Yesterday was a typical September Friday, here on the farm.  Ok, we really don’t live on a farm, but I like to pretend we do. : )

After all of our school work was done, the kids really wanted to paint some of the oodles of seashells and treasures they collected on a long seashore excursion they had gone on the day before. We just love these September days…working in new school books, and spending many hours of our free time outdoors, exploring, imaging, learning and creating, (sometimes working) where the unbearable heat is now just a memory, and we can sense those beautiful Autumn days coming down the road.

The deck table seemed like the best place for the kids to get to work painting their seashells.  The long and cold winter days are closer than we like to think too, and we’ll have plenty of projects to do gathered around our family table indoors, when those days are here!  So for now, we prefer to take advantage of nice weather, drawing in deep breathes of the fresh clean air, with every stroke of the brush.

They get so immersed in their work, their little serious expressions always catch my attention.  And it’s QUIET!

After a half day of work, Daddy got to a home project of his own ‘up in the mountains’, as our kids call them.  What they really are, are huge mounds of dirt, as the aftermath left from our home construction.  As the excavator dug out the earth for more house, it got dumped right up there….in where we used to call ‘up in the woods’. (Not very deep woods, mind you. lol).  The dirt piles, right outside of our school windows which we spend some of our school time peering and glancing out of, have nonetheless served us much enjoyment.  With our bird feeders out there, we have watched so many species of birds come and go, studying their habits and markings, not to mention the critters of the furrier kind, and their antics.  But our goal is to turn the ‘mountains’ into an upper yard, with part of it also serving as a more charming bird sanctuary.

So, Michael had begun moving a little dirt on another day, but not really having a firm plan of exactly what or how he wanted to do it.  Meanwhile, the kids had been begging to go up and help.  So yesterday, the whole idea of what needed to be done gelled in his head, and he got to work.  This time when the all of kids asked to help, he said ‘sure!’.  Of course, he didn’t expect them to really be much help, or last very long.  After all, it’s hard work, lifting and throwing shovel-fulls of dirt!  Especially if you’re 6 years old,  and less than 4 feet tall!

Here’s the big pic of what is being worked on.  I believe Michael will build one more retainer wall at the top. It’s all going to be LOVELY when we finish bringing to reality the visions in our head. We love projects like this!

They worked really hard, and as time passed, collectively, were really ‘moving mountains’!!  Goes to show you what a little team work can do!!  What’s better, is that this is their idea of FUN!!!  I admit…I was in the house working, because I had to.  But I couldn’t help sneaking out quite regularly, just to watch their persistence, and to take photos of course.

While they all worked very hard, we need to give props to our little girl. While the other kids took breaks, alternating digging with playing, running and climbing elsewhere, {O} kept on working.  She was ‘loving it’, as they say.  With the exception of a lunch break, this little half-pint dug in and threw dirt for 4 hours straight!

And was still smiling…….

After clean-up and dinner prepping, we had a nice meal of fresh vegetable stir fry pockets, with cheese of course. But the kids did not let me forget that it was ‘Friday night’!!  They have had these new big new glow sticks that friends of ours gave them, and they have been wanting to play with them at night. But really, having time to play would require them staying up late.  So I had told them they had to wait until Friday night.  Thankfully, once I gave that answer, they didn’t ask again.  They just counted down the days and discussed their excitement amongst themselves.  So the night had finally come, an when I told them they had to pick up their toys, and be in pajamas and all washed up first, the agenda got done faster than usual.  ; )

And so they played, and like with everything they do, their faith was not forgotten……

Shane’s ‘Jesus Fish’….

3 little angels, …..pretending, we think. lol

Soon it was really time for bed. They put up less resistance than usual, and as they lied in bed, they didn’t sing as many songs together as they usually do, as they drift off to sleep.  I guess they were pretty tired, and there is no wonder why!!  After all….they moved mountains that day.