This Week at the Circus

So here is our week in review.  We started full blown school this week.  I'm loving the new curriculum choices we stumbled upon.  I believe that God helped me find these gems as I went to the used sale and just picked up anything that was 2nd grade ;).  Pictured above is Science.  We are studying the Solar System right now.  Monkey in the Middle is doing almost every single activity Ring Master is and begs to keep doing school.
I had a couple photo sessions this week, which inspired me to finish one of Littlest Acrobat I had been putting off.  I wanted to try out a new backdrop and flooring system we created.  That was fun.  More on that to come on AReneePhotography.blogspot.com.
Today (Saturday) Hot Hubby headed up to clear out some trees on the mountain.  I hate when we aren't together on Saturday's because then it's like every other day.  So I decided to make the homemade Gak I had been promising the boys we would make.  It's not so easy to do that during the week when I am trying to check off book work.  Even though I know that hands on is such an important part of learning.   We followed a link on Pinterest and it was super easy and really cool.  Only problem is that it got really gross after they flung it around outside so now we need to more bottles of glue to make more.

Our First Egg!

 There it is our first Egg.  The kids were so excited.  I was surprised. I really thought that an hour and a half drive on the back of a trailer would traumatize the chickens and they would need recovery time.  Now that I think about it recovery time to do what.  Be a chicken.  That's what they are and what they do.  Why recover from what you are.  Hmmm that seems like it could be a thought applicable over my life.  Really I'm a mom, that's what I was created to be. Why do I need recovery from that some days?  Maybe because of the circus that it sometimes is.    So back to our egg.


This is the egg now.

(Scroll down for dramatic effect.)

Not meant for our table.  It had a short lived life. Fought over by two adoring little boys who couldn't wait to show off the FIRST egg from the Buckeye Farm.  Sad little egg. I'm sorry to see you go.  Washed off the driveway with a burst from the garden hose.   Better my luck tomorrow.  At least the chicken didn't witness the destruction.  Really that might have been too much trauma and done the poor hen in.  ;)

We have some new members that joined our Circus

We have 7 new members to add to our circus.  Hopefully they won't come in the house.  Hopefully they won't really add much work to my schedule.  Hopefully they will be a lot of fun for us and the kids and save on our grocery bill.  ;)  Here they are.....

On a whim, my Hot Hubby and The Ring Master/ Ring Leader (still can't quite decide which title best describes my DS's role in the circus) drove down the interstate and picked up chickens and a whole lot of chicken stuff.  The boys are loving it and the Little Acrobat just wanted to hold them. 

 Here's to farm fresh eggs from our tiny spot of earth.  

Big News for the Circus!

The Circus is Moving!
We finally really are. I think ;).
We have been pursuing building or moving for a couple years now.  We own an acre of land that we have had for a while now.  We have been trying to figure out what the best way to proceed was and what God's plan was for our family.  
I think that about a year ago (yes 1 year), God lead Daniel to a builder that would be in our price range and give us the square footage we needed.  We met drew up a plan and started applying for loans.  That loan process took about 8 mos.  Things got lost, people left town, angry appraiser, everything went at a snails pace. So a week ago we were told we could come sign and get everything started.  Well everyday for the last week I sat on go ready to meet Daniel at the bank and some paper wasn't done or something.  So yesterday we officially signed and they will break ground it 10 days.  :)  I have to say that last week wasn't hard to wait through. God has been giving me contentment.  I've really been figuring out ways to maximize our space here.  It's been crazy, but if you ever need to know how to squeeze five people in a small house with no large closets, or pantry, I'm learning and might have a few tips.  So pictures should be forthcoming of our lot and the proposed house. Yipeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful for my Circus

So this morning Monkey in the Middle woke up GRUMPY!  Then Littlest Acrobat had to take her turn protesting from the high chair.  Wow!  I was not enjoying the circus this morning.  So I was trying to talk myself into a better frame of mind. ;)
Right now we are studying One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I highly recommend this book.  It's been applicable all over my life.  The phrase "it's toast yet it's not toast" resonates through my head when the boys are aggravating each other.  So here is my attempt to be thankful for the circus even when it's grumpy.
Gifts
- children who can communicate grumpy
- a baby in the highchair/baby in the arms
- multiple children to cause grumpiness
- a shower to drown out the fussing noises
- a husband still home to watch them while I go breathe/shower for longer than necessary
- noise (I really need to be more thankful for this)

So that's just a few off the top of my head, but it helps me to think that these children are my precious gifts.  Grumpy gifts maybe, but they are mine all the same. Everyday is a gift!