New Chicken Barn...

Finally got to the point on the new chicken barn to round the girls up and move them into their new high class home.

Going to have more photos from inside soon but having problems getting things to load on new laptop and this old one is glitching.

School Pics

Since we are homeschooling this year I called around trying to get my boys in for school pictures but got the run around so I put the word out on the Homeschooling group that I wanted to get pics done and found a great photographer here locally.  CG Images out of Hoquiam.

Well, can't get good smiles in every one but I still like this one. 

This is a rope walk so both boys are balanced on a rope and trying to hold still and smile.
 

 

That is just a sneak peek I don't want to give away the ones I am using for our Christmas cards this year!  We got some of each boy alone then a couple great pics of the boys together!  So much better then school pictures I have gotten last few years.

 

 

Shhhhhhh

Finally got all 26 asleep...silence for the first time in 2 days when the eggs started hatching.  They are so darn cute...

Oyster Feed and loggers

Yesterday was one of my family's favorite days...Oyster Feed day.  Always the 2nd Saturday in September and so darn yummy.

Ok, pic was taken after a couple plate refills and everyone was getting pretty full.  Boys were excited because they got to drink soda.  Don't think we will eat oysters again for a few days.  They have all you can eat oyster stew, steamed oysters, bbq oysters, clam chowder, shrimp coleslaw and rolls.  It was so good, I came home and took a nap.

Then we headed to the stadium for Logger Playday, one of my favorite activities.  And the night is always ended with an amazing firework display.

This is one of the double buck races.  At the end of the night so many kids get the cookies, guess it would be wrong for me to push the kids aside so I can get a cookie to take home.  I tried double buck but I always had crooked cookies so I gave it up and only competed in the ax through when I was in college.

So that was our Saturday, it was a wonderful day.

My phone takes crappy firework photos.  Wish I had taken my camera this year...maybe I will remember next year...

Been MIA...sorry

Things have been so darn crazy trying to get homeschooling organized and under control.  I have things basically down at this point.  We have Grammar, Math, Physics, Reading and History. 

We are currently doing a review of 6th grade math before jumping into 7th grade math. 

We are reading Hatchet and I got some teacher books to go with it providing me with spelling, assignments and tests to go with the story...also found I can get the book on audio file from the library and I hope to use that as time I can step away from the homeschool during the day.  Sky said his teacher last year did their books on tape during class also. 

Just got my history books Thursday, I broke down and went with The Story of the World.  Starting with book 1, even though it is meant for grade 5, Sky has not covered the material in 5th or 6th grade so I am going with it.

Not a fan of Physics, must admit it, trying to get though it so we can get to the fun stuff, biology and getting to dissect stuff. 

Using Grammar Ace at this point but I have gotten Grammar books for both 5th and 7th grade that we will dive into once I do this basics which is so cool because the assignments are designed to go with School House Rock.  I LOVE SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK.  Boys say graphics are cheesy but I don't care, looked at minecraft lately?  I am very shocked at how little my boys know about the parts of grammar.  Sky got some last year at the middle school but Brady and Sky both agree they never learned much of it in elementary school.

Oh and Sky is starting homeschool band this week.  He currently is the only clarinet player in the intermediate group but they have a nice variety of members from sax to trumpet to flute to drums.

Went to library yesterday to make copies of assignments and test for the next week or so and now after I get the kitchen clean I can start organizing that.

Homeschooling fears...

Today we are starting homeschooling.  Shane said we needed to start early so if the boys do not do their work we still have time to get them into public school on Sept 2nd.  I am nervous that the boys won't take it seriously.  Sky said he wanted to sleep in tell 10, I said 8 but then decided to let them sleep tell I had breakfast ready.

I am not ready though.  Classroom is still not ready so we are starting off at the dining table.  Won't be too bad since Shane has been working outside mostly and not in his office which is just off the dining room. 

Fingers crossed!!!

so much love...

I am reminded of a Friends episode today.  Ross and his ex wife are about to have a baby and Ross is fighting with Susan and Phoebie says how lucky the baby is because he isn't even born yet and people are fighting over who gets to love him the most...

This leads me to this situation...

On the left is Henny Penny, on the right is Speckles and the turkey in the middle is New Years and in the corner behind them is Baby.  The turkey is very protective of Baby but both hens don't like her getting too close to her.

And now here is her first photo...Baby...

Triple Z farms expanded by 2 feet...

This is Henny Penny...

She likes to sit on as many eggs as she can gather around her...some say they will kick eggs out from under them if they know they are not viable.  She is usually right next to one of our turkeys and this is a collection of eggs from both nests.  but last night I found a special treat...

Do you see the white area between the light brown egg and my hand?  That is Baby!  Our first chick to be hatched from our own eggs by our own birds!  Technically she hatched under a turkey I think but as soon as she hatched Henny Penny and Speckles took over as mommies.  The turkey is also working to protect her but the hens don't like the turkey getting too close to her either.  When other chickens come into the coop both hens puff up and start making growling noises and chase them away from Baby.


I have been trying to decide if I should separate them but everyone has a different opinion.  Some think it is good for the hens to raise them with the flock and others say the babies can be injured or even killed this way.  Only 1 has hatched and I don't want her to be all by herself so keeping fingers crossed that the 2 moms can keep her safe.

Missing my Sky...

I know I know Sky makes me crazy, especially with his new pre-teen attitude he has found but now that he is gone to visit his grandparents for the week I really miss him...

How sweet is my little baby?

something to think about...

Camping

Well, we managed to get away for a couple days but then the rain started and was suppose to stay for a couple days so we headed home.

 

We went to my favorite place in the world at the Hoh River, boys were bummed that we didn't go to KOA with all the fun kid activities but I finished reading my book got a nap one day and loved the early mornings (before the boys woke up).  Days were filled with boys fighting.

 

Never guess they were total monsters...below is the closest you can ever get to heaven here on earth...

 

the sound of the water falling over the rocks fills your ears and the clean fresh air makes your lungs work better.  When Shane and I were dating he brought me here because he loves to fish this area and when talk of camping comes up I always want to go here.

 

Sky said the sound gave him a headache but I just love it.  The water is so crystal blue.  Even Romeo had a blast playing in the water.

 

The saddest part was the burn ban was extended to campfires in Jefferson County state lands so we had to go buy a camp stove (not even allowed to use a charcoal bbq).  Then we ended up having dinner each night in Forks and found I am SO thankful we didn't buy either of the homes we looked at in that area...first night was at the burger place and Shane even agreed he would rather go to McDonalds, at least you can taste the meat on their burgers. 

 

Second night went to a dirty sit down place with poor serves and borderline food and I ended up with tummy problems for 2 days.  Next day it rained all day so we headed home that evening.

 

I wanted my roasted hotdogs so last night we had a campfire at the river with hot dogs, chili and smores.  No one would let me sing campfire songs.  And of course half the time was the boys fighting. 

 

I have wanted to make a camp site down there since I first saw the area.  Hopefully we will be able to find the time to do this.  There is a great area to pitch a tent and we have taken the RV down there when we had BBQs in the past.  Plus I want to fix up the fishing shack to be a little cabin. 

 

 

Final note:  The entire way home even with the rain dumping down I wanted to turn around and go back.  I wish Shane and I could go camping here just the 2 of us so we can enjoy the quiet.  Even with the rain I would have sat under the awning with a new book and love every moment of it...heck forget Shane I want a few days by myself...

 

the 4th...

I have not been one to get lots of fireworks for the 4th.  That is why I loved my beautiful house in Spokane because I got to see lots of wonderful fireworks.  I would print the schedule for the ball field and have my camera on a tripod and take some amazing photos.  I just loved it.  Missed very few displays because I would schedule camping trips around them.

Since moving here we get a few parachute men things that the boys like and some poppers that you toss on the ground and they go pop and everyone has been happy.  This year boys managed to get Shane to buy over $100 worth of fireworks.  We had a few of the normal ones...

But some were quite amazing.  After living in Spokane for so long with everything being illegal I didn't know you could even get ones like this.  If I had known we could get these over here we would have been doing more for sure.  I can't imagine what illegal ones are sold on the reservations do.  I was impressed.  We had some even better but I didn't get to video them.

Like every place though they are talking about making fireworks illegal here too.  We have had such a dry couple of months, even here things are starting to not be as green as usual.

How to get a Peacock?

Brady and I were at the local nursery and we were amazed at the beautiful Peacock there.  We both want to get a set of Peafowl to have here on the farm. 

They had a female also but she was shy and wouldn't come out from behind a fence so I could get a good picture.  Isn't he just beautiful.

such a different life...

Everything is so different now.  Life was totally different when we lived in Spokane.  Yesterday, I get home after having to make a run to town for a couple things before the stores all closed and I drive up to see this...

My chicken girls supervising Shane working on his tractor.  It was strange to me, I couldn't help but think..."Greenacres is the place to be"

For all his complaining about trying to keep this tractor running, I think Shane is actually really enjoying it, farm living is the life for him.

Making music

Sky worked so hard in band this year.  The final concert was 2 1/2 hours long.

I am going to miss seeing him all dressed up.

His latest endeavor is to learn the Trombone.  The music store in town closed down and Shane took the boys down and got them a used one, not a great one but he can see if he likes it and we can always get a better one later.

Starting to sound like music and not an elephant stuck in the wetland.

Kicking butt and taking names...

 Brady did amazing at the last swim meet!

Here is the final score card...3rd place (white) in 200 yd Relay Medley (swam freestyle 13-21 age bracket), 4th place (yellow) in 50 yd back stroke, 6th place (burgundy) 50 yd breast stroke, 2nd place (red) 50 yard freestyle, 2nd place (red) 100 yard freestyle and 1st place (blue) 200 yd Freestyle relay (swam 3rd position 11-12 age bracket).

He swam 6 events ribboning in all!  He dropped 7.58 seconds in all!!!!

Local baseball

I just found out the Grays Harbor Gulls first home game is May 25th.  I am so excited that we have a new local team!  These guys get paid $100 a week and a post game dinner.  When on the road they also get breakfast.  These are guys who play because they love to play!

This image was on the kxro.com site (designed by David Genest).  new team colors are navy and orange.  I am so excited to take the boys to a game!!!

Homeschool it is....

Things have been so crazy around here!  I am excited to get started on our homeschool plan!  We are doing some easy classes this summer and will hit a full load come fall.  The plan is to school year around and then we can take time off when ever the mood moves us to hit the road!

I have spent so many hours researching curriculum!  Decided on Math, Grammer and Science.  Still looking at Literature, History and health...not sure what I might be missing.

We are doing a unit study this summer on the Sound of Music.  We can talk about the music and the parts of the story of course but we can also look into the geography...Sky had no idea the location of Austria...the history of the time...early WWII...and we are going to research food of the area and create a menu.  Then we can also look at what happened to the family after the film.  just a way to get my feet wet on creating a unit study, which I am not planning on doing all our learning around that style.

Keeping fingers crossed that things work out. 

fundraiser time

if any of you are interested in buying from Brady for their fundraiser let me know...

You can go to www.sigfund.com and check things out.  If you want to order I can give you the info to be sure Brady gets credit.  Sale ends March 8th.

school stuggles

As most know getting Sky to do his homework has been a HUGE fight on a daily basis.  During Christmas break he spent lots of time catching up on all the assignments he chose to put off but it paid off!  For term 2 he got an A in Band (of course) and  Bs in everything else.  Which is amazing because during the holiday I got a letter from his math teacher tell me he was failing math.  I had to get tough and he went into see his teacher a couple days after school and brought his grade clear up to a B.  That tells me he knows what he is doing and it is all because he is lazy. 

He feels homework is totally unfair.  Too bad!  Time to get over it Sky!

Brady's moment...

Brady does not like to be singled out.  He gets so embarrassed but today he got 2 awards at the assembly.  First was a star of the month for Cooperation award from his reading teacher for always helping his neighbors in class.  Then he got a Principals Award that states:  Brayden is constantly helping out his classmates in subtle ways and never does it for recognition.  He pushes in chairs, turns off light and picks up after other always being a humble helper. 

He was called in front of the whole school and was looking very uncomfortable with the applause...

first award he grabbed and ran was gone before I could even get the pic!

At least the second time he had to stand there a little longer so I could get a photo!!! 

People are always telling me how wonderful my boys are at school, I just wish they shared some of that part of their personalities with mom and dad.

Criminal caught...

I went to take the boys to school and for the 2nd time I found damage to my van.

Last time it was the lower part of the LeBra left in shreds today it was the part that covered the hood.  I have had these on other vehicles for almost 10 years with nothing like this happening!

So we now have security cameras on our property so I asked Shane to check the video and see if it was damaged when I came home last night from the middle school.  What we found was that at 8:30 pm Romeo started jumping up on my van ripping the bra to shreds!  He had it half off then went to the deck and sat watching the van for a few minutes then ran back down and tore it the rest of the way off.  Unfortunately the van was parked just so we could only see the front of the vehicle so I do not know if there was a cat sitting on the roof or something that set him off.

China hutch

I think I have the china hutch set up so it looks wonderful...

I am so excited!  We are going to be using the good china more often now that I have it all right here!!!!

Sky's solo

My friend send me a pic she took of Sky playing his solo

Yes, that is Sky wearing something other than sweats and a t-shirt!  He hates it and he has it off before we even get home but he looks so nice.

blue jays?

Ok, never really been into birds but I have to share these birds that are hanging out here.  They have a head like a cardinal and they are a beautiful blue color so I am thinking maybe blue jays...

One is in the top window pane 2nd from the right dead center and the other is diagonal in the bottom 2nd pane from the left.  I know you can't see them very well but they were so cool, watching me clean the living room.

New Bathroom...

I keep forgetting to get "after" photos of my main floor bathroom and I thought I had better get some photos before the men in the family have time to mess things up!  I just LOVE the color of paint we went with.  It is a blueish green color.  The fixtures are bright white and the floor is beige...Shane picked this out and I really like it now that it is in!

We put in a whirlpool tub and I love how deep it is, really feels great when you have sore muscles. 

I fell in love with this vanity when I first saw it!  I first picked it out for upstairs but then when the time came we thought something larger would be better for the bathroom we all use every day but I had hopes to get this and it fit perfect here. 

I just added the rack behind the toilet, still not sure if I like it and it might not stay.  The new toilet has a way smaller tank then the last one did and we didn't move the drain pipe so there is a big gap between the toilet tank and the wall.  I thought a rack would help make that look better but now I worry it makes the small room look too crowded...  I am using the brown and blue-green towel sets I used in the downstairs bathroom at our last house for now and they look ok, hope to find a nice beige set to really look nice though.

Now that the holidays are over we will get started on my old office.  I was going to have it be Sky's room but the boys want to stay in the same room and make it a playroom for them.  We are thinking that will be a good idea but if they can not get along then they will have to be separated. 

Here is a look at the before pictures of the bathroom...

This tub could not be cleaned!  I scrubbed and scrubbed and yuck!



The vanity was just painted plywood and see the classy industrial soap dispenser?

All I can say is gross!  there was so much water damage in this wall when we started removing things!  I had started taking most of my showers at the YMCA.  When I showered here I took my glasses off at the door, made it better when I couldn't see it!

sorry bad photo but the floor was horrible too.  see the green color behind the toilet is where the brown flooring had been torn up.  The first time I saw this house I walked into this bathroom and there was a dead bird on the floor...that is all I thought about when I walked in here!!

One thing you don't see in the photos is that one wall had wood glued to it.  pieces of wood about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide...it was really strange!  Under the wood we found 3 layers of wall paper and a couple different colors of paint.  I know someday someone might look at what I have done and think "gross who would choose this" but I am so happy I could piddle!

sun is up...

Now that I can see here is hwy 101 in front of my house

This is just south of Ocean Beach Road.

weather

Sun isn't up yet so I can say how bad things look around here but all schools are closed, our basement is flooded and there are mud slides blocking highway 101 just north of our drive way and a couple miles south of our driveway.  At this point town is blocked due to mudslides so we can not head west to Olympia without going up around the peninsula.  At this point just going to have to sit tight tell sunlight and then we can see what is going on.  I need to try and make it to town and get a pump!

New Years...

This New Years my plan is to declutter and finally get rid of everything I don't need, want or use.  I started by getting my china hutch set up and taking out all the items that don't belong there.  I also FINALLY got all the pictures back up on the walls in the living room and dining room.  Looks pretty good too if I say so myself.

I will continue my goal of us eating dinner at the table each night as a family when possible.  I am going to enforce the concept of not using the table as a catch all.  This has gotten to be quite an issue since we finished the remodeling.  We got use to not having a table during the remodeling and now I have to get everyone back into the habit.

I got to use my beautiful china for New Years dinner

We had ham, mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, sour dough rolls, hot cocoa, corn and salad.  The table looked so nice.

We had a special New Years Eve dinner also, due to various reasons we did not get to have a special dinner for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day so Sky cooked an amazing Prime Rib dinner for New Years Eve.  I do not know what Sky's future will hold...he loves music and he loves to cook.  I had to be gone due to Brady having a swim camp and I gave Sky some direction and crossed my fingers...

The Prime Rib was cooked perfect!

 

 

The dinner was rounded out with baked potatoes with all the toppings, salad, corn and Cheddar Bay biscuits.  I just wish we had used the good china for this dinner too.

So we have had a wonderful start so far.  My babies go back to school tomorrow and in many ways I am going to miss having them home all day.  But, I will enjoy the quiet during the day also.

Hope everyone has a wonderful 2015!