Open House

Welcome to our home.

I thought I would give you a small peek into our home right now.

I am currently listening to Taylor washing dishes and loading the dishwasher.

Erik cleaned the boys' room and made all their beds. Aaron and Ian were so grateful and they are all happily playing Lego's together. Usually the living room has Ruby's array of Playmobile set up all over the room. I had her pick it up so I could vacuum. Erik loves it when I vacuum the living room because of all the lines in the carpet. He likes to draw in the carpet and play tic tac toe and make rooms for the Playmobile.

I love our dining room. The space all the way around the table is such a huge blessings. In our old house I had to squeeze around the table and turn it at an angle to all fit. Plus there is no longer any carpet to contend with.

You can see how much floor there is, I have always used a Swiffer Wet and loved it! Now, it takes 3 or 4 pads to clean the floors and could always use more. Does anyone have any ideas for a great mop or an efficient way to clean a lot of floors?

My little girls are napping peacefully. Ruby is the only one of the children who is not completely thrilled with the move. I think it's because she lost her best friend, Ian. Ian still loves to play with her, but is torn between being outside climbing hay bales and conquering the land or playing dress up with Ruby. 

This is our new school room, I love having all the books, pencils, work boxes, adhesive, stickers and paper in one place!! Probably my favorite part of the house is that I don't have to find a place for all of our stuff to fit.

The family room is right off of the school room and next to the boy's room. I have been tempted to look for a couch (I think it would be cozy in the winter in front of the wood stove) but this is such a perfect place for everyone to roll around, wrestle, play games and stretch out. When it gets cold I will probably start searching Craigslist.

I have lots more to show but for now, I need to utilize my time to finish my menu planning. I have 12 days of Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Grocery shopping planned, School and Chore charts started, garden weeded and chickens to combine. Plus I have two clients that are due this week. I can't wait to show you the rest!

Birth and More

I am so incredibly behind. I am currently waiting for 2 more babies, training for a half marathon, planning school, unpacking (still) and managing 5 chickens (soon to be 11), a gi-normous garden, scouts, dental visits, birthday parties, BBQ's, Hunter Ed courses, and whatever other pressing needs.

Last week while I was at a birth I texted Syndi (who graciously loved my children in my absence) and asked how things were going. She replied: Great! Lib's napping, playing charades, Thumbelina (our rabbit)had her babies, ate most of them.

I almost fell over laughing. I was floored that the rabbit was even pregnant. The children have been trying to mate her since we moved, guess it finally worked.

I did not know rabbits ate their young or even how to prevent it. I also wondered how Syndi handled this completely unexpected and tragic event.

The children rescued one baby (I think it is called a kit) and talked Sean into purchasing $17 formula (The things that occur in my absence, I never even spent close to $17 on all 3 bunnies and their hutches.) and they fed him through an eye dropper.

Unfortunately he died from cold after 3 days. Come to think of it I need to ask what they did with all those kits....

Home Sweet Home

I am back!! The move to our new home has been so incredibly busy! I really had no idea how much work it was going to be to move. I continue to be amazed at the many ways that God provides for my every need.

We still had absolutely no idea where we were going 6 days prior to closing on the sale of our Birch Bay home. A friend remembered this place and gave us the information and we had to wait for the landlords to come back from Europe! We were able to move some of our stuff in the garage while this house was being cleaned so that I could clean our other house in time.

God has given us more than we could ask for in our little piece of heaven. We have more than doubled our living space and have 25 Acres to explore and conquer! The children have already made at least 4 forts! We were able to acquire 5 laying hens and are getting about 3 eggs every day! Sean is looking into buying 25 more!

Our landlord is the most gracious patient man I have ever met. He gives the children rides on the hay wagon and the tractor, he has taught them how to bottle feed the 5 calf's born since we have been here, He prepared our gigantic garden for us to plant, and fixes anything I ask on the day I ask for it!

It brings me joy to see my children so content (except Erik's obsession with obtaining a Quad).

We still want to buy our own home and when we went to look at something the other day the children, and Sean were all lamenting the fact that they did not want to leave where we live. Erik says he wants to live here till he dies!  We have discussed buying this place, and it seems to be an option.

We so appreciated all the prayers and the many ways God used people to give us exactly what we needed when we needed it and not before.

I am so happy to be back, to have Internet and finally catch up on what others have been up to, and catch you up on our new adventure!

Found It!

We finally found a place to live. It is a 2,800 square foot old farmhouse on 25acres just 10 minutes from town. We were able to negotiate for a month to month rental and can even bring our bees, bunnies and cats!



Ruby and Paisley



I met this amazing woman named Janet a few months ago. Our paths have crossed numerous time without even knowing we shared many of the same friends. Our daughters hit it off wonderfully and her boys share many common interests with my boys! Janet remembered I was moving and called me to come get all her In-Law's boxes, they just moved here. That ended my scavenger hunt for boxes!

Then she remembered that I was looking for a rental and getting desperate. She heard of a place that was for rent and had not even been advertised yet. We were able to meet up with the landlords, sign a lease make a deposit and get keys! Just 6 days to spare.

Yesterday we decided to get a moving truck and move what we could. I was anxious and overwhelmed when I got a call from a friend that I probably have not talked to in a year (only because life gets busy).

Karen called to ask a question about bees and I was crying so hard I could hardly talk. When she found out what was wrong she arranged for some massive man power, then brought dinner as well.

I am so humbled how God chooses to provide for us and care for us. I don't deserve all I have and yet He continues to give me more.

I know He will give me the strength I need to make it through the next 5 days.

Stayin' Afloat

Recently, Erik purchased a raft and oars at Goodwill for $4. I was not sure if it would even float, so I assured him that we could try it out and return it within the 7 day period if it was defective. 

That put a bit of pressure on me to get to the pond and try it out. I knew he would hold me to it and that we better hurry up and try it or I would never hear the end of it. We chose a decent day and he blew up the raft and carried it the whole way!

I was very proud of his determination to figure out how to row, and his willingness to share with his siblings. They were not allowed to go to the island in the middle of the pond because there was a mama duck and her ducklings.

I have realized through this house hunting business that my children are learning a lot! Most of the time it is really trying for me. They ask all sorts of questions and feel that it is entirely reasonable that they get to make a choice on where we live. Their enthusiasm might be contagious if I weren't so stressed. Every house we look at is the perfect one - according to the children.  Aaron wants to know if it is in our budget. Taylor wants to make sure we can bring the bunnies and cats. Erik finds every nook and cranny and wants to sleep in a crawl space, ride his skateboard on a curved roof, or jump from one house to the neighboring roof. Ian and Ruby just want to play hide and seek, and Liberty has to try out every potty.

I am having a hard time packing not knowing where we are going or what we will need. I am overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we have accumulated and need to move or get rid of. Is it really worth storing a picnic table?  It is a huge struggle to manage school, relationships, sick children, and a imminent move.

Please pray for peace in our home and for me to offer the grace I would like to have in return.

The Perfect Day

Our friends Brad and Dana invited us to go snowshoeing with them. They have all the gear and know what they are doing!

We planned the trip about 6 weeks ago, it was the only day that both of us had free at the same time.

The week started with sick kids and a lot of stress about selling and moving. I just kept praying that we would get to go.

Shelly and Cara divided up the children and were happy to give us a day to enjoy ourselves and each other!

Shelly calls it Marriage Insurance. She is wise.

Sean always has been one to shoot for the finish line. He was up front and would ascend the hill, then wait for all of us to catch up. Brad brought up the rear and made sure that we were all safe. Once we were doing some switch backs on a pretty steep hill and I got a little nervous and in the one move Brad said I went from being a novice snowshoer to intermediate.

We shoed up to Artist Point, enjoyed lunch and each other then headed back down the mountain.

We couldn't resist a snowball fight and a little shove here and there.



Lunch Break




Dana and Brad with the Mt. Shuksan in the background.



We could not have asked for a better day.

We felt truly blessed that God provided such amazing weather and great friends right in the midst of chaos and stress. It was especially reassuring that the children were being loved on and cared for by some wonderful people.

We're Off!!

We are heading out for The Christian Heritage Homeschool Conference this weekend! We have been every year and it is a wonderful time to fellowship with other homeschoolers, be inspired, encouraged, and challenged in our mission.

Libby practicing her driving skills in the driveway.

This year's speaker is Kevin Swanson. He is an amazing Godly man that has no problem engaging the children, they love to watch him and listen to his message.

In the midst of all this we had an appraisal done today, I have gone and looked at several rental all of which won't work for one reason or another, and packing and purging.

I hope your weekend is filled with as much fun as mine!