Summer Happenings

So, alot has happened this summer. In June the twins turned 10, and in July the girls had their birthdays. One turned 3 and two days before that her sister was born. My mom came and stayed for a couple of weeks, which is always nice. We went swimming and tried to keep cool, which actually wasn't too hard, since this summer has been alot wetter and cooler than previous ones.

Baby Christina was born here at home, like her big sister, who has had to adjust to not being the baby anymore. In fact, she sat and watched baby be born, and likes to hold her and tries to be a big helper. She still has her moments, not surprisingly.

We've been working in our garden, doing better than last year, I think, taking into consideration that this year I was pregnant most of the summer and very hot. We got quite a few tomatoes, peppers, and will have some winter squash and potatoes by end of season.

A couple of weeks ago, Victor's dad and step-mom came and visited us for a couple of days while they were on vacation. The kids had great fun doing stuff with them, and we all enjoyed their visit. I didn't get any pictures of their visit, but they did and sent us a few.

The last few weeks, we have been eating and eating and canning, and freezing lots and lots of lovely peaches that a wonderful friend from church has growing at their house. They were having trouble keeping up with all the fruit, so invited us to take some. We went out and picked a bunch after they had already given us several boxes. So by the time we are through, by my estimate we will have eaten or processed about 250-300 lbs of peaches. We only weighed one box and that one was almost 60 lbs, and then we had several other smaller boxes, and a bunch in bags that probably could have filled the big box up at least 2-3 more times. So it was alot.

Anyway, thats what we have been up to lately. We started school as well, and have slowly been picking up speed with that, adding stuff in and figuring out what works. Victor went off to Moab to work for a few weeks, so we have had some attitude adjustments to make this week, but hopefully that will improve some in the coming weeks.

Here are some pictures of our summer for you to enjoy!

John working on writing.

Josh and Jeffrey working on their workbooks.

At the pond

More at the pond

water guns at the pond

Swimming, pulling out duckweed

Fun in the duckweed

Jeffrey swimming

Baby Christina and Sarah looking on

Sarah watching the baby

Our squash plants

Tomato and pepper plants

Spending time with Grandpa metal detecting

Grandma and Grandpa

              Canning peaches

Christina 1 month old.

Sarah 4 weeks old, 3 years ago

     These two could be twins.

Vacation Pictures

Last month we went to Texas for a couple of weeks for the wedding of some dear friend's. They had invited my siblings and I to do the music for it, so we got to spend time together with my family. It was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed playing with their cousin and her baby sister who we met for the first time. Here are some pictures of the beautiful weather and the family.

The whole family eating lunch one day. My brother Jon was taking the picture.

Mom and sister Tiff and I fixing a meal.

All the kids helping grandpa haul brush to the burn pile with the pickup.

All of the kids loved to sit on the couch and watch uncle Jon and grandpa play games.

All of the kids had to take a try at being a tortoise with grandma's tortoise shell.

The kids all got to take a ride on the horses, so they were waiting and watching from the fence while aunt Tiff and grandma got them saddled.

Even cousin Emily took a ride.

Sarah riding the 'hosee'.

Even grandpa and Uncle Jon got to ride.

We practiced for the wedding.

Baby Amber practiced too!

Sabbath we all went to church. . . 

And took an afternoon walk around the lake.

Sunday was the wedding. All the cousins together waiting for the wedding. Except for baby who was with her mommy.

The girls all together before the wedding.

My brother and I.

My sister and my mom.

After the wedding with sparklers to see the bride and groom off.

Trying to get pictures in the bluebonnets, while staying clear of the fire ants.

Finally, all the cousins in the bluebonnets, Amber and Sarah are upset.

After pictures, we went swimming in the lake. Nice and cool, just cold enough to not stay in too long. The kids played in the playground most of the time, while mom, my brother Jon, my sister Tiff and I swam and played in the lake.

After swimming, waiting to go to lunch.

After lunch we found a nice patch of bluebonnets and stopped to take pictures.

This time, all babies cooperated. And we got some nice ones.

Screen time, addictions and motivations.

So, screen time has been an issue in our house lately. Too much of it, in other words. This links in with addictions and motivations, as well. 

Vic and I are addicted to our screens. Him, games and videos; me, Facebook and other forums. It seems like the first thing we do in the morning and the last thing at night. To remedy, this I have been making sure that if I pick up my iPad, especially in the morning or evening, that the first thing I do is read the Bible, or one of the other books I have on it. Also, I have my Bible by the bed instead of the iPad, and some books from the library in the living room, so I've been spending more time reading those instead of getting on the Internet.

I've joined a facebook exercise challenge and since the weather is nice, Sarah has been wanting to ride in her stroller, so we have been getting out more and getting a lot of exercise. Going to the park helps too. Feeling better now, because of the exercise, as well as morning sickness having moved on finally, has been helpful in getting me off my butt, off the iPad, and into doing some spring cleaning.

See how they are all related? Making the effort to change my bad habits and replacing them with good ones, has raised more motivation to get more done and helped me be a bit less lazy. I'm still working on that part, though.

Part of my motivation to stick with getting more exercise is wanting to have a good healthy body to push this baby girl out later this summer. Plus, I feel better.

Anyway, that's all for now.

Happenings and thoughts

So, today I managed to get all the laundry done. Well, most of it. Just a few things to put away and a load of diapers to do.

And the boys played all day with the neighbor kids outside, building forts, 'cooking' 'soup', and having lots of fun in general. One thing I do appreciate about them, is they are learning to be obedient even though it seems sometimes like they spend a lot of time complaining and dragging their feet. When they are clear across the field, if they can hear me, they come running, or at least respond.

Anyway, that is one of the thoughts I had. This weekend we had the Christmas program so I am going to put up some pictures of all my kids and some of the others who were involved.

Family Picture with kids new outfits from grandma and grandpa

Mommy and Daddy

One of the Primary girls, she played and sang, O Come All Ye Faithful

Shepherd/wise man Joshua

Jeffrey and baby shepherd boy with primary girl

Some of our little angels

Some bigger angels. They all sang Angels we have heard on high. Boy shepherd in the back against the wall, played a drum to The Little Drummer Boy

Victor, my friend Jenn and one of the Youth girls doing O Holy Night

The Primary kids read Bible verses about the Nativity

They also sang Away in  a Manger

I had to read a few of the verses since we had more verses than kids and one of my kids decided he didn't want to read. Sarah likes to hold a mic even if its not plugged in.

Youth group singing Mary Did you Know.

One of the Primary boys reading. 

All of them did very well, and the program went smoothly. The younger kids got up for their songs and sang very well. I was so impressed and proud of all of them! I was very thankful for all their teachers who had them practicing right up until it was time to go in and sit down. We got some videos  of some of the program.

John reading
Primary kids sing Away in a Manger
Youth play What Child is This
Primary Girl reads
Youth sing/play Silent Night
Youth sing/play What a Glorious Night

Busy doings

I've been trying to wean Sarah from her night feelings, so I started with the one she would have right before bed. I think it's working. Normally, I put her down to bed, about 8. And she would crawl in with us in the early am, not sure when, anywhere from 1-4. She wants to nurse back to sleep, though I think it's mostly a comfort, rather than actually thirsty. Once in a while she has asked for a drink, which I have gotten her and she goes back to sleep. Last night, I put her down as usual, which by this time, means I lay down with her and hold her hand or rub her face til she falls asleep. She hadn't nursed since lunchtime I think. I woke up this morning at 5 and realized she had slept the whole night in her own bed! I hope it's a trend, and not just a one time thing.

Today she skipped her nap so I rocked her to sleep about 7. She nursed around nap time but there was too much going on, so she didn't go down. She was definitely ready for bed tonight. She fussed a bit about not nursing, but gave up quicker this time. 

We worked on sewing shepherd costumes for the boys today. I made three of them. Tomorrow, I will make belts and figure out what I am going to wear. We also did some grocery shopping and the boys brought in a bunch of firewood. It's cold in here, and there is snow on the mountains. 

Anyway, I feel like we accomplished a lot today, between not nursing and sewing and shopping. I'm tired. 😊

Newsy items

So, the last few weeks I have been somewhat tired, nauseous at night, having Sarah nurse in the wee hours is annoying, and sometimes a bit painful, my menstrual cycle is wonky a bit anyway, but I missed November. So last week, my best friend gave me some pregnancy tests and I did the pee on the stick thing. Only, these ones were pee in a cup then dip the stick. Well, it was very positive.

I told my dad, and he said, "Oh, oh."  I told Victor's grandmother and she said "You need a bigger house." I told my sister and she said, "Don't you know what birth control is? And what are you going to do about space?"

Anyway, the boys all want twin girls to make it even, boys to girls. Sarah doesn't even know what's happening. And I'm thinking, I don't care, except it's healthy, and I want my appetite back. Every time I get pregnant, it flies out the window for a few months. Not throwing up or anything, just no desire to eat and yet I feel better when I do.

So, there you go, I'm about 10 weeks give or take, my clothes already were tight and getting  more so everyday. I'm trying to up my intake of water, since I tend to not drink enough anyway, as well as wean Sarah off her night sleepy time feeding.

Also, I'm very addicted to Facebook, so tonight I decided, if at all possible , I am not going to read my timeline or my notifications. I will however keep posting things I read in my daily devotions and other readings. And maybe blog more about the things we do. More like journal them. I do have Facebook messenger, if anyone messages me on facebook, I will receive those and respond.

We are planning a Christmas program for next Sabbath at church. The kids will be reading Bible verses from the story of Jesus birth, interspersed with congregational and special songs.

So, this next week, I need to find my sewing boxes, and figure out an angel costume for Sarah, and some shepherd or wisemen costumes for the boys. I have some ideas, just need to see what material I have and get cracking on it!
I am also, with the help of the boys, making some tin can luminaries with tea lights for decorations. I hope they don't look too tacky.

Anyway, I'm meeting with the midwife this weekend for my first prenatal and based on my calculations, we are due around the first or second week of July 2015.

I think that's all, for now. I'm sleepy and it's getting late. I should head off for bed.

Night all!

November doings.

So, we pretty much have been doing the same old doings. Last week, I did a week long walking water drinking challenge with one of my friends. So, I am more motivated now to get out there and do it some more. I am also trying to drink more water.

I want to start a FB group of my own for a challenge. Maybe more of a support group. Where we can tell each other what we did that day for walking and how much we drank. 

I would also like to limit the time I am on FB again, since it is an addiction for me. 

This week, we are starting to get ready for a Christmas program at church. The kids will be singing and reading Bible verses. We are making luminaries out of tin cans and I am going to see if I can make some wings and an angel costume for Sarah. 

We shall see how that goes.