Fall Fell

Well hello there, friends! I know, how dare I call you my friends when I can't keep you updated for two months on our super duper exciting lives. 

Today is our area's annual "Shop 'Til you Drop" day...or, the path I am taking today: the "Just Go Home to Flop" day. Some very sweet mothers from church spend the day watching the young children so the mothers can have the day off. We are so blessed! I decided it is more difficult for me to get anything done on the computer with children around than it is to go shopping, so this day has been set aside for a couple "computer" projects. This blog update was one of those projects. However, the flies seem to be taking the place of my children today. They keep buzzing around my head while I sit at the computer and every time I get up to swat them they suddenly disappear! Hehe. Sorry, my beautiful children and the pesky flies really have nothing in common.

We have been busy. Typically, I expect the outdoor projects to start winding down when September and October get here (obviously we aren't farmers), but this year the projects are all in highest gear until winter arrives.

Namely, the landscaping. I don't know when I agreed to this project, but I obviously wasn't under the impression that it would be three years and counting before it got done. We hired Jesse to help Matt over the summer to force ourselves to work on it regularly. Since then, we have had several good work days and some of Matt's family has helped as well. Now the one wall is finally coming together and we hope to see this phase completed come spring.

 

Matt's dad came over to help one night.

 

It is so good to see progress!

Then we decided to put in two egress windows on the other side of our house before winter. So that's our other side project. I spent a week getting the rock out of the landscaping along that wall, then we got the holes dug with a backhoe. Now we are waiting for supplies to come in so we can cut the holes and install the window in the next couple weeks.

These kids are falling in love with all the dirt and mud!

Meanwhile, life has been happening too. The last weekend of August, we traveled to Morris for Keegan and Callie's wedding. We went part way on Friday night and then enjoyed visiting Alice at her apartment on Saturday, where she made a Chinese meal for our lunch! We spent Saturday night with Caleb and Heidi, where the boys had a great time playing with their youngest boy, Collin! The wedding and weekend were very nice, and we were thankful for safe travels both ways. 

The following week, we tried out another Chinese food: steamed eggs for breakfast! Alice said it is what she liked to eat for breakfast growing up, so we gave it a try. Given my supplies and resources, it worked best to mix the eggs and water (2:3 cup ratio) in a pan, cover it, and cook it on the stove without stirring until it is cooked through. It wasn't the method described in recipes, but I think we got the basic experience. It is kind of custard-like in texture and then you drizzle a bit of soy sauce on top. We thought it was pretty good, but Matt hasn't let me make it for him yet because he likes his cheesy scrambled eggs.

For Labor Day, we went to Francesville, Indiana for Jared and Chloe's wedding. It seemed like a short ride after our trip to Morris the previous weekend. We enjoyed getting to know Phil and Steph's family and appreciated the love we felt in the church out there. The bond of Christian faith is a wonderful blessing!

We've had several baby showers the past couple months, as we have many first time mothers around here! Hannah's baby shower was one of the highlights, and the other was Rachel and Liezel's shower that we hosted here. It was quite fun and went well!

Angela did a great job on the woodland-themed decor!

Then, we've had family nights, potlucks, singings, evening plans, and even squeezed in a date night in September. I love the nights when our calendar is blank...though that usually means we are working on the landscaping.

On the home front...

Joanna was quite fussy the month of September. I was hoping it wasn't her new personality emerging, or a preview of the "terrible twos," but, alas, four of her molars popped through and we are seeing her smiley self coming back. She has also been done nursing as of the past couple weeks. Joanna is becoming quite a handful as she spends a good portion of her day digging through drawers and cupboards and climbing up on tables, counters, desks, or whatever looks appealing. Last week I ended up on the phone with poison control after she drank my dishwasher detergent and was choking/gasping for breath for several minutes. Fortunately we use all-natural Shaklee so I wasn't terribly worried about it killing her. I am failing at training this child. But at least she is happy. 

Micah is as cute as can be now that he is talking in full sentences. The things he says, along with his expressions, are so funny. He tends to get bossed around by his big brother, which can cause some fits, but he is starting to relish his role as big brother to Joanna. He is so sweet and sensitive!

Levi can be a handful, but I can tell he is growing up. His eyes shine whenever he learns something new. And he loves to read - he is pretty fluent up through 2nd or 3rd grade reading level. It is quite convenient for everyone around here.

Every week seems to have its ups and downs. One day I feel like everything is under control and everyone is loving, kind, and cooperative. The next day everybody spends the day wailing and getting into mischief and I find myself questioning whether my children will ever turn out. But such is life. It teaches me to lean on God's grace and I am often reminded that it is my example that is going to teach the most to my children, not my words or my discipline. Raising children is such a long-term journey; it takes faith to believe that we are ever going to end up where we are trying to go...especially when the days get long and difficult. Thankfully, God does grant us a glimmer of hope now and then when we see our children say a kind word or help someone in need.

Now...a lot of pictures.

We went to the park one day for lunch!

I went through my first aid cabinet as one of the final steps of my whole-house declutter project. I gave the boys some of our excess items and they had fun playing vet the rest of the day! (I also have declared that I am basically done with my house overhaul.)

We stopped for ice cream after our last strings performance in Burlington!

The new swinging bridge at Seth and Brenda's

Lunchtime after Baby Joy! 

Someone got an owie on her nose.

Young couples wiener roast! Matt took the boys there while Joanna and I went to Princeville for Sandi and baby Colt's baby shower.

The second Sunday of September, the Bloomfield church hosted the area churches for a potluck and singing at the old church in Bentonsport. The turnout was very good and it was a nice evening!

The apple cider press is complete and made it through a couple test runs! 

We're trying to get a more efficient process down for "grinding" the apples.

 

The bee project is ongoing...

So far this year, our garden has produced two watermelon and four pumpkins. It seems like the perfect amount of produce to me! Nothing else that I planted came up, and I didn't bother replanting. I took it as a sign that I didn't need a garden this year anyway. :)

I got the basement carpets shampooed because they were very stained and dirty. The guy had a great audience. 

This girl. She apparently forgot to put the lid down before she climbed up to get more toilet paper...

And then I have another problem on my hand called my boys. Not sure what gave them the bright idea, but they have been into pulling off mattresses and bedding lately...

Joanna and Adrienne at Schulz family night!

The kids had fun with all the costumes!

My family took Christmas pictures the next weekend. Levi was suddenly in one of his moods when we got there, so he was frowning in every picture. I'm not going to spoil our Christmas cards by posting the big family pictures, but here are a few of the extras.

This is what Super Daddy looks like. These kids are so blessed.

Then we celebrated September/October birthdays.

One morning the boys walked out carrying the changing pad and told me they were having a funeral.

Cookies with Uncle Jesse!

All the "Grandmas" at Lanz Nauvoo

Levi was sick earlier this week, so I was explaining to him about germs. Then I looked over and Micah was giving his cup to Joanna saying, "Want some germs, Joanna? Here's some germs for you. Drink the germs..." Not sure he got the right message.

I have officially run out of time, so that's all for now. Have a wonderful rest of the month!