We are still waiting on a plan to repair the bus’s side window as soon as possible. We had some cardboard and garbage bags doing their best, but I can now confidently confirm that our bandaid did not hold up on the highway 😅

The poor bus. It’s pretty sad. It looks like it was bleeding, but it wasn’t, I promise. It’s pride hurts more than anything.

Cher and I stopped by to say hi to Brady, and he texted the local auto body shop a picture of this sad setup. They are aware of us already, and have been working to get us quotes and such, and helping us repair our vehicles and all their glass. While we were at Zak’s, the woman who works the desk at the auto shop responded that we should really bring the van over to them so they could help us in the meantime while we wait for actual replacement. Which was very nice of her. So I drove the bus, and Cher drove the minivan, to the auto body place. We left the bus there, and took the van home. When I went in to hand over the keys, they confirmed that they would drive it back to Brady’s work when it was all said and done. And it was very shortly thereafter that it was finished!

Temporarily, anyway. But we’ll take it!! Definitely beats a garbage bag and a hole in the side of your vehicle. I had never heard of crash wrap until today and I am SO grateful it exists!

It’s an unfortunately busy time where we’re not sure it’ll all be fixed up in time for Christmas, but it was made clear today that they are really in our corner over there, and will do all they can for us. Praise God for good insurance that is taking a TON of money off the top for us!! And for good weather that the kids can walk to school in 💜

So. The kids keep aging, though I’ve specifically asked them not to. Whats fun about it, however, is that I can rough them up a little bit more, and wrestle them, and they can hack it. They know that sitting in my chair means I’m going to sit on them, and they do it absolutely all the time. On purpose. Because its funny.

Solly was more than fine in this position, which is bananas because he’s only six. But he was giggling and happy, and kept writing on his boogie board, seemingly unphased, lol!

Dekker can give me piggyback rides now, which are short and tippy but mostly because we are both laughing like idiots. Yesterday I tried to fight him for a horsey ride. He wasn’t into it. I might’ve killed the horse.

I love that my kids are big enough to wrestle and goof off with. The girls are too, for sure, I just don’t have pictures of that currently. It definitely happens, though.

I suppose there are benefits to kids aging after all. I have always loved them, and I continue to. With that, I am really enjoying the people they’re becoming! Thank you, Lord, for these beautiful kids!

While Brady and I were out shopping the other day, we stopped at the Walmart pharmacy to ask for some Childrens Tylenol. Unless you live under a rock, you probably know thats a lot harder to come by these days. The lady behind the counter likely has to navigate that day in and day out, and it showed. She was immediately irritated and standoffish. She told us where to meet her – at the other end of the counter. Brady went that direction, and I wandered into an aisle. I had heard a while back of lidocaine patches, and I was thinking they would be a great thing to try for Brady. There was nothing like that on the shelf, so I went to ask that same lady from before if she knew of anything like that. She just shook her head. I know these things exist, but she didn’t really want to help, it seemed. I pressed a little further, saying I saw there were some pain relief ointments, but they were geared towards relieving muscle or joint pain. I said my husband had nerve pain. She just stared at me blankly. Cool. Cool cool cool.

Maybe I haven’t posted on here about Brady’s nerve pain. He has a large patch on the left side of his ribcage, slowly creeping towards his back, that is usually a little tender. When he is extra tired or struggly, it is crazy sensitive. Sometimes his shirt brushing against his body makes him cringe. Its really unfortunate.

Brady and I hemmed and hawed in the store, and finally decided, what the heck, let’s just give it a try. As we were leaving the area with a tube, the crusty lady from the pharmacy stopped us and offered us a tube of extra strength Zoltaren. The same stuff we were leaving with, but stronger. She mentioned we may as well go full strength, which I really appreciated! The extra strength was not with the other ones, so I never would have known!

Brady’s sensitive spot was very bad off yesterday evening, so he tried the voltaren out for the first time.

And it WORKED!!! He said he could notice a difference in a matter of minutes! The spot remained tender, but even at best, its tender. So the voltaren brought it back to the way it “normally” is.

I am SO happy we found something that works to help relieve some of Brady’s discomfort!!

The other day, Facebook showed me a cute side by side photo of Dekker and Solomon.

People used to say they were basically the same baby, and I made a side by side to really show their details.

They both have giant eyes. Their hair sweeps the same way. They both have that chin. But that is where the resemblance stops. That nose couldn’t be more different. The lips too. And they eye shape. And color. And the hairline, with the cowlicks and the lack of cowlicks. The brows and forehead. Its all SO different!

And then you add this little one to the mix 😳

Very few similarities here! He also has big eyes, but they’re his own eyes. His chin is the same. Different nose. His face was never as chunky or jowly. Smaller forehead. Different hair. Different mouth. Different just about everything.

It is SO funny to have a good bundle of kids and have them all be SO different!

Brady and I had a really nice time at the Zak’s Christmas party last night. The program was endearing. The draw for gifts was fun. The trivia was fun, though completely over our heads. The food was yummy, and the drinks were free. But I think I can confidently say we really, really enjoyed sitting with some familiar faces. We have a couple of people we used to know from Bethany days that are connected to Zaks, so we got to catch up after years of not knowing one another! It was really nice to visit with people who were also knew to the company, and didn’t know anyone else. We caught up for hours until they had to go retrieve their kid and call it a night. We stayed a visited a little longer, because we were sans kids for the night (heyooo!) but we were pretty bushed and it wasn’t long before we packed it up as well.

We planned to grab a treat or something special on the drive home, but we were both cold and tired and just wanted to go to bed, lol! So we did! We got home, and Brady set up coffee for the morning while I snuggled into bed with a heating pad. Brrrrr! We watched one episode on Netflix before we both passed out good and proper. Whew!

This morning, we slept waaaaay in! It was incredibly nice to take our time, and stay in bed way longer than a responsible adult should. But eventually, we decided to make a run into Saskatoon and do a quick Walmart and Michaels sweep. It was REALLY nice to run a few errands, kid-free, when the weather was pleasant! It was sunny and people were happy. It was busy, for sure, but no one was miserable or rude. It was low key, and I liked that. We got a few Christmas gifts in hand, and some more yarn, because there is simply never enough. (Except ask Brady, I exercised great restraint and only bought stuff I actually had a plan for!) We got some vitamins and even managed to get a hand on one bottle of Childrens tylenol! We got a few pantry items with Christmas in mind, and made some plans for others. We ate junior bacon cheeseburgers and scouted out new Christmas music.

It has been a really really nice couple of days. We LOVE our children, and we also love being able to be less “on” and more just together 💜 It is SUCH a treat, and we are incredibly grateful to have Tom and Rae in our lives, so willing to keep the kids overnight for us. What a gift 💜 We thank you guys again.

Everyone is home now. Timing is perfect, as the snow and wind has picked up like crazy! I’m so happy to be tucked into our living room, sipping cold coffee from the drive home, planning the week ahead. Christmas is coming up, and I’m feeling like its time for me to start falling behind and then scrambling like crazy. So rather, I’m going to become annoyingly scheduled in hopes to relieve that pressure and just do what needs doing as it needs to be done. And not a whole lot else. Sooooo if I’m boring, thats why.

You wanna help me? Get a mailbox!!!

It has been SUCH a fun day across the street with Tom and Rae 💜 And their local kids. And Rae’s mom. And Tom’s nephew. And some of their friends. The house was positively teeming with people, and it was absolutely amazing.

Brady and I worked downstairs with a handful of the group. We build and installed cabinets, which we both really enjoy doing – especially together. It brought back warm memories of assembling the cabinets for our home 💜 I loved it then, and I loved it today.

Meanwhile, the kids were upstairs with everyone else, making chocolates! They worked a bit, and played with a lot of lego and Hot Wheels cars. Then lunch! Lunch was pretty cute. Definitely our kind of lunch over here. Snacky lunch!

Once the kids had each done their part, however, they were given the incredibly special opportunity to pile onto grandma and grandpa’s bed, and play Mario Kart!!! They LOVED that!

As the special day rolled on, Brady and I snuck out and got ready for our evening away!! Tonight is Brady’s work Christmas party! We haven’t had a Christmas party since I planned one for the Allmar family when I was just freshly pregnant with Dekker. So this is new, and I’m looking forward to it 🙂

*whispers* The kids get to stay at Tom and Rae’s tonight. They are SO excited!

We are just so incredibly grateful for our people. I am humbled by their willingness to be close in our lives 💜

Yesterday had some noteworthy moments I figured I’d put on here 🙂 Just for fun!

The day began in the dark, lit just by Christmas lights! Wavy was ticked at the moment, but the picture still needed to be taken. It was fun to east breakfast in the dark, and you’d better believe we did it this morning, too!

So after breakfast, once the kids were off to school, I got Wavy ready for preschool. Her hair is getting SO LONG!

I hit a new low, taking her to school with my hair in a towel. Luckily, everyone washes their hair, and a handful of us had a good laugh about it.

My poor hair towel has been through some things, color wise 😆

A fun thing that happened yesterday also was Brady started this years beer advent calendar! It was SO fun to give it to him because he had completely forgotten about the possibility of having one. It just wasn’t in mind at all, so it was a total surprise!

He’s gonna need those Pringle can hands to get these things out, hahaha! Lucky for him, his wife has those if he has a need.

We are definitely all thinking Christmas over here 🎄

Today holds a mountain of organizing and prepping some things that should make the month ahead easier and simpler. Wish me luck, folks! The list is LONG.

I joined a crochet along project a while back, and last night I finished the final section!! Ack! I can’t resist showing you! Eek!

Of course the whole border is still needing to happen, and that will most definitely take more than one day. But that will be released on the weekend, and I’ll get to it eventually. I’m excited to show you the whole thing!!!

Meanwhile, I have another project on the go – a “just for me” project – and then my queue is open for whoever needs 🙂 Speak now, folks!

On a completely unrelated note, Wavy’s hair is getting SO LONG! Look at this precious little girl! 💜

I am a very big fan of her!!

Stay warm today, friends! It is BRUTALLY cold out! But thats winter for all you summer-haters. Good thing I can make myself a bunch of extra warm lovely things over here so I don’t freeze to death!

Man. You guys were so kind about my moping regarding all of our van window issues. Thank you all for not leaving me to feel belittled or silly. It means a lot to me. Thank you.

I thought I’d throw a quick update your way on the subject.

So as you know, the minivan is needing a new windshield. Brady had put a call in last week already, to try to confirm some insurance stuff. We have extra insurance for the bus glass, and when we bought the minivan, Brady asked that it be added to the policy, but he never heard anything back on the subject. For a minute there, we were pretty worried it hadn’t happened, and we would be out the total cost. Thankfully, today it was confirmed that we will only pay $100 for the minivan windshield replacement.

The bus side window is next, and I’ll be honest – I don’t know the cost yet. We did get paired with an insurance adjuster, however, and she called this afternoon to go over the details with Brady. She said it seems pretty straight forward, and she believes she can approve us to skip the whole damage assessment part of things and get us straight to the auto shop in Warman to get it cleaned up. What a relief.

I hope this is the end of it, but I am incredibly grateful for how smoothly the insurance process has been so far. It is NOT every day we are all flawlessly content with our insurance providers, is it? But today is that day 💜

I don’t know if its the season or just straight up bad luck but man. We have had a really bummer time with our vehicles and their glass this season.

A month or two ago, the bus took a big rock in the face and the windshield cracked right in the eye line. It was a bummer, but things happen, and we have extra insurance that makes our deductible on windows less. So we got to it and got it replaced.

A few days ago, Brady took gravel to work and some little sedan unknowingly threw a gigantic rock at the minivan. Brady said it was SO loud, he ducked. It left a big ole bullseye, once again, right in the eye line. So once again, calls are in, and we’re waiting on another new windshield.

And then yesterday, we got the mother of all rock chips. “Chip.”

Don’t get me started. My entire hand fit right in there. So I started the van to move it into the garage, and the moment I shut my door…

*sigh*

So I pushed the rest of the glass out and drove the thing into the garage. It is now covered with cardboard and garbage bags, and it’ll have to do for now. But man. Man. A lower deductible saves less money when you have to pay it so many times.

Also, does anyone remember that the bus has had the drivers side mirror ripped off twice this year?? Man alive.

It’s going to be ok. I have tools.

But for real, it will be ok. I’m pretty grumpy, but it will all get cleared up shortly and it’ll be like it never happened. Until then, I’ll be inside.