Monday, March 21, 2016

Spring

The calendar told us that yesterday was the first day of Spring. I don't know about you, but waking up to temperatures in the 30s doesn't quite scream Spring...especially after the mild (but still miserable) winter we had. I dug in the kids' closets and found the warmest, Springiest outfits I could for church.

I'd say I was successful. Daniel asked why we weren't in the picture. Because we are dressed like the dead of winter, I told him. After I snapped this one I told them to hug...
 
Oh, well.
 
Friday was Avery's last day of school before Spring Break. She had her Easter egg hunt at school, and I got to go. The eggs were scattered through the playground. Avery racked up. Some kids only got a couple. I don't know what they were doing instead of picking up the millions of eggs that were obviously not hidden.
 


Luckily it was a beautiful day for an egg hunt. This is her sweet class.
 

Tuesday afternoon we found us a horrible spot to go fishing. We don't know the area too well and are still trying to stake out the good spots. The current was so strong there was no way we were catching any fish. It was good reeling practice for the kids, though. Daniel took them to a better spot on Saturday, but still no luck catching anything. It's ok though...I just went to Publix and bought some catfish to fry.
 
Last weekend (obviously, because Avery isn't bundled up) I took the kids to the square for lunch. I'm really sad I don't have a green thumb (yet) and I don't know the names of any plants. I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but I thought it was interesting its flowers have already fallen off. It made for a pretty scene, and Avery had fun collecting them for everyone.
 
I've decided my favorite time of year is Springtime. I'm super excited to plant our garden and see if we do any better than last year. I've been doing a little research, and I can't wait to see what grows and see what I can do with the harvest. We decided to move the garden down by the fields. I marked off the area, and Daniel started tilling it. He let me try, and that thing is hard!! I'm ready to finish tilling and get our seeds in the ground!
 
One day last week was super warm (come back!!), and Colt and I went and had lunch by Susannah and the magnolia tree. What a gorgeous day to sit outside and bask in the beauty of God's creation.
I do complain a lot about this little town we decided to live our lives in, but all I have to do is walk outside and look at what we have been given, and it all melts away. I can't believe I get to live in such a beautiful place. My kids have endless land to explore, I am able to homestead, and we have millions of possibilities for growth (a goat or two, maybe??). God is good...
 
Future Farmers of America. I have so many hopes and dreams for these two, and I know wherever their paths take them, they will succeed. I am looking forward to the next couple of years when we can get them into music lessons, teach them how to garden, and continue to tell them of the love of their Savior that they will hopefully spread through Fayetteville and beyond!
 
And one last photo. I don't ever remember wind as harsh as it is in Fayetteville. We really stink at flying kites, but if the wind is right and you run fast enough, you can get it high enough to make the kids smile. That's all I ask for in life.
 
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

 


Thursday, March 10, 2016

SAD No More

The two winters we have lived in TN, I think I have suffered from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Not working and being at home with toddlers through the cold, dark winter really brought me down. But the weather is changing, and so is my mood. We are so enjoying this warm weather, and we are spending as much time as we can outside.


Our neighbors, Dylan and Allie, have been outside a few times, and Avery and Colt love playing at their house. They have a trampoline and lots of riding toys.
 

All the kids love 4-wheelin.
 
Colt loves mowing the grass with this riding mower. We don't have cool toys like this at our house! It's a struggle to keep them in our yard when Dylan and Allie aren't home.
 
Dylan got his 4-wheeler stuck in the creek and his dad had to pull him out with a chain. Exciting times around here!
 


Last week was Read Across America week at school for Dr. Seuss's birthday. One day was hat day, Wednesday was Wacky Wednesday, and one day was pajama day. Avery had fun learning about Dr. Seuss.
 
Last Monday was really warm, so Colt and I made a morning of it. We had donuts, went running, went to the park, had his 3 year check up, and got a free ice cream cone for taking his shot so well.



I can't believe what a big boy Colt is. He can climb anything at the park, and he ate that ice cream cone like a champ.
 
So this has been our routine this past week. I wish I had a fitbit to see how much walking we do...
We walk on the path through the fields to the first creek. We throw rocks and find treasure before heading to the next creek.
 
Colt Man likes to "fish" here.
 

Then we keep walking around until we get to the creek by our house. It's much bigger with more space to play. I love seeing the kids stomp around in the creek with their boots. We better enjoy it before the snakes show up for the summer.
 
Sometimes I'll pull them in the wagon, but boy are they heavy!!
 
Tennessee had an event called 50k tree day. I paid $5 and got 6 trees to plant in our yard. I had to drive to East Budda to get them, but I brought them home, and we planted them in different spots. They guy who gave them to me didn't know what kinds they were, so we just planted them, and we'll see what happens!!
 


 
This was not a warm day, but we were determined to get out of the house for the morning! I'm so excited to see what they look like!
 
And one more warm weather thing we did this week...Blizzards after school! It looks like the warmer weather is here to stay (knock on wood), and I can't wait for summer!! Counting down the days...