7 Quick Takes -- Random life with the new baby.

1) Scenes like this melt my heart.

Rebekah is holding Peter and Benjamin while reading a book that Zipporah, Miriam (not seen here, but close) and Paul are also listening to. I love when they all do stuff together.

2) Rebekah was drawing a picture of our family at scouts last night and she drew Dad in his underwear. 😁

She didn't get it all finished before she had to go do other things.

3) Benjamin :)

Three weeks old today!

Looking up at me while I'm holding him.

4) Benjamin has dirt under his nails.

How is this even possible? It's not like he's been playing in the dirt or anything. And it's not like there is dirt that isn't frozen or mud right now. What a puzzle here. . . (And yes, I am bathing him regularly.)

5) Creations by the kids.

6) Rebekah loves to wear Benjamin.

She is so smitten with her youngest brother. She comes to get him as often as she can when he's crying, or even not. She wears him as often as I let her. (He usually goes to sleep when she wears him.) It is really sweet to see her being all "momma" to him. And it makes my life so much easier!!

7) Randomness

I came home from a doctor appointment the other day to these three being absolutely goofy. They were singing Christmas carols. I guess Peter was riding the horse to bring the girls somewhere. Never a dull moment around here.

7 Quick Takes in December 2018

(Disclaimer, these might not be so quick. 😊)

1) Extended family on Gordie's side.

With Grandpa and Grandma, all their kids (3 boys plus 3 spouses), and all the grandkids.

We had a nice get-together early in December with Gordie's side of the family. Did I mention I feel like I did well with my in-laws? They are good stock. We had a good time. And the weather was beautiful for pictures.

Just our clan.

Just our kiddos.

All the cousins.

2) Vehicles

Our house is starting to look a little bit like a used car lot. 😊 We recently (thanks to our amazing neighbors) added the 2005 Chevy truck to our collection. It is four-wheel-drive so we can tow out the van when it gets stuck. And it is probably the nicest car I've owned in the past ten years. Too bad it only seats six. But that's still a lot and I am so grateful to have it.

Gordie is a little bummed, though, as he had his eye on Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel but this was definitely the wiser choice for us at this time. Perhaps we will need a more "farmy" truck as our future out here on the prairie progresses.

3) Holiday Houses

I mentioned our shepherd in a previous post. One of his activities as he searches for Jesus is to make a home for Jesus in our hearts, as well as making a gingerbread house. We improvise and make our houses with graham crackers and frosting, but everyone loves them. And the sugar buzz is really the same I think.

These four decided to combine their resources to make one big "complex." I believe the boys were more focused on the structure and they let Miriam do the decorating.

Peter made his own.

Zipporah also made her own.

And since Rebekah was busy helping everyone else in the beginning, she found enough supplies to make two by herself at the end.

4) Museum

We actually finished up our semester about a week before the regular school kids (because that's how our virtual school does it) so we loaded up to celebrate the effort by hitting the museum. The kids always love it there.

Doesn't Rebekah look like an angsty teenager here?!?!  😁

I was told Peter did this "by himself."

And of course I took a moment to take advantage of the large mirror and capture a photo of Baby #8. I always get so big when pregnant!! But it's so worth it. 😊

5) Tiny House

Because I know you just can't wrap your brain around our living quarters. Here are a few pictures. It has gotten a little more cramped thanks to the addition of the rocket mass heater, but are adapting and enjoying the heat for sure!

It burns twigs. Crazy right? But it is awesome.

And we can cook on it. Bonus!

Lit.

The crack was a bit of a shock to discover, (definitely not supposed to do that!!) but Gordie has since fixed it (because he's awesome) and it is working again to supplement/sometimes replace our propane heater. It also helps with some condensation issues we've been having this being a metal building and sealed up entirely too well. 😊

6) Random kid stuff.

Samuel loving on the cats. Normal cats sit in your house and look out the window all day. Our cats sit outside and look in our house all day. Sometimes we go out and say hello. (Please pardon the messy glass. Cleaning is beyond me these days.)

Check out this picture Zipporah drew. Not bad for a 4-year-old. She is artistic like her older sister Rebekah I think. And she probably has better handwriting than all of her older brothers already.

Peter smiling, just because.

Miriam met Santa at the mall while selling stuff for Cub Scouts.

Samuel moved up to Tenderfoot rank in Boy Scouts. That means I get a pin on my ribbon as his mom. (Such a cool tradition.) 

Miriam and Zipporah being silly. They are always begging me to come take pictures of them these days.

7) And my friends blessed me with a Sprinkle!

I have the best of friends that threw a celebration for Baby #8. It was so touching to be remembered even though we already have a good amount of kids!

Pardon the messy mirror. This is my favorite pregnancy outfit these days. Many thanks to my mom for the beautiful cardigan.

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.