Cattle round up

A week ago we helped Tim round up some more cows.  The boys love quad rides.  So while they went with Tim to round up the cows I went to my spot and just laid down in the middle of the pasture.  It was an absolute beautiful sunny day and in the 10 minutes of complete silence I felt the closest to God that I've felt in a long time.  I was sad to see the cattle come up over the hill cuz it meant my quiet time was over.

 

I love being able to share these moments as a family.  It has been fun watching and teaching the boys how to move cattle.  

A Few of our Favorite Things

The boys have really taken off playing on their own and creating their own games.  They are the bestest buds.

It was very quiet one morning and so I went to check on them. Here they are making their own train track. Even little Kale was figuring out how to put the track together.

Their favorite game right now is to put all the balloons onto this old mattress and jump on it. Every morning they go downstairs for about 1/2 hour or more and just play. It allows me a peaceful moment to focus on the day ahead and to enjoy a cup of coffee.

 They love building towers - seeing how high they can go before they fall.  The other day Connor says to me "watch this mommy, Kale can you please pass me that block?"  We've been working on using our nice words rather than just taking things from Kale.  I was glad to see it at work during play time.

 On Monday we spent the day hauling cows home.  Ironically this is one of my favorite things to do in the fall.  When the cows come home that means they need to be fed everyday (meaning winter is here) and I like having Tim in the house Sunday mornings.  Oh well - best to embrace the season.  The boys loved riding in the semi.

 Gramps has his good days and bad days.  He had a great day out watching the cows be round up and watching the boys learn to chase cows.  I love that my boys have a chance to do these things with their dad, grandpa, and great grandpa!!

 By the end of the day they were both tuckered out completely. 

Fun Fall Time!

After a wonderful church service today we had 6 families over for a mini fall festival.  Although it was windy everybody was game to have the weiner roast and eat outside.  I loved just sitting around the fire watching the kids interact with each other and visiting with the parents. 

 Kale has the nastiest runny nose.  Add a cool wind and it was a steady stream.  As soon as I got the camera out he was saying cheese and smiling away - so I couldn't not post this picture. 

 Connor helped me get the groceries yesterday and he picked out the hot dogs he wanted.  Some of the guys were roasting a bunch before the kids got to the table so I gave one of those to Connor.  But he kindly asked to have the ones he had picked out the day before.  So he waited paitently until he got it.  And he ate 1 1/2 of them.  A year ago I couldn't get him to eat meat and now it is the first thing gone on his plate even when there are chips around!!

 After everyone was good and full we loaded up on the hay ride the boys and I got ready yesterday.  They were all so excited.  Carson and Garrett's smiles just say it all.  It was lots of fun.  Besides Whitney and Megan the rest of the kids didn't come from farms so they all got turns driving the tractor.  The smiles were endless.

 Upon returning from the hay ride we had a neeedle in the straw stack game for the kids to play.  I had made little goody bags for each kid.  The boys were a little more wilder than the girls.  Poor Keenan couldn't find his so I jumped up with the boys and we finally found it. 

 Next on the list of things to do was bob for apples.  I didn't know how well this would turn out but they all got right into it.  Once they figured out they could grab the stem with their teeth more kids tried it out.

 Then Mr. Tim had to show the kids how it was really done.  Glad to see one of the adults try it out.

 

It was a wonderful afternoon.  God has blessed us with a beautiful yard and large space to play.  I love seeing it put to use. 

 

Thank you for Family

We were blessed to spend time with both sides of the family this weekend. I am paying the price with the boys today but it was worth it.

 

Friday we spent the night at mom and dad's.  It was past the boys bedtime when we got there but after spending 2 hours in the car seat you can't ask them to go to bed right away.  So Papa pulled the lego out and the building began. Building structures with Papa is a favorite.  Connor's building strategy frustrated my dad at times but he went with the flow. 

 

 

Saturday morning we headed to Lethbridge to spend the day with the Earles' at Tim's sisters.  Before turkey we hit the wave pool.  After turkey we headed down to the coulee.  They had the best park there for boys.

 

This slide rocked!!  We couldn't get Connor off it.

Lane, Jesse, and Damon decided to climb part of the train bridge. 

Gramma and Grandpa with their grand boys.

 

 

We spent Sunday at my parents. There are 8 grand kids under the age of 5. So trying to get them organized for a picture wasn't easy. We had all the Aunt and Uncles jumping around trying to get the kids to smile.

 I love the chaos of the picture above!

 

The one good picture of about 40 taken.  Thank goodness for digital!

 I said we are done taking pictures and all the boys leaped up and ran to the trampoline.  Taylor stayed put with her pumpkin.



Family - A gift from God

 

Yesterday was such a gorgeous afternoon that we (I) decided we needed to do family pictures.  I had three grumbling boys tag along but was able to bribe 2 of them with suckers.  We captured some good shots. 

 

I've had several people tell me how Kale has grown up in the last couple months.  He is a complete gem to have in our family.  His latest joys are playing with his dump truck with Connor in the garden, going for bike rides down to the barn, building block towers, playing with anything farm related especially combines, he LOVES jumping on the tramp.  He'll say "turn" and Connor will sit on the edge while Kale bounces his heart out.  He has recently discovered bum drops and bucking bulls.  He loves the book Bibi and the Bull.  I could recite the whole book to you we've read it so much.  He loves having Uncle Buddie (not a blood Uncle but an Uncle in so many ways) and Tonka visit every week.  He is very concerned when he can't find Sadie and will call her "Adie, Adie" until he sees her.  Kale is copying everything we say now and putting 2 - 3 words together.  His favorite phrases now are mommy...hungy and help me.  He doesn't walk anywhere but rather runs everywhere.  When we were at the fence taking pictures yesterday he watched Connor climb the fence once and he was doing it himself. 

 

 

Connor has also grown and I mean literally.  All his shirts and pants are too short for him.  He is a super help around the house and yard but also helping with Kale.  When they come in from outside I am on my way to take their shoes and coats off but Connor has already done it.  Without naps now he and I have had a lot of fun making crafts but he especially loves puzzles.  He loves dictating play.  I'll often hear him say no Kale do it this way and Kale (usually) goes along with it.  He loves going to church but I think it is more to see his friends than anything else - but you gotta start somewhere.  Him and Gamma (Tim's mom) have bonded with games/books on her IPad.  He loves to sing.  While we were combining Tim was never in till we were all in bed.  So we would phone Tim at bedtime and Tim would say his blessing or prayers with him.  One night Connor wanted to sing to him but on that night Tim had his hands completely tied up.  So Connor phoned Gamma, Gram, and Papa (who stopped the combine) and sang twinkle twinkle to each of them.