Our week, July 14 to July 20, 2013

Sunday, July 14, 2013

There was a local fundraiser going on for Lake View Camps.  They were selling blueberries, freshly picked, straight from Michigan.  We've had them in the past and they are delicious!  So delicious that we've eaten all that I've ordered in a week or so.  This year that was not going to happen.  I would order more.  I tripled my order to include 30 pounds of blueberries.  I figured we'd have 10 pounds to eat, 10 pounds to bake with and then 10 pounds for the freezer. 

Also on this day, the girls and I attended a baby shower for my cousin's daughter who had a wee baby  in June.   

Monday, July 15, 2013

Just a picture of what I did over the weekend . . . canned some green beans and froze some more mulberry jam.  

Thanks to my friend Michelle for watching the children on this day . . . they had a great time riding bikes and playing in the short downpour of rain.  

Tuesday, July 15, 2013

I was scheduled to be a 4-H exhibit judge in Keokuk County on this day.  Exhibits were down a bit but there were still some quality items to judge.  I enjoy judging and visiting with the 4-Hers about their exhibits.  I also enjoy visiting and getting to meet the other judges.  Thankfully their 4-H building is air conditioned because it was a hot day!  This was my only county to judge this year.  

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 1 of Bible Quiz, there'll be a post on this soon.

July 18, 2013

The Central Reformed Quizzers on Day 2 of Bible Quiz.  

Friday, July 19, 2013

Emmet was my helper for making monkey bread this morning.  He helped make the dough, roll the dough into balls and then did the dipping.  The monkey bread was delicious!  Click here for the recipe.

Bible Quiz in the afternoon.  Here are most of the quizzers from the day.  

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Hip, hip, hooray, Eliza lost her first tooth!  We are so excited for this.  She was feeling left out when Eden started loosing them one by one and has lost six already.  (A few of them are actually lost/swallowed). 

 Eliza has two permanent teeth coming in already in the bottom so that permanent tooth will have to work its way forward.  (Anyone notice the corn on the cob in the photo?  That did some loosening of the tooth, but in the end, it was mommy who twisted it out.  Also, no thanks to Emmet for blurting out "Hey, you're bleeding!"  Emmet, some things are better left unsaid.)

With Eliza loosing a tooth, we now know that in at least two spots, she doesn't have the genetic condition that runs in my family of having no permanent teeth.  I still have 8 baby teeth with no permanent ones under them.    

So, this is reason to celebrate, Eliza lost a tooth and the new one is coming in!

Joyful Girls

Last week Seth was busy in the evenings mowing, raking and baling hay at our place.  The children all took turns riding with Daddy at some point.  On this particular evening the girls were having fun on the swingset so I grabbed my camera.  Their joy and laughter was contagious.  They were having such a good time swinging. . . . playing with the cats . . . twisting on the monkey bars . . . trying out new "tricks" and going down the slide.  

"Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing."  Psalm 51:3

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful."  Psalm 68:3

"All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you."  Psalm 145:10

"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--I, whom you have redeemed."  Psalm 71:23

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."  Psalm 143:10

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."  Proverbs 15:30

Our week, July 7 to July 13, 2013 (with many extra photos!)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Eden is showing Alyssa her "Around the World in 60 days" Lapbook that we are doing for a summer homeschool project.  We had lunch at mom & dad's after church and were joined by Amber's family.  

Monday, July 8, 2013

I get out of the shower at 6:35 Monday morning and Eliza greets me with "Wanna play Candyland?  I've got it all set up!"  And play we did.  Loved it!

Later on Monday, the girls spent some time at my cousin's house while I worked a bit.  They had a great time with Lindsey, Chelsea and Hailey.  Here is a photo of them on the trampoline.  Where were the boys?  At church day camp.  See Tuesday and Wednesday for a picture of that.  

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

The girls were spoiled by Kim and taken to Culver's for ice cream.  Thanks for watching the girls!

The boys . . .

. . . .were at day camp.  It is through Lake View Camps and they have camps all summer for all ages and groups.  Our church had an auction earlier and the money was used for camp registration.  So thankful the boys were able to go for 3 days, from 9:30 to 4.  

In the evening . . . .

 . . . we attended VBS up the road at the Methodist church.  The theme was Saddle Ridge Ranch and the children had a great time. 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The boys' last day of camp.  They went swimming, fishing, hiking, made crafts and had some great Bible time.  

The girls and I, on our way to pick up the boys, brought a load to the missions semi in Pella that goes to Mississippi.  We had the truck full of the kids' plastic clubhouse, the highchair, file cabinet and three bags of clothes.

Seth and Ephraim at VBS making rope during recess.  

Thursday, July 11, 2013

We have an abundance of zucchini this year.  Four plants and they are going nuts.  We froze several more quarts on this morning.  

In the evening, the children had their VBS program.  

"Roundin' up questions, drivin' home answers"

"Don't be a tumbleweed!"

They loved the cowboy theme.  

Friday, July 12, 2013

We picked some more mulberries.  Enough for another batch of jam, yahoo!

Eden trekking through the beans.

Eliza's first mulberry.

Mr. Quality Control.  

Mr. Reaching for the Hard-to-Reach ones.  

July 13, 2013

Our trip to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad, previously blogged about.  

Random Links to Share

Remember the poem/video "So God Made a Farmer" that gained popularity during the Super Bowl?  Click here for a "So God Made a Farm Wife" version.  

Wondering how to announce that you will be homeschooling?  Click here for the Home Educating Family Association's blog post on the matter.  

For a Public School Parent's Guide to Homeschool Parents, click here.

For a post on "But you went to public school and turned out fine," click here.

Click here for 3 Common Traits for Youth that Don't Leave the Church.  

I need to start saving that bacon grease!  For a list of uses, click here.  

All Aboard!

Flashback to Christmas for a minute . . . 

. . .  Uncle Paul bought our family and Michelle's family tickets for a train ride on the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad.  Fast forward to July 13 and we are boarding our train.  

We arrived early for a picnic lunch on the grounds and walked around some of the outdoor trains and train cars of yesteryear.  We met up with the rest of the family and were surprised to see Seth's Aunt Beth and Uncle Randy show up, purely coincidental!

Walking around the trains outdoors.  

Eliza was ready to ride!

We sat two to a seat, the windows are open-air and it was a gorgeous day!

I stuck my head out the window to look ahead at the passenger cars and locomotive.  

This was a steam engine from China.  If I remember correctly, it was one of the last ones built in the late 1980s.  When we exited the train we had bits of coal dust on our clothes :)

Eden enjoying a window seat :)

Getting ready to cross the high trestle bride.  We were very high up . . . crossing the valley.  It was a cool view but we were making sure the children didn't look out the window.  

Crossing the Des Moines River.  

Eliza and I enjoying the ride!

Seth and I actually got to share a seat :)

On the return trip, we switched from the right side to the left side of the car and then the backs of the seats rotated so we were now facing the other direction.  Pretty ingenious, actually.  

Uncle Paul . . . thanks for the tickets!

Eliza sticking her head out the window (we weren't moving at the time . . . we were waiting for the locomotive to move from the front of the train to the back, which would now be the front).  

Ephraim looking out!

Our locomotive on the other track so that we can head back to the station.  

Ephraim looking out at the Des Moines River.  

Seth looking down while we went over the high trestle bridge.  

Our little conductor wearing the hat from Uncle Paul at Christmas.  

Almost back to the station.  

Photos by the locomotive!

The whole crew!

After the train ride we checked out the museum and then headed for supper at Hickory Park.  

Here is Uncle Paul with the girls while they waited for everyone to exit the restaurant.  Our family had never been there before and it did not disappoint.  It was busy, but they were able to accommodate our group of 15 very quickly for a Saturday night and our meals were delicious!

Thanks to Uncle Paul for the train tickets . . . it was a fun day!