The Midwest for us!

This summer our family made a pretty big decision to pick up our lives, say good bye to friends and family and move to a rural area near Lincoln, Nebraska. When we first got here we were slightly concerned by the number of people asking why in the world we would leave Idaho for Nebraska. Well, we've been here almost half a year now!  Wow that flew by!  We love Nebraska. Tornados not so much but, we have our dream house on a few acres with a barn and chicken coop all ready for animals in the spring. We've joined a homeschool co op. Found a great OPC church filled with people  we adore...  The list goes on!  Plus, being in the center of the country, we are looking forward to lots of trips here and there since we're so much closer to so many things!  First on my list is the creation museum in Cincinatti. I hope we will make it there this spring!
It's no coincidence that the house were buying was built by a family with ten kids!!  It's not huge or fancy, but its perfect for us!

 

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Favorite Outfit!

When three year old boys dress themselves.  :)

Georgia

                         We have taken some really sweet pictures of Georgia lately.  These were both taken
at the Cordelia Lutheran Church, not too far from our house.

Georgia pumping water

Georgia found a little New Testament in the Church and took it out into the sun to "read" it.

Happy Birthday Miss Bev!

Today is my very good friend's birthday!  She and her three daughters are such a huge blessing to our family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS BEV!  WE LOVE YOU!

Beals and Kirsches enjoying a little shade.
Melissa, Ashley, Bev and Katie Beals

Melissa, Ashley and Abi

                                             

Beals + Kirsches

                                                     

Katie and Jack

                                                             

Melissa, Abi and Aleyna

Tea Party for a Four-Year-Old

I am a sucker for fun themed parties! When I was growing up my mom often put together the best birthday parties. I remember parties at the skating rink, the bowling alley and THE BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY OF ALL TIMES at a New Kid's On the Block concert! I know, RIGHT!! That has probably played a huge role in my LOVE for super fun birthday parties!

In September our fourth child, Alexis, celebrated her fourth birthday! Alexis had never had a FUN birthday to date so I wanted to make it just what she wanted, a fancy tea-party with a special "guest of honor".
Alexis LOVED using the fancy punch bowl and cups

that my sister-in-law gave me several years.


All fancy Tea Parties require fancy jewelry...like ring pops!


Each guest had their own special tea cup and place card.

Alexis wore her "fancy" dress and hat, of course.

The house was covered in pink tulle, fancy tea cups, monogrammed napkins, pink balloons, special tea party treats (mostly chocolate), all things fancy...which pretty much describes Alexis. She is truly FANTASTIC!

Bucket List : Week 1

Since we tend to home-school through the summer we try to make it a little more fun than the rest of the year.  Each Friday this summer is a fun day for our family.  We have a bucket list of adventures to check off as we go.  This week we had breakfast at the University of Idaho Arboretum and then spent the morning exploring.

Sydney and Georgia led the crew on a rabbit hunt.  It ended well for the rabbit.  He got away.

After breakfast we headed to the pond, it's not a terribly long walk, unless your legs are only twelve inches long...or you are extremely pregnant (actually only 25 weeks, but looks like 45).  Jack and I did a great job bringing up the rear.

Success!  We made it to the pond.  Earlier in the week the older kids participated in an herpetology class with a local Christian home-school science foundation.  They loved it and were thrilled when they saw that the pond and shore were filled with turtles!  Sticks are not effective turtle catchers if you were wondering.

When we got home at lunch time Georgia (3 years old) asked if she could have lunch after her nap!  She was worn out!  What a great day.  The only thing that could have made it better was if Daddy could have been there.  Alas, someone has to pay for our life of leisure.

Cowboy bedroom

Before Jack was born we had FIVE girls! I love having sweet girls! I love dressing girls, decorating girls rooms, shopping for girls, the whole package! But you can imagine my excitement when we found out that baby number six was a boy!! Excitement to have a son AND excited to finally decorate a boy bedroom! I knew instantly that we needed a cowboy bedroom and if the ultrasound was wrong, and the baby was a girl she was sure she would be thrilled with her cowboy bedroom, haha.

The first thing I bought was the cowboy bedding.

I thought about making an awesome vintagey

bedding set, but in the end...I'm just not that

awesome of a seamstress. I ended up loving the

this set that I purchased brand new from ebay for

forty dollars!

Rope border is must in a cowboy bedroom!

I grabbed some rope from the hardware store

and went to work with my staple gun (possibly

my favorite tool)! I went around the entire room

with the rope and I love the way it turned out!

This shelf was my very first DIY building project! I started

with pallets but they were just a little TOO rustic for me.

You can see the old the milk crates that I dumped

the yard toys out of and brought in for blanket and

diaper storage! The nice thing about a cowboy theme

is that old junk fits in easily.

Horses and cowboy boots make perfect accessories.

I found these for cheaps at the goodwill!

I love the quilt a friend made for Jack, but I love

the bunny ears even more. LOL!

How cute is this little sign set, made especially for the cowboy!