Lately

their favorite teacher, Mr. Auk, helping the kids prepare for the big test coming up

Celene found an injured bird and felt very sorry for it

when Celene was away on a sleep over, Miles teased her with this photo of him holding her hamster

Squeaky on the prowl

Celene practicing her Tae Kwon Do form in the driveway

Doesn't she look dangerous in her lace skirt?? ;)

Eli cooking his own breakfast

Hannah enjoying Hammie

boys building

Tractor Races

Miles and Daddy got an old tractor running so now with 3 working tractors,

our evenings are filled with noise and fun!

Hannah and Celene Make Stilts

Hannah wanted stilts and persuaded her sister to help her make some.

They work well and Hannah mastered them pretty quickly...

with only a few minor injuries. ;)

of course Theo has to build something too

Little Farmer

Shawn's parents took the kids to Little Farmer pumpkin farm and apple orchard.

Lots of fun!

Spinning Gourds

A stopped over to purchase some of our garlic for a local food service.

He saw the kids playing outside and offered them each a curious little toy.

It's a tiny gourd that spins just like a top.

He read that colonial children played with them and tried growing them himself this year.

The kids loved them...yes they really do spin like tops!!

...and we saved some seeds to plant our own next year. 

Projects Lately

For their LIFT Club, Miles and Celene have to design and build a bridge out of Popsicle sticks and glue

Out of all the kids, whoever's bridge holds up the most weight wins!

It's been quite an undertaking around here

this is the state of the dining room table going on 3 weeks now!

Eli doing his school work

Theo is in cutting and coloring school ;)

Eli working again

Miles slicing and freezing our fall bumper crop of radishes

Miles (not very safely) fixing our cabinet handles

little crafter

girls busy preparing puppets for a show

Theo thinks he helps

Celene has been taking crochet lessons from her great-grandmother and has really excelled!

she took this picture to send to her friend who also crochets :)

Hannah and Miles making venison jerky