November 13, 2026-Battle of the Ravine Weekend 2026

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Marley first stirred around 7 this morning, but I laid really still, and we all went back to sleep. Robby and I were up occasionally-I think he caught up on work from yesterday's email outage, but for the most part I snoozed this morning until I finally did get out of bed. 

When we did get dressed for the day, we took the dogs on a walk. We were pleasantly surprised that even though it was pretty chilly outside, the sun made it bearable and even pleasant. We sat outside until Graham text asking what was for lunch. We said that we would make some pancakes and egg in the hole, so he came over around noon.

We had our breakfast then, a little late, but we all enjoyed it. We visited with Graham until he left, and then we pulled out Shannon's mahjong set. Robby, Keaton, Shannon, and I played a few games. All of those lessons I have given Robby helped him win a round. 

The afternoon really did seem to fly by, and soon we were walking the dogs before supper. We met Tony and Brett at Cracker Barrel. We didn't have to wait long in the gift shop, but while we did wait, we had plenty to look at. We got our table and soon ordered our supper. Most everyone got chicken-Robby and I got chicken fried chicken, but it was more like 2 big chicken tenders. The food was fine, but I don't have to go back there for a while. 

We had to run to Sonic on the way back to the camper. Then we joined the Wilsons in their camper to watch the end of the basketball game. While we were watching, Keaton joined us, Campbell laid in the camper, and Whitman worked on a science experiment in the camper. 

Now, we are all bedded down, and Robby is getting out of the shower. I'm about to get in the shower-we have a heater in there so when I get ready for my shower I take forever because it is so warm and cozy with the heater going-it is probably 100 degrees though in that bathroom. 

November 12, 2026-Battle of the Ravine Weekend 2026

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• Campbell and Keaton left this morning as I was reading to Whitman. I mostly read to Whitman, but for a few minutes I had clothes to put in the dryer and brownies to take out of the oven so he had to read a bit himself. He didn't mind plus it helped keep him awake. I must have forgotten to give Whitman a bedtime last night because Robby said that he was up pretty late last night.
• While the girls were at work, Whitman plugged along on his school work. He did most things by lunch and had a few more after lunch to do. I made another dessert for this weekend, and then I took a walk for a bit. I was finishing one book so I could start on another on the way here. 
• After my shower, Whitman and I left around 1:15. We had a time getting here. Whitman was asleep for most of it though. The boy has not taken a nap in about 10 years, but he sure took one today on the ride down here. 
• I knew that I had a mystery shop on the way to Arkadelphia, and I knew that it was in Malvern. I assumed that it was at our normal spot and since Robby hadn't answered my text, I just headed there. He didn't answer my text because my phone kind of stopped working-he wasn't able to track me nor were his text going through to me. He did eventually call to check in and after turning my phone off and back on, we were back up and running. He did call at the right time though because I was just about to pass my stop.
• We did that without a problem, but my next problem was the book I started listening to. It just started to sound like it was a sequel, and I like to listen to things in the right order. I asked Whitman to do some research, but he wasn't able to find anything out. (When I did get here, I was able to find out that I was indeed listening to a sequel, but I really had to do some deep diving to figure that out-most books on the library website are labeled if they are the second or third book, but this one was not.)
• The whole way here, I had thought that the car sounded windier than usual, and I had even tried to roll up the windows. It was strange, but we had some work done on it lately, and there was a new rattle, so I just through it was something related to that. However, when I got off at Caddo, I could tell I was dragging or scraping something. I was already stopping at the gas station there, so I called Robby.
• He gave me the all clear to just come on to the campsite. Once here, he was able to fix the problem-the plastic under thing in front of the tire was flapping and dragging some. He zip tied that baby, and hopefully it will hold.
• We then went to work setting up lights, so many lights, and tents and chairs, so many chairs at the Wilson's campsite. We are reading for Saturday and hope that the cold weather doesn't scare off the kids. The Wilsons arrived later in the evening, and once they got all set up Robby made quesadillas for supper. 
• We have already booked our spots for next year-there was someone already in our normal spot so we had to find new sites while on our walk tonight. Tomorrow it is going to be cold, so maybe the sun will be out and keep us warm at least some of the day. 

November 11, 2026

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• Another full day here. We started off on school this morning. Whenever I had a break, I worked on a few things around the house. Robby did his work and stopped at lunch to start loading the camper. 
• Also at lunch, my kitchen Christmas tree was delivered so that derailed all of my plans for a while. I dropped everything else and put it up. We didn't have a Christmas kitchen tree last year so I'm super glad that we have one this year. It is just a basic tree, but it does have colored lights which excited most people in the house. Currently, the lights are turned off because it is bedtime!
• Campbell went to work and was home within the house. There was little for her to do, so she finished what she knew to do and came home. I'm hoping that her job lasts the next year and a half. Keaton was headed to babysit this afternoon so Campbell ended up joining her. This was great news for me because that meant I didn't have to take Keaton which allowed me time to walk.
• Robby and the dogs headed to Degray. Once they were gone the house was pretty quiet with just Whitman and me here. After my walk, I got ready for church, and we headed that way. 
• After church, Campbell and Keaton went to ChickFilA while Whitman and I came home and played a game. He also did a few chores-but I'm sitting here looking at his laundry, and I guess he forgot that chore!

November 10, 2026

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• This was another good school day. Campbell was gone all morning at work (that's not what made it a good school day.) She had done some of her school last night so that helped her out some when she did come home around noon.
• Keaton is starting a new math so we worked a while on that this morning. She will be gone a few days next week during school so I'm trying to get her used to doing it. Whitman continues to plus along on his school work-he is pretty much going to have all different curriculum come January. 
• I decorated the living room tree today-putting ornaments on a tree is a pain for sure. It is not my favorite thing at all. However, I've been doing just a little bit each day getting ready for Christmas, and it is kind of nice. I wish that I was able to buy a few things every day too to make that all easier (I've only bought about 3 percent of my Christmas gifts.)
• This morning I finished tonight's cake. It is a snickerdoodle cake, and gracious I think I'm a bit jittery after eating it. It is incredibly way too sweet. I'm glad I tried it, but I won't be making it again. 
• I had mahjong tonight so I was gone when Graham and Brooklyn came over for a little bit. They had been out to eat and ate some cake before watching a movie. Now, I'm going to have myself some hot chocolate to maybe negate the sweetness of the cake. 

November 9. 2026

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• For a Monday morning, this was a really great Monday. Nothing exciting happened, but school got done, and I text a bit with all of the big kids. Bentley was the first one awake this morning; she was already downstairs when I walked through with the laundry.
• I did my morning things and then started reading with Whitman by 8:30. Campbell knocked out her school work and was ready to work with me as soon as I finished with Whitman. We checked her work and did her math.
• Keaton was finished next so she did her work. I am starting to realize that I need to pile on the work for Campbell and Keaton whenever I can because they are busy so often. They just got a house sitting gig for 4 days early next week. I write down their schedules on my calendar (one on the fridge and one on the phone), but I may have to get a larger calendar to keep up with everything.
• My main chores this afternoon were going on my walk, putting up the living room tree (I just got the tree up and nothing else), washing Graham's sheets, and making a cake for tomorrow (but not icing it). I'm sure I did a few other things plus I checked Whitman's school work and did a few school things with him.
• We also played a game this afternoon-this time he won! I have a basket of things that he and I need to do together, but we ran out of time today to do anything else. We had mostly all eaten some pizza earlier in the afternoon when Robby brought it home, so we didn't really have supper.
• However, I'm the only one awake in the living room right now (Robby, Bentley, and Marley are all sleeping-one of them is snoring. I think that it is Marley.) I'm going to have myself some hot chocolate and possibly read my book. Or maybe I will join the nappers!

November 8, 2026

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• Church morning, and Keaton, Campbell, and Lucy headed to church before the rest of us. They had the doors to do plus offering plate during the service. After church we all met up at Nonna and Pop's house for tacos for lunch. We stayed until the end of the Razorback basketball game. 
• After lunch, Robby ran a few errands, and Keaton drove the rest of us home. I did a few things around the house, but then I ended up on the couch snoozing away until Robby came home. 
• When he came home, I helped him unload, and then soon after we left with Keaton and Whitman. We dropped Keaton off at her life group and then dropped Whitman off at his life group. Then we went to our Sunday school bonfire fellowship-except there is a burn ban so we could have no fire.
• Campbell left a bit after we did for her life group-we were actually able to hear her and her friends at their life group house tonight. I'm sure the neighbors love them. Keaton and Whitman both had rides home so that was super nice, and we were able to stay a bit longer. 
• We made it home just a few minutes before Campbell did-I guess that we could have carpooled. Now, I'm sitting on the couch thinking about taking a hot shower and climbing into bed because it is pretty cold in this house!

November 7, 2026

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• It was a perfect Saturday morning-we had no where to be and really nothing to do today. We stayed in bed for a bit before getting up. I had a few things on my list today, and the biggest was putting up one more Christmas tree.
• I picked the easiest of those-the tree by Robby's office. Well, it should have been easy. It wasn't-at all. I was pretty sure that the lights would not work, and they didn't. They didn't even work at all. Robby tried to help with the lights, but it was hopeless. 
• We looked at getting a new tree, but even though this tree isn't huge there wasn't really anything that was a reasonable price. So, we move the tree to the mudroom and starting cutting off all of the lights. The old non working lights would have shown to much to just add new lights. We went to work on those lights, and it did take us nearly an hour to get them all of. 
• However, after that hour, it didn't take my anytime at all to add some lights and decorate the tree with all of our Disney ornaments. By this time the Hogs were playing so Robby watched them play while I finished with the tree and even had some hot chocolate since it was cold in our house.
• Campbell went to a baby shower for a friend that she knows from church. Afterwards, Campbell found some errands to run and even bought a sweater. Keaton had a birthday party tonight to go to. Robby and I dropped her off, and then we ran some errands. 
• Currently, Keaton, Campbell, and Keaton's friend who is spending the night are at Sonic for a drink. Robby and I have made brownies so I guess it is turning into a party here tonight!