Fowl Glamour Shots, March musings, Vendor Fun

 My eyebrows should probably be waxed and I haven't had a hair cut in seven months but "the girls" wanted Glamour Shots so I made it happen. 

March is the month I let myself go through pictures of my mom, I watch a few old home movies. I buy candy and flowers that make me think of my mom. So far, this March, I have not done that. 
This month has been really full and just today it dawned on my that this month has been a bit different compared to the previous months of March. Also, the snow on the ground sometimes makes me forget that this is March.
Also, I am praying for many people right now and I know that my mom would be happy about that.
Country Living had an article; "trips you should take with your mom every year" - I got teary when I read it. Then I stopped and thought about going to the Bagelry in Bellingham with her! Is that place still open? I need to do some checking!  I thought about a day spent at the IKEA in Canada. I remembered Laughlin, Nevada with her and my sisters. ohhhhhh! We stayed at Harrah's. I think it was a three day trip. The pool, the beach, the food, the laughter!  I remembered shopping in Moses Lake and eating at Taco Time. I thought of so many beach days at Birch Bay, packing egg salad sandwiches!  The kids' sandwiches always ended up with a little sand. Matt and Phil still can't eat egg salad, they are always waiting for that "gritty bite"! Our day trips were often close to home. But you don't have to go far from home to have a heck of a time and make memories that last forever.
We just have to live. While we have this life! It could be 20 years, 45 years, 100 years. We don't know. So we just have to LIVE.


I am always on the hunt for things to consign at the Favored Farmhouse. I love being a vendor there! 

So, this clip board is darling!! 

And how fun to display a very special recipe, written by a very special person.

It's Friday night! 
Merit's with Marina at the movies! 
Vance made a huge pot of spaghetti.
I  have three stacks of laundry 3 feet high to put away....
CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND!

The end of basketball season, Matt and B visit and another SNOW day!

Matt and B came and cheered on Willem's team this past weekend. Unfortunately they saw the two losses, the next two games were wins. This was a fun tourney!

We are done for the season, it was a fun one!
Several of the guys on this team showed great gains in improvement.
Willem got more aggressive and gained confidence.

 Yesterday was another snow day! We like to bake and eat on snow days.
Reading is something we can find time for on snow days too.
Yesterday's favorite; Babushka's Doll (such a cute book with gorgeous illustrations)
The Salamander Room and Norman Fools the Tooth Fairy
This afternoon I get to teach third grade! I will be sure to pack a favorite book. 

 My poor chickens.
They haven't seen any grass in a long time!
I still get about two eggs a day though.

 They enjoy each other's company a lot. 

Tuesday Morning

oh this boy! I LOVE his PLAY!

A little spring dreaming...

It has become evident to me lately that I sort of have the social media blahs....ever get that? When you might feel irritated or annoyed more than joyful? Cute baby pictures, awards kids are getting at school and people celebrating birthdays or many years of marriage still make me smile but there is a lot that doesn't. And it can certainly be a time bandit. - I suppose it is "all things in moderation" -



It dawned on me last week that we have two teenagers.
Two teenage boys.

This stage of parenting is much different than the pre-school/elementary years. But this stage came very quickly. The conversations and the laughter are very fun. I feel so blessed to be at this stage with responsible, hard working teens.


A couple of very key things are helping us find our way in this -- communication and prayer.


I am pretty tickled that this morning on KBSN I get to listen to a Mariner's segment with our very own Merit Jansen!

Through this exciting process, it has been SO fun to see who is excited about this! It is not always family that comes alongside of you at times like this - although we do have supportive family members - so often it is friends who have become like family!

His radio ads for the show will air regularly too.

A morning of to- dos and then teaching third grade and tonight, the basketball banquet.

Snow Fun! And the junk hunt for the Favored Farmhouse!

 I love the openness. 

I love the country! 

Over the past three weeks I have visited probably 8 thrift stores - I shopped in Ellensburg and Wenatchee with Willem, between basketball games! Willem is pretty entertaining at these stores, he is also a voice of reason! And I enjoyed shopping in our thrift stores here in Moses Lake. I found LOTS of goodies for the Favored Farmhouse!

The Favored Farmhouse is looking very cute right now...

Next week I get to teach second grade and third grade! I found some fantastic books while thrifting to share with these kids!

Just trying to make the best of it!

We have REALLY gotten GREAT use out of our winter gear throughout February! 

Winter blues? Sibling love

After teaching second grade yesterday, I let out a big sigh. The teacher in the room next door did too and the other second grade teacher I visited with talked about sometimes it just takes a lot to get through the day. 

There are so many on task, engaged students. Students ready to learn!! But even if 3/4 of the kids in a class have this outlook, there are some who don't and it disrupts the learning for others. 

Each of these sweet little people have a story. The not so sweet ones do too. 

If we keep investing, keep encouraging, if we demonstrate respect and kindness, I think a lot of it comes right back. Sometimes there are tough moments of waiting for it. 

This COLD weather and indoor recesses aren't doing anything for anybody! Energetic bodies begging to RUN! On grass, not ice or slush! Spring will never have felt so good! 

 Every day there are some challenges - for all of us. There are hard relationships and tough moments.

Somehow, someway, these four kids of ours get along really great. I am not sure how or why but it is one of my greatest blessings! When they are arguing or bickering it feels rough. But when they are laughing and helping each other out, sometimes I forget to be thankful. I take it for granted.

Today, while getting ready to get Hazel to school, Oren had a hard time getting organized. Hazel handed him his coat but he expressed that HE wanted to find it! He wanted to bring his toy for the car ride to school,we forgot it. Hazel was telling him to "hurry up!" There were tears and yelling on the way. And the snow had started again and I was a little mad (at Oren but mostly at the snow). He managed to get a handful of Hazel's hair while in the car and he gave it a yank. 

She got out of the car with tears in her eyes. ( I felt sad, but Miss Hazel has the WONDERFUL Ms. Rosenow so I knew the day would be okay - usually they are absolutely terrific!) We watched her walk in. I said "poor Hazel. She is walking slowly." Oren said "her head is down because she is crying." I talked to him about how he might feel walking into pre-school crying. We talked it out while in my mind I asked God to help Oren feel sorry and feel compassion.

The second Hazel got in the car, 6 1/2 hours later, Oren said "I love you Hazel." 

Thank you God. 

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Yesterday I read aloud Thunder Cake the the second graders I taught. -- a favorite of mine

I just got home from grabbing Willem from basketball. I predict a two hour late start.