Merry Christmas to our Friends & Family

As my Christmas photo cards hit mailboxes this week, I thought the most economical (and easiest) way to share our past year with you would be by blogging about it!! Of course many of the day to day activities- good and bad can be found by perusing throughout my blog . So if you want to know more, feel free to dig deeper and to leave comments - we love knowing you stopped by! Take note: You will notice a few odd posts scattered throughout this blog :) Yes, we all know I'm a little odd, but the real reason behind these posts is that I occasionally get paid to write a blog and if I can't fit it in with something I'm already blogging about, I just write a blog on that subject (but totally off subject of my family). So here we go!!

We hope this Christmas finds your family healthy, warm, and blessed. It has been a tough year economically for many and we were not excluded from this. We have had many changes in our life this year, some exciting and some not so great! As lots of you know, in April this year we moved to a small farm (2 acres - I call it a farm - Kevin calls it 2 acres :) This brought many changes in our lifestyle and our opportunities. One major change, my favorite by far, was being able to have animals. So we have accumulated 6 calves, 13 laying hens, 3 roosters, 3 cats (1 actually belongs to the neighbor but gets more love at our house!), and 4 ducks. Unfortunately our guinea pig died and our dog had to be put down - you can read about that here. We love the farm life! And moving on....

Kevin had left his job at the feedlot last fall to work at the hog farm and by mid-summer he was through working inside. He spent some time helping his dad out and then went back to the feedlot. He's pretty happy there now and I am glad to see it! He enjoys farming, but is looking forward to being done picking corn. The weather has not been ideal for farming this year and things are progressing slowly. If the weather holds, maybe another week and they will be done. Kevin got the opportunity to go to Nashville this fall for a week. He spent time with his mom and brother and really enjoyed getting away. Of course the weather here that week was below freezing and it was mid-70's there, so that didn't hurt his feelings at all!! When we moved to the farm, he also got a garage! Yeah! He has wanted a garage for so long and though this one isn't big it will get the job done. We spent a lot of time insulating and sheeting it, rebuilding part of it, putting in new doors, new windows, and a garage door opener. Who knows maybe 2010 is the year that '56 Chevy will see some shop time! Now that Wichita is older he can be included in the work so that is another incentive to get it started. Kevin was able to shoot a deer this year also - not as big as last year, but still a keeper.

Wichita is 10 years old this year and in 4th grade. He is enjoying school a little more this year- maybe because he is getting better at it. He reads much better and we're still working on writing legibly :) Since moving I think he has started to become a lot more sports oriented - instead of just a video-game-addict. We got rid of our game station and he has lots of room to run outside. He is still involved in Cub Scouts and is also on the church Bible Quiz Team, he will also be in 4-H after the first of the year. He played baseball this summer - which he really enjoyed. He has been going to work with Kevin about once a week. He got to help throw tires onto the silage pile, drive the combine and a tractor (not alone!!), and do other "fun" stuff at the feedlot. I think this is good for both him and Kevin. Wichita is really growing up fast. His feet are as big as mine and it won't surprise when I am soon looking up to him!

Wyatt is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. He seems to be going through the "I don't like school" phase. He does like science experiments and doing math, though. Wyatt is still a great lover of animals and really, really enjoys the farm. He spends as much time outside as he can. He likes to help take care of the chickens and pet any animal that will let him (or that can't run away fast enough!). He has claimed Calico as his own. He has taken to wearing nothing but cowboy boots and bib overalls - what a cutie! Wyatt is going to be in 4-H this coming year and is on the church Bible Quiz Team.

Montana is (almost) 7 years old and in 2nd/3rd grade. She LOVES school. She loves to read Little House books and is constantly writing notes or letters. She is basically mini-me. :) Montana is in dance class this year. Grandma comes to get her every week and she loves it!! She is also on the Bible Quiz team and will be in 4-H. She still has her cat Mia, despite losing her and getting her back. Montana is a great helper and loves baking. She also likes to help me rearrange (my favorite pastime!) and organize things. She is growing up so fast and I just don't know where the time has all gone!

I have kept VERY busy this year! I am still homeschooling the kids, which I really enjoy, and am still staying home (despite a few part-time jobs here and there this spring and summer). I raised a big garden this year, but it didn't do as well as I'd hoped. The weather was not that great and the first year on a new plot is always tough. I did end up canning quite a bit though and with the deer & chicken the pantry and freezer are full. I absolutely love living on the farm. I have learned and done so many new things. I built a barbed wire fence, built a wood fence, painted my barn and did some remodeling inside it, built a chicken shed from my own plans, bottle fed baby calves, raised chicks, butchered chicks, raised ducks (was not allowed to butcher the ducks), helped Kevin insulate his garage, gardened, irrigated, and taught myself how to knit. I help out with our Bible Quiz kids, am involved in a few Bible Studies, and help run our homeschool group. It has been an exciting year and I am so thrilled with the blessings God has bestowed on our little family. I am looking forward to 2010 and the exciting opportunities that await us!!

May God bless each of you and fill your lives with abundance. May you take the time this Christmas and throughout the New Year to thank Him and honor Him with your worship. To God be all the Glory!!

Love and Blessings,
Kevin, Sarah, Wichita, Wyatt, & Montana