Spring Break

This last week has been Spring Break for the kids. I feel like we didn't do a whole lot. We hit up the library and spent most of the week just being outside enjoying the warm weather.

Jake spent half of his time at friends houses. Brodie and Drew spent half of their time at their cousins house next door. Tony kept busy sharpening sticks, tending the fire outside and reading. Emily is still very much a momma's girl and wants to be held mostly.

I feel like I am behind on most things. I still haven't finalized my garden plans. I really want and need to "spring" clean the house. I have so many things I want to do but can't find the time to get them done!

Pretty much right now I am just trying to keep afloat with all that is going on.

Spring Cleaning

Yesterday was a great day. I spent most of the afternoon working outside with my husband and kids. We got some raking done, sticks picked up out of the yard, strawberry bed cleaned out as well as the garden. We also had our first fire of 2011. We love burning. Being outside, the sunshine, the smell...

I have a little more work to do in the garden before we are ready to till it up for Spring. I dumped the chickens bedding in there over the winter. It should give it some good fertilizer. I am so excited for this years garden.

My strawberries look pretty good. I was going to thin them out but after raking all the dead vines and leaves out they are looking awesome so I am just going to leave them where they are at this year.

We got all the broken toys and sticks cleaned up out of the yard. Now we just need to rake up the gravel that was brought in by the snow plow. It looks alot nicer. Now all we need is green grass!

Jake's New Hair

I forgot to take before and after pictures of Jake's hair. He went and cut almost 5 inches of hair off the other night. I think the barber was a little nervous when he said he wanted it all off. This is the best before and after shots that I have.

BeforeAfterIn theory this should make him faster in track. I guess it worked because today he was chosen to be on the varsity track team!

Waiting for Spring

Just when you are feeling like Spring is around it snows again. Sigh. At least it wasn't alot and it should melt off fast. I am so ready for Spring. Playing outside, trips to the park, hikes and gardening!

I am planning a big garden again this year. This year I am adding green beans and carrots. Something we eat of lot of but have never planted. I am excited to see how my raspberries and strawberries do. I would love to plant blueberries but I heard our soil is not good for them and they are difficult to plant so I am sticking with the local berry patch for these this year.

I am crossing my fingers I get peaches this year. If I don't then I am pretty sure the trees are done for. I don't know much about peaches, but I heard the trees that are planted here only last about 12 years. I haven't gotten peaches in 2 years. I should in theory get them this year.

The apple tree I planted almost 2 years ago is growing well. Not sure if it will produce anything or not. The deer munched on it a bit last year so I will have to watch that closely. If I can find room somewhere I would like to plant a plum or pear tree. I have to do some research, not sure if they have to cross pollinate or not.

Hoping to get the final outlines done on planting this week so I can get my seeds ordered. Then all I will have to do is wait for warmer weather!

Siblings

Emily Joy at 4 months old.
Brodie Michael at 4 months old.

See any similarities??

Learning

The kids and I have been in a major funk since bringing home the new baby. I have been slacking on doing our usual table time in the mornings. It's not just me though, the kids haven't been in the mood to craft or do much with writing. So we took a break. A 4 month break.

I have no concerns for either of the boys really. They each have their on way of learning and that is very evident. Brodie loves to write, always has. He is very much interested in sitting down and paying attention when teaching something new. He is very patient. Drew is the exact opposite. He is very impatient, can't sit still and is very much a hands on kid. He could care less about letters, numbers and all that. He does what he wants to do and I am ok with that.

Yesterday however I decided to try our table time again and the kids were all for it. We did a few of the file folder games I made last year. I was completely surprised that Drew could actually name all his colors. Well, he struggled on black but he new all the others! Then you can imagine my shock when he wanted to write his name and he did this....Every time I have asked Drew to practice his letters I get a response like "nah not right now". So to see this I was impressed. I have felt a little guilty because I don't work with him that much because he is so difficult. It just goes to show that even though we aren't doing formal sit down time he is still learning and picking things up on his own. That makes me happy.

The other day while Drew and I were deep into a project Brodie sat quietly in the living room playing with his Legos. Little did I know he was following step by step in his book and put together a truck. He amazes me how well he does for only 5 years old. He was pretty proud of himself and I was pretty impressed.