Trail Riding

With all the rain that we have been having and everything else that has been going on we haven’t been trail riding as much as I would like to.  We did get the chance a couple weeks ago and it was a good time.  Joel rode Alasan and Brad ponied them along while Brad and Vincent rode Croc.  I rode Hank with Cecilia.  Joel did so great!  We rode for over an hour and he was happy as he could be just jabbering away the whole time and also following Brad’s instructions.  Vincent was happy as could be riding in the buddy seat behind Brad.  Half way through the ride we asked them if they wanted to switch and they both said “NO!”  I am glad they had the same answer otherwise somebody would have not been very happy.  Cecilia was tired of riding after about 45 minutes and was trying to think of creative ways to dismount.  She was not happy that I foiled her attempts, but she didn't mind being distracted by snacks.  

Cecilia

Joel and his helmet

 

Joel and Alasan

My boys!

Hopefully we get some more sunny days, we can get caught up in the fields with all the farming activities and have more time to go trail riding.  The kids have been able to ride Alasan in the arena several times, but walking through the sand leading them in circles is not nearly as much fun for me as taking the kids trail riding.  It is easier to do by myself than loading up the kids to go trail riding and I do get some exercise, so I shouldn't complain too much.

Mommy and Cecilia on Hank

My boys doing a great job riding!

Grandma Diane, Joel, Vincent and Brad

Aunt Alyse's School

At the beginning of June we had the opportunity to go see Alyse’s teaching in action.  It was the second to last day of school, so there wasn’t a lot of teaching actually going on which was probably for the best because my kids were a big distraction for her kids.  Her students were absolutely intrigued with all of us.

As we were pulling up to Alyse’s school Vincent asked why Alyse was still in school.  He didn’t realize that she was a teacher and not a student.  Vincent jumped right in when he saw Alyse’s students and introduced himself.  Joel wasn’t very impressed by any of it, but he did really like a girl in Alyse’s class that wasn’t much taller than him.  She was very motherly and Joel seemed to like being around her.  Cecilia just liked watching everyone from the carpet in the back of the room.

Aunt Alyse with Vincent and Cecilia.  If you look close Joel is in the background.

While we were there we spent time playing outside with one of Alyse’s coworkers and her class of students.  They all were special needs students of varying ages and all three of my kids had fun playing with them!  We also were able to watch some plays that Alyse’s students were performing.  It was fun to see Alyse in action! 

Joel, Cecilia and I playing with Joel's new best friend

After school we were going to go to Alyse’s apartment, but all the kids fell asleep so we dropped Alyse off at her apartment and headed for home.  As we were approaching the exit for my dad’s house the kids woke up and were starving, so we took a detour to my dad’s house for some dinner.  It was a great decision!  We were able to spend some time with my dad and Aunt Jill.  We had left our house that morning around 8am and we didn’t get home until 9pm.  We were all exhausted!

***These pictures are from Alyse***

Father's Day

Our father’s day was a mix full of emotions, which will happen when your nieces get confirmed, you get to spend time with your grandparents and you attend a funeral all in the same day!

We started our day with my nieces Kristine and Karoline being confirmed!  I am very proud of them for becoming members of our church. I was in the nursery with both Joel and Cecilia that day.  We were the only one with small children at church that day.  I was sad I wasn’t going to get to watch, but Brad was announcing all the kids being confirmed, so he had to be in church.  Half way through the confirmation Brad ran downstairs and switched with me.  I was able to go join Vincent in church and see the end of the confirmation.  Good thing we sit in back so we didn’t disturb too many people. Then for the evening events we went to a party to celebrate Kristine and Karoline’s confirmation.  There was delicious food, family, friends, some fireworks (thanks to the neighbors) and fun.  We play also spent some time running around the yard throwing a giant ball at each other.  It was just the kids doing that until Brad and I joined in!

 

Papa,, Vincent and Brad

After confirmation we had Lee’s funeral.  While Vincent, Brad and I went there Grandma Pat and Papa came over to watch the two little kids.  Then when we came home we were able to spend several hours with my grandparents.  They had never really had a tour of our main farm, so we drove them around and showed them a few things.  Including where the house is that we are moving to next and also where we might move.  The weather was gorgeous and it was fun spending time with them.  They brought the boys a dinosaur robot toy.  We have yet to really figure out how it works, but it keeps turning itself on and walking around.  It is a little creepy, but it is funny to watch!

Somehow during the course of the day I forgot to take any pictures.  My grandma was kind enough to share this picture with me!

An Unexpected Goodbye

On June 12^th as the storm approached God gained a new angel.  One of our family friends (Craig’s friend since high school) and our employee since 2005 passed away while he was helping Brad spray.  He was a wonderful man and took good care of Brad while they were off spraying.  Lee drove the sprayer tender trailer and it was his job to fill up the sprayer when Brad would pull up out of the field and also to deliver water and chemicals to the field.   While that was his official job, keeping Brad fed (especially when they were down South) also became his job along with being a great friend to Brad.  Lee was always ready as soon as Brad pulled up with the sprayer and knew what Brad wanted or needed.  Plus he was always around for us to talk to while we were waiting for Brad to come give us rides on the sprayer.  Brad was always happy to work with Lee.

Efen and Lee

Lee hard at work

Lee was special to all of us and always had a good attitude.  He was also available at a moment’s notice and could be at the farm in 20 minutes almost anytime Brad needed him to drive a truck or help with something.  That is as long as you didn’t call him after 7:30pm because then he would be in bed.  The night Lee passed away we tried to explain to Vincent that God decides when each of us get to go to heaven.  That night when Vincent prayed he said “Dear God, Thank you for today.  We pray for Lee.  I think you made a bad decision.  Amen.”  He said what we were all thinking.

Lee helping fix the combine

Vincent insisted on coming to Lee’s funeral and we let him.  He did a great job and even ended up riding in a limo to the cemetery.   Not really sure how that all transpired, but he was with Grandma and Grandpa.  Lee had a military burial and the entire service was beautiful. 

Friends!

Brad has finished this next round of spraying without Lee and it has been hard.  Joel went with him the first morning he sprayed without Lee and I think that made it easier for Brad.  Although no one is as skilled a “water boy” as Lee so I tend to hear more complaining than I am used to from Brad.  Whoever takes over for Lee as Brad’s “water boy” has big shoes to fill!

Joel helping Daddy his first day spraying without Lee.

Goodbye dear friend!  You were a blessing to have around and you are greatly missed.

Santa’s Village and Tornado

On Wednesday June 12 I met my cousin, her boys and my godmother at Santa’s Village.  It is an amusement park for younger kids.  We had decided to go because we got coupons on Groupon for it.  They expired on the 16^th and this was the only date that worked for all of us to go together.  The weather that day was not ideal!  We are talking storm warnings for the afternoon that included tornadoes, but we decided to go in the morning and leave at nap time and we would probably avoid the bad weather all together.  

Joel isn't this great?!

First ride of the day!

Vincent and Joel having fun!

Cecilia and Mommy having fun in the truck ride.

Pretending to be fire fighters

So many facial expressions

Our plan worked perfectly!  There were very few people brave enough/crazy enough to go to Santa’s Village when there was going to be bad weather.  The park was not crowded and the kids were even able to stay on the rides and ride again without getting off.  All three of my kids like the rides, especially the boys!  They thought it was great since the rides were fun, made just for kids and there were no lines. 

My little fire fighter

Aunt Kathy and Vincent going for a ride...Joel was in the backseat

Luke and Kristy

Brett driving Aunt Kathy

Joel and Vincent

Joel talking to the animals

Cecilia enjoying the animals and Vincent pouting because we weren't on a ride.

Joel cleaning up

He loves animals!

One of the cool things there was the aviary with parakeets.  You could feed them using sticks that had bird food held on them with peanut butter.  The birds would go crazy for it and fly right up to you and before you knew it you had at least 3 birds on you and more flying around.  Vincent wasn't sure about it, Cecilia just wanted to hit the bird and Joel like to watch them but didn't want them near him.  Joel loved the petting zoo.  Cecilia liked it and Vincent was asking to leave after 2 minutes.  Vincent got to ride a little roller coaster and he wasn’t tall enough to ride without an adult.  My cousins had already left, so I asked some mom whose daughter was going on the roller coaster at the same time as Vincent and I if she could watch Joel and Cecilia who were strapped in the stroller and very unhappy.  Well, they were only unhappy when I walked away.  Joel was unhappy because he could ride with us and Cecilia was just mad I was walking away.

Cecilia about to swat at a bird

They loved me!

Vincent liked it as long as there were only a few birds by him

The very tall and fast slide.  The boys loved it!

It was a great day!  My godmother got us all ice cream and Vincent’s new favorite flavor is superman.  On the way home we stopped by the field and gave Brad our left over lunch because he was starving.  It was supposed to rain earlier in the day, so he didn't back a lunch.  Then it was almost 4pm and it still had not rained, so Brad kept spraying.  Then we headed back home and we were at home a good hour before the tornado siren went off.  Even though we had a great time I don't think I would ever pay full price to go to Santa's Village.

Luke loving ice cream

Joel

Vincent

She was ready to go home!

But her brothers were having to much fun!

Our last ride of the day.