Day 152 - Joe Doing School (October 29, 2013)

Joey loves to do schoolwork. 

On this particular evening he asked to do science instead of playing a game with Daddy (wow!) 

Here he is learning to use a magnifying glass.
(think we need to work on it a bit more!)

Day 151 - Road Sign (October 28, 2013)

While this situation made me a tad impatient, I decided to look for something to make me smile while hanging out anyway... 

and then noticed this road sign!
Thinking it should have been placed further back.
(and all said and done, the delay was only a few minutes, 

just caught me off guard)

Day 150 - Cleaning the Library (October 27, 2013)

Yup, this is often what happens when we tell the kids to clean the library. 

A new treasure is found and must be explored. 

It is a good problem. 

Day 149 - Marigolds (October 26, 2013)

On our way to the pumpkin patch we drove by this field. Joey, whose favorite color is yellow was quite impressed.

"Wow! That is A LOT of yellow! .... and orange."

Day 148 - Brother-In-Law & a Box (October 25, 2013)

Charlyn and Jonathan came over for the evening. Jonathan brought a large box from work for the little boys. He helped them turn it into a tank. 

Joey and Caleb were entertained all evening with this box.
And the rest of us were pretty entertained watching them!

Day 147 - John the Bear (October 24, 2013)

Last week John the Bear came home from Cubbies 

with Joey to spend the week. 

Joe and John were very tight all week, they did most everything together. 

Tonight John has to go back to AWANA so he can spend the week with another amazing little Cubbie!

Day 146 - My Dishcloth (October 23, 2013)

Yup, a knitted dishcloth!

This dishcloth has been pulled out and knitting more than once... 

but I stuck with it.

And I read the pattern without help, 

not ever checking anything in a knitting book. 

I am very proud of this dishcloth. 

not sure if it will ever see a sink of dishes or not.

Day 145 - Space Jams (October 22, 2013)

The other day when going through my trunk I also found these sleepers of Nicole's that her Grandpa and Grandma Marks bought for her when in Florida. How fun to see Ruby in them! They are very tired (I think all 8 kids wore them at least once) but still fun to try on for a picture. 

Ruby is on the left (15 mos old), in the picture to the right is Dennis with Melissa our niece and Nicole - the girls were not quite/right at 2 years of age

Day 144 - Baby Bellies Abound (October 21, 2013)

When moving to Mac over 20 years ago, one of my first friends was Geri Ann. At the time I had 2 little girls and she was pregnant with her third. 

Fast forward and wow here we are jumping in with both feet in to grandparent land! 

This is at Julia's baby shower (that 3rd one Geri Ann was pregnant with) along with the wife of her son Isaac as well as my 3 oldest girls. Dues date range from February to April. 

Oh the snuggles we have to look forward to!

L to R: Julia, Charlyn, Amelia, Emily & Nicole
(arranged earliest due date to latest)

Day 143 - Pumpkins! (October 20, 2013)

We were given these lovely pumpkins. 

I am guessing they will fall to the knife at some point. 

But for now I am enjoying them quite well, 

just as pumpkins.

Day 142 - Amelia, Now and Then (October 19, 2013)

When putting some things away in my 'trunk' I came across a couple items of baby clothes I had stuck away. One being this baby outfit of Amelia's. I am 99% sure she came home from the hospital in this outfit. 

In the baby picture she is 6 weeks old, 

in the current picture she is 20 weeks pregnant with her own little girl.

Mind boggling. Where does the time go?

Day 141 - Grossology Space Day (October 18, 2013)

Yup! Caleb went to a homeschool day at Evergreen Space Museum with the theme 'grossology'. We learned all kinds of gross things dealing with being an astronaut, along with other things like making a space ship for a team 

egg-stronaut (theirs lived!) 

But the part that tickled me the most was when we went to have lunch with Dad in the cafe Caleb insisted on sitting a table with his favorite planet! 

I think he is my first child to have a favorite planet. 

Day 140 - Watching Logan (October 17, 2013)

Logan and I hung out in the waiting room at the dentist office while his mama got her teeth cleaned. 

For about half the time he insisted on sitting on my lap while I took pictures of him (and gave him a juice box, and fed him food...)

 It's a rough life, but someone has got to do it!

Picture 1: just being cute, posing for the camera

Picture 2: feeding one of his dried apples to the camera

Day 139 - Running Gear ??? (October 16, 2013)

Seth signed up for cross-country running at ELT this term. 

Here he is in his running outfit of CHOICE. 

Yikes! (but it makes me chuckle)

At first I thought he was just going with what he had as he has grown so much lately, but he informed me that this is what he wanted to wear for running.

Apparently one of his older sisters saw him running in this outfit, and was quite embarrassed. 

Said sister made me get him some other running clothes. 

Now to see what he chooses to wear next Wednesday. 

Edit to add:
Here is Seth ready to head out for cross-country today...
(and I want to go on record saying, I don't care what he chooses to wear. Makes me smile that he does not care what other think)

Day 138 - Little Boys at Play (October 15, 2013)

I love watching my little boys at play. 

Which is good as they often bring their play to where ever I am at!

Day 137 - A New Grandma (October 14, 2013)

And a new grandma is born!

Here is Dennis' sister Sonja with her 1st and very new grandbaby Kyler 

(he is my grand-nephew too!)

Day 136 - Tummy, 19 weeks (October 13, 2013)

This picture was actually taken a couple of days ago, but too many pictures to choose from then.

Here is Charlyn at 19 weeks, looks like baby boy Jaquith is growing well! 

Day 135 - Grandbabies! (October 12, 2013)

Never boring around this house. 

Especially when to toddling grandbabies come visiting. 

But how can you not help but smile at these two cuties! 

Ok - getting a picture of both at the same time...

next to impossible!

Day 134 - Field Trip (October 11, 2013)

Beautiful day for a field trip a little ways away.

Philip Foster Farm to learn about being a pioneer. 

So many pictures I could share, but I especially like this one of my three guys headed out in a covered wagon.

(Rebekah was with another group, 

so was not available when I took this picture)

Day 132 - Reading Boy (October 10, 2013)

Caleb has not totally caught on to the fact he can read, 

so coming on this sight made me quite happy.
I think we are getting somewhere!

Day 132 - Road Paint (October 9, 2013)

Yes, Road Paint!

Headed home from ELT and noticed freshly painted lines on Peavine. 

The outside white lines especially make me smile. It is so much easier to drive after dark with them. We have only had them for the last few years. Every year when I see the freshly painted roads they make me smile. 

And yes, the kids thought I was nuts when I stopped the car to take a picture. Always fun to keep them guessing. 

Day 131 - Clouds (October 8, 2013)

This picture also taken during our nature walk yesterday. 

I love looking at clouds!

Day 130 - Fall Walk (October 7, 2013)

Decided to go for a fall walk to get some gorgeous pictures. 

And while the colors are not quite brilliant enough to get the pictures in my head I did have fun taking pictures. 

I particularly like this one. 

Day 129 - Under the Table (October 6, 2013)

Not sure what I think of the picture.

When working in the sewing room I noticed the little boys sneaking under the tables to surprise me, I gave the final surprise!

Day 128 - Bountiful Baskets (October 5, 2013)

Every couple weeks we order 1 or more baskets from Bountiful Baskets. 

And usually include an add on or two (or three...), most often bread or a large quantity of fruit. 

Here is one baskets worth from this week.
(with a box of apples behind)

I love having a variety of fruits and veggies for my family!

Day 127 - Folded Laundry (October 4, 2013)

Freshly washed, neatly folded and put away laundry...

ALWAYS makes me smile

Day 126 - Cubbie Boy (October 3, 2013)

Joey with his new (AWANA) Cubbie vest and book.

Can't believe this is my last year to have a Cubbie

Day 125 - Sunshine (October 2, 2013)

After much rain the sun has been peeking out. But whenever I went to get a good picture it disappeared. 

Playing hide and seek from me I guess.

This was the best I got. 

And while the picture is not what it should be, 

the sun made me smile all the same!

Day 124 - Water Bugs (October 1, 2013)

My four school kids are all currently taking swimming lessons. And while there are many moments that make me smile, getting a good picture at swimming lessons is not easy to do. 

Here are Caleb and Joe following one of their swimming lessons.

They are having a great time, even if a tad cold here.

Day 123 - College Girl (September 30, 2013)

Abigail's first day as a full-time college student

Chemeketa Community College ~ Yamhill Valley Campus

Day 122 - Ready for Church! (September 29, 2013)

Joe picked his own outfit for church.
He was assisted in making some changes before we left.

Maybe we should have let him go as is, pretty cute!

Day 121 - Rain (September 28, 2013)

Wow! The rain we have been getting!

Made me think of this plaque I have in my bathroom.
(sorry not a better picture)

Day 120 - Early Birthday Quilt (September 27, 2013)

When having dinner with my parents my mom asked if she could give Seth his birthday gift early (December 18th b-day) 

Who does not like a gift when not expecting it?! 

My mom gives all the grand-kids a quilt for their 16th birthday, and their last birthday gift from Papa & Nana.

Seth has been anticipating his quilt, and was quite happy to receive it.
I love his smile in this picture. 

Day 119 - School Helper (September 26, 2013)

Abigail is great at helping the little boys with their schoolwork. 

Sure am going to miss her help once she starts college!

Day 118 - Scarf (September 25. 2013)

Nothing like a finished project to bring a big smile.

This is a sampler scarf I knitted using a yummy looking purple yarn I bought on my birthday (discount!) 

I adapted the pattern to make the scarf longer.
(the yarn looks better in real life) 

Day 117 - Seth Doing Schoolwork (September 24, 2013)

When deciding on school subjects for Seth for the year he insisted he wanted to learn Japanese.

It was the first subject he dug into this school year. 

Fun to watch (and listen to) him learning.

Day 116 - Hodgepodge Acres Academy 2013-14 (September 23, 2013)

In honor of our first day of school here is an official class picture!

Hodgepodge Acres Academy ~ 2013-14
Seth 10th, Rebekah 7th, Caleb 2nd and Joseph PreK

Photography by Sarah Plett