Holladay Happenins has moved!

 I started a new blog where I can post different topics such as homeschooling, homesteading, and pregnancy. I decided to move Holladay happenins there too just to have it all in one place. Check it out! singlemomonafarm.com. Bookmark it so you can check it weekly as I still post pictures of our week. And please spread the word! I'd love to be able to coach people with any homeschooling or parenting questions they have. Especially homeschooling. I know people who struggle to get started or question if it's right for them and I'd love to help them out and save them a lot of stress.

Singlemomonafarm.com

Week ending 1-8-23 Everybody leaves

 I didn't take many pictures this week which is sad because now all our company is gone. Kylie and Alexis went back to BYU, Mama went to Lori's down in Charlotte, and Trish went back to Bulgaria. So now it's just the 6 kids and me again. It was a wonderful Christmas and New Years and I'm sad it's over. I miss the older girls so much and all the kids do too.

My cousin Nathan Hackbarth stayed until Monday afternoon and it was so fun having him. He helped Talea do pullups and played with the little boys a lot. I wish he lived closer.

Talea in her new ballet outfit trying on some shiny red heels someone gave us.

Kylie took this and sent it to me: Talea coming in her room to show her her outfit.

Doing ballet with Kylie, a dream come true for her. Talea's favorite person is Kylie and savors any time she gets with her. She especially loves to do ballet with Kylie.

Wednesday: Kaitlyn holds Kylie as we drop her and Lexi at the airport. So sad! I LOVED having them home. They make me feel loved and safe and that things are going to be ok. I'm so proud of the life they're making for themselves though. They both have scholarships, are getting all A's, are working to provide for their own needs, and get along great with their roommates. 

After leaving them at the airport I took Trish and Mama to Lori's so she could take them to the airport for their flights on Thursday and next Monday.

Thursday: Makenna and I took Thomas to seminary, waited till he was done, then dropped the car at the shop to get the oil changed and walked to the orthodontist for her appointment and then walked back to get the car. Brady texted a picture of his 13" of snow so I took this and sent it back to him. I love the weather here.

Friday: Talea playing outside.

A beautiful moon over our woods by Blueberry Hill.

Week ending 1-1-23 Charleston, first eggs, Trish here, New Year's Eve

 We had a great week after Christmas. Mama and Lori took 3 kids on a trip to Charleston for a few days and my sister Trish came to visit from Bulgaria and stay for a week. Then my cousin Nathan came to visit for 2 days. It's been so fun to have 13 people here talking, playing games, eating good food, and catching up with each other. It's been a lonely fall semester with my 4 oldest gone so I'm glad my kids got to have so much family here for the holidays.

Monday: Something's wrong when our temperature and forecast is the same as Worland, Wyoming where my brother lives. Luckily it didn't last long for us and the temps are back into the 50's and 60's where I like them. But it was a scary cold Christmas weekend for sure with a low of 2 degrees on Christmas Eve morning.

Kylie trying the new hoverboard.

Tuesday: I went hiking in the woods and the springs and creeks were still frozen, which is rare here.

Meanwhile Mama and Lori took Kait, Kenna and Sam to Charleston, SC and had a great time site-seeing.

But first they stopped in Charlotte so Lori could do a lifting session with the basketball team she coaches. Kaitlyn was playing on the gym equipment and cut her toe and it bled a lot. But it didn't keep her from site-seeing another 2 days.

First time these 3 have ever been on a bus!

Ft. Sumter

Wednesday: First eggs!! Finally! We think the chickens are about 26 weeks old so they should have been laying way before now. I wouldn't have guessed they'd lay after a cold snap but whatever! We're so happy to be finally getting eggs. Kaitlyn, Makenna and Samuel were on a trip so I took this and texted it to Lori saying "Surprise!" for her to show them. This is Kaitlyn's reaction:

I only had Kylie, Alexis, Thomas, Anderson, and Talea home with me the 3 days the others were gone. We went to the bookmobile and park, got stuff done like scholarship applications, and watched a movie one night.

Alexis trying the hoverboard.

Kylie on the hoverboard.

Anderson's turn.

Thursday: Talea excited about an egg I brought in.

Lexi and Tilly hanging out in the playroom. I'm going to miss Alexis when she goes back to BYU next week.

Andy and Tilly playing outside.

Talea has beautiful hair, lucky girl.

Friday: Trish flew in Thursday night and Mom and Lori had come back from their Charleston trip so we took a girls' day trip to Mt. Airy to show Trish the Andy Griffith sites.

Makenna in front of Opie's Candy Store.

When we got home I took Trish on a property tour of our 36 acres. She was impressed by this humongous spot where 2 trees fell down this fall.

Saturday: Starting the game day and New Year's Eve party foods! Lori and Talea making pretzels.

The 12 of us celebrating the new year. Nine girls and only three boys.

New Year's Eve countdown at 9pm.

The 3 little kids banging pots and pans.

Happy New Year!