7 Quick Takes -- Winter approaches

1) We like our cats.

About a month ago we brought home four cats that have decided to settle in. Spike and Thomas are adult orange tabby cats and Night Angel and Joanna (or Joan for short) are gray the tabby kittens.

Here are Night Angel, Thomas, and Joanna. Spike lets Gordie pet him when he's around, but he's often out on the prowl. And when he is home, he likes to sit a little ways off and watch rather than be petted.

 

They were living in our power shed, but we have since decided to remodel so yesterday we moved them to a different shed. Much more space at the moment (though I plan to put more stuff in with them for winter storage). We are hopeful, though, that this more comfortable location will keep them from spending all their spare time meowing at the front door, tempting our children to bring them inside (which we have vetoed at this time).

Some of the kitties in their "original" home, the power shed/wood storage and other junk. But we kept disturbing them to check the batteries and inverter. Plus they were kind of stinking up the joint.

New home in the other shed. Much more spacious. And the bench is a place the kids can sit out of the weather to pet them (so they don't have to bring them inside).

2) Our kids like baskets and buckets.

3) We switched up the "school spot" some.

Rebekah and Samuel spend much of their school day on their computers, as is typical for a virtual middle school. They were sitting with their backs to the wall for comfort, but this position gave way to too much temptation for youtube and random games. So we readjusted their area and it appears to be working much better. I can tell at a glance if they are off-topic and they know it, too.

4) Peter loves to cook!

Every time I start cooking -- or really doing anything in the "kitchen" Peter runs and grabs this stool and puts himself right up in the middle of things. He is happy as a clam to stir things and generally have his nose in it all.

5) Rebekah is studying apologetics.

For those not savvy with the term, apologetics is defending the faith. Rebekah is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation early next year (February 2019). That is where she receives an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a special way so she can be a witness for her faith. She is so excited for this and studying her little heart out.

Although I found it entertaining as she asked me the other day, "Mom, where are those apocalypse books you borrowed?" She meant apologetics of course, but it was oddly still fitting.

6) Baby #8 is making me fat.

17 weeks

29 weeks

7) Random pictures of our life.

A Jacob and Peter butter burrito -- so say the kids.

Zipporah wearing my boots.