A Great Day

 

Our routines are getting back to normal. We are still all meeting together once a week instead of the typical twice a week thing...we are working through some "Table questions" as I use the girls for a focus group to see how the format may work for a monthly opportunity for women this fall.  The girls are enjoying it. 

We ran by the pharmacy to get more meds for Dad. I was so thankful Stacia and I had run in last night and we didn't have to go in today. 

Michael met a friend across town for coffee and then went on to his weekly appointment. He was gracious enough to run Allie's old laptop by our charter school. 

At home Allie worked on a play/script she is writing for Stacia's birthday. Stacia rested and wrote. I puttered around the garden a bit.  I will never plant another garden without flowers...it is so fun to see a valiant bloom in the midst of the chickweed and such. LOL 

It has another 5 - 6 weeks right? Maybe I'll get some pumpkins...not the pumpkin patch I envisioned. 

More dragon egg cucumbers...so far they're our most prolific. 

Kombocha...maybe it will mature in 5 - 6 weeks. 

Michael has been working at integrating our flocks. The new chicks are still skittish. They stay to themselves but there have been no big fights. I can barely wait until these girls begin laying eggs. We are so TIRED of feeding chickens without eggs. We are debating meat birds next year. 

I pulled about half of the broccoli plants. The chickens were happy to eat them. I fed the rabbit some greens I had let go for him. It had gotten gooshy during all the rain. I found one little cauliflower head and folded the leaves over it. The Brussel sprouts are sprouting and the tomatoes and cucumbers are set. I don't think the watermelon is going to mature. Even in the greenhouse I don't think it's been warm enough. I have LOVED having fresh basil and am contemplating the best way to keep the trend going over the winter. I may grow some herbs under grow lights. 

I placed this stick in the corner for the chickens to play on TWO years ago. Those chickens never once tried it. These gals love it. They've been roosting on top of the bunny hutch; I think it feels like home to them. 

Nolan ran Allie to work, and Stacia and I went to work making pizzas.  This was to be our offering for Life Group potluck tonight. That and chips and quacamole....not because they go together but because I have an over-abundance of avocados to use. 

Pepperoni, ham & pineapple, pesto chicken, BBQ chicken

Bre called when we were in the midst of pizza making to say her childcare arrangements for swim lessons had fallen through. I knew taking two littles to Life Group was a bad idea...but I was fairly sure Annie would enjoy herself. She did. It turns out she knows three of the ladies and one youth from the nursery. She enjoyed dinner and sat well during our devo....I had to get up with her near the end. 

When we got home Annie told her Dad she, "weally had fun."  She also told me how much she loved me several times during Life Group. We're currently studying what it means to Love God and Love our neighbors as ourselves...I think she took the clue to let me know how she felt. Kids listen more than we give them credit.

A great day - bookended with community - gardening and chickens in the middle. LOL 

Tuesday and Wednesday

I took Stacia with me Tuesday a.m. to watch Benny and Danny. Cory and Arielle had a meeting with OCS and we knew they wouldn't be home before I had to leave.  I think Stacia enjoyed the time with the boys, and school will begin for her shortly, so it was a good time for her to come with me. 

We played all kinds of ball games, read books, started watching a movie and decided it wasn't worth our time. 

Daniel danced. 

While Stacia continued to play with the boys, I drove across to Wasilla for co-op. I remembered to take a photo of more than spoilage. LOL 

Michael is the only one here at home who can actually OPEN the bags via the pull string. That was one BIG bag of popcorn...which I topped with nutritional yeast/nacho flavor. 

I had just enough time to put food away, box up some treats for CoRielle and BreZaak, before Jojo and Annie arrived. Izaak was unavailable and the older two kids have swim lessons. We got to Annie and Jojo time. We were far too busy to take photos. 

Wednesday morning was LOVELY. I love the day after co-op...all kinds of fresh fruit! 

That's it - just the one photo. Stacia had two Japanese lessons today. She had her normal lessons and met again at 5 p.m. with a young woman who is a Japanese translator for companies. She's had four years of English lessons with Kim Sensei and is willing to meet with Stacia this year for conversation practice. 

I took dad for a heart ultrasound. 

Michael and Alex took care of one of the more unpleasant homestead jobs. 

We had Dutch Babies - breakfast for dinner and then Stacia and I headed to the church. She attended youth group, and I hosted a women's ministry team meeting. We're gearing up for fall. 

After we left church, we ran by the grocer for a few items I needed to make pizzas tomorrow. 

This week promised to be busy, but we are 1/2 way through it. We've got this. 

A VERY Busy Monday

 Bre had an OB appointment and so I found myself at their home as the kids came out for breakfast! Its a great time of the day to snatch some cuddles. We read, played pirates and mermaids and then an elaborate game with tunnels and tents. 

Smile BIG Annie! 

Jojo is easiest to photograph from this position

Fire in the hole! 

I got home just in time for Arielle and the boys to show up to spend time with Dad.  She sent us a couple of photos to share some of the fun they were having. 

📷by Arielle

📷by Arielle

The best lunches are worn

Michael and I took the girls out to lunch. We opted for Krazy Moose Subs. Yum. Next, we picked up Allie's new college laptop! We give all the kids a "good" laptop when they graduate from high school...of course, by the time they finish college it's obsolete, but we try to give them a solid start. LOL  

Thinking...thinking...

It was fun to watch Allie wrestle with herself while we shopped. She "wanted" to go for the cheapest, but also loved the look of a couple of them...in the end we told her we wanted at LEAST one of the processors...she didn't care about touch screen and we wanted lots of memory....we landed on the perfect one for her...it as 1 TB memory, a better processor than we set as the minimum, Allie likes the look of it, AND it was in stock.  Woot! A win...college begins shortly. 

It was a busy and productive start to what looks to be shaping up to be a busy week. 

Sunday's Excitement

Another amazing announcement...another grandblessing is coming our way!  For THIS child we've prayed, believed, and hoped. This child was spoken of by an airport prophet...and very soon we'll get to HOLD him. 

📷by Larissa 

Sunday afternoon we hosted the family to Jared and Larissa's gender reveal. Wow - y'all - when I was having babies half of them were still revealed with, "It's a boy!" at delivery. LOL Knowing ahead of time does have advantages. 

We've all been waiting, patiently, and one day this week Larissa texted they knew the gender and asked if we could all meet at our place on Sunday. YEP! 

While we were at church, KrUke came in from camping and showered. JaRissa arrived and started baking pizzas....and boom a family gathering happened! Nolan is usually working when everyone else is off - but everyone else was able to make it.  It was great to have Izaak home for the reveal and nice to catch up with him. 

Benny, Liv, Allie, GG, Bella, Annie, Gideon 

Jared is currently helping Stanley Wright with his campaign for State House from District 22. Stanley came out for the gender reveal. He fit right in. At one point we all realized he and Michael had disappeared for quite some time...out in the garage and RV... LOL 

Jared and Stanley 

Krista

After lunch the festivities moved outside - to the very place we had CyRi's wedding almost a year ago exactly. Fun memories we are making here at Wibbly Wobbly Acres. LOL 

A box

The excitement built...only Jared and Larissa knew...we all had our guesses and we all had a 50% chance of being right....the cousin table...or part of the cousins...were heavily pulling for blue.

The sibs table and deck....

JaRissa work the details for those who were joining via Facebook live. 

It's a boy! Noah Michael Warren

Noah - God can be trusted. God keeps His promises. God does what He says he's going to do! A great name. 

Uncle Cy bounces Bella, Gideon, Benny, Annie and Livie while Reno watches on. Reno is a very BIG and extremely lovable mastiff. 

I volunteered to provide a slide show for announcements or during the reception of Cory's licensing service...I'm not sure why he isn't comfortable with the idea! LOL 

Cory entertains Danny and Benny

Aunt Carrie plays a game with Benny and Livie. 

Jared, Larissa, Me, Michael 

📷by Carrie 

Josiah (JoJo - BreZaak's) is tired📷by Carrie 

What a blessing these girls are!!!! 📷by ?

📷by Carrie 

📷by Larissa

It was a great afternoon! Our hearts are full. God knew we'd love these moments with family. We sense this is a season and we are determined to wring every moment we can from this season.