7QT: Hosting Teenagers, Santa Lists with Little Boys, and God Really Loves Me

Happy LAST Friday in October!!

1)

Laura Pearl wrote such nice things about me on her blog, and how she likes to check in on my Friday posts, which I typically never miss...and then I had a really busy week and didn't write a Friday post last week.  Whoops!  Laura raised five sons, and all (most?) of them met their wife on Catholic Match which is so cool and proof it can work!  She has a gazillion grandkids, and has been posting about teaching her granddaughters to sew, which makes me wish I could go back in time to being a little girl and learn from her.  She seems so patient and joyful about crafting with kids, something which with the good Lord has not blessed me.  Anyway, check her out :)

2)

One of the reasons I was so busy last week was that Andrew (age 17) was playing his last soccer game of the regular season at the public school right around the corner from our house.  He asked if his team could come over after for a snack and to hang out.  You see, Andrew was a freshman when the pandemic hit, and then was hybrid most of last year, and when you add in social distance rules and masks... we feel like we just don't know his friends the same way we knew JP's friends.  He always hangs out with them at their houses, believing (like all of my teen boys) that our house is not cool because we have lots of littles hanging around.  Ummmm, I think that's exactly what makes our house cool!  But also, I get it.  So when he asked to have his friends over, I was like "YES!!!" and then I suggested an outdoor cookout...and then we invited the families, because they would be at the game too... and then some JV players asked to come with Eamon... and in the end we had about 50 people over for lunch.  We set up tables in our driveway and the rest of the families sat in camping chairs on the other side and served burgers, hot dogs, brats and pulled pork plus sides and drinks and desserts and it ended up being such a great time!

Eamon is #24 and Andrew is behind him in the glasses

Andrew has been playing so well this year (proud mom) and was called out on the school's social media last week for stepping into the role of goalie, which he has never played, when the team's goalie and backup goalie were both injured.  I'm happy he was a great keeper, but glad he's normally a midfielder because those goalie gloves STANK!!!

3)

We enlisted the cutest little helpers to get the yard cleaned up before the party.  If you'd like to hire them, they receive payment in happy meals and dollar store trips.

4)

Did you know that there is a supply shortage?  Well my Kindergartner and 2nd grader heard the news and got started on their Santa letters ASAP.  Very helpful for anything Santa might need to order soon for a Christmas delivery.

Now, let's hope they don't change their minds a million times like they normally do.

Brendan:

Dear Santa,

I want a pop-it,

and silly string,

and a winter toy (???),

and magic tricks,

and basketball.

(a sweatshirt was added this morning)

Declan:

Giant piano you can step on,

Spiderman Slinger,

Lego Super Mario,

Super Mario Deluxe,

Bowser's Airship Playset,

Stuffies,

Real Wood Adventures (keep dreaming!),

and a pop-it.

5)

I admit that I had to lookup the "Let's Go Brandon" movement...and then laughed and laughed at this image:

6)

We had a big nor'easter come through on Wednesday which resulted in NO SCHOOL AND NO WORK!!!  Woohoo!  I took complete advantage of the day, waking up early to bake my kids some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, before locking myself in my bedroom for hours to deep-clean and organize my closet.  That's always such a huge chore.  Phil cleaned and organized a bunch of cabinets in the kitchen, then started working on the basement.  I crafted with the kids and was even able to take an hour nap - glorious!  I'm beginning to think my full-time job is really getting in the way of living the life I've always dreamed of :)  One day, God willing, I'll be a stay-at-home-grandma who bakes and organizes and naps and plays with my grandkids all day.

7)

For about a month now, I have been stressing about my weight.  My "norm" just seems to be always higher than it used to be, no matter that I eat healthy and am so active.  I guess it's called "middle age" *shudder*  Anyway,  I know exactly how much I weighed for my physical last year, and this year I knew was up five pounds and dreading stepping on that scale.  But I put on my big girl panties and I walked into my appointment yesterday, and due to the storm, the doctor's office was operating on a generator...which meant...the scale was not functioning!!! I mean I wouldn't wish for a huge storm and people to be without power, but in this case:

Jesus loves me, this I know, for the non-working scale told me so.

That's all folks!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend baking pumpkin muffins, watching football, and eating like the scale is broken!