Don, Ande and Noah came out to help us paint the house. We are unbelievably thankful for their willingness to give up a weekend to help us like this. I still can't believe it's painted. Amazing!!!!
I'm certain it will look like this for exactly 3 seconds because we have kids and dogs and sooo much mud but isn't it pretty!
Week 80-83: Finishing up the exterior on the most visible 2 sides of the house so that we can paint before the rain.
This weekend the 3 oldest kids spent the day staining the cedar shingles for the roof while Brandon hung siding and I cut siding.
Aubrey is entertaining May for me by leaving her a trail of siding sticks. :)
September 14, 2024
Last week Wyatt spent Thursday and Friday at Camp Tadmore with the Jr. High. This week Sadie spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday up there with our high school. I really am so thankful for the creativity of these teachers and the way they love and disciple our kids. Wyatts class was divided into houses and all year they will compete to win a pizza party at the end of they year. I'm telling you it's unrecognizable the difference I see in our Jr. High already. So awesome!!!
September 21, 2024
We finished side #2 of the house which meant setting up a second scaffold, not our favorite thing, but it's done. Now one more weekend to get everything caulked and sanded and ready for paint.
These two were very busy this weekend building a house for Dog Dog and Sushi. Kids really are so creative.
Maddie
Sushi
Dog Dog
Sadie's team played in Waldport today. We didn't make it to the game but are thankful for others who went to cheer them on and sent us pictures.
While Sadie was playing volleyball Brandon was changing the brake pads and rotors on the suburban. It really is amazing all the things he knows how to do. He takes care of this family of ours so well. Sunday was the first time I heard the brakes making a noise and by Thursday he had us all taken care of. He changed all 4 brakes and rotars!
September 28, 2024
This wasn't one of our most exiting weekends...So much sanding and prep work but at last it's finished. All is prepped and next week we get to paint. I literally CANNOT WAIT!!!!
Brandon gave me the go ahead to start decorating the kids' study space which use to be Sadie's old room. So fun to see things start to come together.
More Volleyball!
And in the 30 or so minutes it took me to get dinner ready while Brandon waited for Sadie this happened.
WHY?!?! Maddie why?!?
Her response when I said "Oh no Maddie, what happened?" was "I'll go get it!" Heavy sigh.
I thought we'd already learned this lesson but apparently not or maybe God in his infinite wisdom knew Mrs. Metzger needed an easy way to tell the girls apart. ;)
Who knew installing a toilet could be so exciting.
Pocket door instructions...the gist of which are don't be rough with the new door.
Another school year is upon us and we're hitting the ground running with volleyball and team dinners and Jr. High and High School camp all the first couple of weeks of school. The kids all seem excited. Some say they like school some say they don't but they all come home happy talking about their friends and all the things they're learning.
It's going to feel strange having them all in school this year even if it is only for a few hours a few days a week but I'm so thankful that they all get to be at Crosshill together. As we dropped them off this morning I really was just so deeply grateful as I watched friends and teachers greet each one of them with smiles and hugs. Many of the elementary teachers specifically have started to feel like family to us. We've known many of them for a decade now which seems crazy! The kids have all had them as teachers, and their kids are friends with our kids. It feels like a special blessing in a world that seems to be constantly changing to have so much history with this community.
High School
Sadie is a Freshman this year. She's 14 but about to turn 15 and is already talking about driving. She plans to play volleyball and run track this year and is most looking forward to her boyfriend Wesley being back at school hopefully this winter some time.
Jr. High
Wyatt is an 8th grader. He is 13 and really enjoys junior high and youth group and generally any time he can be hanging out with friends. He's also excited to have his cousin Payton in his class this year and he plans to play baseball in the spring.
6th Grade
Cooper is 11 and continues to love school and reading and video games. He excited to finally get to use google classroom this year , he is on year 3 of playing the trumpet and he also plans to play baseball in the spring.
4th Grade
Hazel is 9 and so excited to be in Mrs. Hinderks class this year. She continues to be our animal lover and the ringleader of our little girl pack. She's trying to talk us into trying basketball this year and is learning to play the flute.
2nd Grade
Evie is 7 and is excited to have 7 new girls in her class this year although she really misses a couple of friends that are in the other class this year. Evie loves the Owl Diaries and baby goats an anything sweet.
They humor me with photos. I humor them with goats.
The smiles are just always better with animals. :)
First Day Round #2
Aubrey and Maddie started their first day of Pre-K on Wednesday and they couldn't be more excited! They've waited and waited to get to join all the big kids at school and now it's finally their turn. Mrs. Metzger has been warned :) but in all seriousness I think they're going to do great. They're so ready!
Pre-K
Maddie and Dog Dog.
Aubrey and Sushi
These girls of ours.💗 We sure do love them and can't believe how quickly they're growing up.
