tree climbing

The kids and I spent a weekend at my parent's a few weeks ago.  Brent was swamped and it was a good chance to go visit "Gramma and Grampa who live far away."  We got out of the van and the kids spent ten minutes playing with Dusty, my parent's dog. There were a couple of calves bellering east of the house and the kids went running. Not kidding.

Within a few minutes we had to check on all of the calves.  In seconds, Lucas had climbed to the top of the hay bales in the hoop barn.  In flips flops, nonetheless.

 

Another 'right of passage' for Lucas - climbing a tree.

This cherry tree was the perfect learning tree. 

Until he slipped and his shirt got pushed up... he scraped his stomach from his belly button to his chest!  Minus the injury, he was so proud of himself!  And anxious to tell Daddy about it over the phone.  Before hanging up at bedtime, he also told Daddy "don't forget to buy mommy something nice."  I'm not sure where that comment came from, but my mom thought it was pretty funny.  {It was Mother's Day weekend.}

We went to church with my parents.  Oh my goodness.  If I knew what that 50 minutes was going to be like prior to walking through the doors of the church Brent and I were married in, I would have skipped!  I would never say that our kids are perfect in church, but something must have gotten into Hannah that day!  She was a wiggling, screaming, trying-to-leap-out-of-my-arms toddler. 

No trip is complete without gator/lawn mower rides.



Lucas and Hannah | Spring 2012

Another beautiful photo session with Andrea at Yarrow Photo. 

Andrea, thank you for capturing these precious moments in time. 

I have to be in the top ten of picky customers; thank you for being so wonderful to work with!

Hannah

We were hanging out with friends last week and some of the big girls (middle school) were getting ready for a school dance.  It was fun; they were picking out what they were going to wear, putting on makeup, doing their hair.  Hannah T. was choosing a nail color and little Hannah (Perry) was rummaging through the big bag of colors.  Brandy wanted to paint little Hannah's toes.  I wasn't so sure she would sit still, but she loved it. 

Had to change positions for the other foot.

Looks like we have a girlie girl with pretty toes-ies!

In another news, Miss H is nothing short of a full fledged toddler.  She is busy, investigative, opinionated and full of joy.  She loves to be outside; at the mention of leaving the house {for anything} she is getting her shoes and bringing them to us.  She follows that up with a plop on the floor to put the shoes on.  On a cool day a few weeks ago I put socks and tennis shoes on Hannah.  A minute later, she had pulled out her sandals and had sat down on the floor.  She was kicking her feet on the ground to tell me she wanted to wear the sandals instead of tennis shoes.  Opinionated little girl!

Hannah climbs on anything she can.  She is also VERY attached to her pacifier.  I'm not concerned about it.  It brings her peace and comfort, we'll get rid of it eventually.  She is going to go to Kindergarten with a pacifier.  Last week, she had dropped her pacifier at nap time.  She is a good napper so I went to check on her when she was crying.  When I walked into her room she had one leg over the crib rail!  I surprised her when I yelled her name and she jumped back into bed.  What if I hadn't checked on her?!?!  She would have fallen right out of bed.  Oh my!

Her hair is getting longer; it has grown so much since last fall!  She doesn't mind having her hair in pony tails, pig tails or barrettes - but she doesn't necessarily love it. New words are popping up every day.  Tractor, diaper, hi, thank you, backpack are the most recent.   She loves to be outside!  If Lucas goes out on his own, she gets her shoes and stands at the patio door.  Waiting.  If any of us open the house/garage door she is at your feet instantly.  She goes straight for the stroller and climbs in.  And waits.  She'll sit there quietly for several minutes.

She still plays peek a boo and knows where her belly button, nose, ears, eyes and toes are. Twelve teeth; two just popped in and I happened to notice!  Eats well but hasn't developed the taste for meat too much.  Has a sweet tooth like her mommy - sorry, sweetie!  Gives kisses when you ask her.  Loves her soft, soft fleece blankies.  Not one in particular, just soft.  Her favorite books are about animals - the ones she can touch/feel, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and A Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Hannah loves animals.  Dogs are her favorite (measured by the volume of her excited scream). 

Has an infectious belly laugh. 

Love, love, love her!

Lucas

The latest preschool field trip was to Ava's Grandma's farm.  The kids saw tractors, a combine, equipment, grain bins, horses and sat in the hay for snack time.  They loved it. 

Lucas liked sitting on the horse. 

But he really liked being in the driver seat of the tractor!

Lucas has always been good at independent play.  When he gets the chance to have a friend over to play with, you'd think he won the lottery!  Pure joy!  We've had to explain this is a treat and not an everyday activity because he asks everyday.  Multiple times.

He loves his bike and going for rides while I push Hannah in the stroller.  There was a bicycle accident awhile back, though.  Brent was grilling and the kids were outside playing.  I was getting supper ready in the house.  Lucas bursts through the door in tears and pain.  Brent yells from the garage {but very calm} "there's blood."  Lucas shows me his arm and is has cuts all over it.  "I was going so fast on my bike I couldn't see and fell in a prickle bush."  Translation - he was riding his bike fast and couldn't turn before he lost control and fell into a rose bush.  OUCH!  The cuts weren't so bad but I had to get a tweezers to pull a thorn out of his arm.  That was excruciating!  Poor guy! 

Lucas goes to a Christian preschool, so they have the wonderful opportunity to freely talk and learn about God.  He had been asking a lot about the Bible so I got his children's Bible off the book shelf and we've been reading from it a lot lately.

 

Lucas is excited for summer to go to the pool, having swimming lessons, play with friends, go to the fair and go on vacation.  He is still very, very attached to Sammy the dog and Piggy. 

 

Sometimes the most complex thoughts and stories come out of his mouth!  He asks lots of questions and I always try to give him honest, appropriate answers because I know it helps him learn new things.  At bedtime recently we had this exchange:

Lucas:  Does God sleep?

Mom:  [stumped]  I don't know if God sleeps, but I'm sure he rests. 

Lucas:  Is Jesus in charge when God is asleep?

Mom:  [still stumped] Well...

Lucas:  Who is in charge when God is asleep?

Mom: [I finally figured this out] God is always in charge, no matter what.

I've caught him not telling the truth a few times and he tells me "I forgot" {nice try}.  He likes to make up songs, tells stories, draw and color; he is very conscious to stay in the lines.  He loves the I-pad and computer - probably too much. 

We played pretend fire department the other day (I was calling the fire department to get help, he was the fireman).  Lucas would answer the phone and I'd tell him about the fire he needed to put out.  Once he replied with "I'll be there to put out the fire after I have my breakfast."  Another time his response was "Okay, let me finish my cookie." {Does he really think the firemen move so slow?}

At the library recently, Lucas told his buddy Charlie that he doesn't go to daycare anymore because his mom stays home so we can get exercise?!?! 

While celebrating Mother's Day, we talked about Father's Day coming up soon.  Then Lucas wanted to know when Kid's Day is.  Isn't it everyday?

Love, love, love him!

the farmers

We took a picnic lunch to Papa Steve while he was planting corn.  When we were done eating, Steve asked Lucas if he was ready.  Yep, he jumped out of the back of the van and was half way to the tractor & planter.  Then he said, Hannah, do you want to go ride in the tractor? She couldn't move her feet fast enough!  She was so excited.  We climbed in and Hannah was relaxed and mellow riding in my lap.  She's a natural!  We rode for about 45 minutes and it was time for Hannah and I to go {she needed a nap}.  Lucas stayed with Papa and rode all afternoon. 

They love their tractor time!

Bulk Bins | the treatment

When a customer comes to get their treated soybeans, it starts at this screen. 

With a couple of touch screen instructions, Brent tells the system which variety of beans {which bin to pull beans from} and how many units to treat. 

Then the soybeans travel from the bin, through the conveyor...

into the hopper.

The beans are weighed and dumped into the drum.

This isn't a great picture, but you can see the beans in there. 

The beans come into the drum in natural yellow color.

 

As they turn over and over in the drum, the treatment covers the seed - turning the seeds green.

Treatment chemicals.

The beans come out of the drum and travel through another conveyor into either a pro box or a customer's wagon. 

A wagon full of treated beans. 

Nick's 1st Communion/Birthday

Nick celebrated his First Communion at the end of April. 

Brent and I are his Godparents; we are so proud of him!

Gramma Mary, Nick and Papa Richard.

How cute are these cousins?

Hannah (15 months) and Will (3)

It was a double celebration because we partied for Nick's 8th birthday, too! 

Abby, J.J., Adele, Caleb, Will, Lucas and Nick.

G.G. and Grant in the background.

G.G. is helping Nick with the new watch he got for his birthday. 

G.G. is Jen's Grandma; she celebrated her 90th birthday not long ago.

She is a very neat woman!

Family.

Jen's mom, Ardelis, and Gramma Mary.

Jen's dad, Malcolm and little Luke (Susie's).

It is always nice to catch up with the in-laws in our family.  Jen's family (her parents and sisters Katy & Susie and Susie's husband, Grant, and sons J.J. and Luke) are such wonderful people.  Jen's hometown isn't far from Ames.  When I was in college and Brian and Jen came "home" to visit, I was invited, too.  I have lots of memories of long visits in Malcolm & Ardelis' living room, sleeping over and eating oh, so yummy homemade food.  They've always been so kind!  Good people, I'm glad to have in my family!

Hannah and Aunt Jen

I don't even remember what Uncle Dom was feeding Hannah, but she loved it!  She kept shoving more and more into her mouth. 

Look closely - you can see her little chipmunk cheeks are full and she put this bite in there, too!

Go state!