The Happiest Of Days

I am finally getting around to up dating this blog! It dawned on me the other day that I have just got to find the time in my busy days to keep up with this blog.

I don't ever want to forget these precious days that seem to pass with a blink of any eye.

These are a few pictures of a little home made Valentines day party I put together for the kids. We made home made red velvet cup cakes, pink lemonade and the cutest goodie bags ever.

We also made a special lunch and spent the day remembering that Valentines day is one of the best holidays ever!

The morning was spent making place mats and hearts to hang from the light. The red tulips in the center of the table were given to me by a dear friend (Rachel) The kids all enjoyed our homemade Valentines day party.

I just had to include this picture of these beautiful flowers that Bob brought home one day. They were not for Valentines day. They were just because................................

I love that man more and more with each day!

I am off and running for another day filled with homeschooling, cleaning and chasing little ones. Going to start a wonderful pot of soup made from scratch that a good friend gave me the recipe for. Taking six kids to swimming lessons and a fun evening at Ladies night out. Along with about a thousand other things that need to be done for the day. But for now I going to start with the above.

Alexander just came down the stairs with his face painted like a little Indian. So I guess I better really go now and try to get the war paint off his face before swimming class starts!

Its a Wonderful Life With Ten!! Really it is!

Wonder What I have been doning?? Good question????

Hi ladies, the above picture indicates how busy I have been lately. This is a picture of Olivia's miss matching socks for.......Yes, her Christmas pageant!!!!!!

We go to a weekly home school co-op that we love. It is made up of some of the most wonderful dedicated home-schooling mom's. I am so happy to be able to be a part of this co-op.

We were so looking forward to this Christmas pageant. When much to my horror....... All the children were lined up and all dressed so cute. Camera's flashing..... We I looked over and saw my little Olivia in the front row with MISS MATCHING SOCKS ON!!!!




I am convinced that only a mother of eight would do something like this. I was so focused on getting all the children bathed and outfits on and food ready for the big event. All you mom's out there know what I mean. Trying to get everyone ready and out the door in one piece.

That I completely forgot to check what socks she was wearing!

So now you know why I have been neglecting this poor little blog for so long. I can't even mange to make sure that Olivia is wearing matching socks for her Christmas pageant.

At least the twin girls manged to get to the event with matching dresses on.

They all had a lot of fun with the performance. They sang so cute and everything went off so well.

They had been studying about Mexico and had a traditional Mexican meal, that was absolutely wonderful. Jana's living room turned into a Mexican restaurant by night. We all had so much fun, even if Olivia's socks didn't match!

And I even knew my friend Jana had a "no shoes" rule!

So, now you know that I have been really busy. So busy that I can't seem to find matching socks. Let alone keep up with my blog. But you will all be happy to know that I have gone through the sock drawer and all the laundry and matched all my kids socks. So I have high hopes of keeping up with my blog now. It a wonderful life with ten, even if the socks don't match.

I want to wish you all a very happy, happy Christmas. May you all have the joy of the Lord in this wonderful season.

Happy Birthday Ahna and Briahna

Ahna and Briahna had their 11th Birthday!!!

The girls wanted these princess crowns so badly this year.

Its so hard for me to believe that these little twin girls are now 11 years old. I am so enjoying life with them right now. I didn't spend the day looking back. But rather just taking in the present. I am so enjoying this stage that they are in right now. I just want to treasure every moment of where they are now, in this moment in time. And I am so looking forward to the future with them. They have grown into the sweetest girls. I feel so very blessed to have them to share my life with. They are a constant living reminder to me of how good God is to me. I feel so unworthy of such a wonderful gift as these little girls. I wish for them every happiness and dream big and small of their hearts desire. But most of all I wish for them to grow in the Lord and pray that they will always look to Jesus for their future.

The Pumpkin Patch

Alexander on the Tractor

Olivia

Bri, I am just sure she will be a farmer some day.

The hay rides were one of my favorite things to do there.


Our trip to the pumpkin patch was better than expected! We found this pumpkin patch courtesy Christa. And everything there was free!! All the rides and bouncy house, petting zoo, even the hay rides were free!

All the kids had a lot of fun. We took way to long to pick out just the right pumpkin, for everyone. But the kids knew the perfect pumpkin was out there some where. The big question was..... Where is it?????

Alexander finally, finally found his pumpkin!!!

No! wait maybe this one is bigger.

Nicholas just kept looking and looking for the perfect pumpkin.

,

Olivia was perfectly content to just have Bri push her around in the wheel barrow.

It was a perfect day at the pumpkin patch. I think the kids were in a state of shock. When I would tell them "go again, go again" on all the rides. Usually at a place like that I am clutching on to the tickets for the rides. Trying to make them stretch as far as possible. So this year was so much fun for them and a real find for me. Hay rides, bouncy house, train rides and petting zoo and all for free!!

Needless to say we will be back here next year!

Random Thoughts This Evening

I am surprised I remember how to log into this blog!

The days seem to be flying by, the kids are really enjoying these beautiful fall days. I seem to be getting busier and busier and more scattered than ever.

You see I had all of these really cute pictures of the kids at the pumpkin patch I was going to post and I can't find my camera!

I think I know where it is but I just don't have the energy to get up and look for it. So I thought I would just type instead.

We have been making really cute fall projects to decorate the house for fall and I have managed to not go crazy with all the arts and craft around the house. Which is usually the case when I do art projects with all of them at the same time.

With Thanksgiving quickly on its way I have really been think about all of Gods goodness to me. I can see bits of Gods love every time I am greeted with a warm hug and kiss from one of my little ones. The sweet sound of their voice telling me they love me warms my heart to the point of overflowing.

I know God is truly loving and I am reminded of it by everything God has placed around me.

So I end this evening with remembering that my life is so richly blessed by God and I am so very Thankful to God for placing all these wonderful reminders of his love for me.

The lost Diamond

The days have been so busy with various projects. Now that the weather has been a bit cooler my boys have been enjoy wearing their Carhartt coats. I have always wanted to have boys that would some day wear Carhartt jackets. And so I finally am able to see all three of my boys working in Carhartts. I am not sure what took me so long to get them these coats but it is so fun to see them decked out like just like their Daddy.

We have been doing a lot of cleaning out of things and the boys were having fun taking apart a old dresser. My boys always tell me that some day they are going to built me a house. So I guess you can never start to early.

Today I realized that my Diamond had fallen out of my wedding ring. I was a little bit sad, as I looked down and realized it was gone. I knew that I could some day replace it, it was a very small diamond that was in the setting. But I had flash backs of Bob and I going to buy it together. And how excited we were to have chosen that ring. And just thinking about that Diamond going through all the years of marriage with me. That I some how thought know matter how lovely a new one might be. It wouldn't be the same one Bob and I had picked out together so many years ago.

Alexander sensed that I was sad about the ring. So later this afternoon he snuggled up to me and said Mama, "I know what I could do.... I could give you my most shiniest BB from my Red Rider . I have a really shiny one like the one you lost Mama. And you can have it." He was so serious about the idea of the BB to replace the diamond. And I am convinced that he thought his prized BB was more valuable than a diamond. And if I thought that I could actually fit the BB in the ring casing I might have just actually worn it! Because it was just such a really sweet thought.

Well needless to say I felt a whole lot better about the Diamond being gone after such a heartfelt gift as that. From my dear sweet Alexander. What a lucky Mama I am to have such a thoughtful little boy. I just am cherishing these days with my little ones.

PRETTY IN PINK

Here is my little Olivia all surrounded by pink! She loved to go in the garden at Becca's house in Idaho.

One of my favorite things to do with my little ones is to go and cut fresh flowers in my garden at home. This isn't my garden, (its Becca's in Idaho) but I thought these were cute little pictures of my dear sweet Olivia.

I think I still have a little bit of Idaho fever left over. We made the most wonderful french bread there and long talks of Organic food and budgeting and planning meals for our families. I left there with wonderful inspirations!

So we have been very busy around here making our own cleaners and doing a lot of baking and making things from scratch. I have been on a big Organic kick lately and trying to feed and make the best possible foods for my children.

Its been a real challenge to take the time to make things from scratch but really worth it to set my children down to a really nice home cooked meal.

We have been baking a lot of cookies and we will try our hand at home made pizza dough tomorrow. I am not sure how this will go as I don't have a mixer so its really hard to make breads and pizza dough by hand. But I am going to give it a try!

And I have my sights set on a new Kitchen Aid mixer.