Sun Inside and Out

The sun finally found its way out for a few days this week, we much enjoyed the visit.

Titus popped a tire on the Crazy Cart, so it was temporarily out of commission until the new tire arrived.  This spurred Amber and Titus to complete another project they had started a few weeks ago.  Reinstalling the Slacker Slack line.  I was really impressed with their initiative, team work and hard effort.  Unfortunately, though they did a great job installing the posts, the post holders and the screws that came with them couldn't handle the tension of the ropes and bent in on them.

However, they were undaunted.  The next day they went out with the measuring wheel to find two trees that were under 50 feet apart, on fairly level ground and not over the swamp.  Success.  It just required a little hole in the chicken fence.  They have truly been enjoying their new fitness/adventure activity.

On Thursday after Chapel we all couldn't help but stay outside.  After playing around the chapel property, we went to a local park and stayed outside for hours!  Long enough for us all to actually get some sun, how novel.  The day wasn't over though, our friends the M Family came to dinner; Titus had wanted to show his crazy cart off to his friend and we all wanted to get together.  We adults enjoyed great conversation in the Florida room.  The rest enjoyed food and fellowship everywhere else, including a long game of "Bang" a new card game they all enjoy.

While Jared and I went to archery on Friday, Titus did some art and of course Lance did some baseball with Chris. Amber sported her newly updated/fixed gown the oldest M child had fixed for her.

Saturday, we celebrated GM Mary's birthday with some Bison Pasta and Spice Cake.  Luckily I had made the Spice Cake earlier in the day because Chris had to make the Bison Pasta all by himself, as I was still painting.  Chris had helped me prep the half bath for painting in early in the morning.

We got down the first coat fine, but it didn't dry as quickly as I hoped and I was just finishing the second coat as they were arriving for dinner.  However, despite the chaos of the application, the end result was just like I wanted.  It's so much cozier, finished, and frankly us.

The only thing I may still change is the picture above the toilet.  I'm going to look for a frame, similar to the others, to put more family pictures in sometime in the future.

Sunday was Fellowship Meal at church and a wonderful guest speaker who reminded us all to look from above for understanding, as the Psalmist explained in Psalm 77.  Our time with the church community is the best time of each week for all of us.  As usual, we were there to the end closing down the church, helping and socializing.

Roller Coaster

 

This week started out a bit of an emotional roller coaster with car mess, non-stop rain (for weeks) and baseball drama (dangerous COVID policies, very upsetting).  

The Beast had to be towed into the mechanic (again) on Monday, this time it was wheel bearings and brake pads.  As a result, we decided to purchase a new (to us) car on Tuesday from a local dealer.   Titus and I picked up the car to take to a mechanic to have it checked out.  The mechanic (Wes) was a local homeschooling dad, so when Titus showed interest he "went into homeschooling mode", showing and explaining everything he was doing and looking for to Titus.  Titus absorbed it all like a sponge and was quick to anticipate what tools Wes needed next; that really impressed him.  He is really great at remembering things, especially when he can touch and has an attentive teacher.  In the end, we didn't end up buying the car (an experience I won't relive here) but we had asked God for a clear signal about the car and he gave a clear "no" in a really unique manner.  The day would have been a loss if not for Titus learning so much from Wes and he and I getting some one on one time.  In the evening, we had fun celebrating Holly's birthday with a spaghetti dinner and her movie choice of "Secretariat"; an absolutely awesome movie even if you don't like horses and the best if you do.

Our chief mechanic Tim (who is also sick of seeing the Beast) got the beast up and running (again) on Tuesday and we picked it up on our way to "Shove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day" at church.  What a fun night of food, fellowship and worship.  Pastor went over the importance of properly attending to the church calendar to "number our days".  

Wednesday we were back to car hunting.  This time I wanted to go "peopless" and the best deal we could find was not at a dealership anyway but online at Carvana.  After we did all the paperwork with Carvana, Credit Union and Insurance; Jared and I salvaged what was left of the day at archery practice.  Chris and Lance went again to Redline and then to the first Storm practice of the season (in the gym since the rain won't stop).  Practice was productive, Chris said the team has potential, hopefully they'll get a chance to show it off to someone but at this point, but if they scrimmage all season because of the stupid that will be fine too.

Thursday, I thought would be smooth sailing and we could get back on schedule; until it wasn't.  My hope for a "peopless" process became me talking with both Carvana on one phone and Credit Union on another phone, at the same time, for a few hours so they could get on the same page.  Determined not to loose another day to nonsense not on my schedule, we did manage to complete the three most important things on my list; straighten out Amber's nightly prayer list, get caught up on our Art study (currently Mantega), and write letters.  Each month I have been trying to have the kids practice the old art of letter writing.  Last month we started with kids in Haiti.  This month, we wrote to Grandma Carol, since Jared had a DVD of his stop motions to send anyway (she doesn't have a computer or internet).  As a bonus, we did a little Spanish and I breathed a sigh of relief that despite the chaos we had reclaimed some of the week.

Friday, Lance spent the morning with his friend Dil.  Jared and I went to the range so he could practice before we headed to "Friend Friday" at the T Family.  After "Friend Friday" ended we shuttled six of their children to our house to watch "Perfect Game"and eat pizza; the T family knows little about baseball and we decided if they were going to be our friends (which they are) they needed to learn. LOL

Saturday:  Airsoft at the T Family home with lots of boys from church and the T girls watching by binocular.  Their property is very hilly, so it required different strategy from our yard, which was fun for all the boys.  Chris and I enjoyed some one on one time with Amber, reading, playing games, going for a walk and watching a new version of Emma with some tasty treats.

Sunday:  Chris got a call during church that our new/used car from Carvana that was suppose to arrive in the afternoon was damaged upon delivery.  UGHHHH So now we have to decide what to do next, hopefully Homer and the Beast will behave in the meantime.

Happy Birthday Titus!

Titus is a loving son and brother, sensitive and caring and smart a whip (or bug what ever the confusing cliche is).  In his free time he enjoys being outside, and building things.  He is also our adrenaline junky and an exceptional athlete.  Plus, as you can see, he is one handsome sharp dressed guy.

For a number of reasons (last year being such a bummer for him for one) we really wanted to make this birthday special.  I am happy to report we were completely successful.

First step was to clear his birthday day of any obligations....check

Make French Toast Bake for breakfast, then let him open up his cards....check

Though tempted to replace the box contents with cat food (long story), Lance resisted and we presented the box sent to him intact.  He then spent the rest of the morning building per one gift or shooting per another.

The afternoon was spent with friends, playing in the woods; where he fell in the creek and tested the waterproofness of his pants (they passed) and playing games inside.

He and his siblings then stayed to watch a movie and eat pizza at their friends house (Chris and I got a surprise impromptu date and watched "Sully" we liked it so much we watched again with kids twice over the weekend).

His big gift was still in hiding though because it required the court to be dry.  Thankfully, the weather cleared in the afternoon and the roads were dry Saturday morning, so that we could reveal his final gift.

Harv was the voice of reason when we discussed getting Titus a Go-cart, pointing out the hills in our neighborhood, then Chris found the "Crazy Cart".  It has to be run on level ground, which means in the court for our purposes (though they chose Grand Central Station), its electric, it can drift, spin and consequently has no breaks....It's CRAZY and he absolutely LOVES it!

He's not the only one who loves it, so do all his siblings, even Chris and I took a ride.  The kids used chalk to set up a track and at night they mount a flashlight to the front and have IMSA rallies.  This was definitely what the doctor ordered to fill his need for speed, in a fairly safe manner.

Beside more maze building and racing, the weekend finished off with a church pot-luck and time playing/talking with friends (depending on your age).

He's a happy fellow, He's a happy boy!  Got his new Crazy Cart!  It's his pride and joy! Oy!  (It was an umbrella in the original song but it works)