Littles - Chapter Five

Dear Littles,

Yesterday you went to the Dentist for the first time, and I forgot to take my camera. Actually, it was your second visit there, but the first appointment for you.

I was so surprised. I never dreamed in a million years that it would go as smooth as it did. You never cease to amaze me how big you're getting to be, or how at times, when I think we're in for a bad time, you do the opposite. Yesterday was that kind of day.

Jay, I was so proud of you for going first. But then again, you had a rainbow at the end of tunnel. A little rubber bouncy ball was sitting on the counter waiting for you. Such a little prize, but to a scared little boy, it was everything you ever wanted. That little ball was the key to your bravery, and made it all worth it. You looked so small in that big chair, and when you reached out to hold my hand and I saw the fear in your eyes, I just wanted to scoop you up and hold you tight.

Sam, I was just as proud of you. Although you couldn't bring yourself to sit in the chair alone, none the less, you did it. You laid on your Daddy's lap and opened your mouth so big. I stood beside you and held your little hand, and when I saw Jay slip his hand into your other hand, my heart burst wide open. I love it that you all love each other so much. I hope you always do. Meg gave you her "Lambie" and you held it tight.

Meg, what can I say? You didn't do so well. You were scared, and I wanted to take you home, but I knew that this was something we needed to do. You cried, ... and my soft heart almost did too. You too laid on your Daddy's lap, and we all held onto you, and Sam gave you back "Lambie." Sam told you that it would be okay and Jay patted your leg. They were so brave at that point and only wanted to console you. But we got through it. Only because you cried, and when you cried, you opened your mouth.

Your little "sweet toothes" had no "sugar-bugs" and you had no cavities. What a good report you all got. Now, if only you remember that going to the Dentist is a good thing ... for we have to go back in six months and do it all over again.

I love you guys,

Mom

Just one more from this weekend. This is my favorite, and I think I'm going to have this one printed on canvas and give it to their Daddy for Father's Day. What do you think?

I can just picture in my mind, years from now ... my kid's will look at this and love it as much as I do.

Be Blessed.

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)

The Potter's Barn

Yesterday, before all the little photo sessions with my kiddo's, we went to Yellow Banks to a Potter's Barn. I love the pottery they make there and it's all I wanted for Mother's Day, so we took the kids so they could pick out a few pieces for me, from them. I've been collecting pottery from there for several years.

After taking the kids in and chasing them around the pottery displays, we decided that they just might be better off playing outside. Yellow Banks might just not ever be the same after The Littles blow through.

The pottery barn has been there for many many years and they have the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen. The Potter's name is Scott, and he was taught by his father Jim. They both do amazing work, and are some of the nicest people I've ever met.
Not only did I get a wonderful Mother's Day present from my kids .... I also got a double whammy of pottery because my birthday is this Tuesday. I ended up with nine pieces that I didn't think I could live without! I'm already planning the next holiday and what else I need from this Potter's Barn.

After I get it cleaned and added to what I already have out ... I'll take a few pictures and post them.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Hometown, USA

I've been looking for an old storefront to take their picture ... and right before my eyes, it was here, in the little town I go through everyday. It's a perfect old building that has seen better days, and most likely in sooner days, will be torn down.
Every doorway has a story to tell ... and many people have gone through these doors. They're sealed now, and no one enters here now. But for today, these doors came alive again. They still have a story to tell.

I think this is going to be one of my special places for seniors ... and it was right beneath my nose. (click the pictures for a better view)

Be Blessed Everyone.

Life ... is good, when you love someone

This afternoon, we did this. Just so that I could get this. It is everything and more than I imagined it would be. A perfect picture of "someones" I love.

In order to get them to walk away from me, holding hands ... we told them to go look for Thomas the train. They did. So seriously, they did. Before I even looked through the viewfinder on my camera ... I loved what I saw. It was a real love moment ... times three.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Home Sweet Home

Ah! Home Sweet Home. Well ... not yet anyway, and not if I have anything to do with it. I can't even begin to see this as a fixer-upper. Nope, not even . Marlboro Man's eyes lit up like diamonds in the night sky, and he looked like he'd struck gold when we drove past this beauty.
See, we're in a dilemma. A big one. We live on the edge of our county and we want the Little's to go to school in a different county. The county we live in, they'd have to be bussed a long way on a very busy highway and hundreds of semi's and coal trucks speed up and down it.

Instead we want them to go to the quiet little school a couple of miles from our house. It has a wider variety of activities and a better curriculum. But we don't reside in that county, so we'd be ousted. The Principal has already questioned my morals when I called to ask the rules. I was trying to be honest and do it the right way.

Granted, we own farmland in that county and pay taxes in in, but since we don't live in it, we can't utilize their schools. Have you figured out where I'm going with this? The man has gone half-nuts I do believe.

Marlboro Man thought this could possibly be our part-time home. On the lake and in the right county. Mrs. Dairy Wife and her children think he's done gone and lost his marbles and any bit of brain cells he has left.

Maybe MM can live there ... all by himself. Just think, he'd have a wonderful view of the lake looking out the end of the trailer. Literally.

Don't worry. It's not going to happen. Not even in his wildest dreams!

Be Blessed Everyone.

Sandy Day

Today. Today was the first official day of farming season here on our farm. To me, being from town, and not from the country ... I'm not sure what they call it. I guess living out here smack in the middle of cow country, on a Dairy farm, it's farming season year round. But today was the first day that Marlboro Man started planting corn, and he was trying to beat the rain and didn't come home this evening. So, it has begun ... and today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was a good evening ... and a very sandy day.
Since I had to occupy these kiddo's by myself this evening ... I decided that we too would farm, and have a play date, all by our selves. We took plastic cups and we filled them with sand and carried them across the yard to the waiting farm trucks. We pretended that the sand was corn ... and we had to haul it to the field. This took lots of time ... and that was the key. Time.

We drove the trucks to the opposite end of the yard and dumped the sand in a pile. No one threw the sand ... and everyone had a job to do, and they did it. I was pretty serious about hauling this sand and they too got real serious. I couldn't help from smiling to myself several times because kids are so gullible and innocent ... but it was all in love. Well, maybe a little bit of desperation since I was out numbered.
Tomorrow we're going to make circles and designs in the wheat field and tell Marlboro Man that a alien did it, and Wednesday we're going to open the gates and let the baby calves out so we can play with them. Then Thursday we're going to play in the cotton seed and scatter it everywhere! ... and Friday, well on Friday, I'm going to strap the kids to the back of the seat on the tractor and run as fast as I can. Do you think he'll notice?

Be Blessed Everyone.

Little Miss Perfect

Isn't she? Little Miss Perfect. Her shirt says it all. She ask me what the words say on her shirt. When I told her, she said to me, "we are ... you and me, and Jesus, and the boys."

It's funny how kids can change the meaning of something so simple as a few words on a shirt to something that has such a great meaning. Through her innocent eyes of youth, and in the eyes of Jesus ... she is. Little Miss Perfect.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Another Work Day on the Farm

Yesterday afternoon was just another work day on the farm! So we put the kids to work. It keeps them happy! Well ... really, it keeps me happy when they're busy!

Jay had out his little chain saw and was sawing down a few trees, and Meg and Sam were picking up limbs. They could work real hard because they had on their new Dora the Explorer and Diego rubber "garden gloves." Man, Lowe's saw us coming!

They were gung-ho to work until Marlboro Man revved up the real chainsaw ... then they ran! See that dirt that is going to be our garden? Well ... that is not dirt!

For the past few days I thought MM had disc the garden, then he just happened to mention when I ask what that smell was .. that he spread a little fer-ti-lizer on it. You know ... that good stuff! The stuff that we are so blessed to have in our barns.

The kids really did work hard yesterday. They always work hard and earn their keep. We have them trained well. They work hard ... I give them candy!
It's quitting time now, and time to call it a day! Here's the limb that MM cut down with his chainsaw!

Now here's the real skinny: Jay had his little chainsaw out and was pretending to work. He ask his Daddy if he could cut down a tree. MM gathered his little children and they walked all the way out to the shed and got the big saw. They walked all the way back to the far corner of the yard .. and he cut down this little bitty limb so the kids could carry it back. I followed them just so I could hear what they had to say.

Jay said, "I love you Daddy. We worked hard didn't we?" ... and they did. Together.

Be Blessed Everyone.

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!?!

Littles - Chapter Four

Dear Littles,

Last week we started a new tradition in our home. Every morning since, before we leave to go to preschool, you sit in a row on the couch and we talk, and we hold each other's hand. Your Daddy and I sit in front of you on your little chairs, and we make a circle. A circle, that is our family. .... and you listen, and you talk. In your childish voices, you talk with such sincerity, it melts my heart.

For a few minutes, we talk about you, and how much you are loved, and we talk about your life. Although you're young, we want to set a foundation for you to follow. We want to teach you honesty, and integrity. We want to teach you values and respect. But for now, we want to teach you to love each other ... and to always hold that high in your heart. You are each other's family ... and that is so important. Long after we're gone, we want you to always cling to each other.

I'm amazed at the maturity of you at three years old, and just how deeply you love us. I see it in your faces, and I hear it in your voices, and it reinforces just how much I love you. I know how my heart feels when I see you. I know that joy when I feel the warmth, and the smallness of your hand, as you slip it into mine.

You now are remembering what we talk about about, and you're telling each other, and you're telling us it is time to have "our family talk." You're reminding each other, and you're hugging one another and you're saying, "I love you."

This week, I've made it my mission to write down every little thing you've said about us as a family, and how we love each other. "For with love, all things will fall into place as you grow." Mainly, I'm intrigued at how you interpret and relate it to each other, and us as a family. Then I remember .... you are only three years old. ... and I smile.

Love,

Mom

The Heartbeat of Motherhood

The gals over at "5 minutes for Mom" are having a contest. A photo contest, and the prize is a $1,000.00 gift card. Go enter! Click the logo on the sidebar to get there.

Do you have a picture, that as a Mom, it makes your heart beat just a little bit faster and catches your breath when you look at it? I do. I take so many pictures of my kids, it's hard to pick just one, but for today ... here is my newest favorite picture that makes my heart melt, and tells me that it is a wonderful thing .... being a Mother.

It's Megan and Kelcie. I was taking pictures of these two the other day, and without prompting, they just leaned over and kissed each other. It was a true Motherhood Moment for me!

As most of you know, Megan (on the right) is Kelcie's Aunt (on the left). My first Grandchild, Kelcie, was born two months before my triplets were born.

It was a Motherhood experience to be pregnant at the same time as my daughter Juli. We shared a lot together. We shopped a lot together, and in the end, we shared the joy together .... these two beautiful daughters that truly love one another.

When I look to the future and imagine their life in twenty-five years, I hope they are as close then as they are now .... and I hope they both are blessed and experience The Heartbeat of Motherhood together ... just as my daughter Juli and I did.

Not to leave the boys out ... this was just a girlie moment. We have those when Kelcie is here visiting! It's a girl thing you know!

Be Blessed.

Fruitful Friday

Meg is my daughter. Kelcie is my Grand Daughter. They both are three. This evening they were fairy princesses, and they loved every moment of it ... and each other.
They walked. I followed. Hand in hand and together. They took my breath away and at times I couldn't see for the tears in my eyes. How can one heart be so full?

They told secrets and they whispered to each other.
Then they danced. With each other. Barefooted in the grass.

.... and they twirled. They were Ballerina's. Today.

Best friends. Forever.
They saw me. ... and they were so shy, and they giggled.

Then Kelcie had to go home, and Meg was so sad. Their fairytale for today came to an end. .... until the next time.

I am still amazed that one woman can have this life ... and bear this fruit. I am just so blessed ... don't you think?

(Click the pictures)

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.

Picnic with Daddy

Yesterday evening after work I picked the kids up and we made a plan. It involved a surprise picnic and their Daddy. So off to "Bernies" we went to buy a Slushie and a Lunchable.

We talked all the way over to the farm about our "picnic at Grandma's house", and how we were going to sit on the big rocks and watch the cows while they were eating. They were so excited and chattered like this was the biggest thing in the world to them.

Even though their Grandparents both passed away shortly before they were born, they know them. They talk about them and talk to their pictures, and they make up the most vivid stories these days.

It's so important to me that they know the Grandparents they never met. I show them the sign on the milk house that has their Grandfather's name, and we say the letters that spell out his name. Irvan Siekman. I tell them how he used to milk the cows there a long time ago, and he taught their Daddy how to milk a cow. .... and they love to climb on the tractors that he used to drive. We talk about the flowers he planted as we walk through the yard, and we peek in the many birdhouses that he put up. They love the stories, and they ask many questions as we walk around the house their Daddy grew up in.

We peek in the windows and they ask if their Grandma is in there ... and I tell them that her presence is everywhere, but she lives in Heaven now. We talk about how she would love to hold their little hands and walk with them, and how much she would have loved them ... if only she could be here. They don't fully understand Heaven yet ... but for now, their Grandparents are still with them, and for now ... that is what they need to know.

Our picnic didn't happen at Grandma's house yesterday because their Daddy was already on his way home, so we did the next best thing ... they shared their snackie with him in our front yard, at their little picnic table, and we talked about Grandma and Grandpa, and all the fun things they would do ... if only they were still here.

Be Blessed Everyone.

Lilac's

This morning, about 7:00am, Marlboro Man came walking in from milking the cows like he does every morning. ... but this morning he had his hand behind his back, and a awesome smile on his face ... and these beautiful Lilac's in his hand. He'd picked them from a bush he'd grown from a start, many years ago.

Long ago the coal mine came through the old home place where his Grandma and Grandpa had lived. .... and right before they bulldozed it, his Dad and him went over and dug up the Lilac bush for his Mother. He planted one too, and now we have this beautiful bush that belonged to his Grandma from a long time ago.

Just as he held them out for me, Meggie said, "Daddy, are they for me?" Being the wonderful Daddy that he is, he gave them to her, picked her up and swung her around and off they went to get a vase of water!

It made her day! Lucky little girl isn't she, to have a Daddy who brings her flowers!

It made my day too!

Be Blessed Everyone.