It's the last day of February and the snow is melting steadily away even though we've woken up several mornings to a fresh layer on the ground. I'm looking forward to Spring and Summer and the break it will bring with school, though I'm very thankful for our friend Jamie who tutors the kids in several subjects! I think we're all missing Westover! Even the kids have said as much!
I am thankful to be part of a home school support group, and more recently a mom's group. Both providing encouragement and new friendships. At Westover the moms would regularly get together for fellowship, and I miss that.
The boys have made friends with a home schooling family down the road whose boys are similar in age and have similar interests. They will come over and engage in Nerf gun battles or charge up and down the hills with guns and army helmets. Lots of fun!
Last weekend Buzz and the boys had to dispatch 7 roosters that were part of the chicks hatched last summer. That added to our dwindling store of chickens in the freezer! I don't know how many layers we have now but it's enough to give us plenty of eggs!
We plan on getting bees as soon as possible and I would love to get a goat or two and I keep trying to find reasons to have geese. I think I must have some other reason besides just wanting to see them waddle about the yard!
We see Mom and Dad at least a couple times a week, as they still are unable to get internet so she comes regularly to do online things. Their house really is beautiful and I know they are enjoying it. Dad has been busy working in his shop on various projects.
In all the busyness of schooling and keeping the household running I find little snatches of time to read. I'm working on three books right now, Disciplines of a Godly Woman-which is really good, What Happens at Mass-always trying to understand the issues:) not getting very far in that book, and Sense and Sensibility. I will add one more book to the stack for the mom's book group, called Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe. Hopefully it's a good one.
Lily is just starting to crawl. She's turning out to be quite a ball of energy and will yell, growl and scream just for the fun of it. She still doesn't sleep well at night which means I don't sleep well at night but her chubby cuteness makes up for any difficulties her little personality brings us!

A(yummy) geography project Susannah and Brennan made

Celebrated Susannah's birthday with Mom and Dad and our friend (and tutor) Jamie and her son Beau.

I have a ton of Lily pictures that I personally enjoy and just have to put up a few recent ones. As well as some from New Years. It seemed so quiet after having everyone here at Christmas. New Years day we played outside, sledding down the driveway and snowshoeing up the hill.

I got Aiden and Brennan some wigs for Christmas, (they like putting on skits) and I think everyone has taken turns putting them on!

Before...

During...

And all done! (this one is Susannah's)

Brennan's

Aiden's

Mine

Josiah's

Dad's

Elijah's

Olivia's

Mom's

Cool picture Josiah took

Lily-13 lbs of baby cuteness! And Aiden...typical Aiden!

Christmas, New years, and 2 feet of snow! As I sit here finally putting together our latest memory making events, it's snowing again, nearly a foot last night. Aiden and his friend Thad are enjoying the fresh powdery snow right now. I think I overdid it yesterday sledding down the drive on my stomach with Susannah on my back, or could be trying to shovel the snow off the roof. Whatever the cause, my back is sore which makes a good opportunity for me to sit here and do a little nothing!
So much was packed into the very short week that the Robertson's and Resseau's were here. I'm very thankful both arrived safely as they arrived within the two days that all the snow had fallen! Though Reed and Dee did end up taking the longer route it proved for the better I think, knowing the hill was particularly messy that night-especially without snow tires!
Every night was a late night with games, puzzles, coffee, and a good amount of laughter. Peg probably has the better pictures, being that my camera man was 14 and usually distracted by more important matters!
It was a pretty dull day after everyone left, and it's been hard getting back into the swing of things! But we're doing so, ever so slowly!

Playing on the snow cleared from the driveway

Dinner time!

Just a bit of the happy chaos that took place!

Dad, movie watching with the kids.

Halie's tardis and the  one I made for her

Starting to open presents

I just like the look on Brennan's face here!

The older kids playing Catchphrase

Last morning here