NEWSFLASH……Family thought to be abducted by aliens turns up alive!!!

Yes, it is true we are still alive…in spite of the fact that I haven’t updated my blog in almost 2 months….

I’m not sure what happened…

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that…

-I still have 1000’s (slight exaggeration) of boxes left to unpack,

-7 children under the age of 13 live in my house and require daily feeding, cleaning, loving, negotiating and mitigating of disputes, and laundry service (except the older 3 of course, who do their own laundry) in addition to multiple books read and hugs given,

-I have a husband who is amazing but who has also been gone for long periods of time lately,

-I am attempting to manage schooling in both the public and homeschool setting for 6 of 7 previously mentioned children,

-chasing around the 7th kid (2 1/2 yr old) who thinks its fine if he pushes his dads’ mower around the neighbors yard when his mom isn’t looking,

-continuing to attempt to integrate 2 new little lives into our family…sometimes rather smoothly and other times not,

-celebrating a 40 something birthday for the top man in the house and the big 13 birthday for the dynamic duo. (better get pics on those, huh?)

-family tripping it to our cabins and to visit family,

…And the list goes on and on…..

But, never fear, we are still here – alive and kicking. I promise soon I will post some pics soon just to prove it!

You know you’re the 7th child when…

 

Your family takes a trip and your mom forgets to pack your clothes.

 

So, all weekend long you get to wear your jammie shirt (which your mom did remember), your sisters shorts (the ones without the pink flowers) and socks (which unfortunately do have pink but are fortunately covered up by your shoes). 

 

 

 

 

 

In defense of your mom though…you were taking a nap while your mom packed the  bags.   And like any smart mom of multiple, small  children she values her quiet hour of sanity during nap time. So of course she would never dream of waking you up during your nap to get your clothes out of your dresser.

I’m ready for college, Kelsey-Jo!

 

Do you want to room together?

 

 

 

I miss you! I love you! And…I cant wait to see you soon!!!

 

 

And tell Rufie that I miss her and love her soooooo much too!

 

love, Annie Bell

 

P.S.  Mom says to tell you that we have the Kelseyquarters ready.

Put up your dukes…

 

Watch out Sam!…Here comes Davy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awwww…maybe not….

 

 

 

Best buddies!

This is for you Nancy M…….

 

 

The girls loooooooooooove the dresses!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the way….what you see in the background is what we look out at from every window in the back of our house.  It is an amazing view and we cant even begin to thank the Lord enough for the house and the yard and everything He has graciously bestowed on us in our new life.

 

But we still  miss allllllllllllllllllllllll of you back in North Dakota!!!   We have lots of room – come visit us!  :)

There was a hippie living in my house…..

 

Now, I say “was” because my hippie decided that long hair on a boy in the summer is realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllly annoying. So, the hippie I lived with all winter and Spring and half of Summer is no longer a hippie!

Anyway, after a long and enjoyable mother – son experiment…(after a conversation last Fall, we decided it would be fun if Andrew grew his hair out to look like Young Indiana Jones)…my brave Young Indy decided that long hair is hot and in the way!

 

The Hippie.

 

 

I think this post could also be titled “Haircutting – part 2”….I have never cut any of my childrens’ hair and for some bizarre reason, thought it might be fun to tackle it.  (maybe because we don’t know anyone here yet and the risk of being recognized is very low!)

 

proof of length in the back

 

 

And now Mom’s attempt at the haircut….  Young Indiana Jones?

 

 

Lee’s comment:  He looks a little like the Dutch Boy Paint kid.  Not to worry – only lasted a few hours.

Well……………..apparently Mom didn’t cut it enough because soon afterwards my Young Indy requested that Dad make the final cut….   (by the way, Lee does cut all the boys hair so he does know what he is doing, but he’s not allowed near the girls hair – mine included:))  

 

 

That’s a lot of hair for a boy haircut!!!…

 

And now for my handsome dude with short hair!!!

 

Haircutting…..its harder than you think.

 

So, for all those of you waiting in anticipation as to why Katie’s hair is shorter…the truth is…I was the culprit. 

 

 

Katie – pre-haircut

 

My dear little Katie does not enjoy getting her hair combed. (picture lots of crying)  So finally, this mom had enough and decided it was time for shorter hair.  And since I know no one around here that cuts hair and don’t have any one to babysit for my little ones yet…. I decided I would tackle it myself.   (crazy thought)  Now although Katie abhors having her hair combed, she thought she was the queen of the palace getting her haircut!  She was thrilled to have the honor and although she took great pride in the fact that Mom was cutting “Katie’s hair”, her willingness and enthusiasm did not translate into her ability to sit still (at all)!!!   So, I confess the straighter I tried to cut it…the shorter it got…and shorter…and shorter!   It was supposed to be a bob with longer hair in the front….not sure that was accomplished!   But, the great news is , it only takes me about a minute to comb through her hair in the morning – henceforth no more wailing at hair fixing time!   (Although, I will be bringing her to someone who actually knows what they’re doing next time!)  

 

Getting ready for the scissors….

 

 

 

 

 

And the finished product!!!  

 

 

(don’t be deceived by the healthy looking whole wheat ravioli….it took lots of m and m’s to get this haircut finished!)