Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Halloween 2017

For Halloween, the Littles got to wear costumes to school.  Payton went as Fern from Charlotte's Web and Rylan was Chewbacca {again!}.
{And I absolutely LOVE this picture!}
After school Payton changed into pajama girl and Dylan wore a "creep pig mask" {because middle schooler!}.
Since we aren't expecting any trick or treaters, we loaded up the car {with Gigi too!},
and went to Downtown Columbia to trick or treat there.  We got to give a quick hug to Vickie {A Balloon Shop owner}.
Gigi snapped a quick family photo for us.
I'm so glad she lives close and can go to these things with us!
And since it was crowded and it was a LOT of waiting in lines, Chris suggested we leave and go buy our own candy at the store!
Then it was back home for sorting time!

What I Ate {October 2017}

1 - KFC Chicken Tenders + Mashed Potatoes & Gravy + Biscuit
2 - Edley's BBQ Pork Sandwich
3 - BLT Sandwich
5 - La Villa Carne Asada Tacos 
6 - Enchilasagna + {Amish!} Tomato Slices
7 - Calhoun's Ribs + Salad + Coleslaw + Butterfinger Cheesecake
8 - Broccoli & Apple Salad with Walnuts

9 - Chicken Pot PieBroccoli Salad with Apples & Walnuts 
10 - {Dinner at my Momma's - Yummy!} Spaghetti & Meatballs + Lemon Pepper Salad + Cheesy Cauliflower + Garlic Bread

11 - Orange Chicken + Stir-fry Veggies & Noodles + Asian Chopped Salad 
13 - Blue Cheese and Apple Salad + Digorino Pizza
16 - Chicken with Mushroom Sauce + Brown Rice + Roasted veggies 
17 - BLT sandwiches
18 - Sonic Hot Dog 
19 - Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad + Garlic Bread
20 - Breakfast Burrito {Bowl}
21 - Arrington Vineyards Appetizers
23 - Hamburgers with Secret Sauce + Seasoned Fries
24 - Creamy Baked Ziti + Garlic Bread
25 - PB & Amish Peach Jam Sandwich + Pretzels + Granola Bars + Orange Flavored Cranberries
26 - Tacos {salad for me!} + Mexican Rice
28 - White Chicken Chili + Tortilla Chips
29 - Shenanigans Broccoli Soup + Shenanigans Sandwich 
30 - Chicken Teriyaki Bowl + Spinach Salad
31 - Lasagna Soup + Garlic Bread
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Monday, October 30, 2017

The Power of a Praying Wife {review}

If I were to recommend just ONE book on marriage, this would be it.  I cannot say enough about how important it is to pray for your husband...and this book, The Power of a Praying Wife, helps you do just that!  I have read this book multiple times {even in January of THIS year!} and done book studies on it.  So you know I'm a fan.  

This month, since it was Chris' birthday, I decided to read it again.  It is  super easy since it is 30 chapters, each written on one thing that we should be praying over.  At the end of each chapter there is an actual prayer that you can pray and Bible verses to support it. 
If you are a wife, I HIGHLY recommend you getting a copy for yourself and be covering your husband in prayer!  
{Also as a side note.  Chapter 1 is pretty lengthy.  The rest of the chapters are a quick read.}
{Another side note, Stormie Omartian has MANY similar books, Praying Husband, Praying Parent, Praying Kid, etc. Check them out!}
I give it 5+ stars.

~
Here is the other books I have finished so far in 2017:
(18) Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter
(17) Praying Circles Around your Children by Mark Batterson
(16) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
(15) December Bride by Denise Hunter
(14) The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter
(13) Dangerous Depths by Colleen Coble
(12) The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
(11) Bittersweet by Cathy Marie Hake
(10) Lost in NashVegas by Rachel Hauck
(9) Surrender Bay by Denise Hunter
(8) Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure
(7) Giddy Up Eunice by Sophie Hudson
(6) The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki
(5) Wonder by R.J. Palacio
(4) Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey
(3) Black Sands by Colleen Coble
(2) The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
(1) Desperate by Sarah Mae & Sally Clarkson
~
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Sunday, October 29, 2017

Sewanee Race

Dylan has his final race of the season today.  We knew it was going to be cold, so we left the littles with Gigi and headed out early.  First stop?  At the best donut shop around!
I've said it before, I am not a fan of donuts.  But these?  These are good.  Real good.
The race was held in Sewanee, TN and it was FREEZING.   Like 33 degrees freezing.  We got to the race, bundled up,
and headed out {of the toasty, warm car} to meet up with the team.
23 minutes later, we were back in the car, trying to warm back up.  Good golly it was cold.
While we were sitting there, Dylan said "Hey mom, I look like Axl Rose!"  Hee hee hee!
It was time for his race, so the riders grouped up. {AND we started to see some snow flurries!}
Then they got ready at the starting line. {He's the kid without any sleeves on. - Yes, crazy.}
Here he is coming in on the final lap.
The first thing he said to us was "hoodie".  Poor buddy was so cold!  But he was still smiling.
This season is officially over and he/we can't wait for it to start back up again!
P.S.  I do think we unthawed until the next morning.  It was SO SO SO cold!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Week #43 {2017}

Sunday Dylan got some plumbing lessons with Chris as they worked to repipe our master bathroom.
Payton read aloud to me out on the swing.
Monday when the kiddos got home from school, Rylan crawled up into my lap to nuggle buggle.
That evening at dinner {which by the way was Burgers with Secret Sauce} Dylan was telling an animated story and accidentally flipped the spoon out of the secret sauce bowl and it sprayed everywhere!  The light, the wall, the plant, the table and even in his hair.  It happened in super slow motion and all we could do was laugh.  It was so funny. 
Fall is here and showing off its beauty.  God is an amazing artist and uses amazing colors!
Chris decided to surprise the kiddos with slushies and even though Rylan was already showered and in his pajamas, he threw on shoes and ran out the door.
Tuesday morning, little guy woke up all on his own and came and nuggled with me.
We got to stop and watch these 5 deer on our way to school.
I made a few loaves of Banana Bread,
while King Bombi enjoyed some sun.
Heading home from TKD, the sunset was spectacular!
Amazing, right?
It was chilly enough that we had our first fire of the season.
Wednesday morning we were a few minutes early to the kids dentist appointment and we saw their old school buses outside of Starbucks {where the drivers meet up every morning}.  We went in to give hugs to Mr. T & Mr. Gerry {The BEST bus drivers ever.  We miss them a whole bunch!}
Then they got in some tv time at the dentist while they were waiting.  Ha!
The kids LOVE going to the dentist, primarily because they have a VW Bus INSIDE the waiting room for them to play in.
We got to run into some friends from our old neighborhood at WalMart.
And since it was 46 degrees outside, we put on another fire.
Thursday It may be chilly, but it is sure beautiful!
Little mad stayed home sick today, and when it warmed up a bit we went outside and enjoyed the warm sun.
Bombi LOVES his rope.  Throw him a ball and he gets bored quickly.  But his rope he will fetch over and over again!
 
So funny story.  
There was a knock on our door this morning.  It was a guy from the county telling us that as he was bush hogging the side of the road, he obliterated our mailbox.  He apologized and said they would be replacing it.  As we chatted, I commented that I didn't like that mailbox anyway.  {It looked like this:
but it was old, and not well kept.  It had random house number stickers all over it and it didn't look good.}  He said, "Oh you don't want a green one?" I asked if I got a choice and he said how about a metal one and I said, "great!".  When I left to pick up the big kids just FOUR hours later, I drove down to this:
Isn't it awesome?  And it was done super quick!  {I was expecting it to take a couple of days!}  AND now I don't have to replace our mailbox!
~
Friday morning was absolutely stunning.
Ry stayed home from school again {poor guy!}. He did a whole bunch of this all day.
And I got lots of snuggles in.