It Has Been Lovely

Lets see how much I can remember about this past week...
Monday evening we had conferences at school. Loved what we heard from the teachers about our children. Nick loves science and is doing well in math and spelling, too. He had a story he wrote selected for Niles North's Writers Workshop. The drama students will read and, I think, act out his story during a couple performances this week. He gets a T-shirt and certificate. They will get to see a sneak preview at school on Thursday. Ellie is doing much better this quarter.
Tuesday we went downtown to Macy's. We went to visit with santa before eating lunch in the walnut room. We had a table by the tree and the fairy came to grant wishes. The tree was very different this year and the kids loved the light show. We walked around the balcony upstairs to see it from different angles. We walked State Street to see the windows but they were pretty disappointing. We picked up some popcorn at Garrett's before doing a quick walk through Christkindlmarket and viewing the Christmas tree.
Wednesday we began the day at the ChooChoo in Des Plaines. Nick had never eaten there and thought it was pretty cool. We had a booth and the train delivered our food. Ellie and I shared our sandwiches and we all split a milkshake. We saw Madagascar at the big Pickwick theater in the afternoon. The kids were amazed at the size of the main theater. By Wednesday night...Nick had started to have an ugly cough.
Nick woke up Thursday and clearly was sick. Ellie and Rob went to church. Ellie had volunteered to be one of the Angels that received the food donations during the service. Nick spent the morning on a Merry go Round of coughing, vomiting, extreme fever, chills. We went to Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving dinner but Nick was really out of it. Tony was sick with almost the same crap. Uncle Bry drove down from Wisconsin for the day, the GGs didn't end up joining us, but it was a lovely time. Good company, food, and family. Lots of pajama time and cuddling in the evening.
Friday morning, I went out to do Black Friday thrift shopping. Ellie and I went to meet Becki and Eddie for lunch. Rob and Nick stayed at the house and relaxed and tried to get better. Nick's fever broke and he was feeling a bit better. Mom and Dad took Ellie for an overnight.
Saturday morning Nick and I stayed in our pajamas and played. Rob had to work for a couple hours. When he got home he helped bring up all the Christmas boxes. We got the tree up and decorated. Mom and Dad dropped Ellie off in the afternoon. We went and ordered a new refrigerator at Abt...ours has a bad seal and is in need of replacement. We also bit the bullet and bought new phones. Ellie now has one, too.
Today we really hung low. Ellie has succumbed to the illness. Rob has a little something and my cough has led to a runny nose now. This afternoon we ran a couple bags of coats to the library coat drive, a couple more to Savers, and did our grocery shopping for the week. We went to Mom and Dad's for dinner - Mom made a great pasta, cauliflower and broccolini, salad, and corn pudding. We had some great laughs.
Grandpa GG could use some positive thoughts and energy right now...got some extra, please send them his way.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Happy Thanksgiving

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week - time flies.
I have stayed pretty busy with ebay this week. I got a bunch of things listed and it is paying off. I could hardly keep up today, I would finish packaging up and another notification would come in that something else sold. Love it when it is busy.
The find of the week was a bolt of fabric. I bought it about a month ago at Goodwill. It laid in the car for a couple weeks. I took some pictures of it and posted for some suggestions on price. Well...I listed it at 150.00/yard and I have 16 yards. That would be our spring break vacation money!
Ellie had 2 basketball games this week, they lost one and won the other.
We have conferences for both Ellie and Nick tomorrow and then they are off the rest of the week for break.
We went to Mom and Dad's last night to watch the light parade and have dinner. We were there tonight for dinner, too.
Nick helped me get the outdoor Christmas lights up today. We added a couple strands to the mix this year. Nick climbed the tree to help me drape the lights. They look great.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Let It Snow

First real snowfall fell last night, it makes everything look clean. The kids really wanted more so they could play in it.
Monday I stayed in and took apart the first floor. I bought storage totes at Target and separated all my boxes into categories. I ended up finding many things that I had forgotten about. By the end of the couple hour organization kick, I had the trunk loaded with bags to donate. I unearthed all my Christmas items to list. I am on a self inflicted thrift moratorium until I get some of these totes listed and sold.
Ellie had 2 games this week and they won them both. Ellie made a shot and is really good at rebounding. She hurt her ankle during the previous weeks game so we are getting her a pair of basketball shoes. Their team is undefeated, the only team in the Little 9!
I took advantage of the cooler weather and baked a batch of sweet potatoes and roasted cauliflower. Nick helped me make applesauce.
I watched the girls on Wednesday. Kenzie is on the move now. She does a great army crawl. Sav is still pretty happy sitting and playing.
The kids and I had our dental cleanings on Friday night. Nick's gum is looking better. Ellie is still cavity free. I had X-rays taken and my teeth are great. We went out for Chinese after. We ate at the restaurant and had a great time.
Rob had to work all day Saturday. He was able to get Ellie a basketball hoop to practice her shooting at in the afternoon. Neha came with and practiced. I took them to the mall afterwards. Tweens in a mall make for a long visit.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Long Week

I guess I was so busy running around this week that has caused this week to seem very long.
I did some thrifting this week. It was 50% off for a few days and I can't not check that out. I found Dad some ski goggles for his brisk winter walks.
I had my 6 month visit with Dr. Marsh. My labs were all good and I will see him in 6 months. Took Nick back in to see Dr. Gallai, his molar kept on bothering him. He was put on a round of antibiotics.
I was able to get a bunch of listings up. I did a major purge of my old stock. I made a couple lots of craft kits and was able to sell them locally.
Ellie had her first basketball game. They have a really good team and won their game 30-3. Ellie is the tallest girl on her team and is great getting the rebounds off the rim.
Nick and I hung out on Saturday. Rob was working on the final touches to Dean's fireplace mantle and Ellie was at her Red Cross babysitting class. Nick was complaining all day of a stomach ache. I thought he might have developed some issues from the antibiotic. He called down to me around 9 pm that he thought he might need to throw up. I made it upstairs just in time to turn on the bathroom light for him. Poor boy. It took a while for him to get to sleep but I think it was the antibiotic.
We went up to Dean's this morning to drop off and install the mantle and visit. It looks great, Rob did a nice job. We went to Mom and Dad's for dinner. Mom made chili with all the fixings and monkey bread for dessert.
Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree

Happy Birthday to Me

This past week really flew by. Rob was in New Orleans until late Wednesday night. I had the Halloween party in Nick's classroom to get prepared for. 

I did a bit of thrifting during the week. I found some Dept 56 Halloween decorations for Dad. I got some costumes to put away for next year. I listed and sold my .50 needlepoint, it sold for 215.00. October exceeded my goals!

Mom and Dad came over for dinner on Wednesday. We had macaroni and cheese, turkey cutlets, broccoli, fruit, salad. We watched the Middle before heading to bed.

The kids were thrilled to see Rob after school on Thursday. We picked up Gusgus and had dinner here. It was great to catch up.

The weather really took a miserable turn toward the end of the week. Halloween was about 35*, snowing, raining, windy...gross. Nick's class party went well, very calm group of kids. We did a bit of trick or treating but it really was gross out and we called it a night pretty early. We had hot cocoa to warm up.

Saturday we took advantage of the sun and got out of here. We thrifted and I found some items that I can't wait to list. Should be a killer November, too. We hit Target for clearance but didn't really find too much. 

Loved the extra hour of sleep last night. The kids woke up at their normal time and didn't take advantage - like I did. Rob went to church and I started listing. I instantly sold the ink. Rob did the yard clean up when he got home, I studied with Ellie and Nick played with trains. We took our outdoor decorations down. We went to Mom and Dad's for family Sunday. Mom had a tableful of delicious treats- black bean flautas, pizza, fetucini Alfredo, broccoli, noodle kugel, kale. Ellie had baked brownies for me and Jo made a cake for Teo's birthday.  It was a lovely day.

Busy week ahead...Ellie's first basketball game, 6 month check up with Dr. Marsh, seminar at school. Visualizing my healthy and continually healing body and the new normal, Tree