Life in Photos

Sometimes I get really down about life around here.  Lots of work, little play (or so it feels like) and lots of same ol' same ol' with the daily grind.  But then I look at the photos I'm able to capture and maybe life isn't so bad after all....

This was after church last week. 

I lost the kids last week.  I told them to go to the barn and do chores.  Thirty minutes later no one had come home yet so I walked down to the barn to check on them.  They tried to throw a bale of hay down from the loft and it got stuck on the ladder.  Thus, they were stuck as well.  Hmmmmm..... 

This one.  Oh..... this one.....

I went grocery shopping last week.  A man though I was funny enough that he pulled over, stopped his pickup, rolled down his window and laughed loudly at my precarious situation.  One of the checkout ladies had helped me out with my two carts and was proud to tell him that 'Oh you have no idea - normally this lady buys waaaaaay more stuff!'

I'm sorry, doesn't everyone have to plan their grocery trips around when the heifer needs feed???

Will my father kill me for this photo?  Yes. 

Does it melt my heart when the kids trade silly faces with their grandparents?  Yes. 

It's worth any beating I might have to take. 

Cake, Batter, Batter cookies are the best! 

Nothing to see here, folks....

I love our little family.  Kids, work, mud, love. 

Meet our newest pet.  Mikey the micer.  You have to look up in the rafters to find him.  

No..... this was not my choice.  I tried to kill him (don't tell my husband) but he's a quick little buggar. 

 

Marching Into Summer

It seems we blinked and now we're suddenly in the middle of summer.  Although, our too-smart-for-his-own-good six year old will remind me that 'technically it is not summer yet, Mom'.  Touché, kiddo.  I've not posted lately, and for a plethora of good reasons. 

1. I had a baby.  Again.  A little girl this time, named Reese.  For those of you keeping track this makes four kids in a little over six years.  It is rather intense at times, but we would not have it any other way.  

Our little ray of sunshine, baby Reese

2. We've been busy.  Like, legitimately busy.  (Refer to reason #1)  When I still had my office job I would roll my eyes when one particular man would stop by MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK to tell me just how busy he was.  He'd take 45 minutes listing out all the busy things that kept him so busy and that's why he had to be leaving soon because he was so busy with the busy work.  Since then I've come to the conclusion that the number of times someone claims to be busy is often inversely proportional to the actual busyness of the very busy person.  I often wondered if he bragged incessantly because he was trying to convince his audience how awesome he was, or if he was just trying to fool himself.  

One of the house projects that kept me busy for a few naptimes - 

sliding shelves in almost all of our lower kitchen cabinets.  

I highly recommend this feature.  It's been a game changer for us.

3. We're not that exciting.  Seriously.  Who wants to read a blog solely about ways we've been beating the summer heat?  For your information, we beat the awful heat last week by reading books in our underwear as well as sorting and wrapping coins to take to the bank.  It made for a great lesson on the value of different coins, discussion about pictures of presidents, buildings and especially state symbols on the quarters.  I highly recommend if you're looking for activities that are out of the box (while you relax in a refrigerated box).  

4. A little mystery in life is a good thing.  You don't need to know every little thing we do around here (see reason #3).  I like to touch base every few weeks to document happenings around here, especially since this blog serves as a crappy replacement for our children's baby books.  

I'm glad someone laughs at my jokes.

 5. I told myself that I couldn't do something fun like write a blog until I finished several items on my to-do list.  Thanks, Mom, for ruining my life with this rule from my childhood that I cannot seem to shake.  I finally finished writing thank you's for all the thoughtful new baby gifts and foods and thus could write a blog without feeling a massive load of guilt.  (Actually, I ran out of thank you cards so it's more of a 'pause' on my guilt until I run to town and purchase more.)

A screenshot of a typical conversation with my mother. 

We keep it real with the tough love around here. 

Now that I'm out of reasons why I DIDN'T write a blog, here's the actual meat of the blog.

And more pictures of cute kids.  Because I know why you keep coming back to read.

There are many periods when we only see my husband for a few minutes each evening or else the kids would go days without seeing him.  Last week during many evenings we played in the wheat field and each kiddo took a turn in the swather with him.  This wheat was purposefully planted to be swathed and baled, not combined.

I absolutely love this picture of my husband, son #2 and his great grandpa.  John turned his feed cap backwards and asked his great grandpa if he could turn his cap backwards too, and look like a silly dude.  We all got such a laugh out of them looking so goofy.  Simple laughs are the best.

 When it is not hotter than blazes outside we try to walk a few miles in the morning.  I consider this to be my 'alone time' as the kids like to run ahead of me by a few hundred yards at times and I'm left to enjoy the quiet as I push the stroller with Reese.

If these kids learn nothing else from their childhood, they will know how to skip rocks.  Kenyon is especially good at it, and also good at casting when fishing from all the side arm throwing practice.  This makes it difficult to get him to throw a baseball correctly, but a challenge we're working on.  I'd love to have photos of the boys playing t-ball to share but I'm helping coach their team again this summer.  I enjoy working with the herd of kids, and I figure I should serve my time volunteering before our summers get crazy in a few years with the addition of 4-H livestock.  (Assuming the kids hold this currently level of enthusiasm to show livestock when they join 4-H in a few short years.)  

What a fun week this was... kind of.  During this week the men worked calves out in the pastures and I took them lunch every day.  Making a meal every day for a dozen people with a one month old baby is a special kind of pressure.  Then Kenyon fell off the top of a stock trailer one day and needed his head glued shut and then the next day John contracted e coli and spent four days in the hospital.  Good times, good times...

There were several storms that moved through our area a few weeks ago.  Also, a friend from church gave us a pair of mudboots that Kathryn finally grew into and I allowed her to wear.  She felt it was her absolute duty to test out the mudboots in each and every single mud puddle within one square mile of our house.  Well done, child.

So there you have it.  A little slice of our lives during the past few weeks.  Heaven only knows what adventures we'll embark upon before it's time to write the next blog! 

One Thing

Do you ever have a day where you'd like to accomplish ONE TASK from start to finish within a reasonable time frame?  This is becoming one of my loftier goals in life these days it seems.

Yesterday morning I had the kids loaded up in the car and driving to town 30 miles away at a fairly early hour.  We drove 10 miles down the road before John decided to throw up all over himself and the car seat.  This caused us to turn around and drive back home.  I called into the meeting on my phone, turned on the speakerphone (and most importantly the MUTE button) and proceeded to shower my child and tear his car seat apart all while listening to great ideas from the group during their meeting.

Later that morning I walked outside to check on my other kids to realize I had a pile of puke-covered clothes lying in the driveway that I hadn't touched yet. Anther chore to get to.  While trying to carry those into the house very gingerly my phone rang... a neighbor needed me to run BVD snap tests on some new cattle he just got in.  No problem, we'll add that to the list.  I went into my super-duper fancy lab (aka utility room) to set up my supplies but remembered that I can't run snap tests until I switch around loads of laundry.  You see, the top of my washing machine also doubles as my lab workspace.  Not a problem.  I set down the puke covered clothes in a pile on the floor while the first load of laundry finished and moved onto another task.

I moved into my office area and started calling businesses and ordering supplies.  I called the vet supply man and ordered things I needed for next week.  Called the vet clinic and asked for health papers to be written so the men could ship cattle first thing the next morning.  Sent off all needed info to the clinic and waited.  While the fax machine was ringing and the health papers were being sent through I heard a knock on the door... the neighbor with the snap tests.  I bounded through the house, answered the door and spoke with the neighbor for a whopping 30 seconds while he laughed at the hot mess he had encountered.  Boys wrestling (how do they have energy after being sick?!), my daughter riding her trike right through the middle of them, and everyone yelling at the top of their lungs.

I took the snap tests inside to run.... only to be hit with an awful stench of puke covered clothes that needed to be washed.  I had to switch around laundry before I could do anything else.  Added the clean clothes to a mountain that was already on my bed.  I like to put my laundry there as it FORCES me to actually fold it and not just let it lie on the couch for 1-3 business days.  So I got the laundry switched around and just started to lay out supplies for the snap tests.  A child came into the house to complain about being hungry.  I looked down at my watch and, sure enough, time for lunch.... or 30 minutes past the normal time.  Whoops!  I made lunch for them and an extra bologna sandwich for myself.  While they ate at the kitchen table I ran snap tests at my washing machine and occasionally leaned over to grab a bite of sandwich off the plate sitting on the dryer.

My husband walked in the house and needed a ride out to the field to get a baler and tractor.  No problem.  I got the kids loaded up, grabbed the last of my tests that needed to finish 'cooking', and proceeded to drive everyone to the field.  I looked down at the console of my vehicle to check the tests and, sure enough, one was positive.  While my husband and one kid loaded up in the tractor I stayed behind in the field momentarily to text two neighbors about the sick calf I had just discovered through the test.

We got home in time to strip everyone down to their underwear - my daughter so she could take her afternoon nap and the boys so they could play with waterguns outside.  I spent the next nearly two hours trying to play catchup.  Cleaning up after lunch, folding laundry, paying a bill or two, scrubbing the curdled milk mess off the straps of the carseat, etc.  My husband walked in the house when there was still 30 precious minutes of naptime to be had.

"Let's go haul hay before it starts to rain."

Yes, let's.  That sounds like fun.  I had a list of sarcastic comments running through my head but kept my mouth shut. I filled a water bottle, grabbed a bag of animal crackers and threw clothes on all three kids in a hurry.

For the next nearly 2 hours I drove a pickup and hay trailer around, chasing my husband on the tractor who kept giving me bales.  The boys and I would drop them off at the hay yard and drive back to Wesley and Kathryn who would then load us up again.  John was tired as he was the kid who had been sick that morning.  Bouncing around in the field got the best of him and he proceeded to fall asleep with his head on my lap.  His drool was warm and uncomfortable on my leg but I could tell his little body appreciated the respite.

We arrived back home a bit after our normal supper time.  I quickly heated up some chicken nuggets, threw some fruits and veggies on the plate and called it a sufficient meal.  Then jammies, prayers and off to sleep.

*****

A few weeks ago I complained to my husband that I felt like I had cinder blocks on my feet.  By the end of the day I physically was unable to move any more and I had diagnosed myself (courtesy of WebMD) as having low thyroid levels.

I called the doctor's office and spoke with the nurse who agreed perhaps we should test my blood levels and 'oh by the way did you know you haven't been to the doctor since you had your last baby over two years ago'.  Whoops, my bad.

As I sat on the edge of the exam table in my little dressing gown the next week I explained to the doc that day how I was so tired these days and what was wrong with my body?  She knows our family pretty well at this point, and she giggled.  "That's life with three kids that are always with you and a husband and a farm.  I'm guessing your thyroid is fine."  Touché.

Not all days are quite so hectic, but days like that certainly make me thankful for mornings like this one where I can listen to a thunderstorm outside while sipping my coffee and letting the kids sleep in an extra ten minutes.  Today, my goals are simple.  Today, I would like to accomplish just one thing from start to finish in a reasonable amount of time.  Wish me luck.

4 Year Old Wisdom

It is a beautiful, rainy morning outside.  There is no wind, no sun, no list of errands that we have to jet off to accomplish.  The windows on the house are opened wide which allowed me to listen to Kenyon's endless older brother wisdom that he was bestowing on John.  

Enjoy the following gems from a 15 minute time span. 

The boys enjoy picking the purple bean pods off my decorative bean vine (not edible). 
I now have a half-bushel sitting on a table for anyone that would like some.

Nobody step in that.  That is my potty.  We need to find a different spot to play in now.  Watch your feet, John.

***

Is that a snake?  If that is a snake, you're supposed to run fast and scream Mom said.

***

Are we supposed to not get dirty?  Is rain dirty?  I can just take a bath again.

***

It looks alive.  We're not supposed to take it in the house if it's alive.

(I have no idea WHAT was alive, nor do I care to find out.)

***

Dad's gonna go work on a pickup today.  Dad's gotta work on a lottttttt of pickups.

***

THAT is a big ol' caterpillar. 

(We are most definitely in a big ol' phase right now.  This particular description fits most anything these days.) 

***

Last night while running endless errands, we walked by a pop machine in a feed store.  The boys have never consumed pop.  The only beverage they identify with coming from aluminum cans is... you guessed it... beer.

John, we cant have any beer because we don't have any coins for the machine.

Happy Thoughts

Life has been weighing heavily upon me recently.  There are many things in others' lives I wish I could change right now.  Things that just simply aren't fair.

I cannot change these circumstances because I seem to have misplaced my magic wand (it's probably under the stack of laundry on my couch that needs folded); therefore I'll attempt to alleviate my mood by focusing on the good things in life.  Perhaps some of these grins will perk up more than just my day as well.  My apologies on the random photos.  Random is all my feeble mind can manage today.

Kathryn smiles often and just yesterday began to laugh.  Her laugh is one of the purest, sweetest sounds in the world. 

Last Saturday I stepped waaaaay out of my comfort zone and participated in a 5K.  Whatever happened to the 2 mile 'fun runs' of my youth?  This was over 3 miles through a hay meadow, pushing a stroller with a two month old baby and sopping wet feet from the heavy dew.  Not something I think I want to attempt again tomorrow, but certainly an enjoyable experience.  Many thanks to my friend Amanda for the push to participate.  Even if I was the very last person to cross the finish line.  

Very. Last. One. 

It was a beautiful morning for a walk, and by walking insanely slowly I was able to take photos like this one without blurring the image.  That was my real reason for walking so slow.  *cough, cough* 

I'm in love with my simply squeezable and kissable niece, Madeline.  Even though I have my own baby, I never pass up an opportunity to hug and kiss on another one. 

We've had an abundance of rain lately, and one can't complain about that in mid-August.  The boys have thoroughly enjoyed playing and splashing in the puddles. 

Kenyon likes to prove his manliness by picking up objects both great and small.  All stud, all the time. 

He may be a goof, but he's my goof and I love him dearly for it. 

 I casually asked if anyone was ready for lunch and John came running around the corner of the house and attacked me.  Apparently he was hungry.

Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

-Lady Bird Johnson

He fills my life with good things.

Psalm 103:5

Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.

-Pissaro

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

-Audrey Hepburn

Catching Up

Its been a day or two since I last wrote.  My apologies.  It's been busy here, just like with everyone else.  Let's do a little recap, shall we?  

We purchased a swing set for the boys with my credit card rewards points, making it *nearly* free for us.  My favorite four letter F word.  But... we still have to put it together...

Drinking or sober, it won't matter.  There is no way to make building this swing set look appealing.  Or possible.  I wish I could go to the factory where they pack these kits together.  I imagine some college age kiddo taping together every box to send out the door and giggling uncontrollably while muttering under his breath, "Those poor idiots.  They won't stand a chance."
Please pray for us.

On to happier things.

I highly recommend this craft for any toddler.  I 'painted' a tree with a sharpee marker.  And I have not a talented bone in my body, so when I say 'painted' I mean that I drew one tall line with several lines offshooting in an attempt to mimic branches.  That's really all it takes, folks.

I then took a bunch of Q-tips (approximately 20) and bundled them together with a rubber band.  This became Kenyon's paintbrush for our craft.

On one paper plate I squirted out three dollops of paint.  Red, orange and a deep red.  He would dib-dab his Q-tip paint brush in each dollop of paint and then dab it onto the tree branches of the canvas.  (You can purchase a 3 pack of canvases at Wal-Mart for just a few dollars.)

Kenyon demonstrated his superior art skills to his grandma and grandad yesterday.  He had a captive audience and put on quite the show.

Viola!  A masterpiece.  There is really no way for a child to mess anything up, destruct anything or cut themselves during this process.  It could quite possibly be my favorite craft we have ever done together.  Scratch that.  It is my favorite craft with him, ever.  Now I'm trying to imagine ways we can tweak this craft for different times of year by using different colors.  For example, we could use red and blue paint and make a firecracker canvas for the summer, pastels and paint flowers in the spring, etc.  Watch out, Martha Stewart.  I'm coming for you. 

This weekend we celebrated many of the fall birthdays in our family during a ranch rodeo.  While it rained INCHES outside on the men that were competing, we sat under a covered pavillion and exchanged presents.  When the ranch rodeo was over, everyone came over to join us and everyone celebrated both birthdays and Uncle Mitch's team winning with celebratory cupcakes and beer.  (Like one man chuckled, "Wow, cupcakes and beer.  Feel's like college all over again!")

Kenyon and cousin Kade played HARD during the hours they were together.  Seeing Kade guarantees a good night sleep for Kenyon.  Or perhaps it is more of a mild coma.  I really don't know, and frankly, I really don't care. 

In other news... 

While the weather has been so pleasant lately, we've been trying to go for jaunts every day.  Sometimes we go check cattle, sometimes we just walk down to the creek and throw rocks into the water.  Regardless, we have a great time. 

John is pulling himself up anywhere and everywhere and loves to walk (with assistance).  He is getting more impatient with his assistants and I feel that walking unassisted is going to begin just any day now. 

My porch is covered with these delicate, purple blossoms these days.  It is a transplant from my aunt.  She calls it a Hyacinth bean.  Calling it an aggressive vine is an understatement.  I have to spend a few minutes every day or two with the vines and help them climb my makeshift trellis I've tied together from jute.  Otherwise they will overtake anything near them.  I had to cut out a patio chair that the vines overtook one weekend while we were gone.  It is that crazy.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I've seen other bloggers participate in 'Wordless Wednesday' and post adorable pictures of their kiddos, sans any sort of accompanying caption.  I tried that.  I really did, but I'm afraid the conclusions that folks might come to if I don't provide just a wee bit of details as to our actual happenings. 

How do you keep a kiddo contained at the grocery store?  You make him drive the cart.  We play 'Red Light, Green Light' and he is the best helper for me.
(For the uninformed masses, 'Red Light, Green Light' is the equivalent of saying 'Stop, Go'.  It's not rocket science.)

I pick the tomatoes, he unloads the tomatoes.
Are you gathering that he does not have a life of luxury?  Kiddo has lots of chores.
A little responsibility never killed anyone.  (Believe me, my parents tried.)

All the rains we've had lately have made for some good cloud watching.  Because we are simple like that.  Don't judge, you're the one reading this blog.

Kenyon and I pick the tomatoes, John eats the tomatoes.
Seriously, I just dice them, throw them on the tray and get out of his way.

Sometimes, just sometimes, if he likes you enough, John will share his food.
I rarely make the cut, but his Auntie Lala does.

After a weekend with the grandparents.
You could have performed surgery on this kid and he never would have moved.
That's how comatose he was from playing so hard. 

I love watching these two play together.  They truly are best friends.
It's become very entertaining to watch them.

If this smile doesn't make your day better, nothing will.

Outdoor movie night with friends.
Kenyon's mom just moved a few (hundred) more pegs down the 'cool parent' ladder. 

Kenyon has become my apprentice for a small shelving project that we are working on.
Just like I slowed down my friend, Larry, Kenyon is making this project infinitely longer than necessary.  I hope it helps him develop a love of woodworking just like mine though.  Hats off to Larry.