Weekly Wrap-Up: The one with my annual week of solitude

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Weekly Wrap-Up

Happy Friday, y’all! I hope you’ve each had an amazing week. I have enjoyed my annual summer week of solitude, a.k.a. camp week for my kids. {grin} I miss them terribly when they are gone, but I won’t try to lie and say that my introverted self doesn’t enjoy a week at home alone.

Of course, Brian and Brianna are still here, but they’re at work at school all day. Brianna has worked or hung out with her boyfriend each evening this week meaning that it’s been date week for Brian and me. What’s not to love about that?

Sunday was my birthday. It was probably one of the most low-key birthdays I’ve ever had, but I must really be getting old because I totally enjoyed that. I work in the nursery at church on Sunday mornings. I joked that my birthday present was the fact that we only had one baby this week – and his mama was my helper! So, we sat and chatted for an hour.

After, my family and I went to Zaxby’s for lunch and then it was home for my Sunday birthday nap. Then it was out to Applebee’s for dinner and a birthday maple butter blondie. Yum! I’ll just share a little-known factoid with you: Birthday desserts don’t have calories.

On Sunday, before she left for camp, I got Megan to model this month’s Fair Trade Friday goodies for me so that I could show them off to you.

Fair Trade Friday Collage

Every month, I think that I just can’t love this month’s Fair Trade Friday (a ministry of Mercy House Kenya) shipment as much as the last month and every month I’m wrong. Opening that box is one of the highlights of my month.

In the June box, I received a reusable produce bag from Caring for Korah, handmade pottery earrings from Back to Africa, a gorgeous paper bead bracelet that I’ve worn every single day since I opened it from Embracing Hope, a handmade paper journal (y’all know that made the office-supply-loving homeschool mom in me squeal) from Village Artisan, and a handmade Father’s Day card (not pictured) from the Refugee Project.

You know what the best part of the whole thing was, though? My box employed approximately 7 women this month. I got a box of beautiful, unique, handmade items and these ladies – the artisans – got to feed their families and send their children to school.

Would you like to be a part of that? There is currently a waiting list for the Fair Trade Friday monthly club, but there are still spots open in the Earring of the Month club or you can purchase a one-time box. I started out on the waiting list when Fair Trade Friday was introduced last year. It moves pretty quickly, so go ahead and get signed up.

I really love the goodies in each monthly shipment. I wear my Thrive bracelet all the time and I’ve ordered more of some of my favorite products, such as Zambeezi lip balm, Zambian soap, and Christmas ornaments from Bead Amigas.

So, Megan modeled for me before she left, then, we saw her and Josh off to camp on Monday. It’s been so stinkin’ quiet around here because they can’t take their phones or electronic devices, so I haven’t even been able to text them this week. Have I mentioned that I’ve missed them?

We’ve had a fun date week, though. We went out alone on Monday night. Tuesday night we met my dad and step-mom for dinner. That was really nice because we don’t get to see them often, so when we do everyone is trying to talk to them at once and it’s hard to get a word in edgewise. It was nice to sit and be able to chat, just the four of us.

Wednesday night we went out with the parents of one of Josh and Megan’s friends. All the kids – theirs and ours – thought that was so weird. I think we should have conspired to make the kids think we’d told all their deep, embarrassing secrets, but really we just went to dinner and went bowling. We had so much fun and check it:

20150610_220042

That 132 at the top? That’s me! I love to bowl, but I’m terrible at it and that is the highest I’ve ever scored! The cool thing is, I scored the same thing my third game, too. Of course, the second game was a true reflection of my bowling skill – I didn’t even break 100 on it.

Last night, we had dinner at my sister’s house and tonight the kids come home. Yay! As you can clearly see, we are total party animals.

Dude Kitty

For those who are dying to know, the cat from last week turned out not to be the original Gus. That’s okay, though. It was fun to think it might be him for a day or so. By the time his people came to get him Friday night, we were happy to send him on his way. Although he was super-sweet, it was clear that he was a young cat with young cat energy and rambunctiousness. We’re quite happy with Not Gus, thank you very much.

We had to let our Gus inside and shower him with affection so that he would know that we weren’t trying to replace him. He gladly accepted the attention and woke us up for more Saturday morning. He let us know how ridiculous he thought it was that we were only using one hand to pet him when clearly we each have two.

Tonight we’ll pick up the kids and tomorrow night Josh has a performance at a big music festival in town. I can’t wait to hear him play!

Before I go, if you’re looking for some fun ways to sneak a little casual learning in this summer – I’m not, but you might be – check out my ideas for fun, low-key history and science activities at About.com.

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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5 Comments

    1. Because it believes the person who sets it up, even when she puts in the wrong dates. 😉 Oops! Thanks for the heads up. It’s fixed now.

  1. I’m having THAT WEEK this week! My younger kids are off being spoiled by grandparents. My oldest is here because his charter school hasn’t let out for the summer yet…but he’s gone all day and then finishing end-of-year projects in his bedroom after dinner. My days are simple and QUIET. I might even catch up with the dirty dishes and laundry and STAY caught up! LOL

    1. Enjoy! I was so happy for the kids to be back and I drove to the church to meet them even though my husband was stopping by on his way home from work because I couldn’t wait to see them…but I really enjoyed the week at home alone, too! 🙂

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