Got Flocked

We woke up to pink flamigos in our front yard this morning. It was a funny sight. Luke didn't know what to do with them.

It is a fundraiser for the local children in our area. You pay to have the flock removed and then pay to have a friend flocked. It is a very cute & smart way to raise money.

My Handy Man

I do believe that I have the cutest stinkin’ handy man around. He will take a screwdriver to just about anything in your home. He looks so intent when he is trying to fix something. Be warned though, he comes at a high price. He can use an entire shaker of powdered sugar on French toast if you turn your back on him.

School Days

Remember when we were young and we had to cover our school books with paper grocery bags? We didn’t know anything other than this. We thought it was cool to decorate our books with our own personalities. Now that I have one in school who has to cover her books, I was saddened to see that they have minimized this once “individual” statement of book covers to a “cookie cutter” slipcovers.
Well, one night Abigail had to have a book covered or see would get in trouble at school. I told her that we can make one. I wasn’t going out to buy a book cover. She was not happy about that, she wanted a book cover “like everyone else”. Are you hearing the drama? Sorry you missed it!
I goggled “paper bag book covers”, and came up with this site. As we made her book cover, I shared with her how I used to decorate my books and she got excited. She had so much fun doing her own designs. I was tickled to see her creativity come alive on her science book.


My heart melted when I read the corner of her book cover ~
“made by the best Mama in the world”.
I will take it!

My New Pearl

I wasn’t really looking for a new horse, regardless of what my past posts stated about Baby Girl. She and I had come to terms with things and were fine. BUT my buddy Benny had found a pair of horses he felt we needed to look at that might be “too good to pass up”. So off to Glenville we go looking & riding horses the next morning. We took the trailer to make us look like we were serious (a bargaining technique). After an hour or so of riding and I had ridden both horses, I knew the one for me ~ Pearl. She is a “quarter” horse that stands a little over 15 hands high and 8 years old. She has such a sweet disposition, which I am not used to. Sorry Baby Girl if those last words stung. I wanted a horse that would be good with my family, use to the mountains, use to working cattle, and preferably younger than my first horse. That was a tall order to fill, to which Pearl met. So Benny & I left there with a full trailer and empty wallets. I took Pearl & he ended up getting Lacy (the other horse). He claims that it is my fault he is “horse poor” but it really isn’t. No one made him buy another horse, but he is happy with his purchase.
If you ask me…..I got the “Pearl” of the pair! :)
Here are some pictures of my new mare & my lil’ cowpokes:

Lived In

"Lived in" is what I call my home. It never looks like the pages of Pottery Barn, to which I have come to terms with. I daily remind myself that the laundry, meals, music, & noise are the evidence of a healthy family living in this home. I am thankful for it all, some days more than others. I did want to show you why I don't bother with some things right now in this season of life. There is a certain time of day in the morning, before children rise from their slumber, which you are able to see how "lived in" this home is. The sun comes through our front door to reveal how loved this door is.
See picture below:

I had seen enough. I cleaned this window until it shined! I was so excited with this feat that I had to capture it with pictures. Not to mention I didn't know when I would clean that window again. I loved walking by that window all morning and smiled.

THEN my wonderful son woke up. As he walked out of his room and looked around to greet the morning he turned his attention to my freshly cleaned door. "NO!" my mind screamed, as I headed for him ~ too late! He had looked at the door, then went up and licked his hands to rub all over my clean door. Now it looked like what it should ~ to Luke. (See picture #1)
There you have it! This is why my house is "lived in" and why I don't bother with some things!

It just isn't worth it!

Longing for Long Meadow

With the craziness of the past week, a trip to Long Meadow was good for the soul. Benny & I headed up to move some cattle around for the last time before they gather them. It was a crazy, busy week, but I had a BIG sigh as I got in the truck. We didn't ride Friday because we got to the cabin too late and had to get everything settled. Saturday we moved cattle to a closer meadow, with more grass, until they gather them. It was a good ride, probably about 12 miles of riding that day. I loved it! During a waiting time to meet up with the cow boss, "Cowboy Steve" gave me some horsemanship tips with Baby Girl. I love learning new things with my horse. At supper that night I got a steak knife lesson. I was cutting my steak with a steak knife. Okay, I was struggling to cut my steak. One of the cowboys noticed my struggle and asked, "Don't you have a pocket knife? Cowboys always cut their steak with their pocket knives." So I pulled my pocket knife out and proceeded to cut my steak with ease. Then I was asked, what kind of knife I had. I held up a Case and laughed, as the three other cowboys I am sitting with hold up their Case knives. We all had a good laugh. One other lesson I got this weekend was mending fences. Benny & I went to go mend some fences that were in desperate need of repair. I watched Benny mend three of them and by the fourth I was tired of holding the wire. I asked Benny, "Can I do this one?" Benny is always happy to teach me something. I got to mend the next four fences. I loved it! My hands weren't lovin' it after I was finished. Again, I learned that I should always have a pair gloves on me when I am working.

Experience ~ gotta love it.

The nights are always a favorite for me at Long Meadow. The stars are amazing up there! I can't wait for them to come out. The camp fires with s'mores are a good warm up for the star show.

Camp fires & stars, there is just something about that combination.

Well, that was it for me this year up there. Benny reminded me of that as we were getting ready to head out. It caused me to pause for a moment and really take it all in before I go. I wouldn't see it all again for another year. I was thankful & grateful for my time & experiences up there at Long Meadow.
Happy Trails!!!

Crazy First Week

Well, our first week of school was crazy!

• Homework the first night for Abbie
• Hopie adjusting to first grade
• packing lunches
• carpools
• more homework
• lots of paperwork
• arguments over hair (Mama trumps)
• making sure backpacks are packed
• planners are signed
• excels looked over (Papa's job)
• rushing to the van so we aren't late
• breaking up arguments in the van on the way to school
• etc.....

I felt like this Mom:


Now it wasn't ALL crazy, it just felt like it. The girls are adjusting well. It is going to be a BIG year for both of them. They both love school, which is nice. The routine will fall into place. I hadn't realized how relaxed we had gotten over the summer. I welcome the routine but it always takes me a couple of weeks to adjust. Things will settle down in a couple weeks and this first week will be a blur!
Luke has adjusted just fine to the girls being back in school. I thought he would miss all the noise & company but he cruises around the house with Mama. He plays with the dogs and is a happy boy. That makes things easier than having a grumpy boy in the mix of things. He does like to do puzzles with Mama & show off for her.

So that was the first week ~ ta-da!

The First Day of 1st, 4th, & Mama all to myself!

A memoir from Luke:

What is all the noise about?!? I thought I was the only noise maker around here! Doesn't anyone around here know the "so stinkin' cute" little boy needs his sleep to look that way! Quiet down!!!

Mama!

Mmmmaaammmaa!

Mmmmmaaaammmmaaa!

(Mama enters & changes the prince quickly. She returns to the kitchen, with the prince in arms, to feed him with the others.)
Everyone is excited around here. I can't get a word in edgewise! Mama is packing lunches, the girls are telling her how they want to wear their hair, and the back packs are out.

The back packs are out?!? That means...

my sisters are going back to school!

What that really means is I get my Mama back all to myself!

Yipee!!!

Well, what are you all standing around for ~ get going. Mama is flying around helping the girls get ready. Abbie knows exactly which buttons to push & when ~ I am taking good notes for future reference. Kayanna is whining about her fabulous hair ~ again!

I would like to see her pull off my faux hawk!

Alright folks, to the car we go. We wouldn't want you to be late on the first day of school!

Mama...Mmmaaammmaaa, you aren't taking my picture!

I want the ding dongs that are in those lunch bags!

Wow, my big sister looks like she is going to be busy. That makes me want to take a nap thinking about it. She is so smart. She will do great. Moving on......

Oh, my sister Hopie ~ that grin speaks volumes! I hope no one pushes her buttons the way she pushes mine. I will miss her chasing me around, when I want to be chased.
Okay, don't they have recess or something, I want my Mama's attention.
Rrrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg!!!!!!
School is in session.
We head back to the van. It is awfully quiet in here. No one is pulling on my seat to tease me. Toby Mac isn't in the cd player. I find I want to sing quietly in the quiet van. My Mama throws me a great smile.

I throw her one back.
I know the girls are excited to go back to school but I have to say,
I am excited to have my Mama back all to myself!

Dodger Date

Papa took Abbie to her first Dodger game, for their date. She had a blast with her Papa. Our fashionable daughter made sure she had the correct attire. She had her outfit put together a couple of days ahead of time. I wish school was this exciting! She came home singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" for several days. It was really cute. She told me that she could go to a Dodger game EVERY night! I cracked up a couple of days later when I heard her ask her Papa, "By the way, who won the game?" Apparently the Dodger didn't win or she wouldn't have had to ask that question.

They had a fun time together!

A little girl & her Papa!!!

Bubbles

At the Abshire home, the hot water pipe to the downstairs bathtub is broken. This has lead to all baths to be taken in Papa & Mama's bathroom upstairs. I have to remind myself that when I see the clothes thrown about my bathroom that it was the bodies of healthy, very active children that they came off of! :)

Well, I took Luke up there the first several days and then had a thought. Why not put little guy in the kitchen sink?! When we did the remodel I always pictured a sink that would wash up to a three year old! Any Mom bending over a tub washing a toddler would shout, Amen! So Luke started getting his bath in the sink. Too cute.

What was the funniest in all this is the other night I hear Luke calling "MAMA", multiple times (you know you can hear this Keri). So I go to check on him. I find him naked, ducky towel in hand, having climbed up a bar stool, with one foot in the sink trying to turn the water on saying "bubbles!" Oh my!! It will be a sad day for him when the pipe gets repaired.

P.S. ~ For those efficient mamas out there, it is amazing how you can multi-task in the kitchen with a child in the sink! :)