Today was.....

....that kind of day.  Perfection.  Truly.  You know what that kind of day looks like right?  Everything just goes....perfectly.

From the moment everyone wakes up until everyone goes to bed.  Beautifully perfect.  It just simply was one of those days.
 

Jensen played a new song he learned today for me.  He's really enjoying guitar and he's getting so good!  He loves dancing, singing, and playing any instrument he can get his hands on.  :)

He was pretty excited to have a jam session with Morgan who taught him some new stuff on the guitar.  :)  I have a feeling he will doing this daily with her until she heads back to Uganda.

Morgan even had time to pick on....um...snuggle Aurora!

One of the kids favorite things to do every day is make popcorn to munch on while we listen to our current audiobook.  We bought a 50 pound bag of kernels at Sam's awhile back and with air poppers it's an easy snack for them to make on their own.  They've created some interesting flavors.  Today they did olive oil and Parmesan cheese.  One of their overall favorites!  I would have to say the grossest most interesting flavor I've seen so far is pickle juice. :/  

We broke out a new puzzle I bought a couple weeks back.  This is actually our first puzzle we've done.  Well, except for those 24, 48 or 100 piece little kids ones...this was our first big puzzle.  I figured I would start with a 300 piece one since we've never done one this size.  While it was challenging having 8 people crowded around it....we did work well together...no frustration towards each other....and we finished it in about 2 hours.  It was fun!  I will be getting another one for sure, but the kids said they don't mind if I don't hurry...lol...puzzles might not be our thing.

So many things done today and I enjoyed every bit of it with this crazy crew!

Davidson turns 12!

Tim had the day off a few weeks ago and decided it would be a great time to whisk Davidson out on a date for his birthday.  First stop was lunch at Golden Corral which was Davidson's top choice.  After a wonderful time at lunch with my two guys we headed to our next surprise.  

We had a great time watching Walking with Dinosaurs.  At first Tim and I thought we might parish from boredom, but the movie did pick up and turned out pretty cute.  Davidson however announced we MUST purchase this movie as soon as it comes out.  Ha!  Maybe rent it for a $1...but not sure this movie will be a making it to our MUST have list.  It was fun enjoying the movie with him even if the overpriced Twizzlers were like ancient jerky!  :)  

We had one final surprise for the day.

Davidson's first trip to BuildABear!  He was so excited he was practically wiggling.

He chose the perfect bear and loaded him with lots of love!

Giving Apache a scrub before moving on to pick out the perfect outfit for the little guy.

The second outfit he found was a cut shorts outfit with a dinosaur t shirt.  He was thrilled!

Davidson's actual birthday dawned sunny and full of smiles!

He was very excited to start his special day.

We woke up to find the "birthday fairies" (Jeffries teens) had visited in the middle of the night and decorated the living room.  The kids were all excited to see the hanging balloons and streamers flying and fluttering around in the living room.

My baby girl, Aurora, whose getting so big!  She has turned into such a great addition to our family.  She is one spoiled Great Pyrenees.  

What's a birthday without a twirling princess!

Even Princess' get dizzy when they twirl, twirl, twirl!

This little Princess' dressed  up just for Davidson's birthday!  She came out so proudly from her room with this jumper on WITHOUT a shirt.  Sorry my little princess, but it's freezing outside and pretty cold inside while we wait for the fire to take the early morning chill off.  Shirts are a must for a few more months.  :)

 

Davidson chose to watch a movie with his dog Lily and Apache!

Look at these two cuties!  Jensen and Tinkerbell seemed to be enjoying the movie as well.

 

Daddy came home at lunch time so Davidson could open his presents early.  He was pretty excited about not having to wait until after dinner to get his loot.  :)

 

Each of the kids saved their money and purchased things with such care for him.  It was so much fun to watch him open his gifts.  Dinosaur wall stickers from Holly were a BIG hit!  Dino stickers + putting them on the wall beside his bed = pure awesomeness!

 His very last gift to open was a new K'nex theme park set.  It is so cool!  He LOVES K'nex so very much.

  He was really excited to get his first hook rug from Morgan.  He has been asking for a new "hands on" craft project for when we are listening to our audiobooks.  This hit the mark for him.

He was so blessed by everything.  Dog toys for Lilly from different siblings, new shoes, $20 towards his Lego Castle savings, new dino cups, new dental care stuff, new containers for his Lego organization, and Becca/Johnston gave him a new to him mp4 player/new headphones/charger and box.  Now to find new places for all his new stuff!

We enjoyed a day celebrating Davidson with some of his favorite foods.  Lucky charms for breakfast, mac-n-cheese for lunch, smoothies and popcorn, and for dinner corndogs, homemade orange jello with mandarin oranges and whip cream, baby carrots and for dessert a strawberry poke cake.  We played outside, played a racing game on the Xbox, and tons of other things Davidson wanted to do.  

We are so very blessed with this boy so full of love and kindness.  I couldn't imagine our life without Davidson's mega watt smile in it.  Happy 12th Birthday to an amazing young man!

The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Outside my window...it is pitch black as it should be since it is 4:30 am.  The cool, early morning breeze is coming in through the window that is opened wide this fall morning.  It feels refreshing!

I am thinking...oh...so many things!  What is the refrigerator tech going to say about our fridge today when he comes.  (Fixable or dead?)  Also, I'm making a list of questions I have for a friend who I am meeting with over lunch to discuss Lifestyles of Learning.  Those are the top on my mind at this moment.

 I am thankful...for a husband who was gone out of town all last week for work...who came home and took a two day engineering class this weekend, yet still made the time to do many important things with the kids.  He is my hero!  He is catching two hours of sleep after an all nighter with Morgan.  He will be heading out of town this morning for the week.  

In the kitchen...the smell of fresh coffee waft out.  Steaming mugs of hot mocha's will be soon in our (Morgan/Justice/myself) hands.  A month ago I gave in for the first time in my life and purchased a coffee maker.  This has made our early morning time together so enjoyable as the weather turns cooler.  
  
I am wearing...comfy capris and a tshirt.  A little chilly as I sit here with the morning air blowing on my bare feet.  I wonder when our morning fires will begin?  It's still a little to warm for them yet, but I know they are right around the corner.  :)

I am creating..lots of memories with my kids.  Justice is a week away from graduating with an accredited diploma and he has a busy schedule at work.  Talk of college and his next step is in a lot of our daily conversations.  Morgan is working long hours to finish up her school work for this year early as she prepares to travel to Uganda for two months...possibly more.  Packing in as many memories with them and each of the younger seven that I can.

I am going...to be taking Holly to her first dance class today!  She is one very happy little girl!  Just how many times can one pull out the dance leotards and pick out a new "prefect" one.  Well, let me tell you, dozens and dozens!  ;)

I am wondering...about what our plans are going to be this coming week.  My very beautiful and most amazing friend Katie and her fiance are coming to visit us and we are beyond excited.  So much to do and yet only a week.  What to do, what to do....

I am reading...quite a few things at the moment.  I am reading Hunger Games,with the older kids as we gear up to go see Catching Fire in November.  Nothing at the moment with the younger kiddos.  I need to start a new series with them.  (Putting that on my to do list)  Personally, I just finished Twilight and Kisses From Katie.  I am currently half way through Facing Your Giants/Max Lucado and also reading lots of stuff off the Lifestyles of Learning website.

I am hoping...my fridge will be working by the time I return home from Holly's dance class.  That would be a great thing!  Now...if it isn't fixable...I am hoping that we will be able to have it 100% replaced through our appliance coverage we had on it.  That would be even better!

I am looking forward to...Katie and Ty arriving Thursday.  Fun times!


I am learning....to be more loving to my family, more approachable to my family, and more involved in my family.  This is something our pastor spoken on yesterday is how God is loving, approachable, and involved in our lives and we need to live that out for our families to see.

Around the house...we have our summer clothing being switched out for the cool weather ones.  Tim's bags are laying at the top of the stairs waiting for him to leave for the week.  A pile of letters are sitting awaiting stamps so they can be mailed.  Sleeping children are still wrapped all snug in their beds.

I am pondering...about having Becca drop guitar until after the new year.  She is taking violin, piano, dance on top of her school lessons.  That is a lot of daily practice and she is very diligent in practicing.  Thinking she might have more success if she takes a break from one and then picks it up when she's had more foundation in the other two. Hmmm....

A favorite quote for today...“It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace.”~ Francis Chan

One of my favorite things...spending time with Tim in the early mornings before he heads off to work.  Sets my day up nicely!  :)

A few plans for the rest of the week: 

Monday: Fresh cinnamon/raisin bread for breakfast!  Lunch with my fellow homeschooling friend.  More clothing washed and switched out.  We are on vacation mode since Aunt Katie is visiting at the end of the week so light school is in effect!  Holly's first dance class!!!!

Tuesday: Eye appointments for the four youngest Jeffries, CO-OP, more clothing switched out, and YMCA!

Wednesday: Yep...more clothing switched out, cleaning day and church! Aunt Katie arrives at midnight!!!!!

Thursday:  Eye appointments for the older four Jeffries, art class for Johnston, YMCA, and tons of fun with Auntie Katie and Uncle Ty!

Friday: A whole day of hanging out with our special visitors, first bonfire of this Fall season, roasting hot dogs and S'mores!!!!  :)

A peek into my day...

 What a hard life, Aurora, (my 5 month old Great Pyrenees) has snuggled up next to Jameson and Tiggy.  :)

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