Homespun

I still am not yet into the swing of blogging again, but Brandon and I both have been busy with things at home. Brandon has been amazing in learning woodworking skills very quickly. I am enjoying learning from him. I am posting my chairs that I made and painted, the kitchen set we made together for Beatrice's birthday (courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa :), and the step stool Brandon made for Elijah from the wood of an old shipping pallet.
Also, here are some photos of the children holding up carrots we just dug from the garden, and Beatrice modelling the wooly pants I made for her. (I don't knit, they are recycled from a wool sweater.)

I am blogging again!

Hello friends, and thanks to everyone who has let me know you are following my blog. I am back from a sabbatical and will now be blogging regularly again.

This weekend we had the pleasure of visiting my parents farm in Franklin, Kentucky. It was a memorable visit on account of the children's response to everything. Elijah is three now, and he showed his new independence by riding away on the four wheelers with his cousins, safely sandwiched between them, but nonetheless taking off with them in a way that showed he was no longer a baby. One of the highlights for him was seeing my parents load some calves into a trailer to haul to the market.

Beatrice was likewise excited by everything, and had her share of riding both the four wheelers and horses. She is now one year old, but still looks much younger because of her petite stature. This made her enthusiasm for riding all the more amusing. She cried pitifully every time we took her off a horse or four wheeler. When riding the four wheeler with her cousins, she waved her arms and shouted gleefully, while her little pink sunhat was flapping in the wind. By the time we left both children were exhausted in a very happy way. Elijah was adorable when he fell asleep with his puppy also sleeping in his lap.

By the way the main purpose of our visit was to get barnwood for Brandon. My parents have alot of old wood from barns they have torn down or restructured. Brandon wants to use this wood to build a tool cabinet. I am excited to see how it will look.

New Photos of Children

Outing to Sycamore Rec.

Friday the weather was beautiful and my friend Francis and I took our little ones to Sycamore Recreation Area. We enjoyed playing by the river, watching ducks and boats, and swinging at the playground. Here are some of our photos.

Its Springtime!

Today is warm and beautiful and sunny in Tennessee. Both the little ones played outside this morning and they were so interested in looking at everything, that they would barely give me a chance to get a picture. I did the best I could! It is amazing how beautiful the first spring days feel. It is like we are coming out of hybernation!

I found our first buttercup peeking out from behind our apple tree. Will we have apples again this year? I hope so! Our apple tree has the most delicious apples ever.

I noticed there are alot of exclamation points in this when I proofed it, but it is springtime, and that is just how it is.

Photos of Elijah Painting

Elinjah sat with his watercolors and painted for about half an hour this morning. I was watching him paint, and he enjoyed commenting to me on his work. His hand dexterity has continued to develop and for the first time he was focused on painting objects in his picure rather than simply "scribbling." I noticed he can also paint in spirals now. He is really enjoying it now. We will have to do this more often.

Elijah Riding in the Farm Truck

New Photos of Tress

Photos of Elijah Playing in the Snow

Elijah has enjoyed his first memorable snowfall this year. He has played in the snow making snow angels, throwing snowballs and sledding. This is a big snowfall for Tennessee. We have a good two inches of ice on the roads in our area right now and Brandon should have several snow days next week, hurrah!

Pictures of Beatrice, 5 months

Little Beatrice Rose is now five months old. Isn't she beautiful? She loves to laugh and squeal and try to be like her big brother. She is also still a little penut: she is not quite eleven and a half pounds.