My Family by Avery Osborn

Avery is always doing a craft project or some type of art or story. Recently, she's been writing books. Here is the latest...

My Family by Avery Osborn 2009

My Family look's like this. Look down. My Dad and my mom my sister's and me. We also have a dog her Name is Abby

My Dad like's to work. My Mom like's to work out.

my sister Mckenna like's to play. my sister Presley like's to play to.

and I like to go to Grandma and Grandpa's hose. I am mooving to a Noo home. and it is ok but I do not wont to moov.

It is Fall 2009 the tree's are changing color's. Fall

Fall yes Fall yes yes

My family it is Fall the end

Pumpkins

The girls were still fighting the virus that hit us last week, but we carved pumpkins anyway.

Before we started, Avery read the Pumpking Patch Parable.

Presley doesn't quite know what to do.

Avery and her pumpkin

McKenna and her pumpkin

Cabin fever and SOLD!

I'm so ready for this week to be over.

Avery is finally feeling better. Still complaining about a sore throat and tummy ache, but no fever and the coughing has almost stopped. McKenna is starting day 6 of this virus. She got tested for the flu yesterday but it came back negative. So, we don't know what it is that's taken these girls down. Presley had a fever off and on yesterday, but this morning was really sick. She kept saying "uh oh" and just whimpering. I just put her down for a nap. McKenna is asleep on the couch downstairs and Avery is in our bed watching tv. I want to escape. I have cabin fever. The only time I've been out this week was to take the girls to the dr. I need some fresh air. I want to eat at a restaurant, where someone else cleans up the mess. I want to go to the Y and work out.

On the up side-we have a contract on the house! We plan to close on Nov. 24. We'll have to stay with family thru the Thanksgiving week, then we'll head west. We tried to sell "by owner" but we weren't having much luck and didn't have time to just sit and wait. I hate the roller coaster of emotions that come with having a house on the market. The constant cleaning and de-cluttering, hoping the phone will ring, wondering what people are thinking as they look through your home, wishing you could do more. On Tuesday night, the realtor put in online, and by Wednesday, we had an offer we couldn't refuse. I'm glad it sold, but my stomach hurts thinking about the money we're spending on having a realtor. Seriously, my stomach really hurts just thinking about it. Sigh...

So, we have a lot to do. Pack, pack, pack. Organize. We need to figure out if we can get rid of stuff here, or if we need to find a storage unit in Pasadena. We're moving from a 2400 sf. home to a 1300 sf. apartment. Fuller graciously offered an apartment for us to live in, for up to a year, so we could get out here and take our time looking for the perfect (and affordable) house. I know I shouldn't feel like this, but, I feel like I have a huge weight on my shoulders and I just don't know how all of the pieces are going to fit into place. Schooling for Avery, transition for all 3 girls, Kevin's defense, money for this move, closure for my students at Friends, finding a home for our dog who's been in our family for 8 years, Christmas, a family wedding in January. It's overwhelming right now. And, yet, I'm thankful, and hopeful. Or, at least I'm trying to be.

Appreciating your Pastor

For Pastor appreciation month (yes, they have a month for that, although it's perfectly acceptable to appreciate your Pastor every month) I thought I would list a few things I love about a Pastor I've known my whole life, my dad.

• He loves Jesus with his whole heart
• He loves John Wesley, and will go to great lengths to defend United Methodism
• He loves his family and is passionate about making memories with them
• He loves to fish
• He loves Colorado and western Kansas
• He loves the farm
• He (used to) love flying
• He is a perfectionist, he strives for excellence in everything
• He loves his wife and is devoted to her
• He is the best marry-er and bury-er I know-the weddings and funerals he officiates are always so good, very personal and life affirming
• He loves KU AND K-State, not many people can say that...
• He loves the church, even the people who claim to love Jesus but continue to complain, bicker, and gripe. But, don't think he's made of steel. He gets his feelings hurt, just like the rest of us and can only take so much.
• He's very good at seeing the "big picture"
• He loves his Mac and i-phone, just sayin'...
• He is loyal and takes his job very seriously

He is human. He lives out his faith every day. I never wanted to be a preacher's kid, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I'm proud to be Mike's daughter. Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!

Your turn...What do you appreciate about your pastor?

Menu Plan Monday, Realtors, and a nasty virus

A virus has attacked our family and is taking us down one by one. Avery got sick early Friday, and McKenna got sick Saturday afternoon. We hoped and prayed that Presley would be spared, but she now has a fever. We crazy thing is, the girls feel good in the mornings and then the fever comes back with a vengeance in the late afternoons. It's weird. They seemed so fine the majority of today, they were driving us crazy! Then, all of a sudden, they stopped bouncing off the walls and the fever returned. After $60 in co-pays and money spent on OTC medicine, I'm ready for it to go away. I finally got an Rx today for some cough syrup with codeine. That seems to help some. I should buy stock in Lysol. We've used a ton this weekend. Kevin was up most of the night with McKenna so he stayed home today. I'm so glad he did.

Today, I had to cancel a family photo shoot. I don't know if I'll be able to reschedule. I'd been looking forward to getting our family pix taken for, like, a year now. I'm so disappointed.

I called a realtor today. After 2 weeks of For Sale By Owner with not much activity, we're turning it over, hoping for some action.

Now for the menu-I'm starting to clean out the pantry and freezer, in anticipation for the big move. I also noticed that pomegranates are at Dillons now. $2 each. Ugh-but I bought 4 anyway. McKenna and I love pomegranates! Presley tried them and loves them, too. They're so good right now.

Breakfasts-cereal, banana bread, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs

Lunch-leftovers, sandwiches, soup, pizza, etc....(although, today, on my 4th trip to Dillons in as many days, I got sushi for Kevin and me, yummmmm)

Dinner-

BBQ chicken pizza, apple slices

Chili, pomegranates

Chicken enchiladas, corn, black beans, apple slices

Waffles, sausage, fruit

Homemade Gourmet Gumbo, rice, cornbread

Tilapia, mashed potatoes, grean beans, orange slices

Leftovers, Chipotle, or, dare I say, Date night?

I heart my i-phone

I never dreamed I could love a piece of technology so much! Kevin and I finally took the plunge and traded our one mobile phone (I know, can you believe it? We shared a phone for the last 3 years!) for 2 i-phones.

We can text now. Yes, I know, welcome to 2004, right? Actually, Avery got a hold of my phone this weekend and quickly taught herself how to text. She's sent several to Grandma, her daddy and aunt Marla. I'm still trying to work out the kinks. I can't figure out ringtones. I'm hoping Kevin loves me enough to do it for me, instead of trying to teach me how. I don't have enough patience, I guess.

So far, I've downloaded several apps for the girls

• Doodle Kids
• Baby flash cards
• Tic tac toe
• Monkey Preschool
• Whiteboard
• Pocket Phonics
• Matches...aka memory
• Math Drills
• Line Up
• Christmas Countdown
• Flingfree

I have some apps for just me

• Facebook, of course
• E online-I use this one, probably more than I like to admit
• Grocery List
• You version Bible-LOVE THIS
• Chipotle (haven't used this yet, hoping to, soon)
• Bump
• Around Me
• Yelp
• Mixology
• Mint finance
• Pandora-use this ALOT at the Y
• Zippo-Kevin put this on my phone
• Alarm Clock
• Psych bobble heads-I love Psych on USA, just fyi

Speaking of Psych, I wanted to put their theme song as my ringtone. I just found out that the spanish version is free. However, I can't figure out how to get it from i-tunes to my ringtone section. Again...if Kevin loves me...

I actually use the ones that came with the phone, too

• weather-I can check on the weather in both Wichita and Pasadena. So far, Pasadena rocks!
• Voice memos-Avery and McKenna love this-they record stuff all of the time. I love listening to it. Sometimes, I can even record Presley. I love it.
• Stocks-believe or not, I've used this, especially when the DOW went about 10,000
• Camera-again, the girls love this. I sent several pics to my mom this weekend of my sick kiddos.
• Notes-I've used this for small grocery lists, quick reminders and random info.
• Maps-I'm sure I'll use this someday.
• YouTube-haven't had time to mess with this, yet.

So, what's your favorite app? So far, I think I've only paid for one. And that was just $.99. I could spend hours at the app store, just browsing. So, let me know what's your favorite, or what you think I'd like. Thanks!

Fall Break and Almond Tea

So, it's Fall break at Friends U. and Wichita schools. I was so looking forward to having a Friday off. I know, I know, I only teach one day a week, but still. I had planned to help my sister with a garage sale, the girls were going to sell hot cider there. Then, Avery and McKenna were going to a friend's house to play this afternoon.

At 6am, I heard Avery in the bathroom, coughing like crazy. When I went to check on her, she said her head hurt. I took her temp, 102. Ugh. I felt so sorry for her. Then, I thought of the plans we had to change and/or cancel today and my heart ached. McKenna went on to my sister's to "help" with Reese and sell the cider (I spent $15 on supplies for that cider). I made a trip to Dillons before Kevin left for work to get medicine, kleenex and a couple redbox movies (Hotel for Dogs, and Disney Earth). Now, my job today is primarily to keep Avery comfortable and keep her 2 sisters away from her. I'm finding that Lysol is my new best friend. I take it everywhere. Hoping is won't ruin my i-phone, because I keep trying to disinfect it. It has become Avery's new favorite "toy."

I just finished making some Almond Tea. It's a favorite in our family, whether we're sick or not.

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup cold water

1 TBSP instant tea

1 small can frozen lemonade

4 cups water

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

Add sugar to boiling water, on stove top. Dissolve all, heat through, serve hot. Enjoy-I doubled this today. It may turn out to be a long, sick weekend for the Osborn abode.

For Sale

I finally managed to have the entire house clean and wanted to remember the occasion. There are so many things we had planned to do to this house, now all we can do is clean and de-clutter and hope it's good enough. Our home in pix...

The main floor

Pay no attention to the dog. Apparently, I didn't when I took the picture. I didn't realize she was even there until I saw it on the computer.

The basement

the back yard

The Perfect Night

This was the night I've been looking forward to for weeks. Some dear friends, Bill and Nancy Graham, invited several Singing Quaker families to their farm for an old fashioned camp fire and fun. It was cold, much colder than it was supposed to be on October 9, but that didn't stop us from having fun.

McKenna with (Mark and Kim Hoy's) Lauren and (Rachel and Brian's) Ben.

Avery and her friend, (Brad and Sally's daughter) Grace.

The kids roasting hot dogs.

Sally and her Moriah, Me and my Presley.


We had the best time with friends that time and distance will never separate.

This week

Well, Kevin made the big announcement here, so I don't have much to say. I'm really excited and really nervous and really anxious and really tired just thinking about what needs to happen in the next several weeks. I'm so proud of Kevin. The amazing people at Fuller have been after him for months. I didn't realize he was in such demand! He's had a few offers come up over the summer, but this one we took seriously. Actually, I told him to apply just so we'd get to go to California for the interview. Little did I think this would be in God's plans for our family. I feel like I'm in a dream. I keep saying everything will be fine in 6 months or so. Anywhoo, we have to sell this house we've made into our home. Please pray that it will sell quickly! I can't keep it clean for more than 5 minutes at a time :)

On Monday, we found out that the parents of the worship leader at my dad's church were killed in a horrific car accident in Ok. Obviously, this news has been devastating for the church and for Monica. Please pray for Monica and her 2 brothers, as they grieve and heal in the weeks to come.

Yesterday, I took Avery and Presley to the dr. McKenna tagged along. After a 45 minute wait, we finally saw the dr. Presley has a sinus infection. Avery has been complaining of stomach pains and a sore throat for weeks now. As the dr. was trying to figure out the cause, she asked a simple question, "Does she worry alot?" That question turned into a 15 minute conversation that ended in a prescription for Prilosec, due to ulcers and/or acid build up. At 6 years old. Hard to believe, but I hope this works. I hate seeing her in pain and she's been complaining for so long now. I hate that she worries. This all started when she started school. I know the next few months are going to be hard for her. They'll be hard for all of us, but I pray God gives her peace and assurance in this transition.

Today, I'm cleaning. Hopefully we'll get some calls on the house this weekend.

Oh, and I'm posting this using my new computer. Macbook Pro, I think. Kevin ordered it on Monday. FedEx brought it to our house yesterday.

I'm so looking forward to tomorrow night. A bunch of our friends and their families are getting together for a bonfire at the Grahams (family friend from college days) It's going to be great and we are going to make some great memories. Hopefully I'll remember to bring the camera.

And so, the real fun begins...