Friday with Bachan and Melia

This day ran like CLOCKWORK - and it's good it did. I got up on time, continued my progress through the book of Exodus, hit the treadmill, then the shower. Melia got up and started to work on school. I raced across town to Dad's. I met Jamin there and we had a nice visit with Dad. Jamin will be leaving on Monday. 

I had just enough time at the conclusion of our visit to make it across town, stop at the library, pick up a pizza, and check Melia's school work before Arielle showed up.  

Michael and I have been spending a few hours every Friday afternoon with the kids so Cory and Arielle can have some hours to "think, decompress, date, hike, whatever."  This week I suggested I keep them, feed them dinner and take them to movie night at WCC. 

The visit began with "tea" (hot chocolate) and a quick snack. They headed outside for a bit of winter fun.  Charles stayed inside as he said his tummy was feeling funny.  

Benny and Danny

Benny jumping from the swing

Exploring

I brought up Outfoxed and we tried to figure it out. I think we lost some of the finer points of the game, but the four of us played it for over an hour and had a great time. At this point Melia came upstairs and they played Taco, Goat, Cheese, Cat (or whatever that game is called) while I pulled together a dinner of carrots, pizza and Annie's White Shells. 

We made it to movie night in good time. Tonight's movie was Cars - complete with all the free popcorn we could eat and a selection of CARS to bring home. 

We got home to discover some birthday flowers for me. Stacia is home. Michael is developing new symptoms. He's stayed in his room, so no one has been exposed to him. 

AND IT'S THE WEEKEND! NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!! 

Where's the Sun?

 We were just finishing school when Arielle called and asked if she could bring the kids over to play in our backyard. Most of the toys are packed away over winter...but it's still a pretty fun spot. 

Well, the boys think it's fun. This gal is wondering where here pretty sandals and the sun went! ::Snort:: I went out for about 30 minutes and then suggested snacks and hot chocolate IN THE HOUSE. LOL 

Michael is still down but Melia and I went to life group. We had a yummy taco bar and discussed temptation and Bible translations and a few theology disagreements with the podcast we are listening to. 

We got back home as Stacia was finishing her evening homework. 

Taking School on the Road

This is the only picture I took of the day - but it tells the story of our day! Melia learned one of the big pros of homeschooling as we took school on the road. 

Michael is still ill, but we needed to run some errands in Anchorage and so Melia and I went in. I told her we could use my phone as a hotspot if needed. 

 She knocked it out of the park. She schooled while we waited, we broke for socializing, and she schooled while we waited a bit more. She finished it all and made great grades on the daily work! 

Our highlight was meeting up with the foster family where Melia's sisters are living. It was fun for the the three girls to connect. They exchanged Valentine's gifts. I enjoyed visiting with Christine. We enjoyed a Subway lunch.

Melia and I spent a couple of more hours in Anchorage and on the way home... 

Knowing Michael was ill and neither of us wanted to cook we stopped at a local restaurant for a salad for me and wings for Melia. We topped the evening off with a trip through the car wash. We thought we'd find Stacia at home, but she was still at school. It turns out we had forgotten Sibling Game night. 

Next week we will remember....

Dancing Lights

 Stacia called and said the lights were out and we should check it out. Michael is sick, but Melia and I dutifully ran out. I don't have an iphone that takes pretty pictures and adds colors.... this is what we SAW. 

Melia was not impressed, "I've seen Northern Lights before." 

She took a closer look and got excited...."I've never seen them dance before." 

It's quite a treat to watch the lights dance along the mountains. It was fun to watch them with Melia. 

Setting Goals and Plans in Place

Ye gads! 

Melia's laptop camera stopped working. She needs it for her Japanese lesson bright and early Monday morning. Michael and she worked on the problem. It seems the virus protection was seeing her camera as a virus - but nothing they did helped. He said we'd buy her an external camera, but we needed a solution NOW. 

We went to bed planning for Melia to use my new laptop for her Japanese lesson.  The two of us were up and ready...and then the camera was showing the ceiling....and we couldn't figure out HOW it was showing the ceiling...until we realized my PHONE is connected to the new laptop and the camera on the phone was activated. We eventually got it all working (I disabled blue tooth on my phone), and Ms. Kim said Melia did great today. 

Stacia and Melia went for lunch to a Cat Cafe today. Melia did great at getting right back to her remaining schoolwork when they came home! 

I headed to Walmart for an eye appointment. I have new glasses on order and instructions not to skip an ANNUAL exam (it'd been 2 1/2 years or so).

My next stop was to visit Dad. It was a nice visit, and I told him I'd be back on Thursday. 

I followed this visit by a drive across town and a 1.5-hour meeting with our new IDEA contact teacher. Melia has a goal of being a nurse practitioner. Her current transcript doesn't support that goal.  She missed the 2nd half of her freshman year, the first month of her sophomore year and quite honestly neither the contact teacher nor I could figure out why she was placed in courses she was in her freshman year. I was glad the professional was as perplexed as I. It doesn't look like there has been a clear plan in determining her courses. Enough said.  The meeting started with me being told she probably couldn't get a strong enough transcript to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship and ended with a completed ILP (learning plan), scheduled placement tests (so we can target holes and fill them), a commitment to talk a few issues over with the supervisor to be sure "nothing can be done," a plan on how to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship by graduation and  with me saying, "We WILL get this done if Melia wants it done. I just need help rather than roadblocks."  We should at least try! Right?  Her contact teacher is excited to meet her and committed to tackling roadblocks with us. That's all I could ask for.  Well - I actually asked if we could ignore her first semester grades as we are taking the COMPLETE courses online now and she is making A's...so if she's doing the work can we just ignore those grades from the 6 weeks this fall? We can't. Oh, well. We'll make it work. 

Sometimes advocating is exhausting.  I arrived home drained. 

We had planned to go see The Lord of the Rings, which is in theaters just now.  Michael, Stacia and Melia left to drive into Anchorage and meet Jamin and Jared. I am going to sit in a recliner with some tea, a book and try to "we-lax" after being rather wound up all day. 😏

Jamin's Farewell Party

We met tonight to officially say farewell to Jamin...can you believe he is moving Florida? I love the banner Bre found. 

In all seriousness, Jamin had been planning to move the fall of 2023. We are thankful he stayed up for the last couple of years but it's time for him to get back on schedule with his plans. 

We asked Jamin for his favorite dessert. He said, "Apple pie, cheesecake and ice cream." We had all three. Bre brought an apple pie, Arielle brought fruit, Nolan brought ice cream and toppings and I supplied the cheesecake.

We gave Jamin a framed family photo, a calendar with all our birthdays and helpful notes on it, and a book of must-see/must-do things in FL. We all circled the things we thought he needs to be sure to do and see. The kids drew helpful photos. 

Bre, Jared, Melia

Bella, Melia, Gideon, Bre, Jamin & Nolan

Melia, Stacia, Nolan, Jamin & Michael 

Ellie was saying, "My mama, my mama!"
Ellie, Arielle & Trudy

Melia played games with the kids. They LOVED it. 

Melia, Gideon, Ellie, Benny, Bella, Annie

Charles and Danny

Trudy & Papa

Cory, Arielle & Bre

I found Charles in my nook. The lights were off and he has the heating pad on the back of the chair as well as the heated blanket on. He gets over-stimulated and knows where to go to find peace. LOL 

Charles & Noah

Uncle Jared & Trudy

Allie Has Left the State...

...and the 2025 Holiday Season is officially over. One of the hard things about holidays these days is the moment when all the adult kids have headed back to their homes. In the blink of an eye, though it was really a lovely month break, we find our feet back at the airport.  (Note: I tried to take a subtle photo during our group huddle, hug and prayer. I ended up with an atrocious nostril shot...forget subtlety let's take a foot shot).  

Our month of celebrating began when Allie arrived home on Dec 11th. When one of the Gherkins come home our house is full of not only them, but the others come around much more often to visit. We love to see the visible love they have for one another. Allie's arrival signaled a full month of game nights, visits, movies, Krista and Luke arriving, birthdays, Melia moving in and Christmas and New Years. 

The day began for Melia and Stacia with school. I love this photo. Allie was off to catch some time with Nolan. 

I availed myself of the treadmill and noted with the warm temps much snow has melted, and I can see the tops of the garden beds now.  Temps, of course, cooled down again and we now have an ice rink in our driveway. 

About the time these two finished with school, Allie and Nolan arrived. We kept Allie company while she packed and did laundry. She is going back with a second suitcase. United certainly doesn't have the great deals on baggage Alaska Airlines has. 😀If only they flew all the places we need to fly. 

Jamin and Jared stopped by to visit and say goodbye. We all went out for a rushed but yummy dinner after which the five of us caught a local presentation of The Magician's Nephew. 

We left for the airport in Anchorage immediately after the play. The roads were nasty. We counted 15 separate accidents on the trip. In the winter we plan flights so Michael can drive. I am horrible on ice and simply don't want the stress. I could tell it was bad as Michael drove with two hands firmly on the wheel.  Before we knew it Allie was checked in, we had been assured her plane WOULD leave tonight, we huddled and prayed, and it was time for airport hugs. 

Stacia made sure I got an airport photo this time

Allie & Michael 

Melia & Allie

Stacia & Allie

We came back home around 1:30 a.m. The girls and I had a bit of a talk before I called it and went to bed. Michael came home and went right to bed.  (Note: Allie has landed in Roanoke at 1:20 p.m. our time - 5:20 her time and will be met by friends for the drive to Lynchburg).

And so, ends the 2025 Holiday Season at our home.