3.12.24 a busy day John, Andrea, Merle, Lia

In one short day... John went to Reburg for another round of auto  competition. 

This time he studied the whole way down and was refreshed on information that had challenged him before. 

He also had a cheerleader looking out for him and watching anxiously from the sidelines. Harold met him the night before and took him around campus to see the sights. 

Back at home something happened to Andrea and after not using her arm for hours and crying a lot I decided to rule out a broken arm and went to the doctors with her. She was calm alone in the room with me but with the doctor she was less trusting and more irritable. The right arm was the problem. She would not move it without discomfort or crying. The xrays showed no problems. So filling silly we recovered the other kids and headed home. I got sick that night after the kids went to bed. 

Lia enjoyed some pictures on my phone while I drove us all home. 

That evening Andrea finally go the nap she had been wanting all day. 

She slept the night in her bed and in the morning was still not using her arm. She fed herself with her left hand and while doing so fell out of her chair onto the ground onto her injured right arm. After settling down from that fall she could move her arm freely. Namely the bent action shown here which she would not do with out immediate crying prior to the second bump. I think the fall knocked her elbow back where it needed to go. Because she has been just fine since. Nice when it works so easy. 

Bruce realized he was only 12 points away from 100 in AR 2 weeks ago. He's been reading and reading working to get 100 points. This is him reading one more story to finish that goal. 

And 100 points gained!! He was so excited. I'm pleased with how he worked to make it happen. Reading is becoming easier and natural to him. He's a smart cookie with lots of helpers and inspiration ahead. I don't know that I've had a kid get 100 in first grade before. Maybe? He's got another quarter to gain more points so here he goes. 

Lia also started school work and needed some crayons to do the various colorings they ask for. She is excited to learn as well and knows a lot of the basics already. 

More John pictures from a different source. He's getting quite the pile of tools from all his winnings. 

 As always practice helps. This Sunday he spoke in church without much preparation but he gave an appropriate talk with confidence and poise. All that extemp practice and experience paid off and showed this week. He's become quite the able man. Life is good and we are blessed. 

3.11.24 A little outside work

In typical spring end of winter fashion some days are delightful sunny and inviting to go outside and do something. On one of those I took some time to prune the roses. These bushes provide brilliant fragrant blooms all summer long. They brighten this spot of the lawn and are a pet project for me. I was hestant to take them from bushes back to manageable plants but chop away we did. Bruce helped me glue the cut ends to prevent boars drilling into the wood and killing that limb. Millie reluctantly picked up ll the trimmings to haul away. 

Millie tried her hand at cutting and glueing as well. She is getting older and wiser so is ready to learn new skills. 

After a days work my winter hands looked like summer hands for a few hours. 

 And then it snowed again and it was ok to just look out the window again and plan the next project when the temperature gets over 50 and the wind stops. And then I was sick and the sun was just annoying and I just rested. So we are now loving sick kids and watching the days pass. There's time lots of time for all that has to be done. Life is good and we are blessed with peace and plenty on our farm. 

2.29.24 Weekend

I noticed feathers in the pasture on Friday I was pretty sure I had not seen the white fluff marring the coming green grass earlier in the day. Thus the kids were sent out to investigate and came back to report it wasn't just one but 7 chickens that were dead. I'm not sure what killed them as they aren't ripped apart for a meal nor are they disembowled like a hawk would do. I shooed as many as would go into the chicken house Friday night but didn't get that done early enough Saturday and to my knowledge, we haven't lost anymore. 

We finally uncovered the winter shelter to find lots of green plants. The chickens were very interested in this space as well. I was thrilled to see so much growing. I decided to try improving the structure with hoops made from old garden water hose. 

Already having rebar in the ground we planted peas and covered the ground. 

IT looked so good. With all repurposed pieces I didn't have to spend any more money to have a pretty greenhouse. However, the strong winds on Monday tore that structure up and the chickens enjoyed eating all those green plants. Darn chickens. 

I

Later that day I was given dresses from my childhood. This one I wore to my great-great grandmother's funeral. I was 7-8 years old. I asked my mom to save the dress for me, explaining I didn't want any of my sisters to wear it because I wanted to remember my grandmother. My mom obliged and saved my dress. Now my little(big) Lia fits into it and wore it Sunday. She looked lovely. 

This is the dress I wore the night I met Greg. Addie has been disbelieving I was ever her size. Trying on my dresses from young adulthood proved we are indeed similar sized. 

 Reed took Andrea for a bike ride. She was delighted of course. I was thankful all went well. Life is good as we have a few special moments and times together. Memories come in so many forms. I'm thankful for such a full blessed life and the great effort my mom took to make beautiful clothes and to preserve them for my own daughters to experience now. Life is good. 

2.28.24 Auto, books, parli and nerf guns

John is in auto competition season. Here he is working on an engine at Idaho State University. He placed 7th overall 5th student from Vale. He has learned so much in his 4 years in the auto program. 

His winnings come in the form of tools. 

Livy at home listening to a Harry Potter and doing dishes. This is a win-win for me and her. 

We also took some time to go to the temple. This time because we were going to be longer we left the car keys and told them to go get some dinner while they waited. This made for happy campers on both sides I wasn't worried about them and they were happy enjoying burgers and blizzards. 

More happy dart loaders. Andrea is such a happy helper she wants to do everything she possibly can and then more than that too. 

Merle and Mom posing for a picture. He's a constant lap buddy wanting time to snuggle each day. I know this will pass so we sit and sit just enjoying the day. 

The fun continues the slow grind of the day, the busy unwind at night, and the big events fill the winter months. We enjoy this different season and relish time to rest and just be. Life is good!
 

2.27.24 Birthdays

I love when I look up and see all my kids into books. Livy has been captivated by the Harry Potter series. I'm honestly enjoying reading through it with her and remembering the strong character development the well developed plot and details that enliven the mind and create a strong desire to read lots and lots of words. As a mom of a kid that hasn't been into reading these combinations are so helpful!

She passed 100 points last weekend. This past week she read another one and is now at 177! That is more than she got in almost a year in her 5th grade year. Reading lots of words is necessary to reading more words. Admittedly some of the books are listened to while she does dishes for the weekend. That's ok as it helps her imagine the story and keep going. 

Reed has also had some time to be a kid for a few minutes too. His sisters obligingly help reload. It's particularly delightful when John is home they are both aggressive fighters. 

Upstairs people were visiting and Andrea opened her present.

Everyone enjoys time catching up. 

Andrea had pie instead of cake because I was sick of making birthday cakes. Everyone enjoyed the coconut cream and chocolate peanut butter pie. 

They also tried hard to help her blow her candles. Eventually I picked up the pie and helped her extinguish the flames. 

Mark had his birthday a few days earlier and had the customary lemon sponge cake. A favorite but it takes some time and we had at least 4 of them in the past two weeks. 

Lia loves to take pictures. 

In between all the birthdays was valentine's day. This year we only had 40 Valentine's treats to make. Afton and Addie made grape flavored popcorn balls. 

Andrea loved her new outfit. The at home kids are sure cute between making huge messes. 

 

These cute kids are super curious and try lots of different projects just because and to see what will happen. 

So several are another year older. We are all caked and ice creamed enough for the month. Next month we have a few more to celebrate. We are so thankful for all the life, health, and vitality we enjoy. Here's to another year of learning and growing.