A Personal Ice Rink Too

With the weather reaching almost 50 on Sunday - turning much of the snow to water, and then it freezing the next day, we had our own personal skating rink yesterday!

We were able to skate from the barn, past the house, and all the way down the drive way if wanted.  But we didn't do that to often - because of the steep grade of our drive way, we went way to fast for it to be called safe and had to bale out into a snow pile before reaching the slush at the bottom of the hill! :)



We spent more than a hour out there and enjoyed it immensly!  I have to admit that Minnesota is pretty great - even if I love summer best!  But today it's back in the 40's and all that's left are big puddles.

Blessings on your winter!

~Amber Nicole

Meeting Face to Face

Today we met someone face to face after being blogging friends for a while (this is our second time meeting a blogging friend)!  My Mom's friend - sixfolks - were here in Minnesota with her family and we got to spend the day with them!!

First off we enjoyed talking over lunch - it's always nice to be with other like minded families!  Then we went  to the Mill City Museum (it's a museum in a old flour mill - if you couldn't guess that).  It was a very enjoyable time!



Here we are looking down from the tower over...



Thank you for spending time with us!  It was great to meet you and your family!

Blessings,

Amber Nicole

My Sis Turned 14!

Well, to save me some time in trying to decide what to post about I moved some of my old posts over, but I guess I should really post something new now!!  But the last time I posted was in September, I hope I'm not to rusty. :-o

I'm afraid I don't have to much interesting to speak of, but we did celebrate my sisters 14th birthday last Monday...

We sisters have lately made the tradition to do fun, silly things to each other on the morning of our birthdays.  So I woke up bright and early and drew all over our bathroom mirror using special markers.

And then we didn't wait to open gifts, below is the bracelet I made her with shrink art jewelry.

Now we TRY (be we don't hold to it very well) to have a birthday party every other year and then do something fun on the other years.  As this was a "no birthday party year" for Anna we went to an amusement park with a couple of friends.  I, loving all scary rides, enjoyed it as much as the birthday girl!  I'm afraid we don't have many pictures of us on the rides, but we do have some of us doing some rope climbing.

This picture shows the height a little better...

It was about four stories tall, and was a little scary to walk a thin rope that high up!

Then after a long day of screaming and laughing we went home for ice cream cake....

....and some Wii games.

Thank you for reading!!!

Blessings, Amber

Peter Rabbit Stationary Set

This past week I've been working on a sweet little Peter Rabbit stationary set.  We already had the instructions to make the booklet/case for the stationary, and then I just decorated it as I pleased.  I used a Peter Rabbit picture from off the internet and a rabbit stamp we already had.  And I am pleased with the way it turned out...

 

I'm looking for a at-home business, but I'm not sure if this is it or not.  It's so hard to choose, it has to be something I really like to do!

What kind of crafts do you all like?

Thank you for reading!

Amber

Our Joys of Summer

Hello friends,

I'm sorry it has been so very long since I've posted!  I guess I can give the age old excuse that we've been busy, and of course summer always calls me away from the computer!  But now, I've finally found time to post!!  And it does feel good to be back!

In the end of July we went camping at the Boudary Waters.  It was a short, two night trip, but it was very relaxing too.  The one thing that made it a bit scary was that we brought Elsa along - and before our trip she hadn't been doing to well on riding the canoe...

But, praise the Lord, she stayed in!!!  The rest of our trip was very nice - our campsite was pretty good, the weather was great, and we enjoyed seeing the loons and beavers.

Then, in early August our dear friends came to visit!!!!  It was so amazing to meet them for the first time!!  We met over blogging here, and then when they came to visit family, they were very kind to visit us too!!  It was such a wonderful time with friends!  We now hope to go visit them in October!

We had to give them a taste of the farm with gardening and horse back riding!

Of course, Alison and I had to play together!

And on the last day we went to the History Center together.  It was bitter sweet with the fun at the museum but then we had to part.

Their stay felt like an amazing dream, and it all went by so quickly!!  I am so thankful we were able to do this!!

Thank you for reading!

Blessings, Amber

Old-time School

One week in June every year is filled with history, games, and fun with friends at old-time school!  We go to an old school and reenact what it would be like in the early 1900's (this year it was 1910).  Here's what an average day is like...

At 9:00am the teacher greets us and then we all head out to the flag pole to pledge to the flag. 

Then we line up in front of the school and as we go back inside we tell Miss Kay a chore we did that day (see video).

After we get inside we first off write down the saying of the day and the date in our copy books.  After that we have show & tell.  Showing anything old that would pertain to that time or a pet.  Then we hit the books.  We start out by doing history all together, this week's theme was Lewis and Clark.  Then we split up in groups for reading- I loved leading the 1st and 2nd graders!   We also have a "mystery mammal"  (the other theme of the week - mammals), from a few facts we try to figure out what animal it is.

About mid-morning it's time for arithmetic, spelling or penmanship.

Then it's recess, with the all-favorite game "Annie, Annie, Over" among" Red Rover" and "Foxes and Trees".

Next we come inside and do some more school - I'm afraid that my brains fail me as to what we usually do though.

Then we wash our hands - with good pump water and lye soap - and have "quiet time" - or when we can pray.  Then when the teacher says "enjoy your lunches" everyone rushes out to find the best eating spot.  The most popular girl's eating spot is sitting lined up facing the road and wave to the cars that pass by.  We get a menagerie of responses - mostly waves, some honks, a few times you can just see people laughing in their cars, and a few time people just ignore you. :D  For your lunch you can't bring any junk food.  My normal meal consisted of a ham sandwich, fruit (dehydrated apples were the favorites), a carrot, and gingerbread.

Then we have singing time, journaling time, and craft time.  And then at 1:00pm it's time to leave.

Now this would be a normal day, but there aren't to many normal days.  Thursday is cabin day, we go into a little cabin on the school sight and make coffee, butter, and pancakes on the wood-burning stove.  And Friday is a special day where the parents come and we have races (three legged, sack race, ect.), a program, and picnic. 

The ages for old-time school is finishing first grade to kids finishing eighth grade.  So I have been to old, but the last couple of years I have been soooo blessed to be a TA (teacher's assistant).  And I also hope to be a teacher there when I'm 18 - I love reenactment!

So that explains a little of what we were doing last week, now some pictures to show what we were doing!

There is suppose to be a video here, but I guess I don't know how to add videos.  I'll put it on as soon as I can (Mom is at the store and so is not able to show me).

Thank you very much for reading!!

~Amber

My Photo Gallery

This is going to be quite a show of photos!  I am so behind in posting pictures!  So here we go...

Every year Anna and I go to old-time school and reenact what it would be like to do school in 1904.  But we can't just do that, so we many a times play old-time school at home - under the deck. :)

Anna and I love playing around in our Civil War skirts...

...even croquet.

 

Anna has to bounce - even when we're having a bonfire!

And Anna had a end of school party - complete with good food, the sprinkler on the trampoline and a water balloon fight!

And Elsa continues to cause trouble. :)  Although she is much better.

We are stilling volunteering at the nursing home(I help in therapy or activities, Anna works in the salon, and Mom runs the gift shop).  Here Anna and I are enjoying rootbeer floats made at the gift shop.

And Annie and I still work as a team.  Here we are working on "tucks".  Having her collected with her head "tucked".

 Thank you very much for reading!!  I love any comments from friends!

~Amber