Another Quick Update

Not a whole lot happened last week. Was a very slow week. Well, ok.......not really, but I took it easy, and tried not to stress. (I had a major headache all week) The 6 elementary kids practiced all week at school on their theatre play "The Emperors New Clothes" (western version). Then Friday night they performed it for the first time. It was adorable. Samuel and Cassidy were little sheep, Jacob was in the chorus, Isaac was a student, Hannah and Joshua were townsfolk. They all did an excellent job (no one ran off stage crying or anything......lol). On Saturday, they had to go to school for rehearsals. The good thing is, they got to count it as a make-up snow day. Interesting, huh? Then Saturday afternoon, the performed it again. I went the first night with half the kids, and John went the 2nd night with the other half. (That way we didn't take up the whole auditorium--just kidding!)

Sunday my headache, and anxiety was so bad that we didn't get to church. I was down all day, and John and the kids were stressed and worried. They did a wonderful job of helping around the house, getting meals, and watching out for each other. I am glad of that. Towards evening, John had the bishop come over to give me a blessing. That was nice. I am so glad I have such a caring and helpful husband!

Monday I went to the doctors to find out what is going on with me. He gave me a couple prescriptions. One is for the headache and tension. What a relief--I actually feel pretty good again. Hopefully things will turn around for the better now. I need to be up and going with the family!

Today Isaac got caught up on his immunizations. And then I took the little kids shopping. We had a blast. Got Willem and Nathan a couple outfits for summer. The girls some pants, shirts, and sweaters for next winter. I even got 9 pairs of Carhart snow pants for all the boys for next year. They went through them this year--they are following apart. I figure with the GOOD one, they won't be able to destroy them next winter.

The boys were all excited, and want them now---NO WAY!!

Tomorrow we have a mother/daughter spa night for Young Women's--me and Shannon have been growing our nails for 2 weeks now, so we can paint each others. We can't wait.

Thursday we are having a 1 year Party! Shannon, Joshua, Cassidy, Nathan, and Brenna have been a part of our family for a year now--hard to believe. We all voted for celebrating this occasion. Should be fun also!

Will post more later!

Eggs Anyone

This isn't even all of them--there are another 6 dozen in the fridge already packaged up.

It is Hannah's and Shannon's job to feed, water, and gather eggs every day from chickens and ducks. Also to keep the coop clean and dry and fresh shavings in the egg nesting boxes. They do such a wonderful job of it. Too good of a job, that now the chickens are so happy and content, and laying nearly 2 dozen eggs a day.

Even with our large family, we are not able to use up this amount of eggs. Along with eating what we can, we have been selling quite a few also. We are collecting the egg money into a jar--this will eventually take all the kids to the movies theatre this summer to see Ice Age 3. If anyone close is interested in any eggs-please let us know.

We would be happy to GIVE them to you!

(Sorry about the rest of you--I don't think they would ship all that well!)

Super Fast Update

Once again, I managed to get behind on posting. I am so far behind now, that I don't even know where to start. So I am just going to post whatever comes to my mind about the past 2 weeks. Sorry, but it might be really scattered.

• This week I have been catching up on the little things that need done around here, and have started Spring cleaning. Heaven knows with 13 kids in the house all winter, we are definitely needing it.
• Kids received their report cards and they are all doing really well with school and have adjusted right into the routine. I met with all the elementary teachers this week, and am very pleased with their progress. Older kids are all doing totally awesome and have made the honor roll.
• Elijah is now 16, and Sunday he was ordained a priest by his dad. we are all very excited about his progression in the priesthood. We know have a deacon, teacher, and priest. And in 6 months we will have another deacon--Joshua is extremely anxious to take on all the responsibilities coming up soon in his life.
• Sunday was our ward conference, and John was set apart as Young Men's President. Elijah, Zachery, Caleb, Joshua, Shannon and Hannah are all excited about this, as he will be attending their Wednesday night activities. How fun is that!!
• Last Saturday, Elijah, Zachery, and Caleb attended the stake Merit Badge College. Elijah and Caleb completed a Merit Badge (I can't remember what it was--something to do with the outdoors), and Zachery is only a 8-10 minute talk in sacrament meeting away from completing his public speaking Merit Badge. They had in Essex with this. Shannon and Hannah at the same time was attending a conference for this year's girl's camp. They are just ecstatic about being able to go together this year--they will have a blast! I am a little bumbed about not being able to go with them this year--I enjoyed last year with Shannon very much.
• Last week we finally broke down, spent a lot of money, and got 4 totally awesome tires on our van. (That was after walking it 2 times everyday!) Couldn't deal with all that exercise any longer. Now the van goes up the hill every time--so nice!! And just in time for mud season--it is nasty out there!

I am guessing that is nearly all--besides homework, homework, homework!

Most Annoying

Oreo, giving me the look after I told them all to go back to their field.

(I think he looks a little on the guilty side!)

We have a cow (Oreo), a Cotswold/Border-Leicester sheep (Patch), and a Jacob sheep (Taz). And I suppose I might as well mention Joshua's dog (Max), and our 24 chickens. These four creatures and those strange chickens are absolutely drive me crazy!! We have a small shed that the sheep are in, or should I say, they SHOULD be in. And a three-strand electric fence that the cow SHOULD be staying in. For the chickens we have a small coop, with a large fenced run for them to peck around in--that they SHOULD be in. And hey, isn't a dog suppose to be really cute, and just lay on your front porch soaking up the sun? Ok, this is New England. Let me rephrase: Isn't a dog suppose to be really cute, and just lay on your front porch.

(Forget the sun part!)

Well, not my dear little animals--we have a 'funny farm' going on around here. The sheep hop over the gate of the shed, right on time every morning --as if they were running the show. With heads held high, they prance over to the cow. They all give each other the look, and plow right through that electric fence as though it was thread. They then continue to nestle their way under the tarp which is covering the hay bales and eat their own breakfast. The dog meets them down there, and they all give each other the look again. Then they altogether head up towards the chicken shed, where they manage to get into the rabbits food. When the chickens see that they are roaming free, they get the gumption to fly over their fence and be free also. Luckily they haven't yet figured out how to lift the latch to set him free yet--I am waiting for this one to happen! Next they invade the garage, since one of the kids always seems to manage to leave the door open each night. Here they leave remains for John all over the floor and his tool boxes--which can I say, he just totally loves--NOT!! In there, they are able to eat all the chicken food and grain they want, since they have figured out how to take the lids off the cans. On their own good time, they mousy around the house, peeking in the windows, and leaving more remains around the yard. They get on the porch and look in the door to see the kid's watching TV or coloring. Do you know how bad it makes your heart jump to walk by and see a large cow in your window or at your door? It always scares me at first. But then I do have to laugh because how many people get to have a cow and sheep come knocking at their door each day.

(I am assuming only me!)

About this time I open the window and tell them to get back down to their own spot. The funny thing is that they give me a look, like they weren't doing anything wrong (you know the look--the one the kid's give you also when you catch them doing something wrong!). Then they walk away back down to their field, and pretend they never left. So annoying!! I had to vent and share a little part of our life.

Hopefully it made your day--as for me, I have to go get the sheep off the porch again.

Pinewood Derby Race

Joshua, Isaac, and Jacob have spent the last 2-3 weeks cutting, sanding, and painting their derby cars. They had a lot of fun coming up with their own unique idea, and working with their dad getting them ready for the big race. Saturday we drove 2 1/2 hours to the other side of Vermont for the boys' pinewood derby race. The whole family was excited about this, and got involved. We wore our family shirts to cheer on the boys. All three boys had smiles the whole time. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast served by the stake of pancakes with Vermont famous Maple Syrup (of course), sausage and fresh fruit. Then while the cars were being registered, weighed, and check over, we all had fun acknowledging all of the scouts there, cheering, and singing really goofy songs with Mrs. Lucy. Then the races finally began. It was fun to see the anticipation on the boy's faces as their cars were being raced. All of their cars raced well, but of course there can only be one winner for each group level of scouts. Not everyone can win. We did manage to come home with one medal. Isaac won first place in the Bear Scout level race. In my opinion--they are all winners. It was a fun day spent altogether as a family.

The Barnhart Bunch

Cute, Cute, Cute!!!

I love this. Even if I had two that I couldn't get to smile.

Can't have everything! But will keep what I do have.