On Its Way Out

Here we are with another week on its way out!

Time is a movin’ along!

Our Sunday was a blessing! We had a huge brunch with a special guest and his parents!

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And of course it is always SO good to have Grant home for a day.

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Sunday we had a visitor. It was day time (first clue that something is wrong with a raccoon), and this guy was just hanging out on our porch. He was not well. But he was cute! And the littles loved watching him from the windows!

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We had a good solid week of school – even though there were many things interrupting our days.

I started rowing a new book with the littles and Lane – A New Coat for Anna.

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Such a cute story set in Europe after the war – so many things to run with and learn about!

Anna and her Mom pick lingonberries in the story to dye the yarn that will be used to make Anna’s new coat, so we had to try some! They were sour! Even when made into jelly! Tate LOVED them and has asked for more everyday since we tasted them!

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We have learned a lot about wool, sheep shearing, carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. SO much fun!

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As usual, I have a lot more planned and we will be rowing this book for longer than one week.

The littles are still working on number recognition. A homemade busy bag that was a gift from Kayla made a great number activity for this week!

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I quickly made a number inch worm one morning so they could not only match numbers but use glue. Glue is a huge hit!

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I also had them do some pattern matching. I put some blocks together and gave them the same colors and told them to make the same pattern. They could not get this one their own! Something new to work on!

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We did alphabet recognition review, even though they really know all the upper and lower case letters very well.

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We still have a time in the morning where Chad plans an activity for the three youngest ones. I am running around during this half hour trying to get some things done very quick like!! One day they played balloon tennis. It was loud! But they had a ball.

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Blake and I spent a morning at the hospital with Tate. He was a brave boy who was stealing hearts all over that hospital! It is always fun to have the dynamics of just one child. We just need to make sure it does not always involve doctor’s appointments!

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While we were in the changing room before Tate’s first appointment, we were trying to keep our little man happy. Selfies work. So we did that! Then we pulled the curtain and left Blake on the other side. Tate was giggling from his toes! So then we pulled the curtain again and I said “Let’s see if we can make Daddy disappear!” When we opened the curtain, Blake was conveniently gone. I have never seen Tate laugh so hard! Then I said “Let’s see if we can make Daddy reappear!” as I pulled the curtain shut and then open again and Blake conveniently reappeared. By the time we had done this three or four times, I had ruined all my make-up because we were all laughing so hard I had tears running down my face! What a hoot. I bet the nurse that came to get us thought we were nuts.

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I stopped to take this photo as we headed to the hospital that day. It is warming up here, and the snow is melting fast! Guess I don’t need to say how the views from this ridge are never, never ever, lost on us!

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Tomorrow, folks, is FRIDAY!!!

We have a big day tomorrow – but don’t worry – I will take some photos to share with you later!!

Have a great Friday everyone!!

Embracing The Cold

Last week and this weekend were very cold here in our neck of the woods, so on Saturday we decided to embrace this winter wonderland we live in and go ice skating!

We invited some other families and kiddos, and headed over the bridge to a rink in Minnesota.

Oh my goodness, it was COLD!

But the kids had a blast – even the two littles who ice skated in a stroller!

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Kayla, Clyde and I held down the snack station!

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I think we will do this again soon! It was great exercise, a family friendly activity, and did not overwhelm our little two at all. I will say that it was dangerous! We came home with a jammed hand that is swollen and bruised, and a banged up cheek that is swollen and bruised. This Mama is just so thankful that no one was seriously hurt!!

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I had a big smile yesterday, as the temperature was 32 degrees, our fire was turned off and Tate and Eliza were running around the house barefoot! It is all a matter of perspective…..because that is 40 degrees warmer than it was last week!

I think we still have a lot of winter to get through!

We will keep embracing the cold and enjoying it for all it’s worth!

It is beautifully blue and sunny today!!

Happy Wednesday, you all!

*I am thankful to read a daily update about precious Delainey, and she is still at home with hospice care. Please continue in prayer with us for her and her family!

A Recipe//Cranberry Chicken

I posted this photo on Instagram a week ago, and was asked to post the recipe!

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We have adapted this recipe for our needs, but here is the original recipe and is very simple.

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
1 package of dried French onion soup mix
1 large bottle of French or Catalina salad dressing

Lay the chicken in a 9×13 pan. Cover the chicken with the can of cranberry sauce. Sprinkle the onion soup mix over the cranberry sauce – use as much of the package of soup mix that would be to your liking – but you might not want to use the whole package. Pour the dressing over top of it all, using it all if you would like a saucy chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour. Serve over noodles or brown rice.

Enjoy!!

Seven Years Ago

It was already seven years ago yesterday that we moved to our farm!

We had been looking for a farm for a long time, and could not have felt more blessed to finally be starting our new life!

We said good-bye to our home in a town about 45 minutes north of here, and the country adventure began.

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Lane was just a baby, and the other kiddos were all still so young!

(All of these photos are from that first spring on the farm!)

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It is hard to believe all that has transpired in our lives and on this farm in only seven years.

It takes our breath away!

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The farm has changed SO much!

We have enjoyed every single minute of making it what it is now.

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The kids have learned SO many things by living on and working on the farm!

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Our love for animals runs very deep.

The animals bring so much joy to our lives!

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I still remember the first time I drove to a new friend’s house after we just moved to Wisconsin. They lived on a ridge top and I thought they were crazy to drive up and down that ridge all the time! Now we all appreciate ridge top living to the fullest!

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Seven years.

SEVEN YEARS!

We have been SO blessed.

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this farm!