I thought my introduction sentence would be “let’s start with my favorite memory” – but then I took a look at all the photos I just downloaded and edited, and picking a favorite memory from them is just not possible!!

SO – let’s start with my favorite people!!

Who happen to live at River’s place!!

Most of the other half of my favorite people happen to ride in the van with me to go to River’s place!

Smile!!

I love being there SO much!!

Kayla picked up Lane Saturday evening and took him to the rodeo at Wild West Days!

She had one of her side kicks with her!

Clyde!!

It was a belated birthday gift for Lane, and took the place of our trampoline park plans.

It was PERFECT.

In every way!!!

Lane has not stop talking about it since!

School is AMAZING.

This week we found our groove!

Maybe the kids didn’t notice that – maybe it was just my brain that found its groove?

Either way, the rhythm is SWEET.

And working wonderfully so far!!

Chad plays his guitar now for our worship time.

BE. STILL. MY. HEART.

There could be nothing better, I am sure.

Science is always better when jelly beans are involved.

Apologia experiments are FUN!

Science happens on its own some days!

Like when you go to take a dog outside and find this waiting for you!

We were literally fascinated with it and had to look it up and find out all about it!

Another typical school activity is going to the library.

I LOVE the library.

I could stay there all afternoon.

If they just served coffee, that is!

We also make a lot of crafts around here.

I call it school, but it should be called “Mama needs a creative outlet too!”

Friendship bracelets were a result of stalking watching a friend on Instagram and stealing her idea!

This craft has lasted for a week now.

They are constantly braiding new bracelets!!

Chad used The Mystery of History curriculum last year for 8th grade, and I am using Volume 1 this year for Lane, Tate and Eliza.

It is good.

Really good!

We are making a timeline, which is called our Wall of Fame!

Our school rhythm also involves keeping up with Twin Oaks and keeping up with food.

I have GREAT helpers who work hard to do their jobs well!

Lane, who is ten, started in the dish rotation this summer, and does lunch dishes most days!

Grant and Addie would probably appreciate you all knowing they were 8 and 7 when they started doing dishes on their own.

I seem to be slacking with age, ahem!

Lane told me Tate and Eliza were going to help him scrub the tub, another one of Lane’s jobs!

I wasn’t sure that was what I saw as I walked by a few minutes later?

Maybe they are just moral support!

Food.

If you have read only one other post on this tiny space of mine on the world wide web, you know we love to eat.

Better yet, we love to cook and bake!

AND there are a lot of mouths to feed!

Taco salads are a huge hit.

I make lunch for Blake everyday!

I may be on a “we need to eat better” kick around here.

Poor guy!!

Snacks.

Always snacks.

This was like candy to me!

Blueberries and coconut cream with vanilla whipped in!

We have some awesome neighbors here on our dead end road!

Look at what one dropped off one day!

I used them all in one meal!

Here is a BLESSED memory to record here.

I was in the kitchen and some how Addie came home from work and snuck all this by the HUGE picture window to set it up before opening the door and asking if I could come here!

SO PRETTY.

I might have had crying in my eyes.

I only know that because Eliza said, “MOM, get that crying out of your eyes!”

Grant and Addie bought these plants to bless me, and bless me they did.

I can’t wait for those mums to bloom!!!

Date night.

It was OVER DUE.

Big time.

It has been getting squeezed out by all very good things!

But we need to be more careful about that!

We hope to go on date night again tomorrow night, and I CAN’T WAIT.

I am slightly smitten with the guy who buys the coffee!

Ok.

Sit down you all.

This is history making news.

THE FLIES ARE GONE.

I know, I know.

I DID cry the day that happened.

Really, I did!

Just look at my fly-trap free garage.

Now look at it again.

Good grief, I almost did not survive the infestation of flies with a smile still on my face!

SO thankful THEY ARE GONE!

Addie found these treasures at a thrift store!

I might borrow them.

Soon.

We live in the most blessed place.

Small town USA.

No stoplight.

Gravel roads here and there.

Ridges and valleys.

Dairy cows literally every where.

And smack dab in the middle of Amish country.

It’s the BEST!

This sweet girl finally lost that second front tooth!

It was literally hanging sideways before she let Grant pull it.

She is SO CUTE toothless!!!!

And grew up SO fast.

WAH.

Eliza had an appointment about those teeth of hers this week!

We have a plan.

We will need to sedate her to pull it off, but we have a plan.

Sweet baby.

How I wish you did not have to endure so much.

Ruby has been with us two months today!

She is fully potty trained and fully crate trained – meaning she sleeps all night long in her crate and can be put in it anytime during the day and will be quiet.

WIN, WIN!

I really love her!

Minus the day this week she decided to start chewing on things, that is.

The weather around here is giving us a taste of what’s to come!

Chilly mornings and evenings, and 70 degree days!

You can stick around if you like, sweet taste of fall!!

We couldn’t even pull ourselves in for dinner last night!

We sat on the driveway in chairs while the littles ate on a blanket.

SO, so good!!

Last, but certainly not least, I will mention the middle of the night party Kayla and David invited Blake and I to.

It was at the hospital.

We were only there half the night while Kayla got some IV fluids for her and baby Paco.

Thankful that everything looked OK, and Kayla could go back home to rest!

Here’s hoping there will be no more middle of the night parties like that one!

See how I could not possibly pick a favorite??

Crazy full and blessed life we have here!!

We are looking forward to many things this weekend and also this next week ahead…so check back soon to see some more favorite memories!!

This full and blessed life is SUCH A GIFT!!