And More!

I new there was two more things that I was forgetting but for the life of me I could not remember. 

Yesterday Ellaree was assessed for first grade reading.  She is border line.  Therefore they will not move her up at this time.  They gave me things to help her with and they will continue to send challenging reading home with her and they will reassess her at Christmas time.  We are so proud of her!

Also, nothing big but too cute to not say.  Lil Harry has decided all on his own that Lorelai should be named LuLu.  At first she was completely against this and would yell at all of us for saying LuLu.  By the second day she is answering to it.  I think it might stick as Harry is using it quite a bit. 

The Beast & More

Once again we are very busy but seem to keep everything flowing pretty well. Here is some of what we have been up to.  

Harry & I finally purchased a double oven & double drawer dishwasher.  Harry thought I would like a gas oven better and so I decided that I would try it out.  Since our current oven was an electric, Harry took a day and plumbed a gas line in along with new electrical.  I got my oven and was so excited.  We found out that we had a tiny leak and had it fixed immediately.  Then I got to work cooking and baking.  I was thrilled...but then it happened.  I got so deathly sick.  I could smell & taste the LP.  I got nauseated & dizzy.  I had to call Harry home and have him help with the kids.  Harry teases me and tells me to stop being so delicate as none of this bothered the kids or him.  Needless to say 2 days I had had it.  Therefore I called the local appliance store where we purchased it and explained my situation.  They were so very nice.  They swapped an electric stove for the gas, came out and got it with no money exchanged.  But unfortunately for Harry he had to take all the gas plumbing back out and install another electrical cord for my electric oven.  Needless to say I felt horrible for making him go to all that trouble for nothing.  He was very sweet about it though.

On a beautiful Sunday we finally got over to the farm to cut some wood.  All the kids were able to help this year and it was so nice to have the dozer so that we could pull the trees up by the barn and cut.  The kids had a blast and were very ready for a nap when it was time to go home.

Harry and I had the privilege of going to his bosses wedding in Prairie du Chien.  It was a gorgeous day out.  They had it outside and even though a little breezy she was champ and froze.  Since we were at the wedding we arranged for the kids to stay at various relatives houses and we celebrated our anniversary as well.  Sunday Harry took me Christmas shopping for the kids, The Cannery & Cabela's.  We had a great time.  Short but sweet.  The kids had a blast staying overnight and not being with mom & dad. 

 

Starting this week I started picking up a little boy after school with Ellaree.  I watch him for about 2 hours a day until his mom is off of work.  He is in 4K and loves playing with the kids.  The kids love it too. 

Monday night we got our first calf.  It was definitely a family event going and getting it from our good friends.  "The Beast" as Lorelai named him is a bull calf and was 2 days old in this picture. 

This morning was our first chance to come out and feed The Beast.  We are planning on feeding him right after we drop off Ellaree in the morning and then we will feed him after we get home from school so Ellaree can feed him in the afternoons.  It was so sweet as the kids kept saying to him "you a good boy" as he was eating.  I scored big by finding 2 calf hutches on craigslist for little to nothing and they are still in good shape.  We decided to get 2 so that we are ready when the next bull calf is born. We have started our farm!!!!!!!  Everyone starts out small right?  We are excited by any means and ready for the next one.  Funny thing though was the kids were complaining by the end of the bottle that they were cold....I said they better get use to it as they are going to much colder once the snow comes and still has to feed Beast.  :)

Young Serendipity Photography

I have really been enjoying doing photography on the side.  It helps me get out of the house for a little while and I love love love taking pictures.  It just shows so much about a family, baby, siblings & love.  I have decided to name my photography (as small as it is) Young Serendipity Photography. 

I have done family & children but my next two goals is do a maternity shoot & a wedding.  I have helped my aunt with 5 weddings now. She would take the pictures and I would do the posing.  I figure I might as well be doing the pictures as well.  I am going next week to meet with a friend photographer to get some more points on how I can do better.  I really excited.  Then I found online a lady trying to get out of photography and snatched up some of her props for little to nothing. 

Like I said, I am not trying to become huge by no means but I am excited about what the future could hold for my dreams. 

Clara~9 Months

Sunday afternoon I had a wonderful time visiting with one of my good friends from high school and doing his daughter's 9 month pictures at their home.  It was so much fun getting to know Clara a little better and taking pictures. 

For some unknown reason some of the pictures turned out a little grainy...I am very much irritated about this.  But thankfully I was able to get some good pictures despite this. 

Missy & Clara getting use to the camera

Nate, Missy & Clara...what a cute family

Clara was so easy...she smiled and just went with the flow.

Look at those big eyes.  So beautiful!

Ok saw this idea this morning while I was googling ideas.  Thankfully I had not had enough time to freeze all my apples.  I love how it gives just a little extra to the picture but does not steal away from that beautiful smile

Love this one

We tried doing a tu-tu along with a mirror below.  Well I am not sure if it was that she was tired of posing or if she was scared of the baby but she did not like this idea. 

My all time favorite!!!!!!!!

 

Thank you Nate & Missy for allowing me to come into your home and take pictures.  I had so much fun and couldn't have asked for a better Sunday afternoon. 

Homecoming Week

Homecoming Week at school has always been so much fun.  I think a big part of it is because they allow the elementary students to participate in dressing up so silly every day.  You should hear the giggles when you walk into school each morning. 

Ellaree has had a blast as well.  Here is this weeks pictures.

Monday ~ Mix and Match Day ~ I didn't know how Ellaree would take this day as she likes things done just so...kind of like her momma.  But she jumped right in with both feet and had a blast picking out her clothes.

From head to toe (literally) ~ piggy tails in purple & blue, pokadot shirt, plaid capris, pink striped tights and one red Converse shoe and one pink slipper. 

Yes I let her out of the house looking like this  :)

Tuesday ~ Holiday Day ~ We decided everyone would dress for Halloween since it is right around the corner so we chose Christmas or Mrs. Claus as Ellaree called herself that day.

Wednesday ~ Twin Day ~ with our bestest friend ever Neyla.  They were too cute!

Thursday ~ Character Day ~ Ariel (of course)!

Friday ~ School Spirit day.  As you can see we were decked out in Red, Black & White for our Panthers.  At the end of the day Ellaree got to experience her first Homecoming Parade at school.  Also I can say that the boys won their football game and are now Ridge & Valley Conference Co-Champs.  Awesome!!!!!!!

 

Kindergarten School Picture

This is Ellaree's smile when she doesn't know someone...it is like her "I don't know you but I think I am suppose to smile now" smile. 

Out With The Old, In With The New

October Is In the Swing Of Things...

October is in the swing of things with so much already happening.  Harry has been working so hard with harvesting started with beans and some are onto corn already.  It has been crazy busy for him with not much of a rest.  The kids have been missing him but they know that he is working on "combines" (Lil Harry's new favorite word) so that makes things a little better.  We do drop off lunch at work or go out to a farm to see him for a couple of minutes.  It helps a little with the kids.  They did get on Saturday to ride in a combine that he was helping fix.  The farmer was more then generous with us coming out.  He let us fill a hopper full of corn, and when we got done with that he had his Kubota ready for us and he had Harry take us all on a ride.  It was very sweet of him to know how much this meant to the kids. 

Ellaree has started having homework.  Yes in Kindergarten!  She's also doing the Book It club where she needs to read for at least 20 minutes a day.  She thought this meant mom was going to read to her.  Nope I have been having her read to me from her Ready To Read books.  After only a couple of days she is doing fantastic.  I am so proud of her.

Mr. Harry the other morning decided that his tractor could come in handy as his breakfast platter.  So he wadded up his toast and put it in the back of his tractor.  He was so proud of himself.

 

Even with homework we were able to find a couple of minutes to run over to the farm and go to the "free" pumpkin patch of Papa Harry & Nonie's.  The kids had a blast.

Look at those smiles!

 

Ellaree picked a "cinderella" pumpkin. Since it is so tiny to carve she decided to draw a face on it.  Look how wonderful her's turned out.

Well once Lor saw her sister drawing a face on her pumpkin then Lor needed to as well.  Look at that silly face (on the pumpkin)!

Yup Mr. Harry too had to draw a face.  Oh the fun we had!

 

Thanks Papa Harry & Nonie for letting us come over!

 

And our sad news for the month....Thursday night when we went to put Ellaree to bed we found Ariel Fish Young had went to heaven. Ellaree took it really hard.  She cried and asked a lot of questions.  She is doing better knowing that God is watching over her fish now.  Buuuuuut I have a feeling before the weekend is over we will be purchasing another fish. 

Leader Day

Some mom's stress over Leader Day as to what am I going to make this time?  I stress out by trying to find the coolest but healthiest snack.  I found this great idea on Pinterest and had to try it.  Of course per the Princesses request the caterpillars needed to be purple not green.  Therefore she got purple grape caterpillars for leader day! 

First you thread the grapes on a Kabob skewer.

Then you take some white frosting and plop on some mini chocolate chips.  Too cute!  I can just imagine the kids tomorrow, especially the boys talking about the eyes and sliding them off the sticks.  It is going to be lots of fun & healthy too! 

 

Have fun being the Leader today Ellaree!