Weekending.

Well after a long summer of being gone, we finally made it back to the city market.  It was so nice.  The sun was shining, parking was easy to find, and the market was full of wonderful home grown produce.  We brought home some delicious tomatoes, peaches, and green beans, just to name a few of the wonderful things we bought there.  I love going to the market, people are all friendly, there's tons of entertainment, and lots of things to look at.  It's a lovely sunny day, and I'm not sure what else there is for us to do, but unfortunately Kyle has to work this afternoon.
At church Sunday we had the installation service for our new pastor, Rick Holland.  It was a huge service.  There were tons of people there and guests from either coast of the states, and I guess all over the country.  So it was a big deal.  The rest of the day I spent cooking, cleaning up, and reading.  I have been reading a book called Little Bee for the last few days and I've flown through it.  I am not a fast reader either, but I think I'll be finished with it today.  That's a record for me, a book in less than a week.  I usually have 2 or 3 books going at one time because I get bored with one book, but this one has a lot going on in it.
Another new thing is Kyle updated my computer to windows 7 over the weekend.  I like it so far.  I was running vista, and now I guess I'm up to date.  It doesn't really matter to me, as long as my computer turns on and I am able to get online, and do what I need to do, I'm fine.  It was a crazy transition though.  We both forgot the password to our internet, so I was internetless for a while.  Then Kyle realized he saved on the information for the internet on his desktop of his computer.  So we fixed that.  I lost all of my internet bookmarks :(  I had to redownload itunes and reload all my music, which is still a work in progress.  So was it worth the trade off?  I'm still not sure.  Right now it seems like a lot of unnecessary work, just to upgrade to windows 7.  Especially when windows 8 is supposed to come out in like a year.  I don't think I'll be going through an upgrade anytime soon.  Cheers!

Life as I know it

Well today I've been thinking about our life, mine and Kyle's that is, and how routine it is.  I like it though, now that we're in the back to school mode, I can pretty much predict what our days will be like.  It allows me to plan, and I like to have a plan.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love to be spontaneous.  Right now we ARE taking advantage of the fact that it is ONLY us (plus our fish Ralph), and we have a lot of freedom, but I like a schedule.  I love my calendars and knowing what the upcoming events in our life are. I love being able to know that next weekend I'll be home in Illinois for the weekend!  I love knowing that Kyle has fall break in October and we will have a school free week of being OFF schedule.  I love knowing that time is going by, and we are finally living our lives together.  My dreams are coming true.  Well I love Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays, because I get to spend the most time with Kyle those days.  He is a busy guy!  Between school, working, and homework, he doesn't have a lot of free time.  Which is different from summer, when he took online classes, and I had him to myself a lot more. (I like it that way)  Once again this is all just ramblings from my head....sorry.  Well anyways, I starting babysitting for the 2 kids I babysat for over the summer again this past week.  It's picking them up from school and hanging out with them until their parents get home from work.  We read, play games, they do their homework (though they haven't had much this week.)  The youngest is 8, close to 9, and he is always bored.  He only likes games they don't have, TV he's not allowed to watch during the week, and computer games he's not allowed to play during the week.  I cannot think of ways to entertain him for the life of  me.  He's crazy, and Oh yeah he does NOT like the piano, he has to practice daily.  Other than that we have a great time.  I like my job, and the kids, and I'm so happy to have something to do daily!  I am also working on getting my substitute certificate.  It's a big paint in the rear end, if I do say so myself, but I love subbing, so I'm working on it.  With the way the dept. of edu. is run here, I'll be lucky to be subbing by January. I'm praying for sooner though.  I really miss being in the classroom.  Tonight we're babysitting for Luke and Alana.  Poor Luke had the mosquitoes get to him last night, and not his ear and his eye are very swollen.  He was a worn out little guy when he went to bed.  Alana on the other hand was bright eyed and ready to party with us!  Until close to 9PM, when she finally passed out.  She so sweet.  I love her smile.  Well it's late, so goodnight!

Lately.

Recently I've been doing quite a bit of cooking and baking.  The past two days to be more exact.  I have made Kyle chinese chicken, green bean casserole, brown rice, and homemade rolls.  I also made dinner last night for our friends Jon and Becca, who had a baby last weekend.  I made chicken enchiladas, santa fe corn, and homemade salsa.  I also made cupcakes for them that said "Welcome Home Baby Asher!"  Their new baby is the sweetest.  He's adorable and wonderfully sweet!  I loved holding him, he smelled so good.  Just like a baby should!  Well anyway, tonight, I made chocolate cupcakes with a peanut butter cup inside and homemade peanut butter butter cream frosting.  Here is a photo.  They are quite delicious if I do say so myself.

I also picked up my knitting needles today :)  It felt so good! But now I want to go pick up a bunch of new yarn tomorrow and figure out how to make some super cute stuff.  Hopefully this will keep my attention for a while.  Something to keep me busy until I am ready for something new.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the library.  I'm thinking Monday will be a great day for it!  Though today would have been too.  It was raining and the library would have been a nice inside thing to do today.  Oh well, cheers!  Until next time!

Park U Library

Well, I must admit I'm disappointed in the Park University Library.  It is definitely not a place that makes you feel like a you're in a college library.  I thought Trinity's library was a not so up to date library, but this place is ancient.  It definitely does not scream NICE, INVITING, WELCOMING place for students to study.  I L.O.V.E. love Monmouth College library.  It was so so nice and just felt like a place you would really want to spend time and enjoy being there.  This library, first of all it is underground!  Meaning no windows to let the sunshine in.  All they have is artificial lighting, it's cold down here, and very much like a cave.  They have the tiniest book collection, like a small high school library.  It's definitely not a selling point of the college.  I personally feel that the library at any university should be extensive, overwhelmingly large.  A small public library is larger than this place.  They also have computer printed signs EVERYWHERE I can see 3 from where I'm sitting, saying "NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN STUDY AREA"  how do you not allow students to bring drinks into the study area.  Food and drinks are not allowed anywhere in the library.  I can remember spending a whole day in the library.  I know there are reasons for now food and drinks allowed here, but usually there's a place somewhere for you to sit in the library and have a drink or a snack with you.  Monmouth had a cafe in the library.  I was so excited to come to the library today, but I don't think I'll be returning.  It's just not what I was hoping it would be.  I was hoping for a nice chair to sit down in, with a big window behind me--reading my book all day.  I just wanted to enjoy reading in a nice space--feeling the warmth of the sun on me.  BUT instead I'm in a cold cave, not inspired to read or anything.  I'm just looking forward to when we get to leave.  Just a bummer. Hopefully our public library will be nicer, that's my Saturday adventure--find the library and pray it's nice!  Cheers!

Summer is coming to an end & {Oh I wish it wasn't}

Well Kyle's school year has officially started.  Which means his summer is over, but we are still experiencing the 90 degree weather.  I loved the freedom and fun we had over the summer.  We made a lot of wonderful memories.  But with the start of school comes a structured schedule, but I see Kyle less---which I'm not a fan of!  I love being able to spend lots of time with him, he's my prince charming!  Today he and his friend Alex fixed the brakes on the car.  They were quite the handy men.  They are also going to work on the car's air and change the oil next week.  Kyle's working, I'm blogging and watching TV.  I need to find a new hobby.  I'm tired of cleaning all the time, doing laundry, watching TV, so I need a new hobby.  I'm burned out on sewing, maybe I'll start knitting again.  I don't know.  Any suggestions?  Well, tomorrow I'm going to school with Kyle.  He has a couple classes , but we're going to spend the day in the library---he has a lot of homework.  I am going to explore the Park University Library.  I'm excited, it sounds stupid, but I haven't been in a college library since 2009.  I love the library, I spent a lot of time there in college.  It was like my own little oasis for studying and doing homework.  So, back to the library I go tomorrow!  I'm going to take my laptop, books, and a journal.  I'm hoping for inspiration :) This blog is so scatter brained.  Sorry to anyone who may read this.  I love blogs, I don't know or really care if people read them, but they are just a way for me to get all these random things out of my head.  It's so wonderful!  I may even bring crayons to the library :)  Well I'm not really sure what else to say, without rambling on and on. So.........Cheers until next time!

Hello blog world, I'm alive.

Well, hello there.  It's been over a month since my last blog.  SO. SO. SO. much has gone in our lives since my last post.  Kyle and I have been on a missions trip and vacation.  We have had a great summer.  I will do my best to relive the last month of our lives the best I can.
Well, let me start with the beginning.

Wisconsin Mission Trip

Kyle had drill the weekend we left for Wisconsin, so we weren't able to leave to for our trip until Sunday afternoon.  We left Missouri and headed for Illinois.  We made it to Illinois Sunday night, and stayed with my parents.  Monday, before we left, I was able to spend time in the pool with my mom and the Buskirks (Pam, Whitney, Tabytha, Mallory, and Charlie), I know they all aren't Buskirks, but that's how I'm describing them today.  It was so good to see them, but the fun had to end and we had to get back on the road.   Kyle and I arrived in Wisconsin, just in time for the first activities of the week. Campers were making crafts, playing games and swimming.  Later in the week we spent a day at a paint ball park.  Campers were able to play bags, frisbee golf, go on paddle boats and kayaks, and shoot paintball guns.  At the end of the day medals were given out, and the campers loved it!  The trip ended with a great talent show, full of fun and laughs!  Our missions trip was so much fun.  We saw old friends, and met some new ones.  Inspiration Ministries will always hold a special place in our hearts.  We headed back to Illinois on Friday to stay with my parents for the weekend.

Ohio

Well, I got to go on a surprise vaca.  I ended up being able to go on vaca with my family, while Kyle came home and worked and went to school.  I have the greatest hubster EVER!  I went with my family to Ohio to visit some family, we also went to New York to Niagara Falls.  It was just as beautiful as I remembered.  In Ohio we visited my moms sister and her family.  They live in amish country.  We saw amish people and buggies all over.  It was fun seeing family, plus we got to meet my cousins new baby, Thomas.  We also visited more family on our way home.  We had a nice family dinner together.  We went back home, for a day and then off for another week of vaca!

Madison

Well we came back from week 1 of vacation to make sure things on the home front were good.  AND to pick up the loved ones!  On Monday, Kyle and Ashley came to our house and we left for Madison.  It was so nice!  We had so much fun there!  While staying in Madison, we visited a lot of places.  We went to Louisville, KY a lot.  We visited the Louisville Zoo, and it was really nice.  It was just super hot when we went there.  After the zoo, we went to dinner and the mall.  We also visited the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Creation Museum.  We spent some time at Clifty Falls State Park pool.  We walked around downtown Madison, and also checked out some restaurants.  We played games, and relaxed in the wonderful home.  Ah, we had a great time!

Home Sweet Home

Now I've been home for a little over a week.  The first week home I spent nannying full time for Olivia and Gregory.  We had a fun, busy week.  We swam, went out to do things, and played games.  It was such a HOT week!  This week, I'm working on my house, and things I have to do here.  I need to get my sub certificates switched over, so I am able to sub this school year.

Until next time! Cheers!