365Project.2016 | Week 37

Hee-hee! I can work around technology quirks! :) I used to be able to pick whichever photo from my blogpost that I wanted to highlight when I shared it to Facebook. No longer. Only the first one shows. So, I've decided that I'm just going to pick my favorite from the week and stick it at the top of my post. So there. :)

We were fighting end of summer colds with all guns blazing this week, but I'm thankful to report that we were overwhelmingly successful. All things considered. :) In the midst of some sniffles and coughs, we had quite a lot of fun ... so here it be. :)

Day 255. I'm so thankful for the emphasis our church puts on children. ♥  Our crew enjoyed participating in the summer reading program which was geared to be accessible to strong readers, new readers, and non-readers. ♥

Day 256. The weather this week was absolutely beautiful. Seriously. Can it not be 70* and sunny all. year. long!?!?!

While the boys romped around the yard on their bicycles, this little lady and I played in the sunshine.

 She brought mama presents ...

 

 And we played peek-a-boo. ♥

It's so exciting to see Matthew getting stronger on his bike! He's plucky and pretty much determined to follow in his big brother's wheel tracks. ♥

 

 

Day 257. We enjoyed our 2nd week of homeschool group for the year ... thankful for a great group of like-minded families to meet with.

And would you believe we have a pair of Albino deer in the area???? This is the second time we've seen them wandering past the cornfield!

 Day 258. Super excited for this young man! He's my dyslexic learner, and things which come easily to his sister require significantly more effort for him. But, he's been making great strides, and it's exciting to see things clicking! (And when he grows discouraged, I remind him that the same mind which makes it harder for him to read and spell has given him an extraordinary ability to build and create ... complex stuff that Mommy can barely understand, much less build!)

Those sniffles turned into a cough for this lady Wednesday afternoon. She just wasn't feeling good! :( Thankfully I was able to find a combination of essential oils which we called "Gunk Buster" to knock it out quickly. ♥

Day 259. Matthew lost his first tooth!!! (And another is very soon to follow!) At 6-1/2, he held on to his baby teeth longer than either of his older siblings.

 Day 260. Tents have grown significantly more sophisticated over the years. :)

 Day 261. Daddy made progress on our new water filter system ...

 And Peter did this about 50 times over ...

 To build a really long rope ladder!!!

Such a cool project!

And it's going to enable the kids to get into a large tree farther back on our property that doesn't have climbing branches low enough to the ground.

 Daddy did a weight check. :)

 And while Hannah went to the fair with a friend, the boys decided to bike up the hill.

 Simply for the fun of coming down. :)

 

 

 

 Day 262. And today, our faithful van crossed 150k. She's still going strong, and we're thankful!

Thanks for popping in! :)

365Project.2014 | Weeks 51-52

Life is always an adventure around here, and 2015 bodes to take that to a new level. But, more about that in my next post. For now, let me finish out 2014. :)

Day 348. A Christmas selfie for Mommy and Abby ♥

Day 349. Abby loves the elephant on her playmat! It's the first toy she plays with every. single. time.

Day 350. This is currently my favorite picture of our little girl. (But already she's starting to look so much bigger!!!)

School happened today. :)

Day 351. Enjoying fun times with big brother!

Day 352. Peter created lots of artwork this month. He loves drawing on big paper and created many, many scenes of the nativity this December.

Day 353. What a blessing for this mommy to have such a big helper! ♥

Day 354. If you're wondering about Abby's bows ... nearly all of them have been gifted to her by a dear, creative friend. What a special blessing! (And now post-Christmas, we have three ribbons full!)

Day 355. I've been working on a baby blanket for Abby since about July ... but the caveat is that I only ever work on it in the van--usually on the way to/from church. The Sunday before Christmas I suddenly realized that I was really close to finishing it ... and over the next couple days, finish it I did! :)

Isn't she the cutest Christmas present ever?!? :)

 Another big helper! ♥

Day 356. Abby's first present ... she loved the paper!

Hannah made her very first cake, icing and all, completely from scratch.

Loving the matching PJ's from G&G! ♥

Day 357. Kids definitely enjoyed the start of Christmas vacation, with the special blessing of gifts from our Michigan family a few days before Christmas.

Daddy and the boys worked on refinishing our dining room table over Christmas break ...

We improvised for a while. :)

Mommy's big project the few days before Christmas was sewing matching outfits for the girls. :)

And in between helping Daddy, Peter thoroughly enjoyed putting together his new Lego kit! Thanks, G&G!

Day 358. G&G arrived Christmas Eve!! Grandpa lost no time in getting some baby snuggles. ♥

Our tradition continues on ... an annual Christmas Eve photo of just the two of us. ♥

Day 359. The stockings were hung 'round the window with care ...

Merry Christmas! ♥

Thank you for the beautiful baby quilt, Great Grandma!!

 ♥

The kids were excited to find new bikes at the end of their scavenger hunt!! Thank you, G&G!

Some flat ground later that afternoon made it easier to get used to their bigger sizes. :)

Day 360. Daddy, Grandpa, and the big kids enjoyed biking about seven miles the next day! Mommy and Grandma enjoyed some quiet time at home with Abby. ;)

Day 361. We love games around here, and Spot It! is a new favorite! :)

Saturday's big activity, though, was tree removal.

Peter's already learning to drive! :)

We also enjoyed seeing an animated light show! :)

Day 361. Here's the girls in their matching outfits! :)

Day 362. Happy 5 months, Miss Abby! 

Where has the time gone?!? Our little girl is happy and alert, spends most of her floor time with both head and legs raised, likes to eat every 2 hours, sleeps about 5-6 hours at night, makes lots of happy baby chatter, is starting to sit up independently, strongly prefers Mommy, Daddy, and siblings over anyone else on the planet, and weighs 15 lbs. :) We love you, Sweet Pea! ♥

Mommy and Daddy (plus Abby) enjoyed a special afternoon together while G&G watched the older munchkins. ♥

Day 363. The men took the kids biking, the ladies took the kids to see gingerbread houses. :) Abby said it was time for lunch. NOW. :)

Peter received a Jr. Archery set for Christmas and is enjoying learning to shoot. This was the first time all five arrows made the target! :)

Day 365. So glad that G&G could come visit! ♥

And this little lady seems to be a good finale for 2014. ♥

Thus ends the third year of my 365Project ... it's been fun. :) Looking forward to what 2015 will bring. Thanks for joining us!