Lots of Baking...and Walking!!;)

We are very happy to announce that Evangeline is now walking her little self all over the place! She is enjoying her new skill and appreciates the floor rather than her play-pen which we call affectionately "baby jail." ;)

There she goes!

Enjoying her Christmas present from Aunt 'Drana!

With so many brothers-Evie plays with trucks, army men and Lincoln logs.....;)

Joshua  has a really special way with Evie:)

A few months ago, I decided to try making pretzels for the first time. They turned out very well, praise the Lord and the little boys were more than eager to help! (This is one of the reasons homeschooling is such a blessing and benefit for children! They learn so much more than just text book information! )

Looking through the dough!

Daniel created a little brush for us, as we do not have one, to spread the pretzels with the egg mixture! He is very creative!

Baking....

When they were all done eager hands were told to wait till everyone came to the table to eat....

Pretzel masks...:)

Evie spends a lot of time in her highchair whenever there's cooking going on. Here she's enjoying her piano!

Which was later exchanged for a yummy pretzel, three times as big as her little mouth....;)

Our hardworking chefs! Timmy gave himself a haircut without telling anyone awhile back.....:P

Poor Natey couldn't help as he had pink eye, which the kids affectionately called "purple eye." :P

Jumping ahead to another baking adventure! Shortly after that we were having a dinner with homemade tortillas and so the boys were allotted some dough with which they got to work. They made several different things, among them were a tortilla shaped like the state of Alaska, a cross, an Eskimo, stars and more crosses.:)

Evie in her highchair again.....this young lady is learning to be so patient.:)

Piano playing adds to the noise around the house too, these days....:) It's been really fun to have 4 more piano players and they are all doing really well!!!

Shaping the tortilla dough.....

Evie loves spending time with Joshua! He can make her laugh like no one else!!!

Daniel has been working on different art projects on the computer creating biblical scenes. He's really been blessed with talent!

A closer look before going in the oven.:)

Their expressions are so cute! These two are so much fun to watch as they interact!

Natey's shapes-he did a good job remembering the shape of the state!

This smile is so contagious!!!

Another day mom came home with a bunch of bananas so it was banana bread!!! We also needed to use up our carrots so we made carrot cakes!:)

A snack for Evie....kinda big.:)

As hard as it is to believe, all that we made we didn't last very long, as things go faster with a big family!!!!

Adding carrots.....

Banana bread baking....:) Yes, I was getting a post in mind here....:P

Banana bread mixture...

It's really such a blessing to learn from Mom at home and work on skills needed for life.:)

banana bread cooling

This is only half of the peels we had from our banana pile....;)

Racing to see who can peel fastest! It's really quite fun to peel bananas!

Now to a few moments of school days. The boys get to play in the patio before naptime.

I am so grateful for the sisters, for the friends I have in them.:)

Playing contentedly......see Evie's little ponytail??;)

We have cleaned out the garage and organized the patio, turning the garage into the schoolroom and the patio into a playroom. The older boys have been working with mom in the garage and while they are doing school. Caytlin and I take care of the four youngest, doing school and keeping the house in order. These are such special days, just enjoying the time we have to learn together and appreciate the simple things in life.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.                    1 Timothy 6:6-10