more random updates....

*We got a new kitten.  I really didn't want another cat, but it just came out of nowhere one day.  I must admit, it is pretty cute, so here it stays. {We tried to make it a barn cat, but it kept coming back under the front porch.}The kids named it Lucky.  

*I didn't really want one of these either, I think it's kinda ugly, but...after paying for fuel oil last winter, I was eager to do anything to cut down on our heating costs.  Well, it may not be cute, but it stays because I LOVE being warm!  I have a chair right in front of the thing and I pretty much do school from there everyday!  We have not run our furnace yet, and we estimate that even with having to buy the pellet stove and pellets we should still be way under what we paid for fuel oil last winter!

 The kids had a fun time at a recent harvest party with friends from church.  We went all out with dressing them up...we were so creative, the girls went in their traditional dresses from their countries, 2 boys were dressed in camo, which they pretty much wear every day, and Easton was a soccer player.  We obviously don't go all out for these things, but they had a lot of fun playing games and gathering candy!

*After living in this house for a full year now, we finally got all of our stuff moved out of the pole barn and either put where it belongs or dumped it!  What a great feeling that was! Just in time for Dylan's new purchase...

Yes folks, I cried a little today when MY BABY BOY bought a TRUCK!! Thankfully it will sit in the above barn for a while as he is only 14.  We are proud of the smart young man he is and feel he made a wise decision to buy this very affordable truck from some extremely trustworthy people! The best news is, it's a stick shift!  I love to drive them, my first car was a stick too and he paid the same for his truck as I did for my first car many moons ago!

the view from my front porch....

whether from the outside looking in, or the inside looking out....

 it's been a strange day here on our front porch.

 a horse, a turtle and a cat.... crazy stuff!  But, I must say that the craziest...

 Is this...

 Peach trees are blossoming...in MARCH!  I'm no farmer, but I am quite certain this is some crazy stuff!  It was 80* here today!

We are loving this weather, and praying there will be no major frost ahead for all of our farming friends! 

what do puppies and toddlers have in common?

Well, I am finding out, a lot actually!  You can't take your eye off either of them for very long or they will find trouble.  Take this for instance...
Hmm...I wonder who made this mess in my shower???

Or how about the scratches in my leather couch...{it's hard to see in the picture, but there are many that are quite obvious in real life!}

That would be quincy.
Okay now guess who was busted doing this...

That would be Luisa!  She was found in our bedroom CUTTING my comforter!  There are about 15 cuts like this all around the edge of our bed!  Good thing she didn't get hurt.  I had a very sharp scissors in my nightstand that was brand new{still in the package!}that she found and just started clipping away!  Her and her buddy Ryan also enjoyed plunking quarters down the register vent the other day!

"Are you talking about us...?"

Oh the joys of toddlers and puppy dogs!!

Meet Quincy!

Quincy is our new 8 week old female golden retriever puppy.  We promised the kids that we would get a new dog after Max died, but with the house, move, the holidays and Mexico, we hadn't gotten around to it.  So we decided we had better start getting serious about our quest for a new dog!  This past weekend, we had a snow day Friday and we were all home together so we upped our search efforts and made several phone calls and were able to go pick her up on Saturday! 

We had not settled on a name just yet, I had several picked out, but they didn't like them, so I told the kids that by the time we got back home,{about and hour drive}we all had to agree on a name for her.  So we all rattled off various names that we liked, I was on a website and read off a few names, I mentioned Quincy.  At first the kids said "No!"  But, finally about half way home, everyone had agreed to naming her Quincy!  We used to live on Quincy street, when we lived in Zeeland, but had I not found that name on that website, It may not have crossed my mind.  And that is how Quincy got her name.

We stopped to let her out and go potty, and this is what she did.  Laid down and stayed there!  We ran into a nearby Tractor Supply store and got some food and a collar, then proceeded to drive a bit further.  Soon, she got a tad 'antsy,' so we stopped and let her out.  Thank goodness we did, because that time she did her business, AND PUKED!  When we were bringing Max home he puked all over the car and kids so we were a tad cautious this time! 

Introducing her to her new yard.

look at that face...too cute!

we tuckered her right out!

she'll never lack for love and attention here!

So far she has been doing very well with the whole crate/potty training thing.  You should hear her whine at first when we put her in her crate, it is pretty pathetic.  But, she has been calming down fast and seems quite content in her little space.  I think she will be a blessing....{For the kids for sure, hopefully for me as well, I'm not a huge animal lover, especially not when they are in my house...so we shall see....oh the things I do for my children!}

Star and Thunder...

Say What? I have to go home with them?

Meet Thunder{white and tan}and Star{black}

We couldn't hold off our kids any longer, so we went and picked up our horses!

'

We received some instruction...

some kids rode the big horse...

practiced leading them around for a bit...

more horse rides...

Lucy liked to look, but not touch!

and then we loaded them up and away we went!  Yes, in the front of the truck!  OH how we laughed!

Ms. Bev was kind enough to take the other one home for us in her vehicle!  Whew, I was not really thinking hauling a horse in my car sounded like a great idea!

By the way, they both 'had an accident' in the vehicles on their way home...so glad that was not in my car!!

So, we now have ourselves 2 mini horses and the kids are thrilled!  They have brought us much laughter thus far, we hope they will continue to be a blessing...we shall see about that!

Oh the things we do for our children!

Max...

Saying good bye to Max.

We had to put our dear sweet Golden Retriever, Max, to "sleep."   He was only 3&1/2 years old, but he had cancer.  We had the first lump removed while I was in Colombia, but when the 2nd lump came so quickly, and on one of his nerves in his hip, there was nothing we could do.  He was in pain, and it was heartbreaking to see him suffer.  I have never really liked a dog before, but I REALLY liked Max, {or Maxey boy as I affectionately called him.}  We are sad, but we know and love a few HUMANS who have cancer, and are fighting for their lives right now, so it helps to keep things in perspective. He was the best dog, and will be missed!!

Here are a couple of links to blogs of some families we know who are dealing with cancer, I know they would appreciate your prayers.
Kristi
Ryan