I'm still here

There will be no pictures today. I've been so busy these days, counting the days on my calendar until Daddy comes home. I count them down... then I count them up... then I count them down again. Often times, I will mentally count them, then get out the calendar to cross off the days that have passed. After that, I go the one of the wall calendars to see how many days are left. Then I like to go back to my calendar to see how many things I have planned before he comes home... Then the whole process starts over again.
Seriously, I'm not as bad as all this. But I am pretty giddy with thoughts of being a two parent family again and I have to admit that I do count the days down several times a day. The daddy chain is so short now!
I've had plenty of time to think about my wonderful husband during this deployment and I've decided that I'm not going to take him for granted. I would have never thought I was guilty of that, but we don't realize what we don't fully appreciate until we aren't able to appreciate them for awhile. So to all our friends and family, do me a favor and give your significant other a big hug and kiss... and let them know they are loved and appreciated. I suggest doing this the very next time you see them, repeat often.

Love and anticipation

Today in school....

We were all smiles...... and we learned to milk a goat.

It was too cool.

Love and Chevre

We love the kids!

Here are some photos from today's homeschool field trip.

Look at all the babies!

Our kids love the kids.

This is the correct way to hold a baby goat.

Next year, we'll have goats too... (hopefully)

Kids and Love

this month's assignment.....

..... is portraits that show emotion. I like these three, but I'm not really sure what emotion I'd call the middle one. I would love to hear your opinions again. Please feel free to vote, give a critique, or just tell me what you think in the comments.
A... B......

C.......

Thanks in advance,

Love and emotions

Sometimes the good toys are at the bottom.

Big Buckets of Love

The Pony Express

Saturday morning, on our way in to the Easter Egg hunt, some pony express riders were waiting on the side of the highway. I pulled over to let the kids look at the horses, and ask if I could take pictures. The riders were so kind, they let the kids pet the horses, and sit in the saddle while they waited for 'the boot' to come.If you are unfamiliar with the Annual Pony Express ride, they ride to raise money for Camp Sunnyside, a camp for kids with disabilities. They pass the money along the route via "the boot", (I don't know if any actual money is in the boot they pass, or if it is more ceremonious.)

Both kids really enjoyed it, but it was quite a ways up there for the boy. He looked less sure that sis did.

And here comes the boot..... the exchange was everything you would think a pony express exchange would be, very cool to watch.

Off they go for their leg of the ride, and then into town for a breakfast put on by the volunteer firefighters.

Love and road apples.

A Good Friday tradition

Okay, I don't remember if we actually colored eggs last year on Good Friday, but I think it is a good tradition to start. So we will have to remember this for next year.
First, we put a color tablet in each little bowl. The kids loved watching the tablets fizz and turn the vinegar bright colors. Baby is getting good at saying his colors, he loves to say orange. Both kids decided that the vinegar was really stinky, Peew. After the tablets quit fizzing, we added the water.

Everyone got to dip their own eggs. This is the main reason I needed my mom to help. That little guy has pretty fast hands!

Everyone loved seeing the pretty colored eggs come out of the dye. There was lots of oohing and aahing.

We decided that bunny ears were in order for the remainder of the egg coloring activities.

After all the eggs were colored and dried, we added embellishments, like these shrink wrap decorations, and stickers.

Baby decided that his egg was pretty enough and so he stuck in his thumb.

Which meant he got to eat it, yum yum.

K was much more careful in the handling of her eggs.

Just look at the beautiful results.

We hope you enjoyed this little insight to our new tradition of coloring eggs on Good Friday.

p.s. to you honey, we can't wait to decorate them with you next year.... see you in a month.

Love and vibrancy

Runza casserole

For supper tonight, I tried a new recipe; runza casserole. Oh Yummy! It is as close to an actual runza as I'm going to get in Iowa, maybe better... it is less salty and the crust is way tastier.

Honey, I know you miss suppertime with us, so I threw these last two pics of the kids eating so you could feel like you are here with us.

If anyone wants the recipe, I'll post it here later. I have a sleeping boy on my lap now, so I can't get to the cookbook.

Love and good food.

well, well, well...

The tiniest, deepest swimming pool in the county.

Ha Ha. In reality, my dad wasn't laughing when the pump in the well quit working at the start of last week. He had to get someone to dig it out, buy a new pump, and install the new one. All while carrying water to the cows and calves via five gallon buckets. (Just in case you are wondering, it takes lots of trips, several times a day, to keep the stock tanks filled.) After dealing with that headache all week... He was glad to have plenty of help when it came time to install the new pump.

Baby makes a good supervisor.

Love and (thankfully now) Water

watching the calves

Oh, the excitement of new calves.
One of the older calves was as curious about us as we were about her.
She crept closer and closer.
She wanted to know more about that little guy.
But remained cautious.
Love and Moo.

This makes me laugh

I thought you might get a kick out of it too, Big Sis took it when she was babysitting last week. It is from her collection which I shall call 'two little monkeys jumping on the bed'