Is That a Law?

I'm not sure that it is entirely legal to have as much fun being a parent as Handsome and I have, but we'll do it anyways. A simple walk in the park turns into wading in the creek. For the next half hour. It also turned into flying airplanes. A wonderful pastime, you should take it up. Having fun with the kids. I wish I could say that it is completely unselfish and that I'm just there for the kids, but I'm not. I'm there for me too. Because I love it! They do and say so much fun stuff that I selfishly want to include myself in all of it. I don't want to miss any of it. The random games of Hide-and-Seek. Wanting to read stories until my voice gives out. Totally random things that kids the world over love to do. Maybe it is because I'm still internally 5. Maybe it's because I love squishing mud between my toes. Maybe...I'm not really sure why it is. I just love being there, enjoying the moment, with my (mostly) wonderful kiddos.

To Be...

In all honesty, today I'm a little "off" as my wonderful man would say. Peaches and Mr O are behaving wonderfully, four legs is doing his best to impersonate a sleeping hedgehog, and I'm relaxing in Handsome's chair. So, why am I "off?" Who knows. I'm not really sure. Perhaps it all began with the "can we" over and over again from the munchkins. Or perhaps it was the extra few loads of laundry. I'm not really sure. But somewhere in the middle of all that happened my mood soured just a touch. Just enough to loose patience a little faster with the angels. So this is me, writing about it in the hope that writing about it will get it out of my system. Yes, I know the old saying that happiness doesn't find you, you find happiness. Yes, I know that. Generally I am a live-r and a do-er of that statement. But not today. Today is a fresh mushrooms dipped in ranch day. A cup of cocoa while sitting in the hammock. Digging my feet into the freshly turned dirt of our garden and wondering at the blooming, growing plants. It is an endless story day. Eating cookies fresh from the oven for snack. Giggling over freshly made collages with Mr O and Peaches, then hanging them on the fridge. Now just to get the motivation to get off my butt and do it.

The Journey

Taking it one step at a time doesn't seem like much. Unless you are looking up at that mountain you are climbing and realize just how much further you need to go. When that happens the small things seem huge. The miniscule problems turn into huge issues. Life gets disproportionally out of whack. It is good to step back and remind yourself of the big picture every now and again. In fact, if you don't give yourself that reminder, you will find yourself merely living life instead of being an active participant. Having some long term goals are good. They give you something to reach for, to achieve. But also have some short-term goals. Smaller things that you can attain quickly and help you keep on track for those longer and harder to reach goals. Life is tough, but each step is one step closer. One little bit further along that path. The journey to forever.

Bingo!

Because my wonderful man has powers unknown.

Because my man is wonderful.

Because my man loves me.

Because I'm a silly female and prone to crazy mood swings.

Because our angels aren't always little angels.

Because the floor never seems to stay clean.

Because dog hair is now a permanent part of any clothing items in our house.

Because of the irritating habit four legs has of trying to rip up Peaches carpet.

Because four legs has succeeded in fraying Peaches carpet.

Because the grass is green.

Because of his wonderfully devastating smile that lights up my world.

Because we had chocolate for dessert after breakfast.

Because it's today.

Only Four

So to save anyone any more anxiety over the fact that I did not blog about Mr O's recent upset, now I'm blogging about it. As we all know, Mr O is an adventurer. He loves to do things that no one else would even dream of doing. Well, he pulled off another one. We have some good friends that live a little ways up the road and we paid them a visit for a couple days. To sorta get things rolling, Mr O pulled down the 1 inch diameter, 2 foot dowel that they have attached to a rope anchored to a beam in their ceiling. It helped their son stretch the one side of his body that didn't like to stretched, it made it a game and fun for him. So...the bar. Mr O pulls it down so that he can sit on it, about a foot off the floor. Then takes it up to the lazy boy, jumps off the lazy boy, and has an amazing swing going on. Until the crash happened. I'm pretty sure that it shook the whole house. He hit the underside of the counter. Now keep in mind, the rest of the counter is nicely rounded, no sharp corners at all. Except this one little spot of about four inches long where the underside of the counter is at a 90* angle. He had to hit that one little spot just right. And he did! Whambo! This kid is as tough as nails. Not a cry, not a whimper. Just "Mom, I hit my head." I take a look, and it was a good thing I was sitting down. Geez! It was deep and wide and not something that I could fix here at home. So a cold, wet, paper towel held in place, and into the car we got. Away to the clinic (where we waited for 3 hours). I had borrowed our friends camera (I forgot mine for the first time in a long time) and Mr O wanted pictures of everything. I had to take a before shot, iodine rinse, needle, knot tying, and finally the after shot. The Dr thought it was hilarious that Mr O wanted the pictures, he kept asking for me to take them. She just sat there, stitching him up and chuckling at me taking all these pictures that I'm never gonna use. All I wanted was the before and after shots. But 3 1/2 hours and four stitches later it is now a badge of honor to be shown off. And that my friends is how to spend a delightful morning reading stories to a boy with a really bad headache.

Ladybug Ladybug Fly Away Home

There are some moments in life that are just so precious. You know those moments. The times that you want to pause time, even for just a few minutes. Those moments that you carry with you in your heart like a talisman, guarding you against all the bad moods that exist. Like the time that you got that first hug or the first lisping of your new name of Mom or Dad. That first grin that was just for you. The toddling steps going as fast as possible to bring you a sticky kiss. The times that those dirty hands wanted to help so badly that there were more finger prints afterword then when you started. Those precious moments of friendship and childhood. I've been very lucky and have been able to catch a few with a camera, but because I'm human, and kids move so very very quickly, those moments caught on film are in the minority. Most moments are just in my memory, faulty as it is, the times are still precious. And there is always time to stop and smell the roses.

It's Just an Old Green House

It is a totally average dwelling. Inconspicuous. Towered over by trees. But for me, it isn't the house so much, it is the memories and the acreage surrounding the house that holds appeal to me. Driving that two mile gravel road was a trip down memory lane. The plume of dust that trailed out from behind our car. The sharp turns, ditches, and hills were as familiar as if it had been just yesterday. The old farmhouse that housed so many sleepovers, gingerbread parties, and friends confidences is still there. Still green. Still with a white roof. Still withstanding wear and weather. That old house. The one that was there to run to out of a rainstorm. The one that held the old wood stove to warm our cold fingers after a day of sledding. The house with the kitchen where so many hundreds of quarts of fruits, jellies, and veggies were canned each summer. There are so many memories. Sewing on the Singer that sat beneath the window. Sitting on the top of the hill and watching the fog roll in. Waking up to the smell of wheat ready to harvest. The intense heat of the kitchen throughout the weeks of canning. Opening a jar of pickles in the middle of winter and eating them all in a day. Baking for 4-H. Cakes and Cookies and Breads that all came out of the same oven. Watching my Mother and Father washing dishes, giving us girls a night off clean up duty. Singing in beautiful 3 and 4 part harmony with the whole family as we worked together. Slicing a watermelon and letting the juice drip off my chin, spitting seeds. Holding hands as we watched a sunset. Walking in wonderful camaraderie up the hill and back. Moving what seemed like endless irrigation pipes. Loosing shoes in the mud. Planting daisies in my purple converse. Making chains from clover blossoms. Learning to ride a bike on gravel. Holding Daddy's calloused hand as we walked up the hill behind the barn. Sledding endless runs down the hill and coming close to hitting the barn with the toboggan. It wasn't a house, it was a Home. We Lived there. We Sang there. We Worked, Cried, Laughed, and Mourned. But through it all there was Love.

Shhhh! It's a Secret!

Having a secret is one of the many joys of childhood. Especially when it is a secret from Mommy and Daddy. Having some one to share that secret with and still not tell Mommy and Daddy is a delight. Our children have discovered the joy of secrets. It is so fun to see one of them suddenly jump up and go rushing over to the other and whisper urgently into their ear untold mysteries. Once the whispering is done, they both smile, giggle a bit, and usually end up running off to play together. The fun that they have is catching, and I usually end up investigating just to quench my curiosity. It never fails that I find them happily playing together at some game that they make up, the rules of which are secret and cannot be shared with Mommy or Daddy. It's cute and fun and for now it is harmless. So I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts.

Four Tiny Shoes

In all that I've done and in all that I do, some days I just feel so small and insignificant. Like a caterpillar or an ant. Yes, I know that my job(s) is important. I know that I am needed. But there are those moments when I look around me and see that everyone is doing just fine without me and I can go find a hole to crawl in. Mr O and Peaches grow more and more independent every day. I love that...and I hate it. With them as self sufficient as they are already, I'm starting to have separation anxiety already. I feel that my children are normal and are growing up at a normal rate. But sometimes I just wish that we could freeze time. These beautiful children are leaping away from me. They are flying and I'm there helping them and yet wishing that they needed me just that little bit more. But they don't. I'm still a necessary part of their lives, this is true, but... Their Independence is coming at a price. They no longer ask me to help. Now they ask if they can do, and then go proceed with the activity on their own. No worries, I'm glad for the growth and that they are more and more self reliant, but I sure do miss those snuggles.

Recycling Takes Heat and Energy

Since apparently launching off bottle rockets from dry land wasn't good enough. No, we needed to launch them while sitting in the pool. So Handsome got the air compressor out, the kids grabbed a couple bottles, and away they went! Only one landed in the neighbors yard this time...and was quickly retrieved by a little boy who eagerly clambered over the fence to collect it.

Oooooh! Shiny!

I'm not really sure what it is with boys and cars, but they sure are fascinated by them. After the parade all the cars were parked on the street so that people could go by them and peruse at their leisure. So we walked through, admiring the shiny colors, lovely restored interiors, and cool wheels. The street held a veritable rainbow of beautiful shiny cars, buffed and polished to the perfect lustre. The wheels shone and sparkled with metalic joy, as if to say "Let's go for a drive!" So, of course, we had to take the tour. And now I really want to start in on the Fiat, cause those look so cool!

Comparitivly

The swarm before I collected the bees: After I collected the bees (about 4-5 pounds worth): And that is a good days work.

I Really Did Need Something To Do

When Handsome leaves for the day, I do what any normal mother/wife would do. I call all my friends and PARTY! Kidding. Keeping two kids alive is harder than that. The typical day consists of one or two loads of laundry, at least one load of dishes, getting the kids to do their chores, folding whatever laundry, running an errand or two, eating something somewhere in there (feeding the kids too), and whatever else just happens to land on my "to do" list. Sometimes you get great ideas, and just have to implement them. Well mine was to get some baking done. These last few days are some of the hottest we've had (although that isn't putting the bar very high) clocking in at 95*. For this area, that is oven-like. I wanted to bake though, so the dough was started. Cinnamon rolls and two loaves of bread. Oh how lovely! But that wasn't the only thing that happened, oh no. There needed to be more excitement in my day. So...the bees swarmed. They took off and decided to hang out in the tree that our swing hangs from. So me being the nice wife that I am, I call my honey. He thinks the swarm is cool, but don't worry about catching them, they are too far up and he doesn't want me to get hurt. Well, for me, that is a challenge. So...Out came the ladder. It wasn't tall enough. Pulled the table out of the dining room and put the ladder on top (do not ever do this) and then I was able to get close enough with my improvised net. The net consisted of a pillowcase with two wooden inserts to stiffen the top and attached to the long pole that goes to our tent. With that I was able to reach up and knock bees off of the branch and into the pillowcase. Fun, lemme tell ya! Lots of fun! Gwen was a gem and held the ladder steady while I climbed up to the second rung and caught bees. It took four times emptying the bag before the swarm was noticeably diminished. At that point there was probably 3-4 pounds of bees in the box I was collecting into. Spraying the bees with sugar water kept them calm while I was busy gathering more. The final (fifth) time going up the ladder with my improvised net, I knocked down and caught the queen. Party! I knew that I caught the queen because the rest of the bees abandoned the branch and flew around the yard looking for her. I gave the bees in the box a couple more sprays of sugar water, took the lid off the hive, and dumped them in. That was fun. For a few minutes there was a mountain of bees. Way cool. And that was an adventure, and entertainment for the entire neighborhood.

In a Line

In our community there really isn't much available to do unless you own a tractor. So, as nearly every town in America does in summer, we have a carnival. The carnival is like any other typical carnival: rides garunteed to make you puke, lots of deep fried and sugary foods, games to play, and a few good natured compititions. Our town also does a parade as part of the carnival. Lots of horses, flags, the marching band, candy, and cars. Lots and lots of cars. It was fun to watch! Peaches and Mr O were invited to participate this year in the Kiddy portion of the parade, and so got costumed up and walked through with a couple friends. After the kiddy parade was over it was time to find a seat for the "big" parade. To start off the parade there were the Vetrans carrying flags. Oh that was a wonderful sight! Seeing the bystanders get up, holding hats and hands over their hearts while those men and women who served our country walked past. Wow. It always gives me chills. My little kiddos also stood in respect, hands held in the vicinity of their hearts. Oh so precious! As those who served (and currently serve) passed from our view there were bright lights and honking to get our attention. The Sherrif department had to put in an appearance. Squawking up after the cop cars came the fire fighters in all their glory. This being a smaller town there were some additions to the fire brigade. They had harnessed up two draft horses to the old horse drawn engine and as those horses passed by it was as if the past was being echoed and applauded by the steps of those beautiful animals. Then there were two more antique trucks, followed by the trucks they use today. It was very intiresting to watch the decades and time march right by in front of us. After that there were some miscilanious entries and then there were the tractors. Beautiful, wonderful, tillers of the land. For a born and raised farm girl, those were a beautiful sight. Then the cars took over. Lots and lots of cars. Beautifully restored Chevies to monster trucks. Old Ford trucks and tiny little buggies. Ahhhh, beautiful small town fun!

Just One of Those Things

When taking a trip, one needs to be sure that there are a few good restaurants along the way. You know, clog your arteries good. While in the town where Handsome and I met, I insisted that I would expire unless we went to a particular eatery. So we went. Oh. My. Word. Iceburg! How I have missed you! Your lovely cheese burgers with lots of lettuce (I love lettuce). Your fries that are not smothered in salt, you can actually taste the fries. And my all time favorite: the milkshake. Any kind of milkshake flavor that you can dream up. Literally. They have it all! So good. So thick that to begin with you need a spoon because it is real ice cream. The kind of ice cream that is kept in a freezer. The kind that needs an ice cream scoop to serve up. Ahhhh, wonderful. Lovely. Delicious! I feel like I may have gained five pounds, but it was oh so worth it! Every single bite of cheese smothered burger. The onions, tomatoes, and lettuce made it healthy. Right? All those nice crispy fries that tasted like potato instead of salt. I'm starting to salivate again just thinking about it. To finish it off there was the best milkshake I've had in years that was not home made. Chocolate Mint, small, and wait-until-we're-at-a-park-so-that-it-can-melt-a-little goodness. Thick, creamy, real ice cream, flavored to perfection, I want another one now.

Close is Good

In Horseshoes and Family. Stopping to visit with various family members who live along our route of travel is always fun. Playing games, good company, and sunshine help the fun along. Our munchkins played with Ron's munchkins and had a blast. Tea parties, pretend play, and lots of dirt were on the docket. Those of us over the age of 18 preferred other types of games. Horseshoes being one of them. None of us had played in a year, some hadn't played in much longer. But we all did surprisingly well. Several ringers were thrown by various persons, and we all got our hands dirty getting the shoes back out of the pit. Halfway through our game we were interrupted. By a snake. It was trying to hide in the rocks, but Handsome risked life and limb, or possibly he had a coat hanger, and he got it. Took it out behind the shed and beheaded it. Mr O, of course, was most interested in this goings on and had to watch. Of course then he wanted to find another snake so he could do the honors, but thankfully Grandma's rocks were fresh out of snakes. And the interuption only took three minutes, and we were back at our game of horseshoes. We won too!

Any Faster and it Would be a Roller Coaster

On another day of our trek we followed a twisty, curvy, winding road. A road that nearly made Mr O carsick on a few different occasions (this is the reason we normally avoid all semblance of wiggly roads). But we went on that road and saw many many beautiful things. Old barns in ruins, and still being used. Wheat fields, oceans and oceans of beautiful, just turning gold, wheat. Sagebrush. There was an endless supply of that. Then quite suddenly the side of the road would drop away and there was a river! Oh, the sharp contrasts of the land blended together with the all important ingredient of dust. Tractors in motion stirring up more dust to blend the countryside together. In that area you can always spot a tractor because of the dust cloud that surrounds it. You may not see the tractor though. The barns that we saw were just...WOW. Amazing. They are the picture of the struggle between man and nature that is farming. Barns tell beautiful stories whether they are beautifully kept up or falling down from years of use and adverse weather. New barns speak of the faith and trust of good things to come. Old barns tell stories of the past; hay the was stored for winter use, animals sheltered, equipment overhauled, and the people that came and went. Oh if only they could speak!

Beginning

And so began the long trek of five days without food, without water, and without shoes. Ok, well not really, but we went on a trip. A lovely delightful trip. One that took up the entirety of five days. We began our trek in a quaint little town that many thousands visit each year. It is a tourist town, that is the only reason for its existence. Literally. That and it is the only gas stop for hours, but that isn't such a big deal anymore. So, we play a game. What town is it? And yes, most of you already know. All it took was one look at that particular font and you had it. Still it is a beautiful town, and one which Handsome and I plan to visit with more frequency as time goes on. It is lovely. Nestled in between the mountains, the river rushing by, it is always green and pretty. The first order of business is to walk the whole of Main St just window shopping. Then, on the way back, stopping in at a few shops for this and that is totally fine. Mr O got a wind catcher. Peaches purchased a pretty purple flowered hair pretty. Handsome got fudge (he did share). I was the spoiled one and was given a beautiful butterfly clip and several new magnets. It was a lot of fun. Just walking, relaxing. Being together as a family. Beautiful. We also stopped in for ice cream cones and sat in the window of the shop people watching as we ate the delicious, quickly melting treat. Peaches, being her mother's girl, got chocolate, that ended up in a beautiful moustache and beard before she was done. Mr O and Handsome went safe with vanilla and Passion Fruit, and I got to finish Peaches chocolate. It was good! We walked about in the park bordering the river for quite some time, discovering a small, little used, playground. I love the great excuse to be silly that having children provide, and so jumped on a swing next to Peaches until she moved on to bigger and better things. We also stopped in an old time portrait studio and dressed up for a fun photo. That is the best way to do family portraits! The kids totally loved getting dressed up and so behaved the entire time! It was fun, low key, and we were done (with pictures in hand) in 25 min. Amazing! It was fun, this little town, but we had to go. We'll visit again soon!

Simplicity

Nothing is really coming to mind right now except this one question: What is freedom to you? And what would you give up to stay "free?" To me freedom is the right to make my own choices. From whom I marry, to how many children we have, where we live, where we work, the people we spend time with, the religion we believe in. And so many more I could go on for days, but I won't. I'll spare you that. But, really. What is freedom to you?

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

If you are trying to cross Rail Road tracks in my area expect delays. The five to ten minute kind. We went on a hike and on our way back we got to watch a train. It was slowing down. Then it stopped. The car behind us was not excited about the wait and tried to go around the tracks. Unbeknown to them, the road we were on had only one outlet, and we were waiting for it to clear. And then along came another train! Whee! The engineer honked an extra time for the two little kiddos waving frantically from the windows of the truck. Boy howdy that was LOUD! Then the other train began moving again, slowly. Then, Whoosh! Both trains were gone and we could finally cross. Yay for trains!

What They are Really Saying...

Hey you! You digging the hole! I need a word. Yeah, well I'm a little busy. But you could really use a supervisor for this job. Someone who knows a little about digging holes. Ok. You need to go a little to the left. That good enough? Yeah, perfect. Now just a little more depth. We need to be sure to trip up whoever comes into this area of the yard. Oh yeah! I'm awesome! Uh Oh, Here comes a human. Look innocent!