Friday, April 6, 2018

Mama's 47th Birthday

Ashley made me a birthday breakfast omelet! 

That night we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. It was delicious! We wanted to get a photo of the three of us but we kept cracking up! I think Grace took 15 photos of us before we got a more serious one! :-)

Ashley, 26 & Gracie, 10

Mandy 23, Laura Jean, 7

My honey and I 

We had such a wonderful evening as a family! With the boys working so much we had been having fewer and fewer times at the dinner table together. Thankfully the week after this, Ryan was able to shift to Grady's schedule so he is now able to join us just about every night for our dinner meal. The boys are missing in these pics but they were there! Such fun! Crab raviolis were the dish of choice that night. Thank you dear family for making my birthday so special. 

Baby Shower

The girls enjoyed going to a baby shower for the adorable Elias!


Cutie!

Awww!

Ashley, it appears.. is quite the baby hog! No, not really! :-)

This church has always been so kind to us. Even though we are not members they invite our young people to the youth events, volleyball games and special events. Even though we do not carry some of the same convictions they always treat us so kindly and with acceptance. 
Congratulations M&M!!!

School & Work- What the Youngest 4 are up to!


More and more are we realizing this in our family. We are so enjoying this season of our lives so much. I know we are a bit partial but I'm pretty sure we have the *best* children ever! We are enjoying these precious days with them so much! 

Gracie scored at St Vinnie's when she found the Boxcar Children Cookbook!

Here she is making us a delicious meal of mashed potatoes and coleslaw for lunch from the recipes found in her new cookbook. She is having so much fun and has become quite the cook!
Enjoying a delicious chocolate cake with whipped cream!

Taking a nature walk with mama





We took this cute video of the little girls performing a very short play that we were working through in school. This play was the introductory lesson for our new unit in our Language Arts curriculum which focuses on plays-both short and complex. We will end the unit with a play by Shakespeare. We are loving Charlotte Mason Style of learning! 

The guys researching some serious stuff!
(I think hunting in New Zealand or something else fun & exciting!)

Grant has been working in the fields tending to a couple hundred acres of hazelnuts. He is currently working about 30 hours a week as well as finishing school. What a wonderful young man! He is always fun and adventurous.. and always willing to lend a hand. We are so proud of his work ethic and dedication to his family and whatever task is in front of him. I really saw him grow in those areas while we were in Belize. He was amazing and so helpful to me there, especially while Grady and Ryan were gone.

He got his permit and is hurriedly getting his 100 hours of driving in so that he will have his license for harvest time. This year he has been offered a few additional responsibilities for harvest and having his license will aid in that extra work! 

Ryan is working as an apprentice in a shop that repairs and services heavy machinery and semi trucks. He started about 6 months ago and is really enjoying the work. Because it is a full time position he will be unable to work the harvest this year. However this week he found out that a farmer wants him to do some harrowing for a few weeks alongside his full time job before harvest. Busy fellow!

Ryan has really thrown his heart into this job. The plant manager told Grady just today that he wishes all young men would turn out as disciplined, hard-working and accountable as Ryan is. What a blessing to hear. We are so proud of our boys!

Here is Ryan's current project. He picked up this wrecked Cadillac for $750 and intends to fix it up to sell. It will be fun to see the progress!



Wednesday, April 4, 2018

President's Day Weekend at Nanas


Over President's Day weekend, Ashley, Laura & Grace had a fun time spending the night at Nana and Papa's.. It's nice that they have recently moved a little closer to us so we are able
to visit a little more often.

Ashley with Flora the 4 year old goldendoodle whom Ashley and Amanda raised from a puppy but who had a hernia which wouldn't allow for her to be placed in a family.. so they gifted her to Nana and Papa. She adores our girls.. I think she remembers that they were her first 'caregivers!'

Little Laura lost 3 teeth and got glasses all in the same week. Little sweetie!

Nana, Papa and Ashley took the little girls to the Polk County Museum where they were able to see 'Abraham Lincoln' give the Gettysburg address as well as a few other famous speeches. Grace, Laura and I are currently studying the civil war for school.. nice timing! 



Papa, Nana and the girls check out the rest of the museum

It was a fun weekend for all!

Sibling Time

The 4 olders, hanging out at A&W! These 4 are so kind to one another~ the boys are always such gentlemen and help their sisters and the girls love baking yummy desserts and helping them with projects. This is such a sweet season, these four as such great friends!

Best buddies!


Grant, Ashley and Amanda took the little girls to the park for more bike riding!


On this day Laura was re-reminded how to ride without training wheels! After moving to Belize she kind of lost her desire or ability to do so! :-) 

Mandy with Stella the Goldendoodle!

Ash with Miss Shirley

More park time! This time she is riding solo again! Yay Laura!


Gracie plays with Shirley

Having a blast! Spring is just around the corner, yay and yay!!!!








Sunday, March 25, 2018

Grace's 10th Birthday!

When asked what she wanted to do for her birthday- Gracie chose going to the library! (another budding bookworm!) When asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner she chose lentils & rice. This girl would live on lentil and rice if we let her! We let the girls hang out for extra time at the library this day. They really enjoyed putting on a puppet show for us. Grace's favorite books right now are the Boxcar Children books, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, the Secret Garden, the Little Princess and Pollyanna. We are so proud of how well this amazing little one reads!

Grace's friends from Belize sent her a photo of the birthday cake they baked her!
Such sweet friends! <3 p="">
Daddy presents Grace's birthday cake!

Happy Birthday *Dear Gracie!* Happy Birthday to you!



We are so proud of our little love. For who she is. For who God is making her into.. She has overcome so many fears and anxieties. She is loving life and learning how to trust God during her difficult times and trials. We are so, so proud of this little one who started her life with a lot to overcome. She is a blessing and a joy to us all. WE LOVE OUR GRACIE-BABY!!