The Ferens Farm

After living in our house for over a year we are getting started on the front yard!  It is a big job and the design and vision has taken shape over dozens of conversations, but we finally felt ready to start.  As with many jobs it has to get messy before it can get better, so after Brandon spending over 8 hours on the bobcat we rented (of course I forgot to get pictures) we have a giant mess!

The plan is to put in concrete, gravel and grass over the next several weeks.  I hope the timeline moves along fast and the weather cooperates!

Over the last few months we have been in the process of moving the kids and their rooms around.  Zac and Zoey got the bunkbeds, then we moved Zoey’s stuff into Ally’s room, painted the red wall in Zoey’s old room green for Austin, and finally we waited until I was ready to move Ally into a “big girl bed” and put Austin in a crib in his own room; the time finally came on Friday.  I spent a good part of the day moving all the “girl toys” into Ally’s room and all the baby stuff into Austin’s new room (from our room and Ally’s room.)  When Brandon got home we did the final thing, Ally’s crib went to Austin’s room and a twin bed got moved to Ally’s room.  I was excited to have my room, and closet (this is where Austin has been sleeping) back, and for Ally to continue down the path of growing up, but I was also sad, this change was permanent.  Ally will never sleep in a crib again and no longer will Austin take up permanent residence in our room, this was the beginning of a new stage, a “look back moment” as my dad so perfectly describes them.  Ally won’t need me to get her when she wakes up anymore…So, though I am blinking back tears as I write this and reflect on the babies growing up, I proudly present the new beds.

You might  be wondering how they are sleeping in these new beds and room, perfectly.  I guess they were ready to move before I was ready to let go.  I have a feeling this won’t be the last time that happens…

Well our baby is six months old already, how does time fly by so fast?  He is a joy and a delight and I am so thankful to God for the blessing he is to me individually, but even more so to us as a family.  Recently I told Brandon that Austin is “perfect just how he is.”  I know that all too soon he will be moving, asserting an opinion, talking, running, eating a full meal, learning his letters, going to school, you get the point.  Right now he is snugly, smiley, happy, rolly-polly, content, and just the easiest little guy to love.  I do look forward to getting to know who God made him to be, but for now I am soaking up how he lights up when I come into his sight and how excited he is to see a “new” toy (this could be anything he hasn’t seen in the last 30 seconds.)  Plus his tighs are to die for chubby…I could just eat them up, I know they won’t stay like that forever!

His “stats” at 6 months are:

-21 pounds

-size 12 month clothes

-just starting to eat baby food but VERY interested in what everyone else is eating

-not sitting up completely on his own yet

-rolling a lot (much more than the other kids did)

-sleeping over 10 hours every night (thank goodness!)

-putting everything he can get his hands on in his mouth, including his toes

-generally just pure AWESOMENESS!

Eating rice cereal for the  first time, he actually liked it (pour little guy had pink eye his last week, as you can see in this picture.)

We are home, it feels so nice.  Getting home after a long and fun vacation is kinda like slipping into new clean sheets in your own bed, it’s comfortable and familiar, but fresh and crisp at the same time.  The kids were so excited when we pulled into the driveway last night at 6pm, they were ready to see their house, play with their toys, and not be strapped in their car seats.  I have to say, the kids did AMAZING on this trip.  They FAR exceeded my expectations, Brandon and I were thinking they might have done better than us!  Here is the total car crying time lineup (this includes the trip to AND from California):

Zac: less than 5 minutes

Zoey: NONE, that’s right, miss cry at the drop of a hat didn’t cry AT ALL in the car…simply amazing…now if I could just get her to do that at home!

Ally: less than 30 minutes (pretty good for a 2 year old)

Austin: less than 45 minutes (this includes even the “I’m hungry” cry)

Brandon and Cory: none, but we were tempted a few times!

Today is filled with laundry, putting things away, cleaning the car, and relaxing, but life starts again tomorrow.  What a great trip, it was so fun, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for the condo and to Uncle Nate and Aunt T for the fun times!

We spent our last day in San Diego exploring the downtown area. We visited Petco Stadium, ate at The Tin Fish, walked along the water to Seaport Village, and other random things. It was a fun and relaxing day finished off by a swim in the pool and dinner with Nate and T. We had a great trip and are headed home now, planning to stay the night in Medford, OR. Pray for us as we drive home, so far only one kid has thrown up!