Halloween and fall

I apologize to those who enjoy this blog - it has been a challenge figuring out how to post here now that my computer is too old for the task.  I've found a way to do it, but it took a long time to get here.  It's also slower, so now I have to decide whether to keep this blog up or switch over to facebook or instagram. 

Anyway, here are the kids in their Halloween costumes.  A police man (who made his own really cool badge), a honey bee, a fairy princess, and a cowgirl (who made her own horse with paint, yarn, and a paper bag). 

Their pumpkins this year.  

Karl's drawings are getting more and more amazing.  He made this Jeep picture, then cut it up into puzzle pieces.  I snapped a picture of one of the "pieces" because I just love this Jeep he made. 

Karl is getting so big!  He's so sweet with his sisters and - ssshhhh - still likes to snuggle with his mom.  He's doing really well in school, reading Harry Potter at home, loves his Legos still, and can clean up his room super fast and super well (when he has to).  

Nora has started Kindergarten this year.  She is loving it.  She likes sharing all her school papers after school.  She is a bit of a tomboy (Karl being her best friend) and she is always on the move.  She has made some good friends in kindergarten too.  She is already reading - having learned many sounds and letters from her speech therapy sessions. 

Lena is a 3 yr old bundle of fun and joy.  Excuse me, she's 3 and a HALF.  

It's been fun having her home by herself.  She helps with animal chores, helps in the kitchen, does her "preschool' assignments, and plays on her own really well.  She likes to make up stories and conversations with her toys.  She has always had the most sunny personality.

Clare is already 10 - how did that happen?  She is smart, creative, kind.  She is doing very well in school and in band, where she plays the trumpet.  She loves to bake and especially likes to try new recipes. 

Ha, it's been so long since I've written on this blog I feel like I have to do updates on all the kids!  

We had two weeks of online school this fall, due to COVID. Here Nora is working with her speech therapist and Lena is listening in.

The sheeps have made an appearance on the blog!  (Sheeps isn't a typo - read "Our Only May Amelia" and you can't avoid thinking "there are miracles and there are sheeps")  We have 8 ewes right now and 1 ram.  

We planted these Douglas fir trees when we first moved back in 2016.  They're taller than Lena!  (That is not a spectacular growth rate for a fir tree - the exclamation point is there because they actually have grown that tall despite us being too busy to always do a good job keeping the grass/weeds/ferns down around them.  This year we put the sheeps in there to help mow around the trees.  They did a great job.)   

My little helper.  In the fall we cull our older laying hens. I mostly use the meat for chicken dishes or soups, after it's cooked overnight in the crockpot.  Lena requested the drumsticks.  She ate three and played with the bones for a long time.   Goodness, what will our kids remember from their growing up years?  

I didn't know this girl loves kale!  I picked a big bag of it to process for the freezer and Lena just helped herself - eating two big leaves while I cut up the rest.  Her teeth and lips were stained a good, healthy green...  

That's it for tonight.  My challenge to myself is to post again before another 6 months goes by.   ;-)