Fun in the Fall

Nicholas and Rachel enjoyed covering Rebekah with leaves.

Sisters

Rebekah already has the love of books that Big Sister has!

Update

It's bad when your children tell you you need to update your blog! So, here goes.

Since I last posted, Rachel turned 11, Thanksgiving came, Rebekah has lots more teeth, Nicholas seems to be growing before our eyes and now Christmas is just around the corner! Whew!

Rachel wanted to go to Cracker Barrel for her birthday. We took her out to lunch and gave her money. She was very happy. She is such an easy going girl, I think she would have been happy no matter what we did or didn't do! We then stopped by a game store where she bought a game for her Nintendo DS and to Target where she bought a watch. She is also at an age where I dare not pick her something out. Again she is a quiet girl, so she wouldn't make much fuss, but she would say something like, "hmm" and I'd never see her wear it/use it. I'll let you know how Christmas goes!

Rebekah has 16 teeth now!! They really give her a time too. She gets congested and just doesn't feel too good. She started getting her teeth at 3 months ~ she got her first 4 altogether and these last 8 (her first molars and bicuspids) all came in within a couple of weeks ~ which could be why they give her a time! Rebekah has added quite a few new words to her vocabulary. A funny one is when we put our hands on her when they are cold and she'll say "brrr" which actually sounds like "booo". It's so cute!! She will also scrunch up her nose, squint her eyes and smile hugely when you ask her to give you a smile. (You can see this on the top photo) She's such a little ham and we just enjoy her so very much!

Nicholas will be 14 this month! Did I say he was growing? He is getting taller and is wearing a size 13 shoe!! He shot another deer this fall. His Uncle Mike (my brother) took him hunting. They also took a break and went fishing. They hunt on a fella's property in Mountain Home and after meeting Nicholas he told my brother he could bring Nicholas over anytime he wanted. That was nice! Nicholas is our talker, so he usually befriends most people he talks to! We also got a nice email from Nick's guitar teacher. He said "It is a blessing to get to teach Nicholas. He is an outstanding young Christian man." Wow ~ that's so nice to hear as a parent! We do think Nicholas is a pretty terrific young man!

Martin also shot a deer this fall! It was his first ever. He killed an 8 point buck (a 4 x 4 for those out west). Now Nicholas and Dad like to chide each other about who's deer was bigger.

We went to mom and Papa's for Thanksgiving. We had a terrific time. We had ham and turkey and all the fixings. Then some of us played Mexican Train Dominoes, while some watched football (or was it actually napping while the football game was on?). Then the kids and Uncle Mike and Martin went outside and played football. It was a fun day!

We will be staying home for Christmas Day ~ a request from the kids and then we'll head over to mom's the day after Christmas. Martin has the week off so we'll stay the rest of the week. Seeing my history of updating ~ it will probably be after Christmas before I update again.

So, have a Merry Christmas and May God Bless each of you in the upcoming year. In our Thursday night Bible study we are going through Tozer's book "The Knowledge of the Holy" ~ it is a terrific book and boy does it just show what a MIGHTY God we serve. I don't think any of us can truly comprehend the love He has for His children. That was the attribute we read about last night and it truly is incomprehensible and amazing. This little book would make a great stocking stuffer! :o)

Melissa

Blue Eyed Baby Dolls

This doll was given to Rebekah this summer from her cousin, Courtney. I couldn't have imagined just how special this doll would be. This doll has a twin sister, but for some reason this particular doll is "it" for Rebekah.

Swinging

We bought a swing for the front porch. It's very relaxing to sit out there and watch the cows or just look out over the pasture. I'm not sure about this country living, but it is peaceful and enjoyable when I'm out there on that swing!

Fall is in the air. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the 60s. It was great. I think all my years in the north has also made this southern living just a tad more difficult. I enjoy high 70's the most. I must say that this was a mild summer, though, here in Arkansas!

Rebekah has found out that she LOVES being outdoors. She is forever bringing me her shoes...a must now that a black widow walked right off the lawn and up to Nicholas while skinning a squirrel on the sidewalk (that's another story!). Anyway, she knows the word "outside" and we now have to spell it and be careful when saying it. If she hears that word she is at the door! I think she's a little country girl at heart ~ she doesn't care if the grass is still wet (hmmm maybe she got that from Aunt Michele!), whether or not she has shoes on and loves to pick up crickets and rocks!

Rebekah's antics

Update ~ this and that

Well, the newness finally wore off! I haven't updated this blog in over 2 weeks! BUT, I must say, I missed it. I felt like I should be updating it and missed a couple of events, but when you homeschool and have a teen, a pre-preteen and a one year old, life can get a little busy!

It is a fun busy. While talking on the phone to my husband yesterday I explained to him that I was watching Nicholas who was on the front porch swing ~ swinging with his turtle! It was cute. Also, last night Rachel received a new addition to the family. We now have a guinea pig! It was a give-away from another homeschool mom. Her name is Marcy and she is a long-haired mostly white, with a black ring around the entire neck, guinea pig. This is our first little varmit and I learned that she is considered a sow. Just like real pigs!

We went to mom and papa's over Labor Day weekend. Had lots of fun. Papa took Martin on an all day fishing trip. Then on Monday Papa took Martin and the kids. They had a fun day of fishing.

I recently had a birthday. I'm not 40, yet! My mother surprised me with a weekend visit! It was great. We took her to the Cane Hill festival in Cane Hill. It was quick and cute. We saw how sorghum molasses was made and walked through a row that mostly included people cooking in dutch ovens and preparing for a 2:30 tasting. It was noon and not enough to do to stay around to taste all the goodies. Then we walked past an ax throwing station and then on to view the quilts. That about sums up the Cane Hill Festival. There is some history that is interesting. Cane Hill had the first public school in Arkansas, the first Sunday school and the first college to admit women. Then we went and ate at a yummy local catfish buffet. It was a fun birthday. Thank you mom for the surprise visit!

Rebekah is awake so my update has come to an end. I will try not to take 2 weeks to update again!!

Lunchtime with Rebekah

What makes a mother let her one year old child feed herself ravioli and green beans when she has a ton of things to get accomplished and suitcases to be packed before heading out of town in a matter of hours? Well, I have just experienced this JOY! What fun it was to sit down with the camera and watch our little Rebekah as she reveled in her task of playing with...I mean eating... lunch. It was an amusing interruption in the midst of a busy day.

Nanny and Papa's

We sure look forward to going to Nanny and Papa's. You can tell by the pictures ~ Papa takes the kids fishing while mom and I relax and chase Rebekah around in their new home. They retired and built this house which sits right above the White River. It's absolutely beautiful there and one of the most peaceful places you can be ~ on their screened in back deck while watching the hummingbirds, yellow goldfinches, red-headed woodpeckers and numerous other birds as they come up to the deck to eat birdseed. We will be going again this weekend, Labor Day, so I'll have to post more pictures next week of our trip.

Ah, the joy of living back in the South

This morning brought quite a surprise! My wonderful snake loving son came knocking frantically on the door...he always wants to come in a locked door after going out another door! Anyway, he comes calling that "there is a copperhead!" We have lived here a year and fortunately, have only found non-venomous snakes in the yard. Well, today was a different story! Underneath our downspout splash guard nestled a 19 1/2 inch copperhead. It was not his lucky day! I insisted that Nicholas go fetch a hoe! He, of course, had to have pictures first. So, now you get to enjoy them. You'll have to visit his site to see the de-capitated photos. There is a good one showing the vertical eyes...ugh! My first thought was it's time to move back up north. But my second thought, which should have been my first thought, was Praise God that this was the first venomous snake we have seen in the year that we have been here and Praise God this one didn't bite anyone, as I believe it's been here for a few days! In the future we will pay more attention when our German Shepherd is excitedly sniffing around the downspout covers!!

Welcome to our Blog!

Hello! This blog has been created mainly to keep our friends and family updated on what is going on with us ~ and also as we live some distance from a lot of our friends and family, as a place they can go to see photos of our family.