Who's Idea Was This Anyway

On Tuesday I came home to THIS in my KITCHEN.

Don't bother counting. 30 yellow and 45 BLACK baby chicks.

Don't worry, I knew they were coming BUT oh my gosh. They are loud AND our cat already got one! You should have seen me. I was chasing her on our deck with a water bottle trying to get her to drop it. She jumped off the deck (no stairs on our deck) I jumped off, she went under the deck, I continued to yell and THEN she went down a hole in to an old septic tank!!! I could hear the poor chic squawking and I could do NOTHING. Oh I was mad.

Before that saga we did get to play with them outside. May I add I am NOT a bird person. This is a HUGE step for me. I'm wondering if getting them from just little chicks will make me 'OK' with the entire getting the eggs process. Miss A expressing my thoughts:
There is a chic in b/w her legs.


Of course Mr C'man loved them. He talked gently to them and repeatedly told me they miss their mommy.

After about 2 hrs of them chirping ENDLESSLY,I called DH and asked him to please get home NOW I'm going NUTS! I couldn't leave the room b/c one time the cat got one and the next time they were jumping OUT of the box. OH and someone let the cats back in and I found a chic in the dining room, still alive.

This is where the are now:

In a baby pool, in the garage. I can't hear them now thank GOODNESS! Oh and then one of our dogs, K-Dee is obsessed with birds. Can ya tell??

The yellow chicks are ours and the black are my BIL's. Those black ones are MEAN!!

I can't believe I have chickens and I hope we can keep them around. We have so many people that will buy farm fresh eggs and I want the kids to experience farm life as much as they can! Next on my list is a bottle calf:)

Easter Recap

Let me first say that the reason I haven't been blogging lately is that Friday AM I decided I didn't need my right thumb anymore and split it open on a cheese slicer. Needless to say, no stitches, well actually I didn't even go to the doc, but the pharmacist freaked out on me @ Target. So yeah it's inhibited what I can do AND i have to worry about staph, specifically MRSA. It's looking better so here I am. ALSO how do you moms who blog, find time to post? Good grief it's virtually impossible.

That all being said, its 745 Tuesday night and the children are sleeping allowing me to do some posting!

I have NOT calmed down any with all the gay marriage debate going on here in Iowa. Well actually the definition of marriage. I don't know how many of me readers have me on facebook, but it pretty much sums everything up for me there. I have listed numerous status' and what a leap of faith that was. I have many liberal friends and even a gay friend. But out of everyone, she's the most civil about it. Another post, another day.

Back to Easter. We spent it at my parents. The kids and I went up Sat. AM after an Easter egg hunt here in town. It was pretty lame and I notice again that even 0-3 yr old's can be bully's. I had to ward off this 3 yr old from taking an egg right under miss A as she leaned down to pick it up. Some parents and there kids:) We ended up with only 4 or 5 eggs and that was just fine b/c it was just tootsie rolls inside. I told my mom that we got there at 1057 and were back on the road home, @ 1113:)

Fancy basket eh???

DH came up Sunday AM. He missed church, I knew that was likely with all the calving going on. My sister, BIL and niece were there from MN and then my brother, SIL and nephew from Washington DC. AND THEN, on Sunday my SIL's PARENTS came. All the way across the state. It was an interesting day on Sunday. But not bad.

Without further ado, here are pictures:

Here are my parents G'children:)

Without my nephew. They are holding there Easter baskets.

C'man was very observant that we all had red on:) Miss A was napping.

There you have it. How was your Easter? any cute pictures you'd like to share? Feel free to post your blog in the comments and will all come check them out!!

Spring Time On The Farm

So remember that snowstorm I posted the other day that we were supposed to get? Well guess what?? We got like a trace of snow! We were SO DARN LUCKY! Other areas to the north and south got @ 8-11 inches but we got as good as nothing! Now tell me, how does that work. For 5 days straight that's all the weather channels talked about. In fact events were cancelled already Friday night in anticipation of this huge snowstorm. Even at the 10 news that night, they were warning us. And I wake up Sunday to a dusting. But that's all OK with me. I was thrilled they were wrong! But I also know that here in the next couple months, as the weather gets warmer, they speculate about storms like they did this one, it's not going to be snow but tornado's! Had that been the case there is no doubt I'd had had our entire house packed in our basement:)

I think it's safe to say Spring has sprung! Know how I know?? The cows have started having babies. We went looking for baby's today and here's some shots of our little adventure.

Here are the kids, DH, and the dogs, heading down the road. Shhh I know no carseats.









The kids in the pickup getting ready to check out the babies.












This would be C'mans first calf from his momma cow. I guess he has some weird hair 'do' on his head. To far away to see it.















The momma cows are real good at hiding the baby. We looked and looked for this one and found it all huddled up in this pile of tree branches. Do you see it? We were actually able to get out and pet it.

Here's a protective momma! You really don't want to get b/w momma and her baby. We were lucky we could get out and pet this one b/c the momma was not near us. But you need to keep an eye out and be quite. Unfortunately Miss A does not know how to be quite and as soon as she got near the calf she was busy yelling for it's momma and it jumped up and took off. But C'man did get to touch it.

And the our ever so stylish Miss A. I don't know where she comes up with her outfits but they are pretty classic!

Does this 'life' interest any of you? I always find it so fascinating so see how others live, do you feel the same? Oh and speaking of that, the families that i met in Florida, are you out there? Do you have blogs and if so would you mind sharing??

Dr Laura

I'm listening to Dr Laura on Focus on the Family. Are you all familiar with her? She's talking about how important a job it is being your child's mom! And with that, being a stay at home mom. (SAHM). She has a new book out: In Praise Of Stay At Home Moms. It's very encouraging b/c they are talking about why it's important to be a SAHM. Seems we always hear the stories about how hard it is to be a working Mom. But for many, that's a choice. You don't have to live in the beautiful house with 2 car garage and newer cars, wear new clothes, etc. But let me tell you it's no easy task being a SAHM either. It has challenges just as much as being a working mom. But I take it any day over working outside the home.

I really listened carefully when they talked about the transition becoming a SAHM from a working mom. Oh man how I can relate!! Been there. I could so relate to the lady saying how it feels like you're catapulted into being a SAHM. You try to find groups to belong too, but can't seem to find somewhere to fit in. Feeling like a fish out of water. That was so how I felt when i started staying home. I remember my first MOPS I went to, I thought there is no way I can fit in here. I felt so out of place. And like the speaker said, felt like she was at a Betty Crocker convention. That is so true. NOW i feel like I fit in no problem. It was just that transition that was SO hard.

And the great question I'm sure we've all been asked while in a group setting of any sort and someone asks you:

'And what do you do?'

Dr Laura's response: "I take a house and make it a home"

No doubt we should talk with great pride in what we do, and then share an exciting story that just happened!! Or something that humbled you in to realizing how important it is how you're home.

Comments about how your kids are better adjusted, etc on either side, are worthless she says.

Tell you what, I'm feeling like this book should be a give away!!! What do you think? I'll give you details in a later post! But I do know that you need to be a SAHM to enter. I think we need to support one another. I feel there is more support for those that work outside the home moms, I know b/c I was part of that group. I know for certain there is far less support for the SAHM's. I've been on both sides of the fence

Gay Marriage Cont.

In follow up to my previous post about the recent gay marriage I have some information that backs up my feelings. Not sure if any of you are going to check out the links, but I feel I need to post them. The first if from Focus On The Family. Its about 5 min?? and the broadcast continues on.

Then the following from the Iowa Christian Alliance. April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) passed in 1998, and so now it is up to WE THE PEOPLE to show our legislators that they must LET US VOTE on a constitutional amendment.
This decision isn't only about "moral issues" - this is a breach of the constitutional separation of powers! The Iowa Supreme Court has attempted to make law - which is NOT the role of the judicial branch.
This decision is anti-family AND unconstitutional!
We need to tell legislators - "take your power back!"

If you check out this website for an entire page of information. Very good information!!

Bet You Wish You Were Here

Hey everyone. Please be VERY jealous of us in the Midwest right now. For two reasons. One we are about to get socked with a BLIZZARD. This is what a local news channels says:


***Blizzard Warning for Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon****
We have seen light to moderate rain falling across Siouxland so far today, with a little snow mixing in in far western counties. The transition from rain to snow will continue moving east through the evening and overnight hours. Once that changeover happens very strong winds will cause travel conditions will deteriorate immediately, with whiteout conditions and drifting snow. Your best bet is just to stay home tonight and Sunday morning or until the snow winds down. If you do have to travel, make sure you let someone know your travel plans, take a winter survival kit, and stay with your vehicle if you become stranded.



are ya jealous? Don't be!! This sucks. It's freakin April 4th and we're going to likely get over 6 inches of snow! My parents are going to get possibly over a foot!! Right now the wind is blowing some 40+mph. There is some rain in the air, but no snow. It's coming tho. I think by 6PM they said the blizzard warning goes in to effect.



Now the other thing that makes me proud to be from Iowa, NOT!! Iowa has begun the process of legalizing gay marriage. I know most of you know how I feel about this and when i get a little more time, maybe I'll expound. But lets just clarify, I am NOT for this. Marriage is defined as b/w one women and one man. Let's not going changing what is supposed to be.

Why do such a minority have such a big voice? Where is a voice like this for abortion?

I'm not sure what happened to our 60+degree weather, but its GONE and in place is some snow. It's not bad tho and really not sticking to the ground. Just about 60 miles west, (Nebraska) and North, they are predicting 6 inches of snow. Sorry NE people, but you can HAVE IT! I want to be done with winter. Even tho it doesn't last long, the snow, it'll be April 1st tomorrow, I don't want it!!

Today was a busy AM. I had 2 moms come over that home school. Then a friend of mine who home schooled their 3 children back in the day when it was really unheard of. B/w the 2 moms, and me, we had 12 kids here!! This place was a rockin. It went good tho. The mom with 7 kids, they are all so well behaved and really everyone had a blast. But I think the person who had the most fun was C'man. He was in his glory with so many kids to play with. There actually was only 3 boys out of the group.

I tried to keep everyone at bay so the mom's could talk, listen, etc. I did pop in from time to time and try to listen. I'm so on the fence about this home schooling. My friend Shannan told me yesterday that she heard a radio program where a mom just couldn't do some subjects herself. She found a retired teacher who she traded cleaning her house, for teaching subjects she wasn't comfortable in. Hmmm...how cool. i wonder if anyone would teach for purses???

I know we're NOT going to home school this upcoming school year. We are sending C'man to Pre-School. But we are staying open minded on both sides. Time will tell I guess. The main thing we as parents must do is stay vigilant in what our kids are learning. We need to read the books, study the material and really understand what they are learning AND if it meets our morals and ethics. Shannan told me that 75% of high school students loose there faith in HS. 95% loose it in college. That is absurdly high!!! But it makes sense. The public schools are taking every aspect of God out of there curriculum. They can't say how would God respond to that kind of behavior? Or do you think that was the right thing to do??

These thoughts of mine are NOTHING against the teachers. Let me make myself clear on that. As stated earlier, I have a BIL and SIL that are both teachers, and my other BIL is a College Professor. But what's happening, I feel, are the books are changing and the teachers are just teaching what's in the books. Not realizing what it's really saying, or noticing the direction things are going. The Government is becoming more and more involved and telling them how our children will be taught. It's no secret that many teachers/administration/etc are Democrats. Probably WAY more on both coasts then here. The Liberals are driving 99% of what are children are learning.

So yeah, the thought process in my head continues on. I want my kids to keep there faith and I will need to be more vigilant then EVER that every opportunity to talk about God and faith is discussed. When I subject my kids to 8 hours of 'learning' in a public school and as our country turns more and more away from the belief of that this Country was founded on, I may find it best to educate my kids right here at our kitchen table.

Not to mention that I guess now the big thing is teaching kids how to FEEL vs educating them!

Help With C'man's Lip

Can anyone tell me what to do, or advice us what to do? We're thinking this lip injury on C'man came a couple weeks ago when he was home with DH and touched a hot pan with his lip. He didn't cry or complain about it one bit. That was like 2 weeks ago?? Well now it's looking worse. The other night he came downstairs, before falling asleep, and had bit it with his lip. Which is what i think he's been doing. It was bleeding.

If anyone has some suggestions we can try i think that if things don't start looking better will go to the Doc Monday. In the mean time I'm putting Silver Hydrosol on it as often as he'll let me, then Vaseline at night.

ps the crumbs on his face are a result of the bars we made on Saturday.

Airplane Attack

That's right folks. I'm under siege by paper airplanes. Yesterday, Friday, I decided to try and make them. I found this great website that gave me step by step directions, with pictures. Gotta have pictures. I thought I had pictures, but i don't. But today, Saturday, I decided to make a hat!! Once again to the Internet and found theses directions. I had to make a fishing stick which I used my OWN creativity and came up with a plan. Of course this pole needed fish. I tried to find directions on how to make a paper fish but all I could find was Origami and I didn't have the right paper. i just cut them out of fish. And here's the finished products:

Now as we were waiting for our bars to bake that we made (miss A is napping) I wanted him to work on writing his name. Can someone tell me how I teach him to start writing from the TOP? Like when he makes an 'a' he starts at the bottom and then he's always making a q instead. I'm trying not to get frustrated but I'm running out of options. He will write his name but yeah, it all starts at the bottom. Same with 'S'. Here he is in his outfit getting ready to write.

He now is sitting here looking at the TV feeling I think defeated. Poor guy. I'm hoping I can come up with some way of it making sense.

I still would love to see more comments about the Call to Dunkirk. DH watched the video last night. He thinks we're not 'there' yet like other schools across the country are.

The Call To Dunkirk

OK Homeschooling readers, and non, please tell me what you think of this. I agree with much of what is said just not sure I'm going to be able to home school my kids. I don't think our schools here in NW Iowa are that Liberal.
The video is @ 5 1/2 minute. But I really would be interested in what you think.I know I have at least 2 homeschooling mom's that read this.

There are some valid points: Culture is shaped by how we educate our children.
14,000 hours are spent in school
who ever controls the school (gov't) will control the children

I also thought the bible verses were good.

BUT!!!! I almost think the video was a little much. As I stated above, I don't think our schools HERE are in the liberal control that schools across the country are in. No, I don't like the amount of Government that is involved but I also know that without some Government, there is no telling what could happen. My BIL and SIL are both teachers. They are both great teachers, so I've heard:) I know our school district has great teachers and the idea of keeping my children from being taught by these great teachers and really learning, is something I need to do. I do not have it in me to home school. That being said, if there came a point in time where the teachings got ultra-liberal, I would most definitely pull my children out and figure out how to home school them.

I'm not opposed to those who do home school, my friend Shannan is, and I commend you all for doing it. I ask that if you do respond here, you do it respectfully for those who may be for, or are against, homeschooling. I'd like to hear your response to the video and know why you do, or do not, home school, but respectfully.

Psycho-Geometrics

FINALLY I'm going to say what the shape says about you:) This is all paraphrasing what was told to us that night by the speaker. I don't have time to give a more detailed description and I'm thinking most of you don't have time to read a detailed description.
Square: You are on task for the team. Friend for life. Only buy a used vehicle. Generally White vehicles. You like to do things in order. A then B, C, etc Typically organized!!
Rectangle: Burn out easier. Your the curious one on the team. You can handle transition and change fairly easily.
Triangle: drive red vehicles. Athletic. Have courage and like to be in charge.
Circle-Tendency to hold grudges. You like to bake and collect. You're fair-no wishy washy. You can see both sides of an argument.
Squiggly-You like to have fun. Creative. Appear disorganized but can find that piece of paper easily. Like to organize in piles.

I know this is brief description but I'm thinking you'll be able to identify with the explanations. I was a squiggly and am not surprised. I had to laugh what she said about meetings/group activities. The square keeps everyone on task, the rectangle questions everything being done, the triangle wants to be in charge the circle listens to everyone's thoughts and the squiggly says what meeting? or what time is it at again??

That is SO me. I know I have a meeting just a couple days prior I'm like, oh I can't forget that church meeting. Or I can't forget I have to be here. I generally remember, but often will have a mild panic attack remembering that I have to remember:)

The square, rectangle and triangle are left brain people while the circle and squiggly are right brain.

Tell me, did the description fit you??

Pillow Pet Fundraiser-MOPS

My local MOPS group that I belong to, is having a fundraiser. I'm in charge of it:) Not sure if that's a good thing, but its been going great. We are selling these pillow pets. You'll have to click on the link b/c I can't copy and paste a picture off of the website.
I'd love to sell some to those of you who read my blog:) They will make great Easter gifts, baby gifts, birthday presents, you name it. They are wonderful and my kids have been lovin them for a couple months. Since I'd have to ship most of them I'm going to sell them for $25 and that would include shipping. Otherwise, they are $20 if you can pick them up. They are super light so I don't imagine they'd cost more then $5 to ship.

HOWEVER, only the following are available for our fundraiser:
Monkey
Frog
Panda
Cow
Duck
Turtle
Pig
Lady Bug
Penguin

Please let me know BEFORE March 31st as that's when I'm placing the order.

Catching Up

Sorry about not posting something sooner. Of course it's not b/c I'm at a lack of what to blog about but more just not having the time. I spoke today to a ladies circle group at church. I spoke just about adoption. It was good. I cried this time, and I think they all did too. They were so sweet tho. They enjoyed greatly what I had to say and were so kind. Once home the lady, who happens to be my neighbor, stopped by with a floral arrangement. They were wondering what they could do for me and thought that would be a nice thing. I LOVE it!! It smells so wonderful in our kitchen. I'm thinking about taking them to my bedroom so I can wake up to them.

I really really want to get out more and speak to people/groups/individuals about either or both, adoption and infertility. I'm becoming more comfortable with it and really feel it's my calling. I don't mind public speaking one bit and I have story to tell, boy do I ever:)

Of course I do manage to put a humorous spin to it. Can be crying one minute and the next we're laughing. Today was real casual. Like when I spoke to the High School girls, I just sat down and presented that way. Either way is just fine.

Tonight was Mom's Night Out. I had a grand time. We got pretty silly. I came prepared this time with questions such as: What's been your greatest accomplishment to date? Who do you talk to on a regular basis (besides kids and husband) and one that got us really going, tell us something that would surprise us?? OR have you ever skinny dipped??

It was fun. I'm trying to calm down. All that laughing just really got me hyped up!

Went to the chiro yesterday, finally. We went ahead and had a X-ray of my lower back. It's been bothering me since my miscarriage in December. It's very abnormal for me to have lower back pain. It's mainly at night, not horrible, but consistent. Been kind of bothering my mind, wondering what's going on. I didn't hear back from him today, don't know if that's good or bad. I also got a message from my doc's office that the auto immune testing would run @ $1000. YIKES!! I need to probably just go and see an OB at my OB clinic that saw me for Miss A's pregnancy and delivery as well as my first miscarriage. Thinking it could be cheaper there. I also am waiting to hear from my Reproductive Endocrinologists office. They sent off for my records.

Lots on my mind:) This weekend is our St Patricks Day Dinner and Dance for our community center. I also need to get a grant written by the end of the month. Applying for a $10,000 grant to be used for our Community Center. Any of my readers have experience in writing grants? I have NEVER written one and would appreciate any help you could offer.

So yeah, the kids?? They are doing well. It's been just beautiful here. 73 on Monday! We are spending lots of time outside. I hauled most of the toys from the barn, to the garage. DH lost his parking space in the garage:) I do continue to paint the garage. It is officially all primed and I really only have 2 walls to paint. I should be able to do that tomorrow. Feels like it's drug out but we didn't want to heat the garage knowing it was going to be getting nice soon.

My dryer is broke. Think it's the heating element. The repair man came by tonight while DH was putting the kids to bed. He had forgotten. He's coming back tomorrow. I hope he can fix it then. I'm going to be getting behind.

Well I'd better get going. DH is here telling me it's time to get to bed:) I have this thing about being first in bed!!

How about some pics from Disney World!??

I LOVE this picture of her. She is SO happy.

50's Prime Time Restaurant. We all were VERY tired and this place was not the place to eat after a day @ the park.

It's A Small World

I love this pic:) Me on the phone with a great background

There limo's for the trip!

The first real ride C'man rode. Star Wars. He wasn't to sure about it.
Miss A HATED the characters. She's like NOOOO

On the Tea Cups which Miss A calls the coffee cups

I'm on this somewhere. It's the Everest roller coaster @ Animal Kingdom. i really was not to sure I wanted to go on it. But it was GREAT!!

Riding the train around Magic Kingdom

Pictures

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures of the kids.

C'man likes to pull a variety of faces:

Happy:

Sad-Can you see that lip

Loving his shades:

Miss A after she found all her stuffed cats:

She looks like such a big girl here.

I'm Sinking

It's finally getting nicer here so yesterday (Friday) I sent the kids outside. Miss A didn't last long before getting to cold. C'man decided he wanted play in the sand box (not much sand in there) on the deck. He changed out of his boots and put his crocs on. Before I knew it he must have decided that the sparse amount of sand was not going to suffice him. He got off the deck. I started to wonder where he went to when I discovered he was in the mud and he appeared stuck.

He looked at me and held his hands up which were covered in mud. I grabbed my boots and went out to get him.

When I got out there he kept saying he was sinking:) Yeah, so was I. He was stuck alright. I went to lift him up and his shoes stayed. When I went to move, my boot stayed. CRAP I was either going to fall face in to the mud or walk with my sock thru the mud. I opted to walk thru the mud. Luckily I had at least one boot I was able to get out of the mud, with my foot in it.

Below is what was left:

You can't even see his crocs b/c they are buried.

I got us all in the house without getting to much mud on us. I put him right in the tub. His one foot was covered with mud, along with pants and coat. I then went outside to take pictures. I really had to chuckle seeing my boot out there in the middle of the mud. Then DH came home. He said 'are ya missing something??'

He retrieved them for me. A video of that. Please try and disregard our voices:) I wish I could have picked up the sound made from pulling them out of there. Was so funny. The background is yucky. That's our plan this summer to clean up this place.

And here is the end result:

And our sucks which I ended up just throwing away. The would have NEVER come clean.