Thankful Thursday

It's been a bit of a rough week at our house with meetings and volleyball and such that I'm ready for the weekend that is coming.  Tuesday we had a meeting at Sprout's school about her math accommodation plan.  Several items weren't being followed so we met with her principal to discuss things.  He was very truthful that they had dropped the ball so to speak.  Things have changed and will be changing more as the week finishes out.  It's a bit of relief since we were considering having to pull her and switch her schools.  I really didn't want to do that, but if that was what was necessary then that would be what we did.  Sprout's issues are strictly in math.  She's way above average on everything else.  Math is a struggle.  We just got her accommodation plan at the end of last year so we are optimist that things will improve as the year goes on

Monday she found out her best friend who also has some learning difficulties is having to switch schools.  The school thinks they don't have the resources to help her like she needs.  Both girls are having a hard time with being split up.  They have been together since preschool at age 4.  We knew it was going to happen next year because Sprout is changing schools, but it was only going to be for a year and then they would be back in the same school again.  Now all that is in jeopardy and unfortunately the girls know it.  They are still in the same 4H club so they will still see each other, but just not every day.  We set them up to be able to text and video chat so I'm hoping that will help.  The year of big change was supposed to be next year and they were gearing up for that, but now it's this year. 

Still I'm thankful that we are all trying to work together to keep the girls in contact and be able to see each other.  I'm grateful my kid, who knows her friend has learning issues, still loves her and truly overlooks her issues to see the friend who is loyal.  She always draws her into her band of misfit friends.  Sprout always seems to be a magnet for the kids that other kids don't understand.  She only sees the good in them.  I asked why she doesn't want to be in the "popular" crowd and her answer is they are fake, aren't true friends, and her friends need her.  She sees the inside and not the outside and that makes me proud as a mom.  She is the kid who doesn't like to see someone left out of anything. 

Quilting and backpack repairs

A rather uneventful weekend at our house.  Laundry, laundry and more laundry seem to be the norm right now.  Uniforms and practice clothes have increased the number, but that's to be expected.  We found a new backpack at a thrift store for her recently.  It's a Vera Bradley which is all the rage at her school.  The zippers are all good, but the inside of the backpack straps has rips.  I got coordinating colored fabric and prewashed it.  Last night I cut it and have pinned it to the straps.  Now I need to pick out thread and sew it.  It will be my first test of my walking foot since it's several layers and I really don't want it bunch up.  Hopefully tomorrow it will be all done and just a memory.  Sprout is dying to have it finished. 

I also prewashed and cut the fabric for WonderfulTeacher's quilt.  I finalized the plan and have started pinning things.  Tonight I'll start sewing and if all goes well then I'll have it done in and day or two.  If I push it I might have the top done tonight, but that's if things go really smoothly.  If not I'll have it for the game Thursday night.  The top will get signed by the kids and then I'll put it all together.  I think the backing and edging don't take as long as cutting and piecing.  I'm going to alter the plan just a bit to include a foot pocket at the bottom by attaching a piece of fleece on the back at the bottom.  It will make treatment hopefully a little easier. 

I weeded some flower beds and I'm ready to cut back some flowers that have bloomed all they are going to this year.  After I get the quilt all done then I'm going to finish up my winterizing outside.  FarmBoy sprayed weeds and yard overgrowth around where the new pens are.  The dirt piles aren't all spread out yet so it wasn't possible to mow and things got out of hand.  It's all starting to die off and when he can the yard will get leveled and ready for grass seed.  We should have enough time for the grass to start to grow before winter hits.  My excitement for the holidays is starting to build and I'm in the mood to start preparing my holiday planner.  Things are going to be a bit crazy this year since WestCoastSis is coming for a quick Christmas trip east.  More to come on that one though.

Fall is coming

It's FarmBoy's birthday and this signals that harvest and fall are coming to our neck of the woods.  He's getting anxious to get in the fields.  Things have been a bit hectic with volleyball games and I'm in training this week.  The crazy is building at our place.  We work as a team to handle things usually, but when harvest hits it's totally crazy.  The crockpot is probably the most used appliance in the house when harvest starts in earnest since I work full time and pretty much handle the kid.  He does manage to drop her off on his off and day shift days and that helps tremendously.  I deal with pick up and any sports events and basically anything else that comes along.  Sometimes I also handle shuffling him between fields and running a grain cart when needed.  Meals are leftovers, crockpot, or freezer things.

I make a ton of soup in the fall and this year I think I'm going to try my hand at canning some.  It would make life easier to send him to work on night shift with a jar of decent soup and a sandwich with little effort.  This helps when I'm helping him in the fields and still trying to keep up with laundry.  Since we have our own meat and I keep the pantry stocked up for just this reason I can make a quick store trip for milk and a few fresh things.  This keeps me more available for anything FarmBoy needs.  Shuffling him between fields, retrieving parts, and running a grain cart are just a few of the things that I pitch in on.  Having a hot meal in a crockpot makes it so much easier when the day is done and I don't have as much kitchen mess to clean up when I'm already tired.

This weekend is going to be a planning/sewing weekend.  I don't need much from the store this week so shopping shouldn't take all that long.  I did realize that I'm low on several laundry items that I use so I'll be trying to get those stocked up, but for the most part I'll be planning out some meals and making sure I have everything that I will need to make them as well as planning on how I'm going to can the soup.  I'm going to drag out my favorite cookbooks and Sprout and I are going to plan things out.  I find if I involve her there is less complaining about meals.  I'm still working on the quilt that I started last week.  I'm hoping to get the top all done and ready for signatures.  There is a home game on Tuesday and I think I can get it to someone to get the signatures then.

I know I said it was FarmBoy's birthday and kind of glossed it over.  He's not very sentimental about his birthday although I do several things for him.  I left him some of his favorite candy this morning and I left chicken tacos in the crockpot.  (It's one of his favorites)  He is on nights right now so he was planning on doing a few things this morning after he got off work and then sleeping much later than usual.  I'm picking up Sprout from aftercare and we are going to get cards for him.  When he is not on nights we will go out for a special dinner.  I'm thankful that we are able to flex things at our house and that God gives us grace when we are out of our usual routines.  Sometimes we do great at it and sometimes not, but we try.

Just too busy

I always find that fall is just too busy.  Once Sprout goes back to school all bets are off as to whether I can get all I need to get done in a week.  She usually has 2 games a week and homework most nights.  She doesn't have tons of homework, but some most nights and add to this is the extra laundry for sports clothes and uniforms.  I'm not complaining it's healthy for her to play volleyball and be active.  It just throws me off for a bit until I get into a new routine of cleaning and meal planning down.  I'm trying to start my fall cleaning before winter really hits and I'm just not having the success that I want.  This weekend I'm planning on getting out the fall decorations and wash curtains.  Sprout helps some and I'm starting to come up with a list of regular chores for her to accomplish like dusting.  She can fit that in during the week whenever she has the chance.  I'm not real picky about it has to be done on a weekend day, etc.  As long as it happens sometime during the week we are good.

I'm trying to meal plan a bit more now that game nights can be a bit later than usual.  It saves us money, but it also is healthier.  I'm also in the last stages of planning what the pantry needs to have for winter.  We live in an area that can get fairly cold and have some significant snows.  I detest carrying in a ton of groceries when it's sloppy and wet outside.  Our garage is not attached to our house so you walk in the snow and such to carry things in.  I try to keep it to a minimum in the winter to keep the mess down. 

I'm also trying to find the time this weekend to make, yes I said make, a lap quilt.  Although it's going to be slightly longer than one I usually make and for good reason.  Sprout being an only child and watched only by family until she started school was pretty spoiled and head strong.  We knew this and put her into our local christian school's preschool at 3.  She was a handful, but her teacher (I will refer to as WonderfulTeacher from now on.) was great with her and loved her like she was family.  I could not have asked for a better first teacher for my child.  WonderfulTeacher has moved on to helping with special kids in public school and I can see where she would be great at that job.  She also coaches junior high volleyball at Sprout's school.  Unfortunately she was diagnosed with cancer again recently.  It's her third time.  I'm in the process of making a quilt in school colors and I'm going to have the kids sign it.  At least as many as I can so she can take it with her to treatments so that she's covered in love.

At Sprout's school the elementary and junior high travel to games together and cheer for each other.  They shag balls for each other and just in general help each other out.  At home games the junior high always seems to be there early to cheer on the elementary as well and we usually stay for at least their first set.  WonderfulTeacher always cheers for her from the sidelines and is so proud when she plays well.  She also coaches some when she sees something specific Sprout could work on.  I just feel the need to do something special for her for all that's she's done.  Sprout is going to help me with the quilt and it's going to be the first time we do a sewing project together.  I'm hoping to ease her into sewing this year and because it's for someone she loves I'm hoping she will be more patient as I teach her what to do.  I'm also excited that I get to use my new walking foot.  I've had it for awhile, but I just haven't used it.  Now I get to.  I'll try to post a few pics when I'm done.