Real Life at It's Finest


And here my internet folk is real life at it's best... Me in my sweatshirt cause I am cold from just walking on the elliptical while doing a spelling test with the youngest and no makeup cause I just don't have time today.  I am also desperately trying to finish grades for the end of the semester this week.  My oldest is taking a test.  I had cold coffee and fruit snacks for dessert.  The pile of books that I need to read for potential curriculum and pleasure (I just carry them around with me hoping to find time.) The coats and bags from Sunday church still sitting in the chair. There is a white reflection in my new reading glasses because there is a ton of snow outside and it is cold and grey kinda day, a blah day. The laundry in the background needs to be folded.  Notice that our dining room table is in the living room because you can vaguely see the ladder and tool box in the background of what was the dining room.   That is because I got gift cards for paint at Christmas and I really wanted to make the dining room look better  and my hubby is putting in extra long days at work (6/10's) and coming home and making our home better too! Oh and did I mention the road trip we are taking on Saturday for a week... yeah... that my folks is real life at it finest!

Grandparents Getaway Day #36

The Finale


This is the end of my daily pictures for the day... both grandparents come home tomorrow!  




Grandparents Getaway Day #35

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Let's Go Racing!


NASCAR has started... I won last year in our little family pool... let's see how I do this year!  
Thanks to some of our favorite friends for hosting and let us watch it later on DVR with them!  


Grandparents Getaway Day #34

Special Music

Princess #2 made her first public appearance with her violin.  It was a pale comparison; but beautiful, to our pianist for who for more years than I can count; has retired and this is the first offertory after her retirement.  You will be missed Krista, we are praying for you. 


Grandparents Getaway Day #31

Kid's Lunch

Well... the ladies had their lunch so the kiddos get their time too! We had a great time finishing out our week off with a playdate and lunch with some of our favorite friends.


Grandparents Getaway Day #29

Sacred Starbucks

Hahaha... really we are reading Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas and drinking Starbucks.  
love, love, love




Grandparents Getaway Day #28

West Coast Lunch

While you may not be able to see it clearly and it is definitely not specific to the "west coast"... our new favorite lunch is white chicken chili... taught to us by the West Coast Starks! 


Grandparents Getaway Day #25

Cousin Lovin'

This weekend we had the cousins and the dog come and stay with us. 
 It was so much fun and they wore us right out!!


Grandparent's Getaway Day #24

Happy 40th Birthday!!

Happy birthday to my favorite 40 year old! Let's grow old together baby!


Grandparents Getaway Day #22

Throwback Tuesday

In a galaxy far, far, away...many, many years ago... 19 to be exact...our first Valentine's Day



Grandparents Getaway Day #21

Great Love Has No Man...

than he that lays down his life for his friends.

These people... they are precious! They are my brothers and sisters... they are my friends.  They are so loved by Christ that He gave His life for them... and I should love them the same.  As we talk of our "love" on this Valentine's Day let us remember that God also calls us to love his church and the people in it as much as if not more than we love our chosen "loves".  


Grandparents Getaway Day #20

Exploding Rainbows

We had co-op this week.  It was really fun to get together with our homeschooler friends.  We missed the January meeting due to my surgery... so it was even more fun to catch up with everyone!  We did a science experiment called exploding rainbows... the kiddos loved it


Grandparents Getaway Day #19

Birthday Bash

Somebody turns 40 next week...

Grandparents Getaway Day #18

New Phrase in our house

So this week we added a new phrase to our house... "Load the dishwasher!"


A contractor friend of ours hooked us up with a used dishwasher and rebuilt a shelf unit to house it!  It has been 8 years of hand-washing dishes and it is now over!! Thank you sooooo much Diehls! 

Grandparents Getaway Day #17

Nor'Easter

Well I asked for it, so here it is... our first real nor'easter in about 3 years!  We are up to about 6 inches  and it is still coming fast and furious... expected to snow all day.


Grandparents Getaway Day #16

Library Research

We love our local library as homeschoolers.  Two of the three are doing a research project for the next few weeks and we are here looking at encyclopedias, getting/ordering books on their topics.  Our local librarians know us by name and we love all the help they provide!  Thank you!
Notice the bright blue sky and melty snow!


Grandparents Getaway Day #15

Nothing New Under the Sun

Well it is Tuesday and we have snow/sleet!  
Feeling a little like I have seen this before... or maybe four??



Grandparent Getaway Day #14

Quality Time

Just a picture of Princess #1 and I dreaming of a dishwasher... going on 8 years without one!


Grandparents Getaway Day #13

Superbowl Sunday

We had our small group over for Super Bowl Sunday.  While I am not a Patriots fan (even though we originate from MA) they played a good game and had a well deserved win.  



Grandparents Getaway Day #12

That's All Folks

KJ's been out on these bright sunny winter days tracking us some rabbits!  



Grandparents Getaway Day #11

Sunset

The sunset tonight just struck me as beautiful...


Grandparents Getaway Day #10

Family Game Night

Just a nice relaxing night in with mock take-out from Panera Bread (broccoli cheddar soup and steak/white cheddar panini).  Played a few games and watched Night at the Museum per Princess #3 because she is learning about Sacagawea.  


Grandparents Getaway Day #9

Dave Ramsey's Budget Meeting

We started bi-weekly budget meetings more than 10 years ago when we were first introduced to Dave Ramsey's financial program and we still have them today... "spending" the paycheck.   😍

Grandparents Getaway Day #8

Inevitable 

So here it is... the parents leave and it snows!  It is inevitable! But honestly it is nice to see snow again, if only a few inches at least it is sticking around for some nice sledding! 


Grandparents Getaway Day #7

Burping Baseballs and Bologna Barf

This would be Princess #3's attempt at a poem with the sound "B" 
thought you would all get a kick out of this


Grandparents Getaway Day #6

Pioneer Club Sunday

Today we celebrated the ministry Pioneer Clubs and Christian Service Brigade in morning service.  If you are church folk this program is very similar to Awana... if you are not church folk this program is similar to Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts but with a Bible theme and lesson. All three of our girls are active in the program on Wednesday nights and as a group this Sunday morning they sang a song and honored the director for her many years of service.  It was exciting to worship together with our "normal" congreatation but was even more exciting was to see so many new faces in the congregation today!  It was hard to find a place to sit!  Amazing!  And an amazing sermon to boot. If you would like to hear it... check out www.westerlobaptist.com





Grandparents Getaway Day #5

Leadership Training

So KJ and I spent all morning at a leadership conference for our church.  We both hold a leadership "role" within the church and we met with other leaders to discuss the health of the church, the transition of the church, and the strengths and weaknesses of our church.  It was very well presented, very well explained and exciting to see the vision of the elders for the future.  I was encouraged!  It was such a blessing to gather with my brothers and sisters around our love for the local body.  
God is at work!


So begins the adventures of the grandparents that leave the bitter cold (although it is the warmest winter on record) of the Northeast for southwestern and southern warmer weather.  I promised to try and do a picture a day for the vacationing folks... so I thought I would drag everyone along too... plus the blog needed updating!  

Grandparents Getaway Day #4

Date Night

So we were able to get away for a little while on a "Lowes" date last night.  (You know...those times when you leave the kids at home and go look or buy those supplies you need for the house projects. ) We got Cumberland Farms Coffee and then looked at paint for the dining room and living room. 
 I am excited now to go buy it and start painting!  Hmmm... soon!!


So begins the adventures of the grandparents that leave the bitter cold (although it is the warmest winter on record) of the Northeast for southwestern and southern warmer weather.  I promised to try and do a picture a day for the vacationing folks... so I thought I would drag everyone along too... plus the blog needed updating!  

Grandparents Getaway Day #3

Stark Princess Christian Academy

Nothing exciting today... just a typical day at school.  Princess #1 looking at bird feathers under the microscope and all of us in the school room.



So begins the adventures of the grandparents that leave the bitter cold (although it is the warmest winter on record) of the Northeast for southwestern and southern warmer weather.  I promised to try and do a picture a day for the vacationing folks... so I thought I would drag everyone along too... plus the blog needed updating!  

Grandparent Getaway Day #2

Field Trip

Today was a field trip day with our friends from co-op.  We went to see the NYS Museum!  What an adventure with all our snow and school delays.  We ended up with 2 inches of sleet and on top of that about another 4 inches of sleet and snow.  (a bear to plow)  But all in all looks like fun... yup I am stuck at home still recovering!  (just too much walking for me yet)





So begins the adventures of the grandparents that leave the bitter cold (although it is the warmest winter on record) of the Northeast for southwestern and southern warmer weather.  I promised to try and do a picture a day for the vacationing folks... so I thought I would drag everyone along too... plus the blog needed updating!  

Grandparent Getaway Day #1

Snow Day

The day they leave it snows... well sleets at least!  We received about 2 inches of sleet and that is as close to snow as we have received this year. The girls went out and sledded and eventually made a run from the top of the hill to the museum!  (I unfortunately didn't get it on video)






So begins the adventures of the grandparents that leave the bitter cold (although it is the warmest winter on record) of the Northeast for southwestern and southern warmer weather.  I promised to try and do a picture a day for the vacationing folks... so I thought I would drag everyone along too... plus the blog needed updating!  

Around KJ's Table: September 5th- September 11th

 Let's start out with a moment to remember It was also the first day of school this week: And back to prep-ahead meals since all my cook...