Lessons

Some friends of ours have been teaching our kids some lessons! I love the community of church, how the kids have the opportunities to learn from people other than their parents! And let me tell you, they often learn easier from other people! 

The boys have been learning archery from Mr. Jack. He is so patient with them!

A well-attacked target.

At the same time Anne will take her turn first, learning riding from Mrs. Prudy.

 She can now mount the horse on her own, without any step-stool! 

 And the twins learn a lesson in patiently watching...

 Definitely Fall here- all the leaves are turning yellow and falling- I love this spot on their property- so peaceful.

 Peter's turn to ride

 Elijah and Anne's turn to watch

 Peter's started a little trotting and galloping and is making progress!

 The moment the littles have been waiting for- their own turn!

Zoom in if you can and check out the smile on Berea's face here- she hates smiling for cameras, but can't hold it in when she's on a horse. :)

Last week

Last Friday a friend from my Africa days came by with her family and visited on their way to the Canyon. It was so fun to reconnect after...a lot of years (I think I was 16, visiting her sister in MN the last time we saw each other?)! Their youngest was born waaaay premature (24 weeks) and has some residual eye problems, but overall is doing really well! All these pictures are from B's blog since my girls were in melt-down mode and I couldn't put them down long enough to grab my camera.

 Big sister K, looking for eggs and finding one of our blue ones! (from an Ameraucana hen)

K's not sure how close she really wants to get to this creature.

E, on the other hand, is liberal with her hugs! :)

 The whole fam at the Canyon. Thanks for the visit, guys!

Meanwhile, on the same day, Christian was at the Canyon starting a week-long tour with 3 clients!

 Sunrise

Sunset at the Canyon

 Sunset in Page, AZ

And he's home!!! Funny, how in a previous post I said that this last week was not a week for weakness. Well, so much for that! The whole week was physically exhausting with late nights, early mornings, and waking in between- on top of being hormonal. Definitely not my finest hour. But we survived and Daddy's home. 

Welcome home, Daddy, would you now please inaugurate the bi-annual clothes sort by climbing into the attic multiple times so that we can turn the house into more of a disaster zone?

 (Mostly) Cleaned up and tired out

 Berea really wanted me to take her picture in this bandana- and since she rarely smiles for the camera, of course I had to oblige!

Sleepover

Anne had a friend over for a sleepover for her actual birthday this weekend...

 A second set of twins in the house?

Painting finger nails

 Silly makeovers

 

 Baking cookies to take to Sunday school

Park fun!

Yes, we tend to dominate the playground. I think parents cringe when they see kids keep popping out of our van like a barrel of monkeys (incidentally, why is it monkeys and not monkies?)...

We are also occasionally non-conventional in our playground maneuvers. 

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Elijah comes in from riding his bike...
Hey Mom! I want to tell you something. If there's no God, there would be nobody to make us. Or forgive us.
Two minutes later....AND Mama, if there's no God, there would be no Heaven. And no kids in Heaven. And Mama! Something else. If there was no God, there would be no sticks to carve.

Retreat

Here are a few pictures of the retreat that I stole from a friend since I didn't pack my camera. Oops. Sort of. :) I'm one of those timid photographers that feels weird taking pictures of pretty much anyone but my own kids. Something to work on in the future. Anyhoo...our theme was "More than Conquerors" with the Olympics thrown in here and there in games and funny skits.

The amazingly humorous synchronized swimming skit.

One of my greatest friends, getting a chance to chill.

Lovely bridge/stream

Our group! 

It's was such a neat and encouraging weekend and I came back ready to meet my challenges! 

5:00 yesterday was amazing. I had just sent the boys into the tub, had just started rice for dinner and thawed the chicken, when a friend showed up to borrow a trailer from our backyard, which involved more of my time than I anticipated. By the time I was done with that it was time to milk Nellie. I got back inside and made dinner, remembered to tell the boys to wash up and get out of the tub about 5 min. before dinner was done. As soon as dinner was on the table, Elijah informed me that the twins had just gotten in the tub. So, dinner wasn't very hot and all the clean ones ended up getting chocolate ice cream smeared all over themselves anyway. But you know? God gave me the grace to roll with the punches and it wasn't really a big deal. So thanks for your prayers if you prayed- I think it was the best retreat I've been to- in so many ways.