Our Sept.11th

So grateful for tender mercies from a loving Heavenly Father. If you believe that this life is a learning process, and I completely do, I am so grateful for a learning lesson that 4 boys of mine will never forget, that didn't involve loss of life or damage to house or barn.
That would be a field fire caused when our boys fort went up in flames. Tender mercy #1 Sam, Noah, Mara and Porter got out because they could hear the flames on the outside of the fort. They were in the underground part and were able to get out with no burns.
Tender mercy #2 Ryan happened to just walk by the window and look out just as the kids were getting out.
Tender mercy # 3 The wind was blowing away from our house and barn and away from the neighbors.
Tender mercy # 4 Everyone felt small whisperings about what to do and when.




Tender Mercy #5 The fire department responded quickly even though it was volunteer and they had to come from their homes. The hoses we had were able to get the fire in the ditch out before it caught the field South of us on fire. That field had not been cut and would have been more likely to catch our house and the neighbors on fire if it went up.

Tender mercy #6 Kathy (the lady with the camera) takes pictures for the fire department and usually sends the pictures into the Tribune. Thankfully she said she would not send these in so the reporters wouldn't be out to hound us. So grateful for that! Even though Caleb has been trying to get in the paper all summer, this was not how we wanted to be in the paper.

Broke a shovel trying to beat the fire out! Noah was exhausted from beating it.

So grateful that is over and my heart has returned to normal pace! So grateful for the life lesson and the lives that were spared!

4 months old! {Annalee}

So in love with this baby girl! She is starting to grab at toys and put them to her mouth. She is so smile-y and is trying really hard to giggle, but mostly just grunts . She is so sweet and just makes your heart melt!

Noah's Surprise Birthday Party {12}

Took Noah for a ride while the guests arrived. He was totally surprised! We made grilled pizzas and had homemade salsa and grapes. Tried to organize a game where you put a plastic bag over two people cover the bad with shaving cream, divide into two teams, and throw cheetos and see which team can get the most cheetos to stick. It didn't last, the shaving cream war broke out immediately... really...is that fair?

Seriously!

we could barely get them to hold still for a photo.

The white man! Doing a moon dance at the full moon

Taylor launching onto my back mid-picture!

Love this tiny lady who was brave and joined the fight...no one would dare get her face though after her sister had a meltdown when she got creamed.

Caleb

Max...loving that mischievous grin.

Kobe, Noah, Matt, Nick

All good things must come to and end and all shaving cream participants had to ride home in a car...so first they had to meet the hose...

Most definately the funniest part of the night as they all screamed like little girls!

Who needs expensive birthday parties when 8 cans of shaving cream costing $8 at the dollar store provided enough entertainment and joy for 11 children for 2 1/2 hours!

Success!

Happy 12 Noah!

{Crawdads}

Kris, Diane, Me, Holly

My Partners in Crime. All our kids had a hay-day at the river.

Suzette had the boys over and they caught Crawdads. Caleb wanted to cook them up. So Suzette let him.

The Feast The Bite

The Verdict!

Cousin Fun!

We had so much fun with our cousins here. The kids got to show them what it is we do for fun... riding goats...

Balancing on fences...

Riding the Arkoudas Slide...

the outcome for Papou...

gathering eggs...

playing in the hay...

swinging from the rope swing in the barn...

milking the goats...

We are so blessed to have family that supports us. We had such a good time with them here! Thanks for coming guys!

Max's Baptism

Noah {Big 12}

HAPPY bIRtHDaY to my goof ball! I love this kid! He makes me laugh and he is so tender hearted even though he tries to hide it with a rough exterior. I will never forget walking into the room one day when he was about 4 and seeing him cry at a movie he was watching. I will never forget how tender hearted he was when the baby goat died, I know under that prickly pear there is heart, and a big one at that.

Noah got to go to scout camp this year, and when he got home he bore his testimony about how amazing it was and how he felt the spirit when they retired the American flag. His few words were packed with emotion and I was impressed. He has great love for this country of ours, and it makes me happy. I love his little quirky personality, and even though he can be as stubborn as all get out, and he makes his brothers crazy most days, it is all how he shows love. Love him much! So happy Birthday to the best 12 year old on this planet! Best gift...the blue banana chair!

He really wanted a hedgehog, and believe me I looked all over the state, but the pet store was out until next month. He still really wants one! because I need another animal on this farm like I need another hole in my head. Go figure!

Make a wish
This was seriously the best tasting cake that I have ever had! Nothing healthy about it at all :(, but so so good.
I used chocolate mousse for the frosting and added sour cream and a pudding mix to the devil's food cake mix. Yeah! pretty sure it was sinful!

{2011} First Day of School!

Alpine Slide Arkoudas Style

Those tires have always been here since we moved. They can't be taken to the dump, so they have just been used in a mulitude of ways...this is my favorite by far.

The slide is used with skateboards, rollerblades...

bikes, and with a hose for a water slide.