Q4 Kid Dates

Kid dates are important to us, but we kind of dropped off this quarter, then jumped in and did a bunch of kid date type things. We had some leftover money in that budget and I wanted to use it for the purpose it was intended, meaning spending quality time with our children. We were able to squeeze in some fun activities before the end of the year: 

I took Caleb and Lucy on a date together and then took Lydia and Austin on a date together. It worked out great for me to be able to spend some time with each of the kids. 

Mom, Caleb, and Lucy went bowling and then got ice cream at the new Thanksgiving Point Ice Age Creamery. 

Mom, Austin, and Lydia went Ice Skating and got burgers and hot chocolate at In-N-Out. (We tried to go skiing at a little ski-hill with a magic carpet, but they didn't have enough snow.) 

Mom, Dad, and Lydia went to the wedding reception of Brenna Millward and her new husband. We ate treats, danced on the dance floor, and generally just enjoyed the blissfully happy atmosphere.

Dad and Austin went to McDonalds to get breakfast sandwiches. 

Mom, Lucy, and Caleb went to the Traverse Mountain Outlets to see the giant tree and explore their gingerbread house display. 

We ALL went to see Moana at the SCERA theater. 

David and Caleb went on their own. (Because Caleb had a birthday party conflict at the time that we wanted to go, and also because we were babysitting Juniper and Sylvie and this way we swapped off staying home with the baby.) 


Shantel and Leah took Lydia, Austin, Lucy, AND Juniper, Audrey, Ellie, and Anderson. 

When we went for the magic show in October, the kids saw a poster for Moana2 and decided right then that they wanted to come back together to watch Moana in the Grand Theater. It was super fun and we will definitely be coming back for more movies here. (Especially because my favorite Garden Theater just went out of business, I am so sad!) 

We love these kids and are grateful for the time and the means to do these fun kid dates with them. 

Aladdin: Dinner & a Movie

The other day, I found this fun company called "Fork and Film" that hosts movie nights at their venture and serves coordinating food items during the movie. It just looks so fun and after I showed Austin, we both got excited about hosting our very own version at home. He requested that I keep the movie a surprise, and to keep the food a surprise, too. I tossed around a few different movie ideas, but finally settled on the live-action version of Aladdin (which my kids hadn't seen, but had been on our list to watch). We invited the Ward kids to join with us and everyone was excited (and polite). It really turned out exactly as I had hoped and we had a great time with it. 

Each time a food item appeared on screen, David and I served a dish. The biggest stretch was at 26:19 when Aladdin brings Jasmine a tea-tray service. She doesn't eat- but this was the appropriate time for the main dish to be served so we served butter chicken, naan bread, and juice in teacups. The rest of it was pretty true to the movie and it was really, really fun. 

Aladdin Movie Night Menu: 

Opening- Apples and nuts

6:00 - Dates

6:40 - Bread (hamburger bun tops toasted with garlic butter)

15:17 - Apple Juice

26:19 - "Diamond in the Rough" Chicken & Teacup

40:46 - Blue Cotton Candy/Genie Marshmallows

44:08 - Baklava (Apple tart), napkin, paper menu

49:05 - Grapes, apple

60:30/40 - Spices(cinnamon)/jams, toast

1:30:00 - Jam

1:55/1:56:00  - Genie Marshmallows and Ice Cream Fireworks 

Opening - Aladdin in the Market

Bread - Jasmine giving bread to the children


Butter Chicken for the main dish when Aladdin brings Jasmine the tea service. Apple Tart for when Genie sings about "a little more baklava". 


Fruit when Genie is eating fruit after escaping the cave of wonders


Ice Cream with sparkler candles for the final scene when Genie is freed and everyone celebrates the wedding. 


After the movie, we pulled out some extra sparklers from the summer and let the kids light them to celebrate (to imitate the fireworks at the end of the movie). It was such a fun night with good friends, and the kids are already asking when we can do the next one. 

Not Back to School

 I can hardly believe that it's time for school to start again. The day before the public schools started, we spontaneously did a "Last Day before School Starts" adventure and went bowling and mini golfing at Fat Cats. The kids had a great time, and I'm just so grateful for these fun friends of ours. (Bless the Ward Family and how good and kind they are. They have been the best friends for our kids and such good friends to David and I. We are blessed to have them in our lives.) 

And with the first day of school right around the corner, that means one thing... our annual NOT BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY! 

One of our favorite traditions is to hang out at the pool with our favorite homeschool peeps and swim and eat donuts while all the other kids are getting on buses and headed back to school. 




This celebration reminds me that we are intentionally choosing this path because of the many opportunities it gives us, especially the joy of spending more time together. It also reminds me that we are part of a beautiful, brave, creative community of amazing people that are learning and growing with us. Pool+sun+donuts+people I love= the best way to start a new school year.