We're Trying

I am trying really hard. I mean really hard to keep everything together around here. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't. I sometimes think in my crazy, convoluted, postpartum brain that people are expecting me to fail. They aren't, they really aren't.

Nevertheless I am trying to prove 'them' all wrong. Really it's a silly, stupid game in my head. I have no one to answer to but my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I only have to come to him with all that I can do and the rest will be taken care of.

The schedule has been going really well, I can tell by the state of my home and the vibrancy of the chickens that we are making improvements.
My body is taking so much longer to recover than I would like. I am still sore and I feel like I just want to run (never ever, ever felt like that before). So perhaps it's a sign and I need to start moving!

These two newest little ones are growing fast. Last week they went in for their two month check and they were both 22 inches long. He weighed in at 10lbs 8oz and she was 10lbs 4or 6oz (I can't remember). She carries her weight in her belly and thighs and he has a larger head and upper body.
I kind of really like having two at once (except when they are both crying).  Funny thing is that one will start crying (usually Evelyn, she's the dramatic one) then the other one will stare at them, with a look of why are you making that awful noise, and then they decide to start crying too.

Evelyn rolled over today. From her tummy to her back, after Ethan saw her do it he kept wanting to "help" her do it again and again. 

Our budgeting kind of took a nose dive over the summer and I just got out of the habit of being uber responsible with our resources. I came across this blog The Fun, Cheap or Free Queen and she had some great resources. The first one I like is the "How much should I spend on Groceries each month?" (here). So for us as a family of 8 (with two on formula and three in diapers) we should be spending roughly $650  a month. She says you should aim for $100 a person a month for food, toiletries, diapers etc. The second part of her site I am going to start using is her monthly budget for things that are not a utility or house payment. This budget has two parts; 1) grocery and 2) misc. spending; activities, tools, clothing, home decor, baby stuff... basically things you think you need that aren't sold at the corner grocery store. You really need to read the whole budget post HERE.

The kids are REALLY enjoying Legos and Duplos these days. They could literally spend hours every day building away. I am kind of torn on how to keep the Legos... do we keep them sorted like they came or put them all together in one big box. It seems to me like if we keep them separated then they could find the parts to build what they want, but then if we mix them together think of how many more pieces they would have. What do you think?

Homeschool is going well. We are currently in the process of building a pyramid out of sugar cubes. It's a long tedious process. Did you know that sugar cubes absorb glue? Or that they crumble? And that trying to balance them right to go in for the pyramid levels is kind of hard?

Afton is also involved in a Lego Robotics class. This week she and Dad completed her first project, Dancing Birds.

Dating; we really don't have it in our budget for a babysitter these days and come on who am I going to find who can either a) handle 6 little ones or b) be willing to trade (yes I would love to watch your 6 kids in exchange for my 1 toddler- hardly seems fair, even if people are willing)... so we are improvising. We went to the drive-in one night:

And this past weekend we enjoyed miniature golf:

AND just for fun, because I can't get enough of these two: