Autumn leaves

As I pulled in the driveway this morning from dropping off kids, I was overcome at how incredible the sight was. The entire driveway is littered with yellow leaves. They have fallen on the house and it was just this feeling of peace. I love autumn. It is almost gone. This afternoon it started to snow!

And I need to clean off the front porch!

Chicken Mess

Sometimes we jump the gun. Like the one time that we got cows and weren't even at the farm and had to house them at our Stonebridge house. Or the time we got goats and didn't have anywhere to put them since we were still at the Stonebridge house. Or the time Matt ordered 300 chickens and 30 turkeys when we first got to Harvest Point but had no real structure for them to live in. Ya. Sometimes...

Over the past several months they have gone from living in two big boxes to roaming in an makeshift fenced in area with a plywood shelter. We've lost a considerable amount to being crushed to death but the other chickens, predators, and environmental conditions. The other night when Dallin and I went out to feed I decided that we would wait no longer to move them out of the rain. It's been raining none stop for a long time. They were walking in at least 2 inches of sludge.

We donned our boots and jackets and in the rain moved all the chickens and turkeys to the greenhouse. There were moments of complete disgust as chicken poop found itself in our eyes and once in someone's mouth. I'm not going to say who...Gross.

However, they are all safe and sound in the greenhouse for the winter now and hopefully they can start living a little bit better.

Released

 On Thursday OSC released custody back to Reahna for Jamie and Jake. It's been 2 weeks short of 2 years since this all started. Reahna has done so well and I am really proud of her. She has been off drugs for more than a year and is trying hard to be a mom to her kids. She now gets to make all the decisions about visits and everything in regards to her kids. It's been a really long road and to honest, I thought it might turn out differently. Even though I miss Jamie and Jake in my every day, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Today we had a little celebration family dinner. Family, food and lots of babies to snuggle with. I am grateful to have such an incredible family. I'm grateful that, although most of us kids were extremely critical about how my parents dealt with Reahna during this process, they didn't give up on her.

Farm Life and Chili Cookoff

Each day out here brigs something new and wonderful. The other day when I was driving home there was a traffic jam...of goats. These goats roam everywhere. They do belong to someone. They just have wanderlust I guess.

The leaves are quickly falling. The other night I sat out on the porch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot cocoa while Trapper sat watch and watched the leaves fall. It was one of those perfect moments.

And last night I watched as the sun lit up the tops of the trees making everything gold in the backyard.

The only part about living out here that is not ideal is the drive into town. Well, I guess the drive wouldn't be bad if I didn't have to do it everyday and usually multiple times in a day. It's 30 minutes to the kids school so we have made good use of the time and have been listening to the Book of Mormon. We've had some great discussions about the stuff we have been hearing. I love that part!

I am teaching seminary three days a week now. I really, really love it. The kids are great and we have good discussions. They ask really good questions. Today I made them cinnamon rolls if they could pass off a scripture mastery. They tasted so good!

On Wednesday Noey came home with us and I had a little time before getting Corban and Kenna so we went to Value Village. Her and Bri had fun in the Halloween stuff.

Oh! Did I also mention that two weekends ago I got a tambourine? Oh ya! I'm the tambourine player in the Hale band. I'm still struggling trying to learn banjo. I need to practice more, but with everything that is not happening much.

Also I found a few fun random pictures on my phone for your viewing pleasure-

AND...Matt won the Settlers Bay Ward Chili Cook off tonight. He's kind of a big deal and I am glad that he is mine!

In Awe!

I never seem to tire of the view this time of year. Driving in to take the kids to school has been wonderful because of all there is to see and how different it is every day. We finally got some sun and it's been beautiful.

I also gathered all the life vests together to put away for the winter. They are still trying to dry because it's gotten so cold outside.

And lastly Trapper checking out the lake area. Life is just so good!

Moving along!

Autumn is in full swing and every time I drive down the road in the morning I am in awe of the beauty that surrounds us. Fog has rolled in several times and it has been incredible sights. 

Rain has been falling a lot lately. For days and days. 

And with rain comes messy floors, umbrellas and beautiful mushrooms. 

I love how magical they are! 

It also comes with water logged chickens that need a little relief. So the redneck in us comes out in full measure and we join the club of blue tarp Alaskans. 

Day before yesterday I got to babysit Jamie and Jake. I love those two. 

Jake rolled around on the floor playing with toys and making noises. Jamie drew on the ottoman with marker, flooded the bathroom and threw chocolate graham crackers everywhere. 

It was great fun! Oh to be 3 again. 

Things in the greenhouse are wrapping up with the strawberries and the attempt at pumpkins. I planted way too late and they needed serious fertilizer. Had several that got this far.

However the hydroponic lettuce is doing incredibly well. 

And with Autumn comes new mugs and hot cocoa. I am in LOVE with this woodland mug. 

I've already used it twice for salted caramel hot cocoa- my favorite! 

And lastly, we have been trying to get things done in the house. Last night we finally got cabinet doors and knobs on the island. The paint needs touched up,

but I love how it turned out. I also made the seat cushion for the window seat but 

pictures for that will come after I get new pillow covers for the throw pillows. 

And soon I will share with you the story of the miracle that is happening in our lives right now.

Home Again!

I'm not sure that anything feels better than being at home. I love that we have created a life that we really don't need a vacation from. That is how I feel. It is an adventure living in Alaska and more of an adventure living at Harvest Point. Autumn is in full swing and I am trying to enjoy every single moment of it while it is here. It normally does not last very long. I am just in awe about how much I love the see the trees change colors. It's a wonder!

Hawaii Day Seven- The end!

We started out the morning cleaning the condo. It was so hot that I was using frozen food to cool off while standing with the freezer open. If I could have crawled in I would have. We went on a hunt for donuts and found THE most amazing glazed donuts I have ever eaten in my life at Leanards Bakery. I seriously will dream of those donuts. We also ran into a lady who was selling Krispy Kremes on the side of the road and bought some of those but they were a sad, sad thing compared to the ones at Leonard's.

We also went to the Buddist temple. It was pretty cool. They take good care of the area. It was beautiful and peaceful. Makenna thought it kind of weird that a building was built just to house a statue but ya know. The koi fish were amazing. They were huge and every where. The kids got to ring the gong before we left. They liked that.

 As we drove around we passed by thousands of acres of pineapple fields. It was so awesome. They were growing in serious red dirt. It was neat to see the farm land. I love farm land!

We also went on a turtle hunt. We found they at Laniakea Beach. There were none on the beach so we didn't get a good picture but they were everywhere in the water. It was pretty awesome and was one of the things on the list that I really wanted to do.

With that we headed to the airport and waited for our plane.

Hawaii Day Six

Almost done. Today was beautiful and peaceful. I love Sunday's. We went to church at the local ward and then came back to the condo and hung out. We put together a puzzle and tried to finish off most of the food in the fridge since we leave tomorrow. We also went and visited the temple grounds and got some pictures before it down poured on us. Corban insisted on touching the pool water because he said it was holy water. He is suffering from swimmers ear pretty bad so Matt asked another priesthood holder at the temple to assist in giving him a blessing. I love the priesthood!

To top off the day we went and played in the pouring rain. It was refreshing and fun. The rain was warm, like a shower. I love these kinds of moments because they are so simple and are the ones that last.