dough

We got to make some modeling dough for science and the kids LOVED it. For those of you who know me well...I don't care for activities that make messes. But sometimes I try to step out of my box.




The girls love any chance to wear their aprons and Thomas realized quickly that he didn't have one to wear! We're working on that one.

We had a great time and it  was much less messy than I expected. It's funny all the things that you have learned in your life that you take for granted. For example, Emily realized that you really can't scoop up some water and not have it fall out! I should have given her a bigger bowl to dip out water from but she learned something from it.


They were so excited to have their own dough to play with. They always enjoy helping me cut out shapes for my pies but this time they could do what they pleased.

Thomas was in on the fun as well. Although I've been told before, I never really understood how much the younger ones learn from their older siblings.


After the girls sculpted their creations:

Lauren made a bird's nest with eggs
Emily made a  beautiful heart with shapes inside

...we baked them in the oven to keep their shape. I think they enjoyed the creating more than the final product...since it is currently in the trash. But there are many future creating jobs to come and we all had fun!

Canning With A Two Year Old

Our garden has been quite productive lately. This weekend are old former neighbors let us harvest pears from their tree...it's an annual tradition. So with just under a gallon of tomatoes coming in each day why not throw in 36 pounds of pears. We are extremely grateful and extremely busy.

Did I mention we have....
a two year old?
A two year old boy?
A two year old boy with red hair?
A two year old boy with red hair in love with tractors?



Alright, now that we've established that, let's start canning. Today we started with our first load of pears for the day. Pealing 12 pounds of pears can make you a little, um, tired. Especially when you've already done 12 pounds the day before including a full 7 quarts of spaghetti sauce. (I'm using this as a disclaimer for  the following events)

When you decide to sit at the kitchen table to peal your pears guess what happens....everyone wants to sit at the table with you...(I heart kids)...So what happens when the two year old of the group wants to invade personal space to see what's going on? Yep, you guessed it, drool in the fruit fresh prep bowl. So mommy goes to make a new batch of fruit fresh and get back to work.

I've explained my outdoor canning area. Well it can get complicated. You see you need to move what you've prepared inside..well to your outside canning area. This means for brief periods I am ...outside. So what happens when you walk outside with a two year old inside? Yep, you guessed it, he gets the butcher knife to play with. But don't worry he was fine..as for mommy? She's taking down her Mommy of The Year Award.

So back to the outdoor canning area. So now said two year old son is positioned strategically in the "canning area". So what happens when he goes to examine the propane tank intake cap? Yep, you guessed it, he drops into the operating stove with two burners blazing. Mommy was able to retrieve the cap with her handy tongs that she also used to hold her Mommy of The Year Award over the open flame.

So that's pretty much what it's like to can with a two year old...it's pretty simple really.

T School

Thomas has his own desk at school...

it has a wonderful view....

of tractors...

of course.

I will miss that window.

God's Plan

Jonathan and I have sought God's plan for our lives. We have looked in so many different directions. When we met our lives were going in separate directions. He was headed to Egypt, I was possibly headed to somewhere else in the world. For Jonathan, a huge door shut, as in September 11th...yeah, he doesn't really blend in to that population. For me, too many doors were open. So began our journey to our current place in life.

My Dad asked me one day, I think I was in high school, "Sherry, what would you like your life to be like when you grow up?" I told him that I would have a family and live in a home with lots of land and animals. I wouldn't say that it was a "when I grow up, I want to be..." kind of moment but it is a vivid memory that I have.

I've not been motivated by that conversation but tried to be motivated by what God had planned. Do I have selfish desires?...you bet..but God never ceases to amaze me when the desires of my heart line up with His plan.

The last two months I've been bummed and really felt directionless even though we had previously felt led towards Pickens...I doubted...maybe I didn't pray hard enough or was to consumed in my desires to see God's will for us. How I forget that it doesn't matter what I do to "be good" it's my heart, my faith and trust...I think I was working on a mustard seeds worth of that. So what now?

We will sign on a property this week that would fulfill that conversation with my Dad. My hope is that we can use it in some way to glorify God. He definitely makes life fun I just have to figure out how to make this a moment of our Quiet Life Academy...haha!

Can Can Can

I've had a few friends ask me about canning. I really enjoy it, right now without kids, but I'm so looking forward to when they are older and can help out. There is just something about grabbing food from your yard and preserving it.






Last year I had fun making some pear preserves. The pears came from Jonathan's cousin's tree and the girls helped pick them. I love knowing the history of my food. That was a fun day too.








 So last summer/fall I did all of my canning inside our house. This summer we are in a small family house and it has been in the high 90's to 100's and the A/C is struggling. So we have a new set up.

This is just heaven! (I know it's sad) I had forgotten how much I like cooking on gas. It has three burners and can heat up the canners in no time.


I've even been able to run two canners at the same time!! Yeah, I'm pretty pathetic. I get a little too excited about this stuff.


I highly recommend setting up an outdoor kitchen. I'm looking forward to being able to have a nice set up with a water supply in the near future.


And if you're wondering, we still haven't heard anything on the property. Still praying and battling my hopes getting to far up.

I Found Nature

The other day the girls were out playing with their cousin, "B", when Lauren came running in the house. "Momma, I found some nature!" I turned to see her proudly display a cicada molt.

I'd seen them before and just figured it was a dead bug.


 I must admit...I'm not a bug person. They can live in their God given area and I will live in my bug free one...except for butterflies, ladybugs, honey bees (from a distance) and um, yeah I think that's it.


 But my inquisitive little people seem to want to draw me out of my box. Honestly, I was interested!

We went straight for our insect books and I jumped online and found this neat time lapse photos.


They are the sounds of summer for sure. We now have collected 4, oh, and a bucket full of worms.

Hurry up and Wait

The last few days have been a stream of excitement and busyness....is that a word?...anywho, we came across a little house and some land!!! At this point we've made an offer and have our ducks in a row trying to patiently wait. Jonathan and I have been praying for God to show us how we can be a part of His plan. Our prayer is still the same. Within a few days we will know if our kids will gain a larger education of moving. ....to whatever God's will is for our little family.