Girls Day Out!

Saturday morning and we're gathering at The Art Cafe!

L-R Krista, Benny, Annie (floor), BreAnne, Me, Stacia
Photo by Arielle 

The Art Cafe is a fantastic local business with a great concept. They have all kinds of make and take projects, hot drinks, fudge, free popcorn, and a variety of other sweets one can order. They also have a classroom in the back where various artists lead classes. We've been wanting to to do this for over a year.  It's a great place to create. Pick a project, put on a layer of bling or glaze, relax with a drink, add another layer....visit.* 

Arielle was the push behind us finally making this happen. She has begun using and selling Monat products.  She wanted to do a talk on Monat;  combining it with our elusive fun day at the Art Cafe was a win win.  We got to hear about a new product she and Krista are enjoying, she sold some product, we all got to visit. 

Benny was a great help for "CoCo". She sent it home with
Bre for Gideon and Bella to re-paint. 

 Ready to begin painting a pumpkin

 We chose little squashes to paint. 

Me and Stacia
Photo by Arielle

By this point I knew full well I felt "un-right" - but I wouldn't admit I felt down right sick. I am an extrovert. I was feeling great with the gals - I came home and went to bed. As did Krista. 

It was a fun day - we left our projects to be fired. Since I'm back dating this post - I have a photo of the finished product.  We love the way they turned out.  I also love the memory for future years as I pull out fall decor. 

 *Krista's first job was at Elmendorf AFB  Arts and Crafts shop. She poured slip...and much more. The kids and I had a lovely homeschool class there and a friend and I spent most of a winter making things - which I still have and use.  On base we bought our own brushes and glazes. We paid for the use of a mold or if we purchased a product ready to clean and glaze. We poured our own projects. It was MUCH cheaper.  So.....debating. This way one doesn't collect extra bits of glaze ....and there are no supplies to buy....but the brushes are worn and the prices are higher. BUT THIS IS LOCAL.....5 minute drive as opposed to a 30 minute drive.... Not even sure if there is still an Arts/Crafts on EAFB...... I AM sure Stacia and I need to spend more time creating at the Arts and Crafts. I may even put art on her ILP next year. LOL

Stacia and Dash

Stacia beat me to the chicken yard and let Dash out to run around. He loves these times. She's a good bunny mama. 

Michael has been down all day.....there is a bug in the air.

Thursday - Our Favorite Day?

Wednesday was full of working the "Dad list."  I think we've found a medical practice that is going to work well for Dad.... I've visited three practices in person - and I was glad I did.

Thursday - Ah....Brave with Stacia....always a highlight in the week...though it makes for a busy Thursday.

It was a beautiful view and worked for us. I think we may prefer Sophia's as I can get a sugar free chai latte....and they make food that tastes really yummy. This food was good - but nothing we don't do at home...at least what we ordered was pretty basic.

There is nothing basic about the beautiful colors and the snow crawling down our mountain peak.

Sandy knew I was using Lily's chocolate chips and gave me some sugar-free chocolate chips to sample. YUM.  These are cheaper than Lily's. We tasted them side by side and we like these a bit better....Did I say they are cheaper? I need to get to Walmart to buy more. I'm not 100% sure of their name, I'll have to share that after I go shopping again. ANYWAY - the gift of the chips,  led to baking keto cookies for Life Group. The irony being that NONE of our keto folks showed up this week for Life Group.  Ah well - we had sugar free, almond flour cookies. The taste was good. They were a bit dry. I followed the directions to freeze them and they will make a return at some point.

My family DID ask me why I didn't  use the Stevia or Swerve and the sugar free chips with our favorite recipe....hmmm....I'll have to give it a try.

Thursdays are full - but are fast becoming a favorite day of the week.

*Note after everyone went home from Life Group - Michael began throwing up.

Fall Rainbow

Photo by Michael 

Ah - the pot of gold has always been here at home. LOL 

Benny Day

Many of Benny's toys are packed.  That didn't stop he and I from having fun while Arielle slaved at work.  He isn't quite sure WHAT to make of this....

I turned on the little blue and white massager and set it on the floor. It made great noise and bucked around the room.

In the end Benny conquered it. LOL  Much as Phoenix has conquered the chicken yard. He loves to perch on the gate, survey the hens, and crow loudly.

A Busy Fall Afternoon

It isn't raining today!  The temps ARE changing.  We all made use of the day in various ways....

I enjoyed a soul-refreshing coffee date with a friend. I followed this by a bit of shopping.

Michael rented a splitter and he and the "boys" spent the afternoon hard at work to splitting the wood they've felled this summer. It was nice Nolan was able to jump in. A bit later in the day Krista jumped in as well. We appreciate all the help.

Michael, Nolan, Dad

Michael, Nolan, G.G., Alex

Stacia, Krista and I set out to deliver fall goodies to neighbors. We only managed to make one personal contact....but maybe it's a seed.

Arielle got home from work ready to take advantage of the beautiful fall day. She asked if we'd like to go to one of the local parks with her and Benny. I simply COULDN'T miss out on one of the last park trips of the year.....Like may towns we have a "Kid's Castle," "Kid's Kingdom"....I've seen these community built parks all over the states. This one follows the basic design, with an Alaskan twist. Lot's of Color....

 A nod to the Alaskan Railroad

Colorful tiles and borders

Animals...

Snow machine

We ran into 3 friendly youth - no wild hooligans in sight. 

A couple of empty swings made for Benny and Bachan!

Swing isn't so bad when you do it together

Benny loved the swinging and sliding.....

He loves the climbing and sliding

 Fall fun

Auntie Stacia is going to get Benny! 

 It was a brief hour - dinner had to be made....back at home everyone was wrapping up the wood project. Stacia and I got a pot pie going and dinner was served.

We ended the night with a couple of chapters of Prince Caspian.

Hard to accept September is already ending.

Sunday Fun and Lessons

Michael and I were in the nursery today. A fun time was had by all.

Stacia asked permission from pastor to do a fundraiser to earn money towards the AK Youth Conference which is coming up next month. Her idea was to set up a table and sell hats at church. He agreed and she set a table way out by the arctic entrance of the church. Inside the front door but not in the foyer or sanctuary.  She had a sign clearly stating she was raising funds for youth conference. She was nervous about this and it's a good thing Michael and I were down in the basement. We didn't see a grown woman, who doesn't attend services,  walk into the church and chew out a 14 yo, going as far as to raise her voice to Stacia, as she tried to explain she had asked permission and was raising money for a youth conference. She was told,  "If you need money you should ask the pastor for money, that's what the church is for." Evidently, it's a sin to participate in a fund raiser, but o.k. for a grown woman to speak rudely and harshly to a youth. Kudos to our pastor who stepped in and said it was ok for Stacia to be there.  It was a good lesson for Stacia in how different Christians have different convictions. It is also a good lesson for her to learn sometimes you do everything right and you still get yelled at. And you just have to be o.k. with that. It's part of being brave. Another lesson learned is sometimes others will defend you.  (I have no pictures to accompany this paragraph.) As one who has been in ministry for over 30 years, and as an adult, may I suggest if you ever find yourself in a situation where you are upset at something you see at church - talk kindly. If you are really upset - go talk to the pastor. The 14 yo girl in the front, or even your best friend, isn't the one to address your concern. LOL

When we came up from the nursery we discovered Josiah and Jamin in the back of the church with Dad. Nolan had requested (again) to be given Sundays off and was at church. BreZaak were home sick, but the rest of us went out to the Sunrise Grill for lunch.  They always give us a table way off by ourselves. It's nice as it is easier for dad to hear because we can talk loud without bothering others. It was a fun lunch - full of smart comments, Dad jokes, and did you know there is such a thing as Mom jokes? ::snort::

We spent the afternoon visiting and playing games. Cory was ripping something out of the house and Arielle and Benny joined us for a bit. We ended the day playing Farkle.

Alex won. Most were over 5K before I even got ON. LOL 

I'm not sure I'm ready for another week to begin - but this is the schedule we've prayed over and love. We've got this. LOL