We came home stinky and tired, but thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Ruby complained about the cows being "too noisy."
Sunday, April 22, 2012
One of Our Favorite Days
We came home stinky and tired, but thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Creative Therapy
I recently heard that there's no better way to break out of a rut than by being creative. And we've definitely needed a detour to the rut we've found ourselves in. Just the rigamarole of homework, bedtimes, and never ending to-do lists of housework, yard work, and work-work. So we put it all on hold to get creative.
There's been an expanding stack of pallets from all of our shipments. And since all kids dream of forts (moms still can too,) the kids and I decided to put one together. Now it's nothing too fancy, but it came together in under two hours from "stuff" we had on hand. Fence posts, weathered plywood signs, and shelving brackets that tied the corners together perfectly.
Hudson was the architect who needed reminded that we only had a limited number of pallets. He helped "shoot grade," and man the shovel to level things out. Dalanie was the worker bee that loved gathering supplies. And Ruby, bless her heart, took a nap during the entire construction so she only got in on the snack at the end.
Brent was rather amused and impressed by our resourcefulness. I reminded him of my father and told him he shouldn't be. After all, I come by it quite naturally. But most of all, the kids and I got to spend time together being creative.
There's been an expanding stack of pallets from all of our shipments. And since all kids dream of forts (moms still can too,) the kids and I decided to put one together. Now it's nothing too fancy, but it came together in under two hours from "stuff" we had on hand. Fence posts, weathered plywood signs, and shelving brackets that tied the corners together perfectly.Hudson was the architect who needed reminded that we only had a limited number of pallets. He helped "shoot grade," and man the shovel to level things out. Dalanie was the worker bee that loved gathering supplies. And Ruby, bless her heart, took a nap during the entire construction so she only got in on the snack at the end.
Brent was rather amused and impressed by our resourcefulness. I reminded him of my father and told him he shouldn't be. After all, I come by it quite naturally. But most of all, the kids and I got to spend time together being creative.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
"Spring Break"
Considering we were out for "spring break" on Monday, we spent our extra long weekend in Burley. It's really quite the joke since we'll be going to school on Friday to make up for it. But anyway, it didn't stop us from having a fun weekend.
Ty and Tameka were there. And in case you haven't heard of Tameka's preschool methods class, check this:
Mom had an egg hunt for the kids. The wind was courtesy of our Idaho spring. 
Ruby with her spy glass.
Ice cream on the counter.
Feeding the horses in the cold.
It was hard to capture Grandpa wrestling a rock chuck at Minidoka dam, but it was quite entertaining.
Grandma's girl.
Grandma has to carry her, dress her, take her potty, fix her hair. You name it, Grandma is the one to do it. Ruby took a little nap on the way home. She woke up and asked for Grandma. The pouty lip came out and crocodile tears streamed down her little cheeks when she realized that Grandma wasn't coming home with us.
Ty and Tameka were there. And in case you haven't heard of Tameka's preschool methods class, check this:
Mom had an egg hunt for the kids. The wind was courtesy of our Idaho spring. 
Ruby with her spy glass.
Ice cream on the counter.
Feeding the horses in the cold.
It was hard to capture Grandpa wrestling a rock chuck at Minidoka dam, but it was quite entertaining.Grandma's girl.
Grandma has to carry her, dress her, take her potty, fix her hair. You name it, Grandma is the one to do it. Ruby took a little nap on the way home. She woke up and asked for Grandma. The pouty lip came out and crocodile tears streamed down her little cheeks when she realized that Grandma wasn't coming home with us.
Face Painting
One of my YW from the Spanish Branch came to babysit for us. She brought her face paint and painted the kids face, as per their requests. Dalanie is really into butterflies, Ruby was a puppy, and Hudson got some palm trees for Colombia-- he's been pretty fascinated with it ever since Brent got back from a Precision Planting trip there.
Oh, and here is a classic Ruby smile these days. Wrinkled nose and all.
Oh, and here is a classic Ruby smile these days. Wrinkled nose and all.
Entertainment Equipment
I have fond memories of shooting down fighter jets on my Grandpa's old swather. My sister, aunt, cousin and I were Maverick and Goose and the Top Gun crew. We played for hours on the old equipment.
Recently my kids have taken a liking to all of the parked machinery around the farm. They have come up with their own version of Wipe Out.
And the long, flatbed trailer makes a great dancing stage.
Recently my kids have taken a liking to all of the parked machinery around the farm. They have come up with their own version of Wipe Out.
And the long, flatbed trailer makes a great dancing stage.
Kung Fu Panda
Ruby dressed up in Dalanie's pj's and was pretending to be Kung Fu Panda. Hudson challenged her in hand to hand combat. They showcased their skill and even wowed us with their acrobatics.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Splish Splash
Welcome Spring! The kids and I have been enjoying the fresh air and being outside. Of course, I enjoying working out in the yard and the kids are so content to play and use their imaginations, especially when cousins are over. They started to complain about it being too hot, so we broke out the popsicles.
And not long after that, they wanted to play in the waterfall. Of course, Hailey was begging to put on her swimsuit. But it didn't take but a couple minutes of them wading to decide that the water was way too cold to swim in. Some rolled up their pants, but Ruby wasn't messing around. She just took hers off.
And when it was time to clean up, they all piled in the tub. We stream lined things and they all held out their hands for shampoo at once and then I made the rounds with the hand shower to rinse it all out.
And not long after that, they wanted to play in the waterfall. Of course, Hailey was begging to put on her swimsuit. But it didn't take but a couple minutes of them wading to decide that the water was way too cold to swim in. Some rolled up their pants, but Ruby wasn't messing around. She just took hers off.
And when it was time to clean up, they all piled in the tub. We stream lined things and they all held out their hands for shampoo at once and then I made the rounds with the hand shower to rinse it all out.
Little Red Riding Tights
I had Ruby already to go when I left to help at the school. Upon my return Brent asks, "What's up with her tights?" holding up this pair of swiss cheese, rather grated, tights. I'm just relieved she took them off before all of the cutting went down.Yep, she's discovering the world of scissor destruction, and pretty darn good at it.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Boyfriend
Brent has someone helping him with Precision Planting. Consequently we occasionally have a guest at lunch and someone working in the garage. Well, this lunch guest has turned into her first crush. She giggles at him and will even blush when he talks to her. So when her friends were here for Joy School she led them to the garage, opened the door and proudly announced that it was her "boyfriend."
Since then we've had a few conversations clarifying candidacy for relationships, and I want to make it quite clear that a married father does not qualify.
Since then we've had a few conversations clarifying candidacy for relationships, and I want to make it quite clear that a married father does not qualify.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Lots of Green, But Little Luck
Hudson got to come up with the treat for a combined birthday party with Evelyn. He wanted chocolate chip and marshmallow frosting. We melted chocolate chips with 1 T butter and whipped in 1 jar of marshmallow creme. It tasted like a 3 Muskateers and he was quite proud of the creation.
He caught Lego fever and hustled to get chores and homework done so he could have every possible minute to play with his newest Legos.
He had some friends over for a party where we built catapults and ate pizza. They enjoyed using tools to assemble their catapults, but the most fun was launching marshmallows and hitting one another. Wow! Boys get rowdy in a hurry.
image via howtowsmile.org
Mom and Dad came for a birthday visit. 
Dalanie found Grandpa's beard to be most disturbing. She would hold his face in her hands and say "I don't like that." We attempted a wrestling tournament but Hudson's nerves got the best of him. Grandpa helped Hudson devise an ingenious leprechaun trap, but in the end he was skunked again. It was a little more difficult this year since Hudson read somewhere that leprechauns are 2 feet tall. He had the yardstick out measuring all possible trapping devices. It sure limited things.
We struck out on a bowling since there was a big state tournament going on, but birthday boy enjoyed his green asphalt pie in true St. Patty's style.
Dalanie found Grandpa's beard to be most disturbing. She would hold his face in her hands and say "I don't like that." We attempted a wrestling tournament but Hudson's nerves got the best of him. Grandpa helped Hudson devise an ingenious leprechaun trap, but in the end he was skunked again. It was a little more difficult this year since Hudson read somewhere that leprechauns are 2 feet tall. He had the yardstick out measuring all possible trapping devices. It sure limited things.
We struck out on a bowling since there was a big state tournament going on, but birthday boy enjoyed his green asphalt pie in true St. Patty's style.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Slacker Mom
I've never been too precise about well visit checks, immunizations, or dentist appointments. They can send friendly postcard reminders and call me on the phone but they don't mean much to me. And I'm certainly not willing to commit to some appointment six months down the road.
It's hard to think I willing want to go and wait around in a waiting room when we don't have a problem. I reserve well visit checks like vacation days at work, figuring that at some point during the winter we'll be seeing the doctor for a nasty bug that has found it's way into our home. But we have been extremely blessed to be healthy. So since we haven't been forced to a doctor by sickness, and kindergarten registration is upon us, I broke down and took the girls the other day.
Who would have thought the doctor visit would have been such a highly anticipated event? They were excited, knowing full well that they were getting shots.
I've also gotten the kids dental visits/work up to snuff too, so we're good to go for awhile. --knock on wood--
This picture makes me laugh. Hudson wanted me to take it of his fat lip at the dentist. Once he looked at it, he was pretty disappointed. "It feels a lot bigger."
It's hard to think I willing want to go and wait around in a waiting room when we don't have a problem. I reserve well visit checks like vacation days at work, figuring that at some point during the winter we'll be seeing the doctor for a nasty bug that has found it's way into our home. But we have been extremely blessed to be healthy. So since we haven't been forced to a doctor by sickness, and kindergarten registration is upon us, I broke down and took the girls the other day.
Who would have thought the doctor visit would have been such a highly anticipated event? They were excited, knowing full well that they were getting shots.I've also gotten the kids dental visits/work up to snuff too, so we're good to go for awhile. --knock on wood--
This picture makes me laugh. Hudson wanted me to take it of his fat lip at the dentist. Once he looked at it, he was pretty disappointed. "It feels a lot bigger."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)