WiseMen travels 2019

So I decided to do this all at once instead of a day at a time.  Hope you enjoy:
Dec 1
We're back with letter
Dec 2
On table with Josiah's new Bible reading the Christmas story from Luke
Dec 3
In the Christmas tree
Dec 4
With Our Christmas books and note to go through the books and give the ones not wanted anymore to children's church.
Dec 5
Make a fresh wreath from our Juniper tree branches

Dec 6
Snow wise men
Dec 7
Playing the piano to an audience of their peers
Dec 8
Cow in carbonite with Lego troopers and Boba Fett
Dec 9
Twister
Dec 10
Hot air balloon
Dec 11
Duplo racer demo derby w Blue Blue the dinosaur
Dec 12
Duplo vehicle build
Dec 13
Cookie/gingerbread making
Dec 14
paintball snow ball fight with marshmallows and frosting dye
Dec 15
surrounded by house army
Dec 16
Surrounded by our bear stuffies with a copy of Cinnamon Bear radio show
Dec 17
Drinking hot coco
Dec 18
Car Wash
Dec 19
In a basket w/ a note to find food for church/shelter
Dec 20
Snow painting in the tub
Dec 21
RC fixing
Dec 22
Ice flow fishing
Dec 23
gondola ride from the bookcase to the lights
Dec 24
On bookcase to climb-by Bobo
Dec 25
Today we end the journey with our stable.  The wise men have found baby Jesus and His family.  This is not historically correct, but the boys enjoy it.  They know it took the wise men probably 2 years to find baby Jesus and His family especially with Herods parameters on the death cull of 0-2.

So I am already planning for next year so maybe I can have it all planned and ready this time.  I scrambled a lot this year instead of being prepared, hate that.  Hope you all are enjoying your time with your families and are excited for the new year.  Merry Christmas late and Happy New Year early.

May God Bless your week

Gretchen from Climbing Rock

Getting ready for a new year for the farm

 I don't know about you, but I have a lot I want to do this coming year, and I already feel like I am already behind while pushing things to the side to deal with the here and now.  So much to do, so many lists, what to do 1st, what to make a priority.  

Hopefully, as the new year draws nearer, I can put all my ducks in a row.  Especially with it getting back down into the teens for temps.  Here's to protection over the animals and good prepping for spring so next winter we have them all nice and cozy.

This year we plan on putting a new building up to house all the birds, any nests and room for tiny newbies.  Also, it will house a small greenhouse and guest rooms area.  We know where we are putting it and plan to break ground and pour footings as soon as we can in the spring.  Right now, we have 4 bird areas, it will be nice to have central feeding and watering for everybody along with the swimming pools.

Another plan is to revive my garden, which is 40x80 ft.  We have tons of seeds we've harvested and will be purchasing some heirloom seeds soon from some of our favorite places.  Make sure we have plenty of fruits and veggies from the ground, while deciding where to finally plant our fruit and nut trees so we can add to the berry patch too.  We only have blackberry canes, mulberry and black walnut trees.  Looking forward to a bigger variety to add, along with adding a sizable herb garden.  

Annie's Heirloom Seeds 

Baker Creek Seeds

If I can swing it, as soon as it's a little warmer, I will finally make my firepit.  Been waiting on others to do it for me, going to just put it on my project list now and do it.  The compost pile and rose/lilac area will need sprucing up as well.  If I could do another super big project I'd get started on the in-ground greenhouse, but we will see how fast that one gets started with everything else in the plans.

Right now, I am researching a few things to help our little piece of land to pay for itself.  I'm sure I will be back soon to talk more about where we are headed.  Have a fabulous start to your week.

Thanks again for joining our journey,

Gretchen

Hello again

 It has been years, and someday I will have a consistency that I want for my blog.

I started this to keep track of my 2 boys homeschool journey.  We have turned into a family that has way to many birds, cats and the boys keep growing.  Now I have a college Freshman/Sophomore and a dual credit 9th grader.   So, now when we aren't on our computers doing school or working on Speech and Debate, I am outside taking care of animals.  

This past June we got a great deal from a hatchery and went on a 4-hour date to MO, from NE, to get a mix of day-old chicks and ducks.  Cuteness abounded for the first couple of days, until I figured out there were to many.  Baby ducks although cuter than cute are dumb. I had no idea what I was doing.  I was not set-up properly and baby ducks are insane.  Unfortunately, I missed the facts that changing shavings every couple of hours has to happen or you have to have a huge space for them.  Water and feed almost instantly become paste and unless you deal with it quickly babies trample each other.  Sorry just being honest and we lost a couple.  We started daily baths and babies weren't happy.  We got a handle on it and duckies went outside as soon as possible.  The grew so fast and are still amazing creatures.  

Chickens I knew and understood so no problems with them until we moved them outside in 90 degree weather.  They decided to dog pile, which a few were lost and I was irritated.  They had plenty of everything, out of wind and were warm enough.   

Hate to say it but winter, which happened real quick here, went from 70-50-60-40-25-30's all within 2 weeks and ducks and chickens all hated it.  They are all adjusting, but still not totally happy.

All in all we are taking it one day at a time and enjoying life.  Thanks for sticking around and here's to a new start to the blog again.

Thanks again

Gretchen

Welcome Back to Me...

It's been a long time since I've been around here.  It seems as if life has gotten in the way of my goals for 2015-today.  Lots has happened in the 4.5+ years since I last posted, sorry.

We've been homeschooling and are now in our 9th year with our big guy.  He is crazy creative and loves doing so many things: foundry work, RC vehicles, card games, violin, cats, reading and anything with wheels.

As for our younger little dude he is in his 4th year and loves everything.  His focus right now is on LEGO's, Historical Conquest, his kitten Regga and building with any and everything around.

My plan is to give an in-depth view/review of all the stuff they are doing and loving and go back in time a little to catch you up on what's gone on over the missed years.  We (Me, hubbie, big boy and little boy), live on a small parcel of 7.5 acres that we are hoping to add more animals, trees and gardens to along with a new house in the near future.  I will talk about our farm, more than enough cats, curriculum we've used and are using, and important family stuff like when our big boy choose to be Baptized,  This had to be the most amazing and humbling day of this mama's life, even though I botched it up, more later.

I will also re-visit the Speilgaben, which is still used on a regular basis by both boys and was so worth it to buy.  I'm planning on sharing at least once a week on what we've been doing on the farm, school and maybe even give my photography a feature spot or 2.

Excited to be back on to share what's going on and keeping track of our memories.

Thank you so much for joining me and hope to hear from you too.  Please let me know if there are any questions or you'd like to know more about anything.

May God Bless you and yours,

Gretchen
From Climbing Rock Farms, Academy and Photography

Christmas Unexpected gifts

Since our Christmas trip to MN was a surprise, grandma decided to throw some gifts together for my boys.  Surprising enough they became the most played with gift.  She had a bunch of Ban Bao for when any of the grandkids came over for a quick toy play.  Well we have played with many different building blocks that are similar to LEGO, but almost all of them just do not work well.

That being said, my guys wanted to start building immediately, that's just the kind of guys they are.  I made them wait until we got home because mom was mean and said NO to them being strewn around grandma and grandpas house with 20 other people there and needing to make a quick get away I did not want to be looking for building blocks into the wee hours of the night.  If it is buildable they will do it as fast as they can.

They had 3 boxes each from grandma and then dad brought them both a box home to have blocks just for their block building mug.  They started into the boxes and unfortunately mom was helping build instead of taking pictures of the building process except for the big box for their mugs.

By this time thy had already made the 4 little cars that came in grandmas boxes. 

The helicopter went over seriously well with the little boy who thinks all things that fly may be just as awesome as cars, machines, trucks and trains.

Our little modge podge of their new creations.  Played with for hours on end.  Building toys are a must in this house.

Well maybe the helicopter needs to become a car too.  hee hee hee

Then they added string to bungee vehicles and create a crane.  I love their creativity.  The rest as they say is history.  These are now a constant in our house and usually spend the night in their room so they can play as soon as they wake up.
Hope all is going well for you.
God Bless
Gretchen

Someday

Ok I so did not keep the, I will keep up my blog resolution.  Oh well sorry to my friends whom I lied to.  My excuse is I've been having crazy fun with my boys and loving it.  So I guess I will try again.  Wish me luck as I begin again.
God Bless you and your day.
Gretchen

Speilgaben has arrived woo hoo

This is what arrived today after waiting since October. They were supposed to be here for Christmas, but you can't rush customs.  Oh well my guys didn't care it just extended Christmas for them.

The top box was a wee bit mangled, but all the pieces are fine. 

This is what came in the top box. 

So it took mommy an hour to unwrap everything. And it was so much fun all I could think of the whole time was what will my sweet boys do with all these fun things. 

And once daddy got home they were allowed to open their last Christmas gift and they went at it with a vengeance. 

Mom I love the colors and the circles, these are my favorites. 

Daddy look I can lift this huge barbell I made.  Daddy told him to be careful and not over lift such huge barbells. 

Check this out brother aren't these circles super cool. 

This is my volcano that will spill all over the Earth not another plant brother.  Mwahaahaahaa 

Mom I lost my main support, I need more support.  Argggggh 

The bad guys are trying to get rid of my fleet mom.  (Some squares and half circles were added to the board.)  They are trapping the guys.  (More squares and half circles.)  They are going to be attacked by more bad guy fleets.  (Even more squares and circles.)  Wait how did you guys get in here?  (Ahhh the diamonds have been added.)  This side is good, that side is bad.  They are going over all my fleets all the bad guys are trying to get me.  (The circles have been added.)  I have beat the bad guys mom.  (The circles and diamonds have been put away.)  I have now turned them all into good guys.  (The rest are put away)

Hope you all had as much fun over Christmas as we've had.

God Bless you and your family.

Gretchen