Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Raccoon Lake

We met our great friends at Raccoon Lake - they camped and well we have five kids so I don't see camping in my direct future but..... 
We met them early in the morning to spend the day renting a pontoon boat. 
It was great. The weather started off cool but ended perfectly and the kids all enjoyed being on the tubes. Levi took a day off work so the lake was all ours. 
Elliot switched to being the Stay at Home Dad this year and his wife Maggie switched to part time.


Levi was in charge of blog photos - because well kids and water and cameras don't mix.
Cabella, Coraline and Cecily 

Coraline, Clairana, and Maddie 

Who knows...? 

Maggie and I am pretty sure that is me hanging off the back of the boat. 

Cabella 

Ms. Coraline
She did great in her jacket and rode the tube without Levi or I.

Elliot with Lewis
Nephi and Coraline

Monday, June 10, 2019

Storms/Two Chainsaw Family

So Sad...
We cried a little and then got to work.
Tree Fort will be salvageable but will need some work. 
We are now a two chain saw family - His and Hers.
Really I just inherited the small one because with all the tree damage we had to invest in a larger one. 
It is amazing how much mess trees can make. 







Sunday, June 9, 2019

Around the Farm/Memorial Day/Bee Life


Look at our newest addition! He is BEAUTIFUL! We will be adding him to our herd. We sold our twin does last week and then he arrived. Nephi will show him for 4-h next year. 
No Name Yet.....


We sold the twin does which was sad but we can buy hay and go on a little vacation to celebrate. I am attempting to let Clairana learn the process/paperwork to sell registered goats so maybe one day she will be fully in charge and make money for herself.  
The grandparents invited us over for lunch and swimming in the pond. 

















Nephi and Levi got to go out and smoke the bees. 



Coraline the Bee Keeper!

She was SUPER excited to get her bee suit and join in on all the fun!










I mean.....just take whatever you want.  

Clairana is NINE!

She only took a couple years to make her entrance
(I could tell you the exact months and appointments/pregnancy tests but we won't go there)
but we are SO blessed she did.
PS I will never forget all the hours Levi spend drawing and painting those lines for her nursery that she rarely slept in.
Co-sleeper for Life. 

Our week has been a bit crazy with a special event right in the middle. 
Ms. Clairana turned NINE. 
She went on several one on one dates with family members which made her birthday stretch out and be very memorable. 
She got to spend time with her Aunt Woody whom she is named after and came home with a bike,  Mamaw (Levi's grandmother) took her clothes shopping and to lunch this week and my parents are taking her out next week for a movie date. 
She also got packages in the mail from Levi's sister from Arizona and her Mimi from Washington. 
And visits from Grandpas on her birthday. 

I got her two American Girl doll outfits from a grandmother that hand makes them....they are amazing.

And she also got a KAYAK! 

So on the night of her birthday we took her to the grandparent's pond to test it out. She did great! 
We even made sure she could get back on if she upset herself. 
She was a natural and I see another kayak in Nephi's future.
When you live so close to Fairfield Lakes, Wildcat Creek and your grandparents pond you have to have water toys. 

Coraline was also insist that I take her to the Farm Store to buy something for Clairana. So of course late one night this week we loaded up and headed to get presents. We actually doubted that she knew but she directed me right to what she wanted to get her and I approved. 

Nephi got her squirt guns

Book and PJs from Bell Family! I LOVE this traditional that Ashli started years ago for everyone. It is Perfect and I secretly wish I would have thought of it. 

Art Supplies from Pappy and Bubbe 

Look at Nephi's Face..... DON'T TELL HER!!! 

EEEKK!!! She was SO Surprised (Mom. Win.) 


Aunt Rene drop by - gifts in Pajamas after the kayaking trip!

Coraline got her a fairy house and fairy sisters (SO Sweet!)
Bella got her a little clay farm house and sheep 


Funny story about the bike - the past few days she has been complaining about how much her legs have been hurting. After baths, essential oils, rubs, thinking its growing pains maybe....
I FINALLY figured it out. 
She has been biking her little heart out. She took a couple days off of riding and it went away.
Motherhood is sometimes so simple and yet so difficult. 

To think that I may only have another nine years with this lady in my house brings me to crocodile tears. I truly wish time would slow down. I hope to remember this feeling on the hard long days. 

BIKE!! From Aunt Woody. She is IN LOVE. 
This year, I think will be hard on all the upcoming birthdays - Nephi will turn 8 and be baptized and somehow Coraline will be out of the toddler years. 
Bella I am excited for her to be three and start enjoying more freedom and to listen and understand all the stories she has been trying to tell me for months. 
And Cecily will be ONE before I know it and we won't have that newborn feeling in our house anymore. 







Mamaw and Cecily.
It is so nice that she enjoys Jane and I get a break from holding. 






4th of July

We had a great and relaxing 4th! It is always nice when Levi is off for a couple days in a row or at least only goes to jobsites for a littl...