Highlights from My Sunday

1. Walking into church this morning and immediately seeing Sr. Darlene Gutenkauf--a Presentation Sister who served our Eureka parish for several years when I was just a little girl. I hadn't seen her since then, but today was able to greet her once again and introduce her to my family.
2. Landen & Nathan's reactions to the incense in church due to Pentecost. Every time Father waved it around, Landen said, "Oh, no. Not again." Nathan, who has a very sensitive sniffer anyway, covered his face with his and David's hands.
3. Being tapped on the shoulder halfway through mass and being told my little boy's pants were down! Nathan had a Band-Aid on his knee that he had to take off right then.
4. Having our Sunday coffee in Cresbard with brother-in-law & sister-in-law John & Jodi this morning and pizza with my sister for lunch.
5. Landen telling me to be careful not to put helium in his "Up" balloon as I was blowing it up for him--with my own lungs.
6. The movie "Up"--it is simply fantastic and that is just the first 10 or so minutes. I highly recommend it to movie goers of all ages and look forward to adding it to our DVD collection.
7. Our family (except for Teresa who spent some time with her aunt Amanda) kicked back and decked out in our 3D glasses.
8. Buying more--yes, more--flowers and herbs to plant.
9. Actually getting a day off from the daily grind. Our family really needed that again!
10. The boys leaving a few minutes ago to check cows with David! Teresa is in bed, so I have a little bit of time to get a few things done.
It was once again a great day. It was more windy than I usually prefer, but what did I expect with Pentecost today? At least the wind didn't stir up any naughty behavior from my kids today! Well, not much anyway.

In Defense of TV

I cringe whenever David brings out the big guns and takes TV away from the kids for a week. Yes, it usually works and straightens them up for awhile. However, it also usually becomes more of a punishment for me than it is for them.
It is something I am working on improving, but my boys are just not good at playing by themselves. It could be because I have given them too much attention in their short lives. My theory, though, is the problem lies in their Melius genes--all toys could be improved with just a little tweaking. So, I am constantly summoned for scissors, tape, string, flashlights, Velcro . . . you name it. When all else fails, or I am out of whatever is needed at the time, we turn on the TV. They're happy, I'm happy, and there is peace in the land for a little while.
I approach TV in the same way I approach cheesecake, scrapbooking supplies, and white zinfandel--it is just fine in moderation. (OK--maybe I don't follow that rule too well on the scrapbooking supplies . . . .)
Most of the time my kids are watching PBS Kids. I have to say that the educational programming has proven to be just that. It is amazing what my boys have learned by watching "Sesame Street," "Between the Lions," "Word Girl," and "Cyberchase" just to name a few. I read books with them and teach them about their environment, but they learn things I never would have thought of teaching them. Tonight we finally got around to hanging a picture Landen drew on the last day of school. It is a man on a train track that he drew so it looks farther away at the top of the track. I asked him where he learned to draw like that. He told me, "On 'Reading Rainbow'. It's an obstacle illusion." He has the right idea anyway!
I admit that not all of the TV they watch is particularly educational, but it is age appropriate. They are not allowed to watch "Sponge Bob Squarepants," or most things on the Cartoon Network.
The downside of them watching these other TV shows, however age appropriate they may be, is they become prey to the commercial advertisers. Landen is an advertiser's dream. He is convinced that we need everything on commercials. He's even run out to the kitchen to tell me I need to buy DanActive yogurt. I didn't know he cared so much about his mother's digestive health.
So, I stand behind my "all things in moderation" approach once again. I hope that will be a life lesson for my children in itself. After all, if you were never allowed to have a brownie, wouldn't it be more temptimg to eat the entire pan when no one is looking? I think the same thing applies to a "Phineas and Ferb" marathon.

Mud

For the most part last summer, the boys preferred the mud in the backyard to the swimming pool. I did, too. We didn't have to drive anywhere and I knew right where to find them.
It looks like they are still pretty fond of the mud this year as well.

The Baby

With Teresa soon to be 19 months, I can already see my baby turning into a little girl. She's not really talking yet, but has plenty of personality, motor skills, and is turning into a little domestic goddess--like me, of course.
Soon the chubby hands and cheeks will lose their baby look. Someday--I hope later than sooner--she will decide that those chubby legs aren't all that great of a present from her mother. We've had evidence of a few tantrums and there's even been talk of a--gasp!--toddler bed in her future.
Don't get my wrong--I love my kids at every stage (even if I don't particularly like the stage they are in. . . .) But, the baby stage is so precious and fleeting. Since Landen, I have had a baby arrive just as the previous baby was growing into toddlerhood. That is not the case this time and I am suprisingly OK with that. Life has gotten somewhat easier with all of them able to walk on their own and feed themselves. If Teresa stays the youngest, she will just have to be my baby forever--even if she doesn't look like one anymore.
Here are some pictures of my baby taken over the past couple days.

The Cook

At one of my bridal showers, David's aunt read a list of rules for the farmer's wife. One of them was to have meals ready to eat a half hour early or two hours late.
This morning David told me, "I will definitely not be here for dinner."
So, at about noon, I brought out the leftover tacos and was ready to call the kids into eat. Then I realized David was still buzzing around the yard on the four-wheeler. Yep--he was going to be here for dinner. No problem, I thought. I would just heat up a little extra casserole from yesterday and we would have enough. He said he would be in to eat in about 15 minutes.
As I was returning from taking the shop vac outside, I overheard David on his phone saying something was happening in 45 minutes. I found out his dad would also be joining us for dinner then.
After that, the menu changed to grilled burgers and the taco lettuce became salad.
I really don't mind. I am not an outside hands-on farm wife, so cooking is something I am happy to do and it is always fun to have Grandpa or Grandma (or both) here with us.
It is just funny how flexible the farmer's wife has to be when it comes to meals. I would add to the rule listed above: " . . . and must feed 4-8 people with limited leftovers."

Things Fall Apart

When David left to start planting this spring, everything was in pretty good shape around here--except for the perpetually dripping bathtub faucet. We don't pride ourselves on being particularly "green," but the faucet definitely demoted our status if we were ever the palest shade of sea foam. On and on it dripped until I finally became immune to the sound and then the rest of the house's plumbing started to rebel.
I believe the toilet handle was next. Always temperamental, it suddenly became increasingly touchy, usually continuing to run right along side its friend the bathtub.
Teresa walked into some water near our basement wall one day, but since it was in our utility room with a floor drain and no carpet, I didn't get too worried about it. David also figured it was water coming in through the wall, even though we have never had a problem with water before. Then it started to get worse. And worse. Everything I had on the floor on the north side of the room was soaked. About a week ago, David found the problem--our water heater was leaking. I literally cheered when he found it. It meant it could be fixed without extensive work to our house's foundation. But--it still had to be fixed and repair was at least a week away. It would have to wait until after planting.
So, it became my job twice a day to sweep the water down the drain. (We found that the floor conveniently slopes away from the drain.) Even with a bucket catching some of the water, it was still dripping from an undetermined source. Then the drain started getting slower, and slower, and slower. It was at that point, with the bathtub dripping away in the bathroom above that I started to get nervous. My husband has talent in many, many things, but plumbing is not high on the list. Neither is calling a professional. Would anything ever get fixed?
Then, on a sort of similar note, my clothes line fell down. It was then that I started to get really grouchy. I do laundry. Alot. I do laundry probably more than I would really have to because I like to see the piles of dirty clothes go away--if only for a day or two. Everytime I went down to do laundry, I not only saw the water mess accumulating along the wall, but knew that the wash and dry cycle would take longer without a clothes line to hang the bedding and jeans on outside. I can take a lot, but when something interferes with my laundry, it is the last straw.
Finally, finally, we were able to go to Aberdeen last night to get a new water heater. We were even able to go to a nice dinner and a movie, thanks to my in-laws for keeping the kids at their house.
I'm not sure if it was the time out with my husband without kids, or the fact that he was downstairs installing it right away this morning, but grouchy wife and mom was replaced with happy wife and mom today.
The weather was beautiful, David was around the farm for most of the day, the boys were at Bible school this morning, I mowed the lawn, got my haircut with Teresa along--she was wonderfully behaved by the way--and, to top it all off, my garden continues to come up and actually look good for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, the bathtub continues to leak. But there is hope. David plans to get at that soon. As for the slow drain, I heard the most welcome suggestion from my husband this morning, "Maybe you should call someone."

100th Post & 90th Birthday

Wow--I feel like I should have a celebration or something. Is this as momentous as the 100th episode of a TV show? I've never had a 100th post before. I don't quite know how to conduct myself at such an occasion. It may call for a glass of wine at least. Go ahead--feel free to celebrate with me. :o)
Speaking of celebrations, we celebrated my Grandma Joachim's 90th birthday today at my aunt & uncle's house in Aberdeen. Since my grandparents lived just a few blocks from me in Eureka, I spent a lot of time there growing up. I miss my Grandpa Joachim, who passed away 8 years ago, but am so very thankful to have 3 grandparents still here with me. I know not many 30 year olds can say that. Below is my grandma with all of her great grandchildren. She has 2 children, 5 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

She can still cook, clean, and nurture her plants--outside and inside--better than anyone I know. She and Grandpa always had huge, amazing gardens and she still has a smaller garden as well as thriving house plants by nearly every window of her house. She is also a talented organist and experienced quilter. I spent many hours as a child playing her pump organ, listening to her play, or watching her cut fabric for quilts as I traced her patterns on paper. It was she who gave me my appreciation for chokecherries, sweet kraut, and plachenta, among the other delicious German specialies she made for me on a daily basis.

I am so very thankful I was able to share in that celebration with her and that my children know her as well.

Now, for that glass of wine . . . .

Campfires

The boys and I have already had out second campfire of the summer. We only used in a couple of times last summer, so they had been looking forward to it all winter. Even on the coldest winter days, Nathan suggested we have a fire. When I would tell him it was too cold, he would adamantly tell me, "We have coats!"
Thanks to watching "Survivor," we have been able to get a pretty good fire going. Tonight's was even better than last week's. Sending the boys to the trees and back for sticks periodically also burns off a bit of the energy from the marshmallows.

My Teresa

Just a few weeks ago, Teresa looked so tiny making her way across the big farm yard. Now she follows her brothers or takes off across the yard by herself like she owns the place. All she has to hear is "outside" or "work" and she is finding her shoes.
As you can see, she still wants to do EVERYTHING her brothers can do outside!

Swinging Along

This week, Landen started doing tricks, Nathan wants to swing from the branches, and Teresa tried out the big swing.

Rocky Road

Finally--a place for Landen's rock collection! On Monday, I started some landscaping work on my backyard flower garden. As I was starting, I had an epiphany! Landen had been looking for a permanent place for his rock collection and I decided the space in between the vegetable and flower garden would be in the perfect place. I was so thankful when he got home from school and liked my idea! I cannot believe it myself, but now I am also on the lookout for more rocks so we can add to our "rock road." (The bicycle and cream can are my auction sale finds from last fall.)

Field Work

Today after dinner David told Landen and Nathan that they were going to go out and help him pick up net wrap in the field. (Our bales are wrapped with that instead of twine.) There wasn't too much there and it would be good practice for future rock picking! Not surprisingly, Landen had other immediate plans for his afternoon.
I told him that we are a family and families help each other.
After a few minutes, he walked into the entry way and exclaimed, "If I wasn't born this never would have happened!"

On to Kindergarten

This is David and Landen walking to the bus for the very first time last Sept. 2. I had worried about sending him off to school all summer, but when the day finally arrived, it was not nearly as traumatic as I had anticipated. After they drove away and I didn't cry like I thought I would, I realized that the at-home child population had dropped to 2 for a few hours and there were a lot of things I could get done before the bus dropped Landen off at home that afternoon.
Today he completed his last day of Jr. Kindergarten. We had heard conflicting advice about enrolling him in the program, but we decided to try it. It was something new for Northwestern School and new for us as well. I am so glad we did. Jr. K was a great fit for Landen. Since we did not send him to preschool prior to this year, his experiences were all new and exciting. The three days/week schedule was just right for him and we really saw him mature socially throughout the year. He made new friends, learned the ins and outs of school life, and is now ready for full time Kindergarten next year.
Yesterday was spent at a planetarium presentation at school. He came home absolutely enthralled with the constellations and where to find them in the sky. He told me all about the W that appears in winter (Casiopia's chair), the Gemini twins, and the little dipper. He was also especially interested to learn that the stars move west across the sky at night. It is always so much fun to hear what he has been learning--especially when it is such different subject matter than he has studied before. I am sure we will be getting his telescope out after David is done planting.
Today he spent his last day at the mother of all field trips in Aberdeen. He got to do so many fun things that he didn't even mention the pet store until a couple hours after he got home! They got to make their own pizzas at Domino's, tour Kessler's and learn about Angus beef (which he was very excited about since that's what we raise), play at Wylie Park, and Storybook Land. That's just what I've heard about so far--there may be more when he wakes up tomorrow morning!
My last days of school were track and field days (at which I excelled in no events) and a sack lunch in the picnic shelter afterward. I would have gladly traded in my
5th place long jump ribbon for a chance to make my own pizza!
By the way, he made a pineapple smiley face pizza. That's my boy.

Please Pass the Ketchup

My children will make wonderful poor college students in 13+ years. As long as they have free access to ketchup and mayo packets, they will never go hungry.
All of them could make a meal out of just condiments. The meal itself is just "ho-hum" until it requires a sauce of any sort. Then it is taken to a whole new level of excitement. Pancakes? Big puddles of syrup. Bread? Jelly, honey, or peanut butter, please! Hamburgers? Ketchup and Mayo. French Fries? Even Teresa beckons for the ketchup bottle so that she can dip her fries before eating them.
I can just see them now passing up the hotdogs at baseball games in favor of the sauerkraut (Landen) or pickle relish (Teresa). When left to his own devices, I am afraid Nathan will take to drinking Ranch dressing straight from the bottle.
Salt and pepper are favorites, too. There's just something so fascinating about those salt and pepper shakers. Imagine if we had a grinder! They would be sneezing through every meal.
When there are condiments on the table, it takes both David and me to adquately police their dispensing. Yesterday I left the table for a moment to put Teresa down for a nap. I returned to see a half bottle of Salad Toppins' on Nathan's plate as he was covering it with salt and pepper. (He had already eaten the pool of Ranch dressing that he had poured without supervision earlier.) Not surprisingly, this newest concoction was a bit too spicy to eat.
For the most part, my children are open to eating pretty much everything. As long as we have plenty of ketchup on hand.

Fiber

I hand Landen a pudding cup.
Landen: "Is there fiber in this?"
Me: "I don't know. Maybe a little bit."
Landen: "Just tell me the percent."
Me: "OK--None."
Landen: "Just say 0 percent."
Me: "Ugh!"

Sticker Shock

It is no secret that I am always in search of a good deal. We've had this conversation before. However, I realize that some things in life are expensive and that's just the way it is--Dr. visits, Mary Kay makeup, watermelon out of season, and Starbucks just to name a few. Even so, there are some things that can still make my jaw drop.
Take swimming lessons, for instance. Neither of my boys have taken swimming lessons yet, and I decided this summer would be the year to start. Now that Nathan is 3, they can both take lessons together. Landen wasn't too excited about the idea last summer, so I wanted to make it as pleasant as possible. I had a great idea! Even though lessons will be offered 20 miles away in Faulkton, I thought I would take the boys to the Aberdeen Y for their first lessons. I thought an indoor pool, and a controlled environment with no wind, rain, etc. might make for a more pleasant first experience. I called for information and they were offering 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks in June. Perfect! I was so excited, but would have to wait to sign them up.
Fast forward about a week when I see the information on swimming lessons sign up in the newspaper. To sign my boys up to learn how to blow bubbles in the water, it was going to cost me $50 for each of them. Now, maybe if they were working toward their lifeguard training or had Michael Phelps as a teacher I could swing that, but sorry. They will have to deal with whatever weather is thrown at them on 10 chilly summer mornings. If they complain, I will tell them that I was not lucky enough to swim in a heated pool when I was their age. I had to learn to swim in a lake. In the cold. With moss. Yeah . . . I'm still working through that . . . give me a few more years.
With swimming lessons figured out and my school duties over for the year, I was starting to think of possible ways to collect continuing education credits this summer. Even though I have not taught since 2004, I have been taking classes to keep my teaching license current. I get paid a bit more to sub with a license and it saves a lot of hassle to keep a license current versus of getting it back. I have 2 years to get 2 more credits, but I am not one to wait around until the last minute--or year.
One day I saw an email for a speech class being offered online through SDSU. I contacted the instructor and it looked to be what I was looking for--speech methods, some oral interp, and curriculum mapping, which I have missed out on in my teaching sabbatical. Tonight when I went online to sign up, I read that it is about $337 per credit hour. I know college credits are expensive, but I was not expecting that. I am used to classes being offered to renewing teachers for less than $100 a credit. The class I took last summer through NSU cost $40 for 1 credit. Obviously this is not one of those classes. Wham--another blow to another plan.
Since I am not taking home a teacher's salary, and don't know if/when I ever will again, I just cannot justify throwing that kind of money at 2 credits. I can go to the Speech Convention this fall instead and pick up a credit (with valuable information about oral interp) for a reasonable amount. The only problem is that falls right in with the start of school and possible harvest--a very busy time of year.
I don't know--maybe I am just cheap or have been out of college for too long.
I do know one thing. Landen and I are going to start working on that ACT practice test ASAP.

Introducing . . . .

Our kittens have now been named. Meet (clockwise from left to right): Melting Snowbank (because it is more gray), Callie (because Nathan thinks every animal should be named Callie just like his doggie), M (M on its forehead), Snowbank (more white), and Hunty (because it blends in).

Kitties

The mommy cat we have had since before David and I were married had kittens--again. She has had them in all sorts of places--above the mudroom in the garage, the baby stroller, places we've never found, and now, for the second time, in a barrel. Every year David tells me I should tame the kittens down, but I've never really followed up on that. I'm not much of a cat person, so it never bothered me if they stayed wild or not.
This year is different. The kids have all checked on the kitty barrel so many times that we now have 5 tame baby kittens--2 striped, 2 white, and 1 black. It is so cute to see them hold them and play with them. Even Teresa does pretty well--with supervision.
Even I have to admit they are pretty cute.

MS Walk photos

Even the kids on the team made the walk with us. Nathan wasted no time in catching a ride with Grandma Shirley!

Teresa found the MS Walk to be very relaxing.

Post-walk pizza with Papa Butter. How can you top that?

Many, Many Steps Closer to a Cure

Here is most of our team Many Steps to Fight MS standing behind the 129 footprints sold. (Official walk totals have not yet been posted.) We had a beautiful morning and I hope we can do it again next year.

Beautiful Life

Do you ever feel God tapping you on the shoulder and saying, "Stop and see the beauty of THIS moment"? I had a few of those this past weekend.
Early Friday evening, my best friend Rachel and baby Brandon arrived to a very excited household. We all love when Rachel visits because, well, she's Rachel! Anyone who wouldn't be ecstatic for her visit is CRAZY. And now she has a baby which makes it even more fun--if that is possible. (She also has a fun husband--we hope to see you next time, Eddie!)
Shortly before her arrival, the kids and I had been dancing in the future dining room, which for now hosts a long hardwood dance floor. We came across the song "Beautiful Life" from the Dance Party 1997 CD. (Class of '97 RULES!) Anyway . . . Landen decided all of a sudden that he LOVED that song. As soon as Rachel arrived, he couldn't wait for her to hear it. We made him wait through supper, ice cream cake, and the opening of Christmas gifts (yeah--we need to see each other more often). Finally, I said we could listen to the song.
Nathan, as is his usual habit, cranked the stereo and we all entered the dining room like it was once again Homecoming in the Eureka gym.
That was the moment. There we all were dancing like it was 1997--my best friend and both our children running, jumping, or bouncing up and down (depending on age) and for that song all was right with the world. The name of Landen's new favorite song had to be more than just a coincidence.
I felt the tap again on Saturday midway through the MS Walk. I realized that God has blessed me with the ability to walk and raise awareness for those who cannot. We never know what is going to happen in the future, but for now I have that ability that I often take for granted.
And, finally, tonight on the way home from my in-laws' house, God reminded me that life's minor unpleasant surprises are nothing to stress about as I tend to do. We were just a few miles down the road when Nathan suddenly got sick. Thankfully he gave us a few seconds' advance warning, so the mess was minimal. This was not a pleasant moment, and one that I always avoid at all costs, but after he was cleaned up I realized how minor a little spontaneous puke really is. Incredibly icky, but minor. We will all survive and life will go on.
Sometimes I daydream about how life will be when my children are on their own, or even to a lesser degree when they are all in school. Then I have more freedom to move around--even in my own home. How wonderful that will be! But, that is not my current reality.
So, I am thankful for the occasional friendly taps on the shoulder from God. It IS a beautiful life--right now.

Exciting News!

No--I am not pregnant. Which, in itself, is exciting news. I have been thoroughly enjoying the nausea-free spring & summer so far!
My exciting news is that our team has officially passed the $1000 mark for the MS Walk this Saturday. Wohoo!!!!!
It looks like the weather is going to cooperate for us on Saturday as well. The next couple days include cutting out 122 footprints tonight with my aunt & sister (over pizza, of course), having my friend Rachel & her baby here overnight on Friday, and walking with everyone on Saturday. I am SO excited for it all!

Just One of the Boys

Today Teresa watched Nathan do one of his favorite things--go potty in the grass. A few minutes later, she walked over to the grass, lifted up her shirt, and stuck out her tummy! She tried it a few more times before we went inside, but try as she may, she could not get any potty to come out of her belly button.

The Farmer's Wife

The Aberdeen American News covered farmers' wives on their front page the other day. As one of these wives, I can say there are definite pros and cons to this specific vocation. I have come up with a short list . . . I am sure more will be added. I am aware that some contradict each other.

Pros
1. My husband is his own boss, so his hours can be flexible if need be.
2. There are certain times during the year when all I have to make for supper are bologna sandwiches and Pepsi floats.
3. Once in awhile, David needs me to go to Redfield or Aberdeen for a part. I make sure to do something I want to do on the trip, too, even if it is just grabbing a coffee.
4. Farming brings something new with each season, so life is never dull.
5. David is frequently able to take one of the children with him. Grandpa can usually take another. Teresa will soon be in the rotation as she is starting to notice that she is being left out.
6. No matter what I need for a craft project, I can usually find it in one of the outside buildings.
7. Our children have a huge yard to play in and explore.
8. We have a freezer stocked with home-raised beef. Yum.
9. When in doubt, I can buy David or any one of the kids something John Deere for a present. Yes, we even own a John Deere Barbie.
10. Talking farming can be a conversation starter almost everywhere. Even the farmers' wives start their conversations with a question such as, "Is your husband done planting wheat?"


Cons
1. There is no 8-6 schedule in the spring, summer, or fall. Even Sunday afternoons are fair game for work during these seasons.
2. Although David would disagree, I maintain that January is basically the only month that we can plan anything. Then, of course, it still depends on the weather.
3. Long working hours can get frustrating and lonely sometimes when our busy time is everyone else's play time.
4. Nearly every date night includes a trip to Runnings.
5. The problem with working out of or near your home is that the work is always there. Your husband does not clock out at the end of the day and physically leave the workplace.
6. Just as in any profession, I suppose, nothing is guaranteed. Corn can look great one day and be shredded by a hail storm the next. That means no pay check.

All in all, I am glad that I went back on my oath that I would never marry a farmer. Life is good. Really.

Spring Planting

The patio blueberry plant and blueberry food arrived this past week. The kids and I planted it this morning. It is a very tiny baby plant. Landen thought that maybe a blueberry would appear by tomorrow, but I told him we may have to wait until August. If nothing happens by August 1, I will hear about it--of that I am sure.
I have so many plants started by the south downstairs window, I'm surprised the police haven't showed up yet to make sure it is just peppers, herbs, and flowers that I'm growing!
I am getting excited to start the garden and so are the boys. Nathan was digging in the gravel today and telling me where he was going to put his carrots and green beans.
My father-in-law will till our garden plot when he has time, but it is a good thing that has has not had a chance to do it yet. Nice, black, freshly tilled earth would be WAAAYY too tempting for my little boys and girl until it warms up consistenly enough to plant our veggies and flowers.
Already this morning I looked in the backyard and saw Nathan in nothing but his shirt and underwear playing in a some mud he had made with his yellow watering can. (He has a BIG aversion to ANY wet clothing on his body. Last Sunday it was raining after church, so he pulled his pant legs up to his underwear for the walk to the van.) I tried to tell him that it was not quite warm enough for no jeans, but he did not believe me. Oddly enough, he came in the house just a few minutes later looking for hot chocolate.
Yes, whether it is wheat or corn, blueberries or black eyed susans, we have planting fever here at the Melius farm!