365Project.2016 | Week 10

I was blessed this week with a new appreciation of the value of "ordinary" days as I listened to a woman share about the changes and transitions from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. Her talk included pictures of her sons at each stage of life ... pictures much like those I share on our blog. 

Obviously, it's fun when there's something special or unique on the calendar, but the majority of childhood is simply a string of "ordinary" days. Hannah will soon be 11. Seriously, the time goes by so quickly. Before Abby is 10, Hannah will be off to college. I'm so thankful the Lord helped me five years ago to set up a routine to capture these "ordinary" days. And in the midst of them, when I'm tired and frazzled, may He help me to truly remember that each day is a gift and a blessing. Some days come in pretty wrapping with a bow on a top, and some days feel like they were tossed to the bottom of a grocery sack. But each day is a gift.

May we always be thankful. ♥

Day 60. Our piano tuner returned with the "guts" of a our piano. :) He did such a fantastic job refurbishing it, and the sound is so much prettier! Hannah and Peter loved watching him work, and I was blessed that he was more than willing to answer questions. :)

We celebrated the balmy 41 degrees with an afternoon walk. :) This was my view for most of it ... kids running ahead to the next wait point. :)

 I love this crew!! ♥

 Day 61. Matthew had so much fun creating the special snack he read about in his Kiwi Crate this month! :)

 Day 62. Abby loves her dolly, and she's definitely starting to get more "mommyish" in her play. ♥

And then there's the older sister who occasionally seems to pretend that she has a "real live" doll. :) Abby doesn't mind a bit and revels in the attention. :)

 Day 63. Meet Hedgy. :) Sculpted and painted by Hannah-bug. 

 

My parents blessed the kids with Kiwi Crate subscriptions for Christmas, and the monthly deliveries have been much anticipated and enjoyed! :) Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa! 

And while one sculpts and paints, another colors. And tries very hard to get her crayons to stand upright in the notebook holes ...

Day 64. We've had the privilege of previewing a new product, hot off the press, these last few weeks! Friends from college have created logic puzzles for kids and we've had the delightful task of being guinea pigs for their books. They've done a really great job, and the kids have been learning so much working through the puzzles. I'm looking forward to sharing more about them in a few weeks. :)

It's been a huge boost of confidence for Peter to see that he can read and solve these puzzles independently!

We learned this week that our area has been nicknamed "Crows' Hollow." No question about why! We're having a repeat of fall's escapades, but in reverse.

Yay!! Date night for Mommy and Daddy! :) So totally unexpected, but abundantly blessed by my friend who offered to watch the kids for us for an evening. So thankful for the time to be with my hubby. ♥

 Day 65. Abby-girl is learning to color and showing definite lefty leanings. :)

Eeeee! We have only seven weeks left in this school year, and this afternoon I made initial plans for next year's schedule! We definitely like being able to take regular breaks in our schooling ... we tend to prefer the sprint over the marathon. :) With the exception of September and April, each month will have at least a one week break. :)

 

And then this evening we had the fun of attending a local high school's well done production of "Mary Poppins." It was a 3-hour performance, so Daddy kept the Abby and Matthew home with him, but the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed it! :) (And I personally think Grandma looks exceedingly pretty and nothing like a Grandma in this picture.) ♥

And such be our week. Filled mostly with blissfully simple, ordinary days. 

#thankful