Back to School

How is it the end of August already? Tuesday was the first day back to school for the girls and we were NOT ready for it! Summer just seemed to fly right by!

Felicia (10th grade) has been busy with field hockey to start the school year and she loves it! Madelyn (8th grade) is currently a manager for the field hockey team and will be playing in the spring. We are super proud of their commitment to the game! It's a lot of work and they are killing it! Stella (3rd grade) was probably the most excited to head back to school! She loves seeing all her friends and catching up after summer.  

Although we were not quite ready for it to start, we are looking forward to a great school year!

The First Day Back

I know, I know...I haven't been here in a long time. What can I say? We wrapped up last school year, took our annual Myrtle Beach vacation, and enjoyed the lazy days of summer. Nothing too exciting, just good old family time. It was refreshing to not have a schedule to follow and just go with the flow for a few months. But, today I am back!

Also, today is the first day back to school for my girls!

Felicia is in ninth grade (her first day of high School), Madelyn is in seventh grade, and Stella is in second grade. I cannot believe how quickly they are growing up! As always on the first day, they were up and ready to go super early. I'm sure that won't be the norm! But, I am looking forward to a great school year, filled with lots new things.

I can't wait to hear all about their first day back!

For the Love of Fall

My love for fall has never been a secret. The colors, cooler temps, fall treats, and Halloween fun are a few of my favorite things. September and October were jam packed with all things autumn!

At the end of September, my sister Diane came to visit from Texas and we had our annual fall cookout at World's End State Park, along with my sister Karen and family, our parents, and a few of our kids. It was a great day...

..just a little chilly! Aaron, Madelyn, and Stella had to cuddle to stay warm! Ha!

 A few of the cousins.

 Pop and Aaron's usual shenanigans!

Honestly, this is my favorite place to be every fall. Spending a day unplugged, with my "circus" is a day well spent!

Our next fun, fall day was Stella's school Harvest Festival. I had the pleasure of being the tattoo lady once again this year. Thankfully, it was much warmer than last year and I didn't freeze my fingers off applying temporary tattoos to all the kiddos. Days like this, give me life!

Next up, our tiny town had it's first ever Halloween Festival! There was a pumpkin decorating contest, a costume contest, and so much more. It was followed by the annual Halloween Parade and fireworks. Another great day! 

We wrapped up October with pumpkin carving and trick or treating. Although, I love me some Christmas, I really am in no hurry to let go of fall! After all, my favorite holiday has yet to come! 

Happy Fall!

Trick or Treat

Another Halloween has come and gone and it was all treats and no tricks for us! While Stella is still all in for trick or treating, Felicia and Madelyn had decided they no longer wanted to go. However, after school yesterday, they both changed their minds! A little makeup and a few props later, they were all set to go. It was a good night for all!

I hope you all had a Spooktacular Halloween too!

First Day

Ahhh! It's so quiet here!

The girls headed off to their first day of school this morning. Everyone was awake early and ready to go. We are hoping they are just as eager to get up and go back tomorrow!

Madelyn(6th),Stella(1st),Felicia(8th)

Easy Two Ingredient Slime

Happy Monday! I cannot express enough how much we needed this extra day off. It turned out that Mike had the weekend off as well (which is very rare), so we just had a well earned "lazy" weekend. We spent the weekend mostly hanging out at home watching movies and football. It was perfect!

Today, the girls wanted to make one of their favorite things...slime! It's super easy! You only need 2-ingredients: liquid starch and glue. Of course, my girls like it to sparkle, so we use glitter glue.

Just mix equal parts glitter glue and liquid starch. At first it seems too runny and messy, but after a few minutes, something magical happens and it turns into slime. Honestly, I don't know how something so simple can keep these girls entertained for so long, but it works!

Stella's favorite thing to do is put a straw in the slime and blow bubbles.

So much fun!

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"Happier" Halloween

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. Actually, I love all things fall! We've crammed a lot of fun fall activities into the last few days and some did not exactly go as well as planned. I was really hoping that three happy girls got of the bus this afternoon, because trick or treat night had arrived. Thankfully, there were no grouches...just Batman, a cat, and a mouse (duh)!

While the big girls planned to go with friends, Stella and I were heading out alone for some treats.

Pumpkin carving may not have been as good a time as I had hoped. But, trick or treat night...nailed it

Pumpkin Carving with a Side of Grouchiness

We are rolling right along through Fall and checking things off our Fall to-do list faster than you can say "pumpkin pie"! Last night, it was pumpkin carving night. While the girls scooped the guts out of the pumpkins, I made some doughnuts. Of course by the time I was done, the kitchen was covered with pumpkin goo and the girls were getting grouchy. Sometimes, even though in my head I clearly have a perfect picture of how things will be fun and everyone will get along and be happy, it doesn't always work out that way. But, we power through and make the best of it! In the end, we have three jack o' lanterns.

I would have loved to get a picture of all three together, but Madelyn refused. :(

Oh well, maybe next year! ;)

{Catching Up} Back to School

Madelyn(5th), Stella(1st), Felicia(7th)

Summer break came to an end a few weeks ago and apparently, I'm still in denial over it because until now, I haven't posted first day of school pics!

So, here they are, The Adams girls starting out another year of school! It's hard to believe how much these girls have grown. I mean really...my BABY is in first grade already! Crazy!

Being home alone when the girls are all in school and their big brothers are all at work is very quiet. Most days, I am very busy with the everyday chores of being a mom, but there are some moments that I actually have "free time". These are the moments that I have no idea what to do with myself! I suppose I should just enjoy the quiet, but it's not always that easy. I think I need to find a hobby! HA!

Of course, when the day is done and I pick them up at the bus stop, the silence is broken and the witching hour begins. I must say, I dislike homework just as much as an adult as I did when I was a kid. Booo! But, so far our school year has gotten off to a great start. Hopefully it continues!

Summer Adventures

I can't believe it's August 8th already! Summer is dwindling away fast and I am not quite ready for it to be over just yet. Back in July we spent a week in Myrtle Beach, SC. I really wish we were still there. Sand between my toes and sunshine on my face is just about my idea of perfection. Also this summer: we've had VBS twice, trips to the pool, sleepovers, cookouts and general summer fun. We'll end the summer with a trip to Gettysburg, PA for the Labor Day weekend. We can't wait!

Yesterday, we had a unique experience with our church. Instead of our usual Sunday service, we went for a river cruise on the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat. We had a short service after our cruise and followed it with lunch and fellowship. It really was a perfect day!

I'm still looking forward to a few more adventures this summer and I hope you are enjoying yours as much as we are!

Happy Monday!

Fabulous Fall

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, I LOVE FALL! In fact, if we could have double fall and no winter, I would be one happy girl! 

If I ever had to pick my favorite place to go in the fall, it would have to be World's End State Park and this past Sunday, the weather was perfect for a day of "unplugged" fun.

A walk in the woods with leaves crunching underfoot was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. The kids love it there too!

The colors were beautiful and the weather was amazing! Sun shining and warm enough for Stella to dip her toes in the water (Thankfully, because she fell in and was wet up to her knees!).

Of course, we love to recreate photos from the past, so Felicia decided to wear a leaf on her face again this year!

It turns out, we picked the perfect day to enjoy our favorite fall tradition. Next weekend is turning cold. Boo! I am NOT ready for winter just yet! 

My Empty Nest

Madelyn(4th grade), Stella(Kindergarten), Felicia(6th grade)

The day I have been dreading is finally here. My baby girl has left the nest and joined the big girls at school. She had a bit of a trial run over the summer when she went to the summer reading program, but that didn't go so well. There were several days that we had to drop her off as she sobbed. Today, NO TEARS! She was super excited when she woke up and was thrilled that Felicia and Madelyn would be riding the bus with her! 

All the girls were a little tired when they got off the bus this afternoon, but other than that, they had a GREAT day! Hopefully the rest of the school year goes as well as today. Now I just have to figure out how to spend all my free time...

School is out for the Summer!

The kids have had a great school year, but they were so ready to get their summer started! Today was the last day, so of course, we had to get the party started with a huge water balloon fight! Aaron's last day was last Friday, so I enlisted his help in filling balloons all morning. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it! 

With game faces on, they were ready for war!

It didn't take long to blow through what took us almost two hours to fill!

Happy Summer!

Trick or Treat

Halloween has come and gone and our sugar high is over. We had a great time trick or treating, enjoyed the Halloween parade, and had our fill of spooky movies. The weather was perfect for both trick or treating and the parade. Although the boys have outgrown the fun of Halloween (except for the candy eating), the girls still really enjoy it! 

I hope your Halloween was full of treats and good times!

The First Day

The first day of school came a little sooner than we would have liked. It really seemed like summer was extra short! This new year brings about some big changes for Felicia. She started 5th grade...her first year in middle school. She's had a bad case of the "nerves" for the past week. Madelyn on the other hand was excited to get back to school and see all of her friends. I can't wait for their first day to be over so I can hear all about it!

The B-I-B-L-E!

My entire life I have worshiped at the same Methodist church that my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were members. They truly are my church family. Many of my childhood memories were centered around the church and the family time we had at my grandparents house following church services. There was also Sunday school, vacation bible school, and youth group. All of which, I look back on fondly! 

Recently, I have had some struggles with whether or not my church is still the one for me. It's not in our town which makes it a little more difficult for me to get involved with activities that don't fall on a weekend. Also, there is no longer a Sunday school program for kids Stella's age. That kind of bums me out. 

About two years ago, some friends of Felicia and Madelyn asked if the girls could go with them for "Kid's Club" at a church down the street from our house. When I was a little girl, I would go to VBS there and enjoyed it, so I said sure. They've been attending Friday nights ever since! This past summer, during vacation bible school I started taking Stella as well. At times she would get antsy and I would have to take her out, but for the most part, she enjoyed being included. Especially at craft time! 

This past Friday, we were greeted with happy faces and warm hearts once again. We sang songs and prayed, had a lesson and made a craft. But the best part of the night for Stella was when she received her very own Bible. The members of the church gave each of the kids that come to kids club a Beginner's Bible. (they had given my older girls a regular Bible when the first started attending too) For Stella, this has become her most prized possession! She has told everyone that she can that she has a new Bible!

All three girls are so happy to have their new bibles. The big girls have read quite a few stories on their own and have looked up the corresponding verses in their regular bibles and Stella likes to go through and pick out stories for me to read to her. Right now, we are feeling blessed to have two churches to call our church family. 

 

Never Doubt the Groundhog

Early Sunday morning we got the news from Phil that we were in for six more weeks of winter. Many say a groundhog can't predict the weather, but around here we believe he can...

More snow coming our way tomorrow!

The Big Girls First Camping Trip

Some of my fondest memories as a child generate from camping trips we had. As a family, we haven't gone camping since the boys were little and the girls have never gone. That makes me sad and soon we will have to plan a trip that includes us all. So, it was no surprise to me that when a friend invited Felicia and Madelyn to go camping overnight at a local campground, the girls were excited beyond words! The woke up early and had their bags packed before lunch even though they were not leaving until the evening! lol!

Looking at those smiling faces, you might never guess that it had been raining! But, thankfully just before they left it stopped and the sun came out. 

 

They couldn't wait to go so they sat on the front porch waiting and asking every 30 seconds what time it was!  Stella was a little less excited that the girls were going without her. Although, she had a great night! She always becomes so much more talkative when she's alone. We stayed up late and caught fireflies. Good times!

When the phone rang after 9, I got a little nervous that someone was homesick. NOT! There was a small mishap with a flaming marshmallow and Madelyn got a little burn from the hot marshmallow. She was fine and actually when I talked to them later to tell them good night, they had no time for mom, they were having too much fun!

I can't wait for them to get home and share all the fun stories of their first camping trip!

 

Monster Valentine Box

 For quite some time now, Pinterest has been my "go-to" place for inspiration. There are so many talented crafters, bakers, decorators, and teachers out there and to have them all in one place is genius! Lately, Felicia has taken an interest in Pinterest as well. She'll search for crafts or birthday party ideas or whatever else she's looking to get her crafty hands into. It was no surprise when she asked if she could search for an idea for her Valentine box. I wanted to make an owl, but it was her project so I let her choose and she wanted to make this monster box from Giggles Galore.

So, I present to you, Felicia's Monster Box:

 

She finished it last night and  I think it turned out great! She's very proud of her work!

 

Crafting with Felicia {Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly}

This past Monday, you may remember, I was *waving* my white flag at Mother Nature. It was one of those days where I was just not feeling well, combined with a snow day that was filled with freezing rain that made it impossible for the kids to get out and play. As a result, we had LOTS of bickering and one very grouchy momma. I was in no mood to organize anything crafty. Especially a craft that required me to clean up after. That's when Felicia took over. She promised to do a craft with her sisters AND clean up the resulting mess! Believe me,  my expectations were not so high, considering Felicia tends to be on the mess side and not always willing to clean up. But, I let her go and this is what she came up with:

 Pretty good if I do say so myself and she actually DID clean up the mess! She even asked if I wanted her to wash Stella's shirt because she got some paint on it!