March, St. Patrick's day, Beach, Baking and deck removal

Life keeps getting faster and faster.  I find the desire to journal stronger and stronger yet the time in which to do it smaller.  So here it goes.  another picture post to make up for lost time.

I bought the kids matching Pjs.  This brings me joy and makes me feel like my kids are still young.  

We've struggled to study the scriptures with the come follow me manual so after some thoughtful prayer we returned to the book of mormon.  following President Russell M. Nelson's suggestion to highlight references of Christ as we read.  Grace LOVES reading the scriptures.  And I'm so thankful for personal inspirations to teach my family they way that works best for us at this time.  

I slept in on Sunday but when I did get up I found this.  James and the kids playing a game all ready for church.  I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for my family.  I love them with all my heart.  

Somedays Sacrament meeting is just better in the cultural hall. 

After Church is was time to go to a park and enjoy some slacklining.  

our homeschool rhythm feels good right now.  It seems like homeschooling is just like raising a child once you've got your rythemn down it's time to grow and change some more.  So I'm soaking up this blissful moment of perfection along the way. 

I can say i'm pretty excited for Spring.  I never felt like winter was too long but it's been nice to be outside playing in the sunshine again.  

Edgar is growing up.  He keeps us up most nights but is happy as can be.  

65 degrees and sunny it must be swimsuit weather.  

 napping in the hammock

It's nice that it's still sunny when James gets home from work.  

We found a snake at the archery field.  

Our ward primary did a dessert auction.  The girls made fudge and cookies.  

James worked St. Patrick's day weekend.  the weather was nice and the girls asked if they could start removing the deck.  

In just a few hours they had accomplished quite a bit.  

Edgar loves chewing on his toes

Gwenevere pushing Edgar on the Swing.  

Everett drawing three pictures at once.  

Everett drew this pictures for Gwenevere.  It's a cat with a calor.   and look at his name.  I"m so proud of this kid.  

Since James was at work on Saturday we decided to go to the coast.  

 beach selfie

We live next to a local pet store called hometown pets.  When we where in florence OR the kids say the sister store and HAD to stop by.  It was like going to Disneyland, they where so excited.  

Sunday (St. Patrick's Day) my friend sent me this irish blessing.  

My lucky leprechaun.  

 The kids made a leprechaun trap, but the sneaky leprechaun didn't get fooled.  Instead he sent the kids on a while treasure hunt.  Where they found a rainbow and some treasure. 

The best part of St. patrick's day was listening to Gwenevere tell us about St. Patrick and how he was a great missionary.  Then going to Church and listening to the Bishop ask us to pray and fast that we too can share the gospel with those around us. 

Gwenevere's art

The kid's trap.  

Playing in the rainbow rice.  

My little leprechaun.  I love Edgar with all my heart.

St. Patrick's day dinner.  Corn beef, cabbage and greens.  YUMM

Did I mention I love my little Leprechaun?  

Even Papa enjoyed the rice bin.  

Because Sunshine feels so good.  

James took the girls to cohort and Everett and I invited B to play.  

Sisters are the best of friends.

When i was at the dentist James sent me this picture.  Feeding chickens and entertaining the baby all at once.  

Gwenevere has been feeling happy again.  It's been a hard 6 months for this girl.  Moving wasn't easy but she's making new friends and starting to feel happy again.  Sweet tender mercies.  

 Saturday I took the kids to Portland and Rebecca and Max watched my kids while I attended the temple and then I watched the kids while they had a temple date.  It was awesome.

Rebecca even did a come follow me lesson with the kids.  SUPER MOM!

Edwin and Gwenevere selfie

 After our temple swap day I was able to visit a dear friend of mine Tanya Bohman and her family.  It wasn't long enough but it was so so good to see them again.  I know it's a good friendship when you heart if full just by seeing their faces in person. 

angel kisses and scripture reading

Mama:  Everett look at your freckles.  they are angel kisses.

Everett:  They must be from Edgar eating my nose.

Everett has memorized a few board books.  He loves to read them to me.  The other night he asked me if I knew the very first book he read.  Wondering what his response would be a ask him  "What was it?"  I was pretty sure he would say "Hello Ninja"  because I believe that was the first book he memorized but  Everett replied,  "The Scriptures".


Everett started attending a new preschool last month.  Between winter break, the week of snow and soon a 2 week spring break, he hasn't gone much.  But he loves it, most days.  Before he started school we talked about who his new teacher is going to be.  He leaned over to me, gave me a big hug and said,  "You are my favorite teacher."  This kid gets me.  I don't think i'd let him grow up if he wasn't so darn cute.  The  hardest part about preschool is I don't know what he's learning.  He'll come home singing a new song and I'll ask him what that song is and he'll say "I don't know"  Tonight he was singing  "It begins with Tea."   If you happen to know the song he's singing please share.  Google only goes so far.  hehehehhehehe

I'm so glad he has this time to have occupational therapy and speech therapy but I can't wait till next year when I get to be his main teacher again.  I miss him everyday when he's at school.

Snow! Edgar is 6 months OLD

Monday morning we woke up to 8 inches of snow.  James took off early to get to work.  An hour later he showed up back our front door.  He hadn't made it around the block yet.  He came back to get something and then took off again.  He made it work an hour late but only 50% of his department staff made it so they where super glad he showed up.  

Uncle Austin helped us make an igloo, shovel snow and spent the morning with us before heading back to Portland.    

After a full day of playing outdoors.  The kids wanted to take a bath together.  

The front page news.  

 Apparently this was the snow storm of the year.  Many families lost power for several days.  Most lost power for about a week.  We never did.  yippee!

James arrived to work 40 minutes early on tuesday so he went cross country skiing down by the river before starting his shift.  It sure would have been fun to have him  home during our snow storm so we could play together but i'm glad he got to enjoy some snow too.

Cross country skiing

 These girls spend hours playing with our chickens.  I love our chickens because they are the best pet.  They provide eggs, hours of entertainment for my kids and we can leave them alone for a few days without worrying about them.  Wish all our pets where this useful.

Chicken Sister

 I finally pulled out edgar's high chair.  He loves sitting at the table with us and eating big kid food.

Cucumber for teething

Gwenevere's favorite math face.  She been growling and squinting her eyes and Edgar a lot lately.  He thinks it's funny.  But now Edgar is smiling with his eyes squinted and makes growing noises when he's playing.  hahahha

Grace and Everett made a blanket fort and read books to Edgar in their fort.

I love Grace's get it done attitude 

 I made chicken noodle soup and for the first time ever I used the leftover soup to make chicken pot pie.  It was heavenly.  I was so proud of myself.  Thank you Amanda for giving me the idea.

 Friday we had our friend G come to play.  Their power had been out all week and they had been staying in a hotel.  Two dogs, two kids, two adults and a baby with a cold.  not ideal.

Saturday we went to Home Depot.  The kids made clocks with Papa while Edgar and I browsed kitchen sinks and appliances.  Future projects in the early planning stage.

After Home Depot we went to our local volunteer library and got our first library card.  hurray.  It's a cute little library.  When we got home it was sunny and kind of warm so we pulled out our archery stuff and did some target practice.  Edgar enjoyed watching us in his exersaucer.

On March 7th, Edgar turned 6 months old.  crazy how life keeps going.  I wish I could slow down time and enjoy this phase a little longer.  But I can't,  that's why I blog.  To remember all that I am thankful for.  Edgar is 18.2 lbs, a great eater. Started to rollover. Loves to sing. Learned to smile squinty eyed like Gwenevere taught him. Can sit up on his own. Is beginning to push up into his hands. Loves bath time and water. Takes three naps. Sleep in our bed at night. Wears 9 month clothes. And Is a pour joy in our home.

 Waking up slowly is the best way to wake up.  

Monday Papa made a multiplication bingo game for the kids to play.

Gwenevere found my phone.  hehehe

Grace published a class book with her co-hort class.  I about died when I read what she wrote.  It was a great day cutting down our christmas Tree.  I'm glad she could feel the spirit.

 

 Gwenevere has a squinty face she loves to do when she plays with Edgar.  I think he's figured out how to squint like her. LOL

I love our chickens.  I love how my kids take care of them and I love that we get so many beautiful eggs each day.  

Watercolor art for her cousins.  Grace has been in a penpal mood and loves to send letters to friends.  

Another lazy day reading books.  I love homeschooling.  

Gwenevere asked to take a bath with Edgar so she could play with his new bath toys.  hahahha

Cell phone selfies.