this week.

we worked on week 28 of pregnancy. (3rd trimester!)

 we had a really relaxing late lunch with my sisters after taking elsie to the doctor & me to the chiropractor.

used my first washi tape on christmas thank you notes! (is there a rule on when those need to be sent out? do you still send thank you notes? i HAVE to. it just doesn't feel right. so late or not, in the mail they will be!)

 shared my apple cider vinegar secret with B. this is the only way i can drink it! and he actually likes it too!

still trying to get completely well.  he had, just a few minutes earlier, told me how he wasn't tired & was just going to skip his nap.

 ...2 hours later.

the verse on my windowsill this week. it was a very fitting verse, just what i needed to read. and isn't that just like our Lord? always giving us exactly what we need. exactly when we need it. 

today//some firsts.

today i woke up to a a living room full of socks & cardboard, or so it appeared.
bentley quickly explained it was leftover from the marshmallow roast him & shawn had before bed.
you see, you have to rip up a cardboard box (left over from the new basketball tshirts), add a bath towel for kindling, then get your best straw, spoon, or mini lite saber to roast some child size socks marshmallows!

a few firsts from this week:

• went on a walk without a stroller/wagon, etc! bentley usually wants to run the whole walk anyways so i thought we would test it out! we were out for 15 minutes but could have gone longer. he felt pretty special about it all.
• he went to puggles without caroline! and we all know this is a big deal.
• we made our own little pizzas! i have always wanted to do a little cooking project with him & since he has his hopes set on baking & decorating christmas cookies, this was a good start!

• and i have my own broth simmering on the stove as we speak! i did wimp out & had to have shawn cut up the whole chicken for me. this is something i have wanted to do for a long time & i think we can do it! it was kind of a "give a mouse a cookie" experience, because i got my broth going, then had to cut veggies for the soup i will make out of it, then cut the veggies to roast to go along with the chicken we will eat tonight...so since i have now been in the kitchen all morning, might as well make some apple crisp!

• ok ok, to accompany all of this kitchen time, i turned on christmas music!  

we are getting so excited for thanksgiving! this year, we will be with my moms side of the family. i have green bean casserole, pear salad (our families favorite jello!) and a pumpkin pie on my list.

 

birthday weekend.

friday. started off our weekend by going to the opening night of Cinderella the musical, put on by aghs. caroline was a stepsister & did fabulously. 

sent our big boy over to DJ & Andreas.

saturday. andrea & i went to a free workout class at her neighborhood community center. it was so fun & it felt like we were 23 again (we used to do a ton of workout classes together, pre kids). brought home doughnuts to my sleeping in boys & had flowers delivered from my sweet cousin in chicago! attended the second performance of Cinderella WITH Bentley. he absolutely loved it! i was pleasantly surprised that we got to enjoy the show together! Ended the day at Jayz cafe with birthday cake & friends. we were huddled in a both for over an hour. i can't even remember what we all talked about, but it was really relaxing & fun. (someone should have kept a closer eye on B, he pulled up a chair & was eating the frosting off the birthday cake.)

i thought it was funny how similar these cards were!

birthday present sent all the way from arizona!

he was so excited to finally hug her! at one point he whispered "i just want to go up there!" {on stage}

isn't it always fun to see your birth date?

sunday. church, brunch at Wheatfields, pedicure with caroline, sunday nap, & then to Grace for open gym with new basketball recruits. picked up la casa pizza to go, & stopped at DJ & Andreas to hang out for a little bit.

monday/today. library time, played outside, kinda sad my birthday is over, got my free birthday drink from starbucks, excited to watch the national championship game.

"here is a heart rock, mama. cause it's an i love you kind of day"

"mom what's on the door?" i think a little bird poop. "no, it's snake poop. i'll clean it for you"

venti caramel macchiato.

today.

today we snuck outside a few times.
Bentley can't believe how nice it is & we are so thankful this is finally an option.
we waited until dad got home from work to take a walk up to the park!

(not pictured: the laundry pile we worked on while inside & the giant vat of broccoli cheddar soup we had for supper.)

Good morning! it is another early morning here at the Kliewers

i have been watching a friends 2 boys the past couple days.

i have labeled my days as either wrangling wild midgets, OR managing a toddler mosh pit.

either way you look at it, it makes nap time very appreciated.

i've been driving past this barn for a year now, its on our way to the farm where we get milk.

i've always wanted to stop & snap a pic, and finally braved up & did (why does it seem so weird to stop on a deserted country road? it does.).

it is so lonely yet majestic.

very intriguing.

lastly, i woke up remembering that we had sang my favorite hymn in my dream.

now maybe it will be stuck in your head today too!

Holy, Holy, Holy

Text: Reginald Heber
Music: John B. Dykes 

 Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!
 Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
 Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty,
 God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

 Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore thee,
 casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
 cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
 which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

 Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide thee,
 though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
 only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
 perfect in power, in love and purity.

 Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!
 All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
 Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty,
 God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

last week.

last week we undertook something kinda big.
andrea accepted a substitue job for a whole week!
we had Jedidiah over here for 5 days straight.
tuesday morning we were all kind of tired,
but by wednesday we could see the light & the week went great!
the moms might have been tired from the extra work, but they boys had a lot of fun.
(i thought andrea...{and you?} might enjoy seeing a few more pictures from our week)

avocados for lunch =...

bath time! (bath colors, not dirty water)

they played for over half an hour...i finally pulled the little prunes out!

grocery store field trip

our simmering supper

out to lunch on friday

you lookin at me?

friday afternoon. worn out!

saturday morning coffee with caroline!

saturday afternoon nap with dad

watching girls state basketball

"dad you run, i'll coach you!"

"DJ you been the green monster, i'll be the blue monster." (yes, he is wearing a dress of MINE from when i was little that he loves to pull out)

and our promise for this morning/week! (from summer's 50 promises collection)

HAPPY MONDAY!