As I posted earlier the flu or better known as "Montazuma's Revenge" swept thru our family. For what ever reason I am still having a very upset stomach. It makes it hard to get motivated for much of anything other than a hot water bottle on the couch. It has been a week and most of us are on the mend. Olivia took the time to start our DEEP Fall cleaning and washed the walls, doors, baseboards, pitures and knickknacks in the girls room, upstairs hall, stairway, livingroom and dining room then she decorated beautifully for Fall. I will try yo get pictures tomorrow. She has quite the knack for decorting!

GREAT BIG NEWS: ROY IS OFFICIALLY moved over here for GOOD! YEAH! Don't ask how it feels I'm still not sure yet. When we get past the 2 week point it may start to really hit all of us! He starts his new job down at the local feed store on Monday. This will be very different for him but I hope it is a blessing for all involved.

We have had visitors from Cottage Grove this past week. My precious Aunt Carol & Uncle Tom. WHat a story and a legacy of Faith they have. We all enjoyed them so very much. This will probablly be the one and only time he comes over and sees our place as he is in very bad health and it is hard for him to get around. We are expecting some very dear friends from Medford tomorrow. They are planning on helping Roy get a few things done around here before he starts work. Then we have Micah's G-parents coming the next weekend. Our October has begun with a bang!

Olivia & I need to go pick apples Thurs. or Fri. I still need to can some more applesauce and dry some. I had hoped to do corn this year but it will probably not happen.  I better go the kids are all home from school and tonight is Wonderful Wednesday.

Blessings,

Alaina

Look mom, It's Puss...IN BOOTS!Isaac all dressed and ready for churchToo many kids not enough couch!More summer fun!Planting my pitiful garden

2 spoons, hence the reason we call him FooderWho'da thought you could have so much fun with a rope and old tire.ToysR us gots nothin on us! LOL

Sarah practicing for a game.. Love the boots!Hannah following in sister's boots!Our cats had kittens by the piles! 3 mommas & 14 kittens
By the grace of God we found homes for all of themIsaac got a way cool pirate costume from big sister AnjA pirate & a cowboy what more could a mother wish forAnd when you don't get the way cool outfit for your B-day you use what you can find in the kitchen

dish towels & pot lids YEAH!!

Isaac's B-day cakewashing eggs can be a very messy and dangerous job. Please be sure to wear eye protection! LOLmy kitchen window sill. Soap made by AnnetteOlivia making chicken pot pie YUMMY!G-ma Becky here for a visit and giving SEVERAL much needed hair cuts!Olivia & friends getting Basketball awardsA couple of Liv's grad pics

This summer has deffinitely been a learning experience for us in regards to Fair. A  whole lot of what NOT to do and what you had BETTER DO! Our smallest pig is still 20lbs over weight and 2 of our goats are light by 7 lbs.  We are still planning on going the kids can still show I have heard they just can't sell. I figure the experience will be worth it. They all managed to work on some of their exhibt stuff today. I ironed 14 shirts and a few pair of pants trying to get the kids show clothes together. We will need to pick up a few things in town. Olivia cleaned out the trailer and made the beds. We plan on taking it over to stay in so we can be there bright and early. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to milk.

I have been canning like a crazy women. I did 40 or 50 qts of peachs (I lost count)9 qts of peach pie filling but one broke, 20 trays of dried peaches, had never tried them before the kids LOVE them, and 20 trays of peach fruit leather only I burned all but 3 trays, don't ask. Then one of then stuck terribly to the saran wrap and Malachi was trying to eat it wrapper and all.  30 qts of green beans. With Olivia working at the orchard here in town part time I make out quite well and so do our pigs. We just picked up 4 little weiners yesterday. 2 for us and 2 for my friend. Now all those scraps and milk can be put to good use.

I have been hot and grouchy most of the summer it feels like. Noah has really been acting up lately which affects everyone. If anyone has experince with Fetal Alchol/ Meth children I would really apperciate some advice. We are still trying to stay away frome using drugs but lately I have been reconsidering other options. He is going to stay home with Daddy and the 2 little boys so I can focus and have fun with the kids at fair.

Our pastor and one of his sons came over this weekend and started work on our schoolroom. It will be so nice to have that space. I will try to take pictures as it progresses. I still have not ordered curriculum or completely decided what to get or even for sure who all is staying home but I figure I will get one thing at a time out of the way. Fair First!

It is late and I want to get an early start. We need to go into Baker for a few things after chores tomorrow so I will close for now.

Alaina

I am back after a very LONGGG break. I stopped for awhile because I was busy or too tired or didn't think I had much to share then one morning I got up and my computer was blank. No picture nothing. So after 3 1/2 weeks in the shop $195.00 and a home visit from our DSL guy I'm back on.

And just for the record I think John Denver was full of whooee! Life on this farm is not laid back! My garden looks terrible this year. I got it in way to late. I have had pigs in the goat pen , goats out in the wrong pasture and one that kept getting it's head stuck in the feeder and I just found out last night that our pigs are too FAT to show right now and there might not be enough time to get them to the weight they need to be by the end of the month. We still don't have any of our pavillion stuff done and some we have not started.

 I am glad we seem to be getting a repreave from heat today. There is a gentle wind blowing that feels really nice.

I have been defrosting and cleaning and trying to salvage what stuff I could from our freezer. I went out the other morning and most of the contents were partially thawed! YUCK! I believe we have too many little ones looking for pop cicles and not getting the door shut. Just what I wanted to do in this heat. I did have some go bad but we will see about the rest.

After church and lunch today we went to the river to witness the baptism of our good friends youngest boy. What an awesome thing to witness your last & youngest child accept the Lord.

We got timothy's new birth certificate in the mail so he is  officially adopted. We only have one that is not and is old enough to realize the difference. So while these times are for celebrating we always have to explain why there is still one that is not. I know there is a reason for now and pray for God's leading and direction in this and all situations.

Noah is not being very nice to his siblings so I need to go for now.

I hope you are finding rest and peace on this Lord's day!

Blessings,

Alaina

How about Unit studies for science and history/geography? Who out there uses these, which ones have you tried are there any good ones?

I haven't had much time to blog lately, I have been really busy with farm life. It isn't always so romantic around here. I have a milk cow that poops all over me at every evening milking. Gotta love being covered in green! LOL It makes for alot of extra clean-up. This week not only do I have all my chores, milk the cow and 2 goats, feed wethers,calf, 3 pigs, chickens, dog, a bazillon cats, cook, clean, & refere 9 children do laundry, trying to keep ALL the grass watered with one faucet, and MOW but I said I would take care of thingsd at my friends while they were out of town for a week so now I am carry for their 2 bottle calves, horses, 5 pigs, chickens, milking their cow, and watering everything in her green house. I'm a little wiped out to say the least!

My dear sweet husband is coming to take the kids again and this time for a FULL week. The bummer is he is taking Olivia with him to help and also let her visit with friends. I really hope to get alot acomplished while they are gone. I am a really big chicken though. Day time will be GREAT but nights I'm not so sure about.

It's late as usual and chores will be calling as well as hving to get Jesse, Micah & Sarah packed & out the door to the church by 9:30 am. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

Blessings,
Alaina

I am prayfully considering home schooling the majority of of children come Fall. I have no clue what to use. The last year I did it I only taught 3 and we totally went with Alpha Omegas life packs.There were things I really liked about it and other things I didn't care for at all. So PLEASE share your wisdom. Curriculum choices, ages and why would be great! I will have an 11 yr, 10, 9(needs help) 7, and  6 yr old I will need to teach to read. SCARY! Hope to hear from anyone!

Thanks,

Alaina

Well, I'm back. I have blogging issues it seems that if I take pictures of an event I want to share and the pictures are unable to post I quit blogging. I am so far behind right now It's ridiculous. Please bear with  me. Here is what we were up to in March & April.We drank our first goats milk. YUM!we picniced with our GrandmaWe watched Liv play alot of baseball. Here she is playing 2nd base. She got an award for being the All league 2nd team 2nd baseman. For those of you who don't know (and we didn't) that's pretty good!She also do some relief pitching.Liv went to prom with a friend from our Wednesday night program at church.They met up with some other friends and rode together.Cinderella after the Ball had enough energy to play a mini concert and talk for awhile then,feel asleep on the couch.We went to a friend's bithday party.The kids playing touch football in the field at K  & W's house.Olivia & her friend's practicing for Wednesday night service.Two of our Momma cats had kittens. A total of 10 to be exact. Anyone need some barn cats?We do ALOT of laundry. I think Liv is trying to sing it away. I don't think it's working! LOLOne of first casualties on the farm. Somethig got one of our chickens in the sick pen. Later Daddy accidently hit and killed our precious Dottie pup. That was much harder on all of us. We still really miss her.G. showing off his new wether, Taffy.Hannah playing with SasafrassKids, goats & more kids!A true Hog farmer if I ever saw one!Micah working with his pig.

I better go for now, Iwill try to down load some pics tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening.