Since the mercury's been on the rise, we decided it was time to drag out the kiddie pool. In order to spice it up this year, I fashioned a bracket/ladder and attached a slide my FIL had lying around. We screwed it into our picnic table and it made a perfect platform. It's been a hit. The kids are much better nappers with it around.


We have also put the sprinkler under the trampoline. Sissy runs around like a mad woman. During one of her stints, she was a bit out of control and just ran off of it ( I guess it's a good thing it's low to the ground.) She jumped back up and was good to go. I on the other hand, was laughing so hard, that it took awhile for me to regain my composure.

If At First You Don' Succeed

Every day we check our traps. Brother always makes sure to be prepared in case we've got something. Never mind that it's been 90F, he'll still pull on his heavy coat. The first time I found the door shut, I was pretty excited. Since we covered the traps with garbage bags, I wasn't quite sure what kind of critter we had. I finally got brave enough to move the trap so I could go inside the coop and gather the eggs. As I was down, within close proximity to the creature, I could make out the silhouette of a cat. A little bummed, I turned it out. But not without a little reservation, I was still scared some different animal would dart out.

We set the traps again and were lucky enough to catch a little skunk yesterday. There was no way I was taking care of it, so I let my husband assume responsibility of this "man's job." He had it killed and buried within a few minutes, but it still stunk. The funniest part about the entire ordeal was that our next door neighbor happened to be laying out, sunning. I apologized for being redneck neighbors later.

The trap is set again. There's sure to be a mamma skunk still around these parts.

Unconditional Love

As I donned my over-sized scouting t-shirt to head to pack meeting I felt less than attractive. My little belly pops the buttons on my official scout shirt so I'm stuck with the "room to grow into" scouting t-shirt. The sleeves hit me at my elbows and hangs past my bottom. I had flashbacks to the early 90's, but rolling the sleeves or tying the bottom to one side wouldn't help spruce it up. I just felt ugly and awkward--like an adolescent getting accustomed to their changing body.

Holding back the tears, I kissed my husband good bye. He grabbed me and said "You look great." So as yucky as I feel and look, I'm glad I married a guy that can see past it all and love me anyway.

Skunked

Over the past few weeks my brood of chickens has been slowly whittled down to 5 laying hens and 3 pullets. A loss of 7 hens or pullets. At first I was a bit stumped to find 2 of my hens dead inside the coop. No blood or ruffled feathers, just dead. There's been digging around the coop, but I've fortified it with chicken wire and bricks. Still the digging continued and bricks would be moved. At the beginning of the week, I noticed that some pullets were missing. Realizing my fight with this unwanted visitor was futile, I called in the professional.

Our neighbor is a professional trapper, so he came over and set some traps.

At 4 o'clock this morning I awoke from the squawking of chickens. I figured the trapped animal must be making a little ruckus so as to frighten the gun shy fowl.

'Twas not so. The traps sat undisturbed, doors still open. While the bricks and dirt beneath the coop door were in disarray. This time I noticed feathers and a few drops of blood. That dirty varmint has taken another one of my laying hens! It smelt slightly of skunk, so I can officially say that we were "skunked" last night.

Hopefully tonight will be the end to his easy chicken dinner.

Stair Sleeping

We've been experiencing a strange and comical phenomena around our place. Over the past week, I've found both of my children sleeping on the stairs. It looks to me like something akin to Chinese water torture. But rest assured, they both were found doing it on their own free will. These are the same children that fight me to the very end about naptime. In this position, they peacefully drift off to dreamland.Maybe next time I'm having trouble sleeping I'll have to give it a try.

Picnic In The Park?

Well maybe it's not the park. but it was pretty entertaining anyway. We took Brent and the crew dinner the other night so they could get the triticale harvested before the next storm hit. The kids were in heaven. Brother's been begging to take the "guys" food all winter long. They ate their dinner on their windrow sofa.

Happy Father's Day

To a guy that our children can't get enough of. Thanks for being a great dad. I love watching them clamber over you, beg food from you, wrestle you, and emulate you. We Love You!

Big Foot

Sissy's not too picky when it comes to foot wear. His or hers, velcro or lace up, large or small. And since she's the smallest in the house, any choice but her own makes her a Sasquatch.

Visitors

Just when I was about to post pictures of our bathroom makeover, we had company. They got to see it first hand. Rest of you. . . well, just come and see for yourself. No more yellow formica countertops.

The weather was erratic (like the past 3 weeks) so we just stayed home and enjoyed being together.

Baby Linc brought his pacifier, but the recovering addict held out. She was pretty tough, although at times she'd hold it up to her mouth. "The Boys" played great together. They played in the sand, made felt food feasts, and put the finishing touches on some little burgers we made up for Father's Day.

The Garbage Man Took My Baby Away

Yesterday morning Sissy pulled her pacifier out of her mouth and showed me the severed nipple saying, "broke." I told her to throw it away, so she marched into the bathroom and tossed it in the trash. Minutes later, Brother helped me gather up the garbages and take it to the curb. Later she waved good-bye as the garbage truck took our trash and drove off. It all happened so quickly, I didn't know how she would handle this cold turkey approach.

Things went fine until nap time. She started pointing at her lips (her sign language for needing her pacifier) and I knew we were in trouble. I thought fast and pulled out a brand new tube of chapstick. She was excited to put it on her lips and think that she was grown up.

We've had a few minor melt downs and she's needed a little extra comfort at night, but I cannot believe we've made it 30 hours without it. I hardly recognize her without it.

Rainy Days Project

Since my husband can't get much work done in the field, he's decided to install a patio. I couldn't be more excited!! For 2 years now, we've had a walk-out sandbox. Which means when you walk back inside, you bring the sandbox with you.
It will be situated right off the kitchen/garage door.

As an added bonus we've been needing to keep a hired man busy, so I've been replaced!
There's a lot of prep work, but things are moving right along.
Sissy loves opening the kitchen door and yelling for her Daddy. The kids have loved "helping" on the project.

Warren's BBQ

With the cooperation of the weather (or lack there of) we were able to make it to Burley for the annual BBQ. *It's been a pretty miserable month for a hay farmer with the daily rain showers and all, but I haven't minded a bit.* Every year in June, my family celebrates my dad surviving a gas tank explosion. It was the last fuel tank that he has welded on. This year, it just happened to be on his birthday so it was double the fun. The weather held out until everyone had gotten food, but then the sky opened up and it rained.

It's always a good chance to be with family and see old friends.

Last Laugh

Last time I had the oil changed in my car, they offered to replace my in-cabin air filter for a mere $39.99. I told them no thanks and went across the street to Auto Zone and picked myself up one for only $14.99. I laughed.

In the parking lot, I popped the hood and had it replaced in a matter of minutes. I laughed again. Only to find out that I had left my keys on the seat when I popped the hood and they were now locked inside. Aargghh! Not so much laughing this time.

So, I called a locksmith. An hour and $40 later, I'm pretty sure the guys at Jiffy Lube were laughing now.

Yesterday when I drove past the location of my incident I laughed again.

Waiting Up

It's pretty pathetic that I'm waiting for my four year old to get home so I can go to bed.

Ever since 7:30 this morning Hudson has been waiting to go to the hills.
At 8:00 am, he called Grandpa. "Are you going to the hills? Today? Can I go with you?"
After doing some things around the house he said "You're taking too long!"
We went over and helped load cows, but Grandpa wasn't heading up yet.
By 10:30 he had his lunch eaten and was waiting.
After mowing both lawns, he convinced me to take him back to Grandpa's.
At 5:30 pm he FINALLY was headed to the hills.
This could have been the longest day of waiting of his life.

Branding, vaccinating, tagging, and sorting took place over the past weeks. It is eerily quiet without all of the bellarin'. (My spell check says this is not a word, they haven't heard it. To me, bellarin' is very different than "bellowing.)

Family Affair, Dirty day of Branding

The kids were well prepared for the long day.
Brother's job was keeping the alley was sprayed down.
Sissy sat as sentinel of the sunflower seeds.

Welcome Summer

Happy Memorial Day Weekend- the official start to summer. Let the party begin.
We've been enjoying ourselves around here. . . Except for a concerned child that is afraid that winter is going to come back and take away our summer. Here's hoping it won't be for several months.

Just Wondering

Dear Naptime,

Why do you have to be so brutal? I put my precious and meticulously groomed daughter (not really, but we do try hard) down for a nap and this is what I get back. A street urchin.
Why?

-K

P.S. Dinnertime, you seem to have the same affect on my kitchen floor.

Tender Mercy

I hate to whine about being sick and pregnant because it seems so insensitive. I know there are plenty out there who have not yet been able to become pregnant and those that experience sickness greater than mine. But Sunday night after days with horrible nausea and throwing up, I was at my ropes end. I didn't know if I could keep on going. So like any pregnant lady, I cried about it. And then prayed.

After some persuasion and coaxing by my husband, I decided I'd go and get my super expensive prescription filled. At $30/pill last pregnancy, I decided to be miserable instead of swallow away our life's savings. So before having the entire prescription filled, I asked about how much it would be. "$10.00!!" I was in complete shock. Our insurance paid $393.99.

I called Brent crying. It truly was a tender mercy, because we don't have very good prescription coverage at all.

They're not magic or miracle, but they have helped and I've kept my food down.

A Hunting We Did Go

Camo, rifles, and permits were left home.

After some preliminary scouting, the kids and I got busy hunting on an overgrown ditch bank. With grocery bag in hand, we uncovered lots of emerging spears. It took Hudson's "eagle eyes" to find most of the asparagus growing out of the grass.

I've always loved asparagus hunting and the kids seem too as well. But after a 1/2 mile of stopping every few feet to pick a newly spotted spear Hudson proclaimed, "You're driving me crazy! Just forget about it!"

Happy Mothers' Day

It was a mother's payday.

Hudson stood in front of the primary and gave his talk like a seasoned orator.

Sissy went to nursery for the whole time.

Oh, and we shared our exciting "Mothers Day Secret."

At the beginning of the week after Hudson asked why I haven't been feeling well for awhile, Brent and I decided we'd share the news with him. "I have a baby in my tummy that sometimes makes me sick," I explained.

"I know that! I'm 4 years old and I know that kind of stuff." (And to think he doesn't even ride the bus yet.)

We asked him to keep it a secret until Mothers Day. After a weekend at Grandma's house with all sorts of cousins, I figured it would be old news. But after Sunday, he was dying. "Can I please tell Grandma our secret?"

Our family is excited for our December baby.

Wedding Day Survival Kit

With bridal season in full swing around the corner, you're sure to know someone getting married. I came up with the idea for a survival kit for a dear friend getting married. I Googled the idea and realized it wasn't such a new one. But it's fun even if it's not original.

It's amazing what you already have in your house to get one started. Unopened and unused of course- a pack of gum, toothbrush, toothpaste, trial size deodorant, clear nail polish, first aid kit, headache medicine, wet wipes. Your imagination or container is the limit.

I simply wrapped decorative paper around things to give it a classy appearance. Brides are the only ones that can use them. Think any mom involved in the wedding party. It a fairly inexpensive way to let you know you're thinking of them.

Colors of the Day

This post was brought to you by the colors GREEN and YELLOW.

Come with me on a walk around the place.

Color coordinator of the tour.

Forsynthia

DaffodilsTulipsSpreading SunshineSplash

If you'd like to be a kid again, put on some rain boots and do some splashing. It takes years off your life.

Now didn't that feel like springtime? Go on and get you some.

My Reverent Boy

Brother has been anticipating this day for a week now. Last week he was sent home with a slip of paper asking him to be the reverent child. He couldn't wait. He's been practicing all week long. He made sure to wear his "missionary" attire and be ready early. He walked into the church with his arms folded. He asked me to take him up on the stand. I led him up the front and let go of his hand. He bravely walked to the designated spot, looked out on the crowd, ducked his head and came running to me.

Maybe next time him and Sissy will be asked to do it together. She'll drag him up there and wave to the crowd. Funny how different they are.

Grandma JoNan

Since Nikkala and I are close in age we share many of the same memories of Grandma. But one of my most vivid memories of Grandma had to do with me spending the night at her house. I suffered from homesickness for most of my "at home" years. Invariably, nighttime would roll around and I would find myself crying for my mom. No matter how insistent or heart wrenching my pleas, Grandma would always say "crying isn't going to bring your mom home." I never found any sympathy or consolation. It was a harsh reality for me.

I also remember shopping trips to Twin where Kandice, Nikkala, and I would convince Grandma into buying us things. I still have the porcelain doll that she bought for me at Cowley's drugstore/Ace.

Thanks Grandma. I sure have benefited from being one of your grandchildren.

Easter

Our Easter Weekend got off to a great start at the community egg hunt. You couldn't have asked for better weather, it was beautiful. It should come as no surprise that Hudson would only pick up green eggs to put in his green bucket. We were just thrilled that he actually wanted to participate. Sissy was rearin' to go, but I had to retain her until the siren sounded. And then, she only made it to one egg before rest of them disappeared in the swarm of toddlers. Rest of the day was spent working in our yard.
Miss Dalanie got a frilly little dress and Hudson was just happy I let him wear his green tie. Here's the updo Sissy sported. (Pillaging through her Easter basket was a great way to keep her entertained and keep her still.) I'm posting a picture because I'm not so sure we'll ever be successful again.