Last Day of 2015

Hello end of the year today and hello beginning of a brand new year tomorrow. This last year has been a whirlwind at times but as I look back I am nothing but thankful and know how blessed we are.

There is no way to put down all of the happenings over this past year, but here are a few of our main happenings from 2015....

>Started the year out in Idaho

>Moved from Idaho back to Arizona

>Made 6 trips to California to see family in the last 8 months

>Our daughter had an amazing Idaho 4H experience traveling to Boise to learn about the Government

>Our daughter started her passion of Ballet again once in AZ

>Our son started Boy Scouts in AZ after saying good bye to his troop in ID

>We added on 12 more chickens

>Lost a few chickens and a few favorite guinea pigs this year

>We celebrated birthdays in Idaho, Arizona and California

>Participated in both the San Diego Fair and our AZ hometown fair

>Reconnected with friends and built stronger friendships

>Husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage

>We celebrated 1 year anniversary of hubbie staying at home with us

>5 years of Homeschooling

>Spent Christmas with out of town family for the first time in 5 years

>Started looking at buying a home and settling down to come in 2016

Through our past year it has been immensely evident that the Lord has strongly been guiding us, keeping us safe and has a definite plan and a path for our family. Holding that close as we enter this new year, focusing on trust and faith in him.

A few snap shots of the kids Christmas morning...tired and our son not feeling well it was still a blessing to wake up with family near and to spend the holiday with them-

Family, Love and Faith.

Christmas Week

Christmas music playing daily, classic Christmas movies in the evenings, baking, making, decorating, wrapping, laughing, loving. It was a wonderful weekend and is going to be a great week ahead-looking forward to seeing family and being with the ones we love most. 

 And this little cutie below, hanging out in a cage in our kitchen since he was feeling under the weather for a few days! Yep, he's in the nice warm cozy house!

Family Blessings.

This Week...

Happenings around here....

Beautiful sunrises

School time turned art time turned making home made Christmas gifts

Baked Apple Dessert 

Surprise of hidden eggs in a nest found

Boy Scouts award night..1st time wearing brand new uniform

Dance Classes 

Family Game Night

Movie of Mr. Poppers Penguins

Relaxing, playing, reading, resting, laughing...just being

 

Its a beautiful week.

Dance Performance & Sheep

Our weeks have been hectic lately between holiday activities, performances, extra work, schooling, learning to prep to have a lovely break with family for the Christmas week very soon. Last night was our daughters last Christmas performance. We're always so proud of the hard work she puts in. Our son picked her out some special flowers for a job well done...carnations and a single rose. Today the sun is out, and the weather is beautiful. We took a walk to the fields next door to view the sheep and their babies. We love that winter brings them every year to graze the fields down to prepare for another growing season. Our son captured some great photo's. A beautiful rest of our family day ahead. And onto the last week before heading to spend holidays with family. Life is good.

Life is beautiful. God is good.

Christmas Time

Our house is filled with holiday music both listening and playing on the piano. We just got up a few special decorations over the last weekend (not everything and no tree due to traveling out of town) and our daughter has had one holiday dance performance and is about to perform again this upcoming weekend. We also had our 4H Christmas party. Holiday movies for movie night and chats about what Christmas is really about and what to hold dear in our hearts. I am somewhat thankful we have no normal Tv to see all of the holiday commercials, ads and such. We at times discuss how difficult it is in our society to really stress and focus on what is truly important. We can only try to start at home and not be concerned with the rest of the world - remain true to what our focus is and what we want to teach our children. Thankful for this season and for Christ, family and friends.

Blessings this holiday season.

4H - 5 Years Completed

Last evening was a very special night. Not just a normal 4H awards and recognition night but our daughter received her 5 year award and member pin. She has completed 5 years in this wonderful organization and we couldn't be more proud of her. To think of when she began, at just 10 years old and how much she has grown in her love for animals, her knowledge, friendships and overall as a person. What a great influence 4H has been in her life. Whether she chooses to continue this venture until an adult or stop is up to her but it has already made an incredible impact on her life completing these last 5 years.

4h - an incredible blessing being a part of the last 5 years in this organization.

Today - Outdoors

A break in our day to venture outdoors is always appreciated and loved. A light breeze, slight sun - much cooler weather. We played on the playground, skipped rocks, said hello to ducks, gathered shells and rocks, talked, laughed and had fun. I live for being outside. Now our son plays outdoors with his neighbor friend while our daughter reads, hubbie is gone and I finish up a few last things for the day before starting the dogs dinner and our dinner.

Onto a quiet evening and looking to tomorrow, Thanksgiving. 

There is much to be thankful for.

 Sometimes it may seem like a simple life..but it is a blessed and loved life. Simple days have the best pleasures.

This Week

Happy Thursday! This week so far we've....

Baked Cookies

Veggie Chips for Snack

Read

Danced

Watched Ballet on YouTube

Studied Rocks and went on a 'finding' walk

Learned more about the USA

 Practiced Math daily

Attended boy scouts 

Friends over

Crock Pot Soup for Dinner

Spent time together and had fun!

and the weeks not over yet....

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies with Walnuts (kuddos to my husband on these!)

 Our son's collection..

 Recipe for White Chicken Chili -Crock Pot or if you want to go meatless, just add additional beans and corn! http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/White-Chicken-Chili-_Crockpot_-1204486

Tasty but a little spicy for the kids!

Truly a blessed week thus far.

Saturday Hike

At first it was to be a trip to hike in the mountains among the tree's then our son remembered some trails we hadn't been to in years. So plans changed but hiking still remained the activity of the day. Listening for sounds, bird watching with binoculars, lots of pictures taken by our son and this momma, several miles walked, wonderful conversation about plants, animals, rocks and minerals.

A beautiful Saturday spent together. We love getting out in nature together...

 Slightly hard to see...but can you see the honeycomb directly in the center of the below photo!? 

Pretty awesome site with binoculars, photo just doesn't do it justice. Pretty spectacular coming out of the rocks. Kids agreed coolest thing we saw on our day hike!

Beautiful hike.