Good Morning!

I hope you have a great day today! That's really all I have to say today.

Actually, I was tired of seeing that little photography guy below everytime I opened my site. So, I had to put something on here to move him down a bit. Sorry, this is all I came up with today.


Oops, my mistake. I do have a little more. My coffee maker went on the "kaputz" yesterday. So, last night I bought a new one - different kind. I get it out of the box this morning to use and I'm all excited to have a nice, freshly brewed, soothing, wake-me-up cup of coffee and I find out it takes the CONE filters. AGHHHHH!!!! Of course that's not the kind of filters I have on hand. Why didn't it say that on the outside of the box??? Well, it bugged me enough that I'm packing it back up and going to look for another coffee maker today. Not just because of the cone filters, but also because I didn't really like the platinum look and because Trevor said I should look for a different one. Good enough reasons for me.

Say Cheese !!

Well, today are school pictures and for some reason this day always makes me worried. I'm not sure I can pin point exactly what makes it so nerve racking. Lets see.......

It could be all the options that you get to make up your photo "package". You know, like how many pictures and what sizes of each. "Package B1" sounds real nice for $27.00, but for $22.00 I can get the same sizes for just a few less of the 2X3's. And, oh, do I want to add $3.00 for a few more of the wallets or another selected size for a bigger fee yet?

It could be the background color options that twist my stomach. Hmmmm, do I want emerald, blue, red, or steel? What could possibly look the best with the paint on the wall where I intend to hang these glorious pictures? Should I get the same background for each kid or let them be their own individual self and have a different color?

It could be the new option this year. The choice of pose!! Would I like my kids standing, a close-up head shot, the leaning-in head-in-hands, or the traditional pose?

It could be the decision of adding another $3.oo to my "package" to have their names printed right on the front of the photo.

It could be the choice of the perfect outfit to wear. What color will look the best with the above chosen background? But then, really, all you ever see is the top half of the shirt. Well, unless I was to go with that standing pose. That just might include a little more portion of the shirt - you never know. Oh, how about the mere fact that they better not spill anything on that shirt. You know, like chocolate milk, spaghetti sauce, paint, marker, ink, mud.....

Or could it be the hair styles. Do I fix an up do or leave it down. Should we apply gel and go for the controlled bed head look - but what if it rains at recess and it turns to a sticky mess? Should we put cute little curls in, but then it's sure to be humid and they'll be gone in no time. What if we straighten it - yep, there's that humidity problem again and any natural curl is sure to arise.

And last but not least, maybe it's at that final moment when it's their turn to say cheese and put on the perfect smile and it's the simple reason that I'm not there to say "Ummm, better take another one, he/she can smile nicer than that".

Yep, I'm not sure which one it is. I just hope that they turn out okay the first time and we won't have to go through this again on re-take day.

Now, how many weeks till we get them back????????????????? It's never soon enough, is it? The class picture takes twice as long to get back, and I totally rely on that one when I haven't a clue about who in the world "Johnny or Susie" might be.

Of course I really don't get THAT worked up about the pictures. Really, I don't. I mean isn't it down the road when I'm getting all their pictures lined up for the high school graduation open house that I'll look back and find the humor about Kale's teeth missing or Nikia's fake smile or that one hair that just wouldn't lay flat.

I guess there's really no need to get too worried about these silly little pictures. After all, the kids are on the bus and headed for the school already and it's out of my hands.

Music to my ears....

After Kale arrived home from the first day of school there was just nothing better to hear than,

"I love my new teacher, she is so cool and really funny!"

Oh, thank goodness for that.

Nikia on the other hand, is still in awe that she gets to go to school every day - all day and that she has a real locker.

I think we're off to a good start!!

1st Day of School

As members of the class of 2017 and 2019 boarded the bus this morning I had tears in my eyes. For some reason it seems like when the first day of school comes around its the day that the kids actually get older. Never mind when their birthday is, it's this day that makes them seem more grown up than any other. The day they're expected to be more independent and more responsible. Yeah, I'm okay with it - I guess I have to be. It's just the reality of it all hits me on this day. Like the years before, I will pray over them both everyday before they leave. I will ask God to watch over and protect them on the bus and at the school. I will ask God to help Kale to be a good friend, a nice gentlemen, and a great student. I will ask God to help Nikia to be a good friend, a nice young lady, and a great student. They may not be under my roof where I can watch over them, but God will be there with them and for them.

It's this time of year when.... I'm looking forward to seeing the big yellow bus roll into the driveway and seeing the kids run up the driveway at the end of the day. I'm not looking forward to sending the kids to bed early on school nights, or the time spent sitting at the table doing homework. I am looking forward to decorating my fridge with the drawings, artwork, and paintings. I'm not looking forward to my little helpers being gone all day. I am looking forward to the trips to town by myself. I'm not looking forward to the money I'll need to fork out for lunches, activity tickets, pictures, and milk tickets. I am looking forward to seeing the progress the kids make throughout the year. I'm not looking forward to seeing some of the influences of other kids that rub off on mine. I am looking forward to being the one that sends them off in the morning and welcomes them home every day.

Family Vacation

Family Vacation

Off to the Black Hills - again. This time, we were tourists. We took the kids to some of the major sites like Mount Rushmore, drove past Crazy Horse, drove through Bear Country, walked through Jewel Cave, saw the Wild Horses Sanctuary, walked around Keystone and purchased souveniers, drove through the needles and wound around on the Pigtails, visited the Mammoth Site (very interesting) and hung out at our campground's pool and slide. It was so much fun and the weather was great. We stayed at Beaver Lake Campground. We've stayed here before and just love this place. (I highly recommend it) Of course the best part is the heated pool and the super fast slide. It rained twice in the evening but during the days it was perfect temps. Miniature golf was a blast. We went towards evening and while we were playing some deer came down in the meadow next to the course. They stayed about 30 yards from us. Very cool! It was such a great time. We're looking forward to next year's trip already.


Sorry about the slide show. It's my first time setting one up - obviously I have a lot to learn yet. It took me three tries to get it to look like this - good grief!! Any advice is soooo welcomed. Why can't I get the slide show to copy into my other post? How do I get the "Family Vacation 2007" off of every photo? So much to learn and not enough time to sit and experiment with this. Anyway - hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Apparently, this is the hair style you get when you take a dip in the hot tub and then go for a 4-wheeler ride.

Or, maybe it's just a sign that his Mother should get his hair trimmed. Hmmmm.

Yesterday was Kale's 9th birthday. We really didn't do too much to celebrate since we're going to have a party at the pool another day. Nevertheless, I just have to say......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

KALE

I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!

Step Inside My Office....

Welcome! I know I've been MIA lately but I've been a little busy at the office. Let me give you a little tour around the place......

This is the outside view of my office.....

Just another view with a little different background. Pretty huh!!!

This is the inside view of my office.......
(obviously a man decorated it, I would have chosen a different color scheme)

This is my employers office......

(once in awhile he lets me sit at his desk and run the thing)

This is the view from my office.....

Nothing like an office with a view...........

This is a co-worker of mine.....

(sorry, bad picture, it's a semi)

Sometimes I get "ride alongs".....

Sometimes I sit and think about how big my butt is getting from sitting in my office all day.....

Oh, got to go, the boss man needs me. Tour has to come to an end.

I'd love to come see your office someday.....

Rockhound Champs!!!

Kale with his team's trophy and his individual trophy.














Sunday was the big PeeWee and Midget tournament to end the baseball season. The boys look forward to this big day all season long. All the teams are from local towns and so the players pretty much know all the other players because they all go to school together. You can imagine the competitiveness this day brings to the boys.



Both teams played very well and provided some great games to watch. The other highlight of this tournament is that there is a swimming pool about 250 yards from the baseball field. Between games the boys head over to swim and play around to cool off while their sisters pretty much stay in the pool the whole day. It really couldn't be any better of a situation!


Both our teams came out the Champs and took home two HUGE trophies and also individual trophies as well. Very Cool!! I was so proud of the boys and their coach for all their hard work all summer.







PeeWee's
(Kale is standing in the back, the third player from the right)


















Midget's
(Trevor helped coach, he has on the white shirt)









Tonight the boys and the girls teams head to the pool to celebrate the end of yet another good year of ball games.


The kids are all done but my ladies team is in the second week of our tournament and Trevor's team will be starting their tournament this week. So, just a few more days of ball diamonds and then in a short while it will be football fields and volleyball courts.

My Personal Sanctuary

Girls...you have to get yourself one of these!! I absolutely love my little gazebo. It's not the biggest one they sell but not the smallest one either. It is so nice to go and just sit and look at a magazine, read a book, take a nap, or just sit and do nothing but have a cold beverage or a hot coffee. There's something so quaint about it that makes it very relaxing. The screen keeps the bugs out and it stays nice and shady (which is a huge necessity with the 90+ weather temps we've been having).


This is my second one. Last year I had one too but a nasty wind storm pretty much destroyed it. I was working in the field driving the tractor and it was heavy on my mind that my gazebo may be in jeopardy with such strong gusts of wind, but farmers just don't understand that harvest should be shut down for awhile to run home and tie down the gazebo. When I did get home that night I found my gazebo toppled over in a pile. I sat and cried because I knew it was ruined. I know - what a baby! But I loved my quiet times in my sanctuary. I had it tied down and staked down but the wind was just too much. This year it's tied even better and that baby isn't going anywhere.

I didn't know if Trevor was going to "let" me have another one or not but when I found this one on clearance I gave him my best "puppy dog eyes" and begged. Last year I set it up all on my own - how? I still have no idea how I managed to do it by myself. I guess I was just determined. This year Trevor helped me, which was good, I don't think I could have done this one on my own.

A little outdoor furniture and some plants to make it comfy cozy and your set. Awwwh....RELAXATION. I have a grape vine and a new perrenial flowerbed that I started last year behind it that makes for a pretty view. I admit though, I definitely haven't spent enough time in it yet this year. After this week both kids will be done with ball games and hopefully I'll have more evenings to spend at home. Of course then there's wheat harvest which we started yesterday......... Oh, sooner or later I'll find some quality time to hang out in my sanctuary.

What Have We Been Up To You Ask ?????

A little of this and a little of that......

Both kids qualified for State in the pedal tractor pull...

Triathlon!!

At the starting line....

heading out around the buoy....

(Kale has on the white shirt)

running hard to the finish line ....

Second Place!!!

A job well done.

Gave three of these to a nice family...YAY!!!

PARADE!

Waiting patiently for the candy...

Here come the boys...finally.

Swing hard Slugger!!

Swimming lessons test.....

Both kids passed - YAHOO!!

Went to Mpls to visit the in-laws....

played a little put-put...

shot some trap....

Kale shot trap for the first time and hit one...Atta Boy!!

Miss You Much!

My blogging break needs to continue another week. The kids have one more week of swimming lessons - which I don't get home until noon. When we get home it's off to the farm or catch up on things at home before heading out to ball games in the evening. My head is spinning in circles (more than usual) and I just haven't made the time to sit at the computer lately. I miss you all so much and can't wait for a rainy day to catch up. Speaking of rain - the crops could sure use some. The fields still look really good but a nice inch or two would really help the plants produce a bountiful crop.

How about this - school starts in about six weeks. YIKES!!! Oh, where did this summer go to? School supplies are out already too. I'm thinking of letting my kids just skip this whole year - think the State would mind? Just kidding! The other day, I was ready to send them to summer school! It turned out to be nothing that a spanking spoon couldn't handle.

Ever get to that point during the summer when the flower beds get a little neglected? I'm there. I feel like those stupid weeds just start reproducing the moment I pull one of their dear friends. Thank the Lord for my little roto-tiller. Trevor bought me one of these little buggers that I can get in and around my plants after my accident a few years ago. It's been a real help. I'm so far behind in pinching off the dead blooms on some of my flowers - do they make a tool that does that for ya? I've learned that really helps the plants bloom longer. Oh, and if that dog digs one more hole, and kills one more plant in my flower beds....well, I don't know what I'll do....I guess I'll just go buy more to replace them (the family would kill me if I killed that dog).....dumb dog!!!(actually it's a really good hunting dog and I am the one that bought it for Trevor so it's my own fault).

We moved the calves over to our place since we have the "perfect" little pasture for them. These are the calves that for some reason or another had to be taken from their moms and bottle fed. We have six of them. They are all eating on their own now except one that is still on a bottle. Kale's a BIG help with these buggers. He's pretty responsible with feeding them grain and making sure they have water.

Okay, now I'm just babbling on and I really need to get off this thing and get busy. I'll try to get pictures down-loaded off the camera and post some of the happenings in our lives lately. Oh, did I mention Kale and Danny got 2nd place in the Triathalon!!!!(more later on that).

I hope you are all having a great summer, getting some sunshine and enjoying family times. I miss you all so much - more than you know. You have all been such a great inspiration to me and have kept me going in life in ways you'll never know. It hasn't been an easy year for me - but thanks for the kind words you all share. They help me keep my head above the water.

Happy 4th of July!!

I hope you all have a great week and weekend. Enjoy some fireworks, take in a parade, catch a ballgame, have a picnic, splash in some water and enjoy time with family and friends. We'll be doing these things and a little more.

While the Husbands Away......

Why is it that when my husband is out of town I just can't come up with anything fun to do? Kale is going camping with the boys and Trevor is leaving for a fishing tournament, so Nikia and I are going to be home by ourselves.

I want to do something fun, but what???

Girls night out - I can be ready in 10 minutes.
Shopping - maybe.
Pool - possibility.
Movie - perhaps.
Just sit at home - probably.

I have such a boring life!!!

Girlfriend and Boyfriend

Remember Jade? Kale's "girlfriend" (she just graduated this year from high school). He's been wanting to ask her to come to one of his baseball games but just hadn't got the chance to yet. Well, last Friday he made his move. Now, this is really cool that he wanted to invite her, BUT.... I had no idea when he was going to do it.
I was taking a shower when he comes in my room and says, "I just called Jade and she said she might come to my game."
Ummmm, what did you just say? (as I'm getting the soap out of my ears because I thought he just said he called a girl)
"She might come to my game!"
"You called her?"
"Yes"
"Well, okay, but it's an away game" (45 minutes away, to be exact, in another town, and it starts in 2 hours. In the back of my mind I'm thinking there's no way she'll come that far) "How did you get her number?"
"I already had it marked in the phone book!" (dah! Mom)
"You did?"

So.... we're sitting at the game, waiting for the Wee-Wee's (5-6 yr. old) game to finish and the Pee-Wee's to begin when up walks Jade. I looked at Kale and he got the biggest smile on his face and started to blush. Could she be any nicer? A beautiful teenage girl, on a Friday night, could have made plans to do anything and she chose to make my little 8 1/2 year old boy's night. She drove all that way just for Kale. Isn't she wonderful?

















The other highlight of the night was.....

As the games went on Jade and I were chatting about Nikia and Jade asks if Nikia has a little boyfriend. I told her I didn't think so, she thinks boys have germs (a little thing I may have made her believe). It was no more than 3 minutes later and up walks Nikia crying her eyes out. Sobbing!!

"What's the matter honey?"
"Aaron, my boyfriend, just broke up with me!"
"What did you just say?"
"He broke up with me, and now he's playing with another girl!"

As Jade was doing all she could not to laugh out loud, I was trying to comprehend that my 6 yr. old just said the words "broke up" and actually new what it ment, and that it was referring to her and a boy.

OH THE DRAMA !!!!!!!

Black and Blue and Red

I've taken such a beating the last couple of days. On Tuesday I was scooping manure out of the barn and I went to toss the "crap" off of my pitchfork into the wagon but "it" didn't come off. The pitchfork kind of fell out of my hand and the handle went right to my right eye. OUCH!! Now I have a black and blue mark on my eyelid. I've tried to cover it up with eyeshadow but it must not be working. My Mom told me it looked like my makeup was smeared. NICE!!

Tonight at my softball game I was playing catcher and the pitch came in and took a nasty bounce right at my mouth. OUCH!! I had to leave the game because it wouldn't quit bleeding. I now have a big ol' fat lip on the top and a little hamburger on the bottom lip, plus a nice RED mark on the outside. Oh yeah, and my front big tooth hurts too. I sure hope I didn't hurt a nerve to my tooth. That would be real great to have my tooth turn black. I'd have to change my blog site to The Redneck Hillbilly. NICE!!

















So, yeah. I'm looking just peachy!! Wish I could just stay home and hide out for a few days. Nope. I have softball practice with the beautiful teenage girls at 8:00 am. YAY!! :(

Pets, Pets, and More Pets!!

I know I have posted pictures of our goats before, but I have to show you our new set of twins. They are so adorable. I wanted to name them Bert and Ernie but it turns out one of them is a girl. So, I have yet to come up with their names. (any ideas Kerrie? I thought of the first letter of all our names and came up with TANK or KNAT. I'm thinking no to both) They were born while we were on our trip. I knew the mama was close and I was really hoping she could wait till we got back, but no such luck. They're only about 5 inches tall.




















Guess what else we came home to. Another litter of kitties. She had 6 kitties to be exact. So now the count is 11 baby kitties. NICE!!!
Okay, now make sure your children are looking at the screen and read the following out loud to them.
Anyone want a free kitty? Pick a color, any color. We've got black, grey, white, and orange. Nikia plays with with the older litter everyday so they're nice and tame - very kid friendly. I'm sure you kids would love to have one - or you can even have two. That way one kitty won't get lonely all by itself.






















These are two from the first litter and they're about big enough to start giving them away. They wouldn't cost any money. They're free!!! They'd probably be such good kitties you could let them sleep in your room with you or just follow you around wherever you go. You can even pick out a name for them. Except, Nikia has already named the orange one Peaches. Just tell your mom that you really want one.

Now moms, don't break your kid's heart. Give in and let them have a kitty - or two. Remember, they're free!!!

Father's Day Trip to the Black Hills

It was a great trip and we're all ready to go back again next year. The location Dad had picked out was beautiful. We were very secluded from seeing or hearing a lot of vehicles so there was hardly any noise except what we made. Every day we went on horse rides and 4-wheeler rides so we put on something like 200 miles on each of the 4-wheelers and I'm not sure how many on the horses. We saw so many deer, elk, turkeys, antelope and of course we heard the coyotes howling at night. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable trip for everyone.




One of the gorgeous views!













Tylor letting the horses eat some grass.

Kale being a goofball!

Nikia and Lexy slept in the front of the trailer each night.

Playing the "washer" game.

Heading out for a ride.

We had just gone through a very beautiful long canyon with rocks and trees on both sides of us and it came out to this open range.

Kale letting Storm graze a little.

Saddle is on and now for the bridle.

My brother and Dad deciding which way we should go to see more elk.

The first day we had the horses tied up like this. They could move around quite a bit but they ate the grass pretty quickly so we changed it a little the next day.

The next day we made a corral for the horses to stay in.

Grandpa having some fun with the kids.

Trevor and Nikia hanging out.

For those of you wondering: our "biffy". The blue tarp for some privacy, the white towel to let others know someone was using the biffy, the toilet paper on a stick for a holder. This "seat" really came in handy for the kids to use. I didn't have to worry about the kids getting "any" on their pants while squatting. The bucket with a bag for easy disposal. I would prefer using this biffy over any other biffy any day - it didn't stink and it had a beautiful view! :)

It really was a great time. I wish we could have stayed longer - lord knows we had enough food along to stay longer. The weather was perfect except the last night we got about 1/4 inch of rain. We didn't mind it though - it washed all the dust and pollen off of everything. I can't wait till next year!!