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!

Lenten Season

Growing up, the Lenten season was always easy. I went to a Catholic school so everyone there was practicing the same traditions, meatless Fridays and giving something up.

Meatless Fridays I can do. I can make simple meals that satisfy the rest of the family while I can still fast.

Giving something up? Humph! Diet coke. Coffee. Do you want to see a grumpy monster? Didn't think so. Tv. Internet. Facebook. My family would not do well without tv. I need to stay connected to everyone I love. I couldn't think of anything else that would work. I guess I could have given up chocolate or snacks at night. Maybe next year...

Last year as I thought about all these things to give up I wondered why I was supposed to do it. I came to the conclusion that it was to make me a better person. How is giving up something going to make me a better person? Yeah, I don't know either. So I decided to do something good. It stems from the philosophy: be kinder than necessary. I gave at least one compliment to someone who was not family or friend each day. It went really well. I had a few strange looks and many conversations that started because of what I had said.

So. This year I'm doing something similar. I am going to work on the relationships I currently have instead of focusing on strangers. (This kind of goes along with my New Year's Resolution.) This is a good thing. I hope this year goes as well as last year.

What are you giving up or not giving up?

A New Kind of Resoultion

Usually this time of year, most people have made...and broken...their New Year's Resolutions. That group includes me. I don't even remember what I decided to do last year. All I know is it didn't happen.

My kids were with Grandma, Grandpa, Mimi, and Pa the week between Christmas and the first. (Thanks to them, by the way!) I discovered Pinterest bringing my world to a standstill. I looked and pinned all week. I found the following two sayings/pictures and they keep running through my mind. You'll see why. So...in the fashion of all good procrastinators I have decided to make myself a couple of resolutions.




We all do this. I tell myself: I was good yesterday, I can have a candy bar today. Or: let's make cookies, I'll only eat one. Yeah, right!

So here's the deal. Candy is for sharing with my kids. I will make better food choices.




For many parts of my life this is very true. I have my husband, my kids, and a life on this farm. Work is okay most days. The only part of my life that is completely ridiculous is that I am not teaching and I am not around family and friends nearly enough. I'm not speaking just physically but with kinder gestures.

So, I will write more letters, make more phone calls, and *gulp* send more texts and emails.

.......

Now, I am going to need some reminding. That's why I'm leaning on you. Yell, call, or slap me. Seriously.

Christmas Morning...At 5 a.m.

Christmas morning came at 5 a.m. at our house.  Not becuase the kids were up but because Travis was up.  He had to go into work early so that meant everyone was up.  I love seeing the tree and presents all lit up before the sun rises.

Pants-less Gentry looking at his new cars.  He refuses to wear his pajama pants.

August liked her new Tinkerbell movie.

Our family Christmas picture.

I Still Get Starry Eyed...

So we waited until December 23 to go see Santa.  Actually, I forgot until December 22 at 9 pm.  So we loaded up in the car and made the trek to the mall. 

Did I mention it was December 23?

The mall was atrociously busy.  The line was long.  And there was a brat in line behind us.  My children were angels.  Litterally angels.

Forty-five minutes later we reached Santa and Mrs. Clause.  Yep, Mrs. Clause was there and she was pretty awesome.  Both kids sat on Santa's lap and they talked about what they wanted for Christmas.  Aug insisted that she wanted a motor boat with a remote control.  Gentry just stared at him.

They talked for quite a while.  It made it totally worth the wait. 

Aug's Preschool Christmas Program

August was so cute in her preschool Christmas program.  She waved at us, just like last year.  She sung all the words to all the songs.  It warms my heart to see her in action like that.  We have been so blessed to have found Kinder Cassel.  She loves going to school and loves her teachers.  It seems like weekly one of her teachers tells me a funny or sweet story about her.

(Pretend there is a video here of August and her classmates singing.  I'm having trouble uploading.)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Six Years Ago

Six years ago I woke up for the last time as a single girl at my mom and dad's house.

Six years ago I drove to the church and was helped into a white dress by four close friends, each representing a major part of my life until that point.

Six years ago I held a bouquet of pink roses and white alstroemerias and was walked down the church aisle by my dad.





Six years and two kids later. I asked Travis if he had any regrets...

He didn't answer.

On Teaching Charity

I've spent some time this holiday season thinking about how we as a family could give back. Travis and I have talked about what we would like to do for 4-H clubs and the FFA when we get back to Olney. (Both played such a big roll in what we are.) But for the time being, we want to make sure our kids realize how good they've got it and what it means to help others.

Finally I realized what we could do. A local radio station was holding a 13 hour toy drive at Walmart. Perfect. We would hurry to get ready and go to Walmart before I had to go to work. August was to pick out a toy, something that she likes to play with at home, to donate to Toys for Tots.

Quickly she settled on Strawberry Shortcake, with pink hair of course. We checkout out and August proudly carried her purchase to the tent outside. She was about to drop it in the box when the morning radio personalities appeared. One of them recognizes me from work. He looked at me, looked at August and said, "can we interview her on the radio?" Sure. "Great. We are live in ten seconds." A man from AT&T rushed out and recorded it.

We had never intended on such a big deal being made of August's first donation. However, I am so happy it did. I hope that she always remembers that day.

We are so proud of her. She is wise beyond her years and compassionate. She may have taught me more than I taught her that day.

(Thank you WIXY for hosting the toy drive. Thank you AT&T for making a contribution and for recording it for us. Thank you Roofing Dog for being there. Both kiddos were amazed to see such a large and friendly dog.)

Just the Kiddos

New pics of the kids I took Thanksgiving Day.  My favorites are the second and last.  Enjoy!

We Are Blessed

Here's why...




August. She is smart, funny, and unnaturally compassionate. She has never met a stranger and I instantly best friends with anyone who will talk to her. She is honest to a fault, but her voice is always sweetest when she gives you a compliment.




Gentry. His eyes will make you melt and you'll want to eat his chubby cheeks. He laughs the best laugh when his belly or thighs are pinched. He is sweetest when he says "love you toooooooo."




They hold hands.





We have a new member in our family this year.




They love cows.




Our snowman had a change of attitude.



He's in a much better mood now!





My turkey turned out looking like this!

And finally...




I know this is true!

The Older I Get...

The older I get I would much rather spend my evenings seeing this, August and Gentry holding hands as we take a walk on the farm.

This was taken a couple weeks ago. I remember I had had a rough day at work. I walked in the door and told the kids to put their shoes on. They eagerly headed out the door wondering where we were going.

To see the cows.

That is all it took. They headed in the direction that was most familiar to them.



This red Holstein was extra curious. August was extra helpful. Gentry was extra careful.

The older I get I would rather spend my evenings like this, watching them talk sweetly to the girls and trying to get them to eat feed from their palms.

The older I get I would rather share a bowl of ice cream and rock my kiddos before they go to bed.

If this is the meaning of life...I'm in.

Harvest Time!

The kids and I got to ride in the combine with dad yesterday. It reminds me of the times I rode around with Grandpa Byron. Back and forth across the field, time after time sitting in the grandkid seat. It was almost an honor to ride. Yesterday riding with dad took me back to those days. I'm glad my kids get to have the same experience.



Aug got the seat of honor. She got to sit on the lunch box...I mean dinner bucket. She rubbed her face all over the windshield.


Me and Gent. This was the most emotion he showed. He was really excited to be there...he just doesn't show it...ever.


See. No emotion.


August is proud and Gentry's belly is showing.


And in case there was any question about yield this year...just kidding. I watched a long time to get this picture!

An Evening Horse Race