Week Rundown! (12/21/14 - 12/27/14)

We got up early and attended Sunday services. The kids sang several songs as part of the Christmas program. Afterwards, we did a grocery run and came home to eat and watch a few Christmas movies.

The kids didn't have school on Monday, but since Lydia and I worked, they went to boys and girls club for the day. Mysia didn't have any piano lessons. Lydia and the kids worked on making Christmas cookies. The kitchen was a mess, but worth it.

I only worked half a day on Tuesday. The kids and I visited the chiropractor to get adjusted after car accident last week. It felt good to get the kinks out. We picked up Lydia from work and came home. We watched a movie before sending the kids to bed. Lydia and I stayed up a little later to make sure the kids' presents were ready for the morning.

Wednesday, although Christmas Eve, was our family Christmas at home. We woke up and opened up presents. Both kids were excited with what they received. We then ate breakfast while the kids enjoyed their gifts. Malachi spent 6 hours putting together his lego Star Wars Starfighter. Mysia played games and learned how to work her tablets. We watched several movies. We went out for supper at Chick-Fil-A and then drove around looking at Christmas lights before attending candlelight services with family.

On Christmas day we slept in, catching up on some lost sleep. Of course, the kids got up and watched videos on their tablets. We then opened the gifts found in our stockings before eating some breakfast. We loaded the van with gifts and snacks, then headed over to my parents' house celebrate the holiday with my side of the family. We ate lunch and then opened up gifts. The cousins played while we visited. We took family pictures and played a few games before coming home.

We slept in for a bit on Friday and then met Lydia's family for brunch. After visiting, the girls headed out to Branson for a shopping trip. The guys played some football and then tried a few games of Mario Kart 64 before getting some food. We watched "Guardians Of the Galaxy" before the girls came back.

Saturday morning was rushed as we ate a quick breakfast before heading over to Paulette's house for gifts with Lydia's family. It was our '3rd" Christmas. After the gift exchange, we ate a wonderful turkey dinner and visited before bringing out the games. The cousins played and we stayed until evening. At home, the kids got their baths before bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (12/14/14 - 12/20/14)

My stomach was sore on Sunday, but I made it through alright. We attended church services and then did some shopping before heading home for lunch. We actually got some naps and spent some family time together.

Monday was pretty normal. Mysia had piano lessons after I got off work, and we spent the evening at home working on homework.

Tuesday was a long day. We got up and the kids and I took Lydia into work. Right afterwards, I turned left onto another road and my VW Bug was struck on the passenger side. It shook us up. Mysia had a sore arm and chemical burn on her cheek from the side airbag. Malachi got attacked by Mysia's school books, and had a lump on his head and scratches on his forehead. Other then that, we walked away without any serious injuries. The car was towed away and my coworker Ray helped me get the minivan from home. I dropped the kids off at school and went to my Doctor's appointment. It was confirmed that I do have a hernia. I then got to visit the new offices for KWFC that are being constructed in preparation of the finalization of the station's sale to RTN. The school nurse called me and I picked up the kids since they were still a bit shook up from the wreck. We then picked up Lydia and took her to the doctor for her appointment she had that afternoon. We spent the rest of the day in the waiting room. By the time we got home, the kids were wore out. We ate a late, but quick supper, and went to bed.

Things were almost back to normal on Wednesday, except we were down to one vehicle. There we several things I had to deal with in making sure that the insurance had all the info, etc. We had a good evening at home.

I had an appointment with the surgeon on Thursday to discuss the future plans for my hernia. It looks like I'll be having surgery sometime late January. After Lydia and I got off work, the evening was spent visiting with our small group from church. We had a good time and enjoyed the fellowship.

The kids and I took Lydia to work on Friday. The kids were off school, so I spent the day with them. We did some shopping and did many house chores. I also had to "clean" out all of my possessions from the wrecked Bug. It was sad seeing it in such a smashed up state, a reminder that God had blessed us by keeping us from harm when the wreck happened.. I was informed by the insurance company that it was considered "totaled".

The kids got to spend Saturday afternoon with Granny while I took Lydia to the Passages (Bible) Museum. We spent several hours taking in the history the Scripture throughout the ages. That evening, we watched a few Christmas movies before going to bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (12/07/14 - 12/13/14)

We got up early on Sunday morning and made it to church so I could practice for the reading I had during services. After church we stopped by Best Buy to look around. At home, we ate lunch and watched White Christmas. That evening we attended the kids' school Christmas party. They visited with Santa, got haircuts and went "shopping" for the family. Afterwards, we headed over to Granddad and Granny's to watch "Home Alone".

On Monday, Malachi and I took Mysia piano lessons before doing a bit of Christmas shopping. At home, we all ate a quick supper and then attended the MEND Christmas candlelight vigil for 3 miscarriages. The kids went to bed once we returned home. Not to long afterwards, I heard a crash and then crying. Malachi had fallen off bunk bed and onto his legos. All is well, he wasn't hurt. Just upset that he had demolished his buildings.

Lydia had breakfast with the kids at school Tuesday morning. We came home from work and prepared supper before Uncle Sam and Aunt Madisen came over for a visit. They brought their two dogs, and Buttercup was thrilled to have playmates for the evening. We talked and enjoyed the evening together.

On Wednesday, Mysia got to try on a dress for Abigail's wedding after school. She's excited to be in it. I picked up Malachi after work and met Lydia at home. We enjoyed the evening at home. Malachi read three books to me as part of his homework before bed.

Thursday was a bit rushed, getting things done throughout the day. We attended to a Christmas party with our small group that evening. It was a blast visiting friends and exchanging white elephant gifts.

On Friday, we came home after work and I ate supper real quick before heading over to my friend Ben's for the evening. He helped with some van repairs and we got to visit. Lydia and the kids watched TV and read Christmas books.  

We woke up Saturday morning and took the kids with me to church. They had a Christmas party with crafts and snacks. Lydia got things done around the house and then we had lunch. We then attended the Christmas parade downtown. The kids got candy and we enjoyed watching the floats and bands. We then went to CPO and the kids picked up some Christmas gifts and a movie. That evening, we saw Crossway's "Who Stole Christmas". It was a great production, and we liked the adaptation of the Grinch story with a Christian perspective. Throughout the day, my stomach was aching and a lump appeared on my stomach, and after doing some online research, I'm thinking I have a hernia. Yikes.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/30/14 - 12/06/14)

Lydia woke up Sunday morning with severe pain in her left foot. She couldn't put any weight on it, so after dropping the kids off with Granny and Granddad, we headed off to the ER. After being admitted and x-rayed, they determined it was inflammation. They gave Lydia crutches, telling her to remain off the foot, and prescription drugs. We came home and had a late lunch. Lydia was in pain for the rest of the evening, hobbling around the house.  

A cold front moved in causing us to scrape our windows from ice Monday morning. After work Malachi and I took Mysia to piano lessons. I then dropped the kids of with Granny for the evening. Lydia discovered that she had a flat tire as she was leaving work, so ran over and put on the spare so she could make it home. We then attended the KWFC Christmas party and dinner. We ate, visited, and played a few games before picking up the kids and heading home.

I took the van in Tuesday morning to get the van's tire replaced, and ended up buying two. Lydia had PTA after work, so I picked up the kids and we came home. They worked on their homework and got their showers while I worked on supper. We got to watch Charlie Brown Christmas before bedtime.


Wednesday morning was a rush. Before heading out the door, Malachi quickly ate his oatmeal, got choked and vomited a bit. I didn't think anything of it until we got a call from the school nurse before lunch. Malachi was complaining of a grumbling stomach. I picked him up and he stayed in my office for the rest of the workday. He ate well, watched a few movies, and even took a nap. We picked up Mysia on the way home. Before Lydia arrived, Malachi vomited. Oh boy…! We ate supper and watched all the Frosty the Snowman movies. Mysia felt warm, so Lydia took her temperature. Sure enough, she was running a fever. Thankfully, both slept well through the night.

I stayed home with Mysia and Malachi on Thursday since both were recovering from their illness. Lydia came home and we had supper before I headed into work to run Patriot basketball on-air. Lydia and kids watched Peter Pan Live that evening and she was reading them a book when I arrived home.

On Friday, Lydia worked from home so that she could stay home with Mysia. Although she was better, it was a precaution. Malachi went to school, and I picked him up once I got off from work. We then grabbed pizza and the kids spend night with Memaw while Lydia and I headed to Joplin for her work's Christmas party! We had great food and fun, and got home late.

Lydia and I woke up Saturday and I left for a reading rehearsal at church. Lydia picked up the kids and did a grocery run. I took the van into the shop to get it aligned before meeting them home for a late lunch. We watched a movie and then they took naps before we headed out to see the Springfield Live Nativity at the fairgrounds. We then met with friends at Lambert's for dinner and fellowship. We got home pretty late, and the kids were ready for bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/23/14 - 11/29/14)

Sunday we got up and attended church services. We stopped by the store on the way home and then spent the rest of the day relaxing. We played games and watched some tv as a family. Of course, we also accomplished a few chores around the house before going to bed.

Monday was a bit busy. Malachi and I took Mysia to piano lessons. At home the kids took showers while I prepared dinner. Lydia attended her Zumba class before coming home. We watched a couple of TV shows before bedtime.

Tuesday was busy, trying to get work accomplished for the rest of the week. We have had problems with the van lately, so I took it in and found out we need the radiator replaced.. Something we'll be doing at a later date. Lydia and the kids came to the radio station after 5 and we produced my thanksgiving show together with them sharing the things they are thankful for. We then spent a relaxing evening at home.

Wednesday I had off with the kids. They watched cartoons after waking up. We did a few things around the house, ate lunch, and then visited Lydia at her office in the afternoon. We then headed over to my parent's house so that we could visit with family. Ben and his family were in visiting, so the cousins got to play for s bit. A few of us took the guns out for some some target practice. It was cold, but enjoyable. Everyone met at our house and we then went to Rib Crib in celebration of my dad's birthday. We enjoyed supper together, visited Sam's house to see his dogs, and then back to my parent's for birthday cake. We stayed late visiting. Once back home, the kids were put to bed and we remained up working on food for Thanksgiving dinner.

On thanksgiving day, we slept in a bit and let the kids watch cartoons before watching the parade. We packed up a few belongings and the food and headed off to Lydia's Aunt and Uncle's house to spend the day with her family. It was a beautiful day, so the kids got to spend time playing outside. They also played games with the other kids while we visited. Dinner was terrific! Once home that evening, we went to bed.

We slept in on Friday and then watched cartoons during breakfast. I pulled out the Christmas decorations and then headed into work to do my on-air shift. Lydia and the kids did things around the house, and when I came back home, we packed up and headed to visit with our friends Scott and Cyleste for the evening. The kids played outside until it got dark while we visited and played board games. We had fun, and even to bed once we came home that night.

Saturday was busy. After watching cartoons, we started rearranging the house for the Christmas decorations. Yes, this happens every year... We were able to make room for the big tree and the kids put the ornaments on. They also rode their bikes down the street for a while during the afternoon. Later that evening, Lydia went grocery shopping as the kids and I tried to clean up the Christmas decoration containers. Once the groceries were put away, and the kids were ready for bed, we watched a Christmas movie on Netflix to start the holiday season right. 

~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/16/14 - 11/22/14)

Sunday we got up and attended church services. It was snowing on the way home. While lunch/dinner was being prepared, the kids played outside with Buttercup in the falling snow. They had a blast. They were excited how fast our yard was covered. Later that evening, Malachi ran into the kitchen, tripped over the stool, hit his mouth on the counter… and yelled "Yippee!!!" He lost another tooth.

Monday was cold. We got up and had to brush the snow off of the vehicles, scraping the ice off the windows as well. That evening, Malachi and I sat in the car, trying to keep warm while Mysia piano lessons. The kids worked on homework during the evening before showers.

After work on Tuesday, we attended Mysia's school performance at the gym. She did very well, and even had a speaking part. Lydia and the kids went home to work on homework while I went to the visitation of my first employer, Mike Fortner. The line was long, but was worth it to share my condolences to the family of a man who had an impact on my life as a teenager.

On Wednesday, Mysia got to take a school fieldtrip to Smallin Cave here in Springfield. She thought it was awesome. I had the privilege to attend the funeral for Mike Fortner before noon.. That evening, we ate and went to church for our Relationship Evangelism Class.

Thursday evening consisted of homework for the kids and getting a few things done around the house. We watched some TV shows on Netflix before showers and bed.

The kids got to spend time with Granny on Friday after school. She took them to visit with their friends for several hours before coming home in time for supper. We ate and I went to work to help with the BBC Patriots Basketball game on air. After chores, Lydia and kids relaxed around the house reading books. Malachi fell asleep on the couch before I returned home.

Saturday was pretty typical. THe kids got up and chores started before watching cartoons in the morning. We did a grocery run that afternoon and even visited the mall for some Christmas shopping. It was crowded. We got a treat from Andy's before coming home for the evening. Christmas music was played throughout the house while the kids played. After supper, the kids had their baths and we played Mario Kart. We read a few books before going to bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/09/14 - 11/15/14)

We got up and attended Sunday worship services. We stopped by the store on the way home and grabbed a few things in preparation for lunch. The afternoon was spent taking naps and playing some games as a family. It had been a while since Lydia and I played Old Maid and Go Fish, so the kids reminded us of the rules. During the evening, we watched a movie before going to bed.

Monday was pretty normal. Malachi and I waited in the car as Mysia had piano lessons after I got off work. At home, I made supper while the kids took their showers. Lydia attended her Zumba class after work. We watched a PBS video on volcanoes and then some America's Funniest Home Videos before bedtime.

On Tuesday, Mysia had a school field-trip to see the Springfield Symphony in concert. She boasted to Malachi that she got to hear them do the Star Wars Theme, making him disappointed that he missed out. For that evening, Lydia had a girls night after work. The kids and I had supper and we played few games after making sure all homework was completed.

After work on Wednesday, we ate a quick supper  and rushed to church to attend our Relational Evangelism class. The kids were ready for bed when we got back home.

We attended our Small Group on Thursday evening. We were on John 21:1-14, describing Jesus' appearance to the disciples for the third time since His resurrection. Like always, our visit was great!

On Friday, Lydia attended a Trim Healthy Mama meeting. She was happy to find more recipes and get encouraged by others on the eating diet. The kids and I enjoyed the evening at home, reading and watching some TV.  

On Saturday morning, Lydia attended a business class while the kids and I stayed home and watched cartoons while doing our weekend chores. After lunch, we attended Sesame Street Live and then did some grocery shopping before coming back home for the evening. It was getting cold, and tried to snow. But that winter weather we were praying for was waiting for next week!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/02/14 - 11/08/14)

Even though we gained an extra hour, we rushed to Sunday morning services. The message was fantastic, and the kids enjoyed their lessons as well. We came home and had a wonderful lunch. The weather was nice and the kids spent time outside playing with Buttercup. We then took a trip the mall to check out footwear, went to the visitation of my coworker's dad, and then grabbed a few things at Walmart. Back at home, watched a movie before going to bed.

The kids didn't have school on Monday, so I stayed home while Lydia went in to work. I took advantage of the nice weather and mowed the lawn before lunch. The kids played on the backyard fort before dismantled it. The wood was starting to rot at the bottom, and I wanted to get rid of it before it got worse over the upcoming winter months. Before heading off to piano lessons, we spent some time working on some crafts. I had them take showers while I prepared supper that evening. We played Mario Kart until Lydia arrived home from her Zumba class.

We went out and voted Tuesday morning. Lydia went to work and I had breakfast with the kids at their school for "All Pro Dad". Lydia picked up the kids after work, they came home and worked on homework while getting supper ready. I attended a meeting for "Springfield's Live Nativity," scheduled for December. We watched some TV before bed.

Wednesday evening was rushed after work. We came home, ate, and then headed off to church for our Evangelism course we're taking. Buttercup was full of energy when we returned home.

Thursday evening was our small group Bible study. We had a wonderful time visiting with friends and going over John 20:24-31 in discussion. The kids fell asleep on the way home.

Friday was a busy day for me as I helped prepare for the evening concert. Once off work, Lydia dropped the kids off with granny for the evening. They enjoyed crafts and played video games. Lydia met me at the concert. Of course, I had a blast listening to two great quartets, the Old Paths and Tribute. We met friends and shared in our excitement the future of KWFC.

We slept in on Saturday, and made it a relaxing morning. The kids watched cartoons and we got some of the evening chores done around the house. The kids worked on their bedrooms, getting them cleaned and in order. Lydia did some errand later on in the afternoon while the kids and I watched some Peanuts cartoons. After their showers, they went to bed. Lydia and I watched some television.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (10/26/14 - 11/01/14)

We got up Sunday morning and put on our western wear. Breakfast was fast and we attended church services. We spent several hours at home that afternoon, and then went to Fall Festival at Fellowship. The kids enjoyed riding the cow-train with friends. They also spent most of the time with the carnival games and painted pumpkins. They gathered several bags of candy and we were entertained with music while we ate. We also went on the hayride twice! Afterwards, we picked up Buttercup and visited my folks for the evening.

I picked up the kids Monday evening after work. Both kids had ate supper before I got there. They took showers and played while I made my popular pizza casserole and Lydia conquered the finances. Mysia played a game on the computer and Malachi enjoyed playing on the Nook before bedtime. Lydia and I got to enjoy some TV once they were asleep.

After work on Tuesday, I picked up the kids and we met Lydia at their school for Parent/Teacher meetings. Both kids are doing well in their classes, and we got to see their report cards.

Wednesday Abigail picked kids from club and had supper with her and Granny before heading to Hillside for their trunk or treat. After work, Lydia and I ate breakfast and attended services at Fellowship. We came home and I took Buttercup for a late evening walk. The kids came home with more candy.

On Thursday evening, Lydia had Ladies Network Meeting and supper. The kids and I dressed up for small group. We had chili and enjoyed spending time with friends.

I was off work on Friday and the kids didn't have school. Lydia had breakfast and headed into her job. I gave Buttercup a bath while the kids played. We then headed out and I stopped by work to complete a few projects that needed my attention. We then visited to thrift store to see if I could find anything to help with their costumes they were wanting to dress up in on Saturday. We didn't find anything, but Mysia found a neat pillow and Malachi got a car ramp. Wal-Mart was our next visit, and we were able to get some face paint and a few items needed. Back at home, the kids packed up their overnight bags and we left to pick up a pizza and head to MeMaw's. The kids spent the evening with her. Lydia I went to see Casting Crowns and their Thrive Tour. The event was her birthday present. The concert was good and we enjoyed the evening.

Lydia and I woke up Saturday morning and had breakfast together, she then left to pick up the kids. They were watching "the Lego Movie" and finished it before coming home. I took the van over to my friend Ben, and he put installed a new air control pannel I had purchased online.Thankfully, we can have hot air! Unfortunately, the van wouldn't start afterwards. The battery had gone bad and it just happened to die that day. I was able to run over and purchase a new one. I came home and we left to have lunch with some of my side of the family at Cheddar's. The cousin enjoyed spending some time together while we visited. We went to the store and came back home to get things ready for the party that evening. Lydia made a quick grocery run. We met at my parent's house before 5 for a few family photos and visited before we dressed up in our costumes. Lydia and I were in our western wear, Mysia dressed up in a wedding gown as a bride, and Malachi was Emmet from the Lego Movie. The other guests arrived and we sang Happy Birthday to Abigail before eating and playing games. We had a fun time with family, and were tired when we got home.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (10/19/14 - 10/25/14)

We got up on Sunday at a good time and got ready for church, making it there early! After services, we did some grocery shopping before coming home. The groceries were put away, we ate supper, and enjoyed the evening together.

It was Pajama day at school on Monday, and the kids were excited. After work, Malachi and I took Mysia to piano lessons and he worked on homework while we waited. We came home for supper. Mysia did homework and I took Buttercup for a walk.

Tuesday was crazy sock day at school, and Mysia had a field trip with her class. That evening we had the kids write letters to relatives before bed.

Wednesday was a busy day for me. News hit the internet that my work was being bought by Radio Training Network, and it was filed with the FCC. The evening was spent with thoughts about my future at KWFC.

Tuesday was busy for me, as KWFC helped host the Pastor's Appreciation Luncheon with all the other Christian Radio stations. The kids spent Thursday evening at Granny's while Lydia and I went to the New Covenant Academy's fundraising banquet. We got to see Mike Huckabee!

After work on Friday, we attended "October Rocks" at the kids' school. Lydia sold tickets and the kids enjoyed playing with their classmates on the inflatables. Pizza was dinner and the kids won prizes and came home with pumpkins.

The kids woke up on Saturday and watched a movie before breakfast. I left to help with the upcoming concert. Lydia made a grocery list and then took the kids shopping. Before meeting me at the concert, they had baths and ate muffins for supper. The concert was fun and I got to meet a lot of listeners. KWFC also made a special announcement!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (10/12/14 - 10/18/14)

We got up Sunday morning and attended church services. For the afternoon, we watched the "Herbie Rides Again". Both the kids joined me in taking Buttercup for a walk around the neighborhood. We worked on straightening their bedrooms and they played for most of the day.

Monday was very rainy, and we woke up to a flooded backyard. I had to move Buttercup's doghouse to drier ground and tie her up where she wouldn't be in the water. That evening, Mysia attended her piano lessons while Malachi and I waited in the car. Lydia worked a little later than normal, so the kids worked took their showers and worked on writing letters to relatives before she came home. We had a delicious supper and a great evening.

Tuesday morning was iMoms at school, so Lydia got to have breakfast with Mysia and Malachi before they went to their classes. After work that evening, we headed out to visit with Lydia's family. The kids enjoyed playing games with the other kids.

Wednesday evening was spent working on homework and house chores. We also spent some family time together before the kids went to bed. Both Lydia and I were tired, so it didn't take long for us to get a few things done before we went to sleep as well.

We had beautiful weather on Thursday, and the kids were full of energy when we got home. We ate supper and then headed out to our Bible study. We had a great visit with others.

On Friday, I took Buttercup to get her stitches removed from the dewclaw removal several weeks ago. She was excited to get into the van, but not as much when we arrived at the vet. However, she was well behaved. After supper that evening, we went to see Brian Free & Assurance in concert. They did a great job, and I really enjoyed the song "Just Say Amen".

Saturday was fun. We woke up and watched cartoons and ate breakfast. Malachi and I got our haircuts. Housework was also completed, including the week's laundry. After lunch, we went and seen the "Hiding Place" at the Stained Glass Theatre. It was well done, and we all enjoyed it. We stopped by the grocery store before heading home. That evening, we ate supper and watched "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo". It was fun watching the kids laugh throughout the movie.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (10/05/14 - 10/11/14)

We had a wonderful time at church services Sunday morning. Afterwards, we stopped at a few places to get groceries before coming home. Lunch was fantastic, and we spent the afternoon watching the "Love Bug" as a family. I spent some time repairing the toilet in the main bathroom and caulking the tile around the bathtub as well. The box for the repair kit said that I could install the "gut" for the toilet in 15 minutes. Yeah, they lied. :) The kids played with Buttercup during the evening, trying to keep her away from Lydia and the clean laundry.  

After work on Monday, Mysia attended her piano lessons while Malachi and I waited in the car. Thankfully, the weather was cool. The kids worked on their homework that evening and got it all completed before Lydia arrived home from her Zumba class. They took their showers and got to watch an episode of "Saved By The Bell" before going to bed. Lydia and I watched some TV.

I got to have breakfast with the kids at school on Tuesday morning for the "All Pro Dads". After work, I picked up the kids and made a quick supper. Lydia attended the PTA meeting before coming home and eating. We left and met Memaw, Aunt Lycia, and Aunt Adria at Fun Acres Miniature Golf. The kids did pretty well, and Malachi received the "high score". He was a great sport about it too. Mysia was happy that she beat her brother. We all enjoyed visiting while playing the course.

Wednesday evening was pretty good. Mysia had a bunch of homework to finish when she got home. We enjoyed supper and spent family time together. The kids played with Buttercup, who is healing fast from her surgery last Friday. What an active, growing pup she is!

Thursday evening we attended our small group Bible study. We had a great time of fellowship and learning. Mysia and Malachi had a good time too. Both fell asleep on the way home. It had rained most of the evening, so Buttercup was wet, and glad to see us when we came home.

Friday morning was dreary. It had rained all night and our backyard was flooded. I gave Buttercup the nickname of "Miss Muddy Paws" for the day. The evening was relaxing and we got a few things done around the house.

We got up Saturday morning and the kids watched some cartoons. Lydia worked on a breakfast casserole. We attended balloon release for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day/Month held by Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death (MEND) (www.mend.org). We have a local chapter in Springfield, and we recognized the three miscarriages we had between Mysia and Malachi. We came home, ate lunch, and then went grocery shopping as a family. The weather was cool and a bit dreary, but we headed off to the MAZE in Verona. We met up with our friends from our Thursday evening small group Bible study. It was fun going through the corn maze, eating hot dogs and s'mores around a campfire, and then going on a hayride.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (09/28/14 - 10/04/14)

Sunday was beautiful. We got up and attended church services. We had a wonderful afternoon getting some rest and doing things around the house as a family. That evening, we got a visit by Sam & Madisen along with their two dogs. Buttercup enjoyed it the most, with all three able to run and play in the backyard for a bit.

Monday was picture day at school, so both kids were dressed up a bit more than normal. Mysia had piano lessons after I got off of work and we had a great supper that evening. Meemaw stopped by for a quick visit for a bit, allowing the kids show off their homework, rooms, etc. After a quick supper, Lydia attended a essential oils meeting. The kids and I worked on homework and watched some TV. Mysia and Malachi spent some time playing with Buttercup before bedtime.

We got a visit from Granny on Tuesday evening. Buttercup seemed to be more excited to see here than the kids, although all three wanted her attention. We talked and shared stories of what we've all been up to lately. Once it started getting dark, she left for home and the we had the kids get ready for bed. I took Buttercup for a late walk.  

Wednesday was the first day of October, so the kids were excited to change the calendar. The weather was nice and not too hot. Once home for the evening, we helped the kids with some homework and ate supper. They also watched some cartoons before we did a family in-home Bible study.

It rained for most of the day on Thursday. Thankfully, the backyard didn't flood and we didn't lose electricity. We attended our group Bible study that evening and noticed the temperatures dropping once we returned home. We closed our windows that night in anticipation for the cold.

Friday was Buttercup's surgery. The kids and I dropped her off at the Vet to get spayed and then I took them to school. After work I picked her up and met Lydia and the kids at home. The Buttercup was drugged and sore, so she slept for the entire evening. I Malachi worked on cleaning his room while Mysia played and gave herself a manicure. Lydia worked on the menu and grocery list for next week.

I got up early Saturday and went to a men's breakfast and Bible conference. It was encouraging and a great message was brought by Pastor Grayson at Ridgecrest. I returned home and then we left to participate in Pregnancy Care Center's "Walk 4 Life" at Jordan Valley Park. A great number of people came this year. We met friends and acquaintances at the event. The weather was a bit cool, but felt great as we did the 4K walk downtown. After eating a lunch there, we stopped by the library real quick and then headed home. The kids worked on cleaning their rooms until Aunt Abigail came and picked them up. Her and Ethan took them to their church BBQ. They ate, played games, and had fun for the evening… making it the "best day ever" according to Malachi. While the kids were gone, Lydia spent time together… grocery shopping! We also had a nice supper together before the kids arrived back at home. We visited with Abigail and Ethan for a bit, and then the kids took showers. We all got to bed at a decent hour that night!!!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (09/21/14 - 09/27/14)

On Sunday morning, we got up and around making good time for church services. We met up with friends and also had a great lunch. Malachi got to open up and play with more birthday gifts. Lydia and I were able to get some naps, even though they were short. Mysia and Malachi played outside with the neighbors. We watched a movie and spent some family time together for most of the evening. Abigail and Ethan stopped by for a bit and had "book time" with the kids. It was part of some homework for Abigail's college class, but the kids enjoyed every minute of it!

We had cool weather Monday morning and the kids wore their hoodies to school. After work, I picked up the kids and we dropped Mysia off at her piano lessons. Malachi and I then visited Wal-mart so he could purchase a few Lego sets with his birthday money. We then got Mysia and came home. Malachi had his homework completed in record time! He worked on one of the sets while supper was being prepared. We ate while watching a TV show, and then Mysia went back to quickly finish her homework so she could do the Wii Fit. Lydia came home after her Zumba class and enjoyed her late dinner. Buttercup was active and was happy when I took her for a walk that evening.

Lydia and I worked few minutes later on Tuesday, so supper was a bit later than normal. The kids worked on their homework in pretty good time while waiting. The kids got to watch some TV before their showers and bedtime. I attended the last of the Men's Bible Study I had been going to for the past 6 weeks. It was great getting to know some guys and learning some new things.

Wednesday evening was good. Lydia and the kids worked on homework and house-chores before enjoying the time before bed. I went and got the oil changed in the van and spent some time hanging out with my friend Ben.

After work on Thursday, we came home and ate a quick supper before heading to our weekly Bible Study. We spent a wonderful time visiting and going over scripture. Once back home, the kids ate a little snack before we went to bed.

Friday was Grandparent's Day at school, so Granny visited Mysia and Malachi. She took pictures and got to visit their classrooms before taking them home with her for a bit. I got off work and visited for a while before we came home. Lydia had a doctor's appointment before coming home, but already had dinner made by the time we arrived.

We slept in for only a few minutes longer on Saturday, then it was up and around. After breakfast, we headed out to CPO to pick up some free books for the kids. While there, we looked at the study Bibles and picked up a VeggieTales DVD. We then spent a few hours at the library. The kids participated in the story time and ended up bringing home a bag full of books. We ate lunch and Lydia left for wedding anniversary party for some dear friends. I had promised Mysia and Malachi that I'd take them (plus Buttercup) to the park to play and ride bikes. We loaded the van and as we neared the park, noticed that there was a big church function going on, so I took them to the school playground instead. They spent time swinging and playing on the equipment and then biked for over an hour. The evening was nice as we finished up our weekend chores and things that needed to be done before Sunday.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (09/14/14 - 09/20/14)

We got up Sunday morning, ate breakfast, and attended church services. For lunch, we met my family at HuHot. We did a mini celebration for Malachi's birthday. He was happy to get Legos, clothes, and (of course) money! After a eating our fill, we went to the hospital to visit a friend and her newborn! When we finally arrived at home, Malachi was anxious. He opened up his Legos and started building away. Both kids enjoyed the afternoon playing with the new neighbor kids.

Monday was Malachi's birthday. I went to his school and had a special lunch with him in the cafeteria. After work, we took Mysia to piano lessons. Lydia attended her Zumba class that evening, and the kids got their homework done quickly so they could play outside for a while before supper. Malachi read a book before bed, showing off his advanced reading skills.

We had a good evening on Tuesday. Both kids got their homework done in good time. We enjoyed supper and they watched some TV. I attended the men's Bible study I have been going to for the past several weeks. I'm really enjoying learning some to life applications through this study. When I arrived home, the kids were already asleep in bed.

Wednesday evening was spent working on the kids homework. Both did well with the assignments. We watched a bit of TV and relaxed before bedtime.

On Thursday, both kids lost a tooth. Talk about making things exciting! Both got their homework done in great time and we ate a quick supper before heading out for small group Bible study. It was awesome fellowship as we studied and discussed 2 John 2. It was a bit late when we arrived back home, the kids were worn out and quickly fell asleep once in bed.

As usual, Friday was busy. The kids were active once home from school. With no homework, they were a bit wired! They played outside enjoying the weather, then we had game night with Mario Kart being the main choice for the evening. We also watched a TV episodes as well. Lydia worked on the menu for the next few weeks and then put together a grocery list.

We woke up Saturday morning and quickly got our weekend house chores completed. Lydia did the grocery run while the kids and I fished a few things around the house. Showers were taken and we got dressed and ready for Moses' wedding. We headed out to the church, and actually made it with 20 minutes to spare before the ceremony began! After the wedding, we attended the reception, visiting family and friends. Several pictures were taken with family as well. While outside and watching photos being taken, Malachi stepped on a lid for one of the sewage covers. It flipped and he fell through! Thankfully, he had spread his arms out, and caught himself from going all the way under. The sewage only reached up to above his waist, when it was over 6 foot deep! He started hollering and I was able to rush over and lift him up out. Whew….! We were able to wash him up and he wore extra clothes before we got home. It was a scare. After a quick change, we met up with Lydia's family for supper before several had to head out of town. It was a good visit, and the cousins got to say good-bye. Once back home for the evening, we washed clothes, rested a bit, and played with Buttercup. Thankful to still have Malachi with us... What a day!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (09/07/14 - 09/13/14)

It was a cool and beautiful Sunday morning. We got up and ready for morning services. The afternoon was pretty cool, so we spent most of it outside. Mysia rode her bike up and down the street while Malachi seemed to enjoy his time in the shade on the swing. Come to find out, he was sick and had a fever once we came back inside. Lydia did the grocery shopping. Poor Malachi was sick for the rest of the evening, and didn't feel good at all. We watched a few movies and TV. Lydia and I worked on a few projects and chores around the house.

Malachi was still sick on Monday. Lydia stayed home with him while Mysia attended school and I went in to work. Lydia was able to get some rest as well, but Malachi was just feeling horrible. He didn't hold food for long, and wasn't interested in taking medicine for his ongoing fever. After work, I took Mysia to piano lessons before we returned home for the evening. Malachi was glad to see us, but didn't do too well until he vomited before supper. Then he slept the entire evening! Mysia finished her homework, ate supper, and enjoyed a bath before bed.

Tuesday was my turn to stay home with Malachi. Lydia went to work and dropped Mysia off at school. Malachi was feeling so much better and spent most of the morning playing with legos. He watched some TV shows after a late lunch while I did some things around the house. Lydia and Mysia came home and we ate supper. Mysia worked on her homework that evening.

Wednesday was fairly normal. Malachi went back to school and both kids had homework that evening. We watched a few tv shows.

It was a change to cool weather on Thursday. We had the windows open and enjoyed the breeze through the house. We had planned to attend small group Bible study, but it was canceled due to illness. The evening was spent at home doing homework, then the kids took turns playing games on the computer and did a few "workouts" on the Wii Fit.

Friday was finally here. Lydia and I got of work a little early and spent time together before picking up the kids later. We watched TV and enjoyed another very cool evening. Malachi and I walked Buttercup before bedtime.

On Saturday, we got up and got busy with our weekend chores. The kids listened to a few radio dramas while breakfast was prepared. Lydia attended a women's brunch while the kids and I got some chores done. After lunch, I mowed the lawn and the kids played with the new neighbor kids next door. I left after supper for an evening Southern Gospel concert featuring the Calvarymen, the Kellys, and Gold City. Lydia and the kids went to a pool birthday party for one of Mysia's friends. They had fun playing in the water and getting pizza along with birthday cake. Back at home they watched some TV before bed. I enjoyed the concert and I was able to visit with the artists, making it an awesome event for me. It was late by the time I arrived home, and the kids were already asleep.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (08/31/14 - 09/06/14)

We got up on Sunday and got ready for morning services. We ate lunch at home and then headed out to visit with our friends Noah, Courtney, Zeb, and Amanda. We visited, sang, played games, and had a wonderful time hanging out. Mysia and Malachi played and watched a movie. We got home a little late, but enjoyed every minute of it.

Early Monday morning, a storm rolled in with high winds knocking down power lines. We lost electricity until 8am, causing the kids to not be able to watch the time and wake up early on our Labor day! So, we were able to sleep in a bit. Once up, we ate a late breakfast and the kids watched some cartoons. We worked on a few house chores and enjoyed the afternoon. I took Mysia out to shop around for a new cell phone, but didn't find anything yet to suit what we're looking for. I grilled chicken for supper, and we watched some shows on Netflix before heading over to Granny's for a visit. Buttercup came along with us, and we met up with Sam & Madisen (plus their dog Galloway).

On Tuesday, Lydia and I also celebrated 11 years of marriage! Wow, how time flies. Lydia went to work and I dropped the kids off at school. I had taken the day off from work, so I spent it working on some extra projects and watching some spiderman cartoons on Netflix! I met Lydia for lunch and we had a date at the park. I then ran a few errands before coming home. I attended a men's Bible study after supper and while Lydia and the kids enjoyed the time at home. After the kids went to bed, Lydia and I spent the quiet evening together.

After picking the kids up and getting home on Wednesday, we ate supper. Malachi actually had some homework from school, and it included reading a book to Lydia. Both kids finished their homework in good time and was able to play before bed.

Thursday was pretty normal. We were planning on going to the mid-week, small group Bible study, but it was cancelled due to illness. We ended up spending the evening at home. Malachi's homework included reading a book to me, and he did very well. Mysia is an expert with her homework and had it completed quickly.

Mysia got to go on a fieldtrip to the lake with her class on Friday. She was very excited about it. After work, I picked up the kids and dropped them off with Granny and Grandad for the evening. Lydia and I went on a late anniversary date. We went out to eat and enjoyed some of the Downtown Art Walk. There were activities at central square, with flame throwers and other street performers.

We slept in a bit on Saturday, but spent most of the day working around the house with our weekend chores and such. Lydia and I did a bit of rearranging of our bedroom. The kids watched some TV and played as well. We met up with our friends Ben & Heather for some family bowling. It was a great visit, and we even got a tour of "behind the scenes" of the bowling alley by the owner! It was neat to watch the machines at work. After supper, I took Buttercup for a walk and the kids got their showers completed. Lydia worked on the menu for the week while the kids watched a movie before bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (08/24/14 - 08/30/14)

Sunday was our end of our "end of summer" family vacation. We got up, watched some tv, took showers and packed things up into the van. Breakfast was delicious, spent the entire afternoon splashing and playing in the water and pools. Once we felt it was getting late, we ate supper and headed toward home. Mysia and Malachi tried staying awake, but both fell asleep in the van before we made it back to Springfield. Buttercup was happy to see us. The evening was spent unpacking and getting things ready for school tomorrow.

It was hot on Monday. The kids had a good day at school, and were back at Boys & Girls Club when I picked them up after work. We then went to Mysia's piano lessons. Malachi and I sweated a bit in the van while we waited, but it wasn't too bad. We met Lydia at home and ate a great supper. Mysia had homework and so far, Malachi didn't. He played. They watched some tv while Lydia worked on the grocery list and I mowed the lawn. I came in drenched in sweat. The kids took their showers and got ready for bed. I took Buttercup for a walk and then did the "ALS Ice Bucket Challenge" before my shower. Lydia did part of the grocery shopping for the week.

Tuesday was still hot. We had the windows open for most of the day to clear out the house. It was 90º when we arrived home that evening. Lydia attended a PTA meeting after work, and we had a great supper. We had a few downpours of rain, but things didn't cool off much. Mysia did her homework and then watched tv with Malachi before they went with Lydia for a grocery run. I attended a men's Bible study for a few hours.  

I came home Wednesday after work with the kids and made my popular cheeseburger pie before Lydia arrived. Malachi played for a bit in his room while Mysia worked on finishing her homework. We watched TV and read books for the evening.

Thursday evening was new for us. After arriving at home after work, we played with Buttercup and let then left for a small group Bible study. It was neat getting to meet some other couples and really getting into a Bible discussion on John 17. Back at home, we had some snacks and got ready for bed.

Since the kids didn't have school on Friday, I took the day off. We woke up at normal time, ate breakfast, and gave Lydia goodbyes as she went in to work. The kids and I took Buttercup to the Vet for an exam. The good news is that there were no fleas found on buttercup. Bad news, she has secondary skin infection that we're treating with antibiotics. Afterwards, we visited Grandma T. and the kids were treated with a snack. We came home with a watermelon and a bunch of garden tomatoes. The kids watched a movie while I worked on some computer projects. Aunt Abigail came over for a visit to read some children stories as a homework assignment for one of her college classes. When Lydia came home from work, we ate supper and played video games as a family for the entire evening.

On Saturday I got up and walked Buttercup. It was a lazy morning at first, watching some cartoons and getting a few things done around the house. We ended up working on re-arranging Malachi's room and sorting through all of his toys. It was a major room overhaul. I removed the bottom bunk giving him more space to play. We did some minor rearranging in Mysia's room as well. Both projects took most of the day to complete, but it was needed! I gave Buttercup a bath before we got dressed and ready for a wedding. It was raining hard when we left the house. The wedding was for Lydia's cousin's daughter. It was outside and simply beautiful. We visited with family and enjoyed the reception before coming home and going to bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (08/17/14 - 08/23/14)

Woke up and attended church services. We had lunch with our friends Chris and Courtney before doing our grocery run for the week. Since we all went as a family, it took a little longer than normal. We came home and rested a bit before heading out to Ridgecrest for the Hosea Bilyue Family concert.

Monday was another start of the school week, and we're getting used to the schedule. It was also Lydia's birthday! We met up for a lunch date at Olive Garden. She then headed back to work and I did some shopping before I grabbing the kids a little early from school. We then went to the doctor for Malachi's yearly check up. After meeting Lydia at home, we enjoyed supper at BBC with the new students. Malachi and Mysia spent the evening with Granny and Grandad while Lydia and I had a date night at the movies for her special day.  

After school on Tuesday, the kids spent the afternoon with Granny. That evening, we ate supper and had a visit with Uncle Sam and Aunt Madisen. They brought over their dog Galloway and got to know Buttercup since they're planning to watch her this weekend. They played Mario Kart with the kids. I left to attend a men's Bible study for a few hours.

On Wednesday, Lydia picked up Mysia early from school for her doctors appointment. I got Malachi at the regular time and he got to spend the remain workday with me in my office. After meeting at home, we ate a quick supper and then rushed off for evening services. It was hot and muggy as I took Buttercup for a walk before bed.

Thursday turned out to be pretty normal.The kids did well at school and enjoyed the afternoon with Granny. Lydia and I both had busy days at work. Mysia had some homework and Malachi played in his room. Lydia attended a "Trim Healthy Mama" meeting, so I made supper that evening and the kids and I watched some tv. After showers and before bed, we gathered some of our clothes and things to be packed for our family vacation this weekend.

Friday was hot and hectic, but fun. The kids woke up excited, helping us as we prepared for the weekend getting the final things packed up before school. Lydia left for work and I dropped the kids off before I headed to KWFC. I then traveled with my boss to Silver Dollar City. The KWFC radio staff spent most of the day handing out our popular Picnic Fans. After a late lunch, I rode the Outlaw Run roller-coaster and got to see the Mark Trammell Quartet. Visiting with Mark Trammell afterwards was the highlight of the day for me. My boss took me to the hotel that we had for the weekend and I visited one of the pools to cool down. Lydia got off work early and picked the kids up from school. They dropped the school bags at home and took Buttercup over to Aunt Madisen (for the weekend). Lydia and the kids drove to Branson and met me at the hotel. We then went for a dip in the pool before heading out to eat supper. We took advantage of the "area appreciation discount" and seen the show, the SIX. It was great! Back at the hotel, we spent over an hour swimming in the indoor pool before bed.

We slept in a bit on Saturday, but not much. The kids watched some cartoon and then we headed out for breakfast. After getting our bellies full, we visited the Creation Experience Museum and was led on a guided tour by our friend Dr. Rod Butterworth. We got to hold fossils, touch animals, and pose for pictures with a dinosaur! We then decided to visit the Branson Landing, walking from store to store. We purchased a few gifts for the kids and worked up another apatite. After eating a good supper, we spent the rest of the evening splashing and playing in the water and pool. We got to bed pretty late, and we were all worn out.

~ Matt

Week Rundown! (08/10/14 - 08/16/14)

Lydia got up early Sunday morning and walked the dog, now part of her daily schedule. We all got ready for church and attended morning services. We watched a movie during lunch and then attended a retirement party for one of Lydia's coworkers. And now part of my daily schedule, I took Buttercup for a walk that evening before bed. Yes... more exercise!

Monday was the last day of summer vacation for the kids. Lydia went into work while I stayed home with both Mysia and Malachi. We spent the day playing Legos, watching TV, and playing with Buttercup outside. Once piano lessons were over, we met Lydia at home and headed to the school. The kids brought their school supplies, found their classrooms, and met their teachers! It's gonna be a great school year. We then went to Rib Crib for MeMaw's birthday, and visited with aunt Adria, aunt Lycia, and uncle Jordan as well. Buttercup was excited to see us when we got home that evening, and I took her for her walk before bed.

Tuesday was the first day of school, both kids were super excited! They were ready to head out the door before time to leave... Making wonder how long that would last. After picking them up from school, I dropped them off at Granny's while I finished work. The kids got to play with their cousins! I met Lydia at home for for supper and then we went over to visit Ana and cousins for the evening, then it was back home and get ready for bed.

Besides the new school schedule for the week, Wednesday was pretty normal. The kids got to spend the later afternoon with Granny and the big event for the evening was putting together Buttercup's doghouse.

On Thursday, the kids got to hang out with the cousins one last time after school. That evening Mysia worked on her homework while Malachi played. After supper, we watched some TV and played with the dog.

Friday was fast paced. I picked up the kids from school in the afternoon and brought them back to the office with me for a bit before we headed home. The kids played outside with Buttercup until it was time to eat supper. That evening we watched Star Wars 6... Malachi was excited.

We woke up Saturday morning at a decent time. Of course, Buttercup prevents Lydia and me from sleeping in too long. We had a list of things to accomplish around the house before lunch. Lydia and Mysia attended a Mom & Daughter Bible study while Malachi and I stayed home. He played and cleaned up his room. I worked on a few projects. Later on we all visited Lydia's extended family for a gathering of two baby showers in one. We got to visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Lydia and the kids spent the evening at home with showers and watching some TV. I was able to attend a Southern Gospel Concert with friends. It was a busy, but fun, day!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (08/03/14 - 08/09/14)

We woke up Sunday morning, ate breakfast, and headed to church services. During the afternoon, we watched movies and rested.

On Monday, Mysia got to attend the Price Cutter Champion Junior PRO-AM with the Boys & Girls Club. She learned from a pro on how to play golf. She even came home with a trophy. Lydia had zumba classes after work, and the kids and I ate supper before she arrived home. That evening, we watched some TV.

Before heading in to work on Tuesday, I went to vote. Both Mysia and Malachi behaved well while I did my patriotic duty. :) It was the last day of the summer for the kids to enjoy the public pool with their Boys & Girls Club group. Both came home "wore out", but not tired…. according to them. We ate supper and then went to the visitation of friend, Reese Way. Lydia and the kids have been really wanting a dog, so we looked at a few puppies that are looking for a home. It was fun watching 6 pups tackle the kids. We walked away with some decisions to be made by the end of the week.

On Wednesday, I took off work so that the kids could go to the funeral with us during the afternoon. Lydia went in for a few hours and then met us at church. I was a pallbearer. The funeral was well attended. The kids and I ate lunch at home. They played and did some crafts. After evening church services, we came home and watched tv before bed.

Thursday was back to work. Mysia had an ear ache so I picked them up early and gave her some medication before dropping them off at Granny's for the evening. I had made the final decision on going ahead and getting the dog, so Lydia and I did some shopping after supper before picking Malachi up later in the evening. Mysia spent the night.

I took Malachi to the boys & girls club before heading into work on Friday. Mysia spent the day hanging out and shopping with Granny. I got off work a little early and bought did food before picking up Mysia. Lydia got Malachi after work and met us at home. I grilled hamburgers, we ate, and then headed out to pick up the puppy. Originally named Butterscotch due to her color, she now goes by Buttercup. We bought her home and the fun has begun! Sam and Madisen, along with their dog Galloway, met us at home. We set things up in our backyard and got Buttercup familiar with our family. Is was a long evening, and we were tired when we finally got to bed.

I woke up after 1am Saturday to take Buttercup "potty". She whined when I put her back in her carrier. I sat up a while, telling her to stop when she'd start again, and finally I was able to sneak to bed. Lydia got up early and took her for walk around the block. We ate breakfast, put the dog on her leash in the backyard, and headed to see the new VeggieTales movie as a family. The silly song was about Larry getting a puppy, go figure.we came home, played with buttercup, then took her to the Vet for shots. I mower the backyard before it rained. Abigail and Granny came over for a visit, and meet Buttercup. That evening, we watched Star Wars and Mysia got sick with headache and vomiting. She felt better before bed-time. We were all tired.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (07/27/14 - 08/2/14)

We got up and headed out for services. We had a relaxing afternoon. We watched some tv during lunch, and the kids played games on the Wii. Lydia and I read books. After evening services we stopped by and visited Grandma Taylor Grandma Taylor and Grandma Irene for a bit.

After work on Monday, I picked up the kids and we took Mysia to piano lessons before supper. Lydia made Chicken casadias. After eating I spent the evening helping Sam and Madisen move into their new apartment. Abigail and Ethan surprised Lydia and the kids with a visit. That sure made their day!

Tuesday evening was spent as family time. We ate supper and watched some tv together.

Wednesday evening was pretty normal. We came home, ate real quick, and then attended church services.  

On Thursday I picked up the kids and headed home to put supper in the oven. Lydia had her Zumba class. I worked on a project while the kids played together nicely.

After coming home on Friday evening, we ate supper while watching some tv. Then we got ready and headed to the store to buy school supplies. Yes, our entire evening was spent grabbing glue, pencils, backpacks, notebooks, and other accessories for the classroom. We also picked up some much needed clothing items for the school year.

Saturday was busy but fun. Mysia got to attend a birthday party for a friend at the park. They ate, played basketball, played 'invisible baseball, and had fun altogether. Lydia took the chance and did some shopping. Malachi and I spent the morning and afternoon together playing with Legos. During the early evening, Lydia did the grocery shopping and I worked on a few projects.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (07/20/14 - 07/26/14)

During Sunday morning services, Mysia sang a solo in the Jr. Choir. During the afternoon, we ate a wonderful dinner Lydia made, and watched a veggie tale movie. I took a nap while Lydia and the kids read books before evening services. That evening, we watched an episode of Cake Boss.

Mysia had piano classes after I got of work. It was a bit hot in the car for Malachi and I while we waited, but we survived. Once home, the kids played with marbles while I got supper prepared. Lydia arrived home after her zumba classes. We watched some tv and the kids got their showers before bed. Lydia and I spent the rest of the evening together reading and enjoying some more tv.

On Tuesday, Aunt Abigail picked up the kids early and they got to spend the evening with her (plus Granny and Granddad). They got to enjoy jumping on the trampoline and swimming. Malachi had a scare by eating some praline ice cream… it had almonds! After throwing up and taking some Benadryl, he was feeling fine. Lydia and I spent the evening together, enjoying supper and watching some classic tv shows.

Wednesday evening was a rush as we come home, ate supper, and then attended church services. Afterwards, we visited Grandma Taylor and Grandma Irene for a bit.

The kids went to an "Academic Ball" at the Boys & Girls Club on Thursday. They really enjoyed it. That evening the kids played on the computers for most of the evening. We had supper and read books.

After work on Friday, we came home and ate a quick supper. In the mail, we got letters announcing what teachers the kids will have for the soon, upcoming school year. Malachi is excited, while Mysia wonders how well she'll get along with her new teacher. After eating, we went to the pool for the evening. Mysia spent most of the time on the diving board. Malachi and I enjoyed splashing the pool. Lydia relaxed and enjoyed her book. We left when the pool closed and headed home, spending the rest of the evening watching Netflix.

The kids enjoyed Saturday morning cartoons when they got up. We worked on things around the house and the kids played in the small pool I refilled in our backyard. After supper, we played video games on the Wii and computer.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (07/13/14 - 07/19/14)

On Sunday, we woke up and attended morning services. For the afternoon, we had a wonderful lunch and spent some family time reading and movie before evening services.

After work on Monday, Malachi and I took Mysia to piano, and it was nice weather. Lydia attended and during the evening the kids played nicely together and watched some tv.

Tuesday, more beautiful weather and we had the window open (in the middle of JULY!). Lydia made spaghetti and we enjoyed a relaxing evening.

Wednesday was pretty normal. Before going to bed, we read stories.

On Thursday evening  we ate a quick supper, had a meeting with a fellow graduate of Lydia's, and then came back home. The weather was nice and we enjoyed garden cucumbers and relaxed.

Once home Friday evening, the kids played on the Wii while I mowed the lawn. We had a fast supper so that Lydia and Mysia could do the grocery run. Malachi worked on some house work while they were gone. We put away the groceries and watched classic tv before bed.

Saturday was busy but fun. We took the opportunity and slept in a bit. The kids enjoyed some morning cartoons and then played a few games on the Wii. After lunch, we packed up the bikes and then visited the library while Lydia did some extra shopping. The kids found several books, and participated in a few of the activities they had set up in the children's area. We drove to the park and took to the trail on our bikes through the north-central part of town to another park. Thankfully we brought our water bottles. We had fun, but was tired when we got home. We ate grilled hamburgers and watched a movie (Star Wars 4).

~Matt

Week Rundown! (07/06/14 - 07/12/14)

Sunday was pretty normal. After morning services we ate lunch and enjoyed a family movie together. After evening services, we had a relaxing evening at home before going to bed.

On Monday, Malachi and I got a few things at the store while Mysia attended piano lessons. Lydia had her Zumba class that evening. After supper, Aunt Abigail came over for a visit. We play a few games with her on the Nintendo Wii before it was the kids' bedtime.

Tuesday evening was relaxing, and we watched some classic tv shows before bed.

It was fairly normal Wednesday for us. We had Cheeseburger Pie for supper… A guaranteed hit!!!

On Thursday, we had a good supper and spent the evening relaxing at home. The kids played nicely together.

Friday was a busy day for me at work as I prepared for the Ernie Haase & Signature Sound concert that evening. During the day, the kids got to visit the Springfield Art Museum. Lydia picked them up and after supper, they visited and played with Benjamin's family. They got to swim and enjoy time with their cousins. For me, the concert went well, and all were in bed when I got home.

We slept in for a few hours on Saturday morning. Once up, we ate and got chores done around the house. Malachi and I left in the afternoon so the ladies could have their scheduled Mother and Daughter tea party with friends. They had a great time together. Us guys visited Bass Pro Shops and then went for a trail walk at our neighborhood park. We ate a late lunch/snack before dropping the kids off for the evening with Granny and Granddad. They played in the pool and spent the night. Lydia and I took a ride to Branson for her work's summer party at the Chateau At The Lake. It was fun. We arrived home after midnight.  


~Matt

Week Rundown! (06/29/14 - 07/05/14)

On Sunday morning, we packed the car with our things for the afternoon and then headed to church to run the van. We had lunch at Memaw's (Paulette) for Adria's birthday. After visiting for a bit, we left for church so I could help with the sound set-up. It was Hillside's Annual Independence Day Celebration. The kids played and Lydia visited until evening services started. That evening, we joined in the fellowship of singing, food and fireworks!

It was hot on Monday. After work, Malachi and I set in the sweltering car while Mysia had piano lessons. I then dropped the kids off with Granny and Aunt Abigail and met Lydia at home. We had a date night that included dinner and a romantic walk at the mall! :) The kids enjoyed the evening jumping on the trampoline. We visited for a while when we picked them up, but then came home and went to bed.

I took advantage of the weather on Tuesday to mow the lawn after work. We ate supper, read books, and had a relaxing evening.

Wednesday was busy, and once off work, we met at home to eat real quick before heading to evening services. We visited with friends afterwards and I also practiced with the men's singing group before we came home.

Lydia and I both had Thursday off from work. We had a lazy morning and did a few errands before afternoon. We were able to stop for a quick visit with Grandma Taylor since it was her birthday. We had a late lunch and watched the 3 Stooges movie before setting up the tent in the backyard. We gathered all of our sleeping gear and spent the night outside.

It was a chilly night, and we woke up pretty early on Friday. We spent several hours resting and getting a few things done before eating lunch. We surprised the kids by taking them to the pool for several hours. The weather and water were great, and it was refreshing to go for a swim! We packed up dessert and extras before heading over to friends' house (Hailes) for fun and fireworks. We visited and the kids played until it got dark. We set off fireworks, including sparklers and smoke-bombs. We had a blast watching the fireworks light up the sky in their neighborhood. It was almost midnight when we climbed into our backyard tent to go to sleep.

We must have been pretty tired. We woke up after 10am on Saturday. It felt good to get some sleep, but our air mattress had sunk during the night. We put things away, ate a good breakfast, and I packed up the tent. The kids played outside for most of the afternoon. Mysia really enjoyed riding her bike. I worked on a few computer projects and Lydia worked on a project in the garage. We then headed to a birthday party for one of Malachi's friends. While visited, the kids got soaked with water-guns and waterballoons. Later that evening we headed over to Grandma's to celebrate her birthday on her back porch with family.


~Matt

Week Rundown! (06/22/14 - 06/28/14)

On Sunday we got up, ate breakfast, and headed out to visit our friends Noah & Courtney in Aurora for the day. We attended their church services. The kids really liked the classes, and we got the opportunity to hear Noah teach the teens in the youth department. For lunch, we got to visit and eat at Angus Branch Resturant (http://www.angusbranch.com). That evening, we let the kids play in the pool before it got too dark.

Monday was rainy. The kids had fun visiting the park during the afternoon. I picked them up after work and Mysia had piano lessons before supper. Lydia attended her zumba class before coming home. We attended a funeral visitation and then came home for the evening.

The kids got to go swimming on Tuesday afternoon. We had supper and enjoyed some TV before time for the kids to go to bed. Lydia and I watched a movie before we turned in as well.

Mysia brought home a hummingbird feeder on Wednesday evening. She was excited, hoping that we'll someday get a few around our neighborhood. We ate a quick supper and made it to church on time. After services, we came home and relaxed for a bit until bedtime.

On Thursday evening, Lydia attended a Trim & Healthy Mama class. I emptied the kids' pool, washed it out, and refilled it. They played for several hours after supper. Both got bit by mosquitoes, Malachi had several huge bites on his back and legs. They were wore out, and after showers, went to bed.

I got off work a half early on Friday. We came home and ate leftovers. Lydia and Mysia went to a baby shower for a friend. Malachi and I spent the evening playing Legos and watching a Star Wars Lego movie.

Saturday was nice and relaxing for the most part. We got off to a rough start getting up, but we had a great breakfast and got things done around the house before heading out to the library. We were able to get a few things that we had placed on hold and the kids picked up some more books. The rest of the afternoon was out and about town doing some shopping to grab a few things we needed for Sunday. We had planned to go see the fireworks downtown, but the event was cancelled due to the weather. The evening was spent watching a few movies and eating watermelon!

~Matt

Week Rundown! (06/15/14 - 06/21/14)

We woke up early on Sunday and ate breakfast before heading to church to do the van route. It rained for most of the morning. For the afternoon, Lydia made me a special dinner of Bacon-mushroom chicken casserole! It was delicious. We watched a movie and took naps before the evening service. Afterwards, we went to my parents' house to visit and eat watermelon.

After work on Monday, I picked up the kids and took Mysia to piano lessons. It was hot and humid… and sitting in the black bug for 30 minutes was not fun. Once home, I started supper. Lydia didn't feel well with an uneasy stomach, so she spent several hours sleeping. After eating my delicious creation of "Low Carb Philly Cheese Steak Casserole", the kids took showers and got to watch some tv before bed.

Since the weather had been nice and hot to dry up all rain, I was able to pull out the mower on Tuesday once I got home. While Lydia worked on supper and the kids played, I sharpened the blade and mowed the lawn. My grass was longer than normal due to all the rain we received, so it wasn't a quick chore. After supper, we watched some tv and took showers. Once the kids were in bed, Lydia and I watched a movie while she folded laundry and I worked on a few projects on the computer.

After picking up the kids on Wednesday, we came home and ate a quick supper. We then headed out to church. I helped run the media for services. Once home, the kids were tired, so we all went to bed at a decent time!

We had dentist appointments Thursday afternoon. The good news is that no one had cavities! I left work a little early to get to the house. Our good friend Gary came over and placed tile above hour shower/bathtub. It looks great! Lydia attended her zumba class after work. Mysia helped me make supper. We watched some tv shows until they took their showers before bedtime.

On Friday, we came home and ate leftovers while watching Star Wars III. We then met my parents and siblings at Braums Ice Cream for a summer evening treat. We visited and ate ice cream, of course. Back at home, we finished the movie and then went to bed.

We woke up on good time Saturday morning. We ate breakfast, got dressed in our taekwondo uniforms, packed up our clothes, and left for class. However, upon arriving, Lydia had chest pains, high heart rate, and dizziness. So, we ran in, changed into our regular clothes and headed to the ER. They took Lydia in for a EKG while the kids and I stayed in the waiting room. Granny came and picked up Mysia and Malachi, and they spent the day together going places and shopping. Lydia was given a room and we both waited to find out the results. Finally, they came back say all is fine and they couldn't find the answer to her symptoms. Lydia was released and we went home to get things done around the house.  I set up the kids' swimming pool and it was filled by the time they returned home. They played for several hours before time to get showers and ready for bed.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (06/08/14 - 06/14/14)

Sunday was fairly normal. Mysia got to bring her friend Ana to morning services at church. We rested during the afternoon before evening services.

Mysia had piano lessons Monday when I picked them up after work. While Malachi and I waited in the car, it rained… again! Thankfully, the weather was cool, and we opened the windows that evening. Lydia attended her zumba class, Mysia played on the computer, Malachi worked on cleaning his room, and I worked on some computer projects.

Tuesday was nice too. The kids got to go swimming, and exclaimed that although the water was a bit cold, it was fun! We got several good downpours of rain and It was too wet to do anything outside, so we spent the evening inside. After the daily chores were done, we ate supper and watched a few episodes of the "Flintstones".

The Mysia and Malachi got to attend Granddad's company picnic on Wednesday evening. They ate Pineapple Whip and several plates Funnel Cake. Both enjoyed the rides. They came home soaked and tired!

We watched a movie after supper on Thursday and enjoyed the evening. As the kids got ready for bed, I left and helped my dad and Sam with an installation job at one of the clinics in town. Before bad, I packed a few things in preparation for camping this weekend.

On Friday, I got up early to take part in KWFC's golf tournament. Lydia dropped the kids off before heading into work. Once I got finished with work, I picked up Malachi and packed the car with the camping and fishing gear. WE then picked up a few things and headed out to the campsite. When Lydia got off work, she picked up Mysia and they had dinner before spending the evening grocery shopping. Malachi and I enjoyed our time with the other men and boys. We snacked and visited around the campfire. Malachi played with the boys and they made sure the fire was stacked with sticks and twigs until bedtime.

The weather was cool and both Malachi and I were able to get a good night's sleep before waking up around 5:30 in the morning. We warmed up next to the campfire until breakfast was served. Afterwards we went fishing. Back at home, Lydia and Mysia woke up and watched some morning tv shows before heading out to get Mysia's haircut in the afternoon. They then did some more shopping together. Malachi and I didn't catch fish, but had fun on a hike before lunch. We attended the fish fry, visited a bit more, packed up everything, and headed home. We were able to unpack the car before Mysia and Lydia showed up. Lydia made salad and we attended Lydia's work picnic for the evening. I got to meet her boss and some of her coworkers. The kids enjoyed playing in the bouncy house and slide. Once back home, Lydia and the kids went ahead and gave me my Father's Day gift… a car wash/cleaning kit. So, I washed the car before we went to bed!


~Matt

Week Rundown! (06/01/14 - 06/07/14)

On Sunday morning, I ran the church vans. Services were normal, and we took naps during the afternoon. After evening services we relaxed before going to bed.

Monday was back to the new summer schedule. The kids spent most of the day at the Boys & Girls Club until Aunt Abigail picked them up for the afternoon. They played outside with water balloons and in the sprinkler. I visited with my parents after work while Lydia attended her zumba class. Once home, we had supper before bed.

Tuesday was an exciting day for the kids... They got to go swimming! They were tired when they got home that evening. Uncle Sam visited and had supper with us. Aunt Madisen came over after she got off work.

On Wednesday, we came home, ate a quick supper, and then headed for church. After services, we came home and relaxed before time for bed.

Thursday was pretty neat for me. I got to visit the "Passages" museum with my co-workers. It was awesome, but we need to go back. The evening was relaxing for our family. Besides regular house chores, we watched some "Flintstones" from the library.

Friday was another exciting one for the kids, as they got to go to the park as a field trip. However, it rained for most of the day th

On Saturday, we hurried and got ready for our TaeKwonDo Open House. We got to show others how our class runs. There was participation by those watching, then we had skits, sparring, and board breaking demonstrations. Mysia was able to bring along her friend Ana. We ate lunch while there and then headed home. We watched some tv and the kids worked on their rooms.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (05/25/14 - 05/31/14)

Since it was Memorial Day weekend, church vans didn't run. Lydia and I attended Mysia's Sunday school class, as they were reviewing what they had learned over the past quarter. We took naps during the afternoon, enjoying the breeze with the windows open (it helps having an attic fan). After the evening services, we headed to play a round of miniature golf with Granny & Grandad. Mysia and Malachi were thrilled that Aunt Abigail, Aunt Madisen, and Uncle Sam came too. Before going home, we got some ice cream!

On Monday, we slept in for a bit. After some exercises, we had breakfast and focus on some housework. The kids played outside for most of the day while Lydia and I worked on re-organizing the garage. It rained a few times, and we enjoyed the cool breeze throughout the day. Mysia and Malachi painted some wood crafts and biked up and down the street. We watched a movie during supper and the kids enjoyed baths before bed.

Tuesday was "field day" for the kids at school. They brought towels because they do water fights. However, it rained for the first part of the morning. Thankfully, by afternoon, the sun came out and they were able to enjoy the activities. When I picked them up, it's all they could talk about. Mysia was still soaked, so we stopped by the house so she could change before I dropped them off at the Boys & Girls Club while I finished my day at work. For the evening, the kids enjoyed not having any homework, and read comics. During supper, we watched some classic tv, then they took their showers and went to bed.

The LAST DAY of SCHOOL was Wednesday, and boy was there excitement in the morning. Malachi was asked to wear his PRIDE Panther shirt to school since his class was taking a field trip to the zoo. He came home with stories of the fun he had. Mysia was happy to report that her day had went well too. Both are looking forward to the summer. We attended evening services, and the kids were tired by the time we got back home.

Both kids were excited to go to the Boys & Girls Club on Thursday. Summer had started! I signed them up for a few field trips scheduled for next week… one of them being a trip to the pool. Aunt Abigail came over for supper and we played UNO and visited for the evening.

On Friday, I had lunch with Lydia at the park and then visited her cubicle at her new office at BKD. After work. the kids and I got came home and they played outside while I grilled hamburgers for supper. Lydia went grocery shopping once she finished work, and it took her most of the evening to get it all done. I mowed the lawn after a bit of rain showers while the kids watched a movie. Before going to bed, the kids read books enjoying the cool evening breeze..

We got up Saturday morning and the kids watched cartoons while Lydia re-organized the kitchen and I made breakfast. We then got ready and left for TaeKwonDo class. Afterwards, we visited the Library Center. We browsed around, picking up books and a few movies before picking up a new piano book from the music store and heading home. We ate leftovers for lunch and was going to head out to the park to fly kites, but it started raining. Not wanting any of us to get electrocuted by lightning, we stayed home and watched a movie before going out for a bike ride around the neighborhood. Lydia worked on some gardening and I trimmed the bushes while the kids played.While supper was being prepared, the played inside and read books. After supper, they got their showers and put down for bed. Lydia and I worked on a few things around the house.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (05/18/14 - 05/24/14)

Malachi and I attended Men's Prayer Breakfast at church on Sunday, and then I did the van route. After church, we came home and rested for the afternoon. We attended the Birthday and Anniversary fellowship following the evening services.

Monday was Lydia's first day on her new job at BKD. She got up early and made sure she was on time. It was a day of orientation. I picked up the kids from school, started supper at home, and then took Mysia to her piano lessons. We enjoyed the evening as a family before actually going to bed at a decent hour!

On Tuesday, I picked the kids up from school and they watched a movie while I finished the workday before we met Lydia back at the school. We had been invited to the school volunteer banquet. Mysia sang for us while we ate as part of the Weller Pride Choir. We even won a few door prizes. We made it back home in time to watch an episode of Gilligan's Island before going to bed.  evening, we

II picked the kids up from school on Wednesday and they watched a movie while I finished the workday before we met Lydia home for supper. We then got ready and attended the evening church services.  

Thursday afternoon was Malachi's kindergarten graduation at school. Lydia and I were able to take off work as lunch and attend. Both grandmas were there as well. Malachi did great and got got his "diploma". We're so proud of him! Once home for the evening, we ate supper and Lydia headed out to a Scentsy Party. The kids enjoyed the nice hot weather by playing in the sprinkler for almost an hour! They watched some tv before taking showers and going to bed.

On Friday, Malachi was awarded "PRIDE Panther" at school, and I was able to attend to see him get his paper. He walked proud, wearing his brand new shirt declaring the honor. After school, both kids watched a movie while I finished my day at work. For the evening, we ate supper and watched a movie before going to bed.

After sleeping in for a bit, we woke up Saturday morning and ate breakfast before heading out to taekwondo class. We worked on our forms in preparation for the "Open House" planned for June 7th. For the afternoon, we visited with relatives at my Grandma's house and also visited my Grandpa's gravesite. We were able to get some housework done before attending a wedding that evening. It was an unique and fun wedding, thankfully it didn't rain, as it was held outdoors.

~Matt

Week Rundown! (05/11/14 - 05/17/14)

I had van route on Sunday morning, so I made pancakes for everyone before we headed out to pick up our riders for church. During the afternoon, we rested and took naps after watching "Babes In Toyland".

On Monday, I took the kids to school before heading into work. This was Lydia's week of finals and since she didn't have classes today, she went in and got her hair done. She'll be graduating MSU on Friday, she wanted to get ready. She picked the kids up from school, and took Mysia to piano lessons. I met them at home after work and we ate supper. The kids got their homework done and were able to watch Gilligan's Island before taking showers and going to bed.

Lydia had a sore throat, but spent the day trying to study. She picked up the kids from school and had dinner ready when I arrived home after work. She then shot off to college for her first final. The kids and I ate, worked on homework, and then watched Gilligan's Island. They got their showers completed as Lydia came home.

Lydia had her second final Wednesday evening after I came home from work. She was able to make it to church afterwards to see Mysia and Malachi get their awards.

Lydia's last final was Thursday. It was a "workshop", so she was pleased with the result. Afterwards, she took Mysia out to get their nails done. Malachi spent the first have of the evening together before the girls came back home. We then got ready for bed.

Friday was Lydia's graduation! We woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and headed to JQH Arena. The entire program was over 2 hours, but it was worth it. Lydia was able to walk and get her degree! Afterwards, we took pictures and then grabbed a treat at Pineapple Whip before heading home. The kids played outside and we had lunch. We had them rest, taking naps, while I mowed the lawn. The weather was nice, allowing us to enjoy the evening at home with the windows open.

On Saturday, we ate breakfast and headed out to taekwondo class. After lunch, the kids painted and worked on crafts. We worked on household chores and watched some netflix. Mysia spent the night with Aunt Abigail.

~Matt