A couple of the youngest who is growing fast

Today she took 3 steps and no, I don't have a picture of that, that would have been too on top of things for me. I do however have a number of back-up pictures of her, she is growing so fast!

Look at what J can do!

Life has changed around here a bit now that we have some older helpers. This is a picture of J, but M and B also mow the lawn, it is such a great help!

Another thing keeping us busy...

PEACHES!!! We have the most beautiful peaches this year. Have you ever had a peach right from the tree? They are deelicious!! They are nothing like the ones you find in the store. Anyways, it is a bit of a chore picking them, cutting them and keeping the rotten ones off of the ground, but it is well worth it!





The neighbor children love them just as much as our own children do!

an update

Wow, I am the worst blogger ever, this is why I never wanted to try. I am determined to not give up though, even if it means a couple of posts a month! What has been keeping me insanely busy? HOMESCHOOLING!! My mind is completely consumed with Latin declensions and cases, algebra, Vascoe de Gama, Eric the Red, the Egyptians, the Romans, phonics, the next art craft, Robert Louis Stevenson poems, the best way to teach the next math concept, manipulatives, Paddington Bear, the Constitution, National History Day, yes, I think you are getting the idea. I had taken pictures of some of the children doing their work, but in all honesty it is too much trouble to try and find which card I put them on.

I am also trying to finish up picture orders which is taking forever....... Maybe when things are over with that I will be itching to get on the computer and work on pictures, but until then, I am just.barely.making.it!

Even though things are busy, we are enjoying this new change and I am truly enjoying who the children are and my ability to get to know them better, that part is a real blessing. So on to some pictures that I have taken of a few things, I will be short on words since the chicken in the oven needs tending to and I have to pick up J from swimming soon.

A couple of weekends ago, Mark took the older four camping, hiking and canoeing while I stayed home with the younger three for some "little girl" time. I love "little girl time"! It's all about simple things! We did however sneek over to a farm nearby us that I did not know exsisted. It was quite an adventure. In the middle of the country is this farm with a bear, tiger, emu, fox, wolf, many deer, and many more exotic animals, kind of strange. We had a great time checking out this place and got to enjoy a hay ride in the enchanted forest they had.

It's strange seeing my hair long here, right after this picture I got it cut VERY short, well, short for me. It's definitely short, but I love it!


The enchanted forest


Yes, that is a diaper on that wee little lemur




This dear man was my lesson sent from God for that day. He was our guide that is mute and deaf and always smiles. He works there and lives in a simple room. They say all he needs is a bologne sandwich to keep him happy. What joy this man had, he was such a gift to meet.
















I truly did not set this up, it was so sweet watching them "walk" their sister around.

Kohler-Anderer beach is the Best!

This beach was a place we frequented this summer. With it being so hot, it was the perfect place to go, it always felt cool there. The sand is white and fine and the dunes are so much fun, although it is easy to lose children in them we have found (yikes!)....











This boy is always jumping, I have so many pictures of him like this :)








This one made me giggle..




The water is icy cold




The beautiful dunes




One of the views from the dunes, all of the white dots are birds




Beautiful dunes

Please take me outside!

All she wants to do is play outside with her siblings, it breaks my heart... She does get out but it is never enough for her.

Catching the sun!

It was so beautiful tonight, one of the first nights that the children could play outside without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes! I caught them playing with the 'chute, it was beautiful. Eventually they began using it to ski down our hill. I tried to tape it, but I am not that much of a techie yet. Philomena did her own thing...