And there were 9!

Sunday Crew, except for our College aged girl! =)

This past weekend we got to do something so out of the ordinary,  life changing, and we had a absolute blast!  Yep, you guessed it by the pic, we got to play "Aunt and Uncle" all weekend, so counting our 4 that made us have 9 children!  Wow! 

Bryan was DELIGHTED to have TONS of brothers for the weekend!  They enjoyed playing cars, tractors, trains and games... just to name a few activities....

  

Darla with her close friend and the same interests! They played dress-up, games, read books, played music... everything a girl could dream of  and "the exception to the rule" of getting to have friends sleep over too!  Could life get any better??!!!

                     I couldn't have made it without my "twin helpers" with these adorable lil guys!

 They kept us laughing all weekend... sometimes behind our hands so they couldn't see us laughing at their antics!  Here they BOTH had to have a stool... the melodies that they came up with... you should have heard!

 They are old enough now to know that people can't keep them straight... so I had determined to keep Dark socks on the same twin, so I'd KNOW who was who... but when I asked that lil stinker, he pointed to the other brother... and so the wrong one got the dark socks on!!!!!

Mr Handsome, himself!

Oh did we EVER do LOTS of this!!!!

Told ya!!!!

Riding "Horses"!

 Round and round the circle they would go laughing and chasing each other.  Great guys always entertaining themselves (and us!)

 Then Daryl got home and wasn't too great at multi-tasking!!! Talking on the phone, trying to eat his OWN yogurt... nope just ain't happenin!  Alone anyway!!!!

Want some help?

And then there were 3!!!! Hee... he gave in and fed them AND himself the yogurt... but it sure didn't last long!  Ha!AND talk to his sister on the phone, so maybe he's better at multi-tasking after all!!!!

 Then there was  BIG BOY to wrestle with....

 And a REAL TUCKERED OUT HORSEY!!!!   This was SO fun to watch!

 And some one was getting sleepy....

 Lil Squeaky-Clean guys playin tackle!

 Brittany watchin them play on Bryan's train table and did they ever have fun....

And this is what happens when you are upstairs and they are DOWNSTAIRS!!!!=)

 Went down to the park under the bridge for some fun, Freeze tag, soccer etc but I didn't do too great with catching this part on film... oh well!

 This Bosch chain saw of Bryan's made them laugh and laugh...

 My helpers... helpin me snap beans that were given us from dear friends... These helpers did pretty good.

  THESE helpers however.... got just as many ends in the bowl as they did WHOLE beans and... if they couldn't get them to break, they bit them in half!  Too Funny!

 "Like a microwave on our own level... too cool! We can SEE when it's done!" (They were so good though, if we said don't touch, they would run away GREAT lil guys!

 And we SURVIVED church too... this pic is proof.  Natasha was gone out with the choir for their 1st PR trip this fall, so that's why there's only 8 kiddos in this pic!  thanks Rob and Dee for letting us keep your crew while ya'll had a much needed honeymoon! We had a blast... diaper study and all!

              "It was the funnest weekend EVER!!!! darla

Field Trip- Mr John Chapman Better known as....

 When Life gets full.... too full, It's fun to slow down a tad and smell the roses..... Uh.... make that Apples this time, for it's Fall!

 The 1st Field trip for this School Haus was a success.  We are SOOOOOOO blessed to be a part of a church that has a rather large home school group.  Unusual really, for most of our kids are home schooled so instead of it being ODD we are the majority!  I love it! =) Because our group was SO large this time, we had to divide into two groups.  This made my heart sad, though I understood the reasoning, for I couldn't get pics of all of my kids...
 It was fun that other Mom's got to join us for this time too, and even Mom's of Pre-schoolers too which is great for everyone!

 Here we are all getting a chance to TASTE apples... this tasting was my favorite part of the whole day!  Here we are comparing 3 different types of apples and they got to rate them according to their preference.  Interesting results...


 This pic was taken AFTER the one at the top when one Mom had the idea of entertaining the 1st row of kids by letting them throw leaves at the back row of kids.  It was great fun to see the reaction on my boy's face! =)

 This man was neat. He told us he was a daddy to six kids himself.  He totally had his act together with the young and old alike!  He was so good and understanding, but wasn't afraid to give the wiggly kids a "job" that made them feel important!  When really he was asking them to calm down without yelling at them. It was great! I love people like that.

                           Fun surprise to have "Aunt Beth" and her home school kids join us too!

 Here he was showing the kids how to make homemade applesauce! complete with an over the fire kettle... He told the kids that all they needed to do was learn 1 new thing each day.  Wow!  That was great encouragement to this sometimes overwhelmed Home-School-Momma's-heart! Then he Even let them try it...  this is the way I make homemade applesauce and Apple Butter...

 each one had a turn

 Lil Sophia's turn MAN SHE MAKES ME MISS SWEET LIL MARY!!!!!

 Josh made us smile for he was "hamming it up big time" here!

 I missed Bryan's time so he posed for this picture while everyone else was moving to the Log Home.

 They took our group into the Log Home (Do you know the ONLY difference between an log home and a log cabin? one has a wood floor and one has dirt for the floor!=) Hmmmmm what about DIRT ALL OVER YOUR WOOD FLOOR?!  Wonder how that fits in?!  =)

 Here he is showing us a heater.  Neatest thing... wish I could find one for my Haus!  If you happen to find one for CHEAP at a junk store, call me!

 This pic above caught my son's eye.... for some reason, Uncle Andrew!

 Back of Brittany's head... like the only pic I got of her all day!=(

 One of the highlights of the day was getting to meet Mr. Rick Sowash! He is a children's Author from here in OH that has studied OH history and makes it SOOOOOO much fun for kids.  He had ALL of our attention and NOW!

 Here he is as none other than the famous Ohioan, MR. JOHNNY APPLESEED!!! Loved it!

 This is about the only sane pic that I was able to get of Darla... giggles on her face make me SMILE! As she often does... our bubbly Miss Sunshine!

 The neat thing about Home Schooling is kids of ALL ages can come... here's Clayton's Brand new lil nephew that joined us too!

 This lady taught us about the Apple Tree and what it does through all the seasons.  Here is Winter, the tree's sleepy stage. The kids got to put blossoms on for Spring...

 Here is Mr Bee visiting the blossoms so that when Fall comes the apples will grow right.

 adding leaves.... Summer

                                      and finally adding the apples to represent the complete cycle!

Waiting patiently for a TASTE of apple cider!

Play Ground time!

 

The older girls, Brittany's and Darla's friends from the older group!

 Making their own cider... the boys LOVED THIS PART for they got to show off their muscles!

 I love the INTENSE look here...

It was a fun day and I learned MORE THAN ONE THING that day... so I should be good for a while! =) Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Countin our Blessin's!

Showing Bryan how to use his new Colombian Top!

 We were ever so surprised yet delighted to get an e-mail from our Brother Phillip, asking if he could come and use our guest room for a few days/nights!  What a delightful SURPRISE!!!  He was just such a joy to have in our home!  What a blessing!  Phillip you are such a wonderful addition to our family and we are ever so glad that the Lord led you and Heather to Wed.  (Poems are NOT my gift,  like your Heather!!!) Thank you for all the extra time you took just to catch up with us and share blessed times of prayer with our family too.  God bless you for your kindnesses to us too! (and shame on you at the same time!=)

 When we found out that U. Phillip was coming, one of our daughters that L.O.V.E.S. to eat suggested that if we were able we needed NEEDED to take him out to Skyline as a family to help him celebrate his birthday LATE  as a B-day gift from US!  We felt so badly for him for he was running 90-to-nothin trying to get all of his "to-do" list taken care of and then we "added to that list" by making him schedule us IN! =)  This pic isn't great for the sun was shining in the windows.  This is not only one of Phillips fav places to eat it's OURS TOO, thus the slightly-selfish desire to "celebrate with him" at Skyline, a rare treat for we "Cincinnati Chili" Fans! Thanks for lettin us spoil you a tad, Phillip!

 

 Here are Daryl and Phillip discussing the ins-and outs of missions.  Love to hear them picking each other's brains about how best to reach the ones around us that are longing for Jesus and don't know it!

When I heard what happened next it brought a lump to my throat... for U. Phillip took time he DID NOT HAVE and was out in the back playing volleyball with the kids. (Sorry no pic) After that since one of them was doing homework and couldn't join them at that time, he then played "Memory" with them.  As you can see from these pics it was a FUN time of laughing with U. Phillip and his great sense of humor

 Thank you PHillip for all the Fixin up around here that you did for us!  Darla is DELIGHTED to get to ride her bike again!  Thanks.  Thanks so much Kimberly, for the "gift of love" to Natasha for her future schooling needs!  May Jesus bless you richly!  Thank you for all the coffee candy from Pastor Jimmy.  OUR FAV... and the delicious coffee I'm STILL enjoying every morning.  Thanks and shame on your for your gift towards needed supplies!  And thanks much for the other gifts left that have warmed our hearts.  We are praying for you and your family and all the needed paper work to finish.  Praying for HIS timing and blessing on all of your days there and the ones to come in Argentina!
And I'm making that phone call you asked me to make right now.... =)
Blessings are ours MANY TO COUNT!!!!

Sayin "Goodbye" his Last Wed night after CNC, (Daryl was still at School!)

 Jesus gave us another blessing, and another VERY unexpected treat!  Daryl got to take ALL THREE of our daughters to down town music hall on a date!  Can't beat that, now can you to help heal a Daddy's heart from being way-too-busy and away from home, often?!  The gift was given and was so much fun for the girls to ALL get to go, plus Natasha got to take a friend from School as well.  

Date Night with Daddy!

Natasha's friend, Lilly from GBS was able to join her for her FIRST TIME EVER live concert!  And down town music all is soooo gorgeous a place for your 1st-time-ever-concert!!  Just Sayin!

My Amazing Man and his Three Princesses!

 Over looking from the balcony where their student seats were...

 Natasha and Lily had seats on the floor where the view is even more wonderful!

 And the guest they went to hear was the violinist: Joshua Bell!  Added plus: they were able to get his autograph too!

Jesus often gives His children gifts, JUST BECAUSE HE CAN!!!  Praise God from whom ALL Blessings flow! ~ Laura

Breakfast Take Along Cookie!

Breakfast Cookie!

I found this recipe in my Hobe Sound Cook Book that was a gift to me and have kept thinking... "I ought to try that"... so this past week was the time, I decided!  Since I was short on ingredients AND  I wasn't too sure how my clan would take them them, I only made a 1/2 batch which yielded about 12  -3"cookies!  Coupled with fresh fruit it was a complete breakfast even if we weren't on the run that a.m.  Hope your families enjoy as much as we did!  Made some happy kids in this School Haus, that's for sure!

 Enjoy~ Laura

Breakfast Take-along Cookie

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup maple syrup (or sugar)

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

¾ cup all purpose flour

½ t. baking soda

½ t. salt

1 ½ cup oatmeal, I used old fashioned oats

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup  All Bran, wheat germ or chopped nuts

6 slices of crisply fried bacon, chopped

Preheat Oven 350o.  Beat butter, syrup, egg and vanilla until well blended.  Combine dry all ingredients and mix well.  Add to egg mixtures.  Fold in cheese, wheat germ and crumbled bacon. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto un-greased baking sheet.  Bake 12-15 min.  Cool and serve with a cup of fresh fruit!  Sure to make all your Home-Schoolers tummies happy! =)

Summer's Past.... Our School Haus at last!

Our Students!

 This was the 1st day of our school year at this School Haus!  Not one of us was really "ready"... well, maybe there were 2 of us excited about it all.  But you'll have to guess who! =) Natasha's a 2nd semester freshman in college, Brittany is a junior in High School and taking dual credits as well as high school choir and her home schooling subjects as well.  Darla is in 6th Grade this year and Bryan, our baby is a 3rd grader.  What really makes one loose their breath is this fact.  Natasha and Brittany were the same younger grades as Darla and Bryan our 1st year in Russia as missionaries!  Where has time gone?! Our end of summer was a whirlwind this year, but we are grateful for some times off as well as our Family Camp meeting.  Nothing like starting our school year off right with camp meeting!  How we thank God for the desire that all of our children have to be HIS children.  Oh may it ALWAYS BE SO!!!!


 

Teacher and Principal!!!

Daryl also started the fall semester at WSU today... so everyone's in school getting smarter 'cept this Momma! =)  Well, maybe if you counted the "school of hard knocks", maybe I'd qualify, IF I can past the tests! Smile!  I'm grateful for the privilege of Home Schooling and though I feel VERY inadequate and weary at times, I'm ever so grateful for Our Heavenly Father that promises to give us all the wisdom we need when we ask Him!  So we off and running.... and yep we are already tryin to catch our breath... but it's exhilarating! =) ~Teacher, Laura~