EKjourney Backup

Bath time started at 4:00 and with a break for dinner, lasted until 7:00!

Duck Recess in the cover crop. Pea gravel in the trailer. Playing all day Monday in the sunshine.

Tent camping....in the playroom!

Here is my youngest, my 4th born, my son. Oh what a SWEET handful he can be! In the first 3 pictures, he isn't wearing a shirt. That is because he got into the toilet when I was standing an arm's reach away cleaning the sink. He is lightening fast! Look at that face..I look at him often (especially from the bottom picture's vantage...looking down at him clinging to my legs), adoringly and sometimes with adoration and exasperation all wrapped into one. I think to myself, I am not sure how to right the apple cart of such an active boy in the home. How do I school the others with this child? How do I get chores done with this little helper? How is it possible that he can leave a wake of messes that I am unable to keep on top of? How do I give the other children a chance to play without his direct and forceful involvement? I haven't got the answers. What I do have is an opportunity! An opportunity to LOVE, to train (and he is wonderfully obedient!), to think ou...

For Valentine's Day, Phil made a surprise visit home on his lunch break with treats and flowers in hand. He came in the door with hands full to a wife chopping onions over a chicken carcass , children leaping and shouting in excitement , the dog barking like crazy, and the telephone ringing. It was so crazy, it was comical! Welcome to the good life...and I mean that with all sincerity. We have Christ, we have each other, we have a house full of Treasures. Everyday is Valentines. Life is not without its problems and daily challenges but reflecting on Christ's love and His blessings...we really live the good life. From Nancy Campbell's devotional book this morning, I read the following scripture that so encouraged me in making my family my priority: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not ...

Homeschooling in the sunbeams. I love the togetherness! (Two totally different) Peas in a pod, these best, inseparable friends! Oh my, they are getting so big!! Pictured also is the ugly truth of our windows...yes people, that is a filthy film courtesy of children, dog, and cats!

It seems rather silly for a big 4 1/2 year old girl to cry over a haircut! I think she was afraid it would hurt. Unfortunately, neither one of the girls were blessed in the hair department (my genes!). Their hair is thin and grows unevenly but they both have lovely curls! Phil cut off about 2 inches from the back, giving her a nice even cut that is still long enough for pony tails!

Little Cousins And one big boy in the mix!

Monday we abandoned all plans and went on a nature walk, thanks to Auntie Tina's invite! We packed up our warm clothes and rubber boots and headed out to a park with lots of trails to run on. Through the woods! In the meadow (with the smell of wild onions under our feet). Notice Sawyer's tracking sheet. We saw....dog prints! Throwing rocks (I did have Sawyer move after this picture to avoid a rock to the back of the head.) Keeping dry under the tree during a brief rain shower. This outing was so much fun! It was great to get out in the fresh air and get some excersise. I called it science for the day! We collected rocks and later identified some of them. We picked and smelled the wild onion plants. We ran through several different areas of vegetation. We listened to and identified birds (and tracks, although there wasn't much to see).

Phil turned 37 on Saturday! It was great to have his birthday on the weekend. He went out with my brother Saturday afternoon to go shooting. They had a blast (literally) exploding shale with their shotguns (I don't have to understand LOL). We had a dinner of shrimp alfredo with two kinds of desserts (made by my mom). We invited family over and had a fun time celebrating. The Superbowl was on Sunday and my Dad came to join our little Superbowl party (which consisted of us and my dad LOL). Phil has watched a total of 3 football games this year and I was glad he had the opportunity to enjoy a time of relaxing (and snacking). Not sure why I don't have pictures of the adults (well, besides Phil).

The other day, the children came in from playing outside and I noticed as Jubilee was washing her hands that they didn't appear to be getting clean. I got some soap and tried to help and discovered they were covered with a mud slime. I knew the answer to the next question but asked it nonetheless, "Have you been playing with slugs?" The next morning when I went out to do the animal chores, I discovered the following gruesome scene: a dinosaur battle, evidently fought over the food source, grass and slugs.