Catchin' Up with Us MeYeR's

Greetings from sunny and warm-ish New Mexico! I say warm-ish, because while it's 55 during the day and to those in the Northern US, this seems really warm, but to us that don't have our heaters on yet...it gets a bit chilly overnight...so glad for my heated water bed~HA! It's been an eventful few weeks around here, so let's get to it! How about some bullet journalling? (Warning: Goofy pictures ahead!)

• Dan is STILL in Hurley and is quickly growing weary of it. The few guys that are left on the job are the ones that expect someone else (namely Dan) to carry their dead weight and cover their tracks to the boss. Plus, since 'Shua isn't working with him anymore, I think he is lonely, sitting up in a hotel room all by himself. So when he gets home, he is tired and grumpy. He's also been either doing side work on the weekends to start earning Christmas money, or been working on someone's car....poor guy can't catch a break : ( I bought him tickets to the Speedway for next weekend, (shh, don't tell!) so hopefully I can get him to rest a bit and enjoy himself for 5 whole minutes.


• 'Shua and Lauren have both acquired seasonal jobs with my beloved Kohl's and start in a few weeks. Hurray, that's answered prayer! Plus, unemployment has come through for 'Shua and he has also been working weekends with Dan. Josh celebrated his 21st birthday last week and got a new PS2 and a fishtank, both things that he has been wanting. So, they have a roof over their heads and food on the table. God is good, all the time!










• David has been invited to join the boys gymnastics team at the local gym, tested all the way into level 5 (WOW) and has been training with the level 4 kids waiting for his upper body strength and flexibility to improve...but the coach said a few days ago that David is too good for this group and he needs to move up. David is nervous since those kids are a bit older and have been doing gymnastics for longer, plus their practice schedule will interfere with Game Night...so he hasn't decided yet, but he is really enjoying working out at the gym.









• Pat has been working hard at school these past few weeks and I am really proud of him! He sits right down and gets to work with a minimum of fuss or muss...it's really great! His attention span has improved greatly over the past year and he is maturing in other areas as well. He is glad to be home, although he does miss his PaPa and Grma and speaks of them often





• Derek is enjoying pre-school and likes to do his coloring pages, work in his lapbook and read books with Mama. He is the resident clown and keeps us laughing everyday with his silly antics and ridiculous statements. He has declared himself a BIGGIE boy and wants to go along to gymnastics, to 'Shua's house or wherever he thinks he's being left out of going...LOL!








• Me, I'm still working at Kohl's of course, teaching school and digging into our new curriculum that we are starting on Monday plus trying desperately to keep up with the laundry...HA! Pat has had hives this week and in trying to get everything as clean as possible to rule out allergens, I've broken my previous record of over 30 loads of laundry in 1 week: YIKES! I've enjoyed a week of not cooking since Jodi has planned all the meals this week and cooked them all, hurray! I've gained 5 pounds, *dang it* but it was totally worth it! ; )






• In other news, James AND Titus have been diagnosed with the swine flu in the past 10 days and so we had swine flu day and ate all piggy meals...LOL! Pork roast for lunch and white beans and ham WITH bacon bits for dinner. We're so silly! Both are doing well again, although I'm starting to wonder if Aaron has it, as he doesn't seem to feel that great.




• In the exciting news department, Lauren and I had quite an adventure while trying to run errands today. The transmission linkage (I'm guessing) went out in 'Shua's car, leaving us stuck at the top of a hill, rolling backwards and INTO traffic! Whee! Anywho, 2 men jumped out and helped the boys and I push it around the corner so it would coast down the hill and then David got his first time behind the wheel as Lauren and I pushed it into a subdivision. Another gentleman came along and offered his help as we stood there pondering what to do...have I mentioned I LOVE Las Cruces? The people are so friendly...not one person honked at us while we were blocking traffic, no one flipped us off and no one hollered out their window...it's SO not Chicago! : ) On a side note, isn't she pretty?? Gosh I love having them here by us!


• I guess that's about it for catching up for this week or two...thanks for listening! Have a great week!
  

Blessings from our family to yours,

Kristy and the Man Crew
PS. This video is for the Grandma's...it's a video of Titus, who has learned to say CHEESE!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...October 26, 2009

Outside my window...it is pitch black and silent since it's only 4:30 AM...Dan has just left for a week away at work and I'm heading back to bed as soon as this is done.

I am thinking...that I need to get back into the habit of rising early again, but not today ; )

I am thankful for...parents that let us each become our own person while keeping us within a set of boundaries.

From the learning rooms...ABeka lessons 7-15 this week ( we are doubling up after getting a late start) and hopefully our "My Father's World" will arrive this week and we can get started on that as well.

From the kitchen...Jodi is cooking this week so I am looking forward to a week off of kitchen duty and a week of comfort foods and sweets. My 'diet' will be out the window, but I'm ok with that...LOL

I am wearing...My nightgown since I'm heading back to bed really soon!

I am creating...an organized new schedule...between David's new gymnastics routines, trying to squeeze school into 4 days a week and several other changes, it's just time for a complete overhaul.

I am going...crazy...one day at a time...LOL! Actually, to the gym with David, hopefully to the health food store and possibly the library today.

I am reading...Robinson Crusoe, The Moon By Night, and my daily B.R.A.G. devotions

I am hoping...that David does well at gymnastics and decides to to start competing as I think it would be good for his fragile ego.

I am hearing...the rooster next door crowing...he can't seem to tell time! The dogs finishing their breakfasts...and other than that...NOTHING! Hurray!

A few plans for the rest of the week...the gym 3 times with D, working 1 night, game night, running errands with Lauren on Friday, and I'm sure something else will come up! Mostly, I want to get school on track and make sure our new schedule will work out.

Around the house...it's not too bad...just the usual dishes, laundry and a bathroom to clean. Last week, all the boys wardrobes got switched to fall/winter stuff, and we passed on the 'too smalls' I need to mend a few things and then that project will be complete.

One of my favorite things...crock pot meals so that there is no last minute rush to get dinner on the table if school runs long.

A picture thought I am sharing with you...'Shua turned 21 this week. My, how the time does fly! He and his wife invited us for cake and ice cream and here is picture of that gathering.

The Simple Woman says, "Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of 'everyday moments'

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...October 19, 2009 (WOW, already??)

Outside my window...it is sunny and bright...another gorgeous day in the desert of NM

I am thinking...that Mondays are great! I know, I'm sick in the head, I've often been told so ; )

I am thankful for...a Daughter in love that offers me her friendship, her trust and her confidences...it's a glorious thing!

From the learning rooms...just getting off the ground today, AGAIN, a few math worksheets, an hour of reading and a few thank you notes.

From the kitchen...Bread is baked and cooling on the counter, leftovers got eaten up at lunchtime, leaving the fridge ready for this week's goodies.

• Monday~ Split pea soup and fresh bread
  
• Tuesday~ Chicken breasts, Rice and salad
  
• Wednesday~Breakfast for dinner...scrambled eggs, fried ham and biscuits
  
• Thursday~Mac and cheese with smoked sausage
  
• Friday~Pizza with the gang
  
• Saturday~White beans and ham
  
• Sunday~Lasagna with fresh garlic bread and salad

I am wearing...A green knit jumper, a gray t-shirt, short socks and polka dot tennies
I am creating...a place to call home....one not to be embarrassed of, one to recover in after a long day out in the world, and one to bring friends, family and strangers that soon will be called friends to.
I am going...nowhere except for work this week...hurray!
I am reading...a daily Proverb, school books with the boys and my lesson plans!
I am hoping...that this school year is one we can look back on with pride and fondness.
I am hearing...Aaron play football on the PS2 and not much else...it's pretty loud...ugh
Around the house...the floors need some attention, some clothes needs folded and I've GOT to get to the bathroom, it's beginning to get scary. 2 men and 5 boys...enough said!
One of my favorite things...Monday after a sweet family filled weekend! Spirits are joyful, hearts are happy and bodies are refreshed...it's a thing of beauty !
A few plans for the rest of the week...not much, just school, work and keeping the house tidy.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing... for those that have been waiting, a wedding picture from the Big Trip!

'Shua and Lauren~ Sept 26, 2009

This post is in response to the call to simplicity. If you liked this post, check out Miss Peggy's Site at www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com ENJOY!

Catching up with us MeYeR's

Well, I haven't done one of these in a while so let's do this again..it's one of my fave posts to do. : ) We returned from our trip about 10 days ago and hit the ground running...we arrived home at 10 pm Tuesday night and Dan went back to work at 4:30 am on Wednesday...poor thing! The next few days were spent doing laundry, putting the house back in order after the dogs had been running the place for almost 3 weeks and helping Josh and Lauren unpack the moving truck once they arrived in Cruces. Thursday evening, Dan returned home and we enjoyed some family time, just us...yeah! Then it was Friday...which for us means the weekend. Dan worked with 'Shua on a side job and I went grocery shopping with the boys...and then, the return of game night~ yippee! It's my favorite night of the week! Friends, fellowship, and food, my 3 favorite Fs...ha ha ha! David's 12th birthday was on Saturday and I found myself thinking, "When did THAT happen??" He's getting so grown up and before you know it, he'll be grown and gone, oh my! We didn't celebrate with a party since we were expecting Ricky's arrival and I thought it would be nice to have the party when he was here. So it was pretty low-key, but he DID get the MP3 player he's been asking for, complete with a set of rules about what he can play on it, how long he can use it each day and and admonishment NEVER to wear it to the dinner table...LOL! So Dan and he spent most of the afternoon downloading music onto it. It was a good day! The rest of the weekend passed in a flurry of activity...church, getting Dan ready for another week in Hurley and errands. This past week was rather (thankfully) uneventful, as the boys as I started school with just an hour or so each day to get the brains working again, Lauren coming to visit (hurray for another girl in town) and me heading back to work. School went much better than I had dared to hope and we got back into the routine of having Pat home...yeah! Thursday night Dan arrived home again after a hard week's labor and I'm pretty sure he headed to bed right after the boys went down while I was at work. ; ) Friday, Dan went to work with 'Shua again and the boys and I went grocery shopping with Lauren, an experience I'm sure she will never forget...LOL! Right as the game night crowd was showing up, Derek decided to cover my entire room and Jodi's dog in baby powder...oh my gravy, what a mess! HA! As for the actual game night again, it was awesome with almost the complete game night crowd of regulars, and even the delightful Miss Cecilia came, although coming to our house very nearly gives her a panic attack every time she comes. Robert and Tracy came with sweet little Izzi and she was lovingly passed around all evening, and Tracy brought SUPER YUMMY Doughnuts...homemade! Wow, I'm in awe! We all had a blast, Karen stayed WAY later than normal and that's always a treat! Dan was being especially silly and had everyone in stitches most of the evening. Charlie and Lauren had a rematch at the chess board and both seemed to have a great time. Saturday we spent just hanging out with Ricky and Cedie (Mercedes) after they finally arrived after spending much of Friday night totally lost somewhere in CO. Dan and Ricky spent much of the day working on speakers in his car...which ended up blowing up amidst a huge amount of smoke, so I'm told. Have I ever mentioned that it's not dull around here?? Anywho, we all shared a meal together and it was good. We had a bonfire (which I missed due to work) and fun was apparently had by all. Sunday, we missed church while trying to figure out what Ricky was doing and when he was leaving, so then we had lunch together and they left town. Cedie BTW totally rocks at Apples to Apples! I really enjoyed spending several hours getting to know her over the weekend. HUGS to you, Cedie!(Still waiting on some pics that Lauren took, I'll post them when they arrive) Then Dan and I indulged in a long lost tradition, the Sunday afternoon nap. We put in a movie for the boys and took a nap on the couch...*sigh* Then we prepared dinner, got Dan ready for another week of work, put the boys to bed early after several late nights, and spent 2 hours sitting by the revived bonfire chatting and laughing together. The perfect ending to a great weekend! So, to wrap it up....it's great to be home, life is good and we are happy! Thanks for sharing an interest in our lives! We love you all!

Blessings,

Kristy and the Man Crew

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...October 12, 2009

Outside my window...it is warm and sunny. The high is about 79 with an overnight low around 55. My favorite kind of weather!

I am thinking...that routines are fine and dandy, but there must be some 'wiggle room' for unforeseen 'adventures'

I am thankful for...a house to call home, a job for Dan that pays the bills, and food to put on the table to feed my hungry family. And also a hubby that is pretty easy on the eyes! ; )

From the learning rooms...so far today, not much, just some quiet reading. But for the rest of the week, getting back into our routines of the 3Rs so we can start FULL school on next Monday.
From the kitchen...again, not much today, but I am looking forward to using my new crock pot this week. Thanks, Josh and Lauren!

• Monday~Grilled cheese sammies with Chicken and rice soup
  
• Tuesday~Chili with corn bread
  
• Wednesday~Dinner at Josh and Lauren's house...yeah!
  
• Thursday~Pork Roast with roasted veggies
  
• Friday~Pizza and veggies with dip
  
• Saturday~Pot Roast with the trimmings
  

I am wearing...navy yoga pants and a patriotic tee, plus shoes for once...LOL
I am creating...a safe haven for my boys and a clean/usable school room, it's still buried under a pile of toys.
I am going...To work 2 nights this week, to Josh and Lauren's for dinner, and some errands during the weekend
I am reading...my daily Proverb and the devotionals that go along with my B.R.A.G. readings
I am hoping...that the next few weeks go smoothly with as little tension as possible.
I am hearing...Pat complain about homework, Derek ask for help with his game, and David playing with the neighbor boys.
Around the house...it's pretty picked up and tidy (for once) and I'm actually caught up on the laundry (Thank you , Jesus!) so for today, I've got a project to get the school room usable again after a summer being the playroom.
One of my favorite things...sitting beside the fire with Dan, chatting and laughing. Ahhh, good times!
A few plans for the rest of the week...school, work, errands, game night, and time with family.
A picture thought I am sharing with you...Dan and Derek all ready for bed. No it's NOT that cold here but he found some and wanted to put them on...LOL

This post is in response to a call to the simple life, as done by the delightful Miss Peggy over at the simple woman...check her out!

The BIG Trip~Days 3 and 4

Call me corny, I LOVE Illinois! : )


Here we go again! Tuesday night as I approached exhaustion and driving fatigue, I decided to just sleep for a bit in the van and then press on, but my parents who remember well the joys of travelling across the country with small children in tow, called ahead of me and reserved a hotel room for us. What a wonderful sight that little hotel was...and a blessing! After getting a good night's sleep, 'coincidentally' we were across the hall was the hotel laundry room and I used it with JOY and Praising! Then we headed out for yet another day of driving...and within a few hours we were where things were sounding familiar and an hour after that, they were LOOKING familiar and by mid-afternoon, we were THERE!! David jumped out of the van, flopped down on the grass and started making "grass angels" instead of snow angels. He was just so happy to see a large expanse of grass that was NOT in a park! : ) Dad, Mom, Pat, Jodi and her boys and all the Hanna's were there to greet us and what a wonderful reunion we had! Hugs all around and much laughter!! I stopped on the way into town to see Liz and then she came later in the day to visit for a bit as did Candy. The next day was filled with Kelly's visit, Lauren came and brought the delightful Miss Zoe over to play and a game of Scrabble...and MANY of Farkle. Oh the laughs we had and the delightful chatter of dear friends!! It did my heart good! I don't think I actually have any pics of these two days of travel...but they were sweet indeed! A special OOPS to Dave and Margaret whom I managed to miss seeing...I am sooooo sorry about the confusion! It was NOT my intent to miss seeing you both. Humble apologies! As for the rest, that I DID see...thank you sooo much for your kind welcome and visits...it's wonderful to be reminded of just how much a good visit can lift your spirits!


Thanks again for reading about our travelling adventures!


Blessings,


Kristy and the Man Crew
PS. Funny story of the day on Wednesday was this...after Derek announcing yet again that he needed to potty on the way into town, I pulled off on a ramp to find a bathroom and David was reading the signs...and when he saw that we were in El Paso...he FREAKED out! Of course it was El Paso IL, but he thought we had driven for 3 days only to arrive in El Paso, TX, which is only 45 minutes from our home! And by the time I realized what was going on...I was laughing too hard to correct him. He nearly worked himself into a tizzy before I could explain! OH my, good times!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY October 5, 2009
Outside My Window...the sun is shining and a warm breeze blows lazily past. The temp is 82 and the low for tonight will be about 55...my favorite kind of weather!
I am thinking...that fall is my favorite season, and that I am GLAD to be home once again. Our trip was great, but coming home is always great, too!
I am thankful for...Pat being HOME again!!! Dan coming home with us, boys that are getting along in spite of a prolonged separation, and a chance to bake again.
From the learning rooms...today was the first day of school since we were gone for most of September and missing a few students for most of the summer, and it was just the basics today, just some reading, Bible and a math worksheets to get the neurons firing again.
From the kitchen...I did the baking yesterday and I'm glad about that since today went by way too fast...LOL! As for the meal plans, I did the unthinkable and went grocery shopping without making meal plans....gasp! I've sorted through the food I came home with and here's what I've got so far...

• Monday~ Mac and cheese with smoked sausage and salad
  
• Tuesday~ Chicken and rice casserole
  
• Wednesday~ Leftovers
  
• Thursday~ Meatloaf with potatoes and green bean casserole
  
• Friday~ Pizza, veggies and chips with dip
  
• Saturday~ Spaghetti...and I'm going to try making my own noodles for the first time!
  
• Sunday~ Not sure yet, but since I go shopping on Fridays, I can pick something up then

I am wearing...a gray t-shirt and green knit jumper...with bare feet of course
I am creating...a fresh start to school this year, time to get those brains full of smarts!
I am going...to work T, W, Th and Sat night; Grocery shopping and errand running on Friday and to church on Sunday...hopefully otherwise nowhere, I need to be at home to get school going
I am reading...a Proverbs a day with the boys and my daily reading as posted by my B.R.A.G. group on facebook...check it out!
I am hoping...that this will be our best homeschool year ever. We are trying some new curriculum this year that's a bit more hands on and also geared for multi-age teaching...hurray! I can't wait to get started...it's been along summer break and it's TIME to get going again!
I am hearing...David, Patrick, Derek and William playing Whoonoo, the ceiling fans turning and the washer finishing the spin cycle.
Around the house...as usual, there is much to do, but the hosue is picked up, the laundry is caught up and there is plenty of time to get it all done.
One of my favorite things...watching an after dinner movie with the boys that we've read the book and can compare the book to the movie.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: School, school and more school! Last year we kind of drifted in and out of school. This year I want to start and end with purpose and deliberation. So this week is devoted to school and getting it started on the right foot.
Here is picture thought I am sharing... David and Patrick showing off Pat's new 'camp-out' theme room...mostly it's a tent popped up in his room until we can afford him a new bed, but he likes it for whatever the reason...and I'm glad about that!! : )

This post is in response to a call to the simple life by the delightful Miss Peggy... check her out at www.thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com