Back to School 2022

8.17.22 

Caeden started his senior year of high school.

I am subbing in the library for the semester, covering a maternity leave.

8.18.10 -- Caeden's first day of Kindergarten

Most of those years went by in a flash.

He is more than ready to finish with his adventures at Ridgeview school. 

I pray he will enjoy his final year there.

8.18.22

Jeremy and Sylvia, packing up the Prius to head back to SIUe tomorrow

Annah's things have "expanded" a bit over the last 4 years of college.

8.19.22

Annah left a note for Caeden on the kitchen table.

Sylvia left us a message on the dry erase board.

Confirmation of arriving at campus:

8.20.22

Annah FaceTimed to show me her room all set up.

8.21.22

Sylvia FaceTimed while walking around campus

I zoomed in on a photo Sylvia sent me of her room and was checking out her books to remember what classes she is taking this semester (Physics, Genetics, Psychology, Organic Chemistry, just to name a few), and she thought I was noticing the coloring pages and crayons she had taken to college with her.

Just taking in a little beauty along Route 9 on a stormy Sunday

8.22.22

Good first day of Sophomore year of college!

8.23.22

Mr. Marchese has allowed Caeden to claim one of the practice rooms as "his" to work on his music projects during the school day. They are recording some stuff together as well.

8.26.22

I heard these words come out of his mouth today, "I had a good day at school!"

Caeden may have a little too much time on his hands with several study halls, and he may spend large parts of his days visiting his favorite teachers even though he doesn't have them for classes. And Mrs. McCoy may have put a note on her classroom door about when he may not be welcome.

But, she has always been very kind to Caeden. 

He even met and hung out with her son Henry at the football game tonight! 

We are so incredibly thankful for a great start to this school year!!!

Kitchen Wall

For years, I've been pondering some sings and sayings I wanted hanging in the kitchen. And, for a little over a year I've been pondering what to hang on this big empty wall in our kitchen. This summer, I completed some decoupaged canvases and bought this chalkboard and put together these items. Today, while I was at school, Sylvia hung them all up for me! 

I always forget the subtleties of cooking eggs, so I created this chart to have where I can easily see it and not have to look it up on the internet!

Mom's carrot cake recipe in her handwriting 

Another chart of things I didn't want to have to look up

And this quote is the thing that started it all. I've wanted it posted for so long, but didn't want to pay a lot to have a heavy custom sign made that I would never hang on our plaster walls. After making all the white canvases, I decided I needed a contrast and thought the chalkboard would be nice because I can also change what's on it if I want to. And it's nice and light and all these things are hung with command strips.

 This picture of the kids has been on our fridge in a plastic magnet frame for a long time, just something I made playing around with photo effects.

 I love it so much since it shows their personalities when they were little.

Summer Review

Alright, I haven't updated in months, but there's a lot worth sharing. Here are a lot of pics, totally out of order, from May into August. Lots of good things and good times to be thankful for.

Sylvia's final orchestra concert of the year at SIUe. AMAZING!

Went to Freddie's after the orchestra concert


Caeden got all dressed up and went to Wendy's one night before his junior prom.


Jeremy took Carter to watch/hear Sylvia play her cello at a music school fundraiser.


Wrestling awards banquet

The girls and I visited grandparents in Indiana.

We love meals with the fam in Gram's kitchen!

We got to see Tessa play in her piano recital--with her Dad!

The girls came home from college! 

Playing Poetry for Neanderthalls in the living room


Ashley and Allison hosted a beautiful luncheon and tea for Mother's Day!


I did a longterm sub job at GCMS elementary for a 4th grade para in April and May, and the kids were so sweet to give me gifts and cards and treats during teacher appreciation week.

 

Part of the job was an hour of recess duty every day. That's where the adventures were!

Gotta keep those kids on task!

Celebrating Jeremy's birthday with some of his best SnapChat filter selfies...

Mrs. Aupperle sent me the most beautiful flowers as a thank you for accompanying the Ridgeview concerts this year.

Caeden finished his junior year of high school, more than glad to be done with that!

Last day of school for 4th grade!

These guys played formal Monopoly at our house one evening. So fun.

Carter's graduation from LHS

Caeden's pal Owen's HS graduation open house

We had a lovely stay with Dave and Patti and Tessa in Indy on the way to drop Caeden off in Ohio.

7 week of audio engineering training at The RecW

Rootbeer floats for Father's Day

Saying lots of goodbyes to Carter as he prepared to head off to West Point

Consultation with our friend Dawn for wedding decorations!

I got to drink this whole jug full of gross liquid to prep for my first colonoscopy. It was terrible.

 0/100.  Do not recommend.

Chilling at Joyce's 

Date night at the Shake Shack in Lexington

Sylvia commuted to SIUe twice a week all summer (21 trips) for an 8am Biology class. Most times someone went with her, and I was glad to get to go several times. 

Lovely day in June for a picnic lunch on campus!

We stopped at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, IL a few times. 

Sending Caeden a pic from supper at home

Watching Caeden's livestream 

Jeremy and I went to Indiana for July 4 with none of our kids. 

There was still a fireworks show with Uncle Travis!

Visiting Gary at the shop

Caeden graduated from the CORE program at The RecW.

QDoba picnic at SIUe

A summer supper with the girls--burgers on the grill, corn on the cob, fresh veggies and fruits!

Annah and I both went with Sylvia to campus. Chilling in the MUC

At the restaurant at the Pink Elephant

I had my first booth at a craft fair in Arrowsmith. I did sell a few things, but actually lost money after booth rental and cost of donating an item to raffle. But, I didn't expect to sell anything in Arrowsmith, because there's literally no reason to come to Arrowsmith and there weren't many people who came through. It was fun though, and I think I would enjoy doing craft fairs regularly if it was something I could actually invest in.

I forget the discussion, but apparently Caeden thinks Jeremy is a tool?

We went to pick Caeden up mid-July. He was more than 6.5 hours away all summer!

On our way over, we stopped at the Warm Glow Candle Company Outlet. It was really interesting and we had fun sniffing [and buying] lots of candles.

Made it to Ohio!

We picked Caeden up early on Saturday morning and were all very happy to see each other!

The boy had been responsible for his own meals for 7 weeks, and the microwave in his house died about week 3. He also doesn't have his own bank account or much time to go get groceries or even fast food. So, he was a very hungry boy and requested Waffle House. 

Jeremy drove up to 'Busco from there, and Caeden and I didn't stop all the rest of the drive home. Sylvia was home when we got there and was very happy to see her brother buddy!

Home

Lunch at Bandana's with Amy and Coby after church!

Caeden got MooTubes at ALDI and had to text Dawn--sweet memories!

Dawn gave me this plant in February and I have kept it alive and thriving for 6 months! I have learned to let it go a reeeeeeeeally long time without watering it.

Lunch at Q-Doba in Edwardsville while Sylvia studies for her lab exam.

Feeling PTSD rear its ugly head when we have to put on masks to go the eye doctor. 

Jeremy bought a truck!

Sylvia and Addis painted signs for their dorm rooms.

Sylvia's summertime farm window at Shepherd's Closet

Caeden's new Air Force 1 hightops

Annah having an online consultation with her wedding florist

Caeden loves to annoy Annah by playing Shell Shockers on her iMac.

Doing homework and studying in the car while I drive her to campus in the wee hours...

We love to eat at Chicken Salad Chick!

Summer classes finished, so Sylvia turned in her Biology and BioCalculus books at Textbook Services. 

Done with summer classes!!!

Caeden explaining to Sylvia that he knows exactly what she should do with her life...

Excited about his new hi-hat cymbals

Sylvia volunteered at Shepherds Closet in Gibson City again on Wednesdays this summer and got to dress the windows. This was one of her back-to-school windows.

Brunch at the Blue Star Cafe in Gibson City with Tracie and Nola

Caeden going off to his last first day of band camp--senior year!

Attention contest at band camp

Band camp preview performance--looking and sounding GREAT at the end of band camp!!!

Blessed to have a short visit with Amy

Caeden telling Gram and Krampa a little about his time at The Recording Workshop

We at at Papa's Place with the Fam! 

Caeden and Tess and the twins have a night swim!

 Annah played her violin for the first time in almost 2.5 years! She still sounds wonderful!

Trying on glasses

I made Mom's amazing zucchini bars with zucchini from Dad's garden! YUM!

Sylvia will have a kitchen in her dorm suit apartment this year and she just can't decide what color utensils to buy--such decisions!

Caeden started playing Pokemon Go in Ohio and apparently Arrowsmith is a great place to play. Now he takes nightly walks (or scooters!) to play.

Going to see Sylvia on her last night at Bandana's for the summer

It's been a busy summer with lots of blessings. I go back to school tomorrow in a longterm sub position in the RES library for the semester. Caeden will start his senior year on Wednesday. Jeremy will move the girls back to school on Friday and they'll start classes the next Monday. I think he will go back to working from home more often once the rest of us are in school. We had a wonderful visit and lunch with friends after church today, and even though life is still full of challenges we are all seeing healing and peace with the help of the Lord. I am thankful.