November 2015 Goals

I didn't do an October Goals post - oops! Time got away from me.

Here's how I did in September:

• Keep up with my Galatians bible study - no. Not even close. I actually had to drop this. :( Hoping to catch it up over the break and be ready for the new study that starts next week!
• Finish 3 books - Yes! I did! I read...
• "A Year Down Yonder" by Richard Peck
• "Pride Over Pity" by Kailyn Lowry (this one actually only took me a weekend - and yes, it was when we were at the Beach House!) 
• Galatians - I didn't finish the study, but I did read the entire book! 
• Take a vacation - Yep! We went to the Beach House for my birthday! :)
• Wash & iron all master bedroom sheets - nope.
• Get FBC Family Forum out - yep! Although, not in October (not enough info)
• Redo Info Board at church - yep!
• Get Awana kids' contact info added to our Gmail
• Keep up on the dishes  
• Finish 3 sewing projects - Yes! Although I can't share what they all were, due to Christmas coming soon, lol! 

Here are my goals for November: 

• Keep up with the Thanksgiving/ Christmas Bible Study
• Get the November FBC Family Forum out (that's got to happen this week, but I'm still waiting on info from people)
• Get the family room under control (toys and laundry have taken over)
• Get 6 Christmas presents finished 
• Get Keri's fun package mailed off (I just keep adding stuff to it!)
• Blog a minimum of twice a week
• Get the bedroom linens washed and ironed (ALL sets)
• Decorate for Christmas
• Choose 3 Pinterest projects/ recipes to make
• Order Christmas cards from Costco
• Catch up on the FixerUpper episodes that are taking over my DVR
• Keep up with my 30-day Mom Challenge (find it on my Pinterest)
• 2 date nights
• Try FlyLady again

I know this seems pretty ambitious. But I've got to get moving, or nothing will happen!

Here we go!
 

Cousin Pictures - The Boys (part 1 of 2)

Since all of the cousins from the Byers side of the family have been together in the same country for a little while this summer (these cousins are spread out across the state and the world!), we got some time to do cousin pictures together! Today, it was the boys' turn!

From left to right (back row): Dakota (17), Ezra (13), Levi (11), Gary (13), Bo (13), Robert (29), Josiah (18), Chance (8) and Silas (14)

"Playing" a game of football"

Of course, Robert is the "Captain!" I thought about
getting him a referee shirt after we took this pic, lol

We think it's pretty cool to have cousins who are also
BBFs! (Best Bros forever)

This is Opal, and she is the sweet
cousin of the Richardson kiddos!

Opal likes to hang out with the big kids, but she
really liked playing on the big rocks all by herself,
too.

This was the last picture I took
today, of Lydia with Opal.

So those are the pictures I took of the boys (and a couple of the girlies) after church in the big field today. It didn't take nearly as much time as the girls' pictures a few weeks back, but in our defense, we were also dealing with large quadrupeds! (Intrigued? Stay tuned for the "girls" pictures post, part 2 of 2!)

Grandpa & Grandma Byers' 50th Anniversary

Back in August, we had a huge party for Grandpa & Grandma Byers' 50th Wedding Anniversary!

The theme was based on their favorite Musical, The Phantom of the Opera.

We had some thoughts from each of their five children, a fashion show of family heirloom dresses, special songs from Grandchildren, and a whole lot of fun!

Without further ado, here are the pictures, with captions for all to enjoy!

 The chandelier

A view of the big room

Everyone enjoying the delicious food

Cake

Auntie Tricia

Auntie Janel

Auntie Angie

A sweet moment with Emma, Uncle Derek & Auntie Jill

My precious girl, sitting on stage

Uncle Pat & Aunt Jane

Josiah & Lydia singing

Emma, Naomi & Abby modeling family heirloom dresses

Uncle Derek

Pretty Candles

Naomi & Lydia

Us with our masks! (Mine was borrowed from my
co-worker from last Halloween, Ellie's is a "freebie" and
Robert got his from a costume store.)

She wouldn't look at the camera directly...

Silas & Lydia singing

Ellie Jo and her "NeNe"

Abby, Emma & Naomi

Abby, Emma & Naomi having fun

Abby, Emma & Naomi being silly

Everyone loves an Emma!

Nice picture of all 3 girlies

Abby & Grace

Another picture of Abby & Grace

These two were having so much
fun dressing up!

Robert & Grandma Crombie -
they showed up in black & gold, and
I  had to have a picture of it!

An end-of-party picture

All the Crombies

Robert's parents, Ashley and us

Naomi

Naomi's last dress was perfect
for her

Pretty red lips!

 So by this point, you're more than likely wondering, "Where are the pictures of Grandpa & Grandma Byers?" Well..... since I wasn't responsible for more than a couple pictures on my camera, I actually didn't even know what I had until tonight. And it seems there are none on my SD card! Hopefully, someone else got a few pictures. We were all using cameras of various types that night.

Also, we took family pictures a week or so after the party, and I think those pictures should be back soon. I'll post those when and if i get them!

Anyway, this was a super fun night, and we all left exhausted, but I was happy because not only was it a great celebration, but I know exactly what I'm doing for Grandpa & Grandma's Christmas present now!  (Oh yes - it's already that time of year!)

Stay tuned for more  updates on us later this week.

September 2015 Goals

I somehow stopped doing these "goals" posts awhile back, and I want to get started with it again!

So here are my goals for September this year:

• Keep up with my Galatians bible study
• Finish 3 books
• Take a vacation 
• Wash & iron all master bedroom sheets 
• Get FBC Family Forum out
• Redo Info Board at church
• Get Awana kids' contact info added to our Gmail
• Keep up on the dishes 
• Finish 3 sewing projects 

So those are my goals this month! Leave yours in the comments below (or link to your blog!)

Did You See?

"Did you see what your daughter just did? She scurried up Mount HeapaClothes, moved the towels that were folded on the back of the couch, grabbed her tablet that you CAN'T see from the floor, and slid down the side of Crump it to Dump it."

Yep; those words just came out of my husband's mouth.

Thursday is family movie night this week! So we're watching The Parent Trap, and witnessing our fearless two-year-old with only a 30-minute nap on the day go crazy! Lol.

DIY Reusable Kcups

Recently, we were blessed with a Keurig Kcup coffee maker - all I had to do was make it work, lol! It needed a good cleaning and some TLC, but I got it up and running.

Quickly, I realized how expensive this could become, if I wasn't resourceful.

I decided to make my own Kcups. Check it out!

You start with something like this: A used Kcup. (Make sure it's cooled down).

1) Cut the foil off the top. It's easiest for me (though a bit messy) to start in the middle.

2) Peel off any excess.

Now you have this....

3) Carefully cut the old filter out. (I started with a small cut, and peeled it out with my fingers.) Also remove the plastic filter at the bottom.

4) Your Kcup is now clear of any materials. Rinse it out with cool water, making sure to get all the coffee grounds.

5) Insert a cone or flat coffee filter into the used Kcup.

6) Push it down into the Kcup, molding it to the bottom as much as possible.

7) Fold the sides of the paper coffee filter back over the side of the Kcup.

8) Pinch the sides around the Kcup, gathering the coffee filter as you go.

9) Cut away the excess paper, leaving a small lip around the top edge.

10) Fill with your favorite coffee! (Only about 3/4 full).

11) Cut a piece of foil, approx. 9" x 6", fold it in thirds the long way.

12) Fold it in thirds again, measuring about 3" x 4".

13) Fold the foil over your cup. You want a few layers on the top, and some overhang. (Otherwise, you get a big mess, and grounds in your coffee. No thanks!)

14) Pinch the foil around the top edge of the Kcup, just as you did with the paper coffee filter. Done!

Make sure you line up the original hole in the bottom of the Kcup with the needle in the brewing compartment on your machine. This leaves less room for error, spills and grounds in your coffee.





Enjoy!