SNAPSHOTS: : 56

Rain. That word could sum up our last few weeks, but I’ll try to expand a bit better.

Also, ^ that little lady is the sweetest!  ^

Penelope made us lunch this afternoon. While she was fixin’ it up, Amelia and I went on a flower hunt make the table pretty. A storm was threatening all day, so we had an indoor picnic just in case.

We’ve been babysitting a couple boys every once in a while for some friends. The girls are such good helpers. Penelope picked out some Legos at the store as a treat for helping me out so much. Boys are a lot tougher than girls, in my experience, so it was well deserved!

Our power went out last night, so, naturally – shadow puppets and bath-by-lantern!

Before nap time we went for a stroll, made flower crowns, and picked daisies. Penelope has always said her favorite flower is a daisy, but I think this was her first time actually seeing one.

SNAPSHOTS: : 55

We spent last weekend with Zack’s mom. A late night ice cream date, muffin baking (and batter eating!), a trip to Hobby Lobby, and spending Sunday morning at our old church – where Penelope made a flower for her best friend –are just some of the fun things we were able to do.

The girls and I have been fighting some kind of sickness all week. Fevers, scratchy throats, runny noses, and Amelia’s molars breaking through swollen gums. :(

We took the girls out to a bike trail so they could try out their hand me down bike and brand new roller skates. Amelia gave up on the bike pretty quickly, so Penelope didn’t get much practice in. She did have fun though and I’m sure we will be back a lot this summer!

SNAPSHOTS: : 54

Mother hen watching over her flock. She is officially a big girl. She talks all  the time, and knows the words for everything. She is officially potty trained (she wears night-time pull-ups, but they’re usually dry)! Finally!

Penelope is teaching Amelia different tasks, such as shredding cheese, hand washing dishes, her ABCs, sweeping, getting dressed independently, and how to make the perfect splash in the bathtub. I just stay out of the way and watch from the corner of the room (with a HUGE grin on my face). Now, if only I could remember to turn on the video camera…

It has been warm (in the 60s!) lately, which means more time outside and more belly rubs for Rosie. Its all she wants all day long.

We moved the chicks into the coop with the older hens. We had to divide the coop with wire, so the chicks didn’t get pecked. We’re desperately hoping the weather stays warm, so we can construct the large coop for the hens.

The girls have requested oatmeal every morning since October.

Blueberry and brown sugar.

Strawberries & cream (Daddy’s coffee creamer).

Honey, cinnamon banana.

Cinnamon peaches.

Cinnamon baked (steamed) apples.

Brown sugar & white raisins.

Maple syrup & peanut butter.

All with flax seed mixed in. They help me make it each morning (sometimes we have eggs, grits, or pancakes). They enjoy making their own food, and I try to let them help with all meals as much as possible. If I am in a bad mood, I have them color or play instead, so that cooking remains fun for them.

I haven’t been taking a lot of pictures lately. Hopefully I can change that soon. :)

SNAPSHOTS: :53

We’ve been busy around here lately. The good kind of busy. Productive I guess is a better word. Penelope has been practicing her sewing skills, and is does really well with it! She is so patient with any task we throw at her.

One of our chickens, Tree, died last week. An hour later, we took a trip to get 15 more. Ha! Zack is such a good papa to our hens. His dad always wanted chickens, and I think the fascination may be in their genes.

Anyway,  on our way to get chicks, we stopped into a Lion’s Choice for some lunch, and they were having a special on their “Bountiful Baked Potato,” and Penelope thought I should spread the word.

We make so much homemade pizza, that we don’t see it as a ‘task’ to whip up some dough. I’m so grateful, for not only a husband who loves to cook, but who is good at it!! Homemade pizza is so good!

Miss Amelia got a hair cut over the weekend, and it is so cute on her! She is just as excited about it as Zack and I are! Penelope insists that she too should get a pixie cut, and I am continually changing the subject. She adores short hair, but I think she should at least try it long once in her life.

We ( I ) have added geography to Penelope’s ‘curriculum.’ Her first destination, is China. We’ll be spending at least a week, on each place we study. Our first day of it went well, but I definitely noticed I could’ve prepared a bit more before diving in!

Amelia has been sleeping more than usual lately, due to teething & growing. It has giving me some good, long one on one time with Penelope. We read library books, extend our school time, and play games. I look forward to it and try to get in at least a little bit of time with her each day.

The rest of our week is scheduled and full, which hasn’t happened in a long time! I keep thinking I am forgetting to do something.

My parents are coming for the weekend to watch the girls while Zack and I go out. Not on a date but still out,  and the fact that out night out fell on Valentines didn’t occur to us until yesterday. We’re getting lame when it comes to dating! Ah well, at least we’re still the coolest people each other knows, right?!

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^  Rosie  ^

We did not officially get a new dog, but this precious lady has been hanging out on our porch for four days. She has no collar, and sleeps on a hay bale most of the day. Penelope has named her Rosie and has become very attached, so I hope she sticks around. If she is still here after Christmas I think we’ll bring her in for the winter.

We are in major spring winter cleaning mode. I am aiming for a ‘fresh’ home in time for the new year.

Penelope recently received a large case of black olives from someone who took note of how much she enjoys them. Just like her mama, she can easily eat a can a day. She took this photo one day while she ate / played with some.

She is getting so good at writing, knowing and understanding letters and numbers (even simple addition!). I can tell her a letter and she knows how to right it (unless it is a ‘V’- too simular to a ‘U’). She wants to write every word.  I love her interest in learning so much!!!!

Painting, baking, and Christmas books have filled the moments between cleaning. Thankfully it has been gloomy and cold outside (I will never say that  again!) so I haven't been bothered by having to stay indoors for over a week.

Zack’s grandparents gave the girls Elf on the Shelf, and we have had to much fun with it. Since we aren’t telling the girls that Santa is anything but imaginary, the girls know that we hide him (sometimes more than once a day), and Penelope even hides it for Zack every now and then.

^  because I am not in enough pictures…and they had messy faces :)

Penelope had her first dentist appointment!! Amelia sat next to her the entire time, and they both thoroughly enjoyed their first visit!

^ ^ ^  The cherry on top of a full week! Zack and I received this catalog in the mail yesterday and we have already circled a bunch of food we want to try next spring! I miss how much labor intensive work we get done every spring. Lazy-bum mode is not my favorite, which is probably why our home gets changed around so much during the winter…okay, okay, *why our house gets changed around so much all year long. ;)

We have company coming this weekend, a Christmas program at church this Sunday, and next week is Zack’s last week until Christmas break!!