Farm Family Fun: Settlers and Biking

 I am still working on the barn project so the kids have had an easy week of just basic school subjects (reading and math).  They had a lot of fun evening outings with daddy.  They went biking to the park a couple of times.

Hubby can fit all the bikes in the back of his truck. 

The kids love climbing on the boulders out there. 

The post office called us on Wednesday to tell us our 100 buff orpington chicks had arrived.  There is something so Little House on the Prairie-esque about having to head down to the station to pick up our delivery. 

A huge box!  We made an extra large brooder -- 4 heat lamps wide. It was all warmed up and ready for them when they arrived. 

The kids were so pleased to have chicks again.  It has been almost 10 months since we did the big de-pop.  These little gals were all vaccinated for Marek's and should be sturdy once they recover from their big trip.  Two were dead when we opened the box and several others were not looking so good.  I think they had a rough trip.  We called the hatchery after 40 hours to report and get reimbursed for the losses. 

Brother S started cub scouts. He and Brother M had their first social distancing pack meeting this week. They finished it off with an outdoor movie night. 

Big sister A's YW class had a virtual activity.  They had a chalk drawing contest and all sent pictures of what they drew.  Our driveway is pretty rough, but Big Sis A did a fun mixed media ocean scene that everyone liked.  Seems like Marine Biology is still fresh in everyone's minds!

My mums blossomed this week.  They are looking lovely with the remaining zinnias.  Thank goodness they are all low maintenance! So many things need attention right now. It's impossible to keep up with it all. 

The weather has turned chilly at night, but it was in the upper 70s mid week so we took advantage and went for a swim at our friends' pool.  

It's heated and they had it turned up to 92 F for us.  They are so sweet to let us use it.  It has been the most fun part of our summer -- our pool and pizza nights. 

Hubby taught the kids how to play Settlers of Catan this week.  It's fun that they are old enough to play strategy games now. My contribution was rhubarb pie to sustain all the players. 

Baby A's Life: Week 18

 Baby A had his 4 month check-up this week and weighed in at just under 16 lbs, 26.5 inches long.  He is grabbing his feet and trying to put them in his mouth.  He has good neck strength and can roll over back to front and front to back.  This week he has been inch worming a lot during tummy time - arching his back and lifting up his bum like he wants to go somewhere. 

Baby A still loves music and tries to play the piano when we hold him there. He likes the "Winnie the Pooh" song. 

Miss L loves holding him and he loves seeing his brothers' and sisters' faces.  They can make him smile and laugh most of the time. 

Baby A's Life: 4 Months Old

Big Sister A did some more baby watching this week.  It is good practice since hubby and I are both home in case she needs help. 

We have a morning tummy-time ritual. Sometimes a lot of kids join in. 

Sunday afternoon chatting and hanging out. He's getting so big. 

Family Schooling and Fun: First Playdate!

 I didn't take any schooling pictures this week. The kids did their usual music lessons and basic studies.  I missed a few days of science due to my barn project, but we managed to do the last two units of Marine Biology -- marine birds and marine exploration. 

The most exciting part of their week I think was our first in-person play date since March. We decided the cousins can be in our pod. They are already making plans for a Halloween get together. 

Contortionist contest on the trampoline. 

Big sister A got some books about hairstyles and has been practicing. 

Brother M built a guitar playing robot. 

Big Sister A made boston cream doughnuts by herself, other than the frying part-- including chocolate glaze and cream filling. She found an Amish copycat recipe online for the whole thing. They were incredibly delicious.  I don't usually like doughnuts. 

Big sister A officially got her scout rank at their first in person pack meeting. 

This is actually from last week, but everyone is still very distracted by the sand area. 

Family Schooling and Fun: Sand and Sea Creatures

 Miss L is devoted to her melon patch. She checks on it every day, rain or shine.  This week she was sure that one of her cantaloups was ready... but I had to tell her to wait a little longer and show her what color it should be.  

Brother M and big sister A got their new bikes.  Brother M learned to ride with no trouble and tested out a lot of areas of the yard for riding. 

Big sister A had a tie dye social distancing activity with her friends at church.  She was not sure what to bring for it at first, but upcycled some stained items with happy results for my rainbow loving girl. Big sis also cut Miss L's hair for her.  

This week we learned about toothed vs. baleen whales.  We did an echolocation experiment and listened to the sounds of various real whales under water here. 

Brother M was the only one brave enough to try drinking like a baleen whale (through a comb).  As we learned more we realized that it's more the opposite of what we were doing. They gulp in a ton of water and then spit out the water though the baleen plates keeping the krill in their mouth and licking them off the plates!

Saturday we had a delivery of landscaping sand and pea gravel for my barn project.  As I was ordering it, I was inspired to get some play sand as well.  We have been talking about putting sand in their digging area under the gazebo for a long time and I thought it would be too mean to have only sand that they were not allowed to play with.  So we ordered 1/2 ton of play sand, 1 ton paver sand, and 2 tons pea gravel. 

They got to work right away moving it to the play area. Rain was in the forecast and we needed to get it under cover. 

HOURS of fun playing in the sand.  So much so that they nearly missed family movie night (because they did not get their Saturday cleaning chores done in a timely manner). 

They also constructed a sort of barricade to keep the farm critters out. 

I sent brother M outside today to take some pictures. 

Baby A's Life: Week 16

 Putting kids to bed is hard work.

Big Sister A spent a lot of time babysitting baby A this week while I worked on my barn project. She did a great job.  It's wonderful having another pair of hands that I can trust. 

Miss L would loves to hold baby A, but is not supposed to carry him around.  She would really like to be able to help a lot more with him. 

Took this picture right after at home church today. Having church at home is lovely.  I am grateful that we get to have the sacrament every week.  It is something our children will always be able to remember -- seeing Daddy prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament. I think it will help their testimonies of priesthood and the purpose of the sacrament. I know it has helped me understand it better.