February through June

The task of figuring out where to begin in updating the blog seemed overwhelming, but when I got online, I saw I had this one still in the drafts so I decided to go ahead and post it for a start! Not sure if anyone has missed us here on the blog, but it is kind of nice for me to have a little record of our life happenings! 

Beginning in February 2023: 

Happy birthday to Micah! Our first baby lambs were born on his birthday! He named them Charlie 1 and Charlie 2. 

The next day, three more were born to the other mama! One was sold to be a 4-H bottle lamb, so we were left with four to raise. 

Matt had to nurse one sweet little lamb back to health. A predator was biting on all the lambs' ears and making them all bloody. This one in particular ended up losing most of her ears. The predator ended up being caught on camera - and it was the dog. She got tied up promptly.

Last winter's painting project! Abby helped me out; it was fun to have her living in the area for a month or two while she was in between jobs!

Levi and I visited McBride Hall before one of his appointments in Iowa City.

SCC Stemfest - was a fun outing with cousins on Micah's birthday!

We celebrated these three birthdays together in February! The theme kind of randomly fell together as usual, and the cakes were fun to make!

Cup stacking with the MACC (homeschool co-op)

Another big co-op day involved a field trip to the art center for an art class and a tour of the Burlington Fire Department. It was so much fun!

Jonathan and Brittany's Mediapolis shower - great to meet her family!

Clara's actual first birthday. Figured I'd give her another attempt to blow out a candle, but no success.

She did figure out the cake thing, though.

We headed out to Elgin the next weekend for another wedding shower, so we made a Chicago day trip out of the deal on Friday and spent the rainy afternoon at the Legoland Discovery Center. The kids had a fun time! 

I even met a friend who had a few things in common with me!

We enjoyed getting to know the Dietz family as they hosted us twice! They ended up moving to Mediapolis over the summer so it was nice to make the connection ahead of time!

The next week, Sami turned one month old. Props and photography compliments of the kids.

Spent a day at Langwood for their spring open house!

Easter and eggs!

We had a marathon day of celebrating Easter on Saturday. Lunch and egg hunt at the Massners...

Supper and evening with the Schulz family!

These two sets of sisters are such a sweet foursome! 

Our Easter crew! We are so blessed with our healthy, smiling kiddos!

We enjoyed a picnic in the work-in-progress treehouse one day!

Clara's One Year Pictures

Micah - 6 years

Levi - 7 years

Charlie's First Birthday party - a little delayed since she spent her first birthday in the hospital, poor girl! 

The three oldest children participated in a historical character speech day with the other homeschoolers from church:  

Joanna was thrilled to be Sacagawea (with Pomp)!

Levi was Ben Franklin

Micah was Abraham Lincoln.

A big project that consumed a good part of the month of March for me - a photo book of the Mediapolis and Burlington church attendees, originally created for my new sister-in-law but we ended up distributing a lot of copies due to all the interest!

We managed to squeeze in a date night at some point with a Christmas gift card! Always quite a unique and special time to be together alone! 

Jonathan & Brittany's Wedding - May 14, 2023

Massner Family

I didn't get any pictures of the whole wedding party - so I guess this is as good as it will get! 

The reception

New auntie!

Congrats you two, love you! Welcome to the family, Brittany! 

Camille graduated in May - celebrated with another of our favorites, Libby! 

One final field trip with the Mepo Co-op was a day Geode mining...

...followed by a tour of the Fort Madison Lock & Dam!

I walked outside one day looking for Micah when I heard, "Mom, look how high I am! I've NEVER made it this high before!" He was so terribly tickled with himself, but YIKES!! 

Happy birthday to Daddy with ice cream sundaes! 

Micah was such a kind-hearted big brother to teach Clara the ropes of Mastermind.

Matt took the three older kids to the Outdoor Youth Jamboree at Big Hollow. They had a great time, as expected! 

Our growing lambs and sheep! 

Matt pulled off the annual Father-Son Campout again this Father's Day!

We celebrated Father's day with a little fire, hot dogs, fishing, and s'mores. 

New haircut!

We brought home the chicken house that Phil & Kelli's family has been borrowing for the last ten years. They even left ten chickens in it for us! 

The first egg collection at our house!

Quite the excitement it was at first to have our very own eggs! Over the course of the next couple months, we lost four chickens due to a predator, so the harvest hasn't been quite as bountiful lately.

Shortly thereafter, Matt bought himself a tractor! I guess we are truly farmers now. 

So funny and rewarding to see my boys loving to read!

June ended with my birthday,! Much less excitement turning 29 this year. I happened to have leftover donuts around so I didn't even need to make a cake!

Hopefully there will be more to come on the rest of 2023...for now, hope all is well with you! It is always great to hear from you, my readers, as well! :)