Boys and Beans

We recently had a friend drop off a bag full of green snap beans.... a mean a HUGE bag!

It's actually a GREAT deal she was sharing with me. A 13 gallon trash bag full of green beans a local company called "seconds". Some were small and others had marks that had to be trimmed off.

I have to admit that I was a little overwhelmed with the big task of preparing and storing all those beans. Thankfully I had help:)

They really were a big help! And I loved their helpful attitudes and all the skills they were using;)

And the reason it was just boys this morning was because Brian had the girls! They had rushed Lydia to the doctor to check out a wound that Saturday morning. She is fine:) Thankfully they just put on a tight "band-aid" to close up the wound. Never a dull moment at our house;)

Growing, Growing, Growing

Nate tells me daily that he is "soo big now" but he's not the only thing growing around here:)

The garden has exploded!! The plants have grown so tall and they are giving us plenty of squash, cucumbers, zucchini, mostly recently green beans and adventure as we search daily for "the goods".

Our little sunflowers are no longer little;)

And in case you're not sure how tall Lydia is we thought we'd add another perspective;)

To the right (in the picture) of Nate and I are the corn plants also getting tall. Underneath the corn are watermelon and cantaloupe plants but I think the watermelon are trying to take over the garden... they are spreading everywhere;)

And behind us are our crazy tomato plants... my rowdy teens;) They are just all over the place. I have most of the individually staked but they are still growing and leaning every which way. One can look at my tomatoes and see that I am very new to all of this;) And they are mostly green... this week we did find a few surprises;)

And while I do log the most hours in the garden, my kids do most of the harvesting;)
Yes, even Nate;)

Even some left for tomorrow's harvest:)

And don't you know those little veggie hunters brought in a quart Ziplock bag full of green snap beans from the garden this evening. They were a little disappointed we had already eaten dinner. But they decided that the beans could also be eaten for lunch tomorrow;)

Tiny Talk and Catching Fireflies

Said by Nate has he zoomed past me on the bike, "Me getting so big, me tan ride dis bike all by me self."

And does he ride...

zooming around under our paved carport

on his hand-me-down bike with training wheels:)

He loves it!

And sources have informed me that his oldest sister has been working with him on riding a bike without training wheels...

I'm not sure any of us are ready for that... just yet!!

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During our horrible week and a half I told you I was challenged to "have fun" with the kids. We were stuck at home, tons of laundry, baths, cleaning, most of the time with Brian at work or out-of-town, urgh! I wasn't sure when to "have fun" it seemed the tasks of the day demanded all my time.

Finally, I got it! The kids helped with the kid-jobs so I could  tackle the adult-jobs. When we got most of our list done (since housework never gets totally done) we got to "play". The kids made thankful journals to list things they are thankful for. Nate and I filled water balloons so we could have a water balloon battle:)

And one night after dinner and baths we went back outside to catch fireflies;) I loved hearing the kids voices out in the yard!!







  Only one problem with being outside on a summer evening- mosquitoes!  Although it was kind of cool to see the bats flying around... kind of cool, kind of creepy:) Chris sporting a bite on his forehead

Don't you know when Daddy returned home from his trip one of the first things they talked about doing was catching fireflies one night!! Simple and a good reminder to this momma to "make time for simple fun"!

It's your turn:)

Chicken Plants, Squash Picker and my High-tech Chef

Phew...a Tuesday! Boy, oh Boy have we had an adventure over here the last week. I'm not ready to blog it (maybe never will) but it has flipped my house upside down...

unfortunately I haven't had the best attitude... it's been hard:/

Anyway, I've been shown love over and over again! From family and friends spending time listening to me, trying to encourage me, people dropping off fun things for my kids (and I) to do, and a dedicated husband serving us during his special weekend:)

I have MUCH to be grateful for!! And I'm praying that I let go of the things we've missed and make some fun "at home" memories (thanks to those who are trying to encourage me)!


And now for my tiny talkings;)I have a post almost ready for it, but I saw this week some of what he gleaned from our "study"... LOL!! He started pulling up BIG weeks from the yard and was calling them "Chicken Plants". He made a video talking about planting his plants.



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Brian found an adorable little turtle while working outside this weekend.

Nate wanted to show off his finds:) The tiny turtle and a grasshopper (Nate is getting very skilled at catching those, too)!

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And my sweet squash picking Chris:)


He started the squash seeds, he planted the seedlings, and now he is getting to pick the squash. I loved that two or three times last week Chris intentionally when into the garden to pick for friends and a neighbor:) Sharing the goods:)

Love his heart:)

And the strangest allergy yet showed up this week. Chris has developed an allergy to the squash leaves:( When he picks shirt-less he comes in from picking covered in a hive rash and all red and itchy:( And then it just disappears until the next time he picks;)

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Anna has become quite the kitchen helper (she might even take over the kitchen in the near future)!

This week she wanted to make a special dessert for Brian:) I once had the recipe printed out but we couldn't find it. So she found the recipe on our recipe page and used her Kindle to bake for us;) She's the high-tech cook;)

You're turn:) Just leave your link or your little ones' words in the comments:)

Tiny Talkin'

Nate has been talking letters... I soo started working with my older kids earlier:/ Guess it's just what happens when you're the 4th kid:) So we've started reading letter books to start the journey. In a conversation about "L" the same letter that starts Lydia's name. Nate announced "Me not have "L" in me name."

I tried to explain to him that in his full name "Nathaniel" there is an "L".

Nate responded, "Me name not that word. Me name is Nate!" I guess we know which name he prefers:)

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While in a conversation during summer devotion time about Samuel hearing God call him at night, I asked the kids, "Does God sleep at night?"

The kids answered "No!" in unison:)

Chris then added: "You mean God is noctural?"

I explained that noctural usually refers to animals that rest during the day and hunt at night but that God doesn't have to sleep and we can talk to Him anytime.

Chris, still trying to think it through, added more "That's because God rested on the 7th day when He was making the world."

Love them making connections and the conversations (and seeing those little wheels turning in their little brains)!

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On one of our visits to my mom's house, Nate asked if Pey was resting upstairs in his room. I was a little surprised by his question but I took the opportunity to tell him that Pey wasn't with us anymore but was with Jesus in Heaven where he didn't have to rest in bed.

Nate asked,"Tan he come see us?"

I explained that he got to stay in Heaven with Jesus forever.

Nate stopped and said very matter of factly, "But him not bring his truck!"

And Nate is right. Pey's truck will stay with Grammie for the time being. It does remind me of Pey every time we pull up next to it;) I like the memories:) And was so thankful my kiddos have sweet Pey memories and share them with us!

It's your turn:)