LIFE

Writing. It really isn't that difficult, is it? I find myself writing to my friends, family, and children, but I rarely take time to document LIFE. What really is there to say outside of the "normal"?

Take, for instance, our daily routine(or in my case-the lack of a daily routine). It consists of waking up, making breakfast for the boys and myself, then school at home. By the time lunch and school is done, Randy comes home and the boys flock to him each day like a chicken to scratch! The joy that erupts from them when they spend time with their father is a wonderful thing to observe. As I type, my heart is overflowing with how amazing my husband is with our sons.

But, I digress...

We hang out at the house, talk about our day, we make dinner, the kids go to bed, and we head to bed as well. We repeat the same thing day after day and it is strangely comforting.

So what has changed since my last entry?

The boys are growing and learning. Our oldest is 8, our youngest just turned 6 last month. They wrestle, argue, play, learn, and laugh together. They truly are best friends.

Randy is still working hard. He is not looking forward to the winter weather, but he will get over it. (I hope!)

The garden has come and gone. It was as fruitful as I was diligent. (Note to self... more diligence is needed for next year!)

There have been changes in our flock size. At the height of our somewhat temporary insanity, we had 24 birds. There were 4 Turkeys, 2 guineas, and 18 chickens. Currently we have 17 chickens total. We recently butchered 3 of the turkeys (one passed away before freezer camp day). The guineas were sold this summer to a local family. They were just too loud for our liking. The neighbor's dog (who unfortunately has uncooperative and indifferent owners) had his way with a few of the chickens over the last few months. However, we allowed 2 of the hens to hatch out babies. They (Clementine and E.D.) were born in August, and they are little stinkers! We also had replaced a few of the birds earlier in the year when we got the other fowl.

I have been, overall, pretty good. September was a tough month, as both of my paternal grandparents passed away within 4 days of each other. A trip back to be with family was bittersweet.

I have also been learning more with/about photography, and that is a nice respite. I am hoping to keep learning and getting out there and shooting. It excites me!

There have been ups and downs, but overall, LIFE truly is good. There are so many people out there that have things worse than us. Of course, other things have happened in our small world, but they are nothing compared to other people's worlds. I can only pray that they will one day know what "this" feels like.

MIA

It's late. And that is my problem! I think of writing on here when it's late, and then I don't want to, because it turns into a big deal! So, I thought I would at least catch up with what has been going on.

I have been busy. Busy chasing chickens. Busy planning a garden. All of this and taking care of the family.

First, the Family. They are all amazing, and they are doing well. My husband's job is working out well, and though it has been cold, he has been battling old man winter without too many complaints! We have also been able to spend precious time with the In-Loves, and the boys enjoy getting to see their grandparents!

Then we have the chickens. We got 7 6-month-old pullets at the end of October. They have adjusted well to living here, and enjoyed getting grasshopper treats from the boys, who were designated grasshopper hunters. They had plenty of things to do and places to go, but they don't have full access to all of the yard...yet. Actually, I will be keeping them toward the south of the house, since I will be putting in a garden and I don't want them bumming around, digging up and eating my seedlings. Now that it has been cold, they have been more confined, but they still go out bummin' through the snow, looking for something to peck at.

Then, right before Thanksgiving, a friend of mine told me about a craigslist ad with some babies for sale. I called regarding the ad and ended up getting some baby chicks! They were 2 weeks old when I picked them up. Then, a few weeks later, I got a call from the man I got the babies from and he wanted to know if I wanted 4 more. He was moving and wasn't able to keep the ones he had. So here I am with 9 babies! They are about 2 months old right now, and they live with the big girls, but in a separate side. They do mingle when they go outside, but, again, the cold has been hindering their playtime outside. They seem to get along pretty well when they are all together. (I had a cute little picture of our *surprise* rooster, but it won't load!)

And then there is, The Garden.



This was from my last garden-2 years ago this spring. I miss digging in and getting my hands dirty. Not to mention how wonderful it feels to know that I can use my time and energy toward providing good, healthy food for my family.

So, I have been planning a garden. And, with permission from my husband, he said, "Whatever makes you happy."

He has been so loving and supportive with my crazy ideas, so I hope to provide him with some delicious food, and be able to teach the boys how to help the ground produce food!

So, really, that is a majority of what I have been up to. There is so much more to say, but it is late, and I must get to bed.

I am Going to Explode!

We are in Montana.

We are in the house.

Randy has a good job.

We have been able to spend precious time with the In-Loves.

And I am getting CHICKENS!

I am so excited, I can barely contain myself.

During the process of moving, I had to double check the ordinances in the area. Fortunately for me, we are outside the city limits!

So, now that we are in the house and Randy is gainfully employed, I have been working on getting a shed converted into a coop. I am almost finished, and I am hoping to get 4-6 pullets (young hens) within a week. My goal is to have 12 hens.

Randy wants nothing to do with them, but he has been very helpful with some of the conversion work. (Don't tell anyone I said that.)

The goal for these hens is for me to "oversee" the operations, and the boys will be business owners. I will buy my eggs from them, and they have to pay for the expenses, and pay off any start-up costs. Of course, I will do most of the work, but I really want them to know what it is like to earn money, run a business (guided by us), and learn all that while having fun with these ladies. They will be involved with the chores, and will be given more responsibility when they show they are capable, and they are both excited.

Tonight they were playing chicken and grasshopper, since they were pumped to find out that CHICKENS love hunting GRASSHOPPERS just as much as they do. :) They just sat on the floor, pretending their hand was a chicken beak and the other one would hold out their finger as a grasshopper...too adorable!

Moving on up...

...to Montana.

The decision was made this week, and we are hoping to be up there by this time next month.

Now, I try not to be a "Debbie-Downer", so here are a few things I am looking forward to:

~A kitchen table. We have been without one for 5 years. Oh, the conversations we have missed.

~My Father and Mother in-love. They will only be an hour away, and it will be nice for the boys (ok, and us too!)to spend some time with them.

~Getting to re-connect with old friends. I miss their laughter.

~Having room for a garden. After having a small garden last year, and no ability to have one this year, I am really wanting to get my garden prepped for next spring!

~Going through the upcoming trials and tribulations with my husband. Now, most people would think... WHAT? Why are you looking forward to that? Well, last year was one of the best years in our marriage, but probably the worst year of our lives together. We grew together because of the trials. I know that the rest of this year will have its own bumps in the road, but I know that we have been preparing for this our whole marriage-especially this past year.

What I am not looking forward to:

~Moving away from my family, friends, and the area. South Dakota has been my home for most of my adult life. It will be hard to say goodbye to them. (But, I will hold back the tears as long as possible!)

~My inability to relax easily in new situations. I have always been a little (ok, A LOT!) uptight. This can me grumpy. Fortunately, Montana also has this to help me relax: It isn't as close as it is here in South Dakota, but it isn't far away: :)



The mountains...They call me. (Usually they call me goofy names, but I won't repeat them here.)

Heebie-Jeebies

I don't think I could handle a bug crawling on my nose.



These two boys are just fascinated by bugs! About 5 or 6 times a day, they come to the door to let me "see" what they caught! (I don't let them bring anything into the house!) Today's catches were a slug, a dragonfly, worms, and potato bugs. And they were only outside in the yard for about 2 hours, since it has been warm out.

Maynard

At this point in his life, if I had to list Maynard's Top Five list of things he loves, they would be (in no particular order):

Food. Actually, this is probably always going to be #1.

Sticks.

Rocks.

His wiener. (Is it this way for all boys?)

Anything in the Animal Kingdom, especially BUGS.

Today, he found this:



He was fascinated for quite some time, until he announced that he wanted to feed it to our turtle, John Denver.

Boys!

Knock, Knock...

Is this thing on?

I haven't blogged in quite some time. I have been spending most of my time with the kids and Randy, now that he is has a job locally. I have enjoyed having him home, and the boys enjoy having another person to express how hungry they are!

I swear those two eat more than anyone I know! And they are never "FULL"!

The boys are both getting big, and now that it is warm, they both spend a majority of their time outside. Willard is all about reptiles and amphibians. He was very sad when Slim died. He probably had a lung infection. He goes looking for garter snakes at any opportunity. Maynard has learned how to ride his bike without training wheels, but he always pedals for a little while, throws his bike down, and looks at bugs.

We enjoyed our trip to Minnesota for Memorial Day weekend. Along with a wedding and Willard's 7th Birthday over the weekend, there was a big potluck on Monday with hoards of children!

Here is a Caterpillar that the kids were looking at during the potluck:

Stepping into the Ring.

*no bloggers were hurt in the making of this post...

I am looking forward to this new year. There are going to be so many changes...many trials...possibly more than there were this past year.

And I am as ready as I can be.

I won't bore you with the details...you probably wouldn't believe me anyhow.

See, I journeyed into 2009 with an open mind...I was turning 30 after all, and I had looked forward to it. It started like any other year of course.

Little did we know-THIS would be our toughest year.


To say 2009 "started off with a bang" is an understatement.


Looking back, we did have many great days and moments. However, with all the trials, it seemed as though we had been airborne for quite a while.


We waited for things to settle down.


But, even after landing, we understood that the trials ahead weren't going to be easy.


From narrow escapes...


...to facing things head-on. (Even if we were a bit intimidated.)


We didn't stop trying...but we eventually got forced out of the ring.

Of all of the things we have learned from this past year, this one seems to rise to the top:

Be thankful to God for what you do have...regardless of the circumstances.

Happy New Year!

*Please forgive the shoddy pictures...they were captured from a video from when the author (yes, that really is me flying through the air) was 18, young, and possibly mentally incapacitated. However...IT WAS A RUSH!

He Who Throws Stones...

...must be a son of ours!

This past week, the boys got to throw some rocks into a small stream. After they got a few good throws in, I grabbed my camera.


I asked Willard to look at me, so I could take his picture, but he was SO EXCITED that...

He.
just.
couldn't.
take.
his.
eyes.
off.
the.
next.
rock...

Here is Maynard. He was a stone throwin' fool. And he had to pee. Imagine the torment he had to go through...hold my wiener...throw a stone...hold my wiener...throw a stone...

He eventually peed on a small sapling.


Randy was "down shop" chopping wood and spending time with his Dad, and he had no desire to be stuck in a truck with me-the crabby ol' wench. I sure have been crabby these last few days! So, I asked my Mother-in-Love to come with the boys and I into the mountains while we were up for Thanksgiving. She was so patient with me!

These two shots were taken in Hannan Gulch, in the Rocky Mountains. I put more "artsy-type" (as Randy would call them) photos from the week on my Photography Blog.

A Face Only a Mother Could Love?

I like animals.

I don't consider myself an "Animal Lover", but...I like animals.

Last month was Maynard's 4th Birthday, and that weekend, we took him to Dinosaur park. He just loves going there, and it is also great exercise.

We started up the stairs and I saw something on the stairs. Randy and I were trying to decide if we should pick it up, or if we should let it go...then, the boys noticed we had stopped, and they were all inquisitive. We asked a few people coming down the stairs if they knew of a certain riddle about SNAKES...

Here is the little guy we adopted:


He is a Great Plains Milk Snake, and he is probably less than a year old.

After we got his home all settled in, we talked to the boys about the rhyme:

Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touches black, you're OK Jack.

They both went around telling people about him, saying...Red touches Yella, you're a dead fella!

Look at this face! How adorable!


He is a darling little thing. And honestly, I never knew I would actually ENJOY having a snake as a pet. He is very inquisitive, when the heat lamp is off, and he is very tolerant of the boys. They are allowed to hold him and, honestly, I use it as leverage. If they choose to not listen, they don't get to hold him.

There are some precautions about owning one though...he is a natural escape artist, and even though he can't reach the top of the tank yet, we are going to get some clamps here shortly. We don't want him to get lost in this mess of a house! He also has bacteria on him that could make us sick, so we are very thorough with the hand washing...before and after!

His real name is Jack, but they call him Slim Cooley. (From Ghost Town at Sundown by Mary Pope Osbourne.) His favorite food is crickets (for the moment) and he spends his evenings on long stretches up the glass, that eventually end in a topple over of some sort. His favorite colors are red, black, and light yellow.

Land Ho!

Remember when I commented on how we were raising sailors?

While working on the "s" sound and the "a" sounds today, my son says, matter-of-factly, Hey Mom, "a" (the short sound) and "s" make A**.

Oh dear, what have I done?

They are Definitely Related!

*in my haste, this was actually posted on my other blog...whoops...I moved it here though!

Both the boys are very expressive. Willard uses lots of words and motion, and he can't stand still-it isn't possible. Maynard uses emphasis and big gestures and big eyes.

If you ask Willard what he dreams about, be prepared:

I woke up and I felt the ground shake (shaking his head back and forth)...I looked outside and it was a Tyrannosaurus Rex! But it was a different Tyrannosaurus Rex...it had a sail on his back. And then I went in the basement-we didn't live in this house-and I started to shiver (he shakes) and it wrecked right through the kitchen. In the morning, everyone was killed, except our neighbors (they just moved in, and he is pumped about that), and not Trace (a friend of his). Then I helped everyone build their houses back up.

Then, Maynard comes running out of the bathroom, arms spread out as wide as they can go, eyes big:

We saw a MASSIVE pider! So we TILLED it (slapping hand down), PITD (picked)it up, put it IN THE TOIWET (making a dropping motion), and FWUSHED it down!

Looks Innocent, Right?

Wrong.

We only have 1 bathroom. We have a rule where, if someone is in the bathroom, and you can't hold it...then you can pee outside. This is a rare occasion, but it works...I mean...worked. They are supposed to pee next to the garage.

Earlier, Willard was going poop. Maynard went in there and told him he had to pee. I overheard and told him to go pee outside. He gets his shoes on, and walks to the door. The door opens. It stays open. Closing doors isn't common around here, and it seems around 30 times a day I have to bark at someone about shutting the door. I glance up and bark...Shut the door!

Then I hear liquid. On concrete.

After a second, I realized he was peeing on the sidewalk. I hopped up to find him standing in the doorway of our back door, peeing. My camera was laying on the counter, and I snapped two pics.



I asked him why he didn't go out next to the garage. He said, "It's too hot out 'dere."



At least he missed the Welcome Mat!

Grasshoppers

They are EVERYWHERE!

I don't really like them, either. I know they have their place, but, I prefer that place to be far away from me! I scream like a little girl when they land on me too.

Have you ever tried to walk with two boys down a sidewalk FILLED with grasshoppers? Let me tell you...it takes forever. But it is so darn cute when they "spook" them and they jump up and scare the pants off the boys....they yell out a squeal, then giggle, then find the next one. Unfortunately, they have also become, how shall I put this..."less than benevolent" toward them, so inevitably, I have to grab their hands and guide them and keep saying "keep away from the grasshoppers!"

Have you tried to walk past a flower garden with grasshoppers EVERYWHERE:



(insert shiver here)

Why do they look at me like that?

Although, I have figured out a way for all these critters to be kept under control.

I know that there are many chicken farmers that keep their chickens locked up (not so much around here, but...go with me on this)...why not let the little birdies go free range for a while and plump-them-up the good old fashioned way!? Maybe even get movable fences to protect them from predators...Just a thought. Fresh air and exercise + grasshopper population decreasing = Win/Win Situation!

One Tough Cookie

Maynard is a climber. Before he turned two, he was climbing up obstacles at the park. He is no stranger to falling, bumping, and tripping. He is also the younger brother, so he gets his fair share of "tough love" from Willard.

Knowing this inherited trait would manifest itself in many ways, when we decided to get "bunk" beds for the boys, we knew that the tall ones just wouldn't work. We opted for the loft-style, where the top bunk is less than 5 feet off the floor.

Willard sleeps on the top bunk. Maynard sleeps on a mattress underneath, since he is always moving-even in his sleep! Many mornings we (I use this term loosely, since, well, I sure like my sleep!) have found him sprawled out in the middle of the floor, snoozing away.

Maynard is also very stubborn. He has to be the one who decides what is going to occur in his little world. Something as simple as, do you want the green bowl or the yellow bowl has turned into a nightmare, so, I just set out a couple and have him pick without saying a word...I've got to pick my battles!

He has been asked not to go on the top bunk, but being the strong-willed boy he is, he is determined to be up there. He manages to bring all sorts of toys, sticks, blankets, up there too. And shoes.

Before he went to bed last night, a crash is heard from the other room. Not just a thud sort of crash, but a ting-tang, walla-walla-bing-bang crash. It sounded as if he bounced back and forth between the wall, the door, the ladder, and the floor.

I rushed to their room, almost before all his limbs were on the floor. He is behind their closed door, so I had to push him over to get in. I hunched down by him and he just laid there screaming. I asked him to lay still and show me where it hurt. He pointed to his forehead, and then crawled into my lap, and slowly, his crying slowed. I sat quietly, and rocked him for a couple minutes. Then he whimpered, "Tan you pwease det me oudda here?"

I picked us up, and went to the living room. I sat on the couch, and he, still in my lap, nestled up to me and peered into my eyes.

All the emotions and memories of him as a young child came flooding back to me-instantly. We had cuddled hundreds of times before last night, but because he is a ball of energy, the cuddles are but moments, wriggly, loud moments.

Still and Quiet, (two words I don't think I have ever used to describe him) he laid there, looking at me.

I asked him if his fall scared him. He nodded, still peering. I said, "You must have been really scared." He nodded again.

He kept looking. Then I realized something.

He trusted me.

This little boy, who earlier in the day, told me he hated me cause I wouldn't make him some toast before dinner, trusted me...The mother who makes him brush his teeth. The mother who isn't a big fan of mud or mud puddles.

I haven't felt that "feeling" in over 2 years. I stopped nursing him almost 2 years ago, and I guess I forgot what that feeling was like--the one where they look to you as their only sense of hope in their lives.

We stared at each other, quiet and still, for a couple more minutes. I kept an eye on his forehead for a mark, and his eyes...were they dilating correctly? Slowly, his gaze shifted from my eyes to my neck. He started asking what "dis" was, as he pulled on my neck, and "what's dis?" as he poked my collar bone. Although, I felt 10 years older, I proceeded to tell him why my neck is the way it is.

Now that he is ready to talk I asked him, "Are you going to be okay?"

He sorta whined and said, "Yeah."

I said, "You know, you are one tough cookie."

He groaned, almost like he was giving in to a repeated demand..."OHHHHHTAAAAAY, I'll haf a tootie." (Said like cookie, but with the "t" sound.)

I chuckled a bit, partially because he thought I actually offered him a cookie. (Which is another reason why he hates me, since I don't feed him a constant supply of tooties, especially right before bed!), but mostly because of the tone of his voice.

I then tried to explain what the phrase "tough cookie" meant. I think he really tried to understand, especially when I likened it to when you drop a cookie and it doesn't break. Fortunately, he wasn't all that bummed about not getting this cookie, probably cause he wasn't in the mood to say, BUT MOooOOOmmMMMM...

And as fast as he fell, he sat up, kissed me on the cheek (complete with smooch sound!), and jumped off my lap and went about his night.

He sure is one tough cookie.

I wonder what he will get for Christmas?

Willard has been playing and wiggling this his loose tooth for a couple weeks now...to the point where it sorta creeped me out...as if it were going to land on me one day while he was talking. (And I am not even afraid of teeth!)

He lost it on Friday Afternoon:


He sure looks cute, and he has a little lisp now too! I am surprised I even got him to smile and stay still long enough to take his picture! We were at the park.

So, after it came out, Willard started talking about the Tooth Fairy. I am sure that somewhere in the last few months he heard about "her", because this is the first tooth that he has mentioned her.

Now, we are the crushers of all things magical. No Santa Claus here people!

So, we told him the truth, and he wanted to argue with us about it.

I was half tempted to let him sleep with it under his pillow for a few days to see if she would have showed up.

But after discussing it, he seemed OK with it, since, well, he was getting a dollar, instead of some measly quarter from a fake fairy.

Mom = 1
Tooth Fairy = 0

Raising Sailors...

After commenting about this on another blog, I thought I would post this here, since it is quite comical.



We try hard not to curse in front of the boys. We are not perfect parents, and it happens. In fact, the more we tell ourselves to stop cursing, the more we do it. The general rule for the boys is, if you are going to say "those" words, you can say them in their room so we cannot hear them.

The other day, Willard and Maynard were cleaning their room. I got the vacuum out for them and Willard did half the room, and Maynard was vacuuming the other half. There was a backpack on the floor, and Maynard asked Willard to..."move that son-of-a-B*#^%".

We were sitting in the living room, looked at each other and just giggled. He was, indeed, in his room. (Although, he was yelling because the vacuum was loud.)

Then we told ourselves we NEED to stop swearing, etc...but the vicious circle continues!

Dinner Conversations

Maynard has been trying really hard to integrate into adult conversations. He manages to come up with some clever ideas and thoughts.

Tonight's Observation: The Ceiling Fan

"That fan goes around just like a tornado. But, its not a tornado, its a fan."

And P...

Listening to Maynard sing the alphabet..."ABCDEFG, HIJK(tay) LMNO and P, QRS, TUV, WX(ets), Y and Z. Now I know my ABCs, next time wont you sing with me?...beep beep."

Willard tells a story.

Our oldest son has been making up some crazy stories...He will be the PERFECT fisherman!

Here is one from tonight, during dinner:

Back when we were in Montana, near Spearfish, I saw lightning hit a house, and inside were 3 kids, Carlin (cause he likes cars, so car...and lin...cause that is what his nickname is), Junior, and Picky (cause he likes to pick things off trees)...There were 20 people in the town. The kids hid underneath the table, and they had cuts and scratches that were made by the nails under the table and they came out ok...no one was injured in the whole town.

And there was this little boy named Sarah, and he was 2 and he lost his family at the store, because they were startled from the thunder...He lived in a house that was green with a blue roof. After the storm, he saw a police. The police saw him sad, and brought him home.

The neighbors had four kids. Nick, Jason, Marlin Junior, and Salty (cause he likes to eat salt for breakfast.). Then, when they woke up, it was nice and quiet, then they hear (he makes a siren sound). The police station had a siren that goes around in different directions...They look out their window...it was an F5 tornado...it kept getting closer and closer and closer and then it smashed through the basement and through their house, but they were in the closet...When they woke up, the whole neighborhood was beestroyed, and there was still debris falling from the sky, and the flood was still running fast, and they had 16 trampolines to pick from. And they had a big house with 3 bathrooms. After 16 days, they were going to move to Rapid City.



So, after Willard tells his story, Maynard has to tell one:

(A recap of Willard's story:)
I saw a human in a store, and I saw somebody lost, and then there was a police. He took him to his home...it was a long story.

One time he wanted to go swimming with fish, and he saw a fish jump up. And he had a long fish, and it jumped up, and he throwed it over there, and he caught it, and he pulled it up, but it was too heavy. But he got it up, but it was bad, and it had sharp teeth! It was a grouper. And he cutted the teeth off...that's funny...then he ate his eyes, then he ate his face, then he cooked him up for his family, then he ate him. Then he wanted to catch a whole bunch.