Monday Evening Update

Adventures and hikes with these two are good for the soul! 

Mother's Day was nice and the weather was beautiful so we spent most of the day outside. I loved that! 

Planting our garden was fun. Vance took out two old raised beds that were falling apart and put in one square raised bed. In addition to that we planted pole beans and lots of things in a big garden area.

Today Hazel and I spent more time out there while Oren napped. She loves planting! And I love watching her and working with her.

Willem is in a reading contest! So we better get to our bedtime reading! 

I found myself thinking of my sisters so much yesterday. 

My grandma Alma too... my mother in laws and of course my mom. Lesha has the grocery list our mom wrote the day she passed away. Seeing her script on that grocery list is so special. She posted a darling picture of her and my mom along with the grocery list on facebook. 

Hazel and Willem made me darling gifts at school!! 

And Merit was so sweet! He offered to do a lot of chores. 

Oren was fussy Saturday but so much happier yesterday so that was great. He is at such a curious, fun, tough age. Grocery shopping with him is an adventure.

These children are so fun! I am so thankful! 

Happy Mother's Day!

A day in the life...

We started out our morning with coffee, a yummy breakfast that Vance made and 

Hazel and I played princesses for a bit...

This boy is so darling, so curious and so full of personality.

He has been yelling a lot, however. 

And having some fits.

And wearing his mommy out. 

But there are lots of sweet moments too. 

A little tea party, Hazel set this up

Oren and the stuffed animals finish up the tea party.

A tree in our yard

I met Maria at a Vintage Market at the fairgrounds! So fun! Inspiring too. Time with Maria is always good and we saw a lot of cute stuff. I bought a few things. I got a smoothie from the Smoothery too! Carly was there with the smoothie truck making delicious blends!

Our chickens are growing! 

This afternoon I hid treasure hunt clues and after dinner these three went on their hunt! 

I love spring evenings and the sunset was so pretty! 

I LOVE being a mom! It is such a wonderful, important, enjoyable job! It is also so much work and can be hard. Looking to God and enjoying all of the little moments are two ways I get through the days - and not just get through, but enjoy. I also have some AMAZING sisters and girlfriends who ENCOURAGE.  I miss my mom so much. I keep thinking of her today. Little memories, sweet memories. I am so thankful for her example and her dedication. Vance and I are both so blessed to have been raised by such dedicated moms. And today I am thankful for my grandmas! Both here and in heaven. I have so many wonderful grandma memories. 

I am thankful for my mother in laws too. And for dear friends who are great examples of selfless, forgiving, patient moms. I am excited for tomorrow and to just BE with my FAMILY.

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY to all of you MOMS out there! 

A little Thursday update...

The lilacs are at the end of their bloom. The fragrance has been amazing.

I have been watching A LOT of baseball! 

We have been doing quite a few little projects around here. 

Painting second hand furniture, I cleaned the chicken coop yesterday, Willem and I did his Charolette's Web diorama together yesterday. It was so fun working with him on that!  I took senior pictures Monday night...

I'll blog again soon! 

Sunday

little baseball fan

he loves to cheer on Merit and Willem and their teams

Cousins, Hazel and Kendal

Merit today, running from 2nd to 3rd

The 12 U Chiefs played well this weekend. Three of the games were really close and the last not as. We are hoping for a WIN in Chelan in a couple of weeks! 

And now, enjoying a GORGEOUS evening, letting the chickens free range, relaxing on a Sunday evening

Saturday BASEBALL!

whoaaaa slow down. Whew! Today! Both boys ready for the baseball parade and opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. Vance makes breakfast, gets the boys to their parade trucks, the littles and I go a bit later. We get there, good friends surround us. The Reyers offer us donuts and muffins. Oren throws a few fits. I head home with the littles. Oren naps, Hazel and I "upcycle" a thrift store find and let the chickens free range a bit. We have home grown salad for lunch. Vance, Willem and Merit get to Willem's field before 12:30 for his 1 o'clock game. Hazel, Oren and I arrive at 1:45. Merit runs to the car and says "I am SO hungry." I offer him graham crackers out of a princess lunch sack. Oren does NOT want to be at the game. Hazel wants to be at the playground near the game. I make sure the fundraiser packet that is due is in the car. Phew. I come home and try to feed everyone before Merit has pictures at 4:15. His game is at five. I need to line dry a load of clothes. --------- BASEBALL. I can't really tell you how much our family loves it. But you probably know this, otherwise, I would be reading magazines and sipping coffee on a Saturday while maybe weeding or cleaning a bathroom or two.

Life is good. And there is SO much to be thankful for. And when my sister in law Cary had four children the ages my kids are now she would tell me she would fall into bed every night. I am living that right now. These days, I am excited for 9:30/10 p.m. and hope that I can read for ten minutes. But my head hits the pillow and I am out.

Will, pitching.

Watching Merit and Will be part of a TEAM, hearing them cheer on their team mates, watching them WORK and watching them do their best is such a sweet gift~

our life!

Old books from the thrift store this week

This photo was taken at 8:30 this morning, right before they left for the parade! 

Cheering on these boys and their teams has been so much fun.

And I am so very thankful for their coaches.

Off to... you guessed it! Baseball! 

Tuesday Morning

Lavendar

I love lavendar.

I have so many weeds. I do try to avoid photographing those.

Willem and Clover

These kids are ballers. We start em' young.

Therapy

Entertainment

I am such a farm girl at heart.

The Crazy Chicken Lady is back

Their personalities! darling creatures

The last post about me and my sisters weekend may have been refreshing for those 

of you who are not crazy about chickens. ;-)

dirty water and a stick, what a fun combo

So, these chicks seem to have become teenagers! 

They move more quickly. They fly more. They eat and poop more. Their looks change daily

so we really can't tell them apart. Although I have been told Darla is the loudest. Bob Jo Fred is big. He/she has more red on his head.

Today we are getting two more newborn chicks. Leghorns this time. 7 seemed like a good number for us. 5 New Hampshire Reds and 2 Leghorns. And we are hoping there aren't any roosters in the mix, but who knows! Vance talks about eating these chickens some day... ummm hmmmm we'll see. I do know I want to provide a wonderful life for them and am so excited about fresh eggs! I am thinking of starting another blog. Strictly about chickens. I am sure I would have a lot of followers! bahaha!