I so love this girl...

...and not just because she rocks her cowgirl boots with her jammies, or has a killer milk mole (it's the new milk mustache).

Tonight we were out feeding, as has become our custom to do together most nights. She's a great help, and awesome company and I get time to talk with her about what's going on in that grand mind of hers. She mentioned about how Daddy and I were probably going to die before her, and I said, "Yes, probably", and about how she wants to die at the same time as her friends because she's worried she's never going to find them otherwise. I assured her that if we all believe in Jesus than we will all be together in Heaven. She solidly answered, "I Believe" (see, how can you not love her?) and we proceeded to use our chicken herding sticks to perform a funky "Believers" high five. (yes, we're wierd).

I've been trying to incorporate more of the Bible in our homeschooling. There's an awesome lady who homeschools with a blog called Simply Living for Him. This year she has taken it upon herself to use the Bible as their main text. It's awesome, and I love the idea and really want to, and am trying, to teach A, K and J to have a love of the Bible as well.

So as we were feeding I began thinking about how I need to teach her about sin and Adam and Eve, and about forgiveness, and the whole salvation story, and we should go over the verses in Romans that guides us in asking Christ into our hearts. I start talking to A about sin outside, and she pipes up and says, "I know about sin. It's when we do bad things, like yelling, and texting while driving."

FarMin' a Beautiful Fall Day

Featuring Peach the Wonder Horse and Cindy the Best Pony Ever....

Finally got up the courage to ride this buckin' bronc today. I seriously think she looked at me like, "Mom, you crazy girl". But we's good together. It's all good.

Canning Grape Jam...

There's a story behind this, but for now...

This Weekend was a Hoot

We celebrated this weekend, both T's 30th Bday (woohoo!!) and our house. On Saturday we found out how to throw a party at the new house, and I hope that everyone had a good time. We sure did! I know I didn't see everyone who came, and actually maybe interacted with a fifth of the people who arrived (and most of them were under the age of 10), but we hope and pray that we were able to shed a little blessing on the people who had to put up with us dreaming, negotiating, adjusting, and planning over the last 9 months. I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures, but we feel very blessed to have had so many people come out to see the house!

Prior to the party, we "redid" the dog and chicken layout around the barn. This was two-fold: To give the dogs more room and make the chickens more accessible (and oops...I know this is 3, but really, I had to get the door to the barn open and closeable once more). So Wednesday before the party I tore things up, then, like a good wife, I waited for the big T to come home to put it all back together before sundown. We made it (give or taking an hour or 3 past sundown). I love the new layout and the moving doors. We're still tweaking it to keep the dogs in-ish, but it's good so far.

T then blessed me this week by making all of our gates swingable. If you have had non-swinging gates before (and we had a lot of them), this is a big deal. And he did a great job! Thank you T!

And a BIG Happy 1st BirthDay to Joanna! We love you girl!

A's SuperStar Soccer Debut

A started AYSO soccer today, which means that A. She is growing up , B. T and I debuted as the world's best soccer coaches. (aka the world's best encouragers, they are only 4 after all). Anyway, it was fun, and she L-O-V-E-D it, and did NoT want to leave the field. 

4yo soccer at it's best...

Ahh, there she kicks it in, just like her Mama!

So the girls didn't want to leave, until T told them he was picking up a new rooster. Then they were excited, and didn't want to leave the peoples' farm (super sweet people, we loved them!). And when we got home, K was still so excited that she didn't want to take her penny off.
Silly, silly kids. Gotta love'em!

Alas, let's put down some GrasS SeeD

Baby J ate ribbons and dog hair on the floor while T and the girls rode the quad; supposedly dragging our newly spread top soil, but I'm not sure if I believe it. They were way too happy.

He's losing his dark, dark hair. And that makes me sad. It's being replaced by lighter, full hair. Which is ok, and historically what happens with babies in my family. But I loved his dark hair.

Anyway.

Mmmmm....lovely top soil.

Perhaps you recall this tree line? Or perhaps not, it's been a long while since we've seen it. I love seeing it open and beckoning the kids to come play.

Side shot.

T worked his bum off yesterday building this lovely, rugged railroad tie retaining wall. I think it looks sweet and am proud of his skillz.

I'm not sure that they're working, certainly looks like they are having way too much fun.

K wasn't so thrilled with the quad, but had to know where "Adla" went. Bless her little speech impediment, I love it and will be sad when it's gone.

Com'on cutie-patoots, you know what I mean!