My Helpers

I woke up this morning to the sound of little people at work in the kitchen.  When I got up the gumption to make my way downstairs and see what they were up to, this is what I was greeted with -  Perfect fluffy pancakes made from scratch. Caleb and Kadin had made them for the whole family.
What a couple of heros!

APPLESEED

Guess what I found out this weekend? I LOVE shooting rifles. I took an Appleseed course and learned so much. It was a blast. The instructors were so knowledgeable and helpful. If you are interested here is the link -http://appleseedinfo.org/ 
These classes are held all over the country, so no matter where you live there will probably be one near you.  It is a weekend long class on marksmanship and heritage.  The instructors mix history (from the time of the revolutionary war) in throughout the rifle training.  

Let me also say that my husband was such a hero all weekend!  I woke up Saturday morning and was pretty quickly retching over the kitchen sink.  He went around getting things ready for me; then told me I didn't have to go if I didn't want to.  I did get out the door and when I came home - the house was clean, the kids were fed, no one was broken or missing.  He even took them to the park to play.  Then today he took the kids to church.  And in case you were thinking he just passed off all the kids to Sunday school teachers - we keep all the kids with us the whole service.  What a GUY!
If anyone needs a "LTR" (liberty training rifle),  he would be happy to get you one as well ;)
www.papagunsmith.com

This was not a very good AQT but it is the only picture of me I have.
I can't wait to go again :)

Where did the motivation go?

My husband is off to work and my day should be in full swing but instead I am sitting here on the couch already ready for a nap and feeling queasy.  There is so much to do . . . . Last night we had wonderful new friends over for dinner.  Complete kindred spirits.  Which of course meant we talked late into the night until our kids were falling asleep standing.  So today I start off already behind with last nights dishes to complete and a full day of new things to get done.  I will be gone most of the weekend taking the Appleseed Rifle Course.  So I need to have everything ready on the home front for mama being gone all day for two days ( I haven't done that before) and I have a consignment sale I take part in every six months which just happens to take off on Monday and I have nothing ready for.  (Not to mention school)
OH Motivation where are you?!  I suppose this could be a good time for me to prioritize and focus on what matters ;) Maybe a snuggle day with the kids reading aloud.  We will have to see what gets done.
 Thank you for listening to my ramble.
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More pictures of our time in Idaho . . . .
While we were visiting the Loves we went to Priest Lake and had a picnic.  It was soo beautiful.

Then after going to a gun show, of course,  we went out for pizza (and took up three tables :)

We love you Loves! and miss you already!

Rocket Science

While we were visiting the Love's we got to experience Zachary's brilliant Rocket building. Stephen (AKA Mr. Smith) was just straightening a wire for the rocket.  He of course had a blow torch in our car just in case ;)

Here you have the daddys with oldest sons. . . . . and the audience.

Blast-Off!!

Just in case you were wondering what Stephen's shirt said. The back says papagunsmith.com.

Something that spoke to me

This article spoke so much to me I wanted to share it . . .
http://www.joshharris.com/2011/09/homeschool_blindspots.php

Treasuring the Memories

Driving Back to Idaho

We were so excited to see our friends the Loves!  They were incredibly gracious hosts even when we found that we were under the weather our second day there.  The kids were off adventuring most of the time we were there.  Our first night, after we put the kids to bed, Stephen and I snuck off to the teeter-totter in the moonlight.  A lot of giggling ensued (mostly on my part) after we figured out that I had to sit on the end and Stephen had to sit pretty much on the bar :)  This is not a regular ole teeter-totter mind you - when you are up it is about 8 feet high.

Breakfast on the First Morning at the Love's

Our children were soooo dirty the whole week. 

Our Sick Little Ones

Lunchtime - and to think this is only half our kiddos

Our Home Away From Home

Our Beautiful Babies