Vince Quotes March and April 2012

Vince's response most of March when I told him he couldn't do something:
"Fine!  I'm just...I'm just going...I'm going to Mike's house!"  As he stomped away.
(Mike is his imaginary friend.  I am told he lives by old daddy.  Old Daddy is Vince's imaginary daddy.)

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"Daddy, since you aren't listening I'm gonna give you a whoopin."

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"You just don't get it!  I'm outta here!"

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V: "Mommy I want a snack."
K: "No it is breakfast time you can have eggs."
V: "Well, Gods says I can do anything."
K:"God also says you should obey your parents cheerfully."
V: "I will but...God says I can do anything and I want a snack!"
K: "God says you can do all things with his help and he didn't mean eating snacks"

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B: "Vince who is in charge?"
V: "Me! But Daddy you are the boss too."
B: "What about Mommy?"
V: "Uh..she is the second boss."
B: Laughing hysterically!
V: "Daddy, I am your buddy so I will follow your rules but I don't have to follow Mommy's rules because I am your buddy not hers."
B: "ok buddy I love you"
K: "Brad did you hear him?  He just said he doesn't have to follow my rules because I am not his buddy."
B: "Oh.  Vincent I follow Mommy's rules and if you are my buddy you need to follow her rules too."
V: "Ok Daddy because I am your buddy!"

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 On the morning Cecilia was getting baptized we were running out the door and Vince said "I knew Cecilia was getting baptized but I didn't know that she was going to be a princess!"

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Tonight the boys were running around in their underwear/diapers and Vince was yelling "Joel we are the naked brothers.  We are the naked brothers!"  Over and over.

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Spring Farming Update

I have been terrible at updating about the farming operations these last few weeks.  Here is a really quick over view:  we started and now we are done!  This is the earliest that we have started and finished planting that anyone in our family can remember.

Tanker Trailer

Tractor on low boy trailer

This year we did things a little different.  Brad started spraying at the end of March down south before any of the ground was worked.  He was spraying a pre-emergence herbicide and fertilizer.  This is to decreased the number of weeds in the field and provide fertilizer for the corn that will be planted.  After Brad sprays, the "tillage crew" (this year there wasn't a team just 1 person) goes behind him and starts working the ground.  The planters then go behind the tillage crew and plant the corn or soybeans.  We use GPS so we can have controlled traffic patterns which basically means everyone is running in the same path in each field.  This helps us to minimize compaction in the field which is better for the crops.  That is a really simple explanation and maybe I will post more about it another time if anyone is interested in the finer details of it.

Tractor and 36 row planter

When I say "behind" they aren't just sitting there in the same field waiting for the next person to be done.  Brad went down south several days ahead of everyone else to get started.  The tillage crew started not long after Brad had started and it was about a week or so until the planters really got started.  The first seed went into the ground April 7th but they really didn't get started until April 9th.  Around home they did a little bit of planting on the 21st but really got going on the 23rd and finished up last night.  Brad also finished his spraying last night.  If the weather man is right then it was perfect timing because we are supposed to be getting some much needed rain this week and it is supposed to start warming up!

Sprayer and Ranger on low boy tender trailer

All three planters in the same field.

For those of you who wonder what type of equipment we are using here is a quick overview of our spring equipment:

Main equipment
2 Case IH 24 row planters pulled with CAT MT 765
 Case IH 36 row planter pulled with CAT MT 865
 Hagie 1400 gallon 120 ft boom sprayer
 62 ft. Sunflower field cultivator pulled with CAT MT 875 (south farms)
 60 ft Case IH field cultivator pulled with CAT MT 875 (home farms)

Support Equipment
New Holland bidirectional tractor they used for rock picking
Bobcat mini excavator used to fix field drainage tile
Volvo excavator used for clearing out tree lines and drainage ditches
Gravity wagon converted to seed tender with a grain vac for delivering seed to planters
Liquid fertilizer semi trailer for supplying starter fertilizer to planters
Low boy with tanks to supply fertilizer, water and chemicals to sprayer
Additional tanker trailer to supply fertilizer to sprayer
Low boy to move equipment around from location to location

Yellow tractor hooked to planter, blue tractor hooked to rock picker, red pickup hooked to seed tender, and other odds and ends support equipment

Left to right: fertilizer trailer, low boy to haul equipment, dump trailer, tanker trailer, tile plow, mini excavator, flatbed trailer, tractor and 24 row planter.

Two babies in a crib

Vince loves Cecilia.  He loves to talk to her, sing to her, kiss her, and hug her.  I was putting Joel to bed and I told Vince he could either go wait for me in his room or go talk to Cecilia.  Cecilia was in her crib crying and waiting for someone to come rescue her.  I was hoping he would go talk to Cecilia, but sometimes he doesn't want to be by her when she cries and I don't blame him.

A couple minutes later I had Joel in bed and went to find Vince so I could put him to bed.  Where did I find him?  Laying next to Cecilia in her crib!  Vince was talking to her and she was listening and not crying.

Two of my babies in a crib!

Lucky for her Vince asked if she could come read the bedtime story in his room with us.  Not an invitation she always gets.  When Brad is busy in the field I get to handle bedtime by myself which is also Cecilia's one fussy time of the day.  I don't feel like it is fair to the boys when Cecilia is in my arms crying the whole time I am reading them a story.  I make sure Cecilia is fed and has a clean diaper and then she gets to hang out in her crib, bouncy seat or swing until the boys are in bed.  I don't enjoy hearing her cry but it isn't too long before I am back downstairs and she gets all my attention until 11:30 or midnight when she finally goes to bed. 

Groceries

I know I am blessed to be able to just drive to a store and get food, however, it doesn't mean I have to like grocery shopping.  There are several reasons that I don't enjoy grocery shopping, but the biggest one is the fact that it is so inefficient!

You put your groceries in the cart.  You put them on the conveyor belt.  They get put into bags.  The bags get loaded into the cart.  You push the cart out to your vehicle.  Load the groceries into the car.  Get home and carry them all into the house.  Then you put all the groceries away!

I am exhausted and frustrated just thinking about it!  Add a few kids to the mix and you have a whole bunch of fun.  I have to give myself a little pep talk just to get motivated to go to the store.  Since September we had been doing grocery shopping while Vince was at Awana Club, so I had a set time I had to go.  No excuses.  It was working really well!  I no longer had to give myself a pep talk to go to the store.  Awana Club ended this week.  I need a new plan!

When I was thinking about all this inefficient handling of groceries I told Brad that if the groceries were corn they would be dust by now.  Brad often talks about grain handling and how every time grain is moved around the kernel can be damaged.  One of the many moments where I think: Yes! Farming does inhabit every aspect of my life and brain!  But I have Brad explaining farming to me from time to time in veterinary terms (without me asking) so I guess it is even.

Joel's Birthday Party

After Cecilia's baptism we had a party at our house to celebrate the baptism and Joel's 2nd birthday.

Joel's birthday cake!

I smeared the "s" in bless and had to redo it....oops!

Joel didn't really care to open presents.  Vince opened most of the presents.  Actually Joel was tired and at one point went up in our room and watched Cars with Uncle John.

Papa Razzi and Cecilia

Dave and Craig discussing hearts and heart conditions

Blowing up balloons

We had a ton of balloons because Joel LOVES balloons!

The birthday boy in his hat holding his balloon.

G.G. and her girls!

Millie and Karoline helping Vince "fly" around

I took a lot of pictures! 

Grandma, Cecilia and me!

Aunt Alyse trying to get a picture with Joel

Everyone all snuggled up on the couch

Kasi, Annie and Tine

Dad and Alyse

Jill sitting on Grandma Pat's lap

Joel did love blowing out the candles on his cake and eating the cake and ice cream! 

Joel watching his cake get closer

Joel blowing out his candles

Flying Kites

Joel loves Angry Birds and loves to make noises like the green pigs.  He thinks they are hysterical and I think it is a riot listening to him make the piggy noise.  For his birthday he got some items with Angry Birds on them.  On Wednesday Vince convinced me that it wasn't too windy outside to fly one of Joel's Angry Bird kites.  Joel had 3!  Two big ones that were really nice and a super tiny cute one.  We took 1 of the big ones and the little one outside.

Vine flying the kite

The kite almost stuck in a tree in the backyard

I had actually resisted flying the kites and told him it was too windy out.  Vince said "but Mom, you need wind to fly a kite."  I said "good point!" Cecilia was sleeping so the boys and I went outside.  It took several tries but we managed to get the big kite flying.  We never did get the little kite to fly very well.  The boys enjoyed running around with it so it didn't really matter.

The kite high above our house

Vince and I had the red Angry Bird kite flying pretty well.  It was out as far as it could go and Vince and I took turns holding onto the handle.  Everything was going great and I asked Vince to hold on to the kite so I could get the little kite going for Joel.  A few minutes later I turned around and he was walking toward me and saying "Uh, Mommy!" and pointing to the tree.  There was the handle for the kite string.  Where was the kite?  In the very top of the sycamore tree that is in the front of the house.  We were in the backyard!

The kite stuck in the top of the sycamore tree

The handle stuck in a tree in the backyard

As of today the kite is still in the tree.  The string and handle have migrated into one of the gutters and stretches over our house and to the kite.

I am pretty sure it is never coming down!

A Special Treat

I rarely get to sleep before 11pm and I am usually awake by 6:30am (if I am lucky!).  Vince comes in our room every morning to tell us he is awake and the sun is up.  Saturday before we went to bed I had asked Brad to get Vince's cereal for him in the morning so I could stay in bed later than 6:30am.  He agreed!

Like clockwork Vince was up and wanting cereal bright and early.  Brad got up with him and I figured Brad would come back to bed afterwards.  He didn't, so Cecilia and I went back to bed until 8am when Joel woke up.  Vince and Brad appeared with a beautiful tray of food and flowers before I went to get Joel!  Scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and a glass of milk.  It was delicious and so unexpected!

Brad brought Joel in bed with me.  Joel sat on my lap, we ate breakfast and watched Cars.  Cecilia laid in bed with us smiling!  It was so wonderful and a great start to a Sunday morning!

Father Daughter Date

Last Monday my dad treated my sisters (Alyse and Jill) and me to a father daughter date to a Bulls game, complete with dinner and babysitters for my kids.  Yes, two babysitters!  My cousins Angela and Rachel watched the kids and did a fabulous job.  Vince actually woke up the next day and the first thing he said was "Mommy, I love those girls!"

It isn't very often, actually I can't remember the last time, that my dad, Alyse, Jill and I have done something just the 4 of us.  When my dad had mentioned the Bulls game I wasn't super excited.  I thought it would be neat to go with everyone but I really don't care that much about professional basketball.  I like college basketball better and even then I don't pay close attention, but it is fun to watch when I get the chance.

Jill, Alyse and Dad

The night started off with a delicious dinner.  Then when we went to park at the game and we found a spot that the guy guaranteed would be easy to get out of.  My dad didn't want me worry about getting home to the kids.  I think we was more worried about the kids (or maybe his nieces) all night than I was.  He kept asking me if I had checked in and I would say "no" then he would ask several more times and I would finally send Angela a text message.  Once we found our seats at the game we sat down.  Then about every 30 minutes someone would get up and then we would all change who we were sitting next to and who we were talking to.  It was fun but was probably driving the people behind us crazy!

While we were there my dad and Alyse kept checking in on facebook, posting pictures on facebook that we had just taken at the game and then looking to see who was getting more likes. Did I ever mention we were competitive?!  Several drinks later towards the end of the game they started dropping shirts down into the crowd with plastic bags tied to them like parachutes.  One was coming right towards us.  Jill and I were taking and not paying much attention.  Alyse and my dad stood up to reach for it.  Alyse was in the aisle seat and my dad was right next to her.  The guy behind us snatched it just as my dad jumped to get it.  Before I knew what happen my dad is on his back and down 2 rows in the aisle, his feet are 1 row in front of us, and I can't decide if I should find my phone and take a picture or help him up or stop laughing.  I ended up just sitting and laughing.  One of the people that works at the United Center helped him up, which is when I realized that Alyse was under my dad.  Everyone was ok.  The people in front of us got a little beer spilled on them, Alyse had a bruised finger nail and a scrape on her ankle, my dad was fine and everyone was really nice about it all.  The guy that got the shirt felt so bad and was so impressed that my dad had such focus and determination to get a shirt for his daughters that he gave the shirt to my dad.  Since Alyse was "injured" she got the XL shirt that doesn't fit her at all!

Alyse and the guy who caught the shirt

It was a fun memory making night! Thanks Dad!

All of us and the free t-shirt!

Beware: Farmers on the Road

We live in an area where farming meets sprawling suburbia.  While this is neither good or bad it comes with different issues.  People just aren't used to farm equipment and don't have a complete understanding on how to drive on the road when there is big equipment.  Every spring and fall I get irritated about how people get upset at the tractors, sprayers, combines, etc that are on the road trying to move from one field to another.  Today reminded me how dangerous it can be when people are in a hurry and try to pass farm equipment.

My father in law was driving down a major road in a tractor that was hooked to a planter to get to a field opening.  My mother in law, Vince and I were sitting in the house watching him go down the road.  He was going to a field less than a mile from the house and had to drive on the road to get there.  By the time he got to the field opening that was on the right side of the road he had at least 10 cars behind him.  He had stopped and was waiting for oncoming traffic to be clear so he could swing into the left lane in order to be able to make a wide enough turn that he could get the planter in the field without hitting anything.  When he pulled into the left lane to make his turn 5 cars passed him on the right.  It was anyone's guess how many cars were going to pass because by now I am sure all of them wanted to and there were probably close to 10 cars that were still waiting.  If he didn't happen to see those cars before he turned several people would have been injured.

For the record, we don't enjoy driving our equipment down the road, we know that all the cars behind us get very frustrated with our slow pace, we know you all have somewhere to be and we are slowing you down.  Before you get mad and make hand gestures at us when you pass or say unkind words under your breath please remember that we are working hard so that you have food to eat, clothes to wear, and fuel in your car, toothpaste in your cabinet, shoes on your feet, etc.  Corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat and other crops that farmers all over this country grow are in many products you use everyday.  Click here to see all the ways corn is used.

So next time you are stuck behind a piece of farm equipment please don't follow too closely, be careful when you pass (and please do so on the left!), wave, give a little smile and remember we are just trying to do our job well (and as safe as possible) so that you have food to eat!

Train Wreck!

A little background information to help make this story make more sense.  Joel is strong willed, he doesn't sit still unless Cars or Up is on, he likes routine and at church he goes to the nursery 99% of the time.  Really the only time he isn't in the nursery during church is when the Sunday School kids are singing in church or the puppeteers are doing a show for everyone.  Even on those occasions he is only in church for 10 minutes.  Vince was the same way and now can sit in church for 30 min or so if we need him to. 

Miss Cecilia all dressed up and ready to be baptized.

The couple seconds Joel was being still.  Still holding his Bible.

On Sunday Cecilia was baptized and leading up to the baptism Brad and I had discussed what we were going to do about the boys during the baptism.  When Joel was baptized Brad and I took turns holding Joel and Vince.  There are several pictures of me struggling to hold Vince and keep him from running away.  We had decided this time around that if someone was signed up to be in the nursery then we would just send Joel to the nursery.  No one was signed up this week so Joel stayed in church with us.  The baptism was supposed to be in the first 10 minutes so we didn't think it would be that bad.

Aunt Laurie introducing Cecilia and Joel reaching for a candle.

When we got to church we were 10 minutes early because of the baptism instead of walking in two minutes before church starts like we normally do.  We were greeted by our families and as we were getting every thing situated Joel was in the fellowship hall with Papa Razzi and some of the aunts.  I assumed they were watching him.  I walked into the fellowship hall to get Joel and he was not there!  After a quick search around the church for our missing child and we found him in the sanctuary.  We all headed up front which was awkward because we normally sit way in the back in case we need an easy exit with the kids.  It just make me feel better not disrupting the whole congregation.

Not sure what Vince is doing.  I think he had picked Cecilia's bracelet up off the floor.

During the announcements Cecilia was awake and happy (usually she sleeps during church).  I was excited about that and figured it was a good sign.  Joel was fussing and wanting to run away so we gave him Aunt Alyse's cell phone.  That worked for about 5 minutes.  Then he saw the hymnals and bibles in the pew and got really excited, grabbed one and started to read.  Until Alyse made eye contact and he proceeded to chuck her phone a couple times and the pencils that he found in the pew.  At this point Cecilia was with Brad, Vince was up front with the aunts and grandparents and Joel was on my lap.  As soon as it got quiet Joel decided to start howling like a wolf, which he does really well.  I put my finger up to my lips to signal for him to be quiet and he just started laughing and continued to howl.

Brad trying to comfort Cecilia.

We sang a song not much longer after the howling and during the song Vince stood on the pew up front with his hands over his ears.  Apparently it was too loud for him.

Joel getting unruly and wanting down.

Joel being still for another few seconds.

Our pastor, Patrick, recognized that Joel was more than ready for the baptism and we all went up front to get started.  Joel was no longer wearing shoes because he kicked them off earlier, but at this point I didn't care.  About the time we went up in front of the whole congregation (and the church was uncharacteristically full) Cecilia started fussing but Brad seemed to be handling it ok.  Not totally, but she wasn't crying that loud at that point and if we switch kids Joel was going to start screaming "Mommy" really loud.  Vince stood by us (sort of) and I held Joel.  While I held him, the program and attempted to read along and respond at the appropriate time Joel was dropping his bible he insisted on bringing up front (a very loud thud!), poking at my nose, grabbing my face and trying to bite it and reaching for the candle on the table.  Patrick had to pause once so Brad and I could respond to one of the questions.

Joel bouncing up and down on my arm.

Cecilia Crying, Joel about to drop the Bible and Vince checking out the crowd.

Cecilia continued to cry.  Brad was getting flustered.  Alyse ran up by us and held Brad's program so he could follow along.  Vince was standing up front, lifting his shirt, picking up the bracelet that fell off Cecilia's wrist, pacing back and forth, etc.  Alyse went back down to sit in the pew.  Joel was getting more unruly and I put him down.  I was figured he would run right down the steps and either go to his aunts or straight to the nursery.  Either way he would be fine!  Then I could grab Cecilia and hopefully quiet her down.

Aunt Alyse to Brad's rescue.  Joel poking my nose and saying "beep" while I try to read along and respond to the questions.

Brad and Cecilia happy!

Joel had other plans.  He stayed up front with us and walked behind us.  I still had hope that he was just circling the table and then going to head down to our families or the nursery.  The whole time I was just watching Joel out of the corner of my eye because we were still in the process of baptizing Cecilia and I needed to pay attention.

Reading...I was saving the other candelabra

Trying to figure out what I was supposed to be reading.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a flickering and moving light.  Joel was standing behind me shaking the candelabra back and forth.  I grabbed the candelabra with one hand and continued to focus on the baptism.  About the time I did that Emily, a friend, and Alyse came flying up front.  Emily was also ready to grab the candles and Alyse grabbed Joel.  Some of my younger sisters escorted him down to the nursery.  At this point I walked over to where Brad was standing.  We were saying the Nicene Creed, but the bulletin had said Apostle's and Brad was holding the hymnal and I had no idea where I should be reading from because it wasn't the Apostle's creed.  I just stood up there and pretended to read along. 

Where's Joel?

Still up front making sure he leaves with his Bible

Why is Vince showing off his belly?  I have no idea.  Joel still not quite sure he wants to leave

I am guessing this is when Aunt Alyse came up and got Joel.  Vince probably found it funny.  I was completely unaware of what Vince was doing.

It looks like a normal baptism here.

Then it came time for the actual baptism.  Vince was still up front and being pretty good but at this point as long as he wasn't trying to set the church on fire he would have looked like an angel.  I had taken Cecilia from Brad hoping I could calm her down but she was still crying!  Patrick baptized her and since she was still crying he decided not to carry her around the church like he usually does during baptisms.  We just went by our families and did a laying of hands and a prayer.  We all sat down and Alyse whispers to me "Well, that couldn't have gone any worse."  I said "Well, only if the church started on fire."  I never thought that Joel would actually be happy or stay still during the whole baptism, but I never thought he would almost start the church on fire.  A second later Vince walks up to us and says to Cecilia "Don't cry Cecilia I will be right back I am just going to Sunday School."  He had Aunt Alyse walk him down.  I half forgot that Vince was still up in church with all the other commotion.

Patrick asking Vince to help him.

Trying to get Cecilia to stop crying

Cecilia was really happy!

The baptism!

Almost done!

As we sat in the pew Cecilia continued to cry, which really isn't like her to cry so much she is a very happy baby.  She had been wearing a necklace Grandma Pat and Papa had given her and it was all caught in the folds of her neck.  I removed it and the crying subsided.  Well for a few minutes until she realized she was hungry.  At that point I just got up and left the sanctuary.  Clearly we had caused enough disruption in the last 20-30 min and leaving was my only option at this point!  Cecilia and I went down and joined Joel in the nursery where he was happy and playing with all the toys and his aunts.

Baptism officially over and Vince telling Brad that "Uncle John is here!"

According to my friend, who witnessed this whole train wreck, I kept my cool and didn't appear to be phased by any of it.  I know she was telling me the truth because she would have been the first one to give me a hard time about it.  I wish someone would have got it on video.  We could have made some money and entertained more than just the innocent people who happened to be at church that day.