"The FarmHouse Kids" ~ My Crazy Life with Triplets ~

God's Masterpieces

2011-09-25T23:30:00.000-05:00

I've been begging my kids ... and begging them to let me take a picture of them out in our fields. Not just any picture, but one of them praying and praising God. I wanted their hands in the air and their hearts wide open to Jesus. Finally, they let me. Total cooperation. I am so thankful for this image, and my heart if full ... until the next idea. This will hang forever in our house as a reminder of just how blessed we are.

The Siekman Triplets - age 6

Flowers for Sammy Girl!

2011-07-23T17:21:00.002-05:00

Today, Sam is much better, and so is his Sammy Girl!

He's going to be just fine. His heart is going to heal. He will love another dog, but he will never forgot his Sammy Girl, and he will pour all of his love into another pup, one that will love him just the way his Sammy did.

My Sam has a tender heart ... I hope it stays with him all of his life.

Sam's Sam

2011-07-22T22:30:00.001-05:00

This evening was the hardest day of Sam's life. His Sam passed away, and his heart was broke. Sam has spent the last three years of his short life writing letters, drawing pictures and telling Sammy, his girl, stories. He would tape them up on the wall next to her bed on the back porch, and he would sit with her, talk to her and check on her constantly. She would be one of the first things he saw every single morning, and throughout the day, she would invade his thoughts and he would say, "I wonder how my Sammy girl is?" He has fallen asleep laying by her and at times literally held her paw in his hand.

Sammy was our old Boxer. We all loved her, but she clearly was Sam's dog. She had lived for almost fourteen years, and she had a good life on our farm. She was deaf and couldn't hear us anymore. She had lost most of her teeth and had a hard time eating. She had severe Arthritis and would fall down and couldn't get up. Her whines became more than we could bare as we watched her walk in pain. Her kidneys were failing and she begin to have a hard time breathing and we knew she was suffering.

She is pain free and young again, and my little boy Sam lost his best friend dog. Today, we loved her enough to let it be her first day in Heaven. This evening he carried flowers as he bravely walked to her grave. As he sat on that fresh mound of dirt and cried, my heart broke into pieces. Watching through the window I saw his Daddy kneel down by him and they cried together. They sat out there for the longest time talking about how happy Sammy is now and how she is with Jesus and how some day, years from now, when we go to Heaven, she will be there waiting for us. When Sam was ready, he then lifted him up and carried him into the house. I will never forget that image in my mind, and I imagine that even though Sam is only six years old, he will always remember his Sammy girl and how much he loved her.

Tonight Sam went to bed with a picture of her in his hand, and we taped the letters he wrote to her on his wall. She will always be watching over my Sammy boy.

Peace, Preservation and Prayer

2011-04-17T17:17:00.004-05:00

For the last couple of weeks this day has been one that I've dreaded so much. It's the last day before we close on my Dad's house. Today is the last day that it is his, and from now on, it will belong to someone else. It's closure in the making and beyond my control.

Today at church as I worshiped with my kids, I was suddenly overwhelmed and taken back to all of the years of their lives as we knew it with my Dad and Mary Ann being a big part of their childhood and their adult life. I thought about how much he loved me and my kids and I felt such a peace come over me. I thought about how he impacted his whole family so much and how that love will carry us through the future as a family, and again, a great peace came over me.

I got lost in my thoughts as the Preacher talked about everything in the life of a Christian revolves around the Cross. I looked down the row that I was sitting in and I saw my children, my flesh and blood, their children, and their spouses sitting beside me in a Church that is spirit filled and united by God. I am blessed. Beyond all means. I am loved.

As broken as I felt when I was drawn into that Church today, I walked out feeling whole and pieced back together. Through all the trials and errors that I make as a human being and a Mother, my kids are there for me. They support me and lift me up when I'm broken, and they support and lift me up when I'm whole. Today they were my crutch, and I needed them to help me look towards the future with a whole heart. I needed them to meet me at my Dad's house and pray over it as it passes to it's new owner. Not one of them hesitated, and we arrived one car after another to that empty house that once was ours.

As my kids stood by the street, held hands and bowed their heads in prayers, they didn't care who drove by us or who saw them. They saw their Mother lead them in prayer for peace and understanding in our loss, to preserve the memory and lives of my Dad and Mary Ann, and carry on into the future as a united family. They prayed for healing and strength, glory and remembrance, and they prayed thanks for the time we had with them. We prayed blessings over that house on Sixth Street ... and prayed for happiness as we walked away.

My heart is whole right now. I miss my Dad, but I know where he is. He is not lost to me ... he was saved. My heart is whole right now, because I know God and because my children know God and I am so blessed to sit with them in that Church by the bridge where I can reach out and touch them or hold their hands. That Church that I can pray with them. That Church that gives me peace and comfort ... that Church that I share a row with my Kids. That Church draws us closer and I know that I am blessed. Beyond means. I am loved. ~ Tanya

I never knew how true the words were to the poem that my Dad wrote until we lost him ...

"you become the top limb ... when the limbs above you fall." ~ Keith I. Wyatt

(My Dad was Keith Wyatt and my Step-Mother was Mary Ann Wyatt of Mt. Carmel, Illinois. They died instantly and together, in a head on collision November 2, 2010. They were loved.)

First Christmas in Heaven

2010-12-10T21:42:00.000-06:00

This was sent to me this morning by someone who reads my blog. Thank you Mary, it's beautiful and so comforting. This is my first Christmas without my Mother and my Dad and MaryAnn. We lost all three of them within six months.

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain in your heart,

But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, you know I hold you near,

And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above:

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, “Love” is the gift more precious than gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can’t count the blessings or love He has for you.

So have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Living with the Angels (Pap Keith and Grandma MaryAnn)

2010-11-21T23:26:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago on November 2nd, my life changed so suddenly and dramatically that I will never get over it. My parents were killed instantly in a horrific head-on collision. I went to the scene thinking that Dad would be confused and need help ... never in a million years will I ever forget how fragile life is, that you can be here happy and talking one second and within the beat of your heart .. be gone.

Dad and MaryAnn (my other Mother) were married for 28 years and I had the best years of her. I was so lucky to have been blessed with someone that loved me unconditionally and loved my children as much as her own. We had the best of everything with her.

My Dad kept MaryAnn on her toes, constantly with his shananigan's. His laughter was addicting and the stories that he told never got old to us.

I'm not going to end this post ... but keep it going. Right now is too painful to write, I'm still in shock, but I will come back here and write their story.

Rest in Peace with God Dad and MaryAnn ... you will always be loved by me.

Three Peas in a Pod ...

2010-08-21T12:48:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Peggy gave the kids their first Webkinz, and they love Leo, Harry and Freida! Yes, I fibbed a bit. I told them Peggy said they had to sit together and smile for a picture if they wanted to keep them. It was very painful for them as you can see, but they really wanted to keep their new pets!

First Day of Big ... Class of 2023

2010-08-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the last day of LITTLE and today was the first day of BIG! Today ... my Littles started Kindergarten, and in a decade plus a few years, they will graduate high school with the Class of 2023.

(Waiting on the Bus)

This morning was exceptional and I woke them up at 6:30 with a plan to be on the bus at 7:10. For the first time, they got themselves ready and with backpacks on, we actually were standing at the end of the driveway at 7:05.

We've decided to do breakfast at school every morning so that I don't have to get them up at 5:30 and get them all awake and hungry. We figure that after a short bus ride they can eat with all of their friends.

A Great Day

2010-07-23T06:49:00.001-05:00

It has occurred to me over the last week as I've recovered from a pretty intense surgery, just how blessed I am. For the most part, I've been alone in my house since I've come home from the hospital, and in between my haze, halluncinations and delusions, I've had quite a bit of time to think.

I'm not used to being here alone. Von, of course, has checked on me frequently throughout the day and night, and at times, I think he has been convinced that I wasn't going to live. I too thought that I was going to just lay down and die. I thought of my Mother in her final days and imagined that she felt just like I did. I dreamed of her. I visited with her. I saw me hugging her. I spoke with her and I heard her voice tell me that everything is okay. I felt like I was on the inside looking out at my life in a very strange sort of way. It's so funny how pain medications can effect certain people. I can not take them. Strangely, the pain is more tolerable than the effects to me.

At five o'clock this morning I woke up nose to nose to a sleeping little boy on my pillow. I laid there and looked at him and wondered how I could miss a week of his life. I felt guilty for pawning my children off on relatives while I slept off the effects of pain medications. There were times that I wasn't even aware of them being in the room with me, and the time I let a popsicle melt all over me while I slept sitting up.

I was close enough to smell him and reach out and kiss his cheek without moving. Then with his eyes still closed, he smiled and said, "This is a great day."

Today is going to be a great day! I am loved.

Juli – SOHK 2010

2010-06-28T22:12:00.001-05:00

Juli … it was so much fun to play “senior pictures” with you the other night. Let’s do it every night this week!
Juli has been bringing Kelcie here for Vacation Bible School with my kids this week, and we had two hours to kill night before last, so we played hard.

When Juli jumped down, well she didn’t really jump per se, but she slid down on her butt … she had attracted 24 little buddies crawling up her pant legs. TICKS! She must have gotten into a nest of them! But she loves the picture, so it was well worth it!

Then we really played hard! Right here in front of the computer … I played with the liquify tool and made her boobs bigger, her stomach lean and firm, rounded her butt and took a bulge off of her right thigh, and right before I saved the image, I sculpted her arm just a bit. She loves her Mama even more now .. too bad I can’t do that in real life. Now I think I’m going to set up a tri-pod and make myself skinny on top of a hay bale. Just don’t know how to turn back time a few years or twenty and get to live this life all over again! :)

Jay ... What Can I Say!

2010-06-02T03:12:00.002-05:00

This kid .. the kid that never wants his picture taken begged this evening. Then when he popped up on the rock, he said, "Sooo ... if I sit here and let you take my picture, do I get a treat? If I smile and let you do it five times, do I get five treats?" (that means five clicks .. and only five clicks ... he has good ears)

So I said, "Well ... if you go put on some different clothes and let me take your picture the way I want to, I'll let you have five treats." (that means five little bitty pieces of candy)

Then he said, "Oh forget it Mom ... you're just not worth it!" Then off he hopped and ran off to his world of Camo, farming and a dog named Gus! (that means he'll sneak in the house and get the candy anyway)

So .. I'M NOT WORTH IT?!!

Dear Meg - You Lost a Tooth!

2010-05-27T23:08:00.000-05:00

Dear Meg,

You lost your tooth this evening. The very first one to come out was the first one that came in back when you were a baby. A simple tooth shouldn't make me so emotional .. but it does. It makes me stop and think about how you are growing up so fast, and right before my eyes. I love having you little. Simply.

You were at Aunt Bonnie's this evening when this major event happened. I missed it. But when you came home, you were so excited and told me every detail over and over ... then you went on to tell me exactly how the tooth fairy comes and brings you a dollar. You brushed your teeth so good and checked them to make sure they were shiny so she could look in your mouth, and see the little hole, so she would know it was really your tooth. I love your reasoning ... just as much as I love you. You always figure it out.

So in the morning when you wake up ... under your pillow along with a gold dollar coin will be a letter to you. A love letter from me written on the pretty stationery that I bought in anticipation of this day. Forever long as I live, in many years to come, I hope, you will see this little tooth again, and only then can you read the letters that you'll have from me .. along with each little tooth wrapped in gauze and placed inside the envelope. Timed and dated with a rundown of your day today!

Yes, I'm overly sentimental ... and yes, your little tooth is not the first little tooth that I have saved, and your letter is not the first one that I've written over something as silly as a little white tooth. I have a whole packet of little teeth just like yours ... saved from over twenty years earlier of the little teeth Josh, Juli, Joey and Jared had lost when they were little.

Happy Dreams Meggie! I love your new smile!

Love, Mom

Mom - I Love You in Heaven Now

2010-05-26T01:37:00.000-05:00

If you look close ... you can see that there is an Oak Tree growing. It wasn't here this morning, but this evening when I checked it, it had sprouted and I can already see the beginning of it's branches where the bud is splitting.

Last week, it was only an acorn that I planted. I love this little tree and it means so much to me. My friends at work bought it in memory of my Mother who passed away almost two weeks ago. It's as if I have something more than just her memory to hang onto.

They didn't know my Mom, but it was very special to me that they chose an Oak tree because my Mother was a very strong person. She never bent, nor broke, and she endured so much when we were kids. She gave so much, and took so little, and I never realized that until I lost her. She gave to us when she was hungry, and she did without so that we would have. She loved us more than life, and that too I didn't realize until she was gone.

As I've sat here and looked at her picture above me, I've realized so much that I wish I could go back and change. I would have visited more often, and I would have called her more than once a day. I would have spent more time with her ... but as her child, it never occurred to me that my Mom would die. I loved her, and she loved me ... and for fifty-three years we both knew that.

On Mother's Day this year, I knew that it would be the last one I would spend with her here on Earth. She was ready to go ... so willingly, but I wasn't so willing to let her go. She told us that she was at the gate in Heaven, and she told us that Jesus was there and so was her Mother ... and she wanted to go, and my heart just broke. When you truly love someone maturely, you love them enough to let them go. I know that my Mom is in Heaven, and I know that she is in a better place, but I can't get past this pain I feel.

Her visitation was on my Birthday, and I waited all day for her to call me. Most years she called before the sun came up and wished me Happy Birthday, and every year that I can remember she told me the exact time that I was born, and how I changed her life. I was her first child, and I was the one that gave her the name Mother. She had just turned eighteen when I was born. She told me over and over how she washed my diapers and they were snow white, and about the little apartment she and my Dad lived in while he was in the Army, and how when they came back home she was so happy. I can still hear her voice telling me the story from many years of hearing it ... but what I would give if I could only hear her say it one more time.

For all of us that have lost our Mother's ... my heart aches for us. I can't imagine that this hole in my heart will ever heal or that a day will go by that I won't feel so empty or so broken. I can't imagine that the heaviness I feel will go away, or my need for my Mother becomes less. Even though I'm grown, she was the one that I turned to to answer my questions or to help me, or for advice. She taught me so much from the time I was little to now. She healed my hurts right up until she left us. I never knew how much I needed her until I lost her.

All the memories of the things Mom taught me suddenly became so much more ... it's all the little things that mattered the most. My Mother was all about the little things in life, and my promise to her memory is to make sure that the little things in life are the things I'll build in my kids. When my kids tell my story, I hope they tell it with the same love for me that I have for my Mom.

This little sprout of a tree will be here long after I'm already with her again, but in the meantime I'm going to water it and give it all the love it needs ... just like my Mom did for me.

I Love You Mom.

Graduation - The Littles - Chapter 15

2010-05-24T22:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Littles,

I guess you're really not little anymore are you? But to me, I guess you always will be.

You graduated a couple of weeks ago. Although you will have several or many more graduations and milestones in your life, this one really was so important. You see, it is the beginning of your life. Your life outside of me. Not your physical birth, but your birth into the world. Your life away from me ... and you will go happily and you will see all the wonders of the world through your own eyes. You will spread your wings and find the YOU that will emerge into citizens and you will leave your mark. You will be going to Kindergarten in the Fall ... whether I'm ready or not, you are.

I molded you, and it is breaking my heart that I have to let you go. Five years wasn't nearly long enough to prepare me for this. Even though I've been through sending my children off to school before, this feels fresh, and I don't want to do it.

Because I want what is best for you, I do want you to grow up and be normal and make life long friends. I want you to be smart and learn all that you can ... and I want you to make your mark. I want it to be deep and strong and always be there. I want your children to look back and know who you were and know that you were good people.

But for today ... I want you to be my babies, and I want to hug you up and smell you and close my eyes and remember you in all your innocence.

I Love You So Much!

Mom

T-Ball! Strike Three!

2010-05-23T23:38:00.002-05:00

We have one more game left in this season ... and you guys are awesome. We don't have to lead you out to the field this year, and we don't have to run the bases with you and hold your hands. You're doing just fine being one fourth of the team. You have got it going!

The best part of playing ball is the dirt right out beyond second base, right along with that free freezer pop at the end of the game!

Joey and Mariah - Graduation

2010-05-08T23:07:00.002-05:00

Dear Joey,

St. Louis Christian College - May 8th, 2010. I can not even begin to say the words of how proud of you I am. This was a long road for you, but one that I knew that you would finish. It isn't about graduating from college or graduating as a Minister ... but what you are prepared to do with your life.

I think about your childhood and all the silly things you did ... and your teenage years when what you did wasn't so silly. Then I think abut the man that you've become and what you yet have to experience, and how life isn't always going to be fair .. but mainly I know that you can handle anything because of who you are. You are prepared. For Life ... because of Faith, and for that I am so proud of you.

Not only are you wise in your choices, but who you chose will always be there for you. You two build each other up and have so much wisdom for your young years. I love you both so much .. and I am so honored that my Son and my Daughter in-law are both children of God, and are both now Ministers of God's Word.

How Blessed can a Mother be?!

The Farmer and Me

2010-04-21T22:30:00.000-05:00

Living out here on this farm has NOT made me more of a country/farm person. It should have ... after all, I've been here just a week over nine years. But still, I lack that concept to check things out first before I cry wolf. I act first and think later!

In fact, late this morning before I left home to go into town, I glanced out the kitchen window and saw a cow licking a newborn baby calf. Granted the cow was out in the next pasture field, beyond both the pond and barn, and halfway to the neighbors house. It was waaayyy out there!

Just to make sure that I was seeing what I was seeing before I called the troops (the farmers) in, I put my expensive long lens on my camera and zoomed in. Yes, I was looking through the kitchen window, but still, I know what I saw.

You see, the cows over on this end of the farm are pregnant cows, and they definitely have to leave before they give birth. It's a big mistake on their part if they aren't checked into the birthing center half a mile down the road. The facilities are better over there, and the birthing accommodations are to die for (just kidding). Not that they're pampered more or anything, but they do keep the uppity milk cows in a tizzy.

SO, since I know I saw a baby laying in the field ... I called the farmer (my husband) and left him a detailed voice message. "Von, there's a teenie tiny baby calf in the middle of the field and I'm afraid that the big cows are going to step on him. Hurry and come get him ... and why didn't you guys move her over before she gave birth?!"

Then I went to work. But I did look as I drove by ... and it dawned on me that the view from my kitchen window didn't take into fact the rolling hills down below our house ... or the fact that I what I saw was really the head of one the big cows in the herd laying there soaking up the sun just below the horizon of my view.

But I failed to call the farmer! Then I forgot all about it. BUT he didn't. You see ... it's full swing farming season here in southern Indiana right now, and he's trying like heck to beat the rain that's moving in. He's not always in the best of mood when it's farming season, and he's not always that hunky dory guy that I love so much this time of year. He's short. He's short on time, and he's short on patience in April and May. But overall, he's not too bad.

So a bit later in the day, I get a phone call from the guy. Simply put: "There's not a calf out there in that field Sherlock ... and just so that you know, the whole world is not flat!"

I don't think I'll ever actually get it about this farm life ... but I sure am trying!

Flowers from Heaven

2010-04-19T23:54:00.000-05:00

Meg,

This evening we went over to the farm, and as you ran out into the flowers you said, "Oh Mom, Look! God made all these flowers just for me to blow."

I hope you'll always find the flowers in the weeds. God made them just for you!

Love, Mom

The Girls

2010-04-17T23:30:00.002-05:00

Today was a good picture taking day. The stinking boys went to the stinking farm with their Dad and Uncle Don, so it was it just us girls.

Kelcie and Megan neither one hesitate to seize the opportunity to have their picture taken. It's a bit harder these days though because they have to pose, smile, fake it, swing it and hip it. I have the hardest time catching any kind of natural smiles with them, and of course they're in it together!

Then the "girliness" in them comes out. Weeds! You want me to walk through those weeds?!!! Then the "itichiness" starts and we're pretty much done. Once you itch ... it's over you know!

So these have to do. It's my fix for the next couple of weeks until they're together again.

The Hot Tub

2010-04-12T23:31:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if we're having Spring or not ... or if we've just moved right on into Summer. At any rate, it's beautiful outside in the evenings, and my littles are loving it. This evening was no different and Von decided to till up some of the garden and let the kids start planting their seeds. They planted Cucumbers and an assortment of other things. We're hoping that like things got planted together and we won't have Carcumbers and Cumatoes and such when it comes time to harvest our garden. My boys had enough sweat and dirt on them that if we'd planted them, they'd have sprouted and grown.

Being that a bath was definitely in order tonight, I thought I'd change things up from the usual shower that their Dad gives them and we'd sit in the Hot Tub together and talk about our garden. Just like we did in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago.

Just me and the kids ... and more bubbles than you can imagine. Up to their chins and as hot as they could tolerate, they sat there, one in each corner ... and we played tootsies with each other while we talked about our garden and listed vegetables and fruits and what all they planted and what was yet to plant. We talked about the sunshine and how it makes everything grow. Then they talked about Heaven and how they could plant things that would grow so tall they could climb up. They planted beautiful flowers and colorful vegetables and they grew so big that we couldn't lift them. Then they leaned back their heads on the ledge and soaked up the conversation, and never once did they splash each other. I couldn't help from watch them and listen to them as they talked amongst themselves and only occasionally did they include me in their garden plans. I thought about how innocent kids are at the age of five and how easily they can be persuaded and how with imagination you can lead them.

Then it dawned on me that here I sit with my babies, totally immersed in water and bubbles, caught up in their childish plans in one of the most peaceful moments I've ever had with them. It reminded me of my older kids, and the times when they were small and I'd take them on walks and adventures through a secret forest where the deer lived and played, and up hills and down mountains where the Indians lived. How we turned coat hangers into bows and arrows, and how we quietly found magic flowers and sprinkled fairies in the air. Then we'd tiptoe away so the magic wouldn't end. How when you love someone, you can pretend and make memories that they'll never forget.

Then a knock on the door brought me back to reality and our time was up. As the bubbles drained away, the Bath Tub appeared and our Hot Tub was gone ... for now.

The Bribe

2010-04-11T23:24:00.002-05:00

This morning at 7:30 my kiddo's got in my bed and we snuggled and tickled and talked about "things." Then I told them ... "Hey guys, who wants a dollar?" Well of course they wanted a dollar, and they wanted to go to Rural King to spend it! So I bribed them. IF they get dressed right now and go outside and let me take some pictures before Church ... I'll give them a dollar! We're into paper money now days .. so it's a real big deal to get a dollar. Only thing is, they had to earn it ... and that meant wading through the wet weeds to get out to the barn.

Jay. Money means the most to him. He'll do anything for money. He has three jars full and is starting on another jar. Jay is a hoarder of money ... and it takes a lot for him to spend it. He doesn't live by the rule of: save a third, give a third to Jesus and spend a third. He only wants to save all of it and spend ours or Sam's and Meg's money. He's going to need to be deprogramed when he grows up. He's a lot like his Father in that respect.

Sam. He LOVES money. It buys him everything. He couldn't keep a penny if his life depended on it. He's too much like me in that respect ... and he's going to need to be reprogrammed to save some of it. He doesn't per say spend it on stuff, because we all know he can't drive to Target and do his thing ... but he loses it. He moves it around from his backpack to his pants pockets, to burying it in the sandbox, then it finds it's way to Jay's jar. It's miraculous how it gets there ... but it does. ... and you know the rule: possession is everything in Jay's book.

Meg. What's money? She doesn't need it. A dollar won't do her a bit of good because everything that she wants cost more than she is allowed to spend. Walking the aisles with Meg is like the biggest guilt trip I've ever experienced. She fingers and touches and strokes everything that is pink, and wants everything that is remotely girly. ... and she hasn't learned the meaning of the word NO yet. We're working on that. Meg is bad at leaving her money lay around the house, and it too mysteriously disappears.

So today I got some pictures of them that I can print and frame ... and Jay got THREE DOLLARS and they all ended up with a really big bouncy ball to add to the collection out in the yard! It was a WIN WIN situation for all of us!

Daddy-O!

2010-04-07T23:39:00.004-05:00

Okay Folks ... I think we're in trouble here!

Yesterday evening when I picked the Little's up from daycare, there were three papers in their daily pile for me to look at, sign and return. They were consents for their preschool to give information to the school system since they will be heading off to Kindergarten in the Fall. It was for THE "Kindergarten Readiness Checklist." So it got me to thinking .... "Well, are they ready?"

So this morning as I was driving them to Preschool, I thought I would ask them a few questions, just to test the waters and see how much my kids knew.

ME: "Hey Guys ... do you know what town we live in?" They all practically jumped through the straps of their carseats with hands in the air yelling, "I DO ... I DO"

So I picked Jay to answer that question. He grinned all over himself and his chest swelled, and he blurted out the answer with the biggest smile! "We live in the Country." No Jay! What's the name of the town ... it starts with a "O" (thinking I would give him a hint).

Still swelled up and smiling, he says, "On a Farm." Oh man ... we're flunking that question big time! So I tell them .... Oakland City, Indiana and they repeat it over and over and I think WE HAVE got it!

ME: "What is your Dad's name?" Sam blurts out, "Daddy." No Sam ... HIS REAL NAME? So Sam thinks a minute and Meg has her hand in the air ready to answer for him, then Sam puffs up and his eyes are twinkling and he says, "It's Daddy-O!" Oh Man ... we have failed!

So I remind them ... it's Von Siekman, just like you are Sam Siekman, Jay Siekman and Meg Siekman. We're all Siekman's! So they repeat it over and over and over ... and I think WE HAVE got it now!

ME: "What number would you call if Mommy or Daddy was hurt and you needed to get help here?" It's Meg turn to answer, and boy is she ever ready to show her stuff! She sticks her chin up in the air and yells out, "9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20" She forgot the question and just kept right on counting!!!! So I tell them ... "Remember, it's 9-1-1. So they keep saying it over and over and over, and I know they have it now!

Kindergarten is right around the corner and we have some work to do! BECAUSE ... ready or not ... School, here we come!

Baseball Season - Kick Off 2010

2010-04-06T21:40:00.005-05:00

This evening was our first T-Ball practice of the year. Actually last Wednesday was, but we were in St. Louis. So .. tonight it's official, the triplets played ball. Yes, our farm is sponsoring their team again this year ... so "The Siekman Dairy Farms" team is AKA "The Texas Rangers", and we're going to kick some butt this year!

I didn't have to drag them out there or promise things that I had no intention of following thru on (I only do that in emergency situations. Bad Mom, I know) They were excited and never looked back. It was a world of difference from last year when we had to hold their hands and run the bases with them in the beginning!

Jay was the best hitter tonight. He smacked that ball almost every time. Sam thinks he was the best of the triangle, and came in a close second. There is competition folks. It keeps it interesting, and I kind of like it that way.

Meg is girly, but she was excited and played 100% better at this practice than she did the whole last season. Dressed to kill with the big pink bow ... she hit the ball, ran the bases, checked her fingernail polish and made sure she didn't have any dirt on her shoes! Way to go Meg!

After the practice we ran by Aunt Bonnies/Uncle Don's on the way home so they could show them how good they could smack that ball off of the Tee! One more practice next Tuesday evening and then we're going head on to the big league!

We'll keep you posted as the season progresses!

Joey - Senior Chapel

2010-04-04T01:11:00.001-05:00

Monday night Juli and I along with the kids drove to St. Louis so we would be there bright and early Tuesday morning for Joey's Senior Chapel. He graduates May 8th as a Minister, and this was his time to lead the church services at the college. That is my son that stood at the pulpit and preached words that will change peoples lives.

I was there when he first started college, and I was there at one of his first sermon's. This time was so different for me. As his Mother, of course I was proud, but as one of God's people, I heard his message loud and clear. I have replayed it about ten times on my computer, just to hear his voice, and just to help myself come to grip with the fact that this man is my son. His message was strong, respectful and full of truth.

This is the kid that had no sense of direction when he was a teenager. He couldn't drive across town and find the gas station. Wrongly, I helped him way too much with his homework and I made his life easy. Now he's found his way and all the hard work he's done has paid off.

Along the way he grew beyond what I had imagined. His faith is strong. He chose his path. He got married, and now he has a plan. Joey and Mariah are a good team. She believes in my son, and I love her for that. They both graduate from college in a few weeks. I am so proud of both of them.

Fair Share

2010-03-26T23:59:00.001-05:00

This afternoon after Von went to milk cows, I settled the kids down with a new movie. I'm trying really hard to get them away from cartoons and more into movies that have a bit of meaning. So I picked the movie to buy today, and I bought it because it is Joey's all time favorite book. "Where the Red Fern Grows".

While Jay and Meg didn't get into the movie, and went to sleep instead .... Sam, on the other hand, didn't miss one single word of the entire movie. In fact, we watched it twice. Sam is deep. Deep in thought, and spiritually deep.

At the part of the movie when the Grandfather told Billy to think about his fair share and indicated that God would provide, Sam understood that. He perfectly explained it to me, and when it happened in the movie and God moved the wind to fall the tree .... Sam told me that God did it because Billy had done his fair share.

Today Sam developed a new trust in God, a new understanding and a new love of life.

He walked out onto the back porch where "Sammy" his old boxer sleeps most of the days now, and said to her, "Sammy Girl, I love you and you are my best friend, and I know God will always take care of you." He's wise. So wise for a five year little boy that loves God and his dog.

Sammy our boxer is really old ... and this winter she almost died. When Sam found her, it saved her life. She was half frozen, very sick and hurt. With a lot of tender loving care and medical attention Sammy survived. Every day Sam talks to her, rallies for her and pushes her on. He draws pictures for her and writes her letters and tapes them to the wall where she can see them. Every day.

I know the time is coming that Sammy is going to go to Dog Heaven, and my little Sammy is going to be devastated. I'll need that mythical Red Fern that only angels can plant when the time comes ... and I'll need to find a way to ease the heartache that my little guy is going to feel.

Sam is doing his fair share ... and the rest will be up to God.

My Velveteen Boy

2010-03-16T19:06:00.006-05:00

My velveteen boy betrayed me this evening.

It was so pretty outside today when I picked the kids up, we dressed them in their bib overalls and "orange, so that I can see you a mile away" sweatshirts and sent them out to dig up the yard! That is Sam and Jay's favorite pastime ... especially in the Spring when the ground is so soft. There is nothing like holes and piles of dirt everywhere. Our yard shrieks that "boys live here" and you have to be careful when where you walk so that you don't fall in a hole.

My littlest boy is now big enough to go outside and play with the big kids, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He runs and romps and keeps up with everyone just fine. He is now ruler, and when he runs his ears pin back and flap in the wind. His fur is soft and he feels like fat velvet ... but this evening he went missing, and we searched everywhere thinking the very worst.

Then as I was walking back from the pond ... I spotted him alone in the barn. He was having the time of his life as his short little legs jumped in the wet straw. He was burrowing as deep as he could in the muck and he only stopped long enough to glance at me as I yelled .... "Gus, get out of there!" He was on a mission ... and that was to make sure that every inch of his body was covered in the black slime.

My sweet little velveteen boy has betrayed me ... he has found life beyond me. The same world that my little boys live for ... a world of dirt and mud, and slime and cow poop!

Bowling Baby Bowl!

2010-03-06T23:23:00.003-06:00

Today I met up with my big kids ... yeah again. This is getting to be a habit. It really wasn't them I was caring about today ... but the cute little kids in the car seats was what had me going. We went bowling!
The reason I'm showing you the scoreboard is because I wanted you t see that the girls beat the boys. (I was on the boys team ... with all the boys). We had a lot of gutters.
I really don't think I've seen a bowling score like this ... Is 65 really that low? Next time me and the boys are going to nail Juli and the girls.
Here's Meg and Jay showing off their "gutterballs." It was neck and neck for a while .. but Jay's got there first!
In this corner is Jay and Sam. They have good technique don't you think? ... and by the way, don't let that picture fool you, they really didn't knock down all those pins. I did. (well .. maybe, Juli did) I can't remember because I was having too much fun "high-fiving" the kids and taking pictures.
They "high-fived" each other every gutterball they rolled!
They also got quite good at posing every single time they got up to bowl. We didn't do it the traditional way either. By all means, that wouldn't have been a good thing since we had so many rookies! We took turns. The kids got a turn .. went to the end of the line and we kept rotating!
Luke finally started getting pretty good at it. He had that bend over and put the ball between your legs and roll thing down pat. But of course, he had to pose with the ball first!
... and Kelcie, well she just had all the moves as well!

Today was a great day! We all went out to eat together and I got to spend it with those that I love the most. Josh and Jessie cheered us on while they kept an eye on Carter and Juli kept the balls rolling and the kids moving ... and me, well ... I just had fun with my babies!

In three weeks, we're going bowling again .. this time, Paige, Hayley and Cloe will get to be with us.

Gus!

2010-03-04T23:39:00.000-06:00

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we had to put Katie our little Chihuahua to sleep. It was a better place for her. It broke my heart, and I still can't go out to the little grave in our backyard where Von buried her. I feel so guilty, but in reality I know that she is out of pain and misery.

In the eight years plus, that we had Kate ... she was never really happy or healthy. She was allergic to grass, her hair fell out, she had red, raw and irritated skin for months at a time, and she had one half of a tooth. She wouldn't eat dog food, and she would dehydrate. She weighed less than three pounds and looked emaciated. I had to give her steroids shots, fluids under her skin and grind her food (hot dogs is all that she would eat). I had to bathe her every other day and spray medicine on her body. In the end, she lost control of her bowels, had diarrhea and would pee everywhere. She was miserable, and hurting. I kept her here longer than I should have because I was selfish ... and because I loved her.

THEN Christmas came, and I had puppy fever. I thought it would heal my heart a bit ... and it did. He did. His name is Gus, and he's a real turd. He has the energy of a steam engine and is shiny and fat and feels like velvet. He is marked like Katie, and that is probably what drew me to him ... that and the fact that Juli had just gotten a "Ty" just like him. Not only did I just get a Gus ... I persuaded the cuteness onto Josh and Jessie. They now have a chewing, biting and pooping "Snickers" for my Grandkids. But OH what glorious pleasure I got out their faces on Christmas day!

Being that I'm kinda OCD and majorly impulsive, I made a decision to get a puppy for the kids ... against my husbands firm "NO." I justified it that first of all ... all kids need and deserve to grow up with a puppy. Secondly, I am my own woman and can think for myself. I'm a grown working woman and can make my own decisions. I've raised children and can make life and death decisions, and being that this is 2010, a husband certainly has no right to tell me NO.

Now on the other hand, I forgot that I'm old. Having a puppy is like having a houseful of little kids, but even worse. He chews us up with his long little snout and alligator teeth and doesn't have a clue what the word NO means. He has short man syndrome. He sleeps on my side of the bed and I hold him down and whisper in his ear how much I love him ... or he'll persistently howl until I pick him up. He never crosses the middle line, at least while I'm awake. He's not loved on the other side of the bed.

We are living back in the throes of baby gates again trying to keep him corralled. My kids love him ... I love him ... but his Father is still mad at me, and most likely will be for the next 48 years. He doesn't give in easy ... especially when he steps in puppy poop at 4:30AM. When he does, I just hug Gus a bit tighter in bed and put my hands over his ears when I hear Von cuss. I certainly don't want Gus to grow up thinking that he's not loved!

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-28T23:29:00.002-06:00

Valentine's weekend, I had a wonderful little two day escape with my kids ... big and little and all of my Grandkids to a awesome indoor waterpark at French Lick, IN. They are my Valentine's .. and it was my gift to them. It was just a little funky to be inside a huge glassed in waterpark and watch it snow like crazy on the outside!

Nine kids and eight adults and we were still losing kids everywhere. But we found them all before it was time to head home. Given the fact that we were the only group with all the kids wearing life jackets in the baby pool, we knew they were relatively safe. Can you believe that I said that?

I let my older big kids talk me into going down a couple of water slides about 120 mph that sucked the breath out of me and shot me out like a cannon. Given the fact that I was and am still sore and rickety, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

This was our "first annual get-a-way. Joey and Mariah came from St. Louis, while Jared and Elissa drove up from Mississippi just to make me happy. I love them for that. Josh and Jessie and Juli have all the kids ... so for them we were on a great big wet playdate!

Mother's Day we have a date in Carbondale, IL at Castle Park ... then the end of June we're attempting a mountain cabin in Gatlinburg. Am I crazy? Crazy about my Kids!

Life ... Stop and Smell the Roses.

2009-12-13T23:36:00.004-06:00

I know ... I've been MIA! I had to "stop and smell the roses." Otherwise, I had to catch up on life. My life.

I have so much to blog about that I can't even begin to put it all in one blog, but I've taken pictures, and wrote things down ... and now I'm ready to start uploading. Yes, I'll be backdating .. but this is my blog and so be it. So when you, that are on feeds, get posts dated from the past 6 weeks, it's just me playing catch up.

I've had Kelcie for the last 24 hours ... and mixed with my kiddo's, it was a wild twenty-four! When Juli came and picked her up this evening ... we did a little Mother/Daughter shoot, set up my Alien Bee's and a backdrop in the living room and got some great pictures!

What can I say .... I just love my girls!

Three Blind Mice

2009-10-31T23:26:00.003-05:00

Three Blind Mice .... OR a Pack of Rats? What do you think?

This year they finally "got it" ... and wore these costumes in every store in the city today. They took it to the highest level of cuteness. They kept their sunglasses on ... and searched out every candy bowl! I love this age!

I'm sure this will be the last year of me dressing them as a triplet theme .... the boys looked down at their bellies and declared that they can't do PINK! It took a lot of fast talking to pull it off this year! But all the loot they got today and this evening was worth every bit of comments they endured as they danced and wiggled through Evansville today!

I was even nice today .... at least one thousand times I answered "YES" ... they are triplets. Now I'm going to go hide all the candy to keep tomorrow from being a repeat of today. No more sugar highs, and no more bouncing off the walls. Maybe they won't remember today ....

I love my little pack of rats!

Fired Up!

2009-10-24T22:46:00.001-05:00

Last night Juli and Kelcie met up with me and the kids for a evening at "Fired Up."

They were a rowdy bunch, and we resorted to finishing up the painting and pottery just to get the kids out of there. A ceramic place and 4 five year olds just don't go hand in hand.

Trust me .... she might look all cute and cuddly, but she wasn't. Meg had more fun running everywhere than she did painting a cup and saucer lime green and hot grape!

Kelcie was doing just fine with her cereal bowl until we walked in ... and she instantly turned into a wild woman. Kelc and her BFF were in trouble!

Did I say these two were perfect angels? NOT They led the pack at first ... right before they got busted and grounded to their seats!

Most likely, we'll not be doing Fired Up for a long while ... it was not what I call a successful night out with my hoodlums ... especially since their cups and saucers and shananigan's cost me seventy-two dollars! Just think, I could have done a movie with popcorn and chained them to their seats! :)

The FarmHouse Kids: Bye Bye Training Wheels

2009-10-11T23:51:00.003-05:00

Today was a great day! Blue skies and this. Today, my kiddo's lost their training wheels on their bikes.

Of course, this isn't the little kids .... but the big kid that taught them how to ride like a big kid. It's a monumental milestone when your kiddo's become big kids.

I knew from the very moment that we were going to have these kids .... that their Dad would teach them great things. He has so much patience with them, and his mission in life is to be the best Dad that they could ever have.

This afternoon, I was their cheerleader, as I stood outside with our video camera and watched them ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk. One after another, until they got it and kept on pedaling on out into the driveway. The boys did it perfectly the very first time ... Meg on the other hand would forget to pedal and kept falling over in the grass.

By next Summer, they'll want to be riding bikes over to the barn .... I'm just not ready for that!

P.S. We're having a birthday this coming Saturday .... and it's the number FIVE!

Oh La La! Garlic Pickles!

2009-09-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Have I gone crazy? These are the best pickles I've ever eaten so I bought five jars of them ... at Bernies of all places. Bernies is our little bitty grocery store in town every thing cost more there. I am craving pickles so much that whenever I leave home ... I wrap up a couple in a paper towel and take them with me.

Garlic Pickles. I can't get enough of them and eat them before I got to bed at night. I snack on them. I love them. I crave them.

No, I'm not pregnant. I know that for sure ... so surely I'm turning into a Vampire or something, because I have to have gone insane to walk into Bernies and buy all the jars on the shelf and pay $25.00 for Garlic Pickles. Von just looked at me when I lined them up on the counter top ... and he didn't utter a word, but the raised eyebrows said his every thought. He thinks I'm crazy.

They taste so good that I've kept my empty jars in the fridge to keep the juice good so I can add my own cucumbers next year. My plan is to freeze the pickle juice .... but maybe I'll figure out what happened and why I need these pickles before next year comes!

A Cow Round-Up!

2009-09-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

Whilst the boys were out chasing cows on four-wheelers with their Dad and their Uncle Don, "Miss I can't get dirty in the barn" wanted her picture taken. She was lacking some attention while the other two sides of her triangle was chasing the cows that got out.

Here she is ... and here's the story:

Like always, a trip to the barn is in order on our way home. The climax of their day is to hit the barn and check out the happenings while they were gone. You never know if a new baby has been born, or if they'll be the star of a rodeo when they get there. Just so happens, the star of the day was a sick cow, and the boys jumped right in to help treat her.

They were all hands on handing in the pills and syringe that housed a giant sized needle. The pills weren't anything to ignore either. They looked liked giant sweet-tarts and they used a medicine tube to get them in her. The medical aspect of this farm still amazes me. I've been a people nurse way too long and just can't grasp this end of things.

They also get to ride home with their Dad from the barn to the house ... and that is when it happened.

It was Round Up Time! One of the pastures of cows had escaped and the boys helped round them up. Just in the eight years I've been here, times have changed. Von used to chase them on foot or else drive his old black pickup truck through the pasture. These days .... it's a race on 4-wheelers and a big whooping it up because the cows don't like the noise. If I was a cow, I definitely wouldn't want to be playing chicken with a wild man and a loud kid on a four wheeler! Don and Jay on one ... and Von and Sam on the other.

So I stood outside to try to get a few pictures of the round up ... and instead had a little mini shoot with the Princess! She didn't realize it, but while she was standing there posing and complaining, she was surrounded by clumps of cow poop. You see, we were standing in the gravel right in front of the barn gate, and if you can imagine before Photoshop .... that little brown clump by her left ear was a pretty big chunk of fresh poop!

Gonna Ride a Cow!

2009-09-22T12:42:00.000-05:00

As always, yesterday evening we ran by the farm to visit the cows and their babies. We have a special few that my boys ride every chance they get, and yesterday was no exception.

It's pretty awesome to watch your little bitty four year babies ride a bucking calf. It kinda makes your heart stick in your throat, and kind of makes you a little bit sick at your stomach. Of course, they love it. There is nothing like a bucking heifer in a small pen that doesn't want you on its back.

When I was growing up, I had never heard of riding a cow. I thought you only rode horses ... but then again, I'd never lived on a cow farm, and I'd never even seen a cow up close. I led a sheltered life I guess. Then I moved here and found out what all I had missed in my life.

There is nothing in the world like walking through a muddy barn lot after a fresh rain. Nothing like slopping through the run off of cow manure in your new boots! Nope nothing like it ... just ask my boys!

I think I'll just vest my money in Rural King until these little guys grow up and pay their own way. Four pairs of boots = $175.00. Two happy little boys = Priceless!

My Muse

2009-09-13T22:53:00.000-05:00

This morning .... I talked Meg into letting me take a few pictures of her. She let me. Totally against her will until I bribed her with HM (Hannah Montana) lip gloss in every color. She is now smart enough to know that she is the only other female here besides me, and I desperately need her. Not only does she tell me what she wants so that I can use and abuse her, she now tells me how many and what colors. She has learned, and I don't like it.

We stood out in the middle of our road for that shot .... and she was totally degraded to be out there in broad daylight with only an undershirt on and a little pettiskirt. I have to admit, I grit my teeth and smile and pretend that I like her when I'm taking her picture or else she's likely to stomp off in the house. I think I see the writing on the wall ... my little muse is leaving me. High and dry, and I'm so bummed. I live one picture at a time with her .... Oh, the perils!

Then I begged for more. This one is going to cost me perfume ... and don't think for one minute that I can forget either. The girl remembers and keeps a running list ... and she never forgets details.

I'll be visiting the Dollar Tree tomorrow for a bag of goodies that I can pull out when I need my muse fix. I know that someday she'll look back on these and love them ... but for now, Hannah Montana has something more than I have. I don't have lip gloss with my picture on it in fifteen different flavors and colors ... 'sigh'.

The Bed

2009-09-08T23:51:00.007-05:00

Okay ... this really isn't funny, but I have to tell someone about this.

Two months ago when we were deciding what to do about Meg's bed when we moved her out of the boys room ... we went bed shopping for her. This was before we decided to use the antique bed that is a permanent fixture upstairs.

Anyway, Von and I went to a bed store and we were looking at twin beds ... then moved on up to Queen size so she could grow into it and, well ... you know the story. The salesman was really good.

We, meaning I ... spotted the most awesome luxious bed I've ever seen. The mattress was beautiful. King size. Plush. Soft. Memory foam. Expensive. No flip. Exquisite. Tall. Almost need a ladder, and did I say very expensive. It was way out of our budget ... plus we weren't shopping for us a bed, because we do not need a bed, and we were on a mission for the princess.

We have a very nice comfortable Queen size pillow top that is to die for when you're really really tired. Plus, our bed has sentimental value. My water broke in that bed ... not only once, but twice in the night before our triplets were born. Thus, we now have a very big and beautiful starburst stain right in the middle. How could we possibly give that up?!

So I talked Von into laying on it ... and Von never makes a comotion in public, let alone would he EVER lay down on a bed in a busy store. But he did. Boots and all. Then I laid on it. Right beside him, and we giggled and he laughed, then he caught himself and got up before anyone saw us.

I have to admit .... I am the most compulsive person I know. Von, on the other hand, is the most conservative person I've ever met ... and he never makes rash insane decisions, especially one that would involve a bed that is completely out of our league, especially when we don't need one.

So he wrote the check. Only after I had him convinced that we would have so much more room. He would never have to hang onto the edge again. The main selling point to him was, if you can't keep them out ... make room for them. Them, being the kids. You see ... every single night they migrate to our bed. We are totally unaware of it until all five of us are sweating like monkeys in a tin can from body heat and lack of room. They've learned to get in the middle, after falling out several times, and before we gave in and put kids rails on our bed. We really did. .... They kick us and each other ... then they wake up fighting and we have to start all over.

So let's fast forward to now. Last week, two months later, I had the bed delivered. Keep in mind that I live in an old farmhouse with straight up narrow stairs. Five years ago we had to have the bed hoisted up through a window because the queen box springs would not go up the stairs. So, what made us think that a King deep box memory foam mattress would. What possessed my rational husband to even remotely think that we could do this?

The bed people store sent two delivery men. One being about 100 pounds soaking wet and the other being about 400 pounds that snorted when he breathed and whistled for lack of oxygen. The skinny one gulped and the fat ones eyes bulged and turned red when they saw the narrow stairway. But I had a plan.

"Hey Delivery Man ... can you just bend that mattress a bit like a ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ and force it up those stairs ... and leave the plastic on it please, so it doesn't get dirty?"

They weren't thinking straight. The fat man ended up on top and the little skinny guy was on bottom. It is not supposed to work that way ... and they couldn't trade places. The only way down for the fat man was to get the mattress to the top because he couldn't jump over it ... and he couldn't go around it. So he tugged and pulled and tried to bend it, and he heaved and ho'ed and sweat was pouring off of him ... and I got worried. The little skinny guy at the bottom of the stairs was pushing with all his might, and we weren't going anywhere, so I called Von to come home to try to figure out how to get the mattress unstuck from the stairwell.

Just as Von walked in and looked up at me looking over the wall .... the mattress gave, and the fat man fell back against the wall and gasped for air. Yes, I'm a nurse ... but no way was I going to give that guy mouth to mouth if he needed it. No way.

Now we have a new King sized bed in our room ... and it's total glory. I'm on the hunt for the perfect comforter now ... and would you believe that the kids suddenly stopped getting in our bed at night.

How'd we get our Queen bed down you ask ... we didn't. We ended up giving it to Meg and did away with the antique bed in her room. She sunk in the middle of the feather mattresses and they swallowed her up and she didn't like it. So now, it's standing up again in the corner of her room.

As soon as I find that perfect comforter, I'll take some pictures to show you!

Over at the Farm

2009-09-05T23:31:00.002-05:00

The other evening I stopped over at the farm on our way home so Sam could ride a cow. He does this every chance he gets ... he thinks he's a cowboy. Jay wouldn't do it. It's not his cup of tea. He has though in the past ... but not that night. Meg? Well, it's completely out of the question you know ... she's not getting dirty. Not stepping in cow poop and not about to take any chances in the cow pen.

This is their Uncle Don. I love the way the sun is shining down on them as they walk off towards the barn. I love how pictures tell a story.

Jesus and God

2009-08-03T01:18:00.000-05:00

First of all .... what do you think? I took this a couple of days ago, and I just love it. She is so pretty .... and so smart.

Yesterday was Kelcies birthday party (more about that later and great pictures to come). As we were driving through Carmi, IL ...

Meg says, "Oh my. There are so many people. Jesus and God made so many people. There are cars and people everywhere. I have never seen this many people." (and she was so into her hand movements and expressions)

She then said, "I bet Jesus and God are just soooooo tired." (totally exhausted look on her face)

Isn't that about the sweetest thing you've every heard? Meg is always thinking!!!!

Because I'm the Mom

2009-07-26T17:46:00.000-05:00

This is a vent. Only a vent. Nothing I say here can or will be used against me! You promise???

This Monkey has reached the end of her rope. They got the best of me, and it only took four and a half years to do it. I truly thought I had the patience of a Saint and was the best Woman for this job. The Saint business went right out the window this morning ... and I can't abandon the ship or give up the job, because I'm the Mom, and when you're the Mom ... it's for better or worse.

Some days it's a toss up which is better and which is worse. Here's my day, and you can sing it to any tune you'd like.

No No No No ... it's five AM, the sun's not up, lay down and go to sleep. Go to sleep, Go to sleep, Go to sleep! Be quiet in there ... don't wake up Sam ... I can't deal with that right now. He's "one on one" and I'm too tired, too pooped to pop ... to pop, to pop, to pop! You what? Go pee? Are you ser-eee-ous? Just sneak down stairs ... quietly, don't talk to loud, don't run, don't play ... just pee and come back here.

All is quiet, I did my job, pillow here I come. I can sneak a few more minutes in before my day begins. What?! You need a drink? You want to eat? You need your boots? You want to play? You don't like that shirt? You need your Dad? You don't like me? You want that toy? Don't cry ... don't cry .... don't cry. Don't wake up Sam ... he's "one on one" and I'm too tired right now.

Let's lay on the couch and sneak some hugs before the day begins. You watch TV... I'll close my eyes. We'll take a nap and catch some ZZZZZZZ's.   Sushhhhhhh right now, don't wail that loud, there's room for both of you. One on each side, I still can sleep. Just don't wake up Sam ... he's "one on one" and I'm still tired, just thinking about our day.

The sun is up ... and so is Sam. He's "one on one" and makes me play things I don't want to do. Out to the sandbox? Right now you say? Blue jeans? Gray shirt? No food? Just play? Drink you Milk! Eat your Food! Wash your face! Let's Go!

No No No! No sand in the house. Drive that truck outside. Water? Where did you get that Water? Shoes off the couch. Take that out! No bugs in the house! Put that down. Put that back. Close that door, I'm chasing flies. Sam, you're "one on one."

You need a bath.  You have sand in your hair. What's on your hands? Ewwwwww ... take off your clothes. One at a time. Stay out. Close that door. No bubbles. Don't dump that shampoo in there ... in there ... in there. Don't pee in the tub. Don't pee in the sink ... Just don't Ppppeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sam did what?  Trash can in the tub? Oh no ... oh no ... oh no! The floor is wet.  Don't slip ... don't fall ... get out in the hall. Stay there. Sit down. Wait your turn. Don't fight. Sam is "one and one" and I'm so tired. It's only noon,

I need a drink ... I need a break. I need to sleep. I need to eat ... but I'm the Mom, and it's my job and it is only noon. Clean up the mess. Make some lunch. Take a nap. Take a break. You're wearing me out ... but I'm the Mom, and it's my job .... and I love you so much!

It's quiet now. They're all asleep ... I get to go pee. By myself, with only the dog for company. Who threw the washcloths in the tub? They're all wet. They all were clean. I'd wake up those kids and make them pay ... but I'm the Mom, and it's my job. I'm so tired ... So here I sit and fingerpeck so I don't wake them up. This is my break, and it still is only noon!

It's all in a days work ... because, I'm the Mom!

Married Bliss and the Couch

2009-07-25T23:26:00.008-05:00

Today was a busy day. The Mission: Buy Joey and Mariah a Sofa. It was my gift to them.

The Honeymoon is over, they made it home yesterday ... so we started out early this morning searching for the perfect Love Seat. They both have less than one year before they are out of college and back home. Their apartment is going to be very tiny .... like college married students cracker box tiny. So we started out "Love Seat" ... but I soon talked them both right into "Sofa" mode.

Anyone can do anything for 9 short months ... such as trip over each other and live cramped up. But when they come back home, they'll need a Sofa for their house. So they might as well get what they want and get something that is going to be more useful. So a few minutes into the search, they were transformed into looking for the perfect Sofa.

As you can see, we had lots of help ... and the help acclimated very quickly in a very large furniture store with hundreds of Sofa's and such. Very quickly. In fact, like little ducks in a row ... they tried out almost every seat in the house. We couldn't have done it without them!

Rich Chocolate Brown. They found the perfect one. Happy Wedding Gift Joey and Mariah. I love you both very much ... and I hope you love the new Sofa! Maybe for Christmas, we'll shop for the Chair!

Joey and Mariah {The Wedding}

2009-07-24T07:24:00.000-05:00

Joey and Mariah got married Saturday ... and it was a good day for a wedding. Mariah was a beautiful Bride and of course my son Joey was just as beautiful. The look on his face as she walked towards him was priceless. I'm surprised, knowing Joey, that he didn't stop the wedding and do "this" before anything even got started.

A Mom can't take more than one wedding a year you know. This makes three in a row for my older kiddo's and most likely, I pray, the end of weddings for about twenty years ... until the Littles start getting hitched.

He loves her. She loves him. It made my heart feel so good for these two to get married.

Yes, I took their pictures ... and yes, I had help. It wouldn't have been so cool to have a big camera bracket and flash hanging around my neck as I was escourted in, now would it? Thank you Dana Shroeder for lending your expertise.

More to follow .... I promise!

The Ride

2009-07-22T17:24:00.000-05:00

Night before last .... I loaded up their bikes and took the kids out to the high school for some serious riding. As I stood back and watched my babies "GO" ... I thought about how much they have grown over the past four years, and I thought about just how lucky I am to have them.

This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life ... raising triplets. It's not the same as raising stair-steps. This is incredible because they're all the same age, and they've each got each other's back when they do something wrong.

I also thought about how much I love them and how I always want them to look back and know they are miracles, and they are very blessed to have us as their parents. I love that we live way out here ... and life is really here on our farm. I hope that they want to stay here instead of venturing off someday.

It would be an understatement to say that I have already chosen each of their homesteads and have already planned their front yard, .... and of course, all three are right here on our very own road. Okay, just call me crazy ... but call me in love with my kids.

Even when the going gets tough and some days it's tougher than others .... the ride is worth it!

The Boys

2009-07-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

My boys are growing up so cute. When I look at them, I can't hardly stand it. For so long, all I wanted was for them to be the very best of friends ... and now they are.

Now days I need a break, a nap and some time-out when they're in full gear!

Anyone up for a few hours with these boys? It's a guarantee that you'll sleep good at night after a day with these two!

Me ... and my Babies

2009-07-11T23:35:00.001-05:00

I rarely like photo's of me ... but I love this one. My very good friend Peggy took this, and sent it to me. Even though the kids weren't smiling, we're all together.

I'm coming to realized that I need to be in pictures too. I want my babies to look back someday and see me with them. I've also come to realize that I am not just the person on the other end of the camera.

Memories in the mind fade over time ... but when you have pictures to look at, it jars the mind and brings home the moment. For when that day comes, that I'm only a memory ... I want my kids to look through all these pictures and see the "Me", .... their Mother. So from here on out, I'll be sticking my face on here ... a lot!

Peggy will send me more ... and I too will get a chance to edit them. I'll post a few more when they come my way.

Jump Baby Jump!

2009-07-05T17:58:00.000-05:00

Playing Possum! Joey and Mariah came over yesterday evening to see the kids, and to gather up all my canning equipment. They're going to can green beans this week and do Tomatoes.

In the meantime the kids had to show them their bedrooms and all the work we've done. Of course, one thing led to another and before we knew it .... I had a bunch of kids in their beds having a bunch of fun.

The big kids were having way too much fun tickling the little kids.

Not only did they play in and mess up Meg's bed .... they moved on to the boys beds as well and let the kids jump back and forth between them. I didn't have the heart to stop them since they were having so much fun; plus the fact that they won't get to see Joey and Mariah as much since they'll be living in St. Louis for another year, after they get married in two weeks.

But the main thing is .... they had fun! All of them!

Meg - A Princess Shoot

2009-06-30T23:55:00.001-05:00

This evening we had an incident. Jay Pee'd on the Princess and it did not go over well. Actually, he Pee'd in a cup outside and threw it on her. Sam laughed to see such a sight and the dog ran away with the spoon .... not really, but it sounded good didn't it? The first part is true. Jay did throw Pee on her, and Sam did laugh, but not until she came crying into the house.

We do not like those stinking boys tonight. Words spoke straight from the heart we say!

So after a long hot bubble bath, we went up to Meg's room, dressed up in wedding clothes and had a little photo shoot, all by ourselves. We're practicing how to look beautiful, and how to be good for Joey and Mariah's wedding coming up in two weeks. We practiced smiling .... A LOT!

Here's an artsy fartsy vintage version. I think I love this one.

... and here's just Meg, while she relived the story telling of how she got Pee all over her, and how much she does not like those boys right now.

I don't blame her. I'm willing to trade them in for new models this evening ... but I'm the Mom, and I'm stuck with them!

Houston! We have Cavities ...

2009-06-30T00:47:00.000-05:00

This morning .... early, and that's hard to do with these kids, we had a Dentist appointment with a new Dentist. One that is more equipped and modern ... and one that Lurrvvvv's the chaos that triplets and kids bring. One that can handle and keep on ticking and clicking, and one with office staff that is 100% more friendly. Instead of a frown when we walked in the door .... the best part was that we got big smiles.

BUT, we also walked out with eight cavities! Ouch! Triple Ouch I should say ....

Unfortunately, if we'd followed our gut instinct all along instead of believing that our Dentist was prepared for our kids, we might not be in this boat right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's a good Dentist, but he just wasn't the best Dentist for us. Times changes, but he didn't change and update, and his frame of mind didn't either.

Knowledge and technology have come along way, and for us .... we wanted more for our kids. Like flouride treatments, and better exams and cleanings. Kind of like ... more for your money, or at least get what you pay for. Yes, I'm dogging him. No I shouldn't ... but our mistake in choosing a Dentist is only costing us $2,019.00 in the next month.

So we have eight cavities. Very small cavities. Teeny Weeny. Except one of Jays. I was totally thrown off my high horse with this news. Now what?! Better brushing. Better flossing. No candy. No pop. No gum. Zilch ... Zero ... Zip! None at home, and none at the Neighbors.

I guess my frustration is that our old Dentist wasted two years of my time ... and the tooth that Jay needs a crown on next week might not have gotten this far down the road if it had been caught at previous exams.

Just to set the record straight .... I do not believe that you have to take your kids to a "Pediatric Dentist", but I do believe that the Dentist that you choose should be "Kid Friendly", not only in atmosphere and technology, but in attitude as well.

Water Fun ... Again!

2009-06-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, and we had no choice but to cool down again at yet another "Splash Park!" Thank goodness they are plentiful around here and we love them! Click the picture for a better view ... and enjoy!

Meg's Bed

2009-06-26T19:19:00.003-05:00

Meg has a new bed! Well ... actually it's a very old bed. In fact, it's so old that it's considered a very valuable antique ... worth more than Von paid for this old farmhouse fifteen years ago.

Last week we decided that it was time to separate Meg from the boys, and we knew that we had to make it really good and enticing to pull her away from her womb mates. So we (me) decided to use this bed that was already in the room that we were making pink and girly. Our dilemma was whether to use the bed or not.

First of all, I had visions of white wicker twins beds ... one for Meg and one for Kelcie. Then we decided to give her our queen bed after Von and I went shopping for her bed and ended up buying us the most awesome King Tempur-Pedic bed (which has not been delivered yet). I visioned having a canopy made that attached and came down from the ceiling, and had already shown the woodworker my plan. Then we changed our minds.

This old handmade bed has stood in this house for many many years .... more years than any of our living relatives know. It looks like a wonderful old wardrobe, but it pulls down and rests on wrought iron legs. Many years ago it was placed upstairs, long before the stairway was changed and "modernized", and now the bed has a permanent home. Our choices were to either attempt to remove a window from our house and have the bed hoisted down and hope that it stayed intact, then try to find a climate controlled place to store it .... or destroy it to get it down the stairs. I can't tear that bed up. Some of our ancestors were most likely created in that bed.

So Meg has a new bed .... one with three very old feather mattresses. (yes, they were cleaned). Along with the bed, she has new pink walls, beautiful new vintage looking rose bedding, her Great-Grandmother's rocking chair, her Father's old trunk, her Great-Grandmother's dresser with crystal knobs with a gold framed mirror hanging above it, and a big new pink rug on the floor.

We still yet have to decorate the walls, but I'm working on that. Oh, and the words on the bed .... I photoshopped that on there to see what it will look like when I put the quote from "Upper Case Living" on that tall old headboard.

But I'll leave you with two little boys that loved the bed even more than Meg ....

On Meg's first night in her new bed, she said to the boys, "Since I won't be living with you anymore, do you want to give me a hug?" Simutaneously .... both boys said, "Uhhhh, NO!" So much for being womb mates don't you think?!

Puddle Jumpers

2009-06-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

This evening we took the kids over to the neighbor's to go swimming. This past weekend, I took them to Josh's (oldest son) and they swam like little fish. Tonight was no different. Jay and Sam both loved the water .... Meg, not so keen on it without ripping my clothes off.

They love it so much that we've talked about getting a pool. Not a big permanent one .... but one that we can take down in the winter, and one that is big enough for the kids to have fun in. It's hitting close to 100 degrees here and it's still June.

Jay was jumping in .... Meg was jumping back and away from the edge.

She was more into prancing around and showing off than she was swimming. I have to admit ... she is cute, and her tricks and poses are better than her clawing my neck in the water ... and her new life jacket makes her even cuter. Thanks Juli for buying them for the kids! I love them and they are wonderful!

Sam too was getting in and out by himself and paddling all over the pool. He thinks he's a puddle jumper and can do everything by himself.

Any ideas on how to get Meg to have fun in the water? I can only take so many pictures of her looking this cute!

Splish Splash

2009-06-23T08:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday evening it was hot outside baby! Juli and I took the kids to a splash park for a big cool down. They didn't have any problem finding the water!

We splished.

We splashed.

We posed.

We got drenched.

We waited for the water.

We hammed it up.

But we had fun!

Viva Las Vegas!

2009-06-22T01:57:00.003-05:00

Yes, we Ditched the Kids for Vegas. Last weekend I flew to Vegas to meet up with these ladies. It was wonderful to put voices, personalities and faces together, and I can't wait to see them all again next year on our "Back-To-Us" vacation. We came from coast to coast and you would never have thought that it was the first time that we all met up together.

Over the past three years, some of us that live close have met ... and others have traveled short distances to meet .... but this trip was for all of us to be together, and I am so happy that I went.

Having triplets brought us together. Being Mother's of Multiples and friends has kept us together. Over the past several years, we all ended up in an online triplet group, and our friendship grew.

Over the past several years we've experienced great support from one another. We've experienced heartache with losses of children, and we've rallied for each other through the tough times, and we've experienced miracles. ... and we've grown close. I'm proud to call these ladies my friends, and I love them.

I learned a lot from these women and I want to thank them for being who they are, and for being my friend.

Tanya M: I almost feel like your sister. We've had so many spontaneous and late night phone conversations. You were everything I thought you were. You're funny and witty and so full of life. I already knew you long before we met :)

June: It was great to share a room with you. You too, I felt like I knew so well. I envy your energy and your ability to keep it all together. Maybe someday I can be more like you and just go, do, and enjoy!

Sheri: Wow! What can I say ... you kept us all in order, and you are such a lady. I admire your faith. I can't wait until October when I come to Michigan and get to see you again.

Mandy: You have spunk Woman! I bet you could conquer the world in the very nicest way and still be so gracious. I'm in awe. I'm so glad we got to meet.

Sheryl: YOU. Surprised me. But what a very very nice surprise. I love your laugh and the fun that you ooze. Don't ever say that I didn't give you anything .... (it's a secret, right?)

Chris: You are a true Teacher and Leader. I have to say, you are so thoughtful, and your heart is as big as California. You keep us together.

Tracy: Oh Tracy! You sparkle and bubble .... and I love it! I'm still hearing your laughter, and I smile with the memories of our great weekend.

Eve: You are funny ... and so much fun to be around. You and your high heels! I'd have a broken neck if I tried to wear them ... and you just looked so beautiful in them .... and your red dress! Mario knows a good thing doesn't he?

Pam: In you, I have met a lifelong friend. Thank you for encouraging me. You are a very brave Woman that can move mountains with your faith. What a wonderful gift to have in life. You are so blessed!

Tanya B: It was great to meet you .... but I have to laugh when I think of you. You were MIA. A lot. I wish I had your indepence. I have no sense of direction .... I could never find myself around like you did, especially in Vegas.

Angela: You are drop dead gorgeous! How do you do it? I know, I know ... you have liquids! (makeup) ... but you really don't need any. At all. But mainly .... you're just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. I'm so glad we got to meet.

Karen: You are the sweetest person I think I've met in a long time, and it was so wonderful to meet up in Chicago and fly into Vegas together. You are exactly as I had thought you would be. Honest and genuine. I can't wait to meet up again. I pray for your little angel Lauren, and I pray that your heartache eases, and that she'll always send you butterflies from Heaven.

Sabrina: What can I say that you don't already know. YOU, my friend, have a BIG BIG heart. It was the most wonderful feeling to hug you in person. It was hardest to say goodbye to you, but I know we'll meet up again next year. God put you in our triplet group for a reason, even though you have Quintuplets. He put us in your path to lift you up and help you, with love and friendship. I can't even imagine the pain of losing your three boys, but know that I will always be here for you when you need me. I also pray that God keeps Curt safe while he's deployed and this next year just whizzes by until he is back home with you and the girls.

Judy and Wedad: I wish you could have come too! You were there in our hearts. I know it's hard to make doable when you live on the other side of the world ... but maybe next year. (wishing).

Viva Las Vegas Ladies .... it was wonderful!

Love,

Tan

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T11:23:00.000-05:00

June 21, 2009

Dear Von,

Happy Father’s Day! No card that I found said the things I want to tell you.

First of all, I want you to know that I have never been happier in my life, and I thank God every day that you found me. Every night before I go to sleep I pray for God to keep you safe and let us live a long life together.

Having these kids with you, and you being their Father has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Of course, it doesn’t mean that I love them more than my older four, I don’t, but raising them with you is wonderful, and I know that with you, I am a better Mother.

As the years have gone by, I see that we are settling into a life that at one time I didn’t know if it would work. In the short time of eight years that we’ve been together, we been through a lot of heartache and in the end, we have found a tremendous amount of joy, and I am at peace with my life with you.

I wanted to tell you in my words that I love you. I love you for being the person and Father that you are, for having so much more wisdom and patience than I have ever had. Mainly, I want to thank you for all that you’ve taught me in our marriage and for all that is yet to come as we raise these children. I am blessed to call you my husband, and you their Father.

I love you,

Tan

Ditched the Kids for Vegas

2009-06-12T00:44:00.000-05:00

In just a few hours I'll be boarding a Jet and leaving for Las Vegas! By myself, and leaving my kiddo's and husband behind.

Am I sad? Oh how I wish I had just a bit of guilt ... but I don't. Am I scared? Yes, I am. I'm always a bit scared when I leave them. Even when I just drive to work, or when they are with other relatives. No one loves them as much as me, and no one can coddle, cuddle and take care of them as well as I can. I know they're loved and safe, but I'm the Mom. It's that simple. I'm their Mom.

But Mom will be flying off leaving them on the ground with their Dad, and waving as I disappear into the clouds. At 2:30 this afternoon, I will be meeting up with some of the most wonderful women I'm yet to meet. More than a dozen of us will be in the sky, on different airplanes, coming from around the nation, and we're all so excited.

We're all Mom's of multiples, and we've all been in an online group for several years. Even though we've never met face to face .... we know each other well. We've been a tremendous support to each other through good times, bad times and hard times .... and it's time we met.

So please keep us in your prayers, that we all land safely and have a great weekend, and when I get back, you'll get the full scoop ... and a whole lot of pictures!

Oh, I almost forgot ... (not really) Thanks Von for the plane ticket and for making it so easy for me to go! I really love you!

The Fabulous Four

2009-06-07T00:20:00.000-05:00

It's been over five years since these four kids (men) were all together at my house. It seems like just yesterday.

Jake, on the left, comes often, but Mike just returned from Iraq recently and has been gone for over four years. Of course third in line is Joey ... my son. He makes it here when he's home from college, and when he can. Gavin, on the right hasn't been here either in all those years. He had never met my babies until tonight. I didn't realize how much I missed them until they showed up here tonight.

Just hugging them almost made me cry. I didn't want to let them go. Watching them eat made me laugh. It was just like the good old days when they were teenagers, and used to come and eat me out of house and home. Especially Mike. We didn't even have to be home for Mike to come. He'd just come to eat. We had to keep things stocked up for that boy .... because his Mama couldn't cook fast enough for him. Bless her heart, she made a big boy. When that boy started growing, he didn't stop.

They came and fished tonight. Together. .... just like the good old days.

Date Night with My Boyfriends

2009-06-02T00:51:00.001-05:00

Friday evening I picked up my little boyfriends and we went on a fabulous date.

You see, Juli and Kelcie had picked up Meg early in the day and they went shopping. They got BFF necklaces, went out to dinner, got new purses loaded with makeup and girly things .... and they strutted their stuff without my boyfriends!

SOOOOOO, I picked up my little guys and we headed to "Build a Bear" and met up with the girls.

I have to tell you that it was my first experience in that store .... and I've come to realize that when you have triplets, it ain't cheap! There wasn't a sign on the door that said, "Oh Honey ... you don't just buy the bear ... you buy it's beating heart, it's voice recorder, it's clothes, it's shoes, it's underwear (bikini), it's ribbon's for it's hair, it's necklace and it's toy for it's arm." Whew!

Four Kids + Four Furry Friends = a bit over $200.00. But, my little boyfriends are still in love with their new friends, and the girls are still rocking and singing with their Hannah Montana Bears! Juli got the worst end of the deal since Megan and Kelcie were her date for the evening!

Thanks Juli for footing the bill for Meg!

After a round on the horses, we ate at the mall and regrouped and headed off shopping!

Old Navy will never be the same .... and neither will I.

I realized that my kiddo's are way too sheltered when Meg walked up to a mannequin girl and talked to her. When the stylish little snob didn't talk back, Meg turned around and said to Kelcie in the most serious voice, "I do not think she is alive." Of course this drove Juli and I into leg-crossing hysteria as we laughed until we had tears, and after we caught our breath, we knew it was time to get out of Dodge and head for the sticks again!

It was fun to have a night out with my daughter. She's truly my best friend, and I love it that we have kids the same age and we can plan and do things together again.

What I didn't love was that my boyfriends got sleepy before our date was over and one had a meltdown over a piece of gum and the other one threw up in my car. NICE!

Farm Girl

2009-05-30T10:04:00.000-05:00

Meg decided this morning that she was going to go work over at the farm with the boys. She got herself ready, picked out her own clothes (and she didn't pick out a dress) ... and donned her work boots.

She fixed her hair, put on her cap and hopped outside with the boys. THEN .... she remembered that she needed to "Hannah Montana" pose and get her picture taken, and she needed her make-up ... and her purse, and her lipstick and hairbrush. She also needed a bag with a few snacks, a drink and something to play with while she's there.

... and right before she hopped onto her waiting coach (4-wheeler) she remembered that she needed to go pee, and while she was back in the house, she made a cheese and bread sandwich, grabbed some ice in a baggie so she wouldn't get hot, and gathered up a few more girly things. Then she was ready to go!

This girl NEVER goes to the farm ... and she never gets dirty! I have to say .... I LOVE IT!!!!

Buddies

2009-05-23T14:40:00.001-05:00

As much as they fight .... they love just as much. I took a wet wash cloth with me to the field last night ... just so I could get this.

Trust me, within a few minutes, these clean little faces were dirt and sweat covered with John Deere hats on their heads. They love the dirt ... and farming!

A Farmer

2009-05-23T09:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday evening I took the kids to the fields where Von was planting. Then we made the rounds of all the fields. The kids played in the dirt and ran up and down the freshly planted rows. That wasn't cool ... but they did have fun.

I snapped this as Von was gathering them all up just as the sun was setting. I love it.

Joey and Mariah {Engaged}

2009-05-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

There's going to be weddin' bells soon! These two people are so happy together! What's even better is that they both totally live for God.

July 18th is their big day!

It was hard to keep them serious for all the clowning around ... or maybe they were just "jumping for joy."

Isn't she beautiful? Inside and Outside. There is no Bridezilla going on here. This girl is so genuine and humble, and is so much fun to be around. We had a really great session and she was game for every shot.

She talked him right into a few precious moments poses .... and like a good guy, he did whatever she wanted.

Joey looked down as we were walking along the path and picked up a nutshell that had a perfect little heart cut out on the inside! Ahhh .... it's "meant to be" Love!

By the way ... for those of you that don't know, Joey is my kid. How lucky am I?

(click the pictures for a closer look) ... I'll come back and post a slideshow link here after I get their whole gallery up!

Welcome to the World Sweet Baby

2009-05-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, T was born. I have to say I think he's right up there as one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen.

As I've been editing his birth gallery this evening, it dawned on me that I didn't welcome this sweet sweet baby to the world, and since I know his Mama is now reading my blog .... here's your gorgeous little guy! Hello handsome little Man!

I love love love being able to photograph these little ones as they come into the world!

Jay

2009-05-17T08:05:00.000-05:00

Dear Jay,

You have many faces! Yesterday evening I sat on the step and watched you and Sam play. Every once in a while you looked up and glanced my way. I played that game, "can I shoot faster than you can blink" because you don't like getting your picture taken anymore. I've done you in with all my begging for one good shot.

Every once in a while you would look directly at me. It was a game. You knew I had my camera, and you were teasing me. You're like that. I love that.

You and Sam were having fun. So much fun that when your Dad sees it .... you're probably going to be in trouble.

But you don't care. It was all worth it to you because you were having fun. Don't worry ... I'll cover your butt.

You're only a boy once .... and boys do boy things!

Then they grin about it and smile cheesy smiles for their Mom ... right Jay?

You are so cute and I love you so much!

Even when you and Sam go outside, pull all of the tools out of the garage, rework the yard that was just seeded, haul all of the straw away and make a big mud hole again.

I'll protect you ... and we'll tell your Dad that we don't know what happened. Gremlins were here!

Cute little Gremlins!

and you did it all for HER!

Sammy the Dog!

Aunt Lou and the Auction

2009-05-09T23:05:00.001-05:00

Today we went to an auction. It wasn't just any auction ... but Von's Aunt Lou's auction. So immediately I formed an attachment to everything I saw ... and I wanted everything that wasn't attached. I have to say that "Aunt Lou" was a wonderful lady, and she was Von's favorite Aunt, and she was an collector. Boy, was she a collector.

Aunt Lou and her husband had a couple of funeral homes before they retired ... and they had the most awesome chairs I've ever seen. I had photo shoot's in my head, and had some serious visions while standing there drooling. I was immediately snapped back to reality when Von told me in his most authoritative voice, "Don't even think about it!"

What started off as a little something to do today, turned out to be a fun fun fun (fun fun) day! All of Von's relatives and cousins were there and we were all bidding against each other. It was serious business! Some, like me ... were on a mission, and others didn't have it in them to bid against each other. Some knew what they were after ... and some (me) were impulsive and couldn't stand to lose.

Before we even got there, I was planning my catch. Being that I've never bid at an auction before and I didn't know how, I let a gorgeous pink crock pitcher (150.00) slip right through my hands. Let me tell you, I didn't make that mistake again. Being that I'm only five foot tall, I learned how to hold my number "147" high in the air, and keep it there. A couple of times, I was bidding against myself, but the good man in the booth let me know ... ha!

I didn't get the one thing I really wanted though. There was a little old red rocking chair that Aunt Lou had sat my babies in when they were little. I wanted it. So did Von's cousin. We went back and forth until that little chair was at 180.00, and when I saw the sick green look on his face ... I let him have it. I'm just kidding about running the price up. I really wanted that chair, but I knew that if I bought it at that price, I'd have to walk to home.

On impulse, I bought two very old quilts, a huge set of Pfaltzgraff dishes and accessories, a 30.00 fan that sells at Wal-Mart for 19.00, two old milk bottles, a king size bed (yes I did ... now what?), a 70.00 dollar Fiestaware pitcher that is on Ebay tonight for 27.00, more Fiestaware for another 60.00, a little table that I don't even know what it's for, and my favorite find was a little green metal teapot for 10.00.

I think it was at about that time when Von snatched my number away from me. .... and guess what? I figured out that I didn't need that little bit of paper with number 147 on it, because by then, the Auctioneer knew me. He knew me well!

You see, Aunt Lou left the bulk of her estate to her twenty-four first generation Nieces and Nephews. She was very very generous to us. Very. But I think she had an ulterior plan. She enabled all of us to have a fun day ... and she enabled all of us to buy her collections and a part of her life, when most everyone wouldn't have been able to do so otherwise.

Aunt Louise never had children of her own .... and she really loved her Nieces and Nephews. In return, they loved her too! We now have lots of bits and pieces of Aunt Lou throughout our house, and when Von is speaking to me again .... I'm sure he'll love them too!

Thanks Aunt Lou! Although we miss you, it was a wonderful day ... and I truly love all of my new treasures!

P.S. Hey cousin that bought that little red chair ... I really hope that you're not mad at me, and I really hope that you'll love it as much as I would have.

Their Inner Child and the Rocket

2009-05-02T22:40:00.000-05:00

Tonight Von came home from the barn and said, "Want to go over to Don's and shoot off a Rocket?"
Huh? A Rocket? Is that safe for the kids? Sure thing Sherlock ... let's go!

A little history: I take it that these two .... the twins .... not the triplets, used to shoot off homemade rockets when they were younger, and the Inner Child spoke to Don when he saw one. I'm presuming he just had to do it again ...or else, he thought the kids would love it. Knowing how much he loves these kiddo's, he probably had them in mind.

So, the kids followed him out into the driveway and didn't understand a single thing that was going on.

Yes Kids .... this is the Rocket, and below is your Dad reading the instructions while your Uncle Don gets the Rocket ready.

Can you tell he understands .... or is that complete puzzlement on his face!

.... and we're ready, and we're still ready .... and still ready! Did I hear you say it takes batteries?

It didn't used to be this way Von says .... it only took a match back in the good old days!

Finally .... after the countdown, it shot off like a Rocket. Straight up in the air. It was pretty cool to watch how high it went, and how the wind carried it, as it fell across the road into a field. Tomorrow's mission is go find it. It still has one more life.

Von talked about that little rocket all the way home (one road over) and all during dinner. I think his inner child was pepped up a bit this evening. It's funny how something from the past or childhood is fun to do again many years later.

Thanks Don for buying that Rocket!

Jump! Jump! Jump!

2009-04-29T01:41:00.001-05:00

We have a new toy! Well .... almost! Last year we bought this trampoline from my sister ... who had bought it several years ago. She just never took it out of the box. So it's still a new toy ... but a new toy without instructions! That was the only missing in the box.

I've looked online, at Sam's Club, at Toys R Us and in several catalogs and magazines at Trampoline's to figure out how to put the darn thing together.

I think we have got it now! So in the next couple of days, we're going to put the net around it and let them JUMP, JUMP, JUMP! The plan is wear them out every evening and let them jump for a couple of hours right before bedtime!

I have a feeling that this little girl will get the most use out the new toy! She is IN LOVE with it!

Siekman Dairy Farms WINS BIG!

2009-04-28T12:24:00.000-05:00

WE WON! WE WON! ... and half of the team had to sit down and eat a "snackie" before they would participate!

Here's Sam up to bat with a little bit of help from Aunt Bonnie! He wasn't really too thrilled to stand up there and hit the ball in front of everyone!

Yeah .... we really had to stand out there and play ball too!

Here's Jay coming in to home plate! He scored!

Jay scored again while Sam scooted back to let him slide on in!

I know .... Mom shouldn't be jumping up and down on home plate with a big camera waiting for the kid to get there. It is not cool!

.... and here they are after the game! Right before they huddled and started putting dirt on each others head!

We really did win our first game! By forfeit ... because the other team messed up and got the date wrong!

What really counted was that we had fun. We had a great practice game amongst ourselves. My kids, being that they are a threesome, are so shy they huddled ... and they fussed, and they wouldn't bat by themselves ... so Bonnie and I had to help them bat and then we scooted them on down the baseline. They did run the bases by themselves and by the time it was over, they were really into the game!

Next time ... we're getting our game on and winning for real!

Ball Practice (in the dark)

2009-04-27T12:25:00.002-05:00

Right at dark last night we went over to Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Don's (home away from home because they're farmers too) so we could practice our T-Ball skills .... because we don't have any, and their first game is tonight. Plus, they had bought the kids a T-Ball pole and a new bat and we had to check it out.

Jay took the first swing ... and he is good! He can knock the ball "out there." We used the trees as the bases ... and they would run as fast as they could directly to SECOND base. It was so much fun watching them play and run.

I think that one flew right by you Sam! It's so funny because they would check the names on their mitts, and Sam would only hit HIS ball. Hopefully, they won't do that tonight at the real game!

Run Meg Run! It's more important to look pretty you know when you're a girl! I'm proud of her though .... she hit the ball and ran!

This is third base .... and Meg promptly fell right off face first! She sucked it up and only ended up with a few scratches on her leg.

Our Farm is sponsoring their T-Ball team this year and they have little red shirts and navy St. Louis Cardinal hats. They just look so stinkin' cute!

Okay everyone ... be chanting about 6:00 this evening! "Go Siekman Dairy Farms Go!"

We Walked for our Babies

2009-04-26T22:50:00.000-05:00

Today was the March of Dimes walk for our county and we walked it. Can you say, "No one should ever wear flip flops to walk for three miles." Never! Ever! Yesterday I walked some of the Vanderburgh County's walk because I photographed all the teams for the March of Dimes, and my tennis shoes gave me blisters ... so today I got smart and wore flip flops! Now I'm paying, and I'm going to go soak my sore aching body and feet in the tub in a few minutes.

Von was a good sport. He didn't want to go today ... not that he doesn't appreciate the March of Dimes, he just didn't want wear the "dorky" shirt I made him wear. The logo is in the corner of the first picture. I thought they turned out cute, so I'm saving them for next year since I bought everyone's too big, and he gets to do it all over again! I have to say, he pulled the kids in the wagons the entire time, and he was huffing and puffing by the time we made it back.

I cheated a little bit ... but I had a great excuse. I had to be back first so I could get shots of the teams as they arrived back at the fairgrounds. So, me and neighbor that was walking too cut through a neighborhood and cut off a little portion. Boy did that make my feet feel good!

The kids had a great time, and it was so nice to walk for a good cause. Our kiddo's were born 10 weeks early and had a very rough start in life. We are so thankful for our outcome and for the perfect and beautiful children that we have.

Burgers and Hot Dogs was a great way to end our walk! The kids were exceptional today. Maybe "four" is the magic number after all!

Dancing in the Sun

2009-04-23T07:45:00.002-05:00

Yesterday evening we had an exciting event here .... a semi delivered a large piece of equipment to our house. It was a "Sky Lifter" ... so I heard. It's a piece of equipment that I have no idea what it does ... but I suspect when I get home from work this evening, my entire yard surrounding my house will be torn up since we've had so much rain.

We live in a "antique" farmhouse and the roof is really steep, and today a crew of Amish men will be tearing off our old slate roof and putting a new metal roof on. They say once they get the metal on the steep part, they won't be able to walk on it and that's where the "Sky Lifter" comes into play!

Since the semi driver happened to be Von's brother Darrel ... the kids got lifted up on the bed of the big truck, and they danced and ran up and down the trailer like it was the best place to be in the entire world.

... and they danced.

Being me, of course I seized the opportunity to snatch a few pictures of my littles having the time of their life!

I'm framing the top image of my littles. Every once in a while I take a picture of them that I can't live without ... and this one tops my list right now!

Shooting into the sun made this picture look like it was taken at night ... but actually it was broad daylight about six-thirty yesterday evening. I love silhouette's. I've never gotten one of my kiddo's before and I think it's pretty darn cool, and I was really proud of myself!

Twin Stroller

2009-04-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

My heart twinged yesterday when I found this in the back of Von's pickup truck along with my window boxes. It too was labeled junk. It's laid in the rafters of the garage for at least fifty years, and now it's being cast out.

I couldn't help myself as I pulled it from the pile and unfolded it, and locked the wheels into place. The handle telescoped to just the right height as I pushed it across our backyard. I debated whether to clean it up as I ran to get my camera. It's still in perfect condition. The fabric is still bright blue underneath the dirt, and the little wooden beads are still painted red, blue and yellow. All the wheels still work and there is no rust on the metal frame.

My Mother in law used to push her babies in this stroller. Many years ago, these little yellow seats used to hold my husband and his twin brother. Their little chubby hands used to twirl those painted beads as she pushed them around. It's amazing how things change ... and how time changes things. Fifty years ago was a long time ago, but not so long ago in one's mind.

I can just imgaine that at one time she parked them in this stroller right here in my yard, in this same spot, in front of the garden shed while she chatted and worked in the garden with her Mother-in-law.

I can just imagine how lucky I would have been if my Mother-in-law was here when my babies were in their stroller, and how wonderful it would have been to have chatted with her in her garden.

For now, I kept the stroller. I found it a new home .... in the little garden shed that also has seen better days. I wonder if years down the road if my Daughter-in-laws will be as sentimental as I am ... and will they keep my treasures from many years past.

Treasures of the Heart

2009-04-21T00:01:00.004-05:00

This morning my spouse got a wild hair up his butt and decided to work on cleaning up the farm ... such as moving my beloved window boxes down to a burn pile, along with anything else that screamed the word JUNK to him.

When I wildly ran out the door flailing my arms and yelling, "No! No! Not my window boxes .... ", he just kept on driving! Of course when I ran after him in an attempt to save my treasures, it dawned on me that I was barefooted and was running on gravel. Not just just any gravel ... but rained on gravel that was mixed with barn mud. Defeated, I hobbled back to the house and began wipe the cow poop from between my toes.

I loved those window boxes. Granted, I only planted flowers in them the first year I put them up, about five years ago. I had found the pattern for them on page forty-four, in a magazine that Von's Dad had given me a few years before .... and they looked so beautiful in the pictures, that I just had to have them. I had them made and painted them with love ... and hired the neighbor man to put them up and I planted the most beautiful Petunia's in them.

Of course, I didn't have a green thumb, and futhermore, I had even less time to water and prune and take care of flowers. My excuse was that I had triplet babies, but the next year I would. It was my dream ... I had visioned it while thumbing through that old magazine.

My window boxes were taken down a couple of months ago when we recontructed our kitchen, after I had made the executive decision to take out a wall of windows. They were laid to rest on the ground next to our house by the Contractor .... and that's where they've been ever since.

The two sets of double windows that were directly above my beautiful window boxes are now gone ... and TODAY Von decided to tell me that he hadn't wanted those windows removed. Well ... now's a fine time to tell me Lucille.

I had to peek out the window to see want he was doing with my boxes ... and I watched him gently lay each one down, side by side on the ground. He knows that later this evening I'll walk down the path to the old barn, and I'll dump the old dirt out, and carry my boxes back to where I have my other treasures that I've come up with since I've moved to this farm.

He knows that I'm a dreamer ... and I love magazines and pictures and have visions. He knows that keeps me happy and keeps me here, and he knows that I'll always be that way ... and he knows that forty years from now, my window boxes will still be in that old barn along with all my other treasures of the Heart.

Sam's Boots

2009-04-20T09:58:00.002-05:00

I don't know why I've had this on my mind for the last couple of hours, but I think it has something to do with personality, growing up, evolution, genetics and little boys that want to be like their Father.

Sam is set in his ways. His Dad is set in his ways. They're just alike ... two peas in a pod. Sam notices detail. He likes detail, and he doesn't like change to his detail. Just like his Dad.

Spring is here and it's coming in quickly ... and with it brings warmer weather. Sam isn't ready to give up his Winter details. Such as a green soccer shirt that he would like to wear 6 days a week and the same pair of jeans that he lovingly refers to as his Speech pants. (He must have wore them to Speech one day) These are the only pants he will wear. The same slim pair of size 3 Wrangler straight leg pants .... every day. With a patch on the back pocket. Just like his Dad.

I don't think he's caught onto the fact that we have more than one pair. My job is to keep them clean and ready for whenever the knees get dirty from a hard day of play, or a visit to the barn.

Sam also isn't ready to give up the boots he wears. As hard as I try to get tennis shoes on him ... he is always searching for his broken down boots. I've grown so accustomed to the click of his heels on our hardwood floors ... and I'm sure when Summer comes, even if I am lucky enough to get him into a pair of short pants ... he'll never give up those boots. Just like his Dad.

Meg

2009-04-19T03:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Meg,

Yesterday morning you got up early .... and wanted to go outside and take pictures. I think that was your way of telling me that you needed some time for just you and me. I love those moments with you. Those moments that are just ours. Just for girls .... as you call them.

We were outside when the morning light was just right .... just after 8:00. The grass was wet as we walked around the house looking for the perfect spot to take pictures ... but you didn't mind. You held my hand as we walked through the flower garden and you pointed out all the flowers that were yet to bloom.

It won't be long Meg ... and they'll all be blooming, with lots of different colors, and lots of different kinds. It doesn't seem possible that you've grown another year older, and now you've bloomed too. Last year's toddler child is gone and you're on your way. You're beautiful!

I love you Meg,

Mom

R.I.P. Whitey

2009-04-18T16:21:00.001-05:00

Here lies Whitey! Well ... half of him anyway. His other half lies one road over in another freezer. He didn't even get a decent burial. He got butchered instead!

I don't know if you remember Whitey, but he was born on a Spring day almost two years ago. You can read about him here. He sure was a great little guy, and we loved him very much! Sadly, he grew up and one day he moved to Dewig's a few miles away. They certainly were not as good to him as we were here on the farm. Once there, he ended up in freezer paper and was stamped with the words STEAK across each package!

Almost everyday for the past two years, I have driven my Littles to preschool or daycare. Every morning we drive by the barn that housed Whitey. Then every evening we drove back by and waved to him while he was eating out in the pasture. Often, we'd sneak a few buckets of feed to him when the higher orders of the farm weren't looking. Not that they'd care, but we overfed Whitey and most of his siblings every chance we got. Here one day .... and gone the next! That's how it works when you have C.O.W. for a last name.

Today I thawed a few packages of Whitey ... and couldn't bring myself to cook him. Now I'm stuck with a freezer full of packages just like this one.

So tomorrow and the next day I'll drive up and down our road and watch my Littles stick their heads out the window and wave excitedly to the big black Bull out in the field, and I'll listen to their chatter about their friend Whitey.

Do I tell them? No ... because I'm a good Mom. Do I lie to them? Yes ... because as far as they're concerned ... Whitey just grew a lot and moved across the road!

I'm not sure I'll ever get used to this farm life. Steaks are supposed to come from IGA or Schnucks or Sam's Club .... or anywhere except our barn!

RIP Whitey Cow! You sure were a cute little guy!

Steaks anyone????

Date with the Girls

2009-04-11T20:48:00.001-05:00

Last night I had a date ... with these little girls and my oldest girl Juli. It was the best date night ever. We went to see the Hannah Montana movie. The girls loved it!

They had their "Hannah" purses and and were all prettied up! It's amazing to see that they're only four years old and can act so grown up. I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I have a feeling they'll be BFF .. always!

Yes ... Meg is taller than Kelcie. What's with that??

Purging Mission 101

2009-04-03T20:43:00.001-05:00

Early last week I had a brain storm. I figured that if I could totally hire someone to come into my house to purge and organize room by room, I could have my entire house done in 10 working days and only cost me about $800.00. Sounds so worth it, eh? Yeah right ....

I dreamed and planned and put it all down on paper ... room by room. I visioned total organization including painting, waxing, windows and walls. Details. Complete details. I was planning a purging mission ... and it was going to feel good.

Of course I had to run my idea quickly by Marlboro Man ... and in my head, I knew this wasn't going to fly! So I took the plunge, showed him my plan, took a deep breath and didn't give him a chance to shoot me down. See, he thinks everything out ... completely. Me, I'm compulsive. Very ... to the extreme. I get an idea and it's a reality in a matter of minutes! Him ... he thinks and chews on everything for days, weeks or months. That drives me nuts. Just make a freaking decision!

So since I didn't get a answer from him by the next morning ... I acted on my idea! Boy did I act. I hired someone just like me. Someone that thinks and talks a mile a minute and has a high energy level. Trust me ... these two heads together couldn't do it for long ... but a short job we can do just fine. She needs the job ... I need the results! Even if it takes my whole paycheck. I can deal with broke until the next paycheck rolls around. What good is money if you can't buy something and have somewhere to put it?!

The mission began Wednesday. I got her started and I went to work ... My plan was to start off with the living room. It is perfect. All the toys got sorted out and what wasn't age appropriate (no matter how much they are loved) ... they were purged! Everything was washed down and put in it's place. I'm loving this purging mission. Of course MM isn't talking to me anymore ... but who cares ... I'm on a mission!

The next day she tackled the kids room ... every stitch of clothing in this house fits someone or it is GONE! Their closet is organized and hung by color. It was OUT with the old and in with the NEW! Seasonal things are organized and labeled. I just love it!

Monday she's going to pick and peel wallpaper because it's on my plan. I'll have paint by then and when I come home ... I'll have a new dining room!

Tuesday she'll move on to the living room upstairs. Wednesday it's my bedroom. (God I feel so sorry for her) Thursday it's bathroom day! Clean organize and paint. Friday is her day of rest ... and Lord knows she's going to need it.

So when she starts over the following Monday ... I'm hoping she's stored up all the energy she can muster because it's time to work on my office/junk room/work room/storage room/knee deep in CRAP room. This room will be a two day job. I can't even begin to tell you how bad it is! I swear I haven't seen the floor in this room for two years. At this point I can barely open the door enough to squeeze through sideways ... and all I can say is ... This is going to feel so good when it's done!

In my plan ... everything that I don't/won't/can't use will end up on my front porch in totes and bags. Of course, then I will have to have another day to go through everything to make sure it's purgable!

No ... MM isn't very happy with me. Not that he won't like the end result, but he would never spend that much money on an extreme home cleanover. Me ... I'm on a purging mission! Money is only money ... but cleanliness is next to Godliness ... and it's so deep in here, we are sinking!

Swim Lessons

2009-03-31T03:17:00.002-05:00

Yesterday evening marked the first day of SWIM Lessons! Yes, my babies are now little kids and they are definitely big enough to venture out into the world and socialize with a bunch of other little squirts. In a pool. With strangers. Yep .. that's how it works. Every Monday and Wednesday from now on ... I'll be throwing them in the pool and walking away to sit with all the other Mom's who are feverishly watching through the big plate glass window.

Let's just say it all started off with a bang. They were so excited they danced around me as we walked into the high school to find the pool. They willingly put on their swim suits. Of course the boys wouldn't take off their underwear ... and in the end, that was the downfall.

After I guided (dragged) them through the crowd to the pool, they noticed that I was not wearing a swimsuit and they immediately knew that I was not getting into the pool with them. They clung to me like monkeys in a tree and I peeled them off me like an over ripe Banana ... six legs and six arms at a time, and handed them to a total stranger.

I could feel every eye on me in the place ... and I knew it would be this way, and I was prepared. I made sure I had every hair in place and my makeup was just perfect and I hid my frazzled look well!

Amazingly, they did well. Of course they clung to their stranger for dear life in the water ... and once I even saw them smile as they dog paddled around for the spongy balls that floated near.

THEN ... as quick as it started, it was over and I towel dried my babies and told them how wonderful they were and how proud I was of them. We headed to the restroom (where 20 other wet kids were) to get dressed and go home ... and the realization hit Jay that his underwear were wet and I didn't have a dry pair with me.

It didn't matter that he stood there naked in front of his peers. It didn't matter that all eyes were upon me and total silence overcame the room. It didn't matter. He needed dry underwear. He wasn't rationale. He wasn't coherent. He was in total oblivion to his surroundings, and he fought me tooth and nail while trying to put his pants on. Even when another Mother handed me her son's gently worn underwear ... for they were dry and that was our problem. It didn't matter ... because they weren't weren't like his, and he was beyond anything that I could do at that moment to make it better.

So I did the only thing I could do while trying to herd a set of three out of there. I wrapped a towel around his naked bottom and hoisted him up and walked towards the door with the other two dragging our belongings behind them. Yes, they all starred at me as I sat him down at the door and walked through. Yes, their mouths fell open when I plopped him on his bare bottom and walked out.

I'm sure we were a sight as we searched for my car in the parking lot ... three kids in tow .. and one was barefoot and naked from the waist down. But we were on a mission ... and again, they followed me and danced around my legs ... only this time, it wasn't as pretty and they weren't as happy, and I didn't care ... because we were homeward bound.

Yes, I'll go back Wednesday and we'll do this all over again ... only this time I will have a trunk full of Scooby-Doo underwear all warm and ready. Yes, my kids will learn to swim this summer ... and yes, I'm sure that I will take the word Dignity to new heights ....

Amy's Journey to Heaven

2009-03-30T16:14:00.001-05:00

Amy ask me the other night on the phone, "How can I prepare to die? ... How can I make sure Luke and Carter will remember me? ... How?"

I told her that they will know her ... always. Through those that love her ... we will make sure they know their Mother. I love Amy and I will do everything possible to honor her. She's not a daughter of my flesh ... but a daughter of my heart. Josh and Amy were never married, but were together for almost nine years. They have two little boys together, and even though she and Josh are no longer together ... Amy is a part of my family and a part of my heart.

Now I have to help find a way. I've thought about this constantly since Amy called me late Thursday night. We talked for a long time about how unfair life is ... and how she is only 26 years old, and how much she wants the boys to always remember her. She is broken and helpless and still yet unable to acknowledge. I still yet can not accept. I pray for devine healing of Amy's body and salvation for her soul, and I wrap my arms around my babies a little tighter each day ... for I know that time can be limited and life is so precious.

After speaking to Amy and her Mother, I've decided to start a blog ... "Amy's Journey to Heaven" and when God decides to take Amy from this Earth, we will print it for her little boys and they will read the letters she wrote to them ... and they will have the letters that we wrote to Amy ... and they will always know her. We're making each of the boys a treasure chest for Amy to fill. How can you build a foundation for their life in a few short months? We'll find a way.

We have a plan. They'll hear her voice ... they'll listen to her prayers and they'll see her in their hearts. They'll see her pictures and they'll read her words and they'll have the legacy she left behind for them. Her Love.

For those of you that are praying for Amy ... Thank You!

Prayers for Amy

2009-03-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

This is my oldest. Josh just turned twenty-eight years old three days ago. This year is going to be the hardest year he's ever faced ... and my heart aches for him and his family. My heart aches for me, his children .... and especially for Amy. I feel so helpless. I've prayed countless prayers and cried countless tears ... and I can't fix their future. It's my job as a Mother to heal the heartache of my children ... and this one is beyond me. I feel like I've been kicked in the heart and I still yet can't wrap my mind around the future.

They look so happy and so healthy ... Last week Amy was diagnosed with cancer. She just turned twenty-six and is too young to have cancer. She is too young to leave her children behind. My son is too young to raise two little boys without a Mother in their life. This isn't fair ... and it hurts my heart.

Amy was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal cancer that has spread to her Liver. It's also in her Lymph nodes and she's very sick. In the morning she will be having a PET scan to see if she has cancer elsewhere in her body. She is facing a major surgery and then the battle of Chemo. She has a long road ahead of her in this fight for her life, but she's determined to fight with everything she has in her.

My heart aches for what is lost and what is to become. Josh and Amy separated several months ago and no longer live together. As I took these pictures yesterday afternoon, I saw a family that still loves each other. So much had happened and so much is gone ... but they're close enough that they can plan their children's future and close enough that they can now talk and be the good parents that they both are.

My heart wants them back together. My head wants what is best for Amy. She needs more than Josh can provide right now ... but she also needs her family together. Her family. Her children .. and the only person that she has ever loved. Even thru the downfall and the bad times, the love they have for each other right now is very strong ... and if their time is limited, my heart wants them together. My head just won't let my heart voice that. If only I could move time backwards ...

My heart especially hurts for my Grandchildren. Two little boys that might not have a Mother to hold them when they need a special hug. Two little boys that will always need her.

Amy's cancer is FAP. Luke and Carter have a 50/50 chance of carrying the same gene ... and if they carry the gene for FAP they will have to be tested starting in their childhood.

Please say prayers for Amy ... not only for divine healing, but for Luke and Carter ... and Josh. His heart is aching too, and I can't fix this. I know that Amy is in God's hands, and I know she will be healed ... whether it's here on Earth or in Heaven.

The Sick Kid

2009-03-16T23:03:00.014-05:00

Just a picture of a cute kid .... one that is sick. Sick with the stomach flu that caused him to stay home with his Dad today while Jay and Meg went to preschool and daycare and I went to work.

He farmed today ... and the highlight of his day was playing on the fence by the cow lot. He learned a lot today as well. He learned that when you're the only one .... you're special.

He strutted and bragged all evening ... and it wasn't pretty to the ones that got left out today!

Sometimes it's nice to be sick all by yourself!

Whacked

2009-02-28T23:34:00.042-06:00

(Picture at the end of the Post ... No Peeking!)

There's a certain little boy that I can not mention his name ... because he's hanging his head in shame. So to protect his innocence and integrity, I also can not post a 'after' picture of him. (want me to sneak one?)

HE WHACKED HIS HAIR! Right off at his bangs. TWO WHACKS! Right on top of each other. Right in the front. Right where you can see it! But not to the scalp! Praise God! But almost!

... and he's cute, and he looked at me with his pitiful looking face, with his pitiful little hair-cut, and he said, (like it's the scissors fault) "We just can't have them scissors in our house no more now .... can we Mommy?" ... and I melted and told him that it would grow, and that he was beauty-full!

So this evening he wore a Red fuzzy Santa hat ... the entire evening ... and he smiled, and he forgot that he whacked his hair and that I had a camera. His name starts with the letter 'S' and in 'Pig-Latin' it goes something like this: 'Am-Say'.

So what's your hair-cut story? Who's did you whack? Or did you whack someone else's?

When I was a kid ... but way old enough to know better, I cut my sister April's hair off. She had really long hair ... way down her back. We played 'beauty-shop' under the kitchen table late at night when our parents thought we were asleep. I was in charge and made her sit there and I gave her a new style .... a 'pixie'. Kim and Robin didn't wake up Mom and tell on me ... because they were going to be next! Guess what? It didn't happen ... only because my Mom woke up because we made way too much noise and thought it was way too funny. Trust me ... it wasn't funny at all. Not at all!

Recovering Post

2009-02-23T09:41:00.004-06:00

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Can you read that? LOL ... me neither! Yesterday I lost all my posts for a bit ... BUT I'm kicking again!

Whew!

Problem Solved (drama over)

2009-02-21T18:11:00.002-06:00

The window problem is solved, sealed and drywalled! Mr. Contractor came in this morning to mud one more time before sanding and painting and we went over measurements one more time.

HE came to the conclusion that the window was too high related to he read the blueprint wrong and thought my bottom cabinets were special ordered at a higher height. He immediately starting correcting it ... and the outlets will work. Only ONE single outlet is truly an eye sore to me .. but I can live with it. I would have preferred it lower since it's more in the center of the room, but it's also right beside the stove .. so it will do. I didn't have the heart to make him rewire my kitchen for just one outlet. The others are more towards the outer walls and I can deal with it.

WHEW ... I would just hate to have had to kick his butt! Ha!

Now my fret is whether to paint the ceiling bright white ... and paint the dining room ceiling a light contrasting color with the walls ... and I'm thinking I'm going to have a 18" Medallion above my Kitchen ceiling light since Mr. Husband will never go for taking down the ceiling fan in the Dining Room or the Living Room. I love the look and this is my only chance!

What do you think? Medallion or NO Medallion in the Kitchen?

Kitchen Drama - Part Never-ending!

2009-02-20T18:22:00.002-06:00

This is the view looking into my kitchen. Most of this used to be a wall, but now it's opened up and going to be awesome!

This is also the view I'll see when the cabinets are all in. That far wall used to have a a bunch of windows, but as you can see, now we only have one little bitty window THAT THE CONTRACTOR PLACED TOO HIGH AND HAS TO MOVE IT! (according to me).

I may not be a Carpenter, but after all the planning and looking at cabinets and books, even I came to the accurate conclusion that my base cabinets are only maximun thirty-six high with a thick counter top!. Mr. Contractor told me that they were forty inches tall and with my counter's back-splash they would be forty-four inches! WRONG!

All the electric receptacle's are based on his measurements and are too high. We'll be lucky if the bottom of the top cabinets don't meet up with them. I am so upset ... and pretty much angry! This has been a disaster since Monday and now he's finishing up and only has to mud and sand one more time and then paint.

The recessed lighting is now done and I love them. There are two on each end and they'll have a bronze ring around them. I still have to pick out my main light fixture, and that's how I'll be entertaining the kids this weekend ... a shopping trip to Lowe's!

So what would you do? Live with it ... or insist that he lower my window? I'm only five foot tall and I can barely see out of it. I'm opting for FIXING it ASAP.

Now for what everyone's been wanting to know .... how we are living in here during all this with three kids. It's called CHAOS! (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrone) Are we in for a bad weekend or what? This is the dining room and we have a path and standing room only!

The new cabinets are in the garage waiting for next Thursday ... so stay tuned in for more progress!

Puppies and Piggies

2009-02-19T05:05:00.003-06:00

Kelcie, Sam, Meg and Jay

Lots of Puppies .... and lots of kids! On Tuesday evenings I always have Kelcie, and this week I knew I couldn't handle (four) 4 year olds in all this mess and chaos going on in the house right now, so I loaded them up and took them to my Sisters house for a Upper Case Living Party and a night out.

Anyone want a Boxer puppy? You have nine to choose from ... not counting the kids!

I Think I'm Fired ...

2009-02-17T14:47:00.000-06:00

Well .... it's day two of the kitchen remodel, contractor people, mess, chaos (can't have anyone over syndrone) and I'm not faring as well as I was yesterday.

Yes, it's still early in the day and things aren't going so well for me. My expertise is not carpentry as I had thought it was earlier this morning. I've only chimed in twice so far and gave my opinion ... and I really don't think it was well received. So I'll just stay out of the kitchen space with my camera until THEY leave.

I don't think they wanted me in there anyway. I went to pee and when I came back there was a big gray canvas curtain covering the entire eight foot opening! I got their drift .... loud and clear! So now I'll just be going to work and be right on my merry way .. right after I finish this!

MM bailed out on me and hit the road right when they got here, and left me to fend for myself. My first question to the guys went something like this, "Ummmm, the new window doesn't have a screen????"

I noticed that all three guys looked at each other, then at me, then back to the Boss! He nonchalantly said, "Oh we can order one for you."

Then I had to point out that I didn't see a spot for a screen, and that I HAVE to have a screen because we have a barn with cows right on the other side of the driveway and all the flies in Gibson County hang out here in the Summer. If I don't have a screen, then I can never open the window! Then in the nicest voice I could muster up ... I ask him, "you won't have to exchange that window will you?" Point.

A little history: Two different times I had ask if I needed to go pick out my own window. It's a woman thing you know!

Then about 10 minutes later I heard the buzzing of saws and I just had to check out what they were doing. I'm curious you know. We had already discussed the layout of the recessed lighting and where I wanted them to be. There were four perfect little circles in just the perfect places ... except I noticed that they were a little close to the wall, and it hit me .... Are they a tad bit too close to where the crown molding will be? So I ask the question, after I secretly snuck off to the bathroom to call Lowes and ask how far out the crown will come.

I swear I wasn't smug when I announced that 14.5 inches away from the wall would probably butt up against or lap over the canned rings wouldn't it? That wouldn't look very pretty now would it. I did tell him that I really wasn't very picky, but I sure would hate for him to have to redo the entire lighting ... it's easier to fix that now than have to redo the entire thing ... after all, at this point there is only four circles cut in the ceiling! Yikes!

(Whew ... good thing I noticed that!)

So the decision was made to just go ahead and replace the entire ceiling with new drywall since those holes won't work.

(I sure am glad we have a proposal instead of paying Mr. Contractor by the hour.)

I'm going on to work now since I can tell that they don't want to talk to me anymore and they can't cuss in front of me because I can tell they're very nice men.

So, tonight when I get home, I've got to figure out exactly where I want the electrical outlets to be and how I'm going to decorate. I certainly can't have a plug-in interferring with my decor!

However, I do have a plan. In all this mess, I found a black permanent marker and I'm just going to draw my plan on the walls in there with a picture of a outlet with a line through it.

Think they'll get my drift or just ask me to come back next Monday?

Kitchen "Day One" (plus some cute kids)

2009-02-16T13:43:00.001-06:00

Bright and early this morning the kids were on watch .... and when the Contractors pulled in with their trucks and trailers and all their supplies, my kids were absolutely ecstatic. This was a first for them! Now I'm wondering how in the world I am going to survive this week!

Jay had his Binocular's out and was watching them as they started carrying tools and dry wall, boards, drills and hammers into our house.

Our appliances, new and old are in the dining room. The table is shoved up against a wall and the walls are stacked with a lifetime full of kitchen stuff. Where in the world did I get all this stuff!

Our living room is walking room only for all the totes of pots and pans, dishes and utensils that are stacked every where. Why do I need two Wok's and three electric skillets and a couple of crock pots? I have dishes from my Mother, Von's Mother, my Grandmother, his Grandmother and my own collection of oddballs. I have every day dishes, good dishes, and my Fiestaware dishes that are totally off limits.

Don't even get me started on Tupperware, Rubbermaid and Butter bowls ... and all the lids that couldn't possibly have had a matching bowl for the past two decades .... and I've only lived in this house for eight years!

In my opinion, we couldn't have picked a better contractor. He's as nice as can be ... and works fast and counts for every minute. In less than an hour, my old cabinets were gone!

These two guys are his helpers. They told me to tell you that they're both single and "looking." Ha! The young dude on the left is a whiz bang at texting and hammering at the same time! Anyone want his number??

This is the only part that makes me kind of sad to see go. For some silly reason, I loved this old corner cabinet. Even though I never knew the Grandmothers that lived here before me ... I kind of pictured in my mind that this was their spice cabinet. I like the old beadboard that it was made of, and I like the shine of the old varnish on it. So I had them to save it ... and I have it all in one piece with all the little shelves that were in it ... and maybe, just maybe ... I can talk MM into putting it back up on our closed back porch! So give him some blog love and tell him to get with it!

The double windows on both ends are now gone as I type this and they're starting to box it in .... by tomorrow it will be a whole new room!

Oh yeah, look at this guy below. His last years suit fell out of the ceiling when they took out the old soffet over the cabinets .... he sure was a big ole guy ... and I'm hoping he's moved on down to the neighbor's house by now!

I'm sure he thought it was morally and ethically wrong, and I'm sure it was totally against my husbands will, but I had to insist that he give me a bit of help this morning before the crew got here. For forty-five minutes straight ... we cleared my kichen and I was under my estimated time of one hour! I am good B.A.B.Y!

I call it skill .... he calls it procrastination!

D - Day

2009-02-15T23:07:00.014-06:00

Tomorrow is the day ... for destruction and demolition of our kitchen.

I am NOT ready for this. I've waited a long time and now the day is here and I need another day to "get with it" and be ready.

My Job: clean out the cabinets, put everything in totes, take down the blinds, curtains, shelves, "pretties" ... and pretty much clear out EVERYTHING! I also have to sort what I will need over the next three to four weeks, and what I won't need until everything is completed.

Here is it almost midnight and the only thing I've got done is to divide the silverware and utensils and put them into three small totes. I have six extra large totes lined up in the dining room to start loading ... BUT

I've eyeballed it ... and I think I can do it in ONE HOUR! So I'm going to bed and I'll get up really early in the morning and get with it! What can I say .... I work well under pressure! Ha!

Now that we're down to the last few hours before the crew arrives to makeover my kitchen ... I've decided that I want to flip flop the long wall and change things up again! It ain't happening says MM!

(I'll make sure I get some good pictures of the demolition, and some before pics of the kitchen).

Play Date with Mom

2009-02-08T23:55:00.031-06:00

We had a play date this afternoon ... just me, the kids and two camera's! They were so in love with being outside that they actually sat there and smiled at me! I lie. I lie.

Really, I told them that President Obama wanted a picture of them and they cheesed all over themselves. So I tried it again and again ... and nothing doing, but I did snap a bunch of great pictures of these kiddo's as we explored all around an old barn.

No smiles here ... but it was at the end of our walk and they're looking tired! (I like tired .... it means they snooze for a bit)

We found this swing on the other side of the barn ... the one that I've never been to before.

... and here's the look! It's time to quit!

Reporting Live .... Trouble on the Farm

2009-02-07T03:36:00.161-06:00

I'm here on the spot .... watching out the window as "three" police cars pulled in and arrested the stranger man that rang my doorbell almost an hour ago.

It's very scary to have a man at three o'clock in morning knock on your doors and circle your house in the wee hours on a very cold night.

So I did what any crazy woman in my shoes would do ... I talked to him through the window and told him that I was not going to let him in, but I would call someone for him and did he want me to throw a blanket out the back door while he waited on help to arrive. (Oh sure Tanya ... open the back door instead ... you idiot)

I pretended to call the number that he gave me and instead called 911. They had me talking to him through the window asking him questions. He ran off the road ... in a ditch ... lost his phone ... doesn't know where he is ... no, he's not hurt ... yes, he's oriented ...don't let him know you're talking to the police .... then, am I okay? Am I scared? (No, because Marlboro Man is leaning on the kitchen counter all smugged up drinking hot tea waiting to protect me while my heart is palpitating like crazy.)

I talked the guy into sitting on my porch to wait for "his friend" ... then I paced and fretted, then I got to thinking ... I live out here in the middle of nowhere and it has already been 40 minutes since that 911 call was made and NO ONE has arrived to get the man off my porch. Then the police call me back, and tell me that the road is closed to get to me and they have to go around. (Duh ... the road is closed. The road isn't even there anymore because the county sold us out to the coal mine. The road is now a football field deep coal mine with cranes and big trucks driving in it)

Dispatch wanted to be on the phone with me when the police arrived and wanted me to know that he would be arrested and to make sure that my doors were locked. They couldn't tell me why ... only that it involved an incident from a couple of hours ago. (Sure ... go right ahead and scare me to death now .. okay?!)

So the moment arrived and three police cars pull into my driveway, and the man jumps up and heads towards the gate. My heart is melting and I'm waiting for gunfire or something ... and the higher order of the farm is nonchalantly holding his tea in his hand while he watches out the window. Then when the man in the red jacket and torn up jeans is securely surrounded by police officers ... Marlboro Man ventures out. (in his jogging pants, cow boots and a old jacket that has a "Semen" logo on it from a "Sperm Rep" that leaves the good Bull "Stuff" here for when MM impregnates his cows the hard way). Real Cute. (bet you never even thought of a man driving around selling cow sperm now did you?)

Long story short ... the guy and a few of his buddies attempted stealing Anhydrous from the Co-Op a few hours ago, was on foot and got lost out here in God's country. He stumbled his way here to Green Acres, and was so cold he willingly he sat it out on my porch until the police arrived! Nice. What was he thinking ... "oh yeah .. let's go steal some drug makings in the aftermath of the nations worst ice storm ... in the middle of the night." We've got some real smart people here in my neck of the woods!

Yeah ... it was a drug bust gone bad ... just another Meth Lab in the making that didn't make it, and the poor man had to sit out in the cold without a blanket ... and I didn't even get to offer him any hot chocolate (nor did MM share his hot tea). Now I'm going back to bed to catch a few hours sleep before my brood wakes up for the day. It's going to be a long long day. I'm sleepy, my trust has been violated and I'm uneasy now.

BUT ... Houston we still have a problem! That 911 call was made a tad bit over 50 minutes ago, and what IF the guy had been armed and breaking my windows?! Yes, I live out in BFE ... but can my tax dollars go the closest jurisdiction? Like the one that is only five minutes away?!

I think my tax dollars went for gasoline tonight when all three officers got lost trying to find me ... and by the way, didn't we just install a million dollar 911 system in our county just a year ago .. one that would enable you to find me in an emergency? The one that changed my nice simple address to a string of numbers that resemble a road sign. That one. It might have worked if you hadn't sold us out to the coal mine and the roads were still there.

Over and out ...

102.8 = Hot

2009-02-06T23:31:00.036-06:00

Hot? Very. But not Hot as in Haaught, Cool, Chic or RockStar Hot. Just Hot as in ... sick. Well, she is a RockStar most of the time .. but not today she says!

Today she was running a 102.8 temp and was a bit lethargic, and being Friday and right before a weekend, and no doctor availability except the ER or a MEC, we opted to take her in.

My girl has a very bad severe case of Strep and a full body Scarlet Fever Rash ... even on her toes. She's as speckled as a dalmation pup with a sandpaper like rash all over. She's not eating ... not drinking and not peeing much, and just not as peppy as normal.

But when the Doctor stepped out, we pulled out my little "point and shoot" camera that I always have in my purse and she pepped it up, boogied and posed a bit!

You know what they say .... "Once a RockStar ... always a ROCKSTAR!"

Please send a few prayers her way everyone ... she's pretty under the weather tonight!

A Man Thing

2009-02-04T23:28:00.015-06:00

You only get one guess .... and I'm sure you got it the moment you saw the "yellow".

It was almost zero degrees outside and Sam steps out the back door like he's a big guy on a mission!

I don't get it ... what is it about a guy teaching his boys to pee outside ... and in the snow at 7:00am on a freezing cold day! Seriously ... is it a man thing?

Dear Meg - "Can I Smell your Butt?"

2009-02-01T23:43:00.004-06:00

Dear Meg,

Today you're four and all wrapped up in meanness as you grow into this world. This letter to you is for when you're forty-four, have children or possibly grandchildren ... and when you think there is no way that they can embarrass you ... I want them to have read this and give it their best shot!

Today, we were at Best Buy. We had to pay for appliances ... and you can't just do that in the Refrigerator, Stove and Freezer department. No, we had to get the prices, the paperwork ... and go to customer service.

For thirty minutes, we had to go to customer service. In the line that everyone else in the store was in ... the one where at least sixty-seven people stood with their paperwork in hand and not happy to be there.

Did we know that it would take that long? No. Did we know that you three would get bored and show your butt? Yes. But we were in the middle of the line with half the people in front of us ... and the disgruntled half behind us.

For entertainment, the three of you climbed up and laid down side by side on a stack of "guitar heroes" ... and you pretended to go to sleep and you pretended snoring ... and yes, it was kind of cute in a kid sort of way. Then suddenly you began to fight ... and Jay rolled you off onto the floor and you got up and shoved him and we had to separate you. THEN, you did it.

When you had everyone's attention that stood in that line, you said, "Ewwww Mom ... did you fart? Can I smell your butt?" ...... and I wanted to choke you and rip your tongue out of your mouth and put it in my pocket until we left the store. ... and not only did you say it, you did it. You sniffed and snorted and gagged and choked and danced circles around me while I was trying to get your attention to shut you up.

... and yes sister, you got your brothers attention as well ... and yes, you got them to join in, and I wanted to drag the three of you across the floor and out the door through the snowy parking lot and throw you in the van. Did I? No ... and only because we were going to be next in line.

So Meg ... down the road when I'm long gone from this earth, I'll be watching over you from Heaven and I'll be sending vibes to your children or grandchildren, and I hope they do the same thing to you. Even though you'll not remember doing this as a kid ... you will someday read these words, and I'm sure you'll laugh and get the biggest kick out of it ... probably as much as you did today!

Afterall, this is why I blog ... kind of like a time capsule ... only it's not buried, it's here, and it's real ... your real life!

Love,

Mom

Panic on the Farm

2009-01-31T23:36:00.082-06:00

Being that I can't keep a secret for the life of me and I love to talk ... I have to tattle on myself about today's happenings.

Late this morning I was putting dishes away in the kitchen and I kept hearing this weird cracking noise. It was consistent and baffling and loud enough that I could track it down. It came from within my pantry ... and from within the circuit breaker box.

Instant panic rose up in me, and all I could think about was saving my children. Every thing and every scenario of my emergency plan played out in my head as I called Von on the phone and told him the circuit breaker box was cracking and sizzling. I saw in my head that my house could explode or burn down before I could get my kids out ... the fear almost paralyzed me, but I knew their innocent lives were in my hands and I could keep myself together.

He was vaccinating cows at one of the barns down the road, and I was alone in the house with three four year old's. They weren't dressed, and didn't have shoes on and it was snowy and icy outside and I knew I could not carry all three of them out of the house by myself.

I could hear him becoming short of breath as he was running to his truck to come home. He'd told me to stay by the box and watch what happened. No, I couldn't smell heat, and no, I didn't see fire ... and yes, it was still making that noise. In the end, I couldn't just stand by that box.

The panic in my voice was evident to these little kids as I ordered them to get their boots on, and in between running to get their coats, and watching the breaker box ... they did what I told them to do. They stood in a line at the back door, flattened against the wall and waited for the emergency that I was telling them was happening. They didn't cry ... they just stood there with big eyes and were ready to run.

Within a couple of minutes of my phone call, Von came home. As he listened to the box, I could the see the fear in his eyes ... when suddenly he said to me, "listen and tell me if it stops" ... then he went outside. Within seconds, the noise stopped ... then started again.

As he came back through the door, all the fear that I had previously seen was gone from his face.

Then he said to me .... "that noise is coming from the icicles that are melting off the gutter".

Then I said, "I knew that! I was just practicing my emergency evacuation plan .... and you passed!"

Well .... I really didn't say that ... but I did give a sick little laugh before I almost passed out .... and told the kids that the coast was clear!

Snow and Ice

2009-01-30T05:33:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was the first day I was out and about after a cruel Snow and Ice Storm pelted the mid-west. We got layers of snow and ice, then about 8 - 10 inches of Snow on top. Yes, it was beautiful, but the destruction it bought with it was pretty cruel.

I worked yesterday, and as I drove through the city I shot a few pictures through the windshield of my car. Trees were broken and down in most every yard I passed.

Limb and power lines were still falling ... but that was only what people could see on the outside. Countless people and families are still without electricity.

What most of us with electricity and shelter don't know or think about, is the many people that are in hotels or shelters ... and some of those people are severely disabled. Severely disabled and sharing a room with three or four others in their same situation, along with their caregivers.

It was very eye opening to me ... and even though I do a drug exchange monthly in group homes, seeing these young adults outside of their comfort zone, and outside of what is their normal left me very shaken. It was very hard ... both for them and me, and they have my prayers.

Yes, the ice and snow on the trees are beautiful ... but what's behind the scene is unknown unless you're living it.

I stood in the lobby of a very well known hotel yesterday as a thin worn out woman came in and ask for a room for her eighty-nine year old Father. She had come from Madisonville, KY to Evansville in hopes of finding a warm room to take care of her Father. They told her there were no rooms available and they were suggesting she drive as far away as Terre Haute, Indiana.

When I saw the tears and the defeat in her eyes, I had to step forward. I ask the Manager that was talking to her if it would be possible to bunk up some of the employees and their children that were staying there. I told her that my sister was a Chef at the Hilton Inn across the street and I knew that in order to keep the hotel running they were providing rooms for their staff and that the parents and kids were in separate rooms. I ask her if they were doing the same thing and if they could give this woman a room. I also said that if she could not or would not, I would call my sister across the street and ask her to give up her room and bunk with her teenage son.

What I really wanted to say was that I would love to call the TV station and ask them to ask the Hotel to give the woman and man a room ... but that was just the thought that crossed my mind. For a second or two, I felt like I was in a stand-off with that manager and she was waiting to see if I was going to back down. I couldn't ... it just isn't in me.

So ... thank you to the Drury Inn in Evansville, Indiana for doing the right thing. Even though I'm a nobody ... I'm proud of you, and I slept better last night knowing that an old man was warm and being taken care of.