It does seem kinda strange to be sipping on Pumpkin Lattes and feasting on fall flavored foods with the temperature outside being in the upper 80's for the past 10 days now. The blankets are all washed and the jackets are still stored in the closets waiting to be pulled out and worn. I think my love for baking autumn foods will begin after it gets cooler outside.?.
There seems to be a lot going on around here lately but I think it seems like that because there always seems to be something on my calendar for each day!!! Today, I did our normal school route this morning and dropped off the kids at school. But then as soon as Austin and I got back home, this time we had to take Hadassah to meet up with school girls. The high school gets to go to Sight N Sound to watch Jonah today instead of meeting at school first. So, after Austin and I were finally back home, we ate some breakfast. And did laundry. And sat on the tractor. And in Daddy's truck. And because now you are wondering why Mike's truck is home, I'll tell you. :) Mike left very early this morning, 2:30 AM, to fly to Kentucky for a business trip. He will be gone till Friday and now every time we pull into the garage, Austin says, "Daddy's home!!!" But sorry little guy ... not yet. We miss Mike like crazy when he's away from home but I'm counting my blessings that it's only for a few short days!!! Love you Babe!!!
Another reason why I seem so busy is because I found fleas on Ginger the other day. And it's about driving us all crazy!!! I treat our household dog, Ginger, for fleas and ticks every 12 weeks and so I'm not sure why she got blasted with a nest of fleas on her? I just had her at the groomers two weeks ago and they didn't say anything about fleas on her. Maybe it came from our outdoor cat that has kittens right now? I don't know but with having a house dog for 6 years, this is the first that we had this happen! And I'm grossed out! We treated Ginger again and put on a flea collar for the first time ever. Now, I am washing and drying tons of bedding and trying to sweep carpets as much as possible. The only huge bummer is that our central vac is giving us such grief lately. I thought the problem was in our hose so I took that back to the vac guys to fix. Then it didn't work again so this time I exchanged my sweeper hose for one of theirs to use temporally. And, now theirs doesn't work!!!! AND YOU CANNOT be WITHOUT a sweeper if you think there may be fleas in your house!!!!!!! So, I borrowed Lena's Oreck. And you won't believe it but when we started sweeping, her sweeper started to smoke and stink like crazy! Now what??? I returned her sweeper before any damage was done and called up the vac guys once again. "I'm sorry guys but I'm thinking maybe there is a problem here at our home with the vacuum system???" They are coming today to take a look at it and it's a must fix because tomorrow the exterminator is coming to our home to spray for fleas and I'm to have the whole house swept up before they come!!! Help me, please!!! I'm also to have everything picked up from under the beds, floors and closets so that they can spray and do their work to kill any fleas!!! Excuse me as a itch because just thinking about all of this makes us all itch around the house!!!! :/// But this is a good thing because it's time to fall houseclean and cleaning under beds and in closets is a wonderful idea!!!
I have sprayed our beds and put baking soda on the carpets! I tried to sweep the house with one of the kids pushing the sweeper hose into the wall socket really hard because that's the only way it will work! I've wiped down so much with Pinesol because I read that helps to rid of these pests. Just this morning, I dropped off two huge garage bags filled to the top with extra décor pillows and a few stuffed animals ... so that they can be thoroughly cleaned!!! It's been a tad crazy but I'm sure that after tomorrows treatment, we should be free and clear!!! Or, at least that's what I'm praying for!!!
When I called the exterminator yesterday I asked, "How do you know if you have fleas in your house?" Her response was simple. "When you go outside and then you walk inside your home, do you have little bugs jumping on your legs or feet? They jump and bite and then you itch." I said, "UMMM, NO!!! We don't have that but Hadassah did have a few bites on her legs and I just want to make sure we are flea free!!" So, we scheduled for them to come! I'm the type that would much rather be safe of these pests and have them come out and spray than take a chance of them laying eggs and coming back again and again!!!
Volleyball has been another thing on our calendar that's been keeping Hadassah really busy. When she's got games, we try to make it work and go watch!!! I love this and I think she likes when we come too. :)))
With the tempts being warm, the grass is still growing and still so green. We got our grass treated with a chicken manure compost about three weeks ago and this makes a huge difference! The grass grows thick and green and fast!!! It's exactly what our grass needed after all the remodeling trucks and equipment have been on it two years ago. I've been mowing twice a week for awhile now but I think maybe I can just do once this week because of how hot it's been outside!!! The garden is slowly getting cleaned out. My tomato plant did not do well for this year and I guess I'll try another kind next year. The peppers are still growing. The herb box has been thriving all summer long and is still filled with green herbs to pick and use! I replanted some green beans and hope to get more of these in the freezer before the frost comes to get us! I also sprinkled some lettuce seeds the other week in the lose soil and we should be having some fresh greens here soon!
I know that we control our own schedules and so being busy is a personal issue. Mike and I are trying to say no to some "not so important things" and yes to only the more important events. Like yes, we want to go watch volleyball games where Hadassah is playing because we want to be plugged into our kids lives as much as possible. And no, even if they are good events, to other events. Honestly, we are a family that does like to get out and do things, so good planning with our time is so important.
How do you keep your family schedule under control? It's harder with teenagers because then they start to create their own sporting events and youth activities. I know for me, sometimes we just go with the busy and other times we just say have to say the n-o word.
One more thing, I did say yes to another Bible study lesson series. Monday morning was the first session and it was SO good!!! A big shout out to my husband for keeping Austin with him at the shop so I can go undistracted!!! Fingers crossed for the next session and taking "little man" along. I'm excited to dig into God's word and study the life of Gideon!!! It's the living word of God that feeds my hungry soul!!! Now, I must find time to sit, study and do my homework. Because I want to and because it's how I grow spiritually!!!
And here is a cheers to our evenings we do spend at home!!! Bedtime snacks are often graham crackers and milk!!! Look at how he is enjoying it!!! :)))
PS. The vac guy was just here to fix the central vac issues ... so I'm off to sweep the house!!!!
