Something I enjoy doing very much is taking pictures of our kids. They are always growing and changing so fast. I feel like taking pictures helps me to freeze time a little. Ava will be five this December and it truly breaks my heart. I had to stop myself from bursting into tears when I was shopping for some new cute active pants for her. Passing by the toddler section and going to the girls section was heart wrenching.
I pass the toddler boy section too, but that’s because it’s so small that is easy to miss. Little boy clothes are so adorable, but I have definitely discovered at least for myself is that you really have to search for the cute stuff.
The sweetest bunch of kiddos and the most precious great grandma ever.
Ava and Shepard came up with a new game. They call it “slide bowling”.
This kid has some seriously good squishy faces.
Barber Daddy gave this one his third hair cut. That blonde hair of his sure does grow fast. He is lucky his daddy is such a pro.
I am super excited to be getting a she-shed! I will be located right next to the farm animals, so I can keep an eye on both them and the kiddos playing outside while I get some work done. Scott will now get a quiet office without all the roosters rooing, goats baaing, hens clucking, and ducks quacking in the background. This guy is amazing! I can’t tell you how many hours he has spent doing just this alone for me. Four whole houses worth and then some.
A Fall hayride and an outdoor first birthday party were super fun for this bunch. Shepard is going to be very educated on girls since he is growing up with all girl cousins.
This Week’s Books
“Giraffe Problems” is super cute. I love that it teaches kids to see and appreciate their differences. “Don’t Push the Button” is always a hit, which is why we’ve checked it out a few times because Ava loves it.
“Penguins Love Colors” and “Duck, Duck Dinosaur” were Shepard’s favorites. “Click, Clack, Boo” was super cute for a kids Halloween themed book.
Gluten Free & Dairy Free Menu
- Cheeseburger with pickles, monster chips, and frozen blueberries.
- Diced chicken nuggets with ketchup, basmati rice with guacamole, and sweet peas.
- Turkey grilled cheese, monster chips, and cranberries.
The grocery store was out of the usual dairy free cheese that I get for the kids, so I had to opt for another one. Ava refers to the old cheese as the good cheese and this new kind as the stinky cheese. So, this week they had stinky cheeseburgers and stinky grilled cheese and turkey sandwiches.
- Steak topped with peppers & creamy ranch, mashed sweet potatoes, and navy beans.
- Lentil spaghetti with chicken sausage, peas, and jalapeños.
- Burger topped with creamy ranch, avocado, and jalapeños, buffalo cauliflower, and mashed potatoes with bacon & green onion.
I really like the lentil spaghetti we have been using. It just sticks together like crazy. We are still topping everything with jalapeños and the kids are still asking for them too. Thus, we are going through at least 2 jars of jalapeños a week.
Farm Animals
This poor hen was persistent about getting into the she-shed while we were working on the flooring. Scott said she looked like she was going into labor. He would know those signs by now…haha. I found her a shoebox and set it in the corner since she was pretty adamant about scratching around the corners in the she-shed. Sure enough, she ended up laying an egg in the shoebox. Maybe it was her first egg and she didn’t want to be alone?
This is why we wanted the tiny farm. The kids get to experience first hand feeding and taking care of animals. One of their favorite things right now is checking to see if the hens have laid eggs. Snacks are important to them so of course they feel the animals always need snacks. Hence, the animals always flock to them when they are outside.
Workouts
Still nursing the aching back this week. I am hoping to see the doctor this week and get that checked out. Even so, I plan on doing some light exercise this week. It is not in my nature to not workout. It is how I deal with stress and get motivated.
On Another Note….
I found the origin of Shepard’s infamous light hair and squishy face. Apparently the apple does not fall too far from the tree. The left is Scott and his twin son on the right.
I hope everyone stays positive and tests negative this week! God Bless!
