SlipnSlime 2016

   My guys had a blast getting real messy with their youth group last week, it was time for the Annual SlipnSlime at Pursuit. This event has been a huge highlight for our family the past few years. The church has a sloped section of their property that they go all out with transforming into four slides. This year there was a slide filled with Orbeez, a slide with chocolate syrup, a slide with green slime, and a bubble slide for younger kids. The first 8 pictures were taken by volunteer church photographers, they got some great shots.

 If you are wondering where my firstborn is, he was playing Frisbee in the parking lot with some other mess-adverse students :)

Pursuit has creating such a wonderful community for my sons. It is a special kind of joy to watch other people love on your kids. 

Slip n' Slime

Our boys attend the youth group at Pursuit. They have a lot of fun with friends and their leaders. A couple times a year the church hosts some epic events. This was the second year the boys came out for the chocolate syrup slip n' slime. There were four slides on the hillside next to the church; a chocolate syrup slide, a jello slide, a green slime, and a bubble slide for the younger siblings.

Some video and pictures on their Facebook page, too. A crazy good time for the boys and some of their friends from school. And I have been cleaning their clothes, the car, and the shower ever since.

the haps

Life lately; This fall was rich with reunions. We met up with family and friends we had missed while in Seattle. That cute blonde with Matt? That's Julie, she was the reason he graduated high school. Always lending him her notes or filling in him on the days he missed, I think it was like 54 days or something ridiculous.

 Also, it appears we have been reuniting with a lot of food. The Boise Fry Company along with friends and family giving us their eggs and potatoes and grapes for juicing. Hooray for the Idaho harvest! And the donuts! My fantastic friend Ruth brought them over in the midst of a homeschool disaster and saved the day. 

One last thing, I am reuniting with getting dressed. I joke that the reason I homeschool is that I don't have to put on pants. Yoga pants forever! But I found that maxi skirt pictured (twice!) and it may be the perfect solution.

After some very social months, this introvert has been doing a bit of hibernating. I have painted the living room and bathroom, it makes the hermittude kind of functional. Painting away and catching up on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals while the boys obsess over Minecraft and Matt watches the NFL. Tis the season for technology!

 I am already missing fall. Winter hit hard for me this year. I have been super anxious. Working through all that and listening to the lyrics,"oh for grace to trust Him more," on repeat. It is pretty fitting then that the view from our front porch is the cross.

and again

In keeping with the teacher's schedule, Labor Day weekend was going to be our best bet to drive back up to Seattle and haul back all our stuff. Just enough time to pack like crazy and say good-bye. Ellen had 3 of our boys stay the weekend with her and Parker stayed with his best friend in Seattle, it was nice for Matt and I to be able to power through it. Also, my parents came up to help. Such a blessing to have Ken play the worlds biggest game of Tetris in the U-haul and my mom packed up my entire kitchen. (a task I was ardently avoiding) They went off to the BSU vs. UW season opener Saturday night and Matt and I grabbed dinner at a favorite on Alki beach, Cactus. The sun was out and setting, a very peaceful night to let go of our time in Seattle.

We woke up to pack the last few things in the truck, like the mattresses we had slept on. There was even time to catch our beloved Pastor Eric Mason speak at Mars Hill in downtown. The old church building is spectacular and his message was about strongholds, especially in our mindsets. It seems like the main takeaway from Seattle for me is to challenge my mindset often. I love that the people of this city are so receptive and open to new ideas, wonderful for my wandering soul.

Speaking of wandering, we finally found an open Starbuck's on our 6th try! Weird.

Arrived early Monday and threw all the stuff wherever it landed. Yikes. 

Matt's brother Taylor spent one of his last days before going off to college doing the heaving lifting with Matt. I was worried we'd worn them out but they still had energy for this:

Some Idaho favorites so far, Cafe Rio (pork salads foreva!!!!) and the bait vending machine.

Also, love Friday night football in a small town.

All the really important things in life are the same. Loving these wild men that have been entrusted to me. I liken our family to a snow globe right now. Shaken up but I know it will all settle down... right before we move again!

relic

A few months back I was cleaning out a hoard of mementos stashed in our attic. I found this drawing on a thank you card from Matt's friend Mickey. It makes me so happy to recall this chaotic time in our life. 18 years old and raising a baby. The sketch really sums it up. Matt is obviously lacking sleep, I need a stylist to help me merge soccer mom chic with high school hip, Parker is hanging on for dear life but smiling all the while, and we are surrounded by friends that make us laugh. (check out his elf shoes!)

And this is my life today. Still lacking sleep, still in need of a stylist, and still smiling. (errr, smirking?)

3 terrors at the mall

 #1 This measly four feet of glass railings. Freaks me out every time. I totally envision being knocked over by some intense mall walker.

 #2 Completely cray cray outfit on this mannequin. I mean, I fancy myself fashion forward but come on!

#3 The kids play area. Enough said.

This post is brought to you by a Saturday morning last month wherein I thought a quick trip to the mall was a good idea. (in hopes that I will review it if ever that notion strikes again)

thirteen

Almost ready to talk about this, almost.

lights, camera, action

A couple points of note; do not try this at home. But if you do, make sure to capture it on video as Kaleb did with his iPad. Also, my man has embraced flannel. Cue the heavens opening and angel chorus.