I've been intending to put these up for awhile. It has been so wonderful that the boys got the chance to play basketball!
This year has definitely been a building year. They have to go through the losses and times of coming together as a team in order to hopefully have a better team in years to come.
That's not always easy for competitive people to accept, but we're working on it!
I have to admit, I didn't think he would do it, but he did. Yep, the love of my life, had a wonderful discussion with me earlier in the week about the need to slow down a little bit and not be doing quite so much. Ok, I agreed with that, from now on we talk about all decisions first. Got it! Actually, this is really what we have "normally" always done, it's just not been real "normal" for awhile now (about six years or so). So, what does he do today but bring home two adorably cute rabbits for our daughter. Yes, I know it could be ALOT worse, but rabbits stink and make messes! They require care that I'm not interested in giving, Dirk won't be around to give, and Ally doesn't know how to give. Of course, another thought just occurred to me. I have a son who LOVES animals...maybe for the right price he'll be willing to help out...Maybe having Angel and Li' Gael come to live with us won't be quite so bad after all...Will is going to get richer but I'm willing to do some negotiating...
It's wonderful to have another baker in the house! Ally has been wanting to make fruit pizza for the longest time. She did a really great job...even with the help of her big brother!
There's my favorite Valentine, heading to the tractor to pick up bales for the hungry heifers.
Picking up bales is a lot easier than it was in my Dad's day. But then the bales are a lot bigger too.
Stacking them has changed a bit too.
All done with this load and heading my way!
Sure do love that guy...
Just in case you noticed in Will's photo below that he's wearing a basketball jersey it's because God totally answered the boys' prayers! Cole LOVES sports (Will just enjoys them). They had a huge desire to play basketball but it didn't seem to be happening. Then one day a friend called and said she mentioned Cole and Will's names for a team that was being put together for a tournament in March. It is so great to see God answering their prayers. Not only are they playing in the tournament but have a couple of games scheduled as well! I truly believe it's all about God!!!
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.. Ps. 37:4
I'm not sure we've ever had a year with more illness at our house but this mom is ready for everyone to be healthy. I'm sure Cole and Ally will be happy to see I put their 'sicky' photos up. I had to include the one of Will, he's the one who started the whole thing at our house...doesn't look too sick tho! 
Dirk turned 43 last Thursday! YAY, Dirk!!! Dirk's mom spent the weekend before visiting so we kind of had the big thing then but I did go all out and make a homemade Apple Crisp for his birthday. Aric, Tiffany, their girls, and Chad came over for our weekly Bible study and we had hot apple crisp with ice cream! The boys bought him an air soft gun and he enjoyed taking aim and getting in a couple of great shots.
Happy Birthday, Honey!
let loose! We really were doing school but then one of my children decided I was having a really nice hair day and that we needed to photograph the occasion (so that makes it kind of obvious how many good hair days I have). Being the photo lover that the child is, we had to include the child in some of the photos but then I didn't want to leave any of the other children out so we decided to let them in on the 'fun' we were having. Turns out the other two didn't really think that 'photo time' was a 'fun' time so they aren't really smiling too much in their photos. But at least some of us had a good time, and the boys did come around a little bit by the time we were done. It was a fun moment...but now, back to algebraic equations...
