Dear Winter....

Hope wrote about her hamster in her journal yesterday:

Dear Winter,

I love your snowball shaped tail  small body and cute ears. Your so soft and snuggley your even as soft as peter bear. I love you Winter and if you were in the snow I wouldn't see you because your so tiny and gray I love that you can stash stuff in your cheek's I love that your nose always move's and your eye's are so cute your feet are so cute too. I also love that your favorite place to stay is the stove when you escape from your cage. I love you Winter.

I was pretty mad when I saw someone had cut off all the hair off of one of the baby dolls. I questioned all the kids to find out who did it. I found out they were trying to give the doll alopecia to match Ava. She does only love the bald babies. :)

Joseph loves books. I had to laugh when I caught him reading War of the Worlds on the pot the other day.

Thank you Miss Kelly for the clothes you sent. The girls love them!

We found homes before Christmas for all nine of the puppies (and Nellie has since been spayed....we will never make that mistake again!)..

Anyway, this is one of the Chesapeake bay/great pyrenees puppies, "Peter Bear". He came for a visit last weekend. He is only three months old. Oh my word, he is huge! Look at those paws! What a sweet boy he was though. It was such a fun treat to see him and see how spoiled and how loved he is!

As you can see I am back on a blogging roll.....Maybe it will stick this time? There is lots more to blog about, so check back soon....

Stairs before and after....

It was a lot of work, bless his heart....

.....but I am very proud of my husband for doing this all by himself (that is, with a little help from his boys). 

No more carpet! Yay!

Kids keep growing....

My oldest turned 14 a couple of weeks ago. How is this possible?

We are so blessed to be a part of a wonderful homeschool community where Simeon has made some really great (and hilarious) friends. We told him he was too big for a party, and then while he was gone to Walmart with his dad, his friends mysteriously appeared behind the couch when he walked in the door. It was so great to see his surprised expression, and we had a great time.

I love, love love, that my teenage boy insists on celebrating his birthday every year with his sister, Ava. Their birthdays are three days apart. Maybe this is why they have such a special bond. I wish you could see her face light up when she hears his voice or his name. She adores her brother! (And vice versa).

Ava's second favorite person is her little brown cousin. Well, it goes without saying that her favorite birthday present was a little brown baby from her Aunt Marlita. So sweet. 

Ava has now been a part of our family longer than she was ever an orphan! What a great milestone to celebrate. Happy Birthday Simeon and Ava!