Habits

Hello? Hello? yes, I am a creature of habit, routine, thrive having a list, a plan and following it. Well.......we all know WHO is truly in charge! The last two weeks our routine has been turned on it's ear. A typical school day for me

4 - 5 or somewhere in between - feed Lincoln
6 am, wakeup, dress, empty dishwasher
6:10 wake Layton up (Julia normally pops out of her room too)
6:20-6:40 breakfast, pack lunches
6:50 (give or take 8 minutes) Layton on the bus to school. Me, enjoy my coffee
7:20-8 - daily cleaning, make beds, start laundry, fold laundry from night before, usually while talking with my sister or Dad
8-8:30 - deep cleaning task (vacuum, dust, clean bathroom, blog (yes I know weird to classify as a deep cleaning task but it works in my neat little world)
Rest of morning play with Julia and Lincoln (play, paint, dress up, giggle, dance, read,snack time and Lincoln morning nap)
Lunch
Cartoon
Naptime for Julia and Lincoln (I kick into gear with supper prep, running my Mary Kay business, bookwork, returning calls, maybe a little reading for pleasure)
Play until Layton gets Home!
5 - Layton HOME, then usually 30 minutes of homework and spelling words
Supper
7 pm baths,bed and book for Layton and Julia followed by Lincoln
8 pm finish supper dishes, pick up, prepare for next day
9-10 relax!

WAKE UP, REPEAT...until wheat drilling season, sickness, travel, or 100 other things interrupt. The kids and I really like going to help Evan with work at the farm, servicing tractors, moving fields, checking fields, shop time. He doesn't expect much heavy lifting from us but does enjoy the company from time to time. Plus being at the shop gives me and excuse to clean vehicles out, watch the bucket calves, get Julia more bike riding time, enjoy the fresh air!

My body likes routine and schedule, it makes me happy and at peace. Next challenge is for me to get outside workout time into the schedule (walking or jogging) every day!

End of Summer

End of Summer is bittersweet! Cooler temperatures are on the way! Wheat is cut! Milo is growing! Garden is producing! Kids are back to school :(. Fair time has came and went! :( .

Layton started kindergarten earlier this week, he is rocking it (in my opinion). So far (three days in) no trouble, seems happy, and enjoys going each morning. He is liking lunches, his teacher and recess is the favorite subject of the day. Also to those who know him, he is wearing shorts! Strange for him but it has been hot, hot hot.

Julia, Lincoln and I are still working to find our routine. We all have breakfast together then Layton is off to the bus. My goal is to have supper ready in the oven or crockpot during afternoon nap so after school we can play!! It's a work in progress but we will find a groove! I might be the odd parent out, but I really enjoy having all the kids home together playing and fighting with each other.

Lincoln turned 6 months old! He weighed in at 17lbs 9 oz. He has started eating cereal, vegetables, bananas, and applesauce!

Rooks County Free Fair was last week, another first without Mom. The kids took their bucket calves and did well. It was my first time pulling the stock trailer and we had no issue! After I decided keeping up with the flow of traffic was more important than gas mileage. It was a busy, crazy few days but I loved every minute. The fair is a good time to catch up with many friends, see how things have changed, eat good food, and for me volunteer to give back to the 4-H kids. The kids had fun, Papa had fun and I'm very thankful and blessed my sister and brother in law came to help with Lincoln! Three kids, two calves and a stroller get a little tough to maneuver. Going home it was three kids and three calves! We added Spots to our growing herd.

Signing off for now, please say a prayer for those sick, grieving the loss of a loved one, those searching for answers and trying to find their way. We don't know what others are going through and wouldn't want to walk a mile in their shoes so don't judge; be kind, be patient, and be tolerant.

Happy Birthday

**Written 8/5, posted 8/20

Happy Birthday tomorrow Mom. I love you, miss you, and long to talk to you each day. To just hear your voice one more time or tell you about the craziness of the kids. So much as changed in 5 months since you went home yet so much as stayed the same.

The kids did so well last week showing their bucket calves, I was so stressed and worried; then they surpassed what I ever thought they could. Dad laughed about how tightly wound I was. Julia had to pee half way through trying to get out of talking to the judge, she told him her name was "little girl" she must not have liked him much. As she came out of the show ring, she dropped Lily's lead rope, ran to Papa and jumped into his arms saying "I did it papa, I did it". My heart was bursting with pride, I never knew how much I could love my kids. Layton did so well, he was perfect, he will be my little showman who will get overlooked for the cute little girls.

Evan and Layton has been sick. True to form, Evan's isn't just something easy to find...Doc thinks it might be west nile, she ran blood tests, ua, and chest xray. He is on the mend, fingers crossed his platlets stay normal.

Lincoln turned 6 months old today. He had his first vegetables, peas, from the garden. He really liked them...he was cranky today, must have another tooth coming. He loves his siblings to pieces, lights up to watch them play, loves to giggle and play peek a boo and his johnny jumper. He especially likes Julia to build blocks near his jumper to sneak over and knock them down.

Layton stayed at the farm with grandma to help make salsa. We enrolled him in kindergarten today. My little boy will be in school ALL DAY starting in 13 days..I'm not ready, excited for him though. He has buddies in class, it will be an experience for his teacher. Friday night he said "so you later" to his best buddy Colton. They are moving back to Oklahoma for his Mom to go to nursing school. I admire her for taking the steps, but will miss them to pieces. My heart broke when Layton said "colton, I will miss you so much" he loves and cares so deeply for others and is such an intense little guy.

Next week we head up there for fair, taking the calves. it will be an experience, most things are with the kids. Bec will be there to help with Lincoln. Dad even remembered to buy arm bands for the carnival!

Election was today, the next few hours will tell Dad's immediate future. If he wins, he might hang up the route bus keys, that has been a long time coming...I'm waiting to hear something like an expectant parent.

As I sit hear crying thinking back to all the birthdays we celebrated or didn't do much for. The most memorable has to be your 50th we had cake during fair cleanup...I also went and forgot about Linda's yesterday...she will hopefully forgive me..

Love you and miss you. Please keep watch over us as we heal everyday forever.

Time Marches On

Time Marches On! Summer is waning to an end, only slightly over 3 weeks until school begins again. Layton will be in kindergarten, all day, away from us...SO.NOT.READY. I love having my kids at home, yes they make messes, lots of noise, ask thousands of questions, argue, fight, don't always listen, but I love them and love spending time with them, knowing they are close to me.

We have had Lincoln almost 6 months, he's eating cereal once a day. Growing so fast, starting to jabber (yes, it's in their DNA, evan hasn't been received a quiet kid :) ) and thinking about rolling over. He is marching forward!

Julia, dear sweet, lovely Julia. She's so matter of fact and honest and truthful. I'm so happy she is home with me for another year!

Time is marching on, we still have a load of things to get done this summer.
*County Fair x2, the kids get to show their bucket calves at Tribune, then we will travel to Stockton. *Carnival with best buddies in both places too!
*Roast Marshmellows, we have done that once in the mountains
*SWIMMING
*Lake Time
*Outdoor waterbed
*Back to school shopping
*Say "see ya soon" to one of Layton's best buddies as his family embarks on a new journey in Oklahoma
*Laugh, play, make memories together to hold onto forever

Dad has been telling us about trips he and Mom talked about taking, most (ok, basically all) they never got to. There were always excuses, the farm, needing to care for parents, dogs, time, kids, money...He realizes so much time marched on and the future is uncertain, he is starting to live more, travel more, making plans to see many of the places they dreamed of seeing together. She will be watching over all of us as time marches on.

Take note, love deeper, say yes more often, hug, kiss, live more!

Powdered Milk

Everyone hoards something, it seems to be human nature. You have that one, two (or many) items you can't quite rid yourself of. The item may be "just in case", "maybe I'll use it", "maybe it will fit", or a various version. This week has been cleansing in a sense for me. 7 years ago, we moved into the country and spent most of that summer paining, repairing and preparing. This week was the first time since then to paint. The back entry, bathroom, Julia's room and Layton's room all got a new coat of paint. The entry stayed almost the same color, the bathroom became stormy blue gray, the kids rooms though tugged at me emotionally. When we moved I painted the north bedroom a soft buttery yellow, a gender neutral nursery room. I even told my mother in law the intentions, she was so excited! The south room as a celery green, neutral to add color accents to....as the kids have grown up, their interests have increased, and we personalized their rooms to them. Julia chose PINK and Layton NEW HOLLAND BLUE. My babies are growing up, their rooms, personalities, vocabularies, and love show that.

Lincoln turned four months old! He is a happy, joyful baby for me. A true delight and love.

Mom has been gone for three months now, there have been so many, many things to share with her..Mom, I know you hear me talking to you, love you and miss you every.single.day. Dad is trying so hard to keep up with the mowing, farming, grandma, puppies, birthdays, household stuff...he really misses you too.

Powdered Milk, my mother hoarded it. Evan and Bryon (her son in laws) moved it three times during the remodeling project, but she would never let them throw it out...it has become a running joke. Next time the freezer gets low enough we can find it, it will be a ceremony to sprinkle it like ashes!  Last night I threw my "powdered milk" out...frosting from Layton's birthday cake. For some reason, each year after decorating the birthday cake I have an extreme difficulty throwing out the leftover frosting. Each year I swear it will get used on another cake, in cookies, several different projects, but it never does!! It has become my powdered milk.  Yes I shed a tear thinking of mom and laughed at how silly hoarding frosting is.

May you look at your powdered milk, love it, cherish it, laugh at it, understand it, hold on to it, or let go of it..it will always be a memory forever etched in our brains.

Summer!

The unofficial beginning to summer is almost here!! The last day of school is tomorrow, we are super stoked to have Layton home with us all summer long!!!!! No more set schedules, sleep until waking up, relaxed bedtime, cook outs, farming, bugs, snakes, cold drinks, the lake, all things summer!

As Layton's first school year comes to a close, we are going to welcome him home with a "Welcome to Summer" basket, bubbles, swim wear, sprinkler, new shovel, sidewalk chalk and a water balloon fight capped with a picnic. Yes, Pinterest will be the death of me!

Julia and I planted most of the garden this morning. Peas, beets, beans, carrots, radishes, zuccuhini, squash, watermelon, cantelope, pumpkins, cucumbers, all we have left to go is corn, tomato plants and pepper plants! Yummo! Hope it produces.

As exciting as this month is a transition from school to summer, it's also a tender month. 15 years ago, shortly after I graduated high school; my sister gave birth to the most perfect baby baby, Jacob. It was thrilling and exciting but turned scary in a second. Three days later Jacob went to be with the angels, his time here too short. We are blessed to still have my sister as we almost lost her too. Today Jake is celebrating his 15th birthday with Mom. Hugs and loves to you all. I imagine the party is filled with cake, diet Pepsi, ice cream, maybe even root beer floats.

Learnings from Mom

Who teaches you the essential life social cues? Passes on old wives tales? Ensures you are politically correct? Mom...during Mother's Day I spent much time thinking of my mom and all the things she taught me. Many are out dated or relaxed as we grew older but at a point in time a hard fast "rule".

*Say please and thank you
*Treat other as you would like to be treated
*Respect your elders
*Always send hand written thank you notes for gifts received, good deeds done
*No calling after 10:00 pm unless an emergency, on a school night 9:00pm
*Offer a helping hand
*If you don't have something nice to say, it's best to say nothing at all

*Never wear white shoes after Labor Day or before Easter
*It is best to only wear silver or gold jewelry, not mix
*Always wear panty hose with a skirt or dress
*Always wear a slip (petticote) under a thin or lightly colored skirt or dress
*Your look isn't polished until you have coordinating earrings in

*No swimming for one hour after you eat
*If you are in my kitchen, you cook my way
*If you do the crime, you'll do the time
*No more than one trip to town a day (we lived 20 miles out)
*Bathe each day and wash behind your ears and around your next extra good
*Show up early or on-time never late
*If you drink, don't drive, call for a ride..no questions asked, but be prepared to work early the next morning and all day long
*Take care of yourself, always see the dentist and doctor for yearly check-ups

*A balanced meal is meat, potatoes, vegetables, and dessert.
*When taking food to a potluck, take enough servings for your family plus 4-6 others.
*If you don't help cook you help clean up

*We weren't there when our grandchildren were conceived, we won't be there for birth it's special between you and your husband.  But we will come soon after birth!


One thing she tried to teach me but was not successful at...Frying chicken!

My sister, brother and dad could go on and on but these are a few gems that come to mind. Love you Mom, thank you for teaching us so much while you were here with us! We should have listened better, been more grateful, spent more time asking the important questions and expressed our love more often! We had a good up-bringing, you and Dad provided us a solid foundation!