Treats

 The kids ask to cook and I say go for it.  They ask to make dessert and I say sure(and I do make them clean up the mess!).  I do believe I should be asking for some stretchy yoga pants for Christmas.  So far this month they have made some cookies and...

 



#2 made chocolate chip peppermint cheese cake.

 

 

#1 made carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. 



snow days 2013

 

There is a street behind him....somewhere.

 

While I don't like the cold, I do love the snow!

 

He's up to mischief of one kind or another.  What to do when there are no hills around?

 

 

I don't think the chickens understand how to make snow angels.

They did show a little curiosity about the snow. They were only walking about in it for 15 minutes(and that was after it was on the ground 3 days).  Much prefer their almost snow free run and coop.

Harvest Party

Face painting fun! #5 picked a blue football

 

and black butterfly:)

 

 

 

This boy is quite gun-ho about everything!

Posing with her pumpkin and art work.

 

 

 

enjoyed good eats, fun games, bounce houses and hayrides.  Oh yes and the kids are enjoying lots of candy now:)  Looking forward to decorating our pumpkins soon!

 

 



Fall Happenings

 

Our final birthday of the year, #2 turned 12!

We celebrated her birthday 3 different ways.  On her actual birthday we were house sitting in the woods and made s'mores over the campfire.  She had also requested white chocolate pancakes and skillet lasagna for dinner.

Her birthday gift/party was taking a friend to Dave & Busters and playing games.

Then we had family over for cake and ice cream.  She saw this cow cake recipe in the paper and made one herself:)

 

 

The zoo, the zoo!  #5 has been wanting to visit and we finally made it.  This camel was being too cute posing for us.

 



 

Hiking in the woods.  Tried out a new trail, will go again and try more sections of it.  Think it'll be a great one to visit during the summer, lots of opportunities to play in the creeks along the trail.

School Time 2013-2014



8th Grade

 

 



 

6th Grade

 

 

3rd Grade

 



 

 

1st Grade

 

 

 

Preschool

 

 

We are on week 3 of school and figuring out what works for us this year(space wise, schedule wise etc).  Note older 3 all have own desk areas but tend to gravitate to the center.

 

 

This is my messy scholar who piles up books and papers on the floor throughout the day.



Vacation Time



 

Our first glimpse of water.  The kids saw dolphins! (none pictured)

We set up camp and headed to the beach.  It was pulling teeth to get the kids to leave the beach every time!  We enjoyed a beautiful sunset the first night.

 



Going on a hike through the dunes.

This prayer reminded me of the Apple Tree kids book.  If you don't know what I'm talking about its a great book that makes you cry when you read it to your child.

We visited an Air Force museum. (Do you love #5 in his hat?)  The kids enjoyed all the aircraft and the weapons room, which I may have had the kids walk very quickly through.  The glass on the display cases said it had a very sensitive alarm, do not touch!  We made it through without setting off the alarm!  Yes!

 

 

 

Had to stop here, the boys have this in toy size at home.

 

 

 

 





 We buried sisters and cousins in the sand.

 

 

We played on a sand bar with a board.

 

I got tired of cooking in the pouring rain, so we had an easy and not so healthy dinner.  Of course it didn't rain then!

 

 last day pictures by the beach

 

 

Mom and daughter.

 

 

silly picture minus the wanderer.

 

 

 

Lots of fun, cranky, sandy, salty, splashn' good times.  Ended up leaving a few days early due to storms and flash flood advisories so there were friends we didn't get to see,  hikes we didn't get to climb and sunsets we missed but very grateful for all the memories we were able to make and look forward to more such times with my children.  Now to figure out how to put a camper size load into my minivan next year.  I think I may need one of those bottomless bags in the movies. :)

Down on the Farm

 

Last week we attended Freezer Camp.  We being, me and the older 3.  Where being the Grandparents house.  What is Freezer Camp?  It's when you take the Roosters shown above and you make them freezer ready.

 

A great helper. 

 16 birds are now in freezers to make bellies full at a later date.  I think our initial jump into this type of thing went rather well.  We all think we can do it again and had some fun humorous moments throughout. 

 

 

After freezer camp we were able to pick peaches.  We started out on the ground.  Then grandpa helped the girl reach some higher ones.  Then a couple chairs helped do the trick but the choice peaches seemed out of reach....

 

 

 

go big or go home

 

 

 

Lots of yummy goodness!



My July Firecrackers

 

13!  We celebrated with some zip lining adventures(which are stuck on my camera until I can download the pictures), time to talk about growing up and fun eats.  He loved the zip line, hugged and thanked my throughout the adventure :D woot woot  it was a win-win because I love zip lining too!

 

 

My little guy is 4!  He still loves Thomas the Train, and received his own Tball set-now he can play the big kids!  His food pick of the day was Taco's.  Such an easy person to please:)



Summer Fun in Missouri 2

 

We tried another hike, Pickle Springs if you are interested.  A fun 2 mile walk.

 

 

We found arches.

 

 

We found frogs.

 

 

We found lots of different yellow flowers along the trail.

 

 

 

#4 lost his 2 front teeth this summer.