our busy week

We've had a busy, busy week around here! Last Friday night we

 had one of our Sip N' Dips at the pool. I served ice cream while 

the kids swam and J kept an eye on them. 

Last Sunday I volunteered in Mar's fourth grade class during service. This was

my first time to volunteer in her class at this church. It was fun to help out and

hang out with her class for a couple hours! 

We had a lazy Labor Day. We stayed home all morning and early afternoon and 

got a few things done around here then went to the pool for a while that afternoon.

 Tuesday was the monthly Lego event at the library.

The three little ones had a lot of fun playing with Legos for an hour while Mar read and finished

up some school work in the quiet room nearby. It's only our second week of 

homeschool but she's loving it so far! 

 Wednesday morning I worked in childcare at church for a few hours during women's

Bible study. Mar went with the older kids to the homeschool room while the little girls 

were in the toddler room and I worked in the nursery. I got to hold a tiny, little baby! So 

sweet.. I miss that age!

Thursday morning was the MOPS kick-off meeting for the season. I almost

didn't sign up this time with everything else we have coming up for the fall but I'm 

glad I decided to go ahead. It's always encouraging and a lot of fun! 

Thursday afternoon we went to our first sensory story time at the library. 

The library will be hosting sensory story time every Thursday this fall! I'm so excited! 

I think this will be really good for Indie with her sensory issues. Siblings

are welcome to attend too and even Sol enjoyed it! The kids heard two stories, 

a song, got to hold stuffed animals, play with sensory toys and play with a

 parachute. Indie was afraid of the parachute..

[to be expected] but it's a good environment for her to be introduced 

to new things at her own pace. 

This morning Indie had a her first occupational therapy session

here at home. She did great but I could tell she was getting tired

of it all and a little overwhelmed by the time the hour was up. She 

worked with puzzles, a lighted peg board, a cupcake/puzzle toy and 

one of those bouncy balls you sit and bounce around on. I was 

really impressed that she actually got on the ball and let the therapist

bounce her around a bit. She certainly didn't love it but it's a good

start. Next week we may try a tunnel and another parachute. 

 Thursday evening the kids and I packed a dinner to eat by the pool. We were there for about

three hours. I've been cleaning to pool house the last few weeks. I usually clean on Friday mornings before my husband leaves for work at 11 but decided to clean Thursday evening this week since Indie's appointment was this morning. I was able to clean  

while that kids swam and we were there until dark. Our pool closes for the season next

weekend so we're trying to enjoy a few more swims while we can!

On a completely different subject I put the older kids in a family study through a college program when they were little. I took them up there a couple times while they were "studied" by students. Since then I'll answer an occasional questionnaire to keep them updated on the kids. It's pretty basic but I always get an Amazon gift card after completing the questionnaire. I've been wanting a journal Bible for awhile and just ordered this one tonight with my gift card. I'm really excited to get it! I think journal Bibles are such a great idea! 

Tomorrow I'll be working in childcare at church again. This time I'll be up there all day while

several parents are in a class. So J will be here at home with our four while

I'm gone. I'm hoping he'll work on my honey-do list a bit while I'm out ha! 

I was really excited to do a review on Mabel's Labels this week! 

You can check out my review and get a coupon code here!

And I have another fun review coming up soon! 

I'm linking up with Friday Favorites and High Five For Friday today! 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

this and that

The little girls were so cute jumping in the pool Saturday. Follow me on Instagram to see
the cutest video of Indie trying to hold her nose lol.

This was taken last week but I love this pic! These two both named their babies "Emma" after their newest little cousin. They talk about her all the time even though she lives across the country and they've only seen her one time. So sweet. Indie has been making the funny faces recently!

We're having a very slow start to our week. I'm dealing with a cold + allergies. I had a cold and fever then it turned into terrible allergies.. or it's a combo of all three. I'm not sure just know that I've felt pretty lousy the past few days. I stayed home all day Sunday while J took the kids to church and then took the 3 younger ones to life group that evening.

Mar spent Sunday afternoon and evening with a school friend she hasn't seen since school let our in early June! They had a great time swimming together and playing board games! 

Yesterday morning we had children's development services come out to set up in home, occupational therapy for Indie. We're grateful for the therapy she'll receive for the next two months, until she turns three, but I'm getting a little frustrated with all of this. I'm learning that there's a huge difference between a private evaluation and an evaluation through the state. We were hopeful that she'd qualify for early childhood classes at a local elementary school.. and we're still waiting for that evaluation... but it's looking like she won't qualify. We'd really prefer to go with a private therapist which isn't covered by insurance so that's another frustration. I've been looking into other resources we could use but it hasn't been easy trying to figure out where to go from here. We're just praying we'll find the right answers and the right resources for her! 

Mar made an entire spaghetti dinner for all the kids and I last night! It was delicious! 

 J works a late shift so it's just me and kids during the week for dinner. Our dinner's usually look something like this haha!

 Alex's new backpack and matching lunchbox were delivered today! He was really excited to get them!! He'll turn 8 next week and then starts second grade one week after that! We have plans to go out as a family and do a little birthday shopping on Saturday. He's so excited and already has a list of places he wants to go! I can't believe he's almost 8!

Tomorrow we plan to spend another day at home unless I'm feeling better.. then we'll probably go to the pool and/or maybe the library.

Indie has a routine hip check-up this Thursday. (Here she is at her last check-up in February wearing little hospital shorts.) This time I'm taking all four kids with me which I haven't done before. Now that they're all a little older I'm expecting them to do pretty well but the appointments can run a little long and you never know how well anything will go with our loud, chaotic bunch ha! Indie has always freaked out during check-ups and especially during x-rays but I think she's starting to understand a little better. I've been trying to explain the x-ray process and trying to find videos on YouTube for her to watch so she can be a little more prepared this time. I'm hopeful that this time may go a little more smoothly. We're praying that her hip has continued to progress and heal properly! 

Hope everyone is having a great week!!