Week in review

Looking back, this was a c-r-a-z-y week...and yet somehow, I didn't see it coming!

Monday and Tuesday Jordan had her end of the year performance 'Book of Kells' with the Kelly Irish Dancers. We learned so much about Irish Dancing this year...and it was a great experience for her. She had lots of fun being in the spotlight. Throw in an orthodontic emergency for her older sis with less than a hour to get ready, feed everyone dinner, and get downtown. There's nothing like dropping off 1 at the Ortho, while 2 & 3 swing into Home Depot while 4, 5 & 6 do a quick run-through the drive-through to pick up dinner, swing back to HD, and then into the Ortho just in time to head downtown. We may or may not have done our costume changes in the car...but at least our brace-face has her wire fixed!

Her friend from school takes lessons with her

My only dancer so far!

Thank goodness for the ipad. No flash photography was permissible during the show.

 Wednesday came out of the blur blue for us, after two late nights with dance performances downtown, I wasn't quite ready for a field trip downtown {again} to the carousel. What?! Something about the buzz of two little boys beyond excited to ride the school and the sunshine outside helped me arrive that morning.

I won't lie, it was tiring to keep up with both boys AND keep up with an entire class of pre-K'rs 'all in their element'. I was not gifted to teach preschoolers beyond the home, therefore even participating exhausted me! Perhaps it's just the 3rd round of preschool field trips that did me in. Either way...I enjoy different elements to downtown than a 5 yr old ;)

Ready to go!

Spring in Downtown

Watch out! I can just see them now...fast-forward 13 more years!

Loving the innocence this one has still!

Can't feed the ducks. That's ok. Asher would rather harass them.

Brotherly love - goes skin deep - right down to the scratches all over Andrew's face from Asher.

Thursday morning I had the privilege of giving the devotional for our BSF Prayer Group, as we are very close {so exciting!!} to getting a NorthSide Day's Class up and running. I won't speak on the subject of BSF in this post - as there is just too much to say..that's for another day! But I will say, having been in and out of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) for 10 of the last 13 yrs, it's been the glue in keeping my relationship with Jesus new and inspiring, and a wonderful tool to teaching my kids about Him. In fact they do the same study as me. It's very rich in it's biblical teaching. It's non-denominational ~ and it's world wide. Everyone is doing the same study no matter 'where in the world' you are. It's fabulous! More on that to come though. I did leave the group that morning, evidenced by the moving, and powerful Holy Spirit that brings things together in ways that we just don't have words! The Living and loving God has incredible benefits. In addition to a hubby leaving town, Thursday we were also informed that our contractors were ready to start in on our major kitchen remodel. Again...What?! What are the chances it's the moment my husband leaves town? In all fairness we thought we were ready back in November. After a complete electrical overhaul that took {a story in itself} until March to finally finish...we finally let them know we were really ready this time. Like all good contractors, they were booked up with jobs for the next couple months. So I was prepared to wait. However in the middle of their week they found themselves waiting for back ordered tile which allowed them the schedule to come make a mess in our kitchen. And THAT they did! So here are some before/during/and current-after's {it's still a ways away from the final after}:

2 yrs ago upon moving in

This morning before they started. Quick! Clean all the counters!

Temp walls went up fast!

And ta-da. Here we are at the 'after' for today anyway! No more walls!

From the living Room {No, the fridge will not be staying there}.

Tempted to leave the house like this! Ha!

Houston, we have a problem. Did you guys leave the kitchen light switch in the attic? I can't shut off my lights ;)

Perhaps literally 'putting me over the edge' was about one o'clock when Asher went missing. Well the fact that he was missing wasn't the scary part..he's been missing within the walls of our compound ;) several times. It's the point where I found him I immediately sent Andrew running back to the house for my camera that I just died laughing...but then realized it really could have been serious trouble.

Asher? Oh Asher...Where are you?

Oh sweetie...there you are. What are you doing out there on that rock, alone?

Oh! You're peeing ;) Well don't fall honey with your pants around your ankles.

As soon as mom is done photographing this {and laughing hysterically s'more}, Yes, I will pull your pants up.

To give perspective on how far he had gone to go tinkle in the woods...in the middle of the picture is our chimney!

I am also thankful that my house didn't catch fire this week! In addition to all the excursions we also had 2 major home repairs. One was our water-flow...we now have flowing water again...:) And the second was fixing our furnace. Last week I smelled a burning electrical smell when the furnace was running. Not a good sign. So after shutting off the breaker and wanting to forget about this problem altogether the smell did dissipate. But after working up the nerve to spend another chunk of change on old appliances, we finally had it serviced. And sure enough the wires inside a part of it were singed, melted, frayed! I got a bit emotional. I was scheduled to be gone the day that happened, and I really can't explain why I wasn't. I mean I can try. The boys' attitudes started to turn, and I selfishly decided I didn't want to go into town with two cranky boys, so I decided to stay home instead. But that's taking the credit from where credit is due. God had a plan. He knew I was supposed to be home when this happened. It was His protection that kept our house from burning down last week. He is so good. And on that note, I want to end this week with:

Isaiah 41:10  

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I hope you all have a great weekend enjoying the lovely spring weather and smells!