MONSTER MONSTER MONSTER

January, February, and March were kind of stressful at our house this year. So when a Monster Truck Jam in Kearney coincided with the weekend Evan was done with the brace for a broken collarbone, we jumped at the chance for some Family (and Friend!) Fun.

We topped it off by staying at the Holiday Inn with an "indoor water park." The boys LOVED it, but it was basically everything Matt & I hate about being out in the world. Oh well, there have been much worse sacrifices in the name of parenthood.

And with the all-clear from the doctor, Evan was free to get back to doing all the work! 

Snow Day Baking

When Ethan woke up to a snow storm last week, he was absolutely crushed. "Awwwww," he said as he looked out the window, "We only had a FEW days of Spring, NO Summer, and NO FALL!" I reassured him that this was part of Spring in Nebraska and we could still look forward to the next seasons. After a week of cold weather and icy precipitation was followed by another snow storm last night, I needed to step up our snow day activities. Never-ending winter seemed like the perfect reason to finally attempt making doughnuts without the supervision of my mom and Matt's Aunt Linda, Bakers Extraordinaire. I gathered my helpers, ground some wheat, and got to work.

While the dough was rising, we played a few games of Rummikubs. Evan must have had a developmental leap in the past few weeks because instead of just filling up a rack with tiles and looking for the jokers, he actually played a hand all by himself! I love it!

Then we enjoyed doughnuts for lunch, because we didn't get started at the normal doughnut starting time of 4:00 am, took a long nap, and enjoyed more doughnuts for a snack. I guess another snow day wasn't so bad after all.

They aren't picture perfect by any means but they were delicious!

Seasons of Love

When the boys are grown and I am sitting at home weeping over old photos, I hope I will look back upon these undocumented seasons without too much frustration over the undocumented-ness. I hope I will remember that these seasons were full and joyous and packed with growing, even if I can't recall all the specific adorable things they said or tried. Although I always want to remember the way Evan narrates his life through original songs, occasionally accompanied by his 'contar'. And the way he wakes up early and snuggles, then puts on his jeans and t-shirt and hat, stuffs his pliers into his pocket, and sets out to do his work. I hope I can still hear Ethan's sweet voice in my head and feel the immense pride that washed over me as he sounded out words and read to his little brother.

These days have been full with the usual awesomeness/drudgery that is our ranch life, the excitement of homeschooling, and for the boys, many wonderful trips to my parents' house to soak up the love and attention of all their grandparents, many great-grandparents, and their beloved aunt and uncles.

The summer also included:

T-ball:

a trip to the hospital:

playing at the lake :: 4-H :: playing with friends :: small-town carnivals :: lots of other fun stuff with no pictures ::

a trip to Wyoming/Yellowstone with several of their favorite people::

and lots of other stuff that I can't, you know, remember. But I do know that whatever it was, we were together and the boys were adorable.

Here

Do you ever let something slide because you think you're too busy, then the longer you're away from it, the more intimidating it seems to start again? No, that's just me?

Do you ever use too many commas? Or is that just me, as well?

But here I am. Nothing intimidating about typing! I have plenty of time here at work. I'm working a lot now, 3 nights a week at our tiny 911 dispatch center. I love the work, I love my officers, and I love the long quiet hours on Pinterest and trying to set Solitaire records. Matt is working a lot, too, although he quit his job in April and I imagined he would have more time at home working through the imaginary list I, well, imagined for him.

As always, the boys are also working around the clock. Bucket calves, kittens, chicks, the dog, the horse, and the cattle need tending. Holes need dug, flashlights need to be taken apart, Matt's tools need to be strewn around the shop as they work on various projects. Occasionally they spend a long weekend (or week) at Gramma & Grampa's house, where my sister documents the fun they have.

Like this recent putt-putt golfing adventure:

 and not-so-recent White Sox game adventure:

and not-at-all-recent picture of Tess & the boys just because I love it (and them) (and I stole all these pictures from her facebook albums):

And so here we are. This is a good season, full of satisfying work and peace and love and laughter. And there is much to tell, and here I am.

December slipped through my fingers even faster than usual this year, but that is no excuse to leave the merriment undocumented or deprive my firstborn of a mushy birthday post. Bear with me as I drag out the holiday cheer a little longer... Love you all!!

December

We kicked off December with a very festive bang when the boys and I went to my parents house while Matt and his friends terrorized the local deer and bobcats. Tessa, Kirk, Emily, and Dan joined us for a weekend of:

:: decorating ::

:: sewing ::

:: crafting ::

:: puzzling (?) ::

:: and sledding ::

Also cooking, eating, singing, church-going, birthday-celebrating, loving.

Four

My baby is four.
This baby:



Oh, have I used this picture here before? It is my most favorite photo ever in the whole entire world. This morning we sat on the couch and looked at these photos and talked about how delighted we all were when he was born. I thought telling his birth story would be nice, but then I remembered what an awful story it is. Worth it, I know. But not really what I want my boys to reference for the miracle of childbirth.

He wanted a 'birfday party wif friends' this time. He is FOUR, after all. A John Deere party, he decided, but then later changed it to 'corn party.' Little farmer boy. So we used green and yellow decorations and filled two tubs with corn for the kids to scoop, drive through, and dance in. By the end I was thinking we'd be living in a 'corn house' for the rest of our days but it actually cleaned up pretty easily. The whole thing was wild and wonderful, and I love my friends so much, and my family so much, and I can't believe it has been four years since our littlest boy was born and our little family made complete.

I love you, Evan. You are determined and stubborn and exuberant and brilliant and helpful and fearless. I still love sleeping next to your warm little body on those nights we're all just too tired to get you boys all the way upstairs. Your little self conforms against mine just the way you did all those months you were growing inside me and all those months (years) after when you could only be soothed by the warmth of your mama. Yesterday I was helping you with something and teased "Sometimes you just need your mama." "And sometimes I don't" you answered matter-of-factly. No you won't, darling boy, but I will be here when you do.

Halloween

One year Halloween was so snowy then-Mayor-of-Lincoln Mike Johanns canceled trick or treating. It was an outrage. Many, many years we had to wear so many layers around our costumes that the end result was much different than the original idea. This year my children enjoyed playing in the park and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows with the warm autumn sun shining down.

I love global warming.

And we love our friends.

And we love trick or treating. The kids were so gleeful and excited as they dashed from house to house. All the high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring they consumed was totally worth it.

Correction

I should have known that Tessa would have pictures of my baby watersking. She and our cousin Dan came to the Burwell Rodeo in July so we got to have some more fun at the lake.



Ta da!

Too fun.

Different, but not really

So these pictures might look just like the ones up yesterday, but they're not.

The sandy beaches and clear blue water here are at the river we tubed down with Matt's family over the 4th of July weekend.

It was great.

And if I had a thousand million pictures of that grin in the water, I would post each and every one.

Sunshine and Summertime

We made it out to the lake several times this summer, although of course it never seemed like enough. This was our Best Summer Ever because the boys were big enough to really enjoy it too.

It's great to have someone else to drive while the adults ski.

Ha ha. We would never allow our young children to drive the boat.

Only the 4-wheelers.


And it wouldn't really be Fun without Tessa...
And none of it would be possible without this guy...

...with whom I have been boating for many, many summers and they just keep getting more fun.

And this, my eldest, responsible child, my worrier, went on the tube by himself and loved it. He carefully practiced all the hand signals first, of course. And even more amazing, he skied by himself. There is no photographic proof because I had to stay in the water after helping him get situated, and watch him ski away from me across the vast lake.
A more profound mother would have more to say about that...
He was so proud of himself and so strong, holding onto the rope and standing up. We really couldn't believe our eyes. Evan got up too, scowling the whole time because he didn't like the water on his face. Classic Evan.

Watching these boys accomplish new and exciting things never ceases to amaze me. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were enthralled with our newborns opening their eyes. I can't even imagine all the things they will amaze me with in these coming years.

Sioux Falls

Remember that wedding we went to back in August? What's that you say, it's still the top of the blog? Oh, well, good, then you're all ready for part 2...

The whole weekend was fun, except for the grueling hours weaving around the orange construction cones and trying to avoid the flooded highways. If Tessa hadn't been with us the boys and I would still be sitting on the side of the road somewhere sobbing. Upon arrival, though, we were rewarded with the sight of our extended family and a fabulous dinner.

Favorite date(s)! (Right?)
Saturday before all the festivities we went to the zoo.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my sister? I really, really, really love my sister.

All Dressed Up

My cousin JD married Bailie this past weekend in Sioux Falls, SD. The bride was beautiful, the wedding was lovely... but in my completely unbiased opinion the ring bearers stole the show.

They were good sports about all the picture-taking and walked down the aisle like they did this everyday. I was so proud of them. It was wonderful to be with family we don't see often enough. We wish many blessings on JD and Bailie and thank you for including us in this celebration!

And how CUTE are those guys?!

Law and Order

Has Ethan ever told you he wants to be a cop? Probably once or twice or a thousand times. If you've been to our house I'm sure he's tried to put you in handcuffs. So one day this summer I made all his dreams come true by taking him to Taylor to meet the Loup County Sheriff, Trevor.

The boys got to climb around in the car and play with all the gadgets. Well, not all the gadgets; sirens and handcuffs- yes, giant rifles in the back- no. Ethan was so overcome he could barely speak.

Evan, as always, not so much.

Thank a law enforcement officer today! Maybe you'll get to run the sirens.

Boys and Girls of Summer

Ethan started T-ball. It's serious business.






Not.
But he made it around the bases.


And got a T-shirt.

And Evan got to perform death-defying stunts on the top of the bleachers.

So it's all been good.