Preparations

We have several friends/family passing through in the month of July which means DEEP cleaning time!

It also means bedroom roulette.  A couple of months ago we decided to relinquish Lucas's private room rights and give them to the one child who has never had her own room, Juliet.  She beamed with excitement and promised to keep it clean every single day. She was actually pretty good at the upkeep but, she has the most clothes. So her room often feels like a large closet instead of a little girls room.

It isn't her fault, she has 2 sisters close in age, so as soon as Bridget is done with something it goes straight to Scarlett and if Scarlett didn't destroy it, it then goes to Juliet.  The problem is, she sometimes get new clothes too because she shouldn't ALWAYS get hand me downs. And, I like them to match, so every once in a while, I will buy 4 sets of the same outfit. Sigh. This problem is totally preventable, but I just don't care enough to end the cycle. It is my thing. I am weird.

Anywho---Nathan built the family a mega desk, so the office is now FREE for the taking.
Lucas and Mason have done well together, so we decided to split the girls up for a time.

Bridget just can't stop gabbing at night and it has become problematic, so, she gets the small room in the basement.  Scarlett is the mess, so, she is moving upstairs in an attempt for me to be on her more to keep it clean. It worked in the rental. We shall see.  Juliet has the most clothes, (see above) so she will get the biggest room with the biggest closet.  All the girls are in agreeance. The boys don't seem to mind, so crossing fingers this works.

The biggest issue is when we move  rooms it becomes this major PURGE.  I love it. 
Everything gets cleaned. 

The baseboards get wiped down, everything gets touched up.

Grandma Horn is up first, so we moved the guest bed upstairs for the week, and then Scarlett will officially get her room once Grandma leaves.

This used to be Nathan's office, but he is now in the cool basement.

This is also the room that gets the most construction dust.
All of this is wet dirt. All of it. Scar is giving it the thumbs down.


We have an amazing system to clean it out, and it is surprisingly therapeutic. So much so, that Scarlett cleaned all of the window sills and jams. HAHA

Then, Nathan washed all of the windows.

People hate that red barn farmhouse in front of us, but I love it.

When we prepare any room or do a big clean, my kids get 90% done and then poop out. It drives me crazy. So I sent them out to enjoy summer, and then told them no dinner until the last 10% got done.

It did get done. They ate an hour later than normal, but, it got done.
That's all that matters, right?

Nathan joked that I am preparing the children for when we visit them, and I give them the white glove test. That isn't true I would visit them no matter the shape of their home. :) 
And then I would clean it. JK

Friday June 29, 2018

Oh, my memories from Facebook popped up from two years ago and we had a good laugh.

Here is what happened:

Seen and heard :
J (5) - I think I'm going to just lay around like a slut today.
Me - What?!? (Choking on water)
J - a slut.
Me - (with bugged out eyes) what is that?
J - you know, a bug that is slow and lazy
Me -(relieved) oh! A slug. G. Slllluuuggg.
J- yea, totally.
If you need us today, we will just be slutting around.
**
Mason was making a bunch of noise in the kitchen. I went in there and he told me he had lunch covered. Sorry bud, its only 915am. Then he stopped, paused, and asked for his second breakfast. Lol.  Mason was 4.
Image may contain: indoor

Weird to think that so much time has passed since we have moved here.
Those were both in the rental house.
When we didn't know why we moved here or what was in store for us.

Sitting back, reflecting, I am just so glad we decided to jump in feet first and move to Idaho.

He
Here are my babes today:

They are snuggling up and watching a movie because it is "cold" today at 62.

He is 6.5, she is 7.

1st and 2nd graders.

When we moved here, he wasn't fully potty trained. He tried in March earlier in 2014 but it never truly stuck. Part of me knew we were going to be going through a big transition, and part of me didn't believe he was really ready.
At that time Juliet was a cute little agreeable baby/toddler. I could read to her for hours and she would beg for more in her Barbara Walters accent.

When we moved here, I told Mason that I forgot to pack diapers.
He looked so confused. 
I told him that he was on the last one, and that Idaho didn't have his diapers so he would have to use the toilet. 
He looked in all of the boxes and said "okay" and from that day on, he was potty trained. Hahaha. I guess the timing was perfect.


These two (juju and mace) are my best weed pickers.
I will send them out and tell them 25 weeds each and they are more than happy to pick away.
Speaking of weeds, we currently live in a new neighborhood. The house across from us is almost done.
They have the most incredible weeds.




These are just cell phone pictures, but aren't they amazing?

"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them"
A.A. Milne






**


😥Andkflkldf



Typical Idaho Summer Day

Today is a typical summer day. 

The kids have done their "school work," their chores, practiced the piano, and read.  They just finished up making their lunch and headed out to the backyard to eat it and enjoy the summer breeze that Idaho is known for.

We have quite the garden this year. Excuse the grass. This is from seed, so it will look much better next year. Hahaha. (at least that is what I am telling myself)



Nathan has planted tomatoes 3x because they all froze after each planting, so this is our last shot at garden tomatoes this year.


The tires on top of the berm hold our Giant Pumpkins and Watermelons.


We feel very fortunate to have this view (above and below)


The wheat fields and their sprinklers make for a beautiful sound and view.

Our neighbors also have a lovely garden. Nathan and Blaine are often found out "weeding and chatting" it is a nice life.  One day, I will write about Blaine and how I grew up with his sister, and how I am a member of the church because of her. :)



We have tried to grow strawberries 3 different times. It wasn't until we moved next to master gardeners (Bockholts) that it finally worked. My kids have been babysitting these berries ever since those white blooms popped up.
Finally! Red and Juicy Berries for the Witte Family. Of course they want to add rows upon rows next year. (We can never do anything on a small scale *sigh*)

Scarlett, age 9 adores strawberries.


And Mason, who is now 6. With a giant BUMP on his head from falling off a bench into a table.
Oh, and he is wearing sweatpants and rolls them this high to play in the pool. Crazy boy.

Life is slower, but we like it.