18 Months!

CLAIRANA

NEPHI

I thought I would gather everyone's photos from being around 18 months and see who Cecily looks the most like. 

CABELLA

CORALINE
(I did attempt to look for a regular picture but this was about my life with Coraline at 18 mths)
It was hard. Ill keep looking and update.

CECILY

White Dog. Sidewalk Chalk. Rainbow Dog.

Farm Dog....Maybe - Newfoundland

We have been thinking about getting a farm dog for quite awhile now - leaning towards either a Great Pyrenees or a Newfoundland. 

We haven't decided and we are not in a rush to get anything but several weeks ago a breeder in Terra Haute had a litter of Newfies and we drove to go see how they were in person. 

We would like to do the same with a breeder that has Great Pyrenees so we will keep looking. 

We want a dog to guard the goats or all the livestock really, hardy enough to be outside all year long in the goat pasture, trainable, (especially not to jump on people) and not bark at everything.

Maybe it is too good to be true. After having bassets and now a Jack Russell - it is AMAZING how much easier it is to train a Jack! I never thought dogs could be so different.  

If we do get one we would like to breed her for the kids to experience puppies at least one time on our farm. 

The Newfies are SO loving and big maybe a little too loving and not enough protective but we will keep researching. It was a fun date for all of us. 

They are amazing swimmers, easily trainable, very loving, mellow temperament and get to be about 120- 150 lbs.  

These pups are 4 weeks old. 

Around the House....Forever Now.

Besides some trips around town to do a few door drops we have been home now for almost six weeks. 

Except for Levi who is trying to work from home but now that all the sub contractors have free time and shut down areas they are wanting to work hard on the restaurant. Which is nice to be ahead of schedule during this time but also a little overwhelming for Levi to manage everyone.

I have done a few Zoom video calls now which seems to be getting less awkward. I taught for our coop a few weeks ago now and I have been hosting a Relief Society meeting for church with several women that has gone really well. Strangely it is really nice to see faces even on a screen.

Levi and I said the other night how we never thought we were overly social people but we do miss people and hosting. 

Reading time with Cecily - she loves book and likes to copy all of us when we start reading. 

Nephi wanted to try out the baby carrier. They ran around forever like this. 

We went for a drive last week to see Levi's building it really has taken off.
I am sure it is even more advanced today maybe we will do another field trip this week. 

This kid learned a lesson about respect for the bees. He actually held up like a champ.
He was stung three times once in the eye lid and twice on the head.
Baking soda paste and couple days and he is back to normal and has decided to not 'play' with them as much or at least not without his bee suit on.
Having bees has made us all less weary of them but it also has made us forget they do still sting. 

Creek Date. The weather has been all over the place lately which has been great.
Being able to be outside during this time stuck at home has been such a blessing. 

Easter books this year. Clairana's is the black book at the end that is awesome.
It has the story of Easter in pictures of rock formations that different people made. 

What?! Easter was still normal.......
We had eggs dropped off for the kids to hunt....
Super Cute Look.

During this time at home we decided we should start introducing Cecily to the potty. Why not? 

The kids doing a Zoom meeting with all their homeschooling friends. 

Pottery Wheel Night

More Birdhouses.

Coraline insisting on pushing Cecily - no one ever wants her to walk. 

Finished this book which was good timing for how life right now is pretty easy even if we are in a pandemic.
Pioneer life seems so difficult and so long ago when really it wasn't too long ago. Ready for a lighter read. 

C and I doing night time farm chores together. 

We have been working on some geneology lately as well.
These are my grandmother's parents - Rosa Marie and Johann

MiMi made us masks! 

Cecily actually left hers on for quite some time. 

Cecily wants to ride the little four wheelers so bad she even wears the helmet. 

Clairana's polaroid selfie. 

We found a baby bunny on Easter that was being attacked by a crow. The kids wanted to keep him but he was so tiny and I was afraid we would wake up to him dead in the morning and who needs more disappointment these days. We let him go in the woods to find his mama. 

My grandparents - Gertrude and Stanley Wallace

I have been teaching the kids how to make German Puff Pancake but I believe it is really a Dutch breakfast.
It is pretty simple - lots of eggs (8ish), one cup milk, one cup flour, vanilla - combined all in the blender and dump into a heated up cast iron pan with half a stick of melted butter. 425 for 16 minutes.
We have been adding different fruit and honey/maple syrup/powdered sugar or something fun on top.

C and N now drive the gator most times without much help. Crazy how early farm kids learn how to drive something just by watching. 

We are all still healthy and active which we are extremely thankful for. The sickness keeps getting closer and closer to the ones we know which can be scary but the families we know who have gotten it have recovered or are recovering and we continue to all pray for our safety and everyone we know as well. 

We have been very open with the kids about all that is going on but we do not watch the news in our house which helps keep the unnecessary fear away and helps me be able to share with them what I want them to know and understand. 

Baby Chick Life

Typical Bella Moment.