Sweet Annie, Part 2 (or 3? 4?)

Here are a few exemplary Annie quotes from today:

Stoically, on learning of the untimely death of one of Kevin's teenage campers-turned-counselor: "Here is why no one should ever tell me about someone dying, especially one of our people, or dogs--it makes me sad."

"Mom, if the Tigers were playing agains the Lions, who would you vote for?" [I explained that although that couldn't really happen because they play different sports, I would cheer for the Tigers.] "Oh. I would vote for both of them. If they were trying their best, I would be like, 'good job, both teams!'"

"I'm so glad my boyfriend ____ is still in my class." Me: Is he your boyfriend because he's a boy and he's your friend, or because, you know, you want to marry him or something? Annie: "Because he's my friend and he's a boy. But Nellie has a boyfriend, too, and she wants to marry him. Isn't that silly?"

I love you, weekend

Now that I'm working away from home five days a week, weekends have taken on a whole new wonderfulness. I've been practicing the mental discipline of not being sad on Sunday night, but instead being thankful that another weekend will come soon. Not that weekdays or so bad or anything. They're just...blurry. Weekends are kind of necessary, and great.

Here are a few fun things from our weekend:

DJ pretended to be Oscar the Grouch most of Friday afternoon, which involved sitting in the laundry hamper with his blanket and the iPad with the lid closed. Kevin picked up the girls from school and Nellie and I played checkers and learned a new game--Rat-a-Tat-Cat. She proved to be a worthy opponent! Everybody was happy at dinnertime and we played lots of rounds of "I'm thinking of something." I think my favorite was Annie's "something," which was a particular Minion from Despicable Me 2. Saturday was Fall Fest at Lansing Christian. We made it on time--early, even! Nellie ran her first 5K with Kevin and I survived the one-mile fun run with Annie. It was FREEZING but at least it didn't start raining until we crossed the finish line. There were two bouncers and a laser tag inflatable, face painting, pizza, crafts, a cupcake walk, cotton candy, book fair, and pumpkin patch, so...good times were had by all. We came home for naps, sports, and lesson planning, then it was off to Grandma's for an overnight with Xander.

That meant s'mores in the fireplace and lots of outdoor play, and a quiet night at home for Kevin and I. Sunday was quiet; Kevin left before dawn to hunt, so after church it was just me and the kids. More games, more football, more naps.

As hard as this year has been and will be just in terms of logistics and time management, I think we're finally settled in and getting used to the routine. But with all the fall fun, weekends are the best.

This is actually from the next weekend...it took me a week to finish this post! And so it goes.

Our first family picture since Eddie was born!

Annie had the idea to get her face painted like a fox, and the others followed suit.

Fox family