Having a Field Day

Ella took the girls and Sherm to the field with her one evening.  They took supper down to Ash where he was harvesting.  I'm going to let her take over with the writing, since I wasn't there.  Don't you just love the 90's.....or maybe even 80's.....coats :)  Hey they were CHEAP!  And for this kind of expedition.....we need cheap, replaceable if ruined.......problem is.....they NEVER ruin the cheap ones!

 You can't beat steak sandwiches and cheese ball in the field huh?:)   The girls were all too pleased to sit right down in the dirt and grime and snarf away!!  I think between the two of them they managed to only pick up one sticker in their jeans. I on the other hand was not so fortunate!!   ;)

 We enjoyed a beautiful sunset with the joy of our picnic and then the cold set in...Can you believe it though, Miss Cat only said "I cold"  ONE time!!  I think it is a breakthrough of some sort!  

 

Judy pointed out to me that in these next couple pictures they look like little Indians out on the prairie that have been dropped off to eat supper all alone! I can assure this was not the case!! I was just enchanted with the scenic view behind the two lovely subjects. :)    

 And much to my amazement the were totally content to sit and eat!  All of their sandwich went down the hatch.  The meat first and then some bread, lettuce and tomato. At one point Iley simply had an onion she was eating without anything with it! I thought sure it was going to be tasted and tossed in the garbage.(the ditch directly beside us)  But nope! It didn't even faze the lil trooper.

 The cheese ball and dip was shared with much reservedness and quite pouty faces appeared when it was gone until.... the dessert appeared!

Caramel and chocolate dipped apples!!  The loved it and were more than happy to share...

 and help...

 and help some more...

 Then she got it all to herself and the delight just shines out of her!!    Well delight until she tried to take a bite...

and then laughter! The poor girl is missing her two front teeth!!   But that did not stop her from trying! She had juice running from her mouth dripping off her chin and a mile wide grin the whole time:)

 And back to Iley for some more germ swapping. YUM!!   Much to my chagrin the apple ended up being passed to me to take bites out of and hand to them because their mouths were too small to really set in and get a chunk!   No worries though, for those of you who know me, mine was well large enough to get the job done and they cheerily ate the pieces handed them until all that was left was a core and a stick.

 And then the real fun begins!  Ash and Sherm showed up to grab some supper and load us ALL up into the grain truck with them.   I have decided the cab of a grain truck is none too large for five people. There are only two seats, the drivers, which Ash occupied, and the passenger's taken over by Sherman. The girls and I were placed on the center console and let the ADVENTURE REIGN!!

Oh did I mention.....Our driver was eating....we were driving through the field over huge irrigation ruts....the girls were finishing their apple....snagging more cheese ball from Sherm....laughing at me and squealing LOUDLY when we would go over bumps because it would jostle me into falling in between Ash's seat and console....with the tractor and grain cart unloading onto us. They thought it was great!!

 I don't know who this handsome guy with the darling sisters is, but some lady should snag him up quick before he is taken!;)    Oh wait that's right....! I already did that.  Love this guy and all he does for us!  He was a trooper welcoming all the chaos and confusion.

He loaded and unloaded multiple times when we switched machinery to ride in. Cheerfully enjoying it all the while.

 Oh don't worry all three of us girls fit in the combine with Shaun the friend who was running it. I'm not saying it was comfortable but we fit!! They were intrigued with all the grain falling into the back as they watched out the back window. But I think their overall favorite was having the tractor and grain cart pull up beside us and we would dump grain in it while we were still moving!!!! So much excitement it can barely be handled!:)

 Have you ever seen such sticky little mugs in your life?   The great thing about being the older sister and not the momma is that you just leave them sticky all the way home and leave them at the mercy of the momma who throws them in the tub when we get home!  :)

Thanks Ella!  For taking the kids for a fun outing......for leaving me with some peace and quiet......and just for loving us.

Life in the Not So Fast Lane

Kyndahl and Thatch came over.......and Sherman relentlessly pestered asked them to play UNO with him.

Doesn't Thatch look thrilled :)  The spectators were very interested.

 Reading books with Dad.

He did some unexpected noise and cracked Iley up!  She says "hey!" and elbow chops him!  Wren is already moving on to the next page.  She really prefers to look at the books herself so she can turn them at her own speed.

Wren.....has struck again.  Not a string this time........but why?  She just saw the possibility I guess.  Her imagination never ceases to amaze, and at times annoy me :)

 Roller Skating.....sort of.  They aren't brave enough to venture on to the hard wood yet.

 I have no idea why they wouldn't try the hardwood??

 Wren's imagination again :)  I look in to check the water level on the floor......and see this...who knew a bubble wand could be so versatile!

Mascara.......

 Lip gloss.........

Rub it in good........

a little blush for your cheeks........

Wren is starting to say her name :)  it sounds more like Wen, or yen.....but she is definitely trying!  We are seeing so much less frustration induced fits of defiance as she learns more and more language....by sign, or speech.  She is interacting and participating more at school as well.  Answered prayer!! Thank you Lord. 

We were watching something suspenseful on the computer and Kyndahl who was standing beside Iley said
"That makes my tummy hurt!"  Iley looks at her and matter of factly tells her "Go in there then" pointing to the other room. :)  Like go somewhere else if you don't like it.  Some times she picks up a little too much attitude from her older brothers......I'm SURE she never heard her mother say something like that ;)

At bed time the other night we were talking about going to heaven to live with Jesus some day.  Iley in a very worried tone says "I don't want to live with Jesus, I want to stay here with you!"  So I said "maybe someday we will visit Jesus together."  She was fine with that.  Tonight while putting her to bed, she says  "We will climb, and climb and CLIMB..(she's making motions like climbing a rope) up and up and up"......I asked her (because I had completely forgotten the prior conversation) "Who is climbing with you and where are you going?"  She is like duh mom "you and me, we are going to see Jesus at his house up in the sky.  We will eat luuuunch with him, and play with his toooys n ever thing"  I said "well that sounds like fun huh! I bet he has the BEST toys ever!  He made all the people and animals and trees....I bet he made the best toys too!" "YEAH!" she was pumped!  Now lets hope she doesn't ask how we get there!!  These conversations ALWAYS happen at bedtime when you are aching to get to your own bed.  But you just STOP everything and enjoy the moment.  The whole time from the other bed Wren is saying "I lub"  I lub" (I love you)  wanting in on the conversation too.  Her Jesus knowledge is going to be extra hugs and I love you's for now. She just doesn't have a grasp of language enough yet, or the attention span, to try to explain it.  It is a frightening thought that her religion is coming from ....Our actions.........not what we say..........and she is a VERY observant little soul.  If she gains a love of God from that.........God is merciful indeed, and the Holy Spirit is working overtime! 

He made me a mother.

Happy Belated 24th Birthday to this sweet Boy!  We love him like crazy this first born of ours.  He has been a blessing and a delight to raise.....once we survived his toddler days.  His high energy landed him in trouble so many times.  It was usually not premeditated, just an exuberance of energy.  He would come home from a grueling two hours of foot ball practice and still be bouncing around like an energizer bunny.  But his cheerful and sunny disposition, and his willingness to help do about anything, made him a pleasure to be around.  He was friendly to all, but only had a few close friends. He has become a wonderful husband and a man of God.  We Love you Ash and are so glad that God placed you in our crazy household :) Hope you had a happy Birthday.

This was at his wedding in Feb.

 

The energizer bunny!

  

Ella (his wife) invited some friends over to Thatcher and Kyndahls house for his Birthday. (their apt. is too small for more than a couple of extra's)

They're so cute :)

 Harrison

Harrison and his friend Gordon. Sherman was at a friends birthday party.

 Kyndahl and her mom Suzy, who was here for a visit.

 Thatcher was expounding about something, and Ash was listening.  I get amused at all their expressions :)

 These four got bored with our adult conversation so they were watching finding Nemo on Kyn and Thatch's bed.

Carrie, on the left, is married to Micah who is on the far right.  Her brother Isaac is in the middle.

The brothers in law.

 The hosts......aren't they cute :)

  

I had braided their hair like this for school, but by the time they got home it was looking pretty rough.  

 So we took it down...........and leaving it this way was NOT an option, and we didn't have time to wash it, so it had to go back up.  The first time around, they thought it was great.........until I got to those little bottom hairs.......then you'd a thought I was scalping them!  Seriously, I've never seen or heard such carrying on.  The thought of going through it again about had them in tears before we started the second round.

 But they were rather pleased with the results, and had one of their chummy sister moments over it.

Prepare yourself Gwen!  The next several pics will drive you crazy!  Wren's glasses are down on her nose again:(  I didn't notice until I looked at the pictures.  I try, really I do she just has NO nose bridge!

Wren did this hand sign unprompted!  It has been a while since she's done the victory, or peace thingy that we saw in every picture sent before adoption.  I thought we were past it, and here it showed up out of the blue.

Iley to Sherman~ "What's your problem?"

Wren is doing so much better at school!!  YAY!  We are getting regular notes home now.....about how well she's doing, and what she's learning......instead of had a rough day, and what do you suggest we do.  Whew!  Thank you Lord.  She is so incredibly smart.