An eventful Saturday and relaxing Sunday

We are pretty much poison-ivy free at our house!  Brynlie returned to school for a half-day on Thursday, and then was able to attend all day Friday.  This was a HUGE accomplishment.  She wasn't too happy about being forced back to school, but it had reached a point where the itchiness was just annoying, but not interfering with everyday life.  I told her she was itchy at home, so she might as well just be itchy at school.  Many tears were shed (along with a little weeping and wailing), but she survived and has improved tremendously over the weekend.  After13 days off school, she will actually be able to start getting caught up now!

Lindsey's therapy session went pretty well.  The counselor is very much of the opinion that the anxiety is an inherited/chemical thing.  She spoke about some ways she could help Lindsey learn to calm herself down when anxious, but mostly said an SSRI would help.  It was great to hear this opinion, because I feel very much the same way.  I've also noticed that the days Lindsey is involved in sports (or any other physical activity) she is a million times less anxious.  I will have to keep this kid busy and active all the time!

Today has been a perfect Sunday.  On the drive home from church, the girls started telling me I looked tired and should rest when we got home.  I could tell they were hinting at wanting to surprise me with something, so I very happily obliged!  Logan was arguing with them saying that he wanted me to rest on Monday because he had just learned about keeping the Sabbath Day holy.  Sweet boy.  After a quick lunch, I was more than willing to lay in my bed and read a book until falling asleep.  When I woke up, I could smell brownies cooking and realized upon walking out of my bedroom that they had cleaned the entire main level.  They even organized and cleaned all the drawers in my bathroom, did laundry and organized my shoes.  What amazing children!  Brynlie said, "We just wanted to help you out since Dad has been traveling a lot.  You must get really worn out."  How am I so lucky?

Yesterday we woke up early to get Lindsey to her soccer game a half-hour up north.  She scored a goal within 20 seconds of being in the game, and her team shut out the opposing team 8-0.  It's so fun to cheer for my blondie!  Then I took the three youngest (Brevan had no interest) to the Coterie Theater in Kansas City to see a production of the play "Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie."  I'm finding all sorts of events to take Brynlie to see, since she is studying the 1800's pioneers for Beyond Basics this whole year.  The actresses posed for a picture with my girls after the production.  We bought some delicious cinnamon rolls while in the mall before heading back home.

Then we packed up again and headed out to "Carolyn's Country Cousins" pumpkin patch.  Besides my four kiddos, we also had Clayton, Madelyn and Chloe join us.  The event was paid for by Ryan's work, so we ate a free catered dinner, rode the train, played for a few hours and got free pumpkins to carve.  The older boys headed over to the corn maze, where they got themselves lost in the corn stalks for over an hour.  It was a fun night, especially because it was all free and I didn't have to cook dinner!