Christmas Decorating

Oh man, I am so terrible at keeping the blog updated!! I might need to get fired! Anyway, here are some pictures of what we have been doing.

Noelle holds up the book of the nativity cookie set we have. We started a couple weeks ago doing a different cookie a week with a story up until Christmas. These pictures are of the donkey cookie.

Mmmm. Tastes Good!! Hannah licks the beaters.

The three silly heads with their tongues sticking out while cutting out cookies.
Noelle with the pan of cookies right before heading to the oven. (On a safety note, no we do not allow the 4 year old to use the oven, she just wanted to show the cookies to us.)

Noelle holds up a strand of popcorn and cranberries she completed.



We also did some decorating for Christmas. Here is Hannah after setting up the Little People Nativity set. In case you were wondering, I think Hannah is making a statement by wearing her bathing suit while Christmas decorating..... just wishful thinking of a green Christmas!


Hannah's picture of her completed set-up.

Some of our town set on the buffet.

This is probably my favorite Christmas decoration! My friend bought it for us and we all love it! Thanks Sarah! It is very rare that you see anything like this for sale that will include our whole family on 1 decoration.

Some of the garland and red bows over the doorways.

More over our front door.


And lastly for now, our regular nativity (with a few extra figurines on the side) on our entertainment center in the living room. Daddy built the stable for our nativity set a few years ago, isn't it beautiful??!!

More Christmas preparations coming soon.....I hope ;)

Animal Update

Here are the newest pictures of the animals. They are know all cozy in the barn for the winter.

Mr. Trey :}

The always beautiful, Cainey!

Wild spotted one, Jasper (who just a few days ago got stuck hanging over his door in an attempt to escape his stall!).


Izzy..

The ones that are still cute (but VERY SMELLY)!

~Lindsey~

Sledding Fun

Here are some pictures of what we did yesterday for a little while before the big snow storm struck.

(Okay, I guess not all of the pictures are of what we did!)

I bought this wreath a few days ago and Daddy hung it up for me over the big barn door. He even adjusted a light so that at night it shines on it! Thanks Dad!

Isaiah and Lacey out in the snow playing.

All the three girls went sledding down the hill together!

Here they are coming down the hill.

Bubba (Chris) helps Hannah back up the hill with her sled.

~Lindsey~

Nothing Sweeter

When I returned Monday night from volleyball, this is what I found...

Timmy and Isaiah cuddling :o
I think Isaiah was supposed to be putting Tim to sleep, but babies do seem to have these types of effects ;)
Finally sleep takes over both of them!

Lindsey

New Piggies

Four new piggies arrived today! We are going to raise them through the winter and they will go to slaughter around May.

They are very scared of us still, so this first picture is of them all huddled in the corner of their house. We have already named them, too. Thanks to Hannah's idea, we went for a "Tarzan" theme. The big spotted one is Kerchak, the one in the very back is Tantor, the front right (the only girl) is Jane, and the front left is Tarzan.

Some of the kids gather in front of the house to check out the new arrivals.

They are SO cute! They always stay together. Here they are working together to root up one area. When they are happy they wag their tales like a dog :)

~Lindsey~

Soap Making

Recently I had an opportunity to make soap... the real way, with lye and the whole nine yards.

It won't be done until around Thankgiving because it takes so long to dry. We can't wait to try it! It was definitely a learning experience all around, but hopefully it comes out correctly! The picture is of the last day I had to stir it to re-incoporate the olive oil because it seperates from the lye for a few days. Thank you Mrs H. for the fun learning experience!

~Lindsey~

Happy Birthday Timmy!

On November the 14th Timmy turned 1! I (we) can't believe that a whole year has alreay passed! We made him a cake and had a party with just us on Saturday. Here are some cute pictures of him, along with his cake.

This is the first stage of the cake with frosting on it. We all decided this was our most creative cake so far.

The finished product =) Everyone worked together and added an element or two!

Timmy taste tests the cake... okay squishes it!

Handsome young Timmy proudly models his new PJ's!

Timmy being goofy! We love our little man!

Happy Birthday Tim-Bob!

~Lindsey~

Happy Veterans Day

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.

Who more than self thy country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all sucess be nobleness

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for glory-tale

Of liberating strife

When once and twice

For man's avail

Men lavished precious life!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

Till selfish gain no longer strain

The banner of the FREE!

(A few selections of verses from "America the Beautiful" by Katherine Lee Bates)

THANK YOU VETS AND ALL THOSE SERVING NOW!

What's Up

Just a few days ago I was able to go with some friends to see the "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions. We had a really fun day of shopping and then finishing the day with seeing the horses perform. I didn't take my camera because I assumed no pictures were allowed, at least with the flash. Actually, you are able to photograph as much as you like even with the flash if you need it! I was disappointed that I didn't have it with me, but it worked out fine because mom and dad went to see them last night. I sent my camera with them and mom was able to get some pictures for me. I also have some pictures of the first snow that has actually accumulated to something on the ground. Hannah and Noelle are very excited about it, although they were sad it isn't enough to sled in yet :)

This is the head rider bowing with a horse.

I gave up trying to move this after about 5min. of trying. Anyway, it is of the snow on the trees and in the field.

The head rider again, on a horse without stirrups, doing one of the "Airs Above the Ground" maneuvers.

The riders on their mounts finish the program.

Something I drew in the snow today.

Miss Izzy does her best to smile for me!

~Lindsey~

Learning...

To crochet!! Noelle has been very interested for a very long time to learn to crochet. Beth took some time to teach her the very basic chain. She loved it!! She was so proud of herself. She made the cutest expressions every time she completed a chain. Here are some very cute pictures of her first time crocheting. There is also a picture of today's sunrise. It took a few shots to get it and I messed around with my camera and this is the best I could do.

Noelle shows off her chain!!

Happy faces all around after figuring out how to chain!!

Just starting.

Beautiful sunrise!!

~Lindsey~

Baxter State Park

Hello! I can't believe that it has been so long since my last post. To me the days seem to blend in together like a blur recently. Getting up doing the animals getting back to the house to eat and help other kids, get them ready get yourself ready, do a devotional together, doing school, chores and occasional field trips and outside recreation. I guess I cannot blame that entirely seeing as I could have made time instead of reading. I, sorry mom, would do some blogging instead of school reading, but when you are in the middle of a great series and you don't seem to have much time for it, sometimes at night is the only time for reading. But anyway, here are some pictures of our recent trip to Baxter State Park.

Scenic view up a little river.

Hannah and Noelle :D

A funky shaped tree, well what is left, with Katahdin in the background.

Some lovely watern falls.

Upon arriving, we were able to go observe a moose who was grazing in a little pond.

This is Beth and Timmy looking on at the moose.

Small panoramic from an outlook point.

Hannah poses for me at our lunch area.

A vibrantly colored leaf on the trail.

Bekah smiles after enjoying lunch on a rock next a stream.

And lastly... a family photo!! I set the timer on my camera and I had 10 seconds to make sure I didn't mess up the camera and then run between these rocks down a little trail and onto the bridge. Although my hair is VERY messed up from running, it only took a few tries to get it. It didn't come out too shabby either!

~Lindsey~