October 2024: Part 1

It seems every month is insanely busy and October was definitely no exception.  It was a beautiful and very full month here in the Troyer home.

We started the month off with the house getting painted and Sadie playing in an all day volleyball tournament.  Although not ideal to have both of those activities happen on the same day it was fun to see her team matched up to some really great competition.

The second week of October included helpful hero day in Preschool and Hazel getting her braces on.

Not always very helpful but almost always pretty darn cute.

We also made it out to the pumpkin patch!!!!

Aubrey

Oh and one afternoon after Sadie's volleyball game, while I was quickly trying to get dinner ready this one (Miss Maddie) decided to give herself a haircut.  I thought we were past this.  Sigh....

Yep they're ALL ours. :)

The big kids did the corn maze while the girls enjoyed the slide and we soaked it in because it really does go too fast.

This look says "I don't know why Maddie is screaming.  I definitely didn't snag her wheelbarrow.  She left it so I have no idea what the problem is."

While the kids were playing I ran Sadie down the street to catch the end of the soccer game with some of her friends.  It was also the first game Wesley was able to attend so she really wanted to go.  More and more we miss our little girl who was happy to just hang out with us all the time but this is the way life goes.  They grow up and more and more I guess we learn to let go.

There's just something about a pile of pumpkins that makes me soooo happy!

Dog Dog and Maddie agree.

Sleeping in a fort because as already mentioned they're only this little once.

We had the Zorn's over to celebrate Sadie's birthday with us.  Wes is still technically restricted to outdoor gatherings so it was a good excuse to clean up and decorate the back porch.

Birthday Breakfast: Raspberry Lemon Scones and Maple Scones.

This one is quite the pretender.

Happy 15th Birthday Sadie!

Troyer Addition: Week 84

October 5, 2024

Week 84: Exterior Paint

 PAINT!!!!

Don, Ande and Noah came out to help us paint the house.  We are unbelievably thankful for their willingness to give up a weekend to help us like this.  I still can't believe it's painted.  Amazing!!!!

I'm certain it will look like this for exactly 3 seconds because we have kids and dogs and sooo much mud but isn't it pretty!

Troyer Addition: Week 80-83

 September 7, 2024

Week 80-83: Finishing up the exterior on the most visible 2 sides of the house so that we can paint before the rain.

This weekend the 3 oldest kids spent the day staining the cedar shingles for the roof while Brandon hung siding and I cut siding.

Aubrey is entertaining May for me by leaving her a trail of siding sticks. :)

September 14, 2024

Last week Wyatt spent Thursday and Friday at Camp Tadmore with the Jr. High.  This week Sadie spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday up there with our high school.  I really am so thankful for the creativity of these teachers and the way they love and disciple our kids.  Wyatts class was divided into houses and all year they will compete to win a pizza party at the end of they year.  I'm telling you it's unrecognizable the difference I see in our Jr. High already.  So awesome!!!  

September 21, 2024

We finished side  #2 of the house which meant setting up a second scaffold, not our favorite thing, but it's done.  Now one more weekend to get everything caulked and sanded and ready for paint.

These two were very busy this weekend building a house for Dog Dog and Sushi.  Kids really are so creative.

Maddie

Sushi

Dog Dog

Sadie's team played in Waldport today.  We didn't make it to the game but are thankful for others who went to cheer them on and sent us pictures.

While Sadie was playing volleyball Brandon was changing the brake pads and rotors on the suburban.  It really is amazing all the things he knows how to do.  He takes care of this family of ours so well.  Sunday was the first time I heard the brakes making a noise and by Thursday he had us all taken care of.  He changed all 4 brakes and rotars!

September 28, 2024

This wasn't one of our most exiting weekends...So much sanding and prep work but at last it's finished.  All is prepped and next week we get to paint.  I literally CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Brandon gave me the go ahead to start decorating the kids' study space which use to be Sadie's old room.  So fun to see things start to come together.

More Volleyball!

And in the 30 or so minutes it took me to get dinner ready while Brandon waited for Sadie this happened.  

WHY?!?!  Maddie why?!?  

Her response when I said "Oh no Maddie, what happened?" was "I'll go get it!"  Heavy sigh.

I thought we'd already learned this lesson but apparently not or maybe God in his infinite wisdom knew Mrs. Metzger needed an easy way to tell the girls apart. ;)

Who knew installing a toilet could be so exciting.

Pocket door instructions...the gist of which are don't be rough with the new door.