...the Cover Up.

Me and My Husband at Lake Joe Pool playing for the day

I've got lots of posts swirling around in my head. My best option for now is to take the add-some-pictures-and-elaborate method. Maybe I will be better at writing down my thoughts one of these days so I remember them once I sit down to the computer.

This is the front yard at Penn Farm, a historical farm that was established in the 1850's.
My son liked the tractor.

This One posing in front of an old barn. She has been growing so much. Just last night I heard her reading a chapter book from her top bunk to That One in the bottom bunk. It was really sweet considering they can't stand each other! It encourages me that I can possibly make it having 4 children and not end up like Darla Routier.

That One has had this bike for a year or two. She gave up on it a long time ago. Recently, she has been asking to pull it out and ride it. She is getting pretty fierce about her ability to do it. She went up some pretty difficult hills at the state park! To top it, off she is officially reading now! She has taken just a bit longer but it makes me that much more proud of her.

While the others were fishing, me and The Other One decided to walk by the water and throw rocks in. There has always been something about water that leaves me breathless (no pun intended). It has drawn me near since I can remember. When I was younger, I used to believe it was because my sign, Aries - which is a fire sign- had something to do with my attraction to water to "cool" me off. Of course, that kind of stuff is not true. I think I just like water, just like some people think snow is refreshing. Blech, snow. *shudder* Okay, moving on...

The Other One sure nows how to make fishing stressful. I got so many glares from the other people fishing. He was being so busy. This One constantly was telling him to stop messing with her line.

That One makes going fishing cute. :-)

Enjoying the nice weather.

So, this picture doesn't quite belong. See that shirt she is wearing? It's not really a shirt. It is a swimsuit cover-up. What? You didn't now they made swimsuit cover-ups that don't cover your bottom? Well, that's because they don't. It is an infants cover-up that is a size18 months. Yep, she got that for her first birthday from my aunt, I believe. It fits her perfectly still. She wears it as a shirt and no one can ever tell me that we are wasteful and frivelous - ever. Okay? We use everything we have in more creative ways than you can imagine. I am pretty sure that is the only way we've survived the last 6 years of marriage and family life!

I am taking a social media hiatus for now so feel free to call or text me!

364 days ago...

....Is a day to reminisce and remember how truly blessed we are to own our first home. We waited for a long time for it to happen and it was at times, an elusive goal we never thought we'd reach.

Not long after we moved in, we celebrated a lovely Easter, 2 children's birthdays, a college graduation and a pre-teens birthday. Soon to follow was our first season of holidays: we hosted Thanksgiving, several Christmas get-togethers, New Years.... It has snowed 3 separate times since we have owned this home.
We received this ginormous bottle of bubbly from the realtor at closing. For whatever reason, we did not drink it. (Though I was tempted to bust it open on this day when this wonderful group of ladies came to help clean - it was a bummer they had to drive home..)
...Instead of sharing it with the people who did this and would have to drive home...
... We decided that we would drink it on our first anniversary as home owners. I guess that sounds strange to you. But, for any of you that had cake on your wedding and saved the top tier for your anniversary- this is kinda the same to us.
Now, given the current circumstances, I will not be drinking this on my first anniversary. Here are a few occasions we may decide to have it instead in the coming year:
A teaching job, a baby born, a new car, a camper purchase. Now, I am not hoping for all of these things (although, I wouldn't turn them down, haha). But I promise, when I am not in my current state, I will be enjoying this with my husband. We have waited a long time.

Until then
*raises and orange juice glass*
CHEERS!

(Disclaimer: pretty much the entire inside of our house looks different now, thanks to my husband's handy-ness over the last year)

19 degree cold heart

This post is to quell the rumors that I am a snow scrooge and that my heart is as cold as north Texas snow. I do enjoy seeing my family play in it and I have pictures to prove it! Please take note that I am not condoning snow - I prefer summer -but I *guess* I can see why some people would like it.

He enjoyed playing inside with the pups today. Do you think the dog liked it?

My son is pathetic without his glove. Note the project the oldest is working on.

They worked on this for hours today. It took wheelbarrows, shovels, Rubbermaid lids, sandbox lids and lots of hands to create this.

Enjoy! In the meantime, I will be pining for springtime...

Really? Another snow post...

I can't even describe to you how much I loathe making another snow/ice post but, then again, here we are. It snowed again and the weather is very cold. It is currently 19 degrees outside.
I regret to say I am not in any pictures but someone has to take the pictures of her lovely family! And some of us have to dislike cold. God makes us all different. ;-)
Some of us have to like playing in the snow. My husband turns into an 8 year old when it snows. He is so much fun for the kids. I am a fuddy duddy and I am okay with it. (He ran and slid on purpose in this picture).

Our puppies liked the snow/ice, too. They like to run with Daddy. See that sandbox lid? This One and The Dad took it down the street and slid down some hills. I was not there to witness it.
The outside fun for the little 2 lasted literally 90 seconds. Then they came in and thawed. I think I will go bake some cookies now.
Since this guy is off work today, I have a feeling there are no excuses for pre-algebra to not get done!!