Our Saturday

 

So we spent the morning cleaning the yard and working in the garden.  Jason has the garden ready to plant.  Cora worked with me and we cleaned up three large garbage bags of “winter trash” from the yard.  (Winter trash is frustrating because most of it is not our trash; it’s trash that has blown in or been dropped in our yard over the winter months.)

 

The deal was (with the kids) that we would work until noon and then go to the dam.  They worked hard right up until the end when they were wore out.  And hot.  And hungry.  While Jason did the final tilling, the kids helped me gather things for the afternoon.  Jason attempted to catch a fish.  He didn’t get one.  We ate a cold lunch by the bus and I snapped some pictures.

 

When we got home, we had spaghetti for supper.

 

 

Mr. Matty loves spaghetti.

 

All in all, a beautiful, productive and fun day.

 

Now I plan to take my lobster arms to bed and hope they aren’t quite so red in the morning.

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Our Sunday

So the older girls had their final dance wind up. I got some pretty good pictures.

 

the instructor

 

and the final bow!

 

Rayna stole Daddy’s sunglasses

 

And then later that evening, the children and I watched THREE HOURS of SURVIVOR.  Survivor is really the only show that I watch “religiously”.  I almost missed the finale by going to a farewell party with Jason, but before we left, Jason was “surfing” and I saw the show posted in the guide.  I cancelled the sitter and my plans.  Jason went to the party alone.  We really need to go grocery shopping (will happen today) and so there was very little for snacks.  We found a bag of mini-marshmallows.

 

We had a lot of fun, as you can see.

 

I really enjoyed this season of Survivor.  After my favorite pick got voted out / “duelled out”, there was only one other person who I thought deserved to win.  I won’t post any spoilers, as I know many wait a day or two to watch the program online.  I am looking forward to next season already.  Good thing we stay busy outdoors for the summer months.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Arts Festival–Dance Time

I was too far away from the stage to get a good picture of the actual dancing, but here are some snapshots from before their performance.  They had so much fun.  One more final performance for the parents and friends of the families on the 15th of May.

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Some pictures–Please enjoy!

 

Doc loves to be outside with the children; I think on this day they were sledding down the hill, until they broke disc they were sliding on.

 

The three oldest girls participated in a Clay for Kids activity; I didn’t get a picture of Marrissa’s, not sure why.  The girls had so much fun with all the other homeschoolers that participated that day.  The first day we made the creations, then about 4 weeks later we met again to paint them and have lunch together.  I had such a great time visiting with some of the other moms.

 

 

These are my men.  Aren’t they adorable?!?!  I had fun taking the pictures.  It’s not very often that the three of them sit together like this.  Matty wasn’t into sitting still for the picture as you can see.  The other two just wanted to make faces at me.  I can’t wait to get the three of them in their fire dept. shirts and get picture; it will be so sweet.

 

 

On the weekend of April 9th and 10th, Jason and I worked together and created this space for me and the kids in the room across from the dining room.  The “brown shelf” is now my homeschool shelf (prior to this is held my coffee, toaster, etc.).  The lighter shelf next to it is a combination of things.  It is here that I have my control journal, the Green Works to spray the table. Behind the glass doors is the snack cupboard.  The door is the cereal cupboard.  The bottom two shelves will hold things that are too big to put anywhere else – things like cases of pop, juice, paper towel, disposable plates and cups. 

Now the other shelf (second picture) is made of two corner cabinets, like what would be in a kitchen; Jason put them together and put a nice piece of plywood on top.  I love it because it’s fresh and new and clean and more kitchen like; I can pretend my kitchen is coming sooner.  lol.  The coffeepot and toaster are perfect on top, better than on that other shelf.  This will be easier to clean and easier to operate.

 

 

On April 11th, Grandma Irene came for a visit.  She always gets our butts in gear.  On this day, she directed traffic and folded laundry.  We got the main living room and dining room in great shape and swept up the floor.  I just need to get the children to put away their clothes.

After a short visit, she asked if the oldest three could come for a visit at her house.  She brought them home in time for choir class.  Irene is getting older and often has pain in her legs.  I want to make the most of each day that she is able to spend with us and our community.  I am making a point of saying yes, when she phones for a visit (whether at my home or hers); I am making  a point of letting the children visit with her.  And I took an opportunity today to snag a picture or two; my children will love these pictures.  The third one, Irene wanted to get.

I don’t think I’m old enough to be mom to that large group of children, but here I am, mom to 6!

 

I hope you enjoyed my little “slideshow”; I know a number of my readers have been asking for pictures and day to day happenings.

 

I aim to please.

 

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

The Baby

Isn’t he just the cutest thing you ever did see? He’s getting around lots.  He has the chubbiest legs I’ve seen since Rayna.  And, boy, does he love to laugh.  When he was a little younger, like 3 months old, I would simply be getting him dressed and that process would have him bursting into giggles.  Now he laughs very easily – a silly face, a weird noise, a cute dance.  He’s starting to get into food, but not too much.  I think he likes to feed himself, so that could be the issue as I’m not giving him finger foods.  What we are giving him (yogurt, soups, cottage cheese, etc) is enough so that I’m not nursing 24/7 like I was for a while.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

The Dreamer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know the first picture doesn’t show her beautiful face or her silly expression,

but LOOK. at. those. EYES! 

So blue! 

Marrissa is in her own world.  She marches to a different drummer a lot of the time.  She’s in the middle and doesn’t really fit in either group.  She’s too young for some of the activities the big girls do.  She’s too old to have fun with the little kids all the time too.  She’s making her own friends already; these friends aren’t Kristyn’s friends and they aren’t Wyatt’s friends.  She plays dress up almost all the time.  She organizes little games with whoever is willing to play with her. 

She’s not a follower but she’s not a leader either.  “She’s just Magoo,” her daddy would say.

 

(first pic was taken in March 2011; second on April 1, 2011)

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

She’s the most . . . . .

 

(L – taken March 2011)

(below – taken April 1, 2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think she’s the biggest handful yet!  She’s my first.  She’s my girl.  I love her so much and yet we fight so much.  She’s the most helpful.  She’s the most talkative.  She’s the most active.  She’s the most diverse.  She’s the most extreme.  She’s the most frustrating!  She’s the most in your space and in your face.  She’s the most loving.  She’s wants to please so badly.  She’s the most willing to try new things.  She’s the most social.  She’s the most dramatic.

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,