I can't count the many times I sat down to blog within the past week but then got interrupted. I kept thinking I would finally get a chance to type out some words and post some pics, when only to get right back off the chair to do something! Help with a puzzle. Stick another load of laundry in the washer and then dryer. Get supper going. Trying to blog in between this and that is not my favorite way to type. I prefer to stick to the post and be done. Even now, though, the music playing in the living room for Ashlyn is blaring because no one can remember what happened to the Bose remote! So, here goes! :)
Last Thursday and Friday the kids did not have school. "Teachers In Service". We slept in a bit on Thursday morning and I kept thinking about Sight N Sound. The kids were never at any Sight and Sound performances and I thought maybe, just maybe, we could go today!?! I called the theater and they said that if we came for the 11:00 Moses show, we could get discounted tickets. We rushed to get ready to go and out the door we went! The kids loved it!!! I did too!!! Hadassah loved the 'real life' story, the songs and roasted almonds! She thought of how hard it must have been for Moses' mom to put him into that basket and watch him float out of her life. At least for that moment. And how hard it must have been to later take him to live with the princess in the palace! Matthew also loved the show, the story, not so much all the songs, but he was totally amazed at how their did all the lights, sounds, props, and staging. As an angel came down from the ceiling in one of the scenes, he was trying hard to see how and where the angel was tied from! Got to love the kid!!! I loved the whole performance too and again was reminded that this actually happened. Sometimes when I read the Bible stories again and again, it seems to become just a story. But when I remind myself that these were REAL people with REAL feelings and REAL hurts and problems, it brings the story to life in my mind! I was inspired! After the wonderful show, we grabbed some lunch at Chickfila and then back home to clean the house and get some work done!
(Again, pics from my not so good phone camera.)
That night, Mike, Ashlyn and I snuck out to say hello to Mike's grandparents. Daudy King had open heart surgery weeks ago. Ashlyn loves Mommy King's 'little people' toys.
With another day of 'no school', the kids helped me clean the shop and then back home to do caramel apples! We love doing this together and the tastes are great too!!! We unwrapped a whole bag of caramels and then melted them adding 1 Tb. of water. Then we dipped our "crispy crimson" apples in the warm caramel and then topped them with other candies.
Saturday, I went for six gallons of already pressed grape juice. We put the juice in 1/2 gallon jars and then cold packed them for 10 minutes. We've got a dozen of concord grape juice to add to my fresh pressed juice mom and I did a few weeks ago! Both juices are good but both have a different taste. Drinking the already pressed type of juice is the best without adding water and sugar!
I got a call from a friend that used to live in Davis County, Indiana, but now lives in Pa. She had some relatives come in for the weekend and they were wanting to meet up together. They came to our house right before lunch. What a blast to reconnect and see old friends! We spent a lot of time together years ago, so hearing about their families and lives now was great! I toured them around town. We ate soft pretzels. We went to "The Old Candle Barn" but came out of there really fast! It's not the kind of store for little children to be roaming around! Too many burning candles and fragile items!!! :) Then we went to Lapp Valley for ice cream! :) I know ... not the healthiest choice but they were tourist and so we had to go here!!! Off to buy some yummy popcorn that is made right in our area! The best popcorn around!!! They loved that too! Then I took them to my mom's house. Mom and Dad own an old farm house and they wanted to see it. We laughed and fussed and the time went by way too fast. They were heading for home that night yet and we had supper plans, so we said our good byes. Thanks for coming ladies!
Sunday, we had a good lesson in Sunday School about "The Good Samaritan". Do we see others around us that are hurting? Do we reach out to them? Mike was a great teacher and I hope the teenagers were challenged! We rested in the afternoon and then went for quick runs. Supper was being served for all our buddies at JR & Ruthie's! We love this group of friends and they will ever be dear to our hearts! Getting together for supper was a blast! JR made gourmet burgers on the grill. It went so well with Ruthie's to die for creamy potato soup! We ladies added the salad and desserts to the menu! Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pasta salad, brownie dessert, pumpkin gems and so on!!! Everything was far out delicious! Thanks JR and Ruthie! The guys played a game of Acquire while the ladies sat and chatted and tried to keep the kids from ripping apart Ruthie's beautiful home! :)
It was back to school for the kids on Monday but I was out of the house soon after they got on the bus! We had planned a sister's day to Ikea!!! I love going to this place and seeing all the home furnishings. I strolled through the displays trying to remember some organizing ways for our upcoming remodel job on our home. The other ladies went so fast! Mom and I did end up paying first and waiting for the others but that gave us a chance to talk about where we wanted to eat lunch. Mom suggested "Cheesecake Factory" and I looked at how far it was from Ikea. Only minutes down the road!!! We were all super excited! This restaurant is amazing and every single one of us ladies love to eat there! We ordered our food and ate with much satisfaction!!! Then we got a few pieces of cheesecake. You just have to at this place!!! Delicious!!! The day out was again a great time with sisters!!! Thanks for the fun time ladies!!!
I got back home the same time the kids got home from school. I cleaned out lunches and then got ready for another outing. We had a dinner with all the church ladies! Again, it was a night of laughing, eating and time with friends!
My calendar was open for yesterday and that was relaxing! Ashlyn and I spent time together! Then after school, we went to Hadassah's volleyball game. She again played well and her serves were fast, hard and with power! She is so good!!! They lost the first game but won the next two!!! Good job girls!!!
Be blessed on this dreary day. May God's light still shine through your windows and hearts!!!
We are loving FALL!!!
