The Jimenez Family

Yes, we are a homeschool family.

We do school in our home.

But no...we do not do school in our pajamas!

Everyday the kids have to be downstairs by 7:30...having made beds, changed clothes, and brushed hairs.

But with this weather lately it has been HARDER and HARDER to get everyone up and going!

So I decided to have a Pajama Day!!!

We stayed in our jammies all day (well...I lasted till lunch time!)

and spent most of the day with our favorite book!

Amy could do this every day...all day.

She LOVES to read!!!

The little ones decided to snuggle up on the couch with Mommy

and listen to every single library book we have!

Since it was a cozy kind of day...I decided to make homemade pretzels and hot cocoa!

YUMMY!!!

The kids felt like "grown-ups" with their books and mugs...

just like Daddy!!

Of course...it all tastes the same...no matter how big the cup is!

And just in case you were wondering...Jackson slurped up every bit of cocoa!

Calculating how many days we actually have left of school...I'm trying to factor some more

pajama days into the mix!!

Most of the time I feel like this...

Head above water.

Treading the surface. Actually creating movement.

I can hang. I got this. I'm not getting too old...

Then several things happened that clued me in to the reality that this is more likely:

Barely breaking the surface to catch a breath.

Struggling to maintain.

Not able to move forward in position.

Definitely getting old!

Here's what happened:

Two weeks ago the kids and I decided to drive out and see one of their favorite babysitters TEAR IT UP on the soccer field.

Kelly Moldenhauer is a senior at Wingate University...and let's just say
she's a beast!

When the opposing team was huffing it down the field and Kelly came to defend

her turf...the players ran away...literally!

She was incredible!

Thankfully, my noisy brood didn't deter her concentration

(although they screamed and hollered as LOUD as they possibly could - ask the other spectators!)

After a super fun time watching Kelly pull out a W the kids and I headed home.

As I was driving home...debating over what to make for dinner and moderating the mild arguments coming from the rear of the van...my phone rang.

I didn't recognize the number at first...then it hit me...

"Hello? Celia? Did you still need me to babysit tonight? I'm sitting at your house. Are you home?"

Nope. Not at home. And yes, I had asked my sweet Suzanne to come on the WRONG day.

And there she was...sitting in the drive way waiting for me.

UGH!!!

I scrolled through all my emails...and there it was.

A week early. What is WRONG with me???

Being the gracious woman that she is...she decided to make it a Jimenez-pizza-fun-hang-out night!

I spent several days thinking that perhaps too much is going on...

and I'm not really paying close attention.

I tried to ignore the hint that I might need to slow down a bit...

Then:

Early yesterday morning I woke up to do my devotions.

I looked at the calendar and realized it was the birthday of two very special people.

My close friend Mandy.

And my mother-in-law.

I was so puzzled.

I couldn't believe we had forgotten to call my MIL for her big party.

How did we miss it? I was so disappointed.

Huh?

I made a mental note to make sure and call her later in the day.

Then I hopped onto facebook and wrote a very long message on Mandy's page.

I was surprised that nobody had written yet.

Hm...

I checked again...yep, that's her birthday.

Oh well...

Later that morning we made this video for Grammie.

The kids were so excited to wish her a Happy To You!

I went downstairs to upload the video and sent it off to her...
and then it hit me.
I was a WEEK off!!!
Their birthday is the following Monday.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???

Obviously, there is a lot going on in my head.
Maybe too much.
I'm definitely getting old.
Hopefully, I don't forget to meet you somewhere...
or forget your birthday...or maybe even forget your name! :-)

Around this time every year, a buzz goes round with several of our friends.

Apple Picking Time.

Having never been myself, I could only listen and wonder what all the excitement was about.

Drive two hours to pick apples? Really? Can't I just go to Harris Teeter?

But this year...several other people in our family heard the buzz too.

Add to that some fresh apple doughnuts that were personally delivered by some very special friends...

and it was decided...we must see for ourselves about this apple picking thing.

My children acted like pros...having read blogs, seen pictures, and heard from their friends.

They knew we needed buckets and wagons. A must, they insisted.

Unfortunately, they were too big to ride along.

But the little ones were all too willing to oblige.

Then it was off to the orchards for the best-est, yummiest, juiciest apples around!

Uncle Jeremy opted to come along...and quickly offered to do the grunt work of the day.

Pulling the wagon with empty buckets is not a problem.

Pulling the wagon with twenty-five pounds of apples...a little bit of a challenge!

Jackson offered to be our taste-tester.

Mutsu?

Yes.

Golden Delicious?

Yes.

Cortland?

Yes.

Anymore?

Hailey was content to be with anyone that would supply her with more apples.

She spent the ENTIRE day with a half-eaten apple in hand...and sticky, apple juice soaking her shirt! :-)

But that made for one very happy toddler!

The older kids were super excited about finding the "perfect" apple.

Some were high up in the trees...others were "shaken" down...and there were a few ready and waiting right under our feet!

Of course, the true apple picking "expert" knew that a little hard work was necessary!

With delicious apple pie in mind...Jason went "hunting" for some Granny Smith apples.

Picking apples was definitely the highlight...but with bees buzzing, hands sticky, and arms aching...

these kids were soon enough DONE!

It was on to the petting zoo...

where a happy reception of excited animals awaited us...

or maybe...just the food we held in our hands!!

Then off to the bamboo forest...

...and then the playground!

But if we are really honest...

the best part about the entire day...

was the apple doughnuts!!!

In higher altitudes, with a hard-working day under your belt, and a cool breeze in your hair...

these suckers absolutely melt in your mouth!!!

So the Jimenez family has joined the buzz.

Apple picking is an added activity to our fall traditions.

As well as homemade apple bread, applesauce, apple crisp, apple pie, apple butter, etc....

About two months ago, I made a decision that I would end up regretting.

Two of our graduated students were engaged to be married and their wedding day was fast approaching.

I wanted to spend some time with the bride-to-be and encourage her, counsel her and pray over her.

It was my brilliant idea to take a sunrise hike that ultimately led to some hefty consequences.

Upon arriving at the state park, we realized that it did not officially open until later in the day.

So...I threw caution to the wind...found a grassy parking spot...and interpreted the "closed" sign to mean what I want.

The park rangers waiting for me by my car did not agree with my interpretation and

left me a very significant fine.

So, last week found me here...at the Gaston County Courthouse.

Thankfully, I escaped the fine with a "sentence" of community service hours

(which I happily served at church!).

But through it all...I was able to *humbly* teach my kids some very thoughtful lessons.

(It helped that the courthouse was situated right by the jailhouse...we talked a lot about how one poor choice...in the wrong situation...could have major ramifications!)