Lol---if our thermostat is set at 68, it's because my dh hasn't noticed yet that I snuck by and cranked it up that high. He keeps it at 62 and thinks I'm absolutely crazy to want it at 68. Amen.

Also, in case you somehow didn't hear the shrieks of excitement, the rain turned to snow!

Happy Birthday, John and Susan's Ds!!!! Somehow I missed those. I guess this is why the Slaches braved that awful weather to go out? It rained all morning, but at least was warm enough to work. The kids moved piles of rocks and raked and cleaned up the yard toys and put the bikes under the treehouse for winter protection. I emptied the shed, discarded all the carp, and repacked the shed neatly, including some stuff from the garage (like the lawnmower and tiller) that needed to be moved there. The carp pile is enormous... Dh will have to haul it to his company's dumpster. No wonder he couldn't fit anything in the shed (or get anything out). I did not find any dead mice. I was annoyed about the kids missing a day of school, but when they went back inside, hours before me, they decided to play school. Several are researching and preparing presentation right now. 😂 Also we ate lunch at Panera because even if there was food in the house (which there isn't) the dining room table is stacked high with Playmobil. Chicken soup and rice warmed me up. So now to work more on the garage itself. It's an attached garage so at least it has a little warmth from the house.

Good Morning! Happy Tuesday. Coffee, much too late for me. I'm racing against the big chill and potential snow. Still so much to clean up outside! Paradox, your hijacked megathread just makes me chuckle. Count me among those who now feel like terrible homeschoolers. And I KNOW RIGHT?? That dead army had nuclear capability. Stay warm, everybody. Except people who don't like to be warm, I suppose.

Temps will plummet for us tomorrow afternoon. Just the kick-in-the-butt I need to get this garage ready today! #isaidbutt

Happy Veteran's Day! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 And coffee! I need to finish lots of Bible study prep today while the kids do their independent schoolwork. Then haul bins of garage stuff from the garage into the basement so we'll have space to install the peg boards and shelves that arrive on Wednesday. Somehow, though, I need to be sure there is enough space left in the basement for the piano teacher to still be able to teach lessons on Thursday. (Our basement is about 10x10, and already has a piano and craft table and a wall of bookshelves in it, so we don't have much floor space to work with. Oh, and like a gazillion doors to spaces we use daily, like the laundry room.). Hmmm.... It's supposed to snow on Tuesday, so I can't store any stuff outside, but maybe I can use the van? We have tons to get rid of, but dh is not emotionally ready to do it yet. Sticking stuff in the van might encourage him to just drive it to a donation center. Maybe also clean all the stuff off the craft table so I can stack things there? Stuff is definitely overrated, IMO. Down with stuff! (Except Playmobil.)

Try this? Just kidding (sort of not really). I've actually been mulling a lot over this problem lately, too. ((((Lynn))))

DS5 sobbed genuine tears all the way through his teeth brushing, because the Lions lost. And they are only his third favorite team, and he didn't even watch the game.

Yay!!!!!!! Go Pack Go!

Hmmm. I always work a little better and a little faster when someone is coming over for dinner.

Leading Bible study. It's actually a huge study with a team of about 40 women leading it, so I'm just one of many. I'm not sure I'd say it's effortless? But the work is a delight, the reward is far greater than what I put into it, and the people are gold. Plus my kids get tons out of it too, and other people manage them for me so I'm free to do my thing without juggling mom duties. I come home each week filled instead of drained. ETA: Homeschooling kind of fits this, too. I'd be a terrible institutional-school parent, but parenting/schooling at home is a natural fit with my personality and gifts. That said, it's HARD. Some aspects of it harder than others (especially since my introverted self has a hard time finding space to recharge). And the reward isn't immediate so it takes more effort to push through to the finish line.

😘🥰

No really! Please, help yourself. 🐒 🐒 🐒 🐒. The monkey trap has been set!

It's okay, Slashie. Have a chocolate from the tea-tin. My treat.

Toto! That is too cool.

A secret message for Slache : Rule #1 of secret messages is to not tell Slache. #h

I added another secret message from DD 9. I think she's concerned about everyone finding the tea tin.

And Slashie for the win!!!

My siggy, for Servie: 🦆☕Mama Duck 📕📗📖 🦆 💃DD 9. 📘📙📚 The chocolate is hidden in the tea tin! 📚 📖 🦆 👟👟DS 12 📓 ✏️ 📗 📓 🦆 DD 7.5🔥🌩️🔥 🧨🔥🦆 DS 5.5 📙 🦆 🐈DD 10.5📘📔

Ummm....yes? It says The Ducks Have Run Amok. Which is secret code for: The ducks have run amok. BUT you reminded me that I used to have a secret message embedded in my siggy, so now I've added one again. Find it?? Shhh.... don't tell anyone. ETA: Some of you can't see emojis, can you? Hmmmm..... That would be problematic. Good luck with that.

DS12 has no shoes, actually. That's him, in the back, the last one, putting them on. He's always in the back, the last one, putting on his shoes. I'm not sure he ever advances beyond that level in life, actually.

FTFY. Better?

In the interest of transparency, my siggy has been updated.

Happy Friday! Dh took whole crew to a bday party and I am frantically cleaning the house* while they are all gone, because we have company coming tomorrow afternoon. I've already decided they aren't allowed to eat here between now and then. I'm beginning to think I should have just sent them to a hotel for the night. *Well, at the moment I'm marooned on my bed while Rosie Robot mops and vacuums. But as her supervisor, I still get credit for doing the work.