The DL

Ryan and I celebrated our 16th anniversary with a quiet dinner.

Thanks Pandora for watching the kids!

Isabelle had her first dance class- ballet and tap combo class.

To say she loved it would be an understatement! 

Two good friends were baptized Sunday afternoon.

A very powerful thing to watch.

Isabelle had her very first homework, a family pennant.

She told us she needed to: "condshuntrade" (concentrate)

We made Great Grandma's Boiled Cookies.

And I got a TON of stuff done on my to do list!

We started our week off with a crazy-busy Monday, both big kids had soccer practice, I had a meeting and Ryan had an appointment too.  Tonight is our only "free" night, with games, practices, dance, meetings every other day this week.  I am SO glad I have the dry erase boards in the kitchen.  They are making everyone's lives easier!!

What do you have planned this week?

The Battle is the Lord's

I've been struggling with some things in my life lately... and tonight, reading to the kids, I was reminded of exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

"O our God, will you not judge them?   For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."   2 Chronicles 20:12

It's a great little read, with 250 stories from the Bible.  My Dad gave it to us this summer, and I try to read at least one story every night.  Tonights story started like this:

"We can pray when we don't know what to do.  Then we can do what Jehoshaphat did after he prayed-stand back and let God take care of things."

I'm going to pray.  And then stand back and let God take care of things.

Our Little Princess and the Pig Queen

Looking through some photos, and found one that was blog worthy!!

July 2010

Our friend, Danae was the 2010 Indianapolis State Fair Queen.

As stunning as she is, her personality is what really shines!

Isabelle was mesmerized! 

Summer Time Fun

We celebrated the last weekend of summer by breaking out the long pants this weekend.  Sad to say, but I think it is truly fall now.
William will probably wear short pants until it snows, but I don't think we'll see grass this green for some time.

The big brother helped his little brother and

little sister safely across the road,

nicely shoved them both

on top of the bales.

And then, he showed them how to

jump from bale to bale.

When they were hot, tired and thirsty,

the Big Brother helped them both

back to the house.

I'm going to miss this summer..

Annoying

My Camera is officially broken.  Something rattles.

My Phone is randomly taking photos.  Probably due to the Pepsi bath it had a little while ago.

Someone just called and asked: "Who is this?"   Uh, you called me.  He had a missed call from our number.  Why would you do that?  If you don't recognize the number, and they do not leave a message.....

I over-baked the last tray of cookies.

Something is eating my tomatoes.

You Would Think...

For a kid growing up on a farm,

animals would be no big deal.

not the case for him.

Today

Drove the carpool.  Had to get after someone else's kids for hitting each other.  Glad to know it's not only mine that do that stuff.

Showered with a fully clothed Jackson.

Took Isabelle to school.

Changed Jackson out of the clothes he smeared A&D ointment all over.

Scheduled an appointment to have the most expensive item I've ever put in/on my body removed.  The crown-covered root-canal tooth gone bad.  Only 4 phone calls to get that underway.

Went outside to find Jackson.

I faxed Isabelle's medical form to our Doctor. On hold with a defunct answering service for 15 minutes.

Cleaned up the entire bottle of olive oil Jackson dumped on the counter.

Bank
Picked up Isabelle
Pharmacy
McDonald's
Pharmacy

Took Jackson and Isabelle shopping.
I had 2 hours to make two returns (different stores of course), cash in my "free panty" coupon at Victoria's Secret, and gather supplies from Michael's and Hobby Lobby for the kids classroom projects.  Cocktails anyone?  The cashier at Hobby Lobby sure wanted one when we left...

Taught a group the benefits of eating whole grains.

Ice cream social/school open house

Ball & Auction Meeting.

William's homework.  And yes, I did it.  mostly.

Had a good chat with Texas on Facebook.

Looking forward to a long weekend? ABSOLUTELY.  I only have one thing scheduled for each day.  Besides you know, laundry, cleaning, making food, and keeping Jackson out of trouble.

I'm gonna miss this.... 

Window On My World

Brothers 

William & Jackson 

August 31, 2010

A Little Boy, His Papa and Horse

Earlier this summer, my parents took my Grandparents and met my brother and his family at "Farm Progress Days"  At the end of the weekend, Jackson, Isabelle and I ran over to see them for a few minutes.  Jackson was mesmerized by the horses.  "Horse, Horse, Horse" he said. Over, and over, and over.

Papa and Jackson off to find a horse to ride.

Isabelle is a middle child that refuses to be left behind!

Sure enough, they found a ride!!

These cows were doing a plowing demonstration.

Biggest cows I've ever seen.

And I've seen cows.

I suppose I should call them "Oxen"

Today is the Day!

She was excited to pick our her outfit for today, but not so cracked up about going to bed last night. When I woke her up this morning, I said: "Today is the Day!"  "Are you ready?" And before she opened her eyes, she grinned great big, and said: "YES!"

At the door, ready to go in.

She remembered where her room was!

Her room, and classmates.

Is it me, or does she look really little?

The Highlight Reel

One day last week after Jackson took a shower with Daddy, he decided to run back in to see Isabelle.  He slipped and cracked his nose on the tile ledge. Pretty ugly.

Before.

And yes, he does usually look like this.

Dirty.

After.

The next day.

Today.

He's such a cheeser.

He must be from Wisconsin.

I took the front of his crib off.

He gets out every night anyway.

And, yes, that is a princess pillow. He's very secure in his masculinity.

I got a bushel of peaches and a bushel of pears.

And a half bushel of red beets.

Some of the finished products- 18 quarts of peaches,

12 pints of pickled beets.

A very yummy peach cobbler.

From Paula Dean.

This is the girl we took to her Preschool Open House today.

Oh my.

"Between Heaven and Earth"

A lovely evening with delicious food and beautiful friends.

Does it get any better than that?

My Weekend and Few Favorite Reads...

I've been so busy this week, I've barely had time to post on my own blog, let alone read anyone else's.  BUT, I had to share a couple with you today.

Kristen at: "We are THAT Family"  inspires me.

Makes me cry most every week.  And that's sayin' somethin'.

Adele at: "Mila's Daydreams" makes me smile.

 How creative is she?  What a beautiful gift she has.

Marisa from: "New Dress A Day" amazes me. Truly. 

Grosgrain.  An old favorite, but boy does she have the best giveaways!!

Check out her latest:

SILHOUETTE MACHINE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Yesterday was cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, dinner with friends.

Today, laundry, laundry, laundry, peaches, beets, dinner "Between Heaven and Earth".

Tomorrow? Church, lunch with friends, Isabelle's Preschool Open House, NAP. 

Coffee Thief

Monday morning when dropping the kids at school, I needed to run inside quickly to talk to the school secretary.  Since Isabelle and Jackson were still asleep, I thought I would just leave them in the car.  Big mistake.  HUGE.  (name that 80's movie)

"Mommy!"

"Cotsee" 

"Mommy cotsee?"

"Cotsee!"

"Cheese"

Isabelle had unbuckled, moved her carseat to the front, helped herself to my coffee, and then ever so nicely, shared with her brother.

I'm also fairly certain people have been jailed for less... stealing a sleep-deprived momma her coffee on a Monday morning.  A serious offense in my book! 

Harvest

Chopping corn is one of Ryan's favorite farm things to do. Usually, call it luck or coincidence, the corn is ready to be chopped Labor Day weekend. Nice, because my brother Reuben, and Cousin Lee can come help Ryan.  Bummer because we have not had a "Long, last weekend of Summer" in years.  Due to an exceptional dry season, the corn was ready to go last Friday.

Ryan Chopped, Scott drove the truck.

Ron drove the packing tractor, Robert drove too.

I made sandwiches.

Ryan Chopped, John drove the truck.

Van packed the pile, and Zach drove the tractor.

And I made the sandwiches.

Gerald worked on the pile, 

and I made the sandwiches.

Ryan tried to kill himself, 

And I stopped making sandwiches.

We all were very sad that Uncle Reuben, Cousin Lee, and Wesley and Logan were not here.  Elizabeth said: "Chopping is NO fun without Wesley and Logan".  And I agreed.

Maybe they'll come Labor Day weekend anyway, and we can do "fun" stuff instead of work!

A Little Boy After My Own Heart

He loves his shoes so much, he doesn't want to take them off.

Even for the shower.

Good thing they're rubber.