Seven Years Ago Today

Still looking at old pictures. These are of Sarah and Claire seven years ago. Claire looks so small. 

Her Outdoor Kitchen

The outdoor kitchen is Bethany's love. The others play in it and they help clean and fix it up, but it is definitely Bethany's creation and love. I guess it was Sunday she decided it was time to start fixing it up again for spring and summer. One of the girls from next door suggested it was time to get started on it and they went to work. I usually go out and get pictures when she first starts working on it in the spring as I like to see how it changes from messy and covered in leaves and sticks and dirt to her kitchen. This time I was busy getting things done and missed the whole process. 

So, today when the little girl from next door came over again to play I remembered to get my camera and go out and see what they had done. They had raked and cleaned and Emma's mom had donated some dish towels and forks. They washed dishes and cleaned and folded their new dish towels. They had so much fun and I got pictures today. I think I love this kitchen as much as they do.

And at the end of the day they washed all the dishes, cleaned up and hung the dish towels up to dry for the next day.

Seven Years Ago Today

I actually remember this day. I took Zola, Abigail, and Bethany to Sweet Frog. I keep looking back at old pictures and remembering all the good times and how small they all were.

Old Dolls

Seems like we are always going through old dolls or old baby clothes or something and we did that again today. This time it wasn't dolls from the older sisters, but mine. I had a bunch of old dolls that had been up in the attic for years. I decided today was the day they would come down and get thrown away or given away. Of course, the kids didn't want to let a single one go. They had a lot of fun going through them and cleaning them off -- they were a mess, as they had been in the attic for years and years. They did not look very good, but that mattered not at all to the kids. 

Even Luke wanted to get into this and see the dolls. Some of these dolls I don't even remember. Maybe they aren't mine and got stuck in this bed in the attic somehow.

I have no idea where this next doll actually came from, but it was given to me when I was probably around 10 years old. It was very old then and kind of chipped and cracked. I took pride in the fact that I never broke it as it is so fragile. I don't remember what I named her -- I actually only remember calling her "China Doll". I can't believe it is still around and it has to be a very old doll. Her eyes won't open anymore. I think they did the last time I remember playing with her but something happened in all those years she has been in the attic. I actually had one other doll that was similar to this one and I took both of them outside and played with them all the time and never once dropped them -- though they did probably get some small chips on them. Don't know where the other one went. 

We spent probably a couple of hours cleaning up the dolls before my daughter came over with my grandkids. Then we went out to enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Seven Years Ago Today

Someone asked me to continue to post old pictures so I thought I would go ahead and post some -- especially since I do enjoy going though them. It was a little hard to find some for this exact date, but I found some from seven years ago. I think I may do this at least once a month. I kind of enjoy it. 

Jordan, Andrew, and Bethany - 7 years ago today. Bethany and Andrew really look little. 

Sewing Project

Bethany and Tess made their next sewing project and I meant to post it in last night's blog post, but somehow left it out. They made pillows and they turned out nicer than I thought they would. I wasn't very excited about this project, but now I'm glad they did it. They were going to put the pillows on their beds but then ended up giving them as a birthday gift. 

School And Nature Walks

It has rained and rained here and if it is not raining it is freezing cold. Seems like we are stuck in the house a lot more than we would like to be. I'm not one to get out much if it is freezing. Piper is the only one that will brave the really cold days and even she doesn't stay out very long. So, we have worked on school and done projects for history, studied extra science and started a new book - The Secret Garden. We have been doing a pretty good job getting stuff done. 

Some of the kids made these Indian rattles for history and also teepees and drums.  We have been studying about Indians and the settlers at Jamestown. Making a few things breaks up the day and makes it more enjoyable and that is a little more important since we are in the house so much. Piper and Tess really love a project. They love to make just about anything. 

Bella used cut up straws and made a necklace that she really liked. 

We have been wanting to get out and go to Jamestown for the day, but it rains so much we haven't made it there. On Sunday it was the nicest day we have had in ages and we were planning on going to Jamestown that day -- but, again, it started raining and it didn't look like it would stop. So, we sat home hoping we would get out at least to a park or something later in the day. Finally, in the late afternoon it stopped raining and I took some of the kids on a nature walk. They took their nature journals and and I took my camera. We just went to a park that has a lot of paths and large rocks, trees and a lake. It was really quiet and almost nobody there. 

We walked up and down and all over the park. We stopped and the kids wrote a little and did a little drawing. It was beautiful and so quiet and it felt so good to be outside.