Project 365: Week 18

5.7.13
Elayna's 6th birthday!





5.6.13
Oh, if she could only be outside 24/7 she would be the happiest little toddler in the world. This is the look I get when I say, "Time to go in, Babycakes! It's time for bed!".





5.5.13
It was bridal shower day for Colby's cousin Kyle and his gorgeous bride-to-be Kayla! The details were so lovely and everything was amazing, from the table decorations to the delicious luncheon food to the fun company!





5.4.13
Picnic time! We had a lovely picnic, then the two big kids walked home with me (about 2 miles) while Daddy took the little ones home.




5.3.13
The girls found this snake at the edge of our field. It looks so menacing with its neck puffed up like a cobra! Unlike the cobra, however, it is quite harmless. The eastern hognose snake doesn't like to bite, instead, it will strike with its mouth closed, roll over and play dead like a possum, and emit a foul odor to scare off predators! 




5.2.13
Oops! No picture today. :(



5.1.13

The adventures waiting on the horizon call her name, I think. So eager to keep up with her older siblings!

Project 365: Week 15

4.15.13
"Chicks Dig Scars". You bet they do, tough guy! 





4.14.13
Sunday afternoon playing with LEGOs on the rug by the fire.





4.13.13
Last fall Colby finally got the longhorn headache rack for his truck that he's wanted for years...and this spring I finally got a picture of it! This was custom made by our friend Luke Merrit. Luke also custom built our indestructible, personalized "J" log rack that sits on our hearth.




4.12.13
"Why are you looking at me instead of letting me out?!" Tucker and his non stop wiggles is a surprisingly more difficult target for picture taking than a toddler.




4.11.13
A cold return to winter weather with freezing rain covering the world with a sheet of ice, a warm bowl of potato soup and sourdough toast was just the thing.

4.10.13

Just a snapshot of the crazy critter we call Twert. This is how he sleeps, and this is what his tongue looks like all the time. You just can't usually see it when he's upright; his furry overbite conceals a myriad of oddness.




4.9.13

A tiny taste of spring weather had the kids jumping for joy. The light rain falling didn't keep them indoors, and the barn held wonders and adventures anew. Ahh...to be this young and full of hopeful anticipation again...

365 Project: Week 14

4.8.13
Watched over by Petrie the Pterodactyl on his graham cracker tower, the kids grudgingly get back to their school work.





4.7.13
Dusk. So mild, a little spring scent to the air. Too bad that didn't last!





4.6.13
Someone fell asleep in the car with gum in her mouth, then hid the gum stuck in her hair from me until it was nice and gummed in and hard. After an hour or two of softening it and working it out with olive oil slathered on, she was finally ready for a second bath to get nice and clean. She really didn't want a haircut but I was thisclose!!





4.5.13
Saying goodbye to Reb as we get ready to head home. Evelyn is the only one of my kids who has lived at our farm without any horses around. Yet she's very interested in them and has no fear at all! She loves her Breyers, was over the moon when we had the Sleigh Ride at Christmas, and when Reb wandered away from the fence she marched out after him saying, "I go get him!" until Auntie Raini rescued her. Reb wouldn't hurt a fly (unless it looked like a dog) but having a little caution around a big critter is still necessary, little one!






4.4.13
Riding bikes together in the cold Indiana sunshine. Of course, the day we left it returned to a happy, warm 70 degrees. And we drove home to....more snow.





4.3.13

At the playground, which was really cool and full of neat stuff you don't often see at playgrounds: a barrel roll, a big rock to climb on, and this four-tire twirling swing. This was my first attempt at trying some "panning" shots. Kind of fun and different!

4.2.13
After some time at the library the day before, the kids were enjoying their new books and some not-so-quiet reading time. Both of these boys are intense information-sharers. So about every 30 seconds one of them piped up with something they needed to read or point out to the other! It was so nice to be able to watch them together.


4.1.13

Another one from April 1 - because one of the best parts of Spring Break was being able to go enjoy some time girl time with my best friend! We shopped, went to bookstores, sat lazily and sipped coffee, and enjoyed some great food. Not a moment (or bite) of this was taken for granted!

Project 365: Week 13

4.1.13
The biggest reason there was no picture on Sunday? (aka my excuse and I'm stickin' to it.) The kids and I were driving to Indiana! Breakfast with cousin Levi to kick off Spring Break on Monday morning was a joy!





3.31.13
Happy Easter!
The first (and hopefully only) day of this Project 365 in which not a single picture was taken.




3.30.13
Watching the deer in the field at dusk.






3.29.13
It was an amazing day. First we went to watch the release of a rehabilitated Cooper's Hawk. Then on our way home we saw a Bald Eagle perched in a tree by the side of the road. When we stopped he took off, but flew low overhead, circling above the road as we slowly inched along the shoulder following him. Then a pair of hawks burst above the treeline and pestering the Eagle to leave their home alone. Quite the show was put on by the raptors - a very special treat for my little bird watchers as they are studying Flying Creatures of the 5th Day in school!




3.28.13
Sharing some reading time together on the couch.





3.27.13
You can hardly see him, but the black panther is, actually, centrally located in this shot! He's snuggling up with Emmy on the couch for a morning nap after a night of prowling through the barn.




3.26.13

Still feeling a little low, Elayna was falling asleep while doing schoolwork so I sent her to lie down on the couch. A few minutes later I found this. Poor girl had been holding on to a lingering cough and tiredness. Some sunshine and playing in the fresh air has her back to new now, though!

365 Project: Week 12

3.25.13
Evelyn's current favorite busy work while the big kids do school is using scissors to cut paper. It makes her very happy and keeps her busy for long periods of time. Of course, the house looks like a tornado has ripped through a paper mill and spit out everything in my living room, but hey, she's busy, quiet, and not watching Netflix on my phone. What more could I ask for?





3.24.13
Officially the most boring 365 pic yet. A pebbled sidewalk.




3.23.13
Our black panther has some war wounds after this long winter. I'm not sure what happened, but perhaps the squirrel out by the barn could tell the tale. If there was anything left of him besides a fluffy tail.





3.22.13
There's nothing better than an empty room to skate in to beat the winter (and sicky) blues! However, switching rooms on a Friday afternoon is not my best idea.





3.21.13
Just chillin' in the snow, trying not to compare the 20 inches of snow on the ground on the first full day of spring to last year's playing in the water at the lake on the first day of spring!





3.20.13
This girl.





3.19.13

Being the only kid not sick has some benefits! Emmy got to walk to Grandma's and spend some quality one-on-one time with her.

365 Project: Week 11

3.18.13
My airplane enthusiast cowboy.





3.17.13
"Horsey book, Daddy!"





3.16.13
"The Purple Lady"





3.15.13
Still winter...





3.14.13
We got a special package in the mail from Aunty Raini and had to have an impromptu tea party with the special goodies!





3.13.13
The sentinel at the top of the castle tower, just before Joshua demolished the castle to build an aircraft carrier in its place.




3.12.13

Helping Momma make pancakes.

Project 365: Week 10

3.11.13
A dreary, rainy Monday. Perfect for an afternoon of playing "Birds" and daydreaming of summer days when playing cowboys all day in the barn from morning till dark is a reality.




3.10.13
Silent Storyteller.





3.9.13
On Saturday night Emmy and Elayna went with me to watch the GLAA Aerokhanas perform. They couldn't sit still in their seats, bouncing, laughing, clapping and....climbing the outside of the bleachers (Elayna) trying to be like the gymnasts. It was a lot of fun! Especially when they each were lifted up high like one of the team.






3.8.13
How he studies.




3.7.13
"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing."  Is. 40:26





3.6.13
Ahhhhhh.......coffee.




3.5.13 - 
Meanwhile, back in MI...

it's still winter.