Monday, May 12, 2014

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has finally arrived!  Pat has been busy digging and planting corn.  We haven't seen much of him in the last few days.

Spring also means baby chicks!  This year we decided to add a few ducks to the flock.  It's been a few years since we've had ducks.  We don't raise a lot of birds.  We tried to sell some last year but what we have to sell them for to break even is a bit higher than most people are willing to pay.  So we'll stick to raising them for ourselves.
 We moved them out of their tub into a plastic calf hutch.  We can't let them roam, or they will become really expensive dog treats, so we have an area penned off where they can roam and 2 hutches for shelter.  It works well.
 Shelby loves the chicks.  As soon as we set foot outside she asks "chicks?"  She tries to pick them up and then squeals at them.
Tate is our chicken whisperer.  He'll just quietly stick out his hand with some feed and they'll come up to him and start pecking away.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mother's Day

Today is hard.

I think Pat knows that.  Yesterday he spoiled me.  We took the kids and went to the Terry Redlin Museum and then to the Children's Museum.  It was a fun day.  After that we went to a sporting goods store and he bought me some UnderArmour workout gear, which I would never spend that kind of money on myself.  He even looked at ellipticals and gave me the ok to get one.  I've been looking at them for years.

Today is still hard.  Not too long ago my mom would call once a week and tell the same story over and over again.  Not just the same story she told last week, but the same story she had already told you earlier in the conversation.  Then I would call my sister and we would compare the same story she told and vent about what was wrong with her (we didn't actually know then) and how annoying it was.  What I wouldn't give for the phone to ring and to hear my mom's voice on the line.  So today is hard.  I love my children and am grateful that I am their mom, but I miss the mom that helped me become the person I am.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Last Day of Preschool

Tate had his last day of preschool on May 1st.  Yep, he was still wearing his winter coat, hat, and gloves on the last day of school!  Have I mentioned we get out ridiculously early here?

 That afternoon, they had graduation.  It was a big deal for him, and probably a bigger deal for me.  This marks the end of a 4 year stretch of having a child in preschool with the same teachers.  They are obviously fabulous for putting up with me for 4 years :)

On the last day of school, each kid takes a turn sitting in the big rocking chair and their classmates can say something nice about them.  Tate's teacher teared up trying to tell us about what some of Tate's friends said.  He's made some great friends this year and I hope they become lasting friendships.  Here's to my brand new kindergartner!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Therapy

Cole has been going to PT for a few weeks now.  It's going well.  I can see a difference.  He still hasn't mastered the bike, or the swing, but last time we tried he didn't get frustrated like he has in the past.  We'll be going down to just once a week.  I am a big believer in PT.  It's bizarre, some of the things they do, but it works.  Cole does a lot of things that make him dizzy.  He nods his head up and down, sitting still and while walking.  He does a lot of balance activities and multi-tasks, like throwing and catching 2 balls, or catching while jumping on a trampoline.  Once the weather turns nicer, we will be putting more time in on the swings and on the bike.  I finally hooked up the trail-a-bike and am hoping that helps him.  Tate and I checked it out this morning and he had a blast.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Shelby Turns Two

My baby turned 2 at the end of March.  

We had butterfly cake,

she opened presents and got lots of activity books.

She even got her very own Strider and a new helmet.

I think holding her baby cousin was her favorite, though.
She's my snuggler, my troublemaker, and everything in between.  Life is never dull when Shelby is around!  We love you, Shelby Kay!