It's a.....

Boy! Unlike all our other pregnancies, we, (meaning I) decided to find out what "variety" of baby we were having. We have decided he is a little stinker due to the fact I had an unexpected ultrasound at this last visit because we couldn't find the baby's heartbeat. (Just like last visit!) So after we "heard" the heartbeat, when the tech asked if I wanted to know the gender, I said yes. And I was not surprised at all to hear this little one is of the blue sort. We are all excited and the name game has begun. How to get 2 adults and 4 children to agree...hmm?

When in Rome

We have been studying all things Roman this year in history. We are really enjoying ourselves and so much of what we are learning crosses over into American history that it can be frightful at times. Apparently it is now even in our dreams. Sarah Clare came down to our bedroom tonight with a nightmare. She dreamed she was in ancient Rome on the floor of the Colisseum. She was Irish dancing before the lions came out to get her. (We've been doing a ton of Irish dancing lately too).

Irish dance

Here are some pictures from the big performance. Luke was dressed in a funny costume because he was acting as the dance master. Apparently, back in the 1700-
1800's a dance master went through towns teaching dance. He would stay with one family and teach the children in that family to dance while

receiving room and board. Anyhow, that explains the costume. I'll try to download video another time.

Changes part II

Our new shed to house all the stuff from the basement and the barn. Max thought it was a barn for our animals (too cute...it is a barn for bikes, and rubbermaid containers, and tools).

Also a picture of our "new" bedroom. Oh yea...the interior painting job begins tomorrow. We will have new paint in the living room, hallway, foyer, stairwell, and upstairs hall. Then new paint in the dining room and kitchen once I have picked out the color. I also have new curtains for the kitchen, laundry, and living room coming.

Changes.......

Here are the pictures I promised you mom.....all the changes going on at the "homestead". No pictures of the basement...I refuse to head down that way for quite a while. Supposedly, the door will get cut into the wall later this week, then the stairs after that. The tile is laid, the walls will be drywalled at some point....and my brain turned-off to any more details.

As for Mom's house....we are still waiting for the siding guy. He comes tomorrow to side the 3 sides. The electrician needs to come back to hang exterior lights. We need to build her a front porch by the door (just haven't decided on a style). We put in a path from our driveway to her house to make it more level for walking and less muddy for the golf cart. It is all coming together. Patrick and I need to finish a bit of painting inside and then clear out the ladder, paint cans, etc from the house.

A few of my favorite things

A smiling baby girl with ballet pajamas. Including little slippered feet.

A new student on the piano. He loves it and practices all.the.time.

An indian spice tin

given to me by a sweet friend. Full of wonderful spices.

The fact that big brothers do this to little brothers and little brothers think it is funny...and keep it on for a long...long...time.

Getting ready for the farm

Upon hearing the news, Max summed it all up with, "Am I gonna' be a farmer now? I need a farmer hat!"

Yes to all that. The Keltys have decided to make a greater effort to "live off the land". We will soon be the caretakers of 6 Buff Orpington chickens, and maybe some chicks? We have spent hours looking chicken books and chatting with our chicken keeping friends. We think we have a plan. Now we need to produce a coop and a run, and a fenced area to let them roam for part of the day. What goes along with chickens you ask? Why goats of course. We will soon own two 10 month-old female goats. The kids are excited to name all the animals and are planning out their daily chores.

The biggest project might be the 13 foot x 50 foot garden. It is all tilled-up. The soil has been doctored with lime, horse manure, and fertilizer. It will be tilled up again this week. (Thank God for kind neighbors with tractors and good advice. The best part of operation is my plan......the big kids are the "primary" gardeners. In order to combine math, science, horticulture, and economics.....the garden is a unit study on all those and mostly hard work. Luke has been researching library books and making lists. He and Sarah have started our first batch of seeds that just sprouted and will be planted in a few weeks. They will start a new batch in a few weeks and some things will be sowed directly in the soil in April. My incentive was this. I will help get things set up in the garden (this should be easy due to Luke's scaled map and drawing). Then they are in charge of weeding and tending to their plants. When harvest time rolls around I will pay them for their produce. I will buy it from them like I would buy my produce at the grocery store. They are quite motivated at the moment. We'll see if it lasts. I am hoping for a good harvest and the ability to can or freeze most of our veges for the winter.