Last weekend, in addition to celebrating Mark's homecoming, we also had some BIG events for Annabeth. Saturday night was her first high school dance and Sunday was her 14th Birthday!
Life and Love
Friday, October 10, 2025
Annabeth is 14!
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Mark is HOME!!!!
Mark is home!!
I've just wrapped up a season of solo parenting while Mark was away at Bomb School.
Since around the time Owen was born, Mark has served on our county's Bomb Squad and we have known that whole time that eventually his number would be up for a 6 week course in Alabama. He has been away a week or two each year for smaller trainings but this year was the big one.
He left in the heat of August, pools were still open, we were in shorts and tanks, the house was decorated for summer and now he's home in October. We are working our way through our Fall Bucket List, the house is decorated with pumpkins, and we are ready for fall fun together!
These past weeks have been so incredibly hard. As the primary caregiver and home educator, I am used to long days/nights with the kids. I am used to carrying the bulk of the home/child/errands for our family but somehow knowing that I was going to have to do it completely alone overwhelmed me. I was a mess before he left, sobbing as I tried to learn to use the weedeater so I didn't have to pay for yard help, and crying myself to sleep each night. (I'm thankful he didn't RUN out the door at that point)
In the first few weeks, I was incredibly bitter and jealous. I've certainly never gotten to come home and say "Hey, I'm headed out of town for 6 weeks..." I tried, but failed, to be happy for him as he lived a dream and accomplished a goal that he has worked hard for.
In the middle, thankfully, my parents and sister had us along for a big trip to Arizona. We got away, relaxed, saw somewhere new, and I came home refreshed. I came home focused. I came home determined to savor these weeks of just the kids and me.
We certainly didn't carry on as normal. They had extra TV time, they had cereal for dinner one night, we ate pizza rolls every week, and my yard hasn't been weedeated since my dad kindly did it in Week 2 BUT we did it. I did it.
We are SO proud of Mark's hard work at school, for all of the 100s on his exams, for passing with flying colors and coming home with ideas to help train his team better.
I did not share outside of a small circle of friends/family that Mark would be gone so long as I didn't feel entirely safe with everyone knowing he was gone. In turn, this lead to some confusion as the kids and I took a trip to Michigan City and the Arizona Trip and Mark was noticably absent in pictures as well as in our daily lives. Have no worries, we are happily married, we were just long distance for a bit like our dating/engaged days. I am forever proud to be married to an honest, hardworking man, who shows integrity in all aspects of his life. Welcome home my love.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Our Fall 2025 Bucket List
Hello Frugal Friends!
Many of you enjoyed reading our Summer 2025 Bucket List and now that we've completed it, I wanted to share our Fall 2025 Bucket List.
As a reminder, the kids choose these items without any kind of prompting or guidance (clearly). I LOVE seeing what they actually want to do...it's always so simple! So instead of running myself ragged giving them alllll the fall fun this year, we are just going to do what they want. Here's to affordable family fun!
Riley Family Fall 2025 Bucket List
Register for 4H (October 1)
Start 4H Projects
Take photographs for 4H
Annabeth's Birthday (October 5)
Chicken Fingers/Mashed Potatoes/Gravy/Corn Dinner
Make Homemade Starbucks
Vacation with Kuhns (Scheduled)
Apple Orchard with Cousins
Fall Camp (Owen and Mark)
Go on a Fall Hike
Go to a Football Game (Scheduled)
Bake a Pie
Playdate with Neighbors
Zoo Teen Sign-Ups
Trick-or-Treat with the Sichting Family (October 31)
I am looking forward to a busy fall filled with the things we want to do!
What's on your Fall Bucket List?
Thursday, August 14, 2025
2,025 in 2025!
Yesterday we finished our 2,025 in 2025 Decluttering Challenge!
Surprised?!
ME TOO!
If you remember, we cleared out 2,024 items in 2024. We finished in late September, having actually started in November of 2023. It was a project I took on, inspired by my friend Justina over at Well Planned Mama, and that the family went along with it. In the end, we all learned a lot! I was VERY into the project and loved the process. I shared many updates last year on the blog and loved talking about it with people in "real life" too. I felt accomplished, in control, and excited that we had done it. Mission Complete.
So...imagine my surprise when on January 1, 2025 Mark and the kids asked where our 2025 coloring sheet was and where we would declutter first! I had no intention of doing the project again or asking them to do it again but they asked - so we did!
Now, not even all the way through August, we are 2,025+ items lighter!
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Peace on the Little Pigeon River
July 5 we headed to Pigeon Forge, TN for the kids' dance nationals. It was our third year in Pigeon Forge and we were already dreading the huste and bustle of the parkway. If you read my last post you know that our summer has been filled with loss, grief, changes, and many days an overall sad spirit. Needless to say, we were not in the mood for overpriced mini-golf, wax museums, or crazy souvenier shops.
Our first morning in Pigeon Forge was a Sunday and instead of worshipping online with our church from home, I found that First Methodist had a service time that worked with our dance schedule. I made the short drive and found myself, in the middle of the PF Strip, at the sweetest brick church right along the Little Pigeon River. The sign out front told me of church ancestors who had built this little place after the last pandemic and a historic flood over 100 years ago.
Inside, I was warmly welcomed like a lost friend. Seated in the "Midwest section" among other out-of-staters from Ohio, I was greeted by the pastor and most of the church members. I heard "Glad to see ya" and "What brings ya'll here?" and "So glad you've stopped in today" over and over again.
Seated on a pew, well worn by 100 years of use, I worshipped alongside those in their Sunday best, those decked out in Dollywood souvenier gear, and even a gal ready for her next work out. We sung old hymns accompanied by a piano and organ that have been used by several generations and worshipped the One who's been here for all time.
In a church who's mission statement read "...to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly" it was a JOY to commune with them. I typically choose to visit Methodist churches while traveling as they all practice open communion, allowing for any and all to commune with them. As the pastor welcomed all to the table he said, "Welcome All. We care not what journey in life brought you here today or where you are in your spiritual journey just that you are in this space with us today. Because you are here, you are welcome."
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Where We've Been...
Hello Frugal Friends.
Long time no "see"
It's been a month since I've posted, probably the longest break I've taken since beginning blogging in 2008.
Our June was . . .
I don't know how to describe our June.
The end of May, we had the most beautiful day with my Momaw. We had lunch with her, talked about home projects, celebrated Owen's birthday, and for a bit of the afternoon just she and I sat in her living room. I read a long time ago that "grandparents are your first best friends" and that is 100% true for me. Momaw was always my voice of reason, encouragement, and her pride in me was just what I needed when I was unsure. We left that evening with a "See you next Friday."
Over that weekend, we celebrated Owen's 10th birthday a day early with a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo for the rhino experience. He was thrilled to meet his favorite animals and watching him pet them was a gift to me as much as it was to him. There was a long moment where he stood, eyes closed, hands to the side of a rhino and it was almost like a religious experience. I could feel him speaking to the rhinos soul and back.
Owen turned 10 on June 2 and that same evening Momaw entered the Life Eternal.
We did indeed go back to visit her that Friday - for her funeral - but we did go. Like many funerals, it brought family in from far away, put nearly everyone in the family in the same space at the same time, and I tried to enjoy that gift. God is always good, always working for us, and we all couldn't help but smile that the route from church to the cemetery (without any planning by the family) took us past the Barnard-Jones building at KWC, her favorite bread shop, the old neighborhood, the country club, and past her favorite orchard. It was one last tour with her of all of her favorite places.
We spent a week+ in Evansville/Owensboro with our family, doing what needs done to begin the process of closing a house. Then we came home to our busiest week of summer - VBS and six dance shows all in one week. My parents came up for that week and we enjoyed even more time together.
Last week, Annabeth had her favorite week of summer - Production Camp and Owen and I finished our Indiana Counties tour. We also said "See you soon" to one of our pastors. As United Methodists, we are always changing pastors and this was our third to leave since 2020. We'll say "hello" to our second new one in just a few weeks. I love our church and this tradition as we faithfully accept the will of God for leadership in our church but it isn't always easy as we truly miss the people.
As we left church that afternoon, I said "Lord. Please no more."
Then we got word that a dear little girl, a friend of Annabeth's since Kindergarten, was in a car accident. We've spent day and night since then praying for Halle and for her family. Just like my Mama, I'm one for pacing the house at 3 AM when I can't sleep, and I've covered many miles it seems as I pray for Hal and her family. I am so thankful for a BIG God who can do BIG things. If you would, join us in prayer for her.
This month I have not been at my best. I have not shown up for others as I probably should have. I have not felt like connecting but God had a different plan. In a month when I've wanted to be selfish and sad, God has given us neighbors who needed lawn care help, friends who needed meals made, birthdays to celebrate, and life to live.
Today I am so thankful to be here, for my children to have started school this week, and for the gift of serving God and others every single day.
Thank you for your patience as I let this space go to hold space in "real life" for work that needed to be done there.
See you next week Frugal Friends!
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Our Summer 2025 Bucket List
For the past few Christmas seasons, we've had the kids made a Christmas Bucket List. I found when we did it the first year that what the kids wanted was always very simple and small compared to what I thought they wanted.
We've never done a Summer Bucket List before but last year we saw our friend the Swanson Family's list. Annabeth remembered and asked if we could do it this summer too.
While I know most people are just beginning summer, we are already at our halfway break from school. We go back July 1 so we've been really working on crossing items off. Our goal is to finish our list by August 1st.
Riley Family Summer Bucket List
Sign Up for Summer Reading
Finish Summer Reading (I'm the only one not done)
Finish Indiana Tour (9 counties to go!)
Visit Momaw
Visit Eblings
Movie Night with Sichtings
Cook-Out with Friends
Annabeth Learn to Mow Lawn
Eat Ice Cream Cones
Play in Backyard Sprinkler
Swim in a Pool
Wash Cars
Go to Farmer's Market
Owen to Summer Camp (Scheduled)
Annabeth to Production Camp (Scheduled)
Annabeth Post-Dance Haircut (Appointment Booked)