Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is a sunny but crisp day. More perfect fall weather!

I am thinking... about Kyndal sitting in Concordia, by herself, sick (because her dad has left her alone for another week), unable to get ahold of him so calls me to excuse her from school, with no money to go to the doctor or for gas so she can drive down here so I can take care of her. And he is "supporting" her.

I am thankful ... that Rick gets to spend a WHOLE 10 DAYS here with us for Thanksgiving!!!

I am wearing... a brown long-sleeved hooded shirt, jeans, brown Ugg boots.

I am planning...  my grocery trip on Thursday.
 

I am creating... the finishing touches on Eli and Brynne's ninja Halloween costumes (really, they will be done today). I was creating transformed bedside tables in our bedroom.

I am going... to be in charge of my niece for a couple of days this week while my parents are in Florida.

I am reading... The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan,  Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). And MY HUSBAND is reading The Hunger Games. He finished the first book in just a couple of days. And he HATES to read!

I am praying... for Kiley Palmer, a girl from our Homeschool Co-op in Oklahoma. She is undergoing chemotheraphy for luekemia, and is having a really hard time. Here is yesterday's update from her mom:
"10/29/12 - It's proving to be a rough round of chemo for Kiley. We're only on Day 5 of Consolidation Therapy, but she hasn't been able to drink anything significant or keep any food down for 3 days. Praying that this changes tomorrow. I'm not sure how far she can go without going back into the hospital. She really doesn't have any weight, water or anything to lose. I'm praying for my girl tonight."

From the learning rooms... Having a mixed bag of school work this week. Studying Indonesia and doing general studies a couple of days, going on a mini-field trip, and doing a couple of separate unit studies the other days.

Noticing that ...  I haven't heard hardly a word about the upcoming election on t.v. here. I do think there is very little advertising because Missouri is an all-Romney state. But, it sure helps when you only watch Cartoon Network and shows that you have dvr'd.

From the kitchen... we are taking it outside today. We made a solar oven yesterday and the kids are cooking hotdogs and s'mores, since it's a sunny day. Wish us luck!

Around the house...  are a few projects I want to get done before Rick gets here and brings me MORE!

One of my favorite things... the way I feel after a good walk in the mornings.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I have handbell choir practice tonight since tomorrow is Halloween. Then my friend, Angela, is coming over for some chat time. Wednesday is Halloween and we're going to a little pumpkin patch during the day and will be trick-or-treating on Main Street and at the nursing home that night. Thursday afternoon I have to go "to town" to get groceries, go to recycling, and pick up Eli's cub scout shirt and patches. On Friday Rick comes to town for the weekend! We have a Pack meeting for cub scouts that evening. Rick is bringing a moving truck with the rest of our stuff. Then on Sunday, after church, we are all driving back to Oklahoma. Rick needs to get back to work and Dawson is going back to help one of his best friend's celebrate his 16th birday. It is also the infamous release of Halo 4, so he will be getting it and playing it. He is even taking his big flat-screen t.v. to Oklahoma so he can play on it. Big event! The little kids and I hope to fit in a trip to the zoo. And I will be voting while I am there. Dawson also has an orthodontist appointment on Tuesday. And we'll be coming back home on Wednesday.

From my picture journal.

He LOVES the park! FREEDOM!

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

An Unusual Sunday Boost of Energy

For some extremely odd reason, I decided to forgo my typical Sunday afternoon of vegging on the couch taking multiple cat naps, reading, and getting caught up television. After we got home from church, I had an unusual Sunday afternoon boost of energy.

I cleaned house from front to back, had the kids clean their rooms and the basement, and ran back and forth between my house and my parents' to do laundry (my washing machine is broken, but I get my ones from Oklahoma this weekend ... squeal!!).

As if that wasn't enough, I decided to paint the bedside tables in our bedroom. A bit of back story ... In Oklahoma we have the most amazing bedroom furniture with a super comfy king-sized bed. In our little house in Missouri, there is no way that furniture is fitting into it. So, our master bedroom furniture is, instead, the furniture that I grew up sleeping on at my grandma's. It's OLD! When we moved in I painted it all a nice chocolate brown. It has a full-sized bed (so small!), a tall bureau, and a mirrored chest of drawers. But, it has no bedside tables. So, I took the two pine end tables from our second living room at our house in Oklahoma to use in our bedroom in Missouri.

When we were moving my grandma into a nursing home, I was so sad that this furniture was going to just be given away. I loved it! So, I was actually so glad we needed it in our new house so that I could keep it in the family. I plan to use it as our spare bedroom furniture when we do the renovations upstairs (someday).

The side tables did not match the colors in the bedroom (green, tan, white, and chocolate brown) nor the style of the other furniture. They were rustic, and they drove me crazy. BUT, we don't have the money to purchase anything new right now, so we have to make due with what we have.

I felt like I was in college again, throwing together a mish mash of furniture.

I wanted the tables to be transformed into something new and eclectic, but still to blend with the other furniture. So .....

I "green"-washed the furniture. I watered down green paint we used in our kitchen, painted a whole side, and then rubbed it with an old t-shirt. When that was dry, I watered down some of the brown paint I used on the other furniture and added accents to the edges, creases, corners, etc., and rubbed it around. Then I painted the top that same brown.

I think they turned out really cool. AND they look really neat in the room!

They have also inspired me to complete the decorating in the bedroom. I want to get some chocolate brown Euro pillows, a neat iron scroll thing to hang above the bed, some cool prints of birds (maybe from a calendar) and frame them with green matting and white frames, and I want to get a couple of small green/brown rugs. With a couple of other miscellaneous accessories, the bedroom will be very comfortable and cottagey.

This is, seriously, the tiniest bedroom. But it's only temporary. The upstairs renovation will include a master suite, and this room will become Brynne's, when and if she and Eli ever decide they can be separated.

The last thing I did last night was to touch up paint in the bathroom, spray paint some hooks a rubbed oil bronze, and hange a toilet paper/magazine holder. I had to use my MacGuyver skills to do that. Rick will die when he sees how I did it.

Oh, and I cooked a BIG dinner ... for a Sunday! (We usually either go to my parents' for dinner or have something super easy). We had homemade fried chicken strips, waffle fries, and apple slices.

Then Dawson and I ended the night watching an episode of Chopped. My feet were actually hurting. And, dang, I slept good last night! No wonder .. I practically worked myself to death.

A Great Start to a Great Weekend

Our great weekend really started yesterday with news that my brother Tim and his wife Shawna welcomed their first baby into our family. My new sweet niece, Bell Nora, was born yesterday morning weighing in at 7 lbs. 15 ozs. and was 20 inches long. Tim assisted Shawna in the delivery of their daughter at a midwife birthing center in Portland, Oregon. I know it was a life-changing day for them. Mama and baby (and daddy) are doing great!

Last night I realized that Dawson does not have school today because of Parent Teacher Conferences. I opted out of conferences because my extremely smart son ended up with 6 A's and 1 B in his first quarter back as a public school student. I am very proud of him and didn't feel the need to go see all of his teachers at this time.

Because he got to sleep in today I thought, "Why not let us all sleep in?" He is currently STILL sleeping in, and so is Eli. I am laying in my bed with the three dogs drinking coffee and blogging. Brynne is watching "The Incredibles" in the living room. My kids are back into that movie again, for some reason. She is also trying out a new iPad app from the creators of Stack the States, Stack the Countries, Presidents vs. Aliens, and Rocket Math called Monster Physics. These apps are the GREATEST and my kids know so much because of them.

We have plans to take it easy the rest of the day, and just go to the park for some nature study later in the afternoon. And we have NO OTHER PLANS for the weekend, and I couldn't be more thrilled! I am going to get caught up on housework, do some reading, some lesson planning, and watch some television. We might get our pumpkins carved. It's my kind of weekend! Other than church on Sunday, we probably won't even leave the house.

Sounds like a great weekend to me! Do you have any fun plans?

BBC TV

As I have mentioned lately, I have become hooked on a couple of BBC drama series that are on PBS. Last year I wrapped myself completely around the amazing show "Downton Abbey". I watched the first season on Netflix and then check out the second season on dvd from my library. The third season starts in January and I CANNOT WAIT! Last night I saw a preview of the third season at the conclusion of my new favorite BBC series "Call the Midwife".

The first seson of "Call the Midwife" is on PBS right now. It is set in 1950's London and is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth who was a midwife to the poor of that area. The storylines are so rich and the weekly births of the babies bring me to tears. It is, by far, my favorite show on television right now.

Why all the BBC shows? Why is PBS so popular right now?

Because, let's face it, American television shows are either all reality or all filth. There is the occasional drama that is worth watching, but the choices are certainly limited. Now, I watch lots of reality television ("Project Runway", "The Amazing Race", "Survivor", "Chopped", "Cupcake Wars") and my share of borderline filth (although I try to stay away from it, out of personal preference) and I have a couple of dramas that I watch religiously ("Parenthood", "Criminal Minds", "Law and Order: SVU"). But I never walk away from any of those shows feeling like I have been bettered because of watching them!

America could never pull off "Downton Abbey" or "Call the Midwife". They would lose their class. They would cheapen them, throw in a raunchy factor, stupify the men, add violations and crime, and lots of sex. To me, it's a relief to live a few hours a week in the lives of people in the 1920's or 1950's, even if those lives have complications and conflict. There were, at least, standards of the time that are to be revered, in our time, where there are very few.

So, I encourage you .. if you are looking for some quality television to lighten your load and brighten your day (week, year ...), then check out "Downton Abbey" or "Call the Midwife", or just turn on PBS and see what other quality shows are available for your viewing.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... are some type of construction trucks doing some kind of ditching work.

I am thinking... about what we should do about our house in Oklahoma. It's stressful.

I am thankful ... for our cub scout leader. She is so organized and does a great job with the boys. Eli is loving it! And I appreciate the work she puts into it.

I am wearing... gray capri sweats and a blue Medical Mission t-shirt. It's warm today!

I am planning...  to put a faux granite finish on my laminate kitchen countertops soon. I hope it turns out good!
 

I am creating... the finishing touches on Eli and Brynne's ninja Halloween costumes.

I am going... to go pick up Dawson's first public school grade card on Thursday evening. He has done so well this first quarter and I am proud of him! I can't wait to see what his teachers have to say about him.

I am reading... The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Too Wise to be Mistaken, Too Good to be Unkind by Cathy Steere, Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson, Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... that the plans Rick and I discussed this past weekend are a possibility. We just want to move forward with our life.

From the learning rooms... Today we are doing an activity day surrounding the book Little Hoot by Amy Kruse Rosenthal. Tomorrow and Thursday we will begin our studies on Indonesia. And on Friday we are going to get caught up on some nature studies. We have fallen behind the past couple of weeks. Of course we will still be continuing with Bible, grammar, math, literature, P.E., writing, and other general studies.

Noticing that ...  blog trends have changed, and I don't like it. It seems that many blogs have more concentration on ad space and reader stats, instead of just sharing their lives. It's boring and mechanical and many of the blogs I used to love have completely lost my interest.

From the kitchen... the little kids and I have been experimenting with international cuisines. As we learn about a geographical area, the kids cook a recipe from that area. That has been our dinner on Thursday nights. There have been some hits, and some misses.

Around the house...  are doggies who are glad we are home from our weekend!

One of my favorite things... is a cup of hot green tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Other than hand bell choir and dinner at church on Wednesday night, we have no plans. The gas in my car needs to last me until the 1st, so driving will be limited. Besides, a few fall days at home sounds good to me.

From my picture journal.

This walking stick was on our back door the other day. I hadn't seen one since I was a kid in this town 30+ years ago.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

So, what do you do in an empty house in Oklahoma?

The kids and I went back to Oklahoma this weekend to see Rick, and for Dawson to spend time with his buddies for his birthday. Our house now contains one bed, one love seat and a living room chair (that are upstairs), a futon (upstairs), two office chairs, a couple of small tables, and a tall chair at the bar in the kitchen. The house echoes when you talk.

We arrived on Friday and spent the evening with some friends at their house. Jace and Berry are great friends and so fun! We ate pizza, drank wine, laughed a lot, and completely enjoyed ourselves. We got home just in time for bed.

On Saturday, we had NOTHING to do all day. The kids had taken over the upstairs, sleeping on the love seat and futon, had the computer up there to watch movies, and their toys strung everywhere.

What did Rick and I do?

Hmmm ... well, I laid in bed and finished my book, took a couple of power naps, read more of another book, and took another nap or two.  We took Dawson and his buddies to Cici's Pizza for dinner, and then I took them into Tulsa to go to Laser Quest. While they were shooting each other for a couple of hours, I drove a few blocks to Barnes and Noble. I walked around and looked at books, and drank some coffe, then picked them up and headed back home. Meanwhile Rick and the kids were at home. The kids were playing and Rick was watching Season 1 of Mad Men on his computer with dvds we checked out from the library. When I got home, it was bedtime.

On Sunday morning we went to church and then came home for lunch. I took another nap ... yep. Rick took the kids into town so that they could spend some time with some friends. When I woke up, Rick and I sat in the office chairs in our kitchen and talked. Then he pushed me through the house. That was fun! We have an empty house with concrete floors and fun rolling office chairs!

We picked up the kids and went out to eat for dinner. Eli has been craving nachos, so Mexican food was in order. Yum! After we got home I took Crusoe for a walk and Rick and the kids played Jenga. We turned in early because Rick had to work yesterday morning and we had to get Dawson to the orthodontist and then get back to Missouri.

It was nice to be "unplugged" all weekend, get caught up on some reading, and actually talk to people face-to-face. But I feel bad for Rick because that is his reality every single day, and he doesn't even have anybody to talk to except our cat (when he shows up for food). He is lonely. I know he is. And I hate that he sits in that big 'ol house all by himself. Please be praying for us that our house sells soon so that we can move forward with our lives. It's hard on the kids, and Rick and I, being separated.

We are going back for a few days in a couple of weeks. I need to come up with some things to keep us busy!

16 Candles

That's how many candles are going on Dawson's cake today. Yes, my 6'3" baby boy is 16 years old today. God help me. He hugged me last night and said, "Mom, can you believe I'm going to be 16 tomorrow?" And I said, "No. What the hell happened?"

The years have not flown by with Dawson. They have been a steady progression of his transition from colicky baby, to ... getting-up-six-times-a-night-until-he-was-three toddler, to ... naughty preschooler who always got the daily reports sent home about how he would not behave in class, to ... adorable elementary school kid who's best friend was a girl who tied his shoes for him until he was nine, to ... kind and loving late elementary student who always showed care and concern for those weaker than him, to ... bullied sixth grade student, to ... troubled and angry seventh grade student, to ... homeschooled student who blossomed in his relationships and regained a love for learning and found a love for video games, to ... high school sophomore in a new town, back in public school, with a girlfriend and an upcoming driver's license.

I love Dawson. He and I are very close. I know that our time homeschooling made a huge difference in our relationship. He's someone I like to be around and hang out with. He's a turd, don't get me wrong. He loves razzing people and trying to get a rise out of them. But, he is the sweetest, kindest, most loving turd I've ever known. Every mom of a daughter who has ever known him wants their daughter to marry someone just like him. I've even overhead other homeschooling moms in our former group talking to each other about him (and in a good way)! That makes a mama proud.

When Dawson was about 10 years old, I entered him into a contest with a radio station about being a good kid. He won. I told them about how he would always make a point to seek out the loneliest kid (probably one with special needs) and befriend him or her. Dawson is still like that today. In the 7th grade, he actually punched a kid in PE because the kid threw a special needs kid to the ground. This year he immediately befriended a young man who was new to the school. He didn't want him to feel as alone as he was feeling.

If there is one thing I am most proud of Dawson about, it would be his heart for other people. Second to that would be his work ethic. Third would be his baking abilities. Those three things together will make him a great husband someday.

But, let's not grow him up too fast! He still needs to get his driver's license. He can't take his test until December because he will not have his 6 months of permit driving completed until then. Secretly, that's okay with me. I can hold on to him for a couple more months, although that's getting harder and harder to do.

So, my sweet Dawson, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I love you and I am so proud to be your mama. I hope you enjoyed your little party last night, have a great day today, and have a blast with your two best buds in Oklahoma this weekend.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is so beautiful today! It's warmer, with lots of sunshine. The trees in town are amazing in their shades of red, orange, and yellow.

I am thinking... about the little kitten we found this weekend who was injured in the rain storm. We brought her home to take care of her, but I had to take her to the vet this morning to have her put to sleep. Her injuries were too severe. RIP Mittens.

I am thankful ... for our community park. It is the prettiest thing and holds a lot of childhood memories for me. I love to walk there every morning. And the old scout cabin is on the grounds and it's such a cool setting for meetings. The park is probably my favorite place in town.

I am wearing... jeans, a short-sleeved oatmeal colored shirt, brown flip flops.

I am planning...  Dawson's birthday dinner on Wednesday (his 16th birthday is on Thursday), and a couple of fun literature activities for Eli and Brynne.
 

I am creating... a spirit poster for Kyndal's senior night this Friday.

I am going... to go to the scout shop and to get groceries as soon as I pick Dawson up from school.

I am reading... The Perks of Being a Wildflower by Stephen Chbosky, Too Wise to be Mistaken, Too Good to be Unkind by Cathy Steere, Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson, James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).

I am hoping... that Kyndal has the courage to make the decisions that she should make and that she is able to see some things clearly that some of us can already see.

From the learning rooms... What a good couple of days we have had! Eli and Brynne expressed an interest in doing more geographical unit studies. So, this week we are studying about Nigeria and Senegal in Africa, doing some really fun activities, and planning a trip to see a musical/play based on the folklore of those areas.

Noticing that ...  Brynne's bathroom issues have been resolved. There is still some bloating in her tummy, but we haven't completely eliminated unsafe foods from her diet.

From the kitchen... it's slim pickins! Gotta go to the grocery store!

Around the house...  are more projects I want to do (and plan to do soon) ... some painting in the kitchen and bathroom, cleaning up from former painting in the bathroom (scraping), making faux granite in the kitchen, painting my back entry and wall down the stairs.

One of my favorite things... is watching Eli at cub scouts. He is so sweet and so into it!

A few plans for the rest of the week... We are mostly celebrating Dawson's birthday this week. Tonight I am running errands for it. Tomorrow night we are having friends and family over for dinner. On Thursday it is his birthday, and he is going out of town to watch Taylar play volleyball. I'll be packing us up for a trip to Oklahoma on Friday afternoon. We will be in Oklahoma the whole weekend so Dawson can spend it with his friends there. We will also be having dinner with some of our good friends. We are staying until Monday because he has an orthodontist appointment Monday morning.

From my picture journal.

I am hoping to plant some good butterfly bushes next spring so I can get a whole bunch of these guys.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Falling

The first thing that fell this morning was ME .... down our stairs into the basement. I twisted my ankle and landed on my right arm. Ouch! Thankfully my whole body ended up in the same place at the same time unlike a fall a couple of years ago where my arms were left on the second stair from the top and my body was on the second from the bottom.

What fell all .... day ... long .... today was RAIN! It was lovely! It was the perfect day to be at home, in comfy sweats, doing some housework, watching some television, and taking a couple of cat naps. And I did all of these things.

I hope you enjoyed your Saturday, as well.

The Homecoming Dance

Dawson took Taylar to the homecoming dance last night. His buddies came over to hang out while him while the girls got ready at another house. Taylar arrived with her best friend and her date. Then they all rode to the dance in his mustang, but not before pictures.

With this corsage, I thee dance ...

The whole gang in front of Dawson's cool car.

At the next dance, these two will be going in this car! And Dawson will be driving. Whoa!! First dances ... driving ... a girlfriend ... it's more than this mama's heart can take.

Homecoming Parade

Today is our town's homecoming. Dawson, Eli, and Brynne all three had a part in the parade.

Dawson's class float represented the Old West in the theme "All-American Homecoming". Dawson did all of the detail work on the bulldogs.

Eli recently joined Cub Scouts, so he and his pack got to lead the parade with the flags. He LOVED the parade! I could see him waving from all the way down the street.

Brynne rode on a trailer with the Septemberfest wee queen candidates, since the Septemberfest parade was cancelled last month because of rain.

After the parade, I took Eli and Brynne to Dairy Queen for a treat.

Tonight Dawson is going to the football game and then to the homecoming dance with Taylar. I'll have pictures of them later in the weekend.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it's beautiful! Sunny, crisp, leaves changing.

I am thinking... about all of the implications of Kyndal's actions from last night. Here she goes!

I am thankful ... for my simple life and my simple home. 

I am wearing... brown and green workout pants, a green long-sleeved shirt and a white hoodie.

I am planning...  to do laundry at my mom's today because my washing maching died this weekend.
 

I am creating... lesson plans on the fly this week, because I didn't have my Sunday evening planning time.

I am going... with Dawson after school to order his date's corsage for the homecoming dance this Friday.

I am reading... The Perks of Being a Wildflower by Stephen Chbosky.

I am hoping... that at some point my teenagers learn that you have to respect authority even when you don't agree with it. Have I failed in this aspect of parenting?

From the learning rooms... We are back to a regular school schedule this week after a week of necessary errands, a sick day, and a field trip. We like these structured weeks!

Noticing that ...  the junk mail in my inbox has gotten so out of hand! So I have spent the past couple of days unsubscribing to those I don't want. I was seriously getting about 100 junk e-mails a day, and they were all things I had signed up for at some time or another.

From the kitchen... I am having toast with homemade jellies (plum, blackberry, zucchini strawberry) that I got from Dawson's girlfriend's mom. I would be eating homemade chunky applesauce, also, but Dawson ate the entire jar last night!

Around the house...  are fall decorations FINALLY!

One of my favorite things... my pjs and robe, a cup of hot green tea, and a blanket while snuggled up on the couch after the kids go to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week... tonight we are going to the high school volleyball game. Tomorrow night I have handbell choir practice at church and dinner. Thursday, Dawson and I are going to buy his outfit for the homecoming dance. Friday is homecoming! Eli and Brynne are both in the parade ... Eli for cub scouts and Brynne for the Septemberfest queen contest. After recuperating from the dance and late night Friday night, we will be taking it real easy the rest of the weekend!

From my picture journal.

Me and the munchkins at Powell Gardens last week.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

I don't know what to call this post ... "Growing up too fast", "Impatience" , "Independence", "Deja vu".

I graduated from high school on a Friday. On Saturday, I moved to a town 30 miles away into an apartment by myself. I was 17. I had secured a job at a law office as a secretary and was enrolled in 15 hours in college. I had a serious boyfriend. I wanted to be independent. I wanted to get on with my life. I wanted to be in charge of myself. And I wanted it NOW. The next few years were very hard. I had to work very hard. Being a grownup was liberating, but exhausting.

Fast forward about 25 years.

Kyndal.

Kyndal will be 18 next month. She is a senior in high school. She has a serious boyfriend. She wants to be independent. She wants to get on with her life. She wants to be in charge of herself. And she wants it NOW.

I remember taking her to kindergarten. Instead of being dropped off in the kindergarten loop with all the other five and six year olds, she wanted to get to school early and for me to drop her off at the very end of the sidewalk in front of the school. Then she could walk all the way down it by herself, go in the front door with the big kids, and go sit in the cafeteria with them until the bell rung dismissing them to class. I can still see her walking down that sidewalk with her braids down her back and her way-too-big Barbie backpack on her back. She'd turn around once or twice and wave at me. She was saying, "Bye, mommy. See how big I am now."

Kyndal is not getting along in her current living arrangement. She wants to move out of her dad's house very soon and in with her boyfriend. They are making plans for their future. It's not the path I would have chosen for her. It's a hard path. It's doable, but it's hard.

She wants to be indepenent. She wants to get on with her life. She wants to be in charge of herself. And she wants it NOW.

At first I told her that I would not support this decision. But then I had to ask myself if I would rather her do it completely alone or do it with some guidance and emotional support. Because, she is going to do it if that's what she wants.

So I have spent the last couple of Sunday evenings talking with Kyndal and Collin, trying to give them advice that I hope they are hearing and taking to heart. They have some steps that need to be taken, but do they have the courage and diligence to take them? All I can do is be here when they need to talk, impart my meager wisdom, and pray for them.

Gone are the days of my greatest worry being whether Kyndal would fall down on the sidewalk walking up to the big kid door at school. Now I lose real sleep worrying about her. Parenting gets harder, not easier. Their decisions now affect the rest of their lives. And bandaids and kisses don't heal wounds.

Happy Kids

I think that my kids are all in a pretty happy place right now.

Kyndal is certainly having the most difficult time, but she is on the verge of being on her own and is unsure about what her future holds. It's a very exciting time for her. She and her boyfriend have some major decisions they need to be making. If they have the courage to follow their hearts, then I see great things for their futures. I just hope they have patience.

My niece Ashtyn and Kyndal's boyfriend Collin

Dawson ... well ... things are going great for him right now. He is doing really good in school. He has met a couple of really great friends. And, he now has a girlfriend. She is adorable. I grew up with her parents, so I know that she comes from a great family. Let's just say he is smitten.

Eli and Brynne are loving living here in Missouri, close to papa and grandma, able to walk and scooter everywhere. They love the park and our church. They are so happy that we are close to my parents' lakehouse so they can go fishing and out in the boat.

Even Crusoe is perfectly happy here. He loves going out in the boat, too.

One of the greatest things for me is our family dinner on Sunday evenings at my parents'. It's so great to have all of the grandkids together (and significant others) for dinner and fun. This week all the kids (even the baby) walked across the street to play basketball at the elementary school. Then they all went for a Dairy Queen date.

It's fun and exciting times for my kids, and a joy to watch.

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was my dad's 63rd birthday. My mom, sister and the rest of the family had an out-of-town volleyball game of my niece's. So, Eli, Brynne, and I invited my dad over for a special dinner. The kids made cards for papa and we had pork chops, oven-baked sliced potatoes, fresh green beans, and crock pot pumpkin pie. It was a nice evening! Happy birthday, dad!

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it's sunny with a slight breeze, and crisp and cool! It was a perfect fall day to be walking at the park. Beautiful!

I am thinking... about how I have been busy living my life instead of blogging about it.

I am thankful ... that I got to hear my 3 month old baby niece's first laugh yesterday. Eli and Brynne were outside playing ninja and she was watching them. Then she started laughing. She did it more than once. So special!

I am wearing... black lined track pants, a nike t-shirt, tennis shoes.

I am planning...  a garage sale we are having this Saturday.
 

I am creating... Ninja Halloween costumes; items to put in the church Christmas bazaar.

I am going... to run up and get my hair colored in about 30 minutes. Yea!!!

I am reading... The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd ... just kidding! I actually finished it at the lake this weekend! Now I am reading The Perks of Being a Wildflower by Stephen Chbosky.

I am hoping... that some money will start growing on our trees.

From the learning rooms... We have had to take a couple of Life Skills days this week so far. Yesterday we HAD to go get groceries, go to the recycling center, etc. Then today I HAVE to get my hair done while my sister is in town. It's back to the books tomorrow, and we are going on a field trip on Friday.

Noticing that ...  I love BBC television series! I started watching Call the Midwife last night on PBS, have recorded Upstairs, Downstairs (season 1), that I wanted to watch because season 2 starts this week, and cannot WAIT until January when Downton Abbey starts again!

From the kitchen... Fixing dinner for my dad tonight. It's his birthday and the rest of the family is going to my niece's volleyball game. We are having baked pork chops, gold potatoes, fresh garlic and bacon green beans, and crock pot pumpkin pie!

Around the house...  are pumpkins. I'll finish decorating this weekend when Rick brings my tub of fall decorations.

One of my favorite things... is watching Dawson live the small town school life.

A few plans for the rest of the week... today I am getting my hair colored and cut, then having lunch at my mom's. Tonight the little kids and I are fixing my dad his birthday dinner. Tomorrow night I have hand bell choir practice at church. On Thursday evening, my friend is coming over for some chat time. The little kids and I are going to a really cool place by Kansas City called Powell Gardens to see their Fairy Houses and Forts exhibit on Friday. And that night Rick is coming for a visit! And he's bringing Antonio with him. On Saturday I am having a little garage sale, and then we'll go to church on Sunday and then dinner at mom and dad's before Rick heads back to Oklahoma. I'd say he'll spend lots of time watching all of his favorite t.v. shows I have dvr'd for him on Saturday while I'm having the garage sale. There aren't too many projects for him this time, so he'll be able to just spend some time relaxing.

From my picture journal.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.