My Week: October 23-29

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  My computer was under repair but thankfully I am back. :)  

Boy, where do I begin?  Well, I have been having some issues with my laptop.  I would be typing and then it would just stop working.  My keyboard.  I would restart it and it would work again.  Well, eventually that trick stopped working.  Then it just wouldn't start at all.  Then it started doing a fire alarm sound.

At that point, I called Dell and they did a check on it and found out some of the hardware had failed which was still covered by warranty still.  Praise the Lord!  So I have been without a laptop for a little while so no blogging.  I got it back this morning (Wednesday) and am gonna try to catch up here while I'm at work. :)

Sunday, my husband was gone to Cleveland, OH to preach and do skits for a church there.  So it was just the girls and I for Sunday.

I worked the nursery for the first service and Awana for the second service.  After the service, we had lunch at Dickey's (to be honest - I was too tired to prep anything for lunch for us.)  After lunch, I crashed.  I think my body said, Enough is enough.  I took a nap and vegged on the couch until evening church.

Worked the nursery for the evening service and then home and off to work.

Monday - off at 8am.  Home to shower and then off to get the hubby from the airport at 10am.  Breakfast with him and then home to do school with the girls.

I also made a meal for Larry and Tracey.  Tracey just had some major surgery in Utah and is now at home recovering.  I made BBQ chicken breasts, cottage mashed potatoes, homemade mac and cheese and asparagus. MMM!  I made a double meal - one for Larry and Tracey and one for us.  I was also able to send a meal over to our neighbors - Bob and Ida.  Bob just returned from San Francisco from back surgery and is also recovering.  You never regret doing things for others - you always feel so blessed!

After our dinner, it was off the gym and then to work.

Tuesday morning, off work at 8am.  School and housework/laundry.  And a cup of hot apple cider. :)

We had meatball subs and sweet potato fries for dinner and then off the gym and then work.  Not much to tell about this day.  LOL!

Wednesday, a new day.  Off at 8am.  School and housework/laundry.

The weather was just about perfect.  Just one of those super nice fall days.  One of my mum plants in my front beds.

Dropped off the older girls for their piano lessons and Summer and I went grocery shopping at Winco.  She picked out a berry bagel for a treat - a girl after my own heart. ;)

Finished up school, made an egg and tator tot casserole for dinner and then the girls and I left for the Trick or Treat night at the North Valley strip mall.  Autumn is a fairy, Sierra is Spiderman and Summer a ladybug. After that, we went to the gym and then I was off to work.

Wednesday night, I was at the hospital with my client.  Those are super long nights.  Always glad to get to the morning. :)  The view was beautiful at least!  Aren't those mountains gorgeous???

Thursday was a quiet day at home with school and housework.  Did some prep for the Harvest Party.
Worship practice at 6pm.

Friday morning began sunny and blue.  It wasn't long before it turned.

It became a pretty rainy day.  We did school.  At 12:30pm, I was supposed to have my annual review for work - they had mixed up the days and told me the wrong Friday.

My LifeProof phone case finally took its final beating.  It lasted for one year and three months which is awesome!  I have never had a case last that long.  My phone (inside the case) still looks brand new!  I told everyone, I will never try any other case.  These cases are the bomb.  Thankfully I get the spouse's discount at Sportsman's because they are pricey but not as pricey as a new phone!  I don't want to chance breaking my phone.  So hence the camo case because that is what Sportsman's had left. Ha!

That evening, we had a staff dinner at Louis Basque Corner.  Yummy!

The Lord gave us a beautiful day Saturday for our church's annual Harvest Party!  It rained a good part of Friday and poured and poured on Sunday but a beautiful day Saturday!  Yay!

I do love the clouds around the mountains!

I managed a few photos from this year's Harvest Party!  Most of the time, I get so busy I forget.
We had a great turnout!  Thank you to all who came and also those who helped!
We served chili dogs and nachos.  Everyone brought side dishes to go along with the meal.
Everyone brought their own cold drinks and we provided hot cocoa and coffee.
We had games, a costume competition and a pumpkin decorating competition for the children.  They also went from person to person to "trick or treat".
Kids and teens enjoyed a hay ride on Pastor Joe's truck.  The teens competed in a whip cream eating competition.

Great memories as a church family!  I hope you had a good week.  God bless!

My Week: October 8-10

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you have a blessed day. :)

Saturday morning, off to the gym for an early workout with the hubby!   Got my 100 floor goal. :)

After the gym, we went to the chiropractor and then to Sportsman's.  My shoes have been showing a lot of wear and my husband wanted to buy me a new pair.  So nice to have some traction and cushion again. :)

After shopping, it was back to home.  The girls had gone to softball practice.  I threw together in record time a casserole for dinner for my mom to throw in the oven for that evening.  You can find the recipe HERE for the chicken-broccoli-stuffing casserole.  Aaron was picked up and then it was off to a wedding.

This wedding was quite the drive but who cares when you are with your husband with his undivided attention?  LOL!!  It was at a place called Twenty-Mile in the Sierras in CA.

Don't you just love this photo!

After the wedding, we ate at a little Mexican restaurant - we were starving!  We hadn't had a chance to eat all day.  Then we changed and stopped at Lake Davis for some hiking.  Yep, we do a lot of hiking in our family. LOL!

In fact, I made a record of the most steps I have taken in a day so far since having my Vivofit (1 week!).

Holy moly, was I exhausted Saturday night. :)

Sunday was a great day. :)  I loved having mom there with us to worship.  I thought you would like to see a photo of all of us on Sundays. 

It was also a great day because our youngest daughter was baptized! :)

After church, we had Papa Vern and Papa Tastet over for lunch.  Corned beef and cabbage.  You can find the recipe HERE.

Papa Vern - a man who has had such a special part in our life.

Sunday evening church and back to work.  I worked 14 hours Sunday night to help out in a pinch.

Monday morning...that wonderful Monday morning workout.  Whew.

We took Monday off school.  First, we went to sushi.  Yum and yum!  This was the girls' first time and they tried everything and liked it!  I was so happy!  

Of course, sushi is a great start to any week!

I love this photo!

My mom was trying to be nice when I asked her if she wanted more and she declined saying she was full.  This was before the green tea ice cream came for everyone and she said, "If anyone doesn't like their ice cream, I'll take it!" Oops!  I guess you can't take the Midwest out of everyone. :)

Random note...I had taken a photo of some candles that had Jesus on them to send to my sister related to an inside joke.  Addie says, "Look Mommy!  The phone put Jesus into the people section."  Ha!!!!

Next, we drove to the Emigrant Trail Museum in Truckee, CA.  They built an entire new museum and it is gorgeous!  If you have never been to this museum or have only been to the old one, I suggest you go!  I really enjoyed it.

This is a neat exhibit.  They excavated this hearth from the Washoe Indian lands and reconstructed it at the museum.

If you are not familiar with the story of the Donner party, they were stranded in the Sierras in the 1800's and over half of the party died that winter.  The snow was to the top of the stone monument (not including the people statue).  

After the museum, I had planned on taking this easy trail that we had done before.  Well, the trail ended up not being the same we took before!  It actually took you lakeside to Donner Lake which was really cool!

The lake level was super low!  We really need some good winters and more rain and snowpack to bring it back up.

Donner Lake.

Collecting shells - they were having a blast!

Well, the end of the story is - the trail was not a loop and did not bring us back to the museum!  LOL!  So we came to the end of the trail which was down by the lake.  Autumn and I hiked back on the road to the main parking lot.  We got quite the workout in!  This got us back home about 6:15.  Made dinner - Sausage and Pierogi Skillet.  We love this one!

1 package (16.9 ounces) frozen potato and cheese pierogi

1 package (14 ounces) smoked turkey sausage, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

4 tablespoons canola oil, divided

1 medium onion, sliced

1 package (14 ounces) coleslaw mix

1/2 garlic powder or I use minced fresh garlic

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Cook pierogi according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage in 2 tablespoons oil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes longer or until coleslaw is wilted. Remove from the heat; keep warm.

In another large skillet, heat remaining oil. Drain pierogies; add to skillet. Cook and stir until browned; add the sausage mixture and toss to coat. Yield: 5 servings.

A beautiful sunset to end a nice day!  Off to work.  

I hope you have a wonderful day as well!