Couldn't It Wait?

Update: There has been a ton of sleet since this original post. Too dark to take more pictures tonight. They would make the pictures below look like nothing at all. The sun will have to really shine in the morning or we will not be going ANYWHERE...just praying the electricity stays on.

It rains and then sleets for a while...the ice is building on the trees, fences, vehicles and any thing not moving. So, this is the reason we will not be flying in a big bird at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Awe....we were heading to beautiful Arizona.......Phoenix, the "Valley of the Sun"...I can feel the warmth of the sun shining upon my face now...seeing new country, doing whatever I want...help, someone wake me up. I could use some sunshine about now. It is somewhat beautiful when you are behind windows and not out in the middle of it all. If the sun will cooperate tomorrow we will go later....such is life, but on the bright side........we did need some moisture. Oh, and it has been worse before. The electricity, phones, TV, and computer are still working...at least for now. I am sure kids everywhere are enjoying a day off....I should be pretending that I still work at the school and I am getting a snow day, huh?

I think I will go jog on the treadmill or maybe listen to Gov. Blago tell some more tales on Fox News - Glen Beck's segment....do I seem a little restless today???

I Couldn't Wait

A good friend of ours came to take pictures of the boys for Katie. These are just a very small sample of the many taken. The photographer will touch the photos up with with Photo Shop, but I thought they were pretty good, as is....so I am sharing these on this cold day. The originals were saved to my computer......Katie will have many more to share next week, I am sure.

Boys around here love tractors....John Deere green.

Nathan is happy to be outside.

This is an interesting shot, don't you think?

Looking For It

"I think I can do it"

"There has to be a way"

"I have tried everything"

"Awwwwwe...I found it!

Nathan Discovering His World

Nathan is doing new things everyday.....all of the expected things like face recognition and finding his own voice....he has really been exercising his voice with squealing sounds. He is much more interactive with us now. He totally lights up when Joshua approaches him. Of course his eyes are always focused on Mommy when she is near by.

I love his big smile and cute big dimples! You just have to squeeze his cheeks when you see him.

The little red and navy hooded jacket has made the rounds. I bought this jacket and matching sweat pants for Rudy when he was about Nathan's (age 4 months). Rudy is now___...well, let's just say, he is grown with an 11 year old. The outfit was such good quality that it has been handed down through all of the grandchildren and I think I even loaned it to a friend or two for their baby to wear. I always loved it and each baby who has worn it looked warm and adorable.

Nathan was restless one day and we brought out the BIG BUG seat. Since he is not sitting alone yet, he really thought he was big in this seat....feet touching the bottom and all....and toys in easy reach.

Totally Awesome Grandkids

This speaks for itself. I didn't know Gillan and Gracie could sing so well together. I am so proud of both of them. Keep it up kids, your awesome!

Sarah Visits the Farm

Monday Alice (my long time friend) brought her granddaughter to see the farm. Boy, did she enjoy it. Josh showed her around and explained, I am sure, many things around here. Sarah wanted to touch everything. This ole' ewe kept stomping her feet at us, because the mothers are very protective of their babies. We stayed clear and let them have their space.

It was a very cold and windy day, so we retreated for the big calf barn....where Sarah learned a lot about baby calves. At one point she yelled for grandma to come see the twins and triplets. Actually, I did not think we had twins and I knew we did not have triplets...because I surely would have been told about that event. David informed me that Sarah was right about the twins, but the triplets were just three big old calves being housed together.
Sarah was eager to learn, see, and touch everything, but this moment was a close encounter with baby calf poop....notice those hands going up like, "oh no". Josh is used to it, he does not even notice.

Sarah gets one more touch in before moving on to other things. There would be many more things to do around the farm...... Josh and Sarah made their way to the old trucks, tractors, and more. They pretended to be driving the big machines. Cats were seen, a big bull, many calves both in the barn and older ones outside. We only got a glimpse of our pony, Dixie. She was resting in the pasture and it was just too cold to go to her. All kids that come here seem to love climbing on the big hay bales. The stack is beginning to dwindle, so that fun will soon cease.

Sarah really did not want to leave...she was having too much fun! I promised that she could come back in the spring and she would be able to have much more fun in the pretty weather. After Alice and Sarah arrived home, Alice called laughing and said that Sarah asked, "how many hours until spring, Grandma?"

I can't seem to get the cursor to go down, but the last picture is chalk drawings done by the two. Josh is really getting detailed with the cars now. And, can you see the big round bales stacked up? It is just above car 95.

We love to see kids or adults enjoying the happenings on the farm. Sarah, you and your Grandma are welcome back anytime.

Just Some of My Thoughts Today

I have not written in a few days. Today is really January 17th, but I did include the second picture a few days ago and didn't get around to posting it. I had intended to write about the weather/farm, and such. Then I found a Valentine's layout, which led me to the vintage Valentine's picture. I thought this was sweet.
I just want to share a few thoughts about "Our Place" and "My Valentine." It is sunny and cool today, but we have experienced some really cold days and a few snow flurries this week. This picture just brought warm memories of when we had the Holstein milk cows. I love to be home on cold winter days, but I have not had that privilege often until recently, due to working. Now that I am home, I have enjoyed looking out at the farm, the Jersey cows we now have along with sheep, deer, birds and all of the other sites to see from my vantage point in the kitchen/dining room window. I think of a warm fire from the fireplace and the smell of hot comforting soup, covering up with a blanket...... you get the picture.....

But, in the midst of my pleasure, David and others are out working very hard. There is so much to do to manage a dairy farm and beef cow/calf operation. Those who have never been on a farm have no idea. When the weather is disagreeable the work doubles. The constant care required for these animals to secure they are well fed, watered, and healthy is hard work. Why do we do this, you might ask? David loves it and he is so in tune with the cattle. He can tell when there is a need......a sick cow or calf; a cow having problems with calving; a nutrition problem with one of the animals and much more. At the end of the evening he is tired, but fulfilled. He is still able to do what he loves....I know one day this farm may be idle and it will be sad. But, until that time, David will do what he does and continue to love it and be thankful for all that he has been blessed with. Oh, and he loves and cares for me too---he is my special Valentine.

SMILE

If these cutie pictures will not make you smile, nothing will.
So you have seen them already on Katie's blog---still worth another smile.

Happy New Year!