Random Fall Fun!

This fall, all three kids chose an extracurricular activity to participate in. The boys picked art class and Avery selected ballet & tap lessons. These activities began in early September and while, yes it creates a full schedule in our work-week, it's really turning out to be a lot of fun! 

Avery gets to participate in an afternoon class & I'm super grateful to my mother in law who is able to take her to that while I'm finishing up my school day.  

The boys are both enrolled in art classes and the studio that we go to breaks up the classes by age, so they're not in the same class which is nice. It gives them a break from each other and allows them to meet new peers outside of school. I love this studio because each month they focus on a different artist and learn about that unique art style.  The last lesson of every month is "creative expression" where the kids just get to do their own thing & use any medium in the art studio! We're really excited about this!

Michael, unfortunately, was sick for one of his lessons and hasn't quite finished his other projects in class yet, so we're super excited for him to bring home some projects this week!  Noah has finished two of his three projects so far, and I'm so impressed! We do plan to frame them, but I hung them up by his bed last night so he could admire them on the wall. (Then they fell down from the painters tape, so we'll definitely buy frames or wire string hangers to display their works!)

While one boy is at art class, I take the other boy & Avery around the downtown part of town and we browse and look around. The next night, we switch and the other boy goes to art class while the first walks around with me & Avery. Here are some pictures from our respective nights this past week. 

I'm loving these days!

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba 

Sayings of my Children

Here's another rendition of silly sayings of my children. 

Me: You'll need to write some thank you notes.
Michael: I'm going to write a poem for mine!
Noah: I'm going to write a hate note to h-e-double-hockey-sticks
Me: That's not what I meant


Avery: When I close my eyes, I can't see. I need glasses

Anytime Avery wants to do something at a future time she'll say "to later."  Example: "Mommy, you see that? You need to get a big bat and get it. To later."

(While watching a show with my 3 y.o.nephew. The show host asks 'what's your favorite food?')
Avery: Watermelon
W: No! Not watermelon! Pancakes!

(When my nephew was getting in the pantry for a snack)
Me: what's up, snack attack?
W: I'm not snack attack! I'm a big boy


Conversation I overheard between my 8 y.o. nephew and my sons:

G: Did you guys know that Michael Jordan is now the coach of his own team?
Noah: But he's the president

(When Avery fell asleep in the car)
M: She's probably dreaming about telling someone "no"
N: She's probably dreaming about U.S.
Me: The United States?
N: No. U.S.
Me: Us?
N: No! Unicorns! Starts with a "u," ends with an "s."

(While playing)
Noah: It was shot...
Michael: Twice
Noah: No...
Michael: Thrice
Noah: No.  It was shot... three times

Avery: Akuna wanted his rope. So I gave it to him.
Me: That was nice
Avery: So... I am great
Me: You are great

(While the boys are flipping through the channels on a TV in a beach cabin)
Noah: (flips channel...it lands on a commercial)
Michael: Ad
Noah: (flips channel...it lands on a sitcom)
Michael: Old show
(My boys learned the art of not being able to choose the TV show since it's not a streaming service)

Avery calls Pocky "chopsticks."

So in children's church today we talked about blood sacrifice & how Jesus paid the price for us. One of the questions I asked was "do you think you could do enough good things to earn your way into Heaven?"
Noah's response "Well, you'd have to die first"

Avery calls pretend tattoos "bad-toos."

Noah: Do you have a sew at your house?
Me: A sew? Like things to sew?
Noah: Yes
Me: Yes I do.
Noah: Good. I need you to sew my blanket

Avery: What day is it?
Me: Thursday
Avery: What?! We had a Thursday last week!


Avery: The brothers are watching something scary on the chromebook
Me: Did you tell them to turn it off?
Avery: No. You're the parent. I'm not the parent


(My parents gave me a bouquet of flowers to commemorate starting another school year.)
Avery: I see roses!
Me: Have you smelled a rose? (I hold the bouquet to her)
Avery: Mmm! It smells like red!

Noah: I can spell chocolate
Me: How?
Noah: Chocklit

Me: Happy birthday!
Avery: (gasps) Thank you for saying that, Mom!

Michael: Happy birthday!
Avery: Thank you!
Michael: I can't believe you're 4!
Avery: (deadpans) What?.... why did you say that? I am three!

Avery: I want to watch a dee-bee-deeb! (Dvd)
Me: Oh yay! I love dee-bee-deebs! Which one do you want to see?
Avery: No. I just want to watch it

Avery calls mascara "eye-scare-ah."

Avery: You're a grown up
Me: But do I want to be a grown up?
Avery: Yeah because you're big! Not huge but totally big!

Avery: I need to tell you something (spreads arms wide) SO MANY!  So..... how was your day?

Me: (to Aaron) Do you want to taste this cream cheese frosting?
Avery: I want to taste! (takes a small taste) Mmm! It tastes like frost!

Michael: what are you watching (on the chromebook) ?
Noah: a tornado warning
Michael: well turn it down
Noah: I will not turn it down. I'm trying to have a VR tornado experience

Me: I'll take your plate to your seat. You can take your orange juice cup
Avery: Ugh! You have TWO hands!

Avery: Why do some people like cookies? Yuck. But they're still yummy though.

There you have it!

Until Next Time,

Much Love, Reba

 

To the Park!

In July when Aaron and I took the kids to Auburn for a day trip, it was a fun filled day but we didn't make it to the playgrounds we wanted to go to. The weather was a little too toasty for much outdoor play. We made a tentative plan to go back one weekend in September when the weather cools down.  

Last Saturday, Aaron & I decided the weather looked good and we planned to head to Auburn again for this playground daytrip. In my mind, I assumed it was an away game and fortunately we had the wherewithal to check the football schedule before we left. Turns out, it was a home game featuring an away team from just 30 minutes outside of Auburn. Needless to say, it was going to be WAY too crowded to enjoy time in the city. We quickly adjusted our plans and chose to stick around our own town. 

We decided to go to an arcade, then to a playground in a local park and finally to our beloved library.  It was a fantastic afternoon! We ended the night by taking the kids to a Mexican restaurant for dinner & it was so tasty! We had such an enjoyable time and it reminded us that our little town can still be a good place for a Saturday hang out!

Here's some photos from the playground: 

Until Next Time,

Much Love, Reba

Remembering

I still remember walking out of my bedroom and having my dad place his arm around my shoulder and tell me that our country had experienced a terrorist attack and that we were at war.  Living in a home where I could see Pearl Harbor, this was very harrowing to me.  I was home-schooled at the time (8th grade) and I watched video tapes as my lessons & lectures, and most of the time I was home by myself during the day because my older brother went to a public high school and my younger brother went to a public elementary school.  My dad worked as a pastor at a nearby church and my mom was a nurse.  Since I had to frequently pause video tapes and change them out for different subjects, I caught glimpses of the news each day.  On this day, my mom called from work to tell me not to watch any TV in between video tapes.  She didn't know that I had just seen the recorded footage of the jumpers.  

Hawaii was 5 hours behind Eastern time and we watched live coverage that afternoon of the thousands of workers who were walking home across the bridges with headlamps on and helping each other navigate in the dark.  I was so hopeful for the families that would embrace these workers when they walked through the door since the family members most likely hadn't been able to contact them during the day.  

In April of 2001, my mom and Nana and I went to New York City for a Broadway trip and we went to Ground Zero while we were there.  Construction crews were still sorting through the rubble.  

In March of 2005, my whole family (including three grandparents) went to New York City to see my oldest brother play in Carnegie Hall with his high school symphonic wind ensemble.  On one of the days, my dad, younger brother, mom, and I went on a sightseeing trip around the city and we stopped at a Burger King near Battery Park.  From the second level, we could see into Ground Zero and construction crews were finishing leveling the ground to begin creation of the memorial. 

I've been to New York several more times since then, and have seen the completed memorial on more than one occasion.  I've been to the top of One World Trade and have looked down at the illuminated memorial in the dark. I've seen the beginnings of the memorial garden for the first responders and survivors who might pass away in the future from complications of breathing in all of the dust created from that day. I've even had the amazing opportunity to see the 9/11 museum and I am so hopeful for a future chance to bring Aaron and my children with me to see it again because it holds so many strong reminders of that day.  

Twenty years is a long time, and I now teach students who weren't even alive until 2005 and 2006.  I hold an immense honor to make sure that this day is treated with respect and that we never forget the Americans we lost on this day. 

God Bless America. 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Spray Painting Tap Shoes

We signed Avery up for dance class a few weeks ago and today was finally the day of her first lesson!  At the registration, I asked about tap shoe closures, whether Velcro or elastic or ribbon was best.  "Velcro" was the response.  I had previously purchased black tap shoes with a velcro closure and I found out that Avery had to have white tap shoes.  The supply company affiliated with the dance studio did not have any white tap shoes in stock, and none of them had velcro closures anyhow.  I began my lengthy search for easy-close tap shoes (none of which were velcro closures for under $45 a pair).  I finally found some elastic closure white tap shoes on Amazon, so I went ahead and ordered those in the next size up so that I wouldn't be caught off guard in a few months when her feet grow.  However, since I already had black tap shoes, I decided to research how to paint them myself just in case I ever have to do this again in the future. 

The articles/blogs I read stated to cover the taps with tape, and to maintain the shape of the shoe by stuffing the insides with plastic bags.  I'm so glad I read up on these tips!

The sites mentioned using alcohol to rub away some of the shiny coating of the patent leather because this would help the spray paint to stick to the material easier. 

I couldn't find the exact spray paint mentioned, but I chose to use this Rust-o-leum Paint and Primer paint which was suitable for many types of material including vinyl. 

Here are the shoes after a few coats of paint.  I ended up going back over them one more time-- honing in on the black fabric strip around the opening of the shoes.  I think in total I did four coats of paint. 

I forgot to take a picture of the clear coat I sprayed on them after the final coat of white paint had sat for 24 hours.  The clear coat helped give some extra shine and helped remove some of the tacky feelings left behind by the paint. 

Here's the finished product!  I can still see the darker area from the fabric strip, but this is nothing that will be noticed from far away and I know she'll be outgrowing this pair of shoes within the year. 

Avery was so impressed that she immediately wanted to put on a "princess dress" and walk around in her "perfect shoes" for a few minutes! 

I won't be afraid to purchase black shoes in the future and paint them myself!

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Fall Touches 2021

Once the calendar shifted into September, I brought out our fall decor.  Each piece is special to me and that's what helps turn my house into a home.  Decorating for the seasons is one of my favorite things to do.  My goal is to create a cozy refuge for my family and decorating helps me achieve this. 

On my laundry room door, I have my season-changing wreath and my rattan pumpkin door hanger.  The season-changing wreath is set for September and I will change it out again in October and November.  The rattan pumpkin is one of the first door hangers I bought when Aaron and I owned our first home. 

In the dining room, I chose to display two wreaths.  On the window is a $3 felt wreath from Target from the fall when we had the boys in daycare in 2014.  I hardly had any money left over at the end of the month due to daycare fees and medical supplies, etc. so buying this $3 wreath was all I could afford at the time and I've taken special care of it to make sure it continues to last the seasons as a good reminder of how far God has brought us.  Above the "Family Rules" sign is a wreath made of cupcake wrappers. This was part of a Lady's Craft Night at church several years ago.  I purposely chose something "fall themed" so that I could use it during this season.  It takes extra care to make sure this wreath doesn't get too squished when storing! It's very delicate, but I love it and the rich coloring it has. 

On my table is a white and gray autumnal tablecloth, and this year I'm layering my fall table runner on top of it.  My Nana made the table runner for me and I absolutely love pulling it out each year! 

The felt leaf garland is adorning my mantle.  I love this little fall garland, but always question the addition of the blue leaves. What tree makes blue leaves??? 

On the mantle shelf are three pumpkins. The first is Avery's purple pumpkin face that she made with much particularity.  I love the girly-ness of it and of course the gold glitter "stem" adds a special touch too. 

On the other side of the mantle shelf are two other pumpkins-- both of which I made during Lady's Craft Night at church several years ago on different years. The one on the left is made from a pumpkin themed "fat quarter" of fabric and a toilet paper roll, and the white pumpkin is made from mason jar lids and twine. 

This year, my children are finally old enough for me to display pumpkins on top of my TV stand!  To be fair though, I did put the fabric pumpkin on the edge and tucked my mercury glass pumpkin behind the corner of the TV. 

My white ceramic pumpkin decorates the other side of the TV stand. 

On my coat closet door is the fabric "P" monogrammed pumpkin that I bought for $3 at a grocery store in Amish country Pennsylvania when Aaron and I visited my grandma in August of 2016.  This was such a fun find because not many letters were left and when I found the letter "P" I was so excited!  And since it was fabric, it was easy to pack in my suitcase!  I love pulling this out year after year.  I love the chevron and damask patterns and the light shade of orange.  

Fall is certainly one of my favorite seasons!  It used to be my number one favorite but now that I'm a teacher, summer and winter (Christmas break!) are tying for first.  Fall is a nice bonus favorite though with all of its fun activities and decorations to ease the transition back to school. 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

August Birthdays

We had two parties in August for our birthday babies. Both of the parties were on the actual birthdays of my August kiddos. This was partly due to their birthdays both being on weekend days, and because we just had family over instead of big parties including school friends, etc. Both of my August kids had repeat themes to their party so I had lots of supplies and decorations from previous years. 

Avery requested a unicorn cake with pink & purple decorations. She wanted a pink cake, so I made a cherry jello poke cake which definitely gave a bright pink appearance to the top of the cake layers, but the jello didn't sink all the way through like I thought it would. Avery liked it though and that's what mattered the most. I reused unicorn decorations which I strung from the fan. Publix had some additional unicorn decor like themed paper plates, a tiny unicorn piñata, and unicorn sprinkles. Avery had an awesome party & showed pure excitement with every gift. This was a very special party because it was the last one that Popa attended. It will forever hold special memories. 

Michael wanted a Mario cake in a slightly different theme than previous cakes. This year he wanted a "Paper Mario Color Splash" themed cake. The game referenced is a 2-d drawing of Mario and characters. Instead of trying to accurately create this ourselves, Aaron & I decided to look up an edible fondant cake sheet that could be customized. I created a very basic compilation of Paper Mario items (following Michael's lead on how he wanted it to look) and I uploaded this to my Etsy order. I requested that the cake topper also say "Happy Birthday Michael." When it arrived (very quickly might I add!) I was so impressed because the shop owner put the phrase Happy Birthday, Michael in a Mario font! I was expecting it to be written in a very basic font but I was so pleasantly surprised at the extra effort given! This cake was a surprise to Michael & he was so impressed! That makes it so worth it to me. 

He had a great party. My older brother & his family came into town and I kept this a surprise for Michael so that he would have cousins at his party to play with.  He received lots of books & some games and his joy was evident in every gift opened. This was our first birthday celebration without Popa and it will forever hold memories because of our transition into how we weave together grief & still hold celebrations for life events.  We were so blessed to have Nana attend and it was good to have extra family time with both brothers, my sister-in-law and nephews, Nana and my mom and my in laws. 

And now we begin the September birthday string starting on Monday!

Until Next Time,

Much Love, Reba