Co-Pilots

We're still chipping away at the big block called harvest. I keep thinking that one of these days it will be over. Hopefully in a few weeks. But until then, Brent occasionally needs my help. Dalanie and I spent the last two days driving truck. Hudson helped Grandpa and Daddy in the combine and grain cart. As you can see in the picture, lunch is becoming the most important part of being a co-pilot.

He Who Helps Himself . . .

Gets dessert. We had some friends over for Sunday dinner. After we finished eating, we sat around and visited. During this time Hudson got the ice cream out of the freezer, got his bowl and spoon, sat down to the table and dished some up. Once he had a few tiny scoops in the bowl, he shut the carton and ran to put it away. He came back and ate the ice cream. Before I knew it, he was running to the bathroom bowl and spoon in hand. No sooner than I heard the water running, it was turned off and he was running back to the cupboard saying "wash, wash." He put the bowl and spoon up and came to join our conversation as if no ice cream eating or dessert had ever occurred.

Although the washing of the dishes (as if to hide the evidence) is new, the part about him dishing up his own ice cream isn't. The other day Brent brought him home from riding in the combine. When I walked in the house I found him sitting at his little table having a bowl of ice cream.

Moral of the story: If you want ice cream-- get it yourself.

Steppin' It Up

For awhile now (harvest permitting) I've been going to an aerobics class held at a local church. We have been doing floor aerobics and strength and core training using bands and balls. It's been fun. The instructor is energetic and I've gotten to know some fun girls, but I still missed my step aerobics at Logan Rec. But today I walked in to they gym to find about 25 Reebok steps. HOORAY!! Finally, my long lost step aerobics.

Here in Firth. Can you believe that?

Free of charge. You can't beat that.

The end.

More Fun Than. . .

A barrel of BOY. Since the weather was gorgeous today, I decided to do some yard work. Hudson was a great helper. We cleaned up some of our flower beds and started cleaning up the garden. By the end, he was getting silly. I was busy pulling out the zinnias when he tried to get my attention. Before I knew it, he was next to me saying "Mom." When I finally looked this is what I saw. It wasn't enough for me just to see him in the buckets, he kept playing in them. It was hilarious to watch him try to get up once he fell down. It was so nice today, Dalanie even got to come out with us.

SLC, Kids, and Snow

The kids and I went down to SLC to play with Nik while Chod was presenting at On Target. I was pleasantly surprised at how well behaved they were. We drug them in and out of stores and around the town. The weather was beautiful on Thursday, perfect for going to Hogle Zoo. We finished off the day with an outing to the swimming pool. Hudson loved it. It was fun to be able to fit in visits with a lot of family. On top of the Stephens, we also got to see the Hartwells, Tameka, and part of the Western family. It was a fun trip, but we were all happy to come home. Even if it snowed 3 1/2" today.

Sunday Drive

Once we had all taken our Sunday nap, we decided to take a drive and enjoy the beautiful day. We drove up over the "W" to the cabin. The leaves were just starting to change color. I couldn't believe how cold it was. There was still quite a bit of snow in the shade. Hudson was disappointed we didn't take his gloves.

My Favorites

Since I was tagged and thought it was a good list, here it goes.

Favorite smell: Freshly mowed grass, campfire, and sweet babies slathered in Baby Magic lotion.

Favorite sound: The sound of sealing jars, sprinklers, the shutting of our door late at night when Brent gets home, and cooing babies.

Favorite taste: Cafe Rio sweet pork and green dressing, garden vegetables *tender corn on the cob, red potatoes, sweet tomatoes, and cucumbers*(so long pitiful weed infested garden), and homemade bread.

Favorite touch: Not much lately considering that my hands are so rough/dry/cracking. They get snagged on pratically everything. And yes. I do use hand lotion. Once in awhile. But wait, I touch with so much more than just my hands. I love the feel of Dalanie taking a nap on my chest and hugs from my family.

Favorite sight: Leaves changing colors, Brent playing with our kids.

Car Wash

We woke up this morning to snowflakes falling out of no where. Looks like it's a good thing we got the car washed yesterday while the weather was still nice. Well, make that both cars. As soon as Hudson saw that I was going to wash the car, he pulled his cozy coupe out of the garage and started scrubbing. Forget the lemonade stand, Hudson is going to set up his own car wash.

'Tis the Season

Hudson looks forward to taking his Dad lunch. I don't know if it's because Brent shares his chips with Hudson or if it's because he gets to ride in the chopper. Regardless of the motive, this time has become sacred to the little guy. I don't know which one enjoys it the most. Look at the first pictures and you tell me.

I got to make another trip to Jerome for parts today. Harvest is winding down, so hopefully it's my last "trip" of the kind. I was trying to remember. . . 3 or 4 ventures over to that part of the country. Who knows. At any rate-- I got to see a lot of corn being chopped, spuds being dug, and beets being hauled. It's a busy time for lots of folks.

I have vowed to stop my canning for the year. Last night was the clencher. Both kids were screaming and I was up to my elbows in jars of apple pie filling that were not sealing. It was very frustrating, hence my promise to put the jars away for the year. Although my drive today got me thinking. How could a person package up all this sunshine and warm weather in a jar so they could pull it out during the winter? It was such a beautiful day. Hmmm. . . If anyone has any idea it might just be worth hauling my water bath back upstairs.

Changing of the Guard

Dalanie has been sucking on the same pacifier every day for the past nine weeks. It's the one she got sent home from the hospital with. It's been a wonderful relationship.

Comfort. Quiet. Peace.

We went to her 2 month check up today. She got her shots and needed a little comfort. Wouldn't you know.

I lost it.

I think I might have left it in the exam room. So long dear friend. Hello new pink friend.

Once Again

Once again, I left town with my camera in tow but the memory stick in my computer. I've got to quit making a habit of that.
Last Wednesday the kids and I went down to Grace with one of the chopping crews. We pulled the in-laws camping trailer down and set up camp to fulfill my duty as camp chef. It was a decent job, but cooking in a primitive kitchen made me miss my kitchen at home dearly. It seemed like I no more than got the dishes washed up and it was time to start the next meal. I think the crew enjoyed some warm meals. They are all so tired of sandwiches and lunch boxes they could puke.
The nights got a little chilly, we all got a little sick, but it was a nice change of scenery. The leaves were changing on Fish Creek and it was a beautiful reminder that life is good.
Hudson loved when the "guys" came back to the trailer at night to eat. He has become friends with all of them, but Dale has taken the lead as his favorite. Hudson loved riding in the pack tractor with him.
Although it was a nice break, I was ready to get back home. We got home on Saturday, just in time to make it to the last few minutes of our ward's harvest party. As a matter of fact, we celebrated in farming fashion because it was straight from Grace to the party- no cleaning or dolling up.
Home Sweet Home. Laundry, canning, dishes, and cleaning.

Sissy

We love our sissy.

Spud Day

Spud Day.










It's a long standing tradition in Shelley. As a matter of fact this event has been going on for 79 years now. The weather was beautiful of Saturday, so the kids and I took in the parade before heading down to the park for a free baked potato and other potato themed events. When it was time for the potato picking contest, I asked Hudson if he'd like to participate. He agreed, so we went out onto the field to get ready. He was having fun picking up the biggest ones or knobby ones with "noses" and putting them in the basket. When the event officially started, I dumped the potatoes so he could start over. This really upset him. He threw the basket and started kicking it.
I could hear spectators laughing at his performance. How embarassing. I couldn't get him out of there soon enough. I'm sure it was quite the sight since I had to carry him off in addition to Dalanie who was hanging out in her Snugli. I just should have never asked.

Chop, Chop Mom.

My son is obsessed with chopping. For the past few days, he's been "chopping" corn with a toy combine that he borrowed from Grandma. He has packed it everywhere with him. The header was constantly falling off, so I was the designated mechanic (since Dale is taken this time of year.) I told Brent about Hudson's behavior and he decided it was time to break out the "real" toy chopper.
When we purchased a chopper two years ago, the salesman sent Brent home with a toy for our then baby, Hudson. It was quickly put away once Brent saw that the recommended age was 8 years old. I remember him saying, "he's got to learn to respect it. He can't have it until he's 8." Well, time went by awfully quick. Now as a 2 1/2 year old, Dad has deemed Hudson mature enough to play with the chopper.
This morning was the big unveiling. Before heading out to do a little chopping of his own, Brent decided to replace Grandma's faulty combine with a Claas Jaguar 900. He reserved the rights to take it back at any time if Hudson isn't treating it right. (Poor Dalanie. . . she doesn't stand a chance. Who's going to want to deal with her dad, especially this Dad who is even protective about a toy chopper.) It turned out to be another busy day of chopping. He barely had time to eat dinner or ride with me to mow the lawn. "Chop, chop Mom." --I'm just glad the lights don't work on the dang thing or he'd still be pushing it around in his bed.

And not to overlook our little Lanie. She is getting so strong. She's been holding her head up for a couple of weeks now. My favorite is that she's starting to smile as a response.

It's Here

Corn harvest. Sadly enough, we've been at it for over 2 weeks now and I'm barely getting around to posting about it. Perhaps it's the love hate relationship I have with it. Back before kids. . .well, actually before two kids-- I was an integral part of the harvest. I drove truck. I did it while I was pregnant with Hudson and then 2 years with him. Since we just welcomed Dalanie into our family 6 weeks ago, I decided that it would be best for me to sit this one out. I didn't realize it was going to be this hard on me. It's not that I still want to be in the truck, because I truly enjoy being home with the kids and having time to take care of the home and yard. (Don't worry, I've gotten a few opportunities to get back in the saddle.) I think it's because I have no husband. He leaves early and comes home late and tired. It's always very stressful and I am counting the days down until it is over. Then we can all breathe a big sigh of relief.

I have been trying to do my part as lunch lady. I usually deliver a lunch, a little co-pilot and co-pilot's lunch to Brent. (It doesn't work to feed Hudson before he goes because he usually eats most of Brent's lunch anyway.) It's Hudson's favorite part of the day. He loves to ride in the "cha-cha" with Dad. The only problem is that he falls asleep and cannot stay on the buddy seat for the life of him. He bounces all over and is so miserable that I am usually called to rescue the poor fella. On Saturday the tradition held true. Hudson no more than got his sandwich out to eat and he fell asleep.

Blessed Day

Today we blessed Dalanie. Brent forgot to state by what authority, so he had to do it over. Despite that, it was a beautiful blessing. All of the family was together. It was a full house, but what can be better than good food and good company. We appreciate everyone's support. While Mom, Nik, and Deid helped get the dinner ready, I sent Tameka upstairs with Dalanie and the camera. Here are a few of my favorites.
Mom helped me make her dress using the pattern from my blessing dress. Grandpa Parish gave Dalanie her bracelet and Grandma Wilkins crocheted the beautiful white afaghan for her.

Bigguns'

My Grandpa Wilkins raised some pretty impressive watermelons this year. He brought a couple to the reunion. They were really big and the sweetest I've tasted this year. Everyone enjoyed them, but Hudson savored every bite. By the time he was finished, he was a sweet and sticky mess. Grandpa says the secret is good drainage and not to over water. His were grown out in the gravel.
My Mom has some spectacular pumpkins. It's funny because my Dad is quite proud of the giant gourds his wife raised. He wanted some pictures of the grandkids out in the patch. This is the best we could do.

Tea Party

To kick off the holiday weekend with the Wilkins family, Mom and Nikkala hosted a tea party to welcome Dalanie into the family. It was such a fun party. People came dressed up and we got to enjoy yummy food and visiting with the ladies of the family.

Dalanie

It's hard to believe that our little girl is already one month old. During the past month she has gotten bigger, become Hudson's princess and best sissy, wrapped her Daddy around her little finger, ridden in the semi, gone on several bike rides, and become such a joy to have in our family. We love our little Lanie.

He Likes My Ears

Every time we would have corn on the cob from the garden, Brent had to comment on how nice the ears were. And since he's pretty much a professional corn grower these days it felt good to get his praise. He often continued "look at how straight and long the rows are. What do you attribute to your success? You must have had a good fertility regimen or phenomenal weed control practices." To which I snicker. All of the above I think to myself. "It must have been the manure I "spread" with the front end loader in deep clumps on our corn patch. I'm surprised it didn't burn the corn. Or what about that weed control when I went out 9 months pregnant to find my corn dwarfed by the two foot tall kochia and Russian thistle. I didn't even think twice, I armed myself with my weed sprayer full of Roundup and went to work." What corn wasn't killed by the above mentioned practices yielded such nice cobs, worthy of Brent's adoration.

living out of the car

On Tuesday we rolled into Mom and Dad's house (our pitstop for our "business"/family trip) at about 9:30 pm. Hudson was busy playing with Grandma and Grandpa until way too late, about 11:00. The next morning started out way too early. By 7:30 am, we were headed to Jerome. Brent had to inspect our new chopper and meet with the salesman. During these 4 hours I let Hudson do the guy thing by tagging along with Dad and play with his bulldozer in the dirt while Dalanie and I had a photo shoot in the car.
We ate lunch in a restaurant, but then it was back in the car. We visited many truck lots and sat in the car while Brent talked with even more salemen while I tried to entertain a very tired 2 1/2 yr old. But alas at 5:30 p.m., he finally found the semi he was looking for in . . . Burley. By then I was a little (understatement) irritated and wondered why I spent the entire day in the car instead of in the comforts of my parents home? After another quick and random pit stop at Mom and Dad's we were back in the car headed for home. Our house was a very welcome sight!
All in all, I consider the spilt milk (it makes our car smell awful --like dirty diapers) very inconsequential considering that our car was home for a day. In all fairness to Brent, I think he needed a second opinion and some support for all the big decisions he had to make that day, so he requested my company.

Trash to Treasure

My wall really isn't this tomato red, it's darker and . . . prettier in my opionion.

I decided to share my latest garage sale find because I was pretty excited about it. I brought them home, gave them a good coat of black spray paint, sanded the edges and viola! Once I had them hung beneath my oven hood, I started looking around my house and realized that many accessories and furnishings in our home have been discovered in unlikely places. (see previous post about old door from a junk heap ) Nothing a little scrub brush, elbow grease, paint, or odor ban couldn't fix.

Making Pappa Proud

The other night I decided the kids and I would all benefit from getting out of the house. I decided that we'd go and cut some wheat to use in our home for decoration. I told Hudson he needed to get ready. (In all fairness he already had his jammies on--which are too big by the way. But they have loaders so he doesn't see any of his other pairs as much of an option.) He brought me his boots, and this is what you get. I think he might have learned this from doing chores with Grandpa Parish who occassionally wears his pajamas. Speaking of which, I still need a copy of the pictures with Grandpa and Hudson together in their irrigating boots.

On another note. I was hanging a headboard yesterday during naptime and impressed myself. Not that what I did was necessarily impressive, but because I was able to do it alone--something my Dad has always prided himself in. With a little creativity and ingenuity I hung this stinking heavy old door above our new king family size bed just like a pro. I felt like doing a WEP jig, (not creating one) but doing a little dance.Snug as a bug in a rug. I love sleeping babies and tired dads.

Hudson Highlight

Hudson is busy discovering new things in the world around him. He is continually making me smile. His curiosity occasionally leads him into trouble, but I have to remind myself that curiosity brings learning. So here are a few of the highlights from his 2 1/2 yr. old perspective.
Hudson loves:
-helping "stir" the batter and help make waffles for breakfast.
-his TV time in the morning with Jakers! and Curious George.
-helping Mom water the flowers and pick vegetables from the garden.
-riding with sissy in the trailer on bike rides.
-picking out the clothes he wears (usually consists of his boots and one of his many hats.)
-putting music in his radio and pushing all the buttons to make it play and then singing and dancing along.
-playing with his loaders, trucks, and farm animals. He pretends to haul hay and chop corn, pretty imaginative considering he doesn't have any of the right equipment.
-goats- he now notices them while we're driving (along with any tractor, truck, or loader.
-cutting things with scissors- scary considering his Mom ruined many things with scissors when she was little.
-eating watermelon, cantelope, and corn. I don't know what he's going to eat when summer is over.
-helping. Whether it's Grandpa Parish and his chickens, Mom and dishes or bathing Dalanie, or Grandpa Hillman taking salt to the cows. He is most happy when he's helping.
-church. He requests to go there several times a week.
-singing songs. Some of his favorite include Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Popcorn.
- the number two. Whenever you ask him how many horses, goats, trucks, etc. he promptly replies, "2."
-his sissy.

Celebrating the Good Life

Around the Hillman house, we've had plenty to celebrate about. First, the arrival of Dalanie who is so sweet and healthy. Secondly, the good adjustment made by Hudson in becoming a big brother. (We've attempted to potty train without much luck, but rest assured--a big celebration will be in order when he figures it out.)

Next, I just celebrated my 2? birthday last Saturday. Yes folks, that's 26 years I've been living and breathing on this great planet called earth. It scares me that I'm getting right close to 30. It was a good day full of garage selling with the two little tykes, icecream, and friends. I've gotten used to the fact that it falls in a busy time of year. Now that I don't expect any presents or even a card from Brent, it's gotten much better. It's become more of a personal day, where I evaluate my current position in life, count my blessings, and celebrate the good life. Our good friends did take us out for dinner that night. It was late and a bit spontaneous, but if you're not young-- you've got to act young once and awhile.
And finally, (to bring this post to a close) Brent turned 28 on Tuesday. He was busy with work, but Hudson took him lunch and rode with him in the chopper. We made him a sign and decorated it with balloons. I think it was more of a treat for Hudson as he was so excited for his dad to see it. We took rootbeer floats and corn on the cob to the crew to round off the day. Nothing too special, but hopefully a memorable one. I'm so grateful to have such a good husband that works so hard. He has so many demands facing him. I'm proud of the way he handles life and am glad that I get to go through it side by side with him.Sure, our happy little life isn't always perfect. In fact, we have a bad hair day once and awhile (just ask Dalanie) but all in all I consider it a good life. Our family is healthy, our business is growing, (wheat prices are up) and I have a knowledge of the gospel. What more could a girl want to begin her 26th year in life? I can't think of anything else.

What I Wish

I wish that holding a sweet smelling baby all day was what being a mom was all about. Unfortunately days seem to fill up with dishes, laundry, and cooking. With Brent in the middle of straw harvest, the days have also included a lot of running. Running breakfasts and lunches to him, running people back to pick up vehicles, running parts and so on.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a little less running and a lot more holding.

30 Seconds From a Break Down

Yesterday was Dalanie's 2 week check up. She passed with flying colors. If you consider her super red bottom from a horrible diaper rash and white mouth from thrush. Good thing we didn't have to add a yellow jaundice baby to the list. Other than that, she's a healthy baby. She's already gained 11 oz and is starting to fill in. I can't believe her legs are already getting chubby. But that's good. . .you know what they say--"A chubby baby = A happy baby."
After the appointment we had a few errands to run. My previous experience with taking the 2 kids to stores hasn't been bad. Every place we went ended up taking 30 minutes longer than anticipated. By the time I finally got the insurance issues cleared up at the pharmacy and Dalanie's prescriptions, they were both starving. The pharmacy tech asked if Hudson could have a sucker, I quickly consented trying to hold back the tears. What kind of a mom keeps saying "just a minute and we'll get you fed" for well over an hour?
Thanks goodness Nik lives in Blackfoot, so we could feed and change the kidlings and I could regain my composure.