around here...

{source}

-the mornings are getting a little crisper. Fall is on it's way!

-my computer is on it's last leg. The battery won't charge, and now my cord has a short in it. Sigh....

-we're beginning week 3 of school! We changed some curriculum around, and the kids and I are really loving it so far!

-we closed on our house this week! A bittersweet moment.

-we still have the 4 "new" chickens.

-they just aren't the same as our last ones.

-we're waiting on those big birds to start laying. Hopefully within the next month.

-we're talking about getting a dog. Mom keeps saying "We'll talk about it next summer."

-the kids have been bickering and fighting a little too much amongst each other.

-we're looking at a bigger vehicle for us. It's time. We need more room. (see above)

Plans for the weekend:
-our annual family reunion that we have not been to in 10 years. (Another benefit of living closer to family)
-lesson plan writing and getting prepared for school next week
-reading
-hopefully a little bit of knitting

Happy weekend friends!
~Tonya

around here....

Around here....

-little sister is planned to have her 3rd attempt at surgery next Thursday. You can read about her other escapes here.

-the deer are eating our chicken feed and bird feed. Not once have I seen a bird in the feeder. Only deer. Sigh...

-of course, Joe likes filling it up just for the deer. His goal is to get them to eat out of his hand one day.

-all week long, I've been a day behind. I thought Wednesday was Tuesday, and Thursday was Wednesday. Hence, the lack of regular posting. Oh well, it's summer.

-it's Friday, which means pizza night!! That was one genius meal plan idea I implemented this year....every Friday night is family night...pizza and a movie or other activity.

-next year I think I'll implement Taco Tuesday also. I would then only have to figure out 5 meals for the week instead of 6.

-I forgot how much it rains and storms here in the mid-west. Lightning and thunder all night long.

-summer school is in session. At least Math and language arts 5 days a week, sometimes 6. We have some catching up to do since we had so many breaks throughout the year. If they work really hard, I told them they could take July off.

-Chaos is loving it here. She's brought us 4 mice from the field this month.

Plans for this weekend:
-finishing the fence to the chicken coop
-bi-monthly budget meeting with Joe
-purchasing wood for the bookshelf Joe is building for the kids' books, and
-laundry, loads and loads of laundry

Happy weekend friends!

~Tonya

around here....

Around here....

-crazy hat day was on Wednesday for preschool.

-apparently I need to take more pictures during the week.

-I went to grab a hard boiled egg and got a little surprise. Not once, but twice. Apparently, someone has been putting eggs in the wrong bowl.

-I dumped another load of stuff off at the thrift store.

-we've been in the high 60's and low 70's this week.

-I pulled out the kids summer clothes for the upcoming season.

-a few of them want to wear shorts today.

-we're reading McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm

-we've been going to bed about 15 minutes later than normal because as O says "it's not dark out".

Happy weekend friends!

around here....

 

Around here:

 

I seemed to have taken an unexpected break from blogging.

The break was good for my soul.

However, lots have been happening during that break, and

the blogger in me feels the need to document those happenings. {sigh}

 

I haven't been feeling the best physically/medically lately.

One day I feel fine, and then the next I'm not doing so hot.

That's kinda been my pattern lately.

I have another appointment in 2 weeks for a 2nd opinion.

Today, I ended up with a case of hives when I awoke.

Nice.

 

I canned my 1st ever batch of pickles yesterday.

The flavor is good.

The texture, not-so-much.

 

I have a batch of pears to make into pear butter next.

Maybe tomorrow when I have more energy.

 

School started two weeks ago.

Rylan back to preschool for 3 days a week.

Joci and Byron at home.

At home!

It's a new adventure for all of us.

Everyone is comfortable and on board with the idea.

We're still not into a great routine yet.

It will come eventually.

I feel hopeful.

 

With that I'm signing off.

I have lists to make, and

lessons to plan.

 

 

P.S.~You can read my last post here. 

around here

Around here did you notice I've been absent from the blog?

Around here we took a trip to South Dakota, and was off the grid for awhile staying in a modern cabin at Custer State Park.

 

Around here I still have unpacking to do from that trip.

Around here the chickens escaped the fence while we were gone. Thankfully, our good neighbors watching them for us saved the day.

 

Around here we're averaging about 4 eggs a day!!

Around here the garden is growing. I need to cut some lettuce.

Around here Joe's starting to demolish the basement to put in new electrical wire.

Around here the to-do lists are long and plentiful.

Happy Friday friends!!

P.S. *I have lots more photos from our trip to share next week!

Around Here

*Pictures from our time we spent in Kansas last week:

Around here I've been noticing that I'm getting fewer and fewer pictures of Joci and Byron. They are just always on the go constantly moving around.

Around here it's hot in our main living area. It's way past time to start thinking about putting central air and heat downstairs.

Around here Rylan and Owen seem to be fighting more now than they did during the school year.

Around here the house is a mess.

Around here we somehow ended up with another rescue kitten. #thisistheabsolutelastone

Around here I'm in a little funk. I'm blaming part of it on the lack of central air.

Around here I need to get rid of more junk.  #lessismore

Around here I added wheat back into my eating habits. Clearly, my psoriasis is inflamed more by wheat. I'm miserable. #ishouldhaveknown

Around here I love wheat products, but I will be taking them out of my eating habits again.

Around here I'm loving hashtags. Can you tell?

Happy Friday friends!!!

Around Here

Around here the kids have been staying up later than normal.

Around here Mom's project list is crazy long.

Around here school is out.

Around here the stack of papers and supplies from the last two days of school is about 2 feet high.

Around here Joci received the principal's award {the medal on her neck}. This award is given to one boy and one girl out of each grade level chosen by the principal. The recognition is based on outstanding leadership, citizenship, trustworthiness, role model, honesty, kindness, etc. 

Around here we couldn't be more proud of Joci for receiving this award the first year for attending the school.

Around here we're proud of Bryon always picking up a chapter book and reading even when he's not told to read. He actually enjoys it. His favorite books right now are comic-like books, such as Explorer: The Mystery Boxes.

 Around here life is good!!

How is it at your place?

Around Here

Around Here Joe & I are planning a little getaway for our 20th in a couple of months.

Originally, we were not going to go anywhere because we expected to be in China around that time. However, that is not the case.

 

So, I got a little crazy this week {I blame it on the stress of not having a match yet.}, and

decided we should talk about taking a little week vacation for our anniversary.

Especially since once the little one gets here

we won't be traveling anywhere without her for quite awhile.

 

We decided we'd better stay in the states

since our time is limited, and our trip is only 2 months out.

 

I choose a couple of places~Virginia & Seattle.

He choose a couple of places~Vermont, Georgia, & North Carolina.

 

As of last night, we have settled upon North Carolina.

We're familiar with the area, since we lived there when we were first married almost 20 years ago.

 

I always wanted to see the Outer Bank lighthouses.

We never managed to travel much while living there due to limited funds, schedules, and young stupidity {thinking we'll always have time later}.

 

 

We'll be doing lots of driving with just the two of us.

We're going to travel completely around the state.

 

It'll be fun, and a nice time with just the two of us

celebrating all that we've accomplished in our 20 years of marriage.

Like our 4+ kiddos, 7 moves, and 5 states in 20 years.

Around Here

 

Around here the boys have been getting super dirty everyday, and it's that time of year where they need a bath/shower everyday. 

Around here Joci only has two more inches for her hair to be long enough to donate for locks of love.

Around here Joe is in high maintenance mode of getting projects done around the house. This weekend he plans to put the run in for the chickens, and do at least one more room of electrical on the house.

By the way, the chickens are huge!!

Around here I need to pick up some paint for the garage so I can start painting when the kids are outside all day long.

Around here Byron's counting down the days until school ends~14 days left after today.

Around here life is good!!

Around Here

Around here you can catch B reading lots of books!! {love}

Around here O hasn't been feeling the best. Thus, not sleeping the best either. Allergies, ugh...

Around here momma's tired. {See above.}

Around here O loves having his picture taken, and then he wants to see it immediately afterwards.

Around here the kids had some fun April Fools day treats!!

Rylan and Owen were a little upset that they weren't real snow cones!!

Around here I'm wrapping up birthday presents today.

Around here Joci is singing in the school's upcoming talent show.

Around here we just finished another monthly conference call with the adoption agency. {Update coming soon. I know I said that last time, but it's coming. Look for it next week!}

Around Here

Around here we have a busier weekend than normal planned especially since it's supposed to be warmer on Saturday & Sunday.  I have a mountain of laundry to do as well as the rest of the items on the to-do list. The paint for the entryway turned out to have a little bit of purple tint to it, so I'm going to use it for the bedroom. It's getting warmer out, which means I'll be sitting outside keeping an eye on them while the kids run and play and do kid things. We have a fenced yard, but we also have a little boy who likes to do his "own thing".

Happy Friday friends!!

Around Here

Around here the kids are out of school today for parent-teacher conferences. It was a short week for them since they didn't have school on Monday for winter break.

Around here I started the couch to 5k again.  It's amazing how much you lose when you don't run regularly.

Around here we're going to make some cinnamon rolls for our new neighbors two houses down.

Around here I've been slowly teaching Joci how to sew.

Around here our baby wanted his hair cut like the big boys. {Insert teary face here}

Around here the birds are getting bigger.

Around here more snow is expected tomorrow. Blah....

Around here I'm looking for an egg basket. Our farm stores carry red; I don't particularly want a red one. I was thinking more of a yellow one or a teal one, but red may have to do this year.

Happy Spring!!

Around Here....

Around here it's winter break for the kids.

Around here it's a catch-up-on laundry weekend. Can you really ever catch-up-on laundry?

Around here it's a pancake making weekend to store some in the freezer.

Around here I hope to get some sewing done within the next four days.

Around here Joe's been breaking up concrete that needs repaired. 

Around here the weather is warmer, and the kids have been playing outside.

Around here we're still waiting on a match for our little girl from China.

Around here the chickens are getting bigger.

Around here spring is coming!!

Happy weekend friends!

Around Here....

Around here chicken coop building will begin this weekend.

Around here pictures of chickens will be taken this weekend since the sun will be out!!

Around here we just had a conference call on our adoption process. Hope to update this coming week.

Around here the projects that need tackled seem to be increasing by the day.

Around here the wait for our little girl is unbearable some days.

Around here the piles of papers are going to be gone by this coming Monday.

Around here I need a yarn intervention!

Around here the tooth fairy has visited twice this week.

Happy weekend friends!!