Bug-A-Paluza 2015

Tim and William work very hard around here.  When you have a family as big and busy as ours, we all work together to get things done daily. 

Every April, Tim and William go away on a small vacation together to Bug-A-Paluza.  They both save up money and look forward to it every year.  They both love VW bugs.  Tim owned several when growing up

Tim as a teen with one of his VW bugs.

and William has owned one since he was around 11 years old. 

William with his VW he bought many years ago and still owns.

I love to see them be able to get away together and enjoy this time together. 

But...It leaves me home doing all of Tim's and Williams responsibilities plus all my own.  All of the barn work, child care and the hardest of all...all of Antonio's care.

They went away last weekend.  They left on Friday and came back on Sunday afternoon.  They had a wonderful time.

They go bowling every year.

 Same place every year.

Eat out at some places they eat at every year as a tradition.

 Of course they also spend hour upon hour looking at all the VW vehicles. 

I will spare you the rest of the photos in case you are not interested in VW's.  Seriously... William took 363 photos this year!  Down from the five hundred or so he took the last few years!

Needless to say, I am so happy they had a safe and happy trip.  Every year when they go, I learn how much of a team effort our whole life is and appreciate all they do every day around here.  God is so good and gave me the strength and energy to care for every one and get all things important done again this year.  I truly am unable to do any of these things in and of myself and give all the Glory to God for my strength and life.  

May God give you the ability to do the things in life you know you are not able to do alone.

Isaiah 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Blessings,

susan

Somebody Turned 12!

Our girl is 12 years old! 

She is looking more and more like a young lady.  She is officially taller than I am!

Elizabeth has grown a lot in the last year in so many ways.  She has been eagerly anticipating this day.  She had no wants or desires in the way of asking for any gifts this year.  She said to just surprise her.  She spends a lot of time looking at my fish tank, so Tim and I got her a small fish tank for in her office area. 

She spends a great deal of time in her office and no longer has a therapy dog.  So we thought this would be a good hobby for her and easy to care for.  She was so excited when we brought it home and set it up.  So now she has her parakeet and the little fish tank.  She spent hours researching types of fish on the internet before deciding what to get.  She had some time to decide as we waited for the tank to cycle and be ready for fish.  She got two angle fish, some neon tetras and two cory catfish. 

I also took the girls for a "girls night out."  The girls both saw these tops and begged for them, so they could match.  I haven't dressed them to match in years!  I didn't know they would still think dressing alike was cute!

They do love each other so much.

It amazes me how tall Elizabeth is getting.  She passed Carolyn a long time ago.  Elizabeth sure doesn't look three years younger than Carolyn!

Elizabeth wanted to eat out at a Mexican restaurant for her birthday this year.  So Stephen met us there.

All of the children had such a wonderful time.

Antonio has not felt like eating much lately but sure enjoyed visiting with everyone!

My sister made Elizabeth a ballerina cake of herself!  Elizabeth loved it!  Thank you Aunt "S"!

When we came home from supper everyone had some cake.

 It was such a nice day for her.

We all love you so much young lady!

Zephaniah 3:17  The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

 Love always,

Dad, mom, Stephen, Antonio, William, Carolyn, Zeke, "B", "T" and baby "K"

Getting A Lot Done

Life is always very busy around here.  There is always so much to do daily, that is normal required work.  Then add to that the unexpected things that come up frequently.  Then add to that the long, ever growing "To Do" list.  I always feel I am behind and can't get on top of it all.  I don't mind all the work.  This is our life and it is all good.  God is so good!

Look who learned to balance up on her knees the week she turned 11 months old!  Praise God!

Life is so busy that I have to prioritize and let a lot slide at times.  Then, there are times like we have had over the last two weeks.  I love spring.  I usually have extra energy, extra ideas and many dreams for the new year.  The weather has been just beautiful.  We home school year around, so we can take off days as needed for surgeries, appointments and for weeks like these!  We have taken the pretty days off from home schooling and just enjoyed this time being outside.  The rainy days, sprinkled in here and there, have given us breaks to catch back up on inside things.   I have been able to spend an hour or so a day, outside, working on small projects that needed doing, while the children play on the playground.  It has been so nice.  

"B" on his bike.

Baby "K" in the swing for the first time.  She loved it!

"T" going down the slide.

We did a lot out in the barn.  It got spring cleaned and the pens all got mucked out.  We sorted, organized and repaired anything that needed fixing from winter use.  We sold an extra milk goat to a good home.  We made a new stall for the pony, that was given to us, for the new group of littles as they grow up.  His name is Buck-a-roo and  he is just as sweet as he looks.  Like a huge stuffed pony.

Thank you Miss "J".  We will start the little toddlers to riding very soon.  It will help their balance a lot I hope. 

The baby goats are growing fast and only take two bottles a day now. 

I am so busy, with the care of the small children in our home, Carolyn has taken over bottle feeding them for me.  It is the first year she has been responsible for them and she is loving it. 

She loves to nurture things.  Especially baby things.  It is so good to know the barn is clean and all is in good working order out there.  It is all done till fall, when we do it again to prepare for winter.

Here is our farm dog, Yellow, guarding the goat kids.

He lays here most of the day watching the baby pen and the buck pen.  If he is not there, he is laying out in the big field watching the ponies and our doe herd.  This is  his view point.

I have five full grown does right now and four full grown bucks.  Then the two kids we are bottle feeding.  I am keeping the little doeling and didn't want her to be raised alone so kept a buckling to raise with her.

My girls are always curious, sweet and friendly.  God blessed us with good milk for our family.

Carolyn out with our dog Yellow getting some sun.  Way in the background, in the back right corner of this picture, is one of our original barn cats from when we moved here.  She is around 18 years old.  I bring her in the house at night, on the porch, have a warm place for her and give her a can of cat food, to try to keep her weight up.
  
I trimmed back all the grape arbors and have been attacking a hill of growth behind our home that needed cut back.  I am not even half way done here.

I still need to get out in our gardens and work.  I have weeded some and tied up the thornless blackberry bushes.  I grow them in a raised bed on the back trellising and have strawberries in the front bed part.

I still don't have any huge plans for a garden this year.  I know we might be getting a new born at any time and that will put us into survival mode for a while if that happens.  :) 

All in all, it has been a very therapeutic and relaxing spring.  We will keep at this routine till the high humidity and heat of summer hits. As at that time we will not be out much during the day.  Just mornings and evenings as the humidity and intense heat effects so many of our children's health in a very negative way.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Pray all is well with you and yours.

Blessings,
susan