I have really enjoyed going through photos this week!

Life has been FULL – even when we are here at home – it is FULL!

I have been revamping our meals.

Trying desperately to simplify, but still make delicious and nutritious food without wasting a crumb!

I am so thankful the Lord continues to give me JOY in the kitchen!!

It’s an answer to my prayers!!

We are heading out of smoothie season now that fall is here, but how we love a HUGE green smoothie!

We ate many, many peaches during peach season – I think that is everyone’s favorite fruit around here.

We all had scratchy throats one evening so I juiced a bunch of oranges and had everyone drink up.

We also oiled up with thieves, and took some extra Vitamin D3.

The next morning all was good!

We only had corn on the cob once – but I am here to tell you the insta pot is the way to cook it.

Easy peasy!

We started some sourdough to make bread with.

Running to therapy made it too much to keep up with, but we will do it again when we are home more, hopefully later this winter!

I love to make quick bread too – and this orange olive bread is the kids’s favorite!!

Once Henry the rooster moved out of the chicken coop and to Kayla’s place, our girls started laying eggs!

Coincidence?

I’m not sure – but I am so glad they are!!

We also have been enjoying ALL the good eats from our garden.

It was a joy to have that garden this year!!

Speaking of being outside – Addie and I enjoy sunset walks up and down our road.

I took some photos as we walked by Twin Oaks one evening and love to have these different angles of our little nest as a memory kept here in our little scrapbook!

These twins and their Mama live on our land and we saw them one night while walking!

The boys have been given strict strict orders that these cuties nor their Mama are for our freezer, ahem.

Tate received a hammock for his birthday and this is the only photo I have of it!

They love to lay in that thing.

So cute.

We spent one beautiful evening having a little impromptu fire.

It served it’s purpose of burning all the garbage from when I cleaned the office and the filing cabinets – but also gave us a great evening together just enjoying each other!!

Yes, it’s me!

The sky lady!

SOOOOOO beautiful, is it not?

We still love books.

And library day.

And reading.

Definitely a favorite!

We are starting to play games more already!

It’s a fall and winter thing – so pretty much eight months of the year, ha, ha!

Date night.

We are changing it up!!

No more running back to town for me on Friday nights.

NO GROCERY SHOPPING!

We are not allowing that to be called a date ANYMORE, no, no!

We need dates to be frugal, but relaxing, and together – EVEN DURING THE DRIVE to the date!

One Friday we went to a park and had a picnic!

It was beautiful and wonderful.

Stay tuned to see how creative we get with date nights now!

Blake traveled at the beginning of August for four days and I about did not survive!

SO – I had Grant take me to Blake’s truck when we knew he was on his way back there with his car pool from the airport!

We dug the key out of the hiding place and I hopped in and waited for my hubby so I could surprise him.

It was the best.

I also saw that he kept all the notes I have written him!

They were all over the inside of his truck.

Too sweet.

Tate has been our faithful gardener.

I love how much he loves it!

I have photos of him in a garden in China!!!!

Be still my heart.

The boys and Addie slept on the deck under the stars back at the beginning of August.

It was FREEZING and they are absolutely CRAZY!!

But they had a ball.

The guys also built a shed to hold all of our stuff!

I thought we should just get rid of all the stuff instead – but my sweet hubby told me we actually need garbage cans and mowers.

Well, ok then!

It still isn’t finished, but it is getting closer!

Blake drove truck one weekend during hay season.

He wasn’t too far away so I took all the kiddos so they could have a ride!

Eliza did not get out of the van because of the noise and dust, but the boys were all in – especially Tate!!

We are still patiently helping Chad do the hard work to get his fingers to bend again.

They are not wanting to bend.

Sigh.

We have THE BEST certified hand therapist EVER!

And we see her twice a week!

We are thankful for SO many who have prayed for, supported, and cheered Chad on.

Chad has received many good things in the mail – a favorite for sure are verses on index cards – written by my friend who has the most beautiful handwriting!

Speaking of Chad – his pup had a visit to the vet for an ear infection.

Poor Sadie was miserable but some drops took care of it quick!

I did the big clothes switch-a-roo before we left for Family Camp.

That is still a big job!

Having the kids try everything on for fall and winter, selling what is too small, and finding the things they need.

Addie and I did a big shopping trip to town together and got it all done!

Fall is on its way, but we soak up every second we can outside!

Back in the middle of August we had our annual church picnic and baptism service.

The picnic was in a park and then we had our church family over to Twin Oaks for our annual baptism service!

It was AWESOME!

The lake where Chad was baptized last year washed away when the dams broke during the flooding at the end of August last year.

Our pool was cold, but it worked out ok!

Having Twin Oaks full of friends is our favorite, favorite!!

Our Hannah joined us one evening so we could meet her FINANCE!!!

She is getting married soon and we could not be more happy about that!!!!

Kayla took their engagement photos and they turned out beautiful!

I have taken Chad driving (and so has Grant) as he works to get the hours he needs to get his driver’s license.

We haven’t been on any main roads yet – only because of his injured hand.

It can’t grip that steering wheel yet!

Of course we always have passengers too.

They are so cute!

And FUNNY!

I was wanting to add some verses from God’s Word to our walls, so I printed some off for free and then bought $1 frames for them at the dollar store.

I love how they turned out!!

Here is just two of them –

My favorite son-in-law drives by Twin Oaks every time he goes to work and returns home from work!

We always get a wave as he goes by, but we are super blessed when he stops!!

Ruby still wins the prize as the softest fluffiest dog EVER.

I love her!!

School has been going strong here at Twin Oaks!!

How I love to plan their days.

This cutie is losing teeth left and right!

How is it that he is EIGHT?

One day I was working in the kitchen and heard Tate say, “Eliza, you do the dangerous part.”

I had to go see what was up, of course!!

I always have way too many adorable photos of our littles!

How much longer do you think we can call them the littles??

One Sunday a while back we stayed home from church so that we could truly have a day of rest.

We still sang together and listened to a sermon.

I think this is my favorite photo out of allllll these photos!!

We spend A LOT of time around this table together!!

It is time around this table that has let us capture our children’s hearts!

So with that favorite photo I will end this very long post!!

These photos represent SO many memories of our day-to-day life here!

They are our favorite photos to look back on!

Isn’t hard to believe summer is over?

September is half way over as well!

I love a change of seasons!!

Hope you all are enjoying the start of fall too!