handsful

Sometimes you’ve just gotta torture your kids with posed pictures.  I’m not sure why, but some of my kids HATE having their pictures taken.  Hate it.  Hide when I bring out the camera kind of hate.

At least these guys are always ready to smile for a pic.

Unless your sister tries to squeeze you too hard.  Not cool with Dylan.

He requested a “silly picture”, which made it all better.

I don’t ever mind having my picture taken with my extremely handsome husband.

One more of the kids, just because I can.

It’s been a fantastic Easter Sunday…starting with a wonderful church service spent praising my risen Savior.  Followed by a lunch feast of baked ham, corn on the cob, green beans, roasted potatoes, and rolls.  And, now we’re being lazy watching NCAA basketball.  Perfect.

Happy Easter :)

While Randy and I were dating, we made plans for our future, like all young couples do.  We were going to have 2 (maybe 3) kids.  I would work for a while, and then stay home to take care of those kids.  Eventually, we would buy an old farmhouse (to fix up) that sat on 10 acres.

Stop laughing.

We hit it outta’ the box on the kid thing.  I worked up until Abbey was 16 months old, and then called it quits.  My job for the last 12 years has been home school mama.  This house was move-in-ready and although it’s not really a farmhouse, I couldn’t be happier.  The acreage thing worked out, too.  We currently have 11, and are looking at our options to buy the other 8.  A good bit of that extra land is wooded, so last Saturday we decided to check it out.

Marley, Payton, and Ethan were away for the weekend at friend’s houses, so it was just the 6 of us….including Abbey’s friend, D’Qota.

D’Qota was kind enough to give Dylan a lift…the terrain was hard to maneuver for the little guy.

It was chilly…by the way, WHERE is Spring?  But, quite beautiful.

D’Qota proved himself to be quite the spider monkey.  He shimmied up a tree faster than I could contemplate doing it.  Jumped down from said tree, at least 10 feet.  The guy has no fear.

We came up to a big crevice with a big tree across it.  We were a little astounded to discover it was a dumping ground from (most likely) the previous owner.  We decided to investigate a little.

A set of twin mattresses, large chest freezer FULL of yucky water (thankfully, Randy and D’Qota were able to dump it over), electric fan, liner of an old pool, flower pots, 2 (yes, 2) clock radios, various bottles and glass, an old steering wheel, and a full set of electric curlers.  In other areas, we found the back axle of a truck, a rusted metal plow attachment for a tractor, and at least 20 hub caps.

Not even sure what to say.  I mean, seriously!?  Why in the WORLD would anyone just dump this stuff in the woods?  Why is that easier than taking it to a…oh, I don’t know…a DUMP?  Now, we’re trying to figure out if clearing all of this is our responsibility or if we should ask the current owner of the land to clear it before we buy.  Talking to our realtor on that one.

Abbey and D’Qota did go back and gather the hub caps.  Randy is going to use them to decorate a wall of the Shop, after the kids get them all cleaned up.

D’Qota was the only who actually got down into the bottom and found all this stuff.  He obviously likes danger and adventure.

The littles were content to climb around the fallen trees.

I’ve always wanted land…spread out, country, no-one-else-close-by LAND.

This just might be it.

I’ve not done a post in a little while.

Life, ya know?

I was looking through my phone’s pics and realized they painted a pretty accurate picture of our recent days…

The other night, we had one extra teen hanging out with us (nothing new there…), and I was trying to think of something to make for dinner that would fill everyone up.  I found a hashbrown breakfast casserole on one of my Pinter*st boards.

I had no hashbrowns.  But, I DID have tater tots.  It worked well, and I added homemade waffles and turkey bacon to round out the veggie-less dinner.  And, full we definitely were!

Dylan’s 3rd prosthesis is in the works, he’ll have his first fitting in April.  We had the task of finding a new pattern for the new socket.  He’s had camo/lizards and cars for his last two.  We found this at the fabric store and it was an immediate “Yes!!”

I’ve become somewhat addicted to homemade popcorn.  Not the icky, greasy, orange stuff that you make in the microwave (that my kids devour), but the old-school popcorn on the stove.  2 tablespoons Canola oil, sprinkle popcorn to almost cover the bottom, heat on medium high.  As soon as the first kernel pops, put on the lid and shake around till the popping stops.  Add a little popcorn salt, and you’ve got a pot full of popcorn that (if I’m around) doesn’t last long.  You should try it.  Really.

Ethan kinda amazes me.  If anyone has ever had a natural affinity for music, it’s him.  He’s never had a direct drum lesson….only been in the same room while Payton had a few lessons (and quickly realized he was more suited to drawing).  Everything else, he’s taught himself.  And, if I may say so, he’s good.  Good enough to have made the worship band for the Jr. High kids at our church.  We can’t help but stand in the back and enjoy…

We love Jimmy Jo*hn’s.  And, their signs are great.  If I could, I’d hang this one in my house, it’s so good.  I especially liked the one that said “I believe you’re responsible for your actions, regardless of how you feel”.  Can I get an amen?

Science experiment we’re doing with our co-op.  The epsom salt saturated water is SUPPOSED to be soaking up the string, going across, dripping down onto the board, and showing us stalagtites and stalagmites.  But, it’s not working…the string isn’t absorbing the solution!  I’ve gotta troubleshoot and find out what we’re doing wrong…

On a whim, I bought a tub of perler beads and forms.  The big kids, especially Abbey, LOVED making these things.  For the first few days, the kids (L, D, A, and M) went nuts, making several a day.  Here’s a 4 leaf clover Abbey made.  I wondered if it would be too hard for Lainey and Dylan, but they even made some of their own creations.  I should have more pictures of these…

Teenagers get a hold of your phone

and, take random pictures

of the thing I do the most.

Drive them places.  Like Drivers Ed.  Which Marley, Payton, and Ethan are currently in.  Everyday, M-F, from 3-5:30.  For 2 1/2 weeks. Their last day is next Wednesday, and then they’ll be called to start the driving portion.

On the way home from picking them up, it’s become routine for me to stop after I pull into the drive, switch seats, and let them practice driving up the drive, around the shop, and back up.  The’y’re doing well, and EJ even pulled the van into the garage.  I’ll be passing them on to their Dad when it’s time for them to drive ON the road.  That part makes me nervous.

I think I’ll snap their picture driving next time.

For those whose first question, when we mention we homeschool our kids, is “but, what about socialization?”

I have one word.

Ha.

Pics of my kids going to yet ANOTHER dance…

You know, if my kids were lacking in opportunities to socialize, maybe I’D have more TIME to socialize?!  Hmmm….

They had fun, as usual.

Old expression, huh?  Oh well, it seemed to fit.

Abbey is on a developmental volleyball team and she has practices twice a week, with scrimmages here and there.  We were able to watch her play this past Friday…

Her team wore black…she’s the one with the black top, black shorts, and ponytail.

She’s on the other side, in the middle, serving the ball.

Time to serve.  Throw it up and then…

Smack!

I don’t know my vball terminology, but this looks like a block to me.

Nice hit.

Serving again.  She made all but two of her serves over the net.

Looks like she’s calling it here….”mine!”

Another nice hit.

I love watching the games, I wish there were more.  This may be her last year, since they don’t have a dev team for 18 year olds this year.  We’ll be looking at other options, since she really does love playing.

Great job, Abs :)