When Your New Good Friend is an Amazing Photographer

Oh my goodness! I love that my NGF not only took our family pictures the morning of homecoming, but she also captured these amazing shots of the hoco crew later that evening! The twins weren't used to having their pictures taken by direction, so that was highly amusing to witness. I'll include my behind the scenes pics in another post (because this one might explode if I try to upload them all into one ;)



Best homecoming pics ever!!

More Homecoming?

That's right! We've been trying to find a time to get over to our old neighbors' new house for a tour and a dress fitting :) Their two college-aged daughters had closets bursting with recent fancy fashions, and our girls were excited to see what might work for their future dance ensembles. We finally picked an impromptu afternoon, and away we went!

Loved their new house, it was good to see them, and oh my carrots the number of sparkly dresses!! Here are a few examples of the array . . .



Mostly Caelan liked everything, but Gabby did pick a winner, which you will see in the formal homecoming photos that I will post once I collect them all off of their various locations online :) So.Much.Fancy.

Accomplishments

After a lot of work and a few pulled stitches, the quilt for the kids' karate instructor is complete! The girls and I were invited to a Mary Kay party where the wife of said instructor would be--a secret delivery to keep up our subterfuge :) She says he'll love it . . . we'll find out soon if she's right; his birthday is just around the corner!



Accomplishment number dos . . . I cut Graysen's hair! It was bit fluffy, so he finally gave in and let me trim it. Since I've not been allowed to use the clippers since *the Brennen incident of 2007* I started with scissors. Soon, my triplets were in the bathroom laughing uproariously as I sculpted my masterpiece. Eventually Brennen insisted I at least give the small trimmer a try, and that helped blend the scissor marks.



In the end, Graysen likes his new style, he's been complimented several times, and I feel like I've somewhat redeemed myself from past hair cutting faux paus ;)

National Anthem Opportunity

The boys' flag football league hosts a big fundraiser every fall. Last year we missed it because we were chasing moosen in Wyoming ;) This year, the girls offered to sing the national anthem to open the parents/coaches game. Let me just tell you it rained hard!! We were sure they'd cancel, but nope! Mucky shoes and all, we stood on the field and listened to them sing :) They only had one microphone, but overall it went well. It was a neat opportunity for them!

We didn't stay for the entire event, because our weekends are nuts as it is. But since most of our NGFs were there, we did stay a little longer--raffle prize draws and an amusing half time show featuring the boys' teammates/coaches many sons :)








And somehow in between, Brennen and Graysen managed to play a pick-up game of basketball with a bunch of college athletes from a nearby Christian college and Brennen joined a large-scale, off-field football game in the far corner of the park. I think they had a good time!

Testing, Testing!

While the boys were away hunting (here are the couple pictures Buck shared with me . . . apparently during their three-day stalk, they saw very few critters due to warm weather, the corn still being in the fields, and rain) . . .



. . . the girls were busy earning some college credit at home! They took their first CLEP test in Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (for free) and both did really well. The proctor was really nice, the facility was freshly renovated, and I read a book for the 45 minutes (of the 90 allotted) it took them to finish the test. First three credits are in the bag! So we went out for lunch to celebrate :)








A few days later, Buck took Caelan for a walk-in drive test. They walked back out when they were told there was no time for them that day. So, they went back earlier the following day, and boom! Caelan got her driver's license! After waiting five weeks (on top of the year it took to get through driver's ed. and to accumulate the hours necessary for testing approval), the drive test itself--took maybe 15 minutes. She snuck in a week ahead of her testing appointment, so at least there's that :) However, Buck's car was dead from sitting most of the summer awaiting repair (for what we did not know), so the timing was funny that she finally had her license, but no vehicle to drive places. 



But, we did find this little dive of a repair shop (Buck LOVED it) because one of our pastors' son works there as a mechanic. Buck wanted to throw some business his way . . . like a ball bearing replacement (better than the axle) and an original battery replacement (better than engine failure). The check engine light was on because the battery was not holding a charge (we could jump start it, but it wasn't actually charged). It turns out, the battery is under the rear driver's side wheel well and required a tire removal etc. etc. to replace! Not quite as easy as Buck's usual self battery replacements on our other vehicles. 

Anyway, after all that . . . she has wheels to drive to work and to rehearsal at church and home from work and it feels SOOO weird to have her and Gabby in their own separate car when we're driving places together (but staying different amounts of time). Maybe one year wasn't quite long enough . . . just kidding :) It really does help so much to have her responsible for her own transportation! Prayers for safe travels all the days of her life :) 

Things at Church

Our pastor/small group leader clued me in that he was going to use our family as an example during the morning services. We didn't realize, we'd be worked into all of the announcements with different stories :) We got a shout out for having named our daughter the same as his, for buying him a beard kit for Christmas, for being part of his small group (and their enthusiastic recruiting of us on small group intro night :), his complete misunderstanding of our last name (including the new one he made up for us and has used ever since), and a bunch of other things that had our kids and his kids laughing. 

Buck couldn't be at church that morning, so he asked me to take a picture of us on the screen . . . I said, "How would he have a picture of us?" Buck, said, "I bet he will." So, Buck was correct, and I awkwardly took a picture of ourselves on the screen for my husband. Then shoved my phone back into my purse as quickly as possible, ha!


Later that night, the church held a small group gathering to help new people find groups at good times and in good geographical locations for themselves and/or their families. Our small group is anything but small. We top out at 60 easily . . . not small! (lots of kids). So, while everyone else had homemade cookies, bars, bowls of candy, flowing curtains of fall color, cozy arrangements of pumpkins and other snazzy displays on their tables . . . we had this . . .


Lol! Nothing. Not even the time we meet. Those books you see aren't even for our small group, they are for an upcoming school class at the church. The bracelets and frisbee came from the youth table to our right, because I think we looked so empty they felt they should share with us. Our aforementioned pastor/leader said, "We really don't need any more people in our group, unless they are wanting to learn the ropes and multiply out in a few months." We're at capacity! 

So . . . we told a lot of people about the upcoming school, and we talked to a lot of people about student ministry. We might have scared a few people off, when they cheerfully said, "What does your group do for outreach?" and we would say (imagine a nefarious, theatrical vocal presentation), "We work with MIDDLE schoolers EVERY week. HIGH SCHOOLers, too, mwhahahaha!!!" Okay, maybe not quite that dramatic, but we sure had a lot scurry by to find a better fit. Lol :) Our youth group is blessed with an abundance of volunteers. It's pretty awesome!

That day our girls not only covered Sunday school classes for a couple of no-shows (and my NGF needed a break), but they also provided childcare that evening for the small group event. That's a lot of kid care!

And speaking of youth group . . . if your kid plays football in the dark (with the light up football he and his brother bought, that had to be returned because the light was worn out during shipping, and then a replacement was sent, and so far seems to be lasting longer), he might come home looking like this!



Eeek!! This is why I keep a doctor kit in my purse. I've handed out Band-Aids across the country. I kid you not. That night, there was an audience of kids surrounding B's ribcage as I fixed up his bleed in the sanctuary.

And when Graysen's and his sporty, professional-looking youth leader turns out to be an unexplainably huge fan of High School Musical (allegedly knows all the lyrics and choreography) . . . it only makes sense to check out what all the fuss is about (approximately a decade after the movie's release). I realized I've never actually seen the entire movie, but the kids loved it! We had an impromptu dance party in the living room and the songs have been on the vocal playlist of random lyrics at our house ever since :)

Puppy Stuff

This dog is such a goofball . . .







He played that game with himself for a remarkably long time. I couldn't stop laughing, the way his ears stick up on the couch while he's diving into the couch, lol!



He's also clearly invaluable as a quilting dog . . . bring on the fabric, and he'll lay right in the middle of it :)





In the midst of his siblings, he's a bit tricky to find! Since they were pups, they had a colored ribbon tied around their necks. When they grew, they got a collar of the same color (plus leash). A puddle of poodles, a double of doodles :) In good news, this pup managed to pass the first part of his public access test! Now to test in public, and he'll earn his temporary service dog vest.