My Day's Life, or A Life in My Day, or...

I used to get all of these fun girl's magazines growing up, and almost every single one had a 'day in my life' feature.
This, my friends, is my day.
I woke up rested. (Now that felt good)  I spent some time doing paperwork with Bronz, made his lunch and sent him off. But not before he brought in a care package from my littlest sister, which made me cry.  So sweet. 
Kamie came down the stairs and wanted her rice crispy oatmeal - which is rice crispies. Somehow the name sounds more nutritious.  As much as I try, the boys can't seem to roll out of bed until much l-a-t-e-r than the rest of the fam.  So if you can't beat it... learn to enjoy it.  Kame's and I curled up on the recliner with her pre-k book and she drew the most amazing K all by herself, which kind of made my day.  And we matched an occasional picture to the right letter/sound.  Then the boys were up and the hubbub began - breakfast, baths, clothes, Bible time, morning nap for my little man, school for Wally, chores for Kamie.  She is loving helping, with everything. And is pretty much amazing.  Today I let her peel boiled eggs. (Speaking of which Bronz voxed me 3 times at dinner to make sure the egg was boiled, I guess I really must be a practical joker...)
Lunch, and more school, and drivers' permit studying, and cuddling in with Kamie for a nap.  Then having her lean over and say "I'm sorry Mama, for saying that I Hate naps." And then seconds after feeling her little body relax next to me, I hear Moo-ing from the next room.  Apparently that's my little farm boy's way of cooing.  I actually (Wishful thinking) wondered if it was coming from the pasture...? Not so. I'm pretty sure Blake's love language is physical touch. He wakes up with a grin, and slobbery kisses, and big hugs for Wally. And then he marches out to the fridge trying to hunt down some food.  Spelling tests, supper prep, scrubbed floor, spaghetti squash in the stove. (anything else I can alliterate?)  I ran Wally down to do chores and then went into town to grab milk, and give a friend a hug.  (About 3 days late. I really, really want to be a good friend.) At the gas station I realize that Kamie dressed herself. Maybe I should mention that Uncle Si is her favorite character on Duck Dynasty, and just maybe we've been watching too much of it.  Cuz' she marched into the gas station with shorts, rubber muck boots, (and a coat)  This would also be the time that you run into your banker and random people who know your husband enough to know you.  Also about this time you remember that the gas station attendant was hitting on your husband last week -- Please, please, don't let it be her shift.  Also about five minutes after this, you would get a call from your hubs wondering why you only bought 1 gallon of milk, and could you please go get more.  Oh, and could you bring out supper to the field.  (I just know those boys are gonna looove my spaghetti squash.)  Fortunately my friend has a Keurig, which meant a very quick amazing cuppa coffee.  And then back to the house to round up supper.  (Oh, and I really did have more than the squash in the oven.)  Around this time Kamie had an accident about three inches from the toilet, so she was streaking around the house.  I threatened that if she didn't get some clothes on I would put on unders and a coat and make her go au naturale, but she did comply and came down in more pajamas. I looked in the mirror at my very cute sweatband, from my very cute little sister, and read 'I'd Rather Be Running'   What?!!  I am running?!!  How much more running, can I be doing?  Oh, yeah, somehow this kind doesn't burn the same amount of calories, bummer.  We delivered supper, and Blake rode in the tractor with Bronz for a little while.  Then back home to tuck in the kids and clean up the kitchen. But wait.  Some guy's daughter is going to be dropping triticale off for Bronz to look at around 9:30.  So I keep the kids up, and we clean the kitchen. (And totally Tmi, but I also put off a trip to the bathroom... cuz that's when everyone comes over.)  I did learn an important lesson.  Never underestimate what children can do when they don't want to go to bed.  Kamie dried racks of dishes, Blake repeatedly put non-breakables into my sink of soapy water, and ran the sweeper back and forth on the floor.  Both got along famously.  After finishing Kamie raced over to my phone and pulled up Voxer to tell Bronz all about what she had done.  -That's a little disconcerting, especially since I'm not a big fan of their privacy settings.
Then it was 10:30 and the triticale hadn't showed up so, I tucked the babies in, and finally (Tmi alert) made it to the bathroom, when, lights came in the driveway...  Turned out Wally was getting dropped off, and I am still waiting on the triticale. And my man.  But even Mom's need sleep. 

So, I think I shall say

Sayonara Y'all, And to all a good night! 

(Have I mixed enough cultures?)

He Makes Me To Lie Down...

When I'm in the thick of life, I just see what's up close and personal. The monumental challenges, overwhelming joys... It's time that gives me perspective.  Thinking back on this year, I've seen God bring so much rest into my life.  It didn't start out easy, and it's not like there haven't been obstacles, or frustrations, but it also hasn't been a constant dark tunnel.  I've learned some coping strategies this year.  I've been way more faithful about seeking God. And I can't let go of His peace, it really does pass all understanding.  And it really is there for me in every circumstance. A friend and I were chatting on Sunday... "I don't know how, or if it is even possible to show another person how reliable God is." I told her, we both understood, her struggles, my struggles, both looked very different, and yet we were both coming out of the 'wringer' of the pain.  Ironically, neither of us has had a miraculous change in circumstances.  What changed was our hearts, we no longer fight the pain, the unfairness. We feel it, but we don't fight it.  I wish I could walk your road with you and quick give you some true verses and have you instantly 'get' the lesson that God wants you to learn.  But I can't.  I can tell you that He is faithful.  He can hold you. You must seek Him.
So that brings me to life right now.  We are currently caring for and loving up on a great little guy.  Talking to Bronz last night I realized that it's been a month and I'm waaaay behind on all my friendships.  And I need my girlfriends.  I've been pouring everything into the family, and things are going good.  Having an extra family member has helped me to be more organized, a little less artistic. My house is pretty clean, we are doing good on laundry.  Kamie is loving her pre-school. Blake is pretty thrilled to have another big boy around.  It is sort of like having a new baby, (only, much, much easier :)) you desperately try to keep your head above water, figure out your new normal... then make adjustments along the way.  I'm realizing that I very much need to budget in times for real friends, face to face contact over facebook.  I don't want to fall into the classic homeschool Mom trap, where we are so busy planning field trips, lesson plans, and wiping noses, and sweeping floors, and training, and being a good example... and all that wonderful stuff, and never leave relational time.  God may have put an extra relationship gene in me... I do know that it does say something about "Older women teaching the younger women"  and that sorta intimates that we are having some girl time, Right?! So that is what I want to be more intentional about this next month.  I want to find out all about a new relationship a friend is in, talk baby's with another friend who is doing foster care for a prison mom, and maybe get a couple neighbors to come drink coffee with me.
Ok. so essays are supposed to end with a summary of your article... But this isn't an essay, it's my journey, and it's not summarized yet. And if I keep rambling I'll get waaay off topic and probably tell funny Kamie stories... Like, Me (during school time): Don't distract each other, time is a gift from God, and we need to use it wisely. (Isn't that a nice sermonette?!) Kamie: No it's not, Mom! Babies are a gift from God!  (Can you tell who's on a big campaign for another sibling?)
I'm glad that God has given us many gifts, I'm thankful for a heart that can be washed clean, and filled with his Love.  Thankful for forgiveness...  And Grace... And more forgiveness... And babies (Nope. That's not an announcement.)

On the Road Again

So, I have a little rant to get off my chest. It has to do with the myriad of treks to unknown locales in order to find my husband near some field.
Our phone convo's go like this:
"Turn where the greenhouse used to be... You know where that is? No?! Everyone knows where that is. Then take lefts on both Y's... and just try and find us... Gotta go." 
Or tonight's:
"I'm on the Sinclair blacktop, I've taken you by there. I've got to run." 
Yup, I've been by there, and where they feed cattle, and where his Dad lives... and so which of those three places am I to guess that he's bagging at tonight?
I think some husband/wife team, who is fabulous at communication -that counts us out- Need to come up with some sort of app.  The code can be written in man - language "Bring XYZ (parts, pizza, pop...) to Ervil's (some long gone, rest his soul, former farmer).  Then the app will magically translate that to Left & Right's and actual street names.  That would be pure genius.  Or we could save some money and get the men to use actual locations, and living people, and current landmarks... But it would probably be easier to create an app.
I'm of the opinion that it's another way for guys to prove themselves, how long they've lived in the area, how well they know the landscape, and how well their 1978 plat book is memorized...
In the meantime, I'm the girl backing up and turning around in all the field drive-ins from here to the Ervil place.
Farm life definitely does have it's perks... I don't want to come across as too negative, cuz I really do love it.  I like it that my kids get to go see their Daddy's work.  And everyone is always kind.  (Course that could be because I usually come with food)

Tonight Blake was wiggling and making all kinds of gestures, until I realized that he had spotted a cow and wanted to run over and see it.  You'd think two big dogs kissing him to pieces would've been enough.  And the fact that he does have cows at home, and he had just spent 40 minutes a couple hours earlier climbing gates and kissing cows.
Kamie's little guy, Mayor Moo, ducked out of the fence tonight.  She quickly stepped up to the job of putting him back in.  My heart felt like bursting with the total cuteness of watching her, in a little dress, marching along the fence shooing him back into the pasture, and yes, he's taller than her.
And I'll admit it, seeing my man in a tractor still makes my heart go pitter-patter.  So I guess I'll keep putting up with the lousy directions...  Cuz of things like that sweet smell of corn silage, red bees wings flying in the air, tractors, wranglers and a flannel shirt on my very own farm boy.

What About Now?

That Lonestar song.  We put it on.

What about now?  ~ That spin that never ends ~ How 'bout tonight? ~

Baby, for once let's don't think twice

That one.

Then we packed our bags.

(Which basically consisted of me pulling out the clean laundry out of the dryer from the Kansas weekend the kids and I just got back from.)

And we sorta did the 'Heads Carolina Tails California' thing.

Fueled up, breakfast at Mickey D's.

Bronz: "Michigan or Black Hills?"

We went West.

Lots of driving.  Stops at cool tourist spots and stops at places that had more dust than anything else.

Blake giving Bronz a little kiss during our lunch stop

 

Your South Dakota traveler guide is now going to inform you that the more billboards the less time actually spent on the attraction.

We made it to Rapid City by evening.

Stayed in a fabulous hotel.

There was a pretty sweet waterslide.

Kamie was proud of herself because she went down with Bronz and plugged her nose, and actually got her chin wet.

Blake, the water baby, never took the smile off his face. Wiped the water out of his eyes and toddled back to the ladder.  (Oh and we are talking like a 140' slide.)

We pushed the stroller down to TGI Friday's for supper.  Yummers. 

Walked around the mall area and back to our room where we tucked sleepy kids into beds.

I made a pot of coffee...

Whammo

Both were up. Like wide awake up.  Blake has no middle ground for his crying, it's all or nothing.  We tried to let him cry it out, but when I could hear him from the floor below I decided to have mercy on fellow guests.  Thus started many moons of very bad sleep. 

We saw Mt. Rushmore.

Kamie looked out her window and gasped "Mom! Look!  There's some guys up on that rock!"

 

Our Fam

Cheesin' with my princess

Love how the crayon is in mid-air

Having breakfast...

Love my boys!

We had a nice older gentleman take our picture in front of Mt Rushmore.  Next time we'll have to make sure we ask a tourist whose glasses aren't quite as thick...

(What is in the background is definitely below 'the guys')

Celebrating our 5 year anniversary

(a tad early)

 

 

I thought this quote was pretty cool.  I Love how our Country's roots are so honoring to God.

Almighty God, from this pulpit of stone the American people render thanksgiving and praise for the new era of civilization brought forth upon this continent. Centuries of tyrannical oppression sent to these shores, God-fearing men to seek in freedom the guidance of the benevolent hand in the progress toward wisdom, goodness toward men, and piety toward God.

William Andrew Burkett

 

 

 

 

St8te Fair

It's been a cram, jam packed week with a couple trips to Des Moines involved.

Bronz was dying to go to the State Fair.

We are drastically different.  And the State Fair always proves it.

So we were very intentional and proactive this year.

We both wrote down exactly where we wanted to go, and what we wanted to see.

And then wrote some kid friendly options.

I packed a yummy lunch.

This was wonderful, because anytime the kids got the munchies I had strawberries, granola bars, cheese sticks, gummies... all ready to go in the bottom of the stroller.

 

Here's Blake trying to get a closer look at the Super Bull.

He was contemplating how quickly he could scale the gate.

I know this because He tried.

 

I loved walking through the arts building...  and that painting on the top was my favorite.  Bronz and I both completely cracked up. 

(So wish that they sold more of their exhibited pieces.)

We have sat like that many times, with those very expressions.

-Apologies for how wonderfully my phone captured it-

 

It was Veteran's day at the fair, so there was a big parade.  And I'm that lady who always tears up, and gets goosebumps, and who never thinks you can over thank a veteran. 

From the WW11 veterans sitting in floats to the Vietnam Vets riding their Harleys

The active duty regiments,

Crisp, young, impressive

That crazy group of Kilt wearing Vets

The cute little ladies in a WAVES truck

The two who were Pearl Harbor Survivors

The injured.

Those who weren't there.

I especially love seeing those of a different ethnicity in uniform, to me that is the quintessential American dream.  Someone who's found freedom and is willing to sacrifice to keep it. 
Had a cool experience a couple weeks ago, along those lines

A Hispanic young man looked across the street to see a middle aged white woman taking down a flag at a restaurant,

it was noticeably dragging on the parking lot.

He called out

"Get that flag off the ground!"

She laughed and maybe lifted it an inch or two

It was still touching

"Pick up the Flag!"

He repeated.

When she still made no effort, he said:
"I took an oath to the United States Army to protect that flag.  Get it off the ground."

Now, that is cool.

We met up with Bronz's sister and her boyfriend for supper, at the Cattlemen's Shed. 

Ahhh love getting to the end of fair day and being able to sit down.

...and sitting down reminds me of that which I am doing...

I usually write when the kids are going down for naps, or bedtime.

And they are now quiet, which means my work is also quietly waiting for me.

 

Please forgive the discombobulated nature of this post. 

My brain is running on coffee.

Seriously.

We hit our warm little bed this morning at 3:30 a.m.

Then up at 7 to pick the kiddos up.

(Des Moines trip #2 for me...)

Bronz actually ran through there once more this week...

So I'm slightly fried.

 

 

 

 

My Dirty Laundry

I am getting tired of loads and loads of laundry.

What's a girl to do, but take inventory of ways in which to cut down on it.

Now that's been discouraging.

Kamie had two bathroom accidents yesterday...

inches from the toilet

Blake appears to be magnetized by mud.

and me:

I ran this morning = sweaty workout clothes

+

cute dress

--Won't admit how much Kamie and my conversation yesterday had to do with this... 

Her: Momma is that a baby in there?

>pokes tummy<

Me: No!

Her:
It just kinda looks like one?!--

Cute dress hasn't quite hit the hamper yet, I wore it for all of three hours, but in that three hours Blake and Kamie started a new game -- played like this.

Dip hands in mud

Run and pat mom

Run, run, run!

Then Bronz needed me to help him unload a rack of hay, so I changed into jeans and borrowed a flannel shirt from his side of the closet.

(Wearing your man's flannel shirts.. It's just one of those fabulous things in life)

And guess what, I'm still wearing that get-up

 

When Bronz & I were first dating I asked him what he liked about me, why he was drawn to me.

Being the ever romantic that he was, he answered:

Scene note:

Riding in a tractor on a beautiful November day pulling a ripper behind us.

"Because of how responsible you are, and then he elaborated..."

Me, I sorta chuckled to myself.

But, I was somewhat responsible.

4 star moneywise, pretty careful with relationships

It's just that I wasn't born with the innate sense of responsibility Bronz was.

He never broke anything as a child.

He could be set down and not move, or get into a purse.

(Still waiting for one of our children to get his genes.)

His first 'real' job involved riding a dirt bike at 4 in the morning to a neighbors for their morning milking. 

(Meanwhile I was very snuggled under my covers.)

(I got the early riser award in my fam, cuz I was up by 7 a.m.)

 

Well, we go back to our riding in the tractor, and have a lovely day.

Until Bronz drops me off at my car.

I knew something was wrong when I opened the door and the seats were hot.

Very hot.

Like

she-left-the-car-running-on-a-full-tank-of-gas-hot

And then he knew what he was getting into

And I knew I would be taken care of,

Because, of course he carries a tank of gas in the back of his truck.

And yes, this story has absolutely nothing, to do with anything.

Except I just told my sister

(almost 6 years later)

And you have no idea how incredibly mortified I was.

Or how many times I've laughed about it since.

 

I guess I'll go back to my laundry and be thankful I married a farmer, and have these adorable farmkids who make lots of dirty laundry.

 

 

 

 

 

Roadtripping...

 

We love a good drive, to a sorta crazy extent.  See two days ago we spent nine hours in a truck hauling cattle to Mo. 

Then we go and load the kids up after church and

drive.

Or meander, that's a more proper name.  Cuz' it's definitely not the fastest way to destination, and come to think of it we really don't have a destination in mind.

We took a pizza to the park and the kids ate two bites and took off for the slides.

Blake can now do it all by his own little self. 

Pretty cool stuff.

Then we watched big fish by a dam. Big, Big, fish.

Chatted with a lady who was obviously extremely intelligent, she took one look at the kids and told us that we had the cutest kids in the world.

(And this was after she had told us about her bicycle ride across France, so yes, she's been out of Iowa.)

 
We spent most of our time driving back roads around Dyersville and eating sour gummies and Culver's ice cream.

I fought flower envy.

Bronz fought dairy envy.

Gorgeous farm after gorgeous farm, with landscaping everywhere.  Rose bushes behind machine sheds, rock gardens by barns, carefully weeded zinnias, meticulously mowed yards, and cows. Good ol' dairy cows.

We intersected with a scenic byway... and drove along the Mississippi for some more pretty driving.

Ending in Guttenburg, where we stopped at Greaser's for supper.

It was a cute little drive-in, with homemade burgers, and a definite retro feel. 

We did all that and made it home by midnight... Not bad, eh?