Shoveling Barley

I always have and always will be a farm girl. The other day when Dave asked me to go to the farm with him and shovel barley I was not too excited because I really had a lot of stuff that needed to be done. But Friday night we made final plans to go and I made arrangement for everything else. The farm I grew up on did cows and hay bales, so I have never had to shovel or move grain. This is dusty, itchy, constant things in the eyes work. It took us a couple hours to get everything in place and started. The augers really did not want to run yesterday. We started them over and over again. Then we took forever looking for things. We finally got ready just in time for lunch. I ran in and quickly fed the kids and washed our dishes then headed back out. Because I have never done this before, Dave had to tell me every step to do. But he only had to tell me once, after the first load was complete I was good to go for the rest of the day. I thought I broke the tractor once because I totally messed up the gear, but Dave fixed it. I have driven that tractor lots and have no idea what I did wrong. Our kids played good in Grandma's house all by themselves. We didn't even have a mess to clean up after. When we started we were looking for the new light weight shovel and could not find it anywhere. Dave ended up using the old very heavy shovel. We searched every building on the farm. Four hours after we took the first load Dave asked me to run and get something for him and as I walked in to the shop, hanging right in front of our face, was the shovel. I have no idea how we both missed it. Dave said, 'Man it has really been one of those days.' I really enjoyed the work even though I was freezing the whole time and for hours afterwards. I hope that they continue to do the grain farming along with the cows. It was great fun and our kids really enjoy it also. As I have said a hundred times, maybe someday I will get to move to the farm and have my kids working all the time. I really think there is no greater life style for a family.

Awesome Me :)

I decided that this year I would make a list of things I am good at. Yeah, build up my own self confidence:) I probably won't get 35 of them but here goes.
1. Sarcastic comments
2. Giving my un-asked-for opinion
3. Making my bed
4. Turning off lights
5. Shutting cupboard doors
6. Reducing Leah to tears - all I have to do is ask/remind her to do something (make bed, set table, etc) and it works every time. Gosh I am a mean mom
7. Sitting down to read a fantastic book instead of mopping my floor.
8. I make an awesome pie crust. I can't even be humble about that, but I did learn from the master. Beth Olsen
9. I personally think I am a great cook. But I hope everyone thinks they are, it would be hard to not like your own cooking. Although I would probably be skinnier then.
10. Putting off weeding the garden.
11. Vacuuming
12. Getting my kids to dust for me
13. Going for walks with Dave
14. Doing dishes
15. Blog stalking
16. Drawing stick figures
17. Making deals with my kids
18. Being Honest (this is from Cora, she says sometimes I am a little too honest)
19. Being Dependable
20. Writing checks and making cupcakes/cookies for the school
21. Copying cupcakes and cake. I am not creative or inventive but I can copy almost any picture you give me.
22. Running my kids to all their activities.
23. Setting a table. It really shouldn't be such a pet peeve when people set it wrong, but really how hard can it be.
24. Sending birthday cards.

I asked each of my family member what they thought I was good at and this is what they said.
Dave - You are the best mom
Cora - You are good at putting little notes in our lunches and spending time with your kids.
Leah - You are good at drinking water. You never drink anything else
Blake - You always make us a lunch.
See aren't I amazing. :) I am good at so many things.

Lego

Lego is taking over my house. (Dave was given this plane about 10 years ago from his parents, Blake put it together this time)

It is everywhere I turn. (Dave was given this when he was a kid and Cora has been dying to bring it home and put it together, so Sunday she finally did. The treasure chest that the blue and white pirate is standing on even has gold coins in it.)

But my kids love it!! And they are good at it. (Blake got this plane, it is a 3 in 1 kit, from Grandma Puzey for Christmas)

Plus they always get along while they are building because everyone enjoys it. I just have to put up with the seperated colors on the floor for a couple days, they do keep it contained in a small area, then a masterpiece appears. And I can vacuum again:) (This one we gave to Blake for his 5th birthday, it also came with a loader) This is by no means all the lego we have, just what is 'on display' right now.

Favorite Literary Character Day

This was the theme for spirit day this month. I really had no idea what to do for Blake, then Natalie suggested Huck Finn and I went with it. When I first heard what the theme was I was not excited, but it turned out really fun. Leah is Fancy Nancy. She already had everything but the shirt. During Cora's tournament in Taber we heard Wal-Mart was having a sale so we went and picked up the shirt. I found an old pair of short for Blake and took out the heam, then roughed it up. I found a straw hat in the basement and did the same thing. Leah and Blake were both very happy. I thought they both looked awesome.

13th Anniversary

Dave and I had a great anniversary. Myrna had invited us out to Champion for dinner. Everyone was there and it was great to see them. I loved that I didn't have to cook. I made chocolate and lemon bread to take to the early morning meetings. I told everyone that they were going to help us celebrate. It was relaxing and low key. The kids were a little upset that they hadn't had time to get us anything, but I really didn't care. I have never been one for jewelry or exotic vacations. (I defiantly want the exotic vacations but would just take the kids with me) We got told we needed to do something for the 10th and we didn't. Now they say the 15th, but we probably won't. Dave did tell me that the trail he is going through right now is my fault. He said that we have never had a hard marriage, things have been easy and smooth. Therefore the Lord needed to give him something else. :) But he is right, it has been great and I married the best person in the world. Dave is an amazing husband and father. We agree on all the big things and are just enough different on the little things that life is awesome. We really seems to be in perfect sync. It has been a great 13 years.

Little Storm Tournament

This weekend was Cora's tournament in Taber. She had a game Friday them two for sure Saturday. If she won then she would play again that night. She did really good. I think that having all those games in a row helped her and she is getting more playing time. She is excellent at clearing a lane for the shooter. Cora even took a couple shots this weekend. Although she didn't make any, she did try. She got a foal and felt awful about it. I told her I didn't want her to play dirty but I was glad she had that foal, it meant that she was finally getting aggressive. I was very proud of her. The team got first place, and really played well together.

I was worried about Blake sitting there all day. He makes it just past half way of her games and them he is done. I took lots of things for him and Leah to do. I had lunch and dinner just in case plus lots of snacks. Mom reminded me that there was a pool in Taber so I packed their swim stuff. They both did really good. Cora played her first game Saturday, then we had lunch and read some stories. After they played the second game and we knew we were staying we did go swimming. It was a great little pool. We had 4 hours. We got out early enough that we could all shower and eat dinner. I wanted to eat early so Cora wasn't running on a full stomache. It was a fun weekend. Dave went Friday but really needed to do some farm work Saturday. He felt really bad about missing the games but I have been happy that he has made it to as much as he has. He said, "I never thought I would enjoy watching junior high girl's basketball.":) Surprisingly I have really enjoyed it too, but it also really makes me want to play.

Readers Theatre

 

Blake got to preform a readers theatre in school today. He was the 1st little pig in The Three Little Pigs. His class choose 3 short stories and had done them for Leah's class on Monday. I found out that they were doing them again today, so I made sure to attend. It was very short but he did a great job. Blake had 3 lines. After he was very proud of himself.