Memorial Day

the devil is in the egg

I needed to make deviled eggs for a cocktail party and got some help...

 After he stuck his fingers in his mouth, he was done helping.  :-)

The ones Lucas made went into a separate container that we kept to eat at home :-) 
He probably did a dozen and was pretty careful with them. 

I love the "help" and company in the kitchen; I never turn him away. 

First Communion

 Our goddaughter, Adele, celebrated her First Holy Communion a few weeks ago. 

Hannah and I celebrated with her, while Brent and Lucas stayed home with his family.  It was the same weekend Brent's Grandpa passed away and farmer's were just starting to plant, so Brent needed to work. 

My sister, Karen, holding Hannah and Adele and I.  The four of us went shopping a couple of months ago for Adele's dress.  We had a fun day it was special to spend the time together. 

"tell me a story."

Some nights at bedtime, after books, Lucas will request, "tell me a story." 

What story?
"Taking out fence," is his #1 choice.

This really isn't an extraordinary story.  One night last fall Lucas and I went to the farm and watched Papa, Daddy and Great Pa take out fence.  In the middle of telling the story a couple of nights ago, Lucas interrupted and said, "Hannah wasn't there."

"No, Hannah was still in mommy's tummy."  And as soon as I said it, I realized I could be opening up a big window of new conversation.

"When did Hannah come out of your belly?"  he questioned.
"She came out of my tummy when you came to the hospital to meet her.  Do you remember when you came to the hospital?"

"Oh yeah, I 'member. I was with Papa and Gramma."
{pause}

"Why did she come out of your belly?"
"God got her out of my tummy to meet you and mommy and daddy."
"Yeah (he said it so casually, like we'd discussed this many times), I wanted to meet her."

"Mommy and Daddy wanted to meet her, too." 

And that was the end of the conversation; I think I covered that one pretty well.

Preschool Round Up

I can't believe Lucas is old enough for preschool!   

He didn't have any problem warming up and it helped that three of the four teacher know mom and dad pretty well. 

He will have so much fun learning new things and making new friends. 

Hannah and her cousins

 Nick really likes Hannah.  He loved to entertain her on a car ride to my parents.  "I know how to make her happy - sing to her." 

 Adele, Hannah and Abby.

 Abby, Hannah and Claire.

The girls - Adele, Claire, Hannah and Abby.

I wanna be a farmer

 

Hannah's first tractor ride.

On a recent tractor ride, Lucas told Papa Steve, " I wanna be a farmer with you all day." 

On another tractor ride with Papa this spring, Steve jumped out to get something and Lucas stayed in the passenger seat.  When Steve got back in the cab, Lucas patted the chair and told Papa, "I saved your seat." 

I received the following email from the daycare director - Good Morning! Today we were talking about The 3 Little Pigs and what the houses were made from. I asked the kids if we could live in a house of straw they all said no. Sammy looks skeptical and I said to her I know we could if we were pioneers but we aren't pioneers. Lucas pipes up " My dad works for Pioneer"!!!!! Out of the mouth of babes.

it's baa-aack

After a hiatus in basement storage the high chair is back in the kitchen. 

Hannah had her first taste of rice cereal on May 13. 

She liked it and most of it stayed in her mouth! 

Hannah has been a busy girl lately:

• rolling over from her tummy to back
• loves to find her toes
• pulls her pacifier in and out of mouth
• laughs and giggles
• can sit up for small amounts of time 
• loves to stand (assisted, obviously)
• likes to bounce in her jumperoo
• lots of coos and sounds
• turns head to new sounds
• loves to chew on her fingers, or mine
• reaches for toys
• recognizes her name

 

piggies!

 Lucas helped Papa Steve unload piggies a few weeks ago. 

 There must have been a skirmish in a pen...

...followed by a very concerned look.

 Lucas told me it was...

 very...

loud!

from the greatest generation

Lamoin "Stub" Lehmeier

Birth date: August 15, 1924
Death date: April 26, 2011

Lamoin Fred Lehmeier,  was born on August 15, 1924 on a farm southwest of Hubbard to August and Edyth (Vieman) Lehmeier.  He graduated from New Providence High School at the age of 16.

At age 19, he entered the U.S. Army and served as a Staff Sergeant in Korea during World War II. Upon returning home to the farm, he met his wife, Lorraine, and they were married August 21, 1948.  Lorraine Marie Uschkrat was born on August 21, 1929, in Butterfield, Minnesota, to William and Helen (Syndegard) Uschkrat. She graduated from Ireton High School and attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She met Lamoin while teaching at Union. They resided on the Lehmeier family farm near New Providence until they moved to Hubbard in 1977.  Lorraine died on Saturday, November 12, 2005, at age 76 .

All because two people fell in love - Gramps and Gram (2004).

The next farming generation - Lucas and Great Pa - December 24, 2011 (eleven days old)

86th Birthday - Great Pa, Lucas, Gramma Connie

Meeting Hannah Marie - January 23, 2011 (17 days old). 

He thought she was pretty special and even sang her the song his mother used to sing to him as a child.

Four generations - on the family farm, in the house Gramp's grew up in.

To Lamoin, love of his family, farm, church, community and country were very important. He passed away at age 86 on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 under the care of the Hubbard Care Center and Iowa Hospice. He is survived by his three daughters and sons in law, Janie and Dick, Linda and Mike, Connie and Steve; grandchildren - Tricia (Matt), Aaron (Lindsey), Matt (Heather), Kelly (Travis), Brent (Teresa), Brad (Michelle) and Brian; eight great-grandchildren - Caleb, Caden, Gannon, Ella, Chase, Jet, Lucas and Hannah.

Hopefully Lucas will remember visiting Great Pa at the care center.  Pa kept a 1/16 scale Case IH tractor on his shelf.  That was the first thing Lucas wanted to see when he got there.  The second thing was his mug full of peanut M&M's on Pa's night stand.  Lucas also really liked the water cooler in the hall near Pa's room.  The residents at the care center all loved seeing Lucas and Hannah when we visited; such a joy to see young children - full of life. 

A hardworking farm boy and veteran from the greatest generation... he made choices and set examples that impacted my husband and helped determine our way of life and that of our children.  We cherish great memories and he will always be loved. 

Happy Mother's Day!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * * * * * * * *

What an amazing blessing I was bestowed to be your mommy!

Easter

Happy Easter 2011!

 The Easter Bunny found the kids!

I love Hannah watching Lucas in this photo. 

 Happy Hannah with her 1st Easter basket.

Lucas and his basket. 

We headed to church... 

... then came home to have an Easter egg hunt ...

... and lots of playing...

... and fixing, of course!