Camping & a Precious 4 Year Old

We did a little camping, more accurately, we did some Glamping recently. I say that, because we took our tiny home with us. Even at a campground with no hook ups, we had our comfy beds and familiar surroundings. It was a pretty nice way to camp! Outside was a fire pit, picnic table and beautiful lake. Inside was home. :)

Libby had her birthday during that time. It was pretty fun to gather friends at the campground and celebrate my little girl. How she got to be 4, I'm not sure, but she is a delightful little person. She had quite a few requests for her big day, high expectations. I think we managed to help her have a pretty special day. 

Pink camo cupcakes and chocolate peppermint layer cake cooling...

The finished products, which Libby helped put the finishing touches on. Cake decorating is one of those things that just makes my heart go pitter patter. I'm quite the amateur, as the lumpy, lopsided creation below illustrates, but it's simply fun for me to attempt new things and make little people feel special. 

Here is her spread, all set out the night before. I let them open their presents whenever they want throughout the day, which usually means first thing in the morning. :) Between grandmas & aunties, our Libby girl had quite the load of loot. 

Early morning openings:

Enjoying the play mobile kitchen set from Grandma:

Setting up for the party with our friends:

Admiring cards and artwork from her guests:

All decked out with some beautiful handmade items!

There's always an abundance of sugar at birthdays. It has various effects, but I particularly enjoyed the before, during, and after the lollipop pictures I took of Lucy...

Haha! Isn't that funny?!

Here's the shy little miss being sung to...

And blowing out those candles!

It was a big bash, but it's pretty fun to celebrate the lives of our children. Such a precious thing! Thanks for coming, friends!!

Official Homeschoolers

We have been teaching our children at home since they were born, but we officially started "real" school today! Libby & Evie will be learning to read, do beginning math, become more familiar with the Bible, write simple words & sentences, and hopefully continue to develop a love of learning. While I have a spreadsheet for daily activities and "lesson plans," I am purposing NOT to worry about deviating from it. I want our schooling to be flexible! I want it to flow with our normal life. I want to continue to enjoy my children and develop strong bonds with them. I want them to come away with an understanding of what's most important in life, knowing & being love by our LORD.

The spreadsheet is for me. NOT me for the spreadsheet. If I wake up in the morning clueless about what we're doing, I have lessons and activities waiting for me. We are using this curriculum to start:

(Math-U-See)

Both came with great reviews and success stories from close friends a little farther down the schooling road than me. So, we thought we'd start there, but I'm giving us permission to change what we're doing if its not working!

Day 1 was a big success! The girls absolutely loved the structure and the individual attention. We managed pretty well, since Lucy cooperated with a good morning nap. I'm curious how it will go when baby #4 arrives in early November. I've already decided to take a few weeks off, at least. We'll see how it goes! Flexibility will be key!

Airstream Update

As we prepare to transition out of airstream living (over the next year or so), we've been motivated to tie up some loose ends in the trailer. 

Here are a few of the prettier projects from the last couple weeks. 

New Headboard:

First, here was the "bedroom" when we first got the airstream in 2012. Note the hideous curtains. And the lack of, um, everything for a bedroom...

We got a bed frame very soon after this first photo and a plywood headboard not long after Lucy arrived. You can see the headboard in the background of this picture of my goofy girls. 

It was lovely to go from the utilitarian plywood headboard to this cushy upholstered item. It feels so civilized! 

I think the snuggly baby accents it nicely. 

Next: Removing the old mini blinds! We got the last of them out yesterday and hung up more matching curtains. Makes me happy!

Installing the last of the kitchen doors:

To fully appreciate the kitchen, one must see the before:

Ick ick ick! Grass seed from a mouse hoard on the floor, curtains all stained with rodent mess. No coverings on the cupboards. Mini-blinds. It's come a long way!

Here it is half-way done:

Lots of painting done. Mouse mess cleaned. New table. Some drawer and cupboard covers. 

And here it is after the last finishing touches! Including a rack of clean dishes. :) Real life in a tiny airstream. 

I've really enjoyed having that under the sink space covered! 

There are a few more tiny things to be done, but it's mostly finished. Lovely airstream has taught us a lot. It's been a good, challenging season of life.  

(Not a new pic...I just enjoy it.)

Summer Trip

...in pictures. :)

Waiting for the bride with our munchkins. 

Armfuls of littles. 

Friends united on a very special day. 

Sweet bride and her new beloved. 

A Nepali dance that delighted us all!

Off to start their new life together!

Then to the beach to cool down!

You can only get one 18 month old in focus at once. 

Haystack Rock

Mmmm. 

More Mmmm! Birthdays are delightful! Thanks for getting older so we could have cake, Sis!

My mom's beautiful garden. 

Peek! "Momma! Where's my worm??"

My little loves. 

Lucy didn't want hugs. 

Wonderful trip! 

The 4th

It was a relaxed day, followed by a really nice campfire up in the hills with friends. 

We had a good view of lots of tiny fireworks in the valley below. 

I just could not get a decent picture of all three girls looking and smiling. 

I like this line of kiddos picking berries on the hill. 

I'm thankful for the freedoms we still have and the blessing of living close to wonderful people. 

Shameless Plug

Hi friends, I started another blog about the pregnancy condition that I've had 4 times called PUPPPs (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy). 

The blog can be found here.

If you know anyone who gets itchy in pregnancy, please pass it along! Thanks :)

Family Portrait

I got great amusement out of this family portrait by my eldest girl. 

The details crack me up!