Cow Feed and Kids

This evening we had visitors. The neighbor and her daughter, and her daughter. Actually the neighbor is my wonderful sister-in-law, who walked up our road with Amanda (PhotoChick) and Liv, who came to play with the Little's.

The kids had a good time together, and as the neighbor and her girls were leaving, I looked around for the kids and found them here. They were jumping in the cow feed and throwing it everywhere. Well, actually Meg was, and I lifted the boys in so they could join in the fun. It's my job to make sure they have equal rights! There's no favoritism around this farm! No Sirree!

Amanda was kind enough to run back and snap a few pictures for me since my camera was in the house and someone had to make sure they didn't bury each other in ground corn feed. Thanks Amanda!

Now, we have to keep this to ourselves, because we certainly don't want Uncle Don or Marlboro Man to see the mess they made in there, or how much corn made it to the floor! But look at how much fun they had! So we'll just pretend that we don't have a clue what happened in that little building.

I just love these corn covered kids and the shanigans they come up with!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Pictures in the Park

After a not so good Saturday (no electricity from Friday evening to Saturday evening) we had a good Sunday.

Yesterday afternoon I met up with my wonderful photographer friend Peggy, in her beautiful town park. We were on a mission to get some good pictures of these kiddo's. It's hard for me to get them all together, facing me, without running away. After all, I'm the Mommy.

Peggy did a great job of snapping just the right expressions. I did a great job of story-telling and pecking out tall tales to keep them sitting while she took their pictures.


Meg of course, and Jay, after he warmed up a bit started loving it. Sam, on the other hand, needed Pretzels and Orange pop, TLC and lots of coaxing. But like a trooper ... he came through! I'm proud of you Sam!

Through the drizzle and spurts of sunshine, they turned out just wonderful. Peggy has lots more to send my way and I can't wait to get them. Thank you Peggy!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Child Labor

I think farm kids are exempt from child labor laws. So we decided to let them have a go at cleaning out the barn. Well, not exactly cleaning out the whole barn .... just the cow poop that runs out of the barn.

I'm going to have to talk to Marlboro Man about having the ground leveled there so it runs back in. I don't think he'll go for it, but it's worth a try. He's the kind of person that thinks ... well, it's been running out of that barn for 200 years .... why change it now?
So we opened the garage door and started throwing shovels and rakes and hoes out in the yard. Then we grabbed a couple of lawn chairs so we could sit and watch them work. These kids are smart kids .... they knew exactly what to do! They each grabbed their favorite tool and got to work. We didn't even have to tell them that it was cow poop. After all, it's laid there in the sun and dried real good ... and for all they know, it's just dirt. Special Dirt!

Even the Princess got in on the action ... and she never gets dirty. Never. Ever. It's against all her rules as a woman child.
Then she even picked up the dried piles and started picking out the pretty rocks that were embedded in it.

Then, I couldn't stand it anymore! My daughter. The self-acclaimed princess of the farm picking apart cow patties! Ewwwww!

"Hey Princess! That's cow poop you got there in your hand!"

"Hey Meg! Drop it! It's gross! It's cow poop!"

"Hey Meggggg! No Meg! Don't put the rocks in your pockets ... it's cow poop!"

"Oh Meg! I thought you were my Princess! Ewwwww! Gag! Spit! Spit! Gag!"

"No Meg! Don't put the rocks in your mouth!"

Okay .... this isn't cute anymore! No more child labor on this farm!

"Marlboro Man ... you're going to have to do this yourself. Me and Meg are going shopping!"

Wading ...

Early this morning, long before we usually start our day ... we had an adventure. At first they were so unsure of walking out into the water. As always, they reached out for each others hand.
They squished mud between their toes and wiggled their feet, and were very quiet as they inched into the water.

This was a "first" for them. They had never waded at the edge of a pond before. But they quickly learned to love it.

... and they laughed, and had so much fun, as each rock hit the water and splashed on them.

I loved watching their bare feet in the water, and I loved seeing Sam's pant legs rolled up so he could wade. Sam won't wear short pants. Not even on the hottest days ... for he's a farmer. A farmer, just like his Daddy ... and farmer's like his Daddy don't wear short pants. Not even in the water!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Good Morning to You!

It's Monday morning here ... and we just wanted to say, "Good Morning ... and Hello" to everyone, and we hope you all had a blessed Mother's Day!

Love,

Meg, Sam & Jay
(The FarmHouse Kids)

Woes at School

This evening while we were sitting at the table, Jay blurted out, "I got in trouble at school today." We just looked at each other. For surely this little man was going to tell all. Then he said, "I got time-out recess." Then we just looked at each other, and raised our eyebrows. Jay had a story to tell ... and we were going to hear it, and it sounded like this little man had brewed some troubles at preschool, and it might not be pretty. He was having some moments of guilt, and was on the verge of telling it.

But, before Jay could say more, Meg and Sam chimed in and told their version. Jay got in trouble and had to sit out recess, because he didn't color. At this point, Jay couldn't get a word in edge wise, and their story kept getting wilder and wilder.

As it ended ... Jay refused to color, broke a crayon and threw it, started to cry and had to sit on the teacher's lap during recess.

Poor Jay. It's hard to be three and have built in tattle-talers. They stole his thunder ... and told his moment of glory. What's a man to do?

Be Blessed Everyone.

p.s. Yes, that's whipped cream in his mouth. A kid has to eat something now doesn't he!?!

Bug Juice

I promise I didn't beat them. Really I didn't. I wanted too ... but since they can use the phone now ... I was afraid they'd call 911 or CPS on me.
Actually CPS might have backed me up on this one!

Here's the skinny on this post: this evening I had to go start an IV and get it going before I could leave the city. Marlboro Man had to stop milking cows to pick the kids up from daycare, and as soon as I got home, I loaded the kids up and headed half way back to town to "Subway" to meet up with my son Josh and feed the kids.

It was great to see Josh and catch up on Luke and Carter. A Grandma has to do that every once in a while you know!

The Littles were so well behaved and such perfect little angels in the restaurant, I let my guard down. Boy did I ever!

Josh helped me strap them back into their car seats before we parted ways ... and he handed them their orange "Bug Juice" (drink). That was a fatal mistake. Although at the time I thought it was okay. After all, I could see them, and they had just won the "I'm perfect" award!

They sang songs and giggled on the drive home and kept the spout closed on their Bug Juice ... just like I told them to do. Then the phone rang! ... and I got to talking, .... and they got to giggling. Complete belly laughs!

Then. I looked in the mirror. They were completely soaked with Bug Juice. It was running down their faces and their heads were saturated with the sticky orange syrupy stuff.

The moment they made eye contact with me ..... all giggles ended and it was dead silence in the car. No one made a peep and I didn't say a word. (It's all about choosing your battles with three year olds these days.) They just starred at me, and finally I told them they were in trouble. Big trouble.

When we got home and I unstrapped them from the wet car seats, they ran up to the back door and into the house and instantly started crying and telling their Daddy that they were in BIG TROUBLE!

My camera just couldn't resist. I think I have a big job ahead of me in the morning, and it involves a saturated sticky backseat in a Toyota!

Be Blessed Everyone.

A Cow Named Tammie

This brand new little girl didn't have a name until this morning. Now she does. Her name is Tammie. Marlboro Man calls her "#272." That is just so totally impersonal! I try to tell him that we woman are not just a number, but he didn't listen to me. He just rolled his eyes and shook his head at me, then ask if I was going to be hormonal today.

I named her Tammie because my virtual friend Tammie and the Hellions said, "I love cow's. Is that weird? OK, maybe it is weird, but I swear they are so adorable and sweet looking that I just want to run up and hug their sweet little necks. I am HIGHLY doubting that in suburban California I am going to ever have my chance to touch a cow, let alone hug it."

For a moment, I thought about mailing this one to her because we have way too many cows. Only thing is, when Tammie Jr. grows up ... Tammie and the Hellion's entire neighborhood won't be too happy.

I think I need to tell Tammie that Cows get really nervous in the city ... and they tend to raise their tail a lot and poop! Trust me, Cow poop is not like kid poop. I know Tammie and the Hellions does her share of poop, because she has triplets too (go check out her cutie's) ... but it's not Cow poop! She might not think this little baby cow is so adorable if she saw how often it poops.
Meg loves the baby calf's. She could play with them all day if we'd let her. It would probably upset her if we mailed her new baby to suburban California ... so we'd better keep her here on the farm and just invite Tammie and the Hellions to visit us here in Indiana this summer. The calf barn is Meg's favorite place. That and playing in the hay!

I have to tell you ... I quit following her around with a bottle of hand sanitizer! I finally figured it out that country kids need germs to grow, and besides that ... my sweet Mother-in-Law didn't have hand sanitizer in her day, and everyone grew up just fine. So these days, we'll just wash the cow poop off at the end of the day! I kid. I kid. Maybe a little more often than that! Maybe. Cute country kid, huh?

Be Blessed Everyone.

Confession of a Bad Mother

I did something very bad today, and I have to confess to cleanse my soul, or else it will eat at me forever until I dry up and blow away.

You see ... I've been awake for One Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Six days (1,266). That's how old my Littles are. I'm exhausted, and I really needed some sleep. When you're up for over three years ... you start to act a little goofy!

Once I finally got them to sleep this afternoon, I had so much to do (check my statcounter) that I couldn't take a nap when they did, then time got away from me, and darn it, before I knew it ... they were up and running again. They tend to do that when they come with built in playmates.

When I just couldn't take it anymore and I thought they desperately needed to sit in their beds and watch "Bob the Builder" ... I locked us in their room, and kicked back in the recliner A.N.D. totally passed out. Like a drunk sailor. Dead to the world. My poor kids were on their own to fend for themselves. I'm so ashamed.

Somewhere in my trance I felt like I was suffocating and getting buried alive. I wasn't dreaming. My cute little self-surviving triplets ... since their Mother left them unattended in a safe locked room with nothing but a bunch of toys and a passed out Mommy ... piled every pillow, every toy, every blanket and then, they used me as their personal trampoline!

They were jumping from Sam's bed, to on top of ME! The giggles were hysterical, and so was the mess. Somehow, I didn't feel a thing until I was completely buried under everything in their room.

Then I got caught sleeping on the job. The big kid in the picture came a knocking ... and the fun began all over again.

I DO NOT recommend that anyone ever try to stay up for three and a half years. It makes you crazy. Now I feel better ... I've confessed that I left my children unattended, and the burden of guilt is lifted forever! I kid. I kid.

Now I have to go clean their room .... **sigh** (the price you pay for sleep)

Be Blessed Everyone.

Planting a Garden

This past Sunday afternoon was the beginning of our garden. Notice how I said the "we" word? Marlboro Man doesn't like it that I give myself credit when no credit is due. He says the garden is not a "we" project. I think that means that I don't do anything productive in the garden, and it's his garden. Not mine.

I think I'm very productive. I work very hard. I work so hard I sometimes lose my voice. It's hard work being a great gardener. I should know! Trust me! I have to yell at everyone, "hey ... look at me guys! Look at my camera!" ... and they won't. They ignore me, and I have to yell louder. Then sometimes I get really loud and jump up and down and wave my arms and say things like, "hey guys, look what I have ... ah-ah-ah, what a cute puppy," ... and they still won't look even when I try to trick them. They just think they're smarter than me.

Sam and Jay each had a pair of pliers and they were helping plant onions. I really don't know why Marlboro Man gave them pliers to plant a garden. Maybe it's a man thing. But he did. I think he thinks he's smarter than me too. But I know better.

Then I got to thinking about it .... he was just trying to entertain them. Keep them busy. Keep them from running two miles up the road, and away from him. That way he didn't have to chase them down. He thinks his noodle is always a step ahead of mine.

While the boys were standing there discussing the intelligence of their parents, and right before I took this picture, I ask them if they liked bubble gum. Then I said to them, "hey guys ... am I smarter than your Daddy?"

Jay answered first. He said, "If I tell you, can I have a piece of gum?" Of course I said, "oh yeah baby" ... then he rolled his eyes and said, "Give me the gum first." So I did. Then he said, "Mother, I know you're the smartest ... and the coolest too. Way cool. Way too cool. Me and Sam have a bet going on who has the highest IQ ... I'm betting on you Mom. Now can I have that other piece of gum?" I gave him two pieces.

Then I ask Sam if I was smarter than his Daddy. Sam is so slick. He won't lie. Not even for candy. He just nodded his head, winked twice, gave me a thumbs up and said the word "YES" in twelve different foreign languages. Then he held his hand straight out, and I gave him the whole dang bucket of gum.

I work hard. It's a hard job being me ... but somebody has to do it!

Be Blessed Everyone.

They Know What Love Is ...

Tonight, I turned around and I saw these kids differently. I saw them no longer as my babies, but as little kids. They talk to me and they talk to each other with meaningful conversations and they mean what they say ... to me and to each other.

All about Sam!

He's the sweetest little guy and he's a leader. He's the quickest temper and he's the softest heart. He loves his animals as if they were real. He cuddles them and holds them and strokes their faces and kisses them. He loves them. He loves me. He tells me so. He rubs his cheeks on mine and tells me, "we're so soft." He feels his love in his heart, and he talks about it. He knows what Love is ....

Megan. Her voice is so sweet. She tells me that mine is too. She says that she is my baby, and that she loves me so much. I love her too. It's been so many years since I had daughter this young. I almost forgot how sweet it is. She talks about love, and girl things and how we'll go shopping and be the bestest of friends together and forever. How can she know this at her age? She knows, and she knows what love is ... So do I. I feel it in my heart.

All about Jay.

How lucky can one Mommy be. He's tender. He's sharp. He's quick. He wears his heart on the outside and we watch it softly beat. It beats with love for his sister and his brother, and he's always ready to take care of them when they hurt. He loves them. He tells them so. He loves me too. He says it every time the thought enters his mind .... and it's often. He smiles all the time, he's happy and winks at me like he has a secret. ... and he does. He knows what love is.

It's so wonderful to watch these kids grow. I sometimes wonder what did I do to deserve this. This opportunity doesn't come along very often in a woman's life to have this kind of love in triplicate. I'm so very blessed ... and so are they.

Be Blessed Everyone.

~ Clean Up ~ Clean Up ~

Last week we had snow and ice .... today it is 45 degrees outside. .... and we have to clean up the trees that are scattered all over our yard from the ice storms that hit us over the last three weeks. Plus, we have to clean up that tree that Marlboro Man cut down, that is still laying right outside the backdoor.
"Hi Dad! .... here we are! You have help now." Don't you love the cow boots? These guys have been cooped up in the house all winter and were just itching to get outside. So of course, I had to oblige ... and opened the door and let them run. Then I shut the door real quick so I didn't have to go out there and pick up sticks.

I'd like to say that the kids single-handed made this brush pile ... but they didn't. But they are going to have a wiener roast here this evening.

One stick at a time .... but they are persistent farm kids, and they worked hard for almost two hours.

I was peeking out the window, feeling all Motherly and in love, and I suddenly saw Sam fall in the mud, and he got really dirty, and they all wanted to come in the house with me, so I jumped up and ran as fast as I could to lock the door, and I pretended that I didn't hear the doorbell .... and Marlboro Man had to watch them a little bit longer.

Then I started to feel a little bit guilty ... but then I got over it real quick. So does that make me a bad Mom or what?

Be Blessed Everyone.

Triple Trouble

No words are necessary .... they're just plain downright cute! What do you think? Come on ... feed my ego!

White Chocolate Raspberry Creme Lipstick ... Anyone?

Night before last, Meg found a Christmas present that I hadn't given her yet. Well, actually I've been hiding it from her ... and probably would have forever, if she hadn't found it. ... and find it good, she did. A big double sided "Dazzle Dream Make-up Case" ... full to the brim!~
Of course, she couldn't dive into it all alone ... so I let them all sit on top of the dining room table and put their "lipstick" on. They were loving it. Meg barked out orders to the boys, on how to apply lipstick correctly. They didn't listen though. They were too busy digging their fingers into the little containers and smelling it. I'm thinking that "the more they use now, the sooner it will all be gone!" Plus, if they're sitting on the table, they can't get it on anything except themselves.Meg actually rubbed half of that tube of lipstick/gloss/chap-stuff/wax/pink-stuff on her lips. All at one time. Back and forth 33,478 times. I counted every time she slid it across her lips. The entire time she stared at me and puckered them babies up!
Sam was eating his, as much as he was rubbing it all over his face. He's just not feminine enough to apply it correctly. He has no idea ... only that it smells good. He does have a good pucker though. ... and he is cute!

Jay, on the other hand only used a tiny little bitty speck of lipstick. He likes to save things. For later. Like hide it in his sock, to keep it later after everyone else is finished with whatever they had, and he can bring it out and tease them with it. He does this. He hides his bubble-gum in his sock too.

Final shot. ... and she's telling me to put the camera down and hide her lipstick from the boys. It's a girl thing she says .... and they're only boys!

Be Blessed Everyone!

Comforting Sam ....

Does this ooze L.O.V.E. ... or what? (click the picture to see it bigger)

This picture makes my heart melt into a million little pieces everytime I look at it. I can't even print it and frame it. It is so out of focus and so pixelated, and so everything bad as far as a image can be .... but it's my favorite. I photoshopped (more like chopped) it to death to even get it this presentable.

This past Sunday morning I set up a background and my nifty little "Alien Bee's" (studio lights) in my living room and stripped the kiddo's down to tee shirts and underwear. I don't know who had the most fun .... them or me!

They rolled around and posed, and hugged each other .... rode their stick horses, turned flips and smiled for me. They forgot that a camera was clicking away, and they had so much fun.

THEN .... Sam purposely hit Jay upside the head with his stick horse, and it was all over. Instantaneous quiet overcame them. Sam sat down on his little green chair, with big tears in his eyes, and his two little comrades comforted him. They always "feed the hand that bites them." That has to be LOVE!

It's so funny how in one split-second, things change around here! Click the picture to see their faces .... and please ignore how bad the image itself is. There are tons more of this session that I have to wade through that are just perfect .... and I can't wait to edit them!

Be Blessed Everyone!



p.s. and to those of you that have missed me posting .... Maybe I haven't ever posted that the end of the month and the first two days are absolutely nuts for me. Reports are due in ... gotta keep that job you know, so I can by a new lenses, a new camera, a new backdrop or two, etc... OH, and pay my cell phone bill so I can talk to some of you!

House of Quiet

Yeah Right! I'm not sure what has happened recently, but we are reeling here from lack of sleep, total chaos and disorganization, from three little short people that self-appointed themselves, moved up in ranks, and are now heading a plot to take over our world. (my old English teacher would love to get a hold of that sentence ... ha ~) Just today Jay (above) became the Drill Sargent! He can bark out an order quicker than an Auctioneer! Not just one order either ... but he can keep them coming in rhythm. We have found ourselves jumping to attention when he speaks! Why is that? He's only three years old and only three feet tall!Meg, on the other hand doesn't bark out orders. She screams them at us in a shrill voice that almost broke four crystal glasses yesterday. Of course, we instantly jump through hoops to make her happy ... because her first order of the day came at 5:50 this morning. It's like reveille in their room in the mornings. Meg screams, "Mommmeeeeeee" and Sam and Jay jump up crying. Even the best soldier needs a nap once in awhile though.
I saved this little guy for last. He's "Sneaky Sam", a valued component of the CKHOOA squad. (Can't Keep Him Out Of Anything). Sam doesn't need any sleep. He's up reprogramming the DVD and reordering the movies on the TV at 2:00am. Here lately, he's going down as the sun is coming up, as Meg is getting ready to belt out Reveille. Needless to say, this little guy that is the head of the intelligence department is cranky all day. We all know that when Sam's cranky ... it's a bad day. A real bad day.

Don't even think they're cute. It's all a disguise. They've got it in for us, and they're taking over our world! Fast!

Be Blessed Everyone!