Snowapocalypse 2014

Snowapocalypse 2014

The kids have really enjoyed all the southern snow this year!  I have had moments that I have enjoyed it and others where I just moan and groan about the messes and the cold. 

The kids had fun with Daddy in short blasts out there, and really loved redneck sledding, as pictured.

Even Mrs. Kim came to visit in the “blizzard” and took a twirl behind the 4-wheeler!

COLD dog.

 Mrs. Kim came to visit in the “blizzard” and took a twirl behind the 4-wheeler!

M is into drumming these days, which is hard for a parent to enjoy much. She loves Legos too, and  carries her box of Legos all over the house building things.   She still treasures time on the trampoline, riding the horses, and being outdoors doing anything!

Lil Fluffy is into walking, screaming for someone to hold her all the time if/when there is a second that she is not the center of attention, as well as other pursuits like unrolling toilet paper, emptying cabinets, climbing stairs, and destroying papers or books.  Really, though, under full supervision, this is a VERY fun age as it seems that she is learning something new every day!   

These are pics from the first snow!

The boys have really been bonding over Legos and they have a full army assembled up there.  They also have a city, and full police department with ATV’s, planes, cars and prisoner transporters.  Cay has built many assault vehicles, motorcycles, and even bikes loaded with weapons.

I had a proud Mommy moment when I noticed this post-it on Knothead’s wall.  I am  glad that he sees that reading his Bible holds value in his life, and that he does not want to forget!  LOVE this boy…even if he does run around wildly at times screaming, “TERIYAKI CHICKEN,” for no good reason.

Rooster and all the kids have really been into the horses lately, which is something I have been hoping for for years!! They are all riding more independently and confidently. I always hoped Jack would not die before they would learn to love to ride him.  He is not far from the grave though, and that makes me sad. This winter has been hard on the old fella. 

Patty Cake has been jumping some low logs and the kids love it!

Every girl's dream...a loving Daddy and a sweet pony.

Farm Fun Winter 2014

Now this is a proud brother.

Fun with Cousins on the farm!

My dad, a vet, got this leftover burro at a Wild Horse Auction.  Over the years, Moses has become quite tame...can you tell?

Princesses on board old blue!

Funny boy.  Precious the cow is so sweet. She just has to come see us all when we are out and about!

First ride! Baby girl turned one. We put up the bottles and she started walking...and having vile temper tantrums! Oh boy!

Skating fun!

The kids have enjoyed the creek, even if it is winter! Two times now in January they have been down to their undies throwing mud and building dams in the water. They are CRAZY.

We have had SNOW much fun with all the snow in Jan and Feb (see next post!)

Since Mama works from home their are NO snow days.  This is Daddy Daycare: shooting flaming arrows to blow up gas cans.

And...shooting guns.

What a loyal dog. She is waiting on her Masters  to come out.

Here's the gang with the new bridge to more easily access our waterfall!

Snowy Fun at the Falls!

The kids were enthralled with all the pretty icicles. 

Proud.

He found an ice dagger!

So proud of this boy and his buddy! Straight A

's all year so far!

Loves working hard with  her Daddy!

This is the toughest kid. Cold water does NOT phase him.

Bailey May: A good ole' farm dog!

Bailey May: May 2002-January 2014

A good ole’ farm dog

          As a Vet’s kid I always had somebody’s cast-off, sickly, or abandoned dog (though they usually turned out to be good ones!).  When my husband and I married I really wanted to CHOOSE my dog! So, I decided I just had to have a registered Chocolate Labrador. Bailey May was just perfect…for the first day.  I could not have found a cuter, rounder pup!  We quickly found out that she was brilliant, easily learning to fetch tirelessly, sit instantly, and shake with a smile.  However, we learned that Bailey May indeed eat jumper cables, dig up plants, chew up digital cameras, destroy baby toys, devour tennis shoes/boots, and get you VERY dirty, very fast.  But what we love about her is she May NEVER bite when our babies stick their hands in her mouth, leave our side when playing outdoors, 4-wheeling, working cows/goats, fixing fences, playing at the creek, walking, crying, and never forgets to visit anyone in our community each morning! One time a friend of ours dropped some pictures of our son outside in the driveway and the next morning I went out to get in my car and you could see where she had picked up the pictures with her teeth, but amazingly they were not chewed up.  Once she took my husband’s work gloves and we could not find the other one.  He took one glove to her and said sternly—“now Bailey, go get my other glove”.  Within 10 minutes, the glove appeared in tact.  The same thing has happened with missing shoes. We estimate that she has now cost us over 1k. in damaged goods including, $75 to re-adopt her when she spent a month at the pound, 2 Little people Nativity scenes that my sister just kept re-shipping and UPS just kept leaving on our steps (might I add that not one time did she chew up baby Jesus---we have 3 of those while the rest was obliterated),...but the love of a dog is surely PRICELESS.  She is a repentant destroyer that we come to love as part of our family.  She is the best dog because even though she is not perfect, she was just what we needed: a fun-loving, kid-friendly, tireless companion who taught us that you must learn to accept everyone and love them despite a few flaws.  It was so nice to have her greeting us at the top of the driveway each time we pull in and barking when strangers come (she knows our family/friends cars).   The next morning, after many tears, when we had rescued her at the pound and bought our dog back home, I got up to find that right in the middle of the yard were some enormous rotten, stinky cow bones, and I just grinned because I knew that rotten bones and chewed shoes will always be just part of our normal décor here on this farm.  Like most families we were just perfectly dysfunctional in our love for each other.  Next time you come to see us you won’t get dirty and slobbered and clobbered with love and affection from a brown bear of a dog.  It just won’t be the same around here. 

          I am so thankful to have raised 3 babies with her by the stroller-side and that all 4 of our kids knew Bailey May for a year or two of their lives. She has walked the driveway by my side for almost 12 years.  My walks will be so lonely this next month.  I will certainly never look at a tennis ball without thinking of her. I am thankful to report that in her last week of life she got to go to the creek with the boys and swim, and take a last 4-wheeling drive around the farm. I don’t think a 4-wheeler EVER cranked up around here that she was not running behind.  She was so easy to love.  Bailey May was loyal and happy up to her last week. Each family only gets a few dogs in a lifetime to love well. She was certainly a good friend to all of us.

Bailey Mushing one winter

Bailey always present behind the kiddos doing silly things.

Bailey's Birthday one year

Bailey letting Sarah snuggle on her in the winter.