My Little Helper

Meleah loves to help in the kitchen. She had to share kitchen helper duties with Travis, he wanted to make the cookies by himself, it was difficult for her. That is why she has such a pleased look on her face. She helped make the pie crusts and then made a few miniature pies for each of the boys and herself. 

With my kids, I have found, if you let them do something to help(cooking, painting the house/walls, etc.) their interest doesn't last long but you spend more time trying to tell them "no" than just letting help. Their attention span or interest fades and it becomes work and they don't want to help anymore  so it is easier to let them help for a while than talking them out of helping.

There was a time when the kids were younger that they all had to be there and help with everything. I let them help occasionally, like when I had an abundance of guilt for not letting them or I could say I had an amazing amount of patience. Thankfully, they are getting older and willing to share duties. Plus, they all don't want to help at the same time, that is helpful.

Pies, by Meleah

The best part of this cooking experience, Meleah was speaking the whole time in her little British accent.  She plans to have a cooking show someday for PBS's Create and she will speak in her little accent. She used to pretend to work in a coffee shop far away and her old parents would come to visit her but her mother always died. I never did like that one.

This day of baking is a precious memory I will never forget.

Things That I am Thankful For...

1. I am thankful for a best friend that is such a strength and support to me. He makes me giggle and helps me to see more clearly. Bob is one of my greatest blessings. He has shown me so many things by his godly example. I am very blessed to be his wife.

2. Godly parents. Their faithful example and encouragement is priceless.

3. Time spent with friends creating precious memories.

4. My dear family and the life we share.

The number one thing I am thankful for is God calling out to me and changing my life. I know that it is only through Him that we have been so blessed and if it weren't for Him I wouldn't have the blessings pictured here.  I am also very thankful for His word that we each have to "Feast" on whenever we desire. (There aren't any undesireable consequences from overindulging either!) I am reminded of the song, "One Sweet Hour With Jesus"

One sweet hour with Jesus every day!

How it helps the soul along;

how it cheers the heart along the way,

Like the music of a song."

Happy THANKSgiving!

Happy November!

We are still alive. I am having problems getting pictures to upload and trying to find some time to figure it out but it is one of the last things I am worried about getting "done".
We have been hard at work doing school. This year is going much better than last. The number one reason is probably because we aren't trying to remodel a house at the same time. We are still doing stuff to the house but there is less work or it can just be put off until after school.
Cody started a science class this year. He is doing General Science with someone other than myself teaching. He has to study and take quizzes every week. He likes it so far. He does well on the quizzes and is currently working on a catapult, they are studying simple machines. The class has only five students, besides the teacher, he is the only boy. I think we are going to do the same thing with math next year. By the time I figure out how to best explain his Math lesson, he is so frustrated and I do everything "wrong". Maybe it is something we will work through. We will see how the rest of the year goes.
Travis is starting into those preteen mood swings and that always affects our day. He is really interested in drawing right now and so all the kids are going to be taking some art classes in November and December.
Meleah is doing really well with school. She wants to do cursive writing like the boys and all the work they have to do, plus her own work. We are going to have her eyes checked. Her Sunday School Teacher said she is wanting everything really close and says she can't see it very well. She told me that, "I think I don't see things like other people...I think it is because I have red hair." (Really?) I have wondered about it because she complains, "My tummy hurts." when she is tired of reading.  Everything we do is close up work so she usually can do it but some of the letters mix her up. She does have times when she closes her eyes and rests and then will continue. We will see what the eye doctor says.
Bob is working outside a bunch when he is home. We are burning all the brush we have been cleaning up around here. He has been cutting up some of the dead trees. Too bad we don't have a fireplace.
Bob works with the neighbor, another Fireman, he said he saw a mountain lion out his window. Back along the back of our property is a wash/pond that drains back to the Colorado river. He saw a mountain lion out there.  It sure does make me nervous walking in the early mornings. We have some deer in the neighborhood as well. I think they hide down by all our stumps.
We are trying to get the church kids together more often. We had our first Young People sort of get together. It was a lot of fun. I hope that the desire to come will continue to grow in the parents hearts as well as the kids.
Hopefully, I figure out the picture problem soon but until then, we are alive and doing well.

Football

 Thought I would share some Football pictures. I will let Cody share his experience but that may have to wait until it is officially over. The rainbow picture is at one of the practices. I would like to tell you which one Cody is but I have no idea. It is like that at practice. They start to all look the same. Plus the team started out with four Codys.

Cody is #89. Starting Kick-Off Return. He has learned a lot about himself through this experience. He has faced adversity and many new situations. He really wanted to try it this year and I think it has been a good experience even if it has been an extremely time consuming one.

Here is how we spend time during practice.

 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights for two hours. Plus the game on Saturday which is anywhere from 2-3 hours.

 We played some basketball.

And more sitting and playing with the camera. She is awfully cute.

#89 Chiefs Lightweight Division