Can I just say that my life is busy, busy, busy!! I have attempted to update my blog numerous times, only to fall asleep at my computer (sitting on the couch with the computer on my lap). I guess that's what happens when I get up at 6 & try to post at 11 pm (or later).
So now it is Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting on the couch with the laptop on my lap, and I can feel my eyes getting heavy. But since I am actually typing, I think I will at least get one post in!
Thursday the kids did not have school (there was no school in the state of Idaho Thursday or Friday because of state-wide in-service.) It started to rain, which quickly turned into snow.
And the flakes were big and wet!
It kept snowing, and snowing and then it started sticking. Meanwhile, we were inside switching bedrooms. Benjamin's toddler bed came down (& out of my room---YAY!), Brienna moved into the front bedroom by herself (even though it is the smallest room), Callum moved into the other room so he could share the full-sized bottom bunk with Benjamin and Emmalee moved to the top bunk in that room. Oh--and the sewing desk went from the front bedroom (which did I mention is the smallest room) into my room (where Ben's bed was).
Zane didn't have to move rooms, so he moved his dresser to the opposite wall. Although we got a ton of moving, dejunking, and cleaning done, we still have a long way to go!
As it continued to snow, and stick, and be very, very wet, Zane found out that his football game scheduled for 6pm was cancelled. I wasn't too disappointed because I really didn't want to dig out the long johns, find my boots and stand in the wet, cold snow videoing his game.
So instead, I sent the kids outside to harvest all the tomatoes from the garden.
It looks a bit like winter--I really enjoyed the 2 days of fall we had last week! (thankfully the forecast is for mostly sunny days in the mid-50's for this next week.)
And Emmalee's poor sunflowers--when she saw them, she said, "Oh no! My sunflowers have died and are buried!" We had hoped that they would recover, and even though they are alive, they are still bowed very low to the ground.
Friday morning we woke up to a foggy day. The fog stayed most of the morning into the afternoon. At first I thought it was raining again because I could hear water drops. But as I investigated a bit more, the snow was melting/dropping off all the leave-filled trees.
And the creek by our house was 3/4 of the way full again--about as high as it was while it was running during the summer. It had dried up, then started running with the last big rainstorm. It was almost dried up again when this storm came through.
Friday we worked on the rooms some more, and I dug the Halloween totes out of the shed, although we still haven't opened the totes to decorate the house & sort through the costumes.
Later half of us went to the church to set up tables and chairs for Grandpa Stewart's 80th birthday celebration on Saturday. While we were setting up, Brienna, Emmalee, & Benjamin were scrubbing 70 potatoes & getting them wrapped.
Saturday morning I made 2 double batches of banana bread/muffins. One batch was a "regular" one (followed the recipe), and the other batch was my sugar-free, whole-wheat recipe (that I modify & use honey, applesauce, etc.). Then I put 50 of the potatoes into my electric roaster & cooked them for a little over 2 hours. The 20 that didn't fit in the roaster I put into the oven.
We had about 50-60 people there (I'd have to stop and count to figure out how many showed up). We also celebrated Grandma Marge's birthday since hers is Nov. 5th (same as Ben's).
Brienna holding her cousin, Kassidy's newborn son, Tripton (Trip). There were a lot of kids, and it was fun to see so much family at a fun event.
Grandpa Stewart, Grandma Marge & Veronica (Pat's wife). Notice Marge's birthday present of a new recliner that has a remote to help her get in and out of the chair. She is recovering from a fierce (and so far very successful) fight against cancer.
I think she loves it! (Pat showing her the ins and outs of how the chair works)
This was the 2nd time in the last 16 years that all 8 siblings were together at once.
Rusty, Gordon, Ken (who put this all together--thanks!), Tammie, Pat, Dad Stewart, Reed, Bill & Skeeter (aka Keith Jr.)
The group getting ready for a big group picture.
And more of the bunch.
We were almost ready--but I didn't get a big group picture with my camera, so I hope that Pat or Gordy gets a copy to me!
I did take a few hours last week to download 2 months worth of pictures, and now I need to edit & get them ready to post & print.
My plans are to post more often here on my blog, but if I'm missing, then you'll know that I am getting some sleep!
