted, swept and vacuumed the mud room, and just put all my anxious energy to work!

I've been paring down one of our medicine cabinets for a while now, in anticipation of getting a basket for each child. (And, of course, I didn't take a before picture.. = ( ) Once I saw how cute their baskets looked, I decided to improve the other containers as well.

The last few items were too big to fit into the tiny buckets, so a third trip to the dollar tree was in order.

Project complete!

True party prep started two days before, with dish washing and making cold dishes.  This was 3oz of grated dark chocolate!

For the Riccota Mocha cake!!!  (It was really good, but between the (tiny bit of) espresso powder and dark chocolate I was a little concerned about it messing with my sleep. lol.)

And the day of, made up caprese salads for everyone!  (But we had a salad bar, and people could make up their own salad!)

I wanted to have a record of the recipes that I made this year, and instead of including them on the party post, I'm hiding them away here. = )  As always, their recipes were delicious!

As the summer winds down, we have a few dentist appointments to get through next week, but then we have Bingo Week Camping at Jellystone, just before the twins start back to school!!!  

It was a fast, but lovely summer!

later days

Another Hodgepodge Post

Emily and Grace have been getting in some good outside time this summer.  I liked the lighting in this shot that Emily took of Grace!

Emily picked out this sweater a few weeks ago at a yard sale. I would never ever ever have picked it out for her, but she really likes it (and the colors are pretty.)  Well, fast forward to last week, I was putting something away in the big girls' closet, and the sweater was on Alice's rack!!!  I thought maybe Emily had tried it on, and thought it was too large, so had given it to Alice. But no! It was Alice who liked the sweater so much she stole it from Emily!  To me, this sweater looks sooooo old and dated and I wouldn't ever wear it, but both of my teens (well, teen & tween) love it.  Who knew*?

William, Grace, and Juliet had swim camp last week!  It was 5 hours a day, for 4 days (M-Th) for only $60!!  They loved it, and came home so tired.  

Monday, after drop off, I spent my 'childfree' time hanging out with Zoey's mom!  We spent 3 hours chatting and digging through the bins at the 'cheap' Goodwill, then enjoyed some coffee, and even had time for a dollar tree run, before it was time to collect our dear ones!

On day 3, Grace passed the deep water test for the first time ever!!!!! She is excellent at setting goals and making it happen! = ) I was so proud.

I love filling the 'party tray' with fruits and veggies, for the kids to snack on throughout the day.  It also looks really pretty. = )

We went to the library to redeem summer reading prizes, and since the 'meet up and eat up' was only an hour away, stayed on for lunch!  A few days later, I got a call that Emily had won one of the grand prizes (a Target gift card!) 

I wanted a basket for collecting veggies from the garden.  At Goodwill I found this basket, with a collapsible handle, for $2.50.  I agonized over it the duration of the trip, but ultimately decided to buy it.  I've been loving it, and it does a fantastic job carrying all the produce inside from the garden.  I love it so much, I tried to repurpose it and use it for shopping at the farmers market.  Sadly, the bottom felt vulnerable with the purchase of potatoes and honey (and then a side trip to Carl's for coconut milk and vegetable stock.) = (

So, I went into the next few days in the market for a studier basket.  I found a larger one, with reinforced sides and collapsible handles for $2!!!! Then, since Avia wasn't able to go with us in the morning, we went back for a second look in the afternoon, and I got another one (to help me carry all of my purchases) and then one more, because it was adorable, and only 50 cents and I'm on a kick.

Well, then I got home, and suddenly had 3 baskets without a home, and one that was slightly in the way.  So, I brainstormed a home for my collection: the mudroom wall!  Upon observation, I found that I would only have to make a single hole in the wall, since there were existing holes for the other three. = )

We had corndogs for dinner last night, and I thought everyone might like 'fancy' stadium containers.  I think they did make them taste better!  (Admittedly, I didn't have one, since I had just made a German Salad, and I'm the only one who eats on it.)

3 of my summer chores involved painting outside, so last night I pulled out all my supplies, and this morning (after a rocky start of driving the big girls to camp because their bus broke down.) Grace came out and helped me pain the shed ramp and step!  Sadly, just those items took the rest of the paint.  So, we needed to go to Menards and get another round, which of course meant loading up WGJ.  To make it more exciting, I promised donuts, but then Grace reminded me that her ear was still hurting, and so I called the doctor and got her a late morning appointment. (Turns out she has swimmers' ear.)  

But after the appointment we went to Menards, but by then the big girls were home, and my mom was over for birthday cake and presents!!!  Once we celebrated Avia to the fullest, and she went on with her day, I went back out to finish the side porch and basement entrance.  I kept running into branches between the two, and so broke out the branch cutters, and trimmed the offending bushes (which needed to be done, but felt like just one more delay.)  As I was finishing up the brush work on the basement door, Emily and Grace came out wanting to help with the roller.  They did a pretty good job, but got bored and came in before the job was finished. = /

I did finally get done, and cleaned up.  Tomorrow (or soon) I hope to go seal, at the very least, the back porch. But I have sewing that needs tending, so we'll see.  Sadly, this was the last week that I'll be getting up early to get the big girls ready for camp, and then having the rest of the morning to knock out a 'summer chore' since EGJ start at nature camp next week!

I mentioned celebrating Avia's birthday, and I took a picture too!

We got to celebrate with my mom this year, it's a toss-up where she'll be each summer, so we only get to celebrate with her sometimes.  This year she got 5 cards from my crew and a shadow box for her grandfather's arrowhead collection from us as a group.  Emily and Grace helped her put together the display, then EGJ helped her sort some coins.  Emily also made her a German chocolate cake, but since AE had summer camp in the morning, we didn't get to have it for breakfast, as is tradition.  I think she enjoyed her time here, hopefully she had a great day!

There's this meme floating around:

And I am feeling it!  August is coming so, so fast!  We have tons of fun things left to do this summer, but August is just so close!  I'm not ready for summer to end!!!

later days

 *So, I actually posted the picture on FB and asked for opinions and they were overwhelmingly positive toward this sweater, so I guess I'm the odd man out.  

Wrapping up the School Year

We finally found our stride with homeschooling, about 3 weeks before the end of the year. hahaha lol 

Now that the kids know the expectation, they are able to work without too much assistance on many subject, and so our days are smoother and shorter since we are not moving from subject to subject as a group.

With the extra found time, Emily has been sewing with my machine, and recruited Grace to do the same.  Here they are showing their matching "potato" stuffies.

William wanted a picture with the city he created.

Emily made a "mini avocado" and was disappointed when it was actually true to size. = )

We had what I thought was going to be some caterpillar drama.  One of the caterpillars was the first to become a chrysalis, and it looked like one of the other caterpillars was intentionally bumping into the j shape.  Concerned, I read up on it, and it turns out that sometimes the caterpillars will cannibalize one another, even if food is plentiful.  I was too tired to separate them out, so I went to bed leaving the situation for the next morning.  Luckily, they all "j-ed" that night, so I didn't have to deal with separating them.

One Saturday, the facilitator of the mural meeting was late, I took a picture of the crew standing around waiting (I love urban shots like this.)  We left before she arrived, because we had a list of errands to knock out.

Radio Company released their new album earlier this month. It's the first time I've bought an album on it's release day, in a long time, if not ever!  It is a good album, but short.

I met up, in person, with real moms!  We hit dimes and Charlie's, and closed them both down (8 and 9 respectively.)

 

Avia had all 5 kids overnight at Aunt Rocky's.  They were so excited to go!  Grace and Juliet were the first two ready!

A picture of our newly acquired caterpillars!

The kids wanted to play the game that went with "Rise, Sally, Rise" that they learned in Solfa, so they did.

On a different Saturday, the mural facilitator had us practice painting on the wall.  We were to paint a gradient. Alice was fast, and finished before I could snap her picture.  

Emily made a very pretty rainbow gradient circle.  I did purple in mine, but neglected to take a picture of mine.

In one of our books, we read about St. Lucia day, and how the protagonists' mom had made pig shaped cakes to celebrate.  Her recipe called for cornmeal and molasses apparently.  I couldn't find any such recipe, and the traditional Swedish version had recipes that would take around 2 hours (if you are able to focus on the task.)  So, I found a simple cake recipe that called for molasses, and only took a few minutes to whip up and bake.  I put little pigs made of confectioner's sugar, on top, but literally only Emily noticed.  It made me wish that I hadn't spent the extra time getting out my cutter to make the pig.  But, the cakes themselves were a big hit!

Billy was travelling for work that week, down to Dallas.  They are in tornado season right now, so I got to worry about that while he was gone, but thankfully he was back by Friday. = )

I started assembling our science materials for next year.  I spread out all my 'saved' plastic baggies on the floor, so that I could find the appropriate size for the supplies for each experiment.  Each list had items that I collected from all over the house.  I was almost finished when I realized that not one of my children had messed with my strewn bags the entire time I was working.  What a new season, from small children always trying to kill themselves, to school aged children who leave things alone (and sometimes offer to help!)

I'm awaiting the last of our ordered books for next year, and still need to clean out some binders from this year, but our school supplies are looking really ready for next fall already!

later days

Hyper-speed December

281st Day of Quarantine.

37F was the high today.

Grace was hounding me to finish her gingerbread house from the moment she woke up. We still had to make the icing, which was a bigger event than I had imagined.  I mixed it together, and usually when the instructions call for an electric mixer, it just takes me a few minutes longer.  Today though, we had to get the icing to "peak." So, I tapped Billy in to alternate whisking with me, and it took us around 15 minutes to get it that stiff!  

Grace was more than ready to decorate gingerbread house though.  Juliet popped in to help place all the candy on.

After seeing how much fun Grace had, Juliet also wanted to make a Gingerbread house.   But once I saw how hard that recipe became, I talked her into making some softer Gingerbread cookies to decorate.  

It was nice to use up all the icing that Billy and I worked so hard to make. = )

She wanted to pack some up to give to her friend Kennedy, and once Grace heard that, she wanted to take some to Zoey.  So, we boxed them up, and will drop them off tomorrow. = )

We had the tacos for dinner that we were supposed to have last night.  We've now eaten through half of the 80 tortillas I ordered from Sam's Club.  They won't deliver smaller packs, and I have to order 2 of the 40 packs.  So, we had burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and tacos this week to eat through them!  We can eat the next pack a little slower, over the next couple of weeks, since I have a place for it in my bread basket.

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280th Day of Quarantine.

34F was the expected high.

I made some honey butter biscuits to use up some of the Bisquick that Sarah sent over.  Alice and Grace really liked them.

I finished the seam binding on the housewarming oven mitts for Kennedy's mom.  It took me a while to find the motivation to finish them for some reason.  This is some fabric that I scored at an estate sale this year, and I just love it!  It is very vintage, and since I don't know her super well, I hope she likes them. = )

Grace was so excited to start making the gingerbread house using the mold, that she talked me into starting, even though I knew we would not be able to finish it today.

And, we encountered a leak in the lesser used side of the kitchen sink.  Billy measured it, and we cleaned it up, but had to wait until late in the evening to go to Menards to get the parts to fix it.

My mom is still proctoring her friend's granddaughter, and she had a full day today.  ew.  So, it was around 330 when she came to pick me up.  Emily, Grace and Juliet also wanted to come.  Emily to pick out a Christmas present for me, and the twins just to shop.  So, we went to discount tire and I picked up my car, only to turn around and drop it off at the mechanic, to get the ABS light resolved!

Since neither my mom nor I had been, we went to the new Goodwill building in Mason.  They have super full shelves, despite having built the building. = /  I found some folding chairs, and a couple of Bad Kitty books* that we didn't have.  Grace found a Hello Kitty robe, and small box.  She also picked out some candies to use on the gingerbread house!

From there, Avia brought us home to pick up everyone else, and go grab dinner.  We at our Burger King in the Menard's parking lot, while Billy went in to get parts to fix our leak, and replace the upstairs sink drain attachment. 

Once he came back to the car, we drove up to Frances Park to see the Christmas lights.  It wasn't as "winter wonderland-y" as I was hoping, but the kids enjoyed it, and we did see lots of houses decorated too! Billy's car is a little more cramped than mine, for sure, but it was warm and comfortable enough.  It was a popular night to drive through, so were were in quite a line.

Once we got home, we made the second round of gingerbread sides (it only makes half of the house each round.)  It was kind of late, and I was tired, but since we had to wait for the pieces to cool for a considerable amount of time, I decided it was worth it.

*I'm thinking this will be the next reading series for William, once we finish reading the Flat Stanley series together.  But, he will read this independently and have to narrate what happens! = 0

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279th Day of Quarantine.

The high today was 30F.  Got enough snow that the kids were happy to go outside and play, but not so much that I had to shovel anything!

Today was our last day of school for the year!  We are one week shy of being halfway through our school year.  It is really crazy how fast this year is flying by.

I edited our schedule to give us time for a special Christmas activity: a Nativity Escape Room.  Everyone started out strong, but the twins (paired with a big girl) quickly got bored, and Alice got frustrated at the very end and quit.  Emily made it through, but there were some tears.  William enjoyed himself, but we were teammates, so hopefully, I didn't give away too many of the answers.  Not quite as well received as I thought it would be, but I still think it was well done.  Maybe we can repeat it in a few years as they are homeschooling in junior high.

Today, while we finished up The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the kids applied water color painting the snowflakes that they cut on Tuesday.

Then, Emily and William applied water color to themselves, and became zombies.

Then, they turned on Juliet.

My mom had a good idea to drop my car off at tire shop today, so that I didn't have to go early and wait for them to work.  So, she met me there and brought me home.

Our second mops meeting of the month was tonight.  It is nice to connect with people, even online, that have no expectations. = )

We had lasagna for dinner, so that I could pop it in the oven and let it cook for the 2 hours without having to tend anything.

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278th Day of Quarantine.

The high today was 29F.  There were a few flurries flying all day, but just a little sticking to things off the ground.

I always forget, until it happens, that the December medicine delivery is late.  Today, they made it just as we were walking out the door.  I took time to toss everything on the counter and put the medication away, so that we could go by FedEx on our way home and ship the box back for recycling.

We moved quickly through our schooling, and skipped poetry tea time, to get Alice and Emily to their dentist appointment.  The appointment went well, but we waited on the dentist for a while, and so it was quite late when we left.  I asked my ladies group for dental recommendations, so we may be changing.  I've not liked the office staff for a while, though the dentist is good.  And, with covid, it's worse than ever, so I think it's time to change, since the girls are due for xrays in May anyhow.  Maybe we can start somewhere new.

I ended up standing outside in line at the FedEx, since only 2 customers area allowed inside at a time (one in the lobby the other in the vestibule.)  This was a little annoying since it was cold, and it takes me less than ten seconds to go in, set it on the scale and let the worker know that it is a billable stamp to return the box from the medicine.

We put on the baked potatoes in the crockpot in the morning, and they were hot and ready to go when we got home!

The results of Alice's potato experiment:

No explosion, and the taste was just the same.  Maybe it's different on the grill or in the oven, but it seems like potatoes in the crockpot do not need to have holes poked in them!

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277th Day of Quarantine.

The high today was a bitterly cold 29F.

I've started calling out "Alt F4 the door" because I'm just so tired of saying "close the door" and "shut the door."  It doesn't annoy Alice too much. ; )

I received a green ticked after an uneventful final carport survey. ::fingers crossed:: Hopefully this is the last we will hear about this carport for a good long time.

Alice voluntarily scrubbed potatoes to wrap and place in the crockpot to cook tomorrow.

She asked a good question, about poking the holes in the potatoes, so we poked holes in all but one, that we marked on the outside of the foil.

For dinner we had Tikka Masala.

When I was calling Emily to bed, she responded with "one result found."  I suppose having two nerdy parents, this is to be expected.

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276th Day of Quarantine.

The high today didn't even make it above freezing, coming in exactly at 32F.  Brrr!  We had some snow flurries, but nothing stuck to the ground.

For dinner I made chicken fajitas.

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275th Day of Quarantine.

Expected high of 36F.

Enjoyed the first of the Christmas series in online church.

I pulled out all the Christmas gifts and wrapped everything in the house!!!

For dinner we had chicken stir fry, since it was the quickest thing we had on hand.  Wrapping the presents took a couple of hours, and we still had bath time for babies to do!

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later days