Thankful Thursday

1. Saturday I took the kids to a free Lego build at Toys R Us for the first time. Some stores have this event every month, but the store closest to us usually doesn't have it, but they do in October, and I finally remembered to take them. Each of my three kids came away with a kayak made of Legos. Ian is hoping our store will be participating next month also because it will be a Star Wars themed Lego event.

2. Last week Nadia and Ian got their progress reports in gymnastics. It was Ian's first time receiving one. Nadia was disappointed because hers said she needs to stay in Level 2, but I was very pleased because her scores were much higher than at the end of the previous session. Her highest scores were for the beam (had a few 9's with 10 being the highest score). Her weakest area is the bars, which ironically was my favorite apparatus when I was her age.

3. Ian had a make-up soccer game last night, and he scored another goal! We shivered during Nadia's game on Saturday morning, but it was very pleasant out last night (in the low 70's at the start of the game and high 60's at the end of the game). The kids each have two more games and the season will be over.

4. Nadia's soccer coach cancelled their practice on Tuesday night (and also has already cancelled next Tuesday's practice as well). I was thrilled when I got that text because it meant I could run for the first time in six days! I ran for five glorious miles. I should have only run for four because I got back after it was dark, but it was heavenly enjoying the beautiful day and pretty scenery along the way.

5. Nadia and Ian both did a great job saying more than five sections at AWANA last night. Ian has started working on learning the books of the New Testament. He told his leader the first nine books last night (that was one section). I think by next Wednesday he will be able to say all 27 books without any errors or help. I took a little video last night during one of his practice sessions.

6. I took the kids to the children's museum yesterday. The homeschool hangout activities focused on insects. I almost always let them stay for two hours, and they always wish we could stay longer. After that I took them to the playground near the museum, which Nadia dubbed a few weeks ago as her most favorite playground. At the playground I took a brief video of Oliver singing, I have heard him do a better job other times, but some recording is better than nothing, right?

7. The weather has been GLORIOUS the past couple of days. Ironically it was cold enough to snow on Sunday, and now a few days later in the 70's.

8. Nadia and Ian are going on a field trip with Daddy this afternoon. That is a very special treat! He is taking them up to Camp Susque for a two hour class on animal tracking. I am staying home with Oliver. When they get back, I believe I will be able to get a run in before he takes Nadia to soccer practice. Yay! The weather should be great today for their hike outdoors and my run!

9, I have continued to sell some things, but I have switched lately to selling on eBay, which I hadn't used in years in part because of the fees and postage involved. Because I hadn't used it in years, eBay offered me a special where they wouldn't charge me any fees (it's typically 10% of whatever you collect) for five listings. Awesome! I've sold things like Oliver's preemie baby carrier, the kit lens that came with my DSLR, etc. Between Facebook and eBay, I have brought in almost $800 so far over the past few weeks. I'll have that loan paid off in the near future I think. I also used $49 of what I got toward a five week art class for Nadia that starts on November 10 and am going to use part of it to have the piano tuned. I haven't had it tuned in a few years.

10. After our field trip to the fire station on Tuesday, the kids and I stopped at the garage door store and bought an $80 spring so Paul can fix my garage door. I definitely miss being able to park in the garage so I was happy to get the part as another step toward it getting fixed!