No More Baby

He would be MORTIFIED to realize that I still think of him as my baby – since he has referred to himself as a BIG BOY for…..4 years now probably.

But that is a Mom’s right – to think of him that way, right??????

Today was the first day of school. I didn’t get up as early as I needed to……we have friends who are both working full time jobs this year and they needed someone to get their son on the bus. She drives right by our house on her way to work, so I said no problem. The problem will be when she drops him off at 6:45 and I am still in my pajamas packing lunches…..maybe tomorrow I’ll do better. Too funny though when she had to CALL me after leaving wanting to know where I got my pajama pants because she wanted a pair…..uh….vintage sheet that I had and I made them. At least I was decent.

I made a French toast casserole that Katie had posted on her blog a while ago. Can I just say yummy, yum, yum, yum? I mixed it up last night, mixed the topping this morning (at the unheard of hour of 6:30 a.m.) and shoved it in the oven. You all are so lucky you got a picture after I dished up the kids’ plates. The loaf of bread I used was HUGE. I'm thinking I can reheat it for Friday morning as well. Unless Todd wants it for dinner tonight, which is fine by me. Todd thinks this is going to be crap that I am cooking breakfast as he is walking out the door (I offered to let him get up even earlier to cook breakfast, or he could change his hours and go in later……no go).

The great news is, with the kids bus not coming until almost 8:30, I CAN cook breakfast, clean up the kitchen after we eat, get myself ready for work, wash a load of clothes and get them out on the line all before we have to run out the door.

So he is now an official kindergartener. I did drive up to the school to help the kindergarteners get off the bus and get to their classrooms – but did not get to help Tyler, as he had already gone inside the building. Seems like he is ready. He is only going 1 day this week, as they have some sort of state mandated testing they have to do – but his teacher sent me an email this morning. Apparently he asked her If I do a bad job on the testing today, can I come back to school tomorrow and Friday and try again? I really want to start coming to school every day.

I don't know why he looks almost sad in this picture - he might have been concentrating on what Mrs. Hartzler was telling him to do.

I guess he REALLY wants to go to school.

And when I was at school this morning - I NEVER saw Jessie - I'm assuming she was where she needed to be.

Hot!!!

This weekend was incredibly hot. Highs in the mid 90's, I think......

So Sunday we had to paint the new show boxes that a friend of ours made Jessie for the fair. Correction - she did. I started to paint them, and then she wanted to help, and she took off and primered and painted both of them. I just had to do around the hardware and the seams on the insides.

So I sat on the swing and kept her company.

While we did that, Todd and Tyler mowed the weeds in the horses pasture. In the air conditioned cab of a neighbor's tractor.

Then we all headed to Todd's parents so the kids could swim. Tyler figured out he could wear these snorkle goggles (even though they were to tight) and he could swim underwater using the mouthpiece as well from one end of the pool to the other.

When we came home, there was a steer and a pig to wash. And pictures to take.

But all the fun is coming to an end. I did my entries for our county fair. Am I insane as I added preserved food and baked goodies (bread, cinamon rolls and a chocolate cake) to the mix? And I ventured into the garden - the roma tomatoes are about ready to take over. But that is good, as I hear ketchup and tomato sauce calling my name:)

Have a great sunny day!
Kris

One more thing

to add to the mix. Last night was Jessie's first soccer practice. Interesting.

She has a different coach this year, and was really excited when practice was over.

Tyler is doing jump start for kindergarten. 3 days this week (today is the last day) for 2 1/2 hours a day. He loves it, after he came home the first day thoroughly TICKED because he didn't learn how to read that day.

So for the next few weeks, we will be either on the soccer fields or in the barn. 27 days until fair.

Monday

When your kids bring you in a bouquet of flowers.....

You should put them in something.....even if they make you sneeze.

Tyler and Jessie raided my flowerbeds on Thursday night. After they brought the first blossoms in with 1/2 inch long stems, I told them to pick me a few with 12" stems. And I got the above. Which I love....although something they brought in is making my allergies act up. Maybe the catmint???? Oh well....they are pretty. A little ragged by now but still.

Busy weekend - we went to Ohio State Fair on Saturday to watch the Market Hog and Market Steer classes. And of course, Jessie came out after watching the pig show - I am so showing down here next year with a pig. So we go to watch the steer show - I'm showing in this one too next year. We'll see missy. It is an awfully expensive show for a very small chance of winning anything.

My nose? It's healing. A lovely shade of yellow right now around both eyes, still swollen but....the cut is not as noticeable today. My MIL is bringing home a tetanus shot today, and I will run down there and get the shot. Todd put Alli in the grooming chute Friday night and yesterday - and she walked in like a champ. Her and I must have been having a bad day together on Thursday. Although I still haven't walked her yet. Jessie walked her yesterday and she was ok for Jessie.

My sweater.....is coming along. All this lace makes my eyes cross. But just a few more inches to go and I will consider it long enough for me, and then will do the sleeves. I'm a little worried that it is going to be too big when I get it done. And won't that be a bummer?

Have a great day - if you are getting the heat we are (84 today) - hope you all stay cool!
Kris

I don't do blood.....

Let's just say I'm a wuss....blood, stitches, needles, they all freak me out (makes you wonder how I managed to have 2 kids, right?). I've been known to get very lightheaded when other people and animals get stitched up and I have to watch. The occupations I KNOW I cannot do....vet, nurse, doctor, surgeon. Todd and I both know this and make accomodations (he held me down both times during childbirth so I could get an IV and an epidural - but I asked him too - much easier).




Well, this time it's me getting hurt and not Jessie. And I survived the blood bath.

Last night I washed and dried Oreo. He's a champ. So I walk Alli out, tie her up, wash her off, walk her back to the barn......and she refuses to go into the grooming chute. So I pull, she tugs, I pull some more. Round in circles we go. Get her half into the chute after 20 minutes. There are side poles that go up and down, but aren't attached so you can take them out. She whips her head around, and knocks one of the poles out.

And where did it land? Right between my eyes. I'm sure I said some very bad words, hung onto her, drug her up the rest of the way into the chute and tied her butt up.

Of course, there is blood EVERYWHERE. My favorite tshirt may very well be ruined. I got the worst of the bleeding to stop, blowed her dry.....she walks out of the grooming chute like a champ where I proceeded to tie her butt up in her stall.

Todd comes home from work.....starts laughing hysterically. Then he looks at it.....maybe you need stitches.......by this time I've taken the tylenol, taken the advil, considered an adult beverage (I didn't) and the bleeding has stopped. Nope I'm not getting stitches right between my eyes. He says it will leave a scar. Do I really look like I care?????

It quit oozing about 11:00 last night.....hopefully today it will not start up again. And I have strict orders from Todd to wait til he gets home to wash Alli, so we can try and figure out what her deal was yesterday.

At least it wasn't one of the kids.....I'd have passed out for sure:)

Kris

PS - and as for why numbers are down at most county fairs? Unless you have cattle and calves to pick from, it is a VERY expensive project - with the calf running you anywhere from $500 - $5,000 and feed running $100 a month. Come to think of it, I also don't WANT to know what I've spent on pig feed for Jessie's pig, that is running us $40 a bag and a bag lasts 6 days.......

life

Last night we went to the Medina County Fair to watch the steer show. There were only 34 steers. I can remember when my brother showed and there were 90+ steers. Sorry for the bad photo - I took it with my cell phone and the lighting in the show arena was not the greatest.




So I'm tired today.

I'm stopping at our Amish neighbors on the way home tonight - the kids and Todd like canned beets, so I thought I'd buy some and can them. Since my beets didn't get more than a couple inches high and then died off.




Jessie spent about a half hour yesterday working with Porky. She has got him to the point she sets up 2 buckets in the barn, and walks him in figure eights around the buckets. Of course, we had to adjust his feed again. 10 lbs. in 3 days is not a good plan for an ideal weight of 275 at the county fair weigh in.

Next week I start my new schedule at work, since Tyler starts kindergarten next week. I'll be working 9-3 so I can get the kids on and off the bus. I'm hoping if I can continue to get up at my regular time (6:00), I can fit in cooking breakfast and a 2 mile walk every morning before putting them on the bus at 8:20. Somehow, walking with the kids tagging along is not. the. same. as walking by myself for exercise. Lately I've seen 3 or 4 other mothers/grandmothers out walking up and down our road early in the morning - it always creeped me out walking by myself when I was pregnant with both kids (we have some pretty nasty looking houses that are at the other end of our road), so safety in numbers? Even if they aren't with you they are there.

Hope your day is sunny!
Kris

We have Sweet Corn

Not to eat yet but.....there are ears on the corn stalks and tassels, so it is just a matter of time.

The racoons have not gotten it yet, which may be due to the fact that the garden is at one end of the horse pasture, which is nicely enclosed by 4 strands of electric fence.

However, I will be keeping an eye on it and the tomatoes in the coming weeks.

And I am leaving work early. Seems I managed to loose the front license plate on my durango, and the nice police officer gave me until tomorrow to replace it:) So off to the license bureau I go.

Have a great day

Kris