one of these geese was looking for fresh water snails to eat.
the other goose was eating buttercups and grass.
watch for predators.
when I got close they ran away.
prints in the mud. I got to close so they flew away.
Monday, May 8, 2017
we saw two geese.
the other goose was eating buttercups and grass.
watch for predators.
when I got close they ran away.
prints in the mud. I got to close so they flew away.
Monday, June 27, 2016
2016 summary thus far
This year has been quite busy so far!
In January, Stuart began teaching 2 classes at the University, taking 3 classes, and teaching Early Morning Seminary to the LDS youth. It was crazy. He ended up getting really sick and being diagnosed with bronchitis.
In February, Alana turned 8 and was baptized! Alan, Anela, Staci, and Chad stayed with us for a week to celebrate with us. It was wonderful. Alana said the water was cold and I don't think she quite understands the importance of her decision yet, but I believe she is getting there.
In March we tried to keep from going crazy. The girls were really sick of school and I was debating whether to pull them out or make them finish. We ended up making them finish the year, but will be homeschooling next year. You have no idea how much prayer and agony went into that decision for me. SO MUCH prayer! Satan is working really hard to discourage and dissuade me from that decision, but I am trusting that the desires the Lord has put on my heart are His way for our family to follow!
One great thing about living in Arkansas is that the winters are much shorter. We spent a lot of time outside last winter, which was so nice, and helped us get through it! The summers are pretty hot and humid though.
Now it is the end of June and we actually just moved. In May we found out that the owner wanted her son to move into our (her) house (long, annoying story) so we got the boot. We found a great house, about the same size, but much newer and on a small lot in a neighborhood. There is a jogging trail behind our house and a park around the corner. My kids don't have as much freedom to wander, but it is good for us.
Stuart is trucking along in his PhD program, trying to find good ideas to research and making the time to research while doing all the other things required of him. (ie church work and family time). He's a swell guy and I am so proud of him. I really feel blessed to be his wife. He loves the Savior and he balances my crazy (not to mention putting up with me, which is another journal entry for another day). We celebrated 11 years of marriage last month by taking the kids on an 11 mile bike ride around Lake Fayetteville and looking at our dream house, which we did not end up getting. We still haven't had a proper anniversary date.
One thing that is very difficult for me is the lack of support I feel living here. I LOVE my church family, but most of them are far away and busy. I have some other friends, but again, they are all so busy. I don't have a family here. It makes the burdens we face sometimes hard to bear. We are joining a homeschool community called Classical Conversations, and I believe it will be awesome. But I still feel isolated most of the time. I'm neither an introvert, nor an extrovert. I find I need equal amounts of socialization and solitude. But sometimes I get a little too much solitude and find myself floundering with the demands of 4 young kids, a tight budget, and caring for our home.
It's all good though, because I have the Savior. :)
We will be visiting Utah soon and I can't wait to see all the people I love!!!
In January, Stuart began teaching 2 classes at the University, taking 3 classes, and teaching Early Morning Seminary to the LDS youth. It was crazy. He ended up getting really sick and being diagnosed with bronchitis.
In February, Alana turned 8 and was baptized! Alan, Anela, Staci, and Chad stayed with us for a week to celebrate with us. It was wonderful. Alana said the water was cold and I don't think she quite understands the importance of her decision yet, but I believe she is getting there.
In March we tried to keep from going crazy. The girls were really sick of school and I was debating whether to pull them out or make them finish. We ended up making them finish the year, but will be homeschooling next year. You have no idea how much prayer and agony went into that decision for me. SO MUCH prayer! Satan is working really hard to discourage and dissuade me from that decision, but I am trusting that the desires the Lord has put on my heart are His way for our family to follow!
One great thing about living in Arkansas is that the winters are much shorter. We spent a lot of time outside last winter, which was so nice, and helped us get through it! The summers are pretty hot and humid though.
Now it is the end of June and we actually just moved. In May we found out that the owner wanted her son to move into our (her) house (long, annoying story) so we got the boot. We found a great house, about the same size, but much newer and on a small lot in a neighborhood. There is a jogging trail behind our house and a park around the corner. My kids don't have as much freedom to wander, but it is good for us.
Stuart is trucking along in his PhD program, trying to find good ideas to research and making the time to research while doing all the other things required of him. (ie church work and family time). He's a swell guy and I am so proud of him. I really feel blessed to be his wife. He loves the Savior and he balances my crazy (not to mention putting up with me, which is another journal entry for another day). We celebrated 11 years of marriage last month by taking the kids on an 11 mile bike ride around Lake Fayetteville and looking at our dream house, which we did not end up getting. We still haven't had a proper anniversary date.
One thing that is very difficult for me is the lack of support I feel living here. I LOVE my church family, but most of them are far away and busy. I have some other friends, but again, they are all so busy. I don't have a family here. It makes the burdens we face sometimes hard to bear. We are joining a homeschool community called Classical Conversations, and I believe it will be awesome. But I still feel isolated most of the time. I'm neither an introvert, nor an extrovert. I find I need equal amounts of socialization and solitude. But sometimes I get a little too much solitude and find myself floundering with the demands of 4 young kids, a tight budget, and caring for our home.
It's all good though, because I have the Savior. :)
We will be visiting Utah soon and I can't wait to see all the people I love!!!
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
January 2016
January was a great month! It was warm here in Arkansas, which I loved! The kids got lots of sunshine!
Stuart is as busy as ever. He went to an Audit Research Conference in Phoenix. That was the same weekend I gave a talk in church about how the Book of Mormon changes lives (that is a great story!) I'm not really sure how he does it all, except that the Lord is helping him!
Charlotte discovered that she can wear pants, and like it.
We went to the park several times.
I got a hair cut. It's short 'n sassy. I love it
Mommy kid selfie!
Stuart is as busy as ever. He went to an Audit Research Conference in Phoenix. That was the same weekend I gave a talk in church about how the Book of Mormon changes lives (that is a great story!) I'm not really sure how he does it all, except that the Lord is helping him!
We discovered that Esther and Seth can take over the vacuuming. My life just got a whole lots easier!
Charlotte discovered that she can wear pants, and like it.
I got a hair cut. It's short 'n sassy. I love it
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
The Jones Center
During Christmas break, our friend Amy Chiodo invited us to the Jones Center. It is basically a huge community center about 30 minutes from our house. We played in the Gymnastics room with the Andersons and one of Amy's friends. The kids loved moving the mats around and running around like crazy people!
The girls wanted me to take their picture on these interesting sculptures that are outside the Jones Center.
The girls wanted me to take their picture on these interesting sculptures that are outside the Jones Center.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Christmas 2015
All of our kids know that we are Santa. It happened a few years ago when Stuart told Alana that Santa was fake, and I over-reacted, and then she always knew. And Alana can't keep knowledge about anything to herself.
ANYWAY, in an effort to keep the magic in Christmas, we really tell our kids "Santa is a fun legend based on the story of St. Nicholas in Greece." They've watched that Veggie Tales story, they know what we are talking about. This year, we added a new tradition. Each child got to play "St. Nick" for one of their siblings. They randomly chose a sibling and got $10 to spend to fill that kid's stocking. On Christmas Eve, we put them all to bed, then one by one we let them "sneak" out of bed and fill their secret sibling's stocking. I think it was a hit, and it was especially fun to see how excited they were for the gifts they GAVE!
The girls also woke up on Christmas morning and made me breakfast in bed. It was awesome. There was complete joy and no fighting in our home for several hours. I wish it could be like that ALWAYS!
We have one more week of Christmas break and Stuart will be spending it working/researching/preparing for the new semester/etc. I'm praying that I will be able to keep the girls busy and happy.
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