Summer!

July and August were busy, fun months! The children had a blast playing on the farm, going swimming every day and being kids. They were able to go to Las Vegas with their Dad and Kathryn to visit Matt and Kim. Then they spent 3 weeks with their Dad and Kathryn. They had such a great time. They loved swimming, exercizing, playing, going to the zoo, visiting friends and just hanging out. Jamey and Kathryn were married at the end of their stay and the kids loved being involved in a wedding and all the excitement around that. They were so glad that they got to see the entire Cecil family, they loved being with Sitto and Poppy and their aunts and uncles.

We came back to Missouri in just enough time to get JC ready for school. We did some last minute school supply shopping and got to meet the teacher right before school started. His teacher is Dale Nichols, the only male teacher in the whole school, JC's best friend is also in the class and he also knew some of the other children. I am so pleased with how well it all worked out for him. He loves his teacher and class. He is doing fantastic getting A's and B's on all of his assignments. He is loving cub scouts and did well in the pinewood derby that Grandpa and Dad helped him with. He is also loving his art classes every Monday afternoon. He keeps busy. He has also made friends with the 8 year old boy down the street. His name is Zachary and they have a lot of fun riding bikes up a ramp that they made and playing outside in the dirt and near the animals. JC loves having some freedom to ride his bike up the street since we live in such a low traffic area he can ride safely and goes up to the neighborhood by the school to visit with a few friends up there. He has really matured in the last two months and is becoming more responsible and helpful around the house. I love it.

Julia is still the farm girl. She can check for eggs like a pro now. She will even reach right in under the chicken and grab the egg, never mind that the chicken is there! It is hilarious, the hens don't mind her though and seem to trust her. She loves to help Grandma clean up the manure in the horse paddocks and is always outside near the horses.

Ethan is growing up so fast. He is very much in the middle of being two. He pushes boundaries and is trying to assert some independence. He is starting to show interest in potty training. Every time I change his diaper he goes potty and does fantastic. He doesn't want to wear underwear or anything like that yet, which is fine. I think he is doing really well already. He is completely into trains now and thank goodness for all of JC's old Thomas the Tank Engine toys. Ethan plays with them constantly and is able to build some track for the trains to go on. He asks me to make a track and then he alters it. It is fun to see him figure out things as he is learning how things work. He catches on quickly and gets into trouble. He also loves to climb and will be found on the top of the fences or ladders. Of course we are right there, but he lives for the thrill of climbing. His favorite food is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and will eat 3 halves at one sitting.

We have moved to the property now and are living in the barn where my parents were living. They are camping out in the house. It now has drywall, floors and electricity. We are priming and painting it right now. The light fixtures and toilets are going in the rest of this week and next. It all looks so nice and beautiful. It was fun to pick out the colors of the walls. JC's room is a almond color to be a backdrop for the jungle mural he wants on his walls, Julia and Ethan's room is a light lavendar. My room is a deep passion pink of all things! The living room is toasted coconut and the kitchen/dining area is blue! Who knew I would be so wacky on colors, but it is fun and we can always change it if it looks terrible! We anticipate being able to move into the house in the begining of October when the floors are finished and cured.

The pigs were taken away today to be harvested (slaughtered) the proper term is harvested now, we look forward to home grown pork, the kids have done really well with all of that and they seem to understand that the animals purpose is for food. I have been really impressed with that. I am loving being in school and I am learning tons about animal science.

The photos are from the Pinewood Derby and Julia and Ethan goofing off!