built in checkerboard

This table gets used EVERY single day, one way or another!

I had fun (though WAY to  much math involved) painting this checker board on

our coffee table!

Orcs vs. elves & hobbits

Spring is upon us!

 March has been a good & busy month for us

I thought I'd share just a small sampling of the hundreds of pictures I've taken this month

We've been busy working as fast as we can through all the requirements to get approved to adopt through our state, I think our home study gets reviewed and either accepted or denied on Friday.

Praying that A is ours!

Asthma has reared it's ugly head around here with a vengeance this month, I hate asthma.

Caleb's pet crab died, Squeeber had been a part of our home for more than 2 years

I of course seeing my child's heartache got the idea that perhaps a gecko would soften the blow.

So I decided to surprise Caleb and Jaden and: Thus, Elsa and Olaf entered our zoo!

(I also got Taye, Carter and Evie each a beta fish) 

Lots and lots of hiking and walks!

spring is upon us! 

St. Patricks Day

Lots of peak a boo! 

Caleb is learning to be an AMAZING cook, he made us spinach artichoke Mac N cheese, 

seriously, it was AMAING! 

What is March without some snow?! 

Cousins

Piano recitals

New spring sandals (always a favorite thing of mine to get my kiddos!)

More hiking, and history

Chocolate and chips for dinner 

When daddy leaves town, mommy is CRAZY!

(I wanted them to have some great memories, not just be sad the whole time!) 

Project complete

One of the great battles of our day and age I think is the television... 

It tends to be this item in the home that draws our attention away from the things that truly matter.

For the longest time we didn't even have one that worked,

I was okay with that. 

But we did eventually get it fixed and a few months ago I realized it had become quite an issue 

in our home. The kids were constantly asking to watch it, and the younger ones throwing

tantrums when I would say no. 

I was finding myself drawn to the ease of allowing movies to play and not even realizing that more 

than an hour had passed of them staring at cartoons. 

A problem had been re-established in our home

The Television.

After a great deal of prayer and thinking it all through I brought the idea of an "in home theater" 

to my family, hubby included and all agreed that moving the tv out of our living room 

where it was the focal point (all furniture arranged around that little idol box) UGH

First on the tour, the newly refocused living area... 

(my computer is in the corner of this room still) 

I have worked very hard to pull our living area into a space that promotes fellowship and learning...

Focal points being wood stove, books and piano

Because we're doing a home tour, I thought I'd also show off the reorganized kitchen.

Since 3 of the boys are now using switched on schoolhouse I have much less "curriculum" 

that needs to be easily gotten. 

I was able to change out the cabinet that was in the kitchen for a much smaller one that 

has solid doors to conceal the clutter of all the supplies we need for school... 

SO much better! The other was driving me out of my mind.

(FYI, Evie made that schedule, oh my goodness! I could never do that much in a day!) 

We FINALLY have enough hooks for everyone's coats!! 

and now, the newly finished upstairs "theater" 

This is taken from the far side of our loft looking towards our "theater" 

Hubby even ran neat lighting along the floor (can't see it in the pictures, but it is COOL!) 

Can you tell we are Lord of the Rings fans?! haha...

We hung black fabric behind the tv for theater effect

and you know what is really awesome

Each of my kids donated $100.00 of their own birthday money to buy a couch so that 

our entire family could be seated comfortably!

They are awesome kids, seriously!!!

soon I will explain our new "movie ticket" 

policy which we are working on getting set up.

No more just staring at the tv, they have to earn their movie time...

Our next projects may or may not include

 carpet, a new mattress, new walls, a light fixture even wood flooring?? 

Who knows for sure! 

zoo day!

Fair day!

Monday morning I had been debating back and forth whether or not to attend the fair that day

then, a good friend sent a text to see if we wanted to join them!

YES! 

It was a GREAT day, a total success that I just have to share!

(You'll notice it's pretty picture heavy on Carter J and Evie, well... 

My older three were always two steps ahead of me, and Lydia was asleep a lot of the time!)

Carter J and Evelyn had so much fun getting dressed up "fair style"

Lydi got to pet her very first ever goat, he was a sweetie even laid his head gently on her hands

which made her a tad worried!

Evie found SUPAH (super) cows!!! 

(did you know all cows are super heroes? Well they are...)

She was so excited to do the peewee stampede (a kids rodeo with stick horses, cutest thing ever!)

until it was time to start, then she burst into tears and wouldn't do it..

Oh well, maybe next year!

AH they are CUTE!

 So what was that success I mentioned?

Carter J did AWESOME

the fair is crowded, loud and there are lots of things to catch a kid's eye

He never had a meltdown ever!!!!

This is HUGE my friends

I am so proud of him, so excited with this accomplishment!

We had indian fry bread before leaving and all in all, it was the perfect fair day!

as summer winds down

August has been a pretty eventful month around here

I've had very little time to sit down and truly blog, which is actually a good thing. 

I thought I'd share just a few of the many pictures I've taken this month. 

On our way home from camping earlier this month we saw 3 funnel clouds and even 1 tornado 

on the ground, this was out in the middle of nowhere so it was really AWESOME to watch 

(they were pretty far away) 

the wannabe storm chaser in me was thrilled through and through, 

the mother in me was a tiny bit nervous but thankful they were far away. 

Over the course of the month, Lydi is now pulling up and standing against stuff, and is a speed crawler!

Taye began soccer for the first time ever!

In order to help our Carter J out some we've made a few other changes which I am pleased as can be with!

We have hired two young ladies to come to our home once a week and work with him,

On Mondays he has art lessons and on Tuesdays he has occupational therapy.

It has worked out amazing as the Lord has placed these ladies

 into our lives and their interests and skills lined up so beautifully with our needs.

They each have so much to offer Carter and he adores them both 

which is huge because he does not always take to people right away! 

(this is art lessons)

Caleb also adores art and can often be found

spending hours on end drawing intricate dragons and dinosaurs

 practicing soccer in the evenings

Being adorable

Playing in the mud

Lots of hands on learning!

Sweet playtimes

helping in the kitchen

Getting some good in home occupational therapy

As Carter J said: "playing Legos and gettin school done, this is awesome, aren't we awesome?!"

Learning to love in the way each one needs, learning to feed their hearts full of it.