Fall break wraps up today and it’s actually been quite fantastic, I mean, not that I didn’t almost lose my mind temporarily, but we did enjoy each other’s company as well.  It’s a balance.  I submit to you a small re-cap.

Costume thinking-about/trying-on/Harper’s-the-only-one-who-can-make-a-desion.  She wants to be a witch…again.  I’m thinking same dress as last year, maybe just add a new fancy witch hat since her $5 one from last year is long gone.

Target popcorn snacks.

Playing outside and mountain biking.

Spent all Friday morning with sweet Allie and her video equipment.  My Bible journaling class has officially been videoed and I was incredibly awkward, but honestly, I’m just crazy excited/relieved this part in the process is done.  The Interwebs will surely not know what to do with all of my awkward faces, words and hand gestures.  Allie was a dream to work with…crazy kind and sweet.

Pumpkin patch visiting and pumpkin and gourd purchasing.  And spelling gourd correctly took me 3 more times than I’d like to admit 🙂

Pan!  Oh my.  Need I say much more, but I will say this…I loved it!!!!  Like triple loved it.  And I have firmly decided it has my most favorite scene in a movie ever.  Four word clue: Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Reading, reading and more reading.  I officially have 3 readers in the house now.  Harper reads all the time…she loves a good book, but now Solomon is hot on her heels.  I feel like he’ll join a book club.

Baseball watching.  Full Count games are my fave.  These teenagers and coaches and parents…gah…makes me all gushy-love feeling and just thankful I get to watch it all take place.

And cousin sleepovers.  Harper can never get enough girl time…ever.  It does her little heart good.

And I already hear little voices scheming about the day.  I start my sugar detox today as well.  Oh my.  I don’t even know who I am.  I’ll probably die, but I’m excited to give it a try.  I do like a good challenge.  I’ll keep you guys posted.  In three days there will probably be a very angry post in all caps…that will be your sign it’s not going well 🙂

Happy Monday.

We are officially on fall break which meant grocery shopping with 5 kiddos this morning.  I need a nap 🙂  I kid.  Kind of.  They are actually usually totally fine at stores…Amon just tends to get a little crazy with his small cart.  I yell things like “Watch your heels people.”  I don’t really, but should.  They are home for the next 7 days straight…they have off next Monday as well.  Last night right before bed I got super anxious and stressed and could have cried thinking about all “the things” for this week.  I kept thinking how His mercies are new every morning and this morning I felt much better.  I did decide to do major food prep today because not worrying about dinner takes my stress level down like 7 notches.  I precooked ground turkey for tacos and chili.  I’m thawing 2 things of chicken which I’ll precook tonight for White Chicken Chili (I use almond milk for milk and plain greek yogurt for sour cream) and marinate in THIS served with cooked cauliflower.  I will be responsible for feeding them lunches this week too…God save the queen.  They get free breakfast and lunch at school.  I went ahead and attempted another batch of cornbread and am soaking pinto beans tonight for Crockpot Pintos again…perfect, easy lunches.  And I made up a batch of Tuna Cakes too.  And now I need another nap.  Honestly, this absolutely helps my anxiety!!!

Our littlest has a pretty big meeting this week.  I keep praying and praying for us to simply love and support and show the love of Christ.  Reunification feels close at hand, which is amazing, but this is also very new for us.  Praying God makes us worthy of His calling and we make Him proud in the way we love.  This verse from 1 Timothy 1:5 the Message is where it’s at!

“…Simply love – love uncontaminated by self interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.”

Hudson’s surprise party was too fun.  He was adorable.  More on that later, but Sunday rolled around and 2 kids were nursing colds, we all had a birthday party hangover, Josh Kelley had his d-group with his high schoolers and so the kids and I skipped church and stayed home for 2 movies and a popcornfest.  It’s what we do.  I also attempted to give myself a few dreadlocks.  Which one I ended up wrapping in brown string.  When Josh came home I told him what I had been doing he smiled and said, “Good to know you’ve been using your time wisely.”  Hahahahahahahha.  He loves me.

Apparently October is the month for 31 day challenges.  I’ve seen a bunch of different ones…writing, blogging, exercising, etc but when Lesley Zellers posted her sketch a day challenge I decided to make the commitment.  I have loved this so much.  The prompts are great, it is challenging and new and makes me think outside the box.  It’s not too late to join up.  You can see my posts on my Instagram along with the hashtag.  Find me @pitterpatterart.

And Josh and I are extremely out of touch with any kind of pop culture…like clueless.  We had some movie theater gift cards tucked away and the boys went to a sleepover Friday night, so Josh took Amon and Harper to the movies.  When he got home he told me how out of touch we really are…bahahahaha.  If you have not picked up on Josh’s dry sense of humor by now, well, you’re missing out.  Dude keeps me laughing all the time.  Anyways, he told me about all the fun previews for upcoming movies.  I laid in bed Sunday morning with Solomon and watched every single preview we could find for Pan.  I really want to see this.  It just looks amazing.  We hardly ever go to the theaters, but I am considering not waiting for this one to come out in Redbox.

 That’s it!  That’s all I have for today.  Here’s to a good fall break and a great start to another week.

Happy Monday.