Cousins and Family Fun

This past weekend was full of fun with family. Friday we all went to the baby animal days where the children had the chance to hold and pet a lot of baby farm animals. Saturday we had everyone over to our home for some Greek food and an Easter Egg hunt (since we were not able to get together last weekend.) The cousins had so much fun together. We were especially fortunate to have Dani and Matthew, who live in another state, with us. I bet their parents missed them like crazy, but we were having a blast with them here. Alexander particularly enjoyed hanging with Dani and Eliza this week. It was so cute watching them play pretend (although it ended up being more of the girls bossing Alexander around) but he had fun just the same. We are so fortunate to have a good family who care about each other. Since marrying into this family and watching my kids interact with their cousins, I am realizing now just how much I missed out on growing up away from family.

PS Highlight of the baby animal days: Levi and Alexander eating bugs! Levi first asked if I would dare him to eat a worm (a BBQ flavored worm)to which I did. He ate it, said it tasted pretty good and went on to try the crickets and other tasty treats. Alexander ran right over the table and starting eating the bugs faster than you could count to 1! It was hilarious! Even as we were walking away he had to run back to grab just one more. Enjoy the pictures.

Updates

HAPPENINGS


A week ago my mom and brother spontaneously drove to our home from several states away. It was so fun having them here. They stayed a week, which was too short of a time in my opinion, but I am just glad to have had the time with them that I did. we had the chance to go to Idaho to visit my sister and brother-in-law. We loved having them here with us and look forward to this fall when my dad can come back out with them.


The two pictures above are of Alexander and William on Easter while we drove up to Aunt Rachel and Morgan's house for dinner. Saturday and Sunday we put a bunch of toys on the living room floor for the kids so that Gordon and I could listen to General Conference in our pj's. It was so nice just to sit in the sun and soak up the good words.

The following day mother nature decided to play a mean trick and make it snow a half a foot this past Monday evening. Thankfully it is all melted so we were able to plant more fruit trees and seeds today.

The following pictures are just some random pictures of us. Despite a few life challenges here and there we are so happy in our new home. This is the most peaceful and content I have felt in a long time. I would love it if Gordon could always work from home.


This cute kid took 4 steps by himself two days ago!





PICTURES OF THE HOUSE MOSTLY BY ALEXANDER


Everything is starting to turn green and the buds are on the trees.


This is a picture of the original milk/egg drop in our kitchen. This is such a charming farm house.




PROJECTS


We have been keeping busy clearing metal garbage from the field, fixing fences, hauling rocks, planting fruit trees, and planting seeds in the garden. So far we have 6 peach trees and 1 apricot tree. We have planted peas, chard, green and red (red mascara) lettuce, beets, turnips, onions, carrots, and radishes. We have yellow watermelon, tomatoes, kale, peppers, and several other items started inside the house. Pictured below.




Gordon figured out how to bend the metal posts to shape a rib (arches) for the greenhouse. It will be 15 feet wide by 30 feet deep. We are hoping to have it done by the end of next week. I'm so excited to get my kitchen countertop space back and to have a geenhouse so we can grown almost year round!

I just have to say what a blessing KSL has been for us. I think most of the items in our home we have purchased at bargain prices. I found this swingset for the boys for $40! They love it. Just this past week we discovered...a thing of beauty..pictured below.

A THING OF BEAUTY


Isn't this the most beautiful canned food you have ever seen? I put an add on KSL asking for all canning supplies from mason jars to pressure cookers. A lady who teaches canning is between moving and didn't want to haul of her canning supplies, so she gave it all to us. I have not counted yet but I am thinking there is 700 - 1,000 mason jars, 4 pressure cookers, 4 stock posts and waterbaths, apple piller/corer/slicer, cherry pitter, multiple jar grabbers, funnels...at the supplies needed for canning. She even gave me some of the food she had canned last fall and the grocery store shelves to store everything on. (Pictures below.) What a blessing. I am so excited to share with neighbors, family and friends. You know what we will be doing this harvest season...Canning Parties!




Tonight the boys went down at 8 on the dot. That is a rare occasion and a happy one at that. Gordon started making a new batch of Gouda and Feta cheese tonight. I am a happy women.