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Kevin picked up the pig meat today and we thawed some sliced ham to see how it was. Everyone agreed it was very good. Some even said it was better tasting than store bought! In the next week we will have some pork loin, bacon, and the big ham. We'll keep you posted on the taste - although I'm sure we will be pleased. The only issue was that we didn't specify with the sausage.... it all came as just ground sausage instead of links. Bummer.

Ham and bacon

Spare ribs, organs

Sweet and mild sausage

Shoulder roast

Pork loin Roast

Pure awesomeness!

Marissa was helping Kemiah with some school stuff. I hear them talking about silent consonants. Kemiah comes to Marissa saying, "I know one, boat." Marissa explains that it has a silent vowel not consonant. Kemiah keeps thinking. "Oh, I know, wrought!" Marissa was a little confused, so Kemiah said, "You know, wrought, in the scriptures."

I thought that was awesome! I was coming up with all sorts of words in my own mind but that did not come to me.

Nativity

Every year I try to acquire a new nativity scene. this year I made it. I made salt dough clay for the kids and ended up using some. The kids all painted their stuff but I was having a hard time thinking about painting mine. Not that I don't enjoy painting, it is fun, but I couldn't get a good feeling for this project. Then it came to me. Leave it the way it is. I found a piece of bark down in the basement and glued the pieces in place. I really like it.

And since I'm sharing salt dough creations, I might as well show you what the kids came up with.
Ben made this one for his Sunday School teaching.

Marissa made this one, but she hasn't told us who it is for yet.

Emily made her nativity for her Sunday School teacher, too.

Here are some of Marissa's other creations.
A howling wolf for Grandpa Nichols.

A penguin for Grandma Nichols.

A snowman for her Sunday School teacher.

Here are some of Ben's other creations.

A howling wolf for Grandpa Nichols.

A sliding penguin for Grandma Nichols.

All the other girls made some too, I just haven't taken pictures of them. They were mostly cut outs - bells, trees, candy canes, holly leaves, angels, and gingerbread men - and then painted.

It is so fun to watch them create and this dough was awesome. You did have to make sure to seal the seams or they pulled apart in the drying process. Some heads came off, or other parts, but we glued them back on. To create is so fun!

A little funny.

Going around the circle at evening prayer, Dad asks D, "what are you thankful for?"
D says, "Mom who is nice, Dad who is funny."
We all smile and Dad says something about him being funny.
Then D pipes up again, "Dad is funny, and Mom is nice and a little funny."
I think we all laughed at that point.
Thank you Domonique for notice my unique qualities!

They are gone.

The time has come, and our pigs have reached that weight range which means they are no longer roaming free in our backyard. Kevin built a fence on the trailer and backed it up to the pig yard. He put the ramp down and "fenced" it in so the pigs could go on if they wanted. We had no idea what it would take to get the pigs to cross the line where the electric fence wire had been so we hoped for the best. We put corn cobs from the farmer's field behind us (which he had just harvested) and put the corn on the trailer. It was early and we had time because we didn't need to get the pigs to the butcher until the 11th, and this was the 6th. The kids enjoyed one last romp with the pigs.

Fortunately, we have great pigs! They got onto the trailer all on their own and had no issues. Monday, the 8th, when Kevin came home from work he stopped by to check on the pigs. Both of them were in the trailer so he went ahead and closed it up. They were ready to go. He moved them to a little different location with the van, hooked up their water hose and gave them food. He got an old tarp and covered them because it had started to flurry.

The pigs spent the next few days on the trailer, getting treats from us and water from their hose. Thursday, Kevin was able to come home for a bit in the afternoon so he could drive the van and trailer to the butcher. I went with him because we weren't sure how the unloading would go. He backed up the trailer to the butcher's place and the ramp got caught on a bolt so it wouldn't go all the way down to the ground. Wilbur was ready to get off and he just went right down. Babe was a little more unsure and took some talking to. Eventually they both went down and into the building. What good little pigs.

Today is the day. They are no longer with us but we will always remember Babe and Wilbur.

Good thing

H- Mom, my bum is hiding.
Me- Where is it hiding?
H- In my underwear.

Of course, and it's a good thing.

H- Mom, it's not hiding!
Me- Oh no!
H- It's hiding again. (with a big smile on her face)
Me- Good!

Funny moment.

Never had that before.

With 8 children, I've had my fair share of late nights with sick kids. I have always thought I was lucky enough to have them take turns, so I usually have to deal with one on one night, and then another one on another night - because they are really good at sharing sick germs. Sunday night, Kemiah was uncomfortable with stomach cramps and pain. We put her down on the couch so the other girls could sleep without her occasional moaning. She woke me after some vomiting, so we had some cleaning up to do. I was happy when she felt better Monday night and no one else seemed to be feeling bad. That was short lived.... Marissa woke up Thursday morning asking if she could sleep in because she had had stomach pains throughout the night. Fortunately, that passed and she was fine the rest of the day. Right about dinner time, Ben said he was having stomach pains and didn't feel good. He didn't eat dinner but still lost his lunch. Another one taken down. So I figured we were in for a good week of taking turns with this bug. I was wrong. Domonique didn't eat dinner because of her stomach, and then Harmonie stopped eating dinner because of her tummy. Really? Three at one time! After dinner I decided to watch a movie with the kids, keep them calm and help them settle down. Ben was still taking time out to visit the bathroom, and I was with Harmonie in the bathroom when she lost her stomach contents - fortunately, I had a bowl because she was sitting on the toilet. Domonique waited until she was sleeping in her bed to empty her stomach, so she got a shower in the middle of the night as well as dealing with diarrhea. Emily and Xiomara also took turns in the bathroom throughout the night. I have never had 5 sick kids in one night and I'm not sure I liked it. Then again, at least it was all done in one night and I don't have to worry about getting up with someone else tonight or the next night. I am really glad it was a quick bug and they are all feeling much better today.

Really bad

Here's Domonique, trying to do a spelling test so she can earn an ice cream bar. The older kids all get one if they get all their words spelled correctly. Domonique has decided she is tired of missing out. She was ready to take a spelling test. I gave her 10 words to practice. She wrote them three times each. Then she had lunch. She said she was ready to take it (but I should have had her review) so she sat down with a piece of paper, her pencil, and her eraser. She was determined. The first 5 words went okay - all rhymed with and. The next 5 she couldn't remember the i in the middle. We will have to review and try again tomorrow. I love her determination and desire for working for something!