Silage Chopping and Harvest Time

THIS is a much better picture . . . . .

than THIS one :)

The first picture is from this morning, as the guys were going full-speed ahead on silage chopping.

The 2nd picture was from yesterday, when the guys were PLANNING to be going full-speed ahead with silage chopping.

It took them all morning and part of the afternoon to get things ready. They got in the field and BOOM! They broke a bearing straight away. That's farming for you, I guarantee it. Hopefully, they got their break-down done for the rest of the chopping time and I'm praying it's smooth sailing until we get done, which will probably be tomorrow morning.

The guys did get started last night, after 6 pm and went until dark, so they did get started yesterday, just not nearly as soon as they'd had hoped. There's a chance of rain today-mind you, we haven't had rain chances for quite some time-this, by the way is also a phenomenon of farming. Guaranteed if you are getting in the field, there's chances of rain, whether you are in the middle of a drought or not, or if you are picking up irrigation pipe or straw bales, it WILL be the hottest day of the year. I kid you not.

This afternoon, my job will be to provide sandwiches for the guys for lunch. I hope it cools down outside and that the rain holds off until we are done.

It turns out, we will probably be starting harvest in about 2 weeks. Ugh. This means late nights for JJ, my kids will nearly forget what Daddy looks like, quick trips to the fields to take the kids for quick rides with Daddy when possible and MOUNTAINS of sandwiches. Granted 6-8 sandwiches per day isn't that bad, but it does get old after about, oh, 2 days! It could be worse, but it is about 3 weeks of doing lunches nearly daily. This means I need to make a lunch run to York soon for lunch meat, cheese, cookies, etc.

It's definately September-harvest season is just getting started!

A Sad Kitty Tale

It looks to be a less-than stellar start to the week. Yesterday was ok-I had a solo at church, we went to York for dinner at the Iron Skillet, the kids did a little fishing later in the afternoon w/Daddy, etc.

Of course, the kids were a little rambunctious in the truck stop, VERY LOUD in Walmart on a quick stop after dinner, and they weren't really fishing much, just minor nuances of kids. The unpleasantness was IC's yelling at me when things didn't go the way he wanted and Miss A just having another bawl-temper tandrum (those get old).

So, really, yesterday wasn't bad.

And this morning didn't start off bad, either. IC did more yelling, Miss A more bawling, but I got the kids off to school, a few groceries and the cradle roll stuff caught up for church. Just normal life.

AND then, I had to go and screw that up.

I had fed the dog some left over meat from the fridge that was getting green (a sign that it'd been in the fridge just a LITTLE bit too long) and had found a few little pieces of meat from some other leftovers and I stupidly thought I could take those out to the cats for a treat for them.

Unfortunately, the dog figured it out and went in the barn after I'd left and proceeded to kill one of Miss A's kitties over a little bit of scrap. Let's just say, I'm not liking the dog much right now. She WILL be getting the cold shoulder from me for quite sometime.

To make things worse, she killed one of the two females we have and the other female can't seem to keep her kittens alive (she's lost 2 litters this year already).

I'm not crying or mad, but I'm unhappy that I probably caused the whole thing. The hard part will be telling Miss A when she gets home from school. That, of course, was her favorite kitten.

Miss A has been asking to get more kittens, and we will probably have to anyway, or they'll all die out like the last time we had cats a few years ago.

A Few Questions

Why is it -

1) that when the older 2 are awake and supposed to play nice, they don't and fight, but when it's supposed to be lights out at bedtime, they get along great?

2) that as smart as my husband is, he can't seem to wash the food scraps down INTO in the disposer, but instead leaves the food to dry to the sink?

3) that the dog digs in my good flower bed instead of outside of the yard somewhere else?

4) that we can leave a resturant and immediately the kids are claiming that they are hungry again?

Just some great questions in life-they were on my mind, I guess.

The Week in Pictures

Okay, it's ALMOST the whole week, just missed Sunday and Tuesday, but otherwise, it's a full week of pictures.

Monday: The kids coming home on the bus-1 week of school done for IC and 1 day of preschool done for Miss A.

Wednesday: My birthday, btw - the kids played outside, first trying to catch and look at bugs with their little kidde bug kit.

Then, E headed off with Daddy for a ride on the "track" She's such a Daddy's little farm girl.

Then, E had to feed to dog. She nearly fell into the trash can that holds the dog food.

The girls watching Daddy while he worked on the combine. They decided to play with some of his irrigation flags.

IC checking out what Daddy was doing up close.

Thursday: E conked out on the couch directly after dinner, she didn't even remember to get a piece of candy before crashing!

Friday: E was back to "helping" Daddy. She helped gather the buckets for Daddy to use in feeding the feedlot calves.

E watching VERY carefully and even helping to shut the hatch when the bucket was nearly full.

Miss A doing her best "help" by playing in the calf feed.

Saturday: The kids named their soccer team "Purple Thunder" since they are the purple team.

E doing her best impression of the big soccer kids.

Miss A being goalie, which she likes, as it's less running!

IC on the run after the ball, as he does NOT like being goalie, because then he can't run around!

Miss A during a kick-off.

IC kicking it in bounds.

Grandpa K hooking up to an empty silage wagon brought by Grandpa J.

E bunny getting her first silage chopper ride with Grandpa K!

Miss A loves to blow bubbles-she was doing this after her ride w/Grandpa, while E was out in the field.

IC fashioned a slingshot w/a rubber band and was first shooting at pop cans and later, at bubbles.

After that, the kids decided to "bowl" with a rubber ball and pop cans.

IC was a little wild with the ball!

IC was sweet to help E with the ball.

Our first pumpkin!

Soccer and Silage Chopping

Today was game #2 for soccer and we played the team that has the very annoying coach who's all ab0ut winning-Good Grief! We play for FUN, not to win, but she's that way with sports. And, she like, always coaches something-baseball in the summer, soccer in the fall, and I'm pretty sure she coaches something else, but I can't remember what. It's just annoying.

The kids did their best and that's what counts, at least to us, anyway.

This afternoon, the kids got to ride in the chopper with Grandpa K. The older 2 went while E was taking a nap and then she awoke soon enough to get the last round w/PopPop (Grandpa). She was very happy. My dad works for a farm closeby that has a self-propelled chopper, so dad does a lot of hay chopping, silage chopping and general opening fields for people. Since we have a chopper you pull behind the tractor, it's a lot easier to have a self-propel one open the field so that you push over less corn. It looks as if we might start chopping on Monday or so, from what JJ was saying earlier. It will take us about 1 1/2 days to chop enough silage (which is standing corn that is matured, but the stalks are still green yet) for the cows. JJ will be the one in the tractor packing it down in the bunker. I don't watch him, it makes me a little on the nervous-side-it's a long way up that bunker. My FIL will probably run the silage chopper and I don't know if my BIL's himself or his inexperienced hired hand will run the trailers back and forth between the field and the bunker. Should be interesting to see what comes next week.

It was REALLY windy today and the kids had been asking earlier to go to the pool since it's the last weekend for it to be open, but with the wind, it wasn't that horribly hot and the fact that I am done with the pool for the year, was good enough in my mind to say no. Seriously, I am SO glad that thing's last day for this year is tomorrow! Running back and forth between the 2 pools is tiring and I think the kids went to the pool enough for this year.

I will probably hear about it from JJ tonight, but I pulled the nice orange pumpkin off the vine today. I didn't want it to start rotting and it looks very nice by the back door for now-I might put it out front if the weather stays cooler. I did discover about 3 more pumpkins growing, so we are going to have plenty for the kids to carve should the cows not get out and trample them (yes, I am speaking from past experience, although it was honeydew melons instead of pumpkins, but it's the same concept).

Now it's time to get the girls to pick up their mess and IC to get off the Wii and into bed. Hopefully, it will happen without too much of a headache.

Meetings Day

It was actually a day of meetings for me today. First, a meeting w/Miss A's teacher at home, which amounted to not a lot, kinda a formality thing. Tonight, was a meeting for Sunday School teachers at church. It went well, lots of ideas and did some talking to my co-teacher.

In between, I really didn't accomplish much and I really didn't try that hard. After tomorrow's soccer game, maybe I'll try harder.

Or maybe not. :)

New Job

I should be motivated today, but I'm not so much. I actually did some clutter clean up and dusted, and will wait to vacuum until later, but still, here I sit, waiting for the older 2 to come home from school on the bus.

Then, it will be homework and snacks before heading to soccer practice. It's MIGHT even be a decent night tonight, instead of a sweat-fest on the field-YAY!

Doesn't take much to thrill me!

On other notes, I have a new job. It's part-time, as I am going to be a substitute para-educator (AKA: teacher's aide) for the elementary, middle and ESU school. The ESU, by the way, is the TYKE (preschool) and SUCCESS (for handicapped children) programs that are also at the elementary school. Mom is going to be a babysitter when possible, with Rainbow World Daycare as backup for days when she can't help out.

I'm excited. I realize I probably won't get called much, but it will work out really good. I will get to get out some, still be at home a lot to take care of the girls and help on the farm, and hopefully, have a foot in the door should a full-time position come up in the future.

Tomorrow morning, Miss A's teacher is coming to visit our home. Once again, the government stuck their nose in things and decided that the teachers have to do a home visit with all the TYKE children twice a year. As if they aren't busy enough as it is.

Well, the hooligans are home-time to get to work!

It's Wednesday, I think

Well, today's a little different that I'd originally thought. After dropping IC off at school and my job application, I went to the church for what I was thinking was a "quick" trip and we ended up staying for 2 hours!

I even forgot E's shoes because she was sleeping when I carried her out to the car and didn't awaken until I took her out to go in the church. So, I let the girls play in the nursery while I practiced my solo, which got bumped up to this Sunday instead of next week. Then, I headed upstairs to get a box with the cradle roll stuff in it that the former gal left in the S.S. room and for some reason, got motivated to work on the bulletin boards.

The girls did fine until the last 1/2 hour, in which they got bored, but I did get paper on 2 bulletin boards and things cut for the one that I'll be decorating in October in the hallway (each class is taking a month and decorating it).

AFter that, it was race to wash the mud off the car from yesterday and get more strawberries at the grocery store before going home to make Miss A dinner before she went to school.

This afternoon, I got 3/4 of the house cleaned and this evening is the first choir practice for the year.

IC brought home several papers yesterday and 2 things for homework-one math paper and one reading book. Should be interesting what he brings home this afternoon.

A Summary of the Past Few Days

I guess I never really did mention how the "party" was on Sunday for my birthday, mainly because it really wasn't that exciting, I guess. We had pizza and hot wings for supper, and cake and ice cream for dessert. My MIL gave me a devotional-it was nice, and my mom gave me a homemade Amish doll she found in Ohio. I'd been wanting one forever and at almost 35 years old, I finally got one.

Yesterday, mom came in the mid-afternoon so that I could mow the weeds, as it's been too hot for the grass to actually grow. Then, after supper, it was off to town to take Miss A to dance registration (and drag the other 2 along) to get measured. Then, we made a stop at the Pit Stop Cafe for icecream. (We had a gift certificate to use up and I still have $1.34 on it).

Tonight, I had to push the kids out of the house after snack and homework. Miss A I didn't have to push much, but I sure had to for IC. He's difficult to get to go out, as I think he just wants to watch TV, which I don't want him to veg forever in front of the TV, as it won't be long before the days get shorter. I did have to get him to do his homework and today he came home with 4 Scholastic book order pamphlets. Of course, he picks the most expensive thing to get!

It was getting close to time to go in and yep, you guessed it, Bouncing B comes w/her dad. So, the kids got to play out much later than I liked, but oh well. I did get a bunch of weeds pulled and IC got back on his bike, which he'd been neglecting for awhile lately. It was really nice out since we'd had about 2 inches of rain last night (yea! Except of course, for the dog freaking out in the basement since it did thunder pretty good for awhile). E and Miss A got a ride w/Daddy on the 4 wheeler. Of course, B had to inform me that SHE was taking dance at the same place as us. Let's just say it didn't excite me much-there's always the concern for being a taxi driver.

Anyway, tomorrow's another busy day-we'll see what happens next!

Miss A's First Day

Today was Miss A's first day of prek preschool! She's been waiting all month to go and was excited to finally head to school this am and bonus: she got to be the first helper!

An Early Day Visitor

Look what was in my yard this morning when I came back from taking IC to school-ACK! Luckily, JJ wasn't too far away and could help "rid" the yard of this very cute, but fairly menacing overgrown rodent.

Saturday's party and Sunday's Happenings

E and Maci playing with the dog.

One of the few times IC got to play the Wii.

Miss A playing Littlest Pet Shop.

The "babies" of the family getting into the beer cooler. Luckily, it was mostly to lick the ice cubes and put them back in!

The birthday honorees-my dad, my uncle, my cousin, my aunt and my other uncle. 60-50-30-40-50 - all of their ages equal 240, which is the number on the cake!

Last night's party was ok, beautiful house, lots of people, and hot! Appetizers to eat and cake and ice cream for dessert. Children who didn't share w/IC (expected that), Miss A who played by herself until the last 1/2 hour of being there (expected that) and E bunny, who had a blast with Maci and Taryn. Some good things, some not so good. Saw all family from this side (except grandma) of the family-probably won't see them again until maybe Christmas time or afterwards.

It was a busy evening and we got everyone piled into bed after 11 pm. E fell asleep on the way home, but woke up on putting her to bed, so she protested and came down on her own, to sleep on the couch. (I'm praying it's just a phase, as she suddenly hates to sleep in her room now-even for naps). I ended up taking her up to bed around 4 or 5 am, as she was fussing.

Today, we stayed home. I am facing getting this house into shape this week before Miss A's TYKE teacher comes for a home visit on Friday. I was tired, as was everyone else and woke w/a massive headache (and I only drank 1 alcoholic beverage, thanks for asking). After dinner, the kids and JJ played Wii awhile while I did laundry and puttered w/this and that and it doesn't look like I did anything, but my afternoon wasn't sitting around. Except for trying to get E down for a nap, which didn't work, by the way.

I played Wii with the kids a little before pushing them outside for chores and a VERY short fishing trip w/Daddy, as we will be headed shortly to my mom and dad's for pizza for my birthday party. (And yes, the parents-in-laws are invited, against my will, just so you know).

Now it's off to clean up before Daddy gets in and I have to clean up the girls.

Soccer and Birthdays

This morning was IC and Miss A's first soccer game. They did great, with Miss A only getting tired once near the end to the point she wasn't hardly playing, but other than that, it went fine.

The kids were not excited to get up this morning, as we had the early game at 8:30, but they both put their socks, shin guards and shoes on by themselves-all I had to do was tie the shoes. It was definately a first! Now, to get them to tie their own shoes-I'd be home-free. That is, until E bunny plays soccer!

The older 2 are now out playing with Bouncing B, while E bunny is sleeping on the floor. Apparently, getting up this week all week and the heat/humidity/boredom this am was a little much for her, as she conked out in the car before we got home.

This afternoon, we'll be leaving for Lincoln to go to my aunt's "century" birthday party. My dad turned 60 this year, my aunt (who is the host) turned 40, my uncle turned 50, and my cousin turns 30. It's an excuse for my aunt to show off her new house-whatever works, I guess. It will end up my kids playing by themselves, as the other cousins won't play with them much and the men will hide in one room and the women in the other. Most likely, my youngest cousin's wife will be showing off being pregnant and my other aunt will be showing off that she's getting yet another grandchild.

Ah well-they're family, it's not like you can choose them!

Not So Lazy After All

The flower garden-at least I can see the flowers again instead of just the weeds!

Our plentiful harvest of gourds.

The pile of vines now behind the sunflowers.

A good sized pumpkin peeking out from under the vines and leaves.

The big annoyance of gardening-the grasshoppers are starting to invade the garden.

I think I'm going to scream.

IC is watching over my shoulder while I was searching on the computer, my little bit of down time before getting kids to bed. And he's asking questions about every thing I either click on or write and I'm still trying to chill from his little "hissy fit" at the supper table tonight.

You'd have seriously thought he was 2, the way he acted. It's bad enough Miss A had a "whiner fit" earlier and acted like she was 2, both have been worse tonight than the actual 2 year old!

I did actually get some work done outside tonight after I forced IC to go out with the girls. I picked a bunch of gourds and then pulled out most of the vines. I moved my trellis pyramid that JJ made for me into the flower garden again and took out the trash. And it was hot out, even. (I don't like to over-sweat myself, but I did it tonight anyway.)

The weirdest thing I've seen in awhile was seeing a slew of dragonflies flying around the peach tree. In 10 years, I've never seen dragon flies do that or even seen that many in one place. Unfortunately, they were flying so fast I couldn't get a picture.

I did check out the pumpkin plant and one pumpkin is nearly ready to pick, one is turning and one more is getting a good start growing. Not bad for a plant that had the possibility of not living.

We were getting the vines all taken care of and I was thinking about getting the kids in to clean up, when who should show up-yep, Bouncing B. JJ and I weren't really thrilled. And we were really NOT thrilled even more when the BIL turned around after dropping her off and left. Takes either guts or complete stupidity to do that. Luckily for him, he came back after about 10 minutes.

Tomorrow's another full day with the first soccer game and a birthday party in Lincoln. I hope we can sleep in on Sunday!

A Busy Day and Lazy Afternoon

I am COMPLETELY unmotivated this afternoon. Probably has something to do with being gone all day yesterday and working hard this morning.

Yesterday, I dropped IC off at school and the girls off at my mom's and then headed to GI to take stuff to the fair. After some driving around, I found the building I was supposed to go to. BTW, the construction crew have quite a bit of work to do before the fair starts next week.

Anyway, after that, I stopped at Walmart (like, duh!) to get a few things before heading back to York.

BTW, you know you don't have kids along when you can get an ice tea from McDonald's drive thru and a sandwich from Arby's drivethrough and have dinner finished by the time you drive downtown!

I decided to get Miss A a pair of pink cowboy boots, as she's been asking for a couple of years already for a pair-and she loves them! They were originally going to be farm boots, but I think I will have to scrounge up a different pair for the farm so she can show these off in town!

After the western store, I decided to get my hair cut since it hadn't been done in a couple of months and re-adjust my glasses since E had landed on them (they were still on my face at the time).

Then it was home to meet mom with the girls and IC's bus and get stuff and kids ready for soccer practice.

Practice, at least wasn't as hot as last week, still sticky and a tad warm, but not as bad.

Today, I once again, took IC to school and the girls to mom's. Then, I went out to help JJ re-vaccinate calves. Since it was us two, I ran the head gate and vaccinated while he pushed them through.

Then, it was clean up and head to town to go to the foot dr. for a quick visit before getting food for making an appetizer for tomorrow and a sandwich for JJ and I for dinner.

Mom dropped the girls off after 1 pm and I had to work to convince E to take a nap.

Soon, IC will be home from school and so I need to be getting E up from nap. so the only chore I will get done today will be the laundry.

I guess that's better than nothing. Since I have a visit from Miss A's TYKE teacher next Friday, I guess I'd better work harder next week getting the house cleaned and more decluttered. I will have a better chance of getting things done in the afternoons since Miss A will be in school four afternoons next week.

Now, it's off to continue my afternoon's job of doing nothing!

Homework!

Who'd have seriously thought that you have to have homework FOUR days a week in 1st grade. 1st GRADE! Come on, seriously?

Granted, it's not hard (at least, not today) and the teacher did send home a full-page note explaining why there will be math homework 4 days a week, but still.

Apparently, after Kindergarten, the fun's over. Let's just say, I was not prepared for homework. Learn something new everyday.

Not too Exciting

I am currently hearing my youngest say, "backpack!" Guess what the girls are watching?

Yep, it's Dora. What would we do without Dora and Boots?

Yesterday, after IC got home, I let the kids watch a little TV. I figured IC needed a little down time from yesterday and it was still gray like it was thinking of raining some more.

It didn't, so I made him turn the TV off after awhile and convinced him to go out and play. Took a little convincing, but he finally went.

We played a little soccer before Bouncing B showed up in the yard. So the kids played with her, except E, who preferred to follow Daddy. He was working on the leaking cattle tank in the feedlot.

I got a massive amount of weeds pulled out of my north flower garden, then I got a straw bale to help keep the weeds down some more. In between times, I took E on a 4 wheeler ride and pushed her on the swing, as she came back and forth between JJ and I.

Today, I need to get some things ready for tomorrow's trip to Grand Island to take things to the State Fair. The girls are going to mom's, so that they don't have to be drug along, especially since I'm not positive where things are at this year (and I was just getting used to where everything else was at the fairgrounds in Lincoln- now I have to re-learn everything!)

This is the first year it will be in Grand Island and I think we are planning to take all the kids this year to the fair. It's always fun and tiring to go.

Time to work on a little de-cluttering while the girls are still engrossed in Dora and her birthday party!

IC's First Day of School

Happy to head into school, IC's first day of 1st grade!

We FINALLY have rain-yay! It's IC's first day of school and he actually still wanted me to walk in with him to the gym (where the first graders wait until the bell rings). I was happy he still wanted me to go with him, as I realize all too soon that he won't want me to for long!

IC's been looking forward to school for quite some time and when I told him what his daily school schedule is, he was pretty happy-lots of math, spelling time, writing, etc. Everything he likes.

E's already asking where IC is. Currently, the girls are watching cartoons for a little. Waking up this morning to take IC to school is still in the adjusting phase.

I did find out my niece, who was going to go to my old school, is not going there, I'm guessing because they couldn't get bus service to their house. So, now she's going back to the Catholic school in York! So, you can just bet that my BIL will have to go pick her up from school everyday. Sad.

Anyway, we are happily starting school and now, it's time to find the girls something to do to keep from fighting. :)

Open House

IC at his desk, full of school supplies.

IC and his teacher.

Miss A at her coat hook.

Miss A heading to talk to her teacher (in the brown), while E heads the other way to find more toys to play with!

Yesterday was the school's open house. Of course, we started the day "bored". Since there wasn't much going on until the evening, I thought we'd go to the pool, but they weren't open until 4 pm. So, I let the kids play in the water awhile before going in to clean up for open house.

We first went to IC's class room. His class isn't as big this year, only 17 students, but he has a nice big classroom. It's bright and cheery and his desk is currently in the back of the rows. I signed up to help with some of the holiday class parties and Miss A loved the class pet.

Then it was next to Miss A's class. She got to decorate a puzzle piece shaped like a person, get her picture taken, and play for a little. There will be a LOT of students in her class this year. Last year, there were only 9, but it's closer to 15 this year. I didn't count specifically, but there's much more than last year. She will know/recognize about 1/2 of her classmates. She loves her teacher and para and has been with them since she started, so she's completely comfortable with them. She can't wait to go on Monday and she even gets to be helper the first day-she's thrilled and already has picked out her Barbie pony to take for show-n-tell.

The hooligans are growing up so fast!

Rise And Shine!

Well, we are pretty much as ready as we can get for school. The hard part is getting everyone up in the morning. The girls are not early risers and so far, it's been drag them downstairs and then push to get ready. Since the bus will come at an unrealistic hour, I will take IC to school in the morning, which means that the girls will also have to "rise and shine" and be ready. It will be good practice for next year, when all 3 will go to school in the morning.

I am going to work on a new morning schedule for Miss A and may have to put one together for IC, as he's a little rusty yet. But, he did pick out his school clothes for the rest of the week, we went through the menu for the rest of this month and determined what days I need to make lunches, went over possible lunch ideas, and I got Miss A to make her bed (with help) and lay out an outfit for tomorrow.

Yesterday, the kids went out in the afternoon and then JJ took them to our pond to fish awhile. I came out a little later, gave E a ride on the 4 wheeler and casted my fishing line into the weeds more than once. Apparently, I was off my game yesterday, so I decided to call it. E and I headed back to the house and I did some butchering of the climbing roses that I inherited and still don't like. I decided to try a little of mom's recommended solution for getting rid of the thing once and for all-I hope it works. The thing's scraggly and everytime I mow, I get scratched by the thorns. It's time that thing dies.

I also spent awhile pulling weeds while E played in the dirt. I've got a lot more to go, but if I work at it this week, I should get re-caught up (I hope)-there's a lot of ground to cover out here.

I checked Miss A's pumpkin plant-it has produced numerous blooms, but so far, only 1 big pumpkin. Oh well, we are probably lucky the thing even survived to begin with.

The kids did catch 3 fish, but they're really small. JJ didn't take his phone with him, so he brought the kids back later than I would have liked, but he said they were all ready to come back soon after I left and they wanted to practice casting. Since he loves to fish, he didn't feel the need to turn them down!

Tonight is the school open house. I know both kids are looking forward to starting, although Miss A doesn't start until next week. She was asking all last week when it was time for her to go to school. This year, she has afternoon preschool. So, it starts at noon and ends at 3:10. Hopefully, she'll get to ride the school van into school (I haven't heard from them yet, but she still should) and then she'll ride home from school with IC on the bus this semester (when I don't have to pick them up) since they'll be first off the bus.

Anyway, there's never a dull moment around here-keeps me out of trouble, I guess!

Bloody Noses and Fair Entries

We had another 1st today.

Miss A and E were playing in the nursery and apparently E fell down hard, with her sippy cup and jammed the straw up her nose, causing it to bleed and cut herself right below her lip, about a 1/2 centimeter long. That's not long, but it just looks big. Poor girl!

She had the babysitter covered in blood by the time I got there. Understandably, she's a little cranky this afternoon.

We did go out to eat today, regardless, as she was recovered enough to want to go to Pizza Hut. "I wuvvv Pizza Hut!" Pretty cute.

JJ's a little cranky, too, this afternoon.

I just got the last of our state fair entries done online, so now we are set for the State Fair. I have to take everything up on Thursday, but the hard part's done for now. IC has the most entries. I just don't have a tremendous amount to enter. The pictures just aren't that impressive in my opinion.

Next year, I hope I have some better pictures and hopefully, a real drawing and painting to take. (I'm thinking very positive right now!)

The hard part of all of this may be finding the correct building(s) on entry day. I ran off a map that the fair has of the fairgrounds but here's the funny part:the building names on it don't match the building names listed in the entry books for the places to go. Go figure. Hopefully, there will either be enough of a crowd to follow or I will accidently find someone who accidently knows where to go! Ha

Now, to label the photos we are taking so that I don't have to do that during entry time on Thursday.

Farm Hand for the Day

Ok, today was not exactly what I thought it would be.

First, mom called first thing and wanted to know if I wanted to bring the kids over for the day.

Um, heck, yeah!

I'm thrilled she wanted to have them over before school started.

So, I got them ready and took them over. On my way home, I called JJ because he'd said he wanted to move cows back to the pasture today and since his parents are gone on another bank trip, I offered to help.

By the way, I LIKE to help on the farm. This is important to remember.

So, I got home and changed into appropriate attire-it doesn't work well to run in the cattle lot in tennis shoes and shorts-and headed out.

The cows did well, no major runaways or balking and we then went to get the dually truck (it's the only truck in our yard that can pull the trailer).

And here's where the fun disapated some.

It didn't want to start. So, JJ tried jumping it, which didn't do the trick. Then, he messed with the distributor cap. Then he pulled a distributor wire out of the engine and promptly broke the plug.

Well, this meant a trip to town to get parts. By the time we got home, it was 11:30. So, we went back to work and then JJ broke the roter (not sure what that is). This meant a 2nd trip into town to the parts store, which we were able to call before they closed and get the part set out for us.

So, we got the part, picked up Subways for dinner (right across from the parts store) and then went downtown to pick up my In-laws' car and take it to their house since they will be gone for the week (aren't we nice children?)

Back home to eat before trying to fix the truck. JJ went out before I did, as I was searching Ebay for IC's Halloween costume-he thinks he wants to be Darth Vader. I heard the dually get revved up. This, by the way, is a rather unmistakable sound-let's just say, it's a tad bit on the loud side.

So, I thought we were finally ready to take cows out. JJ was finishing up when Phil (my BIL's weekend help today-they were gone for the weekend) came by. He's going to school for car body work but has already a degree in auto mechanics and so they were talking.

And talking. And talking. You'd think they were gossiping or something. Actually, it was more like BS and I got tired of waiting, so I went to care for the cats and fill my bird water, etc. After they got done, we started loading the cows. Four trips total-not bad and except for one pain in the rear cow, fairly uneventful. No one escaped, though, of the bovine variety.

Of the canine variety, well, that's another story. Apparently, during load #3, JJ and Sasha apparently heard something like gunshots (it was faint, I didn't hear them), but of course, the dog started freaking some and tried to follow us as we were leaving the yard loaded with cows. She followed us a little and then we thought she'd turn back home.

Not quite. She decided to run to the neighbors, who called us when we were nearly home, so we swung by and picked her up. And put her in the basement for awhile.

After we were done with the cows, we sorted through the calves to run one in that had a fairly nasty wheeze going on. Between illness and running the thing around, her temp was 106.9-this is not good, normal temp for cattle is 101. So, we loaded her with several things-she'll either be dead or better by Monday, and put her back with the rest.

Then, I headed in, cleaned up and hurried to mom's for the kids. I talked to her a little before she offered to feed us.

I rarely turn down a free meal that I don't have to make.

We got home around 7:30, and JJ was in already. This was nice for the kids, they haven't seen him much all week. They played a little Wii and then I pushed them to bed. They aren't asleep yet, as I can hear them upstairs, but at least, they are up there.

Really, today didn't go too bad. And yes, it was fairly warm all day, though not as hot as it had been all week. Thank goodness. It was still hot enough I sweat all day-not my most favorite thing about the outdoors, but ah well.

My hubby actually thanked me for helping him, although he could have done most of it himself, though there are times when it's "boring" when he's alone. It was nice to be appreciated and to be back in my animal world again instead of kid world today.

To Lie or Not to Lie

I'm so hoping this is a stage, but my two older kids are really into lying to me this past week. I have always stressed the importance of telling the truth.

And now this. What in the world do I do about it? I don't have a clue. It was bad enough the kids have been fighting all week. Both of the older 2 REALLY are ready to go to school, but good grief! I've never seen this before.

I remember being untruthful only a couple of times in my life as a kid, so I really don't know what to do about it.

Sad to say, Miss A tells me she's not lying about something and IC says she is. Sigh.

I did put him on the mat today for blatently lying to me, as I saw him do what he said he didn't, but I don't really think that punished him much. Although, I did tell him, if he continued to lie to me, I would add on to his chore list-hopefully, that will help.

Today, we did accomplish something this morning. The only morning we accomplished ANYTHING this week-we got the house clean. Whoo Hoo! Mind you, this used to not be a big deal for me, but in the past year, it's been a struggle. I put the kids to work, so that little bit helped a lot. A very good reason to keep them doing some house cleaning chores, I think.

AFter dinner, we went again to the pool, and after 1 1/2 hrs, I'd had enough. E is doing great in her life jacket, doggy paddling, jumping into the pool without me holding her hands and this week, she's started dunking her head in the water for a second. She's very happy. She also drives me nuts, running back and forth between the big pool and the baby pool. Makes me VERY tired.

We ran a few errands after the pool and of course, E decided to run a little free in the grocery store during checkout, but no one was lost, so that was good. She also went a little rouge with the cart and ran into a shelf, knocking over several jars of mayonnaise. Luckily, they were plastic bottles.

After we got home, the kids played in the yard while I put groceries away. They started with water guns, but somewhere along the way, started playing in the dirt. So, they were fairly filthy when I got out there to cut IC's hair, which SO needed to be done! Unfortunately, the clippers are on the fritz, and it took WAY longer than necessary to get the job done, but it's done for now, I guess. I will try to remember to re-evaluate before school pics!

I had hoped this summer to work with the kids with their "lessons" and do more art since they don't have art at school, but after those first couple of weeks, we didn't have a lot of time to do things and the past couple of weeks, IC's been very resistant to it.

So, I didn't get to accomplish a lot, but we did do some and actually, IC's pursuing an interest in drawing right now. The past week or so, he's been tracing a LOT. I got a pad of tracing paper and he's been tracing like crazy. He's a tad on the tendency to be a perfectionist when he draws (he definately inherited that from me), and was so hard on himself. So, then he started tracing. Hopefully, he'll eventually work toward drawing without tracing and not be so hard on himself. I'm just glad he has an interest in art.

Now, if I could get him to be interested in telling the truth!

Kids NEED school, I NEED a nap!

Well, I'm tired. It's amazing how I can get nothing done with 3 kids around-especially today, which I totally gave up on.

The kids were awful-fighting, crying, screaming, etc. You'd think it was going to rain or something.

It hasn't yet, but did get a little cloudy during part of the day.

Out of desperation, I took a small desk my mom had let us borrow back to her house just to get the kids out of the house. Mind you, in the car was the best behavior I'd seen all morning.

I also picked up the other 2 big XXL ziploc bags with winter clothes for the co-signment sale I need to price by the end of September (I already have 1 1/2 bags at home).

After dinner, I let the older 2 play a little computer stuff while I did 15 minutes of sorting papers in 1 of 3 large piles I have to go through. I only got through 1/3 of the pile, but it's a start.

After that, we headed to the pool. Temps in the 100s call for swimming pool relief, no doubt about it.

After 2 hours, in which E had messy pants and consequently, messed up her only swimming suit because I forgot a spare today-luckily, she was NOT in the pool at the time, either and ended up running the 2nd half of the time there in just a swim diaper, we headed home.

How's that for a run-on sentence? I thought I did well. :)

After chores, I pushed the girls on the swings a little and picked a couple of gourds. JJ had apparently picked a few earlier in the day, so we put those in an OLD washbasin that was in the wash house. It's a little rusty-good thing we don't eat gourds!

After the usual cleanup and while supper cooked, IC and got lemon juice out of lemons with a hand juicer. IC's been begging to make REAL lemonade, so we will put it together tomorrow with the sugar soluntion we had to cook for a couple of minutes tonight.

JJ got in a little before the big kids went to bed, so he got to read stories-that was nice. He went to York today to get us new cell phones. His had a broken crystal on the front and my battery was bad. I could have gone without a new one for awhile, but he apparently decided to get me one anyway, because I got a new one-yea!

I'm just waiting for him to tell me it's my early birthday present, as I am sure I won't get anything else. Ah well, that's more than I usually get-which is nothing!

The Epitome of Summer

Isn't this the way summer's supposed to be? Playing in the water during the hot afternoon with popsicles to end the fun with.

That of course, doesn't include the fit that E had when she didn't want to be sprayed but was or how Miss A went off and pouted when she didn't get her way. :)

Anyway, the morning was the kids playing, fighting, etc. After dinner, the older 2 did some painting while E slept before going out to make a splash.

Then, it was time to get ready to go to soccer practice. Both kids are on the same team this year, as IC talking Miss A into trying out soccer. IT WAS UNBEARABLY HOT. Even at 5 pm, it was not pleasant out. Miss A lasted for most of practice, although she nearly was done before it had even started! Then she decided she'd had enough and of course, I look like the mean mom making her go back out on the field. (She got one of the helpers to feel sorry for her and let her sit out). I will have to watch to make sure she doesn't start doing it on a regular basis, which is why I was a little tough on her.

By the way, Miss A was so excited to go to practice in her new cleats, shin guards and metallic pink ball.

Hopefully, it will go better next week - the heat, practice, boy, girls, etc. . . . . . .