By amy on December 19, 2016
Garrison James Cahill
Born December 18, 2016 at 6:25 am
Weight: 8lbs. 2oz. Length: 19.5in
Garrison means Strong defense and James means substitute.
He will stand up for those who are oppressed, championing the cause of those who cannot defend themselves.
The verse we have picked for him is Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Garrison is number 7 in the Cahill family – he will enjoy plenty of love! His big brother is especially excited and ready for the new roommate!
The name James was chosen in honor of Amy’s Dad – a good father and faithful servant of the Lord.
Posted in Family News
By amy on December 9, 2016
Hi I’m Lance (8). I like playing with Legos. I started earning money this year. I wash dishes, do laundry and pull weeds to earn money. I bought a carving set with my money. I am learning words this year. I like collecting things and got a drawer carrier to organize my collections in for my Birthday. I am excited about getting a baby brother. We had a scavenger hunt to figure out if the Baby was going to be a boy or a girl. I am able to clean the ashes out of the fireplace and help Dad start a fire. I can’t wait until Christmas.
Hi I’m Ivy (7). I like ponies and the herd your horses game. I have learned how to read and you can often find me snuggled up on the couch reading a good book. I am becoming Mommy’s helper and can wash Skye and get her out of her high chair. I am also helping her take showers and start to potty train. I liked playing in the Mississippi river. I am saving up my money to buy Christmas presents for others. I am taking care of the barn all by myself now. I milk the goats twice a day, gather eggs and let Mom know if there is a problem.
Hi I’m Flora (6). I empty the dishwasher and put food away after each meal. I like to play my little ponies. Iris had her birthday this year. I had my birthday too, we played on the playground and we opened up presents and I had a cake that looked like a quilt. We are making crafts for Christmas songs. I like to play Garanimals matching game.
Hi I’m Eden (4). I like playing the headband game. I am learning to clean the bathroom and I am cleaning the bathroom Flora used to clean and Iris is cleaning the bathroom I used to clean. I am reading my sight word books in school. I loved being at Nanas house, I played with stuff. I am learning how to sweep the kitchen floor. I didn’t have cake at my birthday. I like playing with my bobbly heads. I love reading books. I have lots of eyes. I love to see the nutcracker at Christmas. I love to be gentle with glass stuff and I love doing my chores.
Hi I’m Iris (3)! I like to play the dress up doll game. I am learning to pat my knees and how to sing in school. I have started cleaning the bathroom and I know how to wipe the table and am learning to sweep the floor. I am learning how to play baby dolls. I like to wear zippy zebra clothes. I love doing crafts. I like when Eden and I wear matching overalls.
Hi I’m Skye (18mo.). I am starting to learn how to communicate. I love playing with Baby dolls. I get a treat if I go Potty in the potty. I like doing barn chores with Ivy. I like all kinds of animals and will stop whatever we are doing to “talk” to them. I also like to wave “hi” to cars. I watch the big people doing things and then I try it myself!
Posted in Family News
By amy on November 20, 2016
Flora is on the brink of changing years – from 5 to 6!
We’ve been reading some American Girls books and doing period crafts and cooking for our co-op this year. The first books were on Kirsten, a Swedish immigrant in pioneer America. The stories were a favorite not only with our children but their cousins as well. Since cousin Jenny shares a close birthday the girls have done their parties together most years and this year’s theme was inspired by our recent studies. So we grabbed a few more girls and headed to an old homestead staffed with reenactors and set up for fun!!
Looks like an old time school photo – though it could also pass as a family photo since all but one of these children are cousins!
Welcome to the farm, roll up your sleeves because we could use an extra hand around here!
There’s washing….
..and hanging out to dry.
Sweep out the house
Start on lunch….
then the kitchen needs more firewood!
Once the garden is watered then the chores will be done!
Since this is a celebration there will be time for some fun and games! We have something for everyone!
Checkers on the front porch for the men.
Blocks and coloring for the little ones.
Hoops for rolling
And hoops for tossing!
And an assortment of toys to amuse everyone.
Happy birthday Jenny and Flora!!!
Posted in Family News
By amy on November 5, 2016
We got our yearly apple order in October and then followed our tradition of making applesauce!
I set aside a day just for this project, hoping to get it all done with only one mess. Due to various issues we didn’t actually get started until about 10:00am so I mentally prepped myself to still be washing dishes after the kids went to bed. Little did I know what kind of team I had.
Eden and Iris loaded apples into the washing sink.
Lance and Ivy chopped. I think Lance alone chopped well over a bushel by himself.
All the kids took a turn with the hand crank, though the oldest 3 did most of this as well.
Skye tasted.
Eden helped me by washing jars, while I ran things back and forth between the stoves. Once we got the process started we operated like a well oiled machine! At one point, my brother stopped by and things looked so fun he had to lend a hand. Wish I had a picture of that Tom Sawyer moment.
We did stop for a little fun along the way – I told them about bobbing for apples and the idea was so intriguing they all had to try.
All my helpers were so focused and skillful that we finished the four bushels by 4:00!
60 quarts of applesauce.
7 1/2 gallons of cider. (note: the pink comes from the red apples – so pretty and tasty too!)
Brian got home early and my sister volunteered to watch the kids so we got an unexpected date night to finish off the day! What a reward!
Later that week Brian and the kids sliced and bagged apples for the freezer while I read aloud – reminded me of times from my childhood, putting up food while my mom read.
These apples sure do bring about fun times and we look forward to eating the applesauce all year.
Posted in Family News
By amy on June 23, 2016
The kids and I prepared a baseball themed evening to share with Dad!
We started with ball park food – nachos and hot dogs..and corn (because that’s our most recent garden harvest and we needed to eat it). And yes, all of my kids eat a plain dog with no bun.
Next up was a watermelon seed spitting contest! When I announced it, all the girls said “ewww” but Lance flashed his famous grin. Daddy was the hands down winner though (they are sitting on the bridge of our new play set).
Skye won the ‘most juice’ contest. This baby loves watermelon!
And now time for the game – water baseball!
Team Blue
Team Pink!
Mighty Casey up to bat!
First base was a foot in each bucket of water.
Second base you had to sit on a water balloon.
To be safe on third you must be sitting in the pool of water.
And then a slip ‘n slide into home!
After trying to coach them through one inning we just lined them up and let them bat and run. We would chase them with the ball and attempt to tag an out just to put a little thrill in the game.
Pinch hitter
We finished the evening with home made ice cream sandwiches! Flora told me she has a lot of pictures in her mind from tonight – this is how they describe memories. I think they had a good time.
Posted in Family News
