Santa Claus Came to Town

We went to the local tree lighting ceremony and chili contest and waited for Santa's arrival. For the first time in Brother's life, he wanted to sit on Santa's lap. The line was long and didn't move very fast, but he happily endured the hour wait in the cold in order to take his turn with the Jolly Old Man.

When we left our home, we hadn't intended on going, so we were all under dressed. I pulled blankets out of the trunk to wrap my children in. I was afraid someone was going to bring us "Coats for Kids" But we managed to keep warm during the wait.

Brother only changed his mind once during the wait. When he finally got to Santa he told him that he wanted a firetruck. When Santa asked if there was anything else, he told him a dinosaur like he originally wanted.

This morning Brother came up bright and early wondering if Santa had brought the firetruck. I think Christmas is going to be fun with the kids getting older.

Giving Thanks

(My Dad's Turkeys that he's been raising for the big day.)

With Thanksgiving falling on my MIL's birthday, we decided to host the family dinner at our home. The day before, Brent and I spent the entire day working on projects that have been a bit neglected. I finally have all of my windows trimmed out, baseboard up, and molding around most of my doors. Not to mention, the prints that Brent got me last year for Christmas finally have found homes in some frames, and are hanging on the walls. There's nothing like company to give you a little motivation.

At noon on Thanksgiving the company arrived, loaded with all sorts of food. We started with appetizers and had a special tribute to Grandma Hillman, with everyone sharing memories of her. Then it was time for dinner and eating and more eating and eating. There was an abundance of food and conversation. I made up some Bakerella Turkey pops and they were a huge hit. (CAL Stores has a great selection of raspberry and tangerine candy corns. It truly is a "Ranch and home store and so much more.") I had to keep them hidden from Sissy, she's a huge fan.It was a wonderful day to reflect on all of my blessings and give thanks.

Catch Up

While Brent went Steelhead fishing last weekend, the kids and I picked up and went to Burley. We crammed a bunch of projects and activities into a few, short days. Some of the highlights included:
-haircuts for the girls
-meeting Grandpa's new puppy
-kids photo shoot with Uncle Troy
-ice cream stop at Gossners
-visit to Grandma Wilkins so Hudson could go and play with Mason while Mom and I went to the Quilt Barn (I designed the logo for this cute little shop)
-lunch at Main Street Burger
-constructing nest boxes, wreath stand, tin snowmen, ladder to hang in my laundry room
-brought 12 chickens home with us
Then we had to move cows from a corn field they had been grazing, back home. Since there was no good way of getting them loaded at the field, we decided to drive them. It was a good old fashioned cattle drive (okay maybe not so old fashioned as there were more 4-wheelers than horses.) I should have packed the kids a lunch since it took us quite a bit longer than I had thought. As time rolled on, they forgot about lunch and both fell asleep.

Whoopie Tye Yai Yo

Yesterday was a perfect day for rounding up. The weather was gorgeous and the fresh air does a body good. The kids and I accompanied Brent. We had gather up the remaining cows and sort off the calves to be weaned. While Dalanie and I primarily rode the Rhino, Hudson took turns with Grandpa and riding Louie with Dad. Cattle are not always fun to be stewards of, but on days like this I'm grateful to be involved.

My Little Texas Tornado

Just the other day I was looking at the kid's bottle of body wash thinking, "this is the first time in awhile that it's lasted this long without being poured into the tub by little helpers." Sissy must have read my mind because when I went to check on her, she had emptied the entire thing into the tub.
This little girl can empty drawers, cupboards, and containers faster than anything I've ever allowed in my house. One morning, by 7:15, she had successfully emptied the couscous onto the floor and spread spaghetti all over the kitchen. I know, I know- child locks. But I refuse to put them on, so I guess I'm stuck cleaning up messes for awhile.

And since we're talking about the Little Lady, I've got to share. She is on pacifier detox. She no longer gets it unless she's in the crib for naptime or bedtime. I've been surprised with her progress and it's fun to see her cut little face instead of the pacifier.
This last picture is very typical of our children. A lot of time the kids and I will eat before Brent makes it home for mealtime. But it doesn't matter if they just finish eating, as soon and Dad gets some food they climb up by him and help by drinking his milk, eating chips, etc. He's come to learn that if he's going to have a snack, he's going to have to share.

Wash Day

How about spicing things up around here by airing some of my dirty laundry. Actually, I would love SHARING my dirty laundry. But since the kids and I just finished folding all of the newly washed clothes, you'll have to wait an hour or two. While I was making piles of clothes, I began to notice a trend. It is a most revealing one since my pile was mostly pajamas and work out clothes.

Aahh. That time of year. Things slow down, the weather forces you inside, and you rarely need to put on real clothes.

Hooked

Since having children, my reading has consisted of lots of rhyming, sing-song stories full of vibrant pictures. I haven't picked up a "grown up" book in so long, I was almost scared that I wouldn't be able to follow the story line without accompanying pictures. My sister suggested These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner since I'd always been into Little House On The Prairie. I had our library hold it for me.

As soon as I began reading, I didn't want to put it down. I finished the first book and learned there were two more in the series. Oh happy day! I ordered them off of Amazon so I could continue my heart wrenching journey with Sarah Agnes Prine. Yesterday I finished the second book and am a bit concerned to start the third. I think my family is feeling neglected.

It feels good to immerse myself in reading again. I'll soon be looking for another good book to read. Any recommendations?

Awesome Resource

When I first learned of the new Nursery Manual, I was so excited. I was in a hurry to obtain a copy for our family. A lot of other people must have shared in my excitement since my first attempt resulted in an empty shelf. But I finally got one and we have put it to use in our Family Home Evenings or "Ham Ev'nings" as Brother affectionately calls them. He would be so happy if every night ended with "Ham Ev'ning.

But my real testimony of this resource has come as Brother leaves Nursery with a good knowledge and understanding of the very doctrine of the Gospel. Just last week he learned the Joseph Smith story and has taught our family and his Grandparents using his little finger puppets. He's also looked through the Friend and found coloring pages of Joseph Smith and the first vision to add to his lesson.

I know this resource, Behold Your Little Ones, will bless families and consequently--the world.

Day To Celebrate

We had a wonderful Halloween. In addition to the fun of the usual festivities, we enjoyed very mild temperatures (I can't remember a Halloween where we didn't have to bundle up,) and the completion of corn harvest! Hooray!!Shiver me timbers, Brother made the best little pirate. And what kind of seafaring matey would be complete with out his woodpecker? Sissy was Halloween's mascot, all dressed in black and orange.

Fall Excitement

There have been plenty of things happening. We are enjoying an exciting fall.

Nice Matters

I've been very impressed with nice people as of late. It makes my heart fill up to know that their are kind and considerate people everywhere.

Take for instance the cashier at Sam's Market. Brother had fallen down and gotten a sliver in his hand at the park while we were roughin' it in Grace. I didn't have anything to get it out, so we went across the street to Sam's. She directed me toward their straight pins, came back to see if my screaming child was ok, and even brought us pain relieving neosporin and a band aid.

I took Sissy into an oral surgeon on Monday to see if/when she'll need a frenectomy. The Dr., bless his heart, consulted us for about 15 minutes. At the end he told his nurse that there would be no charge. Seriously, I thought all doctors slapped you with a $75 bill, regardless of how long or if at all they even saw you. What a nice guy.

This morning my husband informed me that someone was here. We were all scrambling around since we still in our pj's. In a bit of a panic, I looked out the window to see the garbage truck parked in our drive way. "Shoot! Garbage day and I didn't have it out to the road- and it's full." Rather than just pulling in and turning around, as is customary, he came up to our house and took the garbage out so he could dump it into the truck. What a lifesaver. He must know how much I hate it when I miss pick up and have to suffer with an overflowing garbage for an entire week.

All this nice people talk has got me feeling a bit guilty. I guess I'd better be a little nicer.

Has someone been nice to you lately? Leave me a comment.

Halloween Preview

Today was the Joy School Halloween parade. I asked Brother if he was excited to go to the party and he said, "It's not a party, it's just Joy School." So either Joy School is always a party or he didn't think he'd have fun since it was "school."It seems as though he might share my same excitement in dressing up. Last night we finalized that he was going to be a pirate. I found a flour sack dish towel in my closet and went to work creating him a little pirate shirt. We made shiny buckles for his shoes and a red sash to round out his other pirate accessories. He was so excited and could hardly talk.
Since I had my sewing machine out, I decided to try another skirt for Sissy since the last one ended up as a mini skirt. Much better results this time. It's amazing what a little measuring can do. Then I decided a little Halloween tutu could be fun. I sifted through my resources and found enough goods to bring my thought to life.

And of course, I can't resist an opportunity to get dressed up. I found my striped tights and witch hat. Good thing Halloween is still a week and a half away, more dressing up for all of us!

Having a Hay Day

The kids and I made a day out of taking Brent lunch in order to enjoy the beautiful weather. They were cutting and chopping hay out by the river. It is such a pretty field. We saw lots of deer tracks, two dozen wild turkeys, and the changing leaves. The kids and I ran the swather while Brent moved the handlines. It was no small feat getting the machine to run with Sissy on my lap, let alone driving in a straight line. We didn't get fired, so it must have been a pretty decent job.

Joy of Joy School

This past week, we had Joy School at our house. Brother was so excited to have all of his friends come to his house. We learned where food comes from. The first day focused on seeds and plants and the second day highlighted the products we get from animals.

We picked apples from our tree, made applesauce, and learned the letter A.On Thursday we read The Little Red Hen, made bread, "milked" a cow, and turned butter. I filled up some latex gloves with water, made holes in the tips of the fingers and let the kids "milk" into a pail. They loved it and waited in line to milk for a 2nd and 3rd time.

I had a lot of fun putting the lessons together and can't wait for our next time to host Joy School.

**There are supplemental cd's with songs that have cute little songs that correspond with the lessons. It is fun to see the kids learn the new songs and sing them throughout the day at random. I am amazed at all the things Brother is learning.

This Wanda's Review

Last night my friend, Stacey, and I hosted the Wanda Witch Party. After weeks of lying and hours of planning and preparation, the event finally happened. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Most of the evening we didn't even need a jacket.

Brent and I arrived at the appointed meeting place and our team captains found us. Our first clue was written in code. It took awhile for my team to figure it out, but then we were off. The hunt took us to:
a cemetery flagpole where the clue had been hoisted to the top and hidden in a peanut M&M
Movie Gallery to find Hocus Pocus and retrieve our clue from the clerk
deserted house where our clue was hidden under a rock
cornfield where we had to walk into the 3rd pivot tower
pond where the clues were floating and lit up with glowsticks (tied to the bank with fishing line)
obstacle course mailbox
Our House

Looking back hindsight:
Everyone seemed to enjoy the party. I hope people had fun. It was a good chance to meet new people and extend our circle of friends outside our ward group.
Once teams arrived, there was a buzz talking about their adventures.
There was an hour and 35 minutes difference in arrival times between the first and last teams which really surprised me.
Most of the teams relied one or two of their emergency clues.
The clue hidden in the M&M really stumped people and caused the most problems- funny.
Of course, there is a big list of people we wish we could have invited. Only 10 of the 30 invited couples which was a little disappointing. But by time we sent out the invite and follow-up postcard, there just wasn't time to extend the invitation to more (perhaps more willing) people.
Everyone suspected me from the get go. . . which tells me one thing: other people need to start throwing parties of their own ;)
I thought MeckMom's projected budget was way out there, but it the end- it end up costing a bit more than I anticipated by time you accounted for postage and refreshments.
Everyone was talking about "next year's" party. . . hmmm. Maybe in a year when I forget all the frustrating hours of neglecting my children so I could work on clues I'll be more tempted.
It was a lot of fun watching the evening unfold mostly as we expected. I was relieved I didn't botch up any clue order or emergency clues.
Definitely one of my favorite parties. It's an experience all of it's own.

Not Any Too Soon

Saturday brought a close to our corn chopping season. It wasn't any too soon since snow was beginning to fly. The chopping season spanned 90 degree days and snow. Quite the weather spectrum.Our farming season is anything but over, so hopefully the weather will cooperate and let us get the high moisture corn combined, hay chopped, and ground worked.

Grace

We spent the last week down in Grace chopping corn, which is to blame for my blogging absence. It it always a change of pace and scenery for us to make the 1.5 hour drive with my in-laws camping trailer in tow. The kids and I set up "camp" and busy ourselves with feeding the crew of six, running parts, and checking out the local attractions.I was especially surprised to find that the water lines had all froze and broke, so long running water. (Someone got in big trouble for not winterizing it properly.) And Monday night I went to bake some lasagna and the stove didn't work. uugghh!

We tried to make the best of things. The kids and I would have to haul water. We became little pioneers in our own right (which was fitting since the valley was settled by early Mormon pioneers.) I washed potatoes in the headlights with a garden hose and heated water on the stove to "wash" my children. Some meals adapted so we could fix them on the stove top skillet. My skillet apple crisp got rave reviews.

The job took a day longer than expected, so we rationed food and fed leftover. Finally at midnight on Thursday, we rolled back into town. I used the bathroom and washed my hands with warm, running water! I have never felt so spoiled in all my life. My home seems like a mansion and my kitchen is such a dream to use (with working appliances and all.) As for the modern day comforts that I take for granted, I'd have to agree: Absence makes the heart grow stronger.

I've added some pictures of the photo shoot in front of buildings on an old homestead.

Peaches and Pears

My dad had a bumper crop of peaches and pears. His poor peach tree was breaking limbs trying to carry all of the weight. The kids enjoyed helping me pick. . . the first bushel. Finally after filling all the baskets, I decided I'd better go in. On the way to the house I was met by Hudson who scolded "no more!"

It took the majority of the day to get the fruit sealed up in bottles. I'm used to canning by myself, but an undertaking of this magnitude was greatly aided by some good company. Read Deidra's account of our funny story. It was time well spent.

Cheap Fun

I picked up a few Halloween accessories at the dollar store. The kids have been having so much fun with them. I'm pretty sure they'll be broken or worn out by Halloween, but oh well.

In other news, corn harvest continues. I never would have thought that not being "needed" as a truck driver would be hard. Having two kids in the truck would be insane and well. . . dangerous (although I've done it before.) I have to keep reminding myself that it's a good thing that we've finally gotten enough help. Some days I just really miss feeling a part of all the harvest hustle. In the meantime, the kids and I will keep delivering food to the crews and try to feel needed.

Magic

We've got a little Houdini at our house.

He performs on a regular basis. And everyone enjoys the show.

Yesterday he waved his wand over Sissy while saying "disappear!" If only problems were that easy to get rid of.