Our Aweful Beautiful Life

  A few (okay, probably more like 8ish) years ago, I was riding with my Dad in the combine. (I'm sure I've mentioned it here before, but I'll proudly say it again -- that's one of my ALL-TIME-FAVORITE things to do.) While on that particular ride, something just came over me -- a feeling that made me proud to have grown up on a farm, thankful for the work that my Dad was raised to do, and the knowledge of the farm that he imparted on us kids.   Granted...I wasn't overly involved in the day to day tasks -- I could probably drive a tractor with a quick reminder lesson, and I never did learn how to drive the grain cart, or the trucks (especially not the semi's)....but I could do something (that was very important) for the farm. I could feed the men who needed the nourishment to survive this wonderful (and tiring) work. We all played a part come spring planting and fall harvest -- and I think that's what kind of all culminated on that one particular ride with D...

Shake your booty!

This weekend was rough. Lots going on. Toddlers on VERY little sleep. Up before 5:30am on a Saturday. Momma chasing kiddos and commanding a garage sale (with little to no wine). Being polite and trying to negotiate with someone trying to screw you out of another $.25. Toting a 2, 4 & 5 year old up town to a festival street lined with thousands of people in the noon-day sun, while dressed for late fall weather. Up early again on Sunday to make it to church to continue to set a good example for our children. Rushing a crying 2 year old to the cry room to heal the wounds from her fall from the pew. Playing games in the back the church yard, and hauling home all the pieces to the take-out turkey dinners. Feeding the calves and watering the hogs -- in the pitch black of the barn.  It was ROUGH. Jason was gone on a fishing trip, and although it was my idea that this was the weekend he goes, looking back -- another weekend might have been better. He left Friday afternoon and w...

It's that time again -- time to share my "out of the mouths of babes" moments. Get ready, there are a few doozies in here... Let's start with Miss Emmalyn.  Yes, she's rapidly expanding her vocabulary and the difference between the first post I did like this (with things colton was saying) and now -- with Emmalyn, is that she's got a 4 1/2 year old teacher. Emmalyn: -- "No, bubby. NO!" - typically followed with some kind of swat or kick or martial arts move. She's our fighter. -- "I non't know"...and what's funny about this one is that sometimes she uses it in context, and sometimes she doesn't. I don't think she even really gets what she's saying, but the fact that she uses the same tone as Colton when he rips out an "I don't know"....when he's in trouble (and he knows it) -- tells me exactly where she's learned this gem. -- "No, Mommy pitty" -- a personal favorite, if you wi...

Year number two of preschool is underway, and Colton was a total champ. (So was Mom...by the way.) Gotta love First Day of School pictures! :) September 4, 2012 Thankfully, they recovered from the night before the first day of school. I spent my labor day shopping with my Mom. (I liked to call it bonding time.) To get back at me for being gone so long (subsequently prolonging his fishing trip with my Dad & brother...) my wonderful husband gave not one, but both of our children some diet Mt. Dew. Wasn't that sweet of him? Oddly enough....it turned out to be a really fun...crazy evening. Don't judge...it'd been a long day shopping....and a fun long weekend! :) I love how Emmalyn instantly caught on to the silly face making.... Love these two more than they will ever know! I have to admit though, this isn't Colton and I's first silly face photo shoot.....we had one earlier in the summer too! :)

My friend Rajean does this from time to time, so I'm going to give it a try. Just for fun, let's go back in time... 1 year ago... Colton's First School Days 2 years ago... Summer 2012 Albeit a good idea. I just spent the better part of 5 minutes wiping away tears going, "Where has the time gone?". It's reminded me to take/post more videos of the kiddos. I love hearing their little baby voices!

I can't hardly believe that summer has come and gone in the blink of an eye. It happens every year...we wait and wait and wait for summer...and then we have so much fun filling up the dog days, that its gone in a blink. And this summer had more than it's fair share of dog days -- 100's+ much of the summer made for lots of interesting outings. Since I've been a poor blogger recently, I'll try to do a month by month recap below to get caught up.  I know I last blogged July 2nd, but I think there are some June happenings that are worth mentioning... June In my last few weeks as a conference coordinator for the Purdue Conference Division, I hosted around 12 conferences and over 1,000 guests. In two weeks. It was ridiculous. Oh, and I threw my daughter a second birthday party. And hosted a great group of friends for our Memorial Day campout. It was ridiculous. And for the most part, the reason I no longer work in that division. I LOVED what I did there. I truly en...