Our week...school, sewing, and a hospital trip!!

Fall is in the air in Colorado...puts me in the mood for school and sewing!! We have cracked open our school books, started our fun activities, and we even had to dig out our sweatshirts and pants!! Here is what our week looked like:



Kinsey had some testing at the hospital. My oldest babysat Willy...along with her good friend and while we were gone they made Kinsey a poster, made macaroni and cheese and cake, and cleaned the kitchen. I was so pleasantly surprised....I even took them to Walmart and treated them to some new nail polish!! Love that girl!!



Here are a few of our school books...going to be a tough year!! One of our favorites so far is "50 People Every Christian Should Know." Great read...fabulous lessons for the kids. The purple book is Shelby's math...taking her over an hour everyday. Good thing she enjoys math!! Our favorite silent reading books are on the left....Sonlight...LOVE Sonlight!!




Received my Christmas fabric in the mail...so excited to start making skirts, dresses, and onesies!! Love Michael Miller Fabrics!!

I found this onesie at a local thrift store for 50cents...I am going to try use this idea...so cute!!

Turkey shirts...almost ready for the store. They just need some eyes, beaks, and legs!! This is one of my favorite ideas to use up scrap fabric.

I am also making the cutest skirt for a friends little girl who is turning 3. It is a new pattern...lots of gathering but so worth it!! I will post pictures when it is finished!!

Hope you are having a fabulous week!!

Rhonda

So it has been over 2 years since my last post...my sweet and amazing niece Ashley has been encouraging me to get back to blogging.  I have been thinking and praying about what I could possibly write about and it occured to me to write about my passions...Jesus, homeschooling, and sewing.  A lot has happened in over 2 years, it could take months to catch you up on it all!!  I am going to just tell you some of our highlights.  It is amazing to look back and see God's hand in our family.  He has brought us through some of the toughest trials and not only did we survive, we thrived!! 
1.  We were finally able to adopt this sweet and amazing little girl.  After 2 1/2 years of struggles, trials, and prayer, God blessed us beyond words.  It is a blessing to have her in our lives. 

"Princess Dora"

2.  We faced one of the toughest challenges as a family and as parents in December 2009.  Kayleigh had been complaining of arm pain for several weeks.  I took her to the doctor thinking she would tell her she was fine.  Little did I know they would immediately send us to the hospital...for 5 days.  Sure that she had a tumor, but uncertain of what kind the doctors put her under twice for a 3 hour MRI and for 8 bone biopsies.  Finally after 5 days of waiting and praying we heard the good news...Kayleigh has a large benign tumor in the bone of her right arm.  She has been to the specialist more than 20 times since and we are watching and measuring and encouraged that the tumor is 75% gone.  She was able to resume "normal" activity earlier this year and was thrilled to get back to normal.  I will continue to praise God for giving us all strength in this situation and praise him for healthy children!!

3.  Since the last post, we completed years 6 and 7 of homeschooling.  The kids are doing fantastic and I continue to strive to be a great teacher/leader/mentor of them all.  This year I have a 7th grader, 5th grader, and two preschoolers!!  The big girls do school about 5 hours a day and the little ones do school about 2 hours...including craft time and story time.  I love teaching, love watching their little minds grow, and love spending all the time with my children.  I don't take this responsibility lightly... 

4.  In May, Chuck and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary.  I feel so blessed and lucky.  What an amazing father/husband we have!!  He works 60 hours a week, comes home and doesn't sit on the couch watching t.v. or playing video games...he enjoys time with his kids.  Every night is filled with tractor rides, wrestling on the floor, reading, working in the shop, and talking.  Love that man!!

5.  In April I began selling some of my sewing on etsy.  Sewing for me is a great stress relief.  My husband is fabulous about giving me a couple of hours each evening to sew.  He plays with the kiddos, gives them a bath, tucks them in bed.  I am allowed time all to myself!!  Love it!!  In May I was contacted by a boutique owner in Parker asking if I would like to sell some of my things in her store.  I was thrilled!!  I am loving the two short shifts I work a month...time with adult conversation.  I love that I can help provide for the kids.  We have been able to have a night away without kids, take the kids to water world, and Daddy even took Kayleigh to a concert for her birthday.  Things we probably wouldn't have been able to do before.  I am hoping to use this blog to show what I am brainstorming and working on.  I love to sew and create!

I guess I will end with a few pictures.....of the last 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many Blessings,

Rhonda

 The little ones during Karate class.

 Easter 2011

 Shelby earned her Timothy award in AWANA...we love this program!@!  She is 12 now, babysitting a little bit, loving youth group, and such a joy!!

 Kayleigh earned her Excellence award...she even did all the extra credit work!!  Our 10 year old who is artistic, beautiful, caring, and brave!!

 I love to sew for the kids...She loves to wear dresses, play, sing, dance, color and keeps us on our toes!!

The 4 girls last Sunday celebrating 3 birthdays!!  (The babies turned 4 and Kayleigh turned 10!!)  Willy is all boy, funny, adventurous, loud and loves to do school!!

Getting ready for Fair!!

Ok, so we are spending our week getting ready for the fair. My oldest daughter is in her second year of 4-H. Last year she raised two market hogs and was able to sell one at auction. This year we are going for easier animals (hee-hee) and raising market turkeys and a market goat. We also bought a camper so that we could stay all week and enjoy all of the shows and events!! (also having two babies it will be nice to have a place to cool off and take a nap!!) Here are some pictures of her animals!! I will let you know how she does!!

turkey funeral

Ok, so our turkey that Shelby was trying to save died today. At our house when we lose an animal (we have lost many!!) we hold a funeral. Daddy usually digs a hole, we all say nice things and we end in a prayer. Sometimes the girls make a cross to put over the grave. I think Shelby did a great job taking care of the turkey and she showed so much love and compassion!!

Turkey whisperer

So my 10 year old is involved in 4-H. Last year we raised two pigs... what a crazy time!! (will have to write a story about it later!!) This year she chose to raise a meat goat and turkeys. We have found these animals to be much easier!! We noticed right away that one of the turkeys had a bad leg... bent the wrong way. Well in nature the animals seem to sense this and began picking on her. She can hardly get around to the food and water, much less defend herself!! Shelby noticed this and was immediately in tears... she has a hard time watching an animal suffer. So we now have a "home" for this turkey in our garage in a large barrel. For almost a week now she has been checking on her, feeding her, giving her water and giving her what I call ,"turkey physical therapy." She is sure it is working and the turkey is getting stronger. I am not sure how this will turn out and if she will survive, but I am so proud of Shelby for wanting to help her and taking time to care for her. I think 4-h has been great for her... quite the lesson in responsibility!!

Workout.... OUCH!!

Ok, so I started working out... not that having 4 kids isn't workout enough!! I really could use an outlet for stress and getting in shape seemed like a great way to do it!! I started easy about a month ago with Friday night workouts designed by a trainer. They weren't so easy and after the first one I could hardly walk the next day!! Then I tried a morning sculpt and tone class. Let's just say oooowwwww!! It was rough. Then last night I got really brave and did the infamous "track" workout with a trainer and a crazy group of people. I made it almost to the end and then this wave of sickness hit. I hurled!! Well, it can only get better from here!! They say it gets easier the more you do it... I'll let you guys know when that happens!! For now I am enjoying some much needed Mommy time with great ladies and letting go of some stress!!

Introducing my family...

Thought I would take a minute to introduce you to my family...

First, my sweet husband Chuck. Without him I would lose my sanity, literally!! He keeps me grounded, reminds me to always look to God and makes life fun and interesting!!

Second, my 10 year old Shelby. The one word I would use for her is energetic!! She has always been my toughest, head strong child. I think she is a lot like me!! We tried dance with her when she was little and it was not active enough. So now she is a fearless gymnast!! She would rather be outside on her ATV or digging in the dirt anyday!! True tomboy...

Next, my 7 year old Kayleigh. Completely opposite from her sister she would rather be curled up with a good book , doing crafts or playing with dolls. She loves all things girly and especially loves all kinds of food!! She is my thinker... she does nothing without processing it first. She has always been the quiet one but has recently begun to come out of her shell.

Next, our miracle almost 2 year old Willy. He had a rough start to life and gave us quite a scare coming into this world. He taught us patience, strength and trust in the Lord. He is my angel and has the cutest dimples!! He loves all things boy; trucks, tractors and playing in the mud!! We are blessed to have him and thankful he is healthy and well.

Last, our foster baby girl who is just 3 weeks younger than her brother... Jack-Jack. What a blessing... it is amazing how God can lead you to a decision and how you can watch the blessings pour down from just trusting him. We have cared for her for a year now and loved every minute of it. She is a bundle of energy, and despite a rough start in life is doing amazingly well. She loves to be on the move... every second!! She makes us laugh with her funny faces and dances!!

And me, I am the wife and Mother of this awesome family. Sometimes I just have to pinch myself. How did I get so lucky?? I wake up everyday and love the fact that I am able to spend time teaching, caring, loving and laughing with my children and spouse. I enjoy the simple things... reading, cooking, teaching and playing. I have learned through my life to trust God... The Will of God will NEVER take you where the grace of God will not protect you.