Grandma

It’d only been a week since Grandma broke her hip and had surgery when we went to visit her.  She’s much different than the last time we saw her just this spring.  She’s eating less, talking less, remembering less.  All the things that happen as we age.  After all, she is 97, I guess she’s entitled to forget a few things.  It’s hard when someone ages as you have a picture of them in your mind at a specific age and you seemed to have locked them in that age forever.  Then you see them one day and realize, this isn’t the same person.  Their mind isn’t all there, they don’t really remember you the same.  Yet all the while you are remembering them as the person you once knew.  I remember walking along a street near her home in Clearwater 15 years ago as she told me, “Now Elizabeth, this may be the last time you see me.”  She’s been ready to be with her Lord for years now, but He had other plans.  He knew that she’s been a stronghold and a prayer warrior for her family.

We had many a good talk in recent years when she stayed with us for a month. It was a bit of an emotional visit as I knew that it may be our last.  She’s a strong woman, but a lot has changed since our last visit.  One thing I know for sure, that I will see her in heaven again some day.  There is no doubt in my mind about that.  She has been a faithful servant.  She has her quirks, but don’t we all?  Thankfully we serve a merciful God who loves us despite ourselves.  One day she will stand before our Lord and he will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”  Until then may she continue to be a light in this dark world.

4 Generations.

Farm Day

As fall and school have arrived, so has our return to Prairie Winds Farm.  It is here that my girls take horseback riding lessons, where all of the kids feed the animals.  Where we have donned bee suits to work with her hives, where we have rounded up hogs for butcher, where I was chased down by a mad cow, where we have hunted down many a chicken egg, where we have helped with baby goats, milked a goat, witnessed the birth of a calf, hiked various nature trails, and much much more.  It was a friend who asked to visit the farm that sparked our return.  I have since decided that this will be a weekly thing at the request of my favorite 5. 

There are ducks…

Geese…these hatched naturally on the farm, no incubator required, pretty cool.

Sheep, horses, and cattle are found grazing in the pastures.

This is Honey, she is officially top dog in the pasture.  When she approaches the other horses make room!

Chickens, and little children:), are found everywhere at the farm.  There are groups coming and going constantly getting a taste of the country life.

Jackson prefers the chickens to horses.  He LOVES checking for eggs, which always includes a trip up to the hay loft!

After much choring, the girls are awarded riding lessons…the best part.

Part of riding is taking care of these beauties…here is Sydney brushing “Tony the Pony”

Learning how to put on the bridle is all part of the job.

Waiting patiently for his turn to ride.

Even little girl got a ride!

Along with the animals is the beautiful prairie…at least 60 acres of woods, prairie grass, and wildlife.

These flowers are EVERYWHERE on the prairie this time of year.

Goodbye farm…until next week.

Camp

To bring our summer to a relaxing but fun end Joe and I loaded up our sweet bunch and headed on a week and a half camping trip which ended at our usual Labor Day camping location.

It was wonderfully relaxing as we stayed close to home so Joe was still able to keep up with his work load while kicking back at the same time.  It was a great way to celebrate summer one last time before we started back to school….which we did on the Wednesday after Labor Day, and we hit the ground running!  I can’t believe I have a 7th grader!  Where has the time gone????  Wait a minute…I can’t believe I have a 7th grader, a fifth grader, a second grader, a kindergartener, a preschooler, and an infant!  Where did all these kids come from anyway:)  It definitely makes things interesting.  2 weeks in and London hasn’t lost her interest to “do school” like the other kids. 

Well, enough about school, here are a few shots of my favorite 7!

Everyone needs one of these…a built in Mother’s helper!  My kids are GREAT with their new sister.  I can always count on the older 3 to keep her happy when I need just a minute more to finish what I’m doing.

 

This is my little buddy these days.  She sure brought a lot of smiles to the adjacent retirees camping in the campground.

Holland just keeps on going,…fishing, swimming, playground, biking, and then do it all again.  She also helped me trek back and forth to the laundry with our heaping baskets, and stuck around to fold it with me!!!!

Off to the little lake for a swim…we ended up staying there all day.  It was only a stone’s throw from our camper.

Lake water….eewww!  Actually was nice and sandy on the bottom, mom and dad even joined them:)

Man I love my kids.

A little mud fight in the lake…still washing the sand out of their hair.

Ireland and I watched all the fun.

One smiley girl!

This playground had several unique activities including this rope contraption. 

I even participated in the fun…my feet actually left the ground, the kids loved it!

Ropes were a little short for London.

A different version  of the traditional merry-go-round. 

Look mom, I can stand up on the merry-go-round…

This game was a lot of fun as well.  I played with the kids, they didn’t know their mom was so competitive:) 

I couldn’t leave out a snapshot of Joe starting a fire.  If you camp you know that this is one of the foundations of camping.

They had a small hiking trail, just enough for London’s little legs and our arms after walking the “puppy”. 

True gentlemen.

Jackson’s bass…did some fishing throughout the trip.  Between the whole bunch they caught a bass, a sunfish, a bluegill, and a turtle.

Draft day…while there we drafted for our Colvin Family fantasy football league.  I’ll keep you posted.

This was about the ONLY picture that I took at MCSC, our Labor Day weekend camp spot.  Once we arrived the kids found their friends and were not to be seen again until bedtime, and of course when it was time to leave.  It was a great weekend spent with friends.  Here is a snake that was found in the woods.  The kids often disappear into the woods and we’re never sure what they’ll find.  The big find of this particular year was actually salamanders…they were everywhere. 

So that about sums it up.  We decided (or maybe I decided:)) that we need to do this more often. 

A Party for London

Our family can be somewhat random when it comes to birthday parties.  Sometimes you get your favorite meal and an ice cream cake, sometimes it’s a special dinner out with the family, sometimes it’s a sleepover party with friends, and sometimes we invite a bunch of friends for the whole family and make a get together out of the whole event.  No rhyme or reason behind this, just whatever we’re up for at the time I guess. 

Well, we were up for a party a couple weeks ago, in celebration of London’s 3rd birthday.  Sydney planned the entire event and sent out the invitations.  Holland made the cake, and Joe and I took care of the meal.  The only thing NOT in the schedule was rain.  The weather man was calling for rain, but we managed to escape anything severe getting nothing more than a brief sprinkle.  It was a wonderful day to celebrate!

The sandbox was one of many places where kids were found enjoying themselves.

Or watching the fish in the pond…

Or lying on a blanket in the shade…

Or sitting on mom’s lap…

Or even just playing on the steps.

Sydney planned some great games,

and of course there was a piñata!

We went around the group at least twice before there was candy everywhere.

There was plenty of time for just playing and hanging out…

and of course a game of chess (the new favorite game in the Colvin household).

It wouldn’t be a birthday party without cupcakes, cake, and candles! 

A new apron and baker’s hat for our budding chef:)

 

Oh yes, and the hot tub.  It was a cooler day, really too cool for the pool, but the perfect temp for the hot tub.  I think every child was in at once…I lost count. 

Even Mamaw and Great Mamaw joined us for the celebration.   I don’t have a picture of Mamaw (my mother-in-law) as she was busy cleaning up and doing dishes!  Thanks Mamaw for all your help, it was greatly appreciated.

As you can see it was a fun-filled day and London loved every minute of it!