this is farm country

I was raised on a farm, so farming is close to my heart.  Luckily we live close to many farms & fields so we watch the crops grow, the farmers work in the fields and look for special looking farms.

From summer2010

On a drive through the country last week, we saw this special barn.  

From summer2010

It had corn cribs on the ends, is attached in the middle and was made of brick.

Here's what the corn looked like that day. I love seeing the new rows.

From summer2010

After talking to a farmer friend last week, he says farming is looking "too good" this year.  We'll pray it continues to be a great crop season.  Will the corn be knee high by the fourth of July?  My guess is it'll be hip high.  What's your guess?

1st Dentist trip

From summer2010

Griffin had his first trip to the dentist.  He did great and thought the "vacuum" part was pretty cool (when they suck all the water from your mouth).

Here's pics from our visit to the Fire Station last week. Thanks, Kim, for setting it up. We had a great time. Our favorite parts were playing with the hose roller (bottom left pic), seeing the fireman slide down the pole (see the "improved pole" in top right corner, when pulling on the pole, the door opens from one floor to the next), sitting in and on the fire trucks and of course, the cake! Thanks!

Welcome Baby!

The day came and there was supposed to be a baby coming. So my ear was to the ground as I waited to hear of the news. I checked my phone, texts, email and Facebook.  Nothing!  Time to put this energy to use, so I finished these hooded towels.  Grandma Janis made Griffin, Eme, Maya & Grace hooded towels for Christmas one year and they are our favorites.  We also have one from Grandma Mary that a lady up at MSU made.  So looking at ours, I made one for each big sister, Claire and Ella.  And the last one I had to wait on the name.  Was it a girl or boy?  My guess was boy.  But finally, the text came.  Ashlynn Ray was born.  By the hair on this baby, you can guess it's Nate and Jenn's.  She has Nate's hair & isn't she beautiful?  In the texts from Jenn that day she had spelled Ashlyn and I said wait a minute, one "n" or two?  We don't know yet. So I left two.  We went to see her on Thursday night.  They are all doing well.  And Jenn loved the towels.  I think I'll be pulling the last "n" off. The two of them never talked about the spelling of the name.  When we were there the nurse, Jenny (who I coached in volleyball), came to ask her on the spelling.  Here Nate spelled the middle name Ray, and Jenn was thinking Rae.  So how did it turn out Jenn & Nate?

Nerstrand State Park

We had a super fun time camping at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. It's a great camping park with wooded lots, tent pads, nice facilities, lots of birds, great hiking, and this cool waterfall. Both G & E enjoyed their first camping trip of the year. Sleeping in the tent, having a picnic at every meal, playing in the woods (climbing and walking on fallen trees & exploring), the campfire & smores. They enjoyed all of it. Thanks Amy & Joel for going with us. We had so much fun getting to know you better & learning birding facts like a pilliated wood pecker pecks 8-10 holes before using on for a nest. And Nerstrad is a great place to see the red headed woodpecker who won't be around here for much longer due to the reduction of dead trees (it's habitat). Here's an article about them from MPR

Rainy Day Activity

From Drop Box

It's raining cats & dogs today.  A great day for a blue heron to wander around the pond, but not to play for an extended time outside.

Pardon my low quality picture, it's just so easy to grab my phone and upload to picasa compared to my camera. Using the camera I need to shoot and then plug in, upload to the computer and then upload to the internet.

From Drop Box

So here is what we spent a little time doing today.  Griffin made two bracelets out of fruit loops.  Eme (only 20 months) enjoyed the activity, but ate them off as soon as she put them on.  We use yarn (tied twice at the end) and taped on to a toothpick for easy threading.  Fruit loops are big and easy for Eme, while you could also use Cheerios for older children like Griffin.  It requires a little more concentration if you are looking for a longer activity.

From Drop Box

Happy Mama's Day

Mama's Day, a most important day to celebrate the wonderful mothers in your life and in your children's lives.  We had a wonderful weekend celebrating with the grandmothers and my sister.  We went with my parents and sister & her kids went to Red Lobster feast (sorry no pic of this).

From Drop Box

We celebrated with Keir's mom at Pub 500. 

From Drop Box

And here's my sister with her two wonderful kids.  Lora is like a second mom to my kids.  I think they could live with her for weeks and not miss me.

Thank you to all the people who step in to be a Mama to my children when I'm away or standing right there.  Grandma Janis, Grandma Mary, Lora, Megan, Jeanne, Sarah, Jenn, Heather & Jesse.  We love you all and celebrate you in our lives.  

Baby Stuff Sale- this way!

It's that time of year, the annual city wide garage sale weekend. I've been putting away boxes for the last year, stated cleaning the garage a month ago (it needed a HUGE cleaning), started the let's simplify attitude for the last year or so, and have been making signs, marking, hanging clothes, toys, and everything that has to do with baby or is no longer used around here. Tomorrow is the big day. I even had the morning "can't sleeps" thinking of all there is still to do- finding a way to post the signs.

Now I see I have a attraction to shoes and hats.

So long baby toys!

Thank you Jenn & Nate for making and borrowing these awesome cloth racks!

I feel like I'm a teacher again. Preparing meals (not lessons) for two days in advance and getting everything laid out for the babysitters. Thanks Jeanne for being so great and taking the kids for the whole day. You are so great and the kids LOVE you ooodles... as do I!

Cooper- we'll miss you

Lora, Taylor and Derek you are in our thoughts upon the lost of your pal, Cooper.

Little Cooper was killed by their neighbor dog. They didn't expect it as the dog has been pretty gentle before. So as a parent, this reminds me that dogs are unpredictable no matter the history. We've been working hard to teach the kids not to wreastle with or pick on the dogs as you never know when they will have enough.

A New Tradition

Griffin had his last day of school (pre-preschool) this week.

From Drop Box

With it, we started a new family tradition of going to the DQ on the last day.  The kids were thrilled to have their first ice-cream cones on the season.

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

Mama was thrilled to have a night off of cooking.  I've been in a what-to-cook slump!  Do you have any great spring recipe ideas (preferably quick to make).  Our time playing outside each day is growing, so I have little time to cook!

Spring's first hike

We took our first hike of the season to Rasmussen Woods in Mankato.  It's a great place for kids hiking wood chipped trails through the woods, downed trees to climb and lots of space to explore. The trail also leads through a small prairie area, cliffs and a floating trail leading to the Red Jacket Trail.  Griffin hiked the whole way, while Eme hiked some and then I carried her in the Baby Bjorn.  She's nearing the max weight, so I'm looking into a different carrier called the Ergo, which holds up to something like 50 pounds and can go on the front or back.  

While at the Woods, the Elk's Center was open with an open activity for kids.  There was a group volunteers leading them in digging for worms.  Unfortunately, Griffin had hiking on his mind, so we didn't participate.  When we came back they had taken their worms and made paintings with them.  Not so pretty but looked like fun!  Unfortunately the funding for the center has been cut back by the city and there is no longer an official children's group.  BUMMER!  However, hopefully ECFE will be able  provide some nature classes next fall in conjunction with the Elk's Nature Center.  I'll keep you posted, when it's an official go! 

For now, get those kids out to enjoy nature.  They love it and it's good for them!

Easter Preparation

From Drop Box

Grandma always has great activities for the kids

From Drop Box

The colors are so beautiful with the mix of white and brown eggs.  From Drop Box

Troy is always "horsing" around.  From Drop Box

Grandma is always busy making something yummy to eat. From Drop Box

The coloring continues.  Josh and Eme work with one egg at a time while the master works with four.From Drop Box

From Drop Box

Happy Easter.

summer visits

If feels like summer (77 degrees right now) in Minnesota and it's only April 1st. WCCO claims march had no snow this year and was the 5th highest average temp at 41 degrees. I guess it got all snowed out early this winter. Now we won't be hearing it was a long winter this year.

From Drop Box

With the warm temps the garden is prepped for the perennials to show their little green leaves (my favorite time), the peas and greens seeds are planted, the dwarf irises can bloom, the daffodils are showing promise of blooms this year, and the trees are starting to bud. The birds have been busy singing songs and building nests. I thing we should put some colored yarn out today so we can spot it in their nests! Both kids helped break down the old stems of the Joe Pie Weed and have been putting to use their gardening gloves digging in the garden and the pots with left over sand from the winter arrangements. Oh how we've missed the simple joys of outdoor play.

From Drop Box

Forgive me on my late post. I've taken on watching another little 18 month old and let's just say my leisure time isn't what it once was.

Enjoy the spring! We sure will!