Where does the time go?

When I looked at the date of my last post I couldn't believe it has been so long since I sat down to record what's been going on! Here are some of the things we have been involved in over the past few weeks:

Clearing out the garden, and leveling the old garden area. The plan is to lay sod in the spring and have a large backyard in stead of a semi-wilderness area. We had Hometeachers and friends come over to help remove some old roots from a blue spruce that was chopped down 3 or 4 years ago. See the pile! They also rototilled and raked the area, started digging out the old irrigation berm, and pulled out some Siberian elm stumps that were extrememly stubborn (nasty weed tree!) We've also managed to mostly keep up with the leaves from the two Chestnut trees in our front yard, and clean out the flower gardens for the winter (although there is more work here that needs doing!). This year I am trying to be a better gardener and actually divide some of the perrenials we have so that they will look better next year. We shall see if I was successful!



Canning--we did some of our apple harvest with great help from the kids. We got 21(?) quarts of apple pie filling and 15 1/2 quarts of applesauce. That took SPH-1 and I two days of canning, an by the end of the second day, we were both a bit brain numb...it was kind of funny, but you probably had to be there! Sorry , I always forget to take pics of the finished product, so you'll just have to imagine those lovely jars of preserved yumminess!


Excursions--we have visited the Fire Station (getting into the ambulance and truck were the highlights); the pumkin patch (Cornbelly's, where they got to ride on a "cowtrain", pick small pumkins to take home, take a hay-ride --very wet...it had snowed the day before, and play on a farm playground. They also enjoyed this excursion because I brought hot chocolate with MARSHMALLOWS, to help us warm up afterwards...with the wind, it was probably in the 20's that morning); and the Barnyard (also at Thanksgiving Point...feeding the baby goats kernels of corn was the highlight, Sweetsa even tried to feed them...Those goats were even more fun than the pony ride for Mimi and Buddy, which was greatly enjoyed!) Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for all of these fun days! But they really did have a great time.

We've also been to a few birthday parties, a trunk-or-treat, and a couple gatherings with different groups of old friends (from high school and college days!) It was so fun to re-connect with friends from the past!



Wow! I guess we have been a bit busy. But we have had a great few weeks!

Happy Farmer's Day!

Today in our co-op preschool we celebrated farmers and all they do for us. October 12th is Farmer's Day. (depending on the source and the state, Farmer's Day can be in February, March, September...so take your pick!)
First we sang about all the wonderful animals you might find on a farm (Old MacDonald!)Even Sweetsa sings "I-E-I-E-O!" Next we colored and custom fit farmers hats, since we had to look the part. Then we played the Farmer and Chicken game, although we had quite a variety of animals...not just chickens. Everyone got at least 2 chances to be the farmer in the game before we moved to the backyard for some harvesting fun. Here are some of the "roots" of our labors!
The kids also helped pick apples and tomatoes and grapes. We love farmers..they work hard and give us so many nummy things! Hooray for Farmers!

Mimi the Magnificent!

Mimi constantly amazes me, every single day. Of course, I don't remember much from when I was five,and most of what I do remember is related to being in a new house/neighborhood, but I know I wasn't reading yet!

Mimi is one of those lucky and rare people...a truely self-motivated learner. She had me make a number line the other day (she saw one in a book), so she could figure out addition problems. She will also make sure that she completes her "homework" for preschool (generally writing letters), when I hardly can remember to look at their folders! She keeps me in line!

Mimi goes to a computer preschool twice a week (when we're all healthy that is), and comes home with a list of new words that she has successfully learned. She reads and records short "books" and then listens to them. She loves the Science portion of the program, where she gets to track the development of a chick from the day the egg is laid until who knows when (she's currently on day 157...the chicken is not quite full-grown, but is definitely more than a chick now!)
Recently, they took the 4 and 5 year-olds into a conference room to do "testing" on what they have learned from the program. Mimi sat next to a 4 year old boy named Brixtin. His mother told me this story the next time we had class. In his words, "She was just so smart and knew everything, and her hair was so beautiful. If I was younger I would have married her*. So I just said to her---You are so HOT!" His mom asked what Mimi's response was. "She said, 'You're crazy!'" I laughed so hard when she told me this story! It is SO Mimi right now...she has definitely turned into the "EW--boys have cooties!"(not that she knows the word cooties;) stage. Anytime she sees someone kissing, we hear, "Eeww, gross! They kissed!" complete with retching sound effects!
*Apparently when he was 2, he loved long hair so much that anytime he saw a girl with long hair he'd say, "I'm going to marry her!"

She recently told me that she doesn't want to get married. When asked why she replied, "I don't want to be a S...sen! (The last name of the (in)famous Adam of her former marriage designs.) I didn't want to make a big issue of it , so I told her she didn't have to worry about it for a long time, but that if she changed her mind it would be fine. The next day she asked me if it was ok for a four-year-old to have a boyfriend. I explained that no, not really it wasn't ok, and kind of gave her a small idea of what boyfriend and girlfriend are. She said, "Oh, I didn't know that 's what boyfriend/girlfriends are. I just thought that a boyfriend was a boy that you share with and like doing things with." I haven't heard much from her on the whole issue since that day.

Our Mimi is a fantastic big sister for Buddy and Sweetsa. She is always wanting to help and keep them happy. She and Buddy love being together and playing or doing what the other is doing. I often find them sharing a seat at the comuter helping eachother figure out a riddle or game. It really is heartwarming. Today as she was sharing Cheetos with Sweetsa, she turned to me and said, "Mommy, it makes me so happy to share with Sweetsa!" I'm so glad she's learning that making good choices really does help her to be happy.

Yesterday, we had a "little girl party" for her Birthday. What a fun time for those girls! They dressed up, and danced, and decorated to their hearts' content. Mimi was s happy to have all her little friends come over and celebrate with her. This is the first time we have done a friends party, normally we just invite the aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents over for cake and ice cream. Buddy got so excited for the "celebration" he started calling it his party. Mimi didn't even seem to mind and let him participate in all the activities (yes, even the dressing up! But when he saw Daddy helping a neighbor move, he went to do the manly thing and supervised the rest of the move.)


Mimi, we are so glad you are in our family. you teach us so much and show so much love and caring for others. Thanks for coming to our family! Happy 5th Birthday, sweet Mimi-girl! We love you.