HAPPY BIRTHDAY OREN!

And just like that Oren Paul is EIGHT! 

He is such a cool kid!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OREN PAUL!!!!!!

 

Greenhouse Goodness, full days

 I have all sorts of things looking pretty in our greenhouse but as the heat comes (today was hot) some things like it in there less and I have to figure out what will remain happy. My snapdragons came back from last year. They look so good. 

Listening to Hazel and Oren play this weekend has been fun and hilarious. They crack each other up and they come up with such fun things to do. They also loved senior night. When all four kids stood together, smiling, proud of each other, I almost had to pinch myself. Their friendship is one of my greatest blessings. 

Vance has some fish in the pond! And the fish are eating the crawdads he has put in! That has been a fun project. We have done some swimming and kayaking in there too. 

I am not home a lot. I am working quite a bit. Last week I taught first grade, PE, and fifth grade! This week so far I am in first grade Monday and Tuesday. The kids are therapy and laughter and when they have light bulb moments! awe! It's the best. I have gotten to know a few classes well and creating those bonds feels good. Teachers leave me great plans and they know I bring in a stack of fun stuff if we need fillers. 

 Today I went to out of town with Willem for baseball practice. There are sports, meetings, activities. Lots of going. 

Last spring was so different. I slept better. But I do like that we are busy again and that some of the Covid restraints are lifted and that things are getting back to normal. 

Our youngest chicken, Cornelius, spends A LOT of time in the greenhouse! He loves it in there! We always call him a he! Maybe it's a rooster but I think it is a chicken. 

Chickens absolutely love spring! And they look so pretty in the spring!

HaPPY 

HenS

For the Love of Baseball

This kid has had a heck of a season.

 This has been SUCH a fun season!

Senior Night was wonderful! 

Extra special! Merit pitched a shut out! Struck out 8, walked 0 - Allowed 0 runs and 4 hits

His defense was incredible! 

Papa came to support!

Here are the three seniors; Migs, Leo, and Merit

 

Friday!

I walked out into our greenhouse first thing this morning and it was a quiet, peaceful way to start a busy day. 

Willem does Drivers Ed zooms- he has one today. Merit and Willem both have double headers today. 

Merit has his last two HS baseball games. Senior Night. His emotions are running high, as are mine- we are SO grateful for the memories!!

Soak it up. Breathe. Know there are good things to come. 

Basketball starts Monday.

Hazel and Oren are supporters of  these big brothers, sneaking in reading for their reading logs, gardening, pretending, golf cart riding and farming... 

Teaching 5th this morning! 

May 12

I love spring! My chickens do too! 

 My computer needed a check up... and now some doctoring. So I update from my phone. My vision is not great (Close up)  and I fail to get used to wearing my glasses. 

This days are really busy, sometimes hard, and mostly fun. 

The kids are doing great in school! I love their learning and their socializing.

The last weeks of Merit’s senior year have me teary and nostalgic. 

Our home is sometimes filled with unmade decisions, moments that are fleeting, personalities that try to work together, sometimes things not coming easily... I am guessing the same could be said for many households.  

I taught kinder Monday, PE Tuesday, and will teach 5th tomorrow. I ran 20 errands today and made an effort to get my ducks in a row. My ducks are not in a row. However, the effort was made.

Time is fleeting and soaking up the special moments is important.

May 1st

Yesterday, April 30th, was my mom's birthday. 

Happy Heavenly Birthday mom! 

I miss my family home. 

I am thankful for many great memories there! 

And I am glad my dad is still there. 

I have been buying flowers lately - some pretty petunia varieties! My mom loved petunias. She would go with a flower "theme" on her front porch and front flower beds. In the front flower beds there were petunias. I remember one year she did a red, white, and blue theme. She sometimes did alternating pinks and purples... 

In looking at, buying, and planting these flowers I sure do think of her. 

We picked blackberries every summer.

Now Tasha and her husband are raising their family in that neck of the woods and have so many of the same blooms, flowers, and green that our mom and dad had - that we had growing up. 

Mom and Grandpa Ken

I am planning Merit's graduation party. It feels especially tricky in the days of COVID.

I am late at preparing for a lot of this end of the year stuff. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with the decisions. (denial maybe)I am excited about what is in store for him though. 

My goal was to order him a letterman's jacket which I still have not done. :-(

I remember my mom planning my party - making it extra special.  

The ducklings are spending their first night on our new pond. 

Ugh, it is a big bad world out there. 

Vance did create a little shelter or hide out for them. They are just young and have no fear... I hope they reside in their shelter tonight. 

Oh they LOVE tomatoes, grapes, bananas - cut into tiny chunks - granola, chick starter, meat diced... Hazel fed them sweet peas today in their new space.