4 little men and girly twins

What's for snack?

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

We had sprouted chickpeas

and peppers & olives

for a snack

and it was delicious!

want to know more about sprouting?
check out this previous post
and if you have questions
ask away! {grin}

by the fire

2012-01-22T16:30:00.000-06:00

cold night
good friends

warmed by the fire

toasting marshmallows

tag in the dark

missing gloves

friends laughing

fire watching

pretend coyote shooting

baby doll carrying

enjoying the moment
together

I'm going to miss this

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

one day
I won't wake up
to a beautiful
sleeping child
in my bed
and I'm going to miss it

one day

she'll be too big

to cuddle

under the covers

and I'm going to miss it.

one day

she won't share my pillow

& put her little hands

on my face and say

"you're beautiful mama"

and I'm going to miss it.

I am going to savor
every moment
because I know
I am going to miss it.

{camera numbers}
all shot with...
24mm 100s f2.8 iso400

empty fridge

2012-01-19T11:00:00.000-06:00

ever wondered
what a nearly empty
fridge or two

looks like

for a family of eight
about to leave on a trip?

and I must say...
we are so blessed in this country
to have access to an abundance
of good food,
and I thank God everyday.

late night talking

2012-01-18T22:35:00.001-06:00

Our mild winter is gone
and the usual harsh, frozen North Dakota winter is here.
It's -14 degrees with a wind chill of -35.
brrrrrrrr.

I love the way it looks driving over the pass on the way to town.
Makes me think of the Arctic...
frozen water on both sides
...nothing to be seen for miles.
It is truly gorgeous.

We are almost ready for our big trip.

It will only be a few days now before we are on the road.

Excited doesn't even come close to describing how I feel.

It's hard to think about what you are going to really need.

3 months is a long time, but not that long.

Our book pile is growing rapidly

and I can't decide how many outfits we all need. hmmmm.

if you're wondering what's on my nightstand...
my Bible, journal/calender, morning yoga book, kindle, The Values Driven Family, Excellent Wife, Child Guidance, this years seed catalog, the kids character story books.
...and yeah, they will be coming with me. {grin}

We're cleaning out all the food from the fridge and cabinets
and I'm wondering how often we are going to need
to go grocery shopping with our tiny RV fridge.
At least we'll have a big pantry!

I'm a bit nervous about leaving the cats.
We have a cat shop on the farm
with huge hay bales & heating pads to keep them warm
and more than enough food.
but... I'm still nervous.
They're part of our family
and we don't want anything to happen to them.

I have finally started a photography blog.
I'll be sharing most of my photography sessions on there.
I don't have much on there yet, I need to catch up... big time!
check it out and let me know what you think! {grin}

All of you who filled out the Contact Us form

regarding the photography shoots & visiting

look for a reply from me within the next few days

I have received quite a few questions about our trip.
So I thought I would put together a You Asked It post.
If you have a question you can leave it in the comments here
and I'll add it to the post.

I better get back to packing while the house is quiet and calm!
Goodnight friends!

Ozzie

2012-01-18T15:50:00.000-06:00

our forth born son

5 years old

nicknamed O.Z.

{self proclaimed} future farmer

huge hugger

lego builder

name writer

chili eater

dirt digger extraordinaire

loud talker

super snuggler

leader of the littles

key collector

mud seeker

mess maker

bike rider

dads pal

designated table clearer

tractor driver

wild imagination

broccoli & pepper eater

loud laugher

boot wearer

adventure seeker

joke teller

amazing person

knit together in my womb

perfectly made by God

a blessing to our lives

Happy Birthday Ozzie!

What's for Breakfast

2012-01-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

We had a Dutch Baby.

Since we've gone grain free...
almost completely.

And that means oatmeal, granola, egg sandwiches & pancakes
are not making their appearances at our breakfast table
quite as often.

It also means we're trying lots of new recipes
like this one!

...and it was delicious!

{Recipe}

Place your cast iron skillet in the oven
turn the oven on 500
heat for 15 minutes

1 cup coconut milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1 dropper full of liquid Stevia

mix
then add in

1 cup almond meal
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder

mix well.

Take cast iron skillet from hot oven {carefully!}
put a large spoonful of coconut oil in skillet
let melt
pour batter into skillet
bake at 500 for 12 minutes

While it's baking you can make your topping...
I sauteed 4 apples in coconut oil and cinnamon until soft.

...this served our family of 8 one slice each...

I altered the ingredients in this recipe
you can find the original here

Winter RV trip

2012-01-16T07:24:00.002-06:00

We're doing it,
we're taking our family of 8 back on the road
...and we couldn't be more excited!

Want to see what our trip map looks like?!
It's one big trip, isn't it!?

{photoshoot information}

I will be booking a small number of sessions in each area,
I'm not your back to back, hurry you through, get it done photographer.

My goal is to meet you and your family, enjoy our time together,
capture your families love and connection
& bless you with beautiful photographs to remember it by.

Just as I am not convention in so many other ways,
my pricing is also quite different. {grin}
I am letting you decide how much this is worth to you and your family.

Call it pay-it-forward or blessing because I have been blessed
...all I know is this has been a dream of mine, for quite some time.
And here it is, right before my eyes.

This is a basic list of Cities and areas I will be offering photography sessions in

Savanna, GA
East & West Florida Coast
Northern Florida
Mobile, AL
New Orleans - Baton Rouge, LA
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Fort-Worth, TX
Austin, TX
Lubbock, TX
Albuquerque - Santa Fe, NM
Tucson, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Grand Junction, CO
Pueblo, CO
Durango, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Denver, CO
Salt Lake City, UT
Reno, NV
Pacific NW Coast

If you are interested please click here to fill out the Contact Us form.
You will receive a reply with dates, further pricing information & more!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

For those of you interested in getting together to visit,
please use the same form. {grin}

S

2012-01-14T18:01:00.000-06:00

a simply slendid

shivering

snowy

Saturday

stroll

soaking up

sunshine

and blue

skys

glimpses of a day in photos

2012-01-12T17:18:00.000-06:00

random thoughts of moving on...

2012-01-11T12:34:00.000-06:00

It's been nearly 4 weeks since I sat down at the computer,

I didn't miss it much.

Just the little bits....

connecting, sharing, blogging.

life doesn't stop...

it just keeps going.

cooking, laundry, school, praying, laughing, playing, cleaning, sleeping

I'm thankful for that.

I feel peaceful about the loss of our baby.

God was merciful and loving,

that I am sure of.

The girls still ask about the baby.

They don't fully understand.

They say "it's not growing right now, but God will make it grow soon"

sigh.

Now that it's out there that we wanted a baby

...we're hearing how some people really feel about it.

and that hurts, a lot.

Especially when it feels like a threat.

All I want is to live the life God has planned for us,

not my will but his be done.

Vance is still mending.

We go back to the dr. again today,

hopefully to hear good news.

We've cut out nearly all grain, sugar & hard to digest foods.

I'm detoxing from chocolate. {grin}

We're planning our big winter RV trip.

8,000 miles on the charted map so far.

Everyone is dreaming big,

and I LOVE it.

I will be doing photography shoots along the way.

I'll post information soon.

It's not the purpose of the trip,

but I'm excited for it to be a part of our journey.

I LOVED meeting so many of you on our last trip.

...and really enjoyed seeing your Christmas cards. {grin}

Christmas cards. sigh.

I still haven't sent ours out.

I need to rewrite part of the letter...

the part where we announced our family was growing.

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your love

...your words, prayers, thoughts & hugs

have been such a blessing.

This world may be filled with pain and tears

but it's also full of love & kindness too.

And for that, I am thankful.

It wasn't a planned blogging break,

but I guess it's officially over now...

and it's good to be back!

life and death

2011-12-30T11:15:00.001-06:00

2 months ago
...I praised God for the miracle of life,
And clenched my eyes shut as we waited.
And then I smiled and laughed and danced with joy...

There was a miracle growing inside of me...
And I wanted to holler it from the rooftop
...but we waited.

I saw a baby in my arms...
part of our family
...a new brother or sister
...loved like he was always here.

All looked fine.

I could vision a baby
...being held by his big brothers
...loved on by big sisters
...sleeping in my arms
...gazing at his daddy

On Christmas we told the children,
with a scavenger hunt and scrambled words.
Ozzie yelled "awesome"
...the big boys grinned from ear to ear.
The girls giggled and smiled...
And told us how they were going hold the baby
...and give her kisses.

We started sharing the news with family
...we were going to have a baby this summer.
Due on my husbands birthday.
I would be 12 weeks today.

2 days ago I was told those words no mother wants to hear
..."your baby stopped growing last week".

What did I do....
Did I get too close to the xrays and ct-scans?
Was I too stressed at the hospital?
I was getting enough nutrients, wasn't I?
What did I do wrong?

Everything had felt so right
...my husband and I both felt God's call to add to our family.
We thought we might be done...
but God had put the desire in both of our hearts.

I never thought it would end this way.

Yesterday I went into labor...
My body contracted,
My water broke,
I delivered a 10 week baby
and a placenta with a little umbilical cord.
It was the worst labor of my life.
(I might share the story...not sure)

Today I'm thanking God for the miracle of life
and I look at my six beautiful blessings
...And think life is amazing.

....but it still hurts like heck.

Thanks for letting me share,
For hearing my heart
...and loving our family.

There is so much pain in this world...
A world filled with heartache and loss
...tears and confusion.

Lean on God with me,
He loves, he gives, he sees you.
he brings peace that passes understanding.
And i am so grateful for that.

Vance

2011-12-28T09:08:00.000-06:00

sigh. where to start...
what to say...

What I'm going to write doesn't necessarily need to be shared,
but I need to write,
I need to record what's been going on.
...for me, for our family journal.

Some of you who follow me on twitter or facebook
probably know what we were doing all week.
It was the easiest way to keep family and friends updated
...blogging however doesn't seem to come to mind
when you're at the hospital.

2 1/2 weeks ago Vance had a stomach bug
...he wasn't feeling well for 24 hours.
And then he was back to normal.
except he wasn't

A week later he mentioned his stomach was hurting again

...hurting on the lower right side.

sigh.

I rushed him to the dr.

we had xrays, 2nd opinions, 3rd opinions & 4th opinions

...it looked like anything but a ruptured appendix

he passed the jump test, the rebound pain test.

...and then we had a cat-scan.

It was the "worst case scenario"

...as the dr. said

We had a "very sick boy" & "a long road of recovery"

Vance's appendix had ruptured, 10 days ago.

He had a large abscess around his appendix

but his body had completely blocked the infection off.

There was nothing leaking into his body.

Praise God!

Taking his appendix out was not an option,

it was much too risky.

Instead they went in and cleaned out the abscess,

and put a port/drain in.

It was done under CT scan

and took around an hour.

I paced the floor most of the time.

Anyone who has ever left a child for an operation

...hugs to you, it is a hard thing to do.

After the operation Vance really went down.

His fever spiked, he was in horrible pain.

He was having continued muscle cramps around the port,

we were 36 hours into "no food or water"

he had IV trouble.

It was a hard day.

I went through the whole "mom guilt" over and over.

How did I not know? What did I miss?

But you know, I couldn't have done anything different.

I asked him about his stomach, I thought about the appendix or kidneys.

He didn't have pain there, he was just a little sick.

He wasn't doubled over.

He didn't have a high fever.

We went swimming and ice skating.

He ran, he played, he ate, he was fine.

sigh.

He was in God's hands.
His appendix ruptured and his body protected him.
Amazing.

I handle stressful situations really well

...mentally that is.

Physically not as well.

I couldn't sleep and probably only slept 3-4 hours a night.

I made it through the entire hospital stay without a headache

...and then it hit when we got home.

We were so thankful to have a wonderful Dr.

It felt like we were actually on the same team

...it was a blessing for sure!

Vance really enjoyed his Dr. too

...he even stayed and played a lego game with him.

That really lifted his mood!

Paul did amazing with the children at home.

He cooked, cleaned, played and was pretty much super dad.

All of the children handled it really well...

except Grayson.

He was very distraught seeing Vance in so much pain

...the IV, the port and drain.

Thinking about what was going on

...it was hard for him.

The port never drained like we thought it would.

We went back and forth trying to decided if putting a chest port in for food was worth the risk.

We thought the drain port was blocked or possibly put in wrong.

Vance had horrible trouble with IV and drawing blood.

There were spiked fevers and antibiotics that didn't work.

4 days of no food or water.

We planned for Christmas in the hospital

and talk of additional operations.

Oh, God is so good!

We are still hopeful that he will only need the one operation.

The blood they pulled from finger pricks were enough.

He lowered his fever on his own.

The new antibiotic worked.

and we went home on Christmas eve.

With a port and drain

but home.

We go back today.

Praying all looks okay...

and he can have the port and drain taken out.

This was our first

... surgery

... lengthy hospital stay

...IV

... antibiotic

...serious illness

and we made it through, so far.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouraging words.
Thank you for the balloons to cheer Vance up.
Thank you for caring about our family.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-27T11:43:00.000-06:00

...from our family to yours

on the ice

2011-12-19T13:23:00.000-06:00

Christmas Tree Love

2011-12-18T22:51:00.000-06:00

The best un-cheese sauce

2011-12-15T14:14:00.000-06:00

instead of cow milk
we drink hemp, coconut, almond or rice milk
instead of cow ice cream
we enjoy coconut ice cream {most of the time}
instead of regular cow cheese
we use raw cheese or this delicious un-cheese sauce

this sauce is incredibly versatile
and if you try it
chances are you'll love it!

1/2 cup cashews

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup water

1 t. real salt

2-6 cloves garlic

1 lemon, juiced

1 heaping T. coconut oil

toss it all into a blender or food processor

or use a stick mixer like me

and blend until smooth

I use this sauce

...to make mac&cheese {with or without veggies}

...as stuffed shell filling {by doubling, adding chopped swiss chard or spinach,

1 shredded zucchini & 3 eggs}

...for lasagna filling {same as above}

...with cooked quinoa, kale & veggie {kind of like pasta salad}

...mixed with potatoes and cauliflower {like cheesy potato casserole}

...with chopped veggies and mashed beans to make veggie patties

Like I said, versatile

...pretty much anything you would add a cheese sauce too,

you can use this!

Hope you enjoy!

late night talking

2011-12-13T21:36:00.000-06:00

Life has been busy this week...
but really, when isn't it busy?
I guess it's just been a different kind of busy.

It's freezing cold and windy and foggy.
The sky was white today and the ground is partially white.
The trees are covered in frost.
The boys said "it looks like the earth is losing all it's color,
but it's a good thing we have lots of color inside!"
I agree.

{this picture was before the sky turned white and the fog settled in}

We've been learning a lot about St. Nick lately.
It's been incredibly fascinating for me, my husband and the kids!
We watched a beautiful fiction movie about St Nick as a child.
It was called Joulutarina - Christmas Story. You can find it on Netflix.

The boys have been big time into science experiments of all kinds lately.
I love watching them dive into learning all on their own...
watching them discover passions and interests...
and having fun doing it!

I caught the girls dressing up in Ozzie pajamas today.

They were pretending something, I'm sure.
I love their imaginations, such a gift.

Later in the day I saw Eliza looking at herself in her reflection on the window.

It was sweet and innocent and left me thinking....

I hope they always see themselves as beautifully and wonderfully made.
I guess I should make sure I'm lead by a good example shouldn't I.

We went to town yesterday just for fun,

although we did still manage to go grocery shopping.

That was, after nearly 3 hours of swimming and then the library.

By the time we made it home I ended up making dinner at 9pm.
The kids said it was an awesome day!
That makes it all worth it.

On our way to town we passed a delivery truck.

We usually joke "I hope they aren't coming to our house"

When we got home we saw that they did indeed come to our house.

It was addressed to Ozzie.

He read his name, and was so proud....

and he has been carrying it around with him all day.

Only a few more days until his birthday. eeeek!

I started this post last night, finally, hopefully finishing it tonight!
continuing now...

I just realized this evening, when I finally got around to washing our swim stuff
...that I forgot my swimsuit at the Y. sigh.
I called, they have it, it's in the lost and found box, with my name on it.
Anyone else think it's weird they wouldn't hold it behind the desk?
Hope it still there when we get back to town.

As we left the library the other day, I heard the train coming.
We headed straight home and the train beat us.
We saw it multiple times on the drive, and wondered who would come through town first.
At least it's fun to watch the train go by. {grin}

I still haven't started my Christmas shopping. sigh. I know.
I have ideas, I just need to get it done.
The kids however have been on a gift making craze
...and honestly some of their gifts are incredibly awesome.
I love seeing their creative side shine through.

We've been making cookies and cookies and cookies and chocolate candies.

oh, I love Christmas baking!

We made candy cane sugar cookies for our homeschool cookie exchange.

Well, actually the BOYS made the cookies

...I think I am raising a house full of chefs. yummy!

I made a Christmas tree decorating video.

Hopefully I can put it together and share it tomorrow.

it's not the best thing ever, but it's beautiful all the same.

My best friend wrote something on her blog recently that really stuck with me.

"I'm finally feeling like I've got a pretty good handle on the routine of our life at this moment...but I know that won't last long! God has a habit of shaking up my snow globe the moment the flakes settle!!"

My flakes settled and God has been shaking them up lately. I said I don't like monotony {grin}

I have more to say, but it's late, and I must sleep
...before it's time to get up and do it all again {grin}

goodnight friends.

boy fun

2011-12-12T12:26:00.000-06:00

what do
pellet guns
riding in the back of a pick-up
a frozen lake
and a "be careful" from mom
equal?

4 boys

and their dad

having

a freezing

great time

shooting

the ice

while the girls

watched and took pictures

Chances are...

2011-12-10T14:56:00.001-06:00

...if you came to visit us, you might get lost on the gravel roads

...if you looked in the stockpot on my stove you would see beans soaking

...if the door bell rings, it's the children playing around

...if the dog barks, someone new is on the farm

...if the girls pick out their own clothes, they will wear at least one piece the same

...if Ozzie and Gavin are playing, it's with tractors

...if there is music on, someone is dancing to it

...if we go into town, we'll stop by the library

...if the girls say mama or dada, they are playing house and talking to each other

...if you need to use the bathroom, you might have to wait your turn

...if you look at our big picture window, you'll have to look through school writing and fingerprints

...if there is a tractor running, one or more of the boys are in it

...if we rush out the door, we left the house messy

...if you need a band-aid, we're fresh out

...if it's 10pm, we just put the kids to bed

...if the girls are wearing pigtails it's because I didn't have time to do their hair

...if the big boys are quiet they are reading

...if Ozzie and the girls are playing, it's house or restaurant

...if there is dirt or mud outside, my boys will find it and dig in it

...if we're eating supper, it's something with beans and veggies from the garden

...if there are odd ingredients sitting in the dining room, it's from a science experiment

...if I go outside, I'm wearing sunglasses

...if I'm cooking in the kitchen, I have helpers

...if you stopped by, you would be welcomed by at least 6 people

my postage stamp kitchen

2011-12-07T11:35:00.000-06:00

it's a tiny kitchen
a tiny old kitchen with ugly laminate floor
the tiniest kitchen I've ever had

one small trip to the grocery covers the floor with bags
one small meal covers the countertops
one cook & a few helpers overfill the kitchen

there is no dishwasher besides us
no pantry besides the cupboards
and no room for our fridge so it sits on the porch

it's our postage stamp kitchen
where we bump into each other as we cook
and wait in line to wash our dishes

it's where I prepare 3 meals a day
and make smoothies by the gallon
where we sing songs and make waffles with dad

it may be really small
and I may really wish to have a big kitchen one day
but today it's ours and I am so grateful for that

it's our postage stamp kitchen
ugly floor and all

Did I tell you

2011-12-06T11:00:00.000-06:00

about the time

I drove the big tractor

to mow a big field

and I brought a riding partner

and we chatted for hours

about field mice & birds & tractors & pink & purple

and it was fun.

as seen on my fridge

2011-12-03T17:30:00.000-06:00

late night talking

2011-12-02T22:06:00.000-06:00

It feels like it's been a while since I've sat down to blog.
I miss it, I do...
but it's also easy to forget when you're busy living life.

An article was published on She Knows called Most inspiring mom blogs
...and I was on it. gasp.
It seems weird to read someone else writing about you
... definitely made my heart dance and put a smile on my face.
I feel so honored, grateful & humbled to be considered inspiring.

My little triplets make my heart so happy.

They are so full of joy and love and imagination.

I peeked into the dining room this evening to find them

dancing and singing to Friend by Ziggy Marley.

They were singing out

"because you are my friend"

over and over and over.

{you can hear the song on you-tube here}

Today was full of sweet things

...you know those days that are just filled with little gifts of love

that you could so easily look over.

but your eyes and heart are open

and you catch each beautiful little sweet thing.

Today was one of those days.

I bought 4 bags of apples, 2 bags of pears & 2 bags of oranges yesterday.

I think we ate 2 whole bags today.

Not to mention a pomegranate, bananas, 3 red pepper & bag of snow peas.

And those were just snacks!

Can teenagers really eat more??!!! OY!

I drove the road to town 4 times yesterday.

Yes, that would be 2 round trips.

1 1/2 hours on the gravel

and a little over 1 1/2 hours on the pavement.

I made it all the way to town and realized that I had taken my card out of my wallet. sigh.

So home we went to get my card

and then back to town.

At least I was able to see the sunset coming and going. {grin}

While I was laying with Ozzie tonight at bedtime,
I asked him something that made him happy today.
and.... he.... said........
"telling you you're the most beautiful mama ever"
{with a big hug and kiss}

This is Marley.
He was named after Bob Marley.
His tail looks like a baseball bat.
He is really fluffy, even though the picture doesn't look like it
and he has a new friend.
Wiley the wild cat, who is now officially ours.
The boys still can not believe we tamed a wild cat.
I can't either!

Friday is our super clean day.

All the big kids have jurisdictions, that change monthly.

We were sort of lax the last few weeks

and the house needed a good cleaning today.

Everyone helped and no one complained

...but they were for the most part

S.L.O.W.

One of the most enjoyed chores is burning the trash.
Grayson is usually the one in charge of that
and he loves it.
Really, what boy wouldn't?
They get to drive the gator, dump and throw stuff, light it on fire
and watch it {from a distance}.

We still don't have snow!
I love snow, the kids love snow, it's December,
and we live in the frozen prairies of North Dakota!
Where is the snow?
sigh. I guess I'll just have to have some patience. {grin}

I have so many things I'd like to share with you guys.
I'd love to talk about food, nutrition, photography, homeschool
and many other things.
I just don't take the time very often.
But if there is something you'd really like me to share I'd love to know
and I'll try to fit it in sometime soon.

just the 8 of us

2011-12-01T12:23:00.000-06:00

holes, laughs, being loud and babies

2011-11-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

we spend a lot of time together
and we wear holes in our socks {a lot}

we pile on the couch

and laugh a lot

we hang our art on the wall

and play loud

we pile our coffee table with books and water glasses

and someone is still growing out their cut bangs

We babywear babies that aren't really babies anymore
and love our crazy life

{camera numbers}
24mm 1/100s f/2.8 ISO1250 & 2500
...it was late evening in our dimly lit great room, hence the high iso...

Saturday words & photos

2011-11-26T18:59:00.000-06:00

It was so warm on Thanksgiving
it is not warm today.
The boys are anxiously waiting for snow,
and lots of it.

I've been plagued with headaches this week,
today was no exception. sigh.

The house is littered with card games, dominoes, baby dolls,
blankets, puzzles, books & nerf bullets

{19mm 1/4000s f/2.8 ISO250}

I've been in a funk lately.

Maybe it's the headaches or missing my family
or just the ebb and flow of life.
Whatever it is, I'm ready to move on.

It was nice to have a week off school

...but I am SO ready to get back to it.

The routine, the one on one time with each child,

I love it.

{24mm 1/320s f/3.5 ISO250}

We ran out of dish soap.

Do you know what happens when you run out of dish soap

AND don't have a dishwasher?

We still see and hear the snow geese in the sky.

They travel East, West, South & North.

I think they're confused.

{20mm 1/8000 f/2.8 ISO200}

With the cold weather settling in,

and all 8 of us being in the house,

it's starting to feel very small.

We blew a fuse again

but this time it was to the big yard light.

Do you know how very very dark it is out in the middle of no where

with no lights to be seen anywhere?

PITCH BLACK.

{85mm 1/320s f/2.5 ISO200}

The leftovers are all gone,
which is a bummer because leftovers
...make really easy meals.

We're going to watch a family movie tonight,
probably Little House on The Prairie
and eat sticky popcorn.

oh, I almost forgot to add camera numbers.
I'd love to know if sharing my camera settings
is even beneficial for anyone.
Since that's why I started doing it. {grin}

Happy Saturday!

Mr Nobody

2011-11-25T17:09:00.000-06:00

found and opened
the last bag

of Trader Joes

chocolate pretzels

that I was hiding
for myself {grin}

the day before thanksgiving

2011-11-23T12:53:00.000-06:00

I have a headache and I'm trying to ignore it.
I was looking forward to today
...but having a headache makes everything harder.

We're going to some friends for dinner tonight.
and we're having some other friends over tomorrow
...for another Thanksgiving meal.
I'm not making anything for tonight's meal.
I am making all of tomorrows.

It's hard moving forward from what you've always know.
The food, the company, the activities, the music, the feeling.
It's time to fill the void with new traditions & new memories
...even if it's hard.

The weather is unusually warm here for November.
The little bit of snow we had is melted,
and winter feels like it's fading, not coming.

The boys are playing in the garden,
with tractors and trucks and shovels.
Ozzie is still in his pajamas,
he can do that since he's only 4. :)

Our 6 cats have adopted a feral kitten.
He's an orange manx just a bit older than our kittens.
The other wild cats have abandoned him.

We took off school this week

and we're trying to get some house projects done.

Too many to do for one week but at least we'll finish a few.

I miss my family like crazy.

The holidays always make it harder.

I wish we were all together,

but we're not.

I ordered the girls boots

and some winter clothes.

I bought them new,

it's an odd feeling for me.

We're having quite a meal tomorrow.
We had a family meeting to decide on the menu.
It's...
Pomegranate Walnut Chicken
Hearty cheesy potatoes & cauliflower
Tomato basil risotto
nut sweet potatoes
cranberry orange sauce
garlic green beans
honey carrots
nut veggie slaw
banana cream pie
and sticky popcorn for an evening treat

We're going to send out Christmas cards and photos this year.

It's time we sent one again,

the last one was years and quite a few kids ago.

The girls sang me

"you are my sunshine, my mama sunshine

you make me happy when skies are grey

you'll always know mama, how much I love you

and my love will never go away"

last night.

LOVE love LOVE these girls!

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

Are you staying home,

with our without family?

Do you cook a big meal?

Happy Thanksgiving friends and family!
and now I'm off to the kitchen to start cooking

by the numbers

2011-11-22T22:17:00.001-06:00

6 kids
2 parents
5 hours of driving
1 big city
4 stores
1 post office
8 people who went into the grocery store
3 grocery carts full
2 restaurants
1 rest stop break
3 week twitter break broken
1 daughter wearing mis-matched shoes
12 books read on the trip
15 songs we sang
1 camera left at home
3 littles ones who napped in the van
1 lady at the check-out wide eyed
3 fair trade dark chocolate bars bought {for me}
1 child forgot a coat
8 people who didn't need their coat today
0 melt-downs {amazing}
1 lady over-heard whispering "wow"
4 ice-cream treats eaten
3 times the boys changed seats
1 drive through a small town to see the Christmas lights
7 animals that came to greet us in the yard
1 light we left on
0 meals I made today
1,000's of snow geese in the sky
4 loads of laundry I washed-dried-and-folded today
1 meal we snacked through
20{ish} pastures of cattle passed by
1 beautiful pink sunset
2 tired parents
6 not as tired children
1 fun day
6 day blogging break broken
1 day by the numbers

my hardworking

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

sometimes barefoot

extremely handsome

willing

strong

and capable

farmhands

and paws {grin}

not us

2011-11-15T13:45:00.000-06:00

we don't

like to have

lots of

bath color

wild splashing

loud giggling

bath tub fun

no, not us.

dear journal

2011-11-14T20:07:00.000-06:00

We awoke to gorgeous falling snow, with no wind.
It wasn't the snow we're used to.
Once the sun came out the snow was gone.

The field work is officially done.
All that is left is preparing the farm for winter,
and hauling some gravel.

We had already winterized our RV.
So this weekends trip we had pink tinted water. ack.
My husband said it was non-toxic,
but I still tried not to use it.

Ozzie cried for Grandma & Grandpa last night.
It made me teary too.
And made me think how hard it's going to be on the kids
...when we really lose them.

We fed the wildcats outside on our patio, instead of next door.
5 of us huddled together to watch them out the bathroom window.
We only counted 5.

The girls are becoming quite enamored with babywearing again.
I love it. I've missed it.
Although there is no way I'm wearing them both,
like I used to.

...Eliza is holding onto her sister standing on the bed. LOVE...

I didn't take any pictures on our trip this weekend.

It was fast and furious and fun.

We went straight from our trip to a barn party,

hosted by some friends from church.

We all went on an old fashion horse draw wagon ride

...through the dark, quiet, middle of nowhere.

It was beautiful.

I tried a new kombucha drink.

It was weak.

I am determined to start making my own, soon!!

I read through my 2011 bucket list.

We've done a lot, but still have a lot to do.

I might have to move some over to the 2012 list.

We ran out of coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a staple around here.

I have a hard time functioning in the kitchen without it.

We have to drive 2 hours to the store to buy it.

I have tons of onions from the garden

...and now I'm dreaming of homemade onion rings.

Healthy real food style of course. {grin}

Gavin and dad played some baseball today
...on our road.
Which works well considering we have zero traffic.

Grandma dropped off a box of magazines before they left.
I looked through 4 of them last night.
I was slightly appalled, disgusted & discouraged.

Lucy is still nursing her babies
...although less and less every week.
It's been interested to watch her try to wean them.

I've sort of vanished from facebook and twitter.

Not sure how long it will last.

I just didn't feel it was a wise use of my time,

and it was so easy to step away from.

I've been contacted by a couple companies lately,

wanting me to do a giveaway on my blog.

I'm going to do it, you'll be happy I did.

The girls asked to walk over to Grandma & Grandpas today,

just to check to see if they were really gone.

They came back declaring...

"they're gone, they're really gone, oh no!"

I tend to write these type of journal posts often.
They're important to me,
I never want to forget even the little things.
Not sure if the name dear journal will stick though.
I don't like monotony {grin}

It's time to start planning our winter RV trip.

I'm sooooo excited!

I'll be posting about it soon,

and you'll have a chance to help us decide where we go.

a photography post

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

I am not even going to pretend to be a photography teacher.
I know what I know because I taught myself.
I haven't read any books or even a portion of my cameras manual.

You're either rolling your eyes or whispering wow,
not sure which response is better. {grin}

What I do know is how to use my shutter, aperture & ISO settings
...to create the image I want.

Here are 2 photographs
taken in the same place, same time,
same lens, same aperture, same ISO,
but different shutter.

These photographs were taken split seconds apart
...while we were driving by.

I had my camera set on manual
...all I did was quickly change the shutter in between.

{above: 24mm 1/800s f/2.8 ISO500}
slow shutter = more light

{below: 24mm 1/6000s f2.8 ISO500}
fast shutter = less light

By changing my shutter {quite a bit}
I drastically changed these photographs

In my eyes one is very dreamy and soft
and the other is sharp and dramatic.
Both equally beautiful.

For me, this is one of the biggest advantages to shooting in manual.
You have so much control at your fingertips.

Then all you have to do is practice, practice, practice
until you can do it without thinking.

I love

2011-11-12T20:32:00.000-06:00

having big boys

and I can only imagine what it's going to be like when they're all bigger than me.

you know it's windy

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

when your dog

looks like

she might

be able

to take flight.

dear journal

2011-11-10T17:20:00.000-06:00

I wore pink socks with flowers on them today
...Eliza told me all day "I love your beautiful socks mama"

We woke up to frost again this morning
and the littles said it was snow again
and again I told them it was just frost.

The wind has been howling all day
and the leaves and clouds move past our window
like a slide show.

We burned off the last of the garden today.
All that is left is garlic and leeks that will over-winter.
it's a beautiful clean slate.

There are still lots of farmers out in the field harvesting their corn.
I'm glad we don't have corn, for lots of reasons.
But I do love the way this picture looks.

It's deer hunting season and I don't like it.
enough said.

Grayson and Vance have claimed their spot in the basement
and have finally decided to do their school together.
Vance needed the encouragement and Grayson needed someone to encourage.

Do you ever feel completely misunderstood and judged?
but trying to share or explain won't do any good.
sigh.

Ozzie said the dirt is getting "so hard to work" in the garden

where he digs with tractors every single day.

We've tried beans in a plastic bin last year, but it just didn't cut it.

I think we're going to try instant oats this year.

Grandpa & Grandma left today

and I don't think the littles really understand

how long it's going to be before we see them again.

The girls curls are beautiful,
that is if I spend the time doing their hair every 5 hours.
Their curls can be perfect one minute and then a knotted mess the next.
I can't not wait until they can do their own hair!

I am convinced that my children, namely the littles,

will not wear shoes until it snows.

It's not like I'm still wearing flip-flops or anything. {grin}

We're thinking hard about having a CSA garden next year.
It's a lot of work and would have to be a family thing for sure.
We still have a little while to decide.

We saw and heard thousands of snow geese
over the farm today.
It was beautiful!

I really do not like the pictures from the last post.
The lighting was TERRIBLE and the color is off.
but it was too funny to not post.
{if you're curious what he was doing with hot wax, you can check out my answer in that post comments}

We're going on another spontaneous weekend trip in the RV.
We might leave tonight or most likely tomorrow.
We might even venture one state over.

can you guess

2011-11-10T10:26:00.000-06:00

what this is?

I'll give you another hint
.
.
.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
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.
.
.
.
.

any ideas?
.
.
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.
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.
.

It's wax.
Wax from a candle.
Wax from a candle that Ozzie poured down the kitchen sink.
sigh.

I could have blogged, but

2011-11-09T10:55:00.000-06:00

...we've been busy living life

...we spent a whole day in town, swimming at the Y, playing at the park, filling our bags with library books & eating subway sandwiches.

...we started a family quiz contest,
that hasn't ended.

...we've been working hard in the garden.
Harvesting the last of the carrots and beets, with some unconventional help.
Digging and tilling and preparing the garden for the winter.

...we've been busy sorting, cutting, washing, scrubbing, drying & storing
our carrots and beets.

...we spent the evening at Bible club at the church.

...we've been savoring our last few days with Grandma & Grandpa.
They leave tomorrow.

...we've been talking and planning and dreaming.

...some of us have been busy in the field.
Digging, disking, rock picking, harrowing & watching.

...the one night I wanted to blog,
I fell asleep putting the girls to bed.

...we spent the evening with mom's group friends.
playing, eating, talking, reading, praying, sharing, loving.

...I've had a headache from accidentally eating soy. sigh.

...we've been in the kitchen cooking.
Cooking chick-pea curry, lentil soup, black bean soup, cauliflower rice, nut butter muffins, puppy chow, veggie patties, carrots and more carrots, banana almond pancakes, egg bake, oatmeal, bean burgers & more.

...we've been reading books and watching the Cosby show as a family.

...we were busy melting crayons & creating pumpkin carving designs.

... autumn just keeps hanging around
and calling us outside.

a weekend in photographs

2011-11-06T12:57:00.002-06:00

{10:30 PM}

2011-11-02T23:08:00.003-05:00

It's 10:30pm and the kids are all asleep.
The kitchen is clean,
the house is picked up
and I am not even attempting to finish the laundry.
I have oats soaking for breakfast tomorrow
and beans soaking for a veggie chili dinner.
Now I can journal.

We had pesto pizza for dinner tonight,
the girls were chanting "we love pesto".
I finally had to tell them to hush and eat their pesto!

The boys played house golf {as they call it} this evening.
They made a ball with legos and used sticks they found in the woods.
I took a picture, but it's still on my camera.

We've been working in the garden...
harvesting the last of the carrots and beets,
and the dreaded cleaning of the rubbish.
it's bittersweet.

It's official, I have FILLED my computer with pictures.
I can not put anymore on my computer.
Oh, wonderful husband, I need your help! {grin}

We went to town yesterday...
and came home with 3 25lb. pumpkins
chocolate for smores
4 bags of library books
and 2 boxes of give-away that I forgot to drop off.

The story of our beloved home,
that we left when we moved to the farm,
has been on my heart a lot lately.
I think I'm ready to share the story.

We made peanut butter chocolate rice crispies tonight.
I ate 3, they were really good.

Our kittens have befriended one of the wild kittens
...it's an orange tabby manx.
It came semi-close to us,
but not close enough to touch.
which was fine by me...
we don't need another cat that is dependent on us!

I was up late last night, so late that I got hungry.
I made the most delicious nut salad for a almost-midnight snack.
Then I was too full to fall asleep. Ooops.

My mom shared a favorite quote of hers with me...

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken"

My mom must have taught me that from a young age,

because that is me all the way.

The boys have been taking turns out in the field,

rock picking.

It's not a favorite job....

except, maybe when Grandma packs you a bag of treats.

We saw a glorious full rainbow on the way to town.

I couldn't stop saying "oh my, it's so beautiful"

then I heard my littles in the back seat repeating me.

glass house.... glass house!

I've been going through all our winter wear,

you know, since the snow is coming, like this weekend!

The girls need snowboots, but I'd like them to have a pair of everyday boots too

...ideas anyone? I'm not an uggs fan.

My hardworking husband is ready for bed now,

which means I am too!

goodnight friends.

just wanted to say

2011-11-01T22:04:00.002-05:00

today

was

much

better

And seriously,

THANK YOU

...for sharing your hearts, lifting me up with your encouraging words
& listening to me.

You guys are awesome!

and now...

goodnight friends

the day I wanted to quit

2011-10-31T22:35:00.001-05:00

Despite sleeping in...
having hot apple cider, fruit & granola waiting for them when they woke,
all but 2 of my children woke up in a...
where are my pink pants, don't look at me, I don't want my apple cider hot,
kind of mood.

Devotionals went well, but cleaning up after breakfast didn't.
Nor did the morning chores.

The cats spilled their tuna on the porch
and the dog ran away with the dish.

There was enthusiasm to start school,
but not actually do school.

Everyone needed my help at the same time,
and I couldn't keep up so I let them take a break while I worked one-on-one.
Which left some thinking that wasn't fair.

Math was horrible today, for everyone.
either they didn't understand, didn't want to do it or didn't like the way I was helping.

Someone lost their one and only favorite pencil
...and another child threw theirs across the room.

The sun was shining and the outdoors was calling us,
so we took a blanket and our books outside.

The girls were running around us in circles,
and the cats wouldn't stay off our books.

All six of the kids sat and listened to the littles Bible story,
and then answered the questions for them
...which left 2 girls and little boy, well, mad.

Someone pretended they couldn't read the words
...hoping I would let them quit, or give them the answer.
I did neither.

Ozzie wrote his name on the girls school book,
they scribbled on his.

The sun went behind the clouds and it turned much cooler,
which seemed to turn their mood even cooler.
sigh.

The only one that had finished school,
was called out to the field.

There are days when you push and days when you don't
...and I couldn't figure out which type of day this was.

I wanted to quit.
Send them to public school.
I actually started thinking about what it would be like.

The time I would have, to.....
do all those things I don't get done when you're homeschooling.
Or at least not get done with any timeliness.

I remembered the days when 2 were gone at school, 2 or 4 would nap,
and I would sit down with my melted chocolate & peanut butter with a big bowl of sliced bananas.
Relax, read, blog, watch good 'ole Young and the Restless.

Laundry was almost always done by afternoon,
my kitchen floor was clean and there were no piles of dishes in the sink.
The bathroom was spotless and beds were always made.
Dinners were planned, cooked and served on time.
Part of me misses those days.

And then it started raining on me, our blanket and school books.
We ran inside and then I heard my name on the radio to go pull the trucks in.
I put on an adventures in odyssey for the kids.

There was peace and quiet while I made dinner...
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with leftover black bean soup.

We ate dinner and everyone, who was home, helped clean up.
We took baths, put on pajamas and read a book.

I heard the call on the radio to go pick up my boy, man and grandpa from the field.
The van battery was dead, again.

Then I let the bigs listen to another Adventures in Odyssey while I put the girls to bed.
we sang songs, talked about family & said our prayers.

Ozzie told me I was beautiful and Vance said dinner was nice.
Grayson gave me a long hug and Gavin said I was the best mom ever.

I wanted to quit today, but I don't want to quit tonight.
I love being their teacher, even on the hard days.

I would miss so much of their lives if they weren't here all day
and I'm not sure I would know them so deeply if I didn't teach them at home.

I'm sure we'll have more hard days
and I'll think about what it would be like to send them to public school,
but like this one, that moment will pass.

Tonight I'm going to fall asleep tired and worn out
but crazy thankful for the blessings we have.

Oh, and really hopeful tomorrow is a better day!

living life

2011-10-30T15:58:00.002-05:00

discovering passions

giving & receiving love

being uniquely you

trusting in God

finding wild joy

that's what we've been up to
...what about you?

camera numbers:
{20mm 1/6400s f/2.8 ISO:250}

we wrote

2011-10-27T12:35:00.000-05:00

we love Jesus
we eat every meal as a family
we believe our dreams can come true
we drink tea
we have fun
we whistle while we work
we farm as a family
we write in journals
we love to travel
we have a 4 mile driveway
we try not to buy new
we grow lots of our own food
we dance crazy
we play loud
we farm as a family
we forgive others
we have a dog
we make things out of recycling
we like to take pictures
we read a lot of books
we don't celebrate halloween
we have as many cats as children
we think boys can have long hair
we are all cooks in this family
we wear holes in our jeans
we are the dishwasher
we make our own tomato sauce
we soak all our beans, grains & nuts
we love music
we make messes
we clean the house together
we don't watch regular tv
we learn at home
we all share rooms
we are going to farm hemp one day
we don't own a microwave
we stay up late
we are never alone
we live in a tiny farmhouse
we use frozen garden vegetables for ice packs
we teach not to judge others
we miss family and friends
we go grocery shopping together
we find peace in our chaos
we drink kombucha
we live on a farm
we eat a lot of food
we shoot BB guns for fun
we run in the house
we watch for rainbows
we play on mountains of snow
we go on bike rides
we love campfires
we love others
we don't think our family is too big

we are under the weather today

we wrote this as a family

{what will I do}

2011-10-26T12:30:00.000-05:00

What

will I do

when

the warm

air

is gone

and

the swingset

is covered

snow!!!

We better keep savoring the last few days of autumn {grin}

{real life}

2011-10-25T12:19:00.002-05:00

if you want...
you can see a few other real life posts
{with Grandpa} here
{in the snow} here
{all the kids} here
{me & the girls}here
{babywearing}here
{babywearing}here.

I think there are more, but I didn't label them well.
maybe i'll get around to fixing that one day. {grin}

finished

2011-10-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

the

light

the moon

finished

harvest

by the fire

2011-10-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

True or False

2011-10-20T20:19:00.000-05:00

Gavin operated the backhoe with his dad today.

We did school after dinner.

We're going on a spontaneous overnight trip with the RV tomorrow.
...you're the first ones to know. {grin}

There was frost on my bedroom window this morning.

I haven't put on make-up since Saturday.

I saw 3 friends in town yesterday.

I put a contact us {about our winter RV trip} form on my link bar above.

I let Eliza sleep in until 10am this morning

...and she's still up.

Our last group of hunters leave tomorrow.

I schedule most of my posts once a week.
...I write in my journal other days.

We're farming more land next year and it might not all be soy beans.

We tried to make crab-applesauce and it was no good.

The girls have started asking for a baby sister.

...do all girls do this?

One year ago yesterday we saw our then kittens, now cats for the first time.

Ozzie was in the tractor with Grandpa all day long.

I have 10 loads of laundry waiting for me in the basement.

The boys are in love with making stop motion videos.

...it was one of their electives for school.

Our beloved home that we left to move to the farm is officially not ours anymore.

We ate 6 cans of pole-caught tuna for lunch.

I'm thinking about cutting my hair short.

We had our air ducts cleaned, they were really dirty and it was expensive.

My husband thinks we should have bought a motor-home instead of a fifth wheel.

...I sort of think he's right.

I'm thinking about making a video for a blog post soon.

I listen to music all day long.

I gave the girls pretty toes last week, it's almost gone now.

I still have carrots, beets, potatoes & garlic in the garden.

The girls and Ozzie play house everyday.

I had lentil soup for breakfast.

I have a fridge on my front porch.

I think you're awesome if you made it this far.

everything you read is true.

and now it's time for bed.

goodnight friends.

this and that

2011-10-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

sniff. sniff. sigh.
I am still having allergy trouble
...from our flooded/mildewed basement, soy dust, the burning pit
and probably pulling up the carpet and painting too.

I haven't been taking supplements or vitamins nearly as much as we used to
...and I need the extra boost right now.
I should really order some we are out of that I obvious need right now.

The hunters pulled into the farm with a huge 20 lb. swan today.
They were hollaring & yelling with excitment
...I gasped and walked away from the door.
I'm not against all hunting
...I just don't see any good in sport hunting. sigh.

The actual harvest is over...

but the work in the field

and the work on the farm

is far from over for the season.

It's a good kind of busy though. {grin}

I am finally painting our chairs

...and when I say finally I mean as in

it's taken me 4 years to get this started! Ha!

This isn't all of them, or the colors they will be

...but it's the start.

I just heard about a little boy who was killed when he was alone & shifted his dad's pick-up into neutral... then panicked and jumped out, only to have the truck run over him.
This family has been in my thoughts and prayers since I heard the news.
I can't imagine, except I sort of can. sigh.

Farming accidents are very real...
and they happen everyday.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for his protection
and pray for open eyes, ears & minds to make wise choices.

It is such a challenge sometimes.
I get a call to hurry and bring the service truck to the field.
I can't move car seats around to every truck and tractor
...nor would they fit or buckle into most of them.
So we go, with buckles and prayers....
and never leave them alone!

My dad was here for nearly a week

and I didn't take

ONE picture of him!

What kind of photographer does this?!!!

At least I'll always have the memories...
and so will the kids!

I still have a thing with rear-view mirror pictures...

going on 5 or 6 years strong.

I'll probably be able to make a book with all of them one day

...just to have photographic proof that I was there! Ha!

We went to town today
in our honda as the girls call it.
We quickly discovered the lights had been left on and the battery was dead.
Grayson went out to the shop and brought back the charger.
Shortly after we were on our way, but the radio wouldn't work without the code
and the code was locked in the glove box.
The girls fell asleep, the boys were reading....
and I found myself surrounded in silence.

Beautiful, peaceful silence
just me pounding along the dirt...
thinking about how blessed we are.

I said I would never live in North Dakota, or way out in the country, or homeschool or cloth diaper...
and look at me now!
God is so awesome and so is his perfect plan for our lives.
I look back at our tough few years
and the words that flow to my lips is...
Thank You God.
I am thankful for the challenges and hurdles He walked us through...
thankful for changing me, working in me and growing in me.

I am so thankful for where we are now
and I can't wait to see Gods plan for our lives unfold
...one day at a time!

mmmm...

2011-10-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

mama.
marley.
milo.
moby.

24mm 1/60 f/2.8 iso2000
{it was late at night, with only my bedside lamp on}

from the garden to the table

2011-10-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

from seeds in my hand
to seeds sprouting underground

14mm 1/4000 f/2.8 iso 320 24mm 1/4000 f/2.8 iso320

from green plants above ground
to edible vegetables growing underground

24mm 1/1250 f/2.8 iso250
{should have used a lower iso and or faster shutter, it's overexposed to me}

from green tomatoes with no hope
to surprise red ripe tomatoes

24mm 1/640 f/2.8 iso400

from the fertile ground
to a bowl full of vegetables found

24mm 1/250 f/2.8 iso400

from covered in dirt
to clean vegetables in our sink

24mm 1/30 f/2.8 iso640

from the garden
to the table

24mm 1/60 f/2.8 iso2000
{I have a very dimly lit dining room, if you couldn't tell by the super high iso}

What did we eat?
boiled beets
baked potatoes with coconut oil, real salt & pepper
baked carrots with honey
tomatoes with olive oil, real salt & pepper
Spaghetti Squash with garlic
Cucumbers with dill, coconut cream, real salt & red pepper

he wrote his name

2011-10-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

...on the newly painted wall
and the needed to be repainted chalkboard.

When I asked him if what he did was a good thing, he said...
"no it was bad, but I had to write my name somewhere and I couldn't walk into the school room to get paper"

24mm 1/80 f/2.8 iso320

he obviously had a lot of fun in 5 minutes

...with the dry erase marker

According to Ozzie, he was upset that he didn't write his name correctly

...so he decided to draw a "monster"

after he showed me his work and had the talk

...he helped me paint over his work.

He was excited to paint and disappointed he had to cover up his "monster"

24mm 1/100 f/2.8 iso320

Then we walked ourselves into the school room

...and got the paper and crayons.

...about those numbers above the photos...

I have many ways that I have been thinking about sharing my photography with you...

and one of those ways is sharing my camera settings for certain photographs.

I shoot entirely in manual and I am completely self taught

so I don't pretend to know anything by the book

but if you can learn a little from knowing what settings I use, here ya go!

I've been thinking

2011-10-16T14:24:00.000-05:00

...about my husband & 2 boys who are on a 2,200 mile trip in a semi-truck
...thinking about how much I love having my kids and husband around me all the time.
...about how blessed we are to farm as a family
...thinking about how much I love learning together as a family

...thinking about our big winter RV trip
...about how I am going to share my passion for photography
...thinking about seeing this beautiful country with my family
...about how blessed we are to be living our long time dream

...thinking about what my blog is and what it isn't
...about what others take away from here
...thinking about sharing more and less
...about how blessed I am to have this creative outlet
...thinking about how much I appreciate each one of you

...thinking about the ebbs & flows of life

...about changes easy and hard

...thinking about dreams for me and my family

...about our priorities

...thinking about living with less things and more joy

I guess it's a thinking kind of day....

Look what I dug up

2011-10-13T16:13:00.000-05:00

...from the garden yesterday

yeah, I thought it was funny too!

I almost asked you all to name it...
but I couldn't do that knowing that I still haven't announced a winner from the last one.
sigh. so sorry. I will soon.

say what you need to say

2011-10-12T20:51:00.000-05:00

There is a duck wing outside my door...
the dog brought it over and won't take it back.

Proverbs 20:11 is written on our dining room window...
we use the large picture window for our white board.
It works really well.

The boys got a lava lamp from Papa...
and I'm pretty sure I'm enjoying it as much as them.
Which has me pondering where my old lava lamp went.

Some friends of ours brought their go-kart over....
um yeah, the boys really want one now.

I ordered all of our school books last week...

they have been arriving daily.

Getting deliveries out in the middle of no where is somehow...

more exciting and challenging.

I love pandora radio...

on my Livio.

Music makes me happy.

We found a turtle on the side of the road the other day...

we debated on keeping it.

We put it back...

since we already have too many animals. :)

My kitchen faucet is leaking....

and the kitchen drain seems to be clogged.

bummer.

I still have photos that I want to share from our summer RV trip.

Wonder when that will happen?! :)

We're always out of toilet paper...

I buy it and then who knows what happens....

because we are almost always out.

Ozzie wrote his name somewhere he really shouldn't have...

and he knew it.

I'm missing one green and white striped knee-high of the girls...

if you see it would you let me know. :)

The girls keep talking about cousin Brilyn...

they LOVED having her here!

This is the picture I should have shared when I tweeted about 3 girls in pig-tails....

not the picture of a machine shop sign.

There is a bean sprout in my shower...

and beans in my washing machine and dryer.

You can see our old, yucky, shower here....
if you dare. :)

Ozzie fell in the gravel drive and cut his forehead open.

One of the hunters carried him into the house...

and said he fell and hit a rock.

I later heard the whole story...

the hunters dog knocked him down.

Wish they would have just told me what really happened.

I am still not finished painting my room...

I was almost done and then I ran out of paint.

And yes there are no pillow cases on my pillows and we're using a chair for a nightstand.

I soaked almonds yesterday...

dehydrated them today

and can't wait to eat them!

We ate our entire dinner from the garden tonight...

I love meals like that.

6 of us ended up in the field the other day...

all needing a ride back to the farm.

We ended up all squeezing into a friends tiny Toyota pick-up...

now that was a fun ride! :)

I've had a head-ache all day...

it's from someone, that shall remain un-named, burning the pit.

The pit that had old carpet, tires & hunters scraps.

The pit that should never be burned. Uggg!

The RV is parked outside my cracked bedroom window.

Every time I look at it I think about our trip we're planning this winter.

exciting!

We're going to the big city tomorrow...

to take the kids to a water-park.

Yeah, they're excited!

and so am I!

what it looks like

2011-10-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

cloudy day
country road
traffic coming

cloudy day
country road
traffic gone
dust trail left behind

we live a really exciting life don't we {grin}

Monday blues

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

and greens
and stripes

and fluffy kittens

and smiles

and cowboy boots

and cowmooflage carseat

and handsome little boys

and the last time these walls will be white

Happy Monday friends!

Sunday Ramblings {and photos}

2011-10-09T11:58:00.002-05:00

Our farm is a happening place this time of year...
the cowboys {my husbands father and a family friend} just left
they were here to help with harvest.
My Mother-in-law flew in for a few days
and brought cousin Brilyn to play with the girls.

While they were all here the hunters arrived
and then they left
and then another group arrived
and when they leave another group will arrive.
This group has 3 boys with them
...needless to say my boys are thrilled!

another Papa {my dad} arrived last night
and we started off our visit with a campfire until midnight
then we had to drive an hour home from our neighbors
but since we brought the RV
me and the littles slept on the drive home

I can't help but smile and mutter some kind of
ahhh, loooook, eeeek
every time I see the kittens
{I might have a problem}

I know it's hard, but don't let our sweet mud room carpet distract you
...look at the picture closely can you see something
...something unique about the kittens?

It's their tail{s} or lack there of
Two of them are manx cats...
just like their mama & feral father
they get their extreme fluffiness from their feral father as well

It's been a dry harvest season
which is good {mostly}
but it was time for rain
and it came the other night
the most beautiful, soft, peaceful and refreshing rain

despite it being dry for the last 6 weeks
we still have hundreds of roads underwater
including ours...
which is completely washed away now with no plans to rebuild

at least I don't have to worry...
about driving over this pass in the winter now.

I'm off to work in the garden.....
now that I've blogged to myself {grin}
anyone else ever feel like that?
I guess it is just a fancy family public diary after all.

Happy Sunday everyone!

except

2011-10-07T11:01:00.003-05:00

my house stays clean, only when we're not here
we have 2 fully functioning toilets, except when someone clogs them
we eat a hot breakfast every morning, except when I don't make it
I never say anything wrong, except when I misspeak
I am never late, except when we're running behind
my children are always clean when we leave the house, except when they're not
we finish all of our school work everyday, except when we skip a few things
I never feel like a failure, except when I fail
our trash can never over flows, except when it's too windy to burn
I am never stressed, except when I have too much to do
my marriage is perfect, except when I don't make it a priority
my children never act out in public, except when they are being unruly
there is no chaos in our house, except when we are home
my garden is always weeded, except when we don't do our garden chores
I don't miss all my old blog friends who used to comment, except I really do
I don't feel bad for not commenting on others blogs, except when I do
my kitchen is always clean, except on days we eat
I make our meals from scratch, except when we're too busy
I am a wonderful friend, except when don't put in the effort
my boys never complain about doing their school work, except when they do
my children's hair always looks trimmed, except when they need a hair cut
I make a complete meal 3 times a day, except when we just snack
I rise with the sun each morning, except I really don't
I hang our laundry out to dry, except I don't do it enough
my children do their chores without being asked, except when they easily forget
we don't waste anything from the garden, except when we have too much sometimes
my children are not loud, except when they raise their voices
I do not compare myself with others, except when occasionally I do
my children cloths always match, except when they don't
I finish projects quickly, except when I have other things to do
my children always go to bed on time, except when they stay up late
we don't watch TV, except when we watch a movie
my laundry is always done, except when we wear clothes
I always use reusable bags at the store, except when I forget them
my children obey the first time, except when they don't listen
the dishes are always clean, except when we use them
our lawn is always nicely mowed, except when we have young mowers who miss spots
my children never color on the walls, except when they do
I am not selfish, except when I put myself first

inspired by my original post

they're BIG

2011-10-06T12:40:00.002-05:00

...combines that is

they look BIG in the yard

the header looks really big up close

they feel big when they drive by
{especially with the auger out}

they look big next to semi-trucks

they sound big emptying beans

big machines for a big job

{and I'm really happy I had a big enough camera lens to capture it!}

{wordless} sleeping beauty

2011-10-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

didn't really need words, did it.
and good thing...
because I'm out of them for today.

we colored the walls

2011-10-04T19:31:00.000-05:00

oh yes, we finally {after 2 1/2 years} painted the house
....the farmhouse
....the hunters house
....the old house
....the tiny house
it goes by many names.

the boys {all 4} share a room
it's a bit crowded
and it's been a challenge to organize
but it's been fun to fill the room with them.
they have each brought their own style and passions into the room
along with their colors.
Which was why the walls needed to be neutral. {grin}

we loved and miss{ed} the color of our bedroom in our last home

so we painted it the same color

it's so nice to have it back.

{you can see our old bedroom here and here}

and now... finally now that they are 3
the girls have their first painted {girly} room

the house needed painted

we needed to switch rooms

and it's been a long 6 weeks working on the house

and we're not even done yet

but I am so happy to have color back in our home again

and since the paint is already out

...I have a list of furniture to paint too!

like a hot pink dresser for the girls

{that needs knobs still but I am not sure what I want on there}

I'll share more pictures as we finish
we're still cleaning mildew from the basement
moving rooms around
painting walls, furniture and floors

this is not an ideal to be working on the house
and trust me if our basement didn't flood and mildew
and our bedroom wasn't down there
we would not be doing this
....so I guess I should be thankful for the mess, huh!

late night talking

2011-10-03T23:27:00.001-05:00

we've been locked out of our van for 5 days now...
the back window is slightly cracked so I attempted to use a coat hanger today
...didn't work. sigh.
thinking we might have to call a locksmith. sigh {again}.

our van is about to turn over 100,000 miles...
wahoo, that means we've traveled a lot of road
...and our van still has life left in it! {grin}

tonight after I tucked the girls in bed and said prayers...
Eliza asked "mama if we had butterfly wings could we fly to heaven"
to which Nolia replied ...
"no Liza, we have to wait until Jesus comes down to get us first....
then we can fly to heaven with our butterfly wings, right mama"
LOVE THEM!

Gavin {7} drove a pick-up back to the farm through a field
...about 4 miles away today. {passing no traffic at all}
gulp. gasp. sigh.
He's been in training and he does natural abilities for driving and we live in a farm
...but I serious had to take a deep breath when I saw him pull in.

we've been on harvest break last week and part of this week
...there is just way too much to do during harvest to keep up with school too.
The boys have obviously LOVED having a break...
even though they have been working {some}
I however really miss our days with school
....there is something so special about them.

I have never wished, like I wish right now...
that I had blinds or any type of window covering for that matter on all of our windows
especially my bedroom and bathroom
I am not used to having people outside my windows
and there are people, hunters, outside my windows this month.
I think I need to put a note in the bathroom so I don't forget! {grin}

Now let me ask you...
what would you like to see me post about next
...the painting I've been up to
or
...more combines and harvest?

I'd also love to have your input on comment systems
...blogger comments seemed to be great
that was until I started to become bombed with spam.
hmmmm...
so I'm thinking I might switch back to Disqus.
thoughts?

enough rambling tonight
goodnight friends

Brittany

Monday {smiles}

2011-10-03T12:09:00.002-05:00

alternately titled:
I can't stop taking pictures of the kittens.

alternately titled:

super fluffy kittens are my favorite.

alternately titled:

snuggling kittens all day sounds so much better than work.

alternately titled:

my kitten babies are growing up... sniff. sniff.

alternately titled:
Happy Monday everyone
... I hope Marley brought a few smiles to your day

running

2011-10-02T13:30:00.002-05:00

I'm running to the fields
running from the fields
running to bring food
running from one semi to another
running to pick up someone
running to drop someone off
running to the grain elevator
running to take pictures
running to make food
running to town for parts
running to bathe children

running to watch children
running to move trucks
running to town for food
running to find someone
running to meet someone
running to follow combines
running to keep up with the house
running to find time to tell you about running
running to finish laundry
running to help anywhere
running to finish harvest

I thank God I'm able to run
I thank God we have a harvest to run for
I thank God for his strength to keep us running
I thank God our running blesses our family
I thank God we have many willing hands to help us run
I thank God we won't always be running

I better go now...
I gotta run! {grin}

the dresser

2011-09-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

you guessed it
{or remember from reading twitter}

we painted the girls dresser

after I had a little fun

the boys helped me take off all the hardware

we all took turns sanding

then is was time for fun

hot pink fun

hot pink air brushing fun

so much fun, my husband didn't share {grin}

but then again, I was busy
watching
keeping the kids from touching
and taking pictures

we painted it pink

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

can you guess what it was?

don't call me cute

2011-09-29T14:00:00.000-05:00

if you call Ozzie cute

this is what you'll hear

"I'm not cute...
I'm handsome!"

yes, my not so little anymore, Ozzie
you are handsome indeed!

it's time

2011-09-28T22:58:00.002-05:00

it's time

...for combining during the day
and making trips to town for food, supplies and tractor parts

it's time

...for trucking and trucking and trucking

....for meeting up with your husband on the gravel road on his way back from the grain elevator

we were pulled over on the side of a road checking out a turtle we saw and then had to follow his dust trail home... if you know what I mean by that... you know what I mean {grin}

it's time

...for hunting season {do you see the ducks?}

which means we'll be sharing the farm with dozens of hunters soon

and that is always entertaining {grin}

it's time

...for beautiful harvest haze sunsets

and I must say, this photo was not edited...

it really was that beautiful!

it's time

...for combining late into the night

and bringing late night dinners to your hard working husband

...falling asleep to the lull of the combine in the near-by fields

and the crackle of their voices on the radio

it's time

...for painting walls, ripping up carpet
and pondering what to do with paint {not mine} splattered floors

it's time

...to share some Kitten love, because he's too cute to not share!

and don't ask me which kitten this is, it's either Moby or Marley.

They are like identical twins, which is quite fitting

since they are the girls kittens.

and now
it's time
for bed

goodnight friends

the fields

2011-09-28T10:01:00.000-05:00

have gone from this...

to this...

and you know what that means?

You asked it

2011-09-27T23:38:00.000-05:00

My husband is out in the combine with our oldest son, the littles are sleeping and the 2 older boys are reading.....

Now it's time to answer your questions!

Q: being a mother of six myself, i would love to know what you like to do just for YOU?

A: I don't really feel the need or desire to do things for just me, at least not usually. You know after a really hard day I want to go lay in a field and look at the sky all by myself but I know one day I'll have some much time to myself I'll be looking for things to do to keep from being lonely.

Honestly I feel like snuggling up with a book and a child is for me, swing on the swings with the kids is for me, ticking the tickle bugs out is for me, going on a gator ride is for me, playing a card game is for me, playing in the pool is for me.... I do it all for them but I love doing it and it fills me up.

Thinking about it though, I can see I do have things I do just for me.... I stop on our drives to take pictures, I blog after the kids are in bed, I buy chocolate and hide it for just me {grin}, I read before bed and stay in bed to do my devotionals in the morning.

God refills me with his Grace, patience, love, strength and so much more every single day. For that I am so grateful.

Q: where do you see yourself in the future. do you like it where you are at or do you and your husband have plans to move from the farm one day?

A: I love this question! We have dreams, big dreams that we are reaching for. We want to stay on the farm, build a house as a family, grow fields of hemp and echinacia, spend the winters traveling the country & a few other things I'm not ready to share. :)

Q: I am wondering... yes, what kind of water do you drink?

A: We believe Reverse Osmosis is the best choice, but with a catch. RO basically removes EVERYTHING from the water, even the GOOD minerals our bodies CRAVE. It also restructures the water... which I don't exactly understand but I know it does. {grin} I fill a pitcher of RO water, add liquid minerals such as Clarks Minerals and then give the water a big swirl with a wooden spoon. Those two steps remineralize and restructure your water. So basically you are getting really clean water with NO bad but you are losing some GOOD too. I know I've read some very helpful information on Dr. Mercola's site if you're interested in reading more.

Q: What do you do for preschool school for your girls? ;)

A: I do the same school with all of the littles {Ozzie, Eliza & Nolia}. We start with a Bible story, work through our Pathway Reader workbooks orally, then I let them each work through a Kumon workbook page such as cutting, folding, mazes or numbers. I also set them up at their little table {while I'm working with the boys} to do file folder games, if you search Google you will find multiply sites with free file folder games you can print and put together. We have tons of fun with these! We also do tons of hands on activities... puzzles, shape sorters, wooden string beads, lacing board, color sorting, letter building with blocks, shape/letter writing in paint bags/rice/shaving cream. I really should take the time to put together a post with pictures. But at least this is a little glimpse.

Q: What kind of Camera do you use? Lens? Any editing software?

Q: What is your favorite camera lens to use when taking pictures of your kids?

A: I shoot a Nikon d700 with either my Nikon 85mm f1/4 or my Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 I edit all of my photos with an OLD version of Adobe photoshop. I updated my camera from my old beloved Canon 20D that completely died this winter and would love to upgrade to Lightroom eventually.... all in time.

I use both lenses equally and truly LOVE them both! They are spectacular lenses! It would be easier to have a zoom that covered a broad range but I am a prime girl at heart with the exception of my wide-angle.

Q: Oh, oh...there was a post you did in the past where you talked about how you introduce solids to your babies as their teeth come in in a certain order. I've been trying to find that post and can't. Can you repost or touch on that?

A: You can read the post on baby-tooth led feeding right here. Let me know if you have any questions!

Q: Do the girls still breastfeed? If not, how did you get them to stop?

A: The girls are officially weaned as of their 3rd birthday. They were die-hard breastfeeding addicts and my subtle nudges to wean them didn't work like it did with the 4 boys. So I had to try something new... we talked to them lots about why babies breastfeed, why big girls don't need to and set a date to quit. The date was their 3rd birthday. I nursed them the morning of and not again. They were okay with it... probably because we talked about it a lot and they knew it was coming. They still talk about it, but don't ask to nurse.

I never thought I would breastfeed a child until they were 3. I used to think that was way to old and awkward. The girls proved me wrong however. {grin} I mostly think it was because I didn't have an other baby to nurse. All of the boys weaned on their own while I was preggo. I also think the girls are more attached to me than the boys were.

Q: I'm curious about how you keep the weeds out of your garden?

Q: How are you such an amazing gardener and can you share your green thumb?

A: Ha! oh there were weeds... especially after we came home from our trip this summer! Leaving a garden in the middle of growing season is a bad idea! {grin} I plant my rows 3 feet apart so that we can run the tiller through.... that takes care of most of the weeds until the plants are too large and then we have to go in with our hands. Many, many willing hands. It's a lot of work, but it is very rewarding as well. Growing the plants is easy, it's the daily care that takes dedication and hard work!

Q: How's the harvest this year?

A: Today was the first official day of our harvest and so far it looks wonderful. Praise God! We did lose a good amount of acreage to water and hail this year but we are so thankful for what appears to be a bountiful harvest. Now we need pray the weather holds out so we can get all the beans off the field, they don't do us any good in the field now! It's always a rush against the weather, especially with our sporadic weather this year.

Q: Have you ever tried acorns?

A: Well, no I haven't but you have intrigued me... do share when you try them!

Q: are your kids good sleepers? Do you guys co-sleep or cry it out or schedule from early on?

A: We've had some of both. Easy to bed, early to rise, sleeping through the night, up late, waking at night, sleeping in, trouble falling asleep. You would think I would have it figured out by now, but every time I get it figured out I have a different child with completely different needs! {grin}

We do co-sleep with our babies... mostly. I put them to bed in their bed but at the first wake-up they come into our bed until morning. That gradually moves from most of the night to part of the night to just the early morning hours. The girls sleep through the night almost every night with the occasional early morning wake up. I cherish those moments though, it is so peaceful to lay beside your little one{s}.

As for schedule... I don't do a timed schedule but a routine schedule. When they wake I feed them, then it's awake time, then sleep. As they give up those infant sleep periods I just go with the flow on feeding. We usually settle into our own routine with ease, until we enter upon a new phase and have to find our flow again.

Q: I have been curious as to how you all fit into the truck.

A: We don't! Well... we have on occasion {rare occasion}. We can fit 6 of us in the truck, which is what we drive when it's muddy. Usually it's just for a trip to town and someone is staying on the farm anyway. On the trip we rode in the fifth wheel, well at least most of us did. :)

We also have our Honda Odyssey that seats 8. I love my van, but it's not exactly a farm worthy, frozen prairie driving vehicle at all times.

Q: What is that hanging on your well?

A: It's onions drying!

Q: How far out in the country do you live?

A: We're about 20 minutes out on the gravel roads and an hour from town.

Q: Do you get a car wash every time you go to town?

A: Almost! Especially in the spring and fall! We power wash here at the farm but our water is so hard it leaves horrible spots.

Q: Are your cats indoor or outdoor?

A: Both! They live outside all day, but come in at night. We are working on building a cat house for this winter while we are gone. We don't want them locked in the house but what to provide them with a safe and warm place to stay. The wild cats stay in the "cat shop" with bags of food and hay bales but our don't mingle with the wild cats very often so we're not comfortable that it would work out okay.

Q: Do your boys work on the farm?

A: They sure do! Our oldest is out in the combine right now. There is so much work to do on the farm it is only natural to all work. The boys help move equipment, mow, disk, burn trash, take out scrapes, sweep the shops, till the gardens, harvest the gardens, weed the gardens, power-wash, some machine work with dad and anything else that needs done. They are hard workers... most of the time! {grin}

Q: Do you let the girls dress themselves?

A: I let the girls dress themselves almost always. I set out their church clothes and will sometimes try to encourage them to wear something in particular but mostly they pick out their own outfits and dress themselves. They make sure to match about 75% of the time.

Q: Do you give your kids candy?

A: I have no need, Grandma keeps their candy pockets full. MUCH fuller than I would like! {grin} We do share treats now and then... mostly coconut ice cream, mango sorbet and chocolate.

Whewww... that took much longer than I thought it would!

I've been painting all day and my eyes are starting to see blurring so please excuse any typos... I am going to bed now!

goodnight friends!

you ask it

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've done plenty of
you asked it posts in the past
but it's been a while
so I thought it would be fun to do another

not that there is anything you need to know
but sometimes it's just fun to know
or helpful to know
or encourging to know

so if you have anything you'd like to know

like...
what is that hanging on your well?
what kind of water do you drink?

what do you drive that fits your family?

how far out in the country do you live?

do you have to get a car wash every time you go to town?

are your cats indoor or outdoor cats?

do the boys work on the farm?

do you let the girls dress themselves?

do you give your kids candy?

or anything else like that {grin}

what's for lunch

2011-09-26T17:46:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I shared any recipes with you
and today seemed like a good day to change that!

{Veggie Slaw Crackers}

mix together...
carrots
red pepper
black olives
green onion
garlic greens
{all finely chopped}
cucumber, diced
hemp seeds

season with real salt, black pepper, olive oil & balsamic vinegar

top a sprouted cracker {pita, bread, ect.}
with cream cheese, hummus or goat cheese

add a handful of fresh greens
and top with veggie slaw

it's delicious
and a bit messy

I hope you enjoy!

one day of photos and words

2011-09-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

do you ever lay down at night and think...
what did I do today?!

I sure do!
life is so full, so busy, so real
that sometimes I live so much in the moment
...I forget it later
which is why I LOVE pictures

bringing back the emotion, the sounds and the memories of that moment

I know I told you about the Triplets

...but I don't think I introduced you to them

Meet:

Milo, Moby & Marley

they are responsible for mass amounts of...

snuggling, laughs, sighs, awwws, chasing & picture taking

I could say the same about these 2 little ladies

...who I desperately need to write a birthday post about

so I can document every little thing I remember about them right now

before I forget, because I'm busy...

snuggling, giggling, chasing, awww-ing, picture taking & teaching

the girls are doing school this year

and they LOVE it

they ask for it, daily.

we use pathway reader workbooks

and lots of other hands on things

I could write a whole post about preschool school

...you know, if I found the time {grin}

This amazing boy just turned ELEVEN

gasp, sniff-sniff, sigh...

I must write a birthday post for him as well

watching him learn and grow is a gift

...and I never want to forget

so I must write a birthday post!

feel free to pester me until I do {grin}

I take my camera with me almost everywhere

especially when we go for a drive

I am always in awe...

of the beauty that surrounds us

the masterpieces in the sky, that never look the same

the water that is everywhere, especially while so many are in drought

we farm beans, soy beans, monsanto soy beans to be specific

I don't like monsanto or soy

but sometimes to make big changes you have to start small

and I believe God has bigger and better plans than we do.

we also, as of recently, farm rocks

I use the term we loosely, because I don't actually pick the rocks

well...except that one time

but yeah...

now we farm beans & rocks

so here is one day

of photos

and words

I spy

2011-09-22T10:00:00.003-05:00

I spy a big brother

I spy a big brother hugging his little sister

I spy a big brother hugging his little sister

looking my way

I spy a big brother hugging his little sister

looking my way

and not spying me

how does your garden grow

2011-09-21T11:08:00.000-05:00

or really...
how {did} your garden grow

because my garden...
besides the carrots, beets, garlic, leeks, swiss chard & peppers

is done for the year

but this is what it looked like last month {grin}

we had a field of cucumbers

okay, not really a field...

but it felt like it!

greens galore

baby watermelon

that just barely ripened before the first frost

zucchini and summer squash

fragrant garlic

have you ever eaten garlic greens?

oh my, they are delish!

gallons and gallons of swiss chard {literally}...

I harvested, washed, dried, de-stemed, chopped, bagged & froze

45 quarts of swiss chard

...and there is still that much if not more in the garden right now!

beautiful mustard

...which was planted for the spicy greens

but not that it's gone to seed

...hmmmmm

anyone know about harvesting mustard seeds {grin}

sweet corn

more and more greens

leeks

some gone to seed from last year

and some still growing

scrumptious sugar snap peas

...oh how I miss them already!

basil, basil, basil

more than enough for the 2 gallons of pesto {so far}

and 10 quarts of just plain basil

most of the garden

in all it's green goodness!

so tell me...

how does or did your garden grow?

you know you're a farmers wife when...

2011-09-14T11:23:00.000-05:00

...the last date night you had was riding together in a tractor at midnight.

...it's midnight and your husband says I think the wind calmed down and you know this means you'll be sleeping alone until 4am.

...you meet in the middle of a field with lunch and 100 gallons of fuel.

...you decide what to pack in your husbands lunch box based on if it's easy to eat while driving a tractor or not.

...you have enough work clothes to fill an entire washer, everyday.

...your husband tells you he's going out to mow and you know this means 3 mowers, 2 days & miles of mowing

...you hear your name on the radio and go for your flip-flops, pick-up keys & phone before responding to the radio.

...you call your husband for dinner and it gets broadcast across the county.

...going to visit your husband in his office, means finding him in a tractor, semi-truck or heavy equipment storage building.

...the weather can change your plans at any moment

...your seasons are renamed planting, spraying, harvesting & winter

...you have to learn to drive anything with wheels, as a necessity

...when you hug your husband you can tell if he smells like oil, fuel, hydraulic fuel or just dirt

...when you are given the title "farmers wife"

words & eye candy

2011-09-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

life with 6 children
being a farmers wife during harvest
teaching a 5th grader, 4th grader & 2nd grader
...keeps me busy

harvesting a half acre garden
making a gallon of pesto
building blanket tents under the apple tree
...keeps me busy

painting my room the color of my blog
painting the girls dresser pink
organizing 4 boys into one room
...keeps me busy

cleaning the RV for company to stay in
power-washing windows
steam cleaning our mildewed bedroom furniture
...keeps me busy

giggling with my girlies
catching salamanders and butterflies with my boys
playing with adorable kittens
...keeps me busy

and I wouldn't have it any other way

I love

2011-09-12T16:00:00.003-05:00

I love these girls...

the way they walk & talk...

I love that they have curls like their mama, and they know it...

I love watching them delight in the little things...

and hearing their "sister whispers"

I love watching them be free...

and hearing their joyful giggles...

I love being part of their adventures...

and watching their sisterly love bloom...

I love these girls
and I love that I am their mama.

their adorable dresses were given to us by Alissa

...from pit pat, waddle pat

{Thank you Alissa!}

and I must say, for a mama to 4 young boys

she sure does sew awesome girly peek-a-boo dresses! {grin}

Thank you

2011-09-10T15:46:00.000-05:00

Unspoken gratitude blesses few
...but spoken gratitude shares
your heart, your love and Jesus in us.

I all too often keep my thankfulness inside

...it's in my heart but should flow from my mouth as well.

So, thank you
...for being here
...for following our families life journey
...for your friendship
...for asking me to be your photographer
...for your words of encourgement
...for listening to me
...for praying and caring for our family
...for being patient with me
...for giving me the opportunity share
...for sharing with me
...for your unspoken gratitude.

truly, Thank YOU!

this moment

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

playing barefoot in the gravel drive
wearing pajama pants at noon
creating games from our imagination
Grandpa watching from his window

collecting rocks in our pockets
whispering about treats from Grandpa
mismatched and free
savoring the last days of summer

a country drive {in pictures}

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Brittany

triplets

2011-09-06T21:00:00.000-05:00

a few days before we returned to the farm from our summer road trip
...our sweet Lucy had kittens.

triplets in fact
...in dark colors just as the kids ordered {grin}

she loves them

the kids love them

I love them

we all love watching her mother them

sadie loves them

and God knew...
3 little perfect kittens were just what I needed to curb my baby fever for a bit {grin}

My {September} six

2011-09-06T06:42:00.000-05:00

e

2011-09-05T13:53:00.001-05:00

daddy caught a froggie

for his curly girlies to see

and it made them giggly

{ps. I made that rhyme all on my own... grin}

so full

2011-08-31T16:10:00.002-05:00

oh, my beautiful, wonderful, blessed, awesome life
...you are so full right now
maybe slightly too full.

so full of
...harvesting an overflowing garden
...teaching 6 children
...reconnecting with friends
...ripping up carpet and painting walls
...visiting Grandpa in the hospital
...new life
...preparing for harvest
...cooking for 8 people everyday
...editing photoshoots
...fighting unfair mortgage companies
...not feeling well
...planning our big winter RV trip
...cleaning up a flooded basement
...exploring big things
...emails that need a response
...mindful parenting
...living life

{sigh}
the ebbs and flows of life
sometimes I want to have a pity party
and sometime I do have a pity party {grin}
but truly, deeply...
I am so thankful for my crazy, hard, blessed, loving life.
one day at a time
moment by moment
stumbling my way down the path of life
by His grace.

rest stop {love}

2011-08-28T13:41:00.001-05:00

Friday night talk

2011-08-26T22:35:00.001-05:00

The sun has set and the stars are spectacular. We have all the windows open and the crickets and locus are singing with the cool breeze. All the children are asleep and my little spot in this world seems so peaceful right now....

Seems is the correct word, because really peaceful is not a word to describe my life right now. Not all bad, some good, some rotten, and definitely crazy!

We are still living (mostly) in the RV. Not for the best of reasons though... Our basement flooded while we were gone. Basement = our bedroom = wet = mold = un-livable = me sick = lots of work = stress = living in the RV still.

I have had a headache all day and have had continued allergy attacks since we got home. Uggggg...i am tired of being sick!

We are getting back into our homeschool grove and loving it! The littles are enjoying their "school" too. Can hardly believe i have a 5th, 4th, 2nd and kindergartner this year....wow!

My garden if out of control. Bountiful harvests and plentiful weeds! I have been pickling like crazy and freezing mass amounts of swiss chard, basil, green beans, squash and zucchini.

Okay...enough blogging from my phone. Time to spend time with my husband. Goodnight friends.

as seen in

2011-08-25T17:57:00.002-05:00

...the {Georgia} snorkeling hole

have you ever

2011-08-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

...picked 100 cucumbers in one day?
...wished that either mosquitoes didn't exist or there were more bats?
...missed your mother something terrible?

...had to wash everything in your entire wardrobe, all at once?
...wished you lived in an rv?
...cooked garden beets on the grill?

...drank raw apple cider vinegar with raw honey and warm water?
...taken a truck full of give-away to goodwill 2 days in a row?
...seen newborn kittens learn to walk?

...played a completely unconventional game of baseball with your family?
...gone over your text limit?
...ate cucumbers for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

yeah, me either! {grin}

I love

2011-08-20T21:54:00.006-05:00

...taking photographs
...meeting new people and taking their photographs
...getting to know awesome families while taking their photographs

...traveling the country to take photographs
...creating beauty in photographs
...that you are asking me to take your photographs

...making new friends while taking photographs
...capturing your families love in photographs
...that my family is with me while taking photographs

...that you love my photographs
...I am actually living my dream of taking photographs
...that I can share it with you

it's their birthday...

2011-08-19T11:56:00.002-05:00

::::contest still live::::

and this photo is crying out for a name {grin}

so have fun and give it your best shot

winner will receive a prize
from me
{and I promise you'll like it!}

on a 100 degree day

2011-08-18T08:50:00.000-05:00

we met Lucy the horse

and stroked her broad face

we fed her corn husks

and watched as the donkeys came near

so we could feed them corn husks and melon rinds

we had a lovely time

on that 100 degree day

deep in the heart of Tennessee

the end

2011-08-17T11:32:00.002-05:00

the time has come for this trip to end...

with some disappointing news and exciting news we rushed for home

we drove 5,700 miles in 5 weeks

sometimes all day, sometimes for just a few hours and sometimes through the night

we saw familiar faces and new places...

we made beautiful memories
and have forever fallen in love with living, working & dreaming on the road

but for the next few months we are back in North Dakota...

on the farm we call home

out in the middle of nowhere

where our garden grows and you can see the milky way everynight.

although I already miss being on the road...

it's good to be home.

Fancy a chat

2011-08-10T14:42:00.001-05:00

We are on the road some where between our campground in Illinois and a blog friends farm out in the Iowa country.

I have a brief moment of peace and quiet as the girls and a few boys nap...and one finishes a novel on his nook.

So I thought it would be a great time to chat with you wonderful blog readers. (grin)

Ask questions or just chat about whats up. Just leave a comment and I will reply in the comment section.

Talk to you soon...

Beautiful peace and a pounding head

2011-08-09T22:10:00.000-05:00

We are nestled in the big green beautiful trees of illinois tonight. Down by the river and across from the playground. No neighbors and just the peaceful chaos of my little brood.

I love the freedom of being on the road. I love the deeper connection it has brought into our family. I love living out our dream. Not to say its been all easy and perfect... But the joy outweighs the stress.

I am so glad I shared my ideas about turning off comments. And so thankful you shared back. You reminded me what really matters. I may occasionally turn comments off on specific posts...but most leave comments on.

I read all you comments and try too respond as much as I can. Which leads me to ask you..... If you leave me a comment and I reply...are you receiving my reply? If not you can change your disqus setting too receive replies via email. And those who can't comment with disqus, I would love to hear from you via twitter too.

The girls and ozzie are big into pretend playing... House, restaurant, shopping, farming, road trips and now photo shoots. Its way too cute to hear them pretending to be a photographer and talking about going to photo shoots. Love this age!

I will be doing photo shoots in Iowa this week. I could fit in a couple more if anyone is interested. Contact me at 4littlemenandgirlytwins @ gmail . Com

Unfortunately my head is pounding... Maybe from lack of sleep, something I ate or both. Its usually one of those. Thankfully this is only my second headache of the trip. And I'll be even more thankful if its gone tomorrow. Its always harder to be the best mama I can be with a headache.

Goodnight friends!

as seen in

2011-08-07T16:57:00.001-05:00

the campground laundry room

and I must say...

I quite enjoy doing laundry at the campgrounds.

...4 washers and 4 dryers is the way to go!

road rambling

2011-08-06T12:55:00.001-05:00

We are leaving Ohio today and will be headed back to Indy for a few more photo shoots. I am really looking forward to photographing in one particular location...it will be totally unique.

My husband is tinting the windows of our rv today...it will be nice to be able to leave the shades up so we can see out, but others can't see in. It should keep it cooler while we aren't running the air too.

I am considering turning comments off on all but a few of my blog posts. Not for the reasons most would assume, which is the "haters". Although the negativity can get to me at times, it has also kept me humble and even more thankful for the kind comments.

I've found myself putting to much thought, at times, on "how many comments" i've received. I shouldn't feel let down when there are only a few comments. I don't know why its only about 1 person per thousand views that leaves a comment, but you are here, reading and sharing my families life journey... comment or not.

Its hard, really hard, to believe the girls are going to be THREE this month. I don't have babies anymore!! I once had 3 under 2, 3 in diapers, 3 in cribs, 3 taking naps, 5 in carseats, 3 littles to babywear, 2 babies to nurse, 6 children in the single digits.... Time goes by so fast.

We went garage sale searching yesterday. Mainly looking for "girly bikes"...which means any trike that is a girly color. I did not convince the twins of this girly color fixation. Amazing how different girls and boys can be!

Another photo shoot glimpse will be posting soon... It will either be a bigger family or smaller family. (grin)

I have learned so much from our first gypsy photography road trip. It hasn't all gone as planned but the experience has been priceless. I love doing photo shoots, meeting new friends, hearing their stories, seeing new places and sharing my passion for photography. I truly can not wait too see where this goes from here.

Off too eat veggie lasagna, garlic bread, pickled beet salad and brownies. Celebrating another day of life, love, family and our many blessings.