Tractor Ride

It's been a little crazy 'round these parts. The kids have gone about half nuts not having Travis around. That means I have gone about half nuts.

Pa happened to be planting next to their house so it seemed the perfect time for a tractor ride.

The kids have never been more quiet or calm as they were in the tractor. Of course, there is not a tractor purchases on the farm that doesn't have a grandkid seat in it! (Many of you know this to be the "buddy" or passenger seat.)

Aug and I got out and Gentey rode for the first time by himself. Dad said he just sat there and watched. I'm not surprised. You might remember post from last fall. He is so sober when he is in the tractor. Gentry just might turn into quite the little farming buddy in the next few years!

The Garden

First of all...help.  We don't know what we are doing.

This is how we work our ground.  I guess we could have done it with a small tiller but this way is much easier.  It's handy having one of these big things around.  And the kids loved seeing the tractor in the back yard.
 

Cheers!  This is how we started our planting day.  We planned how we were going to lay the whole thing out and then just dug in.

So did Gentry.  Dude was dirty at the end of the day.

We decided to keep a notebook of the gardening experience.  Mostly what and when we did things, what went right and what went wrong.  It will be our reference for the years to come and something funny to look back on when we are gardening pros.

This would be the corn...or at least part of it.  I get my straight row planting abilities from my dad, or I guess the lack thereof.

You can see from this picture that there would be nothing else growing, except my barefoot baby (who is 5 today).  The tomatoes are dead and so is most of the lettuce.

At least the basil and cilantro are growing nicely!  Maybe in a few weeks I will have good news about the garden.  I sure hope so...

Easter Sunday

We spent the weekend with Travis.  The kids were up at 5:45.  Yep.  That early.  On a weekend.  August was highly disappointed that the Easter Bunny did not hide eggs at our house.  I told her it was my fault because I forgot to leave eggs out for him.  Whoops.  There's always next year.

Excuse the pictures.  They are not my best work.

Lenten Season - The Results

Who knew that when Lent began and I chose this as my project, I would be put the the ultimate test.  Seems God had big plans for me and my family.  He's funny like that.  You have heard the phrase: if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.  Well, I did.  And I'm sure he laughed and said, "girl, you have no idea what's coming!"

A little recap of the last month.  My last post was on February 22.  I then was offered a job in Olney.  The kiddos and I moved on February 29.  I started my new job on March 1.  (Long story short, Travis needs to stay in Urbana for a few more months to tie up his grad school and job.)

The kids and I have been living away from my husband for a little over a month now.  This is probably the hardest thing I have done.  I was scared (read: terrified) at first how this was all going to work out.  We would be living with my parents.  Travis living alone in our house in Urbana.  Due to scheduling conflicts, we have only seen him twice since then.  We talk every day.  I am so thankful for Skype and video calling.  The kids and I can at least see his face sometimes.

I am happy to report that I would call my Lenten project a success.  I decided that I would work on my relationships and I have.  Even my relationships with friends and family have been put to the test.  We have been away for six years.  It's strange and pretty awesome to be back.  We can't wait for Travis to come back with us!