eat sleep and farm

Thanksgiving is one of my all time favorite holidays. I've said that here before and I've given reasons why, so I won't again. This year, as all the years since we moved to Washington, we will be spending it here, away from our families. Poo . But such is life. Before moving here 4 years ago, my Mom always cooked Thanksgiving dinner, with the exception of the few side dishes we married daughters brought. So maybe I'd bring rolls, or green beans, or something for dessert, but Mom always cooked the main meal. And I had no idea how much work went into it until I found myself needing to be the main chef for our Thanksgiving. I also had NO clue how much work and time went into the turkey prep and baking! I'm already not very skilled in the "get everything on the table all at once"  when it comes to a simple dinner, so our first Thanksgiving with me cooking everything was... a bit late. I think we ate 2 hours past the time we had planned. The best part was

People. I will miss these days SO much.  I know its not "kosher" to say that about these crazy exhausting days...  but I will miss them. I can feel them fleeting and it makes me emotional.  My only consolation is that I hope to have at least one Grandchild and I look  forward to getting to make all sorts of memories with Grandbabies.  Different, but at least it doesn't totally end after our kids grow up, right?  on the way home from the library.  had to pull over and snap the sunset.  I marvel daily at God's amazing artistry.      We love football. And as it turns out, we live 5 minutes from where our team trains.  Nights when Daddy says, "after dinner I'd like to play Minecraft with you guys!"  are the best nights. Rachel says they're better than birthdays :)  I love this picture mostly because none of them knew I was taking it.  And then because there's 5 people I'm crazy about in it.   I

 princess dress-up gifts from Daddy.      We try to do a walk every morning or afternoon. These kids amaze me how long they can walk!      We typically walk 3 miles and the only reason we go home is because I'M worn out :)   with his two little mommies.      a couple weeks ago we celebrated our school week by going to breakfast on Friday morning.    twins.  1 curly  1 straight      he still has a fond love for Curious George.      the night we taught the kids a few of our favorite card games.   why can't they put these cute things on MY jeans?! 

Happy Birthday, to my main man! Its that glorious time of year when we get to dote on Daddy and celebrate his life. And its perfect that Thanksgiving falls a week after his birthday because he's 1 person I am  always   super  thankful for. I don't gush online about my husband very often. Not because there's not much to gush about, its just stuff we typically keep more private. Today I'm gushing... Many of you know this, but I met my husband back when I was 14. I remember being invited to his 14th birthday and even though I didn't have a crush on him (yet) I can remember watching him and thinking he was the nicest young guy I had ever met. It was  his  party and yet he was making sure his friends were having a good time and even checking in with his sister and me (I was there as his sister's guest) to make sure we were having fun. His manners blew me out of the water. Opening doors, offering his seat, standing so his Mom could sit, going last in line, etc...

(my blog is back to private. I'm sorry if this is annoying. I no longer share photos publicly and some of the searches to my blog freak me out.) 2013 has gone by quicker than any other year in my life.  I'm not sure why that happens; time fleeting quicker every year.  But this year I have made a mental note as the weeks zoom by, how fast they're going.  Usually the growth of babies and toddlers seems to be obvious, while older kids' growth and mental development is less obvious.  This year it feels like all 4 of my kids are making huge leaps and bounds and doing all sorts of new things and making so many physical changes.  Our life has taken on a different rhythm as well. We're busy, sure, but not nearly as busy as we could be. Kids aren't doing sports this fall/winter, we're doing our best to keep our evenings just family, saying no to other activities (which is difficult but necessary) , I try to have at least 1 day a week where we sleep