The Levien Life

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Progress not perfection...

Four months since our last update... Hey, that beats six!

Finishing out the winter months can be challenging. In the rainy weather I dream of sitting and reading a book with a cup of tea. Meanwhile, little boys stand with noses pressed on the front window itching to jump in the puddles. So on the not so rainy but still sloshy days we did some splashing, and on the other days we did lots of other things...

like build lego robots (J built this one all by himself),

make music,

and read books.

J also drew his first person (it's a sideways person with only a head, legs, and eyes)

While we're talking art I'll slip in the next installment of "busy mama = busy boys". (to be fair he was supposed to be taking a nap, so being quiet wasn't such a helpful tell) Was it perhaps a foolish idea to let a 3 year old nap in a room where there are art supplies on a shelf above the bed? Yeah, ok, it was.

Apparently indoor, rainy day activities weren't all that tiring... which is only one small reason we are so happy the sun has been visiting us again!

Hello goats! They're happy for the sunshine too! And we should be having spring babies in just a couple weeks!

This was such a lovely morning... I was actually able to just sit at the picnic table reading my bible while the boys got wonderfully filthy in the sandbox. :)

Unfortunately I'm almost positive I found twice digested cat poop in E's diaper later... don't think about it... don't think about it!

A couple small house projects:
A make shift sewing table/desk. (Don't cringe Dad, I put adhesive protector pads on the underside of the plywood, Grammie's washstand isn't being scratched up.)

A new closet: lockers from the restore!

And a second shelf above the bed... paint job is next.

See you next time! (let's pretend that what's happening in the background isn't happening) :)

Love,

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Where have you been?!?

Thank you to my loyal and devoted readers who have gently reminded me that my posts are missed. For your patient endurance I give both of you an update... ;)

I don't have any amazing excuses about why it's been so long, just life I think.

I've been making meals, reading stories, going to church, changing diapers, milking goats, hosting community group, correcting children, admitting failures, trying to keep up with house work that is somehow never finished, grocery shopping, kissing bonks and bangs, wrestling, snuggling, and sleeping too. Just the day to day kind of life. The "reminds me of why i'm so desperately in need of a savior" kind of life. The good kind of life!

Here are some highlights from the last few months:

Daisy Mae, Cassie, and Jackson

We've added another goat to our little herd, so now we have Daisy Mae, Cassie, and Jackson. He is a friendly but spirited (stubborn as heck) nigerian dwarf wether! He's around for companionship and helps us know when the does are ready for breeding, although he can't do anything about it. In other news... Daisy has been bred and should kid in late April. Cassie has been with a buck, although, we don't think it took. But If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. :)

(check out all that goat jargon)

Some Goats!

Charlotte must have heard my muttered threats toward their wellbeing on a particularly noisy day. :)

E turned 1! 1st birthdays are so confusing... WAIT, WHAT? Now you WANT me to rip paper? He caught on fast though. :)

In lieu of a cake picture... here's spaghetti face.

And yogurt face!

And then there was Christmas!

"Mama, take my picture with this!"... for advent we read a bible story, had a piece of candy and, cut off one link each night. It was really neat to have J be at an age where he is able to understand and be excited to celebrate Christmas.

after that it finally snowed!

other news:

Jordan found this on craigslist for free! J is pumped (pun invalid... he doesn't know how yet) about it... it will be especially nice when it's a little warmer outside.

I love J's imagination... these are airplanes. (fashioned from kleenex and chip clips)

E loves hats! Sometimes he's being quiet and I expect to find him unrolling the toilet paper and instead he's looking at books or putting on hats. :) Sorry it's blurry, I took at least 10 and they all were. He's a mover!

J has taken to wearing this carabiner and keys around on his belt loop... just like daddy. It's really cute!

E is maybe just a little pleased with himself...
he finally managed to climb into that pesky rocking chair that's always bucking him off!

We heart Playdoh!!!

"Mama can you build me owls?" (I can't take credit for the snake) :)

I turn my back for one second... Owl family massacre!

And for the grand finale... a first installment of, "Busy Mama = Busy Boys". I'm unfortunately sure there will be many more installments in my future!

Where was I? I was reorganizing the kitchen cupboards.
Where were they? They were in their bedroom playing quietly (theme anyone?).
What is that? That is xanthan gum.
Xanthan gum is used as a binding agent in gluten free baked goods.
When wet it turns into a thick, sticky, slimy, paste. Note E's head.

I hope it's been worth the wait!
I'll try to update again sooner!
Love, April

Sunday, August 12, 2012

a little update...

Garden harvesting is in full swing and we aren't the only ones reaping the benefits :) (beet greens for the goats) i canned 9 quarts of beans and 3 quarts of pickled beets yesterday... i ain't no grandma blake but i consider myself successful :)

oh hey, did you know joe and ashley came to visit us? what? you can't tell from this picture?... well unfortunately it's the only one i took while they were here. (we love you guys!) we had fun... and joe, jordan, and jeriah reaped this bounty in the good old puget sound!