My Little Pony

My dad got a new pony for the grand kids. It is a rescued pony from a neglected bunch that made the news.

It is a beautiful Welsh pony, chestnut colored with a blonde mane and tail.

His hooves have been let go and so he needs corrective farrier work done, that is happening this week. He is a gentle pony and very tame, following us around like a puppy.

The kids are thrilled about it, but none more than my little horsewoman, Sophie. She was the first to climb up and have a ride. Once his hooves are done, they will have even more chance to learn to ride a horse/pony and learn about caring for one.

I wish we lived closer as we can only visit on Sundays, but that is a great thing to look forward to.

I believe the kids have all agreed to call him Applejack, or A.J. for short.

Now about those chickens.......:)

Birthday Memories

Sophie's sixth birthday began with her dad and I waking her with a candlelit cupcake in bed. She was so surprised that she could eat it before breakfast.

She made a wish for 2oo Zhu-Zhu Pets!! Oh my!

The castle cake that her dad and I stayed up til 1AM working on. It turned out great we think, and Sophie was thrilled with it.

Here her dad said something silly......

Listening to everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to her....

little cousin Cody decided to get into the dog's kennel.....:)

Sophie and her cousin Becca and friend, Kaitlin

Cousins, Austin and Jimmy......

Opening one of her many gifts.....

Reading a handmade card from her cousin Becca

best friend, Andrew and her other friend Liam

Sophie is always thrilled to get a book, this one is "Reindeer Moon".

Excited over the little shoes that I crocheted for her doll Jane, along with a dress, skirt, sweater, and cloak.

Zhu-Zhu Pets were the hit of the party....three in all.

Happy Birthday Sophie!!!!

Fun with Friends

Sophie has a never ending stream of friends coming over to play with her this summer. Our home, as I've said before, seems to have acquired the 4 star rating in kid ville. We seem to always have at least one extra kid at our house and often times it is several extra.

The new, bigger pool has really reeled them in. The other one got the small kids, but this one is big enough for the teenagers too. So we have had 5 kids in there at any given time. :)

The trampoline has always been a hit. With all ages, and in all weather. If not for jumping and practicing acrobatic skills, then for resting and drying, and sitting and talking. It is the most popular item we have.

I am thankful that we can provide this home for so many.

The things kids do!

What do a five year old girl and an eight year old boy do on a Sunday? Here are just some ideas. (Warning: do not try this at home)

First, I hear nothing. Knowing children like I do, I know that is not a good thing, so I go upstairs, and open Sophie's bedroom door to find the light off and the 8 year old boy lying on top of my five year old daughter! They are playing "mom and dad". I tell them that is inappropriate and to go play downstairs. No harm done.

Later, while I am gone, these same two children are discovered in the bathroom cleaning the bathtub toys with everyone's toothbrushes. When asked by her dad "why" they had done it, my daughter replies, "We cleaned them off real good."

When David comes in later to the sounds of thumping and banging, he asks the 14 year old who is looking after the two delinquents what that sound is. He is directed to the laundry room, where he encounters this!

He then proceeds to pretend he needs to dry some laundry and causes the dryer to buzz, frightening the two young ones out of the dryer right quick. lol

Very shortly thereafter, said fourteen year old comes to David and says, "they've gone crazy". At which point the eight year old boy comes running through the house with underwear on over his face as a mask, with the crotch over his nose, and eyes peeking through the leg holes. (On being informed that these were in fact dirty, he says eewww, and laughs hysterically.)

And last, but not least, David comes upon a bowl of chips and milk in the floor. The dog is eating some of it. In comes our daughter with the boy on a leash, and proceeds to tell him to eat the food. At which he says, "the dog ate this", she replies, "EAT IT!" and he does. LOL All the while David is totally cracking up and can only imagine our daughter as a future dominatrix! LOL I shudder to think of the "games" they will invent in the years to come.

Welcome to a Sunday at Witchwood! LOL

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Happy Birthday to my son Joshua! He is 14 years old today. He is becoming a wonderful, amazing young man and I am very proud of him. He had a simple family party at home with just his brother and sister and a couple of friends.










Here he is wearing the fedora he asked for. He is adorable!

Opening the Nerf Vulcan machine gun he so badly wanted. He was "so happy".
















The three gangsters getting ready to rumble.














There ensued a huge Nerf battle......














.....lines were drawn.....sides were taken.....














.....even the young ones were enlisted....










.....everyone got in on the action.....














A hot and sweaty post-battle birthday boy. What a fun time.

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Congratulations Sophie!

Our girl Sophie, graduated from preschool this morning. We are so crazy proud of her. She is very excited about going to kindergarten next year, actually next month! Her school is on a year-round schedule so she has only five five weeks off for summer vacation. I hope we can pack a good deal of family fun and adventure into those five weeks. We already have a lot of parties and festivals that we plan to host and attend. And we are going to get in some camping and canoeing, and of course, swimming. She is already having a great time with all her friends in the neighborhood. There is someone over every day for her to play with, our house is very popular with the neighborhood children. It is shaping up to be a great summer! The first picture is her with her friend Jayda wearing the cute cap and tassel that were made for them.



This is her teacher, Mrs. May. She is a wonderful teacher who went above and beyond for all her students. We are so thankful that Sophie's first school experience was with someone so good.








This last one is Sophie under the pencil arch photo op, with her cap and diploma. She is very proud of it.

Congratulations Emily!

Way to go! My lovely daughter graduated from high school this evening. I am so freaking proud of her, it's a little embarrassing, for me and her. lol I had no idea I would feel this way. She did it with A's and B's, after starting at a new school with a very high academic standard, last year as a junior.






Here she is all decked out in cap and gown, fifth from the front on the end.



Going for the prize after 12 long years.






















So glad to be coming out on the other side.















My beautiful, happy it's all over, daughter.

With Josh, last year was his turn, now it's hers.

Congratulations
Emily!!
We love you!!

Jane Gets A Bath

Sophie and I decided that it was about time for Jane to get a bath, considering it has been quite some time since her last one. Naughty Jane! We have a long weekend from school so she will have plenty of time to get dry.


Anyway, since Sophie was already wet from the sprinkler, we just filled a tub with laundry soap and cold water, and sudsed Jane up good. (Since she is made of wool, she cannot be machine washed or dried) She came surprisingly clean, (you can see the difference in her face from the previous post) she has been through nearly everything with Sophie. For her rinse, we put some baking soda and lavender oil into the water to give her a fresh scent.

Jane getting some sun. We put her on a towel in the yard until the rain began, then she came in to lay in front of a fan. I'll post more photos once Jane is dry and dressed.

Sunday Morning

Sophie and her big brother, Joshua cuddled up watching Sunday morning PBS cartoons. They are very close and enjoy each other's company most of the time. Despite the fact that Joshua is about to be 14 years old! I am so thankful for their loving relationship.

Milestone Birthday

My beautiful daughter Emily is eighteen today! I find it continually hard to believe that I have raised two children to adulthood with two more close behind and a third just beginning life.

I am so proud of Emily. She is a strong person and she knows her own mind. She is so smart and capable of whatever she decides to do with her life. I am happy to say that she has applied to go to Roane State in the fall of this year. I hope that she will find a way to use her artistic talents to make a happy living for herself. Good luck in life Emily. Happy Birthday, I love you.

Artists in the House

Art has always been very important to me and I have always tried to nurture it in my children. As well as model it for them, by trying any and all kinds that interested me, and sharing the process as well as the results with them. All five of my children are artists of one sort or another. They all, even five year old Sophie have fantastic drawing talent. Recently, Emily my seventeen year old, who has long wished to go to art school, realized that she is a wonderfully talented sculpture artist. After watching the fantastical creation, The Spiderwick Chronicles, she decided to try her hand at sculpting Hogsqueal. Here are the amazing results. I am very proud of her efforts, this took place in a matter of 5-6 hours over two days. Wow!

Happy Birthday Jonathan!!

Fifteen years ago today, I gave birth to
my first son. His was a home birth and
the midwife arrived fifteen minutes
after Jonathan did. :)

It was a most empowering birth for me. That is when, after two children already, I learned the power and wisdom of my body. Fifteen years later, I am still flowing on the empowerment of that birth.
Jonathan has become a fine young man, nearly ready to begin his life as a man. I am so very proud of him and I am enjoying, very much watching who he becomes.

I love you Jonathan, Happy Birthday!

Here he is at age 8. So cute!