Made with love

Hazel and I LOVE our egg gathering aprons. 

The colors and fabric are my fav. 

And they are made with love for sure.

Thank you so much Natasha.

These gifts, given at Christmas, are so special!

Our kids

I know a little boy who doesn't live with his mom or his dad. I think his brother, who is a young man, has custody of him. He can be a naughty little boy with one of the best belly laughs you could ever hear. He knows an older man. A grandpa figure? Who walks him to school. I have thought so much of that little boy with the MANY snow days we have had. He has a teacher who encourages him and cares about him. He hasn't seen her in a while.

Home again from school, black ice this morning.

School, for many of the children we know, is a place where a child eats breakfast and lunch, receives encouragement, learns and follows rules, is asked to be respectful and has a safe environment. Yes, academic learning too, but these children need school for even more than that. I have worried about some of these kids over the past two weeks.

Our school district is awesome. It is overcrowded and there are many kids who come from tough socio-economic situations, but our district is doing a terrific job. My kids have had FANTASTIC teachers! Our administration, teachers and support staff are doing a terrific job.

When I consider that we have the second largest high school in the state, I cringe. I don't want your kid or my kid or the neighbor kid to get lost in the shuffle.

Our kids deserve a great learning environment! I so badly want us to vote yes for schools in February!
We need a second high school. An additional elementary school is needed too. Great things can happen if this bond passes.

One of the reasons I LOVE subbing is because I am a fresh face, I walk in eager. I can see first hand how hard our teachers work! They have a lot on their plate. I see the benefits to smaller class sizes. I am there to teach, encourage and smile. And I want to be the mom who teaches her kids to do the same.

I hope that the majority of our community wants the best possible learning environment for our kids. These kids will some day be parents, business owners, teachers, doctors, they may be your checker at the grocery store...  they are our future.

Investing in and encouraging our kids is so important.

Wild Will is 11!!

He is independent. He has a big heart... he is our most daring child, Wild Will is one of a kind!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Oh, we love this kid!!

Boredom Busters

Pancakes from scratch

Blueberry, chocolate chip

These boys have been baking, pancake making and panini making like crazy

 ping pong fills the afternoons
We weren't watching Dr Phil but scrolling channels! Love it the "screen shot" I got though!

Willem cut and colored confetti~ 

He threw it for Merit and Haze~ 

If they caught a "winner", Willem gave them some of his own money! 

Some were worth 50 cents, some $1 and a couple worth $5!

I felt like I was watching The Price is Right!

Imaginations are soaring! 

We haven't been to school yet this week.

I hope I can remember where the schools are. 

Ice storm "2017"

And on the agenda for today;

reading

a treasure hunt in the shop

a movie at home

I am going to have each child write one letter to a family member

throw in a bit of fighting

and eating, we're good

Monday, January 19th

I wrote this post yesterday but it did not post until today.
Slow internet and no internet lately.

play mobile has been a hit on these cold home days

These kids are a bit stir crazy... hmmm maybe today calls for Blue Palm (our favorite fro yo place in town) and a treasure hunt.

But I am buried in laundry and have been working at that, matching socks too. :-)

Merit and Willem watched a great old show on Jackie Robinson this morning. 

Much to be learned and considered on a day like today. 

I just finished the book Ellen Foster. Although I was often sad while reading it, it is a book I would recommend. It is very well written.

This ain't no empty nest

meal worm snack time!

oh Oren. 

This kid. 

He talks A LOT.

He LOVES to pretend! 

He suggests different pretending by saying "Pretendza..." It is like "pretend the..." 

My brain hurts from all of his talking and my belly sometimes hurts from laughing.

a little crafting...

Thrift store book reading...

No school again today! 

Time for reading! We should be doing more of that. 

Vance spoils us with lunch out on some of these no school days, like today.

All four of these kids under one roof for DAYS on end is FUN, tiring, funny, messy and terrific!

(we are not going to like making these days up in June)

But for now, we just enjoy it! 

Someone is always eating. There are plenty of dirty dishes and I can barely keep my cupboards stocked! 

I am really thankful we have our shop and loft. Ping pong and time on the treadmill is good exercise. I think we need a dance party soon. Oren loves playing cars in there. 

I'll be the worse empty nester. 

Wait, I will still have my chickens.