Our Summer, so far

We are staying busy this summer, like always.  We had a good school year.  Everyone finished the work I had planned for them.  Josiah has it easy in school.  He hears the twins learn a concept.  Then when he gets to that concept he is already familiar with it from just over hearing them learn it.

Last month my parents came for a visit.  I love when they come.  We usually do some project around the house.  This year's project was to replace the carpet with laminate flooring.  The kids all helped.  My aunt also came over to help with it.  Grandma's job was to hold and entertain Nathan so I could do some of the work too.  My knees really hurt after a day of work.  The rooms look so much better with out the carpet and the kids love to slide on it with their socks.

A before shot of the very stained carpet

Removing carpet and staples from the floor

Some of the dirt we found under the carpet.  I never want carpet again!

The boys really helped with putting the laminate together

Grandma and Nathan

The finished floor looks beautiful

After we finished the floor we took a day to go hiking in the La Plata Mountains.  My aunt joined us.  It was a steep trail that my dad picked.  We went up a ways before turning back with the kids, but my dad continued to the very top and found an old mine.  He was very happy with his hike to the top of the mountain.

We stopped to look at a chipmunk

View from near the top

Also while my parents were here, Abby got to play the piano for church during the offering.  She has been practicing hymns on her own out of the Complete Church Piano Course book one which I wrote about in another post.  She is doing very well at learning the piano.

After my parents left we went camping at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in AZ.  This year we had a cabin which made packing nicer.  We didn't have to squeeze a tent, air mattresses, etc. in an already crowded van.  The kids were so busy playing with friends that they were only at our cabin to eat and sleep.  The first morning they were up way too early and found that their friends were up too.  It was a blessing to see them playing with other young people and making new friends.  I enjoyed the fellowship with other ladies, too.

Our cabin

Nathan enjoying the cabin porch

We went to Phoenix after camp to visit Faithful Word Baptist Church and see friends there who did not get to go on the camping trip.

Tried to get everyone to smile and look at the camera, but we didn't have time or patience for 50+ pictures

My garden has suffered greatly this year.  It has more weeds than vegetables.  Nathan is the center of attention around here this summer.  All his older siblings love to hold and entertain him.

Nathan about two weeks old

Hannah would hold him all the time if she could

So sweet!!

Nathan about 2 months old

Ready for church

The boys

Josiah entertaining Nathan.

Robert and Nathan

Busy watching everything 

I can't believe he will be three months old in just a few days!

Nathan's Birth

Monday morning, April 28^th, my midwife called to see how I was doing.  She said I was on her mind and she thought I would soon have the baby.  I wanted to tell her “If you come maybe my body will decide that it is time.”   For weeks I had many braxton-hicks contractions, but nothing consistent. On Monday night I thought my water had broken.  It turned out to be just some mucus and bloody show.  The midwife came out and checked me.  I was not very far into labor.  We sent all the kids to bed.  She encouraged me to walk for an hour.  I was having contractions about 2-4 min. apart, but they slowed down if I rested.  Around midnight we decided to get some sleep.  I didn’t sleep very well, because the contractions were waking me up every 15-20 min. That has been my “sign” for the last two births, so I knew that he would be born the next day.  In the morning Gabe cooked breakfast for us while I walked some more outside.  It was cool and I didn't stay out long.  Soon the kids were all up, and disappointed that their brother hadn't been born, yet.

Monday night I had called my aunt who said she wanted to help take care of the kids.  She didn't answer her phone, which didn't surprise me since she goes to bed early and after taking out her hearing aids would not hear the phone.  I left her a text message and hoped she would get it in the morning. I tried again Tuesday morning, but she still wasn't answering her phone.  I finally had my sister stop by as she went to work and let her know.  My aunt arrived around 10 am.  We talked and I walked some more, but there were too many distractions I still wasn't progressing much. 

My midwife suggested that my aunt take the kids somewhere.  She took the four oldest and went to KFC.  Hannah refused to leave mommy.  My husband decided to go to KFC also, and get lunch for us, too.  My midwife decided that she would leave for a couple of hours too, because “a watched pot never boils”.  I was left at home with just Hannah.  I set her at the computer with a preschool game that she could play without help and I went to my room sat on my exercise ball and read a book to take my mind of counting contractions.  It worked!  My husband was delayed for a long time at KFC because someone in front of them took all the chicken, and they had to wait for more to cook. 

By the time he got back I was having painful contractions.  I called my midwife, and she soon returned too.  Things happened very quickly after that.  She filled the tub (I have a large tub), and then said we should go to the bed.  I said I really wanted to be in the tub.  Within 20 minutes of being in the tub, he was born.  He was my first water birth, and I would defiantly do it again.  I loved the way the water supported my body as I was pushing. 

Hannah came in and watched while he was being born.  She likes to tell people he was born in the tub.  She would not leave me for the next few hours.  My husband named him Nathan James.  He was born at 2:13 pm on Tuesday, April 29th.  He weighed 7lbs 14oz and was 19 ¾ inches long.  All the kids are excited about their new baby brother and enjoy holding him.  Abby loves taking care of him, and acts like a second mom to him.  Recovery has been slower this time.  I got a cough a few days after the birth and it refuses to go away no matter what I do.  I also have had some nursing issues, but that is clearing up, thanks to a few suggestions from my midwife.

Hannah and Nathan less than an hour after his birth

Robert (9yrs) meeting his brother.  He prayed for a brother for many years.

Abby (9yrs) holding her brother.

Complete Church Piano Course Review

We recently received piano books to use and review from a family friend and my favorite preacher, Pastor Steven Anderson.  As soon as I opened the package, Abby was thrilled.  She has had about 2 years of lessons, and often tries to play from the hymn book.  She was able to play the first two songs in the book very easily.  Robert also wanted to play from the book.  They love how simple the songs are.  First Abby played Nothing but the Blood over and over and over.  Then Robert played it over and over and over.  After a few days of that I now had that song stuck in my head, but it is better than the other stuff they have to practice for their piano teacher. 
I was able to play the first few songs, too.  I am very excited about this because I had very little training, and have taught myself most of what I know.  I’d much rather play hymns than the silly stuff in other practice books.  Now I just need to find spare time to practice.  In the past few weeks they have learned the next several songs on their own with no help from me.  It is so nice to hear them playing hymns!!

Since Abby and Robert are the oldest, I am sure these books will get a lot of use in our family.  The other kids also show interest in the piano.  They are still a little young to have official lessons yet.

Here is the site and a video if you wish to learn more about these books and order them.

 http://www.sanderson1611.blogspot.com/p/the-complete-church-piano-course.html 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrZonzV_lv8

Beth's 4th Birthday

Beth is the only child with a birthday in a different month.  All the others are in March.  This year she asked for homemade pizza.  She also wanted her aunts and grandparents to come to her party. 

Beth is such a sweet child and always smiling.  She loves helping me cook.  Her favorite thing to tell me is "Mom, when I have money I'm going to buy you __________"  She is always making plans for buying things for others even though she doesn't have money. 

 All dressed up in jewelry from Abby.

 Helping with the pizza!

Hannah playing in the tent from Aunt Barbara.  The tent was a big hit!



This year's garden

Here is a quick post on my gardening experience so far this summer.
I dug ditches this year hoping that I could water by flooding the garden - not working for me.  We tried a drip system last year that did okay, but I went back to sprinklers this year.  It is easier to tell if it is working.  I put in some more strawberries this year, a new raspberry bush (chickens killed mine last year), I started a corner for herbs, and planted a variety of vegetables that we like.

Broccoli looks great! This is the biggest I've ever had!

Comfery is doing great too!  I am using it in my mint tea and green smoothies.

Onions look happy, but the beans to the right look sad.

Tomatoes are very sick looking.  I've had great tomato plants in the past, but this is the second year they look sickly.

Another look at my sad beans.  (I have a bigger patch in another location that is doing better)

I tried to grow strawberries and a blueberry in containers, but we (the kids helped) killed them. I think we over watered.

Now that we are done with schooling for the year, we can spend more time outside in the garden.  Yesterday all five kids and I went out to weed the corn and beans I have.  They did great and had a fun time, and I lost only four bean plants.  They are begging to go weed again.

14 Plus Babies in My House

Yesterday I brought home 11 little chicks.  I love their little peeps from their corner in my kitchen.  They are buff Orpington.  My kids are begging to hold them and help take care of them.  They will be replacing my current hens this fall.
Just this morning the mama cat, that I have been trying to keep outside because she is very, very fat, came inside when the kids opened the door.  Her time has come and she had her first kitten on the floor in the doorway to my room.  She has since moved to an empty box in my closet and had two more.
Now the cat and kittens will not be staying in my house long.  When she is done, I will be moving her to a safe place outside probably in with my chickens (she did fine there last time).  A mama cat and baby chicks in the same house is NOT a good combination!  Especially since this mama cat has been know to bring in wild birds, baby rabbits, mice, and prairie dogs for her kittens.
Typically I try to keep animals outside.  My lovely children create enough messes in the house.  I do not need animals in my home creating more.  The chicks will be moved out in a few weeks when they have enough feathers to keep them warm at night.  Only cats are allowed in as a way to help keep mice out or catch one.

The baby chicks

Hannah watching chicks

Boys holding chicks

Mama cat in her hiding spot

Birthdays!!!

Hannah - March 11th

It is hard to believe, but my baby is one already.

  She started walking a few weeks ago.  

She is more laid back than the last two.  She is content to watch what the others are doing. 

 Although she does enjoy quietly exploring the house, and rearranging things for me.

 Just like a normal child she finds great delight in a box rather than her own toys.

Josiah - JoJo - March 15

 Josiah turned 5 this year.  

He is my funny one.

 He likes to get his work done quickly and go play with his legos. 

On his birthday we went to Legoland. 

 He has a special bond with Beth and is always willing to help her.  

Abigail and Robert - March 19th

Abby and Robert turned seven this year!

  Abby is little mother to everyone.  

She is full of questions.

and competitive.

She is adventurous.  

 She loves pretty things and dressing up.  

She loves to "marry" her brothers.  

This past November she was a flower girl for a friend.

Robert is my other "laid back" child. 

 He enjoys building things.  

He can stay focused on a project.

He acts and looks alot like my dad.

Psalms 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

It's fun having the birthdays so close.  Poor Beth feels left out in March.  This year we went to visit my aunt in California during birthdays.  I will try to blog about our trip in another post.