Catching Fall and House Reno Pics.

Well hello again.

 I do realize that it has been a while, and with so much to catch up on I'm not even sure where to begin. Today's temperatures dipped into the mid 30's this morning, so I suppose now would be a decent time to catch up on this Fall as it is swiftly running away.

Michigan is a playful lover like that.

When school starts for the Batey kids and their mama, certain things take an unfortunate back seat. Weekday home renovations are saved for Saturday afternoons and Sunday evenings. The extra kitchen counters are mostly covered in books, pencils, books, eraser shavings, books, nails, race bibs, nail polish and an occasional paint tray. When Cole and Lily were little I kept an impeccably clean and organized house. Now I tell myself  "it's just not my season."  I want sleep more than 100% order. Ok, even 75% order. Maybe lower. Nothing about this house has ever screamed order. I truly consider it a mental marathon; to enjoy what is beautiful among the constant chaos. My house is like beautiful pair of legs covered in Hanes sweatpants. I have included a bunch of before and afters at the bottom of this entry.



Could You Cry???

Whitney started school in September. She goes 4 mornings a week. I was nervous. She is a star. Everyone knows her name, she is like "Norm" from cheers, except female, tiny and delicious. Her schooling experience has far exceeded any of my hopes and desires. I, for the first time in 3 years, have unexpectedly really enjoyed homeschooling again. It amazed me how progressive it feels sitting down with the other children for a set, concentrated time each morning. I have confidence back in what I am doing. I specifically prayed for confidence concerning our educational paths this summer because I was about to throw in the homeschooling towel. I realize now that an education is not about any specific 'year' but about the journey. What one child may have lacked last year with the move and change is surely being caught up this year. I can exhale a bit. I have transitioned into using real books more at the library to teach history and science instead of a text or specific curriculum. It has brought some of the life back into learning. Our Friday Co-Op has been a welcomed addition too, allowing each of the kids 3 elective classes, such as Anatomy, Speech and Critical Thinking for Cole, Drama, Gym and Cup Cake Decorating for Lily, and The Human Body, Colonial Kids and Avian Adventures for Owen.

My favorite part of our academic days are the audio books that we have started listening to during our lunch hour. Overdrive is a super useful and free app that allows access to many audio books. We have finished The Penderwicks series, Hattie Big Sky and The Goose Girl all since the late summer. Books change you. I LOVE THEM!
*Disclaimer: I also love not having to sit down and fight sleep like the plague to read them!!

As far as my heart goes concerning all things Whitney, it has been a month of  mostly highs sprinkled with a few lows. Regarding school and all of her therapies, she has been making continual slow and steady progress, with no set backs. All of her testing keeps coming back negative. We were actually 'dismissed' from genetics for now. But her last genetics appointment left me lying on the couch a handful of Thursdays ago crying out to the LORD. I won't go into all of the details, but like most appointments with genetics, I had to work through the pain of submitting myself to this walk of fire for the last year and coming out holding the same question marks in my hands that I was holding when I began. I suppose I felt entitled to answers, and these doctors have been graciously 


Whitty's 1st day of school.

amazing, truly, but medicine and education cannot give me the promises that I need, that I want, for Whitney. But the LORD can. I am not sure how this will all end up, but she is our little miracle. My hope is in HIS story for her life, our story as her parents. My prayers are said everyday on our way to therapy...for HIS blessing over her development. My joy is in her amazing ability to capture the hearts of all of those around her. Whitney is the most popular Batey in Michigan. People I don't even know stop us at church or the grocery store to say "Hi" to her...people that literally know her! She is funny, stubborn, loving, sweet and strong. It is time to press ahead and keep my hope focused. I am laying down the question marks and picking up the camera. My season has changed.  It is time to stop worrying and enjoy her.

Personally I feel that I have turned a corner too. My marriage is fun and our family is enjoying the novelty of night fires, farmer's markets in downtown Detroit, local apple orchards and other Michigan discoveries. The older two babies are LOVING being Middle Schoolers together and transitioning into more autonomy and friend time. Diapers in one hand, deodorant, razors and hoarse voices in the other. Oy!

 I try to hog a few hours of my darling friend Chris's early morning every week for coffee and catch up/ sanity time. My other faithful girlfriend Annie hits the gym with me about 4 mornings a week at 5:30. She is helping me walk through my divorce with sugars and carbohydrates, and I love her. Bekkah is another girlfriend here, she's a creative and hilarious friend who I bounce off my decorating ideas with. I also love Mrs. Sandy, my wonderful next door neighbor. Then there is Em...my Emily. I first heard of Em through Gretchen and Amber when I still lived in Tallahassee. Gretch and Amber, both passionate women, were raving about their BF Emily. She lives just 40 minutes away. Emily was my first Michigan friend. We went cross country skiing together last winter. We connect on all levels, and she feels like an old friend. I wish she lived closer. Love her too!
There are things here that I look forward to each day, there are things here that are becoming home.

Sled Hill with grass

Michigan in the fall is brilliant. We had nearly 6 weeks of blue skies, 70 degree weather and trees that literally glowed with all of their bright reds and yellows. Cider mills, apple orchards, hay rides and the sun were healing to our souls. I really have nothing to say about the upcoming weather. So, let us just end there.
Until next time my loves,
Jenn

 



One of our neighbors GAVE this to us. Tim dragged it across our yard with the kids. He is such a beast. I contracted Posion Ivy that day. It took me a pack of steroids and 4 weeks to heal!

We spent a couple of Saturdays picking apples.

 



During Cole's cross country practice the kids and I go on walks throughout the park. One day Owen did 38 somersaults in a row!


Sisters


Melt me.



Cole and his pal at a Cross Country meet.


Lily started ballet again. Love.

Tim ran 14 miles in the Detroit Free Press marathon, he was signed up for 6 miles on a relay team.

 

Our town had a live art display of Norman Rockwell paintings. This picture was from that night. Look...yellow leaves!
 

 HOUSE PROJECTS:

 Dining room BEFORE. C.R.A.Z.Y.

 

After. One of my favorite parts of the house!



The stairs. Ohhhh the stairs. The carpet you see was beyond nasty! This was a very time consuming, but easy and inexpensive transformation that had a high impact on the house. I love them now!
 

Not the best picture, but you get the point. I will always remember listening to The Penderwicks with my kids as they ate lunch and I painted.



Before of entry way closet. One day I could no longer stand this space and I had Tim remove the 10 foot sliding mirror doors that didn't even properly work. Made this into an entry way 'mud room'. My first real 'carpentry', 7th grade shop class style.

during

 Almost after photo. Just have to paint the trim and add a floor now.

Then there was the day that I could no longer stand the carpet in the entry hall. So I ripped it out, in honor of my friend Wendi Long, and cleaned and painted the subfloor, and now I am in the process of laying planks down to paint those. Even if it's a bust in the end, it will be $100 better than what was there! So embarrassing to look at! Eewwww.

This project is a practical application to a saying I am trying to live via The Nester, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." The planks are farmhouse style uneven with some gaps and I did all the nailing free hand and did not allow myself to make a template to have all of the holes even and 'perfect'. Working on that. I have to give myself a pep talk, but in that mind frame the project has been way more fun. I also got experience cutting angles with my miter saw.

 

 

This is my ginormous paper wreath that I made out of an old dictionary. She is a beaut, I think, but the faces might creep Tim out a little.