Other Fun Activities

Most of what we've been doing lately can be wrapped up in other posts, but these are just a few moments that didn't fit anywhere else.

Emily and Grace were playing Minecraft together.  Last night, apparently, Grace pushed a button in Emily's game marked "do not push" and ended up trapped in a container of some sort. lol.

When we collected coupons from the library, William ended up with a bonus one from McDonald's.  Not even Grace and Emily, who were the first to claim their prizes, received one! The coupon was set to expire at the end of September, so I really wanted to use it up!  When we looked up how much an ice cream cost, it was only $1.29, so I agreed to buy each of the girls one.  But when we arrived, they were over $2 each!  So, each of the girls requested to pick out something that was the same price or less.  William was the only one who ended up with ice cream.  It was a slow morning for them, because we had 30+ minutes when we arrived, and were almost late to the love clothing center for Alice and William, and all we got were treats!

Avia came with us to the final meetup an eatup at the South Lansing library the week before the kids went back to school.  It was nice that Alice and William were working the love clothing center on Wednesdays, because that was the meetup and eatup day!  We ended up going three or four times this summer.  

Since William and Alice missed the meetup and eatup, we went to taco bell to redeem their coupons.  I don't know why I find it so hard to use the coupons once school starts, but we try to use them all up before school starts!  

Each coupon came with a taco and bag of cinnamon twists.  The kids enjoyed the taco, but the twists were enjoyed by none.

Last week at the Cornishes' the twins found a shark blanket, and couldn't wait to show us the twin shark!

Somehow, the kids talked Avia into buying them McDonald's!  I thought they were just getting treats, but she bought them a full meal! Spoiled children!

Grace and Juliet shared a seat in the most twin way possible at their dentist appointment.  They both wanted the same seat, pushed their hips together, and sat down, without any discussion or argument!  It was wild to watch.

Billy and I went on a date to the wine shop on Friday night, and tried out her new cheese tray! We ordered the dill option and it was quite tasty!

It's been a busy, but lovely August, and September holds the promise for just as much fun!

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Nature and Garden

Despite spending quite a bit of time outside (at parks, on walks, and now football games!) I don't have many freestanding photos, because they all went in with the events!

First up were these adorable mushrooms at the jr. high.  I was glad I took the picture before entering, because someone had kicked/stomped them by the time we left. = (

My biggest heartvest this summer!  Considering how neglected my garden is, this was a nice surprise!

One more summer river picture.  Crossing the bridge in our little village never fails to make me happy!

Billy and I saw this giant grasshopper sunning on a sunflower, and it stayed still for so long that I was able to snap more than one photo!

We are still having warm, fair weather, but tomorrow is a ber month, which is the beginning of the end for nice weather. = (  I'm doing my best to soak up the sun in anticipation of a long cold winter.

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Crafts and Cooking

Crafting has not been picture worthy lately, but we have been spending some time in the kitchen!

Natalie gave me a zucchini from her garden, and it was so tasty when I cooked it up!

I scored two free cookbooks from the curb, which has inspired me to try a few new recipes each week.  After the second week of new, questionable recipes, Alice, Grace, and Juliet each volunteered to make a 'normal' dinner for us.  So, it was a win for me, since I didn't have to cook for the rest of the week!   

It has been nice to have fresh bread each week to go with our meals!

If we have leftovers that I think they will like, I'll freeze some for my mom (and possibly Sarah.)

Emily has made 3 batches of chocolate chip cookies in as many weeks!

And Grace made these cute little marshmallow-ghost chocolate milks!

I did find a 7/7 recipe in my 1963 good housekeeping cookbook, but have yet to take a picture of the recipe, so it might be in the blog next time!  Or if I remember, I'll try to add it here.

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Band: Marching Season!

Marching season is in full swing, and Emily is loving it!  It's pretty late when she gets out of practice on Wednesday nights, 8:30, but this time of year that means beautiful sunsets!

On the first day of school, I stayed at practice with her and sewed five patches onto the guard uniforms, and managed two more before the first football game (on a Thursday?)  but didn't take any pictures of my handiwork, so here's my smiling Emily holding my tools as we left.

As I just mentioned, the first football game was on a Thursday night, which made Friday feel off, but the night was fair and warm!

The drum major runs along the band asking if each section is ready.  Since Emily is alone in her section, she answers alone. 

Emily is at the very front!

The night was exciting, though Holt was losing for most of the game.  The final quarter was a good one, despite being a loss.

The light up batons will be switched out for fire at the light show!  Emily has some practicing to do before then though!

I think they were doing the wave?  Just having fun on the track during the third quarter!

Football season is so exciting!  Emily did a great job, and I love volunteering so that I can watch her up close!  I'm also happy that all the other games are on Friday nights!

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Alice Turns 17!!!

For Alice's 17th Birthday, we celebrated her with friends the weekend before her actual birthday.  The theme was "Alice's Favorite" things.  = )

Juliet made a strawberry shortcake bat dragon cupcake topper to enhance the table.

Emily made her main cake.

I only get to see Melony at Alice's birthday parties, since they are no longer in the same school, but I'm so glad they have stayed friends!  Aubrey and Alice have a class together this year, so she gets to see her frequently, and we run into her at school events too!

17, which means the countdown is officially on for her 18th birthday!!! = 0

I think she really enjoyed her day.  She handled all the decorations, from things that we had around the house.

Her actual birthday fell on the second day of school this year, so it was an early morning celebration!

Her siblings collected things for her this year too, so she had lots of very Alice gifts waiting for her!

Happiest of birthdays to my favorite Alice in the whole wide world.  I hope this next year is filled with all kinds of wonderful things and events!

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edit 8-30-26: backdated for continuity.

Back to School

Our first back to school event was for Alice and Emily.  We ended up changing the plan last minute, so Emily didn't have time to plan her outfit, but she looked adorable, nonetheless!

Grace sported her Taco Bell sticker from her bag when we redeemed their library prizes. 

The twins had 'jitters' day next at their school.  There were no teachers there, and we only had approximate schedules (whatever was posted in powerschool.) but it was nice to get in and walk around the building for a bit, since the twins were feeling a little nervous.

It also gave Juliet an opportunity to recreate the picture I took of Grace in the spring, since I took no pictures of her at move up night.  oops.  In my defense, she was off walking around with Kennedy the entirety of the night.

The next event was also for the William, Grace, and Juliet, but William was off having fun with Jacob, so he didn't come.  Since he was returning to the school, he didn't mind missing it.  The girls were so happy to see their friends!

We have to get out the door while the sun is still hiding, so we didn't get first day pictures until after school!

There was just enough light at the bus stop for a picture of all 5 before they were off!

In a weird quirk of the calendar, Alice was 16 on her first day of school, which was her birthday, last year, her sophomore year, and because her birthday fell on the second day of school this year, she was 16 for the first day of school her Junior year as well!  She looks extra happy in this picture, because it turns out on days that her professor is not there, MW, she might get to leave early, and as long as she maintains a B, she gets to leave early every Friday!  On a related note, guess who now wants to work on their hours so that they can get their driver's license?

The twins were disappointed that they had to wear last year's shoes on their first day.  We got their new shoes in plenty of time, but despite being the same brand, the next size up was smaller in a different style, so we had to return them, and the new order wasn't expected until their first day, but in the afternoon of course.

It was a fairly smooth start to the new year.  I'm greatly enjoying the single start time and having them all on the same bus!  I worked my first sub job on Friday, at Dimondale, but with the car trouble we had earlier in the week (der UW and my car both decided to have issues on the same day) I was glad that I could at least walk to work if necessary. 

Alice completed part two of driver's training last week, so now she just needs her night hours, and then she will take the driver's test, and now she is motivated!  I'm so ready!

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