It's that time!

It's that time!  The maple sap is running already during this warm February week.  2 taps filled 2 gallon jugs today.  We have at least 5 sugar maples in the back yard, some quite big, so we really could get some more taps.  Problem is...no outdoor sugarhouse means a very foggy kitchen to make much at all :)  I suppose we could rig up some sort of outdoor boiling system...but then again, it's so very easy to buy a little jug...and my dear hubbie prefers artificially flavored corn syrup anyway :P   So we just boil a pot every year for the fun of it!  Owen loves to drink the cold sap right out of the tree.  It tastes like water to me, but he says he can taste the flavor of it and it's way better than water!

And many hours later, here is the essence of all that sap!

The spoon-licking team notes that it is very tasty indeed!

et cetera

And now we have a full 24 hrs of steady snow :}  Boy oh boy, winter seemed like it wasn't coming and is now making up for lost time.  Possibly another 16"!  Looks like Reuel might be home again on Monday (he had a snow day last Thursday).  We missed church this morning too, it had already started up at 8am.

We just discovered this relevant recording of Owen from probably 1st grade.  Ha!  Wasn't he a cutie?  He would not be caught singing so sincerely any more.  :}

Owen Sings 'Do you want to build a snowman?'

Susie Snowflake

Well, it's that time of year!  Today is a whiteout...snow from 8am to 8pm, 12-18" predicted.  And I had just cleared the driveway of built-up ice yesterday :}  Reuel is home and he and the kids are out in it in full gear...balaclavas and ski goggles included!

And some from earlier weeks...we've only had a little snow before this big one...and a whole lot of cold rain.  Ugh!

Holidays 2016

There was caroling at the nursing home with friends...

There was time spent with new baby cousin and her family... 

There was a 5th birthday party...

There was a whole lot of Christmasing...

There were road trips and sights along the way...

And now we have a self-cleaning fish tank with our new friend Waterbomb!

Happy New Year!!

Eden learning to read

Eden has started a little bit of schoolwork with her bro's this year (beyond the osmosis-style learning that is quite incredible!  Had no idea she'd learned numbers beyond 10 til she counted to 100 for me!).  When I say little bit, I mean little bit--I think we're on reading lesson 19 (as in 19 days we've done something since September).  But she's got her three letter CVC words down pretty well!  And can you tell the type of books she can read by the ones she made for me today?   So cute I had to share.

THE FOX

[it is amazing how she can write completely backwards sometimes.  Sometimes she'll write down all the numbers 1-20 completely backwards--perfectly backwards--and right to left, as above.  Sometimes normally.  All the kids did this!  Reuel and I don't remember this stage...?

THE FOX ON U BOX

THE FOX GIS OF THE BOX

THE DOG

THE DOG ON U LOG

THE DOG JUMPS ON THE LOG

Anyway, very cute.  She would be highly embarrassed to know I posted these (but might enjoy seeing them later) so if you see her, best not to ask her about them or say you saw them :)

O=9.5

Half a cake for half a year!

Asher's first recital!

Asher had no nerves at all for his first guitar recital.  And he did a great job!  Steve is an engaging, kind teacher and Asher is really enjoying his lessons.

Click below for video!

Asher's Recital

When he's not playing guitar, Asher can be found making dunce caps from mailing envelopes and
substituting paper towels when he can't find his bath towel.  Then giggling uproariously.