Visit with Landon!

Last week, we were just sitting down to dinner and the phone rang....

It was a guy who has been out of the country working for Save the Children International and Rapid Response Team for several years. He would be back in Indiana for a few days and wanted to meet all our littles for dinner. 

Landon Newby is Levi's childhood best friend and after college and serving a mission he took off to travel the world and go into places that have been devastated by natural disasters or war and rebuild. He is currently working in Panama until at least next Spring. 

Levi joked and said Dee thinks of him like the Savior but maybe with a lowercase s. 

Now to plan a trip for Levi to go to Panama! 

I said to Landon if he comes to visit you...you best let him bring me home a little orphan baby! 

Levi's childhood best friend - Landon Newby

I got everyone ready for dinner and we were waiting on Levi to get home before leaving....

So, I attempted some pictures of all the littles....

Sometimes...Sunday Looks Like This..

To Grouchy for Sacrament Service.... Hanging out on the rocks outside.

After Primary...on our way home.
The kids LOVE to go to church and see their friends and worship. Coraline now goes into her class alone which is magical for Levi and I just to take Cabella with us. 

Doorstep Blessing.

Since starting our mini farm, we have been blessed greatly by all the things we have inherited to help get the farm functioning. Gates/Water Tank/Manger/Round Pin.... Lots. 

We also got this on our front porch last week with an early Christmas present message. 

We were all VERY excited. We have not rode Sackett with a saddle - mostly because well....saddles are expensive and we had been waiting to find a used one. 

Strangely enough a few days before this arrived, Levi just said before bed one night - why don't we just make the saddle the Christmas gift to the kids from us. That way we can justify the cost. 

Its a little big for him but we are making adjustments to it and Clairana and Nephi love it.

Coraline doesn't know for sure if she is fully a fan of Sackett. 

Me testing it out - yes, I even put on Clairana's helmet to provide a good example of how we ride this barrel racing horse!

Beans are Gone!

 The kids and I were all OVERLY excited to watch the tractor pick up the bean field. It looks like such a large area now. 

After he was done and the dust settled a little we went out to do races in the field. 

The field in front of our house is about 12 acres of tillable and it is owned by Levi's grandparents. 

We are very excited to say that we will be buying a portion of the land in the upcoming months. 

Now Levi keeps saying.... I MUST get a tractor. 

Our plans on what to do with the land vary - we would love to build someday but it is an expensive dream and we are enjoying our current home -  it seems to fit us better than we ever thought. 

So for right now.... I hope to use a portion of it to raise our own or grow our own groceries and who knows what else. Berry Farm? Orchard? Barn Venue? Farm Animals? Gardening? 

Homeschool Field Trip - Boilermaker Maze

 We are part of a homeschooling group called KLASS. 

They meet twice a month to go on a field trip. 

I ended up hosting this one and we went to 

The Boilermaker Cornmaze. 

Its a little Ma and Pa place that just started this year. 

Levi was planning on coming but a meeting came up so we just hung out the five of us. 

I was nervous because of all the people I was having to manage on top of Bella and Cora but it went great. 

We even did the LONG corn maze. 

The typical Fall events and of course pumpkins to take home. 

The farmer did a short lesson on corn and growing different types of corn. I was pretty impressed.
As you can see....Clairana is our social girl who tries to get to know others during this time. (Pick sweater on left)
Nephi and Coraline always seem to hang together quietly by me when we are in crowds.

Buddies.

It was SO pretty!

Pumpkin Patch - Learning about farming and making green houses with biodegradable plastic. 

The best I could get. 

Cora begged me to take her back into the farm so she could smile with all the marshmallows. 

Polly and Molly - Piglets!

The weekend after our anniversary, we had made plans to go to Chicago and celebrate. 

Everyone was dropped off somewhere special for the night. Including Zona (the dog). 

We ended up going downtown Lafayette (our hometown) and having dinner and listening to a band then decided not to drive the 4 hours back and forth from Chicago. We ended up going out to see our close friends and enjoy socializing without littles and brought home Kune Kune piglets! 

Meet Polly (dot on her head) and Molly.

The Kunekune, is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. 

Kunekune are hairy, with a rotund build and may bear wattles hanging from their lower jaws.

They are grass - fed and very docile. Some have these pigs for pets due to their dog like traits. 

We were dressed all fancy ... I promise. Then we went pig hunting in the woods. 

Early the next morning we went out and loved on them before going to get the kids. 

Polly

SURPRISE!!

This was Bella's attempt at CHEESE. 

Coraline is so excited just to touch them.

Just look at how excited she was!
It was such a treat to see them just thrilled to have their own pigs and get to pick them up!

Trunk or Treat - Church Style

Trunk or Treat at Church!

I ordered everyone's outfits online about three weeks ago.... but I was still waiting on Coraline's and Cabella's costumes to come in the mail. I kept receiving emails that it was delayed but I thought nothing of it because our party was so far out.  

So, after I got the last notification saying they would be here on the morning of the party I thought perfect. Then at 4:00, I got another notification saying not till the next day.

Impromptu outfits - CHEERLEADERS. Purdue and IU - Divided House.  

Clairana wanted to be someone dressed as The Day of the Dead.
She picked this costume several months ago.
Ironically enough we got a text from Levi's mom and her and Destry ended up dressing up as this too!

Levi picked my costume up at the store - how wonderful. A Taco. He says this is him eating me....hahahaa. DORK.

Full credit to Levi for make-up

Batman - Year 2 with new mask. Thanks for keeping it humble buddy!

Art Lessons - Nephi and Clairana

Art with Aubrey!

Clear Scratch Art Drawing - a study of M.C. Escher 

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. His art is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. During his lifetime he made 448 lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings and over 2000 drawings and sketches. We will study Escher's work and create our own art work using clear scratch art paper giving it the look of a woodcut print!