2020 Formal

I was in charge of our homeschool co-ops formal this year. Because of all the Covid lockdowns we had to post pone the date. Usually it is held in May or beginning of June. This year we had to have it in July. Three days prior to the formal, our governor decided to put in a new mandate (despite the fact that our county  of 45,000+ has had under 50 cases of Covid and no deaths) that you couldn't have gatherings indoors of more than 25 people. I was not going to cancel the formal because of this crazy mandate put in on a Thursday! Everything had been purchased, the hall...food...dresses and suits....so we went ahead with it. I'm so glad we did. It went beautifully and the children all seemed to have such a great time!

My mom and Jaxson were awesome help. My mom has an eye for these things. I jokingly tell people that some women buy shoes and purses....my mom buys event decorations (oh look! Tea lights! Oh look, strings of lights at 90% off, oh look, floral garlands!)...haha! It has blessed numerous people though as she has used these decorations for wedding receptions, mother/daughter teas, dances and more! So, because of this, she saved our co-op money. We didn't have to buy decorations!

Ironing all the linens is such a pain...but thankfully, numerous moms volunteered to come the evening before when we were starting to get everything decorated and they brought their irons and ironing boards! (When all was said and done, I had to bring home all the linens....treat them for stains and wash them etc. Oh, how lovely disposable things can be sometimes...haha! My mom always stands by the fact that these linens...although more work...are much classier than disposable table coverings...and of course, she is right!)

The night of the formal, my mom and I had all the food prepared and some of the other moms dropped off cookies, which was fantastic. My mom and Jaxson kept replenishing the punch, water and food on the table!

 Table decorations were simple but pretty...floating tea lights in water and tissue paper flowers (we had to make each one of those...thankfully, I had some people helping me with that too. We had to pull each sheet of tissue paper away from the middle and fluff it. It isn't difficult, but tedious. We had a lot of them to make too! But it got done! :)

For a dj, we had one of the students who attend our co-op, as he is getting started doing that. It's a way for him to make some extra money and he did a great job! :) Our photographer graduated last year from homeschooling and she was also an attendee from our co-op. She took the next four photos:

Xavier (almost 17):

Madelyn (19), Morgan (Xavier's sweetie) and X:

X and Morgan (We just love this girl. She compliments X so well...and just fits with our family! We pray she is the one the Lord has to be X's wife one day. That's their plan!)...

 All the kids had fun dancing. They all liked a lot of the line dancing...like the Macarena and the like! They even all loved doing the chicken dance! Hahahaha!

During slower songs it's always so sweet to see the boys (and every once in a while a bold girl asks a shy boy) ask a girl to dance. Not because of a crush or love interest...just as a gentleman...and as friends! Such a great group of kids!

These two aren't permitted much physical contact. X was so glad to be able to just put his arm around her and dance with her. We have some strict rules with our kids. They are never alone. Always chaperoned...even in a vehicle. Sometimes they think it's excessive...but one day, they will realize how much we love them and want to protect them. ;o)

As it got later...the lights around the hall looked so pretty!

The pictures of the food table looked so much prettier at night!

The pic below is quite blurry....but I wanted to get a pic of the sense of how lovely it all looked as night set in! It really was beautiful! Although you can't tell...standing back there is my love~ Chris (the short one) with our friend JJ. They were talking and laughing! I jokingly went up to them and told them they were horrible chaperones because they weren't even paying attention to the kids! haha! There were a few other parents there though and all was good. Plus...these kids, although not perfect, are good kids. They know Miss Katy will whoop 'em if they get into trouble! ;o)

And then, these two...just because. :o)

I had numerous kids come up to me during the formal...thanking me for everything, saying they are having a great time and how much they appreciate it! I had mothers tell me that too later. One mother even emailed me and was so grateful. She even sent my mama a thank you card! :o) Honestly...knowing that it all turned out so wonderfully makes it all worth it!!! Such great memories were made and that makes me smile big!

After cleaning up and getting home and things put away at home...I dropped into bed and was so exhausted. I didn't sleep till after midnight. For some people that is no big deal. I am an early to bed, early to rise gal and I was dead to the world once I fell asleep. We didn't even attend church the next day (although Madelyn still went). I was completely spent. Plus, our church starts at 9:30am...which typically is no big deal for me....but I just couldn't get moving that day!


Today has been sunshine filled and warm out. I have clothes on the line and have gotten a lot of housework done. I even vacuumed out my car! My workout was done this morning! I need to stop and get a few groceries then meet my family ~ as this is our week to go clean our church!

I hope you have a lovely weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! It means so much! I forgot how much I enjoy blogging! I hope you enjoyed the pictures from the formal I shared!

Warmly,
Katy

Madelyn's Graduation Party

From my camera...a few pictures from graduation and then some from Madelyn's graduation party! Above, that was Madelyn's little display for her reception after the graduation ceremony! Below...my girl on stage...

Madelyn and my parents...

A few quick pictures of the graduation party before a bunch of people arrived (that's Madelyn's little blue truck in the background)...

Food tables...we had a taco bar (per Mad's request)...

It was an absolutely gorgeous day...but super hot. Thankfully, my mom had a couple pop up tents to provide some shade. People sat in the shade of the trees and on the porch as well...

My mom made the cupcakes (we had more than this...she made 75!! We just kept bringing more out as the number got lower on the table!

 I made this little sign...

My sister and our family trying to find some shade under the trees...

It was a busy and exhausting day....replenishing food, greeting guests, running in and out of the house...you know the drill ~ being a busy hostess! But it was great! Madelyn had a great time....she and a lot of her friends played Frisbee out in the yard. I wish I would have gotten some pictures...but honestly, I snapped some...then put my phone and camera down and kept busy managing the celebration! :) We had a lot of people in and out through the 4 or 5 hours. It was a good day! Now that it is past though....I am in charge of our homeschool co-op's formal this year. Normally it is held in May or June...but due to COVID, we moved it to January 18th. I have been busy preparing for that. I have helped for the past couple years with decorations and food etc....but this year, I'm in charge of it all. I pray it goes well and the kiddos have fun!

We will be celebrating my nephew's birthday this weekend. He turned THREE this week! He is the cutest thing. His smile (quite the cheese-y grin) lights up a room! You can see a pic of him on my sister's blog HERE but he had just turned 2 then. That's the latest she has updated!

Time keeps on ticking by....but I *am* trying to be a better blogger again!
Thanks for stopping by! I pray your week has been enjoyable!
Warmly,
Katy

...And She Graduated! Plus...Catching Up!

Madelyn has graduated from high school! As a homeschooler, I graduated her in May but in June we had a lovely graduation ceremony with our homeschool co-op! She turns 19 next month and I am still trying to process how she is almost the age I was when I got married! The past 20 years have gone by much quicker than I expected them to! A song we had played at Chris and my wedding has a part that says "time is a wheel in constant motion...always pulling us along...tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone?" ~ how true that is! (I'm sorry for the blurry photo. It's from my phone and sometimes those pics just aren't that crisp).

I am so sorry for anyone who has come here to see how we are doing...and I haven't posted. I don't know what it is....but my posting has just slowed down so much over the years. When the children were little...they were doing such cute things and it was so fun to keep a record of that here on the blog! But things have changed as the children have gotten older. They are all working at jobs each day. We are in such a different season of life as my children grow to be more independent.

We *are* doing well though! Chris and I celebrate 20 years of marriage this year! Hard to believe that! I've been with him longer than I was without him! We're still in the honeymoon stage of our marriage...maybe we'll never get out of it!? :o) I have been a busy bee at home....keeping things clean, organizing, mowing, cooking and also exercising (at home during COVID....and now I am back at the gym) daily. Chris has been getting so many projects done around the house outside and in lately! It's fantastic! I'll have to snap some pictures to share!

Xavier turns 17 this summer. He recently got his license to drive. He could have gotten it months ago but everything shut down because of COVID...that definitely taught him patience! He has a truck he bought and he paid for his year of insurance up front and is learning responsibility and maturity! Jaxson is 14 and has kept busy this summer working on VW beetles and buses at my dad's garage! He's learning a lot and he loves it! He also started a bee hive (which he keeps at my parents' house since I am allergic to the bees). He's so cute when he puts on his bee suit and goes over to it. He has researched and learned a ton through reading, youtube videos, and my uncle (who also has hives). This is another reason I am so passionate about homeschooling...they learn to research and study what they love! Jaxson has told me SO many things I never knew about bees/hives/honey!

So...that's kinda what we have been up to, in a nutshell. With all the chaos in the world right now....I am so thankful to live in a small town. I rest in my sovereign Lord and keep my eyes focused on Him. I know nothing is out of His control and I find my solace there. I have contemplated sharing my thoughts on everything going on right here on my blog....but then I refrain.

If you are interested...I encourage you to watch (or listen in podcast form) to THIS video by Apologia Studios. It is fully biblical and definitely a must-hear! And if you want to listen to THIS little snippet I tweeted of Voddie Baucham speaking...that would be great too! I will tell you I do *not* support the BLM organization or what they stand for. If you wonder why ~ (other than the fact that they are marxists which is totally anti-Christian) you can look at their webpage to see all the things they stand for and affirm.

Anyway....I gotta run. I need to eat a quick bite of lunch and continue to get things done around the house. I hope you all are well and I thank you for dropping by today. Hopefully I can get back to a more routine blogging schedule. I make no promises though! ;)

Warmly,
Katy

Pictures of Home, Field Trips and Life Lately!

 Hello and happy last day of September to you! I don't know where the month went! Life has been busy with homeschooling, a field trip, the start of our homeschool co-op class days, working out and teaching classes at the Y and more! Chris and the boys have kept busy in the evenings and on Saturdays working at filling our wood shed for winter (I have helped stack as well. Madelyn works a lot, as well as does her schoolwork and babysitting....so she's quite the busy girl lately!).

Some field trip pics:

Madelyn was there too...but she wouldn't let me take her picture (typical of an 18 year old, eh?)...but here is one she took of us (and obviously used a filter on..haha ~ I look so young and fresh-faced!)...

The photos below are from in my dining room. The doily runner along my table was made by my grandpop's mother, Sheena. I never knew her but I love the runner and am glad to have it! We use our dining room table a lot so the runner gets folded up and moved often...but when the table isn't in use, I like to see it out and displayed! The candlestick holders are from that side of the family as well. I forget who they are from...although my grammie would know. Although her body has slowed down with age, her memory is amazing! She can tell stories and recall details of things that surprise me!!

Here are some photos from the living room. The flash on the camera makes the room seem quite bright....but this room in actuality is usually pretty dark...only getting sun as it sets in the evening through the west window. Although I do love a bright, sunny, cheerful room....I like this relaxed, soft, dimmed room too. It is a nice place of respite! The dog bed isn't exactly a lovely piece...but our dogs need a place of rest too, right? And this one serves them well!

This is the window that the sun comes in as it is setting in the later afternoon/evening time...

Chris and I tried square dancing the other night at a local community gathering. It was hot, I got dizzy twirling so many times and I couldn't figure out where to put my hands quite often. I got anxious and overwhelmed easily and gave up. I should have watched videos prior to going so I could learn some of it. Madelyn and Xavier go quite often and have a grand time! They know what they are doing. They make it look fun! :o) I didn't love having to twirl and hold hands with men other than my husband either...it just felt a little uncomfortable even though they were men I knew.

So, for me, that night was a disappointing fail. *But*...I had a fun time yesterday. Rarely do I miss our worship service at church. But yesterday I did since I was invited to go with some girl friends to a Pirates baseball game in Pittsburgh. That sounds silly and frivolous of a reason for me to miss church...but Chris and my children encouraged me to go since I don't really ever go out with girl friends and just enjoy time away. So four of us went....unfortunately I got terribly car sick on the almost 2 hr drive down (and also on the way back). I even sat in the front seat....but the road was wind-y and I wasn't used to my friend's driving. Thankfully, while we were actually at the game, I felt ok! We had awesome seats....just behind home plate! We could see everything so well! I don't like watching baseball on television...but in person, it was enjoyable! If I can go again, I definitely want Chris and I to go together! He would like it too....we would enjoy it together! :)

Speaking of Chris...we celebrated 19 years of marriage a week ago! I tried to get a few pics together...and Chris kept being goofy...so this is what I got:

I made a Chicken Pot Pie Casserole earlier this week...Here is a picture of it and the recipe below if you would like to try it!

I'm still trying to recuperate after being so car sick last night. I still just feel *off* a bit....but I teach spin tonight and need to get a good workout in...so I'm gonna have to just suck it up! ;) Maybe I need a bit of a nap and that will help? I don't know...we'll see!

And quickly...I wanted to share this photo...Jaxson saved up his money and bought a digital drawing tablet that hooks up to the computer. He drew these awesome housework/chore drawings and I made them into stickers! They are in my shop if you are interested! I think he did awesome with them!! :)

Thanks so much for coming by! I hope you have enjoyed your time here as I caught up a bit.
I hope your week is going well and that your moments honor our Lord each and every day. That is my own prayer daily....knowing that I always fall short....but thankful for His grace!

Warmly,
Katy