Projects

by Steph // Monday, August 31, 2020 // Comments off

I have made quite a few projects around Twin Oaks to keep us busy and productive while we are home so much.

Some of them are MUCH needed!

Others are things that just get done in our daily routine.

I really enjoy a good project.

So do our children!

Chad has been building hunting blinds to sell.

I know nothing about building, or about hunting, or about hunting blinds…but I think the first one is turning out amazing!

Lane has helped out here and there.

We are proud of Chad for conquering his fear of that saw!

I tackled the storage room one morning a while back!

With my trio, of course.

We have SO MUCH STUFF.

WHY.

I gave away a lot, organized the rest, and made some new space down there!

I also tackled the garage one morning.

Also with Lane, Tate and Eliza helping!

We got half way around.

I need to finish it!

Especially now that I look at this next photo – Blake and Chad were tackling another project that night – car repair and replacing head lights!

But look in the background…better yet, don’t look!

That is the side of the garage I need to finish.

I might have looked like this after the first half of the garage project, just saying.

It was a lot of work!!

The kitchen island paint needs touched up.

The white is pretty, but SO dirty all the time.

I am contemplating colors…time will tell!

I bought a duck egg blue to sample, but it looks rather gray to me, which I’m not sure I will like.

There is always the project of putting up produce for the winter months.

Our freezer is full of shredded zucchini, green beans and basil.

Thanks to my girl Addie Mae!!

Addie has also been making tomato sauce.

All that zucchini will keep us in zucchini bread, which is a favorite here!

I like to hide zucchini in meatloaf and spaghetti sauce too.

We also like craft projects.

I don’t even have to set it up!

I like to be creative too, so when I start something they usually join me!

I have a few projects swirling in my head for this winter.

One of them has to do with my recipes.

It is a messy situation!

I really enjoy organizing though.

Taking care of our home is my JOY!

Being a wife and mom is all I dreamed about in High School.

Look how the Lord blessed the desires of my heart!!

SO grateful!

Looking forward to more projects in the months ahead with my trio, Lord willing!

They are a fun bunch of helpers!

A Trip to Iowa

by Steph // Thursday, August 27, 2020 // Comments off

A week and a half ago we took a day trip to Iowa for a beautiful wedding!

The weather was PERFECT for the four hour drive.

Earlier that week a land hurricane had been through parts of Iowa.

It was a storm with extremely high straight line winds.

The damage was horrible!

We saw so much destruction as we drove through the Cedar Rapids area.

Thankfully it was the perfect day for a wedding with an outdoor reception venue!

The park outside the church was such a wonderful spot for a reception!

We loved having our favorite people with us, and getting to hold them during the ceremony!

It was such a treat to see some very special and dear to us friends!

Spending time together at the reception was fantastic!!

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, meaningful, and full of joy and love!

It was such a privilege to witness our sweet friend Allison marry the man of her dreams!

WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER FOR ALLISON AND JEREMIAH!!

Congratulations to the bride and groom and may the Lord guide you and grow you as you start your life together as one!!

The First Day of School

by Steph // Wednesday, August 19, 2020 // Comments off

Our first day of school was Monday, August 10th!

We started the day with our first day of school traditions – a special breakfast, opening up gifts of new school supplies, and a first day photo in front of the pie safe in our school room!

Breakfast was yummy!

We had chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and freshly squeezed orange juice!

The kiddos were excited, but sleepy!

It will take them a week or two to get used to our new schedule!

I love taking their first day of school photos!

It is so neat to look back and see how much they have grown!

Here’s our line up this year!

Eliza Claire, 8 years old, 3rd grade.

Tate Owen, just turned 9 years old, 3rd grade.

Lane Stevan, 12 years old, 7th grade.

Yes, those are really his feet, as huge as they are!

Chad will be joining our school days in September and starting his junior year!

We had an amazing first week last week.

The mama and teacher of this crew has learned over the years to lower her expectations of the first day/week of school!

Expectations ALWAYS bite!

We enjoy our rhythm, each other, and learning together at our own chosen pace!

Here we are reviewing times tables!

Five minutes each day and they master them quick!

The kiddos filled out a “passport application” and a “check” to pay for it – because we are taking a trip around the world this year and studying many countries and their cultures!

Read aloud time is a FAVORITE.

This a a great book, by the way!

Someone asked Tate over the weekend what his favorite part of school is.

He told them Read and Think (which is reading comprehension).

You wouldn’t think that would be his answer based on this photo!

This is what concentration looks like!!

Can I just shout a praise to the Lord for how this precious boy has mastered a second language, writing, and reading – all at his “supposed-to-be” grade level in the few years he has been home?!

This is not lost on us!!

I believe we have always started our school year the second week of August except for one year.

We are ready by mid-August to get back to our routine and structure!

More than ever, I think, this year!

Blake and I are excited to see the growth in these kiddos this year – spiritually, physically and eductionally!

School year 2020-2021, here we go!!