Birthday Month (s)

October/November is birthday central for our family! We kick it off with Anne's birthday, October 2nd, follow that with Hyrum, October 9th, Caleb, November 4th, and Emma November 6th. Then the holidays, and Elsa's birthday is January 10th. I realize that these five birthdays actually cover a four month span, but with the myriad holidays in there, it feels like one constant party! Good thing I like to party and double good thing I stockpile gifts into my "gift closet" all year long.

Anne turned 17 this year! I can hardly believe so much time has gone by! It seems like yesterday that I brought her home from the hospital, scared to death to have a little person depend on me. Kendel and I were both so young and dumb, I admit, although we didn't feel like it then.

Anne is brilliant (33 on the ACT last year!) and talented (plays 7 instruments, sings and dances!) and beautiful, but what I MOST appreciate is her spirit. I know I don't tell her enough how greatly I appreciate her wisdom and maturity. I also appreciate her fun, silly side. She doesn't show that side often, or to many, but when she does it is like taking a diamond into the sun! The diamond always has it's intrinsic value and beauty, but when you take it into the sun it shines brilliantly! Anne's smile and laugh are priceless! I am so blessed to have this amazing girl as my daughter!

Hyrum turned 13. He was the most determined little person I have ever met! At eight months old, he wanted to walk.So he did. Really, I'm not kidding. He watched his big brother/sister walk and he scrunched up his little face, pulled himself up on the couch, and started practicing. Seriously, he spent a day or so walking from the couch to the hearth, a couple of steps away, without holding onto anything. Over the next couple of days he enlarged his path from the couch to the hearth to the piano bench. Then he skipped the hearth and went from the couch to the piano bench. Babies are not generally methodical like that! One day, when he was nearly 9 months old and had been practicing for a couple of weeks, I was in my bathroom down a long hall, and I turned and watched Hyrum walk slowly, and with tremendous concentration, all the way down the hall. Folks may not believe me, but it's 100% true. He is still a very determined person! It doesn't always make my job very easy, but boy, I think it will serve him well throughout his life.

In addition to being determined, Hyrum is also very bright, talented, and handsome. What a lucky mom I am!

The EASY way to compost!

This new house needs a garden! It's a shame that with all of this acreage, and a pond, even, it has never had a garden. Our soil is decent, but I'd like a little more loam so as to hold onto moisture better, so we are going to compost right in place.

I've done this before. You layer "brown" and "green" components with soil to a depth that will allow heat enough for it to cook. Here is our process:

1. Cover the lawn we are turning into the garden with a layer of cardboard. We saved a bunch of moving boxes for this purpose. Don't bother taking the lawn out, it will compost right along with everything on top of it.
2. Cover the moving boxes with manure. We just happen to have a whole bunch that needs mucking. Make the kids do this part! It is so character-building for them! Just kidding. We all do this together, and it allows great conversation and learning to take place. It is just as character-building for me as it is for my kids.
3. Cover the manure with yard waste. We just happen to have a bunch of rotting hay! It's best to use the oldest stuff, if it is already partially moldy, all the better! You can use leaves or whatever yard waste you have on hand. We added a whole bunch of leaves, too, since we have an abundance of them.

4. Repeat the layering, thoroughly watering each layer to promote the bacteria that will compost it all. Your pile should ideally be about 5' x 5' x 5' to allow high enough temperatures to thoroughly compost all of the weed seeds. Cow manure is better than horse manure, as cows more fully digest their food, leaving fewer weed seeds.
5. Wait. If you build a large enough pile and keep it wet, it will compost very quickly. I always build my pile in the fall, and it is mostly ready for me to plant in by spring. By mostly ready, I mean that there are still bits of non-composted stuff. Those just act like wonderful mulch for your plants and keep the moisture in.
6. Plant. Your compost pile will have shrunk drastically, so you aren't planting in a 5' tall mound of soil. It will be mounded above the surrounding soil somewhat, but that's how I like my garden beds. They have warmer roots that way.

Easy, huh? Who wants to turn a heavy compost pile over and over? 

The rest of the House pics- this time for the Stirlands :)

The front of the house

Our gorgeous new backhoe!

The back of the house

Mom and Dad's room.  It's huge!

Boys room

Girls room

Excuse the messy dressers please.  :)

House pics- for Nate

The music room

Banister- and naughty kids!

dining room

family room

backyard

side yard

The ACT

Hello all!  I just wanted to let you all know that taking the ACT is brutal, and you shouldn't have to do it more than once.  I'm serious.  It was awful.

However, I survived, and I got a 33!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I scored in the top 1% in the nation, with my first time taking the test.

See you all,
Anne