July 2026

July 2026
Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Friday, October 7, 2011

10-7-11 Indian Summer

As Tori has previously blogged, this week has been beautiful. Cool nights – windows open – bright sunshine – breezy warm – ahhhh.  I wouldn’t get tired of this year round, I don’t think. Except we’re really dry right now – which is a BIG problem with a shallow well, a creek that’s drying up (driest it’s been since we moved here in 1996) and 20+ bovines to water… changes may be a’comin’ iffen the fall rains don’t come soon….

Life lately has been pretty mundane (ordinary, dull, routine, everyday, commonplace, boring, unexciting, humdrum) which is precisely how we like it. And yet every day has countless nuggets which we do our best to enjoy as life flies by. Mainly we do school, work, and play, hopefully with the proper balance of all three, and heartily seasoned with love, laughter, smiles, hugs, and lots and lots of joy.

Starting with this armload of joy – at 2 1/2 Josh is a ball of fun. No such thing as terrible twos – that’s a LIE. The truth is Terrific Twos. So much energy, enthusiasm, excitement, determination, curiosity, and of course love, laughter, smiles, hugs, and lots and lots of JOY. How we love our littlest!!!!

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And adorable freckles!!!!!!!!

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I think we’ve had lunch outside every day this week.

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Excited preparations for a birthday.

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What do you do with a couple of shovels, a steel stake, a sheet, and a few bricks?

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Ben harvested his soybeans.

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I’ve done a lot of stir-fry this week – it smells, looks, and tastes delicious.

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Jesse chose Malt Shoppe Dessert for his birthday.

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Fancy we are not, but we do have fun!!!!!!!

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Now, you might say I’m cheap to refuse to buy expensive fancy wrapping paper which is from its purchase destined for the trash(and you may be right!). But these kids had WAAAYYYY more fun decorating their gifts to Jesse when I turned them loose with tape, paper, crayons, stickers, etc. And guess what? It all ended up in the trash!

Josh was so funny when Jesse opened his gifts – his screams and jolly laughs had us all in stitches. I’m telling you, two-year-olds are TERRIFIC!!!!

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Ben bought some treats for Jesse, and he emptied the package and put the individual candy bars in a huge box filled with confetti. Josh dug into the box and was soooo excited to find this wrapper – until he realized it was empty!  “Where candy go??!” He was so cute!

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Great job, Benjamin!!

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Levi helped Joshua make this delightful thing :)

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Levi was quite impressed that Josh called this creation a pumpkin shooter. (He didn’t know we pass one every time we go to Walmart!!)

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Too cute!!!

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Aunt Sarah’s birthday bars are always very much appreciated!!!!!!! (and so creative :))

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More camping fun – of course the cats are always in on the adventures, to the delight of all the kids.

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Quality construction, you know it!!!!

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Fall treat :)

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:)

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Can you tell the kids were taking these px? I think they were taking turns. And can you tell they like their cats?!!

For the record – the 4 walnut trees that were transplanted (by Jacob, I think) from the walnut tree on the levee.

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A beautiful day ended in a beautiful evening.

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Have I mentioned that 2-year-olds are adorable???!!!!!

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5-year-olds are too.

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And 9-year-olds :)

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And 15-year-olds.

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And 13-year-olds :)

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Yup - 7-year-olds are too!

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And 18-year-olds.

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Even 17-year-olds are terrific!!

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Yep – barnacles* of any age are pretty much fun – even 11-year-olds, although I don’t have a pic of Kate this night.

:)

We love you barnacles!!!!!!

 

 

*barnacles (noun) bar·na·cle -a clinging or dependent person or thing

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