Five on Friday: Dates, Laughter, and Mud

I am linking up again with some fabulous ladies for Five on Friday.  Join the link-up and share your top five for the week!

 

1.  Zach and I had dentist appointments yesterday, and since we get up with Wichita BY OURSELVES almost never, we made a date night out of it.  We went to The Warren IMAX and saw "Ender's Game."  My poor husband had not been to a movie since my birthday in July.  That long without going to a movie is like 20 years to him.  Sorry babe, we'll try to do better.  It was really good, especially since I knew nothing about it before we went.  We did a little shopping, picked up Chipotle, and headed home to tuck the little man into bed.  It's funny how easy it is to forget how fun a date night can be. 

 

 

2.  I decided to try to make Christmas stockings this year.  The first year we were married, I bought stockings with our names for Zach, Charlie, and I.  And now it just seems strange that our dog has a matching stocking, but our son does not.  I ordered the patterns and fabric....and I'm hoping I didn't overestimate my sewing skills.  We'll find out soon enough! :)
 

A couple of the fabric choices

 

3.  I have Monday off of work for Veteran's Day, making this a fabulous 3-day weekend!  Whoop-whoop!  We are going out to dinner for my mother-in-law's birthday tonight, and I am so looking forward to it!  And Sunday night Zach and I have tickets to see Brian Regan.  His show was great last time, and this will make, hold onto your seats, TWO date nights in one week.  Oh my, we are getting crazy over here!

 

4.  The colder the weather gets, the more chapped my lips and hands get. (Let's be honest, my hands are always awful from washing them at work 50 times a day, but they are especially bad in the winter.)  These are my favorite chapstick and lotion.  Anyone have different favorites that work miracles? 

 

We discovered this in Hawaii and it is beyond amazing.  The banana is the best (but don't worry, it doesn't taste super banana-y).  I haven't seen it anywhere around here, but you can order it online. 

 

The best for your hands and it smells so good!  From Bath and Body Works

5.  And because most of my readers REALLY care about Lyle the most.... one last picture to get you through. :)

Who can make this sweet muddy boy stay outside?? Jumping in mud puddles is the best.

 

Half-way Through

Is half-way through the week too late to talk about the weekend?  Not around here!  Some weeks that's just how it is.  It also means we are half-way to the next weekend.  Whoop!  

Usually during the week I wake Lyle up at seven to get ready to go out to Annie's.  I always wonder a little bit, if I didn't have to wake him up, how long he would really sleep.  Well, apparently he thinks Saturdays are something to get up and be excited about, because he was up bright and early at six!  So much for momma sleepin in!  But I got a lot of the house cleaned before Zach got up, so at least we made it worth while!

Saturday evening we headed up to a birthday party for one of Zach's good friends, Dan.  We had not seen them in so long, and it was great to catch up with everyone.  

Lyle and his friend Kohen.  Thanks to many trucks brought by Tara, they did great!
(Sorry about the excavator to the head!)

I am always amazed at what a small world it is, and how God brings different people into your life at different times.  This group is full of random connections that all fit together perfectly.  I went to high school with Dan, but did not really know until I started dating Zach, since he and Zach were good friends from college.  I knew Chad in high school, and we were pretty good friends in college (though we went to different schools).  I went to college with his wife Tara, but did not really know her until she started dating Chad.  Dan's sister and husband were there, and she was in my sister's class in high school.  See!  All connected.  Times like these we wished we lived closer to Wichita, and could get together with people more often.  But we love our small town life, and just need to make an effort to see people regardless of the distance.

We headed up to Hesston afterwards to spend the night and Sunday with my family.

Puzzles with Gigi

Such big kids...eating at their own table!

I'm going to have to stop calling him "Baby Eric"!

  My brother Jeff was home for the weekend, and my sister and her family came up for Sunday afternoon.  It was such a nice day of catching up on all the latest happenings, and letting the cousins play.  Nothing makes my heart happier than a day with family.    

Shoving leaves through the cracks

Miss Zo swinging