Prom 2022!

How was that for a dramatic pause? And of course, so MUCH has happened during that pause that I am soooo behind on catching this page up! So, let's start in reverse, shall we? Prom took a ton of coordination for six families, half public-schooled, to get to a homeschool prom. But it was a special night for PaTch. Our kids are blessed to have oodles of good friends. Gabby went to get ready for the dance with C and M at M's house; C's teenaged cousin came over to help with the make-up, which turned out lovely! Normally this would be Caelan's tag in, but she's off at summer camp training (and she requested lots of pictures, which of course we took!)

This is what the boys did when I told them to "look casual . . ."

Brennen, of course, invited his sweetheart to the dance. Her earrings matched his smashing new three-piece suit quite well! They are so stinking cute together :)

We had to wait a bit for fancy B to arrive from work, so some silliness ensued before and after his appearance :)

Three out of four don't need work on their "smolder," but one could put in some extra practice in front of the mirror. Lol :)

And of course the nice pictures! Some deer ran through the forest behind as we were taking photos, but they were too quick to catch in the background :)

The weather was chilly, with rain in the forecast--because for EVERY dance there is rain :) After we finished the likewise chilly pictures, the kids all loaded into our pastor's family's 11-seater van for transport to the ball. I headed to the hotel to meet Buck with all the kids' afterprom bags. He and I grabbed some dinner at an unpleasantly noisy venue, and to make-up for okay, expensive food, we went to Chick-fil-A for milkshakes and cookies :) We had very little time at the hotel, which was weird, because last year it felt like we sat there for hours. But soon enough we scrambled out to pick up the kids; it took both our vehicles to transport them!

The boys waited in the hallway, while the girls changed in the hotel room. Soon Gabby said, "Mom, we need to talk to you." It turned out the ladies forgot several important items like, pants, socks and shoes, and undergarments to wear to afterprom. I loaned one of the girls a pair of pants I'd brought along for myself to change into, but as for the other items, we set out at 11 PM, dashing through the rain, trying to find ANYTHING that was still open. Google said Walgreens, not close, was open til midnight. We pulled up to the door at 11:05 and the guy locking the door said they were closing early because no one was available to work. Despite our confirmation phone call on the way, and my begging once we arrived, he was not willing to help or let us shop. Gas stations were even closed. So, the girls went to afterprom missing a few things, but they just hung out in the bowling alley part, so I guess bowling barefoot is okay :) At least C had pants!

We picked them all up at 1:15 and were back to meet all the other parents at our pastor's house by 2 AM. Everyone made it home safely, except for a deer-new-car incident for fancy' B's family--bummer! The kids all slept in their beds, and I expected them to sleep waaaaay in, but they were up bright and early (before 10) to get ready for the five-hour youth group event this afternoon. Now Brennen is at work, Gabby took G$ to do his lawn job, and then they are bike riding. I tell you, we are non-stop around here! So, that's my mini-update. Enjoy all the pictures!

Another Whirlwind Week

Today, I decide between taking a shower to get ready for youth group tonight or updating a smidge of the blog. As you are reading what I'm typing, I clearly chose the second option :) Last week had some big news, but I'll save that for a post of its own . . .

Day 1: church, kids go to a video game party and ice skating, an important meeting takes place . . .

Day 2: School, the usual, Graysen learns to iron (a multi-hour process when dad has 14 shirts waiting in the wings), fast forward to the end of the day--an important announcement is made (details in upcoming post) . . . important fact: company until past 11 PM.

Day 3: College fair for Caelan, three chiropractic appointments which morphed into two additional sports physicals (the first we've ever needed!), followed by two haircuts--Brennen and Buck, followed by a Zoom call to try to get a handle on the paper Brennen has been working on for three months. I'm not sure the status on Graysen's paper. Then Buck and I jumped in the car, headed to a neighboring state to do our banking (because we don't have any branches here), had our every-other week appointment, did some grocery shopping, and grabbed dinner. Caelan's friend stayed the night--but she arrived two hours later than expected . . . up past 11 PM again (which normally is fine, but we were sooooooo tired this week!)

Day 4: Gabby's academic advisor meeting at the college, followed by more school (you can just assume that's on the docket daily for about five to seven hours), a desperately needed nap for me, and then the frantic cooking of 14 lbs of ground beef to provide the meal for 50 plus students and leaders at youth group. I had my aunt's "recipe," but it was basically "just add stuff until it tastes right." I totally ran out of mustard, had six-inch flames shooting from under my pans, and had to abandon the (fantastically dirty, but not on fire) kitchen to drive all the food to the church (in my socks), sweating like a marathon runner. Usually, I stay and serve the food, but I needed a shower. So, I vanned home, fed the dogs, switched the laundry, cleaned the kitchen a bit, took my shower, and raced back to lead small group.

Day 5: Delivered eggs to my friend, who hasn't received eggs in quite a while due to the bitter cold temps we had (mixed in with the 60s and 70s, which did not inspire egg laying either). Brennen worked, a million things happened, I seriously cannot keep track of all the things. Gabby has been diligently addressing and stuffing her graduation invitations, which we hope to mail soon. It's a big job. Grades are due, gasp! Alllllll day working on updating files and grades . . .

Gabby's first go at designing the back of the invite--lol!!

Day 6: Choir, lesson planning, I picked G$ up from singing so he could help me wrangle the senior dog for shots, so he's eligible for boarding (something I realized had to be done this and only this day or we wouldn't have time!!). We took a very circuitous route, so senior dog didn't know where he was going until we pulled into the driveway, and then he exploded into a stress bomb of fur. Graysen had to strip down to athletic shorts and a t-shirt in the parking lot because he was fur-coated. Yuck! 

Caelan and Buck joined us at home after they finished working, and we all went to my brother's birthday party! He did not want a birthday party, but he got one because his sweet wife wanted him to be celebrated. It was a good party; I got to sit next to my youngest brother and he made me laugh. Brennen's sweetheart dropped him off after he'd been at her house after choir helping with guitar lessons. Caelan's sweetheart (that story still to be written) joined us just as the food arrived (after making a six-hour round-trip to drop a friend off at home for a wedding). Mr. M took lots of pictures, so I stole a couple from my mom's post, because I did not take any. We were super surprised when our auto-repairman, also K's brother, covered the cost of our meal, because we are such good customers. I mean, we really are with our fleet of 120k+ mile vehicles, but that was extra kind of him!! I'm pretty sure we had company until 11 PM that night, too, but they all run together :)

Day 7: Caelan goes on an extended field trip (more on that later :) We were asked at the last minute to help a sweet lady at church pack up her moving van, so the other three kids and I scooted over to help with the heavy lifting (the boys said they didn't know couches could weigh that much!). I had to leave after just an hour because my friend J invited me to eat Indian food and watch a theatrical production with her! Mom time is fun time, and it doesn't happen often :) We missed the gala we usually attend, not for lack of invitations, but for lack of time. Hopefully they raised a lot of money for the kiddos in Africa without us!

Day 8: We made it to church, figured out lunch, did not have time for the family book study we abandoned months ago (although I was really trying to make it happen!), did our best to fancy dress everyone in a mix-match of clothing and shoes that belonged to any variety of people in the house, in order to attend my sweet friend's wedding to a godly, kind man. She has been through it, in her life, and it was a joy to see her marry God's best for her! 

We rode to the reception with our pastor's fam, as Buck had Bible study and the girls had college work to complete. After being instructed by the bride to "eat yo greens," we made sure to listen! They were delicious, collard greens with corned beef, fried chicken, mac and cheese, all the good things :) The boys and I left when our pastor did, because we needed a ride. We were exhausted after a long day, with more long days to come!

Day 9: (Because it feels like our weeks have more than seven days in each, and yet a few extra would be nice to get stuff done around here, lol!) Providing another meal for youth group, so had to plan it and get a shopping list to Buck, before dashing off to an appointment with Gabby, before we both had to be back--her for work and me for my first elder nominating committee meeting, which lasted 1.5 hours! Buck was in to work at like 5 or 6 a.m., so he was home when I got home, but a little sleepy-eyed. Once the boys ran through some forgotten chores, Brennen and I jumped in the car to get to his sweetheart's musical concert at 7:30 p.m. A little more drive time in the books, and fun to see his girl sing.

Day 10: We spent the whoooooole day with other homeschoolers learning how to lobby and connect with our state's representatives. We also got to tour our lovely capitol building and to shake our governor's hand, pretty cool! When we got home, I convinced a reluctant Brennen that if we just drove for one more hour, we could wrap up all the paperwork and be that much closer to getting his license. He finally agreed, and we trolled all over the place, burning our $68 tank of gas (makes me want to cry!!) When we arrived home, I spent the next hour or so getting everything scanned, signed, and submitted to the state. Hopefully, they accept our two years of effort and let us finish the process! We drove into our neighborhood as Caelan and her sweetheart were driving out for a surprise date he had planned  . . . it's hard to save all that info for it's own post. He was also here until 11 again, which we decided was a good hour for all types of gatherings at our home to conclude :) **Update: the paperwork was accepted by the next day! Now we just have to wait a MONTH for there to be an open drive test, whaaaa!! In the past, though, if we keep checking, sometimes earlier ones do become available.**

Day 11: That's today! (**Update** No it's not :) After completing school, Brennen took his turn at ironing seven shirts--I told them it was worth extra credit for home ec., not to mention an important life skill! He finished up just as his sweetheart arrived for a pre-youth group visit. Gabby got back from an intense search for dress shoes (she tried at least five stores!) for her upcoming political camp. Graysen just came in from playing football with a neighbor, and I need to take scraps up to the chickens. But the laundry needs to be switched, so that first.

Day 12 . . . let's just say it includes six dentist appointments, moving dry wall and insulation for a friend's family, Brennen working, and the last-minute addition of watching a triple National Honor Society induction. Wheweeeee!

Now to tend the chickens, take a shower, and get another meal together for youth group--I must cut the muffins!! Okay, I've lost it now, ha :) Oh, it's Muriel's' birthday today. She is two :)

(BTW, I didn't have time to post this yesterday, so mentally update everything by one, lol!)

**Update** I got some cute pics of the NHS event . . . glad my kids got to go and support their friends!

A Jazzy Cabaret

I cannot count the hours Caelan put in to preparing for her first ticketed show! She earned that scholarship money, and then some! She's been at school 10 hours a day for the past week, preparing. When she discovered the show was completely sold out, she was over the moon with excitement! 

Our day leading up to the show was so incredibly packed, that I listed out 14 must-dos in order of time and importance--there was a side list of eight additional must-dos, to do, too! In fact, because of the tight schedule, after choir Gabby dropped Brennen off for a meeting at work, and we let his sweetheart pick him up on her way to our house before the show. She planned to come over early, anyway, and had to drive right by :) They played the game of Life while Caelan did her first round of hair and make-up in the bathroom.

Just in time for us to follow Caelan to the college, Buck dashed through the door with flowers (that was on the list a couple of times :) and we all loaded into the van. Caelan said the doors opened at 7, so that's what time we arrived. However, she told me today that people started seating themselves at 6!! That would explain how, when we arrived just a few minutes after 7, the room was already packed. We met up with Caelan's friend, Noah, and then claimed the only three tables that were near each other--which happened to be stage right, and where the musicians entered and exited the stage. I did see a video camera set up, so I'm hoping we'll have access to a recorded production or at least a link for the show from a more forward angle. Our boys, Gabby, Mia, and Noah grabbed the table closest to the stage. Buck and I sat with Caelan's friend Emma at another. My mom and youngest brother sat with my oldest younger brother's wife, and he sat at the remaining seat at our table, but next to her at her table--so cozy :)

Buck hadn't eaten, so he was pounding the salty snacks strategically placed to drive show-goers out to the lobby to purchase three-dollar bottles of pop, which he did :) The tables and the snacks and the drinks added to the nightclub atmosphere, as did the bluesy jazz band numbers and the vintage costuming. It was fun to see a bunch of kids we've gotten to know through Caelan, show their talents on stage. Even better was the way they encouraged, supported, and cheered for each other after each performance. They are genuinely excited for each other to do well and that makes the whole show even better.

Caelan's first song was a solo, and she appeared so comfortable on stage that you'd think she'd done it a million times! Other than at church, this was the first audience-filled solo for her. She sang "Somewhere That's Green" (skipping the first verse) from Little Shop of Horrors (which she hasn't seen), but the directors thought it fit the mood of the show and her vocal style. She did a great job, acting, singing, at least one skirt-spinning twirl, and engaging with the audience. I think she might love this!

In the second act, Caelan's duet with her friend Aaron was the grand finale of the show! With her siblings' help, she's been designing and practicing choreography for this number for a month. She said that this performance was the best they've ever done, which her accompanist pointed out was great timing :) I noticed that her vocal power and projection have grown since she's been taking voice lessons and participating in the choirs at her school. I also think her confidence to belt out the lyrics, knowing her voice will hold has grown, too. Overall, she just looked like she was having so much fun!

After the show, we presented Caelan with her flowers, got to enjoy the enthusiasm of her friends knowing it was a job well done, and of course we took lots of pictures! She has quite a fan club :)

In Response to the Last Post . . .

My husband decided that I needed a break . . . from stress, from puke, from dogs, from teaching school and checking school, and cleaning the house, and all the things. We don't take breaks very often. But he was willing to give up his Ebay spending budget until the fall to cover an overnight away. He did the planning but let me pick the hotel (because I am very picky about hotels). Here's how our day went . . .

Buck was super excited to get moving and pulled all the suitcases we needed out of the garage, which of course stressed out the dogs--which made me excited to get moving :) We packed more outfit changes than seemed reasonable for a quick getaway, but we ended up each only arriving home with one extra pair of underwear--you can never be too prepared, always take extra, lol!

Our first stop was the foot and hand spa. My last manicure was right before Caelan was born, and my last pedicure was with Buck in CA before we got married . . . it has been a minute! The chairs had a back massager built in; the brushes and other things they used to pedicure our feet were VERY tickly. I clearly have much more sensitive feet than I did 20 years ago. I feel grateful I didn't accidently kick the pedicure person in the face :) They also did a sugar scrub and rubbed hot stones on our legs. Personally, I could have gone for less leg work and more foot massage. I decided Buck's skills far surpass the trained professional's . . . and they are free! 

The lady doing his pedicure thought it was hilarious that there was pink nail polish on Buck's side of the shared table. She joked about him putting that on his toes or his nails. I just grabbed the first color that looked reasonable and happened to set it down on his side. The person painting my nails asked if I was sure that was the color I wanted, because it was basically clear. I seriously did not care at all, who sees anyone's feet in the winter? Mine are under layers of socks, slippers, and a blanket over all that. *Basically clear* pink is peachy keen for me.

While I wandered to the front in my stylish foam slippers to bask my toes under the rays of blue light, Buck went into manicure mode. He stopped biting his nails and they'd grown out really nicely. He wasn't sure how to clip them properly, so he ordered himself a manicure. We both think the professional cut them too short, but probably was going off of where his nail beds normally are. It will take a while for the skin to get used to longer nails. That was probably more info than anyone needed to know. 

After our mani-pedi, we grabbed some super healthy smoothies (because we were in *self-care* mode; that's a mode now!). Then, as if inside a fairy tale, with our smoothies in hand, we rounded the corner and entered into a real-life bookstore! Like, with books in it! It smelled so papery . . . ahhh. 

I haven't read a book, at all (other than a daily devotional and the Bible) since flag football season. I think my brain burned out on Thomas a Kempis, Martin Luther, and C.S. Lewis in his most-thinkiest of writings. After browsing for quite a long time, I picked out three potential winners (Buck took pictures of all the ones I picked up and pondered but put back . . . just in case we need to make future purchases :) It was so much fun to walk out of a real bookstore, carrying a bag of real books! Kind of like when we were in Maine last summer, actually.

Another item on our day away, was going out to eat at a super fancy restaurant that we had a gift card from Christmas for--the place we planned to go when our Valentine's Day plans got skadooshed by big bosses. But, when Buck called this time for reservations, the only available table was at 8:45 PM! We eat late around here, but not THAT late :) So, because we've been watching The Amazing Race, and they've been in Greece eating delicious-looking Greek food for the past couple of episodes, Buck found a Greek restaurant where we could get an afternoon snack. It was sooooo yummy!

Next, it was time to take our luggage and ourselves to the hotel. I picked one with wooden floors, because hotel carpet is ew. We were not really sure where it was located but followed the Google to get to the college area of town. When we ascended the elevator to the "tower room" I'd booked--we were astonished at the view! Well, more so the access to the view . . . the entire wall was made of windows! It was like what we hope the European Viking Riverboat Cruise (that we someday hope to take :) will be like. We could see the baseball stadium, the events center, and the top of the pedestrian bridge. It was pretty neat!

Buck insisted that I sit on the little reading couch in our hotel room and read. He ordered me up a second blanket. He turned on the TV. And I had to remember *how* to read. Meaning, not skim for critical information or content, but to actually let my brain rest on the words and engage with the story. I can't remember the last time I read for fun--but it came back pretty quickly! 

I ended up finishing two books in two days . . . that hasn't happened in forever! My MIL will want to know what they were, so the first is called The Bookwanderers (a story of 11-year-old British children who discover they can get into their favorite storybooks and become friends with the characters--but only in their own copy of the book; should they ever pick up a different edition, the characters would never know they'd met. Their friends in this book were Anne of Green Gables and Alice from Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes also made an appearance :) The other is a book called Shady Hollow, which is not for kids, but the entire cast is woodland creatures who behave like humans and are trying to solve a murder mystery in their sleepy little neck of the woods. The third one, which I haven't started yet, is based on true events, but fictional, called The Paris Library . . . I think it is about French librarians saving books during WWII when they were afraid of German invasion and the destruction of irreplaceable culture and history? We'll see!

After reading for about three hours (what?!), Buck and I started getting fancy for our dinner date. We arrived a bit early, but soon found the way to our table. The staff was all dressed in black slacks and shirts, wearing vests and ties. We ordered $55 steaks and then all the individually priced salads and sides that these types of establishments don't include in the price (that was a surprise the very first time we dined at an upscale steak house years and years ago; generally there is some free bread ;) Our salads were delicious; mine had hot bacon dressing, which could have gone either way, but ended up not being spicy, but actually hot in a steaming little metal pitcher. Spinach salad is usually too cold for my teeth, so that heated it right up :)

We were plumb stuffed before we wanted to be, but Brennen appreciated the $100 worth of leftovers the next day :)

After returning to the hotel room, where I could not wait to get back to my book, we attempted an evening lights selfie by our big windows, but alas, we still are not great at selfie taking, lol! We did have the foresight to order a cheesecake dessert "to go," because eventually our stomachs would make room. It was fun eating dessert late at night in a new place with a pretty view. Buck did a great job of helping me unplug from all the stress and enjoy some responsibility free time. He's pretty fun to spend time with :)

The next morning, we grabbed chai, coffee, and breakfast at Starbucks on our way to church. My mom and nephew joined us in our row; we got to check in with our Crew and heard about their fun night visiting their grandma and cousin. Church was good, the kids got a group of friends together and went for a walk (because it was an unseasonably nice day), Buck went to a new Bible study, and I read my new books. Super relaxing, we should do this more often!