7 Quick Takes -- Beginning of the year update

1) Our new little house is almost ready.

We are affectionately calling it "the cottage." Basically all that's left are to put the sinks and shower in and finish hooking up the kitchen things (like stove, dishwasher, etc). So a little, but still a lot. The solar panels and batteries are doing great and the new propane heater is keeping things warm. The well is done but we have not finished "turning it on" yet.

Here is the color we painted all the drywall: Avenue Tan.

2) We did the Shepherd for Advent.

So we journeyed with this shepherd guy (that the kids named Maximus -- or Max, for short) to find Jesus at Christmas. I think the little ones especially enjoyed it. Rebekah helped me mastermind it. It would not have gone nearly as well without her! We are considering asking the shepherd back for Lent.

3) I fit in my jeans again!

It only took a year and half. Guess it's time for another kid now. 😊
And here's some cute pictures of the girls mimicking me as I worked out one morning.

4) Miriam loves me.

She made me this little heart. All by herself.

5) Chores have been going better lately.

However, it's probably because I've turned into psycho Mom one too many times. 

And concerning chores, I posted the following on Facebook a few days ago:

Rebekah had been helping the younger children (Paul, Miriam, and Zipporah) water the plants every other day, but she told me this morning she decided to just do it herself now because it was too much work to have them "help."

I claimed solidarity in how I was trying to raise productive adults, but it was so much easier to just do the chores myself! Then I followed up with, I didn't have many chores when I was a kid and i turned out okay. -- To which Rebekah responded, "You turned out way better than okay. You turned out awesome, Momma!"

Oh that girl, what a blessing!

6) We like Aikido.

Rebekah, Samuel, and I attended the Aikido winter camp -- well, I attended the most of all of us, Samuel made a few days, and Rebekah a few more than Samuel. But it was very fun. We all really enjoy Aikido. And I especially like how the principles can help relate in regular life, too (things like relax completely and extend positive ki).

7) Here's some pictures of our kids playing outside at our new house.